The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)

by William Shakespeare

  Whom should we match with Henry, being a king,

  But Margaret, that is daughter to a king?

  Her peerless feature, joined with her birth,

  Approves her fit for none but for a king;

  Her valiant courage and undaunted spirit,

  More than in women commonly is seen,

  Will answer our hope in issue of a king;

  For Henry, son unto a conqueror,

  Is likely to beget more conquerors,

  If with a lady of so high resolve

  As is fair Margaret he be link'd in love.

  Then yield, my lords; and here conclude with me

  That Margaret shall be queen, and none but she.

  A dowry, my lords? Do not disgrace your king by

  thinking that he should be so wretched, low and poor

  as to choose his bride for wealth, and not for perfect love.

  Henry will make his queen rich,

  he doesn't need a queen to do that for him;

  this is how worthless peasants bargain for their wives,

  like market traders bargaining for cattle, sheep or horses.

  Marriage is too important to be

  dealt with by a go-between:

  it's not whom we want, but whom his grace likes,

  who must be the one in his marriage bed.

  And therefore, lords, since he likes her best,

  that is the decisive factor:

  we should like her best also.

  For what is a forced marriage but a hell,

  an age of arguing and continual strife?

  Whereas the opposite brings happiness,

  and is an example of heavenly peace.

  Whom should we match with Henry, as he is a king,

  but Margaret, who is daughter to a king?

  Her matchless looks, combined with her ancestry,

  show that she this only suitable for a king.

  Her great courage and undefeated spirit,

  more than one usually sees in women,

  will provide us with a such a king as heir that we hope for.

  For Henry, the son of a conqueror,

  is likely to father more conquerors,

  if he marries a lady of such great courage

  as fair Margaret is.

  So surrender, my lords, and agree with me

  that Margaret shall be Queen, nobody but her.

  KING.

  Whether it be through force of your report,

  My noble Lord of Suffolk, or for that

  My tender youth was never yet attaint

  With any passion of inflaming love,

  I cannot tell; but this I am assured,

  I feel such sharp dissension in my breast,

  Such fierce alarums both of hope and fear,

  As I am sick with working of my thoughts.

  Take, therefore, shipping; post, my lord, to France;

  Agree to any covenants, and procure

  That Lady Margaret do vouchsafe to come

  To cross the seas to England, and be crown'd

  King Henry's faithful and anointed queen:

  For your expenses and sufficient charge,

  Among the people gather up a tenth.

  Be gone, I say; for till you do return,

  I rest perplexed with a thousand cares.

  And you, good uncle, banish all offense:

  If you do censure me by what you were,

  Not what you are, I know it will excuse

  This sudden execution of my will.

  And so, conduct me where, from company,

  I may revolve and ruminate my grief.

  Whether it's through the strength of your report,

  my noble Lord of Suffolk, or that

  my tender youth has never yet been touched

  by any passion of burning love,

  I can't tell; but I know this–

  I feel such a painful conflict in my heart,

  such fierce warnings of both hope and fear,

  that I am sick of thinking about it.

  So take a ship at once, my lord, to France.

  Consent to any conditions, and make sure

  that the Lady Margaret agrees to come

  across the sea to England to be crowned

  as King Henry's faithful and anointed Queen.

  To make sure you have enough money for expenses,

  take a ten percent tax from the people.

  Go, I say, for until you return

  I shall be tormented by a thousand worries.

  And you, good uncle, do not be offended:

  if you judge me by what you once were,

  not by what you are now, I know you will excuse

  my carrying out this decision quickly.

  And so take me to a place where, in solitude,

  I may meditate upon my suffering.

  [Exit.]

  GLOUCESTER.

  Aye, grief, I fear me, both at first and last.

  Yes, suffering, I fear, will be the beginning and the end of this.

  [Exeunt Gloucester and Exeter.]

  SUFFOLK.

  Thus Suffolk hath prevail'd; and thus he goes,

  As did the youthful Paris once to Greece,

  With hope to find the like event in love,

  But prosper better than the Troyan did.

  Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king;

  But I will rule both her, the king and realm.

  So Suffolk has triumphed; and so he goes,

  like the young Paris once went to Greece,

  hoping to find the same sort of love,

  but have more success than the Trojan did.

  Margaret shall now be queen, and rule the king;

  but I will rule over her, the king and the country.

  [Exit.]

  KING HENRY THE SIXTH.

  HUMPHREY, Duke of Gloster, his uncle.

  CARDINAL BEAUFORT, Bishop of Winchester,

  great-uncle to the King.

  RICHARD PLANTAGENET, Duke of York.

  EDWARD and RICHARD, his sons.

  DUKE OF SOMERSET.

  DUKE OF SUFFOLK.

  DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM.

  LORD CLIFFORD.

  YOUNG CLIFFORD, his son.

  EARL OF SALISBURY.

  EARL OF WARWICK.

  LORD SCALES.

  LORD SAY.

  SIR HUMPHREY STAFFORD, and WILLIAM

  STAFFORD, his brother.

  SIR JOHN STANLEY.

  VAUX.

  MATTHEW GOFFE.

  A Sea-Captain, Master, and Master's-Mate, and WALTER

  WHITMORE.

  Two Gentlemen, prisoners with Suffolk.

  JOHN HUME and JOHN SOUTHWELL, priests.

  ROGER BOLINGBROKE, a conjurer.

  THOMAS HORNER, an armourer. PETER, his man.

  Clerk of Chatham. Mayor of Saint Albans.

  SIMPCOX, an impostor.

  ALEXANDER IDEN, a Kentish gentleman.

  JACK CADE, a rebel.

  GEORGE BEVIS, JOHN HOLLAND, DICK the butcher,

  SMITH the weaver, MICHAEL, etc., followers of Cade.

  Two Murderers.

  MARGARET, Queen to King Henry.

  ELEANOR, Duchess of Gloster.

  MARGARET JOURDAIN, a witch.

  Wife to Simpcox.

  Lords, Ladies, and Attendants, Petitioners, Aldermen, a Herald,

  a Beadle, Sheriff, and Officers, Citizens, Prentices,

  Falconers, Guards, Soldiers, Messengers, &c.

  A Spirit.

  SCENE: England.

  [Flourish of trumpets: then hautboys. Enter the KING, GLOSTER,

  SALISBURY, WARWICK, and CARDINAL BEAUFORT, on the

  one side; the QUEEN, SUFFOLK, YORK, SOMERSET, and

  BUCKINGHAM, on the other.]

  SUFFOLK.

  As by your high imperial Majesty

  I had in charge at my depart for France,

  As procurator to your excellence,

  To marry Prin
cess Margaret for your grace,

  So, in the famous ancient city Tours,

  In presence of the Kings of France and Sicil,

  The Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Bretagne, and Alencon,

  Seven earls, twelve barons, and twenty reverend bishops,

  I have perform'd my task and was espous'd,

  And humbly now upon my bended knee,

  In sight of England and her lordly peers,

  Deliver up my title in the queen

  To your most gracious hands, that are the substance

  Of that great shadow I did represent:

  The happiest gift that ever marquess gave,

  The fairest queen that ever king receiv'd.

  Following the orders your most imperial majesty

  gave me as I left for France,

  as agent for your excellency,

  to marry Princess Margaret on your behalf,

  so, in the famous ancient city of Tours,

  in the presence of the kings of France and Sicily,

  the Dukes of Orleans, Calaber, Brittany and Alencon,

  seven earls, twelve barons and twenty holy bishops,

  I performed my task and was married as your representative,

  and now I kneel humbly before you,

  with the people and peers of England as my witness,

  and hand over my rights to the Queen

  into your most gracious hands, the physical manifestation

  of the greatness that I represented:

  the best gift any Marquis ever gave,

  the most beautiful fair Queen that was ever welcomed by a King.

  KING.

  Suffolk, arise.--Welcome, Queen Margaret.

  I can express no kinder sign of love

  Than this kind kiss.--O Lord, that lends me life,

  Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness!

  For thou hast given me in this beauteous face

  A world of earthly blessings to my soul,

  If sympathy of love unite our thoughts.

  Suffolk, stand up. Welcome, Queen Margaret.

  I can give you no sweeter sign of love

  than this sweet kiss. Oh God, who gave me life,

  make my heart be grateful!

  For you have given my soul a world full

  of earthly blessings with this beautiful face,

  if we become united in our love.

  QUEEN.

  Great King of England and my gracious lord,

  The mutual conference that my mind hath had,

  By day, by night, waking and in my dreams,

  In courtly company or at my beads,

  With you, mine alder-liefest sovereign,

  Makes me the bolder to salute my king

  With ruder terms, such as my wit affords

  And over-joy of heart doth minister.

  Great King of England and my gracious lord,

  by day, by night, waking and in my dreams,

  in noble company or doing my house work,

  the shared thoughts that I've had with you

  my most beloved sovereign,

  emboldens me to greet my king

  with familiarity, as far as my wit can manage

  and my brimming heart allows.

  KING.

  Her sight did ravish, but her grace in speech,

  Her words yclad with wisdom's majesty,

  Makes me from wondering fall to weeping joys;

  Such is the fulness of my heart's content.--

  Lords, with one cheerful voice welcome my love.

  Her looks are enchanting, but her grace in speech,

  with her words full of the majesty of wisdom,

  makes me change from amazement to weeping happiness;

  this is how overjoyed my heart is.

  Lords, be unanimous in happily welcoming my love.

  ALL.

  [Kneeling] Long live Queen Margaret, England's

  happiness!

  Long live Queen Margaret, the joy of England!

  QUEEN.

  We thank you all.

  I thank you all.

  [Flourish.]

  SUFFOLK.

  My Lord Protector, so it please your grace,

  Here are the articles of contracted peace

  Between our sovereign and the French king Charles,

  For eighteen months concluded by consent.

  My Lord Protector, if you please,

  here is the peace treaty agreed

  between our king and the French King Charles,

  agreed to last the next eighteen months

  GLOSTER.

  [Reads] 'Imprimis, It is agreed between the French king

  Charles and William de la Pole, Marquess of Suffolk, ambassador

  for Henry King of England, that the said Henry shall espouse the

  Lady Margaret, daughter unto Reignier King of Naples, Sicilia,

  and Jerusalem, and crown her Queen of England ere the thirtieth

  of May next ensuing. Item, that the duchy of Anjou and the

  county of Maine shall be released and delivered to the king her

  father'--

  “Firstly, it is agreed between the French king

  Charles and William de la Pole Marquis of Suffolk, ambassador

  for Henry King of England, that the aforementioned Henry shall marry

  Lady Margaret, daughter of Reignier King of Naples, Sicily

  and Jerusalem, and crown her as Queen of England before next

  May the thirtieth. Next, the Duchy of Anjou and the

  county of Maine shall be freed and handed over to her father the King–"

  [Lets the paper fall.]

  KING.

  Uncle, how now!

  Uncle, what's this!

  GLOSTER.

  Pardon me, gracious lord;

  Some sudden qualm hath struck me at the heart

  And dimm'd mine eyes, that I can read no further.

  Excuse me, gracious lord;

  some sudden tremor affected my heart

  and clouded my eyes, so I can read no more.

  KING.

  Uncle of Winchester, I pray, read on.

  My uncle of Winchester, please carry on reading.

  CARDINAL.

  [Reads] 'Item, It is further agreed between them,

  that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be released and

  delivered over to the king her father, and she sent over of the

  King of

  England's own proper cost and charges, without having any dowry.'

  “Item, it is further agreed between them

  that the duchies of Anjou and Maine shall be freed and

  handed over to her father the King, and she shall be sent over

  to be supported and maintained by King of England, without any dowry."

  KING.

  They please us well.--Lord marquess, kneel down.

  We here create thee the first duke of Suffolk,

  And girt thee with the sword.--Cousin of York,

  We here discharge your grace from being regent

  I' the parts of France, till term of eighteen months

  Be full expir'd.--Thanks, uncle Winchester,

  Gloster, York, Buckingham, Somerset,

  Salisbury, and Warwick;

  We thank you all for this great favour done

  In entertainment to my princely queen.

  Come, let us in, and with all speed provide

  To see her coronation be perform'd.

  I am happy with these conditions. Lord Marquis, kneel down.

  I now create you the first Duke of Suffolk,

  and touch you with my sword. Cousin of York,

  I hereby relieve your grace of the duties of Regent

  over the French territories, until eighteen months

  are up. Thank you, uncle Winchester,

  Gloucester, York, Buckingham, Somerset,

  Salisbury, and Warwick;

  I thank you all for the great kindness you have
done me

  in welcoming my princely Queen.

  Come, let's go inside, and as quickly as possible prepare

  for her coronation.

  [Exeunt King, Queen, and Suffolk.]

  GLOSTER.

  Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,

  To you Duke Humphrey must unload his grief,

  Your grief, the common grief of all the land.

  What! did my brother Henry spend his youth,

  His valour, coin, and people, in the wars?

  Did he so often lodge in open field,

  In winter's cold and summer's parching heat,

  To conquer France, his true inheritance?

  And did my brother Bedford toil his wits

  To keep by policy what Henry got?

  Have you yourselves, Somerset, Buckingham,

  Brave York, Salisbury, and victorious Warwick,

  Receiv'd deep scars in France and Normandy?

  Or hath mine uncle Beaufort and myself,

  With all the learned counsel of the realm,

  Studied so long, sat in the council-house

  Early and late, debating to and fro

  How France and Frenchmen might be kept in awe,

  And had his highness in his infancy

  Crowned in Paris in despite of foes?

  And shall these labours and these honours die?

  Shall Henry's conquest, Bedford's vigilance,

  Your deeds of war, and all our counsel die?

  O peers of England, shameful is this league!

  Fatal this marriage, cancelling your fame,

  Blotting your names from books of memory,

  Razing the characters of your renown,

  Defacing monuments of conquer'd France,

  Undoing all, as all had never been!

  Brave peers of England, pillars of the state,

  Duke Humphrey must reveal his sorrow to you,

  your sorrow, the shared sorrow of the whole country.

  What! Did my brother Henry not spent his youth,

  his bravery, money and people on wars?

  Did he not spend so many days living in the fields,

  in the cold of winter and the scorching heat of summer,

  to conquer France, his true inheritance?

  And did my brother Bedford not rack his brains