Click on any scene below for a side-by-side translation from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Historical Background
Click on over to the summary page for the scoop on everything that went down leading up to the opening of King John. When you're ready, come back to start reading Act 1.
Act 1, Scene 1
At the royal court of England, King John chills out on his big, shiny throne, surrounded by his posse.Châtillon, the snooty French ambassador, has a message from King Philip of France: Philip does...
Act 2, Scene 1
Act Two starts in the city of Angiers, France, which is the property of the King of England. King Philip of France is getting ready to storm the city and take it by force. ...
Act 2, Scene 2
Keep on truckin'.
Act 3, Scene 1
Constance, Arthur, and Salisbury are standing outside King Philip's tent.Constance is IRATE that King Philip betrayed her and her little boy. She keeps asking Salisbury if it's really true tha...
Act 3, Scene 2
King John's army is going toe-to-toe with King Philip's forces.The Bastard strolls in, complains about the hot weather, and casually sets Austria's head on the ground. Oh yeah, and he also seems ki...
Act 3, Scene 3
King John and his posse—including his mom now—come back on stage.Arthur's afraid his mom is probably freaking out, but King John tells him not to worry: he'll take good care of him.Next, K...
Act 3, Scene 4
King Philip, Louis, and Pandulph enter.King Philip is ticked off because his entire naval fleet has just been destroyed by a crazy storm. Psst! This is a not-so-subtle shout-out to the Spanish Arma...
Act 4, Scene 1
Act IV opens in a castle prison in England. Hubert enters with some scary-looking executioners who are holding some rope and irons.He tells the executioners to stay out of sight while they hea...
Act 4, Scene 2
Now we are in the English royal court, where King John has just had himself crowned...for a second time.Pembroke and Salisbury, two English noblemen, criticize John for this second coronation. They...
Act 4, Scene 3
It's not easy to walk out the front gate of a well-guarded castle, which is why Arthur—in his attempt to escape—is now standing atop the castle walls. He contemplates his options. If he st...
Act 5, Scene 1
Welcome to the royal court of England. King John is kneeling before Pandulph. He gives his crown to Pandulph, who then gives it back to him.Okay. It looks like King John and the Pope are buddi...
Act 5, Scene 2
In St. Edmundsbury, England, Louis the Dauphin and his posse talk turkey.Louis has a contract that has been signed by the French and English allies, pledging their loyalty to each other, and their...
Act 5, Scene 3
The battle is raging between King John's forces and those of Louis and the rebelling English noblemen.King John asks Hubert how things are going, and Hubert says not so well. He asks how King John...
Act 5, Scene 4
The battle is still raging. Pembroke, Salisbury, and Bigot can't believe that King John's forces are still standing strong. And since they know the King had to leave the battlefield, they realize i...
Act 5, Scene 5
Louis says that the sun has just set, and the English are hightailing it off the battlefield. Looks like things are going okay for the French. Hold that thought.A messenger runs in and is all, "OMG...
Act 5, Scene 6
Welcome to the neighborhood of Swinstead Abbey, where King John is totally hiding out.The Bastard and Hubert enter from opposite directions. It's so dark they don't recognize each other at first an...
Act 5, Scene 7
Prince Henry, Salisbury, and Lord Bigot are chatting in an orchard at Swinstead Abbey.Prince Henry says that his old man isn't doing so well: the poison has gone throughout his whole body, and...