Shakespeare: «The strangers' case» speech
Ian McKellen performs speech about immigrants by Shakespeare from Thomas More (23/4/2016) Shakespeare 's only surviving playscript: The Booke of Sir Thomas More (late 16th or early 17th-century) Grant them removed, and grant that this your noise Hath chid down all the majesty of England; Imagine that you see the wretched strangers, Their babies at their backs and their poor luggage, Plodding to the ports and coasts for transportation, And that you sit as kings in your desires, Authority quite silenced by your brawl, And you in ruff of your opinions clothed; What had you got? I’ll tell you: you had taught How insolence and strong hand should prevail , How order should be quelled ; and by this pattern Not one of you should live an aged man, For other ruffians , as their fancies wrought, With self same hand , self reason , and self right , Would shark on you, and men like ravenous fishes Feed on one another .… Say that we deport the immigrants, and say that your rioting succeeds i...