So now prosperity begins to mellow,
And drop into the rotten mouth of death.
Here in these confines slily have I lurked
To watch the waning of mine enemies.
A dire induction am I witness to,
And will to France, hoping the consequence
Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical.
Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret. Who comes here?
Now the kingdom's prosperity is reaching its peak and about to collapse into death's mouth. I've been hiding here carefully to watch my enemies fade away. I'm witnessing a terrible beginning, and I'm going to France, hoping what follows will be even more bitter, dark, and tragic. I should leave, wretched as I am. Who's coming?
Perfect. Power's at its height, about to rot away. I've been lurking out here, waiting to watch my enemies fall apart. This is just the start—I can feel it getting worse. I'm heading to France, and something tells me the horror's just beginning. I should get out of here. Who's that?
power peaking just before it breaks everything dying i get to watch and it'll be worse in france
Ah, my poor Princes! Ah, my tender babes,
My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets!
If yet your gentle souls fly in the air
And be not fixed in doom perpetual,
Hover about me with your airy wings
And hear your mother’s lamentation.
Oh, my poor sons! Oh, my tender babies, my fresh young flowers! If your gentle spirits are still flying in the air and haven't been locked in eternal death, circle around me with your light wings and listen to your mother's endless grief.
God, my boys. My sweet babies, my innocent children. If some part of you is still out there somewhere, still floating around, please—come near me. Listen to what I'm screaming. I need you to hear me.
my babies my beautiful boys if you're still out there please come back i'm drowning
[_Aside_.] Hover about her; say that right for right
Hath dimmed your infant morn to aged night.
Hover around her; tell her that one wrong matching another wrong has turned her bright morning of youth into the darkness of old age.
Stay around her and make her understand—one wrong matched with another wrong has stolen her childhood and aged her before her time.
hover & tell her one wrong leads to another kids killed for kids killed
So many miseries have crazed my voice
That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute.
Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead?
So many miseries have shattered my voice that my exhausted, grieving tongue can no longer speak. Edward Plantagenet, why are you dead?
I've cried so much I can't even talk anymore. My voice is gone. Edward—why did you have to die?
too much grief no voice left why is my son gone
[_Aside_.] Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet;
Edward for Edward pays a dying debt.
One Plantagenet kills another Plantagenet; one Edward pays the ultimate price for another Edward's death.
A Plantagenet has died at the hands of another Plantagenet; an Edward is dead to avenge another Edward.
plantagenet kills plantagenet edward dies for edward family revenge cycle
Wilt thou, O God, fly from such gentle lambs,
And throw them in the entrails of the wolf?
When didst Thou sleep when such a deed was done?
Will you, God, flee from such innocent children and throw them to the wolf's belly? When did you sleep through such a deed?
How could God let this happen? He just threw my babies to the wolves. Did he fall asleep when they needed him?
god you abandoned them threw them to wolves where were you
[_Aside_.] When holy Harry died, and my sweet son.
This started when the holy King Henry died, and my sweet son died with him.
It all goes back to when good King Henry died, my beloved son along with him.
when good king henry died my sweet son died too
Dead life, blind sight, poor mortal living ghost,
Woe’s scene, world’s shame, grave’s due by life usurped,
Brief abstract and record of tedious days,
Rest thy unrest on England’s lawful earth,
[_Sitting_.] Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood.
You are life that is death, sight that is blindness, a poor mortal who is like a ghost. You are woe's display, the world's shame, death's rightful claim on a life stolen from the grave. You are a brief summary of tedious days. May your endless restlessness rest on England's rightful earth, though you have made yourself drunk on innocent blood.
You're a living corpse, a ghost in human form—woe personified, the world's shame. You should be dead and buried, but instead you've stolen a life from the grave. You're a summary of endless suffering marked by the blood of innocents you've spilled. You have made yourself drunk on innocent blood, unlawfully.
ur dead but alive a ghost, shame of the world living on stolen blood made drunk on innocents
Ah, that thou wouldst as soon afford a grave
As thou canst yield a melancholy seat,
Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here.
[_Sitting_.] Ah, who hath any cause to mourn but we?
Oh, if only you could give me a grave as readily as you provide this seat of sadness, then I would hide my bones in the earth and not sit here among the living. Who else has any reason to mourn the way we do?
I wish you'd give me a grave as quickly as you've given us these sad seats to sit in. Then I could bury myself and not have to be here with all this grief. Nobody else has suffered like we have.
give us graves like u gave us sad seats let me bury myself no one mourns like us
If ancient sorrow be most reverend,
Give mine the benefit of seigniory,
And let my griefs frown on the upper hand.
If sorrow can admit society,
If age in sorrow grants you honor, let my grief take the place of honor and rule over the rest. If sorrow can be shared among many,
If being sad the longest counts for something, then I deserve to be heard first. My sorrow is older than yours. If we're all drowning in this,
my grief is oldest i suffered first let me speak
Tell o’er your woes again by viewing mine.
I had an Edward, till a Richard killed him;
I had a husband, till a Richard killed him.
Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard killed him;
Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard killed him.
Recount your griefs by seeing mine. I had an Edward until a Richard killed him; I had a husband until a Richard killed him. You had an Edward until a Richard killed him; You had a Richard until a Richard killed him.
Tell me your suffering - I know it well. A Richard killed my Edward; a Richard killed my husband. And a Richard killed your Edward; a Richard killed your Richard.
tell me your pain i lost my edward to richard you lost your edward to richard too many richards, too much death
I had a Richard too, and thou didst kill him;
I had a Rutland too; thou holp’st to kill him.
I had a Richard too, and you killed him. I had a Rutland too, and you helped kill him.
I lost my Richard to you. And Rutland—you helped slaughter him too.
you killed my sons richard rutland both dead
Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Richard killed him.
From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept
A hell-hound that doth hunt us all to death:
That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes,
To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood;
That excellent grand tyrant of the earth,
That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls;
That foul defacer of God’s handiwork
Thy womb let loose to chase us to our graves.
O upright, just, and true-disposing God,
How do I thank thee that this carnal cur
Preys on the issue of his mother’s body,
And makes her pew-fellow with others’ moan!
You had a Clarence too, and Richard killed him. A hell-hound has crawled from your womb that hunts us all to death—a creature with teeth before his eyes, one that worries lambs and laps their gentle blood. That excellent grand tyrant of the earth, reigning in the weeping eyes of those he's broken. That fouler of God's work—your womb unleashed him to chase us to our graves. O righteous, just, and true-judging God, how do I thank you that this carnal beast preys on the children of his mother's body and makes her wail alongside other mothers' moans!
You had Clarence, and Richard murdered him too. That monster came out of your body—a hell-hound hunting all of us down. He's got teeth and eyes for nothing but slaughter. He drinks blood like it's nothing. He's the worst tyrant this world's ever seen, sitting on a throne built from tears. He's a desecration of God's creation—and you gave birth to him. He crawls through England killing your own children. God—thank you that this creature of yours is eating his own blood relatives and making a widow of his mother.
richard's a monster born from her womb hell-hound hunting us all killing children
O Harry’s wife, triumph not in my woes!
God witness with me, I have wept for thine.
Margaret, don't triumph in my suffering! I've wept for your losses as well.
Don't celebrate my pain. I've cried for you too, you know.
don't gloat i've grieved with you
Bear with me. I am hungry for revenge,
And now I cloy me with beholding it.
Thy Edward he is dead, that killed my Edward;
The other Edward dead, to quit my Edward;
Young York, he is but boot, because both they
Matched not the high perfection of my loss.
Thy Clarence he is dead that stabbed my Edward;
And the beholders of this frantic play,
Th’ adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey,
Untimely smothered in their dusky graves.
Richard yet lives, hell’s black intelligencer,
Only reserved their factor to buy souls
And send them thither. But at hand, at hand
Ensues his piteous and unpitied end.
Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray,
To have him suddenly conveyed from hence.
Cancel his bond of life, dear God, I pray,
That I may live to say “The dog is dead.”
Let me speak. I'm hungry for revenge, and now I'm satisfied just watching it happen. Your Edward died because he killed my Edward. The other Edward died to balance my Edward. Young York is merely extra, since neither of them matches the height of what I lost. Your Clarence died because he stabbed my Edward. And those who watched this madness—that false Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey—they're buried in dark graves, smothered before their time. Richard still lives, hell's black messenger, kept alive only to trade in souls and send them downward. But his terrible, unlamented end is coming soon. The earth will open, hell will burn, demons will roar, saints will pray to have him taken from here suddenly. Cancel the bond of his life, God—I beg you—so I can live to say the dog is dead.
Just let me finish. I've been dreaming of this for years, and now I get to watch it come true. Your Edward paid with his life because he killed mine. The other Edward? Dead too—payback. Young York doesn't matter as much since neither of them was worth what I lost. Your Clarence? He stabbed my Edward, so he's dead. And the others watching this nightmare—Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey—they're all in unmarked graves now. Richard's still alive though, hell's own messenger, just buying and selling souls. But his time is running out. The world's going to crack open, hell's going to burn, demons will scream. I just want to live long enough to see him dead. That's all I want.
revenge is coming everyone's dying for my edward richard's next i want to see it
O, thou didst prophesy the time would come
That I should wish for thee to help me curse
That bottled spider, that foul bunch-backed toad!
You were right about what was coming. I wish you were here to help me curse that bottled spider, that foul bunch-backed toad!
You knew this would happen. I wish you'd stick around to help me curse that twisted, hunched-back creature!
you were right i need your curses too richard's a monster
I called thee then, vain flourish of my fortune;
I called thee then, poor shadow, painted queen,
The presentation of but what I was,
The flattering index of a direful pageant;
One heaved a-high to be hurled down below,
A mother only mocked with two fair babes;
A dream of what thou wast; a garish flag,
To be the aim of every dangerous shot;
A sign of dignity, a breath, a bubble;
A queen in jest, only to fill the scene.
Where is thy husband now? Where be thy brothers?
Where are thy two sons? Wherein dost thou joy?
Who sues, and kneels, and says, “God save the Queen?”
Where be the bending peers that flattered thee?
Where be the thronging troops that followed thee?
Decline all this, and see what now thou art:
For happy wife, a most distressed widow;
For joyful mother, one that wails the name;
For one being sued to, one that humbly sues;
For Queen, a very caitiff crowned with care;
For she that scorned at me, now scorned of me;
For she being feared of all, now fearing one;
For she commanding all, obeyed of none.
Thus hath the course of justice wheeled about
And left thee but a very prey to time,
Having no more but thought of what thou wast
To torture thee the more, being what thou art.
Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not
Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?
Now thy proud neck bears half my burdened yoke,
From which even here I slip my weary head,
And leave the burden of it all on thee.
Farewell, York’s wife, and Queen of sad mischance.
These English woes shall make me smile in France.
I called you trivial good fortune then, a poor painted shadow of a queen—just the appearance of what I once was, the flashy preface to a terrible book. You were lifted high only to be thrown down, a mother mocked with two beautiful babies as your only comfort, a dream of what you were, a gaudy flag for everyone's arrows, a badge of honor that meant nothing, a breath, a bubble, a queen in a play, filling the stage with empty air. Where is your husband? Where are your brothers? Where are your two sons? What do you have to celebrate? Who comes asking God to bless the Queen? Where are the bowing nobles who flattered you? Where are the crowds who followed you? Look at this carefully: for a happy wife, you're now utterly alone. For a mother with joy, you're left with only the sound of your own wailing. For a woman being asked favors, you're begging for them. For a Queen, you're a miserable prisoner wearing a crown of worry. You scorned me then, and now I scorn you. You were feared by all, and now you fear one man. You commanded everyone, and now no one obeys. Justice has come full circle and left you as prey for time itself, with nothing but memories of what you were to torture you with what you've become. You took my place—don't you see you've also stolen the exact measure of my sorrow? My heavy burden now rests half on your shoulders. From here on, I'm taking off my weary head and leaving the whole weight on you. Goodbye, York's wife, Queen of bad luck. These English sorrows will make me smile in France.
Back then I said you were nobody—just a painted queen, a shadow of a real woman. You looked like something, but you were nothing. You were bumped up high just so you could fall. You had those two beautiful boys and that was supposed to be enough. You dreamed you were someone. You were just a target—everyone shot at you. You were a nothing decorated with a title. A bubble. A queen in a stage play. That's it. Now where's your husband? Your brothers? Your sons? What are you happy about? Anyone begging God to save you? Anyone bowing anymore? Anyone following you around? Look at your life: you wanted a happy marriage—now you're destroyed. You wanted motherhood—now you just scream your children's names. You wanted people begging you for things—now you're the one begging. You wanted to be queen—now you're a prisoner wearing a crown. You thought you were better than me—now I'm the one walking away. You were feared—now you're terrified of one man. You had everyone under your control—now nobody listens. And the world just ground you down and made you remember, every second, what you used to be. You thought you could take my place—but you also took my sorrow. You're carrying half my weight now. I'm walking out, and I'm leaving you with all of it. Enjoy being York's widow. These miseries will cheer me up when I'm in France.
you were nothing just painted air and now look at you alone begging falling everything gone and i get to leave smiling
O thou well skilled in curses, stay awhile,
And teach me how to curse mine enemies.
You are so skilled in curses—wait a moment and teach me how to curse my enemies.
You're amazing at this. Please—teach me how to curse like you do.
teach me show me how to curse like you
Forbear to sleep the night, and fast the days;
Compare dead happiness with living woe;
Think that thy babes were sweeter than they were,
And he that slew them fouler than he is.
Bettering thy loss makes the bad-causer worse.
Revolving this will teach thee how to curse.
Stop sleeping at night and stop eating during the day. Compare what used to make you happy with what makes you miserable now. Remember your babies were more beautiful than they were, and remember that their killer was more evil than he is. The more you exaggerate your loss, the worse you'll see the man who caused it. That thinking will teach you how to curse.
Don't sleep. Don't eat. Remember the happiness and measure it against the nightmare now. Make your babies more perfect in your mind than they actually were. Make Richard even more evil than he is. The bigger you make the loss, the sharper your curses will get.
don't sleep don't eat remember them perfect remember him worse let the pain sharpen you
My words are dull. O, quicken them with thine!
My words are dull. Oh, make them sharp with your wisdom!
I don't know what to say. Can you help me find the words?
my words are weak make them sharp
Thy woes will make them sharp and pierce like mine.
Your suffering will make your words sharp and cut like mine do.
Your pain will make them sharp enough.
your grief will sharpen them
Why should calamity be full of words?
Why should disaster need so many words?
Why do we even need to say anything? Isn't the suffering enough?
words don't help grief just is
Windy attorneys to their clients’ woes,
Airy succeeders of intestate joys,
Poor breathing orators of miseries,
Let them have scope, though what they do impart
Help nothing else, yet do they ease the heart.
Words are like lawyers debating clients' miseries, airy substitutes for lost joys, poor breathing speakers of suffering. Let them have space to exist. Even though they don't solve anything, they give the heart relief.
Words are cheap. They're like substitute teachers for happiness, and they don't really help. But they let you get it out, and that matters. That's what they do for the heart.
words don't fix it but speaking helps the heart needs to break
If so, then be not tongue-tied. Go with me,
And in the breath of bitter words let’s smother
My damned son, that thy two sweet sons smothered.
Then don't stay silent. Come with me, and we'll smother my damned son with bitter words, just as he smothered your two sweet sons.
Then say something. Come on, let's curse him with every bitter word we can find. He smothered your boys—let's do it to him with words.
let's curse him bitter words for your smothered sons
The trumpet sounds. Be copious in exclaims.
The trumpet sounds. Be abundant in your outcries.
The trumpet sounds. Cry out with all the anger you've got.
here he comes let him hear everything
Who intercepts me in my expedition?
Who blocks my way on this urgent journey?
Who's stopping me?
who's in my way
O, she that might have intercepted thee,
By strangling thee in her accursed womb,
From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done.
I am the woman who should have stopped you—by strangling you in my damned womb before you could do all the slaughter you've done, you wretch.
I should've killed you before you were born. That's what I should've done instead of letting you crawl out and murder everyone.
should've killed you in the womb before you murdered them all
Hid’st thou that forehead with a golden crown
Where should be branded, if that right were right,
The slaughter of the Prince that owed that crown,
And the dire death of my poor sons and brothers?
Tell me, thou villain-slave, where are my children?
You hide that forehead under a gold crown when, if justice meant anything, it should be scarred with the mark of the prince whose crown you stole and the terrible deaths of my poor sons and brothers. Tell me, you slave—where are my children?
That crown doesn't belong on your head. It should be branded with the blood of the boy who had the right to wear it. Where are my children? What did you do with them?
that crown is stolen from a dead prince where are my children
Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy brother Clarence,
And little Ned Plantagenet his son?
You toad, you toad—where is your brother Clarence and his young son Ned Plantagenet?
Where's your brother Clarence? Where's little Ned? What'd you do with them?
where's clarence where's ned what did you do
Where is the gentle Rivers, Vaughan, Grey?
Where is the kind Rivers, Vaughan, Grey?
What happened to Rivers, Vaughan, and Grey?
rivers vaughan grey where
Where is kind Hastings?
Where is good Hastings?
And Hastings?
hastings
A flourish, trumpets! Strike alarum, drums!
Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women
Rail on the Lord’s anointed. Strike, I say!
Sound a flourish on the trumpets! Strike the alarm drums! Don't let heaven hear these gossiping women curse God's anointed king. Strike! Do it now!
Trumpets! Drums! I won't listen to this. Drown them out. No one curses the king I am.
drown them out i won't hear it i am king
Either be patient and entreat me fair,
Or with the clamorous report of war
Thus will I drown your exclamations.
Either be patient and ask me kindly, or with the loud noise of war I will drown out your cries.
Either calm down and ask me nicely, or I'll drown you out with the sound of battle.
ask nice or i'll drown you out with war
Art thou my son?
Are you really my son?
Are you actually my son?
seriously?
Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself.
Yes, I thank God, my father, and you.
Yes. I'm grateful to God and my parents for it.
yes thanks to you
Then patiently hear my impatience.
Then listen to my impatience with patience.
Then hear me out, even though I'm angry.
listen to my rage
Madam, I have a touch of your condition,
That cannot brook the accent of reproof.
Madam, I have inherited your nature, which cannot accept any tone of reproof.
I got my temper from you. I can't listen to criticism either.
i'm like you i don't take it
O, let me speak!
Let me speak!
Just let me talk!
please let me speak
Do then, but I’ll not hear.
Go ahead, but I won't hear a word.
Sure. But I'm not listening.
talk i won't hear you
I will be mild and gentle in my words.
I will speak gently and with kindness.
I'll be calm and nice about it.
ill be nice
And brief, good mother, for I am in haste.
And be brief, good mother, because I'm in a hurry.
And keep it short—I've got places to be.
be quick i'm leaving
Art thou so hasty? I have stayed for thee,
God knows, in torment and in agony.
You're in a hurry? God knows I've waited for you in torture and agony.
You're in a hurry? I've been waiting for you my whole life. In pain. In agony.
hurry i've waited in torture my whole life
And came I not at last to comfort you?
And didn't I come at last to comfort you?
Didn't I come and help you eventually?
i came i helped you
No, by the Holy Rood, thou know’st it well
Thou cam’st on earth to make the earth my hell.
A grievous burden was thy birth to me;
Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy;
Thy school-days frightful, desp’rate, wild, and furious;
Thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous;
Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle, sly, and bloody,
More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred.
What comfortable hour canst thou name
That ever graced me with thy company?
No, by holy God. You know it well. You came into the world to make my life a hell. Your birth was a grievous burden to me. Your infancy was difficult and stubborn. Your school years were frightening, desperate, wild, and violent. Your young manhood was daring, bold, and reckless. Your maturity has been proud, cunning, deceitful, and bloody—less rough in manner but more harmful, kind on the surface but hateful underneath. What good moment can you name when you've ever been good company for me?
No. You know that's not true. You were born to ruin my life. Every minute from the start. You were a nightmare as a baby—stubborn and difficult. Your whole childhood was chaos and violence. As a young man, reckless and dangerous. And now? You're calculating, sly, sneaky, and a murderer. You smile while you kill. Tell me one good time. One moment when you were a decent son.
you came to destroy me from the womb every stage difficult wild violent deadly when were you good to me never
Faith, none but Humphrey Hower, that called your Grace
To breakfast once, forth of my company.
If I be so disgracious in your eye,
Let me march on and not offend you, madam.
Strike up the drum.
Well, honestly, there was only one—Humphrey Hower, who once invited you to breakfast. If I'm so disgusting to you, let me march on and spare you my presence, madam. Sound the drum.
One person. Humphrey Hower. He was nice to you once. If I'm so awful, I'll just go. You won't have to look at me.
one good memory and i'm leaving you won't have to see me
I prithee, hear me speak.
Please, let me speak.
Wait, listen to me.
wait please
You speak too bitterly.
You're speaking too harshly.
You're being way too mean.
ur being too harsh
Hear me a word,
For I shall never speak to thee again.
Hear me just one more time, because I will never speak to you again.
Just listen one more time. After this, I'm done with you.
one more time then i'm gone forever
So.
Very well.
Fine.
okay
Either thou wilt die by God’s just ordinance
Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror,
Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish
And never more behold thy face again.
Therefore take with thee my most grievous curse,
Which in the day of battle tire thee more
Than all the complete armour that thou wear’st.
My prayers on the adverse party fight;
And there the little souls of Edward’s children
Whisper the spirits of thine enemies
And promise them success and victory.
Bloody thou art; bloody will be thy end.
Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend.
Either you will die by God's justice before you return from battle as a conqueror, or I will die from grief and age and never see your face again. So take with you my deepest curse, which in the hour of battle will weigh on you more than all your armor. My prayers fight on the enemy's side. And there the little souls of Edward's children whisper to your enemies' spirits and promise them success and victory. You are bloody, and your end will be bloody. Shame follows your life, and shame attends your death.
You're going to die. Either God kills you before you get home as a victor, or I'll die waiting and never see you again. But before you go, take this: my curse is going to crush you in battle more than any sword. I'm praying for the other side. Those children you killed? Their souls are going to whisper in your enemies' ears and make sure they beat you. You're a murderer. You'll die covered in blood. Everything you do is shameful. Everything.
die in battle or i'll die first my curse weighs you down our grandchildren's souls work against you blood for blood
Though far more cause, yet much less spirit to curse
Abides in me, I say amen to her.
Though I have much more reason to curse, I have much less gift for it. I say amen to her curse.
She deserves the curses more than I do, but I agree. Yes. Let it be.
amen let it happen
Stay, madam, I must talk a word with you.
Wait, madam. I need to speak with you.
Hold on. I need to talk to you.
wait i need to talk
I have no more sons of the royal blood
For thee to slaughter. For my daughters, Richard,
They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens,
And therefore level not to hit their lives.
I have no more royal sons for you to murder. As for my daughters, Richard, they will be praying nuns, not weeping queens. So don't bother targeting their lives.
I don't have any more sons to lose. My daughters are going to be nuns. They won't be queens. So leave them alone.
no more sons my daughters are safe nuns not queens
You have a daughter called Elizabeth,
Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.
Your daughter Elizabeth is virtuous and beautiful, possessing the dignity and grace of true royalty.
Your daughter Elizabeth is incredibly virtuous, beautiful, royal, and gracious.
your daughter elizabeth is amazing
And must she die for this? O, let her live,
And I’ll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty,
Slander myself as false to Edward’s bed,
Throw over her the veil of infamy.
So she may live unscarred of bleeding slaughter,
I will confess she was not Edward’s daughter.
And does she have to die for that? Let her live, and I'll ruin her character, stain her beauty, publicly shame myself as unfaithful to Edward's bed, and cover her with disgrace. If she can live without being slaughtered, I'll admit she was never Edward's daughter at all.
If that makes her a target, kill her too? No. Let her live and I'll say she's not legitimate. I'll say I lied about her parentage. I'll ruin her reputation myself if that saves her life.
i'll destroy her ruin her name if you let her live it's worth it
Wrong not her birth; she is a royal princess.
Don't taint her birth. She is a royal princess.
No. She's legitimate. She's a princess.
she's royal legitimate
To save her life I’ll say she is not so.
To save her life I'll say she's not legitimate.
I'll lie. I don't care. Just let her live.
i'll claim she's not mine just let her live
Her life is safest only in her birth.
Her life is safest because of her royal birth.
She's safe because she's royal.
her royal blood keeps her safe
And only in that safety died her brothers.
And it was only because of that royal birth that her brothers died.
That's what got her brothers killed. That's the only reason.
that's what killed them the royal blood that made them targets
Lo, at their births good stars were opposite.
At their births, evil stars were opposite them.
They had bad luck from birth. Bad stars.
they had bad luck from the start
No, to their lives ill friends were contrary.
No. They had enemies who worked against them.
No. They had you. That's what was against them.
not stars you you were their enemy
All unavoided is the doom of destiny.
Destiny cannot be avoided.
What's destined can't be stopped.
destiny can't be changed
True, when avoided grace makes destiny.
My babes were destined to a fairer death,
If grace had blessed thee with a fairer life.
That's only true when goodness can change what fate determines. My babies had a gentler death waiting if grace had blessed you with a gentler life.
Unless grace steps in and changes it. If you'd been a decent person, my children would still be alive. That was their fate if you'd let them live.
grace changes destiny if you were good they'd be alive that was the other fate
You speak as if that I had slain my cousins.
You speak as if I personally murdered my cousins.
You talk like I killed them myself.
you act like i did it like i murdered them
Cousins, indeed, and by their uncle cozened
Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life.
Whose hand soever lanced their tender hearts,
Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction.
No doubt the murd’rous knife was dull and blunt
Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart,
To revel in the entrails of my lambs.
But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame,
My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys
Till that my nails were anchored in thine eyes,
And I, in such a desp’rate bay of death,
Like a poor bark of sails and tackling reft,
Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom.
Cousins indeed, and you robbed them of comfort, kingdom, family, freedom, and life. Whoever held the murderous knife, your head directed it indirectly. That dull, blunt knife only became sharp when it was honed on your stone-hard heart, so it could feast on my children's insides. But because I've cried so long that my grief has become routine, I haven't yet raked my nails through your eyes while screaming about them. I'd be like a ship torn apart, all rigging destroyed, and I'd smash myself to pieces on your rocky heart.
Cousins, yeah. You stole their freedom, their lives, their everything. You may not have held the knife, but you sharpened it on your cold heart. You made that blade hungry for their blood. If I wasn't so exhausted from crying, I'd claw your face apart while screaming their names. I'd destroy myself just to hurt you.
you're the reason the knife was sharpened on your stone heart for my children i want to destroy you
Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise
And dangerous success of bloody wars,
As I intend more good to you and yours
Than ever you or yours by me were harmed!
Madam, I swear that as I succeed in my enterprise and win dangerous wars, I intend to bring more good to you and your family than any harm I've ever done you.
Look—I'm going to win these wars, and I'm going to do good things for you. Better things than anything bad that's happened.
i swear i'll do good not harm
What good is covered with the face of heaven,
To be discovered, that can do me good?
What good can possibly exist that is hidden from me, that you could show me that would do me good?
What good do you have? Hidden good? I don't see it.
what good from you i don't see any
Th’ advancement of your children, gentle lady.
Advancing your children, gentle lady.
Helping your children succeed.
your children successful
Up to some scaffold, there to lose their heads.
Yes—up onto the scaffold, where they can lose their heads.
On the scaffold? That's advancement?
advancement to the executioner
Unto the dignity and height of fortune,
The high imperial type of this earth’s glory.
To the highest power and peak of fortune—the greatest glory on earth.
To the highest honor there is. Imperial power. Glory.
fortune imperial glory heights of power
Flatter my sorrows with report of it.
Tell me what state, what dignity, what honour,
Canst thou demise to any child of mine?
Comfort my sorrow by telling me this. What state, what dignity, what honor can you possibly give to any of my children?
Show me. Tell me what titles, what position, what honor you'd actually give them.
what exactly state dignity honor
Even all I have—ay, and myself and all
Will I withal endow a child of thine;
So in the Lethe of thy angry soul
Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs
Which thou supposest I have done to thee.
Everything I have—yes, and myself and all that I possess—I will give to a child of yours, so your anger floods away the sad memory of the wrongs you think I've done to you.
Everything. My whole kingdom. Me. All of it. I'll give it to one of your children. If that makes you forget what I did.
everything me all of it if you'll forgive
Be brief, lest that the process of thy kindness
Last longer telling than thy kindness’ date.
Be quick, because the time it takes you to explain your kindness will be longer than your kindness will actually last.
Stop. Your kind words will last longer than your actual kindness.
your words longer than your actions
Then know, that from my soul I love thy daughter.
Then know this: I love your daughter with my whole soul.
I love your daughter. From my soul.
i love your daughter
My daughter’s mother thinks it with her soul.
Your daughter's mother thinks you love with your soul the way you loved her brothers.
Right. The way you loved her brothers with your soul.
like you loved her brothers
What do you think?
What is your opinion?
What's your take on this?
what u think
That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul.
So from thy soul’s love didst thou love her brothers,
And from my heart’s love I do thank thee for it.
That you love my daughter with your soul the way you loved her brothers with your soul's love. And from my heart I thank you for it.
That you love her the way you loved them. Soul to soul. And I thank you for that.
you loved them soul and blood thanks for that
Be not so hasty to confound my meaning.
I mean that with my soul I love thy daughter,
And do intend to make her Queen of England.
Don't twist my meaning. I mean I love your daughter with my whole soul, and I intend to make her Queen of England.
Don't misunderstand. I love your daughter. And I'm going to make her Queen of England.
i love her i'll make her queen of england
Well, then, who dost thou mean shall be her king?
Well then, who will be her king?
Who would be her king?
who's the king
Even he that makes her Queen. Who else should be?
The man who makes her Queen. Who else would it be?
The guy who makes her Queen. Who else?
me
What, thou?
You?
You?
you
Even so. How think you of it?
Yes, exactly. What is your opinion of this?
Right. What do you think about that?
so what u think
How canst thou woo her?
How would you court her?
How would you even do that? How would you win her?
how would you win her
That would I learn of you,
As one being best acquainted with her humour.
That's what I want to learn from you, since you know her character best.
You know her better than anyone. Teach me. How do I do it?
teach me you know her best
And wilt thou learn of me?
Will you actually learn from me?
You really want my advice?
you'll listen
Madam, with all my heart.
Madam, I am completely willing.
Yes, absolutely, madam.
yes definitely
Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers,
A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrave
“Edward” and “York.” Then haply will she weep.
Therefore present to her—as sometimes Margaret
Did to thy father, steeped in Rutland’s blood—
A handkerchief, which, say to her, did drain
The purple sap from her sweet brothers’ body,
And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withal.
If this inducement move her not to love,
Send her a letter of thy noble deeds;
Tell her thou mad’st away her uncle Clarence,
Her uncle Rivers, ay, and for her sake
Mad’st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne.
Send to her a gift from the man who killed her brothers—a pair of bleeding hearts with 'Edward' and 'York' carved on them. Then maybe she'll cry. Or send her what Margaret once sent your father, steeped in blood—a handkerchief that you say soaked up her brothers' blood, and tell her to wipe her tears with it. If that doesn't move her, send her a letter bragging about your 'noble deeds'—tell her you murdered her uncle Clarence, her uncle Rivers, and quickly disposed of her aunt Anne.
Send her their hearts. Bleeding. With their names carved in. Maybe that'll make her love you. Or send her one of their blood-soaked scarves and tell her to cry into it. If she's still not interested, write her a love letter listing all the people you've killed for her sake. Her uncles. Her aunt. All for love.
send bleeding hearts blood-soaked cloth murder letters that's how you woo her
You mock me, madam; this is not the way
To win your daughter.
You're mocking me. This is not the way to win your daughter.
You're making fun of me. That's not how you do this.
you're mocking me this isn't real
There is no other way,
Unless thou couldst put on some other shape,
And not be Richard, that hath done all this.
There is no other way unless you could somehow become someone else—unless you weren't Richard, who has done all this.
There's no other way. Unless you could be someone else. Unless you weren't you.
no way unless you stop being you
Say that I did all this for love of her?
What if I tell her I did all of this for love of her?
What if I just say I did it all because I love her?
what if i say i did it for love
Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee,
Having bought love with such a bloody spoil.
Then she has no choice but to hate you, because you've bought love with so much blood.
Then she'll hate you more. Love that's paid for with murder isn't love.
she'll hate you love bought with blood isn't love
Look what is done cannot be now amended.
Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,
Which after-hours gives leisure to repent.
If I did take the kingdom from your sons,
To make amends I’ll give it to your daughter.
If I have killed the issue of your womb,
To quicken your increase I will beget
Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter.
A grandam’s name is little less in love
Than is the doting title of a mother;
They are as children but one step below,
Even of your mettle, of your very blood;
Of all one pain, save for a night of groans
Endured of her, for whom you bid like sorrow.
Your children were vexation to your youth,
But mine shall be a comfort to your age.
The loss you have is but a son being King,
And by that loss your daughter is made Queen.
I cannot make you what amends I would;
Therefore accept such kindness as I can.
Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul
Leads discontented steps in foreign soil,
This fair alliance quickly shall call home
To high promotions and great dignity.
The King, that calls your beauteous daughter wife,
Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother;
Again shall you be mother to a king,
And all the ruins of distressful times
Repaired with double riches of content.
What, we have many goodly days to see.
The liquid drops of tears that you have shed
Shall come again, transformed to orient pearl,
Advantaging their loan with interest
Of ten times double gain of happiness.
Go then, my mother, to thy daughter go.
Make bold her bashful years with your experience;
Prepare her ears to hear a wooer’s tale;
Put in her tender heart th’ aspiring flame
Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the Princess
With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys,
And when this arm of mine hath chastised
The petty rebel, dull-brained Buckingham,
Bound with triumphant garlands will I come
And lead thy daughter to a conqueror’s bed;
To whom I will retail my conquest won,
And she shall be sole victoress, Caesar’s Caesar.
What's done cannot be undone now. People sometimes act without thinking, and later they have time to regret it. If I took the kingdom from your sons, I'll make it up to your daughter by giving it to her. If I killed the children of your womb, I'll make up for it by fathering children with your daughter. A grandmother is hardly less honored than a mother—they're the same level of love, blood, and belonging. Both experience the same pain, except the mother endures one night of labor pains for the sake of the child you mourn. Your children were trouble to you in your youth, but mine will comfort you in your age. All you lost is one son being king—and in return your daughter becomes queen. I can't make full amends, but accept what kindness I can offer. Your son Dorset, who now wanders unhappily in foreign lands, this marriage will quickly bring him home to high honors and great dignity. The King who calls your beautiful daughter wife will call your Dorset brother. You'll be mother to a king again. All the ruins of these terrible times will be repaired with twice the wealth and happiness. What, we'll have many good days ahead. The tears you've shed will come again as pearls, and they'll bring ten times more happiness back as interest on the loan. Go then to your daughter. Use your experience to make her less shy. Prepare her to hear a lover's proposal. Put the desire for royal power in her young heart. Tell the princess about the sweet, silent joys of marriage. And when I've defeated that rebel Buckingham, I'll come back wearing the crown of victory and take your daughter to a conqueror's bed. I'll tell her all about my conquest, and she'll be the sole victor—Caesar's equal.
Look, what happened happened. People do things they regret. If I took a kingdom from your sons, I'll give one to your daughter instead. If I killed them, I'll make new sons with your daughter. Being a grandmother—that's basically the same as being a mother. Your kids were hard work when you were young. My kids will make you happy in your old age. You lost a king. You're getting a queen. That's not nothing. Your son Dorset—he's running around in exile looking sad. This marriage brings him home, makes him powerful. The king calls his wife—your daughter—so he calls Dorset brother. You're mother to a king again. All this disaster gets fixed. Double the riches. Double the happiness. Your tears will turn to pearls. You're going to get back ten times what you lost. Just talk to your daughter. Use what you know about her. Tell her what marriage is like. Make her want power. Tell her it's good. When I beat Buckingham, I'm coming back victorious and taking her to bed as a conqueror. She'll be the greatest prize I won.
kingdom for your daughter children with her you'll be queen's mother Doubling your riches I'm coming back victorious to take her as my prize
What were I best to say? Her father’s brother
Would be her lord? Or shall I say her uncle?
Or he that slew her brothers and her uncles?
Under what title shall I woo for thee,
That God, the law, my honour, and her love
Can make seem pleasing to her tender years?
What should I tell her? That her father's brother would be her husband? Or her uncle? Or the man who killed her brothers and uncles? What title can I use to make you seem acceptable to her, when God, the law, my honor, and her own heart all say no?
What do I even call you? Her uncle? The man who killed her family? How do I make you acceptable to her when God, law, honor, and her own heart all say you're a murderer?
what title how do i explain you there's no way
Infer fair England’s peace by this alliance.
Tell her this marriage ensures England's peace.
Tell her this makes England peaceful.
peace
Which she shall purchase with still-lasting war.
Which she'll buy through endless war.
Which she'll pay for in endless wars.
endless war that's the price
Tell her the King, that may command, entreats.
Tell her the King commands her, but politely asks.
Tell her the King is asking.
the king asks
That at her hands, which the King’s King forbids.
But God—the King above all kings—forbids it.
But God forbids it, and God is above the King.
god forbids it
Say she shall be a high and mighty queen.
Tell her she'll be a high and mighty queen.
Tell her she'll be a great queen.
great queen mighty
To vail the title, as her mother doth.
To bow down, like her mother is doing now.
To bow down in submission, like I'm doing.
to bow down like i am
Say I will love her everlastingly.
Tell her I will love her forever.
Tell her I'll love her always.
forever
But how long shall that title “ever” last?
But how long will 'forever' actually last?
How long does forever last with you?
how long forever
Sweetly in force unto her fair life’s end.
Sweetly and powerfully for the length of her beautiful life.
For as long as she's alive. Sweetly.
as long as she lives sweetly
But how long fairly shall her sweet life last?
But how long will her sweet life remain beautiful and long?
How long will her life last with you?
how long will she live
As long as heaven and nature lengthens it.
As long as heaven and nature extend it.
As long as God and nature let her.
as long as heaven allows
As long as hell and Richard likes of it.
Only as long as hell and Richard permit it.
Her life lasts only as long as hell and Richard decide it should.
how long? only as long as you and hell allow
Say I, her sovereign, am her subject low.
Tell her that I, her king, would be her humble subject.
Tell her I'd be her servant. Below her.
i'd be her subject
But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty.
But she, as your subject, hates this kind of rule.
She hates you, even if you're below her.
she hates your sovereignty
Be eloquent in my behalf to her.
Use your eloquence for me with her.
Make a good argument for me. To her.
speak for me
An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.
An honest story is best told straightforwardly.
The truth works best when it's simple.
honest plain that's best
Then plainly to her tell my loving tale.
Then tell her plainly about my love for her.
Then just tell her straight that I love her.
just tell her i love her
Plain and not honest is too harsh a style.
Plain without being honest is too crude a style.
But plain and honest can't both be true for you.
plain without honest is just cruelty
Your reasons are too shallow and too quick.
Your objections are too hasty and shallow.
You're thinking too fast and not deep enough.
shallow objections think deeper
O no, my reasons are too deep and dead—
Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their graves.
My reasons are not shallow—they're deep and buried, like my poor dead babies in their graves.
My reasons go deep. Deep as the graves where my babies are buried.
deep as graves where my children are
Harp not on that string, madam; that is past.
Don't dwell on that, madam. That's over.
Stop. It's done. Let it go.
stop it's past
Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break.
I will never stop dwelling on it until my heart shatters.
I'll never stop. Not until my heart breaks.
i'll never stop until i break
Now, by my George, my Garter, and my crown—
Now I swear by my Saint George, my Garter, and my crown—
I swear by my saint, my honor as a knight, and my crown—
i swear by everything
Profaned, dishonoured, and the third usurped.
All three are corrupt—profaned, dishonored, and stolen.
All three are corrupted. Desecrated. Dishonored. Stolen.
profaned dishonored usurped all three
I swear—
I swear—
I swear—
i swear
By nothing, for this is no oath.
Thy George, profaned, hath lost his lordly honour;
Thy Garter, blemished, pawned his knightly virtue;
Thy crown, usurped, disgraced his kingly glory.
If something thou wouldst swear to be believed,
Swear then by something that thou hast not wronged.
By nothing, because none of these can bind an oath. Your Saint George is profaned and has lost his sacred honor. Your Garter is stained and has pawned its knightly virtue. Your crown is stolen and stripped of its kingly glory. If you want to swear something believable, swear by something you haven't already destroyed.
Nothing. None of those work. Your George is corrupted. Your Garter's honor is gone. Your crown is stolen. If you want me to believe an oath, swear by something you haven't ruined.
by nothing everything you'd swear by is destroyed by you
Now, by the world—
Listen, I swear by all creation—
Look, I swear by everything—
i swear by the world
’Tis full of thy foul wrongs.
Which is full of your terrible wrongs.
Which is full of your crimes.
full of your wrongs
My father’s death—
My father's death—
By my father's death—
my father's death
Thy life hath that dishonoured.
Your life has dishonored that.
You've disgraced his memory by how you live.
your life disgraces it
Then, by myself—
Then by myself—
Then by myself—
by myself
Thyself is self-misused.
You yourself are corrupted by yourself.
You've corrupted yourself.
you're self-destroyed
Why, then, by God—
Then, by God—
Okay, I swear by God—
god's truth
God’s wrong is most of all.
If thou didst fear to break an oath with Him,
The unity the King my husband made
Thou hadst not broken, nor my brothers died.
If thou hadst feared to break an oath by Him,
Th’ imperial metal circling now thy head
Had graced the tender temples of my child,
And both the Princes had been breathing here,
Which now, two tender bedfellows for dust,
Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms.
What canst thou swear by now?
You have wronged God most of all. If you feared breaking an oath to God, you wouldn't have broken your king's peace, and my brothers would not have died. If you truly feared God's oath, that crown on your head would grace my child's temples, and both princes would still be alive. Instead, because of your broken faith, they lie in the dirt as food for worms. What can you swear by now?
God's the one most wronged here. If you actually feared breaking an oath to God, my brothers would be alive. That crown would be on my son's head, and the princes would be breathing. Instead you broke faith and they're dead, buried like waste. What's left to swear by?
god is most wronged if you feared him my children would live you broke faith they're buried in dirt
The time to come.
The future.
The future to come.
whats to come
That thou hast wronged in the time o’erpast;
For I myself have many tears to wash
Hereafter time, for time past wronged by thee.
The children live whose fathers thou hast slaughtered,
Ungoverned youth, to wail it in their age;
The parents live whose children thou hast butchered,
Old barren plants, to wail it with their age.
Swear not by time to come, for that thou hast
Misused ere used, by times ill-used o’erpast.
The future you have already wronged in the past. I myself will have many tears to wash away the future because of the wrongs you've done. Children still live whose fathers you've slaughtered—they'll mourn their loss forever. Parents still live whose children you've murdered—they're left to grieve to the end of their lives. Don't swear by the future when you've already misused it in the past.
You've already wrecked the future with your crimes. I'll be crying for years because of what you did. Your victims' children still live, and they'll grieve their whole lives. The parents you've orphaned will mourn until they die. Don't swear by a future you've already poisoned.
future is corrupted by your past crimes children and parents will grieve forever
As I intend to prosper and repent,
So thrive I in my dangerous affairs
Of hostile arms! Myself myself confound!
Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours!
Day, yield me not thy light, nor, night, thy rest!
Be opposite all planets of good luck
To my proceeding if with dear heart’s love,
Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts,
I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter.
In her consists my happiness and thine;
Without her follows to myself and thee,
Herself, the land, and many a Christian soul,
Death, desolation, ruin, and decay.
It cannot be avoided but by this;
It will not be avoided but by this.
Therefore, dear mother—I must call you so—
Be the attorney of my love to her;
Plead what I will be, not what I have been;
Not my deserts, but what I will deserve.
Urge the necessity and state of times,
And be not peevish found in great designs.
As I truly intend to prosper and repent, let me triumph in my dangerous wars. May I be destroyed. May heaven close its doors to happiness. May the day not give me light, the night not give me rest. May all luck turn against me if I don't tender your beautiful daughter with a true heart's love, perfect devotion, and holy thoughts. Your daughter and my happiness are one. Without her, I face death, ruin, and decay—myself, you, her, and many Christian souls. This must be done—it will be done. Therefore, dear mother—I must call you that—be my advocate with her. Tell her about what I will become, not what I have been. Speak of what I will deserve, not what I have deserved. Explain the necessity of these times, and don't be stubborn about great designs.
I swear I truly love her. If I'm lying, destroy me. Shut me out of heaven. Take away my light and rest. Let luck turn against me. I love your daughter with my whole heart. She's everything to me—to both of us. Without her, everything falls apart. The world crumbles. Please. Be my mother and speak for me. Tell her what I can become. Not what I've done. What I will deserve from now on. Tell her the state of things. Tell her we need this.
i swear i love her if i'm lying destroy me implode me she's everything please speak for me
Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?
Am I being tempted by the devil?
Is this the devil tempting me?
the devil? tempting me
Ay, if the devil tempt you to do good.
Yes, if the devil tempts you to do good.
Yes—if evil's asking you to do something good.
if evil asks for good
Shall I forget myself to be myself?
Would I have to forget myself in order to be myself?
Would I have to stop being myself to be myself?
forget myself to be myself
Ay, if your self’s remembrance wrong yourself.
Yes, if remembering yourself does you harm.
Yes—if remembering yourself hurts you.
if memory destroys you
Yet thou didst kill my children.
But you killed my children.
You murdered my children.
you killed them
But in your daughter’s womb I bury them,
Where, in that nest of spicery, they will breed
Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.
Yes, but I will bury them in your daughter's womb, where they'll be born again as new children to comfort you.
I'll bring them back—through your daughter. She'll give birth to new children, and they'll be born from the same bloodline, the same love. That's how you heal.
new children in her womb from our blood they'll live again
Shall I go win my daughter to thy will?
Should I go convince my daughter to marry you?
Should I go convince her to take you?
should i convince her
And be a happy mother by the deed.
And you'll be a happy mother because of it.
And you'll be happy again. A mother to a queen.
you'll be happy mother to a queen
I go. Write to me very shortly,
And you shall understand from me her mind.
I'll go. Send word to me soon, and I'll tell you what she says.
I'm going. Write to me. I'll let you know what she thinks.
i'm going i'll write you
Bear her my true love’s kiss; and so, farewell.
Give her my true love's kiss, and goodbye.
Give her my love. Goodbye.
my love goodbye
Relenting fool, and shallow, changing woman!
A softening fool and a shallow, fickle woman!
A weak fool and a shallow, fickle woman!
weak fool shallow fickle woman
How now, what news?
Well now, what news do you bring?
So what's the news?
what's up
Most mighty sovereign, on the western coast
Rideth a puissant navy; to our shores
Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends,
Unarmed, and unresolved to beat them back.
’Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral;
And there they hull, expecting but the aid
Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore.
Most powerful sovereign, a strong navy rides off the western coast; many uncertain, disloyal-hearted friends are thronging to our shores, unarmed and unwilling to fight back. It's thought that Richmond is their admiral, and there they're waiting, expecting only Buckingham's help to welcome them ashore.
Your majesty, there's a powerful enemy fleet off the western coast. A bunch of shady, half-hearted people are gathering on our shores—unarmed, not ready to put up a fight. We think Richmond's commanding them, and they're just waiting for Buckingham to show up and let them land.
powerful fleet off west coast shady people landing here unarmed and won't fight back waiting for buckingham
Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of Norfolk.
Ratcliffe, thyself, or Catesby. Where is he?
Send a fast messenger to the Duke of Norfolk—you, Ratcliffe, or Catesby. Where is Catesby?
Get a fast rider to Norfolk. One of you. Where's Catesby?
send word to norfolk fast
Here, my good lord.
Here, my lord.
Here, sir.
here
Catesby, fly to the Duke.
Catesby, hurry to the Duke.
Go to Norfolk. Fast.
go fast
I will my lord, with all convenient haste.
I will, my lord, as quickly as I can.
Right away, sir.
going fast
Ratcliffe, come hither. Post to Salisbury.
When thou com’st thither—
Ratcliffe, come here. Go to Salisbury. When you get there—
Ratcliffe, listen. Go to Salisbury. When you arrive—
go salisbury
[_To Catesby._] Dull, unmindful villain,
Why stay’st thou here, and go’st not to the Duke?
You dull and thoughtless villain, why do you stay here instead of going to the Duke?
Hey, you thick-headed idiot, why are you still standing around? Go get to the Duke!
ur dull & mindless why r u still here go find the duke already
First, mighty liege, tell me your Highness’ pleasure,
What from your Grace I shall deliver to him.
First, mighty sovereign, tell me your wish, So I may convey your command to him.
First, my lord, what would you like me to tell him?
what should i tell him
O, true, good Catesby. Bid him levy straight
The greatest strength and power that he can make,
And meet me suddenly at Salisbury.
Right, good Catesby. Tell him to raise all the soldiers and power he can command, and meet me quickly at Salisbury.
Tell Norfolk to raise every soldier he has and meet me at Salisbury fast.
raise all forces meet at salisbury quick
I go.
I'm going.
Going.
going
What, may it please you, shall I do at Salisbury?
What should I do at Salisbury?
What do you want me to do there?
what do i do there
Why, what wouldst thou do there before I go?
What would you do there before I arrive?
What would you do there before I get there?
what would u do first
Your Highness told me I should post before.
Your Highness told me to go ahead.
You told me to go ahead.
you said go ahead
My mind is changed.
My mind has changed.
Never mind. Stay.
change of plans
Stanley, what news with you?
Stanley, what news do you bring?
Stanley, what's your news?
stanley what do you know
None good, my liege, to please you with the hearing;
Nor none so bad but well may be reported.
No good news that would please you to hear; nor any news so bad that it cannot be delivered respectably.
I have no good news for you, but any bad news I can at least report tactfully.
got no good news bad stuff can be said carefully
Hoyday, a riddle! Neither good nor bad.
What need’st thou run so many miles about
When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way?
Once more, what news?
What a riddle! Neither good nor bad. Why go around in circles when you can tell me straight? Once more—what news?
Stop dancing around it. Tell me straight. What's the news?
just tell me straight
Richmond is on the seas.
Richmond is sailing toward us.
Richmond's on the water heading here.
richmond at sea
There let him sink, and be the seas on him!
White-livered runagate, what doth he there?
Let him drown! Let the sea take him! You cowardly traitor—what business is he conducting out there?
Let him sink. That cowardly bastard—what's he doing out there?
drown him coward what's he doing
I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess.
I don't know for certain, my lord, only by guess.
I don't know, sir. I'm guessing.
guessing don't know
Well, as you guess?
Well, tell me your guess.
Then guess. What's your guess?
your guess
Stirred up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton,
He makes for England, here to claim the crown.
Stirred up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton, he's sailing for England to claim the crown.
Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton are pushing him. He's coming to take your throne.
buckingham dorset morton he's coming for the crown
Is the chair empty? Is the sword unswayed?
Is the King dead? The empire unpossessed?
What heir of York is there alive but we?
And who is England’s King but great York’s heir?
Then tell me, what makes he upon the seas?
Is the throne empty? Is no one wielding power? Is the king dead? Is the kingdom unclaimed? What York heir is alive besides me? Who else could be England's king but York's rightful heir? So what claim does he have on the seas?
The throne's full—with me. The king's alive—me. The kingdom's ruled—by me. I'm the York heir. So what is he doing out there? What could possibly justify that?
i'm the king i'm the heir what right does he have
Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.
I cannot guess any other reason, my lord.
That's all I can figure, sir.
can't guess other reasons
Unless for that he comes to be your liege,
You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes.
Thou wilt revolt and fly to him, I fear.
Unless he's coming to make you his subject instead of my subject. You will betray me and flee to him, I fear.
He's coming to take my throne. And you're about to switch sides, aren't you?
he wants the crown you'll betray me i know it
No, my good lord; therefore mistrust me not.
No, my lord. I am loyal. Do not doubt me.
No, sir. I'm with you. Don't doubt that.
no i'm loyal trust me
Where is thy power, then, to beat him back?
Where be thy tenants and thy followers?
Are they not now upon the western shore,
Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships?
Where's your military power? Where are your tenants and followers? Aren't they on the western shore right now, escorting the rebels off their ships?
Where's your army? Your people? Are they down on the coast helping the rebels land?
where's your power your followers helping the rebels
No, my good lord, my friends are in the north.
No, my lord. My followers are in the north.
No, sir. My people are in the north.
they're in the north
Cold friends to me. What do they in the north,
When they should serve their sovereign in the west?
Cold friends to me. What are they doing in the north when they should be serving their king in the west?
Fair-weather friends. Why are they in the north when I need them in the west?
cold friends wrong place
They have not been commanded, mighty King.
Pleaseth your Majesty to give me leave,
I’ll muster up my friends, and meet your Grace
Where and what time your Majesty shall please.
They haven't received orders, my liege. If you permit me, I'll gather my friends and meet you wherever and whenever you command.
They haven't been told to mobilize. Let me go get them. I'll meet you anywhere, whenever you say.
let me go gather them where and when you say
Ay, ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond.
But I’ll not trust thee.
You want to go join Richmond. I won't trust you.
You'll go straight to Richmond. I don't trust you.
you'll join him i don't trust you
Most mighty sovereign,
You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful.
I never was nor never will be false.
My liege, you have no reason to doubt my friendship. I have never been false and never will be.
Sir, I've never betrayed you. I never will. You have no reason to doubt me.
never false never will be trust me
Go then, and muster men, but leave behind
Your son George Stanley. Look your heart be firm,
Or else his head’s assurance is but frail.
Go gather your forces, but leave your son George Stanley behind. And you better be loyal, or his head pays the price.
Go. Get your army. But leave your son George with me. If you betray me, he dies.
go but leave your son or he dies
So deal with him as I prove true to you.
Treat him according to how loyal I am.
Do what you want to him based on what I do.
judge him by my loyalty
My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire,
As I by friends am well advertised,
Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate,
Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother,
With many more confederates, are in arms.
My lord, in Devonshire now, as I've been told, Sir Edward Courtney and the proud Bishop of Exeter, his brother, along with many others, are in arms against you.
Sir, Devonshire is rising. Edward Courtney, the Bishop of Exeter, and their allies are gathering an army.
devonshire rising courtney the bishop armed
In Kent, my liege, the Guilfords are in arms,
And every hour more competitors
Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong.
In Kent, my lord, the Guilfords are in arms, and more rebels gather every hour. Their power grows.
Kent's rebelling too. The Guilfords are armed. More people join them every hour.
kent rebelling guilfords armed more gathering
My lord, the army of great Buckingham—
My lord, I come with news of Buckingham's forces—
My lord, Buckingham's army—
buckingham's army
Out on you, owls! Nothing but songs of death?
Curse you all! Do you bring nothing but death?
Stop! All I hear is disaster!
death nothing but death
There, take thou that till thou bring better news.
There, take that until you bring me better news.
That's for you. Now go get me some good news.
take that come back with better news
The news I have to tell your Majesty
Is, that by sudden floods and fall of waters,
Buckingham’s army is dispersed and scattered,
And he himself wandered away alone,
No man knows whither.
The good news is that sudden floods have scattered Buckingham's army. He himself has wandered off alone, and nobody knows where he is.
Good news, actually. Heavy rain destroyed Buckingham's army. He's lost, alone somewhere.
floods buckingham scattered he's lost alone
I cry thee mercy.
There is my purse to cure that blow of thine.
Hath any well-advised friend proclaimed
Reward to him that brings the traitor in?
I apologize for my anger. Here's my purse to reward you. Has anyone proclaimed a reward for whoever brings me the traitor?
Sorry about that. That's good news. Here—take money. Is there a reward for capturing Buckingham?
sorry that's good here's reward
Such proclamation hath been made, my lord.
Yes, my lord, proclamations have been made.
Yes, sir. There's already a reward announced.
yes reward proclaimed
Sir Thomas Lovell and Lord Marquess Dorset,
’Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms.
But this good comfort bring I to your Highness:
The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest.
Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat
Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks
If they were his assistants, yea or no?—
Who answered him they came from Buckingham
Upon his party. He, mistrusting them,
Hoised sail, and made his course again for Brittany.
Sir Thomas Lovell and the Earl of Dorset are in arms in Yorkshire, my lord. But here's good news: a storm scattered Richmond's fleet. Richmond sent a boat to shore to ask if men would support him, and they said they were with Buckingham. Mistrusting them, Richmond turned his ships around and sailed back to Brittany.
Yorkshire's rising. Lovell and Dorset are in arms. But Richmond's fleet got hit by a storm. He sent men ashore to check if they were loyal, and they said they're with Buckingham. Richmond panicked and sailed back to Brittany.
yorkshire rising richmond's fleet scattered he fled back to brittany thinking it's a trap
March on, march on, since we are up in arms,
If not to fight with foreign enemies,
Yet to beat down these rebels here at home.
Let's march. We're armed and ready. Even if our enemies are homegrown rebels, let's beat them down.
Forward. We're mobilized. We'll crush these rebels at home.
march battle beat them down
My liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken.
That is the best news. That the Earl of Richmond
Is with a mighty power landed at Milford
Is colder tidings, yet they must be told.
My lord, the Duke of Buckingham is captured. That's the best news. But the Earl of Richmond has landed at Milford with a mighty army. That's worse news, but I must tell you.
We caught Buckingham. That's great. But Richmond's landed with a huge army. That's the bad news.
buckingham caught richmond landed with an army
Away towards Salisbury! While we reason here
A royal battle might be won and lost.
Someone take order Buckingham be brought
To Salisbury; the rest march on with me.
To Salisbury, immediately! While we stand talking, we could lose a battle. Get Buckingham to Salisbury. The rest of us march now.
To Salisbury! Now! We're wasting time. Get Buckingham there. Everyone else—march!
to salisbury fight no more talking
The Reckoning
Elizabeth confronts Richard about his crimes and the fate of her children.
If this happened today…
When ambition destroys trust, even victory becomes a hollow shell of fear.