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Act 1, Scene 1
Henry VI, Part 3 Translation Act 1, Scene 2
Enter RICHARD, EDWARD, and MONTAGUE
RICHARD
Brother, though I be youngest, give me leave.
RICHARD
Brother, let me do this, even though I'm the youngest.
EDWARD
No, I can better play the orator.
EDWARD
No, I am a better public speaker than you.
MONTAGUE
But I have reasons strong and forcible.
MONTAGUE
But I have strong and compelling reasons to be the one.
Enter YORK
YORK
Why, how now, sons and brother! At a strife?What is your quarrel? How began it first?
YORK
What's going on, my sons and brother? Are you fighting? What is your argument about? What started it?
EDWARD
No quarrel, but a slight contention.
EDWARD
It's not an argument. Just a small disagreement.
YORK
About what?
YORK
What about?
RICHARD
About that which concerns your grace and us;The crown of England, father, which is yours.
RICHARD
About something that concerns your grace and us—the English crown, father, which is yours.
YORK
Mine boy? not till King Henry be dead.
YORK
Mine, boy? Not until King Henry is dead.
RICHARD
Your right depends not on his life or death.
RICHARD
Your right to the throne doesn't depend on his life or death.
EDWARD
Now you are heir, therefore enjoy it now:By giving the house of Lancaster leave to breathe,It will outrun you, father, in the end.
EDWARD
You're the rightful heir, so take the throne now. Father, giving the house of Lancaster time to rest and recover itself will bring you down in the end.
YORK
I took an oath that he should quietly reign.
YORK
I took an oath that he could reign peacefully.
EDWARD
But for a kingdom any oath may be broken:I would break a thousand oaths to reign one year.
EDWARD
But any promise can be broken for the sake of a kingdom. I would break a thousand promises if I could only rule for one year.
RICHARD
No; God forbid your grace should be forsworn.
RICHARD
No, God forbid that your grace should break an oath.
YORK
I shall be, if I claim by open war.
YORK
I would be breaking one, if I started an open war to claim the throne.
RICHARD
I'll prove the contrary, if you'll hear me speak.
RICHARD
I'll prove otherwise, if you'll hear what I have to say.
YORK
Thou canst not, son; it is impossible.
YORK
You can't, son. It's impossible.
RICHARD
An oath is of no moment, being not took Before a true and lawful magistrate, That hath authority over him that swears: Henry had none, but did usurp the place; Then, seeing 'twas he that made you to depose, Your oath, my lord, is vain and frivolous. Therefore, to arms! And, father, do but think How sweet a thing it is to wear a crown; Within whose circuit is Elysium And all that poets feign of bliss and joy. Why do we finger thus? I cannot rest Until the white rose that I wear be dyed Even in the lukewarm blood of Henry's heart.
RICHARD
The oath isn't binding because it wasn't sworn before a real and lawful judge who can hold you legally to your promise. Henry had no such authority but forcefully took your place on the thrown. And since it was him that made you give up the crown, your promise, my lord, is silly and worthless. Therefore, let's fight! And think about how sweet it would feel to wear a crown, father. Paradise can be found in the circle of a crown along with all the joy and happiness that poets imagine. Why do we wait around? I won't rest until the white rose that I wear will be dyed with the cowardly blood of Henry's heart.
YORK
Richard, enough; I will be king, or die. Brother, thou shalt to London presently, And whet on Warwick to this enterprise. Thou, Richard, shalt to the Duke of Norfolk, And tell him privily of our intent. You Edward, shall unto my Lord Cobham, With whom the Kentishmen will willingly rise: In them I trust; for they are soldiers, Witty, courteous, liberal, full of spirit. While you are thus employ'd, what resteth more, But that I seek occasion how to rise, And yet the king not privy to my drift, Nor any of the house of Lancaster?
YORK
Richard, that's enough! I will be king or die. Brother, go to London at once and encourage Warwick to think about this. You, Richard, will go to the Duke of Norfolk and tell him about our intentions in secret. You, Edward, will go to Lord Cobham, who the soldiers from Kent would willingly join in rebellion. I believe in them because they are soldiers— witty, polite, generous, and full of courage. While you are running these errands, what else is there for me to do but prepare for the opportunity to take power without the king or the house of Lancaster being aware of my intentions?
Enter a Messenger
YORK
But, stay: what news? Why comest thou in such post?
YORK
Wait! What's the news? Why do you come here in such a hurry?
MESSENGER
The queen with all the northern earls and lordsIntend here to besiege you in your castle:She is hard by with twenty thousand men;And therefore fortify your hold, my lord.
MESSENGER
The queen with all the northern earls and lords plans to attack you here in your castle. She is nearby with twenty thousand men. You should guard your fortress, my lord.
YORK
Ay, with my sword. What! think'st thou that we fear them? Edward and Richard, you shall stay with me; My brother Montague shall post to London: Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the rest, Whom we have left protectors of the king, With powerful policy strengthen themselves, And trust not simple Henry nor his oaths.
YORK
Yes, I'll guard it with my sword! What, do you think that we are afraid of them? Edward and Richard, you will stay with me. I'll send my brother Montague to ride to London swiftly. Let noble Warwick, Cobham, and the others, whom we have left as protectors of the king, now protect themselves with cunning and plotting rather than trusting foolish Henry or his promises.
MONTAGUE
Brother, I go; I'll win them, fear it not:And thus most humbly I do take my leave.
MONTAGUE
I will go, brother. I'll win them over, don't worry. And so I humbly leave you.
Exit
Enter JOHN MORTIMER and HUGH MORTIMER
YORK
Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, mine uncles,You are come to Sandal in a happy hour;The army of the queen mean to besiege us.
YORK
My uncles, Sir John and Sir Hugh Mortimer, you have arrived in Sandal at a good time. The queen's army plans to attack us.
JOHN MORTIMER
She shall not need; we'll meet her in the field.
JOHN MORTIMER
She won't need to. We'll meet her in the field in battle.
YORK
What, with five thousand men?
YORK
What, with five thousand men?
RICHARD
Ay, with five hundred, father, for a need:A woman's general; what should we fear?
RICHARD
Yes, with five hundred if we need to, father! It's a woman's army so why should we be scared?
A march afar off
EDWARD
I hear their drums: let's set our men in order,And issue forth and bid them battle straight.
EDWARD
I hear their drums of war. Let's make sure our men are ready, and then we'll send them into battle straight away.
YORK
Five men to twenty! Though the odds be great, I doubt not, uncle, of our victory. Many a battle have I won in France, When as the enemy hath been ten to one: Why should I not now have the like success?
YORK
Five men for every twenty! Although the odds are great, I don't doubt that we'll win, uncle. I have won many battles in France, when the enemy was ten to one. Why shouldn't I have the same success now?
Alarum. Exeunt
