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Modern English
Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends, Bruised underneath the yoke of tyranny, Thus far into the bowels of the land Have we march’d on without impediment; And here receive we from our father Stanley Lines of fair comfort and encouragement. The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar, That spoil’d your summer fields and fruitful vines, Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his trough In your embowell’d bosoms, this foul swine Lies now even in the centre of this isle, Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn From Tamworth thither is but one day’s march. In God’s name, cheerly on, courageous friends, To reap the harvest of perpetual peace By this one bloody trial of sharp war.
Friends and comrades in arms, Who have suffered under the weight of tyranny, We’ve marched so far without any trouble; And here we receive good news from our father Stanley, Words of comfort and encouragement. The miserable, bloody, and usurping boar, Who destroyed your summer fields and fruitful vines, Drinks your warm blood like water, and makes his trough In your hearts, this filthy beast Lies now in the center of this land, Near Leicester, as we hear, Just one day’s march from Tamworth. So, in God’s name, let’s go forward, brave friends, To win the prize of lasting peace Through this one bloody trial of sharp war.
Every man’s conscience is a thousand swords, To fight against that bloody homicide.
Every man’s conscience is a thousand swords, To fight against that bloody murderer.
I doubt not but his friends will fly to us.
I’m sure his friends will run to us.
He hath no friends but who are friends for fear. Which in his greatest need will shrink from him.
He has no real friends, only those who fear him, And in his greatest need, they’ll abandon him.
All for our vantage. Then, in God’s name, march: True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings: Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.
All the better for us. So, in God’s name, march: True hope is quick, and flies like a swallow: It makes kings out of gods, and lesser men into kings.