Original
Modern English
Come, cousin, canst thou quake, and change thy colour, Murder thy breath in the middle of a word, And then begin again, and stop again, As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror?
Come, cousin, can you tremble, and change your colour, Choke on your words, and then start over, As if you were completely mad with fear?
Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian; Speak and look back, and pry on every side, Tremble and start at wagging of a straw, Intending deep suspicion: ghastly looks Are at my service, like enforced smiles; And both are ready in their offices, At any time, to grace my stratagems. But what, is Catesby gone?
Ha, I can pretend to be a great actor; Speak and look around, flinch at every sound, Shudder and jump at the slightest thing, As if I were plotting something dangerous: awful looks Are my talent, like forced smiles; And both are always ready to help me out, At any time, to assist my schemes. But wait, is Catesby gone?
He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along.
Yes, and look, he’s bringing the mayor with him.
Lord mayor,--
Lord mayor,--
Look to the drawbridge there!
Keep an eye on the drawbridge!
Hark! a drum.
Listen! A drum.
Catesby, o’erlook the walls.
Catesby, watch the walls.
Lord mayor, the reason we have sent--
Lord mayor, the reason we’ve sent--
Look back, defend thee, here are enemies.
Look behind you, defend yourself, there are enemies here.
God and our innocency defend and guard us!
May God and our innocence protect us!
Be patient, they are friends, Ratcliff and Lovel.
Be calm, they’re friends—Ratcliff and Lovel.
Here is the head of that ignoble traitor, The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
Here is the head of that dishonorable traitor, The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
So dear I loved the man, that I must weep. I took him for the plainest harmless creature That breathed upon this earth a Christian; Made him my book wherein my soul recorded The history of all her secret thoughts: So smooth he daub’d his vice with show of virtue, That, his apparent open guilt omitted, I mean, his conversation with Shore’s wife, He lived from all attainder of suspect.
I loved him so much that I must cry. I thought he was the simplest, most harmless person To ever walk this earth as a Christian; I made him my example, where I recorded The history of all my secret thoughts: He covered his sins with the appearance of virtue, So much so that, aside from his obvious guilt, I mean, his affair with Shore’s wife, He seemed free from any suspicion.
Well, well, he was the covert’st shelter’d traitor That ever lived. Would you imagine, or almost believe, Were’t not that, by great preservation, We live to tell it you, the subtle traitor This day had plotted, in the council-house To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester?
Well, he was the most hidden and protected traitor That ever lived. Would you believe it, or almost believe it, If it weren’t for the fact that, by great luck, We’re still here to tell you, this cunning traitor Had planned today, in the council house, To kill me and my good Lord of Gloucester?
What, had he so?
Really? Was that so?
What, think You we are Turks or infidels? Or that we would, against the form of law, Proceed thus rashly to the villain’s death, But that the extreme peril of the case, The peace of England and our persons’ safety, Enforced us to this execution?
What, do you think we’re Turks or heathens? Or that we would, against the law, Rush into the villain’s death like this, If the extreme danger of the situation, The peace of England, and our own safety, Hadn’t forced us to carry out this execution?
Now, fair befall you! he deserved his death; And you my good lords, both have well proceeded, To warn false traitors from the like attempts. I never look’d for better at his hands, After he once fell in with Mistress Shore.
I hope things go well for you! He deserved to die; And you, my good lords, both have acted properly, To warn false traitors from trying the same thing. I never expected anything better from him, After he got involved with Mistress Shore.
Yet had not we determined he should die, Until your lordship came to see his death; Which now the loving haste of these our friends, Somewhat against our meaning, have prevented: Because, my lord, we would have had you heard The traitor speak, and timorously confess The manner and the purpose of his treason; That you might well have signified the same Unto the citizens, who haply may Misconstrue us in him and wail his death.
But we hadn’t decided he should die, Until your lordship came to witness his death; Which, now, the quick action of our friends, Has somewhat stopped us from doing what we meant: Because, my lord, we wanted you to hear The traitor speak, and nervously confess The details and plan of his treason; So that you could have informed the citizens, Who might otherwise misunderstand us and mourn his death.
But, my good lord, your grace’s word shall serve, As well as I had seen and heard him speak And doubt you not, right noble princes both, But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizens With all your just proceedings in this cause.
But, my good lord, your grace’s word will be enough, As if I had seen and heard him speak myself. And don’t worry, noble princes both, I’ll inform our loyal citizens Of all your fair actions in this matter.
And to that end we wish’d your lord-ship here, To avoid the carping censures of the world.
And that’s why we wanted you here, To avoid the harsh judgment of the world.
But since you come too late of our intents, Yet witness what you hear we did intend: And so, my good lord mayor, we bid farewell.
But since you’ve come too late to witness our intentions, At least know what we meant to do: And so, my good lord mayor, we say goodbye.
Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham. The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post: There, at your meet’st advantage of the time, Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children: Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen, Only for saying he would make his son Heir to the crown; meaning indeed his house, Which, by the sign thereof was termed so. Moreover, urge his hateful luxury And bestial appetite in change of lust; Which stretched to their servants, daughters, wives, Even where his lustful eye or savage heart, Without control, listed to make his prey. Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person: Tell them, when that my mother went with child Of that unsatiate Edward, noble York My princely father then had wars in France And, by just computation of the time, Found that the issue was not his begot; Which well appeared in his lineaments, Being nothing like the noble duke my father: But touch this sparingly, as ’twere far off, Because you know, my lord, my mother lives.
Go, follow him, cousin Buckingham. The mayor is hurrying to Guildhall: There, at the best moment, take advantage of the time, And suggest that Edward’s children are illegitimate: Tell them how Edward executed a citizen, Just for saying he would make his son Heir to the throne; actually meaning his household, Which, by the name of it, was called so. Also, emphasize his disgusting luxury And animalistic desires in changing lovers; Which extended to his servants, daughters, and wives, Even where his lustful eye or cruel heart, Without restraint, decided to prey on them. No, for necessity, get close to my personal story: Tell them, when my mother was pregnant With that unsatisfied Edward, noble York, My princely father was at war in France, And, by the timing, it was clear that the child was not his; Which was obvious in his features, Not resembling my noble father at all: But handle this carefully, as if from a distance, Because you know, my lord, my mother is still alive.
Fear not, my lord, I’ll play the orator As if the golden fee for which I plead Were for myself: and so, my lord, adieu.
Don’t worry, my lord, I’ll speak like an orator As if the gold I’m paid to speak for Were for myself: and so, my lord, farewell.
If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle; Where you shall find me well accompanied With reverend fathers and well-learned bishops.
If you succeed, bring them to Baynard’s Castle; Where you’ll find me well surrounded By respected leaders and well-educated bishops.
I go: and towards three or four o’clock Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
I’m off: and around three or four o’clock Expect news from Guildhall.
Go, Lovel, with all speed to Doctor Shaw;
Go, Lovel, quickly to Doctor Shaw;
Go thou to Friar Penker; bid them both Meet me within this hour at Baynard’s Castle.
Go to Friar Penker; tell them both To meet me in an hour at Baynard’s Castle.
Now will I in, to take some privy order, To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight; And to give notice, that no manner of person At any time have recourse unto the princes.
Now I’ll go inside, to make some secret plans, To get Clarence’s children out of sight; And to give instructions that no one should ever Visit the princes at any time.