Get out, you lowly rascals! Suffolk, get rid of them.
ALL.
Come, let's be gone.
Come, let's go.
[Exeunt.]
QUEEN.
My Lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise,
Is this the fashion in the court of England?
Is this the government of Britain's isle,
And this the royalty of Albion's king?
What, shall King Henry be a pupil still
Under the surly Gloster's governance?
Am I a queen in title and in style,
And must be made a subject to a duke?
I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours
Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love
And stol'st away the ladies' hearts of France,
I thought King Henry had resembled thee
In courage, courtship, and proportion;
But all his mind is bent to holiness,
To number Ave-Maries on his beads,
His champions are the prophets and apostles,
His weapons holy saws of sacred writ,
His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves
Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints.
I would the college of the cardinals
Would choose him pope and carry him to Rome,
And set the triple crown upon his head;
That were a state fit for his holiness.
My Lord of Suffolk, tell me, is this the way
things carry on in the court of England?
Is this the way the British isle is governed,
and this is the way royalty is respected?
What, does King Henry have to remain a pupil
under the rule of surly Gloucester?
Am I a Queen in position and place,
and have to be a subject of a duke?
I tell you, Pole, when in the city of Tours
you jousted to win my love
and stole away the hearts of the ladies in France,
I thought that King Henry resembled you
in courage, body and manners;
but all he thinks about is holy things,
to count Ave Marias on his rosary,
his champions are the prophets and apostles,
his weapons are the holy sayings of the scriptures,
his study is his jousting ground, and his lovers
are bronze statues of the saints.
I wish the College of Cardinals
would make him Pope and carry him to Rome,
and put the triple crown on his head,
that would be the right place for his holiness.
SUFFOLK.
Madam, be patient; as I was cause
Your highness came to England, so will I
In England work your grace's full content.
Madam, be patient; as I was the one
who brought your Highness to England, so I will
work in England for your grace's happiness.
QUEEN.
Beside the haughty protector, have we Beaufort
The imperious churchman, Somerset, Buckingham,
And grumbling York; and not the least of these
But can do more in England than the king.
Apart from the arrogant protector, we have Beaufort
the arrogant clergyman, Somerset, Buckingham,
and grumbling York; the lowest of these
has more power in England than the King.
SUFFOLK.
And he of these that can do most of all
Cannot do more in England than the Nevils;
Salisbury and Warwick are no simple peers.
And the one with the greatest power
doesn't have more power in England than the Nevils;
Salisbury and Warwick are not just peers.
QUEEN.
Not all these lords do vex me half so much
As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife.
She sweeps it through the court with troops of ladies,
More like an empress than Duke Humphrey's wife.
Strangers in court do take her for the queen;
She bears a duke's revenues on her back,
And in her heart she scorns our poverty.
Shall I not live to be aveng'd on her?
Contemptuous base-born callat as she is,
She vaunted 'mongst her minions t' other day,
The very train of her worst wearing gown
Was better worth than all my father's land
Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.
All of these laws together don't annoy me half as much
as that arrogant lady, the wife of the lord protector.
She flounces through the court with groups of ladies,
more like an empress than the wife of Duke Humphrey.
Foreigners in the court imagine that she's the Queen;
she enjoys the income of a duke,
and in her heart she hates our poverty.
Will I not get revenge on her?
Arrogant low-born peasant that she is,
she boasted to her followers the other day
that the train of her oldest dress
was worth more than everything my father had
until Suffolk gave him two dukedoms in exchange for his daughter.
SUFFOLK.
Madam, myself have lim'd a bush for her,
And plac'd a quire of such enticing birds
That she will light to listen to the lays,
And never mount to trouble you again.
So, let her rest; and, madam, list to me,
For I am bold to counsel you in this.
Although we fancy not the cardinal,
Yet must we join with him and with the lords
Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace.
As for the Duke of York, this late complaint
Will make but little for his benefit.
So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last,
And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.
Madam, I myself have set a trap for her,
baited with such lovely birds
that she will be delighted to listen to the music,
and will never rise to trouble you again.
So, enough about her; and, madam, listen to me,
for I want to give you this advice.
Although we don't like the cardinal,
we must make an alliance with him and the lords
until we have caused the disgrace of Duke Humphrey.
As for the Duke of York, what he's been saying
won't do him any good.
So, one by one, we shall pick them all off,
and you yourself will be in control.
[Sennet. Enter the KING, DUKE HUMPHREY, CARDINAL
BEAUFORT, BUCKINGHAM, YORK, SOMERSET, SALISBURY,
WARWICK, and the DUCHESS OF GLOSTER.]
KING.
For my part, noble lords, I care not which;
Or Somerset or York, all's one to me.
For my part, noble lords, I don't care who;
Somerset or York, it's all the same to me.
YORK.
If York have ill demean'd himself in France,
Then let him be denay'd the regentship.
If York has done a bad job in France,
then let him be refused the Regency.
SOMERSET.
If Somerset be unworthy of the place,
Let York be regent; I will yield to him.
If Somerset doesn't deserve the place,
let York be Regent; I will surrender to him.
WARWICK.
Whether your grace be worthy, yea or no,
Dispute not that; York is the worthier.
The argument isn't whether your Grace is worthy or not,
it is that York is more worthy.
CARDINAL.
Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.
Ambitious Warwick, let your
superiors speak.
WARWICK.
The cardinal's not my better in the field.
The Cardinal is not my superior on the battlefield.
BUCKINGHAM.
All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.
Everyone here is your superior, Warwick.
WARWICK.
Warwick may live to be the best of all.
Warwick may live to be superior to them all.
SALISBURY.
Peace, son!--and show some reason, Buckingham,
Why Somerset should be preferr'd in this.
Peace, son! Show some reason, Buckingham,
why Somerset should have preference in this matter.
QUEEN.
Because the king, forsooth, will have it so.
Because the king, by God, wants him to.
GLOSTER.
Madam, the King is old enough himself
To give his censure; these are no women's matters.
Madam, the King is old enough to give his
opinions himself; this is no business for a woman.
QUEEN.
If he be old enough, what needs your grace
To be protector of his excellence?
If he's old enough then why is your Grace
still his Regent?
GLOSTER.
Madam, I am protector of the realm,
And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.
Madam, I am protector of the kingdom,
and I shall resign my position when he wants me to.
SUFFOLK.
Resign it then, and leave thine insolence.
Since thou wert king--as who is king but thou?--
The commonwealth hath daily run to wrack;
The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas;
And all the peers and nobles of the realm
Have been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.
Then resign, and let's have no more of your insolence.
Since you have been King–for who is king apart from you?–
The country has been run into the ground;
the Dauphin has triumphed overseas;
and all the peers and nobles of the country
have been made slaves to your rule.
CARDINAL.
The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bags
Are lank and lean with thy extortions.
You have stripped the assets of the common people;
the treasury of the church is empty from your extortion.
SOMERSET.
Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife's attire
Have cost a mass of public treasury.
Your great houses and your wife's clothes
have cost a great deal of public money.
BUCKINGHAM.
Thy cruelty in execution
Upon offenders hath exceeded law,
And left thee to the mercy of the law.
Your cruelty in executing
wrongdoers has been above the law,
and left you open to the punishment of the law.
QUEEN.
Thy sale of offices and towns in France,
If they were known, as the suspect is great,
Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.--
[Exit Gloster. The Queen drops her fan..]
Give me my fan. What minion! can ye not?
[She gives the Duchess a box on the ear.]
I cry your mercy, madam; was it you?
The way you sold titles and towns in France,
if it was known, for everyone suspects,
would soon mean your head would be off–
Give me my fan. What, servant! Won't you do it?
I beg your pardon, madam; was that you?
DUCHESS.
Was 't I! yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman.
Could I come near your beauty with my nails,
I'd set my ten commandments in your face.
Was it me! Yes, it was me, arrogant Frenchwoman.
If I could get at your beauty with my nails,
I would scratch the ten commandments into your face.
KING.
Sweet aunt, be quiet; 't was against her will.
Sweet aunt, be quiet; it was an accident.
DUCHESS.
Against her will! good king, look to 't in time;
She'll hamper thee and dandle thee like a baby.
Though in this place most master wear no breeches,
She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unreveng'd.
Accident! Good king, sort this out before it's too late.
She will block you and handle you like a baby.
Although no man seems to wear the trousers in this place,
she shall not hit Dame Eleanor without punishment.
[Exit.]
BUCKINGHAM.
Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor,
And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds.
She's tickled now; her fume needs no spurs,
She'll gallop far enough to her destruction.
Lord Cardinal, I will follow Eleanor,
and listen to what Humphrey intends to do about this.
We've got her going now; her anger needs no encouragement,
she will rush on to her own downfall.
[Exit.]
[Re-enter GLOSTER.]
GLOSTER.
Now, lords, my choler being overblown
With walking once about the quadrangle,
I come to talk of commonwealth affairs.
As for your spiteful false objections,
Prove them, and I lie open to the law;
But God in mercy so deal with my soul
As I in duty love my king and country!
But, to the matter that we have in hand:
I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man
To be your regent in the realm of France.
Now, lords, I've walked off my anger
by taking a turn round the quadrangle,
and I've come to talk of the business of the country.
As for your spiteful accusations,
prove them, and I will face the punishment of the law;
but may God be as merciful with my soul
as I am dutiful and loving to my king and country!
But, as for the business in hand:
I say, my King, York is the best man
to be your representative in France.
SUFFOLK.
Before we make election, give me leave
To show some reason, of no little force,
That York is most unmeet of any man.
Before we make the choice, give me permission
to show a very good reason
why York is the most unsuitable man of anyone.
YORK.
I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet:
First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride;
Next, if I be appointed for the place,
My Lord of Somerset will keep me here,
Without discharge, money, or furniture,
Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands.
Last time, I danc'd attendance on his will
Till Paris was besieg'd, famish'd, and lost.
I'll tell you, Suffolk, why I am not fit:
firstly, because I can't beat you for arrogance;
next, if I am given the position,
my Lord of Somerset will keep me here,
without orders, money or equipment,
until the Dauphin has won all of France.
Last time I was kept waiting for him
until Paris had been besieged, starved, and lost.
WARWICK.
That can I witness; and a fouler fact
Did never traitor in the land commit.
I can vouch for that; no traitor
ever did a worse thing for this country.
SUFFOLK.
Peace, headstrong Warwick!
Quiet, hasty Warwick!
WARWICK.
/> Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?
You picture of arrogance, why should I be quiet?
[Enter HORNER and his man PETER, guarded.]
SUFFOLK.
Because here is a man accus'd of treason.
Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself!
Because here is a man accused of treason.
May God help the Duke of York to explain himself!
YORK.
Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?
Is someone accusing York of being a traitor?
KING.
What mean'st thou, Suffolk? tell me, what are these?
What are you talking about, Suffolk? Tell me, who are these people?
SUFFOLK.
Please it your majesty, this is the man
That doth accuse his master of high treason.
His words were these: that Richard Duke of York
Was rightful heir unto the English crown,
And that your majesty was an usurper.
If you please, your Majesty, this is the man
who is accusing his master of high treason.
This is what he said: that Richard Duke of York
was the true heir of the English crown,
and that your Majesty was a usurper.
KING.
Say, man, were these thy words?
Tell me, man, is this what you said?
HORNER.
An 't shall please your majesty, I never said nor
thought any such matter; God is my witness, I am
falsely accused by the villain.
If you please, your Majesty, I never said or
thought any such thing; as God is my witness, I am
falsely accused by this villain.
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Page 138