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Act 5, Scene 5
King John Translation Act 5, Scene 6
Enter the BASTARD and HUBERT, severally
HUBERT
Who's there? speak, ho! speak quickly, or I shoot.
HUBERT
Who's there? Speak! Speak quickly or I'll shoot.
BASTARD
A friend. What art thou?
BASTARD
A friend. Who are you?
HUBERT
Of the part of England.
HUBERT
I'm on the English side.
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BASTARD
Whither dost thou go?
BASTARD
Where are you going?
HUBERT
What's that to thee? why may not I demandOf thine affairs, as well as thou of mine?
HUBERT
Why does it matter to you? Why can't I ask you about what you're doing instead of you asking me that?
BASTARD
Hubert, I think?
BASTARD
Hubert, I think?
HUBERT
Thou hast a perfect thought: I will upon all hazards well believe Thou art my friend, that know'st my tongue so well. Who art thou?
HUBERT
Your guess is correct. I will guess you are my friend since you know my voice so well. Who are you?
BASTARD
Who thou wilt: and if thou please,Thou mayst befriend me so much as to thinkI come one way of the Plantagenets.
BASTARD
Whoever you want, and if you want you can consider me a friend because I am descended from the Plantagenets on one side.
HUBERT
Unkind remembrance! thou and eyeless night Have done me shame: brave soldier, pardon me, That any accent breaking from thy tongue Should 'scape the true acquaintance of mine ear.
HUBERT
A cruel reminder! You and the dark night have shamed me. Brave soldier, forgive me for my ear not recognizing any sound coming from your mouth.
BASTARD
Come, come; sans compliment, what news abroad?
BASTARD
Come on, come on. Don't bother complimenting me—what news is there?
HUBERT
Why, here walk I in the black brow of night,To find you out.
HUBERT
I'm walking here under the black forehead of night to find you.
BASTARD
Brief, then; and what's the news?
BASTARD
In short, then: what's the news?
HUBERT
O, my sweet sir, news fitting to the night,Black, fearful, comfortless and horrible.
HUBERT
Oh, my dear sir, news fitting to the night, black, frightening, without comfort, and horrible.
BASTARD
Show me the very wound of this ill news:I am no woman, I'll not swoon at it.
BASTARD
Show me the wound of this bad news. I'm not a woman, I won't faint at it.
HUBERT
The king, I fear, is poison'd by a monk: I left him almost speechless; and broke out To acquaint you with this evil, that you might The better arm you to the sudden time, Than if you had at leisure known of this.
HUBERT
I'm afraid the king has been poisoned by a monk. When I left he was almost speechless. I left to tell you about this evil deed so you could prepare yourself better for this sudden occurrence than if you learned about it later.
BASTARD
How did he take it? who did taste to him?
BASTARD
How was he given the poison? Who was tasting his food?
HUBERT
A monk, I tell you; a resolved villain,Whose bowels suddenly burst out: the kingYet speaks and peradventure may recover.
HUBERT
A monk, I tell you. A resolved criminal whose guts suddenly burst out. The king is still speaking and may get better.
BASTARD
Who didst thou leave to tend his majesty?
BASTARD
Who did you leave to take care of him?
HUBERT
Why, know you not? the lords are all come back, And brought Prince Henry in their company; At whose request the king hath pardon'd them, And they are all about his majesty.
HUBERT
Don't you know? The lords have all come back and they brought Prince Henry with them. At his request the king pardoned them and they are all with him.
BASTARD
Withhold thine indignation, mighty heaven, And tempt us not to bear above our power! I'll tell thee, Hubert, half my power this night, Passing these flats, are taken by the tide; These Lincoln Washes have devoured them;Myself, well mounted, hardly have escaped.Away before: conduct me to the king;I doubt he will be dead or ere I come.
BASTARD
Hold back your anger, great heaven, and don't tempt me to act beyond my power! I'll tell you, Hubert, half my army was shipwrecked passing these rocks tonight. These Lincoln marshes have swallowed them. I was on a good horse and barely escaped. Go in front of me: take me to the king. I'm worried he'll be dead before I arrive.
Exeunt
