Original
Modern English
God and your arms be praised, victorious friends, The day is ours, the bloody dog is dead.
Praise God and your weapons, victorious friends, The day is ours, the bloody tyrant is dead.
Courageous Richmond, well hast thou acquit thee. Lo, here, this long-usurped royalty From the dead temples of this bloody wretch Have I pluck’d off, to grace thy brows withal: Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it.
Brave Richmond, you’ve done well to defend yourself. Look, here, I’ve taken this long-held crown From the dead head of this bloody monster And placed it on your brow to honor you: Wear it, enjoy it, and make the most of it.
Great God of heaven, say Amen to all! But, tell me, is young George Stanley living?
Great God in heaven, let all be as it should be! But, tell me, is young George Stanley still alive?
He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town; Whither, if it please you, we may now withdraw us.
He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town; Where, if you wish, we can go now to rest.
What men of name are slain on either side?
Which important men have been killed on each side?
John Duke of Norfolk, Walter Lord Ferrers, Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William Brandon.
John Duke of Norfolk, Walter Lord Ferrers, Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William Brandon.
Inter their bodies as becomes their births: Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled That in submission will return to us: And then, as we have ta’en the sacrament, We will unite the white rose and the red: Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction, That long have frown’d upon their enmity! What traitor hears me, and says not amen? England hath long been mad, and scarr’d herself; The brother blindly shed the brother’s blood, The father rashly slaughter’d his own son, The son, compell’d, been butcher to the sire: All this divided York and Lancaster, Divided in their dire division, O, now, let Richmond and Elizabeth, The true succeeders of each royal house, By God’s fair ordinance conjoin together! And let their heirs, God, if thy will be so. Enrich the time to come with smooth-faced peace, With smiling plenty and fair prosperous days! Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord, That would reduce these bloody days again, And make poor England weep in streams of blood! Let them not live to taste this land’s increase That would with treason wound this fair land’s peace! Now civil wounds are stopp’d, peace lives again: That she may long live here, God say amen!
Bury their bodies with honor according to their status: Announce a pardon for the soldiers who ran But will return to us in peace: And then, as we’ve taken the holy sacrament, We will join the white rose and the red: May heaven smile on this peaceful union, That has long been angry with their hatred! Any traitor who hears me and does not say amen? England has been mad for too long, and hurt herself; Brothers have blindly killed brothers, Fathers rashly slaughtered their own sons, Sons, forced, have killed their own fathers: All this has divided York and Lancaster, Split apart by their terrible quarrel, Oh, now, let Richmond and Elizabeth, The true heirs to each royal house, By God’s will, come together in peace! And may their children, if it’s your will, God, Enrich the future with peace, prosperity, and happy days! Remove the threat of traitors, gracious Lord, Who would bring back these bloody days, And make poor England weep with blood! Let those who would tear this land apart Never live to see its future growth, Let them not taste the peace they would destroy! Now the wounds of war are healed, peace is back: May she live long here, God, let it be so!