Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Scene 3 Enter the King with his Nobles. KING HENRY
Can no man tell me of my unthrifty son?
’Tis full three months since I did see him last.
If any plague hang over us, ’tis he.
I would to God, my lords, he might be found.
Inquire at London, ’mongst the taverns there, 5
For there, they say, he daily doth frequent
With unrestrainèd loose companions,
Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes
And beat our watch and rob our passengers,
While he, young wanton and effeminate boy, 10
Takes on the point of honor to support
So dissolute a crew. | King Henry (Bolingbroke) asks if anyone has had news of his son, whom he
hasn't heard from for three months. He calls him a "plague" hanging
over the new kingdom and orders a search of the taverns, where the
prince is known to hang out with criminals. |
PERCY
My lord, some two days since I saw the Prince,
And told him of those triumphs held at Oxford. KING HENRY And what said the gallant? 15 PERCY
His answer was, he would unto the stews,
And from the common’st creature pluck a glove
And wear it as a favor, and with that
He would unhorse the lustiest challenger. KING HENRY
As dissolute as desperate. Yet through both 20
I see some sparks of better hope, which elder years
May happily bring forth. But who comes here? | Henry Percy replies that he saw him two days ago and told him about the combat trials at Oxford. He says the prince made a crack about going to the brothels instead. King Henry hopes his kid will grow up someday. |
Enter Aumerle amazed. AUMERLE Where is the King? KING HENRY
What means our cousin, that he stares and looks so
wildly? 25 AUMERLE
God save your Grace. I do beseech your Majesty
To have some conference with your Grace alone. KING HENRY, to his Nobles
Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone. The Nobles exit. What is the matter with our cousin now? AUMERLE, kneeling
Forever may my knees grow to the earth, 30
My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth,
Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak. | Aumerle walks in, dazed, and asks where the king is. King Henry asks him why he's acting all crazy. Aumerle says he wishes to speak to the king alone. Henry orders everyone else out. Aumerle begs for forgiveness. |
KING HENRY
Intended or committed was this fault?
If on the first, how heinous e’er it be,
To win thy after-love I pardon thee. 35 AUMERLE, standing
Then give me leave that I may turn the key
That no man enter till my tale be done. KING HENRY Have thy desire. Aumerle locks the door.
The Duke of York knocks at the door and crieth. YORK, within
My liege, beware! Look to thyself!
Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there. 40 KING HENRY, to Aumerle Villain, I’ll make thee safe. He draws his sword. AUMERLE
Stay thy revengeful hand. Thou hast no cause to fear. YORK, within
Open the door, secure, foolhardy king!
Shall I for love speak treason to thy face?
Open the door, or I will break it open. 45 | King Henry asks whether the offense is "intended" – that is, still in the planning stages, or done. If only intended, he'll forgive him. Aumerle asks for permission to lock the door so that no one can enter until he finishes his confession. Henry allows this. Aumerle locks the door just as York starts banging on the door from outside, yelling to King Henry that he's locked in with a traitor. Henry draws his sword on Aumerle, who tells him he has no reason to fear. York yells to the king to open the door. |
King Henry unlocks the door. Enter York. KING HENRY What is the matter, uncle? Speak.
Recover breath. Tell us how near is danger
That we may arm us to encounter it. YORK, giving King Henry a paper
Peruse this writing here, and thou shalt know
The treason that my haste forbids me show. 50 AUMERLE, to King Henry
Remember, as thou read’st, thy promise passed.
I do repent me. Read not my name there.
My heart is not confederate with my hand. YORK
It was, villain, ere thy hand did set it down.—
I tore it from the traitor’s bosom, king. 55
Fear, and not love, begets his penitence.
Forget to pity him, lest thy pity prove
A serpent that will sting thee to the heart. | King Henry unlocks it and asks York to tell him what's going on. York shows him the paper Aumerle had around his neck. Aumerle reminds the king of his promise to forgive him for an intended offense and says he repents. York calls his son a villain and asks the king not to take pity on him. |
KING HENRY
O heinous, strong, and bold conspiracy!
O loyal father of a treacherous son, 60
Thou sheer, immaculate, and silver fountain
From whence this stream, through muddy passages,
Hath held his current and defiled himself,
Thy overflow of good converts to bad,
And thy abundant goodness shall excuse 65
This deadly blot in thy digressing son. YORK
So shall my virtue be his vice’s bawd,
And he shall spend mine honor with his shame,
As thriftless sons their scraping fathers’ gold.
Mine honor lives when his dishonor dies, 70
Or my shamed life in his dishonor lies.
Thou kill’st me in his life: giving him breath,
The traitor lives, the true man’s put to death. | King Henry, shocked, praises York's honesty and calls Aumerle a "deadly
blot." York says his son has spent his honor with his shame. He insists
that by allowing his son, a traitor, to live, the king would be killing
him, an honest man. |
DUCHESS, within
What ho, my liege! For God’s sake, let me in! KING HENRY
What shrill-voiced suppliant makes this eager cry? 75 DUCHESS, within
A woman and thy aunt, great king. ’Tis I.
Speak with me, pity me. Open the door!
A beggar begs that never begged before. KING HENRY
Our scene is altered from a serious thing
And now changed to “The Beggar and the King.”— 80
My dangerous cousin, let your mother in.
I know she is come to pray for your foul sin. Aumerle opens the door. Duchess of York enters and kneels. YORK
If thou do pardon whosoever pray,
More sins for this forgiveness prosper may.
This festered joint cut off, the rest rest sound. 85
This let alone will all the rest confound. | The Duchess arrives and begs King Henry to allow her inside. Henry tells
Aumerle to let her in, and York warns him again that by letting Aumerle
live, the rest of the body will be infected. |
DUCHESS
O king, believe not this hard-hearted man.
Love loving not itself, none other can. YORK
Thou frantic woman, what dost thou make here?
Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear? 90 DUCHESS
Sweet York, be patient.—Hear me, gentle liege. KING HENRY
Rise up, good aunt. DUCHESS Not yet, I thee beseech.
Forever will I walk upon my knees
And never see day that the happy sees, 95
Till thou give joy, until thou bid me joy
By pardoning Rutland, my transgressing boy. AUMERLE, kneeling
Unto my mother’s prayers I bend my knee. YORK, kneeling
Against them both my true joints bended be.
Ill mayst thou thrive if thou grant any grace. 100 | The Duchess addresses the king. York asks her if she wishes to raise
another traitor. She kneels in front of the king and says she will walk
forever on her knees unless he pardons her son. Aumerle kneels too,
joining his prayers to hers. York kneels against them both, asking for
Aumerle's punishment. |
DUCHESS
Pleads he in earnest? Look upon his face.
His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are in jest;
His words come from his mouth, ours from our
breast.
He prays but faintly and would be denied. 105
We pray with heart and soul and all beside.
His weary joints would gladly rise, I know.
Our knees still kneel till to the ground they grow.
His prayers are full of false hypocrisy,
Ours of true zeal and deep integrity. 110
Our prayers do outpray his. Then let them have
That mercy which true prayer ought to have. KING HENRY
Good aunt, stand up. DUCHESS Nay, do not say “stand up.”
Say “pardon” first and afterwards “stand up.” 115
An if I were thy nurse, thy tongue to teach,
“Pardon” should be the first word of thy speech.
I never longed to hear a word till now.
Say “pardon,” king; let pity teach thee how.
The word is short, but not so short as sweet. 120
No word like “pardon” for kings’ mouths so meet. | The Duchess accuses York of false prayers and hypocrisy. Henry tells her
to stand up. She tells him to say "pardon" first, and then she'll
stand. |
YORK
Speak it in French, king. Say “pardonne moy.” DUCHESS
Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy?
Ah, my sour husband, my hard-hearted lord,
That sets the word itself against the word! 125
To King Henry. Speak “pardon” as ’tis current in
our land;
The chopping French we do not understand.
Thine eye begins to speak; set thy tongue there,
Or in thy piteous heart plant thou thine ear, 130
That, hearing how our plaints and prayers do
pierce,
Pity may move thee “pardon” to rehearse. KING HENRY
Good aunt, stand up. DUCHESS I do not sue to stand. 135
Pardon is all the suit I have in hand. | York asks the king to say "pardonne-moi," a polite refusal. The Duchess
points out that Henry hates French – they should just talk to the king
in plain English. |
KING HENRY
I pardon him, as God shall pardon me. DUCHESS
O, happy vantage of a kneeling knee!
Yet am I sick for fear. Speak it again.
Twice saying “pardon” doth not pardon twain, 140
But makes one pardon strong. KING HENRY I pardon him with all my heart. DUCHESS A god on Earth thou art.
They all stand. KING HENRY
But for our trusty brother-in-law and the Abbot,
With all the rest of that consorted crew, 145
Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels.
Good uncle, help to order several powers
To Oxford or where’er these traitors are.
They shall not live within this world, I swear,
But I will have them, if I once know where. 150
Uncle, farewell,—and cousin, adieu.
Your mother well hath prayed; and prove you true. DUCHESS, to Aumerle
Come, my old son. I pray God make thee new. They exit. | Henry finally pardons Aumerle, but orders the destruction of the rest of his group of traitors. |