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Act 2, Scene 2
Richard III Translation Act 2, Scene 3
Enter one CITIZEN at one door, and another at the other
FIRST CITIZEN
Good morrow, neighbor, whither away so fast?
FIRST CITIZEN
Good morning, neighbor. Where are you hurrying off to?
SECOND CITIZEN
I promise you I scarcely know myself.Hear you the news abroad?
SECOND CITIZEN
I swear, I hardly know where I'm going myself. Have you heard the news going around?
FIRST CITIZEN
Yes, that the king is dead.
FIRST CITIZEN
Yes, that the king is dead.
SECOND CITIZEN
Ill news, by 'r Lady. Seldom comes the better. I fear, I fear, ’twill prove a giddy world.
SECOND CITIZEN
Bad news, by the Virgin Mary. The news is always bad, and likely to get worse. I fear that the world will go crazy.
Enter THIRD CITIZEN
THIRD CITIZEN
Neighbors, God speed.
THIRD CITIZEN
Hello, neighbors.
FIRST CITIZEN
Give you good morrow, sir.
FIRST CITIZEN
Good morning to you, sir.
THIRD CITIZEN
Doth this news hold of good King Edward’s death?
THIRD CITIZEN
Is the news true that good King Edward has died?
SECOND CITIZEN
Ay, sir, it is too true, God help the while.
SECOND CITIZEN
Yes, sir, it's too true, God help us.
THIRD CITIZEN
Then, masters, look to see a troublous world.
THIRD CITIZEN
Then be ready for troubled times, sirs.
FIRST CITIZEN
No, no, by God’s good grace, his son shall reign.
FIRST CITIZEN
No, no, by God's good grace, his son will become king.
THIRD CITIZEN
Woe to the land that’s governed by a child.
THIRD CITIZEN
It's bad for a country to be ruled by a child.
SECOND CITIZEN
In him there is a hope of government, Which, in his nonage, council under him, And, in his full and ripened years, himself, No doubt shall then, and till then, govern well.
SECOND CITIZEN
There is hope for the country under his rule, though. A young king who governs wisely under his advisors will govern wisely on his own when he reaches adulthood.
FIRST CITIZEN
So stood the state when Henry the SixthWas crowned in Paris but at nine months old.
FIRST CITIZEN
That's how it went when Henry the Sixth was crowned in Paris at just nine months old.
THIRD CITIZEN
Stood the state so? No, no, good friends, God wot, For then this land was famously enriched With politic grave counsel; then the king Had virtuous uncles to protect his Grace.
THIRD CITIZEN
Is that how it was? No, no, good friends, back then the country was rich with intelligent advisors, and the king had virtuous uncles to protect him.
FIRST CITIZEN
Why, so hath this, both by the father and mother.
FIRST CITIZEN
Why, this king—Edward's son—has uncles too, on both his father's and his mother's side.
THIRD CITIZEN
Better it were they all came by his father, Or by the father there were none at all, For emulation who shall now be nearest Will touch us all too near if God prevent not. O, full of danger is the duke of Gloucester, And the queen’s sons and brothers haught and proud, And were they to be ruled, and not to rule, This sickly land might solace as before.
THIRD CITIZEN
It would be better if they were all on his father's side, or if none at all were on his father's side. For as it is, the contest over which uncles will be closest to the king is likely to affect all of us, if God doesn't prevent it. The Duke of Gloucester—Richard—is a dangerous man. And Queen Elizabeth's sons and brothers are haughty and proud. This sickly country will only have a chance of being healed if they end up as subjects, not rulers.
FIRST CITIZEN
Come, come, we fear the worst. All will be well.
FIRST CITIZEN
Come, come, we're worrying about the worst possible outcome. I'm sure that everything will be all right.
THIRD CITIZEN
When clouds are seen, wise men put on their cloaks; When great leaves fall, then winter is at hand; When the sun sets, who doth not look for night? Untimely storms make men expect a dearth. All may be well; but if God sort it so, 'Tis more than we deserve or I expect.
THIRD CITIZEN
You know what they say: when clouds appear, wise men put on their coats. When leaves fall from the trees, winter is coming. When the sun sets, who doesn't expect night? When storms arrive early, men expect a bad harvest. Everything may be all right, as you say. But if God wills it to turn out all right, that will be more than we deserve, and not what I expect.
SECOND CITIZEN
Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear.Ye cannot reason almost with a man That looks not heavily and full of dread.
SECOND CITIZEN
Truly, the hearts of men are full of fear. There's hardly anyone who isn't unreasonably worried right now.
THIRD CITIZEN
Before the days of change, still is it so. By a divine instinct, men’s minds mistrust Ensuing dangers, as by proof we see The water swell before a boist'rous storm. But leave it all to God. Whither away?
THIRD CITIZEN
It's always like this before times of great change. By some divine instinct, we get nervous when danger is coming—just like when we see the waves swelling before a storm arrives. But leave it all to God. Where are you off to?
SECOND CITIZEN
Marry, we were sent for to the justices.
SECOND CITIZEN
Indeed, the judges have sent for us.
THIRD CITIZEN
And so was I. I’ll bear you company.
THIRD CITIZEN
And for me to. I'll keep you company.
Exeunt
