Richard III: Act 5, Scene 4 Translation

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

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Richmond, Sir William Brandon, Oxford, Dorset, Herbert, Blunt, and others who set up Richmond’s tent. RICHMOND The weary sun hath made a golden set, 20 And by the bright track of his fiery car Gives token of a goodly day tomorrow.— Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard.— Give me some ink and paper in my tent; I’ll draw the form and model of our battle, 25 Limit each leader to his several charge, And part in just proportion our small power.— My Lord of Oxford, you, Sir William Brandon, And you, Sir Walter Herbert, stay with me. The Earl of Pembroke keeps his regiment.— 30 Good Captain Blunt, bear my goodnight to him, And by the second hour in the morning Desire the Earl to see me in my tent. Yet one thing more, good captain, do for me. Where is Lord Stanley quartered, do you know? 35	[Note: In the Folger's edition, this is still Scene 3.] As Richard is throwing around his weight, Richmond enters the scene on another part of the stage. (This is a theatrical device for indicating two faraway places – in this case, the two rival camps.) Richmond is also making battle preparations, but rather than rely on the weakness of his enemy (as Richard does), he constructs a careful battle plan. He calls for pen and ink so he can draft all the battle movements and asks that some of his men stay to advise him. Also in contrast to Richard, Richmond distributes the command among several leaders of regiments. Richmond's even having one of the earls come to visit him at 2am to talk shop and go over the plan.
BLUNT Unless I have mista’en his colors much, Which well I am assured I have not done, His regiment lies half a mile, at least, South from the mighty power of the King. RICHMOND If without peril it be possible, 40 Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with him, And give him from me this most needful note. He gives a paper. BLUNT Upon my life, my lord, I’ll undertake it, And so God give you quiet rest tonight. 45 RICHMOND Good night, good Captain Blunt. Blunt exits. Come, gentlemen, Let us consult upon tomorrow’s business. Into my tent. The dew is raw and cold. Richmond, Brandon, Dorset, Herbert, and Oxford withdraw into the tent. The others exit. [P.S. In the Folger's edition we're using, Scene 3 continues after this. Click to the next page to keep reading.]	Finally, Richmond asks Captain Blunt to find his stepfather Lord Stanley, who is half a mile from Richard's own camp and still pretending to be on Richard's side. Richmond gives Blunt a letter to deliver to Stanley before steeping himself in the battle plans and preparations.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Richmond, Sir William Brandon, Oxford,
Dorset, Herbert, Blunt, and others who set up
Richmond’s tent.

RICHMOND
The weary sun hath made a golden set, 20
And by the bright track of his fiery car
Gives token of a goodly day tomorrow.—
Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard.—
Give me some ink and paper in my tent;
I’ll draw the form and model of our battle, 25
Limit each leader to his several charge,
And part in just proportion our small power.—
My Lord of Oxford, you, Sir William Brandon,
And you, Sir Walter Herbert, stay with me.
The Earl of Pembroke keeps his regiment.— 30
Good Captain Blunt, bear my goodnight to him,
And by the second hour in the morning
Desire the Earl to see me in my tent.
Yet one thing more, good captain, do for me.
Where is Lord Stanley quartered, do you know? 35

[Note: In the Folger's edition, this is still Scene 3.]

As Richard is throwing around his weight, Richmond enters the scene on another part of the stage. (This is a theatrical device for indicating two faraway places – in this case, the two rival camps.)

Richmond is also making battle preparations, but rather than rely on the weakness of his enemy (as Richard does), he constructs a careful battle plan. He calls for pen and ink so he can draft all the battle movements and asks that some of his men stay to advise him.

Also in contrast to Richard, Richmond distributes the command among several leaders of regiments.

Richmond's even having one of the earls come to visit him at 2am to talk shop and go over the plan.

BLUNT
Unless I have mista’en his colors much,
Which well I am assured I have not done,
His regiment lies half a mile, at least,
South from the mighty power of the King.

RICHMOND
If without peril it be possible, 40
Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with
him,
And give him from me this most needful note.

He gives a paper.

BLUNT
Upon my life, my lord, I’ll undertake it,
And so God give you quiet rest tonight. 45

RICHMOND
Good night, good Captain Blunt. Blunt exits.
Come, gentlemen,
Let us consult upon tomorrow’s business.
Into my tent. The dew is raw and cold.

Richmond, Brandon, Dorset, Herbert, and Oxford
withdraw into the tent. The others exit.

[P.S. In the Folger's edition we're using, Scene 3 continues after this. Click to the next page to keep reading.]

Finally, Richmond asks Captain Blunt to find his stepfather Lord Stanley, who is half a mile from Richard's own camp and still pretending to be on Richard's side. Richmond gives Blunt a letter to deliver to Stanley before steeping himself in the battle plans and preparations.

Richard III: Act 5, Scene 4 Translation

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

Original Text

Translated Text

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