The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (178 page)

"Le chien est retourne a son propre vomissement, et la


truie lavee au bourbier." Thou mak'st use of anything.

“The dog returns to his own vomit and the pig to its mud.” You would make anything your mistress.

Constable

Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress, or any such


proverb so little kin to the purpose.

Yet, I don’t use my horse for my mistress or any other think like it.

Rambures

My Lord Constable, the armour that I saw in your tent


to-night, are those stars or suns upon it?

My lord Constable, are there stars or suns on the armor I saw in your tent tonight?

Constable

Stars, my lord.

Stars, my lord.

Dauphin

Some of them will fall to-morrow, I hope.

I hope some of them will fall tomorrow.

Constable

And yet my sky shall not want.

But, my sky will not be left in want.

Dauphin

That may be, for you bear a many superfluously, and 'twere


more honour some were away.

You wear too many, anyway.

Constable

Even as your horse bears your praises; who would trot as


well, were some of your brags dismounted.

Not as many as the praises you heap upon your horse.

Dauphin

Would I were able to load him with his desert! Will it never be day? I will trot to-morrow a mile, and my way shall be


paved with English faces.

I still can’t give him enough praises. Will it ever be day? I will ride a mile tomorrow and pave the way with Englishmen.

Constable

I will not say so, for fear I should be fac'd out of my way. But I would it were morning; for I would fain be about


the ears of the English.

I wouldn’t say that. You shouldn’t brag, but I do wish it was morning, because I am ready to face the English.

Rambures

Who will go to hazard with me for twenty prisoners?

Would anyone like to bet me twenty prisoners?

Constable

You must first go yourself to hazard, ere you have them.

You have to get them, first.

Dauphin

'Tis midnight; I'll go arm myself.

It’s midnight. I’m going to get prepared.

Exit.

Orleans

The Dauphin longs for morning.

The Dauphin can’t wait until morning.

Rambures

He longs to eat the English.

He’s ready to eat the English.

Constable

I think he will eat all he kills.

I think he will be able to eat all he kills.

Orleans

By the white hand of my lady, he's a gallant prince.

I swear by the white hand of my lady, he is a brave prince.

Constable

Swear by her foot that she may tread out the oath.

You’d be better off to swear by her foot.

Orleans

He is simply the most active gentleman of France.

He is the most active gentleman in France.

Constable

Doing is activity; and he will still be doing.

Acting is activity, and he’s always doing that.

Orleans

He never did harm, that I heard of.

He never has harmed anyone that I know of.

Constable

Nor will do none to-morrow. He will keep that good


name still.

Nor will he tomorrow. He will keep his good name, still.

Orleans

I know him to be valiant.

I think he is courageous.

Constable

I was told that by one that knows him better than you.

Someone who knows him better than you told me that.

Orleans

What's he?

Who?

Constable

Marry, he told me so himself; and he said he car'd not


who knew it.

He told me so himself, and he said he didn’t care who knew it.

Orleans

He needs not; it is no hidden virtue in him.

Well, he doesn’t have to be brave. It’s not a hard virtue to see.

Constable

By my faith, sir, but it is; never anybody saw it but his


lackey. 'Tis a hooded valour; and when it appears, it will


bate.

I swear, sir, valor is never easy to see. No one has ever seen him be brave, but his servant, and then it was short-lived.

Orleans

"Ill will never said well."

You shouldn’t speak ill of him.

Constable

I will cap that proverb with "There is flattery in friendship."

And, flattery is found among friends.

Orleans

And I will take up that with "Give the devil his due."

Just, giving the devil his due.

Constable

Well plac'd. There stands your friend for the devil; have at the very eye of that proverb with "A pox of the devil."

That’s a good word for him, the devil.

Orleans

You are the better at proverbs, by how much "A fool's


bolt is soon shot."

You are better at using proverbs for a fool shoots quickly and often misses his mark.

Constable

You have shot over.

You have over shot your friend.

Orleans

'Tis not the first time you were overshot.

It’s not the first time.

Enter a messenger.

Messenger

My Lord High Constable, the English lie within fifteen


hundred paces of your tents.

My lord, high Constable, the English are within fifteen hundred feet from your tents.

Constable

Who hath measur'd the ground?

Who measured the ground?

Messenger

The Lord Grandpre.

The Lord Grandpre.

Constable

A valiant and most expert gentleman. Would it were day!


Alas, poor Harry of England, he longs not for the dawning as we do.

 Now, that’s a valiant gentleman. I wish it were day! I bet poor Harry of England doesn’t though.

Orleans

What a wretched and peevish fellow is this King of England, to mope with his fat-brain'd followers so far out of his


knowledge!

He is a wretched and stupid fellow to bring his fat-headed followers to France, where he doesn’t know anything.

Constable

If the English had any apprehension, they would run away.

If the English had any sense, they’d run away.

Orleans

That they lack; for if their heads had any intellectual armour, they could never wear such heavy head-pieces.

They don’t have any brains in their heads or else they couldn’t wear such heavy armor.

Rambures

That island of England breeds very valiant creatures. Their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage.

The island of England breeds very valiant creatures; their dogs are of unmatchable courage.

Orleans

Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crush'd like rotten apples! You may as well say, that's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.

They’re foolish dogs to run blind into the mouth of a bear that will crush their heads like apples! You might as well say they are valiant fleas eating their breakfast on the lip of a lion.

Constable

Just, just; and the men do sympathize with the mastiffs in


robustious and rough coming on, leaving their wits with their wives; and then, give them great meals of beef and iron and steel, they will eat like wolves and fight like devils.

We men must feel sorry for these dogs that left their brains behind with their wives. Then they are given them meals of beef and iron to eat like wolves and fight like devils.

Orleans

Ay, but these English are shrewdly out of beef.

Yes, but these English are out of beef.

Constable

Then shall we find to-morrow they have only stomachs to


eat and none to fight. Now is it time to arm. Come, shall we about it?

Then I hope we find tomorrow they don’t have the stomachs to fight. Now, it’s time to prepare. Shall we go?

Orleans

It is now two o'clock; but, let me see, by ten


We shall have each a hundred Englishmen.

It’s only two o’clock, but let me see, by ten tomorrow, we will each have a hundred Englishmen.

Exit.

Enter Chorus.

Chorus

Now entertain conjecture of a time


When creeping murmur and the poring dark


Fills the wide vessel of the universe.


From camp to camp through the foul womb of night


The hum of either army stilly sounds,


That the fix'd sentinels almost receive


The secret whispers of each other's watch;


Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames


Each battle sees the other's umber'd face;


Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs


Piercing the night's dull ear; and from the tents


The armourers, accomplishing the knights,


With busy hammers closing rivets up,


Give dreadful note of preparation.


The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll,


And the third hour of drowsy morning name.


Proud of their numbers and secure in soul,


The confident and over-lusty French


Do the low-rated English play at dice;


And chide the cripple tardy-gaited Night


Who, like a foul and ugly witch, doth limp


So tediously away. The poor condemned English,


Like sacrifices, by their watchful fires


Sit patiently and inly ruminate


The morning's danger; and their gesture sad,


Investing lank-lean cheeks and war-worn coats,


Presented them unto the gazing moon


So many horrid ghosts. O now, who will behold


The royal captain of this ruin'd band


Walking from watch to watch, from tent to tent,


Let him cry, "Praise and glory on his head!"


For forth he goes and visits all his host,


Bids them good morrow with a modest smile,


And calls them brothers, friends, and countrymen.


Upon his royal face there is no note


How dread an army hath enrounded him;


Nor doth he dedicate one jot of colour


Unto the weary and all-watched night,


But freshly looks, and over-bears attaint


With cheerful semblance and sweet majesty;


That every wretch, pining and pale before,


Beholding him, plucks comfort from his looks.


A largess universal like the sun


His liberal eye doth give to every one,


Thawing cold fear, that mean and gentle all


Behold, as may unworthiness define,


A little touch of Harry in the night.


And so our scene must to the battle fly,


Where--O for pity!--we shall much disgrace


With four or five most vile and ragged foils,


Right ill-dispos'd in brawl ridiculous,


The name of Agincourt. Yet sit and see,


Minding true things by what their mock'ries be.