LitCharts

Henry VI, Part 3 Translation Act 4, Scene 8

Original

Translation

Flourish. Enter KING HENRY VI, WARWICK, MONTAGUE, CLARENCE, EXETER, and OXFORD

A trumpet fanfare plays. KING HENRY VI, WARWICK, MONTAGUE, CLARENCE, EXETER, and OXFORD enter.

WARWICK

What counsel, lords? Edward from Belgia, With hasty Germans and blunt Hollanders, Hath pass'd in safety through the narrow seas, And with his troops doth march amain to London; And many giddy people flock to him.

WARWICK

What advice would you give us, lords? Edward is coming from the Netherlands with quick-tempered Germans and uncivilized Dutchmen. They have passed the English Channel safely and he is marching rapidly towards London with his army. Many inconstant people join him.

KING HENRY VI

Let's levy men, and beat him back again.

KING HENRY VI

Let's muster our men and let's beat him back to where he came from.

CLARENCE

A little fire is quickly trodden out;Which, being suffer'd, rivers cannot quench.

CLARENCE

A little fire can be quickly extinguished. If it's allowed to grow, not even whole rivers can put it out.

WARWICK

In Warwickshire I have true-hearted friends, Not mutinous in peace, yet bold in war; Those will I muster up: and thou, son Clarence, Shalt stir up in Suffolk, Norfolk, and in Kent, The knights and gentlemen to come with thee: Thou, brother Montague, in Buckingham, Northampton and in Leicestershire, shalt find Men well inclined to hear what thou command'st: And thou, brave Oxford, wondrous well beloved, In Oxfordshire shalt muster up thy friends. My sovereign, with the loving citizens, Like to his island girt in with the ocean, Or modest Dian circled with her nymphs, Shall rest in London till we come to him. Fair lords, take leave and stand not to reply. Farewell, my sovereign.

WARWICK

I have good friends in Warwickshire. They don't rebel during times of peace, and they are brave during wartime. I will recruit those followers, and you, Clarence, my son-in-law, shall convince the knights and gentlemen in Suffolk, Norfolk and Kent to come with you. You, Montague, my brother, will find men in Buckingham, Northampton, and Leicestershire who will be happy to follow your command. And you, brave Oxford, hugely beloved, you'll recruit your friends in Oxfordshire. My king will remain in London with his supportive citizens until we come to him, like an island surrounded by the ocean, or the chaste goddess Diana surrounded by the nymphs that waited on her. Go, fair lords and do not wait to answer me. Goodbye, my king.

KING HENRY VI

Farewell, my Hector, and my Troy's true hope.

KING HENRY VI

Goodbye, my Hector and the best hope for my Troy.

CLARENCE

In sign of truth, I kiss your highness' hand.

CLARENCE

I kiss your hand as a sign of my loyalty.

KING HENRY VI

Well-minded Clarence, be thou fortunate!

KING HENRY VI

Loyal Clarence, I hope you will do well!

MONTAGUE

Comfort, my lord; and so I take my leave.

MONTAGUE

Take courage, my lord. And so I am going.

OXFORD

And thus I seal my truth, and bid adieu.

OXFORD

And I kiss your hand in loyalty too, and say goodbye.

KING HENRY VI

Sweet Oxford, and my loving Montague,And all at once, once more a happy farewell.

KING HENRY VI

Sweet Oxford and my loving Montague both leaving me at the same time. Once again I wish you a fond farewell.

WARWICK

Farewell, sweet lords: let's meet at Coventry.

WARWICK

Goodbye, good lords. Let's meet at Coventry.

Exeunt all but KING HENRY VI and EXETER

All exit except for KING HENRY VI and EXETER.

KING HENRY VI

Here at the palace I will rest awhile.Cousin of Exeter, what thinks your lordship?Methinks the power that Edward hath in fieldShould not be able to encounter mine.

KING HENRY VI

I will stay here at the palace for a while. What do you think, Lord of Exeter? I think that the power that Edward has in the battlefield won't be able to match mine.

EXETER

The doubt is that he will seduce the rest.

EXETER

The only fear is that he may persuade more soldiers to switch sides and fight for him.

KING HENRY VI

That's not my fear; my meed hath got me fame: I have not stopp'd mine ears to their demands, Nor posted off their suits with slow delays; My pity hath been balm to heal their wounds, My mildness hath allay'd their swelling griefs, My mercy dried their water-flowing tears; I have not been desirous of their wealth, Nor much oppress'd them with great subsidies. Nor forward of revenge, though they much err'd: Then why should they love Edward more than me? No, Exeter, these graces challenge grace: And when the lion fawns upon the lamb, The lamb will never cease to follow him.

KING HENRY VI

That's not what I fear. My virtue has made me famous. I haven't listening to my subjects' demands. I haven't put off listening to their petitions with long delays. My pity served as relief to heal their wounds, my mildness has soothed their growing griefs, my mercy dried their tears. I have never wanted their money, nor have I ever forced them to pay great taxes, nor did I ever harshly punish them even when they deserved my revenge. So then why should they love Edward more than me? No, Exeter, these virtuous actions of mine will command respect and love. When the lion acts tenderly to the lamb, the lamb will never stop following him.

Shout within. 'A Lancaster! A Lancaster!'

A shout is heard from offstage: "A Lancaster! A Lancaster!"

EXETER

Hark, hark, my lord! What shouts are these?

EXETER

Listen, listen, my lord! What does this shouting mean?

Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, and soldiers

KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, and soldiers enter.

KING EDWARD IV

Seize on the shame-faced Henry, bear him hence; And once again proclaim us King of England. You are the fount that makes small brooks to flow: Now stops thy spring; my sea shall suck them dry, And swell so much the higher by their ebb. Hence with him to the Tower; let him not speak.

KING EDWARD IV

Grab the bashful Henry and bring him here. Once again I proclaim myself the King of England. You are like the source from which small streams flow. Now your water stops flowing. The sea of my own power will make all of your streams dry up, and the sea levels of my power will only grow when yours diminishes. Take him to the Tower. Don't let him speak.

Exeunt some with KING HENRY VI

Some soldiers exit with KING HENRY VI.

And, lords, towards Coventry bend we our courseWhere peremptory Warwick now remains:The sun shines hot; and, if we use delay,Cold biting winter mars our hoped-for hay.

And, lords, we turn towards Coventry, where the imperious Warwick is now. The sun shines hot. If we waste time, cold biting winter will ruin our harvest.

GLOUCESTER

Away betimes, before his forces join,And take the great-grown traitor unawares:Brave warriors, march amain towards Coventry.

GLOUCESTER

Away quickly, before his forces appear by surprise and steal back this great traitor. Brave warriors, march quickly towards Coventry!

Exeunt

All exit.