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

by William Shakespeare

  are closest to Warwick through blood and friendship;

  tell me if you favour Warwick over me?

  If that's the case, then both go to him.

  I would rather have you as enemies than false friends;

  but if you have decided to stick to your proper loyalty,

  give me a guarantee with some oath of friendship,

  so that I never have to suspect you.

  MONTAGUE.

  So God help Montague as he proves true!

  God help Montague if he proves loyal!

  HASTINGS.

  And Hastings as he favours Edward's cause!

  And Hastings as long as he supports Edward!

  KING EDWARD.

  Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?

  Now, brother Richard, will you stick with me?

  GLOSTER.

  Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you.

  Yes, in spite of everybody who is against you.

  KING EDWARD.

  Why, so! then am I sure of victory.

  Now, therefore, let us hence; and lose no hour

  Till we meet Warwick with his foreign pow'r.

  Good! Then I am certain to win.

  So, let us go there; we won't waste any time

  until we meet Warwick and his foreign forces.

  [Exeunt.]

  [Enter WARWICK and OXFORD with French and other Forces.]

  WARWICK.

  Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well;

  The common people by numbers swarm to us.

  But see where Somerset and Clarence comes!--

  [Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET.]

  Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?

  Trust me, my lord, everything is going well;

  the common people are flocking to us in great numbers.

  But look, here comes Somerset and Clarence!

  Speak at once, my lords, are we all friends?

  CLARENCE.

  Fear not that, my lord.

  Do not worry about that, my lord.

  WARWICK.

  Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick;--

  And welcome, Somerset.--I hold it cowardice

  To rest mistrustful where a noble heart

  Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love;

  Else might I think that Clarence, Edward's brother,

  Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings.

  But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.

  And now what rests but, in night's coverture,

  Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd,

  His soldiers lurking in the towns about,

  And but attended by a simple guard,

  We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?

  Our scouts have found the adventure very easy;

  That as Ulysses and stout Diomede

  With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents,

  And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds,

  So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle,

  At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,

  And seize himself,--I say not slaughter him,

  For I intend but only to surprise him.--

  You that will follow me to this attempt,

  Applaud the name of Henry with your leader.

  [They all cry, 'Henry!']

  Why then, let's on our way in silent sort;

  For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!

  Then, gentle Clarence, Warwick welcomes you;

  and welcome, Somerset. I think it is cowardly

  to be distrustful when a noble person

  has offered an open hand as a sign of love;

  otherwise I might imagine that Clarence, brother of Edward,

  is only pretending to be our ally.

  But welcome, sweet Clarence, you shall have my daughter.

  Now what else should we do except by night,

  as your brother has pitched his camp carelessly,

  and his soldiers are scattered in surrounding towns,

  and he only has a small guard,

  ambush him and capture him as we please?

  Our spies have found that the job will be very easy;

  like Ulysses and brave Diomede

  who cunningly and bravely sneaked to Rhesus' tent,

  and led away the deadly Thracian horses,

  that's how we, well disguised under the cloak of night,

  can catch Edward's guard unawares,

  and capture him. I don't say kill him,

  for I intend just to capture him.

  Those of you who will join with me in this attempt,

  shout out the name of Henry as your leader.

  Well then, let's go on our way in silence;

  for Warwick and his friends, God and St George!

  [Exeunt.]

  [Enter certain Watchmen, to guard the KING'S tent.]

  1 WATCHMAN.

  Come on, my masters, each man take his stand;

  The king by this is set him down to sleep.

  Come on, lads, everyone take his place;

  the King has settled down to sleep.

  2 WATCHMAN.

  What, will he not to bed?

  What, won't he go to bed?

  1 WATCHMAN.

  Why, no; for he hath made a solemn vow

  Never to lie and take his natural rest

  Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd.

  Why, no; he has taken a solemn vow

  that he will never lie down for proper sleep

  until Warwick or himself has been beaten.

  2 WATCHMAN.

  To-morrow, then, belike shall be the day,

  If Warwick be so near as men report.

  So it seems that tomorrow will be the day,

  if Warwick is as close as men say.

  3 WATCHMAN.

  But say, I pray, what nobleman is that

  That with the king here resteth in his tent?

  But tell me, please, who is that nobleman

  who is staying with the king in his tent?

  1 WATCHMAN.

  'T is the Lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend.

  That's Lord Hastings, the King's closest friend.

  3 WATCHMAN.

  O, is it So? But why commands the king

  That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,

  While he himself keeps in the cold field?

  Oh, is that it? Why does the King order that

  his main followers stay in the towns all around,

  while he himself stays in this cold field?

  2 WATCHMAN.

  'T is the more honour, because more dangerous.

  It's more honourable, because it's more dangerous.

  3 WATCHMAN.

  Ay, but give me worship and quietness;

  I like it better than dangerous honour.

  If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,

  'T is to be doubted he would waken him.

  Yes, but give me peace and quiet;

  I like it better than this dangerous honour.

  If Warwick knew how things are here,

  I've no doubt he would wake him up.

  1 WATCHMAN.

  Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.

  Unless our halberds blocked his way.

  2 WATCHMAN.

  Ay; wherefore else guard we his royal tent

  But to defend his person from night-foes?

  Yes, why else would we be guarding his royal tent

  except to defend him from enemies in the night?

  [Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET,

  and Forces silently.]

  WARWICK.

  This is his tent; and see where, stand his guard.

  Courage, my masters! honour now or never!

  But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.

  This is his tent; and you can see where his guards are.

  Courage, my lads! We will win honour
now or never!

  Just follow me, and we shall have Edward.

  1 WATCHMAN.

  Who goes there?

  Who goes there?

  2 WATCHMAN.

  Stay, or thou diest.

  Stop, or you're dead.

  [Warwick and the rest cry all, 'Warwick! Warwick!' and

  set upon the guard, who fly, crying 'Arm! Arm!' Warwick

  and the rest following them.]

  [Drum beating and trumpet sounding; enter WARWICK

  and the rest, bringing the KING out in his gown sitting in

  a chair. GLOSTER and HASTINGS fly over the stage.]

  SOMERSET.

  What are they that fly there?

  Who are those running away?

  WARWICK.

  Richard and Hastings. Let them go; here is the duke.

  Richard and Hastings. Let them go; here's the Duke.

  KING EDWARD.

  The duke! why, Warwick, when we parted,

  Thou call'dst me king?

  The Duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted,

  didn't you call me king?

  WARWICK.

  Ay, but the case is alter'd;

  When you disgrac'd me in my embassade,

  Then I degraded you from being king,

  And come now to create you Duke of York.

  Alas! how should you govern any kingdom

  That know not how to use ambassadors,

  Nor how to be contented with one wife,

  Nor how to use your brothers brotherly,

  Nor how to study for the people's welfare,

  Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

  Yes, but things have changed;

  when you disgraced me as ambassador,

  then I demoted you from being king,

  and I have come now to make you Duke of York.

  Alas! How can you rule any kingdom

  when you don't know how to use ambassadors,

  you don't know how to be happy with one wife,

  you don't know how to treat your brothers properly,

  you don't know how to look after your people,

  and you don't know how to protect yourself from enemies?

  KING EDWARD.

  Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?

  Nay, then I see that Edward needs must down.--

  Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance

  Of thee thyself and all thy complices,

  Edward will always bear himself as king;

  Though fortune's malice overthrow my state,

  My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.

  Oh, my brother Clarence, are you here too?

  Well, I see that Edward must surrender.

  But, Warwick, in spite of all the trouble caused

  by you and your accomplices,

  Edward will always carry himself as a king;

  although the hatred of fortune has stolen my position,

  my mind is greater than her machinations.

  WARWICK.

  Then for his mind be Edward England's king;

  [Takes off his crown.]

  But Henry now shall wear the English crown

  And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow.--

  My Lord of Somerset, at my request,

  See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd

  Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.

  When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,

  I'll follow you and tell what answer

  Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him.--

  Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York.

  Then let Edward be England's king in his mind;

  but Henry will now wear the English crown

  and be the true king, you will just be his shadow.

  My Lord of Somerset, I ask you that

  Duke Edward is taken at once

  to my brother, Archbishop of York.

  When I have fought with Pembroke and his associates,

  I will follow you and tell you the answer

  that Louis and the Lady Bona has sent him.

  Now, farewell for a while, good Duke of York.

  KING EDWARD.

  What fates impose, that men must needs abide;

  It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

  What fate imposes, men must tolerate;

  there's no point in fighting the winds and tides.

  [Exit King Edward, led out; Somerset with him.]

  OXFORD.

  What now remains, my lords, for us to do,

  But march to London with our soldiers?

  What is left, my lords, for us to do,

  but to march on London with our soldiers?

  WARWICK.

  Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do,--

  To free King Henry from imprisonment

  And see him seated in the regal throne.

  Yes, there is the first thing we have to do;

  to free King Henry from imprisonment

  and put him back on his royal throne.

  [Exeunt.]

  [Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and RIVERS.]

  RIVERS.

  Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?

  Madam, why have you changed so suddenly?

  QUEEN ELIZABETH.

  Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn

  What late misfortune is befallen King Edward?

  Why, brother Rivers, haven't you heard

  the recent misfortunes of King Edward?

  RIVERS.

  What! loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick?

  What! Did he lose some great battle against Warwick?

  QUEEN ELIZABETH.

  No, but the loss of his own royal person.

  No, but he lost himself.

  RIVERS.

  Then is my sovereign slain?

  So my king is dead?

  QUEEN ELIZABETH.

  Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner,

  Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard

  Or by his foe surpris'd at unawares,

  And, as I further have to understand,

  Is new committed to the Bishop of York,

  Fell Warwick's brother and by that our foe.

  Yes, as good as dead, for he has been taken prisoner,

  either betrayed by a traitorous guard

  or ambushed by his enemies,

  and, as I have further been told,

  has now been sent to the Bishop of York,

  terrible Warwick's brother and so our enemy.

  RIVERS.

  These news, I must confess, are full of grief;

  Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may.

  Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.

  This news, I admit, is full of sorrow;

  but, gracious madam, bear up as best you can.

  Warwick has won today, but he may still lose.

  QUEEN ELIZABETH.

  Till then, fair hope must hinder life's decay;

  And I the rather wean me from despair,

  For love of Edward's offspring in my womb.

  This is it that makes me bridle passion

  And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross;

  Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear,

  And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,

  Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown

  King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English crown.

  Until then, we must sustain ourselves with sweet hope;

  and I will not allow myself to despair,

  out of love for the child of Edward in my womb.

  That is what makes me calm myself

  and bear this bad luck with fortitude;

  yes, yes, this is why I keep in my tears,

  and suppress my sighs,

  in case my sighs or tears could blast or drown

  the child of King Edward, the true heir of the English crown.

  RIVERS.

  But, madam, where is Warwick then beco
me?

  But madam, where has Warwick gone now?

  QUEEN ELIZABETH.

  I am inform'd that he comes towards London,

  To set the crown once more on Henry's head.

  Guess thou the rest: King Edward's friends must down;

  But to prevent the tyrant's violence,--

  For trust not him that hath once broken faith,--

  I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,

  To save at least the heir of Edward's right.

  There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.

  Come therefore, let us fly while we may fly;

  If Warwick take us, we are sure to die.

  I am told that he is coming towards London,

  to put the crown back on Henry's head.

  You can guess the rest: King Edward's friends must surrender;

  but to avoid the violence of the tyrant,

  for do not trust anyone who has previously broken promises,

  I will go at once to the sanctuary,

  so that I can at least save the heir of Edward's rights.

  There I can rest safe from violence and trickery.

  So come, let's run while we can;

  if Warwick captures us, we shall certainly die.

  [Exeunt.]

  [Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, SIR WILLIAM STANLEY, and others.]

  GLOSTER.

  Now, my Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley,