The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 152
Marry, thou oughtest not to let thy horse wear a cloak
when honester men than thou go in their hose and doublets.
Well, you shouldn't let your horse wear a cloak
when more honest men than you go about in their shirt and stockings.
DICK.
And work in their shirt too; as myself, for example, that
am a butcher.
And work in their shirts too; for example myself, who
is a butcher.
SAY.
You men of Kent,--
You men of Kent–
DICK.
What say you of Kent?
What are you saying about Kent?
SAY.
Nothing but this; 't is 'bona terra, mala gens.'
Only this, that it's a good country, with horrible people.
CADE.
Away with him, away with him! he speaks Latin.
Take him away, take him away! He's talking Latin.
SAY.
Hear me but speak, and bear me where you will.
Kent, in the Commentaries Caesar writ,
Is term'd the civil'st place of all this isle.
Sweet is the country, because full of riches;
The people liberal, valiant, active, wealthy;
Which makes me hope you are not void of pity.
I sold not Maine, I lost not Normandy,
Yet, to recover them, would lose my life.
Justice with favour have I always done;
Prayers and tears have mov'd me, gifts could never.
When have I aught exacted at your hands
But to maintain the king, the realm, and you?
Large gifts have I bestow'd on learned clerks,
Because my book preferr'd me to the king;
And seeing ignorance is the curse of God,
Knowledge the wing wherewith we fly to heaven,
Unless you be possess'd with devilish spirits,
You cannot but forbear to murther me.
This tongue hath parley'd unto foreign kings
For your behoof,--
Just hear me talk, and take me where you want.
In the works of Caesar he said that
Kent was the loveliest place in this whole island.
The country is sweet, because it's fertile;
the people generous, brave, active and wealthy;
and that makes me hope that you are not completely without pity.
I did not sell Maine, I did not lose Normandy,
but I would give my life to get them back.
I have always tempered justice with mercy;
I have been moved by prayers and tears, never gifts.
When have I ever taken any tax except
for the maintenance of the King, the country, and you?
I have given great gifts to learned clerks,
because my books brought me to the notice of the King;
and as ignorance is the curse of God,
and knowledge the wings with which we fly to heaven,
unless you are possessed by the devil,
you must refrain from murdering me.
This town has spoken to foreign kings
on your behalf–
CADE.
Tut, when struck'st thou one blow in the field?
Tut, when did you ever strike a single blow on the battlefield?
SAY.
Great men have reaching hands; oft have I struck
Those that I never saw, and struck them dead.
Great men have a long reach; I have often struck
those that I never saw, and struck them dead.
GEORGE.
O monstrous coward! what, to come behind folks?
You monstrous coward! What, you hit them from behind?
SAY.
These cheeks are pale for watching for your good.
My cheeks are pale from the amount of effort I spent on your behalf.
CADE.
Give him a box o' the ear, and that will make 'em red
again.
Box his ears, and that will make them red again.
SAY.
Long sitting to determine poor men's causes
Hath made me full of sickness and diseases.
Working hard on behalf of poor men
has filled me with sickness and disease.
CADE.
Ye shall have a hempen caudle then, and the help of
hatchet.
We'll give you a nice broth then, and cure you
with an axe.
DICK.
Why dost thou quiver, man?
Why are you shaking, man?
SAY.
The palsy, and not fear, provokes me.
It's palsy, not fear, that's doing it.
CADE.
Nay, he nods at us, as who should say, I'll be even with
you. I'll see if his head will stand steadier on a pole or
no. Take him away, and behead him.
He's nodding at us, like someone saying, I'll get
even with you. I'll see if his head will be steadier
on a pole or not. Take him away, and cut off his head.
SAY.
Tell me wherein have I offended most?
Have I affected wealth or honour? speak.
Are my chests fill'd up with extorted gold?
Is my apparel sumptuous to behold?
Whom have I injur'd, that ye seek my death?
These hands are free from guiltless bloodshedding,
This breast from harbouring foul deceitful thoughts.
O, let me live!
Tell me what my worst offence is?
Have I looked for wealth or honour? Tell me.
Are my chests filled up with extorted gold?
Do I have wonderful clothes?
Whom have I injured, to make you want to kill me?
My hands have never shed innocent blood,
and my heart has never entertained foul deceitful thoughts.
Oh, let me live!
CADE.
[Aside.] I feel remorse in myself with his words, but I'll bridle
it; he shall die, an it be but for pleading so well for his
life.--
Away with him! he has a familiar under his tongue; he speaks not
o' God's name. Go, take him away, I say, and strike off his head
presently; and then break into his son-in-law's house, Sir James
Cromer, and strike off his head, and bring them both upon two
poles hither.
His words make me feel bad, but I won't give
into it; he shall die, it's only because he's pleading so well for his
life–
take him away! He has a daemon under his tongue; he doesn't speak
in gods name. Go, take him away, I say, and cut off his head
at once; and then break into the house of his son-in-law, Sir James
Cromer, and cut off his head, and bring them both here on two
poles.
ALL.
It shall be done.
This shall be done.
SAY.
Ah, countrymen! if when you make your prayers,
God should be so obdurate as yourselves,
How would it fare with your departed souls?
And therefore yet relent, and save my life.
Ah countrymen! If God is as stubborn as you
when you make your prayers to him,
what would happen to your dead souls?
And so do not do this, save my life.
CADE.
Away with him! and do as I command ye.--[Exeunt some with
Lord Say.] The proudest peer in the realm shall not
wear a head on his shoulders unless he pay me tribute; there
shall not a maid be married but she shall pay to me her
maidenhead ere they have it. Men shall hold of me in capite;
and we charge and command that their wives be as free
as
heart can wish or tongue can tell.
Take him away! And do as I order.
The greatest peer in the country will not
keep his head on his shoulders unless he bows down to me; there
won't be a girl married who doesn't give me her
virginity before her wedding. Men shall have me as their leader;
and I order and command that their wives should be as open
to me as a heart could wish or a tongue could tell.
DICK.
My lord, when shall we go to Cheapside, and take up
commodities upon our bills?
My Lord, when shall we go up to Cheapside and
claim what is rightfully ours?
CADE.
Marry, presently.
Why, at once.
ALL.
O, brave!
Excellent!
[Re-enter one with the heads.]
CADE.
But is not this braver? Let them kiss one another,
for they loved well when they were alive. Now part them again,
lest they consult about the giving up of some more towns in
France.--Soldiers, defer the spoil of the city until night; for
with these borne before us, instead of maces will we ride
through the streets, and at every corner have them kiss.--Away!
Isn't this excellent? Let them kiss each other,
for they loved each other very much when they were alive. Now take them apart,
to stop them talking about surrendering some more French towns.
Soldiers, don't sack the city until nighttime; for
we shall ride through the streets carrying these instead of
maces, and will have them kiss at every corner. Let's go!
[Exeunt.]
[Alarum and retreat. Enter CADE and all his rabblement.]
CADE.
Up Fish Street! down Saint Magnus' Corner! kill
and knock down! Throw them into Thames! [Sound a parley.]
What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to sound retreat
or parley when I command them kill?
Go up Fish Street! Down to St Magnus' Corner! Kill
and destroy! Throw them into the Thames!
What is this noise I hear? Is anyone so bold as to
sound a retreat or ask for truce when I order them to kill?
[Enter BUCKINGHAM and old CLIFFORD, attended.]
BUCKINGHAM.
Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee.
Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the king
Unto the commons whom thou hast misled,
And here pronounce free pardon to them all
That will forsake thee and go home in peace.
Yes, here are the ones who dare and will disturb you.
Cade, you should know that we come as ambassadors from the King
to speak to the common people whom you have misled,
and here we announce a free pardon for all who
will leave you and go home peacefully.
CLIFFORD.
What say ye, countrymen? will ye relent
And yield to mercy whilst 't is offer'd you,
Or let a rebel lead you to your deaths?
Who loves the king and will embrace his pardon,
Fling up his cap, and say 'God save his Majesty!'
Who hateth him and honours not his father,
Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake,
Shake he his weapon at us and pass by.
What do you say, countrymen? Will you surrender
and accept mercy while it is offered to you,
or let a rebel lead you to your deaths?
If anyone loves the King and will accept his pardon,
throw up your hat, and say “God save his Majesty!"
Anyone who hates him and does not respect his father,
Henry the Fifth, who terrified all of France,
he can shake his weapon at us and move on.
ALL.
God save the king! God save the king!
God save the king! God save the king!
CADE.
What, Buckingham and Clifford, are ye so brave?--
And you, base peasants, do ye believe him? will you needs be
hang'd with your pardons about your necks? Hath my sword therefore
broke through London gates, that you should leave me at the
White Hart in Southwark? I thought ye would never have given
out these arms till you had recovered your ancient freedom;
but you are all recreants and dastards, and delight to live in
slavery to the nobility. Let them break your backs with burthens,
take your houses over your heads, ravish your wives and daughters
before your faces. For me, I will make shift for one; and so,
God's curse light upon you all!
What, Buckingham and Clifford, are you so bold?
And you, low peasants, do you believe them? Do want to be
hanged with your pardons around your necks? Is this why my
sword broke through the gates of London, so that you could leave me at the
White Hart in Southwark? I thought you would never give up
your arms until you had recovered your ancient freedoms;
but you are all traitors and bastards, and love to live as
slaves to noblemen. Let them break your backs with burdens,
steal the roofs from over your heads, rape your wives and daughters
in front of you. I shall keep on going; and so,
may God curse you all!
ALL.
We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade!
We'll follow Cade, we'll follow Cade!
CLIFFORD.
Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth,
That thus you do exclaim you'll go with him?
Will he conduct you through the heart of France,
And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?
Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to;
Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil,
Unless by robbing of your friends and us.
Were 't not a shame that whilst you live at jar
The fearful French, whom you late vanquished,
Should make a start o'er seas and vanquish you?
Methinks already in this civil broil
I see them lording it in London streets,
Crying 'Villiaco!' unto all they meet.
Better ten thousand base-born Cades miscarry
Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman's mercy.
To France, to France, and get what you have lost;
Spare England, for it is your native coast.
Henry hath money, you are strong and manly;
God on our side, doubt not of victory.
Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth, is that
why you say you'll follow him?
Will he lead you through the heart of France,
and make the lowest of you earls and dukes?
Alas, he has no home, no place to run to;
he doesn't know how to live except by sifting dung heaps,
unless it's by robbing your friends and us.
Isn't it shameful that while you fight each other
the fearsome French, whom you recently defeated,
could come over the sea and defeat you?
I think that I can already see, due to this civil disturbance,
them lording it around the streets of London,
crying “villain!" to everyone they meet.
It's better for ten thousand lowborn Cades to fail
than for you to bow down before the mercy of a Frenchman.
Go to France, to France, and reclaim what you have lost;
spare England, for it is your native land.
Henry has money, and you are strong and manly;
with God on our side, we cannot lose.
ALL.
A Clifford! a Clifford! we'll follow the king and
Clifford.
Clifford! Clifford! We'll follow the king and
Clifford.
CADE.
Was ever feather so lightly blown to and fro as this
multitude? The name of Henry the Fifth hales them to an hundred
mischiefs and makes them leave me desolate. I see them lay their
heads together to surprise me. My sword make way for me, for
here is no staying.--In despite of the devils and hell, have
through the very middest of you! and heavens and honour be
witness
that no want of resolution in me, but only my followers' base and
ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my heels.
Did any feather ever blow so lightly to and fro as this
crowd? The name of Henry the Fifth encourages them to
a hundred mischiefs and makes them leave me alone. I see them
conferring as to how to ambush me. My sword must cut a path for me, for
there's no staying here. In spite of the devil and hell, I'll drive
straight through the middle of you! May heaven and honour witness
that I have no lack of bravery, it's only the low and shameful
treason of my followers that makes me run.
[Exit.]
BUCKINGHAM.
What, is he fled?--Go some, and follow him;
And he that brings his head unto the king
Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.--
[Exeunt some of them.]
Follow me, soldiers; we'll devise a mean
To reconcile you all unto the king.
What, has he fled? Some of you go, and follow him;
whoever brings his head to the King
shall have a thousand crowns as his reward.