Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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(Note: In the Folger edition of the play that we're using here, this is still Act 4, Scene 1.) Enter Prince John and his army. MOWBRAY, to the Archbishop
Your Grace of York, in God’s name then set
forward. 240 ARCHBISHOP
Before, and greet his Grace.—My lord, we come. All move forward. JOHN OF LANCASTER
You are well encountered here, my cousin
Mowbray.—
Good day to you, gentle Lord Archbishop,—
And so to you, Lord Hastings, and to all.— 245
My Lord of York, it better showed with you
When that your flock, assembled by the bell,
Encircled you to hear with reverence
Your exposition on the holy text
Than now to see you here, an iron man talking, 250
Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum,
Turning the word to sword, and life to death.
That man that sits within a monarch’s heart
And ripens in the sunshine of his favor,
Would he abuse the countenance of the King, 255
Alack, what mischiefs might he set abroach
In shadow of such greatness! With you, Lord
Bishop,
It is even so. Who hath not heard it spoken
How deep you were within the books of God, 260
To us the speaker in His parliament,
To us th’ imagined voice of God Himself,
The very opener and intelligencer
Between the grace, the sanctities, of heaven,
And our dull workings? O, who shall believe 265
But you misuse the reverence of your place,
Employ the countenance and grace of heaven
As a false favorite doth his prince’s name,
In deeds dishonorable? You have ta’en up,
Under the counterfeited zeal of God, 270
The subjects of His substitute, my father,
And both against the peace of heaven and him
Have here up-swarmed them. | The rebel leaders meet up with Prince John, who lectures the
Archbishop about taking up arms against the king when he should be back
at home with his bible, preaching about peace and obedience. Prince
John says that the Archbishop is seriously abusing his religious
authority by using his power to get the people all riled up against the
king. The Archbishop, he says, should know better than anyone that the
king is God's "substitute." |
ARCHBISHOP Good my Lord of
Lancaster, 275
I am not here against your father’s peace,
But, as I told my Lord of Westmoreland,
The time misordered doth, in common sense,
Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form
To hold our safety up. I sent your Grace 280
The parcels and particulars of our grief,
The which hath been with scorn shoved from the
court,
Whereon this Hydra son of war is born,
Whose dangerous eyes may well be charmed asleep 285
With grant of our most just and right desires,
And true obedience, of this madness cured,
Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty. MOWBRAY
If not, we ready are to try our fortunes
To the last man. 290 HASTINGS And though we here fall down,
We have supplies to second our attempt;
If they miscarry, theirs shall second them,
And so success of mischief shall be born,
And heir from heir shall hold his quarrel up 295
Whiles England shall have generation. | York responds that he has no choice because King Henry has refused to
address the rebels' grievances. Mowbray and Hastings chime in that
they're prepared to fight. |
JOHN OF LANCASTER
You are too shallow, Hastings, much too shallow
To sound the bottom of the after-times. WESTMORELAND
Pleaseth your Grace to answer them directly
How far forth you do like their articles. 300 JOHN OF LANCASTER
I like them all, and do allow them well,
And swear here by the honor of my blood
My father’s purposes have been mistook,
And some about him have too lavishly
Wrested his meaning and authority. 305
To the Archbishop. My lord, these griefs shall be
with speed redressed;
Upon my soul, they shall. If this may please you,
Discharge your powers unto their several counties,
As we will ours, and here, between the armies, 310
Let’s drink together friendly and embrace,
That all their eyes may bear those tokens home
Of our restorèd love and amity. | Prince John says he's had a chance to look over the rebel's list of
grievances and he's prepared to put things to rights. If the rebels send
their troops home, Prince John will do the same and they can all sit
down and have a drink together, toasting their love for one another. |
ARCHBISHOP
I take your princely word for these redresses. JOHN OF LANCASTER
I give it you, and will maintain my word, 315
And thereupon I drink unto your Grace.
The Leaders of both armies begin to drink together. HASTINGS, to an Officer
Go, captain, and deliver to the army
This news of peace. Let them have pay, and part.
I know it will well please them. Hie thee, captain. Officer exits. ARCHBISHOP, toasting Westmoreland
To you, my noble Lord of Westmoreland. 320 WESTMORELAND, returning the toast
I pledge your Grace, and if you knew what pains
I have bestowed to breed this present peace,
You would drink freely. But my love to you
Shall show itself more openly hereafter. ARCHBISHOP
I do not doubt you. 325 | York accepts and Prince John raises his glass in a toast and assures
the rebels that they have his word on it – their grievances will be
addressed. Hastings gives orders to Coleville to send the rebel troops home and the rebel leaders drink a toast to peace. |
WESTMORELAND I am glad of it.—
Health to my lord and gentle cousin, Mowbray. MOWBRAY
You wish me health in very happy season,
For I am on the sudden something ill. ARCHBISHOP
Against ill chances men are ever merry, 330
But heaviness foreruns the good event. WESTMORELAND
Therefore be merry, coz, since sudden sorrow
Serves to say thus: “Some good thing comes
tomorrow.” ARCHBISHOP
Believe me, I am passing light in spirit. 335 MOWBRAY
So much the worse if your own rule be true. Shout within. JOHN OF LANCASTER
The word of peace is rendered. Hark how they
shout. MOWBRAY
This had been cheerful after victory. ARCHBISHOP
A peace is of the nature of a conquest, 340
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
And neither party loser. | Mowbray says that he's suddenly feeling sick and the others tell him to cheer up. The
rebel troops can be heard in the distance, shouting in celebration of
the peace compact. The Archbishop of York says it's great that both
sides have come out winners today. |
JOHN OF LANCASTER, to Westmoreland Go, my lord,
And let our army be dischargèd too. Westmoreland exits. To the Archbishop. And, good my lord, so please 345
you, let our trains
March by us, that we may peruse the men
We should have coped withal. ARCHBISHOP Go, good Lord
Hastings, 350
And ere they be dismissed, let them march by. Hastings exits. JOHN OF LANCASTER
I trust, lords, we shall lie tonight together. Enter Westmoreland. Now, cousin, wherefore stands our army still? WESTMORELAND
The leaders, having charge from you to stand,
Will not go off until they hear you speak. 355 JOHN OF LANCASTER They know their duties. Enter Hastings. HASTINGS, to the Archbishop
My lord, our army is dispersed already.
Like youthful steers unyoked, they take their
courses
East, west, north, south, or, like a school broke up, 360
Each hurries toward his home and sporting-place. | Prince John sends Westmoreland to send the king's troops home and
makes small talk with the rebel leaders, even suggesting that they all
lodge together that night. Westmoreland returns with news that the
king's forces refuse to disband until Prince John delivers a speech.
Just then, Hastings announces that the rebel army has disbanded – the
troops have run home like schoolboys on the last day of classes. |
WESTMORELAND
Good tidings, my Lord Hastings, for the which
I do arrest thee, traitor, of high treason.—
And you, Lord Archbishop, and you, Lord Mowbray,
Of capital treason I attach you both. 365 MOWBRAY
Is this proceeding just and honorable? WESTMORELAND Is your assembly so? ARCHBISHOP
Will you thus break your faith? JOHN OF LANCASTER I pawned thee none.
I promised you redress of these same grievances 370
Whereof you did complain, which, by mine honor,
I will perform with a most Christian care.
But for you rebels, look to taste the due
Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours.
Most shallowly did you these arms commence, 375
Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence.—
Strike up our drums; pursue the scattered stray.
God, and not we, hath safely fought today.—
Some guard these traitors to the block of death,
Treason’s true bed and yielder-up of breath. 380 They exit. | Then Westmoreland turns to Hastings, York, and Mowbray and says, "Surprise! You're all under arrest for treason." Mowbray says something like "No fair! You promised to redress our grievances and now you've betrayed our trust." Prince John replies that he's going to address their grievances but first he's also going to sentence the rebels to death. |