MÁSTER DE TRADUCCIÓN LITERARIA - UCM

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Taller de DE TRADUCCIÓN LITERARIA (INGLÉS-ESPAÑOL)

Lyrical texts

Handout 3

SHAKESPEARE

I Richard II

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TJByqkYrQY

Shakespeare’s Richard II (1595) presents a momentous struggle between Richard II and his cousin
Henry Bolingbroke. Richard is the legitimate king; he succeeded his grandfather, King Edward III,
after the earlier death of his father Edward, the Black Prince. Yet Richard is also seen by many as a
tyrant. He toys with his subjects, exiling Bolingbroke for six years.

When he seizes the title and property that should be Bolingbroke’s, Richard threatens the very
structure of the kingdom. Bolingbroke returns with an army that is supported by nobles and
commoners alike, both believing themselves oppressed by Richard. This sets the stage for a
confrontation between his army and the tradition of sacred kingship supporting the isolated but now
more sympathetic Richard. https://www.folger.edu/explore/shakespeares-works/richard-ii/read/

Unusually for Shakespeare, Richard II is written entirely in verse, and one of only four of his plays
that are, the others being King John and the first and third parts of Henry VI. It contains hardly any
prose. There are also great differences in the use of language amongst the characters. Traditionally,

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Shakespeare uses prose to distinguish social classes: the upper classes generally speak in poetry while
the lower classes speak in prose. In Richard II, Richard uses flowery language in his speeches, whereas
Bolingbroke, who is also of the noble class, uses a more plain and direct language. In Richard II,
besides the usual blank verse (unrhymed pentameters) there are long stretches of pairs of rhymed
pentameters.

Excerpt 1

ACT II, Scene i, Description of the King

YORK
No, it is topped with other flattering sounds,
As praises, of whose taste the wise are fond;
Lascivious meters, to whose venom sound
The open ear of youth doth always listen;
Report of fashions in proud Italy,
Whose manners still our tardy apish nation
Limps after in base imitation.

No, está lleno de otro sonido lisonjero, [14]

como alabanzas, cuyo gusto los sabios aman; [14]
Versos lascivos, cuyo sonido deletéreo [14]
El oído abierto de la juventud debe escuchar; [14]
Informe de las modas en la orgullosa Italia, [14]
Cuyos modales aún nuestra embrutecida nación [14]
persigue arrastrándose en vil imitación. [12]

Where doth the world thrust forth a vanity

—So it be new, there’s no respect how vile—
That is not quickly buzzed into his ears?
Then all too late comes counsel to be Heard
Where will doth mutiny with wit’s regard.
Direct not him whose way himself will choose.
’Tis breath thou lack’st, and that breath wilt thou lose.

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Excerpt 2

Richard II decides to resign the crown (Act IV, Scene I)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POPJe25cQ-s

HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Are you contented to resign the crown?

KING RICHARD II
Ay, no; no, ay; for I must nothing be; [10]
Therefore no no, for I resign to thee. [10]
Now mark me, how I will undo myself; [10]
I give this heavy weight from off my head [10]
And this unwieldy sceptre from my hand, [10]
The pride of kingly sway from out my heart; [10]
With mine own tears I wash away my balm, [10]
With mine own hands I give away my crown, [10]
With mine own tongue deny my sacred state, [10]
With mine own breath release all duty's rites: [10]

Sí, no; no, sí; pues ya nada debo ser [12]

Pues no, no, ante ti debo yo ceder [12]
Presta atención pues mi reino va a cesar [12]
Libro a mi cabeza de una dura carga [12]
Y libro de mi mano el molesto cetro [12]
Alejo el noble orgullo del corazón [12]
Con las lágrimas de mi limpio la unción [12]
Con las manos abandono la corona [12]
Con la lengua profiero mi último adiós [12]
Con el aliento renuncio a mi deber [12]

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All pomp and majesty I do forswear;
My manors, rents, revenues I forego;
My acts, decrees, and statutes I deny:
God pardon all oaths that are broke to me!
God keep all vows unbroke that swear to thee!
Make me, that nothing have, with nothing grieved,
And thou with all pleased, that hast all achieved!
Long mayst thou live in Richard's seat to sit,
And soon lie Richard in an earthly pit!
God save King Harry, unking'd Richard says,
And send him many years of sunshine days!

Excerpt 3

Bolingbroke admits no responsibility to the king’s death after he was murdered by Exton (Act V,
Scene 6)

HENRY BOLINGBROKE
They love not poison that do poison need,
Nor do I thee: though I did wish him dead,
I hate the murderer, love him murdered.
The guilt of conscience take thou for thy labour,
But neither my good word nor princely favour.
With Cain go wander through shades of night,
And never show thy head by day nor light.
Lords, I protest, my soul is full of woe,

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That blood should sprinkle me to make me grow:
Come, mourn with me for that I do lament,
And put on sullen black incontinent.
I'll make a voyage to the Holy Land,
To wash this blood off from my guilty hand.
March sadly after; grace my mournings here,
In weeping after this untimely bier.

Paraphrasing:

No one loves poison, even when they need it—and I don't love you either. Though I wished him dead, I hate
the murderer and love the one he killed. You won't get anything from me for your efforts but a guilty
conscience; go wander in the desert, like Cain after he killed Abel, and never show your face here by day or
night.

[To Lords] Lords, I tell you, I'm sad that I grow by the spilling of blood. Come, put on black clothes and
mourn with me: I'll make a voyage to the Holy Land, to wash this blood from my guilty hands. Come with me
there, and grace our mourning here by joining the funeral procession.