The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (276 page)

HASTINGS.

Why, knows not Montague that of itself

England is safe if true within itself?

Why, doesn't Montague know that if

England sticks to her own she will be safe?

MONTAGUE.

But the safer when 't is back'd with France.

Even safer when it has the backing of France.

HASTINGS.

'T is better using France than trusting France.

Let us be back'd with God, and with the seas

Which he hath giv'n for fence impregnable,

And with their helps only defend ourselves;

In them and in ourselves our safety lies.

It's better to use France than to trust France.

Let God be our backer, and defend ourselves

only with the seas which he has given us as an

impenetrable defence;

our safety lies in them and ourselves.

CLARENCE.

For this one speech Lord Hastings well deserves

To have the heir of the Lord Hungerford.

For saying this Lord Hastings certainly deserves

to be married to the heir of Lord Hungerford.

KING EDWARD.

Ay, what of that? it was my will and grant;

And for this once my will shall stand for law.

Yes, what about that? It was what I wanted and gave;

and in this instance what I want will be the law.

GLOSTER.

And yet, methinks, your grace hath not done well

To give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales

Unto the brother of your loving bride.

She better would have fitted me or Clarence;

But in your bride you bury brotherhood.

And yet, I think, your Grace was wrong

to give the heir and daughter of Lord Scales

to the brother of your loving bride.

She would be more suitable for me or Clarence;

you have forgotten your brothers because of your bride.

CLARENCE.

Or else you would not have bestow'd the heir

Of the Lord Bonville on your new wife's son,

And leave your brothers to go speed elsewhere.

Otherwise you wouldn't have given the heir

of Lord Bonville to the son of your new wife,

leaving your brothers to look elsewhere.

KING EDWARD.

Alas, poor Clarence! is it for a wife

That thou art malcontent? I will provide thee.

Alas, poor Clarence! Are you sickening

for a wife? I'll give you one.

CLARENCE.

In choosing for yourself you show'd your judgment,

Which being shallow you shall give me leave

To play the broker in mine own behalf;

And to that end I shortly mind to leave you.

You showed your judgement in your own choice,

and as it was poor give me permission

to make my own choices;

and for that purpose I intend to leave you soon.

KING EDWARD.

Leave me or tarry, Edward will be king,

And not be tied unto his brother's will.

Go or stay, Edward is the king,

and will not do what his brother wants.

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

My lords, before it pleas'd his majesty

To raise my state to title of a queen,

Do me but right, and you must all confess

That I was not ignoble of descent,

And meaner than myself have had like fortune.

But as this title honours me and mine,

So your dislikes, to whom I would be pleasing,

Doth cloud my joys with danger and with sorrow.

My Lords, before his Majesty was kind enough

to raise me up to the position of queen,

you must admit, if you're being fair,

that I was not lowly born,

and lower than myself have had the same fortune.

But just as this title honours me and my family,

so your dislike, when I want you to like me,

overshadows my happiness with sorrow and threats.

KING EDWARD.

My love, forbear to fawn upon their frowns.

What danger or what sorrow can befall thee

So long as Edward is thy constant friend

And their true sovereign, whom they must obey?

Nay, whom they shall obey, and love thee too,

Unless they seek for hatred at my hands;

Which if they do, yet will I keep thee safe,

And they shall feel the vengeance of my wrath.

My love, don't pay any attention to their frowns.

What danger or sorrow can affect you

as long as Edward is your loving friend

and their true ruler, whom they should obey?

No, whom they shall obey, and love you as well,

unless they want to suffer from my hatred;

if they do, I will still keep you safe,

and they shall feel the punishment of my anger.

GLOSTER.

[Aside.] I hear, yet say not much, but think the more.

I hear him, but I don't say much, but I am thinking a lot.

[Enter a Messenger.]

KING EDWARD.

Now, messenger, what letters or what news

From France?

Now, messenger, what letters or news

do you have from France?

MESSENGER.

My sovereign liege, no letters, and few words,

But such as I, without your special pardon,

Dare not relate.

My royal lord, no letters, just a few words,

but words that I, without your special pardon,

do not dare to say.

KING EDWARD.

Go to, we pardon thee; therefore, in brief,

Tell me their words as near as thou canst guess them.

What answer makes King Lewis unto our letters?

Come on, I pardon you; so, briefly,

tell me their words as near as you can remember them.

What answer does King Louis make to my letters?

MESSENGER.

At my depart these were his very words:

'Go tell false Edward, thy supposed king,

That Lewis of France is sending over maskers

To revel it with him and his new bride.'

As I left these were his exact words:

“Go and tell false Edward, your imposter king,

that Louis of France is sending over dancers

to party with him and his new bride."

KING EDWARD.

Is Lewis so brave? belike he thinks me Henry.

But what said Lady Bona to my marriage?

Is Louis so daring? Perhaps he thinks I'm Henry.

But what did Lady Bona say about my marriage?

MESSENGER.

These were her words, utt'red with mild disdain:

'Tell him, in hope he'll prove a widower shortly,

I'll wear the willow garland for his sake.'

These were her words, spoken with soft contempt:

“Tell him I shall wear a willow garland for him,

in the hope that he will soon be a widower.”

KING EDWARD.

I blame not her, she could say little less,

She had the wrong; but what said Henry's queen?

For I have heard that she was there in place.

I don't blame her, she has a right to say it,

it was her who was insulted; but what did Henry's Queen say?

For I have heard that she was there.

MESSENGER.

'Tell him' quoth she 'my mourning weeds are done,

And I am ready to put armour on.'

“Tell him," she said, “I am throwing off my mourning clothes,

and I am putting on my  armour."

KING EDWARD.

Belike she minds to play the Amazon.

But what said Warwick to these injuries?

Perhaps she thinks she can fight like Amazon.

But what did Warwick say about these insults?

MESSENGER.

He, more incens'd against your majesty

Than all the rest, discharg'd me with these words:

'Tell him from me that he hath done me wrong,

And therefore I'll uncrown him ere 't be long.'

He was more angry with your Majesty

than all the rest, and dismissed me with these words:

“Tell him from me that he has insulted me,

and so I will take his crown before long."

KING EDWARD.

Ha! durst the traitor breathe out so proud words?

Well, I will arm me, being thus forewarn'd;

They shall have wars, and pay for their presumption.

But say, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

Ha! Does the traitor say such proud words?

Well, now I've been warned, I will arm myself;

they will have a war, and pay for their insolence.

But tell me, is Warwick friends with Margaret?

MESSENGER.

Ay, gracious sovereign; they are so link'd in

friendship

That young Prince Edward marries Warwick's daughter.

Yes, gracious sovereign; they are so close

that young Prince Edward is marrying Warwick's daughter.

CLARENCE.

Belike the elder; Clarence will have the younger.

Now, brother king, farewell, and sit you fast,

For I will hence to Warwick's other daughter;

That, though I want a kingdom, yet in marriage

I may not prove inferior to yourself.--

You that love me and Warwick, follow me.

The older, I imagine; Clarence will have the younger.

Now, brother King, farewell, and sit tight,

for I will go to Warwick's other daughter;

so that, although I don't have a kingdom, in marriage

I will not be lower than yourself.

Anyone who loves me and Warwick, follow me.

[Exit Clarence, and Somerset follows.]

GLOSTER.

[Aside.] Not I.

My thoughts aim at a further matter; I

Stay not for the love of Edward, but the crown.

Not me.

I'm thinking about something else; I'm

not staying out of love for Edward, but for the crown.

KING EDWARD.

Clarence and Somerset both gone to Warwick!

Yet am I arm'd against the worst can happen,

And haste is needful in this desperate case.--

Pembroke and Stafford, you in our behalf

Go levy men and make prepare for war;

They are already, or quickly will be landed.

Myself in person will straight follow you.--

[Exeunt Pembroke and Stafford.]

But, ere I go, Hastings and Montague,

Resolve my doubt. You twain, of all the rest,

Are near to Warwick by blood and by alliance;

Tell me if you love Warwick more than me?

If it be so, then both depart to him.

I rather wish you foes than hollow friends;

But if you mind to hold your true obedience,

Give me assurance with some friendly vow,

That I may never have you in suspect.

Clarence and Somerset both gone over to Warwick!

But I am prepared for the worst: