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Master lieutenant, now that God and friends Have shaken Edward from the regal seat, And turn’d my captive state to liberty, My fear to hope, my sorrows unto joys, At our enlargement what are thy due fees?
Master lieutenant, now that God and my allies Have removed Edward from the throne, And turned my imprisonment into freedom, My fear into hope, my sorrows into joy, What are your fees for releasing me?
Subjects may challenge nothing of their sovereigns; But if an humble prayer may prevail, I then crave pardon of your majesty.
Subjects can’t ask anything of their rulers; But if a humble request is enough, I ask for your pardon, your majesty.
For what, lieutenant? for well using me? Nay, be thou sure I’ll well requite thy kindness, For that it made my imprisonment a pleasure; Ay, such a pleasure as incaged birds Conceive when after many moody thoughts At last by notes of household harmony They quite forget their loss of liberty. But, Warwick, after God, thou set’st me free, And chiefly therefore I thank God and thee; He was the author, thou the instrument. Therefore, that I may conquer fortune’s spite By living low, where fortune cannot hurt me, And that the people of this blessed land May not be punish’d with my thwarting stars, Warwick, although my head still wear the crown, I here resign my government to thee, For thou art fortunate in all thy deeds.
For what, lieutenant? For treating me well? No, I’ll make sure to reward your kindness, Because it made my time in prison more bearable; Yes, as enjoyable as caged birds Feel when, after many gloomy thoughts, They finally forget their loss of freedom By listening to the comforting sounds of their cages. But, Warwick, after God, you set me free, And for that, I thank both God and you; God was the cause, and you were the means. So, in order to overcome bad luck By living simply, where fortune can’t harm me, And so the people of this blessed land Aren’t punished by my bad luck, Warwick, even though I still wear the crown, I hand over my rule to you, Because you succeed in everything you do.
Your grace hath still been famed for virtuous; And now may seem as wise as virtuous, By spying and avoiding fortune’s malice, For few men rightly temper with the stars: Yet in this one thing let me blame your grace, For choosing me when Clarence is in place.
Your grace has always been known for your virtues; And now you might seem just as wise as virtuous, By recognizing and avoiding fortune’s ill will, Because few men can balance the stars correctly: But in this one thing, let me criticize your grace, For choosing me when Clarence is in position.
No, Warwick, thou art worthy of the sway, To whom the heavens in thy nativity Adjudged an olive branch and laurel crown, As likely to be blest in peace and war; And therefore I yield thee my free consent.
No, Warwick, you deserve to lead, For the heavens granted you an olive branch and laurel crown at birth, As someone who’s likely to succeed in both peace and war; And that’s why I give you my full consent.
And I choose Clarence only for protector.
And I choose Clarence only as my protector.
Warwick and Clarence give me both your hands: Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts, That no dissension hinder government: I make you both protectors of this land, While I myself will lead a private life And in devotion spend my latter days, To sin’s rebuke and my Creator’s praise.
Warwick and Clarence, give me both your hands: Now join hands, and with your hands, join your hearts, So no disagreements will block your leadership: I make you both protectors of this land, While I’ll live privately And spend my remaining days in devotion, To condemn sin and praise my Creator.
What answers Clarence to his sovereign’s will?
What does Clarence say about his king’s wishes?
That he consents, if Warwick yield consent; For on thy fortune I repose myself.
That he agrees, if Warwick agrees; Because I’m relying on your luck.
Why, then, though loath, yet must I be content: We’ll yoke together, like a double shadow To Henry’s body, and supply his place; I mean, in bearing weight of government, While he enjoys the honour and his ease. And, Clarence, now then it is more than needful Forthwith that Edward be pronounced a traitor, And all his lands and goods be confiscate.
Well, then, though I’m reluctant, I must accept: We’ll stick together, like two shadows To Henry’s body, and take his place; I mean, in carrying the weight of government, While he enjoys the honor and ease. And, Clarence, now it’s absolutely necessary That Edward be declared a traitor, And all his lands and goods be seized.
What else? and that succession be determined.
What else? And that the line of succession be decided.
Ay, therein Clarence shall not want his part.
Yes, Clarence will not be left out of this.
But, with the first of all your chief affairs, Let me entreat, for I command no more, That Margaret your queen and my son Edward Be sent for, to return from France with speed; For, till I see them here, by doubtful fear My joy of liberty is half eclipsed.
But, first of all your most important matters, Let me ask, since I’m not in charge anymore, That Margaret, your queen, and my son Edward Be sent for, to return quickly from France; For until I see them here, my joy of freedom Is partly overshadowed by doubt and fear.
It shall be done, my sovereign, with all speed.
It will be done, my king, as quickly as possible.
My Lord of Somerset, what youth is that, Of whom you seem to have so tender care?
Lord Somerset, who is that young man, About whom you seem to care so much?
My liege, it is young Henry, earl of Richmond.
My lord, that’s young Henry, the Earl of Richmond.
Come hither, England’s hope.
Come here, England’s hope.
If secret powers Suggest but truth to my divining thoughts, This pretty lad will prove our country’s bliss. His looks are full of peaceful majesty, His head by nature framed to wear a crown, His hand to wield a sceptre, and himself Likely in time to bless a regal throne. Make much of him, my lords, for this is he Must help you more than you are hurt by me.
If secret forces Guide my thoughts with truth, This young boy will bring happiness to our country. He looks full of peaceful dignity, His head naturally shaped to wear a crown, His hand made to hold a sceptre, and he himself Likely to bless a royal throne one day. Make much of him, my lords, for this is the one Who will help you more than I ever have hurt you.
What news, my friend?
What’s the news, my friend?
That Edward is escaped from your brother, And fled, as he hears since, to Burgundy.
Edward has escaped from your brother, And, as I hear, he’s fled to Burgundy.
Unsavoury news! but how made he escape?
Bad news! But how did he escape?
He was convey’d by Richard Duke of Gloucester And the Lord Hastings, who attended him In secret ambush on the forest side And from the bishop’s huntsmen rescued him; For hunting was his daily exercise.
He was helped by Richard, Duke of Gloucester, And Lord Hastings, who were watching him In a secret ambush on the edge of the forest And rescued him from the bishop’s huntsmen; For hunting was his daily routine.
My brother was too careless of his charge. But let us hence, my sovereign, to provide A salve for any sore that may betide.
My brother was too careless with his responsibility. But let’s go, my king, and prepare A remedy for any troubles that may come.
My lord, I like not of this flight of Edward’s; For doubtless Burgundy will yield him help, And we shall have more wars before ’t be long. As Henry’s late presaging prophecy Did glad my heart with hope of this young Richmond, So doth my heart misgive me, in these conflicts What may befall him, to his harm and ours: Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst, Forthwith we’ll send him hence to Brittany, Till storms be past of civil enmity.
My lord, I don’t like Edward’s escape; For Burgundy will surely help him, And we’ll face more wars before long. Just as Henry’s prophecy about this young Richmond Filled me with hope, so now my heart is troubled, Wondering what dangers might befall him, harming both him and us: Therefore, Lord Oxford, to prevent the worst, We’ll send him immediately to Brittany, Until the storms of civil war have passed.
Ay, for if Edward repossess the crown, ’Tis like that Richmond with the rest shall down.
Yes, because if Edward takes back the crown, It’s likely that Richmond and the others will fall.
It shall be so; he shall to Brittany. Come, therefore, let’s about it speedily.
It will happen; he will go to Brittany. Come on, let’s get to it quickly.