First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
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Flourish. Enter the French King, the Dolphin, the | Flourish. Enter the French King, the Dauphin, the | | H5 II.iv.1.1 |
Dukes of Berry and Britaine. | Dukes of Berri and Britaine, the Constable and others | constable (n.)chief officer of the royal household [in England and France] | H5 II.iv.1.2 |
| | Brittaine, Britaine, Brittayne (n.)Brittany, NW France | |
King. | FRENCH KING | | |
Thus comes the English with full power vpon vs, | Thus comes the English with full power upon us, | | H5 II.iv.1 |
And more then carefully it vs concernes, | And more than carefully it us concerns | | H5 II.iv.2 |
To answer Royally in our defences. | To answer royally in our defences. | | H5 II.iv.3 |
Therefore the Dukes of Berry and of Britaine, | Therefore the Dukes of Berri and of Britaine, | | H5 II.iv.4 |
Of Brabant and of Orleance, shall make forth, | Of Brabant and of Orleans, shall make forth, | | H5 II.iv.5 |
And you Prince Dolphin, with all swift dispatch | And you, Prince Dauphin, with all swift dispatch, | dispatch, despatch (n.)sending off, going, departure | H5 II.iv.6 |
To lyne and new repayre our Townes of Warre | To line and new repair our towns of war | line (v.) old form: lyne strengthen, support, fortify | H5 II.iv.7 |
With men of courage, and with meanes defendant: | With men of courage and with means defendant; | defendant (adj.)defensive, protective | H5 II.iv.8 |
For England his approaches makes as fierce, | For England his approaches makes as fierce | approach (n.)advance, attack, offensive | H5 II.iv.9 |
As Waters to the sucking of a Gulfe. | As waters to the sucking of a gulf. | gulf (n.) old form: Gulfewhirlpool | H5 II.iv.10 |
It fits vs then to be as prouident, | It fits us then to be as provident | | H5 II.iv.11 |
As feare may teach vs, out of late examples | As fear may teach us, out of late examples | | H5 II.iv.12 |
Left by the fatall and neglected English, | Left by the fatal and neglected English | neglected (adj.)underrated, underestimated, undervalued | H5 II.iv.13 |
| | fatal (adj.) old form: fatall death-dealing, death-boding | |
Vpon our fields. | Upon our fields. | | H5 II.iv.14.1 |
Dolphin. | DAUPHIN | | |
My most redoubted Father, | My most redoubted father, | redoubted (adj.)feared, dreaded, revered | H5 II.iv.14.2 |
It is most meet we arme vs 'gainst the Foe: | It is most meet we arm us 'gainst the foe; | meet (adj.)fit, suitable, right, proper | H5 II.iv.15 |
For Peace it selfe should not so dull a Kingdome, | For peace itself should not so dull a kingdom, | dull (v.)stupefy, satisfy to the point of slothfulness | H5 II.iv.16 |
(Though War nor no knowne Quarrel were in question) | Though war nor no known quarrel were in question, | | H5 II.iv.17 |
But that Defences, Musters, Preparations, | But that defences, musters, preparations, | | H5 II.iv.18 |
Should be maintain'd, assembled, and collected, | Should be maintained, assembled, and collected, | | H5 II.iv.19 |
As were a Warre in expectation. | As were a war in expectation. | | H5 II.iv.20 |
Therefore I say, 'tis meet we all goe forth, | Therefore, I say, 'tis meet we all go forth | | H5 II.iv.21 |
To view the sick and feeble parts of France: | To view the sick and feeble parts of France: | | H5 II.iv.22 |
And let vs doe it with no shew of feare, | And let us do it with no show of fear – | | H5 II.iv.23 |
No, with no more, then if we heard that England | No, with no more than if we heard that England | | H5 II.iv.24 |
Were busied with a Whitson Morris-dance: | Were busied with a Whitsun morris-dance; | Whitsun (n.)in Christian tradition, the feast of Pentecost | H5 II.iv.25 |
For, my good Liege, shee is so idly King'd, | For, my good liege, she is so idly kinged, | liege (n.)lord, sovereign | H5 II.iv.26 |
Her Scepter so phantastically borne, | Her sceptre so fantastically borne | fantastically (adv.) old form: phantastically fancifully, grotesquely, bizarrely | H5 II.iv.27 |
By a vaine giddie shallow humorous Youth, | By a vain, giddy, shallow, humorous youth, | giddy (adj.) old form: giddie frivolous, flighty, fickle, irresponsible | H5 II.iv.28 |
| | humorous (adj.)capricious, moody, temperamental | |
That feare attends her not. | That fear attends her not. | attend (v.)accompany, follow closely, go with | H5 II.iv.29.1 |
Const. | CONSTABLE | | |
O peace, Prince Dolphin, | O peace, Prince Dauphin! | | H5 II.iv.29.2 |
You are too much mistaken in this King: | You are too much mistaken in this King. | | H5 II.iv.30 |
Question your Grace the late Embassadors, | Question your grace the late ambassadors, | late (adj.)recently appointed | H5 II.iv.31 |
With what great State he heard their Embassie, | With what great state he heard their embassy, | | H5 II.iv.32 |
How well supply'd with Noble Councellors, | How well supplied with noble counsellors, | | H5 II.iv.33 |
How modest in exception; and withall, | How modest in exception, and withal | exception (n.)(often plural) objection, dislike, disapproval | H5 II.iv.34 |
How terrible in constant resolution: | How terrible in constant resolution, | | H5 II.iv.35 |
And you shall find, his Vanities fore-spent, | And you shall find his vanities forespent | forespent (adj.) old form: fore-spentpreviously shown, earlier displayed | H5 II.iv.36 |
Were but the out-side of the Roman Brutus, | Were but the outside of the Roman Brutus, | Brutus, MarcusMarcus Junius Brutus; 1st-c BC Roman politician, involved in the assassination of Julius Caesar | H5 II.iv.37 |
Couering Discretion with a Coat of Folly; | Covering discretion with a coat of folly; | | H5 II.iv.38 |
As Gardeners doe with Ordure hide those Roots | As gardeners do with ordure hide those roots | ordure (n.)filth, dirt, dung | H5 II.iv.39 |
That shall first spring, and be most delicate. | That shall first spring and be most delicate. | delicate (adj.)fine in quality, of exquisite nature, dainty | H5 II.iv.40 |
Dolphin. | DAUPHIN | | |
Well, 'tis not so, my Lord High Constable. | Well, 'tis not so, my Lord High Constable; | | H5 II.iv.41 |
But though we thinke it so, it is no matter: | But though we think it so, it is no matter. | | H5 II.iv.42 |
In cases of defence, 'tis best to weigh | In cases of defence, 'tis best to weigh | | H5 II.iv.43 |
The Enemie more mightie then he seemes, | The enemy more mighty than he seems. | | H5 II.iv.44 |
So the proportions of defence are fill'd: | So the proportions of defence are filled; | proportion (n.)weighing up, appropriate measuring | H5 II.iv.45 |
Which of a weake and niggardly proiection, | Which of a weak and niggardly projection | niggardly (adj.)mean-minded, tight-fisted, miserly | H5 II.iv.46 |
| | projection (n.) old form: proiectionscheme, plan, design | |
Doth like a Miser spoyle his Coat, with scanting | Doth like a miser spoil his coat with scanting | scant (v.)neglect, stint, withhold | H5 II.iv.47 |
A little Cloth. | A little cloth. | | H5 II.iv.48.1 |
King. | FRENCH KING | | |
Thinke we King Harry strong: | Think we King Harry strong; | | H5 II.iv.48.2 |
And Princes, looke you strongly arme to meet him. | And, Princes, look you strongly arm to meet him. | | H5 II.iv.49 |
The Kindred of him hath beene flesht vpon vs: | The kindred of him hath been fleshed upon us, | flesh (v.) old form: flesht [of a sword] use for the first time in battle | H5 II.iv.50 |
And he is bred out of that bloodie straine, | And he is bred out of that bloody strain | strain (n.) old form: strainequality, character, disposition | H5 II.iv.51 |
| | bloody (adj.) old form: bloodie blood-thirsty, warlike, ferocious | |
That haunted vs in our familiar Pathes: | That haunted us in our familiar paths. | haunt (v.)pursue, afflict, beset | H5 II.iv.52 |
Witnesse our too much memorable shame, | Witness our too much memorable shame | | H5 II.iv.53 |
When Cressy Battell fatally was strucke, | When Crécy battle fatally was struck, | strike (v.) old form: struckefight, engage in fighting | H5 II.iv.54 |
| | Crécy (n.)battle (1346) in which Edward III defeated the French | |
And all our Princes captiu'd, by the hand | And all our princes captived by the hand | captive (v.) old form: captiu'dcapture, take captive | H5 II.iv.55 |
Of that black Name, Edward, black Prince of Wales: | Of that black name, Edward, Black Prince of Wales; | | H5 II.iv.56 |
Whiles that his Mountaine Sire, on Mountaine standing | Whiles that his mountain sire, on mountain standing, | mountain (adj.) old form: Mountaine pre-eminent, larger than life | H5 II.iv.57 |
Vp in the Ayre, crown'd with the Golden Sunne, | Up in the air, crowned with the golden sun, | | H5 II.iv.58 |
Saw his Heroicall Seed, and smil'd to see him | Saw his heroical seed, and smiled to see him, | heroical (adj.) old form: Heroicall heroic | H5 II.iv.59 |
Mangle the Worke of Nature, and deface | Mangle the work of nature, and deface | | H5 II.iv.60 |
The Patternes, that by God and by French Fathers | The patterns that by God and by French fathers | | H5 II.iv.61 |
Had twentie yeeres been made. This is a Stem | Had twenty years been made. This is a stem | | H5 II.iv.62 |
Of that Victorious Stock: and let vs feare | Of that victorious stock; and let us fear | | H5 II.iv.63 |
The Natiue mightinesse and fate of him. | The native mightiness and fate of him. | | H5 II.iv.64 |
Enter a Messenger. | Enter a Messenger | | H5 II.iv.65 |
Mess. | MESSENGER | | |
Embassadors from Harry King of England, | Ambassadors from Harry King of England | | H5 II.iv.65 |
Doe craue admittance to your Maiestie. | Do crave admittance to your majesty. | crave (v.) old form: craue beg, entreat, request | H5 II.iv.66 |
King. | FRENCH KING | | |
Weele giue them present audience. Goe, and bring them. | We'll give them present audience. Go and bring them. | | H5 II.iv.67 |
| Exeunt Messenger and certain lords | | H5 II.iv.67 |
You see this Chase is hotly followed, friends. | You see this chase is hotly followed, friends. | | H5 II.iv.68 |
Dolphin. | DAUPHIN | | |
Turne head, and stop pursuit: for coward Dogs | Turn head, and stop pursuit, for coward dogs | turn head old form: Turne turn and face the enemy, make a bold front | H5 II.iv.69 |
Most spend their mouths, whẽ what they seem to threaten | Most spend their mouths when what they seem to threaten | spend one's mouth[hunting] bark, bay, give tongue | H5 II.iv.70 |
Runs farre before them. Good my Soueraigne | Runs far before them. Good my sovereign, | | H5 II.iv.71 |
Take vp the English short, and let them know | Take up the English short, and let them know | | H5 II.iv.72 |
Of what a Monarchie you are the Head: | Of what a monarchy you are the head. | | H5 II.iv.73 |
Selfe-loue, my Liege, is not so vile a sinne, | Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin | | H5 II.iv.74 |
As selfe-neglecting. | As self-neglecting. | | H5 II.iv.75.1 |
Enter Exeter. | Enter lords, with Exeter and train | | H5 II.iv.75 |
King. | FRENCH KING | | |
From our Brother of England? | From our brother of England? | | H5 II.iv.75.2 |
Exe. | EXETER | | |
From him, and thus he greets your Maiestie: | From him; and thus he greets your majesty: | | H5 II.iv.76 |
He wills you in the Name of God Almightie, | He wills you, in the name of God Almighty, | | H5 II.iv.77 |
That you deuest your selfe, and lay apart | That you divest yourself, and lay apart | | H5 II.iv.78 |
The borrowed Glories, that by gift of Heauen, | The borrowed glories that by gift of heaven, | borrowed (adj.)assumed, pretended, feigned | H5 II.iv.79 |
By Law of Nature, and of Nations, longs | By law of nature and of nations, 'longs | long (v.)belong, pertain, relate | H5 II.iv.80 |
To him and to his Heires, namely, the Crowne, | To him and to his heirs – namely, the crown, | | H5 II.iv.81 |
And all wide-stretched Honors, that pertaine | And all wide-stretched honours that pertain | wide-stretched (adj.)widely extended, extensive, sweeping | H5 II.iv.82 |
By Custome, and the Ordinance of Times, | By custom and the ordinance of times | ordinance (n.)usage, practice, course | H5 II.iv.83 |
| | time (n.)past time, history | |
Vnto the Crowne of France: that you may know | Unto the crown of France. That you may know | | H5 II.iv.84 |
'Tis no sinister, nor no awk-ward Clayme, | 'Tis no sinister nor no awkward claim | sinister (adj.)illegitimate, erroneous, irregular | H5 II.iv.85 |
| | awkward (adj.) old form: awk-ward perverse, inept, wrong-headed | |
Pickt from the worme-holes of long-vanisht dayes, | Picked from the worm-holes of long-vanished days, | | H5 II.iv.86 |
Nor from the dust of old Obliuion rakt, | Nor from the dust of old oblivion raked, | | H5 II.iv.87 |
He sends you this most memorable Lyne, | He sends you this most memorable line, | line (n.) old form: Lyneline of descent, lineage, pedigree | H5 II.iv.88 |
In euery Branch truly demonstratiue; | In every branch truly demonstrative, | | H5 II.iv.89 |
Willing you ouer-looke this Pedigree: | Willing you overlook this pedigree; | overlook (v.) old form: ouer-looke look over, peruse, read through | H5 II.iv.90 |
And when you find him euenly deriu'd | And when you find him evenly derived | evenly (adv.) old form: euenly directly, in a straight line | H5 II.iv.91 |
From his most fam'd, of famous Ancestors, | From his most famed of famous ancestors, | | H5 II.iv.92 |
Edward the third; he bids you then resigne | Edward the Third, he bids you then resign | | H5 II.iv.93 |
Your Crowne and Kingdome, indirectly held | Your crown and kingdom, indirectly held | indirectly (adv.)wrongfully, unjustly, illegitimately | H5 II.iv.94 |
From him, the Natiue and true Challenger. | From him, the native and true challenger. | challenger (n.)claimant | H5 II.iv.95 |
King. | FRENCH KING | | |
Or else what followes? | Or else what follows? | | H5 II.iv.96 |
Exe. | EXETER | | |
Bloody constraint: for if you hide the Crowne | Bloody constraint; for if you hide the crown | | H5 II.iv.97 |
Euen in your hearts, there will he rake for it. | Even in your hearts, there will he rake for it. | | H5 II.iv.98 |
Therefore in fierce Tempest is he comming, | Therefore in fierce tempest is he coming, | | H5 II.iv.99 |
In Thunder and in Earth-quake, like a Ioue: | In thunder and in earthquake, like a Jove, | Jove (n.)[pron: johv] alternative name for Jupiter, the Roman supreme god | H5 II.iv.100 |
That if requiring faile, he will compell. | That, if requiring fail, he will compel; | requiring (n.)demanding, requesting as a right | H5 II.iv.101 |
And bids you, in the Bowels of the Lord, | And bids you, in the bowels of the Lord, | | H5 II.iv.102 |
Deliuer vp the Crowne, and to take mercie | Deliver up the crown, and to take mercy | deliver up (v.) old form: Deliuer vp surrender, yield, give up totally | H5 II.iv.103 |
On the poore Soules, for whom this hungry Warre | On the poor souls for whom this hungry war | | H5 II.iv.104 |
Opens his vastie Iawes: and on your head | Opens his vasty jaws; and on your head | vasty (adj.) old form: vastie vast, immense, spacious | H5 II.iv.105 |
Turning the Widdowes Teares, the Orphans Cryes, | Turning the widows' tears, the orphans' cries, | | H5 II.iv.106 |
The dead-mens Blood, the priuy Maidens Groanes, | The dead men's blood, the prived maidens' groans, | prived (adj.) old form: priuy bereaved, deprived of loved ones | H5 II.iv.107 |
For Husbands, Fathers, and betrothed Louers, | For husbands, fathers and betrothed lovers | | H5 II.iv.108 |
That shall be swallowed in this Controuersie. | That shall be swallowed in this controversy. | | H5 II.iv.109 |
This is his Clayme, his Threatning, and my Message: | This is his claim, his threatening, and my message – | | H5 II.iv.110 |
Vnlesse the Dolphin be in presence here; | Unless the Dauphin be in presence here, | | H5 II.iv.111 |
To whom expressely I bring greeting to. | To whom expressly I bring greeting too. | | H5 II.iv.112 |
King. | FRENCH KING | | |
For vs, we will consider of this further: | For us, we will consider of this further. | | H5 II.iv.113 |
To morrow shall you beare our full intent | Tomorrow shall you bear our full intent | intent (n.)intention, purpose, aim | H5 II.iv.114 |
Back to our Brother of England. | Back to our brother of England. | | H5 II.iv.115.1 |
Dolph. | DAUPHIN | | |
For the Dolphin, | For the Dauphin, | | H5 II.iv.115.2 |
I stand here for him: what to him from England? | I stand here for him. What to him from England? | | H5 II.iv.116 |
Exe. | EXETER | | |
Scorne and defiance, sleight regard, contempt, | Scorn and defiance, slight regard, contempt, | regard (n.)respect, repute, esteem | H5 II.iv.117 |
And any thing that may not mis-become | And anything that may not misbecome | misbecome (v.) old form: mis-becomeappear unbecoming to, be unseemly to | H5 II.iv.118 |
The mightie Sender, doth he prize you at. | The mighty sender, doth he prize you at. | | H5 II.iv.119 |
Thus sayes my King: and if your Fathers Highnesse | Thus says my King: an if your father's highness | an if (conj.)if | H5 II.iv.120 |
Doe not, in graunt of all demands at large, | Do not, in grant of all demands at large, | | H5 II.iv.121 |
Sweeten the bitter Mock you sent his Maiestie; | Sweeten the bitter mock you sent his majesty, | mock (n.)act of mockery, mocking remark, derisive action, scornful irony | H5 II.iv.122 |
Hee'le call you to so hot an Answer of it, | He'll call you to so hot an answer of it, | | H5 II.iv.123 |
That Caues and Wombie Vaultages of France | That caves and womby vaultages of France | vaultage (n.)vault, cavern, chamber | H5 II.iv.124 |
| | womby (adj.) old form: Wombie womb-like, hollow, cavernous | |
Shall chide your Trespas, and returne your Mock | Shall chide your trespass, and return your mock | chide (v.), past form chidscold, rebuke, reprove | H5 II.iv.125 |
In second Accent of his Ordinance. | In second accent of his ordinance. | ordnance, ordinance (n.)cannon, artillery | H5 II.iv.126 |
| | accent, secondecho, reverberation | |
Dolph. | DAUPHIN | | |
Say: if my Father render faire returne, | Say, if my father render fair return, | | H5 II.iv.127 |
It is against my will: for I desire | It is against my will, for I desire | | H5 II.iv.128 |
Nothing but Oddes with England. | Nothing but odds with England. To that end, | | H5 II.iv.129 |
To that end, as matching to his Youth and Vanitie, | As matching to his youth and vanity, | | H5 II.iv.130 |
I did present him with the Paris-Balls. | I did present him with the Paris balls. | | H5 II.iv.131 |
Exe. | EXETER | | |
Hee'le make your Paris Louer shake for it, | He'll make your Paris Louvre shake for it, | Louvre (n.)[pron: 'loovr] palace of the French Kings, Paris | H5 II.iv.132 |
Were it the Mistresse Court of mightie Europe: | Were it the mistress court of mighty Europe: | | H5 II.iv.133 |
And be assur'd, you'le find a diff'rence, | And, be assured, you'll find a difference, | | H5 II.iv.134 |
As we his Subiects haue in wonder found, | As we his subjects have in wonder found, | | H5 II.iv.135 |
Betweene the promise of his greener dayes, | Between the promise of his greener days | green (adj.)youthful, inexperienced, immature | H5 II.iv.136 |
And these he masters now: now he weighes Time | And these he masters now. Now he weighs time | | H5 II.iv.137 |
Euen to the vtmost Graine: that you shall reade | Even to the utmost grain; that you shall read | | H5 II.iv.138 |
In your owne Losses, if he stay in France. | In your own losses, if he stay in France. | | H5 II.iv.139 |
King. | FRENCH KING | | |
To morrow shall you know our mind at full. | Tomorrow shall you know our mind at full. | | H5 II.iv.140 |
Flourish. | Flourish | | H5 II.iv.141.1 |
Exe. | EXETER | | |
Dispatch vs with all speed, least that our King | Dispatch us with all speed, lest that our King | dispatch, despatch (v.)send away, send off | H5 II.iv.141 |
Come here himselfe to question our delay; | Come here himself to question our delay, | | H5 II.iv.142 |
For he is footed in this Land already. | For he is footed in this land already. | foot (v.)gain a foothold, land | H5 II.iv.143 |
King. | FRENCH KING | | |
You shalbe soone dispatcht, with faire conditions. | You shall be soon dispatched with fair conditions. | | H5 II.iv.144 |
A Night is but small breathe, and little pawse, | A night is but small breath and little pause | | H5 II.iv.145 |
To answer matters of this consequence. | To answer matters of this consequence. | | H5 II.iv.146 |
Exeunt. | Exeunt | | H5 II.iv.146 |