The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (278 page)

Nor how to use your brothers brotherly,

Nor how to study for the people's welfare,

Nor how to shroud yourself from enemies?

Yes, but things have changed;

when you disgraced me as ambassador,

then I demoted you from being king,

and I have come now to make you Duke of York.

Alas! How can you rule any kingdom

when you don't know how to use ambassadors,

you don't know how to be happy with one wife,

you don't know how to treat your brothers properly,

you don't know how to look after your people,

and you don't know how to protect yourself from enemies?

KING EDWARD.

Yea, brother of Clarence, art thou here too?

Nay, then I see that Edward needs must down.--

Yet, Warwick, in despite of all mischance

Of thee thyself and all thy complices,

Edward will always bear himself as king;

Though fortune's malice overthrow my state,

My mind exceeds the compass of her wheel.

Oh, my brother Clarence, are you here too?

Well, I see that Edward must surrender.

But, Warwick, in spite of all the trouble caused

by you and your accomplices,

Edward will always carry himself as a king;

although the hatred of fortune has stolen my position,

my mind is greater than her machinations.

WARWICK.

Then for his mind be Edward England's king;

[Takes off his crown.]

But Henry now shall wear the English crown

And be true king indeed, thou but the shadow.--

My Lord of Somerset, at my request,

See that forthwith Duke Edward be convey'd

Unto my brother, Archbishop of York.

When I have fought with Pembroke and his fellows,

I'll follow you and tell what answer

Lewis and the Lady Bona send to him.--

Now, for a while farewell, good Duke of York.

Then let Edward be England's king in his mind;

but Henry will now wear the English crown

and be the true king, you will just be his shadow.

My Lord of Somerset, I ask you that

Duke Edward is taken at once

to my brother, Archbishop of York.

When I have fought with Pembroke and his associates,

I will follow you and tell you the answer

that Louis and the Lady Bona has sent him.

Now, farewell  for a while, good Duke of York.

KING EDWARD.

What fates impose, that men must needs abide;

It boots not to resist both wind and tide.

What fate imposes, men must tolerate;

there's no point in fighting the winds and tides.

[Exit King Edward, led out; Somerset with him.]

OXFORD.

What now remains, my lords, for us to do,

But march to London with our soldiers?

What is left, my lords, for us to do,

but to march on London with our soldiers?

WARWICK.

Ay, that's the first thing that we have to do,--

To free King Henry from imprisonment

And see him seated in the regal throne.

Yes, there is the first thing we have to do;

to free King Henry from imprisonment

and put him back on his royal throne.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and RIVERS.]

RIVERS.

Madam, what makes you in this sudden change?

Madam, why have you changed so suddenly?

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Why, brother Rivers, are you yet to learn

What late misfortune is befallen King Edward?

Why, brother Rivers, haven't you heard

the recent misfortunes of King Edward?

RIVERS.

What! loss of some pitch'd battle against Warwick?

What! Did he lose some great battle against Warwick?

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

No, but the loss of his own royal person.

No, but he lost himself.

RIVERS.

Then is my sovereign slain?

So my king is dead?

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Ay, almost slain, for he is taken prisoner,

Either betray'd by falsehood of his guard

Or by his foe surpris'd at unawares,

And, as I further have to understand,

Is new committed to the Bishop of York,

Fell Warwick's brother and by that our foe.

Yes, as good as dead, for he has been taken prisoner,

either betrayed by a traitorous guard

or ambushed by his enemies,

and, as I have further been told,

has now been sent to the Bishop of York,

terrible Warwick's brother and so our enemy.

RIVERS.

These news, I must confess, are full of grief;

Yet, gracious madam, bear it as you may.

Warwick may lose, that now hath won the day.

This news, I admit, is full of sorrow;

but, gracious madam, bear up as best you can.

Warwick has won today, but he may still lose.

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Till then, fair hope must hinder life's decay;

And I the rather wean me from despair,

For love of Edward's offspring in my womb.

This is it that makes me bridle passion

And bear with mildness my misfortune's cross;

Ay, ay, for this I draw in many a tear,

And stop the rising of blood-sucking sighs,

Lest with my sighs or tears I blast or drown

King Edward's fruit, true heir to the English crown.

Until then, we must sustain ourselves with sweet hope;

and I will not allow myself to despair,

out of love for the child of Edward in my womb.

That is what makes me calm myself

and bear this bad luck with fortitude;

yes, yes, this is why I keep in my tears,

and suppress my sighs,

in case my sighs or tears could blast or drown

the child of King Edward, the true heir of the English crown.

RIVERS.

But, madam, where is Warwick then become?

But madam, where has Warwick gone now?

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

I am inform'd that he comes towards London,

To set the crown once more on Henry's head.

Guess thou the rest: King Edward's friends must down;

But to prevent the tyrant's violence,--

For trust not him that hath once broken faith,--

I'll hence forthwith unto the sanctuary,

To save at least the heir of Edward's right.

There shall I rest secure from force and fraud.

Come therefore, let us fly while we may fly;

If Warwick take us, we are sure to die.

I am told that he is coming towards London,

to put the crown back on Henry's head.

You can guess the rest: King Edward's friends must surrender;

but to avoid the violence of the tyrant,

for do not trust anyone who has previously broken promises,

I will go at once to the sanctuary,

so that I can at least save the heir of Edward's rights.

There I can rest safe from violence and trickery.

So come, let's run while we can;

if Warwick captures us, we shall certainly die.

[Exeunt.]

[Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, SIR WILLIAM STANLEY, and others.]

GLOSTER.

Now, my Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley,

Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither

Into this chiefest thicket of the park.

Thus stands the case: you know our King, my brother,

Is prisoner to the Bishop here, at whose hands

He hath good usage and great liberty,

And often, but attended with weak guard,

Comes hunting this way to disport himself.

I have advertis'd him by secret means

That if about this hour he make this way,

Under the colour of his usual game,

He shall here find his friends, with horse and men,

To set him free from his captivity.

[Enter KING EDWARD and a Huntsman.]

Now, my Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley,

you can stop wondering why I have brought you here

to the largest wood in the park.

This is how things stand: you know our King, my brother,

is a prisoner of the Bishop here, who is treating him

very well and giving him great freedom,

and he often comes hunting this way for amusement,

with only a small guard.

I have warned him by secret ways

that if he comes this way about this time,

pretending to hunt as usual,

he will find his friends here, with horses and men,

to free him from his captivity.

HUNTSMAN.

This way, my lord, for this way lies the game.

This way, my lord, this is where the game is.

KING EDWARD.

Nay, this way, man; see, where the huntsmen

stand.--

Now, brother of Gloster, Lord Hastings, and the rest,

Stand you thus close to steal the bishop's deer?

No, this way, man; see, where the huntsmen are.

Now, brother of Gloucester, Lord Hastings, and the rest,

are you hiding here to steal the Bishop's deer?

GLOSTER.

Brother, the time and case requireth haste;

Your horse stands ready at the park corner.