Henry VI, Part 3
Shakescleare Translation

Henry VI, Part 3 Translation Act 5, Scene 5

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Flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and soldiers; with QUEEN MARGARET, OXFORD, and SOMERSET, prisoners

KING EDWARD IV

Now here a period of tumultuous broils.Away with Oxford to Hames Castle straight:For Somerset, off with his guilty head.Go, bear them hence; I will not hear them speak.

KING EDWARD IV

Now we've reached the end of all the tumultuous fighting. Take Oxford to Hames Castle immediately. As for Somerset, off with his guilty head. Go, take them away. I won't to hear them speak.

OXFORD

For my part, I'll not trouble thee with words.

OXFORD

I will not trouble you with my words!

SOMERSET

Nor I, but stoop with patience to my fortune.

SOMERSET

Nor will I. But I submit to my fate patiently. 

Exeunt OXFORD and SOMERSET, guarded

QUEEN MARGARET

So part we sadly in this troublous world,To meet with joy in sweet Jerusalem.

QUEEN MARGARET

So we say goodbye sadly in this troubled world, only to greet joy in sweet heaven.

KING EDWARD IV

Is proclamation made, that who finds EdwardShall have a high reward, and he his life?

KING EDWARD IV

Has it been declared that whoever finds Edward will get a big reward and be allowed to live?

GLOUCESTER

It is: and lo, where youthful Edward comes!

GLOUCESTER

It is. And look: here comes the young Edward!

Enter soldiers, with PRINCE EDWARD

KING EDWARD IV

Bring forth the gallant, let us hear him speak. What! Can so young a thorn begin to prick? Edward, what satisfaction canst thou make For bearing arms, for stirring up my subjects, And all the trouble thou hast turn'd me to?

KING EDWARD IV

Bring the young man forward and let's hear him speak. What? Can such a young boy be so rude already? Edward, what is your excuse for bearing arms against me, stirring up my people to violence, and for all the trouble you caused me?

PRINCE EDWARD

Speak like a subject, proud ambitious York! Suppose that I am now my father's mouth; Resign thy chair, and where I stand kneel thou, Whilst I propose the selfsame words to thee, Which traitor, thou wouldst have me answer to.

PRINCE EDWARD

You should speak like a subject, proud ambitious Duke of York! I am representing my father. Give up the throne and kneel where I stand, while I say the same words to you that you've just said to me, you traitor. 

QUEEN MARGARET

Ah, that thy father had been so resolved!

QUEEN MARGARET

Oh, if only your father had been so strong-willed!

GLOUCESTER

That you might still have worn the petticoat,And ne'er have stol'n the breech from Lancaster.

GLOUCESTER

Then you wouldn't have been the one wearing the pants in your marriage. 

PRINCE EDWARD

Let Aesop fable in a winter's night;His currish riddles sort not with this place.

PRINCE EDWARD

Let Aesop tell tales on a winter's night. The hunchback's rude riddles don't suit this occasion. 

GLOUCESTER

By heaven, brat, I'll plague ye for that word.

GLOUCESTER

I swear to heaven, brat, I'll attack you like the plague for saying that. 

QUEEN MARGARET

Ay, thou wast born to be a plague to men.

QUEEN MARGARET

Yes, you were born to be a plague for people.

GLOUCESTER

For God's sake, take away this captive scold.

GLOUCESTER

For God's sake, take away this shrewish prisoner! 

PRINCE EDWARD

Nay, take away this scolding crookback rather.

PRINCE EDWARD

No, take away this shrewish hunchback instead.

KING EDWARD IV

Peace, wilful boy, or I will charm your tongue.

KING EDWARD IV

Quiet, you headstrong boy, or I will silence your tongue forever. 

CLARENCE

Untutor'd lad, thou art too malapert.

CLARENCE

Uneducated boy, you are too impudent.

PRINCE EDWARD

I know my duty; you are all undutiful: Lascivious Edward, and thou perjured George, And thou misshapen Dick, I tell ye all I am your better, traitors as ye are: And thou usurp'st my father's right and mine.

PRINCE EDWARD

I know my duty. None of you do. Lustful Edward, and you, treacherous George, and you, deformed Dick, I am telling you all: I am superior to you, even though you're traitors. You have usurped the throne from me and my father. 

KING EDWARD IV

Take that, thou likeness of this railer here.

KING EDWARD IV

Take that, you mirror image of your ranting mother here. 

Stabs him

GLOUCESTER

Sprawl'st thou? Take that, to end thy agony.

GLOUCESTER

Are you still writhing? Take that, to end your agony.

Stabs him

CLARENCE

And there's for twitting me with perjury.

CLARENCE

And here's for calling me treacherous.

Stabs him

QUEEN MARGARET

O, kill me too!

QUEEN MARGARET

Oh, kill me too!

GLOUCESTER

Marry, and shall.

GLOUCESTER

I will, gladly. 

Offers to kill her

KING EDWARD IV

Hold, Richard, hold; for we have done too much.

KING EDWARD IV

Stop, Richard, stop. We have done too much.

GLOUCESTER

Why should she live, to fill the world with words?

GLOUCESTER

Why should she live and fill the world with her words?

KING EDWARD IV

What, doth she swoon? Use means for her recovery.

KING EDWARD IV

Is she fainting? Help her recover.

GLOUCESTER

Clarence, excuse me to the king my brother;I'll hence to London on a serious matter:Ere ye come there, be sure to hear some news.

GLOUCESTER

[So only CLARENCE can hear]

Clarence, give my excuses to my brother the king. I'm off to London because to take care of some serious business. Before you come there, wait to hear some news from me. 

CLARENCE

What? What?

CLARENCE

[So only GLOUCESTER can hear]

What? What?

GLOUCESTER

The Tower, the Tower.

GLOUCESTER

[So only CLARENCE can hear]

The Tower, the Tower.

Exit

QUEEN MARGARET

O Ned, sweet Ned! Speak to thy mother, boy! Canst thou not speak? O traitors! Murderers! They that stabb'd Caesar shed no blood at all, Did not offend, nor were not worthy blame, If this foul deed were by to equal it: He was a man; this, in respect, a child: And men ne'er spend their fury on a child. What's worse than murderer, that I may name it? No, no, my heart will burst, and if I speak: And I will speak, that so my heart may burst. Butchers and villains! Bloody cannibals! How sweet a plant have you untimely cropp'd! You have no children, butchers! If you had, The thought of them would have stirr'd up remorse: But if you ever chance to have a child, Look in his youth to have him so cut off As, deathmen, you have rid this sweet young prince!

QUEEN MARGARET

Oh, Ned, sweet Ned! Speak to your mother, boy! Can you not speak? Oh, traitors! Murderers! Compared to this horrible, act the men who stabbed Caesar spilled no blood at all, didn't offend anyone, and weren't deserving of blame. Caesar was a man. My son, in comparison, was a child. And men never act violently towards children. What's worse than being a murderer so I can call them that? No, no, my heart will burst if I speak: I will speak so my heart can burst. Butchers and villains! Bloody cannibals! You have cut short the life of this sweet boy too early. You have no children, butchers! If you did have children, the thought of them would have made you feel pity. But if you ever do have a child, prepare to have him slaughtered in his youth just as you killers have executed this sweet young prince! 

KING EDWARD IV

Away with her; go, bear her hence perforce.

KING EDWARD IV

Take her away from here with force. 

QUEEN MARGARET

Nay, never bear me hence, dispatch me here,Here sheathe thy sword, I'll pardon thee my death:What, wilt thou not? Then, Clarence, do it thou.

QUEEN MARGARET

No, don't take me away from here, kill me here. Bury your sword in my body and I'll forgive you for my death. What, you won't do it? Then, Clarence, you do it.

CLARENCE

By heaven, I will not do thee so much ease.

CLARENCE

By heaven, I will not give you so much comfort.

QUEEN MARGARET

Good Clarence, do; sweet Clarence, do thou do it.

QUEEN MARGARET

Good Clarence, do. Sweet Clarence, please do it.

CLARENCE

Didst thou not hear me swear I would not do it?

CLARENCE

Didn't you hear me swear that I wouldn't do it?

QUEEN MARGARET

Ay, but thou usest to forswear thyself: 'Twas sin before, but now 'tis charity. What, wilt thou not? Where is that devil's butcher, Hard-favour'd Richard? Richard, where art thou? Thou art not here: murder is thy alms-deed; Petitioners for blood thou ne'er put'st back.

QUEEN MARGARET

Yes but you are used to swearing and the breaking your promise. It was a sin before, but now it is charity. What, won't you do it? Where is that devilish slaughterer, ugly Richard? Richard, where are you? You aren't here. Murder is your act of charity. You never turn away those who are begging for death.

KING EDWARD IV

Away, I say; I charge ye, bear her hence.

KING EDWARD IV

I say, away! I order you, take her away from here.

QUEEN MARGARET

So come to you and yours, as to this Prince!

QUEEN MARGARET

May the same happen to you and your family as it happened to this Prince!

Exit, led out forcibly

KING EDWARD IV

Where's Richard gone?

KING EDWARD IV

Where has Richard gone?

CLARENCE

To London, all in post; and, as I guess,To make a bloody supper in the Tower.

CLARENCE

To London, in  a big hurry. 

[To himself] And I suspect he is going to be shedding blood in the Tower.

KING EDWARD IV

He's sudden if a thing comes in his head. Now march we hence: discharge the common sort With pay and thanks, and let's away to London And see our gentle queen how well she fares: By this, I hope, she hath a son for me.

KING EDWARD IV

He's impulsive when an idea comes into his head. Now let's go from here. Tell the common soldiers to go. Pay them and thank them. Let's go to London and see how my gentle queen is doing. I hope that she has given birth to a son for me by now. 

Exeunt