The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) Read Free Page B

charge!
    Thou art the issue of my dear offence,
    Which was so strongly urg'd past my defence.
     
    King Richard the Lionheart was your father.
    Through long and aggressive persuasion he seduced me
    into making room for him in my husband's bed.
    May Heaven not punish me for this sin!
    You are the result of my great offence,
    which I was almost forced into committing.
     
    BASTARD.
    Now, by this light, were I to get again,
    Madam, I would not wish a better father.
    Some sins do bear their privilege on earth,
    And so doth yours: your fault was not your folly;
    Needs must you lay your heart at his dispose,
    Subjected tribute to commanding love,
    Against whose fury and unmatched force
    The aweless lion could not wage the fight
    Nor keep his princely heart from Richard's hand.
    He that perforce robs lions of their hearts
    May easily win a woman's. Ay, my mother,
    With all my heart I thank thee for my father!
    Who lives and dares but say thou didst not well
    When I was got, I'll send his soul to hell.
    Come, lady, I will show thee to my kin;
    And they shall say when Richard me begot,
    If thou hadst said him nay, it had been sin.
    Who says it was, he lies; I say 'twas not.
     
    Now, I swear, madam, if I was to be
    conceived again, I couldn't wish for a better father.
    Some sins bring rewards on earth,
    and yours does: your sin was not stupid;
    you had to give him your heart:
    to pay tribute to his commanding love,
    whose anger and matchless strength
    a courageous lion would not be able to resist,
    nor could he defend his princely heart against Richard's strength.
    Someone who can rob hearts from lions
    can easily win a woman's. Yes, my mother,
    I thank you for my father with all my heart!
    If there's anyone alive who dares to say that you did wrong
    in conceiving me, I'll send his soul to hell.
    Come, lady, I will show you to my family;
    and they shall say that when Richard conceived me,
    it would have been a sin for you to say no to him.
    Anyone who says it's a sin is a liar, I say it wasn't.
       
    Exeunt
     



 
    France. Before Angiers
     
    Enter, on one side, AUSTRIA and forces; on the other, KING PHILIP OF FRANCE, LEWIS the Dauphin, CONSTANCE, ARTHUR, and forces
     
    KING PHILIP.
    Before Angiers well met, brave Austria.
    Arthur, that great forerunner of thy blood,
    Richard, that robb'd the lion of his heart
    And fought the holy wars in Palestine,
    By this brave duke came early to his grave;
    And for amends to his posterity,
    At our importance hither is he come
    To spread his colours, boy, in thy behalf;
    And to rebuke the usurpation
    Of thy unnatural uncle, English John.
    Embrace him, love him, give him welcome hither.
     
    Good to meet you here in front of Angiers, brave Austria.
    Arthur, your great ancestor,
    Richard, who stole the heart from a lion
    and fought the holy wars in Palestine,
    was brought to an early grave by this brave Duke;
    and to make amends he has
    come here at our request
    to lift his banners, boy, on your behalf;
    and to win back the crown stolen
    by your unnatural uncle, English John.
    Embrace him, love him, and make him welcome.
     
    ARTHUR.
    God shall forgive you Coeur-de-lion's death
    The rather that you give his offspring life,
    Shadowing their right under your wings of war.
    I give you welcome with a powerless hand,
    But with a heart full of unstained love;
    Welcome before the gates of Angiers, Duke.
     
    God will forgive you the death of the Lionheart
    because you are giving life to his children,
    protecting their rights with your armies.
    I welcome you with my hand, which is weak,
    but with a heart full of pure love;
    welcome here in front of Angiers, Duke.
     
    KING PHILIP.
    A noble boy! Who would not do thee right?
     
    A noble boy! Who wouldn't support you?
     
    AUSTRIA.
    Upon thy cheek lay I this zealous kiss
    As seal to this indenture of my love:
    That to my home I will no more return
    Till Angiers and the right thou hast in France,
    Together with that pale, that white-fac'd shore,
    Whose