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No Fear Translations

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Enter the ARCHBISHOP of York, the young duke of YORK , QUEEN ELIZABETH , and the old DUCHESS of York
Enter the ARCHBISHOP of York, the young duke of YORK , QUEEN ELIZABETH , and the old DUCHESS of York

ARCHBISHOP

Last night, I hear, they lay at Stony Stratford,
And at Northampton they do rest tonight.
Tomorrow or next day they will be here.

ARCHBISHOP

Last night, I hear, they lay at Stony Stratford,
And at Northampton they do rest tonight.
Tomorrow or next day they will be here.

DUCHESS

I long with all my heart to see the prince.
5 I hope he is much grown since last I saw him.

DUCHESS

I long with all my heart to see the prince.
I hope he is much grown since last I saw him.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

But I hear no; they say my son of York
Has almost overta'en him in his growth.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

But I hear no; they say my son of York
Has almost overta'en him in his growth.

YORK

Ay, mother, but I would not have it so.

YORK

Ay, mother, but I would not have it so.

DUCHESS

Why, my young cousin? It is good to grow.

DUCHESS

Why, my young cousin? It is good to grow.

YORK

10 Grandam, one night as we did sit at supper,
My uncle Rivers talked how I did grow
More than my brother: “Ay,” quoth my uncle Gloucester,
“Small herbs have grace; great weeds do grow apace.”
And since, methinks I would not grow so fast
15 Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.

YORK

Grandam, one night as we did sit at supper,
My uncle Rivers talked how I did grow
More than my brother: “Ay,” quoth my uncle Gloucester,
“Small herbs have grace; great weeds do grow apace.”
And since, methinks I would not grow so fast
Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.

DUCHESS

Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold
In him that did object the same to thee!
He was the wretched’st thing when he was young,
So long a-growing and so leisurely,
20 That if this rule were true, he should be gracious.

DUCHESS

Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold
In him that did object the same to thee!
He was the wretched’st thing when he was young,
So long a-growing and so leisurely,
That if this rule were true, he should be gracious.

YORK

And so no doubt he is, my gracious madam.

YORK

And so no doubt he is, my gracious madam.

DUCHESS

I hope he is, but yet let mothers doubt.

DUCHESS

I hope he is, but yet let mothers doubt.

YORK

Now, by my troth, if I had been remembered,
I could have given my uncle’s grace a flout
25 To touch his growth nearer than he touched mine.

YORK

Now, by my troth, if I had been remembered,
I could have given my uncle’s grace a flout
To touch his growth nearer than he touched mine.

DUCHESS

How, my pretty York? I prithee let me hear it.

DUCHESS

How, my pretty York? I prithee let me hear it.

YORK

Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast
That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old.
'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.
30 Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.

YORK

Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast
That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old.
'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.
Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.

DUCHESS

I prithee, pretty York, who told thee this?

DUCHESS

I prithee, pretty York, who told thee this?

YORK

Grandam, his nurse.

YORK

Grandam, his nurse.

DUCHESS

His nurse? Why, she was dead ere thou wast born.

DUCHESS

His nurse? Why, she was dead ere thou wast born.

YORK

If ’twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.

YORK

If ’twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

35 A parlous boy! Go to, you are too shrewd.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

A parlous boy! Go to, you are too shrewd.

DUCHESS

Good madam, be not angry with the child.

DUCHESS

Good madam, be not angry with the child.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Pitchers have ears.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Pitchers have ears.
Enter a MESSENGER
Enter a MESSENGER

ARCHBISHOP

Here comes a messenger. —What news?

ARCHBISHOP

Here comes a messenger. —What news?

MESSENGER

Such news, my lord, as grieves me to report.

MESSENGER

Such news, my lord, as grieves me to report.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

40 How doth the prince?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

How doth the prince?

MESSENGER

Well, madam, and in health.

MESSENGER

Well, madam, and in health.

DUCHESS

What is thy news then?

DUCHESS

What is thy news then?

MESSENGER

Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret,
And, with them, Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.

MESSENGER

Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret,
And, with them, Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.

DUCHESS

45 Who hath committed them?

DUCHESS

Who hath committed them?

MESSENGER

The mighty dukes, Gloucester and Buckingham.

MESSENGER

The mighty dukes, Gloucester and Buckingham.

ARCHBISHOP

For what offence?

ARCHBISHOP

For what offence?

MESSENGER

The sum of all I can, I have disclosed.
Why, or for what, the nobles were committed
50 Is all unknown to me, my gracious lord.

MESSENGER

The sum of all I can, I have disclosed.
Why, or for what, the nobles were committed
Is all unknown to me, my gracious lord.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Ay me! I see the ruin of my house.
The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind.
Insulting tyranny begins to jut
Upon the innocent and aweless throne.
55 Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre.
I see, as in a map, the end of all.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Ay me! I see the ruin of my house.
The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind.
Insulting tyranny begins to jut
Upon the innocent and aweless throne.
Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre.
I see, as in a map, the end of all.

DUCHESS

Accursèd and unquiet wrangling days,
How many of you have mine eyes beheld?
My husband lost his life to get the crown,
60 And often up and down my sons were tossed
For me to joy, and weep, their gain and loss.
And being seated, and domestic broils
Clean overblown, themselves the conquerors
Make war upon themselves, brother to brother,
65 Blood to blood, self against self. O, preposterous
And frantic outrage, end thy damnèd spleen,
Or let me die, to look on death no more.

DUCHESS

Accursèd and unquiet wrangling days,
How many of you have mine eyes beheld?
My husband lost his life to get the crown,
And often up and down my sons were tossed
For me to joy, and weep, their gain and loss.
And being seated, and domestic broils
Clean overblown, themselves the conquerors
Make war upon themselves, brother to brother,
Blood to blood, self against self. O, preposterous
And frantic outrage, end thy damnèd spleen,
Or let me die, to look on death no more.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

(to YORK) Come, come, my boy. We will to sanctuary.
Madam, farewell.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

(to YORK) Come, come, my boy. We will to sanctuary.
Madam, farewell.

DUCHESS

   Stay, I will go with you

DUCHESS

   Stay, I will go with you

QUEEN ELIZABETH

70 You have no cause.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

You have no cause.

ARCHBISHOP

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
My gracious lady, go,
And thither bear your treasure and your goods.
For my part, I’ll resign unto your Grace
75 The seal I keep; and so betide to me
As well I tender you and all of yours.
Go. I’ll conduct you to the sanctuary.

ARCHBISHOP

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
My gracious lady, go,
And thither bear your treasure and your goods.
For my part, I’ll resign unto your Grace
The seal I keep; and so betide to me
As well I tender you and all of yours.
Go. I’ll conduct you to the sanctuary.
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter the ARCHBISHOP of York, the young duke of YORK , QUEEN ELIZABETH , and the old DUCHESS of York
Enter the ARCHBISHOP of York, the young duke of YORK , QUEEN ELIZABETH , and the old DUCHESS of York

ARCHBISHOP

Last night, I hear, they lay at Stony Stratford,
And at Northampton they do rest tonight.
Tomorrow or next day they will be here.

ARCHBISHOP

Last night, I hear, they lay at Stony Stratford,
And at Northampton they do rest tonight.
Tomorrow or next day they will be here.

DUCHESS

I long with all my heart to see the prince.
5 I hope he is much grown since last I saw him.

DUCHESS

I long with all my heart to see the prince.
I hope he is much grown since last I saw him.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

But I hear no; they say my son of York
Has almost overta'en him in his growth.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

But I hear no; they say my son of York
Has almost overta'en him in his growth.

YORK

Ay, mother, but I would not have it so.

YORK

Ay, mother, but I would not have it so.

DUCHESS

Why, my young cousin? It is good to grow.

DUCHESS

Why, my young cousin? It is good to grow.

YORK

10 Grandam, one night as we did sit at supper,
My uncle Rivers talked how I did grow
More than my brother: “Ay,” quoth my uncle Gloucester,
“Small herbs have grace; great weeds do grow apace.”
And since, methinks I would not grow so fast
15 Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.

YORK

Grandam, one night as we did sit at supper,
My uncle Rivers talked how I did grow
More than my brother: “Ay,” quoth my uncle Gloucester,
“Small herbs have grace; great weeds do grow apace.”
And since, methinks I would not grow so fast
Because sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.

DUCHESS

Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold
In him that did object the same to thee!
He was the wretched’st thing when he was young,
So long a-growing and so leisurely,
20 That if this rule were true, he should be gracious.

DUCHESS

Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold
In him that did object the same to thee!
He was the wretched’st thing when he was young,
So long a-growing and so leisurely,
That if this rule were true, he should be gracious.

YORK

And so no doubt he is, my gracious madam.

YORK

And so no doubt he is, my gracious madam.

DUCHESS

I hope he is, but yet let mothers doubt.

DUCHESS

I hope he is, but yet let mothers doubt.

YORK

Now, by my troth, if I had been remembered,
I could have given my uncle’s grace a flout
25 To touch his growth nearer than he touched mine.

YORK

Now, by my troth, if I had been remembered,
I could have given my uncle’s grace a flout
To touch his growth nearer than he touched mine.

DUCHESS

How, my pretty York? I prithee let me hear it.

DUCHESS

How, my pretty York? I prithee let me hear it.

YORK

Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast
That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old.
'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.
30 Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.

YORK

Marry, they say my uncle grew so fast
That he could gnaw a crust at two hours old.
'Twas full two years ere I could get a tooth.
Grandam, this would have been a biting jest.

DUCHESS

I prithee, pretty York, who told thee this?

DUCHESS

I prithee, pretty York, who told thee this?

YORK

Grandam, his nurse.

YORK

Grandam, his nurse.

DUCHESS

His nurse? Why, she was dead ere thou wast born.

DUCHESS

His nurse? Why, she was dead ere thou wast born.

YORK

If ’twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.

YORK

If ’twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

35 A parlous boy! Go to, you are too shrewd.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

A parlous boy! Go to, you are too shrewd.

DUCHESS

Good madam, be not angry with the child.

DUCHESS

Good madam, be not angry with the child.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Pitchers have ears.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Pitchers have ears.
Enter a MESSENGER
Enter a MESSENGER

ARCHBISHOP

Here comes a messenger. —What news?

ARCHBISHOP

Here comes a messenger. —What news?

MESSENGER

Such news, my lord, as grieves me to report.

MESSENGER

Such news, my lord, as grieves me to report.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

40 How doth the prince?

QUEEN ELIZABETH

How doth the prince?

MESSENGER

Well, madam, and in health.

MESSENGER

Well, madam, and in health.

DUCHESS

What is thy news then?

DUCHESS

What is thy news then?

MESSENGER

Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret,
And, with them, Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.

MESSENGER

Lord Rivers and Lord Grey are sent to Pomfret,
And, with them, Sir Thomas Vaughan, prisoners.

DUCHESS

45 Who hath committed them?

DUCHESS

Who hath committed them?

MESSENGER

The mighty dukes, Gloucester and Buckingham.

MESSENGER

The mighty dukes, Gloucester and Buckingham.

ARCHBISHOP

For what offence?

ARCHBISHOP

For what offence?

MESSENGER

The sum of all I can, I have disclosed.
Why, or for what, the nobles were committed
50 Is all unknown to me, my gracious lord.

MESSENGER

The sum of all I can, I have disclosed.
Why, or for what, the nobles were committed
Is all unknown to me, my gracious lord.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Ay me! I see the ruin of my house.
The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind.
Insulting tyranny begins to jut
Upon the innocent and aweless throne.
55 Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre.
I see, as in a map, the end of all.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

Ay me! I see the ruin of my house.
The tiger now hath seized the gentle hind.
Insulting tyranny begins to jut
Upon the innocent and aweless throne.
Welcome, destruction, blood, and massacre.
I see, as in a map, the end of all.

DUCHESS

Accursèd and unquiet wrangling days,
How many of you have mine eyes beheld?
My husband lost his life to get the crown,
60 And often up and down my sons were tossed
For me to joy, and weep, their gain and loss.
And being seated, and domestic broils
Clean overblown, themselves the conquerors
Make war upon themselves, brother to brother,
65 Blood to blood, self against self. O, preposterous
And frantic outrage, end thy damnèd spleen,
Or let me die, to look on death no more.

DUCHESS

Accursèd and unquiet wrangling days,
How many of you have mine eyes beheld?
My husband lost his life to get the crown,
And often up and down my sons were tossed
For me to joy, and weep, their gain and loss.
And being seated, and domestic broils
Clean overblown, themselves the conquerors
Make war upon themselves, brother to brother,
Blood to blood, self against self. O, preposterous
And frantic outrage, end thy damnèd spleen,
Or let me die, to look on death no more.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

(to YORK) Come, come, my boy. We will to sanctuary.
Madam, farewell.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

(to YORK) Come, come, my boy. We will to sanctuary.
Madam, farewell.

DUCHESS

   Stay, I will go with you

DUCHESS

   Stay, I will go with you

QUEEN ELIZABETH

70 You have no cause.

QUEEN ELIZABETH

You have no cause.

ARCHBISHOP

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
My gracious lady, go,
And thither bear your treasure and your goods.
For my part, I’ll resign unto your Grace
75 The seal I keep; and so betide to me
As well I tender you and all of yours.
Go. I’ll conduct you to the sanctuary.

ARCHBISHOP

(to QUEEN ELIZABETH)
My gracious lady, go,
And thither bear your treasure and your goods.
For my part, I’ll resign unto your Grace
The seal I keep; and so betide to me
As well I tender you and all of yours.
Go. I’ll conduct you to the sanctuary.
Exeunt
Exeunt