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Act 3, Scene 4
Henry V Translation Act 3, Scene 5
Enter the KING OF FRANCE, the DAUPHIN, the duke of BOURBON, the CONSTABLE of France, and others
KING OF FRANCE
'Tis certain he hath passed the river Somme.
KING OF FRANCE
He's definitely crossed the river Somme.
CONSTABLE
An if he be not fought withal, my lord, Let us not live in France. Let us quit all And give our vineyards to a barbarous people.
CONSTABLE
And if we don't fight him, my lord, we shouldn't live in France. Let's all leave and give our vineyards to barbarians.
DAUPHIN
Ô Dieu vivant , shall a few sprays of us, The emptying of our fathers' luxury, Our scions, put in wild and savage stock, Spurt up so suddenly into the clouds And overlook their grafters?
DAUPHIN
Oh God, will we let a few offshoots of our race, made out of our fathers' loose living, our creations, planted in a wild and savage place, shoot up so high into the clouds and look down on the people who planted them?
BOURBON
Normans, but bastard Normans, Norman bastards! Mort de ma vie, if they march along Unfought withal, but I will sell my dukedom To buy a slobb'ry and a dirty farm In that nook-shotten isle of Albion.
BOURBON
They're Normans, but illegitimate Normans, Norman bastards! Damn me, if they keep marching along without being fought, I will sell my dukedom to buy a disgusting, dirty farm on that strangely-shaped island of Britain.
CONSTABLE
Dieu de batailles, where have they this mettle? Is not their climate foggy, raw, and dull, On whom, as in despite, the sun looks pale, Killing their fruit with frowns? Can sodden water, A drench for sur-reined jades, their barley broth, Decoct their cold blood to such valiant heat? And shall our quick blood, spirited with wine, Seem frosty? Oh, for honor of our land, Let us not hang like roping icicles Upon our houses' thatch, whiles a more frosty people Sweat drops of gallant youth in our rich fields! “Poor” we may call them in their native lords.
CONSTABLE
God of battles, where did they get this courage? Isn't their climate foggy, cold, and dark, and does't the sun look palely at them as though it hates them, killing their fruit by frowning? Can boiled water, a drink for old broken-down horses, and their barley soup heat up their blood to make them so fiery and hot-headed? Should our easily-heated blood, encouraged by wine, seem ice-cold? Oh, for the honor of our country, let's not hang like drooping icicles from our houses' roofs, while young men from a colder country sweat bravely on our rich fields! We can rightly say they're poor in noblemen.
DAUPHIN
By faith and honor, Our madams mock at us and plainly say Our mettle is bred out and they will give Their bodies to the lust of English youth To new-store France with bastard warriors.
DAUPHIN
By faith and honor, our women mock us and plainly say we're inbred and and all the courage has been bred out of our genes, and that they will sleep with English young men to stock up France with illegitimate soldiers.
BOURBON
And teach lavoltas high, and swift corantos, Saying our grace is only in our heels And that we are most lofty runaways. They bid us to the English dancing schools.
BOURBON
And they teach us fast dances, saying the only grace we have is in our feet and that we're very graceful when running away. They ask us to go to the English dancing schools.
KING OF FRANCE
Where is Montjoy the herald? Speed him hence. Let him greet England with our sharp defiance. Up, princes, and, with spirit of honor edged More sharper than your swords, hie to the field: Charles Delabreth, High Constable of France; You dukes of Orléans, Bourbon, and of Berri, Alençon, Brabant, Bar, and Burgundy; Jacques Chatillon, Rambures, Vaudemont, Beaumont, Grandpré, Roussi, and Faulconbridge, Foix, Lestrale, Bouciqualt, and Charolois; High dukes, great princes, barons, lords, and knights, For your great seats now quit you of great shames. Bar Harry England, that sweeps through our land With pennons painted in the blood of Harfleur. Rush on his host, as doth the melted snow Upon the valleys, whose low vassal seat The Alps doth spit and void his rheum upon. Go down upon him—you have power enough— And in a captive chariot into Rouen Bring him our prisoner.
KING OF FRANCE
Where is Montjoy the messenger? Send him from here. Let him tell the king of England fiercely that we will fight him. Go, princes, and with a desire for honor even sharper than your swords, go to battle: Charles Delabreth, High Constable of France; you dukes of Orléans, Bourbon, Berri, Alençon, Brabant, Bar, Burgundy, Jacques Chatillon, Rambures, Vaudemont, Beaumont, Grandpré, Roussi, Faulconbridge, Foix, Lestrale, Bouciqualt, and Charolois. Great dukes, princes, barons, lords, and knights, for the sake of your great power now make up for your shame. Stop Harry of England, who sweeps through our country with banners painted in blood from Harfleur. Rush against his army like melted snow into the valleys, whose low servant-like positions the Alps spit and spew their water at. Go attack him—you have enough forces—and bring him in a captured cart into Rouen as our prisoner.
CONSTABLE
This becomes the great! Sorry am I his numbers are so few, His soldiers sick and famished in their march , For, I am sure, when he shall see our army He’ll drop his heart into the sink of fear And for achievement offer us his ransom.
CONSTABLE
This is proper behavior for great men! I'm sad that he has so few men and that his soldiers are sick and starving from marching because, I'm sure, when he sees our army his heart will sink with fear and he'll offer to pay us to end the war.
KING OF FRANCE
Therefore, Lord Constable, haste on Montjoy And let him say to England that we send To know what willing ransom he will give. —Prince Dauphin, you shall stay with us in Rouen.
KING OF FRANCE
So, Lord Constable, hurry to Montjoy and let him tell the king of England that we are sending him to ask how much money he's willing to give us.
[To DAUPHIN] Prince Dauphin, you'll stay with us in Rouen.
DAUPHIN
Not so, I do beseech your Majesty.
DAUPHIN
Please don't make me do that, your Majesty.
KING OF FRANCE
Be patient, for you shall remain with us. —Now forth, Lord Constable and princes all, And quickly bring us word of England’s fall.
KING OF FRANCE
Be patient, because you're staying with me.
[to CONSTABLE] Now go, Lord Constable and all you princes, and quickly bring us word of England's defeat.
Exeunt
