Original text | Modern text | Key line |
Flie cuntry men and cytizens of France, | Fly, countrymen and citizens of France! | E3 III.ii.46 |
Sweete flowring peace the roote of happie life, | Sweet flow'ring peace, the root of happy life, | E3 III.ii.47 |
Is quite abandoned and expulst the lande, | Is quite abandoned and expulsed the land; | E3 III.ii.48 |
In sted of whome ransackt constraining warre, | Instead of whom, ransack-constraining war | E3 III.ii.49 |
Syts like to Rauens vppon your houses topps, | Sits like to ravens upon your houses' tops; | E3 III.ii.50 |
Slaughter and mischiefe walke within your streets. | Slaughter and mischief walk within your streets, | E3 III.ii.51 |
And vnrestrained make hauock as they passe, | And unrestrained make havoc as they pass, | E3 III.ii.52 |
The forme whereof euen now my selfe beheld, | The form whereof even now myself beheld | E3 III.ii.53 |
Vpon this faire mountaine whence I came, | Upon this fair mountain whence I came. | E3 III.ii.54 |
For so far of as I directed mine eies, | For so far off as I direct'd mine eyes, | E3 III.ii.55 |
I might perceaue fiue Cities all on fire, | I might perceive five cities all on fire, | E3 III.ii.56 |
Corne fieldes and vineyards burning like an ouen, | Cornfields and vineyards burning like an oven; | E3 III.ii.57 |
And as the leaking vapour in the wind, | And as the leaking vapour in the wind | E3 III.ii.58 |
I tourned but a side I like wise might disserne. | Turned but aside, I likewise might discern | E3 III.ii.59 |
The poore inhabitants escapt the flame, | The poor inhabitants, escaped the flame, | E3 III.ii.60 |
Fall numberles vpon the souldiers pikes, | Fall numberless upon the soldiers' pikes. | E3 III.ii.61 |
Three waies these dredfull ministers of wrath, | Three ways these dreadful ministers of wrath | E3 III.ii.62 |
Do tread the measuers of their tragicke march, | Do tread the measures of their tragic march: | E3 III.ii.63 |
Vpon the right hand comes the conquering King, | Upon the right hand comes the conquering King, | E3 III.ii.64 |
Vpon the lefte is hot vnbridled sonne, | Upon the left his hot unbridled son, | E3 III.ii.65 |
And in the midst our nations glittering hoast, | And in the midst our nation's glittering host; | E3 III.ii.66 |
All which though distant yet conspire in one, | All which, though distant, yet conspire in one | E3 III.ii.67 |
To leaue a desolation where they come, | To leave a desolation where they come. | E3 III.ii.68 |
Flie therefore Citizens if you be wise, | Fly therefore, citizens, if you be wise, | E3 III.ii.69 |
Seeke out som habitation further of, | Seek out some habitation further off. | E3 III.ii.70 |
Here if you staie your wiues will be abused, | Here, if you stay, your wives will be abused, | E3 III.ii.71 |
Your treasure sharde before your weeping eies, | Your treasure shared before your weeping eyes. | E3 III.ii.72 |
Shelter you your selues for now the storme doth rise, | Shelter yourselves, for now the storm doth rise. | E3 III.ii.73 |
Away, away, me thinks I heare their drums, | Away, away! Methinks I hear their drums. – | E3 III.ii.74 |
Ah wreched France, I greatly feare thy fal, | Ah, wretched France, I greatly fear thy fall: | E3 III.ii.75 |
Thy glory shaketh like a tottering wall. | Thy glory shaketh like a tottering wall. | E3 III.ii.76 |