The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (217 page)

But in this way my desires could be fulfilled,

and peace could be established between these countries.

But there is a problem there too;

for although her father is the King of Naples,

Duke of Anjou and Maine, he is poor,

and our noblemen will reject the match.

MARGARET.

Hear ye, captain, are you not at leisure?

Can you hear me, captain, are you busy?

SUFFOLK.

It shall be so, disdain they ne'er so much:

Henry is youthful and will quickly yield.

Madam, I have a secret to reveal.

I shall do this, whatever they think:

Henry is young and will quickly submit.

Madam, I have a secret to tell you.

MARGARET.

What though I be enthrall'd? he seems a knight,

And will not any way dishonor me.

What if he wants to enslave me? He seems to be a knight,

and he won't do anything dishonourable.

SUFFOLK.

Lady, vouchsafe to listen what I say.

Lady, please listen to what I have to say.

MARGARET.

Perhaps I shall be rescued by the French;

And then I need not crave his courtesy.

Perhaps I will be rescued by the French;

and then I will not need to beg for his kindness.

SUFFOLK.

Sweet madam, give me hearing in a cause--

Sweet madam, listen to me about something–

MARGARET.

Tush! women have been captivate ere now.

Come! Women have been prisoners before now.

SUFFOLK.

Lady, wherefore talk you so?

Lady, why are you talking like this?

MARGARET.

I cry you mercy, 'tis but Quid for Quo.

I'm begging you for mercy, it's a fair exchange.

SUFFOLK.

Say, gentle princess, would you not suppose

Your bondage happy, to be made a queen?

Say, gentle Princess, if your imprisonment would

make you miserable, if you were a queen?

MARGARET.

To be a queen in bondage is more vile

Than is a slave in base servility;

For princes should be free.

To be a queen as a prisoner is more horrible

than to be a slave in service;

Princes should be free.

SUFFOLK.

And so shall you,

If happy England's royal king be free.

And so will you be,

if the royal king of happy England is.

MARGARET.

Why, what concerns his freedom unto me?

Why, what has his freedom got to do with me?

SUFFOLK.

I'll undertake to make thee Henry's queen,

To put a golden scepter in thy hand

And set a precious crown upon thy head,

If thou wilt condescend to be my--

I promise to make you Henry's Queen,

to put a golden sceptre in your hand

and a precious crown upon your head,

if you agree to be my–

MARGARET.

What?

What?

SUFFOLK.

His love.

His love.

MARGARET.

I am unworthy to be Henry's wife.

I am not worthy of being Henry's wife.

SUFFOLK.

No, gentle madam; I unworthy am

To woo so fair a dame to be his wife,

And have no portion in the choice myself.

How say you, madam, are ye so content?

No, sweet madam; I am unworthy

of wooing such a beautiful lady to be his wife,

and I have no part in the choice myself.

What do you say, madam, would that make you happy?

MARGARET.

An if my father please, I am content.

If it pleases my father, I am happy.

SUFFOLK.

Then call our captain and our colors forth.

And, madam, at your father's castle walls

We'll crave a parley, to confer with him.

[A parley sounded. Enter Reignier on the walls.]

See, Reignier, see, thy daughter prisoner!

Then call our captain and put our banners out.

And, madam, we shall ask for a meeting

with your father at his castle walls.

Reignier, see your daughter is a prisoner!

REIGNIER. To whom?

Of whom?

SUFFOLK.

To me.

Of me.

REIGNIER.

Suffolk, what remedy?

I am a soldier, and unapt to weep,

Or to exclaim on fortune's fickleness.

Suffolk, what you want me to do?

I am a soldier, and I do not weep,

or curse my bad luck.

SUFFOLK.

Yes, there is remedy enough, my lord:

Consent, and for thy honor give consent,

Thy daughter shall be wedded to my king;

Whom I with pain have woo'd and won thereto;

And this her easy-held imprisonment

Hath gain'd thy daughter princely liberty.

There is something you can do, my lord:

you must give consent

for your daughter to be married to my king;

I have with difficulty wooed her and persuaded her to do that;

and she can go from her comfortable imprisonment

to a princely freedom.

REIGNIER.

Speaks Suffolk as he thinks?

Is Suffolk saying what he means?

SUFFOLK.

Fair Margaret knows

That Suffolk doth not flatter, face, or feign.

Fair Margaret knows

that Suffolk does not flatter or fake.

REIGNIER.

Upon thy princely warrant, I descend

To give thee answer of thy just demand.

With your princely guarantees, I shall come down

to answer your fair demand.

[Exit from the walls.]

SUFFOLK.

And here I will expect thy coming.

I shall wait for you here.

[Trumpets sound. Enter Reignier, below.]

REIGNIER.

Welcome, brave earl, into our territories:

Command in Anjou what your honor pleases.

Welcome, brave earl, to our lands:

in Anjou you can ask for whatever you please.

SUFFOLK.

Thanks, Reignier, happy for so sweet a child,

Fit to be made companion with a king:

What answer makes your grace unto my suit?

Thank you, Reignier, lucky to have such a sweet child,

who is fit to be a companion of King:

what answer does your grace make to my request?

REIGNIER.

Since thou dost deign to woo her little worth

To be the princely bride of such a lord;

Upon condition I may quietly

Enjoy mine own, the country Maine and Anjou,

Free from oppression or the stroke of war,

My daughter shall be Henry's, if he please.

Since you condescend to woo her in her lowly state

to be the bride of the King;

on condition that I may quietly

enjoy my own country of Maine and Anjou,

free from oppression or war,

my daughter shall marry Henry, if he wishes.

SUFFOLK.

That is her ransom; I deliver her;

And those two counties I will undertake

Your Grace shall well and quietly enjoy.

That is the ransom for her; I shall take her;

and I promise that these two regions

will be left alone for your Grace to quietly enjoy.

REIGNIER.

And I again, in Henry's royal name,

As deputy unto that gracious king,

Give thee her hand, for sign of plighted faith.

And in return I, in Henry's royal name,

as you are deputy to that gracious king,

give you her hand, to seal the engagement.

SUFFOLK.

Reignier of France, I give thee kingly thanks,

Because this is in traffic of a king.

[Aside] And yet, methinks, I could be well content

To be mine own attorney in this case.

I 'll over then to England with this news,

And make this marriage to be solemnized.

So, farewell, Reignier; set this diamond safe

In golden palaces, as it becomes.

Reignier of France, I give you the thanks of the King,

because this is the King's business.

[ Aside] However, I think, I could be very happy

to work for myself in this case.

So I'll take this news over to England,

and have this marriage confirmed.

So, farewell, Reignier; keep this diamond safe

in the golden palaces it deserves.

REIGNIER.

I do embrace thee as I would embrace

The Christian prince, King Henry, were he here.

I embrace you as I would embrace

the Christian Prince, King Henry, if he were here.

MARGARET.

Farewell, my lord:  good wishes, praise and prayers.

Shall Suffolk ever have of Margaret. [Going.

Farewell, my lord: you will always have

my good wishes, praise and prayers.

SUFFOLK.

Farewell, sweet madam:  but hark you, Margaret;

No princely commendations to my king?

Farewell, sweet madam: but listen, Margaret;

do you have no princely greetings to give my king?

MARGARET.

Such commendations as becomes a maid,

A virgin and his servant, say to him.

Give him whatever greetings are suitable for

a girl, a virgin and his servant.

SUFFOLK.

Words sweetly placed and modestly directed.

But, madam, I must trouble you again;

No loving token to his majesty?

Sweet and modest words.

But, madam, I must ask you again;

do you have no loving token to give his Majesty?

MARGARET.

Yes, my good lord, a pure unspotted heart,

Never yet taint with love, I send the king.

Yes, my good lord, a pure and unstained heart,

never yet touched by love, I send that to the King.

SUFFOLK.

And this withal. [Kisses her.]

And this as well.

MARGARET.

That for thyself:  I will not so presume

To send such peevish tokens to a king.

Keep that for yourself: I wouldn't presume

to send such worthless tokens to a king.

[Exeunt Reignier and Margaret.]