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Modern English
Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook, I saw not better sport these seven years’ day: Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high; And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.
Believe me, lords, when I tried to catch the bird, I haven’t seen better sport in seven years. But, with all due respect, the wind was really strong; And, chances are, old Joan wouldn’t have gone out.
But what a point, my lord, your falcon made, And what a pitch she flew above the rest! To see how God in all his creatures works! Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high.
But what a shot, my lord, your falcon made, And how high she flew above the others! To see how God works in all his creatures! Yes, both man and birds love to reach great heights.
No marvel, an it like your majesty, My lord protector’s hawks do tower so well; They know their master loves to be aloft, And bears his thoughts above his falcon’s pitch.
No surprise, if I may say so, your majesty, My lord protector’s hawks fly so well; They know their master loves to be high, And his thoughts soar higher than his falcon’s flight.
My lord, ’tis but a base ignoble mind That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
My lord, only a low, unworthy mind Aims no higher than a bird can fly.
I thought as much; he would be above the clouds.
I thought so; he wants to be above the clouds.
Ay, my lord cardinal? how think you by that? Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven?
Oh, my lord cardinal, what do you think of that? Wouldn’t it be nice if your grace could fly up to heaven?
The treasury of everlasting joy.
The treasure of endless joy.
Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart; Pernicious protector, dangerous peer, That smooth’st it so with king and commonweal!
Your heaven is on earth; your eyes and thoughts Are fixed on a crown, the treasure you desire; Dangerous protector, harmful peer, Who flatters so well with both king and common people!
What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory? Tantaene animis coelestibus irae? Churchmen so hot? good uncle, hide such malice; With such holiness can you do it?
What, cardinal, has your priesthood become so arrogant? Are even the heavenly spirits filled with rage? Churchmen this heated? Good uncle, hide such hate; Can you act so holy while carrying this malice?
No malice, sir; no more than well becomes So good a quarrel and so bad a peer.
No malice, sir; no more than what’s fitting For such a noble cause and such a bad peer.
As who, my lord?
Who, my lord?
Why, as you, my lord, An’t like your lordly lord-protectorship.
Why, you, my lord, If you please to accept your lordship’s role.
Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence.
Why, Suffolk, England knows your arrogance.
And thy ambition, Gloucester.
And your ambition, Gloucester.
I prithee, peace, good queen, And whet not on these furious peers; For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.
Please, be quiet, good queen, And don’t stir up these angry nobles; For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.
Let me be blessed for the peace I make, Against this proud protector, with my sword!
Let me be blessed for making peace, Against this arrogant protector, with my sword!
[Aside to CARDINAL] Faith, holy uncle, would ’twere come to that!
[Aside to CARDINAL] Honestly, holy uncle, I wish it would come to that!
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Marry, when thou darest.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Well, when you dare.
[Aside to CARDINAL] Make up no factious numbers for the matter; In thine own person answer thy abuse.
[Aside to CARDINAL] Don’t stir up trouble with your followers; Answer for your insults yourself.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Ay, where thou darest not peep: an if thou darest, This evening, on the east side of the grove.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Yes, where you dare not even show your face: if you dare, This evening, on the east side of the grove.
How now, my lords!
What’s going on, my lords?
Believe me, cousin Gloucester, Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly, We had had more sport.
Believe me, cousin Gloucester, If your man hadn’t quickly shot the bird, We would have had more fun.
Come with thy two-hand sword.
Come with your two-handed sword.
True, uncle.
True, uncle.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Are ye advised? the east side of the grove?
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Are you sure? The east side of the grove?
[Aside to CARDINAL] Cardinal, I am with you.
[Aside to CARDINAL] Cardinal, I’m with you.
Why, how now, uncle Gloucester!
What’s happening, uncle Gloucester?
Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.
We were talking about hawking; nothing else, my lord.
Now, by God’s mother, priest, I’ll shave your crown for this, Or all my fence shall fail.
Now, by God’s mother, priest, I’ll shave your crown for this, Or all my fence shall fail.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Medice, teipsum-- Protector, see to’t well, protect yourself.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] Doctor, heal thyself-- Protector, be careful, protect yourself.
The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords. How irksome is this music to my heart! When such strings jar, what hope of harmony? I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.
The winds are picking up; so are your tempers, lords. How annoying is this noise to my heart! When things are so out of tune, what chance is there for peace? I beg you, my lords, let me settle this argument.
What means this noise? Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
What’s all this noise about? Man, what miracle are you talking about?
A miracle! a miracle!
A miracle! a miracle!
Come to the king and tell him what miracle.
Go to the king and tell him what miracle it is.
Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban’s shrine, Within this half-hour, hath received his sight; A man that ne’er saw in his life before.
Truly, a blind man at Saint Alban’s shrine, In the last half-hour, has regained his sight; A man who’d never seen in his life before.
Now, God be praised, that to believing souls Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!
Now, thank God, who to faithful souls Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!
Here comes the townsmen on procession, To present your highness with the man.
Here come the townsmen in procession, To present your majesty with the man.
Great is his comfort in this earthly vale, Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.
His comfort is great in this earthly world, Though by his sight his sins are only increased.
Stand by, my masters: bring him near the king; His highness’ pleasure is to talk with him.
Stand back, my lords: bring him near the king; The king wants to speak with him.
Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance, That we for thee may glorify the Lord. What, hast thou been long blind and now restored?
Good man, tell us the story, So we can praise the Lord for you. What, have you been blind for a long time and now restored?
Born blind, an’t please your grace.
I was born blind, if it pleases your grace.
Ay, indeed, was he.
Yes, really, he was.
What woman is this?
Who is this woman?
His wife, an’t like your worship.
His wife, if it pleases your lordship.
Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told.
If you had been his mother, you could have told him better.
Where wert thou born?
Where were you born?
At Berwick in the north, an’t like your grace.
In Berwick, up north, if it pleases your grace.
Poor soul, God’s goodness hath been great to thee: Let never day nor night unhallow’d pass, But still remember what the Lord hath done.
Poor soul, God has been very kind to you: Let no day or night go by without being blessed, But always remember what the Lord has done.
Tell me, good fellow, camest thou here by chance, Or of devotion, to this holy shrine?
Tell me, good man, did you come here by accident, Or out of devotion, to this holy place?
God knows, of pure devotion; being call’d A hundred times and oftener, in my sleep, By good Saint Alban; who said, ’Simpcox, come, Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.’
God knows, it was out of pure devotion; I was called A hundred times, and more, in my sleep, By good Saint Alban; who said, ’Simpcox, come, Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help you.’
Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft Myself have heard a voice to call him so.
Very true, indeed; and many times myself Have heard a voice calling him like that.
What, art thou lame?
What, are you crippled?
Ay, God Almighty help me!
Yes, God Almighty help me!
How camest thou so?
How did that happen?
A fall off of a tree.
I fell out of a tree.
A plum-tree, master.
A plum tree, sir.
How long hast thou been blind?
How long have you been blind?
Born so, master.
I was born that way, master.
What, and wouldst climb a tree?
What, and you would climb a tree?
But that in all my life, when I was a youth.
Only when I was young, master.
Too true; and bought his climbing very dear.
It’s true; and he paid dearly for trying to climb.
Mass, thou lovedst plums well, that wouldst venture so.
Well, you really must have loved plums to take that risk.
Alas, good master, my wife desired some damsons, And made me climb, with danger of my life.
Alas, master, my wife wanted some damsons, and made me climb, risking my life.
A subtle knave! but yet it shall not serve. Let me see thine eyes: wink now: now open them: In my opinion yet thou seest not well.
A clever rogue! But it won’t work. Let me see your eyes: wink now: now open them: In my opinion, you still can’t see well.
Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and Saint Alban.
Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and Saint Alban.
Say’st thou me so? What colour is this cloak of?
You say that? What color is this cloak?
Red, master; red as blood.
Red, master; red as blood.
Why, that’s well said. What colour is my gown of?
Well said. What color is my gown?
Black, forsooth: coal-black as jet.
Black, truly; as black as coal.
Why, then, thou know’st what colour jet is of?
So, you know what color jet is, then?
And yet, I think, jet did he never see.
But I don’t think he’s ever seen jet.
But cloaks and gowns, before this day, a many.
But he’s seen plenty of cloaks and gowns before this day.
Never, before this day, in all his life.
Never, not once in his life until today.
Tell me, sirrah, what’s my name?
Tell me, boy, what’s my name?
Alas, master, I know not.
Oh, master, I don’t know.
What’s his name?
What’s his name?
I know not.
I don’t know.
Nor his?
Nor his?
No, indeed, master.
No, really, master.
What’s thine own name?
What’s your own name?
Saunder Simpcox, an if it please you, master.
Saunder Simpcox, if it pleases you, master.
Then, Saunder, sit there, the lyingest knave in Christendom. If thou hadst been born blind, thou mightest as well have known all our names as thus to name the several colours we do wear. Sight may distinguish of colours, but suddenly to nominate them all, it is impossible. My lords, Saint Alban here hath done a miracle; and would ye not think his cunning to be great, that could restore this cripple to his legs again?
Then, Saunder, sit there, the biggest liar in Christendom. If you had been born blind, you could have just as easily known all our names as to name the different colors we wear. Sight can tell colors apart, but to name them all at once is impossible. My lords, Saint Alban here has performed a miracle; and would you not think him clever, to restore this cripple to his feet again?
O master, that you could!
Oh master, I wish you could!
My masters of Saint Alban’s, have you not beadles in your town, and things called whips?
My lords of Saint Alban’s, don’t you have beadles in your town, and things called whips?
Yes, my lord, if it please your grace.
Yes, my lord, if it pleases your grace.
Then send for one presently.
Then send for one right away.
Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.
Boy, go fetch the beadle here right now.
Now fetch me a stool hither by and by. Now, sirrah, if you mean to save yourself from whipping, leap me over this stool and run away.
Now bring me a stool here quickly. Now, boy, if you want to save yourself from getting whipped, jump over this stool and run away.
Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone: You go about to torture me in vain.
Oh no, master, I can’t stand on my own: You’re trying to torture me for nothing.
Well, sir, we must have you find your legs. Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool.
Well, sir, we need to help you find your feet. Hey, Beadle, whip him until he jumps over that stool.
I will, my lord. Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet quickly.
I will, my lord. Come on, you; take off your jacket quickly.
Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand.
Oh no, master, what should I do? I can’t stand.
O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long?
Oh God, do You see this, and put up with it for so long?
It made me laugh to see the villain run.
It made me laugh to see the scoundrel run.
Follow the knave; and take this drab away.
Follow that rascal; and take this woman away.
Alas, sir, we did it for pure need.
Oh, sir, we did it out of pure necessity.
Let them be whipped through every market-town, till they come to Berwick, from whence they came.
Let them be whipped through every market town, until they reach Berwick, from where they came.
Duke Humphrey has done a miracle to-day.
Duke Humphrey has performed a miracle today.
True; made the lame to leap and fly away.
True; he made the cripple leap and run away.
But you have done more miracles than I; You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly.
But you’ve done even more miracles than I; You made whole towns flee in a single day.
What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?
What news do we have from our cousin Buckingham?
Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold. A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent, Under the countenance and confederacy Of Lady Eleanor, the protector’s wife, The ringleader and head of all this rout, Have practised dangerously against your state, Dealing with witches and with conjurers: Whom we have apprehended in the fact; Raising up wicked spirits from under ground, Demanding of King Henry’s life and death, And other of your highness’ privy-council; As more at large your grace shall understand.
News that makes my heart tremble to tell. A group of bad people, with evil intentions, Under the support and secret alliance Of Lady Eleanor, the Protector’s wife, The leader and head of all this chaos, Have plotted dangerously against your rule, Dealing with witches and sorcerers: We have caught them in the act; Raising evil spirits from the ground, Demanding the life and death of King Henry, And others from your high council; You will learn more details soon, Your Grace.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] And so, my lord protector, by this means Your lady is forthcoming yet at London. This news, I think, hath turn’d your weapon’s edge; ’Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] And so, my lord protector, by this way Your lady is still in London. I think this news has dulled your edge; It’s likely, my lord, that you won’t keep your word.
Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart: Sorrow and grief have vanquish’d all my powers; And, vanquish’d as I am, I yield to thee, Or to the meanest groom.
Ambitious churchman, stop tormenting my heart: Sorrow and grief have weakened me completely; And, weakened as I am, I surrender to you, Or to the lowliest servant.
O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones, Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby!
Oh God, look at the trouble caused by the wicked, Bringing disaster upon themselves in the process!
Gloucester, see here the tainture of thy nest. And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
Gloucester, look at the stain on your own nest. And make sure you’re blameless, you’d better.
Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal, How I have loved my king and commonweal: And, for my wife, I know not how it stands; Sorry I am to hear what I have heard: Noble she is, but if she have forgot Honour and virtue and conversed with such As, like to pitch, defile nobility, I banish her my bed and company And give her as a prey to law and shame, That hath dishonour’d Gloucester’s honest name.
Madam, as for myself, I appeal to heaven, For how I have loved my king and my country: And as for my wife, I’m not sure what’s going on; I’m sorry to hear what I’ve just heard: She is noble, but if she has forgotten Honor and virtue and consorted with those Who, like pitch, tarnish nobility, I’ll banish her from my bed and my company And hand her over to the law and shame, For dishonoring Gloucester’s good name.
Well, for this night we will repose us here: To-morrow toward London back again, To look into this business thoroughly And call these foul offenders to their answers And poise the cause in justice’ equal scales, Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails.
Well, for tonight we’ll rest here: Tomorrow we’ll head back to London, To look into this matter thoroughly And bring these wicked offenders to justice And weigh the case in the scales of justice, Whose balance is steady, whose rightful cause wins.