The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated)
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he intends his previous followers
should all be well looked after;
but they are all banished until their behaviour
shows more wisdom and control.
CHIEF JUSTICE.
And so they are.
And so they are.
LANCASTER.
The king hath call'd his parliament, my lord.
The King has summoned his parliament, my lord.
CHIEF JUSTICE.
He hath.
He has.
LANCASTER.
I will lay odds that, ere this year expire,
We bear our civil swords and native fire
As far as France: I heard a bird so sing,
Whose music, to my thinking, pleased the king.
Come, will you hence?
I would bet that, before the end of the year,
we will be taking our swords and our native passion
into France: I've heard rumours of it,
and I think the King liked the idea.
Come, shall we go there?
[Exeunt.]
EPILOGUE.
Spoken by a Dancer.
First my fear; then my courtesy; last my speech. My fear is, your
displeasure; my courtesy, my duty; and my speech, to beg your
pardons. If you look for a good speech now, you undo me: for
what I have to say is of mine own making; and what indeed I
should say will, I doubt, prove mine own marring. But to the
purpose, and so to the venture. Be it known to you, as it is very
well, I was lately here in the end of a displeasing play, to pray
your patience for it and to promise you a better. I meant indeed to
pay you with this; which, if like an ill venture it come unluckily
home, I break, and you, my gentle creditors, lose. Here I promised
you I would be and here I commit my body to your mercies: bate me
some and I will pay you some and, as most debtors do, promise you
infinitely.
If my tongue cannot entreat you to acquit me, will you command me to
use my legs? and yet that were but light payment, to dance out of
your debt. But a good conscience will make any possible satisfaction,
and so would I. All the gentlewomen here have forgiven me: if the
gentlemen will not, then the gentlemen do not agree with the
gentlewomen, which was never seen before in such an assembly.
One word more, I beseech you. If you be not too much cloy'd with fat
meat, our humble author will continue the story, with Sir John in it,
and make you merry with fair Katharine of France: where, for any
thing I know, Falstaff shall die of a sweat, unless already a' be
killed with your hard opinions; for Oldcastle died a martyr, and this
is not the man.
My tongue is weary; when my legs are too, I will bid you good night:
and so kneel down before you; but, indeed, to pray for the queen.
First, my fear; then, my curtsy; last, my speech.
What I fear is, your displeasure; my courtesy is what I must do,
and my speech, is to ask for your pardon. If you're looking for a
good speech now, you'll be disappointed, for what I have to
say I have written myself; and what I should say will,
I fear, make me look bad. But to
get to the point, I'll chance it. You should know that
I was recently here for the end of a disappointing play,
to ask you to excuse me for it, and to
promise you a better one. I meant to pay off that promise
with this; if like an unsuccessful trading voyage it doesn't bring back
a profit, I go bankrupt, and you, my kind creditors,
lose. I promised you I would be here, and here I am
to offer my body to your mercy. Let me off some of my debt,
and I will pay you some, and as most people who owe money do,
I promise you you will be paid sometime: and so I kneel down before you–
but only, in fact, to pray for the Queen.
If I can't get your forgiveness with my words, would you
like me to give you a dance? But that's only a small payment,
to try and dance off your debt. But in order to have a
clear conscience one should do one's best to give any possible payment,
and that's what I want to do. All the gentlewomen here have
forgiven me: if the gentlemen won't, then the gentlemen
do not agree with the gentlewomen, and that's never been
seen in any theatre before.
One more word, I beg you. If you are not too
full up with fatty meat, our humble author will
continue the story, with Sir John in it, and please you
by showing you fair Katherine of France; in that play,
for all I know, Falstaff shall die of a fever, unless
you've already killed him with your harsh opinions; for
Oldcastle died as a martyr, and this isn't as good a man at him. My
tongue is tired; when my legs are too I shall say good night to you.
William Shakespeare
Chorus
King Henry V-Recent crowned king of England.
The Dukes of Exeter, Westmorland, Salisbury, and Warwick-Advisors of King Henry and military leaders.
The Dukes of Clarence, Bedford and Gloucester-Brothers of King Henry
The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely-English Clergymen
Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey-Conspirators against King Henry.
York and Suffolk-Noble cousins.
The King of France-Charles VI.
Isabel-Queen of France.
The Dauphin-Son of the king of France.
Catherine-Daughter of the king of France.
French noblemen and military leaders-Constable of France, the Duke of Orleans, the Duke of Britain, the Duke of Bourbon, the Earl of Grandpre, Lord Rambures, the Duke of Burgandy, and the Governor of Harfleur.
Sir Thomas Erpingham-War veteran serving King Henry.
Captain Gower-Army Captain.
Captain Fluellen, Captain Macmorris, and Captain Jamy-Captains of King Henry’s troops.
Ancient Pistol-London Commoner serving King Henry.
Bardolph-Friend of Pistol.
Nim-London commoner serving King Henry.
Boy
Michael Williams, John Bates, and Alexander Court-Common soldiers.
Hostess-Keeper of the Boar’s Head Tavern.
Alice-Maid of Princess Catherine.
Montjoy-French herald.
Monsieur le Fer-French soldier.
Chorus
O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention, A kingdom for a stage, princes to act, And monarchs to behold the swelling scene! Then should the warlike Harry, like himself, Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels, Leash'd in like hounds, should famine, sword, and fire Crouch for employment. But pardon, gentles all, The flat unraised spirits that hath dar'd On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth So great an object. Can this cockpit hold The vasty fields of France? Or may we cram Within this wooden O the very casques That did affright the air at Agincourt? O, pardon! since a crooked figure may Attest in little place a million; And let us, ciphers to this great accompt, On your imaginary forces work. Suppose within the girdle of these walls Are now confin'd two mighty monarchies, Whose high upreared and abutting fronts The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder; Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts: Into a thousand parts divide one man, And make imaginary puissance; Think, when we talk of horses, that you see them Printing their proud hoofs i' the receiving earth. For 'tis your thoughts that now must deck our kings, Carry them here and there, jumping o'er times, Turning the accomplishment of many years Into an hour-glass: fo
r the which supply, Admit me Chorus to this history; Who, prologue-like, your humble patience pray, Gently to hear, kindly to judge, our play.
With the help of the Muse of fire, we present a kingdom on a stage where princes will act and kings will hold war. We bring to you the vast fields of France on this small stage to represent the frightening scene of Agincourt. Try to imagine two might monarchies separated by an ocean. Overlook the imperfections and imagine the horses when we talk of them with their proud hooves pounding the earth. Focus on the epic story we have summarized for the sake of time. Listen and judge our play.
Exit.
Enter the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely.
Canterbury
My lord, I'll tell you: that self bill is urg'd, Which in the eleventh year of the last king's reign Was like, and had indeed against us pass'd, But that the scambling and unquiet time Did push it out of farther question.
I’m afraid that the same bill reviewed in the king’s eleventh year of reign is back up. It almost passed, but the time wasn’t right.
Ely
But how, my lord, shall we resist it now?
How are we going to get it vetoed this time?
Canterbury
It must be thought on. If it pass against us, We lose the better half of our possession; For all the temporal lands, which men devout By testament have given to the Church, Would they strip from us; being valu'd thus: As much as would maintain, to the King's honour, Full fifteen earls and fifteen hundred knights, Six thousand and two hundred good esquires; And, to relief of lazars and weak age, Of indigent faint souls, past corporal toil, A hundred almshouses right well suppli'd; And to the coffers of the King beside, A thousand pounds by the year. Thus runs the bill.
We have to think about it. If it passes, we will lose half of what we own. We would lose enough land given to us by devout men to maintain fifteen earls and fifteen hundred knights, and six thousand two hundred squires, not to mention the upkeep of lepers, old men unable to work, a hundred almshouses, and a thousand pounds to put in the king’s bank.
Ely
This would drink deep.
That would really drain us.
Canterbury
'Twould drink the cup and all.
Completely.
Ely
But what prevention?
So, how do we prevent it from passing?
Canterbury
The King is full of grace and fair regard.
The king is fair and full of grace.
Ely
And a true lover of the holy Church.
And he does love the church.
Canterbury
The courses of his youth promis'd it not. The breath no sooner left his father's body, But that his wildness, mortifi'd in him, Seem'd to die too; yea, at that very moment Consideration like an angel came And whipp'd the offending Adam out of him, Leaving his body as a paradise To envelope and contain celestial spirits. Never was such a sudden scholar made; Never came reformation in a flood With such a heady currance, scouring faults; Nor never Hydra-headed wilfulness So soon did lose his seat, and all at once, As in this king.
As soon as his father died, it was like the wildness left his body and was inhabited by an angel. He turned into a scholar and great reformer.
Ely
We are blessed in the change.
We have been blessed.
Canterbury
Hear him but reason in divinity, And, all-admiring, with an inward wish You would desire the King were made a prelate; Hear him debate of commonwealth affairs, You would say it hath been all in all his study; List his discourse of war, and you shall hear A fearful battle rend'red you in music; Turn him to any cause of policy, The Gordian knot of it he will unloose, Familiar as his garter; that, when he speaks, The air, a charter'd libertine, is still, And the mute wonder lurketh in men's ears, To steal his sweet and honey'd sentences; So that the art and practic' part of life Must be the mistress to this theoric: Which is a wonder how his Grace should glean it, Since his addiction was to courses vain, His companies unletter'd, rude, and shallow, His hours fill'd up with riots, banquets, sports, And never noted in him any study, Any retirement, any sequestration From open haunts and popularity.
If you heard him talk about things pertaining to the church, you would wish he were made a priest. If you heard him debate affairs of the state, you would think he had studied it all his life. If you heard him discuss war, you would hear a lyrical tale of battle. Ask him about any policy, and when he speaks, freedom rings in the air with his sweet sentences. And, who knows where he learned all of it, since he was addicted to worldly habits of riots, parties, and sports. He never studied or practiced quiet contemplation.
Ely
The strawberry grows underneath the nettle, And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best Neighbour'd by fruit of baser quality; And so the Prince obscur'd his contemplation Under the veil of wildness; which, no doubt, Grew like the summer grass, fastest by night, Unseen, yet crescive in his faculty.
The best fruit grows underneath weeds, and the most wholesome berries thrive when surrounded by weaker fruit. So, the prince got his ability to think while he was busy with wild activities. No one knew he was mastering these qualities.
Canterbury
It must be so; for miracles are ceas'd, And therefore we must needs admit the means How things are perfected.
It must be true since there aren’t any miracles. Therefore, that would explain things.
Ely
But, my good lord, How now for mitigation of this bill Urg'd by the commons? Doth his Majesty Incline to it, or no?
But, my good lord, about the bill. How does the king feel about it?
Canterbury
He seems indifferent, Or rather swaying more upon our part Than cherishing the exhibiters against us; For I have made an offer to his Majesty, Upon our spiritual convocation And in regard of causes now in hand, Which I have open'd to his Grace at large, As touching France, to give a greater sum Than ever at one time the clergy yet Did to his predecessors part withal.
He seems indifferent, or he may be swaying towards our opinion. I have made an offer to him concerning France, on our behalf, to give him a large sum, greater than any before.
Ely
How did this offer seem receiv'd, my lord?
How did he respond to your offer?
Canterbury
With good acceptance of his Majesty; Save that there was not time enough to hear, As I perceiv'd his Grace would fain have done, The severals and unhidden passages Of his true titles to some certain dukedoms, And generally to the crown and seat of France Deriv'd from Edward, his great-grandfather.
There wasn’t a whole lot of time, but he seemed to accept it well, although he would have liked to hear more about how he is entitled to certain dukedoms in France, and even the throne based on his great-grandfather, Edward.
Ely
What was the impediment that broke this off?
What interrupted the conversation?
Canterbury
The French ambassador upon that instant Crav'd audience; and the hour, I think, is come To give him hearing. Is it four o'clock?
The French ambassador requested to be seen. I think it’s time to hear him. Is it four o’clock?
Ely
It is.
Yes, it is.
Canterbury
Then go we in, to know his embassy; Which I could with a ready guess declare, Before the Frenchman speak a word of it.
Then we should go see what he wants. I bet I already know.
Ely
I'll wait upon you, and I long to hear it.
I can’t wait to hear it.
Exit.
Enter King Henry V, Gloucester, Bedford, Exeter, Warwick, Westmoreland, and Attendants.
King
Where is my gracious Lord of Canterbury?
Where is my gracious Lord of Canterbury?
Exeter
Not here in presence.
He is not here.
King
Send for him, good uncle.
Please send for him, uncle.
Westmoreland
Shall we call in the ambassador, my liege?
Do you want us to call in the ambassador, my liege?
King
Not yet, my cousin. We would be resolv'd, Before we hear him, of some things of weight That task our thoughts, concerning us and France.
Not yet, cousin. We need to be in agreement on some tasks concerning France before we hear him.
Enter the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely.
Canterbury
God and his angels guard your sacred throne And make you long become it!
May God and the angels guard your sacred throne.
King
Sure, we thank you. My learned lord, we pray you to proceed And justly and religiously unfold Why the law Salique that they have in France Or should, or should not, bar us in our claim; And God forbid, my dear and faithful lord, That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading, Or nicely charge your understanding soul With opening titles miscreate, whose right Suits not in native colours with the truth; For God doth know how many now in health Shall drop their blood in approbation Of what your reverence shall incite us to. Therefore take heed how you impawn our person, How you awake our sleeping sword of war. We charge you, in the name of God, take heed; For never two such kingdoms did contend Without much fall of blood, whose guiltless drops Are every one a woe, a sore complaint 'Gainst him whose wrongs gives edge unto the swords That makes such waste in brief mortality. Under this conjuration speak, my lord; For we will hear, note, and believe in heart That what you speak is in your conscience wash'd As pure as sin with baptism.