The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 134
You are mistaken; my child is not his:
it was Alencon who enjoyed my love.
YORK.
Alencon! that notorious Machiavel!
It dies, an if it had a thousand lives.
Alencon! That notorious Machiavelli!
We shall kill it, if it had a thousand lives.
PUCELLE.
O, give me leave, I have deluded you:
'Twas neither Charles nor yet the duke I named,
But Reignier, king of Naples, that prevail'd.
Oh, excuse me, I lied to you:
it wasn't Charles or the Duke I mentioned,
but Reignier, King of Naples, who triumphed.
WARWICK.
A married man! that's most intolerable.
A married man! We can't have that.
YORK.
Why, here's a girl! I think she knows not well
There were so many, whom she may accuse.
Why, here's a girl! I think she's had so many
she doesn't know who to accuse.
WARWICK.
It's sign she hath been liberal and free.
It's obvious she has been very generous with her affections.
YORK.
And yet, forsooth, she is a virgin pure.
Strumpet, thy words condemn thy brat and thee:
Use no entreaty, for it is in vain.
And yet, by God, she is a pure virgin.
Strumpet, your words have condemned your brat and you:
do not beg, it is useless.
PUCELLE.
Then lead me hence; with whom I leave my curse:
May never glorious sun reflex his beams
Upon the country where you make abode:
But darkness and the gloomy shade of death
Environ you, till mischief and despair
Drive you to break your necks or hang yourselves!
Then take me away; I leave you with this curse:
may the glorious sun never shed his light
on the country where you live:
darkness and the gloomy shade of death
will cover you, until trouble and despair
cause you to break your neck or hang yourselves!
[Exit, guarded.]
YORK.
Break thou in pieces and consume to ashes,
Thou foul accursed minister of hell!
May you be broken in pieces and burnt to ashes,
you foul cursed agent of hell!
[Enter Cardinal Beaufort, Bishop of Winchester,
attended.]
CARDINAL.
Lord regent, I do greet your excellence
With letters of commission from the king.
For know, my lords, the states of Christendom,
Moved with remorse of these outrageous broils,
Have earnestly implored a general peace
Betwixt our nation and the aspiring French;
And here at hand the Dauphin and his train
Approacheth, to confer about some matter.
Lord Regent, I greet your Excellency
bringing my orders from the King.
You should know, my lords, that all states in Christendom,
deeply regretting these terrible wars,
are earnestly begging for peace to be agreed
between our nation and the ambitious French;
and just here are the Dauphin and his followers
coming to speak with you on some matter.
YORK.
Is all our travail turn'd to this effect?
After the slaughter of so many peers,
So many captains, gentlemen and soldiers,
That in this quarrel have been overthrown,
And sold their bodies for their country's benefit,
Shall we at last conclude effeminate peace?
Have we not lost most part of all the towns,
By treason, falsehood, and by treachery,
Our great progenitors had conquered?
O, Warwick, Warwick! I foresee with grief
The utter loss of all the realm of France.
Is this what all our work comes to?
After the slaughter of so many peers,
so many captains, gentlemen and soldiers,
who have lost their lives in this quarrel,
and given their bodies for the benefit of the country,
are we going to meekly agree to a peace?
Haven't we lost most of the towns
our great ancestors conquered
through treason, falsehood and treachery?
Oh, Warwick, Warwick! It's with sorrow
that I predict we shall lose the whole kingdom of France.
WARWICK.
Be patient, York: if we conclude
a peace,
It shall be with such strict and severe covenants
As little shall the Frenchmen gain thereby.
Be calm, York: if we agree to a peace,
it will be with such strict and punishing conditions
that it won't do the Frenchmen much good.
[Enter Charles, Alencon, Bastard, Reignier, and others.]
CHARLES.
Since, lords of England, it is thus agreed
That peaceful truce shall be proclaim'd in France,
We come to be informed by yourselves
What the conditions of that league must be.
Since, lords of England, it has been agreed
that a peaceful truce shall be announced in France,
we have come to be told by you
what the conditions of that agreement must be.
YORK.
Speak, Winchester; for boiling choler chokes
The hollow passage of my poison'd voice,
By sight of these our baleful enemies.
Speak, Winchester; boiling anger chokes
my poisoned throat,
at the sight of these revolting enemies.
CARDINAL.
Charles, and the rest, it is enacted thus:
That, in regard King Henry gives consent,
Of mere compassion and of lenity,
To ease your country of distressful war,
And suffer you to breathe in fruitful peace,
You shall become true liegemen to his crown:
And, Charles, upon condition thou wilt swear
To pay him tribute and submit thyself,
Thou shalt be placed as viceroy under him,
And still enjoy the regal dignity.
Charles, and the rest, this is what has been decreed:
that King Henry has given his consent,
out of simple compassion and kindness,
to take the burden of terrible war from your country
and allow you to prosper in peace,
on condition that you become true servants of his crown:
and Charles, on condition that you will swear
to pay tribute to him and bow down to him,
you shall the given the position of Viceroy under him,
and still enjoy a royal position.
ALENCON.
Must he be then as shadow of himself?
Adorn his temples with a coronet,
And yet, in substance and authority,
Retain but privilege of a private man?
This proffer is absurd and reasonless.
So he has to be a shadow of himself?
You're going to put a crown on his head,
and yet, in every important aspect,
he's just going to be the same as a private citizen?
This offer is absurd and foolish.
CHARLES.
'Tis known already that I am possess'd
With more than half the Gallian territories,
And therein reverenced for their lawful king:
Shall I, for lucre of the rest unvanquish'd,
Detract so much from that prerogative,
As to be call'd but viceroy of the whole?
No, lord ambassador,
I 'll rather keep
That which I have than, coveting for more,
Be cast from possibility of all.
You know that I already own
more than half of the territories of France,
and am revered by them as their lawful King:
should I, in return for the half I haven't won,
climb down so far from the position I have
as to be called viceroy of the whole thing?
No, lord ambassador, I would rather keep
what I have, not throw away everything
to try and get more.
YORK.
Insulting Charles! hast thou by secret means
Used intercession to obtain a league,
And, now the matter grows to compromise,
Stand'st thou aloof upon comparison?
Either accept the title thou usurp'st,
Of benefit proceeding from our king
And not of any challenge of desert,
Or we will plague thee with incessant wars.
Insulting Charles! Have you secretly
conspired to form an alliance,
and, now we come close to an agreement,
claim that your position is equal to ours?
Either accept the title you are rejecting,
which is offered from the kindness of our king
and not because you in any way deserve it,
or we will plague you with unending wars.
REIGNIER.
My lord, you do not well in obstinacy
To cavil in the course of this contract:
If once it be neglected, ten to one
We shall not find like opportunity.
My lord, your obstinacy in refusing
the agreement you have been offered is not good:
if you reject it, it's ten to one
that we'll never be offered such a chance again.
ALENCON.
To say the truth, it is your policy
To save your subjects from such massacre
And ruthless slaughters as are daily seen,
By our proceeding in hostility;
And therefore take this compact of a truce,
Although you break it when your pleasure serves.
To tell the truth, it is your policy
to save your subjects from the massacres
and ruthless slaughters which are happening daily,
as long as we continue with hostilities;
and so accept this offer of a truce,
even if you are going to break it when you want.
WARWICK.
How say'st thou, Charles? shall our condition stand?
What do you say, Charles? Do you agree to our terms?
CHARLES.
It shall;
Only reserv'd, you claim no interest
In any of our towns of garrison.
I do;
with the reservation that you don't lay any claim
to any of our fortified towns.
YORK.
Then swear allegiance to his majesty,
As thou art knight, never to disobey
Nor be rebellious to the crown of England
Thou, nor thy nobles, to the crown of England.
So, now dismiss your army when ye please;
Hang up your ensigns, let your drums be still,
For here we entertain a solemn peace.
Then swear loyalty to his Majesty,
as you are a knight, to never disobey,
or be rebellious against, the Crown of England–
neither you nor your noblemen.
So, disband your army at your convenience;
hang up your banners, silence your drums,
for here we welcome a solemn peace.
[Exeunt.]
[Enter Suffolk in conference with the King,
Gloucester and Exeter.]
KING.
Your wondrous rare description, noble earl,
Of beauteous Margaret hath astonish'd me.
Her virtues graced with external gifts
Do breed love's settled passions in my heart:
And like as rigor of tempestuous gusts
Provokes the mightiest hulk against the tide,
So am I driven by breath of her renown,
Either to suffer shipwreck or arrive
Where I may have fruition of her love.
This incredible description, noble Earl,
of the beautiful Margaret has amazed me.
Her goodness combined with external gifts
has created love in my heart:
and as the strength of storm winds
can drive the greatest ship against the tide,
so these words of her virtues make me
determined to risk shipwreck to
win her love.
SUFFOLK.
Tush, my good lord, this superficial tale
Is but a preface of her worthy praise;
The chief perfections of that lovely dame,
Had I sufficient skill to utter them,
Would make a volume of enticing lines,
Able to ravish any dull conceit:
And, which is more, she is not so divine,
So full-replete with choice of all delights,
But with as humble lowliness of mind
She is content to be at your command;
Command, I mean, of virtuous intents,
To love and honor Henry as her lord.
Well, my good lord, this quick description
only tells you a little about her goodness;
the real perfections of that lovely woman,
if I had enough skill to describe them,
would fill a volume of enticing lines,
which could wake up even the dullest imagination:
and, what's more, she is not so heavenly,
so packed with so many wonderful virtues,
that she is not content to show a humble
lowness of mind and be at your command;
I mean your right to command her
to love and honour Henry as her lord.
KING.
And otherwise will Henry ne'er presume.
Therefore, my lord protector, give consent
That Margaret may be England's royal queen.
Henry will never assume anything different.
So, my lord protector, give your agreement
to Margaret becoming the royal Queen of England.
GLOUCESTER.
So should I give consent to flatter sin.
You know, my lord, your highness is betroth'd
Unto another lady of esteem:
How shall we then dispense with that contract,
And not deface your honor with reproach?
If I did I would be agreeing to a sin.
You know, my lord, that your Highness is already
engaged to another great lady:
how shall we break that off
without exposing your honour to criticism?
SUFFOLK.
As doth a ruler with unlawful oaths;
Or one that, at a triumph having vow'd
To try his strength, forsaketh yet the lists
By reason of his adversary's odds:
A poor earl's daughter is unequal odds,
And therefore may be broke without offense.
The way a ruler does with unlawful oaths;
or like one who at the jousting has vowed
to test his strength, but refuses to fight
because his opponent is too far below him:
a poor earl's daughter is well below the king,
and so the engagement may be broken without offence.
GLOUCESTER.
Why, what, I pray, is Margaret more than that?
Her father is no better than an earl,
Although in glorious titles he excel.
Why, may I ask what makes Margaret higher than that?
Her father is no better than an earl,
/> however many wonderful titles he has.
SUFFOLK.
Yes, my lord, her father is a king,
The King of Naples and Jerusalem;
And of such great authority in France,
As his alliance will confirm our peace,
And keep the Frenchmen in allegiance.
Yes, my lord, her father is a king,
the King of Naples and Jerusalem;
he has such great power in France,
that an alliance with him will confirm our peace treaty,
and keep the Frenchmen loyal.
GLOUCESTER.
And so the Earl of Armagnac may do,
Because he is near kinsman unto Charles.
That would be the same with the Earl of Armagnac,
because he is closely related to Charles.
EXETER.
Beside, his wealth doth warrant a liberal dower,
Where Reignier sooner will receive than give.
Besides, his wealth promises a fine dowry,
whereas Reignier would rather receive than give.
SUFFOLK.
A dower, my lords! disgrace not so your king,
That he should be so abject, base and poor,
To choose for wealth and not for perfect love.
Henry is able to enrich his queen,
And not to seek a queen to make him rich:
So worthless peasants bargain for their wives,
As market-men for oxen, sheep, or horse.
Marriage is a matter of more worth
Than to be dealt in by attorneyship;
Not whom we will; but whom his grace affects,
Must be companion of his nuptial bed:
And therefore, lords, since he affects her most,
It most of all these reasons bindeth us,
In our opinions she should be preferr'd.
For what is wedlock forced but a hell,
An age of discord and continual strife?
Whereas the contrary bringeth bliss,
And is a pattern of celestial peace.