Previous
Act 5, Scene 1
Henry V Translation Act 5, Scene 2
Enter at one door KING HENRY, EXETER, BEDFORD, GLOUCESTER, WARWICK, WESTMORELAND, and other lords; at another, the FRENCH KING, QUEEN ISABEL, the princess KATHERINE, ALICE and other ladies; the Duke of BURGUNDY, and his train
KING HENRY
Unto our brother France and to our sister, Health and fair time of day. —Joy and good wishes To our most fair and princely cousin Katherine.— And, as a branch and member of this royalty, By whom this great assembly is contrived, We do salute you, Duke of Burgundy.— And princes French, and peers, health to you all. Peace to this meeting wherefore we are met.
KING HENRY
To my brother the king of France and my sister his wife, I wish good-day and good health.
[To KATHERINE] Joy and good wishes to my most beautiful and royal cousin Katherine.
[To BURGUNDY] And, as a branch and member of this royal family, who has planned this great meeting, I greet you, Duke of Burgundy.
[To others] And French princes and noblemen, health to all of you. And may this meeting bring us peace, which is the reason we are meeting.
KING OF FRANCE
Right joyous are we to behold your face,Most worthy brother England. Fairly met.—So are you, princes English, every one.
KING OF FRANCE
[To HENRY] I am very glad to see your face, my most worth brother. It's a pleasure.
[To others] And a pleasure to see you, English princes, every one.
QUEEN ISABEL
So happy be the issue, brother England, Of this good day and of this gracious meeting, As we are now glad to behold your eyes— Your eyes which hitherto have borne in them Against the French that met them in their bent The fatal balls of murdering basilisks. The venom of such looks, we fairly hope, Have lost their quality, and that this day Shall change all griefs and quarrels into love.
QUEEN ISABEL
May the decisions made on this good day and at this polite meeting be as happy, brother England, as we are now to see you your face—your face which has up to now carried in it against the French who came across it the deadly eyes of murdering basilisks. The poison of such looks, we hope, does not work any more, and this day will change all sorrows and quarrels into love.
Ask LitCharts AI:
The answer to your questions
Get instant explanations to your questions about anything we cover.
Powered by LitCharts content and AI.
Learn More
Powered by LitCharts content and AI.
Ask LitCharts AI:
The answer to your questions
Ask LitCharts AI:
The answer to your questions
Learn More
KING HENRY
To cry “Amen” to that, thus we appear.
KING HENRY
I'm here to say "amen" to that.
QUEEN ISABEL
You English princes all, I do salute you.
QUEEN ISABEL
Welcome, all you English princes.
BURGUNDY
My duty to you both, on equal love, Great kings of France and England. That I have labored With all my wits, my pains, and strong endeavors, To bring your most imperial Majesties Unto this bar and royal interview, Your mightiness on both parts best can witness. Since, then, my office hath so far prevailed That face to face and royal eye to eye You have congreeted. Let it not disgrace me If I demand before this royal view What rub or what impediment there is Why that the naked, poor, and mangled peace, Dear nurse of arts, plenties, and joyful births, Should not in this best garden of the world, Our fertile France, put up her lovely visage? Alas, she hath from France too long been chased, And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps, Corrupting in its own fertility. Her vine, the merry cheerer of the heart, Unprunèd, dies. Her hedges, even-pleached, Like prisoners wildly overgrown with hair, Put forth disordered twigs. Her fallow leas The darnel, hemlock, and rank fumitory Doth root upon, while that the coulter rusts That should deracinate such savagery. The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth The freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover, Wanting the scythe, withal uncorrected, rank, Conceives by idleness, and nothing teems But hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies, burrs, Losing both beauty and utility. And as our vineyards, fallows, meads, and hedges, Defective in their natures, grow to wildness, Even so our houses and ourselves and children Have lost, or do not learn for want of time, The sciences that should become our country, But grow like savages, as soldiers will That nothing do but meditate on blood, To swearing and stern looks, diffused attire, And everything that seems unnatural. Which to reduce into our former favor You are assembled, and my speech entreats That I may know the let why gentle peace Should not expel these inconveniences And bless us with her former qualities.
BURGUNDY
My obedience to you both, whom I love equally, great kings of France and England. Both sides can bear witness that I have worked with all my wit and strength and made every effort to bring your royal Majesties to this royal meeting. I have done part of my job in bringing you face to face and royal eye to eye. Allow me to ask in front of all you royals what impediment there is to naked, poor, and mangled peace, which allows the arts, plenty, and joyful births to flourish, showing her beautiful face in this most beautiful garden of the world, our fertile France? Sadly, she has been chased from France for too long, and all her crops lie in heaps, rotting. Her vine, which makes the heart happy, dies uncared-for. Her evenly cut hedges, like prisoners with wildly-growing hair, sprout disorderly twigs. Grass, hemlock, and other weeds grow on her fields, while ploughs rust which should get rid of these wild things. The flat meadow, on which formerly grew sweet plants like the freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover, needing to be mowed, completely uncorrected and neglected, grows useless things, and produces nothing but hateful docks, rough thistles, hollow plants, burrs - losing both beauty and usefulness. And just as our vineyards, fields, meadows, and hedges, grow wild because of defects in their natures, so our houses and our children and we ourselves have lost, or do not learn because there is no time, the knowledge that we should to help our country, but instead grow like savages. Just as soldiers who do nothing but think about blood start to swear and look stern, dress messily, and do everything that seems unnatural. You are assembled to bring us back to the way we were, and I ask you to tell me what stands in the way of gentle peace getting rid of these inconveniences and blessing us the way she used to.
KING HENRY
If, Duke of Burgundy, you would the peace, Whose want gives growth to th' imperfections Which you have cited, you must buy that peace With full accord to all our just demands, Whose tenors and particular effects You have, enscheduled briefly, in your hands.
KING HENRY
If, Duke of Burgundy, you want the peace, lack of which allows the imperfections you mentioned to grow, you must buy that peace by agreeing fully to all my just demands, which you have, written down, with details and explanations, in your hands.
BURGUNDY
The king hath heard them, to the which as yetThere is no answer made.
BURGUNDY
The king has heard them, and has not yet given an answer.
KING HENRY
Well then, the peace which you before so urgedLies in his answer.
KING HENRY
Well then, the peace you argued for before depends on his answer.
KING OF FRANCE
I have but with a cursitory eye O'erglanced the articles. Pleaseth your Grace To appoint some of your council presently To sit with us once more with better heed To resurvey them, we will suddenly Pass our accept and peremptory answer.
KING OF FRANCE
I have only glanced at the list very quickly. If your grace could appoint some of your advisers to sit with me once again to look at them more closely, I will soon give you my acceptance and final answer.
KING HENRY
Brother, we shall.—Go, uncle Exeter, And brother Clarence, and you, brother Gloucester, Warwick and Huntingdon, go with the king And take with you free power to ratify, Augment, or alter, as your wisdoms best Shall see advantageable for our dignity, Anything in or out of our demands, And we’ll consign thereto.— Will you, fair sister, Go with the princes or stay here with us?
KING HENRY
Brother, I will.
[To EXETER] Go, uncle Exeter, and brother Clarence, and you, brother Gloucester, Warwick and Huntingdon, go with the king, and take my permission to confirm, add to, or change, as you think best for my dignity, anything in or out of the demands, and I'll agree to the changes.
[To KATHERINE] Will you, beautiful sister, go with the princes or stay here with us?
QUEEN ISABEL
Our gracious brother, I will go with them.Haply a woman’s voice may do some good,When articles too nicely urged be stood on.
QUEEN ISABEL
Kind brother, I will go with them. Perhaps a woman's voice will do some good, when they are arguing about unimportant details.
KING HENRY
Yet leave our cousin Katherine here with us.She is our capital demand, comprisedWithin the forerank of our articles.
KING HENRY
But leave my cousin Katherine here with me. She is my primary demand, asked for first in the list.
QUEEN ISABEL
She hath good leave.
QUEEN ISABEL
She has permission.
Exeunt all except KING HENRY, KATHERINE, and ALICE.
KING HENRY
Fair Katherine, and most fair, Will you vouchsafe to teach a soldier terms Such as will enter at a lady’s ear And plead his love suit to her gentle heart?
KING HENRY
Beautiful, most beautiful Katherine, will you agree to teach a soldier words that will enter a woman's ear and argue for his love to her gentle heart?
KATHERINE
Your Majesty shall mock at me. I cannot speak yourEngland.
KATHERINE
Your Majesty will laugh at me. I cannot speak your England.
KING HENRY
O fair Katherine, if you will love me soundly with yourFrench heart, I will be glad to hear you confess it brokenly with your English tongue. Do you like me, Kate?
KING HENRY
Oh beautiful Katherine, if you love me with your French heart, I will be glad to hear you say it in your broken English. Do you like me, Kate?
KATHERINE
Pardonnez-moi, I cannot tell what is “like me.”
KATHERINE
Forgive me, I don't know what is "like me."
KING HENRY
An angel is like you, Kate, and you are like an angel.
KING HENRY
An angel is like you, Kate, and you are like an angel.
KATHERINE
[To ALICE ) Que dit-il? Que je suis semblable à les anges?
KATHERINE
[To ALICE] What does he say? That I am like the angels?
ALICE
Oui, vraiment, sauf votre Grâce, ainsi dit-il.
ALICE
Yes, truly, your Grace, that's what he's saying.
KING HENRY
I said so, dear Katherine; and I must not blush to affirm it.
KING HENRY
I said so, dear Katherine; and I don't blush to stand by it.
KATHERINE
Ô bon Dieu! Les langues des hommes sont pleines de tromperies.
KATHERINE
Oh Good God! Men's words are full of lies.
KING HENRY
What says she, fair one? That the tongues of men are full of deceits?
KING HENRY
What is she saying, beautiful one? That the words of men are full of lies?
ALICE
Oui, dat de tongues of de mans is be full of deceits; dat is de princess.
ALICE
Yes, that the tongues of the mans is be full of lies; that is the princess.
KING HENRY
The princess is the better Englishwoman. —I' faith, Kate, my wooing is fit for thy understanding. I am glad thou canst speak no better English, for if thou couldst,thou wouldst find me such a plain king that thou wouldst think I had sold my farm to buy my crown. I knowno ways to mince it in love, but directly to say, “I love you.” Then if you urge me farther than to say, “Do you, in faith?” I wear out my suit. Give me your answer,i' faith, do; and so clap hands and a bargain. How say you, lady?
KING HENRY
The princess is a better Englishwoman than I am an Englishman.
[To KATHERINE] Truly, Kate, my courtship of you is as bad your understanding of it. I am glad you can speak no better English because, if you could, you would find me such a plain king that you would think I had sold my farm to buy my crown. I don't know how to mince words about love, but just to say simply, "I love you." Then if you urge me more by saying, "Do you, really?" I've run out of things to say. Give me your answer, please, do: and we'll shake hands and it's a bargain. What do you say, my lady?
KATHERINE
Sauf votre honneur, me understand vell.
KATHERINE
Your honor, I understand well.
KING HENRY
Marry, if you would put me to verses or to dance for your sake, Kate, why you undid me. For the one, I have neither words nor measure; and for the other, I have no strength in measure, yet a reasonable measure in strength. If I could win a lady at leapfrog or by vaulting into my saddle with my armor on my back, under the correction of bragging be it spoken, I should quickly leap into a wife. Or if I might buffet for my love or bound my horse for her favors, I could lay on like a butcher and sit like a jackanapes, never off. But, before God, Kate, I cannot look greenly nor gasp outmy eloquence, nor I have no cunning in protestation, only downright oaths, which I never use till urged, nor never break for urging. If thou canst love a fellow of this temper, Kate, whose face is not worth sun-burning, that never looks in his glass for love of any thing he sees there, let thine eye be thy cook. I speak to thee plain soldier: If thou canst love me for this, take me: if not, to say to thee that I shall die, is true: but for thy love, by the Lord, no; yet I love thee too. And while thou livest, dear Kate, take a fellow of plain anduncoined constancy; because he perforce must do thee right, because he hath not the gift to woo in other places: for these fellows of infinite tongue, that can rhyme themselves into ladies' favours, they do always reason themselves out again. What! a speaker is but a prater; a rhyme is but a ballad. A good leg will fall; astraight back will stoop; a black beard will turn white; a curled pate will grow bald; a fair face will wither; a full eye will wax hollow: but a good heart, Kate, is the sun and the moon; or rather, the sun, and not the moon; for it shines bright and never changes, but keeps its course truly. If thou would have such a one, take me; and take me, take a soldier; take a soldier, take a king. And what sayest thou then to my love? speak, my fair, and fairly, I pray thee.
KING HENRY
Well, if you want me to write poetry or dance for you, Kate, you'll destroy me. For the first, I don't have words or a sense of rhythm. And for the other, I don't have a strong sense of balance, although I have a pretty good balance of strength. If I could win a woman at leapfrog or by jumping into my saddle while wearing my armor, if I do say so myself, I would quickly leap my way into marriage. Or if I could fight for my love or make my horse jump for her to love me, I could fight like a butcher and cling to my horse like a monkey, never stopping. But, by God, Kate, I can't look weak or gasp out fancy words, and I don't have clever things to say, just plain oaths, which I never make until there's a reason, or break for any reason. If you can love a fellow like that, Kate, whose face is so ugly it's not even worth protecting from sunburn, who never looks in his mirror because he loves what he sees there, let your eyes be your cook. I'm speaking plain soldier to you: if you can love me for this, take me. If not, to say I'll die is true—but for your love, by God, no. But I love you. And while you're alive, dear Kate, marry a plain and honestly faithful man. He must treat you well, because he doesn't have the skill to flirt with anyone else. These fellows of infinite words, who can rhyme their way into ladies' affections—they always talk themselves back out again. What! A speaker is just a babbler; a rhyme is just a jingle. A nice leg will lose its shape; a straight back will stoop; a black beard will turn white; curly hair will fair out; a beautiful face will shrivel up; a beautiful eye will turn hollow; but a good heart, Kate, is the sun and moon. Or rather, the sun and not the moon; because it shines bright and never changes, but keeps its course. If you will take someone like that, take me. If you take me, you take a soldier. If you take a soldier, you take a king. What do you say to my love? Speak, agreeable one, and agree, please.
KATHERINE
Is it possible dat I sould love de enemy of France?
KATHERINE
It is possible for me to love the enemy of France?
KING HENRY
No, it is not possible you should love the enemy of France, Kate. But, in loving me, you should love the friend of France, for I love France so well that I will not part with a village of it. I will have it all mine. And, Kate, when France is mine and I am yours, then yours is France and you are mine.
KING HENRY
No, it is not possible for you to love the enemy of France. But, in loving me, you would love the friend of France, because I love France so much I refuse to give up a single village in it. It will all be mine. And, Kate, when France is mine and I am yours, then France is yours and you are mine.
KATHERINE
I cannot tell wat is dat.
KATHERINE
I can't tell what that means.
KING HENRY
No, Kate? I will tell thee in French, which I am sure will hang upon my tongue like a new-married wife about her husband’s neck, hardly to be shook off. Je quand surle possession de France, et quand vous avez le possession de moi —let me see, what then? Saint Denis be my speed!— donc vôtre est France et vous êtes mienne. Itis as easy for me, Kate, to conquer the kingdom as to speak so much more French. I shall never move thee in French, unless it be to laugh at me.
KING HENRY
No, Kate? I'll tell you in French, which I'm sure will hang as heavily on my tongue like a new wife around her husband's neck, hard to shake off. I when the possession of France, and when you have the possession of me—let me see, what then? Saint Denis help me!—then yours is France and you are mine. It is as easy for me, Kate, to conquer the country as to speak that much French. I will never convince you to do anything in French, except to laugh at me.
KATHERINE
Sauf votre honneur, le français que vous parlez, il estmeilleur que l'anglais lequel je parle.
KATHERINE
You speak French better than I speak English.
KING HENRY
No, faith, is ’t not, Kate, but thy speaking of my tongue, and I thine, most truly-falsely must needs be granted to be much at one. But, Kate, dost thou understand thus much English? Canst thou love me?
KING HENRY
No, really, I don't, Kate, but you speak my language and I yours as well or rather badly as each other. But, Kate, do you understand this much English? Can you love me?
KATHERINE
I cannot tell.
KATHERINE
I cannot tell.
KING HENRY
Can any of your neighbors tell, Kate? I’ll ask them. Come, I know thou lovest me; and at night, when you come into your closet, you’ll question this gentlewoman aboutme, and, I know, Kate, you will to her dispraise those parts in me that you love with your heart. But, good Kate, mock me mercifully, the rather, gentle princess, because I love thee cruelly. If ever thou beest mine, Kate, as I have a saving faith within me tells me thou shalt, I get thee with scambling, and thou must therefore needs prove a good soldier-breeder. Shall not thou and I, between Saint Denis and Saint George, compound a boy, half French, half English, that shall goto Constantinople and take the Turk by the beard? Shallwe not? What say’st thou, my fair flower de luce?
KING HENRY
Can any of your neighbors tell, Kate? I'll ask them. Come on, I know you love me; and at night, when you go to your room, you'll ask this gentlewoman about me, and I know that you'll complain about the things you secretly love about me. But, good Kate, be merciful in mocking me, because I'm terribly in love with you. If you're ever mine, Kate, which I have faith that you will, I will win you by fighting, and you must for that reason give birth to soldiers. Won't the two of us, between Saint Denis and Saint George, give birth to a boy, half French, half English, who will go to Constantinople and fight the Turks? Won't we? What do you say, my beautiful French princess?
KATHERINE
I do not know dat.
KATHERINE
I do not know that.
KING HENRY
No, ’tis hereafter to know, but now to promise. Do but now promise, Kate, you will endeavor for your French part of such a boy; and for my English moiety take the word of a king and a bachelor. How answer you, la plus belle Katherine du monde, mon très cher et divin déesse?
KING HENRY
No, we'll know later, but we can promise it now. Just promise now, Kate, you'll do your best on your French side to make a boy like that; and as for my English half take the word of a king and a bachelor. What do you say, the most beautiful Katherine in the world, my most dear and divine god?
KATHERINE
Your Majestée ave fausse French enough to deceive de most sage demoiselle dat is en France.
KATHERINE
Your Majesty has enough bad French to deceive the wisest lady in France.
KING HENRY
Now fie upon my false French. By mine honor, in true English, I love thee, Kate. By which honor I dare not swear thou lovest me, yet my blood begins to flatter me that thou dost, notwithstanding the poor and untemperingeffect of my visage. Now, beshrew my father’s ambition!He was thinking of civil wars when he got me; thereforewas I created with a stubborn outside, with an aspect of iron, that when I come to woo ladies, I fright them. But, in faith, Kate, the elder I wax, the better I shall appear. My comfort is that old age, that ill layer-up ofbeauty, can do no more spoil upon my face. Thou hast me, if thou hast me, at the worst, and thou shalt wear me, if thou wear me, better and better. And therefore tell me, most fair Katherine, will you have me? Put off your maiden blushes, avouch the thoughts of your heart with the looks of an empress, take me by the hand, and say “Harry of England, I am thine,” which word thou shalt no sooner bless mine ear withal, but I will tell thee aloud “England is thine, Ireland is thine, France is thine, and Harry Plantagenet is thine,” who, though Ispeak it before his face, if he be not fellow with the best king, thou shalt find the best king of good fellows. Come, your answer in broken music, for thy voice is music and thy English broken. Therefore, queen of all, Katherine, break thy mind to me in broken English. Wilt thou have me?
KING HENRY
Darn my bad French. By my honor, in honest English, I love you, Kate. I don't dare swear you love me by that honor, but I begin to flatter myself you do, despite the bad effect my face has. Now, damn my father's ambition! He was thinking about civil war when he conceived me, so I was created with an ugly appearance, with a face of iron, so when I flirt with ladies, I frighten them. But, really, Kate, the older I get, the better I will look. My comfort is that old age, which treats beauty so badly, can't do any more damage to my face. You take me, if you take me, at my worst, and if you put me on you'll wear me better and better. So tell me, most beautiful Katherine, will you have me? Stop blushing, admit your desires with the pride of an empress, take me by the hand and say, "Harry of England, I am yours," and I will no sooner hear that but I will tell you, "England is yours, Ireland is yours, France is yours, and Harry Plantagenet is yours." And he, although I say it in front of him, although he can't keep company with the best kings, you will find he's the best company. Come, tell me your answer in broken music, because your voice is music and your English broken. So, queen of everything, Katherine, break it to me in broken English. Will you have me?
KATHERINE
Dat is as it sall please de roi mon père.
KATHERINE
That depends on what pleases the king my father.
KING HENRY
Nay, it will please him well, Kate; it shall please him, Kate.
KING HENRY
No, it will please him a lot, Kate; it will please him, Kate.
KATHERINE
Den it sall also content me.
KATHERINE
Then it will also please me.
KING HENRY
Upon that I kiss your hand, and I call you my queen.
KING HENRY
Then I kiss your hand and call you my queen.
KATHERINE
Laissez, mon seigneur, laissez, laissez! Ma foi, je ne veux point que vous abaissiez votre grandeur en baisant la main d'une—Notre Seigneur!—indigne serviteur. Excusez-moi, je vous supplie, mon très puissant seigneur.
KATHERINE
Stop, my lord, stop, stop! Goodness, I don't want you to lower your greatness by kissing the hand of a—my God!—unworthy servant. Don't, I beg you, my most powerful lord.
KING HENRY
Then I will kiss your lips, Kate.
KING HENRY
Then I will kiss your lips, Kate.
KATHERINE
Les dames et demoiselles pour être baisées devant leur noces, il n'est pas la coutume de France.
KATHERINE
It's not the custom in France for ladies and young women to be kissed before their marriage.
KING HENRY
Madam my interpreter, what says she?
KING HENRY
My interpreter, what does she say?
ALICE
Dat it is not be de fashion pour les ladies of France—Icannot tell wat is baiser en Anglish.
ALICE
That it is not the fashion for the ladies of France - I can't tell what is to kiss in English.
KING HENRY
To kiss.
KING HENRY
To kiss.
ALICE
Your Majesté entendre bettre que moi.
ALICE
Your Majesty understands better than I do.
KING HENRY
It is not a fashion for the maids in France to kiss before they are married, would she say?
KING HENRY
It's not a custom for the ladies in France to kiss before they are married, she wants to say?
ALICE
Oui, vraiment.
ALICE
Yes, exactly.
KING HENRY
O Kate, nice customs curtsy to great kings. Dear Kate, you and I cannot be confined within the weak list of a country’s fashion. We are the makers of manners, Kate, and the liberty that follows our places stops the mouth of all find- faults, as I will do yours for upholding the nice fashion of your country in denying me a kiss. Therefore, patiently and yielding. [kissing her] You have witchcraft in your lips, Kate. There is more eloquence in a sugar touch of them than in the tongues of the French council, and they should sooner persuade Harry of England than a general petition of monarchs. Here comes your father.
KING HENRY
Oh Kate, pointless customs don't apply to great kings. Dear Kate, you and I aren't confined by the weak customs of a country. We make customs and are free, Kate, because our power seals the lips of anyone who wants to criticize, just as I'll seal yours for sticking to the pointless custom of your country in denying me a kiss. So, patiently and agreeably. [kisses her]. There's witchcraft in your lips, Kate. There are more beautiful speeches in a sweet touch of them than in the mouths of the French council, and they would persuade Harry of England more quickly than a petition signed by all the other kings. Here comes your father.
Enter the FRENCH KING, QUEEN ISABEL, BURGUNDY, and other LORDS
BURGUNDY
God save your Majesty. My royal cousin, teach you our princess English?
BURGUNDY
God save your majesty. My royal cousin, are you teaching our princess English?
KING HENRY
I would have her learn, my fair cousin, how perfectly Ilove her, and that is good English.
KING HENRY
My cousin, I want her to learn how much I love her, and that is good English.
BURGUNDY
Is she not apt?
BURGUNDY
Is she not a quick learner?
KING HENRY
Our tongue is rough, coz, and my condition is not smooth, so that, having neither the voice nor the heart of flattery about me, I cannot so conjure up the spirit of love in her that he will appear in his true likeness.
KING HENRY
I don't speak very well, cousin, and am not polite, so, because I don't know how and don't want to flatter her, I can't conjure up the spirit of love in her to make him appear in his true form.
BURGUNDY
Pardon the frankness of my mirth if I answer you for that . If you would conjure in her, you must make a circle; if conjure up Love in her in his true likeness, he must appear naked and blind. Can you blame her then, being a maid yet rosed over with the virgin crimson of modesty, if she deny the appearance of a naked blind boyin her naked seeing self? It were, my lord, a hard condition for a maid to consign to.
BURGUNDY
Forgive me for laughing at you openly. If you want to conjure in her, you must make a circle. If you want to conjure up Love in his true form, he would have to appear naked and blind. Can you blame her then, since she's still a modest virgin, if she doesn't allow a naked blind boy to appear in her naked seeing self? It would be a bad situation for a virgin to agree to.
KING HENRY
Yet they do wink and yield, as love is blind and enforces.
KING HENRY
But they do shut their eyes and give in, since love is blind and powerful.
BURGUNDY
They are then excused, my lord, when they see not what they do.
BURGUNDY
It's not their fault, then, my lord, when they don't see what they do.
KING HENRY
Then, good my lord, teach your cousin to consent winking.
KING HENRY
Then, my good lord, teach your cousin to agree to shut her eyes.
BURGUNDY
I will wink on her to consent, my lord, if you will teach her to know my meaning, for maids, well summered and warm kept, are like flies at Bartholomew-tide: blind, though they have their eyes; and then they will endure handling, which before would not abide looking on.
BURGUNDY
I will wink at her to tell her to consent, my lord, if you will teach her to understand my meaning. Because virgins, kept warm and safe, are like flies in midsummer: blind, although they have eyes. And they can bear to be handled, when previously they couldn't bear to be looked at.
KING HENRY
This moral ties me over to time and a hot summer. And so I shall catch the fly, your cousin, in the latter endand she must be blind too.
KING HENRY
The moral of this is I should wait for the right time and a hot summer. And that way I will catch the fly, your cousin, by the tail, and she will be blind too.
BURGUNDY
As love is, my lord, before it loves.
BURGUNDY
As blind as love is, my lord, before it loves.
KING HENRY
It is so. And you may, some of you, thank love for my blindness, who cannot see many a fair French city for one fair French maid that stands in my way.
KING HENRY
It's true. And some of you can thank me for my blindness, because I can't see many French cities because of one beautiful French virgin who stands in my way.
FRENCH KING
Yes, my lord, you see them perspectively, the cities turned into a maid, for they are all girdled with maidenwalls that war hath never entered.
FRENCH KING
Yes, my lord, you see them in perspective, the cities turned into a virgin, because they are surrounded by virgin walls that war has never entered.
KING HENRY
Shall Kate be my wife?
KING HENRY
Will Kate be my wife?
FRENCH KING
So please you.
FRENCH KING
If it pleases you.
KING HENRY
I am content, so the maiden cities you talk of may waiton her. So the maid that stood in the way for my wish shall show me the way to my will.
KING HENRY
I am content, as long as the virgin cities you talk about come too. So the virgin who stood in the way of my wish will show me the way to my desire.
FRENCH KING
We have consented to all terms of reason.
FRENCH KING
I have consented to all reasonable demands.
KING HENRY
Is ’t so, my lords of England?
KING HENRY
Is that so, my lords of England?
WESTMORELAND
The king hath granted every article,His daughter first, and, in sequel, all,According to their firm proposed natures.
WESTMORELAND
EXETER
Only he hath not yet subscribèd this: Where your Majesty demands that the king of France, having any occasion to write for matter of grant, shall name your Highness in this form and with this addition, in French: Notre très cher fils Henri, roi d'Angleterre,héritier de France ; and thus in Latin: Praeclarissimus filius noster Henricus, rex Angliae, et haeres Franciae.
EXETER
But he hasn't yet signed this: where your Majesty demands that the king of France, if he has any reason to write out a declaration, will name your Highness too in this way, in French: Our very dear son Henry, king of England, heir of France, and this in Latin: Our most famous son Henry, king of England, and heir of France.
FRENCH KING
Nor this I have not, brother, so deniedBut your request shall make me let it pass.
FRENCH KING
I have not denied this, brother. If you ask me to agree to this, I will.
KING HENRY
I pray you, then, in love and dear alliance, Let that one article rank with the rest, And thereupon give me your daughter.
KING HENRY
I ask you, then, with love and as allies, that you agree to that article along with the rest, and give me your daughter.
FRENCH KING
Take her, fair son, and from her blood raise up Issue to me, that the contending kingdoms Of France and England, whose very shores look pale With envy of each other’s happiness, May cease their hatred, and this dear conjunction Plant neighborhood and Christian-like accord In their sweet bosoms, that never war advance His bleeding sword ’twixt England and fair France.
FRENCH KING
Take her, son, and have her give birth to heirs for me, so that the fighting kingdoms of France and England, whose shores look pale with envy of each other's happiness, will cease hating each other. May this match make them neighborly and make them agree like Christians, so that bloody war never arises again between England and beautiful France.
LORDS
Amen.
LORDS
Amen.
KING HENRY
Now welcome, Kate, and bear me witness allThat here I kiss her as my sovereign queen.
KING HENRY
Now welcome, Kate. You are all witnesses that here I kiss her as my queen.
Flourish
QUEEN ISABEL
God, the best maker of all marriages, Combine your hearts in one, your realms in one. As man and wife, being two, are one in love, So be there ’twixt your kingdoms such a spousal That never may ill office or fell jealousy, Which troubles oft the bed of blessèd marriage, Thrust in between the paction of these kingdoms To make divorce of their incorporate league, That English may as French, French Englishmen, Receive each other. God speak this “amen”!
QUEEN ISABEL
May God, the best matchmaker, combine your hearts in one, your countries in one. Just as man and wife, although they are two people, become one, so may there be between your kingdoms such a marriage that ill will and terrible jealousy, which often trouble blessed marriage, never thrust themselves between these two joined kingdoms to divorce them. May Englishmen and Frenchmen treat each other as though they come from the same country. May God speak this "amen"!
ALL
Amen.
ALL
Amen.
KING HENRY
Prepare we for our marriage; on which day, My Lord of Burgundy, we’ll take your oath, And all the peers', for surety of our leagues. Then shall I swear to Kate, and you to me, And may our oaths well kept and prosp'rous be.
KING HENRy
Let's prepare for our marriage, and on that day, my Lord of Burgundy, we'll have you and all the noblemen swear an oath to honor our alliance. Then I will swear to Kate, and you to me, and may our oaths be kept well and be fortunate.
Sennet
Exeunt
Enter CHORUS
CHORUS
Thus far with rough and all-unable pen Our bending author hath pursued the story, In little room confining mighty men, Mangling by starts the full course of their glory. Small time, but in that small most greatly lived This star of England. Fortune made his sword, By which the world’s best garden he achieved And of it left his son imperial lord. Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crowned king Of France and England, did this king succeed, Whose state so many had the managing That they lost France and made his England bleed, Which oft our stage hath shown. And for their sake, In your fair minds let this acceptance take.
CHORUS
Our obedient author followed the story this far with his rough and incompetent writing, confining great men into a small room, mangling and breaking up the full extent of their glory. This English star lived a short but very great life. Fortune made his sword, which he used to win the world's best garden and left his son ruler of it. Henry the Sixth, crowned king of France and England when he was an infant, succeeded this king. So many people were in charge of ruling his country that they lost France and made his England bleed, as our stage has often shown you. For their sake, kindly accept this play.
Exit
