Henry IV, Part 2
Shakescleare Translation

Henry IV, Part 2 Translation Act 4, Scene 3

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Enter KING Henry, his sons Thomas Duke of CLARENCE and Humphrey Duke of GLOUCESTER, with WARWICK and others

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 aresanctified. Our navy is addressed, our power collected, Our substitutes in absence well invested, And everything lies level to our wish. Only we want a littlepersonal strength; And pause us till these rebels now afoot Come underneath the yoke of government.

KING

Now, my lords, if God gives us victory in the violent struggle that bleeds at our very doorstep, we will lead our young men on to better fields, and only fight in holy wars. Our navy is ready; our army is assembled; the men who lead in my absence have their power; and everything is prepared just how we like it. The only thing that's wrong is that I'm feeling a bit weak. And so we will have to rest here for a while, until the rebels are under our control.

WARWICK

Both which we doubt not but your Majesty Shall soon enjoy.

WARWICK

We are sure that you will feel better soon, and also that rebels will soon be defeated.

KING

Humphrey, my son of Gloucester, Where is the Prince your brother?

KING

Humphrey, my son of Gloucester, where is the Prince, your brother Hal?

GLOUCESTER

I think he’s gone to hunt, my lord, at Windsor.

GLOUCESTER

I think he's gone hunting at Windsor, my lord.

KING

And how accompanied?

KING

Who's with him?

GLOUCESTER

I do not know, my lord.

GLOUCESTER

I don't know, my lord.

KING

Is not his brother Thomas of Clarence with him?

KING

Isn't his brother Thomas of Clarence with him?

GLOUCESTER

No, my good lord, he is in presence here.

GLOUCESTER

No, my good lord, he's here.

CLARENCE

What would my lord and father?

CLARENCE

What would you like, my lord and father?

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. Thou hasta 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. 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 graciousif he be observed; He hath a tear for pity and a hand Open as day for melting charity; Yet notwithstanding, being incensed he is flint, As humorous as winter, and as sudden As flaws congealed in the spring of day. His temper therefore must be well observed. Chide him for faults, and do it reverently, When thou perceive his blood inclined to mirth; But, being moody, give him timeand scope Till that his passions, like a whale on ground, Confound themselves with working. Learn this, Thomas, And thou shalt prove a shelter to thy friends, Ahoop of gold to bind thy brothers in, That the united vessel of their blood, Mingled with venom of suggestion (As, force perforce, the age will pour it in), Shall never leak, though it do work as strong As aconitum or rash gunpowder.

KING

Nothing but good things for you, Thomas of Clarence. How come you are not with your brother, the Prince? He loves you, and you are neglecting him, Thomas. He loves you more than he loves all your other brothers. Cherish that, my boy. After I'm dead, you will be in the best position to help strengthen the relationship between Hal and your other brothers. Therefore, don't neglect him. Don't ignore his love, and don't damage your relationship with him by seeming cold or uncaring. For he is very caring if he is paid due respect; he can feel pity for others, and he can be generous with charity. Yet, at the same time, when he gets angry, he is as hard as a stone, he is as volatile as winter, and can change as quickly as snowflakes at daybreak. Therefore, watch out for his temper. Tell him off when he does things wrong, but do it gently, when he seems like he's in a happy mood. When he is moody, give him time to work things out himself, so that his moods become like a beached whale, which kills itself trying to get back to the sea. Remember this, Thomas, and you will be able to protect your friends, and be a golden chain that joins all of your brothers together. Once you are all united, the poison and instigation to evil—which in this day and age is almost certain—will never get in, even though it's as strong as aconite or gunpowder.

CLARENCE

I shall observe him with all care and love.

CLARENCE

I'll watch over him with all my care and love.

KING

Why art thou not at Windsor with him, Thomas?

KING

So why aren't you at Windsor with him, Thomas?

CLARENCE

He is not there today; he dines in London.

CLARENCE

He's not there today. He's having lunch in London.

KING

And how accompanied? Canst thou tell that?

KING

Who's he with? Do you know that?

CLARENCE

With Poins and other his continual followers.

CLARENCE

He's with Poins and all his other normal followers.

KING

Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds, And he, the noble image of my youth, Is overspread with them; therefore my grief Stretches itself beyond the hour of death. The blood weeps from my heart when I do shape, Informs imaginary, th' unguided days And rotten times that you shall look upon 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 Towards fronting peril and opposed decay!

KING

Weeds always try to grow in the best soil. And he is overrun with them, just like I was in my youth. So I guess my sadness will have to carry on, even after my death. When I think about the days of disorder and the rotten times which are to come—when I will lie sleeping with my ancestors—it makes the blood weep from my heart. For when Hal's headstrong, wild behavior has no limits; when anger and passion are his advisors; when he has the opportunity to do what he wants, oh, his desires will be like a bird, flying headfirst into danger and ruin.

WARWICK

My gracious lord, you look beyond him quite. The Princebut studies his companions Like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the language, '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, ThePrince will, in the perfectness of time, 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.

WARWICK

My gracious lord, you've shouldn't judge him so harshly. The Prince is only there to observe his companions, in the same way as a person learns another language. For in order to truly understand a language, you need to know even the worst and most immodest word. You need to hear it, learn it, so that once you know it—as your Highness is aware—you can then make sure to avoid using it. So, when the time is right, the Prince will get rid of his followers, just like vile language. When he does that, they will only survive in his memory, as a set of guidelines to judge the actions of others, and thus turn his past bad behavior to his own advantage.

KING

'Tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb In the dead carrion.

KING

It's very rare that a bee will make a new nest in a dead animal's carcass. Likewise, I will be very surprised if Hal ever leaves behind his companions.

Enter WESTMORELAND

Who’s here? Westmoreland?

Who's there? Is that you, Westmoreland?

WESTMORELAND

Health to my sovereign, and new happiness Added to thatthat I am to deliver. Prince John your son doth kiss your Grace’s hand. 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 Here at more leisure may your Highness read With every course in his particular.

WESTMORELAND

I wish your Majesty good health, and even more happiness than my happy news will bring you. Prince John, your son, sends his love. Mowbray, the Archbishop of York, and Hastings have all been arrested. There are no rebels left anywhere. Peace now holds out her olive branch everywhere. If your Highness wants to know more about how all of this happened, you can read about it in this letter.

KING

O Westmoreland, thou art a summer bird, Which ever in the haunch of winter sings The lifting up of day.

KING

Oh, Westmoreland, you come here like a summer bird, ready to announce the end of winter and the start of a new day.

Enter HARCOURT

Here comes more news.

Look, here comes more news.

HARCOURT

From enemies heaven keep your Majesty, And when they stand against you, may they fall As those that I am cometo tell you of. The Earl Northumberland and the Lord Bardolph, 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.

HARCOURT

May heaven protect your Majesty from any enemies. And if enemies do rise up against you, I hope that they die, just like the men I come to tell you about. The Earl of Northumberland and the Lord Bardolph—even with their huge armies of Englishmen and Scotsmen—were defeated by the sheriff of Yorkshire. This letter will tell you more about the battle that took place.

KING

And wherefore should these good news make me sick? Willfortune 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 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.

KING

Why am I sick when I hear such happy news? Can't Fortune let us enjoy the things we are supposed to enjoy? Why is good news so often told with ugly words? Fortune either gives you a hungry stomach and no food, which is the case of the poor, healthy people. Or it gives you a feast and takes away your appetite, which is the case of rich people who have plenty, but can't enjoy it. I should be rejoicing at this happy news. But instead, I am struggling to see, and everything is all dizzy. Oh! Come and help me please, I'm very sick.

GLOUCESTER

Comfort, your Majesty.

GLOUCESTER

Take care, your Majesty.

CLARENCE

O, my royal father!

CLARENCE

Oh, my royal father!

WESTMORELAND

My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself, look up.

WESTMORELAND

My lord, I hope that you feel better. Be brave.

WARWICK

Be patient, princes. You do know these fits Are with his Highness very ordinary. Stand from him, give him air. He’ll straight be well.

WARWICK

Give him a minute, princes. You know that his Highness has fits like this all the time. Stand further away, give him some room to breathe. He'll be all right in a minute.

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 So thin that life looks through and will break out.

CLARENCE

No, no, he can't deal with these fits for much longer. The never-ending worries and cares he's been dealing with have disturbed his body so much that he's barely holding it together anymore.

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 over.

GLOUCESTER

The people of this country are scaring me, because they say that they have seen children with no fathers, and horribly deformed babies. The weather and the seasons are completely out of sorts. It's almost as if the year has discovered that some months were asleep and decided to skip them completely.

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.

CLARENCE

The river has flooded three times, with no breaks in between the floods. The older generations—who are like our very own living history books—say that the last time that this happened was when our great-grandfather, King Edward III, became ill and then died.

WARWICK

Speak lower, princes, for the King recovers.

WARWICK

Speak quieter, princes, for the King is waking up.

GLOUCESTER

This apoplexy will certain be his end.

GLOUCESTER

These seizures are going to kill him.

KING

I pray you, take me up and bear me hence Into some other chamber. Softly, pray.

KING

Please, pick me up and take me to a bed. Quietly, please.

They carry the KING to a bed.

Let there be no noise made, my gentle friends, Unless some dull and favorable hand Will whisper music to my weary spirit.

Don't make any noise, my dear friends, unless anyone can play some calm, whispering music for my tired spirit to hear.

WARWICK

Call for the music in the other room.

WARWICK

Tell the musicians to come in from the other room.

KING

Set me the crown upon my pillow here.

KING

Put my crown on the pillow next to me.

CLARENCE

His eye is hollow, and he changes much.

CLARENCE

His eyes are lifeless, and he's not himself.

WARWICK

Less noise, less noise.

WARWICK

Quiet, quiet.

Enter PRINCE HENRY

PRINCE HENRY

Who saw the Duke of Clarence?

PRINCE HENRY

Where's the Duke of Clarence?

CLARENCE

I am here, brother, full of heaviness.

CLARENCE

I am here and full of sadness, brother.

PRINCE HENRY

How now! Rain within doors, and none abroad? How doth the King?

PRINCE HENRY

What's going on? It's raining inside, but not outside? How is the King?

GLOUCESTER

Exceeding ill.

GLOUCESTER

Extremely sick.

PRINCE HENRY

Heard he the good news yet? Tell it him.

PRINCE HENRY

Has he heard the good news yet? Someone should tell him.

GLOUCESTER

He altered much upon the hearing it.

GLOUCESTER

When he heard it, he was deeply moved.

PRINCE HENRY

If he be sick with joy, he’ll recover without physic.

PRINCE HENRY

If he's just sick with happiness, he should get better without needing a doctor.

WARWICK

Not so much noise, my lords.—Sweet Prince, speak low. The King your father is disposed to sleep.

WARWICK

Less noise, my lords.

[To PRINCE HENRY] Sweet Prince, speak a bit quieter. The King, your father, wants to sleep.

CLARENCE

Let us withdraw into the other room.

CLARENCE

Let's go and talk in another room.

WARWICK

Will ’t please your Grace to go along with us?

WARWICK

Would you like to come with us?

PRINCE HENRY

No, I will sit and watch here by the King.

PRINCE HENRY

No, I think I will sit here with the King.

Exeunt all but PRINCE HENRY

Why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow, Being so troublesome a bedfellow? O polished perturbation, goldencare, That keep’st the ports of slumber open wide To many a watchful night! sleep with it now; Yet not so sound and half so deeply sweet As he whose brow with homely biggen bound Snores out the watch of night. O majesty, When thou dost pinch thy bearer, thou dost sit Like a rich armor worn in heat of day, That scald’st withsafety. By his gates of breath There lies a downy feather which stirs not; Did he suspire, that light and weightless down Perforce must move. My gracious lord, myfather, This sleep is sound indeed. This is a sleep That from this golden rigol hath divorced So many Englishkings. Thy due from me Is tears and heavy sorrows of the blood, Which nature, love, and filial tenderness Shall, O dear father, pay thee plenteously. My due from thee is this imperial crown, Which, as immediate as thy place and blood, Derives itself to me. [he puts the crown on his head] Lo, where it sits, Which God shallguard. And put the world’s whole strength Into one giant arm, it shall not force This lineal honor from me. This from thee Will I to mine leave, as ’tis left to me.

Why is the crown lying there on his pillow, when it is such a difficult bedfellow? Oh, this polished symbol of distress; a golden object of worries, that keeps the eyelids open wide, forced to face night after night without sleep! Sleep with the crown now, but you still don't sleep as soundly or as deeply as the man whose head is only covered by a coarse night-cap, as he snores the night away. Oh, you crown! When you sit on someone's head you pinch at it—you're as irritating as a grand suit or armor worn on a very hot day; you burn the person you're supposed to protect. Look, there's a feather right near my father's lips and it's not moving. If he were breathing, that feather would have to be moving. Oh my gracious lord, my father, this is definitely a deep sleep. This is the type of sleep which has taken the crown off the heads of so many English kings. Now I owe you tears, and a heavy grief. Nature, my love, and my care for you as your son will make sure that I give you plenty of tears. You have left me this crown, which I must claim, as your true heir. [He puts the crown on his head.] Look, here it sits on my head, and now God will protect it. Even if all the strength in the world was put into one giant arm, it would not be able to take this honor from me. I will eventually leave this to my son, as you have left it to me.

Exit PRINCE HENRY

KING

[waking] Warwick! Gloucester! Clarence!

KING

[Waking up] Warwick! Gloucester! Clarence!

Enter WARWICK, GLOUCESTER, CLARENCE, and the rest

CLARENCE

Doth the King call?

CLARENCE

Did you call for us?

WARWICK

What would your Majesty? How fares your Grace?

WARWICK

What can we do for you, your Majesty? How are you feeling?

KING

Why did you leave me here alone, my lords?

KING

Why did you leave me here alone, my lords?

CLARENCE

We left the Prince my brother here, my liege, Who undertook to sit and watch by you.

CLARENCE

We left you here with the Prince, my brother, who said that he wanted to sit with you.

KING

The Prince of Wales? Where is he? Let me see him. He isnot here.

KING

The Prince of Wales? Hal? Where is he? Let me see him. He's not here.

WARWICK

This door is open. He is gone this way.

WARWICK

This door is open. He must have gone this way.

GLOUCESTER

He came not through the chamber where we stayed.

GLOUCESTER

He didn't come through the room that we were in.

KING

Where is the crown? Who took it from my pillow?

KING

Where is my crown? Who has moved it from my pillow?

WARWICK

When we withdrew, my liege, we left it here.

WARWICK

When we left the room it was still there, my lord.

KING

The Prince hath ta'en it hence. Go seek him out. Is he so hasty that he doth suppose my sleep my death? Find him, my Lord of Warwick. Chide him hither.

KING

Then the Prince must have taken it. Go and find him. Is he so quick to presume that my sleep is actually my death? Find him, my Lord of Warwick. Scold him, and bring him back here.

Exit WARWICK

This part of his conjoins with my disease And helps to end me. See, sons, what things you are, How quickly nature falls into revolt When gold becomes her object! For this the foolish overcareful fathers Have broke theirsleep with thoughts, Their brains with care, their bones with industry. For this they have engrossèd and piled up The canker’d heaps of strange-achievèd gold. For this they have been thoughtful to invest Their sons with arts and martial exercise s— When, like the bee, tolling from every flower The virtuous sweets, Our thighs packed with wax, our mouths with honey, We bring it to the hive and, like the bees, Are murdered for our pains. This bitter taste Yield his engrossments to the ending father.

Hal's actions here join up with my illness and will help to kill me. See, sons, look at what kind of people we are. Look at how quickly even family loyalty can be forgotten, when money is involved. This is what has made foolish, overly caring fathers ruin their sleep, by thinking about it. They have ruined their brains by caring and their bodies by working too hard. This is what happens to men who have built up large sums of money from strange sources. They have used their money to give their sons good educations and to train them in military matters. We fathers are like bees, going to every flower to get the best honey. We only bring it back to the hive when our thighs are full of wax and our mouths full of honey. And in the hive, we are killed by our offspring. This is the same for a dying father, no matter what good he has done in his life.

Enter WARWICK

Now, where is he that will not stay so long Till his friend sickness hath determined me?

Now where is that hasty boy, who can't even wait around for sickness—his friend—to finish me off?

WARWICK

My lord, I found the Prince in the next room, Washing with kindly tears his gentle cheeks, With such a deep demeanor in great sorrow That tyranny, which never quaffed but blood, Would, by beholding him, have washed his knife With gentle eyedrops. He is coming hither.

WARWICK

My lord, I found the Prince in the next room, with tears flowing down his sweet cheeks. He had such a sad look on his face that even cruelty—which has never feasted on anything but blood—would see him and wash his own knife with gentle tears. The Prince is coming here right now.

KING

But wherefore did he take away the crown?

KING

But why did he take away the crown?

Enter PRINCE HENRY

Lo where he comes.—Come hither to me, Harry.— Depart the chamber. Leave us here alone.

Look, here he comes.

[To PRINCE HENRY] Come here to me, Harry.

[To the others] Everyone else can go. Leave us here alone.

Exeunt all but the KING and PRINCE HENRY

PRINCE HENRY

I never thought to hear you speak again.

PRINCE HENRY

I never thought that I'd hear your voice again.

KING

Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought. I stay toolong by thee; I weary thee. Dost thou so hunger for mine empty chair That thou wilt needs invest thee with my honors Before thy hour be ripe? O foolish youth, Thouseek’st the greatness that will overwhelm thee. Stay but a little, for my cloud of dignity Is held from falling with so weak a wind That it will quickly drop. My day is dim. Thou hast stol'n that which after some few hours Were thine without offense, and at my death Thou hast sealed up my expectation. Thy life did manifestthou loved’st me not, And thou wilt have me die assuredof it. Thou hid’st a thousand daggers in thy thoughts, Which thou hast whetted on thy stony heart To stab at half an hour of my life. What, canst thou not forbear mehalf an hour? Then get thee gone and dig my grave thyself, And bid the merry bells ring to thine ear That thou art crownèd, not that I am dead. Let all the tears that should bedew my hearse Be drops of balm to sanctifythy head; Only compound me with forgotten dust. Give that which gave thee life unto the worms. Pluck down my officers, break my decrees, For now a time is come to mock at form. Harry the Fifth is crowned. Up, vanity, Down, royal state, all you sage counsillors, hence, And to the English court assemble now, From every region, apes of idleness. Now, neighbor confines, purge you of your scum. Have you a ruffian that will swear, drink, dance, Revel the night, rob, murder, and commit The oldest sins the newest kind of ways? Be happy, he will trouble you no more. England shall double gild his treble guilt. England shall give him office, honor, might, For the fifth Harry from curbed license plucks The muzzle of restraint, and the wild dog Shall flesh histooth on every innocent. O my poor kingdom, sick with civil blows! When that my care could not withhold thy riots, What wilt thou do when riot is thy care? O, thou wilt be a wilderness again, Peopled with wolves, thy oldinhabitants.

KING

You thought that, Harry, because you hoped it was the case. I have stayed here too long and you're tired of me. Are you so eager to be King that you're prepared to take the honors that come with it before it's the right time? Oh, you foolish young boy: you are eager for a power which will one day overwhelm you. Just wait a little while. The little amount of dignity and power that I do have left is so weak that the slightest breeze could make it fall apart. My life is almost over. You have stolen something which is going to be yours in a few hours anyway. And even on my deathbed, you have confirmed my fears about you. For your entire life, it seemed like you didn't love me. And now I can die knowing that it's true. Your thoughts are full of a thousand daggers, which you have sharpened on your hard heart— ready to stab me, even though I don't have much time left. Can't you give me my last half hour? Then go and dig my grave yourself, and ring the bells to mark your own coronation, rather than my death. Let any tears which would have gone on my hearse, instead be used as holy water to bless your head—just cover me in dirt instead. Give the body that gave you life to the worms. Get rid of my officers; break my laws. For now is the time to mock law and order. Now Henry the Fifth will be crowned. Now let's all be foolish, and forget the rules of our state. All of the wise councilors might as well get going. Now the English court can be made up of stupid apes from all parts of the country. Now, neighboring countries, give us your scum. Do you have any scoundrels who swear, drink, dance, enjoy the night, rob, murder, and commit even the oldest sins in the newest ways? Be happy, you can get rid of him. English will paint over his guilt and sin with gold. England will give him a position, honor, power, because Henry the Fifth has taken off any limitations of bad behavior. He's taken the muzzle off the wild dog and now it is free to attack any innocent person. Oh, my poor kingdom, already damaged from these civil wars! When even my work and care couldn't stop these rebellions, what's going to happen when rebellions are your master? Oh, you will become a wilderness again, and all of the wolves you used to spend time with will live with you again.

PRINCE HENRY

O pardon me, my liege! But for my tears, The moist impediments unto my speech, I had forestalled this dear and deep rebuke Ere you with grief had spoke and I had heard The course of it so far. There is your crown, And He that wears the crown immortally Long guard it yours. If I affect it more Than as your honor and as your renown, Let me no more from this obedience rise, Which my most inward true and duteous spirit Teacheth this prostrate and exterior bending. God witness with me, when I here came in And found no course of breath withinyour Majesty, How cold it struck my heart! If I do feign, O, let me in my present wildness die And never live to show th' incredulous world The noble change thatI have purposèd. Coming to look on you, thinking you dead, And dead almost, my liege, to think you were, I spake unto this crown as having sense, And thus upbraided it: “The care on thee depending Hath fed upon the body of my father; Therefore thou best of gold art worst of gold. Other, less fine in carat, is more precious, Preserving life in med'cine potable; But thou,most fine, most honored, most renowned, Hast eat thy bearer up.” Thus, my most royal liege, Accusing it, I put it on my head To try with it, as with an enemy That had before my face murdered my father, The quarrel of a true inheritor. But if it did infect my blood with joy Or swell my thoughts to any strain of pride, If any rebelor vain spirit of mine Did with the least affection of a welcome Give entertainment to the might of it, Let Godforever keep it from my head And make me as the poorestvassal is That doth with awe and terror kneel to it.

PRINCE HENRY

I am sorry, my lord! If my tears hadn't stopped me from speaking earlier, I would have stopped this harsh criticism before you had said these things in your grief, and before I had to hear what you would say. Here is your crown. And I wish that God—who looks after the crown forever—would let you keep it for as long as possible. If I care about that crown as anything more than a representation of your honor and your reputation, then let me never get up from kneeling at your feet. My truest and most dutiful feelings make me bow down and kneel before you. With God as my witness, when I came in here before, and realized that you weren't breathing, it made my blood cold! If that's a lie, then let me die like the wild youth I have been, and never live to show the unbelieving world how much I was going to change. When I looked at you and thought you were dead—and indeed it made me almost feel dead to think that you were—I spoke to the crown as if it could talk back to me. I scolded it, saying, "The worry and pain that you've caused has destroyed my father's body. So even though you may look like the best piece of gold, you are actually the worst. Other gold, even if its quality is worse, is worth more to us because it can bring us good health when we drink it. But you—the finest, most honored, most renowned piece of gold—have destroyed the person who has worn you. Therefore, my royal father, as I told this crown what I thought, I put it on my head, to fight against it—like it was some enemy who had killed my father while I stood there and watched. That is the action of a loyal son. If it made me happy in any way, or made me arrogant, or if even the slightest part of me wanted to welcome it and the power it holds, let God keep it from me forever. I would rather be the poorest servant that bows before it in awe and fear.

KING

O my son, God put it in thy mind to take it hence That thou mightst win the more thy father’s love, Pleading sowisely in excuse of it. Come hither, Harry, sit thou bymy bed And hear, I think, the very latest counsel That ever I shall breathe. God knows, my son, By what bypathsand indirect crook’d ways I met this crown, and I myself know well How troublesome it sat upon my head. Tothee it shall descend with better quiet, Better opinion, better confirmation, For all the soil of the achievement goes With me into the earth. It seemed in me But as an honor snatched with boist'rous hand, And I had many living to upbraid My gain of it by their assistances, Which daily grew to quarrel and to bloodshed, Wounding supposèd peace. All these bold fears Thou see’st with peril I have answerèd, For all my reign hath been but as a scene Acting that argument. Andnow my death Changes the mood, for what in me was purchased Falls upon thee in a more fairer sort. So thouthe garland wear’st successively. Yet though thou stand’st more sure than I could do, Thou art not firm enough, since griefs are green, And all my friends, which thou must make thy friends, Have but their stings and teeth newly ta'en out, By whose fell working I was first advanced And by whose power I well might lodge a fear To be again displaced; which to avoid, I cut them off and had a purpose now To lead out many to the Holy Land, Lest rest and lying still might make them look Toonear unto my state. Therefore, my Harry, Be it thy course to busy giddy minds With foreign quarrels; that action, hence borne out, May waste the memory of the former days. More would I, but my lungs are wasted so That strength of speech is utterly denied me. How I came by the crown, O God forgive, And grant it may with thee in true peace live.

KING

Oh, my son. God encouraged you to take it from me so that you would have the chance to plead your case and make me love you even more. Come here, Harry, and sit next to me on my bed, and listen to what I think will be the last advice that I will ever give anyone. God knows, my son, the strange paths and indirect ways that got me this crown. And I know only too well how much trouble wearing it has caused for me. It will come to you in a time of greater peace, where you will have better support and more approval. For all of the questions about how I got the crown end with me. On me, this crown seemed like an honor that had been snatched with a violent hand. Many people lived to tell me how they had helped me get it. This grew every day until it turned into battles and bloodshed, destroying the supposed peace of the time. You can see the impact that fighting all of these battles has had on me, since my entire reign has been like a scene of a play—and we repeat the same plot again and again. But now my death changes all of that, for you will not inherit what I bought. So you will wear the crown like you're meant to—because of the succession. But even though your claim to the throne is much stronger than mine was, it's still not strong enough. Anger and violence are still very recent, and all of my old friends—whom you now need to befriend—have only just been overpowered. These men originally got me the crown, and I was always afraid that the same people would overthrow me. To avoid this, I defeated their rebellion and was going to lead an army to the Holy Land, in case doing nothing might make them consider my crown and the possibilities it could bring them. Therefore, my Harry, make sure that you force distracted minds to focus on fighting foreign battles. Military success abroad will help people to forget about the memories of the past. I would say more to you, but my lungs are so tired that I can't speak anymore. God forgive me for how I got the crown, and please give it to my son and let him live in peace with it.

PRINCE HENRY

My gracious liege, You won it, wore it, kept it, gave it me. Then plain and right must my possession be, WhichI with more than with a common pain 'Gainst all the world will rightfully maintain.

PRINCE HENRY

My gracious father, you won it, wore it, kept it, and now you give it to me. Therefore, my possession of it must be honest and true, and I will work as much as I need to, in order to defend this crown against anyone who tries to take it.

Enter Lord John of LANCASTER

KING

Look, look, here comes my John of Lancaster.

KING

Look, look, here comes my son, John of Lancaster.

LANCASTER

Health, peace, and happiness to my royal father.

LANCASTER

Good health, peace, and happiness to my royal father.

KING

Thou bring’st me happiness and peace, son John, But health, alack, with youthful wings is flown From this bare withered trunk. Upon thy sight My worldly business makes a period. Where is my Lord of Warwick?

KING

You bring me happiness and peace, John, my son. But sadly, good health has flown quickly away from my tired, old body. Now that I've seen you, there's nothing more that I need to do. Where is my Lord of Warwick?

PRINCE HENRY

My Lord of Warwick.

PRINCE HENRY

My Lord of Warwick!

Enter WARWICK and others

KING

Doth any name particular belong Unto the lodging where I first did swoon?

KING

Does the room that I collapsed in have a name?

WARWICK

'Tis called Jerusalem, my noble lord.

WARWICK

It's called the Jerusalem room, my noble lord.

KING

Laud be to God! Even there my life must end. It hath been prophesied to me many years, I should not die but in Jerusalem, Which vainly I supposed the Holy Land. Butbear me to that chamber; there I’ll lie. In that Jerusalem shall Harry die.

KING

Praise be to God! Then that's where I need to die. For years, I've been hearing a prophecy that I am going to die in Jerusalem—which I foolishly thought meant that I would die in the Holy Land. But now take me to that room. That's where I will lie down for the last time. In that Jerusalem, Harry must die.

Exeunt