The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (179 page)

Now entertain a brief passing of time when night surrounds the earth. From camp to camp, hear the hum of army sounds and the secret whispers of each sentinel’s watch. Men answer fire with fire, staring into the other’s face. Horses threaten other horses with high-pitched neighs, piercing the soundless night. From tents, you hear the men being placed in their armor. Take note of the dreadful preparation for war. The country cocks crow and the clocks toll the third hour of morning. The proud and over-lusty French, secure in their numbers, go to meet the English as night passes, like an ugly limping witch. The poor condemned English wait like sacrifices by their fire and think about the morning’s danger. Their faces are sad and lean, and their coats are worn from war. Behold the royal captain going from tent to tent crying, “Praise and glory be!” He bids them good morning with a modest smile and calls them brothers, friends, and countrymen. He appears unaware of the condition of his men, but looks fresh and cheerful so every man may take comfort from him. He looks upon each man, cold with fear, and gives them a piece of himself. Now, our scene takes us to battle at Agincourt. Watch our performance and remember our story.

Exit.

Enter King Henry, Bedford, and Gloucester.

King

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 distil it out;


For our bad neighbour 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.


Thus may we gather honey from the weed,


And make a moral of the devil himself.

Gloucester, it’s true we are in great danger, so we must be more courageous. Good morning, brother Bedford. God almighty, there are still some good found among evil. Our bad neighbor makes us early risers, which is both healthy and noble. Besides, they are like preachers to us, reprimanding us so we should be ready for the end, so we may take the good from the bad and find the moral of all this.

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.

Good morning, old Sir Thomas Erpingham. I bet you wish you had a soft pillow for that white head than the hard ground of France.

Erpingham

Not so, my liege; this lodging likes me better,


Since I may say, "Now lie I like a king."

Not so, my king, this lodging is just fine by me, since I can say, “Now I lay just like a king.”

King

'Tis good for men to love their present pains


Upon example; so the spirit is eased;


And when the mind is quick'ned, out of doubt,


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. Brothers both,


Commend me to the princes in our camp;


Do my good morrow to them, and anon


Desire them all to my pavilion.

It’s good for men to embrace their present pains to ease their spirits when their minds are filled with doubt. It awakens the body and gives a fresh perspective on life. Lend me your cloak, Sir Thomas. Both of you, give my pardons to the princes in our camp and tell them

 good morning. Tell them they are welcome in my tent, if they would like.

Gloucester

We shall, my liege.

We will, my liege.

Erpingham

Shall I attend your Grace?

Should I go, your grace?

King

No, my good knight;


Go with my brothers to my lords of England.


I and my bosom must debate a while,


And then I would no other company.

No, my good knight, go with my brothers to my lords of England. We must talk awhile and then I want to be alone.

Erpingham

The Lord in heaven bless thee, noble Harry!

May the Lord in heaven bless you, noble Harry!

Exit all but King Henry.

King

God-a-mercy, old heart! thou speak'st cheerfully.

God have mercy, old heart! You speak cheerfully.

Enter Pistol.

Pistol

Qui va la?

Who are you?

King

A friend.

A friend.

Pistol

Discuss unto me; art thou officer?


Or art thou base, common, and popular?

Are you an officer or are you a common man?

King

I am a gentleman of a company.

I am a gentleman of one of the companies.

Pistol

Trail'st thou the puissant pike?

Do you carry a pike?

King

Even so. What are you?

Yes. What are you?

Pistol

As good a gentleman as the Emperor.

I am a gentleman as good as the emperor.

King

Then you are a better than the King.

Then you are better than the king.

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 heart-string


I love the lovely bully. What is thy name?

The king is a great man with a heart of gold. He is all about life, not fame. He comes from good parents and is most valiant. I would kiss his dirty shoe. I love him. What is your name?

King

Harry le Roy.

Harry LeRoy.

Pistol

Le Roy! a Cornish name. Art thou of Cornish crew?

That’s a Cornish name. Are you Cornish?

King

No, I am a Welshman.

No, I am a Welshman.

Pistol

Know'st thou Fluellen?

Do you know Fluellen?

King

Yes.

Yes.

Pistol

Tell him I'll knock his leek about his pate


Upon Saint Davy's day.

Then, tell him, I’m going to knock his block off on St. Davy’s day.

King

Do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day, lest


he knock that about yours.

You better not wear your dagger in your hat or he might knock yours off.

Pistol

Art thou his friend?

Are you his friend?

King

And his kinsman too.

And his relative, too.

Pistol

The figo for thee, then!

To hell with you, then!

King

I thank you. God be with you!

Thanks. God be with you!

Pistol

My name is Pistol call'd.

My name is Pistol.

Exit.

King

It sorts well with your fierceness.

The name suits your fierceness.

Enter Fluellen and Gower.

Gower

Captain Fluellen!

Captain Fluellen!

Fluellen

So! in the name of Jesu Christ, speak lower. 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 pains but to examine the wars of Pompey the Great, you


shall find, I warrant you, that there is no tiddle taddle nor pibble pabble in Pompey's camp. I warrant you, you shall find the ceremonies of the wars, and the cares of it, and the forms of it, and the sobriety of it, and the modesty of it, to be otherwise.

In the name of Jesus, speak lower. It’s a shame when people aren’t aware of the laws of war. It would do you some good to examine the wars of Pompey, the Great. You will surely find no silliness in his camp, only the ceremonies and seriousness of war.

Gower

Why, the enemy is loud; you hear him all night.

Why? The enemy is loud. You hear them all night.

Fluellen

If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a prating 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?

Should we be fools, if the enemy is? Think about it.

Gower

I will speak lower.

I will be quieter.

Fluellen

I pray you and beseech you that you will.

I hope so.

Exit Gower and Fluellen.

King

Though it appear a little out of fashion,


There is much care and valour in this Welshman.

It may not be popular, but there is much care in this Welshman.

Enter three soldiers, John Bates, Alexander Court, and Michael Williams.

Court

Brother John Bates, is not that the morning which breaks


yonder?

Brother John Bates, isn’t that the morning breaking over there?

Bates

I think it be; but we have no great cause to desire the


approach of day.

I think it is, but we are in no hurry for it.

Williams

We see yonder the beginning of the day, but I think


we shall never see the end of it. Who goes there?

We see the beginning of a new day, but I don’t think we will see the end. Who goes there?

King

A friend.

A friend.

Williams

Under what captain serve you?

What captain do you serve?