The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (215 page)

[Sennet. Enter King, Gloucester, and Exeter.]

KING.

Have you perused the letters from the pope,

The emperor, and the Earl of Armagnac?

Have you read letters from the Pope,

the Emperor and the Earl of Armagnac?

GLOUCESTER.

I have, my lord:  and their intent is this:

They humbly sue unto your excellence

To have a godly peace concluded of

Between the realms of England and of France.

I have, my lord: and this is what they say:

they humbly entreat your Majesty

to arrange a godly peace

between the kingdoms of England and France.

KING.

How doth your grace affect their motion?

And what does your grace think of their request?

GLOUCESTER.

Well, my good lord; and as the only means

To stop effusion of our Christian blood

And stablish quietness on every side.

I like it, my good lord, as the only way

to stop more Christian blood being spilled

and to settle calm on each side.

KING.

Aye, marry, uncle; for I always thought

It was both impious and unnatural

That such immanity and bloody strife

Should reign among professors of one faith.

Yes indeed, uncle; I have always thought

it was both unnatural and impious

that such enmity and bloody strife

should rule amongst people from the same faith.

GLOUCESTER.

Beside, my lord, the sooner to effect

And surer bind this knot of amity,

The Earl of Armagnac, near knit to Charles,

A man of great authority in France,

Proffers his only daughter to your grace

In marriage, with a large and sumptuous dowry.

Besides, my lord, in order to speed up

and make firmer this bond of friendship,

the Earl of Armagnac, closely related to Charles,

a man of very high position in France,

offers his only daughter to your Grace

in marriage, with a large and rich dowry.

KING.

Marriage, uncle! alas, my years are young!

And fitter is my study and my books

Than wanton dalliance with a paramour.

Yet call the ambassadors; and, as you please,

So let them have their answers every one:

I shall be well content with any choice

Tends to God's glory and my country's weal.

Marriage, uncle! Alas, I am still young!

I'm more suited to schoolwork and my books

than to loose carrying on with a lover.

But call in the ambassadors and give them

the answers you think appropriate:

I will be happy with any choice

that enhances the glory of God and my country's fortunes.

[Enter Winchester in Cardinal's habit, a Legate

and two Ambassadors.]

EXETER.

What! is my Lord of Winchester install'd

And call'd unto a cardinal's degree?

Then I perceive that will be verified

Henry the Fifth did sometime prophesy,

'If once he come to be a cardinal,

He'll make his cap co-equal with the crown.'

What! Has my Lord of Winchester been

appointed as a cardinal?

Then I see that what Henry the Fifth

once prophesied will come true:

“If he ever becomes a cardinal,

he'll make his position equal with the Crown."

KING.

My lords ambassadors, your several suits

Have been consider'd and debated on.

Your purpose is both good and reasonable;

And therefore are we certainly resolved

To draw conditions of a friendly peace;

Which by my Lord of Winchester we mean

Shall be transported presently to France.

My lords ambassadors, your different requests

have been considered and debated.

What you ask is both good and reasonable;

so we have certainly decided

that we will draw up a peace treaty;

I intend my Lord of Winchester

to take it to France at once.

GLOUCESTER.

And for the proffer of my lord your master,

I have inform'd his highness so at large,

As liking of the lady's virtuous gifts,

Her beauty and the value of her dower,

He doth intend she shall be England's Queen.

As for the offer to my Lord from your master,

I have informed his Highness of it,

and admiring the lady's goodness and accomplishments,

her beauty and the value of her dowry,

he has decided that she shall be England's Queen.

KING.

In argument and proof of which contract,

Bear her this jewel, pledge of my affection.

And so, my lord protector, see them guarded

And safely brought to Dover; where inshipp'd,

Commit them to the fortune of the sea.

And to seal and give proof of this decision,

take this jewel as a token of my affection.

And so, my lord protector, make sure they are escorted

safely to Dover, get them on their ship

and give them to the fortune of the sea.

[Exeunt all but Winchester and Legate.]

WINCHESTER.

Stay my lord legate:  you shall first receive

The sum of money which I promised

Should be deliver'd to his holiness

For clothing me in these grave ornaments.

Wait my lord legate: you must have

the sum of money which I promised

would be given to the Pope

for appointing me cardinal.

LEGATE.

I will attend upon your lordship's leisure.

I shall be ready whenever your lordship is.

WINCHESTER.

[Aside] Now Winchester will not submit, I trow,

Or be inferior to the proudest peer.

Humphrey of Gloucester, thou shalt well perceive

That neither in birth or for authority,

The bishop will be overborne by thee:

I 'll either make thee stoop and bend thy knee,

Or sack this country with a mutiny.

Now I don't believe that Winchester will agree

to be inferior to any of the peers.

Humphrey of Gloucester, you shall see

that the bishop will not be below you,

in position or power:

I'll either make you bow down to me,

or start a civil war in this country.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter Charles, Burgundy, Alencon, Bastard,

Reignier, La Pucelle, and forces.]

CHARLES.

These news, my lords, may cheer our drooping spirits:

'Tis said the stout Parisians do revolt

And turn again unto the warlike French.

This news, my lords, may raise our drooping spirits:

it's said that the strong Parisians are rebelling

and becoming warlike Frenchmen again.

ALENCON.

Then march to Paris, royal Charles of France,

And keep not back your powers in dalliance.

Then march to Paris, royal Charles of France,

and don't hold back your forces here.

PUCELLE.

Peace be amongst them, if they turn to us;

Else, ruin combat with their palaces!

May peace be with them, if they join with us;

otherwise, may all their palaces fall in war!

[Enter Scout.]

SCOUT.

Success unto our valiant general,

And happiness to his accomplices!

May our brave general have success,

and may his accomplices be happy!

CHARLES.

What tidings send our scouts?  I prithee, speak.

What news do our scouts send? Please, speak.

SCOUT.

The English army, that divided was

Into two parties, is now conjoin'd in one,

And means to give you battle presently.

The English army, that was split

into two parties, has now joined into one,

and means to do battle with you at once.

CHARLES.

Somewhat too sudden, sirs, the warning is;

But we will presently provide for them.

This is a little too early for us, sirs;

but we will get ourselves ready for them.

BURGUNDY.

I trust the ghost of Talbot is not there:

Now he is gone, my lord, you need not fear.

I hope the ghost of Talbot isn't there;

now he has gone, my lord, you have nothing to fear.

PUCELLE.

Of all base passions, fear is most accursed.

Command the conquest, Charles, it shall be thine,

Let Henry fret and all the world repine.

Of all the low emotions, fear is the worst.

Order the victory, Charles, it shall be yours,

let Henry worry and all the world grieve.

CHARLES.

Then on, my lords; and France be fortunate!

Then forward, my lords; may fortune favour France!

[Exeunt.]