Richard II: Act 2, Scene 4 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 4 of Richard II from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Scene 4 Enter Earl of Salisbury and a Welsh Captain. WELSH CAPTAIN My Lord of Salisbury, we have stayed ten days And hardly kept our countrymen together, And yet we hear no tidings from the King. Therefore we will disperse ourselves. Farewell.	On the coast of Wales, a Welsh Captain and his troops have been waiting around for King Richard to show up so they can help him fight Henry Bolingbroke's army. (Remember, Richard has been in Ireland, and he's on his way back to England for a showdown with Henry.) The Captain tells the Earl of Salisbury that he's sick and tired of waiting for Richard. He's going to send all his men home if Richard doesn't show up in the next two seconds.
SALISBURY Stay yet another day, thou trusty Welshman. 5 The King reposeth all his confidence in thee. WELSH CAPTAIN ’Tis thought the King is dead. We will not stay. The bay trees in our country are all withered, And meteors fright the fixèd stars of heaven; The pale-faced moon looks bloody on the Earth, 10 And lean-looked prophets whisper fearful change; Rich men look sad, and ruffians dance and leap, The one in fear to lose what they enjoy, The other to enjoy by rage and war. These signs forerun the death or fall of kings. 15 Farewell. Our countrymen are gone and fled, As well assured Richard their king is dead. He exits.	When Salisbury begs him to stay just one more day, the Welsh Captain says forget about it. Everyone thinks the king is dead anyway.
SALISBURY Ah, Richard! With the eyes of heavy mind I see thy glory like a shooting star Fall to the base earth from the firmament. 20 Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west, Witnessing storms to come, woe, and unrest. Thy friends are fled to wait upon thy foes, And crossly to thy good all fortune goes. He exits.	The Captain and his army leave. Salisbury notes that when Richard shows up he's going to be totally screwed, because he'll have little to no protection.