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Modern English
Hie, good Sir Michael; bear this sealed brief With winged haste to the lord marshal; This to my cousin Scroop, and all the rest To whom they are directed. If you knew How much they do to import, you would make haste.
Hurry, good Sir Michael; take this sealed letter And deliver it quickly to the lord marshal; This one is for my cousin Scroop, and all the others To whom it’s addressed. If you knew How important they are, you’d hurry.
My good lord, I guess their tenor.
My lord, I can guess what’s in them.
Like enough you do. To-morrow, good Sir Michael, is a day Wherein the fortune of ten thousand men Must bide the touch; for, sir, at Shrewsbury, As I am truly given to understand, The king with mighty and quick-raised power Meets with Lord Harry: and, I fear, Sir Michael, What with the sickness of Northumberland, Whose power was in the first proportion, And what with Owen Glendower’s absence thence, Who with them was a rated sinew too And comes not in, o’er-ruled by prophecies, I fear the power of Percy is too weak To wage an instant trial with the king.
You’re probably right. Tomorrow, good Sir Michael, is the day When the fate of ten thousand men Will be decided; for, sir, at Shrewsbury, As I understand it, the king with a large and quickly raised army Meets Lord Harry: and I fear, Sir Michael, That with Northumberland’s illness, Whose army was initially so strong, And with Owen Glendower’s absence, Who was also a powerful ally but isn’t coming, Overruled by prophecies, I fear Percy’s forces are too weak To take on the king right now.
Why, my good lord, you need not fear; There is Douglas and Lord Mortimer.
But, my lord, you needn’t worry; There’s still Douglas and Lord Mortimer.
No, Mortimer is not there.
No, Mortimer isn’t there.
But there is Mordake, Vernon, Lord Harry Percy, And there is my Lord of Worcester and a head Of gallant warriors, noble gentlemen.
But there’s Mordake, Vernon, Lord Harry Percy, And my Lord of Worcester, and a group Of brave warriors, noble men.
And so there is: but yet the king hath drawn The special head of all the land together: The Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster, The noble Westmoreland and warlike Blunt; And moe corrivals and dear men Of estimation and command in arms.
True, there are some; but the king has gathered The most important leaders from all over the land: The Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster, The noble Westmoreland, and the warlike Blunt; And many more rivals and important men Of high rank and military command.
Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well opposed.
Don’t worry, my lord, they’ll be well matched.
I hope no less, yet needful ’tis to fear; And, to prevent the worst, Sir Michael, speed: For if Lord Percy thrive not, ere the king Dismiss his power, he means to visit us, For he hath heard of our confederacy, And ’tis but wisdom to make strong against him: Therefore make haste. I must go write again To other friends; and so farewell, Sir Michael.
I hope so, but it’s still wise to be cautious; And to be safe, Sir Michael, hurry: Because if Lord Percy isn’t successful before the king Dismisses his army, he plans to come after us, Since he’s heard about our alliance, And it’s smart to prepare against him: So hurry. I need to write to other allies; goodbye, Sir Michael.