The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (185 page)

King

How now! what means this, herald? Know'st thou not


That I have fin'd these bones of mine for ransom?


Com'st thou again for ransom?

Hey! What now, herald? Don’t you know these fine bones are not for ransom? Have you come again?

Montjoy

No, great King;


I come to thee for charitable license,


That we may wander o'er this bloody field


To book our dead, and then to bury them;


To sort our nobles from our common men.


For many of our princes--woe the while!--


Lie drown'd and soak'd in mercenary blood;


So do our vulgar drench their peasant limbs


In blood of princes; and their wounded steeds


Fret fetlock deep in gore, and with wild rage


Yerk out their armed heels at their dead masters,


Killing them twice. O, give us leave, great King,


To view the field in safety, and dispose


Of their dead bodies!

No, great king. I come to you for your charity. We would like to look over this bloody field for our dead so we may bury them. We would like to sort our nobles from the common men because there are many princes dead in the field. We would also like to get the horses that are on the field stomping the bodies. Please let us onto the field, great king, to find the bodies and bury them.

King

I tell thee truly, herald,


I know not if the day be ours or no;


For yet a many of your horsemen peer


And gallop o'er the field.

I tell you, herald, I don’t know if the day is ours. Many of your friends still ride in the field.

Montjoy

The day is yours.

The day is yours.

King

Praised be God, and not our strength, for it!


What is this castle call'd that stands hard by?

Praise be to God. What is that castle called?

Montjoy

They call it Agincourt.

They call it Agincourt.

King

Then call we this the field of Agincourt,


Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus.

Then we will call this the field of Agincourt, and the battle was fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus.

Fluellen

Your grandfather of famous memory, an't please your


Majesty, and your great-uncle Edward the Plack Prince of


Wales, as I have read in the chronicles, fought a most prave pattle here in France.

Your grandfather and your great-uncle Edward the Black Prince of Wales, as I have read, fought a most brave battle here in France.

King

They did, Fluellen.

They did, Fluellen.

Fluellen

Your Majesty says very true. If your Majesties is rememb'red of it, the Welshmen did good service in garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps; which, your Majesty know, to this hour is an honourable badge of the service; and I do believe your Majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek upon Saint Tavy's day.

If I remember correctly, the Welshmen fought bravely in a garden where they grew leeks. Now wearing leeks in Monmouth caps is a badge of honor. I believe you wear a leek on Saint Davy’s Day, your Majesty.

King

I wear it for a memorable honour;


For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman.

I wear it to honor their memory. You know I am Welsh.

Fluellen

All the water in Wye cannot wash your Majesty's Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that. Got pless it and preserve it, as long as it pleases His grace, and His majesty too!

All the water in the Wye could not wash out your majesty’s Welsh blood. May God bless it and keep it safe, as long as it pleases Him and your majesty!

King

Thanks, good my countryman.

Thanks, my good countryman.

Fluellen

By Jeshu, I am your Majesty's countryman, I care not who know it. I will confess it to all the 'orld. I need not be asham'd of your Majesty, praised be God, so long as your Majesty is an honest man.

By God, I am your majesty’s countryman. I don’t care who knows it. I will confess it to the world. I don’t need to be ashamed of your majesty as long as he is an honest man.

King

God keep me so! Our heralds go with him;


Bring me just notice of the numbers dead


On both our parts. Call yonder fellow hither.

May God keep me that way. Heralds go with Montjoy. Find out how many are dead, both English and French. Tell him to come here.

Points to Williams. Exit Heralds with Montjoy.

Exeter

Soldier, you must come to the King.

Soldier, you must come to the king.

King

Soldier, why wear'st thou that glove in thy cap?

Soldier, why are wearing that glove in your cap?

Williams

An't please your Majesty, 'tis the gage of one that I


should fight withal, if he be alive.

If it pleases you your majesty, it’s the glove of a man I will fight, if I ever see him alive again.

King

An Englishman?

An Englishman?

Williams

An't please your Majesty, a rascal that swagger'd with me


last night; who, if alive and ever dare to challenge this


glove, I have sworn to take him a box o' the ear; or if I can see my glove in his cap, which he swore, as he was a soldier, he would wear if alive, I will strike it out soundly.

It was a rascal that argued with me last night, who if I see alive again have sworn to give him a knock up against his head. Or, if I see my glove in his cap, which he swore as a soldier he would, I will knock him in the head.

King

What think you, Captain Fluellen? Iis it fit this soldier keep his oath?

What do you think, Captain Fluellen? Is it proper for this soldier to keep his oath?

Fluellen

He is a craven and a villain else, an't please your Majesty, in my conscience.

He would be crazy and a villain not to, if I may say so.

King

It may be his enemy is a gentlemen of great sort, quite from the answer of his degree.

It may be his enemy is a gentleman beyond reproach.

Fluellen

Though he be as good a gentleman as the devil is, as Lucifier and Belzebub himself, it is necessary, look your Grace, that he keep his vow and his oath. If he be perjur'd, see you now, his reputation is as arrant a villain and a Jacksauce, as ever his black shoe trod upon God's ground and His earth, in my


conscience, la!

He may be as good a gentleman as the devil or Lucifer and Beelzebub, but it is necessary for him to keep his oath or be considered a liar or worse, a villain.

King

Then keep thy vow, sirrah, when thou meet'st the fellow.

Then keep your vow, sir, when you meet the fellow.  

Williams

So I will, my liege, as I live.

I will, my liege, I swear on my life.

King

Who serv'st thou under?

Who do you serve under?

Williams

Under Captain Gower, my liege.

Captain Gower, my liege.

Fluellen

Gower is a good captain, and is good knowledge and


literatured in the wars.

Gower is a good captain, very knowledgeable in the art of war.

King

Call him hither to me, soldier.

Call him to me, soldier.

Williams

I will, my liege.

I will, my liege.

Exit.

King

Here, Fluellen; wear thou this favour for me and stick it in thy cap. When Alencon and myself were down together, I pluck'd this glove from his helm. If any man challenge this, he is a friend to Alencon, and an enemy to our person. If thou encounter any such, apprehend him, an thou dost me love.

Here Fluellen, wear this in your cap as a favor for me. I took this glove from Alencon when we were down together. If any man challenges this he is a friend to Alencon, and our enemy. If you encounter anyone like this, arrest him, if you love me.

Fluellen

Your Grace doo's me as great honours as can be desir'd in the hearts of his subjects. I would fain see the man, that has but two legs, that shall find himself aggrief'd at this glove; that is all. But I would fain see it once, an please God of His grace that I might see.

It would be an honor. I would like to find any man with two legs who would take offense at this glove. I would hate to see it just once, and I hope I do, God willing.

King

Know'st thou Gower?

Do you know Gower?

Fluellen

He is my dear friend, an please you.

He is my dear friend, if it pleases you.

King

Pray thee, go seek him, and bring him to my tent.

Then I ask you to go find him and bring him to my tent.

Fluellen

I will fetch him.

I will.

Exit.

King

My Lord of Warwick, and my brother Gloucester,


Follow Fluellen closely at the heels.


The glove which I have given him for a favour


May haply purchase him a box o' the ear.


It is the soldier's; I by bargain should


Wear it myself. Follow, good cousin Warwick.


If that the soldier strike him, as I judge


By his blunt bearing he will keep his word,


Some sudden mischief may arise of it;


For I do know Fluellen valiant


And, touch'd with choler, hot as gunpowder,


And quickly will return an injury.


Follow, and see there be no harm between them.


Go you with me, uncle of Exeter.

My Lord of Warwick and my brother, Gloucester, follow Fluellen. The glove I gave him may get him a knock on the head. It’s the soldier’s. I should wear it myself. Follow him, good cousin Warwick, and if that soldier follows his oath make sure no harm comes to them. You go with me, Uncle Exeter.

Exit.