Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Scene 3Enter the King in a chair, Warwick, Thomas Duke of
Clarence, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, and
Attendants. KING
Now, lords, if God doth give successful end
To this debate that bleedeth at our doors,
We will our youth lead on to higher fields
And draw no swords but what are sanctified.
Our navy is addressed, our power collected, 5
Our substitutes in absence well invested,
And everything lies level to our wish.
Only we want a little personal strength;
And pause us till these rebels now afoot
Come underneath the yoke of government. 10 WARWICK
Both which we doubt not but your Majesty
Shall soon enjoy. | (Note: In the Folger's edition, this is the start of Scene 3.) Meanwhile, at the palace in London, King Henry IV, who's laid up in bed, tells his attendants that, if his army beats the rebels today at Gaultree Forest, he's going to lead a holy crusade to Jerusalem. He sure hopes he's feeling better soon. Warwick says he's sure the king will be feeling better any second now. |
KING
Humphrey, my son of Gloucester, where is the
Prince your brother? HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
I think he’s gone to hunt, my lord, at Windsor. 15 KING
And how accompanied? HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER I do not know, my lord. KING
Is not his brother Thomas of Clarence with him? HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
No, my good lord, he is in presence here. THOMAS OF CLARENCE, coming forward What would 20
my lord and father? | King Henry turns to his son, Humphrey (a.k.a. Gloucester), and asks where Prince Hal is today. Humphrey says Hal's at Windsor, doing a little hunting. Fine, says Henry, who turns to his other son, Thomas (a.k.a. Clarence), and asks why he isn't hanging out with his brother, Hal. |
KING
Nothing but well to thee, Thomas of Clarence.
How chance thou art not with the Prince thy
brother?
He loves thee, and thou dost neglect him, Thomas. 25
Thou hast a better place in his affection
Than all thy brothers. Cherish it, my boy,
And noble offices thou mayst effect
Of mediation, after I am dead,
Between his greatness and thy other brethren. 30
Therefore omit him not, blunt not his love,
Nor lose the good advantage of his grace
By seeming cold or careless of his will.
For he is gracious if he be observed;
He hath a tear for pity, and a hand 35
Open as day for melting charity;
Yet notwithstanding, being incensed he is flint,
As humorous as winter, and as sudden
As flaws congealèd in the spring of day.
His temper therefore must be well observed. 40
Chide him for faults, and do it reverently,
When you perceive his blood inclined to mirth;
But, being moody, give him time and scope
Till that his passions, like a whale on ground,
Confound themselves with working. Learn this, 45
Thomas,
And thou shalt prove a shelter to thy friends,
A hoop of gold to bind thy brothers in,
That the united vessel of their blood,
Mingled with venom of suggestion 50
(As, force perforce, the age will pour it in),
Shall never leak, though it do work as strong
As aconitum or rash gunpowder. | Then Henry proceeds to give Thomas some lengthy advice about how to handle Prince Hal, who can be a bit moody at times. Thomas will have to be the one who holds the brother's together. |
THOMAS OF CLARENCE
I shall observe him with all care and love. KING
Why art thou not at Windsor with him, Thomas? 55 THOMAS OF CLARENCE
He is not there today; he dines in London. KING
And how accompanied? Canst thou tell that? THOMAS OF CLARENCE
With Poins and other his continual followers. KING
Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds,
And he, the noble image of my youth, 60
Is overspread with them; therefore my grief
Stretches itself beyond the hour of death.
The blood weeps from my heart when I do shape,
In forms imaginary, th’ unguided days
And rotten times that you shall look upon 65
When I am sleeping with my ancestors.
For when his headstrong riot hath no curb,
When rage and hot blood are his counsellors,
When means and lavish manners meet together,
O, with what wings shall his affections fly 70
Towards fronting peril and opposed decay! | When Henry asks Thomas why he isn't at Windsor with Prince Hal, Thomas admits that Hal's hanging out in London with Poins and his pals, which sends Henry into a big rage. Hal's friends are like rotten weeds and the kingdom is in big, big, big trouble when Henry dies and Hal's in charge of leading the country. |
WARWICK
My gracious lord, you look beyond him quite.
The Prince but studies his companions
Like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the
language, 75
’Tis needful that the most immodest word
Be looked upon and learned; which, once attained,
Your Highness knows, comes to no further use
But to be known and hated. So, like gross terms,
The Prince will, in the perfectness of time, 80
Cast off his followers, and their memory
Shall as a pattern or a measure live,
By which his Grace must mete the lives of others,
Turning past evils to advantages. KING
’Tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb 85
In the dead carrion. | Warwick sticks up for Hal and points out that Hal is hanging with the commoners in order to study them, which will make him a better ruler. In time, the Prince will ditch his loser pals. King Henry is underestimating his son. Henry says that's not likely. |
Enter Westmoreland. Who’s here? Westmoreland? WESTMORELAND
Health to my sovereign, and new happiness
Added to that that I am to deliver.
Prince John your son doth kiss your Grace’s hand. 90
Mowbray, the Bishop Scroop, Hastings, and all
Are brought to the correction of your law.
There is not now a rebel’s sword unsheathed,
But peace puts forth her olive everywhere.
The manner how this action hath been borne 95
Here at more leisure may your Highness read
With every course in his particular.
He gives the King a paper. KING
O Westmoreland, thou art a summer bird,
Which ever in the haunch of winter sings
The lifting up of day. 100 | Westmoreland arrives with news of Prince John's victory over the rebels. Hooray! |
Enter Harcourt. Look, here’s more news. HARCOURT
From enemies heavens keep your Majesty,
And when they stand against you, may they fall
As those that I am come to tell you of.
The Earl Northumberland and the Lord Bardolph, 105
With a great power of English and of Scots,
Are by the shrieve of Yorkshire overthrown.
The manner and true order of the fight
This packet, please it you, contains at large.
He gives the King papers. KING
And wherefore should these good news make me 110
sick?
Will Fortune never come with both hands full,
But write her fair words still in foulest letters?
She either gives a stomach and no food—
Such are the poor, in health—or else a feast 115
And takes away the stomach—such are the rich,
That have abundance and enjoy it not.
I should rejoice now at this happy news,
And now my sight fails, and my brain is giddy.
O, me! Come near me, now I am much ill. 120 | Then Harcourt arrives with more fabulous news – Northumberland and Lord Bardolph have been overthrown in Yorkshire and the king can read all about it in the official documents Harcourt has brought with him. King Henry says that's awesome news but his glass is still only half full. Just as he says he's too sick to fully enjoy any of this great news, he faints (rather dramatically). |
HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
Comfort, your Majesty. THOMAS OF CLARENCE O, my royal father! WESTMORELAND
My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself, look up. WARWICK
Be patient, princes. You do know these fits
Are with his Highness very ordinary. 125
Stand from him, give him air. He’ll straight be
well. | The princes are scared and rush over to their father. Westmoreland tries to calm them down and tells them to stand back and give the guy some air already. |
THOMAS OF CLARENCE
No, no, he cannot long hold out these pangs.
Th’ incessant care and labor of his mind
Hath wrought the mure that should confine it in 130
So thin that life looks through and will break out. HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
The people fear me, for they do observe
Unfathered heirs and loathly births of nature.
The seasons change their manners, as the year
Had found some months asleep and leapt them 135
over. THOMAS OF CLARENCE
The river hath thrice flowed, no ebb between,
And the old folk, time’s doting chronicles,
Say it did so a little time before
That our great-grandsire, Edward, sicked and died. 140 | Clarence and Gloucester, who are a bit superstitious, say that some strange things have been happening lately. There have been reports from the commoners about children being supernaturally conceived and other children being born with physical deformities. Also, the weather has been bizarre lately and it seems like some seasons have been skipped over by nature. Plus, the Thames River has flooded three times without ever receding – the last time that happened was when King Edward III (b.1312-d.1377) got sick and died. |
WARWICK
Speak lower, princes, for the King recovers. HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
This apoplexy will certain be his end. KING
I pray you take me up and bear me hence
Into some other chamber. Softly, pray. The King is carried to a bed on another
part of the stage. Let there be no noise made, my gentle friends, 145
Unless some dull and favorable hand
Will whisper music to my weary spirit. (Note: Scene 3 continues on the next page. Keep on reading, Shmooper.) | Westmoreland hushes them up as King Henry comes to from his fainting fit. Henry wakes up and asks to be taken into another room so he can enjoy some peace and quiet. |