Henry IV Part 1: Act 5, Scene 5 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 5 of Henry IV Part 1 from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

  Original Text

 Translated Text

  Source: Folger Shakespeare Library

The trumpets sound. Enter the King, Prince of Wales,
Lord John of Lancaster, Earl of Westmoreland, with
Worcester and Vernon prisoners, and Soldiers.

KING
Thus ever did rebellion find rebuke.—
Ill-spirited Worcester, did not we send grace,
Pardon, and terms of love to all of you?
And wouldst thou turn our offers contrary,
Misuse the tenor of thy kinsman’s trust? 5
Three knights upon our party slain today,
A noble earl, and many a creature else
Had been alive this hour
If, like a Christian, thou hadst truly borne
Betwixt our armies true intelligence. 10

The king's forces are victorious. Henry chides Worcester and Vernon (who have been captured) for being so smarmy and trying to rise up against him.

WORCESTER
What I have done my safety urged me to.
And I embrace this fortune patiently,
Since not to be avoided it falls on me.

KING
Bear Worcester to the death, and Vernon too.
Other offenders we will pause upon. 15

Worcester and Vernon exit, under guard.

How goes the field?

Worcester lips off one last time and King Henry sentences him and Vernon to death.

PRINCE
The noble Scot, Lord Douglas, when he saw
The fortune of the day quite turned from him,
The noble Percy slain, and all his men
Upon the foot of fear, fled with the rest, 20
And, falling from a hill, he was so bruised
That the pursuers took him. At my tent
The Douglas is, and I beseech your Grace
I may dispose of him.

KING With all my heart. 25

Prince Hal reports that Hotspur's dead but Douglas has been captured.

Hal asks Henry is he can decide Douglas's fate. "Sure," says Henry. "Go for it."

PRINCE
Then, brother John of Lancaster, to you
This honorable bounty shall belong.
Go to the Douglas and deliver him
Up to his pleasure, ransomless and free.
His valors shown upon our crests today 30
Have taught us how to cherish such high deeds,
Even in the bosom of our adversaries.

LANCASTER
I thank your Grace for this high courtesy,
Which I shall give away immediately.

Prince Hal instructs his brother to release Douglas on the grounds that the Scottish rebel has fought bravely.

KING
Then this remains, that we divide our power. 35
You, son John, and my cousin Westmoreland,
Towards York shall bend you with your dearest
speed
To meet Northumberland and the prelate Scroop,
Who, as we hear, are busily in arms. 40
Myself and you, son Harry, will towards Wales
To fight with Glendower and the Earl of March.
Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway,
Meeting the check of such another day.
And since this business so fair is done, 45
Let us not leave till all our own be won.

They exit.

King Henry delivers instructions for what the king's forces must do next.

The king and Hal will track down Glendower and Mortimer in Wales. Prince John and Westmoreland will ride to Northumberland to deal with Hotspur's dad and Scroop. The battle is won but the war is far from over.