Original
Modern English
Last night, I hear, they lay at Northampton; At Stony-Stratford will they be to-night: To-morrow, or next day, they will be here.
Last night, I hear, they stayed at Northampton; They will be at Stony-Stratford tonight: Tomorrow, or the next day, they will be here.
I long with all my heart to see the prince: I hope he is much grown since last I saw him.
I’m eager from the bottom of my heart to see the prince: I hope he’s grown a lot since I last saw him.
But I hear, no; they say my son of York Hath almost overta’en him in his growth.
But I’ve heard, no; they say my son of York Has almost caught up with him in height.
Ay, mother; but I would not have it so.
Yes, mother; but I wouldn’t want that to be the case.
Why, my young cousin, it is good to grow.
Well, my young cousin, it’s good to grow up.
Grandam, one night, as we did sit at supper, My uncle Rivers talk’d how I did grow More than my brother: ’Ay,’ quoth my uncle Gloucester, ’Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace:’ And since, methinks, I would not grow so fast, Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.
Grandma, one night, while we were having supper, My uncle Rivers talked about how much I had grown More than my brother: ’Yes,’ said my uncle Gloucester, ’Small plants grow slowly, but big weeds grow fast:’ And since then, I think, I wouldn’t want to grow so quickly, Because pretty flowers take their time, and weeds grow fast.
Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold In him that did object the same to thee; He was the wretched’st thing when he was young, So long a-growing and so leisurely, That, if this rule were true, he should be gracious.
Honestly, honestly, that saying didn’t apply To the one who said it to you; He was the worst when he was young, So slow to grow and so lazy, That, if the rule were true, he should have turned out better.
Why, madam, so, no doubt, he is.
Well, madam, I’m sure he is.
I hope he is; but yet let mothers doubt.
I hope he is; but still, mothers always have doubts.
Now, by my troth, if I had been remember’d, I could have given my uncle’s grace a flout, To touch his growth nearer than he touch’d mine.
Now, honestly, if I had been paying attention, I could have made a joke about my uncle’s growth, To bring up how he grew faster than I did.
How, my pretty York? I pray thee, let me hear it.
What, my sweet York? Please, let me hear it.
Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old ’Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth. Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.
Well, they say my uncle grew so quickly That he could chew on a crust when he was just two hours old. It was almost two years before I even got a tooth. Grandma, that would have been a funny joke.
I pray thee, pretty York, who told thee this?
Please, my sweet York, who told you this?
Grandam, his nurse.
Grandma, it was his nurse.
His nurse! why, she was dead ere thou wert born.
His nurse! But she was dead before you were born.
If ’twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.
If it wasn’t her, I really don’t know who told me.
A parlous boy: go to, you are too shrewd.
A clever boy: come on, you’re too sharp.
Good madam, be not angry with the child.
Please, madam, don’t be angry with the child.
Pitchers have ears.
Walls have ears.
Here comes a messenger. What news?
Here comes a messenger. What’s the news?
Such news, my lord, as grieves me to unfold.
Bad news, my lord, news that pains me to share.
How fares the prince?
How is the prince?
Well, madam, and in health.
He’s well, madam, and in good health.
What is thy news then?
Then what is your news?
Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret, With them Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.
Lord Rivers and Lord Grey have been sent to Pomfret, Along with Sir Thomas Vaughan, all taken prisoners.
Who hath committed them?
Who arrested them?
The mighty dukes Gloucester and Buckingham.
The powerful dukes Gloucester and Buckingham.
For what offence?
For what crime?
The sum of all I can, I have disclosed; Why or for what these nobles were committed Is all unknown to me, my gracious lady.
I’ve shared all I know; Why or for what these nobles were imprisoned is unknown to me, my gracious lady.
Ay me, I see the downfall of our house! The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind; Insulting tyranny begins to jet Upon the innocent and aweless throne: Welcome, destruction, death, and massacre! I see, as in a map, the end of all.
Alas, I see our house is doomed! The tiger has now seized the gentle deer; Brutal tyranny begins to rise Over the innocent, and the throne is weak: Welcome, destruction, death, and massacre! I see, like a map, the end of everything.
Accursed and unquiet wrangling days, How many of you have mine eyes beheld! My husband lost his life to get the crown; And often up and down my sons were toss’d, For me to joy and weep their gain and loss: And being seated, and domestic broils Clean over-blown, themselves, the conquerors. Make war upon themselves; blood against blood, Self against self: O, preposterous And frantic outrage, end thy damned spleen; Or let me die, to look on death no more!
Damned and restless days of quarrel, How many of you have I seen with my eyes! My husband lost his life to win the crown; And many times my sons were tossed about, For me to feel joy and sorrow at their victories and losses: And when things settled, and family fights Were all over, they, the victors, Turned on each other; blood against blood, Family against family: Oh, foolish And wild violence, stop your cursed anger; Or let me die, so I don’t have to watch this madness anymore!
Come, come, my boy; we will to sanctuary. Madam, farewell.
Come, come, my boy; we will go to the sanctuary. Madam, goodbye.
I’ll go along with you.
I’ll go with you.
You have no cause.
You don’t need to.
My gracious lady, go; And thither bear your treasure and your goods. For my part, I’ll resign unto your grace The seal I keep: and so betide to me As well I tender you and all of yours! Come, I’ll conduct you to the sanctuary.
My lady, please go; Take your treasure and your belongings with you. As for me, I’ll give you my seal, And may it bring good fortune to you and yours! Come, I’ll take you to the sanctuary.