The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (186 page)

Enter Gower and Williams.

Williams

I warrant it is to knight you, Captain.

I warn you it is knight to you, captain.

Enter Fluellen.

Fluellen

God's will and his pleasure, captain, I beseech you now,


come apace to the King. There is more good toward you


peradventure than is in your knowledge to dream of.

God’s will, captain, I ask that you come quickly to the king. There is more good for you than you can imagine.

Williams

Sir, know you this glove?

Sir, do you know this glove?

Fluellen

Know the glove! I know the glove is a glove.

Know the glove! I know it’s a glove!

Williams

I know this; and thus I challenge it.

I know it and therefore, I challenge you.

Strikes him.

Fluellen

'Sblood! an arrant traitor as any is in the universal


world, or in France, or in England!

Hell! You are a wayward traitor as any in the world or in France or in England!

Gower

How now, sir! you villain!

What’s going on? You villain!

Williams

Do you think I'll be forsworn?

Did you think I would break my oath?

Fluellen

Stand away, Captain Gower. I will give treason his


payment into plows, I warrant you.

Stand back, Captain Gower. I will give him what he’s got coming to him. I warn you!

Williams

I am no traitor.

I am no traitor!

Fluellen

That's a lie in thy throat. I charge you in his Majesty's


name, apprehend him; he's a friend of the Duke Alencon's.

That’s a lie. I charge you in the name of his majesty. Arrest him. He’s a friend of the Duke Alencon.

Enter Warwick and Gloucester.

Warwick

How now, how now! what's the matter?

Hey! What’s the matter?

Fluellen

My lord of Warwick, here is--praised be God for it!--a most contagious treason come to light, look you, as you shall


desire in a summer's day. Here is his Majesty.

My Lord of Warwick, praise be to God you are here! A contagious act of treason has come light, bright as a summer’s day. Here is his majesty.

Enter King Henry and Exeter.

King

How now! what's the matter?

Hey now! What’s the matter?

Fluellen

My liege, here is a villain and a traitor, that, look your Grace, has struck the glove which your Majesty is take out of the


helmet of Alencon.

My liege, here is the villain and traitor that has taken offence at the glove of Alencon.

Williams

My liege, this was my glove; here is the fellow of it; and he that I gave it to in change promis'd to wear it in his cap. I promis'd to strike him, if he did. I met this man with my


glove in his cap, and I have been as good as my word.

My liege, this was my glove. Here is the match. The man I gave it to promised me he would wear it in his cap. I promised to strike him, if he did. I met this man with my glove in his cap, and I have kept my word.

Fluellen

Your Majesty hear now, saving your Majesty's manhood,


what an arrant, rascally, beggarly, lousy knave it is. I hope your Majesty is pear me testimony and witness, and will


avouchment, that this is the glove of Alencon that your


Majesty is give me; in your conscience, now?

Hear me now, your majesty, this is a villain, a rascal, and a beggar. Your majesty, please tell them this is the glove of Alencon that you gave me. Remember?

King

Give me thy glove, soldier. Look, here is the fellow of it. 'Twas I, indeed, thou promisedst to strike;


And thou hast given me most bitter terms.

Give me the glove, soldier. Look, here is the match. I am the man you promised to strike and you have made this difficult for me.

Fluellen

An it please your Majesty, let his neck answer for it, if


there is any martial law in the world.

If it pleases your majesty, let’s hang him, if there is any law in the world.

King

How canst thou make me satisfaction?

How can you make up for this offence?

Williams

All offences, my lord, come from the heart. Never came


any from mine that might offend your Majesty.

All offences, my lord, come from the heart. I never meant to offend you, your majesty.

King

It was ourself thou didst abuse.

You said awful things about me to my face.

Williams

Your Majesty came not like yourself. You appear'd to me


but as a common man; witness the night, your garments, your lowliness; and what your Highness suffer'd under that shape, I beseech you take it for your own fault and not mine; for had you been as I took you for, I made no offence; therefore, I beseech your Highness, pardon me.

You did not come as yourself. You appeared to be a common man. I remember the night, your clothes, your demeanor, and the way you acted. I ask you accept some of the blame because if I had known it was you, I would not have offended you. Please, forgive me.

King

Here, uncle Exeter, fill this glove with crowns,


And give it to this fellow. Keep it, fellow;


And wear it for an honour in thy cap


Till I do challenge it. Give him his crowns;


And, captain, you must needs be friends with him.

Here, uncle Exeter, fill this glove with crowns and give it to this fellow. Keep it, young man, and wear it for honorably in your cap, until I challenge you for it. Give him the money, and captain, you must be friends with him.

Fluellen

By this day and this light, the fellow has mettle enough in his belly. Hold, there is twelve pence for you; and I pray you to serve God, and keep you out of prawls, and prabbles, and


quarrels, and dissensions, and, I warrant you, it is the better for you.

This man is brave enough. Here is twelve pence for you. Go and serve God, I pray. Stay out of trouble and I promise you a long, healthy life.

Williams

I will none of your money.

I don’t want any of your money.

Fluellen

It is with a good will; I can tell you, it will serve you to mend your shoes. Come, wherefore should you be so pashful? Your shoes is not so good. 'Tis a good silling, I warrant you, or I will change it.

I want you to have it. Use it to mend your shoes. Don’t be filled with pride. Your shoes are no good.

Enter an English Herald.

King

Now, herald, are the dead numb'red?

Herald, how many are dead?

Herald

Here is the number of the slaught'red French.

Here is the number of the dead French.

King

What prisoners of good sort are taken, uncle?

What kind of good prisoners were taken, uncle?

Exeter

Charles Duke of Orleans, nephew to the King;


John Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Bouciqualt:


Of other lords and barons, knights and squires,


Full fifteen hundred, besides common men.

We have Charles Duke of Orleans, nephew to the king, John Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Bouciqualt. We also have about fifteen hundred men, including some lords, barons, knights, squires, and common men.

King

This note doth tell me of ten thousand French


That in the field lie slain; of princes, in this number,


And nobles bearing banners, there lie dead


One hundred twenty-six; added to these,


Of knights, esquires, and gallant gentlemen,


Eight thousand and four hundred; of the which,


Five hundred were but yesterday dubb'd knights;


So that, in these ten thousand they have lost,


There are but sixteen hundred mercenaries;


The rest are princes, barons, lords, knights, squires,


And gentlemen of blood and quality.


The names of those their nobles that lie dead:


Charles Delabreth, High Constable of France;


Jacques of Chatillon, Admiral of France;


The master of the cross-bows, Lord Rambures;


Great Master of France, the brave Sir Guichard Dauphin,


John Duke of Alencon, Anthony Duke of Brabant,


The brother to the Duke of Burgundy,


And Edward Duke of Bar; of lusty earls,


Grandpre and Roussi, Fauconberg and Foix,


Beaumont and Marle, Vaudemont and Lestrale.


Here was a royal fellowship of death!


Where is the number of our English dead?

This tells me out of the ten thousand French who are dead, one hundred twenty-six were nobles bearing banners. Eight thousand, four hundred were knights, squires, and gentlemen. Only five hundred were made knights yesterday. Out of the lost men, sixteen hundred were mercenaries and the rest are princes, barons, lords, knights, squires, and noble men. The dead include, Charles Delabreth, high constable of France; Jaques of Chatillon, admiral of France; the master of cross-bows, Lord Rambures; great master of France, Sir Guichard Dolphin; John, Duke of Alencon; Anthony, Duke of Brabant; the brother of the Duke of Burgundy; and Edward, Duke of Bar. The dead earls are Grandpre, Roussi, Fauconberg, Foix, Beaumont, Marle, Vaudemont, and Lestrale. Here was a royal group of dead! Where is the number of the English casualties?

Herald shows him another paper.

Edward the Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk,


Sir Richard Ketly, Davy Gam, esquire;


None else of name; and of all other men


But five and twenty.--O God, thy arm was here;


And not to us, but to thy arm alone,


Ascribe we all! When, without stratagem,


But in plain shock and even play of battle,


Was ever known so great and little loss


On one part and on the other? Take it, God,


For it is none but thine!

This says Edward, the Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk, Sir Richard Ketly, and squire Davy Gam. We only lost twenty-five other men. Thank God! Never has another battle tallied such great loss on one side and so little on the other. It was God’s work, not mine!

Exeter

'Tis wonderful!

It’s wonderful!

King

Come, go we in procession to the village;


And be it death proclaimed through our host


To boast of this or take that praise from God


Which is His only.

Come, let’s go together to the village. Death to anyone who takes credit for this victory. To God be the glory.