The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (54 page)

He was Aumerle,

but he has lost his title for being Richard's friend,

and madam, you must now call him Rutland.

I have sworn to his loyalty in Parliament

and promised that he will follow the newly created king.

Enter AUMERLE

DUCHESS.

Welcome, my son. Who are the violets now

That strew the green lap of the new come spring?

Welcome, my son. Who are the violets which now

cover the green fields of this new spring?

AUMERLE.

Madam, I know not, nor I greatly care not.

God knows I had as lief be none as one.

Madam, I don't know, nor do I much care.

God knows I don't care if I'm one or not.

YORK.

Well, bear you well in this new spring of time,

Lest you be cropp'd before you come to prime.

What news from Oxford? Do these justs and triumphs hold?

Well, behave yourself well in this new springtime,

so that you won't be cut down before your prime.

What news from Oxford? Are they still having these jousts and processions?

AUMERLE.

For aught I know, my lord, they do.

For all I know, my lord, they are.

YORK.

You will be there, I know.

I know you will be there.

AUMERLE.

If God prevent not, I purpose so.

If God doesn't stop me, I intend to be.

YORK.

What seal is that that hangs without thy bosom?

Yea, look'st thou pale? Let me see the writing.

What's that seal that's hanging outside your shirt?

Why are you looking pale? Let me see the writing.

AUMERLE.

My lord, 'tis nothing.

My Lord, it's nothing.

YORK.

No matter, then, who see it.

I will be satisfied; let me see the writing.

It doesn't matter who sees it then.

You will do as I say; let me see the writing.

AUMERLE.

I do beseech your Grace to pardon me;

It is a matter of small consequence

Which for some reasons I would not have seen.

I beg your Grace to excuse me;

it's a matter of little importance

which for some reasons I don't want to be seen.

YORK.

Which for some reasons, sir, I mean to see.

I fear, I fear-

And for some reasons, sir, I intend to see it.

I fear, I fear–

DUCHESS.

What should you fear?

'Tis nothing but some bond that he is ent'red into

For gay apparel 'gainst the triumph-day.

Why should you fear?

It's nothing but some loan agreement he's taken out

for flashy clothes on the day of the triumph.

YORK.

Bound to himself! What doth he with a bond

That he is bound to? Wife, thou art a fool.

Boy, let me see the writing.

Has he made an agreement with himself? What would he be doing

with his own bond? Wife, you are a fool.

Boy, let me see the writing.

AUMERLE.

I do beseech you, pardon me; I may not show it.

I beg you to excuse me; I can't show it.

YORK.

I will be satisfied; let me see it, I say.

[He plucks it out of his bosom, and reads it]

Treason, foul treason! Villain! traitor! slave!

I will be obeyed; let me see it, I say.

Treason, foul treason! Villain! Traitor! Slave!

DUCHESS.

What is the matter, my lord?

What is the matter, my lord?

YORK.

Ho! who is within there?

Enter a servant

Saddle my horse.

God for his mercy, what treachery is here!

Hello! Who's in there?

Saddle my horse.

May God have mercy, what treachery this is!

DUCHESS.

Why, York, what is it, my lord?

Why, York, what is it, my lord?

YORK.

Give me my boots, I say; saddle my horse.

Exit servant

Now, by mine honour, by my life, my troth,

I will appeach the villain.

Give me my boots, I say; saddle my horse.

Now, on my honour, by my life, my oath,

I will impeach the villain.

DUCHESS.

What is the matter?

What is the matter?

YORK.

Peace, foolish woman.

Be quiet, stupid woman.

DUCHESS.

I will not peace. What is the matter, Aumerle?

I won't be quiet. What is the matter, Aumerle?

AUMERLE.

Good mother, be content; it is no more

Than my poor life must answer.

Good mother, be content; it's only

a matter of my life.

DUCHESS.

Thy life answer!

Your life!

YORK.

Bring me my boots. I will unto the King.

Bring me my boots. I shall go to the king.

His man enters with his boots

DUCHESS.

Strike him, Aumerle. Poor boy, thou art amaz'd.

Hence, villain! never more come in my sight.

Strike him, Aumerle. Poor boy, you are stupefied.

Get out, villain! I never want to see you again.

YORK.

Give me my boots, I say.

Give me my boots, I say.

DUCHESS.

Why, York, what wilt thou do?

Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own?

Have we more sons? or are we like to have?

Is not my teeming date drunk up with time?

And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age

And rob me of a happy mother's name?

Is he not like thee? Is he not thine own?

Why, York, what are you doing?

Will you not hide the misdemeanours of your own family?

Have we more sons? Or are we likely to have?

Hasn't my time for breeding run out?

Will you steal my fair son away from my old age

and take away my title of a happy mother?

Isn't he like you? Isn't he yours?

YORK.

Thou fond mad woman,

Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy?

A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament,

And interchangeably set down their hands

To kill the King at Oxford.

You stupid mad woman,

do you want to hide this conspiracy?

A dozen of them have here taken

a holy oath that they will

kill the King at Oxford.

DUCHESS.

He shall be none;

We'll keep him here. Then what is that to him?

He won't be one of them;

we'll keep him here. Then what does it matter?

YORK.

Away, fond woman! were he twenty times my son

I would appeach him.

Get off, foolish woman! If he were my son twenty times over

I would still inform on him.

DUCHESS.

Hadst thou groan'd for him

As I have done, thou wouldst be more pitiful.

But now I know thy mind: thou dost suspect

That I have been disloyal to thy bed

And that he is a bastard, not thy son.

Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind.

He is as like thee as a man may be

Not like to me, or any of my kin,

And yet I love him.

If you had had the pain of his labour

as I have, you would show more pity.

But now I know what you think: you suspect

that I have been adulterous

and now he is a bastard, not your son.

Sweet York, sweet husband, don't think that.

He's like you as any man could be,

he doesn't resemble me, or any of my family,

and yet I love him.

YORK.

Make way, unruly woman!

Out of the way, rebellious woman!

Exit

DUCHESS.

After, Aumerle! Mount thee upon his horse;

Spur post, and get before him to the King,

And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee.

I'll not be long behind; though I be old,

I doubt not but to ride as fast as York;

And never will I rise up from the ground

Till Bolingbroke have pardon'd thee. Away, be gone.

Follow him, Aumerle! Take his horse;

ride as fast as you can and get to the King before him,

and ask for his pardon before you are accused.

I won't be far behind; although I am old,

I back myself to ride as fast as York;

and I will never get off my knees

until Bolingbroke has pardoned you. Go, go.

Exeunt

Windsor Castle

Enter BOLINGBROKE as King, PERCY, and other LORDS

BOLINGBROKE.

Can no man tell me of my unthrifty son?

'Tis full three months since I did see him last.

If any plague hang over us, 'tis he.

I would to God, my lords, he might be found.

Inquire at London, 'mongst the taverns there,

For there, they say, he daily doth frequent

With unrestrained loose companions,

Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes

And beat our watch and rob our passengers,

Which he, young wanton and effeminate boy,

Takes on the point of honour to support

So dissolute a crew.

Can't anyone tell me about my profligate son?

It's fully three moths since I last saw him.

If there's any curse hanging over me it's him.

I wish to God, my lords, that he could be found.

Ask in London, in the taverns there,

for they say he goes to them daily