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HENRY VIII A line-by-line translation

Act 1, Prologue Shakespeare

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CHORUS I come no more to make you laugh: things now, That bear a weighty and a serious brow, Sad, high, and working, full of state and woe, Such noble scenes as draw the eye to flow, We now present. Those that can pity, here May, if they think it well, let fall a tear; The subject will deserve it. Such as give Their money out of hope they may believe, May here find truth too. Those that come to see Only a show or two, and so agree The play may pass, if they be still and willing, I'll undertake may see away their shilling Richly in two short hours. Only they That come to hear a merry bawdy play, A noise of targets, or to see a fellow In a long motley coat guarded with yellow, Will be deceived; for, gentle hearers, know, To rank our chosen truth with such a show As fool and fight is, beside forfeiting Our own brains, and the opinion that we bring, To make that only true we now intend, Will leave us never an understanding friend. Therefore, for goodness' sake, and as you are known The first and happiest hearers of the town, Be sad, as we would make ye: think ye see The very persons of our noble story As they were living; think you see them great, And follow'd with the general throng and sweat Of thousand friends; then in a moment, see How soon this mightiness meets misery: And, if you can be merry then, I'll say A man may weep upon his wedding-day.

Shakescleare Translation CHORUS I haven't come to make you laugh anymore. Now we're showing you things that are serious, sad, noble, and full of dignity and sadness: scenes that make you cry. Those who are able to feel pity can cry at this if they want. The subject deserves it. Those who pay money hoping to see something true will find truth here too. Those who have only come to see a play or two to make themselves happy can sit through this play if they want to and if they can sit still. I'll make sure they get a good show lasting two short hours in return for their money. Only those who come to see a funny, dirty play, to hear the noise of shields clashing together, or to see a man in a long fool's coat 1 with a yellow border will not be satisfied. Because, dear listeners, spoiling the true story we have chosen to tell with a show full of fools and fighting would mean losing all our intelligent friends as well as giving up our own brains and our intention only to show the truth. So, for goodness' sake, you who are known to be the best and happiest theater audience in town, be as sad as we want to make you. Imagine you see the real characters in our noble story as if they were alive. Imagine you see them powerful and followed by a sweaty crowd of a thousand friends. Then see how, all at once, this power runs into disaster. And if you can be happy then, I'll believe a man can weep on the day he gets married.

1 The "fellow" in "yellow" in the original text refers to the role of the fool or clown. Fools were distinguished from other characters by the distinctive coats they wore. In Shakespeare's texts, fools, who are usually peasants, jesters, or lower class folk in the service of a king, often speak with more wisdom than the noble characters they serve.

Act 1, Scene 1 Shakespeare Enter NORFOLK at one door; at the other, BUCKINGHAM and ABERGAVENNY

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Shakescleare Translation NORFOLK enters at one door, BUCKINGHAM ABERGAVENNY at the other.

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BUCKINGHAM Good morrow, and well met. How have ye done Since last we saw in France?

BUCKINGHAM Good morning, and good to see you. How have you been since we last met in France?

NORFOLK I thank your grace, Healthful; and ever since a fresh admirer Of what I saw there.

NORFOLK Thank you, sir, I've been well. And ever since I've been thinking admiringly about what I saw there.

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1 Edward Stafford, the 3rd Earl of Buckingham, becomes a central figure in the play's first act. He is one of many characters who make the king suspicious (whether for true crimes or not) and suffer for it.

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BUCKINGHAM An untimely ague Stay'd me a prisoner in my chamber when Those suns of glory, those two lights of men, Met in the vale of Andren.

BUCKINGHAM An unfortunate sickness kept me prisoner in my room when those two men 2 as glorious and bright as suns met in the valley of Andren.

NORFOLK 'Twixt Guynes and Arde: I was then present, saw them salute on horseback; Beheld them, when they lighted, how they clung In their embracement, as they grew together; Which had they, what four throned ones could have weigh'd Such a compounded one?

NORFOLK Between Guynes and Arde. I was there and saw them greet each other on horseback. I saw them when they got off the horses. They held on to each other so hard when they hugged that it looked like they were two plants growing together. If they had, those two together would have been worth more than four kings.

BUCKINGHAM All the whole time I was my chamber's prisoner.

BUCKINGHAM The whole time I was stuck in my room like a prisoner.

NORFOLK Then you lost The view of earthly glory: men might say, Till this time pomp was single, but now married To one above itself. Each following day Became the next day's master, till the last Made former wonders its. To-day the French, All clinquant, all in gold, like heathen gods, Shone down the English; and, to-morrow, they Made Britain India: every man that stood Show'd like a mine. Their dwarfish pages were As cherubins, all guilt: the madams too, Not used to toil, did almost sweat to bear The pride upon them, that their very labour Was to them as a painting: now this masque Was cried incomparable; and the ensuing night Made it a fool and beggar. The two kings, Equal in lustre, were now best, now worst, As presence did present them; him in eye, Still him in praise: and, being present both 'Twas said they saw but one; and no discerner Durst wag his tongue in censure. When these suns-For so they phrase 'em--by their heralds challenged The noble spirits to arms, they did perform Beyond thought's compass; that former fabulous story, Being now seen possible enough, got credit, That Bevis was believed.

NORFOLK Then you lost your chance to see glory on earth. It's as if all glory has been single in the past, but now it's married to glory greater than itself. Every day was better than the one before until the last one was full of all the wonders seen before. One day the French, all clanking, all dressed in gold like heathen gods, shone brighter than the English. The next day, the British were dressed so richly that they made Britain seem like India. Every man standing up looked like a mine because they were covered in gold. Their short pages looked like gold-covered cherubs. The ladies, too, not used to work, almost sweated to carry the beautiful things they wore, and their effort was like makeup: it made them look better. One day this display was said to be incomparable, but the next night it was made to look like the display of a fool and a beggar. Of the two kings, equal in brightness, one seemed better, then worse, at any moment. One looked better at one time, but the other one was praised more. When they were both present, people said they only saw one. No onlooker dared criticize anything. When these suns, as they were called, had their announcers challenge the noblemen to fight, those nobles did better than you can imagine. The old legend of Bevis 3 now seemed possible and was believed.

BUCKINGHAM O, you go far.

BUCKINGHAM Oh, you're praising them highly.

NORFOLK As I belong to worship and affect In honour honesty, the tract of every thing Would by a good discourser lose some life, Which action's self was tongue to. All was royal; To the disposing of it nought rebell'd. Order gave each thing view; the office did Distinctly his full function.

NORFOLK I swear by my reputation and love for honesty, the description of everything that was done there couldn't do justice to it even if it were described by a good talker. Things went perfectly. 4 Everything was done in good order, and the people in charge did their job well.

BUCKINGHAM Who did guide, I mean, who set the body and the limbs Of this great sport together, as you guess?

BUCKINGHAM Who was in charge? I mean, who was the one to organize this sport, like a mind in charge of the parts of a body 5 ?

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2 Buckingham's speech here refers to the Field of the Cloth of Gold, a meeting in France between King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France that was intended to promote peace and friendship between the two countries. It was a magnificent display of wealth on both sides.

3 "Bevis" of Hampton was a legendary English hero.

4 "All was royal," in the original text, is a complicated metaphor. It means, essentially, that each part of the magnificent display went perfectly and nothing went wrong to ruin the show. The displays were like kings obeyed by their subjects, who didn't rebel against them.

5 In this metaphor of the "body", the person in charge of the displays is compared to a mind that guides the body. This metaphor has larger implications for the play. Kings are commonly compared to the "head" of state, the one part who guides the whole. Here, however, Cardinal Wolsey takes over that role. The cardinal, as we will see, constantly

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oversteps his authority and influences the king.

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NORFOLK One, certes, that promises no element In such a business.

NORFOLK Someone you wouldn't expect to have any part in such business.

BUCKINGHAM I pray you, who, my lord?

BUCKINGHAM Tell me, who, my lord?

NORFOLK All this was order'd by the good discretion Of the right reverend Cardinal of York.

NORFOLK This was organized wisely by the honorable Cardinal of York.

BUCKINGHAM The devil speed him! no man's pie is freed From his ambitious finger. What had he To do in these fierce vanities? I wonder That such a keech can with his very bulk 65 Take up the rays o' the beneficial sun And keep it from the earth.

BUCKINGHAM May the devil take good care of him! He's got his ambitious finger in everyone's pie. What did he have to do with this foolish fighting? I'm surprised that such a lump of fat can block the rays of the kind sun with his bulk and keep them from the earth.

NORFOLK Surely, sir, There's in him stuff that puts him to these ends; For, being not propp'd by ancestry, whose grace 70 Chalks successors their way, nor call'd upon For high feats done to the crown; neither allied For eminent assistants; but, spider-like, Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note, The force of his own merit makes his way 75 A gift that heaven gives for him, which buys A place next to the king.

NORFOLK Surely, sir, there's something in him that makes him want these things. He doesn't have the help of being from a good family, which guarantees succession to power, and he isn't being rewarded for brave deeds done for the king. Nor does he have powerful allies. But, like a spider, spinning his own web for himself, he makes us notice him. He clears a path for himself with his own worth. It's a gift to him from God, which buys him a place next to the king.

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ABERGAVENNY I cannot tell What heaven hath given him,--let some graver eye Pierce into that; but I can see his pride Peep through each part of him: whence has he that, If not from hell? the devil is a niggard, Or has given all before, and he begins A new hell in himself.

ABERGAVENNY I can't tell what God has given him. Let some wiser man look into that. But I can see his pride showing in every part of him. Where did he get that, if not from hell? The devil doesn't like to give anything away, or he's already given away everything, so the Cardinal begins a new hell inside himself.

BUCKINGHAM Why the devil, Upon this French going out, took he upon him, Without the privity o' the king, to appoint Who should attend on him? He makes up the file Of all the gentry; for the most part such To whom as great a charge as little honour He meant to lay upon: and his own letter, The honourable board of council out, Must fetch him in the papers.

BUCKINGHAM Why the devil, when this French expedition took place, did he take it upon himself to decide who would go with the king without asking him? He made up the list of all the nobles. Mostly it was those he meant to get a lot of money out of without giving them credit for it. He sends for the money by writing a letter, without consulting the king's honorable councilors.

ABERGAVENNY I do know Kinsmen of mine, three at the least, that have By this so sickened their estates, that never They shall abound as formerly.

ABERGAVENNY I know relatives of mine, at least three, who because of this are in so much financial trouble that they'll never get their finances back to where they were before.

BUCKINGHAM O, many Have broke their backs with laying manors on 'em For this great journey. What did this vanity But minister communication of A most poor issue?

BUCKINGHAM Oh, many people have broken their backs paying for mansions for the court to stay in on this great journey. What did this foolish man do, except help this bad thing happen?

NORFOLK Grievingly I think, The peace between the French and us not values The cost that did conclude it.

NORFOLK Sadly, I think the peace between the French and us isn't worth the money that was paid to make it.

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BUCKINGHAM Every man, After the hideous storm that follow'd, was A thing inspired; and, not consulting, broke Into a general prophecy; That this tempest, Dashing the garment of this peace, aboded The sudden breach on't.

BUCKINGHAM Every man, after the horrible storm 6 that followed the peace-making, was a prophet. Without thinking, they broke into a prophecy about general things: that this storm, dashing against the clothes of the people making this peace, meant that it would be broken soon.

NORFOLK Which is budded out; For France hath flaw'd the league, and hath attach'd Our merchants' goods at Bourdeaux.

NORFOLK And the peace has been broken. Because France has broken the treaty and has seized our merchants' goods at Bordeaux.

ABERGAVENNY Is it therefore 115 The ambassador is silenced?

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ABERGAVENNY Is that why the ambassador has been silenced?

NORFOLK Marry, is't.

NORFOLK Yes, it is.

ABERGAVENNY A proper title of a peace; and purchased At a superfluous rate!

ABERGAVENNY So we have just a title deed too high a price!

BUCKINGHAM Why, all this business Our reverend cardinal carried.

BUCKINGHAM The respected cardinal carried out all this business.

NORFOLK Like it your grace, The state takes notice of the private difference Betwixt you and the cardinal. I advise you-And take it from a heart that wishes towards you Honour and plenteous safety--that you read The cardinal's malice and his potency Together; to consider further that What his high hatred would effect wants not A minister in his power. You know his nature, That he's revengeful, and I know his sword Hath a sharp edge: it's long and, 't may be said, It reaches far, and where 'twill not extend, Thither he darts it. Bosom up my counsel, You'll find it wholesome. Lo, where comes that rock That I advise your shunning.

NORFOLK Your grace, the government notices the private quarrel between you and the cardinal. I advise you--this comes from a heart that wishes you honor and safety--to consider both the cardinal's ill-will and his power. Consider furthermore that he has all the minions he needs to do what he wants out of his powerful hatred. You know his vengeful nature and I know his sword has a sharp edge. It's long and they say it reaches far and, where it doesn't reach, he throws it. Remember my advice. You'll find that it's good. See, the rock 8 I advise you to avoid is coming now.

Enter CARDINAL WOLSEY, the purse borne before him, certain of the Guard, and two Secretaries with papers. CARDINAL WOLSEY in his passage fixeth his eye on BUCKINGHAM, and BUCKINGHAM on him, both full of disdain

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for a peace, and bought at

CARDINAL WOLSEY enters with a purse 9 carried in front of him, some members of the Guard, and two secretaries carrying papers. Passing by, CARDINAL WOLSEY glares at BUCKINGHAM, and BUCKINGHAM glares back.

CARDINAL WOLSEY The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor, ha? Where's his examination?

CARDINAL WOLSEY The Duke of Buckingham's surveyor paperwork?

FIRST SECRETARY Here, so please you.

FIRST SECRETARY Here, sir.

CARDINAL WOLSEY Is he in person ready?

CARDINAL WOLSEY Is he ready to appear in person?

FIRST SECRETARY Ay, please your grace.

FIRST SECRETARY Yes, your grace.

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6 This play is based largely on Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles, which does mention a terrible storm on June 18th, 1520.

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! Where's his

7 The "title" or title deed mentioned here is a legal document that proves one's ownership of property.

8 The "rock" refers to the Cardinal Wolsey, who is being compared to a sharp rock that could damage a ship.

9 Cardinal Wolsey's "purse" is a very important bag, as it carries the Great Seal of England. This device, which makes an impression in wax, is used to mark the king's official approval on documents. Wolsey's responsibility for the seal symbolizes his role as chancellor (essentially, chief adviser) to the king.

10 When asking about Buckingham's "surveyor," Wolsey refers to the man who oversees Buckingham's estates, his cousin Charles. Wolsey has been using Buckingham's cousin to get information with which he can incriminate Buckingham.

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Get translations of every Shakespeare play at www.litcharts.com CARDINAL WOLSEY Well, we shall then know more; and Buckingham Shall lessen this big look.

Exeunt CARDINAL WOLSEY and his Train

CARDINAL WOLSEY Well, I'll find out more. Buckingham won't look this confident soon.

CARDINAL WOLSEY and his followers exit.

BUCKINGHAM This butcher's cur is venom-mouth'd, and I Have not the power to muzzle him; therefore best Not wake him in his slumber. A beggar's book Outworths a noble's blood.

BUCKINGHAM This dog of a butcher's son 11 has a poisonous bite, and I can't muzzle him. So it's better not to wake him when he's sleeping. A beggar's pocket book is worth more than the blood of a nobleman. NORFOLK Are you angry? Ask God to make you patient. That's what you need to be cured of this disease of anger.

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NORFOLK What, are you chafed? Ask God for temperance; that's th...