Original
Modern English
Neighbour, well met: whither away so fast?
Neighbor, good to see you: where are you rushing off to?
I promise you, I scarcely know myself: Hear you the news abroad?
I honestly don’t even know myself: Have you heard the news?
Ay, that the king is dead.
Yes, that the king is dead.
Bad news, by’r lady; seldom comes the better: I fear, I fear ’twill prove a troublous world.
Bad news, by my lady; it’s rarely good news we get: I’m worried, I’m worried this will lead to a troubled world.
Neighbours, God speed!
Neighbors, may God keep you!
Give you good morrow, sir.
Good morning to you, sir.
Doth this news hold of good King Edward’s death?
Is it true that King Edward has died?
Ay, sir, it is too true; God help the while!
Yes, sir, it’s true; God help us in this time!
Then, masters, look to see a troublous world.
Then, my friends, expect to see a troubled world.
No, no; by God’s good grace his son shall reign.
No, no; with God’s grace, his son will rule.
Woe to the land that’s govern’d by a child!
Woe to the land that’s ruled by a child!
In him there is a hope of government, That in his nonage council under him, And in his full and ripen’d years himself, No doubt, shall then and till then govern well.
In him there’s hope for good rule, With advisors guiding him while he’s young, And when he’s older, he’ll rule well, no doubt.
So stood the state when Henry the Sixth Was crown’d in Paris but at nine months old.
That’s how it was when Henry the Sixth Was crowned in Paris at just nine months old.
Stood the state so? No, no, good friends, God wot; For then this land was famously enrich’d With politic grave counsel; then the king Had virtuous uncles to protect his grace.
Was the country in such a state then? No, no, good friends, God knows; Because back then this land was greatly improved By wise and serious advice; then the king Had virtuous uncles to protect him.
Why, so hath this, both by the father and mother.
Well, so does this, both from his father and mother.
Better it were they all came by the father, Or by the father there were none at all; For emulation now, who shall be nearest, Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not. O, full of danger is the Duke of Gloucester! And the queen’s sons and brothers haught and proud: And were they to be ruled, and not to rule, This sickly land might solace as before.
It would be better if they all came from the father, Or if there were none at all from the father; Because now, with rivalry, everyone is trying to get closer, It will affect us all too much, unless God stops it. Oh, the Duke of Gloucester is full of danger! And the queen’s sons and brothers are so proud and arrogant: And if they were to be ruled, not to rule, This sickly land might find peace again like before.
Come, come, we fear the worst; all shall be well.
Come, come, we fear the worst; everything will be fine.
When clouds appear, wise men put on their cloaks; When great leaves fall, the winter is at hand; When the sun sets, who doth not look for night? Untimely storms make men expect a dearth. All may be well; but, if God sort it so, ’Tis more than we deserve, or I expect.
When clouds appear, wise men put on their cloaks; When large leaves fall, winter is coming; When the sun sets, who doesn’t expect night? Sudden storms make people expect famine. Everything might be fine; but if God arranges it that way, It’s more than we deserve, or I expect.
Truly, the souls of men are full of dread: Ye cannot reason almost with a man That looks not heavily and full of fear.
Truly, the souls of men are filled with fear: You can hardly reason with someone Who looks so serious and full of dread.
Before the times of change, still is it so: By a divine instinct men’s minds mistrust Ensuing dangers; as by proof, we see The waters swell before a boisterous storm. But leave it all to God. whither away?
It’s always like this before times of change: By a divine instinct, people’s minds sense The dangers ahead; just like we see The waters rise before a strong storm. But leave it all to God. Where are we going?
Marry, we were sent for to the justices.
Well, we were called to the justices.
And so was I: I’ll bear you company.
So was I: I’ll go with you.