Original
Modern English
We’ll fight with him to-night.
We’ll fight him tonight.
It may not be.
We can’t do that.
You give him then the advantage.
Then you’re giving him the upper hand.
Not a whit.
Not at all.
Why say you so? looks he not for supply?
Why do you say that? Doesn’t he expect reinforcements?
So do we.
So do we.
His is certain, ours is doubtful.
His are certain, ours are uncertain.
Good cousin, be advised; stir not tonight.
Good cousin, listen to reason; don’t move tonight.
Do not, my lord.
Don’t, my lord.
You do not counsel well: You speak it out of fear and cold heart.
You’re not giving good advice: You’re speaking out of fear and weakness.
Do me no slander, Douglas: by my life, And I dare well maintain it with my life, If well-respected honour bid me on, I hold as little counsel with weak fear As you, my lord, or any Scot that this day lives: Let it be seen to-morrow in the battle Which of us fears.
Don’t insult me, Douglas: I swear on my life, And I’ll defend it with my life, If honorable duty calls me to fight, I fear as little as you, my lord, or any Scot alive today: Let’s see tomorrow in battle Who is the fearful one.
Yea, or to-night.
Yes, or tonight.
Content.
Fine.
To-night, say I.
Tonight, I say.
Come, come it nay not be. I wonder much, Being men of such great leading as you are, That you foresee not what impediments Drag back our expedition: certain horse Of my cousin Vernon’s are not yet come up: Your uncle Worcester’s horse came but today; And now their pride and mettle is asleep, Their courage with hard labour tame and dull, That not a horse is half the half of himself.
Come on, this can’t be. I’m really surprised, That men of your leadership can’t see The obstacles that are slowing us down: some of my cousin Vernon’s horses Still haven’t shown up yet: Your uncle Worcester’s horses just arrived today; And now they’re exhausted, their spirits are dead, Their energy worn out from hard work, So none of them are half of what they used to be.
So are the horses of the enemy In general, journey-bated and brought low: The better part of ours are full of rest.
The enemy’s horses are just as tired, Weakened from the journey: But most of ours are well-rested.
The number of the king exceedeth ours: For God’s sake. cousin, stay till all come in.
The king’s army outnumbers ours: For God’s sake, cousin, wait until everyone’s here.
I come with gracious offers from the king, if you vouchsafe me hearing and respect.
I come with honorable offers from the king, If you’ll listen to me and show respect.
Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt; and would to God You were of our determination! Some of us love you well; and even those some Envy your great deservings and good name, Because you are not of our quality, But stand against us like an enemy.
Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt; and I wish to God You were on our side! Some of us like you a lot; and even those few Are jealous of your great achievements and good name, Because you’re not one of us, But stand against us like an enemy.
And God defend but still I should stand so, So long as out of limit and true rule You stand against anointed majesty. But to my charge. The king hath sent to know The nature of your griefs, and whereupon You conjure from the breast of civil peace Such bold hostility, teaching his duteous land Audacious cruelty. If that the king Have any way your good deserts forgot, Which he confesseth to be manifold, He bids you name your griefs; and with all speed You shall have your desires with interest And pardon absolute for yourself and these Herein misled by your suggestion.
And God forbid that I should ever stop doing that, As long as you stand against the king’s rightful rule. But to get to my business. The king has sent to ask What your complaints are, and why You stir up such bold hostility, Teaching your land to be cruel and rebellious. If the king Has forgotten any of your services, Which he admits were many, He asks that you name them; and quickly You will have everything you want, plus extra, And full pardon for yourself and those Who have been misled by your influence.
The king is kind; and well we know the king Knows at what time to promise, when to pay. My father and my uncle and myself Did give him that same royalty he wears; And when he was not six and twenty strong, Sick in the world’s regard, wretched and low, A poor unminded outlaw sneaking home, My father gave him welcome to the shore; And when he heard him swear and vow to God He came but to be Duke of Lancaster, To sue his livery and beg his peace, With tears of innocency and terms of zeal, My father, in kind heart and pity moved, Swore him assistance and perform’d it too. Now when the lords and barons of the realm Perceived Northumberland did lean to him, The more and less came in with cap and knee; Met him in boroughs, cities, villages, Attended him on bridges, stood in lanes, Laid gifts before him, proffer’d him their oaths, Gave him their heirs, as pages follow’d him Even at the heels in golden multitudes. He presently, as greatness knows itself, Steps me a little higher than his vow Made to my father, while his blood was poor, Upon the naked shore at Ravenspurgh; And now, forsooth, takes on him to reform Some certain edicts and some strait decrees That lie too heavy on the commonwealth, Cries out upon abuses, seems to weep Over his country’s wrongs; and by this face, This seeming brow of justice, did he win The hearts of all that he did angle for; Proceeded further; cut me off the heads Of all the favourites that the absent king In deputation left behind him here, When he was personal in the Irish war.
The king is generous; and we know well that the king Knows when to make promises, and when to fulfill them. My father, my uncle, and I Gave him the very crown he wears; And when he was only 26 years old, Disgraced and weak in the eyes of the world, A poor outlaw sneaking back home, My father welcomed him to shore; And when he heard him swear to God That he only came to be Duke of Lancaster, To claim his title and beg for peace, With innocent tears and passionate words, My father, moved by kindness and pity, Swore to help him—and did so. When the lords and barons of the realm Saw that Northumberland supported him, More and more people came, bowing to him; They met him in towns, cities, and villages, Followed him across bridges, stood in lanes, Gave him gifts, swore their loyalty, Gave him their heirs, like pages trailing behind him, Even at his heels in great numbers. He, knowing what power feels like, Raised himself higher than his original vow To my father, when his blood was poor, On the empty shore at Ravenspurgh; And now, indeed, he takes on the task Of reforming certain laws and harsh decrees That are too burdensome on the people, Complains about injustices, pretends to weep Over the wrongs of his country; and with this face, This false look of justice, he won The hearts of all those he wanted to sway; He went further; had the heads cut off Of all the favorites that the absent king Had left in charge during the Irish war.
Tut, I came not to hear this.
Stop, I didn’t come to listen to this.
Then to the point. In short time after, he deposed the king; Soon after that, deprived him of his life; And in the neck of that, task’d the whole state: To make that worse, suffer’d his kinsman March, Who is, if every owner were well placed, Indeed his king, to be engaged in Wales, There without ransom to lie forfeited; Disgraced me in my happy victories, Sought to entrap me by intelligence; Rated mine uncle from the council-board; In rage dismiss’d my father from the court; Broke oath on oath, committed wrong on wrong, And in conclusion drove us to seek out This head of safety; and withal to pry Into his title, the which we find Too indirect for long continuance.
Then let’s get to the point. Shortly after, he deposed the king; Soon after that, killed him; And in the process, took control of the entire state: To make things worse, had his relative March, Who, if things were in order, would have been king, Engaged in a war in Wales, To be left there, without ransom, to die; Shamed me in my victories, Tried to trap me with spies; Removed my uncle from the council; In rage, dismissed my father from court; Broke oath after oath, committed wrong after wrong, And in the end, forced us to take refuge In this cause; and also to investigate His claim, which we find Too weak to last for long.
Shall I return this answer to the king?
Should I report this answer to the king?
Not so, Sir Walter: we’ll withdraw awhile. Go to the king; and let there be impawn’d Some surety for a safe return again, And in the morning early shall my uncle Bring him our purposes: and so farewell.
Not yet, Sir Walter: we’ll hold off for now. Go to the king; and make sure some guarantee Is given for his safe return, And in the early morning, my uncle Will tell him our intentions: and so goodbye.
I would you would accept of grace and love.
I wish you would accept grace and peace.
And may be so we shall.
And maybe we will.
Pray God you do.
I hope you do.