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Act 4, Prologue
Henry V Translation Act 4, Scene 1
Enter KING HENRY, BEDFORD, and GLOUCESTER
KING HENRY
Gloucester, ’tis true that we are in great danger. The greater therefore should our courage be. —Good morrow, brother Bedford. God almighty, There is some soul of goodness in things evil, Would men observingly distill it out. For our bad neighbor makes us early stirrers, Which is both healthful and good husbandry. Besides, they are our outward consciences And preachers to us all, admonishing That we should dress us fairly for our end. Thus may we gather honey from the weed And make a moral of the devil himself.
KING HENRY
Gloucester, it's true we're in great danger. That should make us braver.
[To BEDFORD] Good morning, my brother Bedford. By almighty God, there's some good in evil things if men take the trouble to separate it out. Our bad neighbors make us early risers, which is both healthy and economical. Besides, they are like consciences outside us and preachers to all of us, warning us to prepare well for death. In this way we can turn weeds into honey and make even the devil himself teach us a moral lesson.
Enter ERPINGHAM
Good morrow, old Sir Thomas Erpingham. A good soft pillow for that good white head Were better than a churlish turf of France.
Good morning, old Sir Thomas Erpingham. Your good white head should have a soft pillow instead of this rough French ground.
ERPINGHAM
Not so, my liege, this lodging likes me better,Since I may say, “Now lie I like a king.”
ERPINGHAM
No, my king, I prefer this accommodation, since now I can say "I sleep like a king."
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KING HENRY
'Tis good for men to love their present pains Upon example. So the spirit is eased. And when the mind is quickened, out of doubt, The organs, though defunct and dead before, Break up their drowsy grave and newly move, With casted slough and fresh legerity. Lend me thy cloak, Sir Thomas. Brothers both, Commend me to the princes in our camp, Do my good morrow to them, and anon Desire them all to my pavilion.
KING HENRY
It's good for men to love the hardship they suffer because they see other people suffering. It eases the mind. And when the mind is strengthened, the formerly dead body breaks out of its sleepy grave and moves again, casting off tiredness and gaining new energy. Lend me your cloak, Sir Thomas. Brothers, greet the nobles in our camp for me. Say good morning to them then send them all to my tent.
GLOUCESTER
We shall, my liege.
GLOUCESTER
We will, my king.
ERPINGHAM
Shall I attend your Grace?
ERPINGHAM
Should I accompany you?
KING HENRY
No, my good knight. Go with my brothers to my lords of England. I and my bosom must debate awhile, And then I would no other company.
KING HENRY
No, my good knight. Go with my brothers to the nobles of England. I must have time to think for a while, but after that there's no one I would rather be with than you.
ERPINGHAM
The Lord in heaven bless thee, noble Harry!
ERPINGHAM
May God bless you, noble Harry!
Exeunt all but KING HENRY
KING HENRY
God-a-mercy, old heart, thou speak’st cheerfully.
KING HENRY
Goodness, old friend, you speak cheerfully.
Enter PISTOL
PISTOL
Qui vous là?
PISTOL
Who you there?
KING HENRY
A friend.
KING HENRY
A friend.
PISTOL
Discuss unto me: art thou officer or art thou base, common, and popular?
PISTOL
Tell me: are you an officer or are you low, common, and ordinary?
KING HENRY
I am a gentleman of a company.
KING HENRY
I am a gentleman in a unit.
PISTOL
Trail’st thou the puissant pike?
PISTOL
Do you drag a powerful pike?
KING HENRY
Even so. What are you?
KING HENRY
Yes. Who are you?
PISTOL
As good a gentleman as the emperor.
PISTOL
As good a man as the emperor.
KING HENRY
Then you are a better than the king.
KING HENRY
Then you are a better one than the king.
PISTOL
The king’s a bawcock, and a heart of gold, A lad of life, an imp of fame, Of parents good, of fist most valiant. I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heartstring I love the lovely bully. What is thy name?
PISTOL
The king's a darling, and has a heart of gold. He's a lively boy, a famous child, comes from good parents, very brave with his fist. I kiss his dirty shoe and from my heart I love the dear fellow. What is your name?
KING HENRY
Harry le Roy.
KING HENRY
Harry le Roy.
PISTOL
Le Roy? A Cornish name. Art thou of Cornish crew?
PISTOL
Le Roy? A Cornish name. Are you Cornish?
KING HENRY
No, I am a Welshman.
KING HENRY
No, I am Welsh.
PISTOL
Know’st thou Fluellen?
PISTOL
Do you know Fluellen?
KING HENRY
Yes.
KING HENRY
Yes.
PISTOL
Tell him I’ll knock his leek about his pateUpon Saint Davy’s day.
PISTOL
Tell him I'll hit him on the head with the leek he wears on Saint Davy's day.
KING HENRY
Do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day, lest he knock that about yours.
KING HENRY
Don't wear your knife on your hat that day, or he'll hit you on the head with that.
PISTOL
Art thou his friend?
PISTOL
Are you his friend?
KING HENRY
And his kinsman too.
KING HENRY
Yes, and his relative.
PISTOL
The figo for thee then!
PISTOL
A fig for you then!
KING HENRY
I thank you. God be with you.
KING HENRY
Thank you. May God be with you.
PISTOL
My name is Pistol called.
PISTOL
My name is Pistol.
Exit
KING HENRY
It sorts well with your fierceness.
KING HENRY
It goes well with your temper.
Enter FLUELLEN and GOWER
GOWER
Captain Fluellen.
GOWER
Captain Fluellen.
FLUELLEN
So. In the name of Jesu Christ, speak fewer. It is the greatest admiration in the universal world when the trueand aunchient prerogatifes and laws of the wars is not kept. If you would take the pains but to examine the wars of Pompey the Great, you shall find, I warrant you,that there is no tiddle toddle nor pibble babble in Pompey’s camp. I warrant you, you shall find the ceremonies of the wars and the cares of it and the formsof it and the sobriety of it and the modesty of it to be otherwise.
FLUELLEN
So. In the name of Jesus Christ, don't talk as much. It's the greatest wonder in the whole world when the true and ancient rules and laws of war are broken. If you just make the effort to examine the wars of Pompey the Great, you will find, I tell you, that there is no chatting or babbling in Pompey's camp. I tell you, you will find the dignity of war and the care taken about it and the good form of it and the sobriety of it and the modesty of it to be very different from this.
GOWER
Why, the enemy is loud. You hear him all night.
GOWER
But the enemy is loud. You hear them all night.
FLUELLEN
If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a prating coxcomb, is it meet, think you, that we should also, look you, be an ass and a fool and a prating coxcomb, inyour own conscience, now?
FLUELLEN
If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a babbling idiot, is it right, do you think, that we should also, see, be an ass and a fool and a babbling idiot, tell me truly?
GOWER
I will speak lower.
GOWER
I will speak more quietly.
FLUELLEN
I pray you and beseech you that you will.
FLUELLEN
I pray and beg you to.
Exeunt GOWER and FLUELLEN
KING HENRY
Though it appear a little out of fashion,There is much care and valor in this Welshman.
KING HENRY
Although he's very strange, there's a lot of seriousness and bravery in this Welshman.
Enter three soldiers, John BATES, Alexander COURT, and Michael WILLIAMS
COURT
Brother John Bates, is not that the morning which breaks yonder?
COURT
Brother John Bates, is that not the dawn over there?
BATES
I think it be, but we have no great cause to desire theapproach of day.
BATES
I think so, but we have no good reason to want day to come.
WILLIAMS
We see yonder the beginning of the day, but I think we shall never see the end of it.—Who goes there?
WILLIAMS
We see the beginning of the day there, but I think we will never see the end of it.
[To HENRY] Who's there?
KING HENRY
A friend.
KING HENRY
A friend.
WILLIAMS
Under what captain serve you?
WILLIAMS
Who is your captain?
KING HENRY
Under Sir Thomas Erpingham.
KING HENRY
Sir Thomas Erpingham.
WILLIAMS
A good old commander and a most kind gentleman. I pray you, what thinks he of our estate?
WILLIAMS
A good old commander and a very kind man. Please, what does he think about our situation?
KING HENRY
Even as men wracked upon a sand, that look to be washedoff the next tide.
KING HENRY
That we're like men shipwrecked on a sandbank, who expect to be washed off by the next tide.
BATES
He hath not told his thought to the king?
BATES
He hasn't told the king what he thinks?
KING HENRY
No. Nor it is not meet he should, for, though I speak it to you, I think the king is but a man as I am. The violet smells to him as it doth to me. The element showsto him as it doth to me. All his senses have but human conditions. His ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man, and though his affections are higher mounted than ours, yet when they stoop, they stoop with the like wing. Therefore, when he sees reason of fears as we do, his fears, out of doubt, be of the same relishas ours are. Yet, in reason, no man should possess him with any appearance of fear, lest he, by showing it, should dishearten his army.
KING HENRY
No. And he shouldn't, because, though I say so, I think the king is just a man like me. The violet smells the same to him as it does to me. The world looks the same to him as it does to me. All his senses are only human. Without his props of royalty, he looks like a man when he's naked. Although his emotions are nobler than ours, when he is weak, he is weak in the same way we are. So when he sees good reason for fear like we do, his fears are the same kind as ours. But, thinking reasonably, no man should look afraid, because he could discourage the army by showing fear.
BATES
He may show what outward courage he will, but I believe, as cold a night as ’tis, he could wish himself in Thames up to the neck ; and so I would he were, and I by him, at all adventures, so we were quit here.
BATES
He can pretend to be as brave as he wants, but I think, even though it's so cold tonight, he wishes he were in the Thames up to his neck; and I wish he were, and me too, whatever happened, so we could get out of here.
KING HENRY
By my troth, I will speak my conscience of the king. I think he would not wish himself anywhere but where he is.
KING HENRY
Truly, I will tell you what I think about the king. I think he would not wish to be anywhere except where he is.
BATES
Then I would he were here alone; so should he be sure to be ransomed, and a many poor men’s lives saved.
BATES
Then I wish he were here alone; he would be certain of being ransomed, and many poor men's lives would be saved.
KING HENRY
I dare say you love him not so ill to wish him here alone, howsoever you speak this to feel other men’s minds. Methinks I could not die anywhere so contented asin the king’s company, his cause being just and his quarrel honorable.
KING HENRY
I bet you don't dislike him enough to wish he were here alone, even though you say that to figure out what other men think. I think I couldn't die anywhere more happily than in the king's company, since his cause is right and the war is justified.
WILLIAMS
That’s more than we know.
WILLIAMS
That's more than we could say.
BATES
Ay, or more than we should seek after, for we know enough if we know we are the king’s subjects. If his cause be wrong, our obedience to the king wipes the crime of it out of us.
BATES
Yes, and it's more than we should want to say, because we know enough if we know we are the king's subjects. If his cause is wrong, we're not guilty of the crime because we're right to obey the king.
WILLIAMS
But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make, when all those legs and arms and heads, chopped off in a battle, shall join together at the latter day, and cry all, “We died at such a place,” some swearing, some crying for a surgeon, some upon their wives left poor behind them, some upon the debts they owe, some upon their children rawly left. I am afeard there are few die well that die in a battle, for how can they charitably dispose of anything, when blood is their argument? Now, if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the king that led them to it, who to disobey were against all proportion of subjection.
WILLIAMS
But if the cause isn't good, the king will have to pay for it at the Judgment Day when all the legs and arms and heads chopped off in a battle join together all all cry, "We died at this place," some swearing, some crying out for a doctor, some crying out about their wives being left without them without resources, some about the debts they owe, some about their children suddenly left behind. I am afraid that few men die a good death in a battle, because how can they worry about good deeds when they are shedding blood? No, if these men do not die a good death, it will be bad for the king who led them to this, when it would be wrong for a subject to disobey him.
KING HENRY
So, if a son that is by his father sent about merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea, the imputation of his wickedness, by your rule, should be imposed upon his father that sent him. Or if a servant, under his master’s command transporting a sum of money, be assailed by robbers and die in many irreconciled iniquities, you may call the business of the master the author of the servant’s damnation. But this is not so. The king is not bound to answer the particular endings of his soldiers, the father of his son, nor the master of his servant, for they purpose not their death, when they purpose their services. Besides, there is no king, be his cause never so spotless, if it come to the arbitrament of swords, can try it out with all unspottedsoldiers. Some, peradventure, have on them the guilt ofpremeditated and contrived murder; some, of beguiling virgins with the broken seals of perjury; some, making the wars their bulwark, that have before gored the gentle bosom of peace with pillage and robbery. Now, if these men have defeated the law and outrun native punishment, though they can outstrip men, they have no wings to fly from God. War is His beadle, war is His vengeance, so that here men are punished for before-breach of the king’s laws in now the king’s quarrel. Where they feared the death, they have borne life away; and where they would be safe, they perish. Then, if they die unprovided, no more is the king guiltyof their damnation than he was before guilty of those impieties for the which they are now visited. Every subject’s duty is the king’s, but every subject’s soul is his own. Therefore should every soldier in the wars do as every sick man in his bed: wash every mote out of his conscience. And, dying so, death is to him advantage; or not dying, the time was blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gained. And in him that escapes, it were not sin to think that, making God so free an offer, He let him outlive that day to see His greatness and to teach others how they should prepare.
KING HENRY
So, if a sinful son sent by his father to do a business deal is shipwrecked, his sins, by your rule, should be paid for by the father who sent him. Or if a servant, transporting money under his master's orders, is attacked by robbers and dies without repenting for his sins, you call the master's business the cause of the servant being damned. But that isn't true. The king isn't forced to answer for the deaths of his soldiers, the father for his son's, or the master for his servant's, because they don't mean for them to die when they send them to do their jobs. Besides, there is no king, however good his cause is, when the cause comes to be settled in battle, who can fight with completely innocent soldiers. Some, perhaps, are guilty of premeditated murder; some, of lying to young women so they sleep with them; some go to war to protect themselves because they previously destroyed peacetime by robbing and looting. Now, if these men have defeated the law and run from punishment at home, although they can escape men, they can't run from God. War is His officer, war is His revenge, so that men are punished here and now while fighting for the king for previously breaking the king's laws. When they feared death, they escaped with their lives. And here where they thought they would be safe, the die. So, if they died without repenting, the king is no more guilty of their damnation than he was guilty before of the sins for which they are now punished. Every subject's obedience belongs to the king, but every subject's soul is his own. So every soldier in the war should do the same as every sick man in his bed: make up for everything that he feels guilty about. So if he dies after that, he profits by going to heaven. Or, if he doesn't die, the time was well spent in preparing for death. And whoever survives should think that, because he offered himself to God so completely, God let him survive that day so he would understand His greatness and teach others how to prepare for battle.
WILLIAMS
'Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill upon hisown head. The king is not to answer it.
WILLIAMS
It's true, every man who dies badly is responsible for it himself. The king shouldn't be punished for it.
BATES
I do not desire he should answer for me, and yet I determine to fight lustily for him.
BATES
I don't want him to be punished for me, but I am determined to fight well for him.
KING HENRY
I myself heard the king say he would not be ransomed.
KING HENRY
I heard the king say he would not pay a ransom if he were captured.
WILLIAMS
Ay, he said so, to make us fight cheerfully, but when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed, and we ne'er the wiser.
WILLIAMS
Yes, he said so to make us fight cheerfully, but when our throats have been cut he can be ransomed without us knowing about it.
KING HENRY
If I live to see it, I will never trust his word after.
KING HENRY
If I live to see that, I'll never trust him again.
WILLIAMS
You pay him then. That’s a perilous shot out of an elder gun, that a poor and private displeasure can do against a monarch. You may as well go about to turn the sun to ice with fanning in his face with a peacock’s feather. You’ll “never trust his word after.” Come, ’tisa foolish saying.
WILLIAMS
Then make him pay for it. A poor, ordinary man offended by a king can't do anything about it. It's like trying to shoot an old gun—it could blow up in your face. You might as well try to turn the sun to ice by fanning its face with a peacock feather. You'll "never trust him again." Come on, that's a silly thing to say.
KING HENRY
Your reproof is something too round. I should be angry with you if the time were convenient.
KING HENRY
Your response is too rude. I would be angry with you if it were convenient.
WILLIAMS
Let it be a quarrel between us, if you live.
WILLIAMS
Let's fight about it later, if you survive.
KING HENRY
I embrace it.
KING HENRY
Gladly.
WILLIAMS
How shall I know thee again?
WILLIAMS
How will I recognize you again?
KING HENRY
Give me any gage of thine, and I will wear it in my bonnet. Then, if ever thou dar’st acknowledge it, I willmake it my quarrel.
KING HENRY
Give me anything of yours, and I'll wear it on my hat. Then, if you dare acknowledge it's yours, I'll fight you.
WILLIAMS
Here’s my glove. Give me another of thine.
WILLIAMS
Here's my glove. Give me one of yours.
KING HENRY
There.
KING HENRY
There.
WILLIAMS
This will I also wear in my cap. If ever thou come to me and say, after tomorrow, “This is my glove,” by this hand I will take thee a box on the ear.
WILLIAMS
I'll also wear this in my hat. I you ever come to me and say, after tomorrow, "This is my glove", then I swear by this hand I'll hit you on the ear.
KING HENRY
If ever I live to see it, I will challenge it.
KING HENRY
If I live to see it, I will challenge you.
WILLIAMS
Thou dar’st as well be hanged.
WILLIAMS
You don't dare - you'd rather be hanged.
KING HENRY
Well, I will do it, though I take thee in the king’s company.
KING HENRY
I'll do it, even if I see you in the king's company.
WILLIAMS
Keep thy word. Fare thee well.
WILLIAMS
Keep your promise. Goodbye.
BATES
Be friends, you English fools, be friends. We have French quarrels enough, if you could tell how to reckon.
BATES
Make up, you English fools, make up. We have enough French quarrels, if you knew how to count them.
KING HENRY
Indeed, the French may lay twenty French crowns to one they will beat us, for they bear them on their shoulders. But it is no English treason to cut French crowns, and tomorrow the king himself will be a clipper.
KING HENRY
Yes, the French can bet twenty French crown coins to one they'll beat us, because they carry French crowns, heads, on their shoulders. But it's not treason for English people to attack the French crown, and tomorrow the king himself will clip some crowns off.
Exeunt soldiers
KING HENRY
Upon the king! Let us our lives, our souls, our debts, our careful wives, our children, and our sins lay on theking! We must bear all. O hard condition, Twin-born with greatness, subject to the breath Of every fool, whose sense no more can feel But his own wringing. What infinite heart’s ease Must kings neglect that private men enjoy? And what have kings that privates have not too, Save ceremony, save general ceremony? And what art thou, thou idol ceremony? What kind of god art thou, that suffer’st more Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers? What are thy rents? What are thy comings in? O ceremony, show me but thy worth! What is thy soul of adoration? Art thou aught else but place, degree, and form, Creating awe and fear in other men, Wherein thou art less happy, being feared, Than they in fearing? What drink’st thou oft, instead of homage sweet, But poisoned flattery? Oh, be sick, great greatness, And bid thy ceremony give thee cure! Think’st thou the fiery fever will go out With titles blown from adulation? Will it give place to flexure and low bending? Canst thou, when thou command’st the beggar’s knee, Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream, That play’st so subtly with a king’s repose. I am a king that find thee, and I know 'Tis not the balm, the scepter, and the ball, The sword, the mace, the crown imperial, The intertissued robe of gold and pearl, The farcèd title running 'fore the king, The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp That beats upon the high shore of this world. No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony, Not all these, laid in bed majestical, Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave, Who, with a body filled and vacant mind, Gets him to rest, crammed with distressful bread; Never sees horrid night, the child of hell, But, like a lackey, from the rise to set Sweats in the eye of Phoebus, and all night Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn, Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse, And follows so the ever-running year With profitable labor to his grave. And, but for ceremony, such a wretch, Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep, Had the forehand and vantage of a king. The slave, a member of the country’s peace, Enjoys it, but in gross brain little wots What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace, Whose hours the peasant best advantages.
KING HENRY
Blame the king! Let's blame the king for what happens to our lives, our souls, our debts, our sad wives, our children, and our sins! I have to be responsible for all of it. What a difficult situation it is being powerful, being talked about by every fool who can't understand anything except his own hardship. What wonderful calm do kings have to give up that other men who have a private life enjoy? And what do kings have that people with private lives don't have too? Except ritual, except ritual in everything they do? And what are you, you false god, ritual? What kind of god are you, who suffer more than your worshippers? What are your revenues? What do you earn? Ritual, show me your worth! What are you really? Are you anything else than circumstances, rank, and appearances, creating wonder and fear in other men, but less happy to be feared than they are to fear you? Don't you often drink poisoned flattery instead of sweet faithfulness? Oh, be sick, great greatness, then ask ritual to cure you! Do you think your raging fever will go down by being called by great titles by flatterers? Will it go down by being bowed to? Can you, when you command a beggar to bow to you, command yourself to be healthy? No, you proud dream, you play cleverly with a king's thoughts. I am a king, and I know it's not the royal ointment, the scepter, the orb, the sword, the club, the imperial crown, the robe woven from pearls and gold, the stuffy title running in front of the king, the throne he sits, or the sea of splendid things that beats on the high shore of this world. No, none of these, gorgeous ritual, none of these, laid in a royal bed, can sleep as soundly as a miserable slave who, with a full stomach and empty mind, lies down to sleep stuffed with hard-earned bread. He never sees horrible night, the child of hell. Like a servant, from sunrise to sunset he sweats in the sun, and all night sleeps in Paradise. The next day, he rises at dawn and helps the day begin, and follows the year over and over in this way with useful labor until he dies. And, except for ritual, a miserable man like that, using up days with work and nights with sleep, is in a better situation than a king. The slave, a subject in a peaceful country, enjoys that peace, but in his dull brain he doesn't know the king is staying up all night to keep the peace, to improve the peasant's life.
Enter ERPINGHAM
ERPINGHAM
My lord, your nobles, jealous of your absence,Seek through your camp to find you.
ERPINGHAM
My lord, your nobles, worried about your absence, are looking for you throughout the camp.
KING HENRY
Good old knight,Collect them all together at my tent.I’ll be before thee.
KING HENRY
Good old knight, gather them all at my tent. I'll go there now.
ERPINGHAM
I shall do’t, my lord.
ERPINGHAM
I will, my lord.
Exit
KING HENRY
O God of battles, steel my soldiers' hearts. Possess them not with fear. Take from them now The sense of reck'ning ere th' opposèd numbers Pluck their hearts from them. Not today, O Lord, Oh, not today, think not upon the fault My father made in compassing the crown. I Richard’s body have interrèd anew, And on it have bestowed more contrite tears Than from it issued forcèd drops of blood. Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay, Who twice a day their withered hands hold up Toward heaven to pardon blood. And I have built Two chantries where the sad and solemn priests Sing still for Richard’s soul. More will I do— Though all that I can do is nothing worth, Since that my penitence comes after all, Imploring pardon.
KING HENRY
Oh God of battles, strengthen my soldiers' courage. Don't make them afraid. Take from them now the ability to count before the number of our enemies frightens them. Don't think today, Oh Lord, oh, not today, about the crime my father committed by taking the crown. I have re-buried Richard's body, and I have cried more repenting tears on it than drops of blood were forced from it. I pay five hundred poor people every year to pray twice every day for God to pardon the murder. And I have built two chapels where the serious priests still sing for Richard's soul. I'll do more—although everything I can do is worth nothing, since my repentance comes after the sin, asking for forgiveness.
Enter GLOUCESTER
GLOUCESTER
My liege.
GLOUCESTER
My king.
KING HENRY
My brother Gloucester’s voice.—Ay,I know thy errand. I will go with thee.The day, my friends, and all things stay for me.
KING HENRY
That's my brother Gloucester's voice.
[To GLOUCESTER] Yes, I know why you're here, I'll go with you. The day, my friends, and everything, are all waiting for me.
Exeunt
