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Brother of Gloucester, at Saint Alban’s field This lady’s husband, Sir Richard Grey, was slain, His lands then seized on by the conqueror: Her suit is now to repossess those lands; Which we in justice cannot well deny, Because in quarrel of the house of York The worthy gentleman did lose his life.
Brother of Gloucester, at Saint Alban’s field This lady’s husband, Sir Richard Grey, was killed, His lands were then taken by the conqueror: Her request is now to get those lands back; And we can’t fairly deny her, in justice, Because in the cause of the house of York, The brave man lost his life.
Your highness shall do well to grant her suit; It were dishonour to deny it her.
Your highness should grant her request; It would be dishonorable to refuse her.
It were no less; but yet I’ll make a pause.
It would be just as dishonorable; but I’ll pause for now.
[Aside to CLARENCE] Yea, is it so? I see the lady hath a thing to grant, Before the king will grant her humble suit.
[Aside to CLARENCE] Really? Is that so? I can tell she has something to offer, Before the king will give in to her humble request.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] He knows the game: how true he keeps the wind!
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] He knows what he’s doing: how well he keeps things in balance!
[Aside to CLARENCE] Silence!
[Aside to CLARENCE] Quiet!
Widow, we will consider of your suit; And come some other time to know our mind.
Widow, we will think about your request; And we’ll meet again later to share our decision.
Right gracious lord, I cannot brook delay: May it please your highness to resolve me now; And what your pleasure is, shall satisfy me.
Your gracious lordship, I can’t stand being delayed: Please, your highness, decide now; And whatever you choose, I’ll be satisfied.
[Aside to CLARENCE] Ay, widow? then I’ll warrant you all your lands, An if what pleases him shall pleasure you. Fight closer, or, good faith, you’ll catch a blow.
[Aside to CLARENCE] Oh, widow? Then I’ll bet you’ll get all your lands, If what pleases him will please you. Stay close, or honestly, you’ll get hit.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] I fear her not, unless she chance to fall.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] I’m not worried about her, unless she happens to trip.
[Aside to CLARENCE] God forbid that! for he’ll take vantages.
[Aside to CLARENCE] God forbid that! He’ll take advantage of her if she does.
How many children hast thou, widow? tell me.
How many children do you have, widow? Tell me.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] I think he means to beg a child of her.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] I think he’s trying to get a child out of her.
[Aside to CLARENCE] Nay, whip me then: he’ll rather give her two.
[Aside to CLARENCE] No, punish me then: he’ll be more likely to give her two.
Three, my most gracious lord.
Three, my most honored lord.
[Aside to CLARENCE] You shall have four, if you’ll be ruled by him.
[Aside to CLARENCE] You’ll get four, if you’ll listen to him.
’Twere pity they should lose their father’s lands.
It would be a shame for them to lose their father’s lands.
Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then.
Be merciful, great lord, and grant it then.
Lords, give us leave: I’ll try this widow’s wit.
Lords, leave us for now: I’ll test this widow’s cleverness.
[Aside to CLARENCE] Ay, good leave have you; for you will have leave, Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch.
[Aside to CLARENCE] Yes, go ahead, you have permission; because you’ll have permission, Until youth leaves you and you’re left with nothing.
Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?
Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?
Ay, full as dearly as I love myself.
Yes, as much as I love myself.
And would you not do much to do them good?
And would you not do anything to help them?
To do them good, I would sustain some harm.
To help them, I would suffer some harm.
Then get your husband’s lands, to do them good.
Then take your husband’s lands, to help them.
Therefore I came unto your majesty.
That’s why I came to your majesty.
I’ll tell you how these lands are to be got.
I’ll explain how these lands are to be acquired.
So shall you bind me to your highness’ service.
Then you will bind me to your highness’ service.
What service wilt thou do me, if I give them?
What will you do for me, if I give them to you?
What you command, that rests in me to do.
I’ll do whatever you ask of me.
But you will take exceptions to my boon.
But you’ll probably refuse my request.
No, gracious lord, except I cannot do it.
No, my lord, unless it’s something I can’t do.
Ay, but thou canst do what I mean to ask.
Yes, but you can do what I’m about to ask.
Why, then I will do what your grace commands.
Then I will do whatever your highness asks.
[Aside to CLARENCE] He plies her hard; and much rain wears the marble.
[Aside to CLARENCE] He’s pushing her hard; and a lot of pressure can wear down even marble.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] As red as fire! nay, then her wax must melt.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] She’s blushing bright red! Well, then she’ll soon give in.
Why stops my lord, shall I not hear my task?
Why does my lord stop? Shouldn’t I be hearing my task?
An easy task; ’tis but to love a king.
It’s an easy task; all you have to do is love a king.
That’s soon perform’d, because I am a subject.
That’s easy enough, since I’m a subject.
Why, then, thy husband’s lands I freely give thee.
Well, then, I freely give you your husband’s lands.
I take my leave with many thousand thanks.
I’ll take my leave with many thanks.
[Aside to CLARENCE] The match is made; she seals it with a curtsy.
[Aside to CLARENCE] The deal’s done; she seals it with a curtsy.
But stay thee, ’tis the fruits of love I mean.
But wait, it’s the rewards of love I’m talking about.
The fruits of love I mean, my loving liege.
The rewards of love, my dear lord.
Ay, but, I fear me, in another sense. What love, think’st thou, I sue so much to get?
Yes, but I’m afraid, in a different way. What kind of love, do you think, I’m asking for so much?
My love till death, my humble thanks, my prayers; That love which virtue begs and virtue grants.
My love until death, my sincere thanks, my prayers; The love that virtue asks for and virtue gives.
No, by my troth, I did not mean such love.
No, by my word, I didn’t mean that kind of love.
Why, then you mean not as I thought you did.
Then you don’t mean what I thought you meant.
But now you partly may perceive my mind.
But now you can partly understand what I mean.
My mind will never grant what I perceive Your highness aims at, if I aim aright.
My conscience will never allow what I think You’re after, if I’m reading this correctly.
To tell thee plain, I aim to lie with thee.
To put it simply, I want to sleep with you.
To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.
To put it simply, I’d rather be locked in prison.
Why, then thou shalt not have thy husband’s lands.
Well, then you won’t get your husband’s land.
Why, then mine honesty shall be my dower; For by that loss I will not purchase them.
Well, then my honesty will be my dowry; Because I won’t give up my integrity to get them.
Therein thou wrong’st thy children mightily.
In that case, you’re seriously hurting your children.
Herein your highness wrongs both them and me. But, mighty lord, this merry inclination Accords not with the sadness of my suit: Please you dismiss me either with ’ay’ or ’no.’
In this, your highness is wronging both them and me. But, mighty lord, this light-hearted mood Doesn’t fit the seriousness of my plea: Please either answer me with ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
Ay, if thou wilt say ’ay’ to my request; No if thou dost say ’no’ to my demand.
Yes, if you’ll say ‘yes’ to my request; No, if you say ‘no’ to what I’m asking.
Then, no, my lord. My suit is at an end.
Then, no, my lord. My request is finished.
[Aside to CLARENCE] The widow likes him not, she knits her brows.
[Aside to CLARENCE] The widow doesn’t like him, she furrows her brow.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] He is the bluntest wooer in Christendom.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] He’s the most awkward suitor in Christendom.
[Aside] Her looks do argue her replete with modesty; Her words do show her wit incomparable; All her perfections challenge sovereignty: One way or other, she is for a king; And she shall be my love, or else my queen.-- Say that King Edward take thee for his queen?
[Aside] Her looks show that she is full of modesty; Her words show that her intelligence is unmatched; All her qualities make her worthy of being a queen: One way or another, she is meant for a king; And she will be my love, or else my queen.-- Do you think King Edward would choose you as his queen?
’Tis better said than done, my gracious lord: I am a subject fit to jest withal, But far unfit to be a sovereign.
It’s easier said than done, my gracious lord: I am a subject who is fit for jokes, But far too unimportant to be a queen.
Sweet widow, by my state I swear to thee I speak no more than what my soul intends; And that is, to enjoy thee for my love.
Sweet widow, by my position I swear to you I am saying nothing but what I truly mean; And what I mean is to love you.
And that is more than I will yield unto: I know I am too mean to be your queen, And yet too good to be your concubine.
And that is more than I can accept: I know I am too humble to be your queen, And yet I’m too good to be your mistress.
You cavil, widow: I did mean, my queen.
You argue, widow: I did mean, my queen.
’Twill grieve your grace my sons should call you father.
It would upset your grace if my sons were to call you father.
No more than when my daughters call thee mother. Thou art a widow, and thou hast some children; And, by God’s mother, I, being but a bachelor, Have other some: why, ’tis a happy thing To be the father unto many sons. Answer no more, for thou shalt be my queen.
No more than when my daughters call you mother. You are a widow, and you have some children; And, by God’s mother, I, being just a bachelor, Have some of my own: why, it’s a happy thing To be the father of many sons. Say no more, for you shall be my queen.
[Aside to CLARENCE] The ghostly father now hath done his shrift.
[Aside to CLARENCE] The priest has finished hearing his confession.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] When he was made a shriver, ’twas for shift.
[Aside to GLOUCESTER] When he became a priest, it was just for a job change.
Brothers, you muse what chat we two have had.
Brothers, you wonder what we have been talking about.
The widow likes it not, for she looks very sad.
The widow doesn’t like it, because she looks very sad.
You’ll think it strange if I should marry her.
You’ll think it strange if I marry her.
To whom, my lord?
To whom, my lord?
Why, Clarence, to myself.
Why, Clarence, to myself.
That would be ten days’ wonder at the least.
That would be a sensation for at least ten days.
That’s a day longer than a wonder lasts.
That’s a day longer than a sensation usually lasts.
By so much is the wonder in extremes.
This just shows how extremes can be so surprising.
Well, jest on, brothers: I can tell you both Her suit is granted for her husband’s lands.
Go ahead and joke, brothers. I can tell you both That her request has been granted for her husband’s lands.
My gracious lord, Henry your foe is taken, And brought your prisoner to your palace gate.
My lord, Henry, your enemy, has been captured, And brought as your prisoner to the palace gate.
See that he be convey’d unto the Tower: And go we, brothers, to the man that took him, To question of his apprehension. Widow, go you along. Lords, use her honourably.
Make sure he’s taken to the Tower: And let’s go, brothers, to the man who caught him, To ask him about his capture. Widow, you come along. Lords, treat her with respect.
Ay, Edward will use women honourably. Would he were wasted, marrow, bones and all, That from his loins no hopeful branch may spring, To cross me from the golden time I look for! And yet, between my soul’s desire and me-- The lustful Edward’s title buried-- Is Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, And all the unlook’d for issue of their bodies, To take their rooms, ere I can place myself: A cold premeditation for my purpose! Why, then, I do but dream on sovereignty; Like one that stands upon a promontory, And spies a far-off shore where he would tread, Wishing his foot were equal with his eye, And chides the sea that sunders him from thence, Saying, he’ll lade it dry to have his way: So do I wish the crown, being so far off; And so I chide the means that keeps me from it; And so I say, I’ll cut the causes off, Flattering me with impossibilities. My eye’s too quick, my heart o’erweens too much, Unless my hand and strength could equal them. Well, say there is no kingdom then for Richard; What other pleasure can the world afford? I’ll make my heaven in a lady’s lap, And deck my body in gay ornaments, And witch sweet ladies with my words and looks. O miserable thought! and more unlikely Than to accomplish twenty golden crowns! Why, love forswore me in my mother’s womb: And, for I should not deal in her soft laws, She did corrupt frail nature with some bribe, To shrink mine arm up like a wither’d shrub; To make an envious mountain on my back, Where sits deformity to mock my body; To shape my legs of an unequal size; To disproportion me in every part, Like to a chaos, or an unlick’d bear-whelp That carries no impression like the dam. And am I then a man to be beloved? O monstrous fault, to harbour such a thought! Then, since this earth affords no joy to me, But to command, to cheque, to o’erbear such As are of better person than myself, I’ll make my heaven to dream upon the crown, And, whiles I live, to account this world but hell, Until my mis-shaped trunk that bears this head Be round impaled with a glorious crown. And yet I know not how to get the crown, For many lives stand between me and home: And I,--like one lost in a thorny wood, That rends the thorns and is rent with the thorns, Seeking a way and straying from the way; Not knowing how to find the open air, But toiling desperately to find it out,-- Torment myself to catch the English crown: And from that torment I will free myself, Or hew my way out with a bloody axe. Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile, And cry ’Content’ to that which grieves my heart, And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, And frame my face to all occasions. I’ll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall; I’ll slay more gazers than the basilisk; I’ll play the orator as well as Nestor, Deceive more slily than Ulysses could, And, like a Sinon, take another Troy. I can add colours to the chameleon, Change shapes with Proteus for advantages, And set the murderous Machiavel to school. Can I do this, and cannot get a crown? Tut, were it farther off, I’ll pluck it down.
Yes, Edward will treat women with respect. I wish he were gone, wasted away, marrow, bones, and all, So no son would come from his loins, To stop me from achieving the greatness I seek! And yet, between what I want and what I have-- With Edward’s title buried-- There’s Clarence, Henry, and his son young Edward, And all the unexpected heirs they may have, Who would take their place before I can rise: It’s a cold plan for what I want! So, I only dream of ruling; Like someone standing on a cliff, Looking at a distant shore where they want to go, Wishing their foot were as far as their eye can see, And blaming the sea that separates them, Saying they’ll drain it to make their way: So I long for the crown, but it feels so far away; And so I blame everything that keeps me from it; And so I say, I’ll remove the obstacles, Fooling myself with impossible thoughts. My eye is too fast, my heart too full of hope, Unless my hand and strength could match them. Well, if there’s no kingdom for Richard, What else can the world give me? I’ll make my heaven in a lady’s lap, And dress myself in fine clothes, And charm sweet women with my words and looks. Oh, what a miserable thought! More unlikely Than earning twenty golden crowns! Why, love rejected me in my mother’s womb: And, because I shouldn’t follow her soft rules, She bribed nature to twist me up, Making my arm wither like a dead branch; Creating a mountain of envy on my back, Where deformity mocks my body; Shaping my legs unevenly; Disproportioning every part of me, Like a mess, or an unclean animal cub That doesn’t resemble its mother. And am I really supposed to be loved? What a monstrous mistake, to even think that! Then, since this world offers no joy to me, Except for commanding, controlling, and pushing down those Who are better than I am, I’ll make my heaven by dreaming of the crown, And, while I live, see this world as hell, Until my twisted body that carries this head Is crowned with glory. And yet I don’t know how to get that crown, For many lives stand between me and it: And I, like someone lost in a thorny forest, Struggling through the thorns that tear at me, Looking for a way out, but getting lost, Not knowing how to find fresh air, But desperately trying to find it,-- Torturing myself to grab the English crown: And I will free myself from this torment, Or carve my way out with a bloody axe. Why, I can smile, and kill while I smile, And say ‘Content’ to the things that break my heart, And wet my cheeks with fake tears, And shape my face to suit every occasion. I’ll drown more sailors than the mermaid; I’ll slay more gazers than the basilisk; I’ll speak as well as Nestor, Deceive more cleverly than Ulysses, And, like Sinon, take another Troy. I can change colors like a chameleon, Change shapes with Proteus for my advantage, And teach the murderous Machiavel his tricks. Can I do all this and still not get a crown? Well, if it’s farther away, I’ll still pull it down.