King John: Act 5, Scene 5 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 5 of King John from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Louis, the Dauphin and his train. DAUPHIN The sun of heaven, methought, was loath to set, But stayed and made the western welkin blush, When English measured backward their own ground In faint retire. O, bravely came we off, 5 When with a volley of our needless shot, After such bloody toil, we bid good night And wound our tott’ring colors clearly up, Last in the field and almost lords of it. Enter a Messenger. MESSENGER Where is my prince, the Dauphin? 10 DAUPHIN Here. What news? MESSENGER The Count Melun is slain. The English lords, By his persuasion, are again fall’n off, And your supply, which you have wished so long, Are cast away and sunk on Goodwin Sands. 15 DAUPHIN Ah, foul, shrewd news. Beshrew thy very heart! I did not think to be so sad tonight As this hath made me. Who was he that said King John did fly an hour or two before The stumbling night did part our weary powers? 20 MESSENGER Whoever spoke it, it is true, my lord. DAUPHIN Well, keep good quarter and good care tonight. The day shall not be up so soon as I To try the fair adventure of tomorrow. They exit.	Louis says that the sun has just set, and the English are hightailing it off the battlefield. Looks like things are going okay for the French. Hold that thought. A messenger runs in and is all, "OMG, Count Melun is dead! Plus, all your English allies have betrayed you, and a bunch of our supply ships just sank!" Louis takes the news pretty well, all things considered. He swears to get up early the next morning to see what the day will bring him.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Louis, the Dauphin and his train.

DAUPHIN
The sun of heaven, methought, was loath to set,
But stayed and made the western welkin blush,
When English measured backward their own
ground
In faint retire. O, bravely came we off, 5
When with a volley of our needless shot,
After such bloody toil, we bid good night
And wound our tott’ring colors clearly up,
Last in the field and almost lords of it.

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER
Where is my prince, the Dauphin? 10

DAUPHIN
Here. What news?

MESSENGER
The Count Melun is slain. The English lords,
By his persuasion, are again fall’n off,
And your supply, which you have wished so long,
Are cast away and sunk on Goodwin Sands. 15

DAUPHIN
Ah, foul, shrewd news. Beshrew thy very heart!
I did not think to be so sad tonight
As this hath made me. Who was he that said
King John did fly an hour or two before
The stumbling night did part our weary powers? 20

MESSENGER
Whoever spoke it, it is true, my lord.

DAUPHIN
Well, keep good quarter and good care tonight.
The day shall not be up so soon as I
To try the fair adventure of tomorrow.

They exit.

Louis says that the sun has just set, and the English are hightailing it off the battlefield. Looks like things are going okay for the French. Hold that thought.

A messenger runs in and is all, "OMG, Count Melun is dead! Plus, all your English allies have betrayed you, and a bunch of our supply ships just sank!"

Louis takes the news pretty well, all things considered. He swears to get up early the next morning to see what the day will bring him.

King John: Act 5, Scene 5 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 5, Scene 5 of King John from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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