The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 103
Thank you. We ask you to explain the claims we have in France. Tell us truthfully, because only God knows how many will die based on your information. So, be careful how you interpret the law or else create a war. We trust that what you say is true, so speak.
Canterbury
Then hear me, gracious sovereign, and you peers, That owe yourselves, your lives, and services To this imperial throne. There is no bar To make against your Highness' claim to France But this, which they produce from Pharamond: "In terram Salicam mulieres ne succedant," "No woman shall succeed in Salique land;" Which Salique land the French unjustly gloze To be the realm of France, and Pharamond The founder of this law and female bar. Yet their own authors faithfully affirm That the land Salique is in Germany, Between the floods of Sala and of Elbe; Where Charles the Great, having subdu'd the Saxons, There left behind and settled certain French; Who, holding in disdain the German women For some dishonest manners of their life, Establish'd then this law, to wit, no female Should be inheritrix in Salique land; Which Salique, as I said, 'twixt Elbe and Sala, Is at this day in Germany call'd Meisen. Then doth it well appear the Salique law Was not devised for the realm of France; Nor did the French possess the Salique land Until four hundred one and twenty years After defunction of King Pharamond, Idly suppos'd the founder of this law, Who died within the year of our redemption Four hundred twenty-six; and Charles the Great Subdu'd the Saxons, and did seat the French Beyond the river Sala, in the year Eight hundred five. Besides, their writers say, King Pepin, which deposed Childeric,
Did, as heir general, being descended Of Blithild, which was daughter to King Clothair, Make claim and title to the crown of France. Hugh Capet also, who usurp'd the crown Of Charles the Duke of Lorraine, sole heir male Of the true line and stock of Charles the Great, To find his title with some shows of truth, Though, in pure truth, it was corrupt and naught, Convey'd himself as the heir to the Lady Lingare, Daughter to Charlemain, who was the son To Lewis the Emperor, and Lewis the son Of Charles the Great. Also, King Lewis the Tenth, Who was sole heir to the usurper Capet, Could not keep quiet in his conscience, Wearing the crown of France, till satisfied That fair Queen Isabel, his grandmother, Was lineal of the Lady Ermengare, Daughter to Charles, the foresaid Duke of Lorraine; By the which marriage the line of Charles the Great Was re-united to the crown of France. So that, as clear as is the summer's sun, King Pepin's title and Hugh Capet's claim, King Lewis his satisfaction, all appear To hold in right and title of the female. So do the kings of France unto this day, Howbeit they would hold up this Salique law To bar your Highness claiming from the female, And rather choose to hide them in a net Than amply to imbar their crooked titles Usurp'd from you and your progenitors.
Listen, my lord and peers who serve the king. There is nothing to keep us from making a claim in France, except what the law from Pharamond states. It says that no woman shall rule in Salique. The French think Salique is part of France, but it is actually part of Germany. Charles the Great left French settlements after conquering the Saxons, and the French settlers hated the behavior of the German women, so they passed the law. The area is now called Meisen, and the law was not meant for France. France didn’t even own the land until after the death of Pharamond in the year 426, so it was not his law. Charles established the settlement in the year 805. According to history, King Pepin, who took the crown from Childeric, based his right on his descendants from, Blithild, the daughter of King Clothair. Another example is Hugh Capet, who stole the crown form Charles the duke of Lorraine, based on his ancestor Lady Lingare, daughter of Charlemagne, the son of Lewis the Emperor, the son of Charles the Great. King Lewis the Tenth, the sole heir to Capet, did not rest until he confirmed his grandmother, Queen Isabel, was a direct descendent of Lady Ermengare, the daughter of Charles duke of Lorraine, reuniting through marriage the line of Charles the Great to the throne. So, it is clear the heir to the throne is directly related to females.
King
May I with right and conscience make this claim?
Can I, in good conscience, make this claim?
Canterbury
The sin upon my head, dread sovereign! For in the book of Numbers is it writ, When the man dies, let the inheritance Descend unto the daughter. Gracious lord, Stand for your own! Unwind your bloody flag! Look back into your mighty ancestors! Go, my dread lord, to your great-grandsire's tomb, From whom you claim; invoke his warlike spirit, And your great-uncle's, Edward the Black Prince, Who on the French ground play'd a tragedy, Making defeat on the full power of France, Whiles his most mighty father on a hill Stood smiling to behold his lion's whelp Forage in blood of French nobility. O noble English, that could entertain With half their forces the full pride of France And let another half stand laughing by, All out of work and cold for action!
If you can’t, let the sin be with me, for it says in the Bible in the book of Numbers, when a man dies, let the inheritance descend unto the daughter. Gracious lord, make your claim and fly your war flag. Look to your ancestors, your great-grandfather’s warring spirit and your great uncle, Edward the Black Prince, who fought a battle on French soil with his father watching on a hill. The noble English can take on the French with only half of their army, while the other half stands by laughing.
Ely
Awake remembrance of these valiant dead, And with your puissant arm renew their feats. You are their heir; you sit upon their throne; The blood and courage that renowned them Runs in your veins; and my thrice-puissant liege Is in the very May-morn of his youth, Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises.
Remember the brave dead for their feats. You share their blood and you sit upon the throne. You are young and ready to fight for what is yours.
Exeter
Your brother kings and monarchs of the earth Do all expect that you should rouse yourself, As did the former lions of your blood.
All the kings of the earth expect you to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors.
Westmoreland
They know your Grace hath cause and means and might; So hath your Highness. Never King of England Had nobles richer, and more loyal subjects, Whose hearts have left their bodies here in England And lie pavilion'd in the fields of France.
They know you have cause, the means, and the power. You have financial support and loyal men who are already in France.
Canterbury
O, let their bodies follow, my dear liege, With blood and sword and fire to win your right; In aid whereof we of the spiritualty Will raise your Highness such a mighty sum As never did the clergy at one time Bring in to any of your ancestors.
Let the men fight, my liege. We, spiritual men, will provide a greater sum than ever seen by another monarchy.
King
We must not only arm to invade the French, But lay down our proportions to defend Against the Scot, who will make road upon us With all advantages.
We must not only invade France, but also prepare a defense against Scotland, who will definitely attack us.
Canterbury
They of those marches, gracious sovereign, Shall be a wall sufficient to defend Our inland from the pilfering borderers.
We will build a wall of defense, oh gracious sovereign, against any who march against us.
King
We do not mean the coursing snatchers only, But fear the main intendment of the Scot, Who hath been still a giddy neighbour to us; For you shall read that my great-grandfather Never went with his forces into France But that the Scot on his unfurnish'd kingdom Came pouring, like the tide into a breach, With ample and brim fullness of his force, Galling the gleaned land with hot assays, Girdling with grievous siege castles and towns; That England, being empty of defence, Hath shook and trembled at the ill neighbourhood.
We don’t worry about a few soldiers, but the entire kingdom of Scotland. My great-grandfather never went to war with France that the Scots tried to invade the country while it was defenseless, leaving England shaking with fear.
Canterbury
England may have been fearful, but she was never harmed, my liege. We apprehended the King of Scots while the army was in France and sent him there to King Edward. England was praised more than the ooze at the bottom of the sea.
Westmoreland
But there's a saying very old and true,
"If that you will France win, Then with Scotland first begin." For once the eagle England being in prey, To her unguarded nest the weasel Scot Comes sneaking and so sucks her princely eggs, Playing the mouse in absence of the cat, To tear and havoc more than she can eat.
Remember the old saying, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” If we win France, we will have to fight Scotland, next.
Exeter
It follows then the cat must stay at home; Yet that is but a crush'd necessity, Since we have locks to safeguard necessaries,
And pretty traps to catch the petty thieves. While that the armed hand doth fight abroad, The advised head defends itself at home; For government, though high and low and lower, Put into parts, doth keep in one consent, Congreeing in a full and natural close, Like music.
Then the cat must stay at home. However, that’s not necessary, for while the armed hand fights abroad, the head advisors will defend the home. The government, although split into different degrees, will work together as one like harmonious music.
Canterbury
Therefore doth heaven divide The state of man in divers functions, Setting endeavour in continual motion, To which is fixed, as an aim or butt, Obedience; for so work the honey-bees, Creatures that by a rule in nature teach The act of order to a peopled kingdom. They have a king and officers of sorts, Where some, like magistrates, correct at home, Others like merchants, venture trade abroad, Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings, Make boot upon the summer's velvet buds, Which pillage they with merry march bring home To the tent-royal of their emperor; Who, busied in his majesty, surveys The singing masons building roofs of gold, The civil citizens kneading up the honey, The poor mechanic porters crowding in Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate, The sad-eyed justice, with his surly hum, Delivering o'er to executors pale The lazy yawning drone. I this infer, That many things, having full reference To one consent, may work contrariously. As many arrows, loosed several ways, Come to one mark; as many ways meet in one town; As many fresh streams meet in one salt sea; As many lines close in the dial's centre; So many a thousand actions, once afoot, End in one purpose, and be all well borne Without defeat. Therefore to France, my liege! Divide your happy England into four, Whereof take you one quarter into France, And you withal shall make all Gallia shake. If we, with thrice such powers left at home, Cannot defend our own doors from the dog, Let us be worried and our nation lose The name of hardiness and policy.
Heaven created men to have different functions like the honey bees. Honey bees are an example of order. They have a leader with diplomats, judges who correct others, and soldiers armed with stingers who bring home loot to their emperor while he watches his kingdom being built. So, I believe if we work together, we may have success in our common goal. Therefore, my king, divide your armies into four and take a quarter to France. Leave three times that many soldiers at home, and if we can’t defend ourselves, we should not call ourselves a nation.
King
Call in the messengers sent from the Dauphin.
Call in the messengers sent from the Dauphin.
Exit some Attendants.
Now are we well resolv'd; and, by God's help, And yours, the noble sinews of our power, France being ours, we'll bend it to our awe, Or break it all to pieces. Or there we'll sit, Ruling in large and ample empery O'er France and all her almost kingly dukedoms, Or lay these bones in an unworthy urn, Tombless, with no remembrance over them. Either our history shall with full mouth Speak freely of our acts, or else our grave, Like Turkish mute, shall have a tongueless mouth, Not worshipp'd with a waxen epitaph.
Now, are we all in agreement. With God’s help and the power of you noble men, let’s take France. I will defeat France and take rule or you can put my bones in a poor man’s urn without a tomb or epitaph for remembrance.
Enter Ambassadors of France
Now are we well prepar'd to know the pleasure Of our fair cousin Dauphin; for we hear Your greeting is from him, not from the King.
We are ready to hear from our cousin, Dauphin, since we hear the greeting is from him, not the king.
First Ambassador
May't please your Majesty to give us leave Freely to render what we have in charge, Or shall we sparingly show you far off The Dauphin's meaning and our embassy?
May we have your permission to speak freely?
King
We are no tyrant, but a Christian king, Unto whose grace our passion is as subject As is our wretches fett'red in our prisons; Therefore with frank and with uncurbed plainness Tell us the Dauphin's mind.
We are not a group of tyrants. I am a Christian king. Please speak freely and tell us what is on the Dauphin’s mind.
First Ambassador
Thus, then, in few. Your Highness, lately sending into France, Did claim some certain dukedoms, in the right Of your great predecessor, King Edward the Third.
In answer of which claim, the prince our master Says that you savour too much of your youth, And bids you be advis'd there's nought in France That can be with a nimble galliard won. You cannot revel into dukedoms there. He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit, This tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this, Desires you let the dukedoms that you claim Hear no more of you. This the Dauphin speaks.
In brief, you sent messages to France stating some claim to certain dukedoms based on your ancestor, King Edward the Third. The answer from our prince is you want too much, and there is nothing you can win in France. He sends you these treasures and asks that you make no more claims.
King
What treasure, uncle?
What treasure, uncle?
Exeter
Tennis-balls, my liege.
Tennis balls, my liege.
King
We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us. His present and your pains we thank you for. When we have match'd our rackets to these balls, We will, in France, by God's grace, play a set Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard. Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler That all the courts of France will be disturb'd With chaces. And we understand him well, How he comes o'er us with our wilder days, Not measuring what use we made of them. We never valu'd this poor seat of England; And therefore, living hence, did give ourself To barbarous licence; as 'tis ever common That men are merriest when they are from home. But tell the Dauphin I will keep my state, Be like a king, and show my sail of greatness When I do rouse me in my throne of France. For that I have laid by my majesty And plodded like a man for working days, But I will rise there with so full a glory That I will dazzle all the eyes of France, Yea, strike the Dauphin blind to look on us. And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his Hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones, and his soul Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance That shall fly with them; for many a thousand widows Shall this his mock mock out of their dear husbands, Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down; And some are yet ungotten and unborn That shall have cause to curse the Dauphin's scorn. But this lies all within the will of God, To whom I do appeal; and in whose name Tell you the Dauphin I am coming on To venge me as I may, and to put forth My rightful hand in a well-hallow'd cause. So get you hence in peace; and tell the Dauphin His jest will savour but of shallow wit, When thousands weep more than did la
ugh at it.-- Convey them with safe conduct.--Fare you well.
We gladly accept the Dauphin’s present and thank you for bringing them. We will have to play a set when we march to France with our rackets. We will strike his father’s crown so hard that he will think he has made a match with a professional, and the courts in France will quake. I understand where the Dauphin is coming from, thinking of my wilder days, but I will act like a king when we sail to France, and the people will be amazed while the Dauphin will barely be able to look. Tell the good prince his joke has turned his balls into bullets and he will be sorry for mocking this court when thousands of windows will be made and mothers lose their sons and castles will be torn down. Even the unborn will rue the day he scorned us. However, everything relies on the will of God, upon whose name I call. Tell Dauphin I am coming to claim what is mine. Go in peace and tell him his joke will cause thousands more to weep than those who laughed. Go safely. Goodbye.