Henry VI Part 1: Act 2, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 3 of Henry VI Part 1 from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Countess of Auvergne, with Porter. COUNTESS Porter, remember what I gave in charge, And when you have done so, bring the keys to me. PORTER Madam, I will. He exits. COUNTESS The plot is laid. If all things fall out right, I shall as famous be by this exploit 5 As Scythian Tamyris by Cyrus’ death. Great is the rumor of this dreadful knight, And his achievements of no less account. Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears To give their censure of these rare reports. 10	The next scene starts with the Countess of Auvergne, who's talking smack to her Porter. She says she's laid a plot, and that what she'll do next will make her as famous as Tomyris. Who's Tomyris? Well, Tomyris may not be famous now, but lots of Renaissance viewers would have known she was not to be messed with. Cyrus, ancient Emperor of Persia and major bad news for his enemies, tried to date her, but what he really wanted was her kingdom. It's a long story, but after she declined to go out with him and he still wanted her kingdom, they decided their armies would join battle. When Cyrus indirectly caused the death of Tomyris's son by trickery, she was angry. Hard to blame her there. Her armies fought Cyrus and killed him on the battlefield, and Tomyris plunged his head into a wineskin filled with human blood. Just in case it isn't clear from the story, that's a pretty major insult to the corpse of an emperor. Yep, not to be messed with, that lady. So anyway, back to our tale: It sure sounds like this scene is going to shape up into a horror story. Is Talbot about to be killed and insulted in gruesome fashion by a ferocious female warrior?
Enter Messenger and Talbot. MESSENGER Madam, according as your Ladyship desired, By message craved, so is Lord Talbot come. COUNTESS And he is welcome. What, is this the man? MESSENGER Madam, it is. COUNTESS Is this the scourge of France? 15 Is this the Talbot, so much feared abroad That with his name the mothers still their babes? I see report is fabulous and false. I thought I should have seen some Hercules, A second Hector, for his grim aspect 20 And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs. Alas, this is a child, a silly dwarf! It cannot be this weak and writhled shrimp Should strike such terror to his enemies.	Well, not right away. The Countess starts off their meeting skeptical. She's unimpressed with his physique. She was expecting someone buff like Hercules or Hector, and what she sees instead is a 98-pound weakling.
TALBOT Madam, I have been bold to trouble you. 25 But since your Ladyship is not at leisure, I’ll sort some other time to visit you. He begins to exit. COUNTESS, to Messenger What means he now? Go ask him whither he goes. MESSENGER Stay, my Lord Talbot, for my lady craves To know the cause of your abrupt departure. 30 TALBOT Marry, for that she’s in a wrong belief, I go to certify her Talbot’s here.	This might be an insult, but it's hardly deadly. Talbot replies mildly that if the Countess is busy he'll come back some other time.
Enter Porter with keys. COUNTESS, to Talbot If thou be he, then art thou prisoner. TALBOT Prisoner? To whom? COUNTESS To me, bloodthirsty lord. 35 And for that cause I trained thee to my house. Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me, For in my gallery thy picture hangs. But now the substance shall endure the like, And I will chain these legs and arms of thine, 40 That hast by tyranny these many years Wasted our country, slain our citizens, And sent our sons and husbands captivate. TALBOT Ha, ha, ha!	The Countess informs him that he's now a prisoner in her house—Talbot is surprised—then she concludes with some thundering rhetoric about how she'll chain his legs and arms for all the evils he's done against the French. Talbot just laughs. So much for the speech…
COUNTESS Laughest thou, wretch? Thy mirth shall turn to moan. 45 TALBOT I laugh to see your Ladyship so fond To think that you have aught but Talbot’s shadow Whereon to practice your severity. COUNTESS Why, art not thou the man? TALBOT I am, indeed. 50 COUNTESS Then have I substance too. TALBOT No, no, I am but shadow of myself. You are deceived; my substance is not here, For what you see is but the smallest part And least proportion of humanity. 55 I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here, It is of such a spacious lofty pitch Your roof were not sufficient to contain ’t. COUNTESS This is a riddling merchant for the nonce: He will be here and yet he is not here. 60 How can these contrarieties agree? TALBOT That will I show you presently. Winds his horn. Drums strike up; a peal of ordnance. Enter Soldiers. How say you, madam? Are you now persuaded That Talbot is but shadow of himself? These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength, 65 With which he yoketh your rebellious necks, Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns, And in a moment makes them desolate.	Talbot says that basically his men are the reason he's so powerful, and the Countess can't stop them just by locking him up; he shows her his soldiers to prove the point.
COUNTESS Victorious Talbot, pardon my abuse. I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited, 70 And more than may be gathered by thy shape. Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath, For I am sorry that with reverence I did not entertain thee as thou art. TALBOT Be not dismayed, fair lady, nor misconster 75 The mind of Talbot as you did mistake The outward composition of his body. What you have done hath not offended me, Nor other satisfaction do I crave But only, with your patience, that we may 80 Taste of your wine and see what cates you have, For soldiers’ stomachs always serve them well. COUNTESS With all my heart, and think me honorèd To feast so great a warrior in my house. They exit.	The Countess apologizes, says Talbot is everything his fame suggests, and asks him not to take offense. Talbot says he's not offended, and any chance of getting some dinner? He calls her "fair lady," which suggests that he's still wanting to be chivalrous. The Countess says she'll be honored to feast so great a warrior, and that's that. So, no horror film here. The Countess starts off by threatening to be the bold female warrior who destroys an emperor, but she winds up in a very conventional role for an aristocratic woman: accepting a warrior's chivalrous compliments and hosting a feast.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Countess of Auvergne, with Porter.

COUNTESS
Porter, remember what I gave in charge,
And when you have done so, bring the keys to me.

PORTER Madam, I will. He exits.

COUNTESS
The plot is laid. If all things fall out right,
I shall as famous be by this exploit 5
As Scythian Tamyris by Cyrus’ death.
Great is the rumor of this dreadful knight,
And his achievements of no less account.
Fain would mine eyes be witness with mine ears
To give their censure of these rare reports. 10

The next scene starts with the Countess of Auvergne, who's talking smack to her Porter. She says she's laid a plot, and that what she'll do next will make her as famous as Tomyris.

Who's Tomyris? Well, Tomyris may not be famous now, but lots of Renaissance viewers would have known she was not to be messed with. Cyrus, ancient Emperor of Persia and major bad news for his enemies, tried to date her, but what he really wanted was her kingdom. It's a long story, but after she declined to go out with him and he still wanted her kingdom, they decided their armies would join battle.

When Cyrus indirectly caused the death of Tomyris's son by trickery, she was angry. Hard to blame her there. Her armies fought Cyrus and killed him on the battlefield, and Tomyris plunged his head into a wineskin filled with human blood. Just in case it isn't clear from the story, that's a pretty major insult to the corpse of an emperor. Yep, not to be messed with, that lady.

So anyway, back to our tale: It sure sounds like this scene is going to shape up into a horror story. Is Talbot about to be killed and insulted in gruesome fashion by a ferocious female warrior?

Enter Messenger and Talbot.

MESSENGER
Madam, according as your Ladyship desired,
By message craved, so is Lord Talbot come.

COUNTESS
And he is welcome. What, is this the man?

MESSENGER
Madam, it is.

COUNTESS Is this the scourge of France? 15
Is this the Talbot, so much feared abroad
That with his name the mothers still their babes?
I see report is fabulous and false.
I thought I should have seen some Hercules,
A second Hector, for his grim aspect 20
And large proportion of his strong-knit limbs.
Alas, this is a child, a silly dwarf!
It cannot be this weak and writhled shrimp
Should strike such terror to his enemies.

Well, not right away. The Countess starts off their meeting skeptical. She's unimpressed with his physique. She was expecting someone buff like Hercules or Hector, and what she sees instead is a 98-pound weakling.

TALBOT
Madam, I have been bold to trouble you. 25
But since your Ladyship is not at leisure,
I’ll sort some other time to visit you.
He begins to exit.

COUNTESS, to Messenger
What means he now? Go ask him whither he goes.

MESSENGER
Stay, my Lord Talbot, for my lady craves
To know the cause of your abrupt departure. 30

TALBOT
Marry, for that she’s in a wrong belief,
I go to certify her Talbot’s here.

This might be an insult, but it's hardly deadly. Talbot replies mildly that if the Countess is busy he'll come back some other time.

Enter Porter with keys.

COUNTESS, to Talbot
If thou be he, then art thou prisoner.

TALBOT
Prisoner? To whom?

COUNTESS To me, bloodthirsty lord. 35
And for that cause I trained thee to my house.
Long time thy shadow hath been thrall to me,
For in my gallery thy picture hangs.
But now the substance shall endure the like,
And I will chain these legs and arms of thine, 40
That hast by tyranny these many years
Wasted our country, slain our citizens,
And sent our sons and husbands captivate.

TALBOT Ha, ha, ha!

The Countess informs him that he's now a prisoner in her house—Talbot is surprised—then she concludes with some thundering rhetoric about how she'll chain his legs and arms for all the evils he's done against the French.

Talbot just laughs. So much for the speech…

COUNTESS
Laughest thou, wretch? Thy mirth shall turn to moan. 45

TALBOT
I laugh to see your Ladyship so fond
To think that you have aught but Talbot’s shadow
Whereon to practice your severity.

COUNTESS Why, art not thou the man?

TALBOT I am, indeed. 50

COUNTESS Then have I substance too.

TALBOT
No, no, I am but shadow of myself.
You are deceived; my substance is not here,
For what you see is but the smallest part
And least proportion of humanity. 55
I tell you, madam, were the whole frame here,
It is of such a spacious lofty pitch
Your roof were not sufficient to contain ’t.

COUNTESS
This is a riddling merchant for the nonce:
He will be here and yet he is not here. 60
How can these contrarieties agree?

TALBOT
That will I show you presently.

Winds his horn. Drums strike up;
a peal of ordnance.

Enter Soldiers.

How say you, madam? Are you now persuaded
That Talbot is but shadow of himself?
These are his substance, sinews, arms, and strength, 65
With which he yoketh your rebellious necks,
Razeth your cities, and subverts your towns,
And in a moment makes them desolate.

Talbot says that basically his men are the reason he's so powerful, and the Countess can't stop them just by locking him up; he shows her his soldiers to prove the point.

COUNTESS
Victorious Talbot, pardon my abuse.
I find thou art no less than fame hath bruited, 70
And more than may be gathered by thy shape.
Let my presumption not provoke thy wrath,
For I am sorry that with reverence
I did not entertain thee as thou art.

TALBOT
Be not dismayed, fair lady, nor misconster 75
The mind of Talbot as you did mistake
The outward composition of his body.
What you have done hath not offended me,
Nor other satisfaction do I crave
But only, with your patience, that we may 80
Taste of your wine and see what cates you have,
For soldiers’ stomachs always serve them well.

COUNTESS
With all my heart, and think me honorèd
To feast so great a warrior in my house.

They exit.

The Countess apologizes, says Talbot is everything his fame suggests, and asks him not to take offense.

Talbot says he's not offended, and any chance of getting some dinner? He calls her "fair lady," which suggests that he's still wanting to be chivalrous.

The Countess says she'll be honored to feast so great a warrior, and that's that.

So, no horror film here. The Countess starts off by threatening to be the bold female warrior who destroys an emperor, but she winds up in a very conventional role for an aristocratic woman: accepting a warrior's chivalrous compliments and hosting a feast.

Henry VI Part 1: Act 2, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 2, Scene 3 of Henry VI Part 1 from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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