Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
|
Enter two Gamekeepers,
with crossbows in their hands. FIRST GAMEKEEPER
Under this thick-grown brake we’ll shroud ourselves,
For through this laund anon the deer will come;
And in this covert will we make our stand,
Culling the principal of all the deer. SECOND GAMEKEEPER
I’ll stay above the hill, so both may shoot. 5 FIRST GAMEKEEPER
That cannot be. The noise of thy crossbow
Will scare the herd, and so my shoot is lost.
Here stand we both, and aim we at the best.
And for the time shall not seem tedious,
I’ll tell thee what befell me on a day 10
In this self place where now we mean to stand. SECOND GAMEKEEPER
Here comes a man; let’s stay till he be past. Enter King Henry, in disguise, with a prayer book. | Two gamekeepers enter with crossbows in their hands. They're talking about hunting deer when suddenly, they hear a noise. It's King Henry in disguise, with a prayer book. |
KING HENRY
From Scotland am I stol’n, even of pure love,
To greet mine own land with my wishful sight.
No, Harry, Harry, ’tis no land of thine! 15
Thy place is filled, thy scepter wrung from thee,
Thy balm washed off wherewith thou wast anointed.
No bending knee will call thee Caesar now,
No humble suitors press to speak for right,
No, not a man comes for redress of thee; 20
For how can I help them an not myself? FIRST GAMEKEEPER, aside to Second Gamekeeper
Ay, here’s a deer whose skin’s a keeper’s fee.
This is the quondam king. Let’s seize upon him. KING HENRY
Let me embrace the sour adversaries,
For wise men say it is the wisest course. 25 SECOND GAMEKEEPER, aside to First Gamekeeper
Why linger we? Let us lay hands upon him. FIRST GAMEKEEPER, aside to Second Gamekeeper
Forbear awhile; we’ll hear a little more. | He tells us that he's escaped and run off to Scotland. One of the gamekeepers thinks they should pounce while they have the chance. The other wants to hear what Henry has to say before they attack him. Who knows who he is or why he's here, right? Maybe they can find out by listening. |
KING HENRY
My queen and son are gone to France for aid,
And, as I hear, the great commanding Warwick
Is thither gone to crave the French king’s sister 30
To wife for Edward. If this news be true,
Poor queen and son, your labor is but lost,
For Warwick is a subtle orator,
And Lewis a prince soon won with moving words.
By this account, then, Margaret may win him, 35
For she’s a woman to be pitied much.
Her sighs will make a batt’ry in his breast,
Her tears will pierce into a marble heart.
The tiger will be mild whiles she doth mourn,
And Nero will be tainted with remorse 40
To hear and see her plaints, her brinish tears.
Ay, but she’s come to beg, Warwick to give;
She on his left side craving aid for Henry;
He on his right asking a wife for Edward.
She weeps and says her Henry is deposed; 45
He smiles and says his Edward is installed;
That she, poor wretch, for grief can speak no more,
Whiles Warwick tells his title, smooths the wrong,
Inferreth arguments of mighty strength,
And in conclusion wins the King from her 50
With promise of his sister and what else
To strengthen and support King Edward’s place.
O Margaret, thus ’twill be, and thou, poor soul,
Art then forsaken, as thou went’st forlorn. | Henry talks about what's happening with the rest of the gang. Margaret's
gone off to France to ask them to help her cause, but Warwick has gone
there, as well, because he wants a French wife for Edward. Henry is
worried that the French king will take Warwick up on his offer of
marriage. |
SECOND GAMEKEEPER
Say, what art thou that talk’st of kings and queens? 55 KING HENRY
More than I seem, and less than I was born to:
A man at least, for less I should not be;
And men may talk of kings, and why not I? SECOND GAMEKEEPER
Ay, but thou talk’st as if thou wert a king. KING HENRY
Why, so I am in mind, and that’s enough. 60 SECOND GAMEKEEPER
But if thou be a king, where is thy crown? KING HENRY
My crown is in my heart, not on my head;
Not decked with diamonds and Indian stones,
Nor to be seen. My crown is called content;
A crown it is that seldom kings enjoy. 65 |
The gamekeepers come face to face with Henry and ask him why he's talking about kings and queens so much. From the way he's talking, it kind of seems like he was once a king himself. Why is that? Henry says that he is a king. The gamekeepers ask him where his crown is; he says it's in his heart and mind. |
SECOND GAMEKEEPER
Well, if you be a king crowned with content,
Your crown content and you must be contented
To go along with us. For, as we think,
You are the king King Edward hath deposed;
And we his subjects sworn in all allegiance 70
Will apprehend you as his enemy. KING HENRY
But did you never swear and break an oath? SECOND GAMEKEEPER
No, never such an oath, nor will not now. KING HENRY
Where did you dwell when I was King of England? SECOND GAMEKEEPER
Here in this country, where we now remain. 75 KING HENRY
I was anointed king at nine months old.
My father and my grandfather were kings,
And you were sworn true subjects unto me.
And tell me, then, have you not broke your oaths? | The gamekeepers tell Henry that they think he's the king their real king—Edward—deposed, so they're gonna have to arrest him. After all, they've sworn an oath to their rightful king, Edward. Henry's like, "Didn't you swear an oath to me? I'm your rightful king." |
FIRST GAMEKEEPER
No, for we were subjects but while you were king. 80 KING HENRY
Why, am I dead? Do I not breathe a man?
Ah, simple men, you know not what you swear.
Look as I blow this feather from my face
And as the air blows it to me again,
Obeying with my wind when I do blow 85
And yielding to another when it blows,
Commanded always by the greater gust,
Such is the lightness of you common men.
But do not break your oaths, for of that sin
My mild entreaty shall not make you guilty. 90
Go where you will, the King shall be commanded,
And be you kings: command, and I’ll obey. FIRST GAMEKEEPER
We are true subjects to the King, King Edward. KING HENRY
So would you be again to Henry
If he were seated as King Edward is. 95 FIRST GAMEKEEPER
We charge you in God’s name and the King’s
To go with us unto the officers. KING HENRY
In God’s name, lead. Your king’s name be obeyed,
And what God will, that let your king perform.
And what he will, I humbly yield unto. 100 They exit. | The gamekeepers tell Henry that they only had an oath to serve him as long as he was king, and he's not anymore. Sorry. Henry thinks they are "simple" and don't understand the importance of oaths and kingship, but he lets them take him away, nonetheless. |