Read The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) for Free Online

PHILIP.
    Stand in his face to contradict his claim.
     
    Standing against him to contradict his claim.
     
    CITIZEN.
    Till you compound whose right is worthiest,
    We for the worthiest hold the right from both.
     
    Until you show who is the most deserving,
    we will not bow down to either of you.
     
    KING JOHN.
    Then God forgive the sin of all those souls
    That to their everlasting residence,
    Before the dew of evening fall shall fleet
    In dreadful trial of our kingdom's king!
     
    Then may God show mercy to all those souls
    who will be going to their eternal rest
    before the evening dew falls,
    in this dreadful battle to see who is king of our kingdom!
     
    KING PHILIP.
    Amen, Amen! Mount, chevaliers; to arms!
     
    Amen, amen! Knights, mount; to battle!
     
    BASTARD.
    Saint George, that swing'd the dragon, and e'er since
    Sits on's horse back at mine hostess' door,
    Teach us some fence![To AUSTRIA]Sirrah, were I at home,
    At your den, sirrah, with your lioness,
    I would set an ox-head to your lion's hide,
    And make a monster of you.
     
    St George, who killed the dragon, and has ever since
    been sitting on a horse's back outside the pub,
    teach me some fencing![To Austria] Sir, if I was at home,
    at your house, sir, with your wife,
    I would make a cuckold out of you.
     
    AUSTRIA.
    Peace! no more.
     
    Peace! That's enough.
     
    BASTARD.
    O, tremble, for you hear the lion roar!
     
    Oh, tremble, you can hear the lion roar!
     
    KING JOHN.
    Up higher to the plain, where we'll set forth
    In best appoint
    ment all our regiments.
     
    Let's go up higher to the plain, where we will
    draw up our regiments in the best battle order.
     
    BASTARD.
    Speed then to take advantage of the field.
     
    Let's hurry to get the best position.
     
    KING PHILIP.
    It shall be so; and at the other hill
    Command the rest to stand. God and our right!
     
    This shall be so; and on the other hill
    we will tell the rest to wait. We're fighting for God and our rights!
     
    Exeunt
     
    Here, after excursions, enter the HERALD OF FRANCE,with trumpets, to the gates
     
    FRENCH HERALD.
    You men of Angiers, open wide your gates
    And let young Arthur, Duke of Britaine, in,
    Who by the hand of France this day hath made
    Much work for tears in many an English mother,
    Whose sons lie scattered on the bleeding ground;
    Many a widow's husband grovelling lies,
    Coldly embracing the discoloured earth;
    And victory with little loss doth play
    Upon the dancing banners of the French,
    Who are at hand, triumphantly displayed,
    To enter conquerors, and to proclaim
    Arthur of Britaine England's King and yours.
     
    You men of Angiers, open your gates wide
    and let young Arthur, Duke of Brittany, in,
    who through the efforts of the French king has today
    made many English mothers shed many tears,
    as their sons are lying scattered on the bloody ground;
    the husbands of many widows are lying grovelling
    cold upon the bloody earth;
    and victory with little damage has lighted
    upon the dancing banners of the French,
    who are close by, paraded in triumphant,
    come to enter as conquerors, and to proclaim
    Arthur of Brittany as the King of England and of you.
     
    Enter ENGLISH HERALD, with trumpet
     
    ENGLISH HERALD.
    Rejoice, you men of Angiers, ring your bells:
    King John, your king and England's, doth approach,
    Commander of this hot malicious day.
    Their armours that march'd hence so silver-bright
    Hither return all gilt with Frenchmen's blood.
    There stuck no plume in any English crest
    That is removed by a staff of France;
    Our colours do return in those same hands
    That did display them when we first march'd forth;
    And like a jolly troop of huntsmen come
    Our lusty English, all with purpled hands,
    Dy'd in the dying slaughter of their foes.
    Open your gates and give the victors way.
     
    Rejoice, you men of Angiers, ring your bells:
    King John, King of England and you, is coming,
    the victor of this bloody battle.
    The armour in which they marched away so shining