Believe me, lords, for flying at the brook
I saw not better sport these seven years’ day;
Yet, by your leave, the wind was very high,
And, ten to one, old Joan had not gone out.
Believe me, lords, I haven't seen such fine hawking in seven years. Though I must admit, the wind was quite strong today.
Seriously, I haven't seen better hunting like this in years. The wind was crazy though.
great hunting today
best in years
But what a point, my lord, your falcon made,
And what a pitch she flew above the rest!
To see how God in all His creatures works!
Yea, man and birds are fain of climbing high.
Your Majesty, what a magnificent flight your hawk made! And what a height she reached! It shows us God's perfect design in all of nature.
That was amazing—your bird flew so high. It's like seeing God's plan at work.
amazing flight
god's design
No marvel, an it like your majesty,
My Lord Protector’s hawks do tower so well;
They know their master loves to be aloft,
And bears his thoughts above his falcon’s pitch.
It is no surprise, Your Majesty, that the Protector's hawks fly so high. They know their master loves to reach for things beyond his station, and he teaches them to carry his lofty ambitions.
Of course the Protector's birds fly high—he taught them to reach for things he shouldn't. Just like him.
protector's ambitions
reaching too high
just like him
My lord, ’tis but a base ignoble mind
That mounts no higher than a bird can soar.
My lord, only a small and shameful mind sets its goals no higher than a bird's flight.
My lord, it takes a pretty petty and dishonorable mind to aim for nothing higher than what a bird can reach.
only a pathetic mind aims just as high as birds fly
I thought as much. He would be above the clouds.
Exactly so. I thought as much. He would never be content to stay within proper bounds.
Right. Of course. He wants everything.
typical
wants everything
Ay, my Lord Cardinal, how think you by that?
Were it not good your grace could fly to heaven?
So, my Lord Cardinal, what do you think of that? Wouldn't it be good if your grace could fly to heaven?
So what's your take on that, Cardinal? Wouldn't you like to fly up to heaven?
so cardinal what do u think wouldn't it be nice if u could fly to heaven
The treasury of everlasting joy.
The treasure of endless joy.
That's where all the real treasure lives—eternal happiness.
endless joy that's the real treasure
Thy heaven is on earth; thine eyes and thoughts
Beat on a crown, the treasure of thy heart,
Pernicious Protector, dangerous peer,
That smooth’st it so with king and commonweal!
Your heaven is right here on earth. Your eyes and thoughts are fixed on a crown—the treasure of your heart— you destructive Protector, you dangerous peer, the way you manipulate the king and the common good!
Your heaven is right here on earth. You've got your eyes and heart set on a crown—that's your real treasure. You're destructive, dangerous, and you're good at playing the king and the people against each other!
ur heaven is on earth u just want the crown u r dangerous u play games with power
What, cardinal, is your priesthood grown peremptory?
_Tantaene animis coelestibus irae?_
Churchmen so hot? Good uncle, hide such malice.
With such holiness can you do it?
What, Cardinal, has your priesthood become so bossy? _Do celestial minds feel such anger?_ Churchmen so heated? Good uncle, hide such malice. How can you do this with such holiness?
So, Cardinal, have you become so high-handed with your authority? Do even the gods get this angry? Church people these days—so hostile! Uncle, keep that malice hidden. How can you act so holy and still feel such anger?
cardinal when did priests get so bossy so much anger hide ur hatred how is that holy
No malice, sir; no more than well becomes
So good a quarrel and so bad a peer.
No malice, sir; no more than is fitting for such a good cause and such a bad peer.
No malice here—just the right amount of anger for such a good reason and such a terrible guy.
no malice just what fits good reason bad peer
As who, my lord?
Bad peer? Who, my lord?
Bad peer? Who are you talking about, my lord?
bad peer? who
Why, as you, my lord,
An ’t like your lordly Lord Protectorship.
Why, you, my lord, if it please your lordly Lord Protector's honor.
Why, you, my lord—if your high and mighty Protector's lordship doesn't mind.
u my lord if ur great lordship will allow it
Why, Suffolk, England knows thine insolence.
Why, Suffolk, England knows of your insolence.
Come on, Suffolk—everyone in England knows how disrespectful you are.
suffolk everyone knows u r disrespectful
And thy ambition, Gloucester.
And your ambition, Gloucester.
And everyone knows about your ambition, Gloucester.
and gloucester everyone knows ur ambitious
I prithee, peace, good queen,
And whet not on these furious peers;
For blessed are the peacemakers on earth.
I ask you, peace, good queen, and do not urge on these angry lords. Blessed are the peacemakers on earth.
Please, peace, my queen. Don't egg on these angry lords. Blessed are those who make peace.
peace please queen don't fuel these fights peacemakers r blessed
Let me be blessed for the peace I make
Against this proud Protector, with my sword!
Let me be blessed for the peace I make by striking down this arrogant Protector with my sword!
May I be blessed for the peace I'll bring—the kind I deliver with my sword against this arrogant Protector!
my sword will bring peace to gloucester
[_Aside to Cardinal_.] Faith, holy uncle, would ’twere come to that!
I swear, uncle, I wish we could settle this in combat!
I swear, uncle, I really wish we could just fight right now.
wish we could fight
[_Aside to Gloucester_.] Marry, when thou dar’st.
By all means, when you dare.
Whenever you have the guts.
whenever u dare
[_Aside to Cardinal_.] Make up no factious numbers for the matter,
In thine own person answer thy abuse.
Do not gather supporters for this dispute. Answer for yourself alone in person.
Do not bring allies to back you up. Face me by yourself.
no allies face me alone
[_Aside to Gloucester_.] Ay, where thou dar’st not peep; an if thou
dar’st,
This evening, on the east side of the grove.
Yes, somewhere you dare not even look. If you have the courage, tonight on the east side of the grove.
Right, somewhere you won't even dare go near. If you're brave enough, meet me tonight on the east side of the grove.
if u dare tonight east side of the grove
How now, my lords?
What's happening now, my lords?
What's going on with you all?
what's up my lords
Believe me, cousin Gloucester,
Had not your man put up the fowl so suddenly,
We had had more sport.—[_Aside to Gloucester_.]
Come with thy two-hand sword.
Believe me, cousin Gloucester, if your servant hadn't driven up the bird so suddenly, we'd have had more hunting.—[Aside to Gloucester] Come with your great sword.
Believe me, cousin Gloucester, if your man hadn't scared up that bird so fast, we'd still be hunting.—[Aside to Gloucester] Bring your big sword.
cousin gloucester if ur servant hadn't spooked the bird [aside] bring ur sword
True, uncle.
[_Aside to Cardinal_.] Are ye advised? The east side of the grove?
Do you remember? The east side of the grove?
You remember that, right? East side of the grove?
east side of the grove? remember?
[_Aside to Gloucester_.] I am with you.
I will be there.
I will meet you.
ill show up
Why, how now, uncle Gloucester?
What's wrong now, uncle Gloucester?
What's the matter, Uncle Gloucester?
what's wrong uncle
Talking of hawking; nothing else, my lord.
Just talking about hawking, nothing else, my lord.
Just talking about the hunt, my lord. Nothing serious.
just talking about hawking that's all
[_Aside to Cardinal_.] Now, by God’s mother, priest,
I’ll shave your crown for this,
Or all my fence shall fail.
Now, by God's mother, priest, I will split your skull open for this, or I am no swordsman.
I swear by God's mother, priest, I will crack your head open for this, or I am not a skilled fighter.
ill smash your head or im no swordsman
The Simpcox scene is one of Shakespeare's most compressed and efficient pieces of comic writing. In about twenty exchanges, Gloucester identifies a fraud that has fooled the king, the queen, the Cardinal, and an entire town — and then engineers a spectacular public exposure. The comedy is real and delightful: Simpcox sprinting away on 'lame' legs is pure physical theater. But the episode does political work too. It demonstrates exactly what England needs and is about to lose: a Protector who cuts through pretense with calm logic and a sense of humor. Henry sees a miracle; Gloucester sees a test that can be failed. The play asks us to keep that distinction in mind when Gloucester is accused of crimes he didn't commit and no one applies the same rigorous skepticism.
[_Aside to Gloucester_.] _Medice, teipsum._—
Protector, see to ’t well, protect yourself.
Physician, heal yourself. Protector, you had better protect yourself well.
Practice what you preach, Protector - you better make sure you protect yourself.
physician heal thyself protect urself protector
The winds grow high; so do your stomachs, lords.
How irksome is this music to my heart!
When such strings jar, what hope of harmony?
I pray, my lords, let me compound this strife.
The wind grows strong, and so do your tempers, lords. How this harsh music hurts my heart! When such strings clash, what hope for harmony? I ask you, my lords, let me settle this conflict.
The wind is picking up, and so are your moods, lords. This angry music is breaking my heart! When things clash like this, how can there be harmony? Please, my lords, let me work this out.
winds rising so r ur moods this hurts no harmony let me help
What means this noise?
Fellow, what miracle dost thou proclaim?
What is this noise? Fellow, what miracle do you announce?
What's all this noise? Fellow, what miracle are you talking about?
what's this noise what miracle
A miracle! A miracle!
A miracle is happening! A miracle!
This is incredible! Something miraculous is taking place!
miracle it's happening miraculous
Come to the King, and tell him what miracle.
Go to the King and tell him what this miraculous event is.
Go tell the King exactly what this miracle is.
tell the king what's the miracle
Forsooth, a blind man at Saint Alban’s shrine,
Within this half hour, hath received his sight,
A man that ne’er saw in his life before.
Truly, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine within the last half hour has received his sight, a man who never saw anything in his life before.
Well, a blind man at Saint Alban's shrine got his sight back in the last half hour—a man who's never been able to see in his whole life.
blind man at saint alban's shrine just got his sight never could see before
Now, God be praised, that to believing souls
Gives light in darkness, comfort in despair!
Now, thank God, who gives light in darkness to those who believe, and comfort to those in despair!
Now, praise God, who gives light to those in darkness and hope to those who've lost it!
god be praised light in darkness comfort in despair
between two in a chair, Simpcox’s Wife following.
entering, carried in a chair by two men, with Simpcox's Wife following behind.
enters carried in by two men in a chair, with Simpcox's Wife right behind them.
in chair between two wife behind
Here comes the townsmen on procession,
To present your highness with the man.
Here come the townspeople in procession, to present your majesty with the man.
Here come the townspeople with the man—they're bringing him to you, your majesty.
townspeople coming with the man for u
Great is his comfort in this earthly vale,
Although by his sight his sin be multiplied.
His comfort in this earthly world is great, though seeing has also brought him more sin.
This earthly world must bring him such comfort now, though seeing will also expose him to more sin.
comfort on earth but more sin now he can see
Stand by, my masters. Bring him near the King.
His highness’ pleasure is to talk with him.
Stand aside, my friends. Bring him near the King. His majesty wishes to speak with him.
Step back, everyone. Bring him closer to the King. His majesty wants to talk to him.
step aside bring him to king his majesty wants to talk
Good fellow, tell us here the circumstance,
That we for thee may glorify the Lord.
What, hast thou been long blind and now restored?
Good fellow, tell us here what happened, so that we may give glory to the Lord. Have you been blind long and now recovered your sight?
Good man, tell us what happened so we can thank God for this. How long were you blind before you got your sight back?
tell us what happened so we can thank god how long r u blind
Simpcox speaks in the wheedling register of practiced fraud — every answer carefully vague, every claim just specific enough to be convincing. Watch for how his answers get more elaborate when he's cornered.
Born blind, an ’t please your grace.
Born blind, if it please your grace.
Born blind, if it please your majesty.
born blind if it please u
Ay, indeed, was he.
Yes, indeed, he was.
Yes, that's true.
yep it's true
What woman is this?
Who is this woman?
And who might this woman be?
who is she
His wife, an ’t like your worship.
His wife, if it please your lordship.
His wife, if it please you, sir.
his wife if u please
Hadst thou been his mother, thou couldst have better told.
If you were his mother, you could have explained it better.
If you were his mother, you'd have told the story better than that.
if u were his mom u'd tell it better
Where wert thou born?
Where were you born?
Tell me—where do you come from?
where r u from
At Berwick in the north, an ’t like your grace.
At Berwick in the north, if it please your grace.
In Berwick up north, if it please you, your grace.
berwick in the north if it please u
Poor soul, God’s goodness hath been great to thee.
Let never day nor night unhallowed pass,
But still remember what the Lord hath done.
Poor soul, God's kindness has been great to you. Let not a single day or night pass unhallowed, but always remember what the Lord has done.
Poor man, God has been so good to you. Don't let a single day go by without giving thanks—remember what the Lord did for you.
god's been good to u don't forget what he did
Tell me, good fellow, cam’st thou here by chance,
Or of devotion, to this holy shrine?
Tell me, good fellow, did you come here by chance, or out of devotion to this holy shrine?
Tell me, good man, did you just happen to come here, or did you come to pray at this shrine?
did u come by chance or to pray here
God knows, of pure devotion; being called
A hundred times and oftener, in my sleep,
By good Saint Alban, who said “Simpcox, come,
Come, offer at my shrine, and I will help thee.”
God knows, out of pure devotion. I was called a hundred times and more, even in my sleep, by good Saint Alban, who said "Simpcox, come, come and make an offering at my shrine, and I will help you."
God knows, I came out of pure faith. Saint Alban kept calling me, over and over—even in my dreams. He said "Simpcox, come make an offering at my shrine, and I'll help you."
pure devotion saint alban called me even in dreams come offer at shrine i'll help u
Most true, forsooth; and many time and oft
Myself have heard a voice to call him so.
That's very true. I myself have heard a voice call out to him many times and often.
That's absolutely true. I've heard the voice myself calling him many times.
true i heard the voice calling him
What, art thou lame?
What, are you also lame?
Are you crippled as well?
r u lame too
Ay, God Almighty help me!
Yes, God Almighty help me!
Yes, may God help me with that!
god almighty help me out
How cam’st thou so?
How did that happen?
How did you end up lame?
how'd that happen
A fall off of a tree.
I fell out of a tree.
I took a tumble from a tree.
fell from a tree
The scene opens with a royal hawking party — not incidental. Falconry was the supreme aristocratic sport of the medieval and Renaissance periods: expensive, time-consuming, requiring trained birds, skilled falconers, and large open land. Only the wealthy could practice it seriously. The birds themselves were ranked by social status: an eagle for an emperor, a falcon for a king, a gyrfalcon for a prince, a merlin for a lady. The sport had its own technical vocabulary ('pitch,' 'tower,' 'stoop') that educated audiences understood as a register of class. When Suffolk says Gloucester's hawks soar so high because their master does, he's deploying this vocabulary for political attack. The falconry frame then collapses into comedy when the townsman arrives shouting about miracles — the aristocratic world interrupted by base reality.
A plum-tree, master.
A plum tree, sir.
A plum tree, to be exact.
a plum tree
How long hast thou been blind?
How long have you been blind?
How many years have you been without sight?
how long blind
O, born so, master.
Oh, born that way, sir.
Oh, I was born blind.
born that way
What, and wouldst climb a tree?
What, and you would climb a tree?
What, and you climbed a tree while blind?
u climbed a tree while blind
But that in all my life, when I was a youth.
Only once in my whole life, when I was young.
Just that one time when I was a kid.
just once when i was young
Too true; and bought his climbing very dear.
Too true. That climbing adventure cost him dearly—he's paid the price ever since.
That's right, and he paid dearly for that climb.
yep cost him big time
Mass, thou lov’dst plums well, that wouldst venture so.
Well, you must have loved plums to take such a risk.
So you really loved plums to take that kind of chance.
u really loved plums to risk that
Alas, good master, my wife desired some damsons,
And made me climb, with danger of my life.
Alas, good sir, my wife wanted some damsons, and she made me climb, at risk of my life.
Sir, my wife wanted some damsons, and she pushed me to climb up there—nearly got myself killed.
my wife wanted damsons made me climb almost died
A subtle knave! But yet it shall not serve.—
Let me see thine eyes. Wink now. Now open them.
In my opinion yet thou seest not well.
A clever trick! But that won't work here.— Let me see your eyes. Close them now. Open them. In my opinion, you still don't see well.
Nice story! But that's not going to work on me.—Let me look at your eyes. Shut them. Now open them. You don't look like you can really see.
clever trick but not on me let me test u u can't really see
Yes, master, clear as day, I thank God and Saint Alban.
Yes, master, I see perfectly now, as clear as day. I give thanks to God and to Saint Alban.
Oh yes, master—my vision is perfect now. I can see everything clearly. Praise God and Saint Alban!
perfect sight now thank god saint alban
Sayst thou me so? What colour is this cloak of?
Is that so? Then what color is this cloak of mine?
Really? So what color is my cloak?
what color is this cloak
Red, master, red as blood.
Red, master—bright red, like the color of blood.
Red, sir. The color of blood—that shade of red.
red like blood
Why, that’s well said. What colour is my gown of?
That's good. What color is my gown?
That's right. What color is my gown?
good what color is ur gown
Black, forsooth, coal-black as jet.
Black, truly, coal-black like jet.
Black, sir—black as coal, like jet.
black like coal
Why, then, thou know’st what colour jet is of?
So then you know what color jet is?
So you can tell me what jet looks like?
so u know jet color
And yet, I think, jet did he never see.
And yet I think he's never actually seen jet.
And yet, I don't think he's ever actually seen jet.
but i don't think he's ever seen jet
But cloaks and gowns before this day, a many.
But you've seen many cloaks and gowns before this day, yes?
Though I'm sure you've seen plenty of clothes before today.
seen cloaks b4 tho
Never before this day in all his life.
Never before in his whole life.
Never. Not once in his whole life.
never not his whole life
Tell me, sirrah, what’s my name?
Tell me, my good man, what's my name?
Do you know who I am? Tell me my name.
what's my name
Alas, master, I know not.
I'm sorry, master, I don't know.
I'm afraid I don't know, master.
idk master
What’s his name?
What's his name?
What's his name?
what's his name
I know not.
I don't know.
I don't know.
idk
Nor his?
Or his?
Or his?
or his
No, indeed, master.
No, truly, master.
No, master.
no master
What’s thine own name?
What's your own name?
And what are you called?
what's ur name
Sander Simpcox, an if it please you, master.
Sander Simpcox, if you please, master.
My name is Sander Simpcox, if it suits you.
sander simpcox if u want
Then, Sander, sit there, the lyingest knave in Christendom. If thou
hadst been born blind, thou mightst as well have known all our names as
thus to name the several colours we do wear. Sight may distinguish of
colours; but suddenly to nominate them all, it is impossible.—My lords,
Saint Alban here hath done a miracle; and would ye not think his
cunning to be great that could restore this cripple to his legs again?
Then, Sander, sit there, you're the biggest liar in Christendom. If you'd been born blind, you'd know all our names just as easily as you can name these colors. Sight helps distinguish colors, but to name them all at once? That's impossible.—My lords, Saint Alban has performed a miracle here; and wouldn't you think his power to be great if he could restore this cripple to his legs again?
Sander, sit down. You're the biggest liar I've ever seen. If you were really born blind, you'd know our names as well as you know those colors. Sure, sight lets you tell colors apart, but to name them all right away? That's impossible.—My lords, Saint Alban has done a miracle—so wouldn't his power be amazing if he could make this lame man walk again?
sander ur a liar if u were born blind u'd know our names colors too not possible saint alban's miracle make him walk again
O master, that you could!
Oh, master, if only you could!
Oh, master, I wish you could!
i wish u could
My masters of Saint Albans, have you not beadles in your town, and
things called whips?
My friends from Saint Alban's, doesn't your town have constables and whips?
My friends from Saint Alban's, doesn't your town have people to keep order—officers and whips?
saint albans does ur town have constables and whips
The secret duel arranged between Gloucester and the Cardinal — east side of the grove, tonight — is one of the play's most significant non-events. It would have been a public reckoning, the kind of direct confrontation where Gloucester's physical courage could have mattered. Instead, Eleanor's arrest delivers him into a different kind of helplessness. The duel is canceled not by cowardice or negotiation but by grief. This is structurally important: throughout the play, Gloucester's enemies never face him directly. They maneuver around him, use his wife, deploy legal process, arrange a murder. The one time a direct confrontation was scheduled, it is stolen from him by the very trap that will eventually destroy him. There is no arena where Gloucester can win.
Yes, my lord, if it please your grace.
Yes, my lord, we have them if you wish.
Yes, my lord—we've got them, no problem.
yep we have them
Then send for one presently.
Then send for one right away.
Then get me one right now.
send for one right now
Sirrah, go fetch the beadle hither straight.
Fellow, go fetch the town official here right away.
Go get the constable here right now.
get the constable now
Now fetch me a stool hither by and by.—Now, sirrah, if you mean to save
yourself from whipping, leap me over this stool and run away.
Now get me a stool here in a moment.—Now, fellow, if you want to save yourself from the whip, jump over this stool and run away.
Get me a stool here, quick.—Now, if you want to avoid getting whipped, jump over this stool and run.
get me a stool if u wanna avoid whipping jump over it and run
Alas, master, I am not able to stand alone.
You go about to torture me in vain.
I'm sorry, master, I can't even stand on my own. You're just trying to torture me.
I'm sorry, master—I can't even stand up by myself. You're just trying to torture me.
can't even stand u r torturing me
Well, sir, we must have you find your legs.
Sirrah beadle, whip him till he leap over that same stool.
Well, sir, we need to help you find your legs. Constable, whip him until he jumps over that stool.
All right, we'll help you find your legs. Constable, whip him until he jumps over that stool.
we'll find ur legs whip him til he jumps
I will, my lord.—Come on, sirrah; off with your doublet quickly.
I will, my lord.—Come on, fellow; take off your shirt quickly.
I will, my lord.—Come on, man—take off your shirt.
i will come on take it off
Alas, master, what shall I do? I am not able to stand.
Oh master, what do I do now? I can't stand.
Oh no, what am I going to do? I can't even get up.
oh man what do i do i can't stand up
O God, seest Thou this, and bearest so long?
God, do you see this, and how long will you allow it?
God, are you watching this? How much longer will you stand for it?
god do you see this how long til you do something
It made me laugh to see the villain run.
Watching that scoundrel flee made me laugh.
I couldn't help laughing seeing that scoundrel take off.
lmao that guy running away
Follow the knave, and take this drab away.
Chase that rogue, and take this woman away.
Go after that scoundrel, and get this woman out of here.
catch that guy get her outta here
Alas, sir, we did it for pure need.
I'm sorry, sir, we did it because we were desperate.
Please, sir, we only did it because we had to.
sir we were just desperate we needed the money
Let them be whipped through every market town
Till they come to Berwick, from whence they came.
Have them whipped through every market town until they reach Berwick, where they came from.
Whip them through every town all the way back to Berwick where they belong.
whip them through every town back to berwick
Duke Humphrey has done a miracle today.
Duke Humphrey has worked a miracle today.
Duke Humphrey has performed a miracle today.
humphrey did a miracle today
True, made the lame to leap and fly away.
Right, he made the disabled person leap and run away.
Yeah, he made that limping person jump and take off.
yeah he made the guy jump and run
But you have done more miracles than I.
You made in a day, my lord, whole towns to fly.
But you've done more miracles than I have. You've made entire towns flee in a single day, my lord.
But you've performed even more miracles than me. You've made whole towns run away in just one day, my lord.
but you did more miracles you made whole towns run in one day
What tidings with our cousin Buckingham?
What news do you bring from our cousin Buckingham?
What news from our cousin Buckingham?
what's going on with buckingham
Such as my heart doth tremble to unfold.
A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent,
Under the countenance and confederacy
Of Lady Eleanor, the Protector’s wife,
The ringleader and head of all this rout,
Have practised dangerously against your state,
Dealing with witches and with conjurers,
Whom we have apprehended in the fact,
Raising up wicked spirits from under ground,
Demanding of King Henry’s life and death,
And other of your highness’ Privy Council,
As more at large your Grace shall understand.
News that makes my heart tremble to reveal. A group of criminal people, wickedly motivated, under the support and alliance of Lady Eleanor, the Protector's wife, the leader and head of this whole mob, have plotted dangerously against your state, dealing with witches and conjurers, whom we have caught in the act, raising evil spirits from underground, demanding the death of King Henry and others of your Privy Council, as your Grace will hear in greater detail.
News that's terrifying to even say out loud. A bunch of criminals, working together under Lady Eleanor's protection—the Protector's wife—and she's running the whole operation. They've been plotting against your kingdom, working with witches and magicians, and we caught them doing it. They were calling up evil spirits from underground and demanding your death and the death of your council members. Your Grace will hear all the details soon.
scary news lady eleanor's running a criminal ring witches & magic they wanted you dead we caught them tho
[_Aside to Gloucester_.] And so, my Lord Protector, by this means
Your lady is forthcoming yet at London.
This news, I think, hath turned your weapon’s edge;
’Tis like, my lord, you will not keep your hour.
And so, my Lord Protector, by this means your wife is coming to London. This news, I think, has taken the edge off your anger. It seems, my lord, you will not keep our appointment tonight.
So, Protector, your wife is on her way to London now. I think this news has cooled your rage. Looks like you won't show up tonight.
your wife is coming this news cooled you off u wont keep our meeting
Ambitious churchman, leave to afflict my heart.
Sorrow and grief have vanquished all my powers,
And, vanquished as I am, I yield to thee,
Or to the meanest groom.
Ambitious church official, stop tormenting my heart. Sorrow and grief have defeated all my strength, and being defeated as I am, I surrender to you, or even to the lowest servant.
Stop tormenting me, you ambitious churchman. Sorrow and grief have destroyed my will, and beaten down as I am, I give in to you—or anyone else.
stop hurting me sorrow's destroyed me i give up
O God, what mischiefs work the wicked ones,
Heaping confusion on their own heads thereby!
God, what harm the wicked ones cause, heaping confusion on their own heads in doing so!
God, look at the damage the wicked do, bringing all that chaos down on themselves!
god the wicked cause so much harm they just mess themselves up
Gloucester, see here the tainture of thy nest,
And look thyself be faultless, thou wert best.
Gloucester, look at the shame from your own household, and you'd do well to make sure you yourself are blameless.
Gloucester, see the corruption coming from your own family, and you better make sure your own hands are clean.
gloucester your family's dirty you better be clean yourself
Madam, for myself, to heaven I do appeal
How I have loved my king and commonweal;
And, for my wife, I know not how it stands.
Sorry I am to hear what I have heard.
Noble she is; but if she have forgot
Honour and virtue, and conversed with such
As like to pitch defile nobility,
I banish her my bed and company
And give her as a prey to law and shame
That hath dishonoured Gloucester’s honest name.
Madam, as for myself, I appeal to heaven regarding how much I have loved my king and country. As for my wife, I don't know how things stand. I'm sorry to hear what I've heard. She is noble, but if she has forgotten honor and virtue and associated with people who, like pitch, defile nobility, I banish her from my bed and my company and give her over to the law and to shame that has dishonored Gloucester's honest name.
Madam, I call on heaven to witness how much I've loved my king and country. As for my wife, I don't know what's going on with her. I'm heartbroken by what I've heard. She's of noble birth, but if she's forgotten what honor means and spent time with people who corrupt nobility like pitch dirties things, then I'm done with her. She's out of my bed, out of my life, and she's going to face the law and the shame that comes with destroying my name.
i loved the king and my country but my wife... idk what she did if she forgot honor i'm banishing her she faces the law
Well, for this night we will repose us here;
Tomorrow toward London back again,
To look into this business thoroughly,
And call these foul offenders to their answers,
And poise the cause in Justice’ equal scales,
Whose beam stands sure, whose rightful cause prevails.
Well, we will rest here for tonight. Tomorrow we'll head back to London to look into this matter thoroughly, and demand answers from these terrible criminals, and weigh the case on Justice's fair scales, whose balance holds steady, where the rightful cause wins.
Right, we'll stay here tonight. Tomorrow we're heading back to London to investigate this whole situation properly, and get these criminals to account for themselves, and present the evidence fairly to justice, where the truth will win out.
we're staying here tonight tomorrow back to london to look into this justice will win
The Reckoning
Three stories collide in one scene: the smoldering violence between Gloucester and the Cardinal, the absurdist comedy of the fake miracle, and the hammer-blow of Eleanor's arrest. The Simpcox episode is Shakespeare at his most darkly funny — Gloucester's interrogation is crisp, almost cheerful, and then devastating. But that humor is immediately extinguished when Buckingham enters. The moment Gloucester hears of Eleanor's arrest, he surrenders. The man who couldn't be frightened by the Cardinal's sword is broken by his wife's name.
If this happened today…
A corporate retreat turns into a near-brawl between the company chairman and the division head who's been undermining him for years. Suddenly a local news story breaks: a man near the retreat venue has gone viral claiming he was miraculously healed — the chairman investigates and debunks it in two minutes flat. Then his phone rings: his wife has been arrested in a sting operation the rivals set up. The chairman, who was about to win a public confrontation, goes completely silent.