Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
|
Alarum, and retreat. Enter again Cade and
all his rabblement. CADE Up Fish Street! Down Saint Magnus’ Corner!
Kill and knock down! Throw them into Thames!
Sound a parley.
What noise is this I hear? Dare any be so bold to
sound retreat or parley when I command them
kill? 5 Enter Buckingham and old Clifford with Attendants. | Cade is ordering more killing when he hears some soldiers. It's
Buckingham and Clifford, who have come to him with a message from Henry.
|
BUCKINGHAM
Ay, here they be that dare and will disturb thee.
Know, Cade, we come ambassadors from the King
Unto the Commons, whom thou hast misled,
And here pronounce free pardon to them all
That will forsake thee and go home in peace. 10 CLIFFORD
What say you, countrymen? Will you relent
And yield to mercy whil’st ’tis offered you,
Or let a rabble lead you to your deaths?
Who loves the King and will embrace his pardon,
Fling up his cap and say “God save his Majesty!” 15
Who hateth him and honors not his father,
Henry the Fifth, that made all France to quake,
Shake he his weapon at us and pass by. ALL God save the King! God save the King! They fling their caps in the air. | Buckingham and Clifford encourage Cade's soldiers to go home, and as an
incentive, they offer a pardon to anyone who does go home. The options
seem to be: go home and be safe, or stay and get punished by the king. Clifford makes a rousing speech about serving the king. All the commoners love the speech and chant for the king. |
CADE What, Buckingham and Clifford, are you so 20
brave?—And, you base peasants, do you believe
him? Will you needs be hanged with your pardons
about your necks? Hath my sword therefore broke
through London gates, that you should leave me at
the White Hart in Southwark? I thought you 25
would never have given out these arms till you had
recovered your ancient freedom. But you are all
recreants and dastards, and delight to live in slavery
to the nobility. Let them break your backs with
burdens, take your houses over your heads, ravish 30
your wives and daughters before your faces. For
me, I will make shift for one, and so God’s curse
light upon you all! ALL We’ll follow Cade! We’ll follow Cade! |
Wait a minute. Cade steps in and says they're fighting against the king, so they should stop praising the man enslaving us commoners. They should stick with him; he'll give them freedom. The crowd says that sounds good. Now they side with Cade. |
CLIFFORD Is Cade the son of Henry the Fifth, 35
That thus you do exclaim you’ll go with him?
Will he conduct you through the heart of France
And make the meanest of you earls and dukes?
Alas, he hath no home, no place to fly to,
Nor knows he how to live but by the spoil, 40
Unless by robbing of your friends and us.
Were ’t not a shame that, whilst you live at jar,
The fearful French, whom you late vanquishèd,
Should make a start o’er seas and vanquish you?
Methinks already in this civil broil 45
I see them lording it in London streets,
Crying “Villiago!” unto all they meet.
Better ten thousand baseborn Cades miscarry
Than you should stoop unto a Frenchman’s mercy.
To France, to France, and get what you have lost! 50
Spare England, for it is your native coast.
Henry hath money; you are strong and manly.
God on our side, doubt not of victory. ALL
À Clifford! À Clifford! We’ll follow the King and
Clifford! 55 |
Clifford delivers another speech. This time, he tells them about Henry V winning land from France, and he says they have to fight the French again. They want to be on God's side again and fight with Henry, right? And the crowd is back with Henry after Clifford's speech. |
CADE, aside Was ever feather so lightly blown to and
fro as this multitude? The name of Henry the Fifth
hales them to an hundred mischiefs and makes
them leave me desolate. I see them lay their heads
together to surprise me. My sword make way for 60
me, for here is no staying!—In despite of the devils
and hell, have through the very middest of you!
And heavens and honor be witness that no want of
resolution in me, but only my followers’ base and
ignominious treasons, makes me betake me to my 65
heels. He exits, running. | Cade realizes that the crowd is bouncing back and forth between sides
more than a basketball during a Lakers game. He's surprised by the
crowd's fickleness, and he doesn't want to lead such treacherous people.
So he runs away. |
BUCKINGHAM
What, is he fled? Go, some, and follow him;
And he that brings his head unto the King
Shall have a thousand crowns for his reward.
Some of them exit.
Follow me, soldiers. We’ll devise a means 70
To reconcile you all unto the King.
All exit. | Buckingham sends men after Cade and promises 1,000 crowns to whomever captures him. |