Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter the King of England, Bedford, and Gloucester. KING HENRY
Gloucester, ’tis true that we are in great danger.
The greater therefore should our courage be.—
Good morrow, brother Bedford. God almighty,
There is some soul of goodness in things evil,
Would men observingly distill it out. 5
For our bad neighbor makes us early stirrers,
Which is both healthful and good husbandry.
Besides, they are our outward consciences
And preachers to us all, admonishing
That we should dress us fairly for our end. 10
Thus may we gather honey from the weed
And make a moral of the devil himself. Enter Erpingham. Good morrow, old Sir Thomas Erpingham.
A good soft pillow for that good white head
Were better than a churlish turf of France. 15 | At the English camp, King Henry talks with Gloucester and Clarence. |
ERPINGHAM
Not so, my liege, this lodging likes me better,
Since I may say “Now lie I like a king.” KING HENRY
’Tis good for men to love their present pains
Upon example. So the spirit is eased;
And when the mind is quickened, out of doubt, 20
The organs, though defunct and dead before,
Break up their drowsy grave and newly move
With casted slough and fresh legerity.
Lend me thy cloak, Sir Thomas.
He puts on Erpingham’s cloak.
Brothers both, 25
Commend me to the princes in our camp,
Do my good morrow to them, and anon
Desire them all to my pavilion. GLOUCESTER We shall, my liege. ERPINGHAM Shall I attend your Grace? 30 KING HENRY No, my good knight.
Go with my brothers to my lords of England.
I and my bosom must debate awhile,
And then I would no other company. ERPINGHAM
The Lord in heaven bless thee, noble Harry. 35 All but the King exit. | Henry borrows Erpingham's dirty old cloak and then sends the men off to prepare for battle. Henry disguises himself as a commoner and walks around camp, where nobody recognizes him as the king. |
KING HENRY
God-a-mercy, old heart, thou speak’st cheerfully. Enter Pistol. PISTOL Qui vous là? KING HENRY A friend. PISTOL Discuss unto me: art thou officer or art thou
base, common, and popular? 40 KING HENRY I am a gentleman of a company. PISTOL Trail’st thou the puissant pike? KING HENRY Even so. What are you? PISTOL As good a gentleman as the Emperor. KING HENRY Then you are a better than the King. 45 PISTOL The King’s a bawcock and a heart of gold, a lad
of life, an imp of fame, of parents good, of fist most
valiant. I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heartstring I
love the lovely bully. What is thy name? KING HENRY Harry le Roy. 50 PISTOL Le Roy? A Cornish name. Art thou of Cornish
crew? KING HENRY No, I am a Welshman. PISTOL Know’st thou Fluellen? KING HENRY Yes. 55 PISTOL Tell him I’ll knock his leek about his pate upon
Saint Davy’s day. KING HENRY Do not you wear your dagger in your cap
that day, lest he knock that about yours. PISTOL Art thou his friend? 60 KING HENRY And his kinsman too. PISTOL The figo for thee then! KING HENRY I thank you. God be with you. PISTOL My name is Pistol called. He exits. KING HENRY It sorts well with your fierceness. 65 | Pistol shows up and chats up Henry. When Henry claims to be a kinsman of Fluellen, Pistol makes an obscene hand gesture (the fig) and storms off. |
He steps aside. Enter Fluellen and Gower. GOWER Captain Fluellen. FLUELLEN So. In the name of Jesu Christ, speak fewer.
It is the greatest admiration in the universal world
when the true and aunchient prerogatifes and
laws of the wars is not kept. If you would take the 70
pains but to examine the wars of Pompey the
Great, you shall find, I warrant you, that there is
no tiddle taddle nor pibble babble in Pompey’s
camp. I warrant you, you shall find the ceremonies
of the wars and the cares of it and the forms 75
of it and the sobriety of it and the modesty of it to
be otherwise. GOWER Why, the enemy is loud. You hear him all
night. FLUELLEN If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a prating 80
coxcomb, is it meet, think you, that we should also,
look you, be an ass and a fool and a prating
coxcomb, in your own conscience now? GOWER I will speak lower. FLUELLEN I pray you and beseech you that you will. 85 Gower and Fluellen exit. KING HENRY
Though it appear a little out of fashion,
There is much care and valor in this Welshman. | Fluellen and Gower show up and Henry eavesdrops on their conversation. Gower speaks too loudly and Fluellen tells him to pipe down since they're so close to the French camp. Henry thinks that, even though Fluellen is kind of whacky, he's actually a pretty smart Captain. |
Enter three Soldiers, John Bates, Alexander Court, and
Michael Williams. COURT Brother John Bates, is not that the morning
which breaks yonder? BATES I think it be, but we have no great cause to desire 90
the approach of day. WILLIAMS We see yonder the beginning of the day, but
I think we shall never see the end of it.—Who goes
there? KING HENRY A friend. 95 WILLIAMS Under what captain serve you? KING HENRY Under Sir Thomas Erpingham. WILLIAMS A good old commander and a most kind
gentleman. I pray you, what thinks he of our
estate? 100 KING HENRY Even as men wracked upon a sand, that
look to be washed off the next tide. BATES He hath not told his thought to the King? KING HENRY No. Nor it is not meet he should, for,
though I speak it to you, I think the King is but a 105
man as I am. The violet smells to him as it doth to
me. The element shows to him as it doth to me. All
his senses have but human conditions. His ceremonies
laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man,
and though his affections are higher mounted than 110
ours, yet when they stoop, they stoop with the like
wing. Therefore, when he sees reason of fears as we
do, his fears, out of doubt, be of the same relish as
ours are. Yet, in reason, no man should possess him
with any appearance of fear, lest he, by showing it, 115
should dishearten his army. BATES He may show what outward courage he will,
but I believe, as cold a night as ’tis, he could wish
himself in Thames up to the neck; and so I would
he were, and I by him, at all adventures, so we were 120
quit here. | Three common soldiers show up (Bates, Court, and Williams) and Henry talks to them about the war. All three soldiers wish they were back at home and question the King's motives and decisions. Bates, who doesn't recognize Henry, declares that the king isn't as brave as he pretends to be. |
KING HENRY By my troth, I will speak my conscience
of the King. I think he would not wish himself
anywhere but where he is. | Henry tries to defend himself by saying that he's sure Henry wouldn't wish that he was anywhere else but here. |
BATES Then I would he were here alone; so should he 125
be sure to be ransomed, and a many poor men’s
lives saved. KING HENRY I dare say you love him not so ill to wish
him here alone, howsoever you speak this to feel
other men’s minds. Methinks I could not die anywhere 130
so contented as in the King’s company, his
cause being just and his quarrel honorable. WILLIAMS That’s more than we know. BATES Ay, or more than we should seek after, for we
know enough if we know we are the King’s subjects. 135
If his cause be wrong, our obedience to the
King wipes the crime of it out of us. WILLIAMS But if the cause be not good, the King
himself hath a heavy reckoning to make, when all
those legs and arms and heads, chopped off in a 140
battle, shall join together at the latter day, and cry
all “We died at such a place,” some swearing, some
crying for a surgeon, some upon their wives left
poor behind them, some upon the debts they owe,
some upon their children rawly left. I am afeard 145
there are few die well that die in a battle, for how
can they charitably dispose of anything when blood
is their argument? Now, if these men do not die
well, it will be a black matter for the king that led
them to it, who to disobey were against all proportion 150
of subjection. | Williams and Bates are skeptical. They admit that they don't even know if Henry's war against France is "just." Williams chimes in that, if the soldiers die in battle the next day and leave behind a bunch of grieving widows, it will be all King Henry's fault. |
KING HENRY So, if a son that is by his father sent about
merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea,
the imputation of his wickedness, by your rule,
should be imposed upon his father that sent him. 155
Or if a servant, under his master’s command transporting
a sum of money, be assailed by robbers and
die in many irreconciled iniquities, you may call the
business of the master the author of the servant’s
damnation. But this is not so. The King is not bound 160
to answer the particular endings of his soldiers, the
father of his son, nor the master of his servant, for
they purpose not their death when they purpose
their services. Besides, there is no king, be his cause
never so spotless, if it come to the arbitrament of 165
swords, can try it out with all unspotted soldiers.
Some, peradventure, have on them the guilt of
premeditated and contrived murder; some, of beguiling
virgins with the broken seals of perjury;
some, making the wars their bulwark, that have 170
before gored the gentle bosom of peace with pillage
and robbery. Now, if these men have defeated the
law and outrun native punishment, though they can
outstrip men, they have no wings to fly from God.
War is His beadle, war is His vengeance, so that here 175
men are punished for before-breach of the King’s
laws in now the King’s quarrel. Where they feared
the death, they have borne life away; and where they
would be safe, they perish. Then, if they die unprovided,
no more is the King guilty of their damnation 180
than he was before guilty of those impieties for the
which they are now visited. Every subject’s duty is
the King’s, but every subject’s soul is his own.
Therefore should every soldier in the wars do as
every sick man in his bed: wash every mote out of 185
his conscience. And, dying so, death is to him
advantage; or not dying, the time was blessedly lost
wherein such preparation was gained. And in him
that escapes, it were not sin to think that, making
God so free an offer, He let him outlive that day to 190
see His greatness and to teach others how they
should prepare. | Henry is furious and says that the king isn't responsible for the deaths
of his soldiers, just like a father isn't responsible if his son dies
during a commercial sea venture. (Um, okay.) |
WILLIAMS ’Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill
upon his own head; the King is not to answer it. BATES I do not desire he should answer for me, and yet 195
I determine to fight lustily for him. KING HENRY I myself heard the King say he would not
be ransomed. WILLIAMS Ay, he said so to make us fight cheerfully,
but when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed 200
and we ne’er the wiser. KING HENRY If I live to see it, I will never trust his
word after. WILLIAMS You pay him then. That’s a perilous shot out
of an elder gun, that a poor and a private displeasure 205
can do against a monarch. You may as well go
about to turn the sun to ice with fanning in his face
with a peacock’s feather. You’ll “never trust his
word after.” Come, ’tis a foolish saying. KING HENRY Your reproof is something too round. I 210
should be angry with you if the time were
convenient. WILLIAMS Let it be a quarrel between us, if you live. KING HENRY I embrace it. WILLIAMS How shall I know thee again? 215 KING HENRY Give me any gage of thine, and I will wear
it in my bonnet. Then, if ever thou dar’st acknowledge
it, I will make it my quarrel. WILLIAMS Here’s my glove. Give me another of thine. KING HENRY There. They exchange gloves. 220 | Williams and Henry can't come to any agreement, so they decide to
exchange gloves. (The idea is that, when they bump into each other
later, they'll recognize the gloves and can fight about it then.) |
WILLIAMS This will I also wear in my cap. If ever thou
come to me and say, after tomorrow, “This is my
glove,” by this hand I will take thee a box on the
ear. KING HENRY If ever I live to see it, I will challenge it. 225 WILLIAMS Thou dar’st as well be hanged. KING HENRY Well, I will do it, though I take thee in the
King’s company. WILLIAMS Keep thy word. Fare thee well. BATES Be friends, you English fools, be friends. We 230
have French quarrels enough, if you could tell how
to reckon. | Bates tells the men to be friends – they've got enough to worry about fighting against the French. |
KING HENRY Indeed, the French may lay twenty
French crowns to one they will beat us, for they
bear them on their shoulders. But it is no English 235
treason to cut French crowns, and tomorrow the
King himself will be a clipper.
Soldiers exit.
Upon the King! Let us our lives, our souls, our
debts, our careful wives, our children, and our sins,
lay on the King! 240
We must bear all. O hard condition,
Twin-born with greatness, subject to the breath
Of every fool whose sense no more can feel
But his own wringing. What infinite heart’s ease
Must kings neglect that private men enjoy? 245
And what have kings that privates have not too,
Save ceremony, save general ceremony?
And what art thou, thou idol ceremony?
What kind of god art thou that suffer’st more
Of mortal griefs than do thy worshipers? 250
What are thy rents? What are thy comings-in?
O ceremony, show me but thy worth!
What is thy soul of adoration?
Art thou aught else but place, degree, and form,
Creating awe and fear in other men, 255
Wherein thou art less happy, being feared,
Than they in fearing?
What drink’st thou oft, instead of homage sweet,
But poisoned flattery? O, be sick, great greatness,
And bid thy ceremony give thee cure! 260
Think’st thou the fiery fever will go out
With titles blown from adulation?
Will it give place to flexure and low bending?
Canst thou, when thou command’st the beggar’s
knee, 265
Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream,
That play’st so subtly with a king’s repose.
I am a king that find thee, and I know
’Tis not the balm, the scepter, and the ball,
The sword, the mace, the crown imperial, 270
The intertissued robe of gold and pearl,
The farcèd title running ’fore the King,
The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp
That beats upon the high shore of this world;
No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony, 275
Not all these, laid in bed majestical,
Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave
Who, with a body filled and vacant mind,
Gets him to rest, crammed with distressful bread;
Never sees horrid night, the child of hell, 280
But, like a lackey, from the rise to set
Sweats in the eye of Phoebus, and all night
Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn
Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse,
And follows so the ever-running year 285
With profitable labor to his grave.
And, but for ceremony, such a wretch,
Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep,
Had the forehand and vantage of a king.
The slave, a member of the country’s peace, 290
Enjoys it, but in gross brain little wots
What watch the King keeps to maintain the peace,
Whose hours the peasant best advantages. Enter Erpingham. ERPINGHAM
My lord, your nobles, jealous of your absence,
Seek through your camp to find you. 295 KING HENRY Good old knight,
Collect them all together at my tent.
I’ll be before thee. ERPINGHAM I shall do ’t, my lord. He exits. KING HENRY
O God of battles, steel my soldiers’ hearts. 300
Possess them not with fear. Take from them now
The sense of reck’ning or th’ opposèd numbers
Pluck their hearts from them. Not today, O Lord,
O, not today, think not upon the fault
My father made in compassing the crown. 305
I Richard’s body have interrèd new
And on it have bestowed more contrite tears
Than from it issued forcèd drops of blood.
Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay
Who twice a day their withered hands hold up 310
Toward heaven to pardon blood. And I have built
Two chantries where the sad and solemn priests
Sing still for Richard’s soul. More will I do—
Though all that I can do is nothing worth,
Since that my penitence comes after all, 315
Imploring pardon. Enter Gloucester. GLOUCESTER My liege. KING HENRY My brother Gloucester’s voice.—Ay,
I know thy errand. I will go with thee.
The day, my friends, and all things stay for me. 320 They exit. | Alone on stage, King Henry delivers a speech about the difficulties of kingship. Being king is tough work and it's isolating. Henry says he spends all of his time worrying about his people and never has any time to relax. Henry says a prayer. He asks God to make his men brave and to forgive him for his father's sins. (Remember, Henry's dad, King Henry IV, stole the English crown from King Richard II.) Henry reminds God that he's built a kind of shrine to Richard II and that he pays 500 poor people to pray for Richard twice a day. He's also built two chantries (chapels where people sing masses for the dead). Henry hopes that God will keep all of this in mind during tomorrow's battle. |