Henry VI, Part 2 Translation Act 1, Scene 3
Enter three or four Petitioners, PETER, the Armourer's man, being one
FIRST PETITIONER
My masters, let's stand close: my lord protectorwill come this way by and by, and then we may deliverour supplications in the quill.
FIRST PETITIONER
Gentlemen, let's stand near one another. My lord protector will come this way soon, and then we can tell him our requests as a group.
SECOND PETITIONER
Marry, the Lord protect him, for he's a good man!Jesu bless him!
SECOND PETITIONER
Yes, may the Lord protect him, since he is a good man! Jesus bless him!
Enter SUFFOLK and QUEEN MARGARET
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Here a' comes, methinks, and the queen with him.I'll be the first, sure.
PETER
I think he's coming now, with the queen. I have to be the first to talk to him.
SECOND PETITIONER
Come back, fool; this is the Duke of Suffolk, andnot my lord protector.
SECOND PETITIONER
Step back, you idiot! This is the Duke of Suffolk and not my lord protector.
SUFFOLK
How now, fellow! Would'st anything with me?
SUFFOLK
What's this, man? What do you want from me?
FIRST PETITIONER
I pray, my lord, pardon me; I took ye for my lordprotector.
FIRST PETITIONER
Please, my lord, I am sorry, I thought you were the lord protector.
QUEEN MARGARET
[Reading] 'To my Lord Protector!' Are yoursupplications to his lordship? Let me see them:what is thine?
QUEEN MARGARET
[Reading] "To my Lord Protector!" Do you have requests to his lordship? Let me see them. What's yours?
FIRST PETITIONER
Mine is, an't please your grace, against JohnGoodman, my lord cardinal's man, for keeping myhouse, and lands, and wife and all, from me.
FIRST PETITIONER
Mine is, if it's all right with your grace, against John Goodman, the lord cardinal's servant. He has taken my house, lands, wife and everything from me.
SUFFOLK
Thy wife, too! That's some wrong, indeed. What'syours? What's here!
SUFFOLK
Your wife as well! Something is wrong about that, for sure. What's yours? What do we have here?
SUFFOLK
[Reading] 'Against the Duke of Suffolk, for enclosing thecommons of Melford.' How now, sir knave!
SUFFOLK
[Reading] "Against the Duke of Suffolk, for fencing in the communal land of Melford." What's this, you villain!
SECOND PETITIONER
Alas, sir, I am but a poor petitioner of our whole township.
SECOND PETITIONER
But, sir, I am only one poor petitioner from our whole town.
PETER
[Giving his petition] Against my master, ThomasHorner, for saying that the Duke of York was rightfulheir to the crown.
PETER
[Offering his petition] This is against my master, Thomas Horner, for saying that the Duke of York was the true heir to the crown.
QUEEN MARGARET
What sayst thou? Did the Duke of York say he wasrightful heir to the crown?
QUEEN MARGARET
What did you say? Did the Duke of York say that he was the true heir to the crown?
PETER
That my master was? No, forsooth: my master saidthat he was, and that the king was an usurper.
PETER
That my master was the true heir? No, my master said that he was and that the king is ruling wrongfully.
SUFFOLK
Who is there?
SUFFOLK
Who is there?
Enter Servant
SUFFOLK
Take this fellow in, and send forhis master with a pursuivant presently: we'll hearmore of your matter before the King.
SUFFOLK
Take this man inside and get his master to come immediately with a messenger. We'll hear more about your issue in front of the king.
Exit Servant with PETER
QUEEN MARGARET
And as for you, that love to be protectedUnder the wings of our protector's grace,Begin your suits anew, and sue to him.
QUEEN MARGARET
And as for you, since you love to be protected under our protector's wings, you can start your requests all over again and ask him.
Tears the supplication
QUEEN MARGARET
Away, base cullions! Suffolk, let them go.
QUEEN MARGARET
Get out, you lowly peasants! Suffolk, send them away.
ALL
Come, let's be gone.
ALL
Come, let's go.
Exeunt
QUEEN MARGARET
My Lord of Suffolk, say, is this the guise, Is this the fashion in the court of England? Is this the government of Britain's isle, And this the royalty of Albion's king? What shall King Henry be a pupil still Under the surly Gloucester's governance? Am I a queen in title and in style, And must be made a subject to a duke? I tell thee, Pole, when in the city Tours Thou ran'st a tilt in honour of my love And stolest away the ladies' hearts of France, I thought King Henry had resembled thee In courage, courtship and proportion: But all his mind is bent to holiness, To number Ave-Maries on his beads; His champions are the prophets and apostles, His weapons holy saws of sacred writ, His study is his tilt-yard, and his loves Are brazen images of canonized saints. I would the college of the cardinals Would choose him pope, and carry him to Rome, And set the triple crown upon his head: That were a state fit for his holiness.
QUEEN MARGARET
My Lord Suffolk, tell me, is this what happens, is this the custom in the court of England? Is this the government of the British island, and is this the royalty of Albion's king? Should King Henry be a student under the teaching of the grumpy Gloucester? Am I a queen in title and mode of address, and do I have to obey a duke? I'm telling you, Pole, when you took part in the tournament in the city of Tours and jousted for my love, stealing away the hearts of all the ladies of France, I thought that King Henry was like you—in courage, flirting, and looks. But all he thinks about is religion and counting Hail Marys on his rosary. The heroes that he admires are the prophets and apostles, his weapons are holy books, his study is his tournament ground, and his loves are his bronze statues of glorified saints. I wish that the highest council of the Catholic Church's cardinal would choose him to be a pope and take him to Rome, and set the pope's triple crown on his head. That would be an appropriate job for his holiness.
SUFFOLK
Madam, be patient: as I was causeYour highness came to England, so will IIn England work your grace's full content.
SUFFOLK
Madam, be patient. I was the reason why your highness came to England and so I will do everything here in England to please you.
QUEEN MARGARET
Beside the haughty protector, have we Beaufort, The imperious churchman, Somerset, Buckingham, And grumbling York: and not the least of these But can do more in England than the king.
QUEEN MARGARET
In addition to the arrogant protector, we have Beaufort, the bossy churchman, Somerset, Buckingham and the sulky York. And even the least important of them can do more in England than the king.
SUFFOLK
And he of these that can do most of allCannot do more in England than the Nevils:Salisbury and Warwick are no simple peers.
SUFFOLK
And he who can do most of them all can't do more in England than the Nevilles. Salisbury and Warwick aren't any ordinary men.
QUEEN MARGARET
Not all these lords do vex me half so much As that proud dame, the lord protector's wife. She sweeps it through the court with troops of ladies, More like an empress than Duke Humphrey's wife: Strangers in court do take her for the queen: She bears a duke's revenues on her back, And in her heart she scorns our poverty: Shall I not live to be avenged on her? Contemptuous base-born callet as she is, She vaunted 'mongst her minions t'other day, The very train of her worst wearing gown Was better worth than all my father's lands, Till Suffolk gave two dukedoms for his daughter.
QUEEN MARGARET
All of these lords don't annoy me half as much as that proud woman, the lord protector's wife. She parades through the court with a group of ladies, more like an empress than Duke Humphrey's wife. Foreigners in the court think she is the queen. She dresses in a magnificent style thanks to the duke's income and secretly she makes fun of me for being poor. Shouldn't I be revenged on her? She is a contemptible lowly-born whore! She boasted to her friends the other day that the train of her most unfashionable dress was worth what my father's lands were, until Suffolk gave him two dukedoms for his daughter.
SUFFOLK
Madam, myself have limed a bush for her, And placed a quire of such enticing birds, That she will light to listen to the lays, And never mount to trouble you again. So, let her rest: and, madam, list to me; For I am bold to counsel you in this. Although we fancy not the cardinal, Yet must we join with him and with the lords, Till we have brought Duke Humphrey in disgrace. As for the Duke of York, this late complaint Will make but little for his benefit. So, one by one, we'll weed them all at last, And you yourself shall steer the happy helm.
SUFFOLK
Madam, I have already laid a trap and placed a group of little birds around her, so that she will fall from her nest to listen to their pretty songs, and never trouble you again. So, let her go for now and listen to me, madam, because I am bold enough to advise you on this. Although we don't like the cardinal, we have to join him and his lords, until we have brought Duke Humphrey down. As for the Duke of York, this allegation about him being the true king we just heard will do him little good. So, one by one, we'll uproot them all, until at last you alone will rule the happy kingdom.
Sound a sennet. Enter KING HENRY VI, GLOUCESTER, CARDINAL, BUCKINGHAM, YORK, SOMERSET, SALISBURY, WARWICK, and the DUCHESS
KING HENRY VI
For my part, noble lords, I care not which;Or Somerset or York, all's one to me.
KING HENRY VI
When it comes to me, my lords, I don't really care which one—Somerset or York. They're all the same to me.
YORK
If York have ill demean'd himself in France,Then let him be denay'd the regentship.
YORK
If York has behaved badly in France, then don't make him regent.
SOMERSET
If Somerset be unworthy of the place,Let York be regent; I will yield to him.
SOMERSET
If Somerset isn't worthy of the position, then York should be regent. I'll surrender to him.
WARWICK
Whether your grace be worthy, yea or no,Dispute not that: York is the worthier.
WARWICK
Don't discuss whether you are worthy or not. York is clearly more worthy.
CARDINAL
Ambitious Warwick, let thy betters speak.
CARDINAL
Let others better than you speak, ambitious Warwick.
WARWICK
The cardinal's not my better in the field.
WARWICK
The cardinal isn't better than me pn the battlefield.
BUCKINGHAM
All in this presence are thy betters, Warwick.
BUCKINGHAM
Everyone around you is better than you, Warwick.
WARWICK
Warwick may live to be the best of all.
WARWICK
Warwick could still end up to be the best of you all.
SALISBURY
Peace, son! And show some reason, Buckingham,Why Somerset should be preferred in this.
SALISBURY
Calm down, son! And give us a reason, Buckingham, why Somerset should be regent instead.
QUEEN MARGARET
Because the king, forsooth, will have it so.
QUEEN MARGARET
Because the king wants it that way.
GLOUCESTER
Madam, the king is old enough himselfTo give his censure: these are no women's matters.
GLOUCESTER
Madam, the king is old enough to give us his opinion. These issues are not for women.
QUEEN MARGARET
If he be old enough, what needs your graceTo be protector of his excellence?
QUEEN MARGARET
If he's old enough, why does your grace need to be protector of his excellence?
GLOUCESTER
Madam, I am protector of the realm;And, at his pleasure, will resign my place.
GLOUCESTER
Madam, I am the protector of this country and if he wants me to, I will resign my place.
SUFFOLK
Resign it then and leave thine insolence.Since thou wert king—as who is king but thou?—The commonwealth hath daily run to wreck;The Dauphin hath prevail'd beyond the seas;And all the peers and nobles of the realmHave been as bondmen to thy sovereignty.
SUFFOLK
Resign it then and stop being so arrogant. Since you've been king—who else is king but you?—the country has been driven into ruin. The Dauphin gained in strength beyond the seas and all the noblemen in the country have been like slaves to your government.
CARDINAL
The commons hast thou rack'd; the clergy's bagsAre lank and lean with thy extortions.
CARDINAL
You have ruined the common people; the moneybags of the church are shrunken and poor because of your taxes.
SOMERSET
Thy sumptuous buildings and thy wife's attireHave cost a mass of public treasury.
SOMERSET
Your luxurious buildings and your wife's dresses have cost a lot of public money.
BUCKINGHAM
Thy cruelty in executionUpon offenders, hath exceeded law,And left thee to the mercy of the law.
BUCKINGHAM
Your cruelty when punishing offenders is beyond law and has left you to the mercy of the law.
QUEEN MARGARET
Thy sale of offices and towns in France,If they were known, as the suspect is great,Would make thee quickly hop without thy head.
QUEEN MARGARET
If we knew about your selling of official positions and towns in France (since there is already suspicion about it), you'd be beheaded.
Exit GLOUCESTER. QUEEN MARGARET drops her fan
QUEEN MARGARET
Give me my fan: what, minion! Can ye not?
QUEEN MARGARET
[To DUCHESS] Give me my fan. What, servant? Can't you do that?
She gives the DUCHESS a box on the ear
QUEEN MARGARET
I cry you mercy, madam; was it you?
QUEEN MARGARET
I beg your pardon, madam. Was it you?
DUCHESS
Was't I! Yea, I it was, proud Frenchwoman:Could I come near your beauty with my nails,I'd set my ten commandments in your face.
DUCHESS
Was it? Yes, it was, you proud Frenchwoman! If only I could come closer to your beautiful face with my nails, I'd scratch it with my fingernails!
KING HENRY VI
Sweet aunt, be quiet; 'twas against her will.
KING HENRY VI
Sweet aunt, be quiet. She didn't mean to do it.
DUCHESS
Against her will! Good king, look to't in time; She'll hamper thee, and dandle thee like a baby: Though in this place most master wear no breeches, She shall not strike Dame Eleanor unrevenged.
DUCHESS
She didn't mean to do it! Good king, beware of her. She'll manipulate you and pet you like a baby. But although the greatest master in this place doesn't wear trousers, she won't slap Dame Eleanor without paying for it.
Exit
BUCKINGHAM
Lord cardinal, I will follow Eleanor, And listen after Humphrey, how he proceeds: She's tickled now; her fume needs no spurs, She'll gallop far enough to her destruction.
BUCKINGHAM
Lord cardinal, I'll follow Eleanor and watch out for Humphrey and what he's going to do next. She is provoked now; we don't need to make her any angrier. She'll run fast and far enough towards her own destruction.
Exit
Re-enter GLOUCESTER
GLOUCESTER
Now, lords, my choler being over-blown With walking once about the quadrangle, I come to talk of commonwealth affairs. As for your spiteful false objections, Prove them, and I lie open to the law: But God in mercy so deal with my soul, As I in duty love my king and country! But, to the matter that we have in hand: I say, my sovereign, York is meetest man To be your regent in the realm of France.
GLOUCESTER
Now, lords, I calmed down as I walked around the quadrangle once, so I have come to talk about the government. As for your hateful, false accusations, show your proof and let the law judge my case. But God will have mercy on my soul, since God knows I love my king and country! But, let's talk about the matter in hand. I say, my king, that York is the right man to be your regent in France.
SUFFOLK
Before we make election, give me leaveTo show some reason, of no little force,That York is most unmeet of any man.
SUFFOLK
Before we make a choice, let me show you why York is the most unsuitable out of all men.
YORK
I'll tell thee, Suffolk, why I am unmeet: First, for I cannot flatter thee in pride; Next, if I be appointed for the place, My Lord of Somerset will keep me here, Without discharge, money, or furniture, Till France be won into the Dauphin's hands: Last time, I danced attendance on his will Till Paris was besieged, famish'd, and lost.
YORK
I'll tell you why I am unsuitable, Suffolk. First of all, because my self-respect will not allow me to flatter you. Next, because if I am appointed to the position, my lord of Somerset will keep me here without payment, money or military equipment, until France is won by the Dauphin. Last time I had to listen to his commands, Paris was attacked, our people starved, and the city was lost.
WARWICK
That can I witness; and a fouler factDid never traitor in the land commit.
WARWICK
I can bear witness to that. A traitor has never committed worse crimes.
SUFFOLK
Peace, headstrong Warwick!
SUFFOLK
Calm yourself, stubborn Warwick!
WARWICK
Image of pride, why should I hold my peace?
WARWICK
You're the embodiment of pride! Why should I be calm?
Enter HORNER, the Armourer, and his man PETER, guarded
SUFFOLK
Because here is a man accused of treason:Pray God the Duke of York excuse himself!
SUFFOLK
Because he is a man accused of treason. I pray God that the Duke of York excuses himself!
YORK
Doth any one accuse York for a traitor?
YORK
Does anyone accuse York of being a traitor?
KING HENRY VI
What mean'st thou, Suffolk; tell me, what are these?
KING HENRY VI
What do you mean, Suffolk? Tell me, who are these people?
SUFFOLK
Please it your majesty, this is the man That doth accuse his master of high treason: His words were these: that Richard, Duke of York, Was rightful heir unto the English crown And that your majesty was a usurper.
SUFFOLK
Please, majesty, this [points to PETER] is the man that accuses his master of high treason. He said that Richard, Duke of York is the true heir to the English crown and that your majesty has no right to the throne.
KING HENRY VI
Say, man, were these thy words?
KING HENRY VI
Is this what you said, man?
HORNER
An't shall please your majesty, I never said northought any such matter: God is my witness, I amfalsely accused by the villain.
HORNER
If it makes your majesty happy, I never said nor thought that! God is my witness that I am accused falsely by this villain.
PETER
By these ten bones, my lords, he did speak them tome in the garret one night, as we were scouring myLord of York's armour.
PETER
By these fingers, my lords, he said those words to me in the watch-tower one night as we were cleaning the armor of my Lord of York.
YORK
Base dunghill villain and mechanical, I'll have thy head for this thy traitor's speech. I do beseech your royal majesty, Let him have all the rigor of the law.
YORK
Lowly foul villain, peasant! I'll have your head for your treachery. I ask your royal majesty to punish him with all the harshness of the law.
HORNER
Alas, my lord, hang me, if ever I spake the words. My accuser is my 'prentice; and when I did correct him for his fault the other day, he did vow upon his knees he would be even with me: I have good witness of this: therefore I beseech your majesty, do not cast away an honest man for a villain's accusation.
HORNER
Ah, hang me if I have ever spoken those words, my lord. My apprentice is the one who accuses me and when I punished him for his mistake the other day, he swore on his knees that he would get even with me. I have witnesses to prove it. So I beg your majesty, don't cast away an honest man because of a villain's accusation.
KING HENRY VI
Uncle, what shall we say to this in law?
KING HENRY VI
Uncle, how should we answer to this?
GLOUCESTER
This doom, my lord, if I may judge: Let Somerset be regent over the French, Because in York this breeds suspicion: And let these have a day appointed them For single combat in convenient place, For he hath witness of his servant's malice: This is the law, and this Duke Humphrey's doom.
GLOUCESTER
My advice, my lord, would be to let Somerset be the regent of France because this makes us suspicious of York. Let the two of them set a date to duel in a suitable place, for he has seen how evil his servant is. This is the law and this is Duke Humphrey's sentence.
SOMERSET
I humbly thank your royal majesty.
SOMERSET
I humbly thank you, your royal majesty.
HORNER
And I accept the combat willingly.
HORNER
And I willingly accept the fight.
PETER
Alas, my lord, I cannot fight; for God's sake, pity my case. The spite of man prevaileth against me. O Lord, have mercy upon me! I shall never be able to fight a blow. O Lord, my heart!
PETER
Ah, but my lord, I can't fight! For God's sake, take pity on my situation. The viciousness of mankind is against me. Oh, Lord, have mercy on me! I shall never be able to fight. Oh, Lord, my heart!
GLOUCESTER
Sirrah, or you must fight, or else be hang'd.
GLOUCESTER
Sir, either you fight or you'll be hanged.
KING HENRY VI
Away with them to prison; and the day of combatshall be the last of the next month. Come,Somerset, we'll see thee sent away.
KING HENRY VI
Take them away to prison; the day of the fight will be the last day of the next month. Come, Somerset, we'll make sure that they're sent away.
Flourish. Exeunt
