A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 3 of Henry IV Part 2 from the original Shakespeare into modern English.
Original Text |
Translated Text |
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| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library | |
Enter Sir John Falstaff, Shallow, Silence, Davy, SHALLOW Nay, you shall see my orchard, where, in an FALSTAFF Fore God, you have here a goodly dwelling, 5 SHALLOW Barren, barren, barren, beggars all, beggars FALSTAFF This Davy serves you for good uses. He is 10 SHALLOW A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good | Meanwhile, back at Justice Shallow's country estate in Gloucestershire, Falstaff and his men enjoy a delicious meal (along with Shallow's sidekick, Justice Silence, of course). The motto for the evening is "eat, drink, and be merry." Falstaff admires the delectable spread and Shallow makes small talk about his apple orchard and the home grown food on the table. |
SILENCE Ah, sirrah, quoth he, we shall FALSTAFF There’s a merry heart!—Good Master Silence, | Justice Silence, who's drunk, sings a bawdy song. (That's interesting. The guy hardly ever talks but when he does finally open his mouth, he turns out to be a dirty man.) Falstaff's pleased as punch about Shallow's naughty little outburst and drinks a toast to the old man. |
SHALLOW Give Master Bardolph some wine, Davy. 25 DAVY, to the guests Sweet sir, sit. I’ll be with you He exits. SHALLOW Be merry, Master Bardolph.—And, my little 30 SILENCE sings FALSTAFF I did not think Master Silence had been a SILENCE Who, I? I have been merry twice and once ere | Davy, the servant, pours another round of wine and Silence breaks into song again. This time, the ditty is about being merry during Shrovetide. FYI: Shrovetide is a time of festivity when people can cut loose and have fun before Lent because Lent requires that they spend all their time in prayer, self-denial, and penitence for a period of time that leads up to the celebration of Easter. Shakespeare's tipping us off that even though Falstaff's been cutting loose and living his life like it's one big Shrovetide festivity, the partying is definitely coming to an end soon. Falstaff says he's shocked that Silence knows how to party and Silence insists that he's been wild a time or two in his day. |
Enter Davy. DAVY, to the guests There’s a dish of leather-coats for SHALLOW Davy! DAVY Your Worship, I’ll be with you straight.—A cup SILENCE sings FALSTAFF Well said, Master Silence. SILENCE And we shall be merry; now comes in the 50 FALSTAFF Health and long life to you, Master Silence. SILENCE sings SHALLOW Honest Bardolph, welcome. If thou want’st 55 DAVY I hope to see London once ere I die. 60 BARDOLPH An I might see you there, Davy! SHALLOW By the Mass, you’ll crack a quart together, BARDOLPH Yea, sir, in a pottle-pot. SHALLOW By God’s liggens, I thank thee. The knave 65 BARDOLPH And I’ll stick by him, sir. SHALLOW Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing, be FALSTAFF Why, now you have done me right. SILENCE sings FALSTAFF ’Tis so. SILENCE Is ’t so? Why then, say an old man can do | More eating, drinking, and merrymaking ensues. |
Enter Davy. DAVY An ’t please your Worship, there’s one Pistol 80 FALSTAFF From the court? Let him come in. Enter Pistol. How now, Pistol? PISTOL Sir John, God save you. FALSTAFF What wind blew you hither, Pistol? 85 PISTOL Not the ill wind which blows no man to good. SILENCE By ’r Lady, I think he be, but Goodman Puff of PISTOL Puff? FALSTAFF I pray thee now, deliver them like a man of PISTOL FALSTAFF SILENCE sings PISTOL SHALLOW Honest gentleman, I know not your PISTOL Why then, lament therefor. SHALLOW Give me pardon, sir. If, sir, you come with 110 PISTOL SHALLOW PISTOL Harry the Fourth, or Fifth? SHALLOW PISTOL A foutre for thine office!— | Davy announces that Pistol has arrived. Then Pistol enters and says Falstaff's a big-shot now, because Prince Hal is now King Henry V. |
FALSTAFF What, is the old king dead? PISTOL FALSTAFF Away, Bardolph.—Saddle my horse.— 125 BARDOLPH O joyful day! I would not take a knight-hood PISTOL What, I do bring good news! FALSTAFF Carry Master Silence to bed.—Master Shallow, PISTOL They exit. | Falstaff doesn't want to waste any more time in Gloucestershire – he orders his men to saddle up so he can ride to London, ASAP. He thinks that Hal will want to see him right away and he's also psyched that "the laws of England" will now be at his "commandment." In other words, Falstaff thinks that he's going to be able to run amok now that Hal's in charge so the Lord Chief Justice better watch out. |