Richard III: Act 4, Scene 5 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 5 of Richard III from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Stanley, Earl of Derby, and Sir Christopher. STANLEY Sir Christopher, tell Richmond this from me: That in the sty of the most deadly boar My son George Stanley is franked up in hold; If I revolt, off goes young George’s head; The fear of that holds off my present aid. 5 So get thee gone. Commend me to thy lord. Withal, say that the Queen hath heartily consented He should espouse Elizabeth her daughter. But tell me, where is princely Richmond now? CHRISTOPHER At Pembroke, or at Ha’rfordwest in Wales. 10 STANLEY What men of name resort to him?	At Lord Stanley's house in London, Stanley has a secret meeting with a priest on Richmond's side. Stanley laments that he can't openly fight on Richmond's side, because then Richard would kill his son, George Stanley, whom Richard insists on holding captive. However, Stanley asks Urswick to send his regards to Richmond and to carry the news from Queen Elizabeth that she would very happily marry her little daughter Elizabeth to Richmond. It looks like Richard wasn't as successful as he thought at wooing the young girl through her mother.
CHRISTOPHER Sir Walter Herbert, a renownèd soldier; Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir William Stanley, Oxford, redoubted Pembroke, Sir James Blunt, And Rice ap Thomas, with a valiant crew, 15 And many other of great name and worth; And towards London do they bend their power, If by the way they be not fought withal. STANLEY, giving Sir Christopher a paper Well, hie thee to thy lord. I kiss his hand. My letter will resolve him of my mind. 20 Farewell. They exit.	Urswick in turn reports that Richmond is currently in Wales, and he's gathering support from a long list of VIPs. They're all heading towards London to take back the crown and to crush anyone who stands in their way.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Stanley, Earl of Derby, and Sir Christopher.

STANLEY
Sir Christopher, tell Richmond this from me:
That in the sty of the most deadly boar
My son George Stanley is franked up in hold;
If I revolt, off goes young George’s head;
The fear of that holds off my present aid. 5
So get thee gone. Commend me to thy lord.
Withal, say that the Queen hath heartily consented
He should espouse Elizabeth her daughter.
But tell me, where is princely Richmond now?

CHRISTOPHER
At Pembroke, or at Ha’rfordwest in Wales. 10

STANLEY What men of name resort to him?

At Lord Stanley's house in London, Stanley has a secret meeting with a priest on Richmond's side.

Stanley laments that he can't openly fight on Richmond's side, because then Richard would kill his son, George Stanley, whom Richard insists on holding captive.

However, Stanley asks Urswick to send his regards to Richmond and to carry the news from Queen Elizabeth that she would very happily marry her little daughter Elizabeth to Richmond.

It looks like Richard wasn't as successful as he thought at wooing the young girl through her mother.

CHRISTOPHER
Sir Walter Herbert, a renownèd soldier;
Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir William Stanley,
Oxford, redoubted Pembroke, Sir James Blunt,
And Rice ap Thomas, with a valiant crew, 15
And many other of great name and worth;
And towards London do they bend their power,
If by the way they be not fought withal.

STANLEY, giving Sir Christopher a paper
Well, hie thee to thy lord. I kiss his hand.
My letter will resolve him of my mind. 20
Farewell.

They exit.

Urswick in turn reports that Richmond is currently in Wales, and he's gathering support from a long list of VIPs. They're all heading towards London to take back the crown and to crush anyone who stands in their way.

Richard III: Act 4, Scene 5 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 5 of Richard III from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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