7.Richard met the well-meaning portion of the mob at Mile End，andinduced them to go home by promising to grant their demands.But Tyler，with about thirty thousand at his back，stayed behind to drink and kill and burn as they had been doing.The King tried hard to come to an agreement with Tyler；but he failed.We can hardly wonder at this，when we know that one thing asked by Tyler was that the King should cut the heads off all the lawyers in England！
8.Tyler and his men came noisily into Smithfield，which was then，as the name means，a smooth or level green，on which the horse-fairs were held.It was still early in the morning，yet they were drunk with wine.The young King，with only sixty horsemen，was seen galloping quickly past，when Tyler rode up，and pushing his horse’s nose against the King‘s sleeve，spoke impudently and loudly.
9.“King，”he said，“do you see all those men there？”“Yes，”said Richard.“Why do you ask？”
“Because，”said the drunken tradesman，clutching the hilt of his dagger，“they are all mine，and have sworn to do what I bid them.”
Then turning，he saw an esquire whom he knew and hated among the retinue of the King.
“Give me that man’s dagger，”he fiercely cried.It was given up，for the sake of peace.
“Now，his sword，”said Tyler.
a Lord Mayor.-Chief magistrate of the city of London.
b Mile End，a parish in the east of London，now in the Tower Hamlets.
10.But this could not be endured；and Sir William Walworth，the Mayor of London，who wore a short thick sword，struck him on the neck，so that he fell wounded from his horse.A sword was then passed by another person through his body，and after beating the ground with his hands for a few seconds，he died.
11.The moment his men saw him fall they fitted arrows on their bowstrings，and prepared to send a shower of shafts upon the little party round the King.The delay of a few seconds would have brought certain destruction on the royal guard.But Richard put.spurs to his horse，and with outstretched hand rode up almost to the points of the threatening arrows，crying out，“Tyler was a traitor；I am your King-I will be your captain.”
12.This boldness prevented the flight of arrows；and the mob soon meltedaway，some running to hide among the growing corn，and some flinging their bows away and kneeling to ask for pardon.So ended this dangerous riot of Tyler.
中文阅读
1.在距离伦敦12英里的肯特郡古镇达特福德，生活着一个泥瓦匠，人们都把他叫做瓦匠沃尔特，史官们则把他简称为沃特·泰勒a。
2.有一天，他正忙着给村里的一户人家修葺房顶，当地的税官到他家收税来了，这是最近刚颁布的，针对所有英格兰人的一项税收政策，目的是填补与法国开战的军费开支。这个税种叫做人头税，年龄超过15岁的人都必须缴纳，金额为每年1先令。但是别忘了，理查德二世时代的1先令就跟今天的1英镑差不多。
3.泰勒跟这位税官就泰勒女儿的年龄争吵了起来，税官态度咄咄逼人，而且口出恶言，泰勒一听勃然大怒，从正在工作的屋顶上跳下来，随手拿起钉板打在这位粗俗奸猾的税官头上，一下就要了他的性命。
4.就在同时，肯特郡的另一城镇有一位名叫约翰·鲍尔的牧师，每周周日他都会在公开场合向大众传经布道，反对富人的奢靡生活，要求穷人振作精神。他的演说言辞激烈，激情四射，所谈话题的核心思想无非是穷人应该与富人一样拥有财产占有权，富人因此应该与穷人一起分享财富。这等于是为暴乱做好了舆论准备。在埃塞克斯此时也有类似的思想运动，为首者的名字叫杰克·斯特劳。
5.效果很快显现出来，全国的穷苦大众与愤世嫉俗的人们聚集在伦敦的布莱克希思区，最后人数达到十万，人们手持各种稀奇古怪的武器：生锈的刀剑，教堂墓地中紫杉树做的弓，还有山野村夫们常用的武器长杆大镰刀。
6.国王理查德乘船沿着泰晤士河来到罗瑟希德与叛乱民众会面，想通过与他们的对话来了解他们的主张。民众高呼要求国王上岸，但是国王拒绝了，而此时他的a 泰勒：原词Tyler有泥瓦匠、建筑工人的意思。--译者注一个愚蠢随从居然还大声嘲笑这些暴动民众的着装，说他们这么穿根本不适宜与国王会面。为了对抗暴众，市长大人a下令关闭了伦敦桥。但暴乱民众随之威胁要是再不开门，他们就放火烧毁全城所有的房子，不过他们显然也十分恐惧，不过以此来壮胆而已。
7.理查德接下来与人群中较为温和的一部分在麦尔安德b会面，他要求大家尽早回家，并声称他会答应大家的要求。但是泰勒仗着身后的三万人马，一边喝酒庆祝一边继续烧杀抢掠；国王理查德尽了最大努力想与他达成协议，但是始终没能成功。不过这也没什么奇怪的，如果你知道泰勒提出的一个要求就是要国王把英格兰全部法官的头都砍下来，你会怎么想？
8.第二天，泰勒领着他的人一路闹闹嚷嚷地来到了史密斯菲尔德，就像地名c显示的那样，当时这里是一片平整的草场，泰勒的人马也就在这片草场上扎营了。他们整夜胡吃海喝，直到第二天早上依然酒气冲天。这时年轻的理查德国王带着六十名骑兵飞驰而来，泰勒见此情形，也跃身上马，来到国王面前，故意让马鼻子挨到国王的衣袖，并且极为放肆地对国王大声叫嚣。
9.“国王，”他说道，“你看见我这些人了吗？”“是啊，看到了，”理查德回应道，“你问这个干什么？”这个醉汉一手握着剑柄，醉醺醺地对国王说：“因为他们都是我的人，都会听命于我。”
说着他转过身，在国王的随从部众里看见了一位他认识并且极为憎恨的官员。“把他手里的匕首给我。”他大声呵斥道。为了稳住局面，匕首被丢到了地上。
“还有手里的剑。”泰勒继续嚷道。
10.但是这样的得寸进尺实在让人忍无可忍了，伦敦市长威廉·沃尔沃思拿起短剑，砍向了泰勒的颈部，泰勒立即受伤翻下马来。这时另一人在他身上又刺了一剑，经过几秒钟的挣扎，他终于死了。
11.就在这时，他的部下全都拉弓上弦，准备把箭镞如阵雨般射向国王和他的随从。这时要是稍有迟疑，国王一方必然伤亡惨重。于是国王翻身上马，高举双手想要挡住即将射出的箭簇，国王大声喊道：“泰勒是个叛国之徒，我才是你们的国王，也将继续成为你们的元首。”
12.这一大胆举动还真阻止了一场大战，暴乱民众随后也逐渐散去，还有些人扔掉了弓箭，开始跪地求饶。泰勒领导的叛乱就这么结束了。
a 市长大人：当时伦敦的最高地方长官。
b 麦尔安德：伦敦东部的一个教区，现在已划入陶尔哈姆莱茨区。
c 地名：史密斯菲尔德原词为Smithfield，谐音Smooth Field，意为平整的土地。--译者注64THE DEATH OF TYLER泰勒之死
counsels，advices；plans.credulous，trustful.desolate，lay waste；destroy.
extravagance，excessive spending.
odious，hateful.parley，speak.pretext，excuse.
puppet，doll.resistance，opposition.retribution，punishment.spaniels，lap-dogs.triumphant，victorious.vassalage，bondage.venison，deer.
SCENE-Smithfield
WAT TYLER，JOHN BALL，HOB CARTER，PIERS，etc.Mob.
Piers.So far triumphant are we.How these nobles，These petty tyrants，who so long oppressed us，Shrink at the first resistance！
Hob.They were powerful Only because we fondly thought them so.
Where is Jack Straw？
Tyler.Jack Straw is gone to the Tower To seize the King，and so to end resistance.
John Ball.It was well judged；fain would I spare the shedding Of human blood：gain we that royal puppet，And all will follow fairly；deprived of him，The nobles lose their pretext，nor will dare Rebel against the people‘s majesty.
Enter HERALD
Herald.Richard the Second，by the grace of God，Of England，Ireland，France，and Scotland，King，Would parley with Wat Tyler.
Tyler.Let him know
Wat Tyler is in Smithfield.[Exit HERALD.]I will parley With this young monarch：as he comes to me，Trusting my honour，on your lives，I charge you，Let none attempt to harm him.
John Ball.The faith of courts Is but a weak dependence.You are honest-And better is it even to die the victimOf credulous honesty，than live preserved By the cold policy that still suspects.
Enter KING，WALWORTH，PHILPOT etc
King.I would speak to thee，Wat Tyler：bid the mob Retire awhile.
Piers.Nay，do not go alone-Let me attend you.
