Click on any scene below for a side-by-side translation from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Induction
Rumour steps onto the stage, wearing a visually dramatic robe that's "painted full of tongues." (Note: Rumour is not a human character – it's a personification, which means that rumor, an abstrac...
Act 1, Scene 1
Lord Bardolph (not to be confused with Falstaff's pal, just plain Bardolph) arrives at Warkworth castle and demands to see Northumberland. Just as the Porter tells him to look in the orchard, North...
Act 1, Scene 2
Meanwhile, on the streets of London, Falstaff (a fat, rowdy, disgraced knight and Prince Hal's good pal) turns to his Page and asks what the doctor had to say about his recent urine sample. The Pag...
Act 1, Scene 3
At the Archbishop's palace in York, the rebel leaders (York, Mowbray, Lord Marshall, Hastings, and Lord Bardolph) hold a strategy meeting.Mowbray says he's down with the rebel's cause but he'd feel...
Act 2, Scene 1
We are now in Eastcheap, a lively market street in London. Mistress Quickly, a tavern hostess who has been recently widowed, discuss the details of a lawsuit she has recently brought against Falsta...
Act 2, Scene 2
At the prince's bachelor pad in London, Hal and his buddy, Ned Poins, chill out and shoot the breeze.Prince Hal complains that he's exhausted and Poins teases that he thought guys with royal blood...
Act 2, Scene 3
Meanwhile, up at Warkworth castle in Northumberland, the Earl is in the middle of an intense conversation with his wife, Lady Northumberland, and his daughter-in-law, Lady Percy.Northumberland gent...
Act 2, Scene 4
At a tavern (probably the Boar's Head) in Eastcheap, a couple of Drawers (waiters) argue about a dish of apples and then reminisce about the time Prince Hal insulted Falstaff by comparing him to a...
Act 3, Scene 1
At the palace at Westminster, King Henry IV gives a page some letters to deliver to the Earl of Warwick and the Earl of Surrey.Then the king delivers a soliloquy (a speech that reveals what's on hi...
Act 3, Scene 2
Outside his country house in Gloucestershire, Justice Shallow greets his longtime friend, Justice Silence. The two men engage in the easy banter of the middle class – they exchange pleasantries,...
Act 4, Scene 1
In Gaultree Forest in Yorkshire, the rebels have gathered in anticipation of a showdown with the king's forces. The Archbishop of York gives orders for the other rebel leaders to send out some scou...
Act 4, Scene 2
The rebel leaders meet up with Prince John, who lectures the
Archbishop about taking up arms against the king when he should be back
at home with his bible, preaching about peace and obedience. P...
Act 4, Scene 3
(Note: In the Folger's edition we're using, this is where Scene 2 starts.)We're in Gaultree Forest, where Falstaff, a Captain in the king's army, encounters the rebel, Coleville.Falstaff calls Cole...
Act 4, Scene 4
(Note: In the Folger's edition, this is the start of Scene 3.)Meanwhile, at the palace in London, King Henry IV, who's laid up in bed, tells his attendants that, if his army beats the rebels today...
Act 4, Scene 5
(Note: In the Folger's edition, this is still Scene 3.)The scene continues and the king is carried into another room. Warwick
calls for some soft music to be played and Clarence removes Henry's
c...
Act 5, Scene 1
At Justice Shallow's country estate in Gloucestershire, Bardolph and Falstaff have dropped by to make a house call to Falstaff's old law school chum. When the scene opens, Justice Shallow is being...
Act 5, Scene 2
At the palace in London, Warwick delivers news to the Lord Chief Justice (LCJ) that King Henry IV has died.The LCJ says he wishes that he would have died right along with the king. He's been so loy...
Act 5, Scene 3
Meanwhile, back at Justice Shallow's country estate in Gloucestershire, Falstaff and his men enjoy a delicious meal (along with Shallow's sidekick, Justice Silence, of course). The motto for the ev...
Act 5, Scene 4
On a street in London, two Beadles (officers) tussle with Mistress Quickly and Doll Tearsheet, who are being arrested for their involvement in murder.Quickly struggles with one of the officers and...
Act 5, Scene 5
On a public street near Westminster Abbey, two Grooms (workers) cover the ground with rushes in preparation for the new king's procession.
Epilogue
One of the actors (probably the guy who played Falstaff) comes on stage and delivers an Epilogue (a final speech to the audience). There's the usual hemming and hawing about how terrible the pl...