LitCharts

Henry VI, Part 3 Translation Act 5, Scene 1

Original

Translation

Enter WARWICK, the Mayor of Coventry, two Messengers, and others upon the walls

Enter WARWICK, the MAYOR OF COVENTRY, two Messengers, and others, above on the walls overlooking Coventry.

WARWICK

Where is the post that came from valiant Oxford?How far hence is thy lord, mine honest fellow?

WARWICK

Where is the messenger that came from brave Oxford? How far away is your lord, honest man?

FIRST MESSENGER

By this at Dunsmore, marching hitherward.

FIRST MESSENGER

By now he'll be at Dunsmore, marching this way.

WARWICK

How far off is our brother Montague?Where is the post that came from Montague?

WARWICK

How far away is our brother Montague? Where is the messenger that came from Montague?

SECOND MESSENGER

By this at Daintry, with a puissant troop.

SECOND MESSENGER

By now he'll be at Daintry, with a powerful army.

Enter SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE

SIR JOHN SOMERVILLE enters.

WARWICK

Say, Somerville, what says my loving son?And, by thy guess, how nigh is Clarence now?

WARWICK

Somerville, tell me, what does my loving son say? And can you guess how close Clarence might be now?

SOMERVILLE

At Southam I did leave him with his forces,And do expect him here some two hours hence.

SOMERVILLE

I left him at Southam with his army and I am expecting him to be here in around two hours.

Drum heard

Drumming is heard.

WARWICK

Then Clarence is at hand, I hear his drum.

WARWICK

Then Clarence is near. I hear his army's drum.

SOMERVILLE

It is not his, my lord; here Southam lies:The drum your honour hears marcheth from Warwick.

SOMERVILLE

It's not his, my lord. That's coming from the direction of Southam. The drum that you hear is coming from Warwick.

WARWICK

Who should that be? Belike, unlook'd-for friends.

WARWICK

Who could that be? Perhaps unexpected friends.

SOMERVILLE

They are at hand, and you shall quickly know.

SOMERVILLE

They are near and you'll find out soon.

March: flourish. Enter KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, and soldiers

A march and a trumpet fanfare is heard. KING EDWARD IV, GLOUCESTER, and soldiers enter, on the stage level, beneath the walls.

KING EDWARD IV

Go, trumpet, to the walls, and sound a parle.

KING EDWARD IV

Go, trumpeter to the walls and play a fanfare to call for negotiations.

GLOUCESTER

See how the surly Warwick mans the wall!

GLOUCESTER

Look how the arrogant Warwick guards the wall!

WARWICK

O unbid spite! Is sportful Edward come?Where slept our scouts, or how are they seduced,That we could hear no news of his repair?

WARWICK

Oh, unwelcome hate! Is lecherous Edward here? Did our spies fall asleep, or they were bribed, since they didn't bring us any news of Edward coming towards us?

KING EDWARD IV

Now, Warwick, wilt thou ope the city gates, Speak gentle words and humbly bend thy knee, Call Edward king and at his hands beg mercy? And he shall pardon thee these outrages.

KING EDWARD IV

Warwick, will you open the city gates, speak kind words and bend the knee to me? Will you call Edward your king and ask for mercy at his hands? If so, I will forgive you for all your crimes.

WARWICK

Nay, rather, wilt thou draw thy forces hence, Confess who set thee up and pluck'd thee own, Call Warwick patron and be penitent? And thou shalt still remain the Duke of York.

WARWICK

How about instead you withdraw your armies from here, admit who got you your power and took it away, call me your past protector, and be repentant? You can still be the Duke of York.

GLOUCESTER

I thought, at least, he would have said the king;Or did he make the jest against his will?

GLOUCESTER

I thought at least he would have said "you can still be the king." Or was he joking against his will?

WARWICK

Is not a dukedom, sir, a goodly gift?

WARWICK

Isn't being a duke, sir, a gift to be grateful for?

GLOUCESTER

Ay, by my faith, for a poor earl to give:I'll do thee service for so good a gift.

GLOUCESTER

Yes, only a gift that a poor earl could give. I'll fight you for giving such a good gift.

WARWICK

'Twas I that gave the kingdom to thy brother.

WARWICK

I was the man who gave the kingdom to your brother.

KING EDWARD IV

Why then 'tis mine, if but by Warwick's gift.

KING EDWARD IV

Well, then it belongs to me, even if only because you gave it to me.

WARWICK

Thou art no Atlas for so great a weight:And weakling, Warwick takes his gift again;And Henry is my king, Warwick his subject.

WARWICK

You're not like Atlas, who carried the world on his shoulders, even though you once carried the weight of the country. You're a weakling and I'm taking back my gift. Henry is my king and Warwick is his faithful servant.

KING EDWARD IV

But Warwick's king is Edward's prisoner:And, gallant Warwick, do but answer this:What is the body when the head is off?

KING EDWARD IV

But your king is now my prisoner. And, answer this question, brave Warwick: What do you call a body when the head is cut off?

GLOUCESTER

Alas, that Warwick had no more forecast, But, whiles he thought to steal the single ten, The king was slily finger'd from the deck! You left poor Henry at the Bishop's palace, And, ten to one, you'll meet him in the Tower.

GLOUCESTER

Ah, what a shame that Warwick didn't see that coming. But while he thought to steal a only a 10 from the deck of cards, we stole a king while he wasn't looking! You left poor Henry at the Archbishop's palace and the odds are ten to one that you'll meet him in the Tower.

EDWARD

'Tis even so; yet you are Warwick still.

EDWARD

That's right, Warwick. Yet you still can be the Earl of Warwick.

GLOUCESTER

Come, Warwick, take the time; kneel down, kneel down:Nay, when? Strike now, or else the iron cools.

GLOUCESTER

Come, Warwick. Take this opportunity. Kneel down, kneel down. If not now, when? Strike while the iron is hot.

WARWICK

I had rather chop this hand off at a blow,And with the other fling it at thy face,Than bear so low a sail, to strike to thee.

WARWICK

I would rather chop off this hand and fling it at your face than stoop so low as to bow to you.

KING EDWARD IV

Sail how thou canst, have wind and tide thy friend, This hand, fast wound about thy coal-black hair Shall, whiles thy head is warm and new cut off, Write in the dust this sentence with thy blood, 'Wind-changing Warwick now can change no more.'

KING EDWARD IV

Good luck to you then, you'll need all the help you can get. When your head is still warm and just cut off, this hand, gripping your black hand tightly, will write this sentence in the dust with your blood: "Side-changing Warwick can change no more."

Enter OXFORD, with drum and colours

OXFORD enters, with drummers and military flag bearers.

WARWICK

O cheerful colours! See where Oxford comes!

WARWICK

Oh, friendly flags! Look, Oxford is coming!

OXFORD

Oxford, Oxford, for Lancaster!

OXFORD

Oxford! Oxford for Lancaster!

He and his forces enter the city

OXFORD and his army enter the city.

GLOUCESTER

The gates are open, let us enter too.

GLOUCESTER

The gates are open, let us go in too.

KING EDWARD IV

So other foes may set upon our backs.Stand we in good array; for they no doubtWill issue out again and bid us battle:If not, the city being but of small defence,We'll quickly rouse the traitors in the same.

KING EDWARD IV

So that other enemies may attack our soldiers at the back? No, let's stand ready for battle because they will surely come out again and challenge us to fight. If not, the city is poorly fortified and we can quickly storm the walls and fight the traitors.

WARWICK

O, welcome, Oxford! For we want thy help.

WARWICK

Oh, welcome, Oxford! We need your help.

Enter MONTAGUE with drum and colours

MONTAGE enters, with drummers and military flag bearers.

MONTAGUE

Montague, Montague, for Lancaster!

MONTAGUE

Montague! Montague for Lancaster!

He and his forces enter the city

MONTAGUE and his army enter the city.

GLOUCESTER

Thou and thy brother both shall buy this treasonEven with the dearest blood your bodies bear.

GLOUCESTER

You and your brother shall both pay for this treason with all the blood in your bodies.

KING EDWARD IV

The harder match'd, the greater victory:My mind presageth happy gain and conquest.

KING EDWARD IV

The greater the enemy, the greater the victory. I predict success and triumph.

Enter SOMERSET, with drum and colours

SOMERSET enters, with drummers and military flag bearers.

SOMERSET

Somerset, Somerset, for Lancaster!

SOMERSET

Somerset! Somerset for Lancaster!

He and his forces enter the city

SOMERSET and his army enter the city.

GLOUCESTER

Two of thy name, both Dukes of Somerset,Have sold their lives unto the house of York;And thou shalt be the third if this sword hold.

GLOUCESTER

Two other men that had your name, both Dukes of Somerset, have been killed by the house of York. You will be the third if this sword is strong enough.

Enter CLARENCE, with drum and colours

Enter CLARENCE, with drum and military flag bearers.

WARWICK

And lo, where George of Clarence sweeps along,Of force enough to bid his brother battle;With whom an upright zeal to right prevailsMore than the nature of a brother's love!Come, Clarence, come; thou wilt, if Warwick call.

WARWICK

And look at George of Clarence coming along, with a big enough army to battle his brother. In Clarence, his passion for rightful justice is more powerful than his natural love of a brother. Come, Clarence, come. You'll come when I call you.

CLARENCE

Father of Warwick, know you what this means?

CLARENCE

Warwick, father-in-law, do you know what this means?

Taking his red rose out of his hat

CLARENCE removes his red rose from his hat.

CLARENCE

Look here, I throw my infamy at thee I will not ruinate my father's house, Who gave his blood to lime the stones together, And set up Lancaster. Why, trow'st thou, Warwick, That Clarence is so harsh, so blunt, unnatural, To bend the fatal instruments of war Against his brother and his lawful king? Perhaps thou wilt object my holy oath: To keep that oath were more impiety Than Jephthah's, when he sacrificed his daughter. I am so sorry for my trespass made That, to deserve well at my brother's hands, I here proclaim myself thy mortal foe, With resolution, wheresoe'er I meet thee— As I will meet thee, if thou stir abroad— To plague thee for thy foul misleading me. And so, proud-hearted Warwick, I defy thee, And to my brother turn my blushing cheeks. Pardon me, Edward, I will make amends: And, Richard, do not frown upon my faults, For I will henceforth be no more unconstant.

CLARENCE

Look here, I am throwing my bad reputation at you. I won't destroy my father's house. My father gave his blood to join the stones together and build Lancaster. Do you really think, Warwick, that I'm so crude, so rough, and so unnatural that I'd use weapons of war against my brother and my lawful king? You will perhaps bring up that I made a holy oath. But to keep to that promise would be more blasphemous than when Jephthah kept an oath to sacrifice his daughter's life. I am so sorry for my crime here, that in order to deserve good treatment from my brother's hands, I here proclaim myself your mortal enemy. I swear that wherever I find you—and I will, no matter how far you go—I'll torment you for cruelly misleading me. And so, proud Warwick, I reject you and I turn, ashamed, to my brother. Forgive me, Edward, I will make up for it. And Richard, don't hate me for my sins because I will never be unfaithful again.

KING EDWARD IV

Now welcome more, and ten times more beloved,Than if thou never hadst deserved our hate.

KING EDWARD IV

I fully welcome you, and I love you ten times more than I would if you never had deserved my hate.

GLOUCESTER

Welcome, good Clarence; this is brotherlike.

GLOUCESTER

Welcome, good Clarence. This is very brotherly of you.

WARWICK

O passing traitor, perjured and unjust!

WARWICK

Oh, you total traitor! You've lied and acted unjustly!

KING EDWARD IV

What, Warwick, wilt thou leave the town and fight?Or shall we beat the stones about thine ears?

KING EDWARD IV

Will you leave the town and fight, Warwick? Or shall we come in and throw stones at you?

WARWICK

Alas, I am not coop'd here for defence!I will away towards Barnet presently,And bid thee battle, Edward, if thou darest.

WARWICK

Alas, my town is not built to defend against an army! I will go away to Barnet immediately and challenge you to a battle, Edward, if you dare to accept.

KING EDWARD IV

Yes, Warwick, Edward dares, and leads the way.Lords, to the field; Saint George and victory!

KING EDWARD IV

Yes, Warwick, I'll dare to fight you, and I'll go ahead of you. Lords, let's go to the battlefield! For Saint George and victory!

Exeunt KING EDWARD and his company. March. WARWICK and his company follow

KING EDWARD and his soldiers exit. A military march is heard. WARWICK and his soldiers follow after them.