Henry V
Shakescleare Translation

Henry V Translation Act 3, Scene 7

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Enter the CONSTABLE of France, the Lord RAMBURES, ORLÉANS, DAUPHIN, with others

CONSTABLE

Tut, I have the best armor of the world. Would it were day!

CONSTABLE

I have the best armor in the world. I wish it were day!

ORLÉANS

You have an excellent armor, but let my horse have his due.

ORLÉANS

You have excellent armor, but admit my horse's excellence.

CONSTABLE

It is the best horse of Europe.

CONSTABLE

It is the best horse in Europe.

ORLÉANS

Will it never be morning?

ORLÉANS

Will it never be morning?

DAUPHIN

My lord of Orléans, and my Lord High Constable, you talk of horse and armor?

DAUPHIN

My lord of Orléans and my Lord High Constable, you're talking about horses and armor?

ORLÉANS

You are as well provided of both as any prince in the world.

ORLÉANS

You have as good examples of both as any prince inthe world.

DAUPHIN

What a long night is this! I will not change my horse with any that treads but on four pasterns. Çà ha! He bounds from the earth, as if his entrails were hairs, lecheval volant , the Pegasus, qui a les narines de feu . When I bestride him, I soar; I am a hawk; he trots the air. The earth sings when he touches it. The basest hornof his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.

DAUPHIN

What a long night this is! I wouldn't trade my horse with any other that only walks on four hooves. He jumps from the earth as if his guts were light as hair, the flying horse, the Pegasus, who breathes fire from his nostrils. When I ride him, I fly; I am a hawk; he trots through the air. The earth sings when he touches it. His least attractive hoof is more musical than the god Hermes's flute.

ORLÉANS

He’s of the color of the nutmeg.

ORLÉANS

He's the color of nutmeg.

DAUPHIN

And of the heat of the ginger. It is a beast for Perseus. He is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him. He is indeed a horse, and all other jades you may call beasts.

DAUPHIN

And as fiery as ginger. He's an animal fit for the hero Perseus to ride. He is made only of air and fire and the duller elements, earth and water, never show in him, except when he's patiently still while his rider mounts him. He is really a horse, and all other nags should only be called beasts.

CONSTABLE

Indeed, my lord, it is a most absolute and excellent horse.

CONSTABLE

Yes, my lord, it's an ideal and excellent horse.

DAUPHIN

It is the prince of palfreys. His neigh is like the bidding of a monarch, and his countenance enforces homage.

DAUPHIN

It is the prince of ponies. His neigh is like a king's command, and his face forces you to respect him.

ORLÉANS

No more, cousin.

ORLÉANS

That's enough, cousin.

DAUPHIN

Nay, the man hath no wit that cannot, from the rising of the lark to the lodging of the lamb, vary deserved praise on my palfrey. It is a theme as fluent as the sea. Turn the sands into eloquent tongues, and my horse is argument for them all. 'Tis a subject for a sovereignto reason on, and for a sovereign’s sovereign to ride on, and for the world, familiar to us and unknown, to lay apart their particular functions and wonder at him. I once writ a sonnet in his praise and began thus: “Wonder of nature—”

DAUPHIN

No, any man who can't think of different compliments for my horse from the moment the birds get up in the morning to the time the lambs go home in the evening is an idiot. It's a subject that flows like the sea. Turn all the grains of sand into well-spoken mouths, and my horse gives them all something to talk about. It's a subject for a king to speak of, and for a king's king to ride on, and for the whole world, both familiar parts of it an unknown ones, to set aside all their different business and be amazed at him. I once wrote a sonnet praising him that began, "Wonder of nature—"

ORLÉANS

I have heard a sonnet begin so to one’s mistress.

ORLÉANS

I've heard a sonnet to someone's girlfriend begin that way.

DAUPHIN

Then did they imitate that which I composed to my courser, for my horse is my mistress.

DAUPHIN

Then they were imitating the one I wrote for my warhorse, because my horse is my girlfriend.

ORLÉANS

Your mistress bears well.

ORLÉANS

Your girlfriend carries weight well.

DAUPHIN

Me well—which is the prescript praise and perfection ofa good and particular mistress.

DAUPHIN

My weight—which is exactly the highest praise and perfect quality of a good, faithful girlfriend.

CONSTABLE

Nay, for methought yesterday your mistress shrewdly shook your back.

CONSTABLE

I don't think so, because I thought yesterday your mistress jolted your back around terribly. 

DAUPHIN

So perhaps did yours.

DAUPHIN

Maybe yours did too.

CONSTABLE

Mine was not bridled.

CONSTABLE

Mine was not wearing a bridle. 

DAUPHIN

Oh, then belike she was old and gentle, and you rode, like a kern of Ireland, your French hose off and in yourstraight strossers.

DAUPHIN

Oh, then maybe she was old and gentle and you rode like a poor Irish soldier, with your French tights off and wearing straight trousers instead.

CONSTABLE

You have good judgment in horsemanship.

CONSTABLE

You are good at judging horses.

DAUPHIN

Be warned by me, then: they that ride so, and ride not warily, fall into foul bogs. I had rather have my horse to my mistress.

DAUPHIN

Take my warning, then: those who ride that way and aren't careful fall into dirty swamps. I would prefer to have my horse as a girlfriend.

CONSTABLE

I had as lief have my mistress a jade.

CONSTABLE

I would prefer my girfriend to be a nag.

DAUPHIN

I tell thee, Constable, my mistress wears his own hair.

DAUPHIN

I tell you, Constable, my girlfriend wears his own hair.

CONSTABLE

I could make as true a boast as that if I had a sow to my mistress.

CONSTABLE

I could make the same boast and be telling the truth if I had a pig as my girlfriend.

DAUPHIN

“Le chien est retourné à son propre vomissement, et la truie lavée au bourbier.” Thou mak’st use of anything.

DAUPHIN

The dog has returned to his own vomit, and the pig has washed herself in mud. You're grasping at straws.

CONSTABLE

Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress, or any such proverb so little kin to the purpose.

CONSTABLE

But I don't grasp at my horse like a girlfriend, or supply any pointless proverb.

RAMBURES

My Lord Constable, the armor that I saw in your tent tonight, are those stars or suns upon it?

RAMBURES

My Lord Constable, the armor I saw in your tent tonight, are those stars or suns on it?

CONSTABLE

Stars, my lord.

CONSTABLE

Stars, my lord.

DAUPHIN

Some of them will fall tomorrow, I hope.

DAUPHIN

Some of them will fall tomorrow, I hope.

CONSTABLE

And yet my sky shall not want.

CONSTABLE

But there will be plenty left in my sky.

DAUPHIN

That may be, for you bear a many superfluously, and ’twere more honor some were away.

DAUPHIN

Maybe, because you carry far more than you need, and it would reflect better on you if some went away.

CONSTABLE

Ev'n as your horse bears your praises—who would trot aswell were some of your brags dismounted.

CONSTABLE

The same way your horse bears your compliments—it would trot just as well if some of your brags got off.

DAUPHIN

Would I were able to load him with his desert! Will it never be day? I will trot tomorrow a mile, and my way shall be paved with English faces.

DAUPHIN

I wish I could give him what's coming to him! Will it never be day? I'll trot a mile tomorrow, and my path will be paved with English faces.

CONSTABLE

I will not say so, for fear I should be faced out of myway. But I would it were morning, for I would fain be about the ears of the English.

CONSTABLE

I won't say the same, because I fear I wouldn't be able to face them. But I wish it were morning, because I want to be hacking around the Englishmen's ears.

RAMBURES

Who will go to hazard with me for twenty prisoners?

RAMBURES

Who will bet I'll take twenty prisoners?

CONSTABLE

You must first go yourself to hazard ere you have them.

CONSTABLE

You will first have to bet your life in battle before you get them.

DAUPHIN

'Tis midnight. I’ll go arm myself.

DAUPHIN

It's midnight. I'll go get ready.

Exit

ORLÉANS

The Dauphin longs for morning.

ORLÉANS

The Dauphin longs for morning.

RAMBURES

He longs to eat the English.

RAMBURES

He longs to eat the English.

CONSTABLE

I think he will eat all he kills.

CONSTABLE

I think he will eat everything he kills.

ORLÉANS

By the white hand of my lady, he’s a gallant prince.

ORLÉANS

By the white hand of my wife, he’s a brave prince.

CONSTABLE

Swear by her foot, that she may tread out the oath.

CONSTABLE

Swear by her foot, so she can stamp out the oath.

ORLÉANS

He is simply the most active gentleman of France.

ORLÉANS

He is simply the most active gentleman in France.

CONSTABLE

Doing is activity, and he will still be doing.

CONSTABLE

Doing is an activity, and he's always doing someone.

ORLÉANS

He never did harm that I heard of.

ORLÉANS

I never heard of him doing anyone harm.

CONSTABLE

Nor will do none tomorrow. He will keep that good name still.

CONSTABLE

Nor will he do any tomorrow. He'll keep that good reputation.

ORLÉANS

I know him to be valiant.

ORLÉANS

I know that he's brave.

CONSTABLE

I was told that by one that knows him better than you.

CONSTABLE

I was told that by someone who knows him better than you do.

ORLÉANS

What’s he?

ORLÉANS

Who's that?

CONSTABLE

Marry, he told me so himself; and he said he cared not who knew it.

CONSTABLE

He told me so himself, and said he didn't care who knew.

ORLÉANS

He needs not. It is no hidden virtue in him.

ORLÉANS

He shouldn't. It's not a hidden quality in him.

CONSTABLE

By my faith, sir, but it is; never anybody saw it but his lackey. 'Tis a hooded valor, and when it appears, itwill bate.

CONSTABLE

Actually, sir, it is. No one ever saw it except his servant. It's a disguised bravery, and when it appears, it will end.

ORLÉANS

Ill will never said well.

ORLÉANS

No one ever spoke well out of spite.

CONSTABLE

I will cap that proverb with “There is flattery in friendship.”

CONSTABLE

I will top that saying with "Friends flatter you".

ORLÉANS

And I will take up that with “Give the devil his due.”

ORLÉANS

And I will meet that with “Give the devil his due.”

CONSTABLE

Well placed; there stands your friend for the devil. Have at the very eye of that proverb with “A pox of the devil.”

CONSTABLE

Well done; the devil now stands for your friend. I'll fight that saying with "Damn the devil".

ORLÉANS

You are the better at proverbs, by how much “A fool’s bolt is soon shot.”

ORLÉANS

You're better at sayings, because "a fool is quick to take a shot at people."

CONSTABLE

You have shot over.

CONSTABLE

Your shot went right over me.

ORLÉANS

'Tis not the first time you were overshot.

ORLÉANS

It's not the first time something went over your head.

Enter MESSENGER

MESSENGER

My Lord High Constable, the English lie within fifteen hundred paces of your tents.

MESSENGER

My Lord High Constable, the English camp is less than fifteen hundred steps away from your tents.

CONSTABLE

Who hath measured the ground?

CONSTABLE

Who measured the distance?

MESSENGER

The Lord Grandpré.

MESSENGER

The Lord Grandpré.

CONSTABLE

A valiant and most expert gentleman.—Would it were day!Alas, poor Harry of England! He longs not for the dawning as we do.

CONSTABLE

A brave and very competent gentleman. 

[To ORLÉANS] I wish it were day! Poor Harry of England! He doesn't wish for the dawn as much as we do.

ORLÉANS

What a wretched and peevish fellow is this king of England to mope with his fat-brained followers so far out of his knowledge.

ORLÉANS

What a miserable and headstrong fellow this king of England is, to come mope with his fat-brained followers so far from anything he understands.

CONSTABLE

If the English had any apprehension, they would run away.

CONSTABLE

If the English had any sense, they would run away.

ORLÉANS

That they lack, for if their heads had any intellectualarmor, they could never wear such heavy head-pieces.

ORLÉANS

They don't have that, because if their brains were weighed down by intellectual armor, they could never wear such heavy helmets.

RAMBURES

That island of England breeds very valiant creatures. Their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage.

RAMBURES

That island of England breeds very brave creatures. Their mastiff dogs are the bravest of any.

ORLÉANS

Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crushed like rotten apples. You may as well say, that’s a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.

ORLÉANS

Silly dogs, that run with their eyes closed into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crushed like rotten apples. You might as well say, that’s a brave flea that dares suck blood from a lion's lip for breakfast.

CONSTABLE

Just, just; and the men do sympathize with the mastiffsin robustious and rough coming on, leaving their wits with their wives. And then give them great meals of beefand iron and steel, they will eat like wolves and fightlike devils.

CONSTABLE

True, true. And the men are like mastiffs in that they run at you strongly and roughly, leaving their brains with their wives. And then just give them huge meals of beef and iron and steel, and they will eat like wolves and fight like devils.

ORLÉANS

Ay, but these English are shrewdly out of beef.

ORLÉANS

Yes, but these English are definitely out of beef.

CONSTABLE

Then shall we find tomorrow they have only stomachs to eat and none to fight. Now is it time to arm. Come, shall we about it?

CONSTABLE

Then we'll find tomorrow that they only have appetites for eating, not fighting. Now it's time to get ready. Come on, shall we go do that?

ORLÉANS

It is now two o'clock. But, let me see, by tenWe shall have each a hundred Englishmen.

ORLÉANS

It's now two o'clock. But, let me see, by ten we'll each have captured a hundred Englishmen.

Exeunt