The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (270 page)

Not deck'd with diamonds and Indian stones,

Not to be seen; my crown is call'd content,

A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy.

My crown is in my heart, not on my head,

not covered with diamonds and Indian stones,

it cannot be seen; my crown is happiness,

a crown that kings seldom have.

2 KEEPER.

Well, if you be a king crown'd with content,

Your crown content and you must be contented

To go along with us; for, as we think,

You are the king King Edward hath depos'd,

And we his subjects, sworn in all allegiance,

Will apprehend you as his enemy.

Well, if you are a king crowned with happiness,

your crown of happiness and you must be happy

to come along with us; for we think that

you are the king whom King Edward has overthrown,

and as we are his sworn loyal subjects

we shall arrest you as his enemy.

KING HENRY.

But did you never swear, and break an oath?

Didn't you ever swear to something and break your oath?

2 KEEPER.

No, never such an oath; nor will not now.

No, never; and I shan't do now.

KING HENRY.

Where did you dwell when I was King of England?

Where did you live when I was king of England?

2 KEEPER.

Here in this country, where we now remain.

Here in this country, where we are now.

KING HENRY.

I was anointed king at nine months old,

My father and my grandfather were kings,

And you were sworn true subjects unto me;

And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths?

I was crowned as king when I was nine months old,

my father and grandfather were kings,

and you were sworn as loyal subjects of mine;

so then tell me, haven't you broken your oaths?

1 KEEPER.

No;

For we were subjects but while you were king.

No;

we were only your subjects while you were the King.

KING HENRY.

Why, am I dead? do I not breathe, a man?

Ah, simple men! you know not what you swear.

Look, as I blow this feather from my face,

And as the air blows it to me again,

Obeying with my wind when I do blow,

And yielding to another when it blows,

Commanded always by the greater gust,

Such is the lightness of you common men.

But do not break your oaths; for of that sin

My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty.

Go where you will, the king shall be commanded;

And be you kings, command, and I'll obey.

Why, am I dead? Am I not a breathing man?

Ah, simple men! You don't know what you've sworn to.

Look at this feather that I blow away from my face,

and see how the air blows it back to me again;

obeying me when I blow on it,

surrendering to someone else when they blow,

always ruled by the strongest breath,

that is how weak you common men are.

But don't break your oaths; the little favour

I ask you will not make you guilty of that sin.

Wherever you want to go, the King will be at your command;

if you are kings, command, and I'll obey.

1 KEEPER.

We are true subjects to the king,--King Edward.

We are loyal subjects of the King–King Edward.

KING HENRY.

So would you be again to Henry

If he were seated as King Edward is.

And you would be a loyal subject of Henry,

if he were in King Edward's place.

1 KEEPER.

We charge you, in God's name and the king's

To go with us unto the officers.

We order you, in the name of God and the king,

to come with us to the constables.

KING HENRY.

In God's name lead; your king's name be obey'd;

And what God will, that let your king perform;

And what he will, I humbly yield unto.

Lead on in the name of God; obey the name of your king;

let your king do what God wants him to;

and what he wants, I will humbly agree to.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter KING EDWARD, GLOSTER, CLARENCE, and LADY GREY.]

KING EDWARD.

Brother of Gloster, at Saint Alban's field

This lady's husband, Sir John Grey, was slain,

His land then seiz'd on by the conqueror;

Her suit is now to repossess those lands,

Which we in justice cannot well deny,

Because in quarrel of the house of York

The worthy gentleman did lose his life.

My brother Gloucester, at the Battle of St Albans

Sir John Grey, this lady's husband, was killed,

and his land was seized by the victor;

she is now asking for the return of those lands,

which we cannot justifiably refuse,

because the good gentleman lost his life

fighting for the house of York.

GLOSTER.

Your highness shall do well to grant her suit;

It were dishonour to deny it her.

Your Highness would be quite right to grant her request;

it would be dishonourable to refuse.

KING EDWARD.

It were no less; but yet I'll make a pause.

It certainly would; but I shan't make a decision at once.

GLOSTER.

[Aside to Clarence.] Yea; is it so?

I see the lady hath a thing to grant

Before the king will grant her humble suit.

Is that how it is?

I see the lady will have to give something

before the King will give her what she wants.

CLARENCE.

[Aside to Gloster.] He knows the game;

 how true he keeps the wind!

He knows what's going on;

he's playing the game well!

GLOSTER.

[Aside to Clarence.] Silence!

Silence!

KING EDWARD.

Widow, we will consider of your suit,

And come some other time to know our mind.

Widow, I shall consider your request,

come back some other time for my decision.

LADY GREY.

Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay;

May it please your highness to resolve me now,

And what your pleasure is shall satisfy me.

Truly gracious lord, I cannot wait;

would your Highness please give me your decision now,

whatever you decide I will accept.

GLOSTER.

[Aside to Clarence.] Ay, widow?

then I'll warrant you all your lands,

An if what pleases him shall pleasure you.

Fight closer, or, good faith, you'll catch a blow.

Yes, widow?

Then I guarantee you'll get your land back,

if you agree to enjoy the same things that he wants.

Watch yourself, or by goodness you'll take a hit.

CLARENCE.

[Aside to Gloster.] I fear her not, unless she chance

to fall.

I'm not worried for her, unless she happens

to fall.

GLOSTER.

[Aside to CLARENCE.] God forbid that, for he'll take

vantages.

May God forbid that, for he'll take

advantage of her when she's down.

KING EDWARD.

How many children hast thou, widow? tell me.

How many children do you have, widow? Tell me.

CLARENCE.

[Aside to Gloster.] I think he means to beg a child of

her.

I think he intends to ask for

one of her children.

GLOSTER.

[Aside to Clarence.] Nay, whip me then; he'll rather

give her two.

No, I'll be damned if he does; I think he's

thinking of giving her some.

LADY GREY.

Three, my most gracious lord.

Three, my most gracious lord.

GLOSTER.

[Aside to Clarence.] You shall have four if you'll be

rul'd by him.

You'll have four if you let him

get what he wants.

KING EDWARD.

'T were pity they should lose their father's lands.

It would be a shame for them to lose their father's land.

LADY GREY.

Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then.

Then show pity, great lord, and give it to them.

KING EDWARD.

Lords, give us leave; I'll try this widow's wit.

Lords, leave us; I shall test this widow's intelligence.

GLOSTER.

[Aside to Clarence.] Ay, good leave have you;

for you will have leave

Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch.

Yes, we'll leave you;

you'll always do this

until you lose your youth and need a stick.

[Gloster and Clarence stand apart.]

KING EDWARD.

Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?

Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?

LADY GREY.

Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.

Yes, every bit as much as I love myself.

KING EDWARD.

And would you not do much to do them good?

And would you do a lot for their good?

LADY GREY.

To do them good I would sustain some harm.

I would suffer harm to do them good.

KING EDWARD.

Then get your husband's lands to do them good.

So you want to get your husband's land back to do them good.

LADY GREY.

Therefore I came unto your majesty.

That's why I came to your Majesty.

KING EDWARD.