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

of her–a curse on her!
     
    ELINOR.
    Thou unadvised scold, I can produce
    A will that bars the title of thy son.
     
    You ignorant quarreler, I can show you
    a will that denies the claim of your son.
     
    CONSTANCE.
    Ay, who doubts that? A will, a wicked will;
    A woman's will; a cank'red grandam's will!
     
    Yes, who can doubt that? A will, a wicked will;
    the will of a woman; the will of a diseased grandmother!
     
    KING PHILIP.
    Peace, lady! pause, or be more temperate.
    It ill beseems this presence to cry aim
    To these ill-tuned repetitions.
    Some trumpet summon hither to the walls
    These men of Angiers; let us hear them speak
    Whose title they admit, Arthur's or John's.
     
    Quiet, lady! Quiet, or speak more calmly.
    It's not appropriate for you to repeat
    these ugly slanders in our presence.
    Let a trumpet call the men of Angiers
    to the walls; let's hear them say
    who they think has the true claim, Arthur or John.
     
    Trumpet sounds. Enter citizens upon the walls
     
    CITIZEN.
    Who is it that hath warn'd us to the walls?
     
    Who has summoned us to the walls?
     
    KING PHILIP.
    'Tis France, for England.
     
    It's France, in the matter of England.
     
    KING JOHN.
    England for itself.
    You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects-
     
    It's England, for its own business.
    You men of Angiers, and my loving subjects–
     
    KING PHILIP.
    You loving men of Angiers, Arthur's subjects,
    Our trumpet call'd you to this gentle parle-
     
    You loving men of Angiers, subjects of Arthur,
    our trumpet called you to this peaceful debate–
     
    KING JOHN.
    For our advantage; therefore hear us first.
    These flags of France, that are advanced here
    Before the eye and prospect of your town,
    Have hither march'd to your endamagement;
    The cannons have their bowels full of wrath,
    And ready mounted are they to spit forth
    Their iron indignation 'gainst your walls;
    All preparation for a bloody siege
    And merciless proceeding by these French
    Confront your city's eyes, your winking gates;
    And but for our approach those sleeping stones
    That as a waist doth girdle you about
    By the compulsion of their ordinance
    By this time from their fixed beds of lime
    Had been dishabited, and wide havoc made
    For bloody power to rush upon your peace.
    But on the sight of us your lawful king,
    Who painfully with much expedient march
    Have brought a countercheck before your gates,
    To save unscratch'd your city's threat'ned cheeks-
    Behold, the French amaz'd vouchsafe a parle;
    And now, instead of bullets wrapp'd in fire,
    To make a shaking fever in your walls,
    They shoot but calm words folded up in smoke,
    To make a faithless error in your cars;
    Which trust accordingly, kind citizens,
    And let us in-your King, whose labour'd spirits,
    Forwearied in this action of swift speed,
    Craves harbourage within your city walls.
     
    For our advantage; so listen to us first.
    These French forces, that have been brought here
    and placed in front of your town
    have come here to do you harm.
    Their cannons are fully loaded
    and they are ready to hurl their
    iron anger against your walls:
    you can see from your closed gates
    the merciless plans of these French,
    all ready for a bloody siege;
    if it wasn't for our arrival
    these sleeping stones which surround you
    like a belt would have been smashed
    to pieces by their artillery,
    a great breach would have been blown
    so that their bloody forces could rush in on your peace.
    But at the sight of me,
    who has through a hard swift march
    brought a defence in front of your gates,
    to protect you from the threats against your city,
    look, the startled French agreed to talk;
    and now,instead of fiery bullets
    smashing through your walls
    they are only shooting quiet deceptive words,
    to deceive you and make you make mistakes:
    trust them accordingly, kind citizens,
    and let me in, your king, whose tired spirits
    have been exhausted by our swift march here
    and begs for shelter inside your city walls.
     
    KING PHILIP.
    When