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Act 4, Scene 3
Henry IV, Part 1 Translation Act 4, Scene 4
Enter the ARCHBISHOP of York and SIR MICHAEL
ARCHBISHOP
Hie, good Sir Michael, bear this sealèd brief With winged haste to the Lord Marshal, This to my cousin Scrope, and all the rest To whom they are directed. If you knew How much they do import, you would make haste.
ARCHBISHOP
Hurry, good Sir Michael, and take this sealed letter as quickly as you can to the Lord Marshal, this sealed letter to Scrope, and the rest of the letters to whom they are addressed. If you knew how important these letters were, you would hurry.
SIR MICHAEL
My good lord, I guess their tenor.
SIR MICHAEL
My good lord, I can guess what they are about.
ARCHBISHOP
Like enough you do. Tomorrow, good Sir Michael, is a day Wherein the fortune of ten thousand men Must bide the touch. For, sir, at Shrewsbury, As I am truly given to understand, The King with mighty and quick-raisèd power Meets with Lord Harry. And I fear, Sir Michael, What with the sickness of Northumberland, Whose power was in the first proportion, And what with Owen Glendower’s absence thence, Who with them was a rated sinew too And comes not in, o'er-ruled by prophecies, I fear the power of Percy is too weak To wage an instant trial with the King.
ARCHBISHOP
I'm sure you can. Good Sir Michael, tomorrow is a day which will test the fortunes of ten thousand men. I have been told sir, that the King and his big and quickly-collected army will fight Hotspur at Shrewsbury. I am scared, Sir Michael, as Northumberland is sick, and his army was the biggest. And Owen Glendower is still not here, even though he is being counted on, because prophecies have told him to stay away. I am afraid that Percy is not strong enough to fight the King right now.
SIR MICHAEL
Why, my good lord, you need not fear.There is Douglas and Lord Mortimer.
SIR MICHAEL
Why, my good lord, you don't need to be scared. There are still Douglas and Lord Mortimer.
ARCHBISHOP
No, Mortimer is not there.
ARCHBISHOP
No, Mortimer is not there.
SIR MICHAEL
But there is Mordake, Vernon, Lord Harry Percy,And there is my Lord of Worcester and a headOf gallant warriors, noble gentlemen.
SIR MICHAEL
Well then there is Mordake, Vernon, Lord Harry Percy. There is also my Lord of Worcester, and a whole bunch of brave warriors, all noble gentlemen.
ARCHBISHOP
And so there is. But yet the King hath drawn The special head of all the land together: The Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster, The noble Westmoreland, and warlike Blunt, And many more corrivals and dear men Of estimation and command in arms.
ARCHBISHOP
That's true. But the King has assembled noble warriors from all over the land: The Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster, the noble Westmoreland, the warlike Blunt, and many more comrades and honorable men who are valued and good in battle.
SIR MICHAEL
Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well opposed.
SIR MICHAEL
It's certain that they will face strong opposition.
ARCHBISHOP
I hope no less, yet needful ’tis to fear; And to prevent the worst, Sir Michael, speed. For if Lord Percy thrive not, ere the King Dismiss his power, he means to visit us, For he hath heard of our confederacy, And ’tis but wisdom to make strong against him: Therefore make haste. I must go write again To other friends. And so farewell, Sir Michael.
ARCHBISHOP
I hope so, but I still feel afraid. Hurry Sir Michael, hurry now to stop something very bad from happening. For if Lord Percy does not win this battle, the King will come to look for us before he dismisses his army. He has heard that we are part of the opposition, and so it is a good idea for us to prepare to face him. Therefore, hurry now! I need to go and write more letters to other friends. Goodbye, Sir Michael.
Exeunt
