The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (127 page)

Now, for our consciences, the arms are fair,

When the intent of bearing them is just.

I cannot read them now.

Oh gentlemen, life is short!

If life was just an hour long

it would still be too long if it was not

spent wisely.

If we live, we live to triumph over Kings,

if we die, what a good death when princes die with us!

We can fight with good conscience

knowing that our intentions are pure.

[Enter another Messenger.]

MESS.

My lord, prepare:the King comes on apace.

My Lord, get ready: the King is approaching quickly.

HOT.

I thank him, that he cuts me from my tale,

For I profess not talking; only this,

Let each man do his best:and here draw I

A sword, whose temper I intend to stain

With the best blood that I can meet withal

In the adventure of this perilous day.

Now, Esperance! Percy! and set on.

Sound all the lofty instruments of war,

And by that music let us all embrace;

For, Heaven to Earth, some of us never shall

A second time do such a courtesy.

I thank him for stopping my speech,

for I am not a good talker; I'll just say this,

let every man do his best: and here I draw

a sword, whose steel I intend to stain

with the best blood that I can find

on this dangerous day.

Now, cry Hope! Percy! And set to.

Play all the great instruments of war,

and let us all embrace tothat music;

for it's odds-on that some of us will never

have a chance to do this again.

[The trumpets sound.They embrace, and exeunt.]

[Excursions, and Parties fighting.Alarum to the battle.

Then enter Douglas and Sir Walter Blunt, meeting.]

BLUNT.

What is thy name, that in the battle thus

Thou crossest me? what honour dost thou seek

Upon my head?

What is your name, you who crosses me

in battle? What honour do you seek

by taking my head?

DOUG.

Know, then, my name is Douglas,

And I do haunt thee in the battle thus

Because some tell me that thou art a king.

I tell you that my name is Douglas,

and I am pursuing you in the battle

because I have been told that you are a king.

BLUNT.

They tell thee true.

You have heard right.

DOUG.

The Lord of Stafford dear to-day hath bought

Thy likeness; for, instead of thee, King Harry,

This sword hath ended him:so shall it thee,

Unless thou yield thee as my prisoner.

The Lord of Stafford paid a high price today for

looking like you; for, instead of you, King Harry,

this sword killed him: it shall do the same to you,

unless you surrender as my prisoner.

BLUNT.

I was not born a yielder, thou proud Scot;

And thou shalt find a king that will revenge

Lord Stafford's death.

I was not born to surrender, you proud Scot;

and you will find a king who will avenge

Lord Stafford's death.

[They fight, and Blunt is slain. Enter Hotspur.]

HOT.

O Douglas, hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus,

I never had triumphed o'er a Scot.

Oh Douglas, if you had fought like this at Holmedon

I would never have beaten a single Scot.

DOUG.

All's done, all's won; here breathless lies the King.

It's over, we've won; here lies the King, dead.

HOT.

Where?

Where?

DOUG.

Here.

Here.

HOT.

This, Douglas? no; I know this face full well:

A gallant knight he was, his name was Blunt;

Semblably furnish'd like the King himself.

This, Douglas? No; I recognise this man:

he was a gallant knight, he was called Blunt;

he is dressed the same as the King.

DOUG.

A fool go with thy soul, where're it goes!

A borrow'd title hast thou bought too dear:

Why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king?

May you be called a fool, wherever your soul goes!

You have paid too dearly for that borrowed title:

why did you tell me that you were a king?

HOT.

The King hath many marching in his coats.

The King has many soldiers wearing his uniform.

DOUG.

Now, by my sword, I will kill all his coats;

I'll murder all his wardrobe piece by piece,

Until I meet the King.

I swear by my sword I'll kill all his uniforms;

I'll murder his wardrobe piece by piece,

until I meet the King.

HOT.

Up, and away!

Our soldiers stand full fairly for the day.

Up, and away!

Our soldiers are fully engaged.

[Exeunt.]

[Alarums. Enter Falstaff.]

FAL.

Though I could 'scape shot-free at London, I fear the shot

here; here's no scoring but upon the pate.--Soft! who are you?

Sir Walter Blunt:there's honour for you! here's no vanity! I am

as hot as molten lead, and as heavy too:God keep lead out of me!

I need no more weight than mine own bowels. I have led my

ragamuffins where they are peppered:there's not three of my

hundred and fifty left alive; and they are for the town's end, to

beg during life. But who comes here?

I could have stayed out of range in London, I fear the

shooting here; our heads are the only targets. Wait! Who are you?

Sir Walter Blunt: that's what honour gets you! No vanity here! I am

as hot as molten lead, and as heavy too: may God keep lead out of me!

I don't need any more ballast than my own stomach. I have led my

ragamuffins into dangerous places: there are not three of my

hundred and fifty left alive; and they will end up begging on the

outskirts of town. But who's this?

[Enter Prince Henry.]

PRINCE.

What, stand'st thou idle here? lend me thy sword:

Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff

Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies,

Whose deaths are yet unrevenged:I pr'ythee,

Lend me thy sword.

What, are you standing here doing nothing? Lend me your sword:

there are many noblemen lying stiff and cold

under the hooves of their proud enemies,

whose deaths have not yet been revenged: I beg you,

lend me your sword.

FAL.

O Hal, I pr'ythee give me leave to breathe awhile. Turk

Gregory never did such deeds in arms as I have done this

day. I have paid Percy, I have made him sure.

Oh Hal, please give me time to catch my breath.

The angry Gregory never performed such feats of arms as

I have today. I have killed Percy, I have made sure of him.

PRINCE.

He is indeed; and living to kill thee.

I pr'ythee, lend me thy sword.

It's certainly sure that he's still alive to kill you.

Please, lend me your sword.

FAL.

Nay, before God, Hal, if Percy be alive, thou gett'st not

my sword; but take my pistol, if thou wilt.

No, I swear, Hal, if Percy is alive, you're not getting

my sword; but take my pistol, if you want.

PRINCE.

Give it me:what, is it in the case?

Give it to me: what, is it in its holster?

FAL.

Ay, Hal. 'Tis hot, 'tis hot:there's that will sack a city.

Yes Hal. It's cooling down: there is something there that could sack a city.

[The Prince draws out a bottle of sack.]

PRINCE.

What, is't a time to jest and dally now?

What, is this a time for silly jokes?

[Throws it at him, and exit.]

FAL.

Well, if Percy be alive, I'll pierce him. If he do come in my

way, so; if he do not, if I come in his willingly, let him make

a carbonado of me. I like not such grinning honour as Sir

Walter hath:give me life; which if I can save, so; if not,

honour comes unlooked for, and there's an end.

Well, if Percy is alive, I'll stab him. If he comes in my

way, good; if he doesn't, I'll willingly come in his, and he can

make mincemeat of me. I don't like the sort of honour that Sir

Walter has: give me life; if I can save it, good; if not,

honour will come without me looking for it, that's all there is to it.

[Exit.]

[Alarums. Excursions. Enter King Henry, Prince Henry,

Lancaster, and Westmoreland.]

KING.

I pr'ythee,

Harry, withdraw thyself; thou bleedest too much.--

Lord John of Lancaster, go you unto him.

Please, Harry,

retire; you are bleeding too much.

Lord John of Lancaster, you help him.