Richard III: Act 5, Scene 7 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 7 of Richard III from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Scene 4 Alarum. Excursions. Enter Norfolk, with Soldiers, and Catesby. CATESBY Rescue, my lord of Norfolk, rescue, rescue! The King enacts more wonders than a man, Daring an opposite to every danger. His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights, Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death. 5 Rescue, fair lord, or else the day is lost. Norfolk exits with Soldiers.	[Note: In the Folger's edition, this is Scene 4.] On the battlefield, Catesby calls out to Norfolk for help, as Richard seems to have taken to the battlefield in mad desperation. Richard's horse has been killed, and Richard is wandering the battlefield on foot, killing everything in his path with a fatalistic fury.
Alarums. Enter Richard. RICHARD A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse! CATESBY Withdraw, my lord. I’ll help you to a horse. RICHARD Slave, I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die. 10 I think there be six Richmonds in the field; Five have I slain today instead of him. A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse! They exit.	Richard yells out the famous line, "A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!" Richard is mad with bloodlust. He says he's slain five of the six "Richmonds" on the field, but not the Richmond he wants. (It was common practice to dress a few guys up as the leader of the troops to distract and serve as decoys. Swell job, huh?) Richard runs off again, looking for horses and Richmond.

Original Text

Translated Text

Scene 4

Alarum. Excursions. Enter Norfolk, with Soldiers, and
Catesby.

CATESBY
Rescue, my lord of Norfolk, rescue, rescue!
The King enacts more wonders than a man,
Daring an opposite to every danger.
His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights,
Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death. 5
Rescue, fair lord, or else the day is lost.

Norfolk exits with Soldiers.

[Note: In the Folger's edition, this is Scene 4.]

On the battlefield, Catesby calls out to Norfolk for help, as Richard seems to have taken to the battlefield in mad desperation.

Richard's horse has been killed, and Richard is wandering the battlefield on foot, killing everything in his path with a fatalistic fury.

Alarums. Enter Richard.

RICHARD
A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!

CATESBY
Withdraw, my lord. I’ll help you to a horse.

RICHARD
Slave, I have set my life upon a cast,
And I will stand the hazard of the die. 10
I think there be six Richmonds in the field;
Five have I slain today instead of him.
A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!

They exit.

Richard yells out the famous line, "A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!"

Richard is mad with bloodlust. He says he's slain five of the six "Richmonds" on the field, but not the Richmond he wants. (It was common practice to dress a few guys up as the leader of the troops to distract and serve as decoys. Swell job, huh?)

Richard runs off again, looking for horses and Richmond.

Richard III: Act 5, Scene 7 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 7 of Richard III from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

Scene 4

Tired of ads?