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

by William Shakespeare

Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither

  Into this chiefest thicket of the park.

  Thus stands the case: you know our King, my brother,

  Is prisoner to the Bishop here, at whose hands

  He hath good usage and great liberty,

  And often, but attended with weak guard,

  Comes hunting this way to disport himself.

  I have advertis'd him by secret means

  That if about this hour he make this way,

  Under the colour of his usual game,

  He shall here find his friends, with horse and men,

  To set him free from his captivity.

  [Enter KING EDWARD and a Huntsman.]

  Now, my Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley,

  you can stop wondering why I have brought you here

  to the largest wood in the park.

  This is how things stand: you know our King, my brother,

  is a prisoner of the Bishop here, who is treating him

  very well and giving him great freedom,

  and he often comes hunting this way for amusement,

  with only a small guard.

  I have warned him by secret ways

  that if he comes this way about this time,

  pretending to hunt as usual,

  he will find his friends here, with horses and men,

  to free him from his captivity.

  HUNTSMAN.

  This way, my lord, for this way lies the game.

  This way, my lord, this is where the game is.

  KING EDWARD.

  Nay, this way, man; see, where the huntsmen

  stand.--

  Now, brother of Gloster, Lord Hastings, and the rest,

  Stand you thus close to steal the bishop's deer?

  No, this way, man; see, where the huntsmen are.

  Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the rest,

  are you hiding here to steal the Bishop's deer?

  GLOSTER.

  Brother, the time and case requireth haste;

  Your horse stands ready at the park corner.

  Brother, the time and the situation needs speed;

  your horse is ready at the corner of the park.

  KING EDWARD.

  But whither shall we then?

  But then where shall we go?

  HASTINGS.

  To Lynn, my lord, and shipt from thence to Flanders.

  To Lynn, my lord, and take a ship from there to Flanders.

  GLOSTER.

  Well guess'd, believe me, for that was my meaning.

  Good thinking, that was my idea as well.

  KING EDWARD.

  Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.

  Stanley, I shall pay you for this.

  GLOSTER.

  But wherefore stay we? 't is no time to talk.

  But why are we waiting? This is no time for discussion.

  KING EDWARD.

  Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go along?

  Huntsman, what do you say? Will you come along with us?

  HUNTSMAN.

  Better do so than tarry and be hang'd.

  Better to do that than stay here and be hanged.

  GLOSTER.

  Come then; away! let's have no more ado.

  Come on then; let's go! Let's have no more fuss.

  KING EDWARD.

  Bishop, farewell; shield thee from Warwick's frown,

  And pray that I may repossess the crown.

  Bishop, farewell; guard yourself against Warwick's anger,

  and pray that I will recapture the crown.

  [Exeunt.]

  [Enter KING HENRY, CLARENCE, WARWICK, SOMERSET, Young

  RICHMOND, OXFORD, MONTAGUE, Lieutenant of the Tower, and

  Attendants.]

  KING HENRY.

  Master Lieutenant, now that God and friends

  Have shaken Edward from the regal seat

  And turn'd my captive state to liberty,

  My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys,

  At our enlargement what are thy due fees?

  Master lieutenant, now that God and my friends

  have thrown Edward off the throne

  and set me free from captivity,

  changed my fear to hope, my sorrow to joy,

  what do I owe you for my freedom?

  LIEUTENANT.

  Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns;

  But if an humble prayer may prevail,

  I then crave pardon of your Majesty.

  Subjects should ask nothing from their sovereigns;

  but if I can make a humble petition,

  then I ask your Majesty for your pardon.

  KING HENRY.

  For what, lieutenant? for well using me?

  Nay, be thou sure I'll well requite thy kindness,

  For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure;

  Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds

  Conceive when, after many moody thoughts,

  At last by notes of household harmony

  They quite forget their loss of liberty.--

  But, Warwick, after God thou sett'st me free,

  And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee;

  He was the author, thou the instrument.

  Therefore, that I may conquer fortune's spite,

  By living low where fortune cannot hurt me,

  And that the people of this blessed land

  May not be punish'd with my thwarting stars,

  Warwick, although my head still wear the crown,

  I here resign my government to thee,

  For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.

  For what, Lieutenant? For treating me well?

  No, you can be sure I will pay you well for your kindness,

  for it made my imprisonment a pleasure;

  a pleasure such as caged birds

  feel when, after many gloomy thoughts,

  the harmony of the household makes them

  quite forget they have lost their freedom.

  But Warwick, apart from God you were most instrumental

  in setting me free, and so I thank God and you;

  he planned it, you did the deed.

  Therefore, so that I can triumph over the spite of fortune,

  by living a quiet life where fortune cannot hurt me,

  and so that the people of this blessed land

  will not be punished by my obstructive stars,

  Warwick, although my head still wears the crown,

  I hereby hand over my government to you,

  for you are lucky in everything you do.

  WARWICK.

  Your grace hath still been fam'd for virtuous,

  And now may seem as wise as virtuous

  By spying and avoiding fortune's malice,

  For few men rightly temper with the stars;

  Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace,

  For choosing me when Clarence is in place.

  Your Grace is still famous for his goodness,

  and now you are being as wise as you are good

  by seeing and avoiding the opposition of fortune,

  for few men properly understand the stars;

  but let me oppose your grace in this one thing,

  you should not choose me when Clarence is available.

  CLARENCE.

  No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway,

  To whom the heavens in thy nativity

  Adjudg'd an olive branch and laurel crown,

  As likely to be blest in peace and war;

  And therefore, I yield thee my free consent.

  No, Warwick, you deserve the position,

  when you were born the heavens

  gave you an olive branch and a laurel wreath,

  showing that you would be blessed in peace and in war;

  and so, I freely cede the position to you.

  WARWICK.

  And I choose Clarence only for protector.

  And I cho
ose Clarence as regent.

  KING HENRY.

  Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.

  Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,

  That no dissension hinder government.

  I make you both protectors of this land,

  While I myself will lead a private life

  And in devotion spend my latter days,

  To sin's rebuke and my Creator's praise.

  Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands.

  Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts,

  so that no disagreement will damage the government.

  I make you both regents of this land,

  while I myself will lead a private life,

  and spend my last days in devotion,

  rejecting sin and praising my creator.

  WARWICK.

  What answers Clarence to his sovereign's will?

  What does Clarence say to his sovereign's wishes?

  CLARENCE.

  That he consents if Warwick yield consent,

  For on thy fortune I repose myself.

  That he will agree if Warwick agrees,

  for I place myself in your hands.

  WARWICK.

  Why, then, though loath, yet I must be content.

  We'll yoke together, like a double shadow

  To Henry's body, and supply his place,--

  I mean in bearing weight of government

  While he enjoys the honour and his ease.

  And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful

  Forthwith that Edward be pronounc'd a traitor,

  And all his lands and goods confiscated.

  Why then, though I disagree, I must be satisfied.

  We shall work together, like a double shadow

  of Henry's body, and work in his place,

  I mean carrying the burden of government

  while he enjoys honour and safety.

  And, Clarence, it is now essential

  that Edward is proclaimed a traitor at once,

  and all his lands and goods be confiscated.

  CLARENCE.

  What else? and that succession be determin'd.

  What else? And that the line of succession should be determined.

  WARWICK.

  Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.

  Yes, Clarence will play his part in that.

  KING HENRY.

  But with the first of all your chief affairs,

  Let me entreat--for I command no more--

  That Margaret your queen, and my son Edward,

  Be sent for to return from France with speed;

  For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear

  My joy of liberty is half eclips'd.

  May I beg you to make the most important

  business–I beg because I command no longer–

  that your Queen Margaret, and my son Edward,

  are sent for to be brought back from France at once;

  for, until I see them here, my joy at freedom

  is partly covered by doubtful fear.

  CLARENCE.

  It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.

  It shall be done, my sovereign, as quickly as possible.

  KING HENRY.

  My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that

  Of whom you seem to have so tender care?

  My Lord of Somerset, who is that youth

  whom you seem so fond of?

  SOMERSET.

  My liege, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.

  My Lord, it is young Henry, Earl of Richmond.

  KING HENRY.

  Come hither, England's hope.--If secret powers

  [Lays his hand on his head.]

  Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts,

  This pretty lad will prove our country's bliss.

  His looks are full of peaceful majesty,

  His head by nature fram'd to wear a crown,

  His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself

  Likely in time to bless a regal throne.

  Make much of him, my lords; for this is he

  Must help you more than you are hurt by me.

  Come here, hope of England. If secret powers

  have given me any insight to the future,

  this handsome lad will bring joy to our country.

  His looks are full of peaceful Majesty,

  his head has been shaped by nature to wear a crown,

  his hand to hold a sceptre, and he looks

  likely to bless a royal throne in time.

  Look after him, my lords; this is the one

  who will do you more good than I have done you harm.

  [Enter a Messenger.]

  WARWICK.

  What news, my friend?

  What's the news, my friend?

  MESSENGER.

  That Edward is escaped from your brother,

  And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.

  But Edward has escaped from your brother,

  and fled, he now hears, to Burgundy.

  WARWICK.

  Unsavoury news! but how made he escape?

  Unpleasant news! But how did he escape?

  MESSENGER.

  He was convey'd by Richard Duke of Gloster

  And the Lord Hastings, who attended him

  In secret ambush on the forest side,

  And from the bishop's huntsmen rescued him,

  For hunting was his daily exercise.

  He was taken by Richard Duke of Gloucester

  and the Lord Hastings, who waited for him

  in a secret ambush outside of the forest,

  and rescued him from the bishop's huntsmen,

  for he hunted for exercise every day.

  WARWICK.

  My brother was too careless of his charge.--

  But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide

  A salve for any sore that may betide.

  My brother was too careless with his responsibility.

  But let us go, my sovereign, and plan

  a remedy for any misfortune which comes.

  [Exeunt King Henry, Warwick, Clarence, Lieutenant, and

  attendants.]

  SOMERSET.

  My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward's,

  For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help,

  And we shall have more wars before 't be long.

  As Henry's late presaging prophecy

  Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond,

  So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts

  What may befall him, to his harm and ours;

  Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst,

  Forthwith we'll send him hence to Brittany

  Till storms be past of civil enmity.

  My lord, I do not like this business of Edward's escape,

  for Burgundy will doubtless give him assistance,

  and we shall have more wars before long.

  Just as Henry's recent foretelling prophecy

  gladdened my heart with hopes for this young Richmond,

  so I am worried that something could happen to him

  in these conflicts, which will harm him and us;

  so, Lord Oxford, to avoid the worst happening,

  which shall send him at once to Brittany,

  until all this civil strife is over.

  OXFORD.

  Ay; for if Edward repossess the crown,

  'T is like that Richmond with the rest shall down.

  Yes; for if Edward recaptures the Crown,

  Richmond will probably fall with the rest.

  SOMERSET.

  It shall be so; he shall to Brittany.

  Come therefore, let's about it speedily.

  That's right; he shall go to Brittany.

  Come on then, let's arrange it quickly.

  [Exeunt.]

  [Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and Forces.]

  KING EDWARD.

  Now, b
rother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest,

  Yet thus far fortune maketh us amends,

  And says that once more I shall interchange

  My waned state for Henry's regal crown.

  Well have we pass'd and now repass'd the seas,

  And brought desired help from Burgundy.

  What then remains, we being thus arriv'd

  From Ravenspurg haven before the gates of York,

  But that we enter as into our dukedom?

  Now, brother Richard, Lord Hastings, and the rest,

  so far fortune has been friendly to us,

  and says that once again I shall exchange

  my reduced state for Henry's royal crown.

  We have profitably crossed and recrossed the sea,

  and brought the help we wanted from Burgundy.

  So what is left, as we have now arrived

  from the harbour at Ravensburgh to the gates of York,

  but for us to go in as if claiming our dukedom?

  GLOSTER.

  The gates made fast!--Brother, I like not this;

  For many men that stumble at the threshold

  Are well foretold that danger lurks within.

  The gates are shut! Brother, I don't like this;

  many men who trip on the threshold

  are being given a warning of the danger inside.

  KING EDWARD.

  Tush, man! abodements must not now affright us;

  By fair or foul means we must enter in,

  For hither will our friends repair to us.

  Nonsense, man! We must not be frightened by presentiment;

  we must go in by fair or foul means,