The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (277 page)

and speed is necessary in this desperate situation.

Pembroke and Stafford,  acting for me,

go and raise forces and made ready for war;

they are already landed, or soon will be.

I will follow in person right behind you.

But, before I go, Hastings and Montague,

set my mind at ease. You two, out of everyone,

are closest to Warwick through blood and friendship;

tell me if you favour Warwick over me?

If that's the case, then both go to him.

I would rather have you as enemies than false friends;

but if you have decided to stick to your proper loyalty,

give me a guarantee with some oath of friendship,

so that I never have to suspect you.

MONTAGUE.

So God help Montague as he proves true!

God help Montague if he proves loyal!

HASTINGS.

And Hastings as he favours Edward's cause!

And Hastings as long as he supports Edward!

KING EDWARD.

Now, brother Richard, will you stand by us?

Now, brother Richard, will you stick with me?

GLOSTER.

Ay, in despite of all that shall withstand you.

Yes, in spite of everybody who is against you.

KING EDWARD.

Why, so! then am I sure of victory.

Now, therefore, let us hence; and lose no hour

Till we meet Warwick with his foreign pow'r.

Good! Then I am certain to win.

So, let us go there; we won't waste any time

until we meet Warwick and his foreign forces.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter WARWICK and OXFORD with French and other Forces.]

WARWICK.

Trust me, my lord, all hitherto goes well;

The common people by numbers swarm to us.

But see where Somerset and Clarence comes!--

[Enter CLARENCE and SOMERSET.]

Speak suddenly, my lords, are we all friends?

Trust me, my lord, everything is going well;

the common people are flocking to us in great numbers.

But look, here comes Somerset and Clarence!

Speak at once, my lords, are we all friends?

CLARENCE.

Fear not that, my lord.

Do not worry about that, my lord.

WARWICK.

Then, gentle Clarence, welcome unto Warwick;--

And welcome, Somerset.--I hold it cowardice

To rest mistrustful where a noble heart

Hath pawn'd an open hand in sign of love;

Else might I think that Clarence, Edward's brother,

Were but a feigned friend to our proceedings.

But welcome, sweet Clarence; my daughter shall be thine.

And now what rests but, in night's coverture,

Thy brother being carelessly encamp'd,

His soldiers lurking in the towns about,

And but attended by a simple guard,

We may surprise and take him at our pleasure?

Our scouts have found the adventure very easy;

That as Ulysses and stout Diomede

With sleight and manhood stole to Rhesus' tents,

And brought from thence the Thracian fatal steeds,

So we, well cover'd with the night's black mantle,

At unawares may beat down Edward's guard,

And seize himself,--I say not slaughter him,

For I intend but only to surprise him.--

You that will follow me to this attempt,

Applaud the name of Henry with your leader.

[They all cry, 'Henry!']

Why then, let's on our way in silent sort;

For Warwick and his friends, God and Saint George!

Then, gentle Clarence, Warwick welcomes you;

and welcome, Somerset. I think it is cowardly

to be distrustful when a noble person

has offered an open hand as a sign of love;

otherwise I might imagine that Clarence, brother of Edward,

is only pretending to be our ally.

But welcome, sweet Clarence, you shall have my daughter.

Now what else should we do except by night,

as your brother has pitched his camp carelessly,

and his soldiers are scattered in surrounding towns,

and he only has a small guard,

ambush him and capture him as we please?

Our spies have found that the job will be very easy;

like Ulysses and brave Diomede

who cunningly and bravely sneaked to Rhesus' tent,

and led away the deadly Thracian horses,

that's how we, well disguised under the cloak of night,

can catch Edward's guard unawares,

and capture him. I don't say kill him,

for I intend just to capture him.

Those of you who will join with me in this attempt,

shout out the name of Henry as your leader.

Well then, let's go on our way in silence;

for Warwick and his friends, God and St George!

[Exeunt.]

[Enter certain Watchmen, to guard the KING'S tent.]

1 WATCHMAN.

Come on, my masters, each man take his stand;

The king by this is set him down to sleep.

Come on, lads, everyone take his place;

the King has settled down to sleep.

2 WATCHMAN.

What, will he not to bed?

What, won't he go to bed?

1 WATCHMAN.

Why, no; for he hath made a solemn vow

Never to lie and take his natural rest

Till Warwick or himself be quite suppress'd.

Why, no; he has taken a solemn vow

that he will never lie down for proper sleep

until Warwick or himself has been beaten.

2 WATCHMAN.

To-morrow, then, belike shall be the day,

If Warwick be so near as men report.

So it seems that tomorrow will be the day,

if Warwick is as close as men say.

3 WATCHMAN.

But say, I pray, what nobleman is that

That with the king here resteth in his tent?

But tell me, please, who is that nobleman

who is staying with the king in his tent?

1 WATCHMAN.

'T is the Lord Hastings, the king's chiefest friend.

That's Lord Hastings, the King's closest friend.

3 WATCHMAN.

O, is it So? But why commands the king

That his chief followers lodge in towns about him,

While he himself keeps in the cold field?

Oh, is that it? Why does the King order that

his main followers stay in the towns all around,

while he himself stays in this cold field?

2 WATCHMAN.

'T is the more honour, because more dangerous.

It's more honourable, because it's more dangerous.

3 WATCHMAN.

Ay, but give me worship and quietness;

I like it better than dangerous honour.

If Warwick knew in what estate he stands,

'T is to be doubted he would waken him.

Yes, but give me peace and quiet;

I like it better than this dangerous honour.

If Warwick knew how things are here,

I've no doubt he would wake him up.

1 WATCHMAN.

Unless our halberds did shut up his passage.

Unless our halberds blocked his way.

2 WATCHMAN.

Ay; wherefore else guard we his royal tent

But to defend his person from night-foes?

Yes, why else would we be guarding his royal tent

except to defend him from enemies in the night?

[Enter WARWICK, CLARENCE, OXFORD, SOMERSET,

and Forces silently.]

WARWICK.

This is his tent; and see where, stand his guard.

Courage, my masters! honour now or never!

But follow me, and Edward shall be ours.

This is his tent; and you can see where his guards are.

Courage, my lads! We will win honour now or never!

Just follow me, and we shall have Edward.

1 WATCHMAN.

Who goes there?

Who goes there?

2 WATCHMAN.

Stay, or thou diest.

Stop, or you're dead.

[Warwick and the rest cry all, 'Warwick! Warwick!' and

set upon the guard, who fly, crying 'Arm! Arm!' Warwick

and the rest following them.]

[Drum beating and trumpet sounding; enter WARWICK

and the rest, bringing the KING out in his gown sitting in

a chair. GLOSTER and HASTINGS fly over the stage.]

SOMERSET.

What are they that fly there?

Who are those running away?

WARWICK.

Richard and Hastings. Let them go; here is the duke.

Richard and Hastings. Let them go; here's the Duke.

KING EDWARD.

The duke! why, Warwick, when we parted,

Thou call'dst me king?

The Duke! Why, Warwick, when we parted,

didn't you call me king?

WARWICK.

Ay, but the case is alter'd;

When you disgrac'd me in my embassade,

Then I degraded you from being king,

And come now to create you Duke of York.

Alas! how should you govern any kingdom

That know not how to use ambassadors,

Nor how to be contented with one wife,