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

silver
    is coming back covered with the blood of Frenchmen.
    No feather in any English helmet
    has been removed by any French soldier;
    our banners are coming back in the same hands
    who carried them away from here;
    our lusty Englishmen are coming like a
    band of jolly huntsmen, with purple hands,
    dyed with the blood of their enemies.
    Open your gates and let the victors in.
     
    CITIZEN.
    Heralds, from off our tow'rs we might behold
    From first to last the onset and retire
    Of both your armies, whose equality
    By our best eyes cannot be censured.
    Blood hath bought blood, and blows have answer'd blows;
    Strength match'd with strength, and power confronted power;
    Both are alike, and both alike we like.
    One must prove greatest. While they weigh so even,
    We hold our town for neither, yet for both.
     
    Heralds, from our towers we could see
    from beginning to end the attack and retreat
    of both your armies, and our sharpest eyed men
    could not see any difference between them.
    Blood has been paid for with blood, and blows have answered blows;
    strength was matched with strength, and power attacked power;
    you are both alike, and we like you both the same.
    One of you must show yourself as greatest. While you are so evenly matched,
    our town shall not acknowledge either, while acknowledging both.
     
    Enter the two KINGS, with their powers, at several doors
     
    KING JOHN.
    France, hast thou yet more blood to cast away?
    Say, shall the current of our right run on?
    Whose passage, vex'd with thy impediment,
    Shall leave his native channel and o'erswell
    With course disturb'd even thy confining shores,
    Unless thou let his silver water keep
    A peaceful progress to the ocean.
     
    France, have you any more blood to throw away?
    Tell us, will the stream of our rights keep running?
    If you keep blocking its passage it will
    leave its natural course and flood
    right over your lands,
    unless you let its silver water carry on
    its peaceful way to the ocean.
     
    KING PHILIP.
    England, thou hast not sav'd one drop of blood
    In this hot trial more than we of France;
    Rather, lost more. And by this hand I swear,
    That sways the earth this climate overlooks,
    Before we will lay down our just-borne arms,
    We'll put thee down, 'gainst whom these arms we bear,
    Or add a royal number to the dead,
    Gracing the scroll that tells of this war's loss
    With slaughter coupled to the name of kings.
     
    England, you have not spilled one drop less of blood
    in this battle than we of France have;
    in fact, you have lost more. And I swear by this hand,
    that rules over the earth under the sky,
    that before we lay down our justified weapons
    we shall defeat you, whom we carry them against,
    or add a royal person to the list of dead,
    gracing the scroll of those who fail in this war
    by adding the name of Kings to the slaughter.
     
    BASTARD.
    Ha, majesty! how high thy glory tow'rs
    When the rich blood of kings is set on fire!
    O, now doth Death line his dead chaps with steel;
    The swords of soldiers are his teeth, his fangs;
    And now he feasts, mousing the flesh of men,
    In undetermin'd differences of kings.
    Why stand these royal fronts amazed thus?
    Cry 'havoc!' kings; back to the stained field,
    You equal potents, fiery kindled spirits!
    Then let confusion of one part confirm
    The other's peace. Till then, blows, blood, and death!
     
    Ha, Majesty! How great your glory becomes
    when the rich blood of kings is stirred up!
    Now Death has covered his dead cheeks with steel;
    the soldiers' swords are his teeth, his fangs;
    and now he is feasting, tearing up the flesh of men,
    not discriminating between Kings and others.
    Why are your royal faces looking so confused?
    Let out the war cry, kings; go back to the bloody field,
    you equal forces, fiery burning spirits!
    So let the defeat of one confirm
    the rule of the other. Until then, let's have blows, blood and death!
     
    KING JOHN.
    Whose party do the townsmen yet admit?
     
    Whose side are the townsmen