Original
Modern English
What, ho! my lord!
Hey! My lord!
[Within] Who knocks at the door?
[From inside] Who’s knocking at the door?
A messenger from the Lord Stanley.
A messenger from Lord Stanley.
What is’t o’clock?
What time is it?
Upon the stroke of four.
Exactly four o’clock.
Cannot thy master sleep these tedious nights?
Can’t your master sleep through these long nights?
So it should seem by that I have to say. First, he commends him to your noble lordship.
It seems he can’t, from what I have to tell you. First, he sends his regards to your noble lordship.
And then?
And then?
And then he sends you word He dreamt to-night the boar had razed his helm: Besides, he says there are two councils held; And that may be determined at the one which may make you and him to rue at the other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship’s pleasure, If presently you will take horse with him, And with all speed post with him toward the north, To shun the danger that his soul divines.
And then he tells you that he dreamt tonight the boar scratched his helmet: Also, he says that two councils are being held; And one of them may lead to something that will make you and him regret it later. So, he sends to ask if you’ll join him right away, And quickly ride north with him, To avoid the danger that his intuition senses.
Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; Bid him not fear the separated councils His honour and myself are at the one, And at the other is my servant Catesby Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us Whereof I shall not have intelligence. Tell him his fears are shallow, wanting instance: And for his dreams, I wonder he is so fond To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers To fly the boar before the boar pursues, Were to incense the boar to follow us And make pursuit where he did mean no chase. Go, bid thy master rise and come to me And we will both together to the Tower, Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.
Go, go, return to your lord; Tell him not to worry about the two councils My honor and I are part of one, And at the other, my servant Catesby is present Where nothing will happen that concerns us, And I will be informed about anything that does. Tell him his fears are silly, without cause: And as for his dreams, I’m surprised he’s so gullible To believe the nonsense of restless sleep. Trying to escape the boar before it chases us, Would only provoke the boar to come after us And cause a pursuit where there was no chase intended. Go, tell your master to get up and come to me And we will both go to the Tower together, Where he will see that the boar will treat us kindly.
My gracious lord, I’ll tell him what you say.
My lord, I’ll tell him exactly what you’ve said.
Many good morrows to my noble lord!
Good morning, my noble lord!
Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring What news, what news, in this our tottering state?
Good morning, Catesby; you’re up early. What’s the news, what’s going on, in this unstable time?
It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord; And I believe twill never stand upright Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.
It’s a crazy world, my lord; And I think it won’t be steady again Until Richard wears the crown of the kingdom.
How! wear the garland! dost thou mean the crown?
What! Wear the crown! Do you mean the throne?
Ay, my good lord.
Yes, my good lord.
I’ll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders Ere I will see the crown so foul misplaced. But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?
I’d rather have this crown of mine ripped off my shoulders Than see it so wrongly placed on his head. But do you really think he’s aiming for it?
Ay, on my life; and hopes to find forward Upon his party for the gain thereof: And thereupon he sends you this good news, That this same very day your enemies, The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.
Yes, I swear it; and he hopes to gain support From his allies for this cause: And for that reason, he’s sent you this good news, That today, your enemies, The queen’s family, must die at Pomfret.
Indeed, I am no mourner for that news, Because they have been still mine enemies: But, that I’ll give my voice on Richard’s side, To bar my master’s heirs in true descent, God knows I will not do it, to the death.
Honestly, I’m not sad to hear that news, Since they’ve always been my enemies: But, to give my support to Richard And deny my master’s heirs their rightful claim, God knows, I will never do that, even if it costs me my life.
God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!
May God keep you in that noble mindset!
But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence, That they who brought me in my master’s hate I live to look upon their tragedy. I tell thee, Catesby--
But I’ll laugh at this a year from now, When the very people who brought me to hate my master End up facing their own downfall. I tell you, Catesby--
What, my lord?
What, my lord?
Ere a fortnight make me elder, I’ll send some packing that yet think not on it.
Before two weeks have passed, I’ll send some people away who don’t even see it coming.
’Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, When men are unprepared and look not for it.
It’s a terrible thing to die, my gracious lord, When men aren’t ready and don’t expect it.
O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so ’twill do With some men else, who think themselves as safe As thou and I; who, as thou know’st, are dear To princely Richard and to Buckingham.
Oh, monstrous, monstrous! And that’s how it happened To Rivers, Vaughan, and Grey: and it will happen To other men too, who think they’re as safe As you and I; who, as you know, are dear To Prince Richard and to Buckingham.
The princes both make high account of you;
Both princes hold you in high regard;
For they account his head upon the bridge.
For they think his head is on the bridge.
I know they do; and I have well deserved it.
I know they do; and I’ve earned it well.
Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man? Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?
Come on, come on; where’s your boar-spear, man? Are you afraid of the boar, and yet go out unprepared?
My lord, good morrow; good morrow, Catesby: You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, I do not like these several councils, I.
My lord, good morning; good morning, Catesby: You can joke, but by the holy cross, I don’t like these different plans, I don’t.
My lord, I hold my life as dear as you do yours; And never in my life, I do protest, Was it more precious to me than ’tis now: Think you, but that I know our state secure, I would be so triumphant as I am?
My lord, I value my life as much as you do yours; And never in my life, I swear, Has it been more important to me than it is now: Do you think, if I didn’t believe we were safe, I’d be so confident as I am?
The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London, Were jocund, and supposed their state was sure, And they indeed had no cause to mistrust; But yet, you see how soon the day o’ercast. This sudden stag of rancour I misdoubt: Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward! What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.
The lords at Pomfret, when they left London, Were cheerful, and thought their position was secure, And they really had no reason to doubt; But look how quickly the day turned dark. This sudden burst of anger I fear: God, I pray, I’m proven a needless coward! What, shall we head for the Tower? The day is almost over.
Come, come, have with you. Wot you what, my lord? To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded.
Come, come, let’s go. Do you know, my lord? Today, the lords you mentioned were beheaded.
They, for their truth, might better wear their heads Than some that have accused them wear their hats. But come, my lord, let us away.
They, for their loyalty, might have been better off keeping their heads Than some who accused them keeping their hats. But come, my lord, let’s go.
Go on before; I’ll talk with this good fellow.
Go ahead; I’ll talk with this good man.
How now, sirrah! how goes the world with thee?
How now, sir! How’s the world treating you?
The better that your lordship please to ask.
It’s better, my lord, that you ask.
I tell thee, man, ’tis better with me now Than when I met thee last where now we meet: Then was I going prisoner to the Tower, By the suggestion of the queen’s allies; But now, I tell thee--keep it to thyself-- This day those enemies are put to death, And I in better state than e’er I was.
I tell you, man, it’s better for me now Than when I last saw you, where we’re meeting now: Back then, I was being taken to the Tower, By the queen’s supporters; But now, I tell you—keep this to yourself— Today, those enemies are dead, And I’m in a better position than I’ve ever been.
God hold it, to your honour’s good content!
God bless it, may it bring you satisfaction!
Gramercy, fellow: there, drink that for me.
Thank you, my friend: here, take this and drink it for me.
God save your lordship!
God protect you, my lord!
Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour.
Hello, my lord; I’m glad to see you.
I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart. I am in your debt for your last exercise; Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.
Thank you, good Sir John, with all my heart. I owe you for your last service; Come next Sunday, and I’ll make it up to you.
What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain? Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest; Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.
What, talking to a priest, Lord Chamberlain? Your friends in Pomfret need a priest; You have no confession to take care of yourself.
Good faith, and when I met this holy man, Those men you talk of came into my mind. What, go you toward the Tower?
Honestly, when I saw this holy man, Those men you mentioned came to my mind. What, are you going to the Tower?
I do, my lord; but long I shall not stay I shall return before your lordship thence.
Yes, my lord; but I won’t stay long I’ll be back before you leave there.
’Tis like enough, for I stay dinner there.
That’s likely, since I’m staying for dinner there.
[Aside] And supper too, although thou know’st it not. Come, will you go?
[Aside] And supper too, though you don’t know it. Come, will you go?
I’ll wait upon your lordship.
I’ll go with you, my lord.