Henry V Act 3, Scene 3 Summary

Read the full text of Henry V Act 3 Scene 3 with a side-by-side translation HERE.


  • Meanwhile, Henry's troops are still charging "unto the breach" but Captain Gower, Captain Fluellen, Captain Jamy, and Captain MacMorris stand off to the side...talking about the art of warfare.
  • Captain MacMorris notes that this is no time for chitchat and says it's a "shame" that they're not joining in the fight.
  • The Captains continue to chitchat until they're interrupted by a parley (a trumpet blast signaling that the French want to negotiate).
  • The scene cuts to King Henry and his attendants at the gates of Harfleur.
  • Henry delivers a disturbing speech about how the Governor of Harfleur better hurry up and surrender peacefully. Otherwise, Henry's troops will storm the gates and rape the town's "fair virgins" after they impale all the French infants on spikes and bash all the old men's heads in.
  • Henry claims that, if he unleashes his soldiers on the town again, he'll have no more control over them.
  • Naturally, the Governor surrenders and opens the gates.
  • Henry leads his troops into the town, where his weary soldiers can rest until they push on to Calais.