The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
Page 173
[Enter, upon the walls, WARWICK, the Mayor of Coventry, two
Messengers, and others.]
WARWICK.
Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?--
How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?
Where is the message that came from brave Oxford?
How far away is your lord, my honest fellow?
1 MESSENGER.
By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.
He sent this from Dunsmore, marching this way.
WARWICK.
How far off is our brother Montague?
Where is the post that came from Montague?
How far away is my brother Montague?
Where is the messenger who came from Montague?
2 MESSENGER.
By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.
He sent this from Daintry, with a strong force.
[Enter SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE.]
WARWICK.
Say, Somerville, what says my loving son?
And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?
Somerville, what does my loving son say?
And how far away do you estimate Clarence is now?
SOMERVILLE.
At Southam I did leave him with his forces
And do expect him here some two hours hence.
I left him at Southam with his forces
and I expect him to be here two hours from now.
[Drum heard.]
WARWICK.
Then Clarence is at hand; I hear his drum.
So Clarence is nearby; I can hear his drum.
SOMERVILLE.
It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies.
The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.
That's not his, my lord; Southam is over there.
The drum you can hear is coming from Warwick.
WARWICK.
Who should that be? belike, unlook'd-for friends.
Who would that be? Probably unexpected friends.
SOMERVILLE.
They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.
They are nearby, you shall soon know.
[March. Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, and Forces.]
KING EDWARD.
Go, trumpet, to the walls and sound a parle.
Trumpeter, go up to the walls and call for a meeting.
GLOSTER.
See how the surly Warwick mans the wall.
Look how the angry Warwick walks on the wall.
WARWICK.
O, unbid spite! Is sportful Edward come?
Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduc'd,
That we could hear no news of his repair?
Oh, unwanted problem! Has the game Edward come?
Where were our spies sleeping, or how have they been bribed,
that we did not get any news of his coming?
KING EDWARD.
Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates?
Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee,
Call Edward king and at his hands beg mercy?
And he shall pardon thee these outrages.
Now, Warwick, will you open the city gates?
Will you be polite and humbly bend your knees,
call Edward King and ask for mercy from him?
He will forgive you for these outrages.
WARWICK.
Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence,
Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee down?
Call Warwick patron and be penitent,
And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York.
No, I'm asking you if you will take your forces away,
and admit who set you up and pulled you down?
Call Warwick your patron and ask for forgiveness,
and you shall still be called the Duke of York.
GLOSTER.
I thought, at least, he would have said the king;
Or did he make the jest against his will?
I thought he would at least offered the kingship;
or is he accidentally making a joke?
WARWICK.
Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?
Isn't a dukedom, sir, a good gift?
GLOSTER.
Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give;
I'll do thee service for so good a gift.
Yes, certainly, when given by a poor earl;
I'll pay you back for such a good gift.
WARWICK.
'T was I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.
It was me who gave your brother the kingdom.
KING EDWARD.
Why, then, 't is mine, if but by Warwick's gift.
Well then, it's mine, if Warwick gave it.
WARWICK.
Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight,
And, weakling, Warwick takes his gift again;
And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.
You're not strong enough to cope with it,
and, weakling, Warwick is taking his gift back again;
Henry is my king, and Warwick is his subject.
KING EDWARD.
But Warwick's king is Edward's prisoner;
And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:
What is the body when the head is off?
But Warwick's king is a prisoner of Edward;
and, brave Warwick, answer me this:
what is a body without its head?
GLOSTER.
Alas! that Warwick had no more forecast,
But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten,
The king was slily finger'd from the deck!
You left poor Henry at the Bishop's palace,
And ten to one, you'll meet him in the Tower.
Alas! Warwick didn't predict that,
and while he thought he was stealing a single ten,
the King was slyly lifted from the deck!
You left for Henry at the Bishop's Palace,
and it's ten to one that you'll meet him at the Tower.
KING EDWARD.
'T is even so; yet you are Warwick still.
That's right; but you are still Warwick.
GLOSTER.
Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel down.
Nay, when? strike now, or else the iron cools.
Come, Warwick, take advantage; kneel down, kneel down.
When will you do it otherwise? Strike while the iron is hot.
WARWICK.
I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,
And with the other fling it at thy face,
Than bear so low a sail, to strike to thee.
I would rather chop this hand off with a blow,
and use the other one to throw it at your face,
than to be so humble as to bow down to you.
KING EDWARD.
Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend,
This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair,
Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off,
Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood,
'Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.'
Sail whichever way you want, have the wind and the tides as your friend,
this hand, wrapped in your coal black hair,
shall, when your head has just been cut off and is still warm,
write this sentence in the dust with your blood,
“Changeable Warwick can now change no more."
[Enter OXFORD, with Forces.]
WARWICK.
O cheerful colours! see where Oxford comes.
What happy colours! Look, here comes Oxford.
OXFORD.
Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!
Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!
[He and his forces enter the city.]
GLOSTER.
The gates are open; let us enter too.
The gates are open; let us go in too.
KING EDWARD.
So other foes
may set upon our backs.
Stand we in good array, for they no doubt
Will issue out again and bid us battle;
If not, the city being but of small defence,
We'll quietly rouse the traitors in the same.
Then other enemies could attack us from behind.
Keep our battle order, for there is no doubt
they will come out again and challenge us to fight;
if they don't, the city is not well defended,
and we will easily beat the traitors in there.
WARWICK.
O, welcome, Oxford, for we want thy help.
You are welcome, Oxford, we need your help.
[Enter MONTAGUE, with Forces.]
MONTAGUE.
Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!
Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!
[He and his forces enter the city.]
GLOSTER.
Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treason,
Even with the dearest blood your bodies bear.
You and your brother will both pay for this treason,
with the sweetest blood in your bodies.
KING EDWARD.
The harder match'd, the greater victory;
My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.
The greater the opposition, the greater the victories;
I predict a great victory here.
[Enter SOMERSET, with forces.]
SOMERSET.
Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!
Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!
[He and his forces enter the city.]
GLOSTER.
Two of thy name, both Dukes of Somerset,
Have sold their lives unto the House of York;
And thou shalt be the third if this sword hold.
Two of your family, both Dukes of Somerset,
have given their lives for the house of York;
if my sword holds out you will be the third.
[Enter CLARENCE, with Forces.]
WARWICK.
And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along,
Of force enough to bid his brother battle;
With whom an upright zeal to right prevails,
More than the nature of a brother's love!--
[Gloster and Clarence whisper.]
Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt if Warwick call.
Look there, where George of Clarence comes,
with enough forces to challenge his brother in battle;
it's more important for him to be right,
than to have his brother's love!
CLARENCE.
Father of Warwick, know you what this means?
[Taking the red rose out of his hat.]
Look here, I throw my infamy at thee;
I will not ruinate my father's house,
Who gave his blood to lime the stones together,
And set up Lancaster. Why, trow'st thou, Warwick,
That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural,
To bend the fatal instruments of war
Against his brother and his lawful king?
Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath;
To keep that oath were more impiety
Than Jephtha's when he sacrific'd his daughter.
I am so sorry for my trespass made
That, to deserve well at my brother's hands,
I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe,
With resolution, whereso'er I meet thee--
As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad--
To plague thee for thy foul misleading me.
And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee,
And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks.--
Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends;--
And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults,
For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.
Father Warwick, you know what this means?
Look here, I throw my disgrace at you;
I shall not disgrace my father's house,
who gave his blood to glue the stones together,
and establish Lancaster. Why, do you believe, Warwick,
that Clarence is so rough, so vicious and unnatural
that he would direct his forces
against his brother and his lawful king?
Perhaps you will say I have made a holy oath;
to keep that oath would be more blasphemous
than Jeptha when he sacrificed his daughter.
I am so sorry for my errors
that, so that my brother will be pleased with me,
I hereby announce that I am your mortal enemy,
resolved that whenever I meet you–
as I will, if you come outside–
to curse you for the way you misled me.
And so, arrogant Warwick, I defy you,
and turn my embarrassed face to my brother.
Forgive me, Edward, I will make amends;
and, Richard, do not frown at my faults,
for I will never betray you again.
KING EDWARD.
Now, welcome more, and ten times more belov'd,
Than if thou never hadst deserv'd our hate.
You are now more welcome, and ten times more loved,
than if we had never hated you.
GLOSTER.
Welcome, good Clarence; this is brother-like.
Welcome, good Clarence; this is brotherly.
WARWICK.
O passing traitor, perjur'd and unjust!
You shifting traitor, unjust liar!
KING EDWARD.
What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town and fight,
Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?
Well, Warwick, will you come out of the town and fight,
or shall we bring it down around your ears?
WARWICK.
Alas! I am not coop'd here for defence;
I will away towards Barnet presently,
And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou dar'st.
Alas! I am not set up for defence here;
I shall go at once to Barnet,
and challenge you to battle, Edward, if you dare.
KING EDWARD.
Yes, Warwick, Edward dares and leads the way.--
Lords, to the field! Saint George and victory!
Yes, Warwick, Edward dares and leads the way.
Lords, take to the battlefield! For St George and victory!
[March. Exeunt.]
[Alarum and excursions. Enter KING EDWARD, bringing in
WARWICK wounded.]
KING EDWARD.
So, lie thou there; die thou, and die our fear,
For Warwick was a bug that fear'd us all.--
Now, Montague, sit fast; I seek for thee,
That Warwick's bones may keep thine company.
So, you lie there; die, and my fear dies with you,
for Warwick was feared by us all.
Now, Montague, wait there; I shall find you,
and you shall be buried alongside Warwick.
[Exit.]
WARWICK.
Ah! who is nigh? come to me, friend or foe,
And tell me who is victor, York or Warwick.
Why ask I that? my mangled body shows;
My blood, my want of strength, my sick heart shows
That I must yield my body to the earth
And, by my fall, the conquest to my foe.
Thus yields the cedar to the axe's edge,
Whose arms gave shelter to the princely eagle,
Under whose shade the ramping lion slept,
Whose top-branch overpeer'd Jove's spreading tree,
And kept low shrubs from winter's pow'rful wind.
These eyes, that now are dimm'd with death's black veil,
Have been as piercing as the midday sun,
To search the secret treasons of the world;
The wrinkles in my brows, now fill'd with blood,
W
ere liken'd oft to kingly sepulchres,
For who liv'd king but I could dig his grave?
And who durst smile when Warwick bent his brow?
Lo, now my glory smear'd in dust and blood!
My parks, my walks, my manors that I had,
Even now forsake me, and of all my lands
Is nothing left me but my body's length.
Why, what is pomp, rule, reign, but earth and dust?
And live we how we can, yet die we must.
Ah! Who is nearby? Come to me, whether a friend or enemy,
and tell me who has won, York or Warwick.
Why do I ask that? My ruined body shows the answer;
my blood, my weakness, my sick heart shows
that I must resign my body to the earth
and my fall shows that my enemy has won.
So the cedar falls under the axe,
whose branches gave shelter to the princely eagle,
which gave shade to the rampant lion as it slept,
whose highest branch looked over the spreading tree of Jove,
and protected lesser plants from the powerful winds of winter.
These eyes, that are now dimmed by the black veil of death,
were once as piercing as the midday sun, revealing the secret traitors of the world;
these lines in my forehead, now filled with blood,