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

by William Shakespeare

  Exit.

  Re-enter Fluellen with Gower following.

  Gower

  Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the mines. The Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.

  Captain Fluellen, you must come to the mines now. The Duke of Gloucester wants to speak with you.

  Fluellen

  To the mines! Tell you the Duke, it is not so good to come to the mines; for, look you, the mines is not according to the disciplines of the war. The concavities of it is not sufficient; for, look you, the athversary, you may discuss unto the Duke, look you, is digt himself four yard under the countermines. By Cheshu, I think 'a will plow up all, if there is not better directions.

  To the mines! Tell the Duke it’s not a good idea to go the mines. It goes against the disciplines of war. It’s not a good place to fight the adversary. The French are already there and it will not work, by God.

  Gower

  The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the siege is given, is altogether directed by an Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i' faith.

  The Duke of Gloucester, who is in command, is being led by an Irishman, a very gallant fellow.

  Fluellen

  It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?

  Is it Captain Macmorris?

  Gower

  I think it be.

  I think so.

  Fluellen

  By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world. I will verify as much in his beard. He has no more directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy-dog.

  By god, he is an ass. He doesn’t know anything about the tactics of war.

  Enter Macmorris and Captain Jamy

  Gower

  Here 'a comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.

  Here he comes with Captain Jamy of the Scots.

  Fluellen

  Captain Jamy is a marvellous falorous gentleman, that is certain; and of great expedition and knowledge in the aunchient wars, upon my particular knowledge of his directions. By Cheshu, he will maintain his argument as well as any military man in the world, in the disciplines of the pristine wars of the Romans.

  Captain Jamy is a great gentleman for sure and very knowledgeable of the ways of war. By God, he will know what to do.

  Jamy

  I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen.

  Good day, Captain Fluellen.

  Fluellen

  God-den to your worship, good Captain James.

  Hello, Captain James.

  Gower

  How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the mines? Have the pioneers given o'er?

  How are you, Captain Macmorris? Have you forgotten about the mines? Have the men given up?

  Macmorris

  By Chrish, la! 'tish ill done! The work ish give over, the trompet sound the retreat. By my hand I swear, and my father's soul, the work ish ill done; it ish give over. I would have blowed up the town, so Chrish save me, la! in an hour. O, 'tish ill done, 'tish ill done; by my hand, 'tish ill done!

  Christ, it’s horrible. The work is done and the trumpet sounded for retreat. I swear the work was not done well. I could have blown up the town in an hour, I swear, but the work wasn’t done.

  Fluellen

  Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will you voutsafe me, look you, a few disputations with you, as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of the war, the Roman wars, in the way of argument, look you, and friendly communication; partly to satisfy my opinion, and partly for the satisfaction, look you, of my mind, as touching the direction of the military discipline; that is the point.

  Captain Macmorris, I would like to talk with you about war tactics, particularly the Roman’s, to see if we agree.

  Jamy

  It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captains bath: and I sall quit you with gud leve, as I may pick occasion; that sall I, marry.

  That would be good, good captains. As soon as I have time, we will discuss it.

  Macmorris

  It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me. The day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the King, and the Dukes. It is no time to discourse. The town is beseech'd, and the trumpet call us to the breach, and we talk, and, be Chrish, do nothing. 'Tis shame for us all. So God sa' me, 'tis shame to stand still; it is shame, by my hand; and there is throats to be cut, and works to be done; and there ish nothing done, so Chrish sa' me, la!

  This is no time for a discussion. Christ, save me. The day is hot and war is all around us. It’s no time to have a conversation. The town is under raid and the battle trumpet is calling and we sit here talking. Shame on us. God save me. It’s a shame to stand still when there are throats to be cut and work to be done.

  Jamy

  By the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves to slomber, I'll de gud service, or I'll lig i' the grund for it; ay, or go to death; and I'll pay't as valorously as I may, that sall I suerly do, that is the breff and the long. Marry, I wad full fain heard some question 'tween you tway.

  I swear before I sleep, I’ll do some good work today or die trying, and that’s the truth. I would love to hear you two discuss warfare, though.

  Fluellen

  Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there is not many of your nation--

  Captain Macmorris, I think there aren’t many from your nation…

  Macmorris

  Of my nation! What ish my nation? Ish a villain, and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal? What ish my nation? Who talks of my nation?

  My nation! What is my nation? You are a villain and a rascal. Who talks about my nation?

  Fluellen

  Look you, if you take the matter otherwise than is meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I shall think you do not use me with that affability as in discretion you ought to use me, look you, being as good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of war, and in the derivation of my birth, and in other particularities.

  Look you, if you take what I’m saying wrong, Captain Macmorris, you don’t know me very well. I am as good a man as you, by birth and the disciplines of war.

  Macmorris

  I do not know you so good a man as myself. So Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.

  I know no such thing, so by Christ, I will cut off your head.

  Gower

  Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.

  Gentlemen, you both are out of line.

  Jamy

  Ah! that's a foul fault.

  And that’s a serious fault.

  A trumpet sounds.

  Gower

  The town sounds a parley.

  The town is sounding the trumpet.

  Fluellen

  Captain Macmorris, when there is more better opportunity to be required, look you, I will be so bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of war; and there is an end.

  Captain Macmorris, when there is a better time, I will show you I know more about warfare, and that’s all.

  Exit.

  The Governor and some Citizens on the walls; the English forces below. Enter King Henry and his train.

  King

  How yet resolves the governor of the town? This is the latest parle we will admit; Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves, Or like to men proud of destruction Defy us to our worst; for, as I am a soldier, A name that in my thoughts becomes me best, If I begin the battery once again, I will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur Till in her ashes she lie buried. The gates of mercy shall be all shut up, And the flesh'd soldier, rough and hard of heart, In liberty of bloody hand shall range With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass Your fresh fair virgins and your flow'ring infants. What is it then to me, if impious War,

  Array'd in flames like to the prince of fiends, Do with his smirch'd complexion all fell feats Enlink'd to waste and desolation? What is't to me, when you yourselves are cause, If your pure maidens fall into the hand Of hot and forcing violation? What rein can hold licentio
us wickedness When down the hill he holds his fierce career? We may as bootless spend our vain command Upon the enraged soldiers in their spoil As send precepts to the leviathan To come ashore. Therefore, you men of Harfleur, Take pity of your town and of your people, Whiles yet my soldiers are in my command, Whiles yet the cool and temperate wind of grace O'erblows the filthy and contagious clouds Of heady murder, spoil, and villainy. If not, why, in a moment look to see The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand Defile the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters; Your fathers taken by the silver beards, And their most reverend heads dash'd to the walls; Your naked infants spitted upon pikes, Whiles the mad mothers with their howls confus'd Do break the clouds, as did the wives of Jewry At Herod's bloody-hunting slaughtermen. What say you? Will you yield, and this avoid, Or, guilty in defence, be thus destroy'd?

  How does the governor of the town want to resolve this? This is his last chance before I turn my men loose and let them do their worst. I am a soldier, and if I start to fight again, I will not stop until the town of Harfleur is ashes. The gates of mercy will be closed and my soldiers will have their way with your women and children. What is it to me, if in the battles of war, there is complete and utter destruction? What is it to me when you brought all of this on yourselves?

  Why do I care if your maidens are violated and what can rein in wickedness once it is loose? Who can stop the blood-thirsty soldiers in the midst of their looting? Therefore, you men of Harfleur, take pity on your town and your people, while I still have command of my soldiers. If you don’t give up, you will see bloody soldiers defile your shrieking daughters and old men killed. Your children will be placed upon pikes while their mothers how. Give up like the Jewish women during Herod’s bloody slaughter. What do you say? Will you yield and avoid catastrophe or will you continue and be destroyed?

  Governor

  Our expectation hath this day an end. The Dauphin, whom of succours we entreated, Returns us that his powers are yet not ready To raise so great a siege. Therefore, great King, We yield our town and lives to thy soft mercy. Enter our gates; dispose of us and ours; For we no longer are defensible.

  Our hope and expectations have been dashed, because the Dauphin is not ready to send his powers to help us, so we yield our town and lives to you. Be merciful and enter our gates we can no longer defend.

  King

  Open your gates. Come, uncle Exeter, Go you and enter Harfleur; there remain, And fortify it strongly 'gainst the French. Use mercy to them all. For us, dear uncle, The winter coming on, and sickness growing Upon our soldiers, we will retire to Calais. To-night in Harfleur will we be your guest; To-morrow for the march are we addrest.

  Open your gates. Come, Uncle Exeter, enter Harfleur and stay to fortify it against the French. Be merciful, dear uncle, because winter is coming and sickness grows among our soldiers. We will go to Calais tomorrow, but tonight we will stay in Harfleur.

  Flourish. The King and his train enter the town.

  Enter Katharine and Alice.

  Katharine

  Alice, tu as ete en Angleterre, et tu parles bien le langage.

  Alice, you have been to England and know the language.

  Alice

  Un peu, madame.

  A little, madam.

  Katharine

  Je te prie, m'enseignez; il faut que j'apprenne a parler. Comment appelez-vous la main en Anglois?

  Please teach me. I must learn English. What is the word for “la main?”

  Alice

  La main? Elle est appelee de hand.

  “La main?” That is the hand.

  Katharine

  De hand. Et les doigts?

  The hand. What about “les doigts?”

  Alice

  Les doigts? Ma foi, j'oublie les doigts; mais je me souviendrai. Les doigts? Je pense qu'ils sont appeles de fingres; oui, de fingres.

  Les doigts? Goodness, I have forgotten. Let me think. I believe it is fingers. Yes, it is fingers.

  Katharine

  La main, de hand; les doigts, de fingres. Je pense que je suis le bon ecolier; j'ai gagne deux mots d'Anglois vitement. Comment appelez-vous les ongles?

  La main is hand and les doigts is fingers. I am a very good student. I know two words already. What is the word for “les ongles?”

  Alice

  Les ongles? Nous les appelons de nails.

  “Les ongles?” That is nails.

  Katharine

  De nails. Ecoutez; dites-moi, si je parle bien: de hand, de fingres, et de nails.

  Nails. Listen, am I saying it right? Hand, fingers, nails.

  Alice

  C'est bien dit, madame; il est fort bon Anglois.

  Good job, madam. You speak English.

  Katharine

  Dites-moi l'Anglois pour le bras.

  Tell me the English word for “le bras.”

  Alice

  De arm, madame.

  Arm, madam.

  Katharine

  Et le coude?

  And “le coud?”

  Alice

  D'elbow.

  The elbow.

  Katharine

  D'elbow. Je m'en fais la repetition de tous les mots que vous m'avez appris des a present.

  Elbow. Let me practice all the words you’ve taught me.

  Alice

  Il est trop difficile, madame, comme je pense.

  It may be too difficult.

  Katharine

  Excusez-moi, Alice; ecoutez: d'hand, de fingres, de nails, d'arma, de bilbow.

  I don’t think so, Alice. Listen, hand, fingers, nails, arma, and bilbow.

  Alice

  D'elbow, madame.

  Elbow, madam.

  Katharine

  O Seigneur Dieu, je m'en oublie! D'elbow. Comment appelez-vous le col?

  Oh, I forgot! Elbow. What is the word for “le col?”

  Alice

  De nick, madame.

  Neck, madam.

  Katharine

  De nick. Et le menton?

  Nick. And “le menton?”

  Alice

  De chin.

  Le menton is chin.

  Katharine

  De sin. Le col, de nick; le menton, de sin.

  Neck and sin.

  Alice

  Oui. Sauf votre honneur, en verite, vous prononcez les mots aussi droit que les natifs d'Angleterre.

  Yes. Your Highness sounds just like a native speaker of English.

  Katharine

  Je ne doute point d'apprendre, par la grace de Dieu, et en peu de temps.

  I will learn it quickly, I think, God willing.

  Alice

  N'avez-vous pas deja oublie ce que je vous ai enseigne?

  You remember what I just taught you?

  Katharine

  Non, je reciterai a vous promptement: d'hand, de fingres, de mails,--

  Let me see. Hand, fingers, nails…

  Alice

  De nails, madame.

  Nails…

  Katharine

  De nails, de arm, de ilbow.

  Nails, arm, ilbow.

  Alice

  Sauf votre honneur, de elbow.

  Sorry, elbow.

  Katharine

  Ainsi dis-je; d'elbow, de nick, et de sin. Comment appelez-vous le pied et la robe?

  That’s what I said. Elbow, nick, and sin. What are the words for “le pied” and “la robe?”

  Alice

  De foot, madame; et de coun.

  Foot, madam, and count.

  Katharine

  De foot et de coun! O Seigneur Dieu! ce sont mots de son mauvais, corruptible, gros, et impudique, et non pour les dames d'honneur d'user. Je ne voudrais prononcer ces mots devant les seigneurs de France pour tout le monde. Foh! le foot et le coun! Neanmoins, je reciterai une autre fois ma lecon ensemble: d' hand, de fingres, de nails, d'arm, d'elbow, de nick, de sin, de foot, de coun.

  Foot and count! Those are ugly words, for a respectable girl to say. I would not say those words in fron
t of the lords of France. Ugh! Foot and count! However, I will say them once more. Hand, fingers, nails, arm, elbow, nick, sin, foot, and coun.

  Alice

  Excellent, madame!

  Excellent, madam.

  Katharine

  C'est assez pour une fois: allons-nous a diner.

  That’s enough for one day. Let’s go eat.