Original: For this I shall have time enough to mourn.
Modern: I’ll have plenty of time later to grieve about this.

Original: In poison there is physic; and these news,
Modern: Even poison can contain medicine; and this news,

Original: Having been well, that would have made me sick,
Modern: Which would have made me sick if I had been healthy,

Original: Being sick, have in some measure made me well;
Modern: Has actually made me somewhat better because I was already sick;

Original: And as the wretch whose fever-weak’ned joints,
Modern: And like the miserable person whose joints are weakened by fever,

Original: Like strengthless hinges, buckle under life,
Modern: Like broken hinges that collapse under the weight of living,

Original: Impatient of his fit, breaks like a fire
Modern: Growing impatient with his illness, bursts out like a fire

Original: Out of his keeper’s arms, even so my limbs,
Modern: From his caretaker’s arms, in the same way my limbs,

Original: Weak’ned with grief, being now enrag’d with grief,
Modern: Weakened by sorrow but now fueled by rage from that sorrow,

Original: Are thrice themselves. Hence, therefore, thou nice crutch!
Modern: Are three times as strong. So get away from me, you delicate crutch!

Original: A scaly gauntlet now with joints of steel
Modern: An armored metal glove with steel joints

Original: Must glove this hand; and hence, thou sickly coif!
Modern: Must cover this hand now; and get away, you invalid’s cap!

Original: Thou art a guard too wanton for the head
Modern: You’re too soft and weak a protection for the head

Original: Which princes, flesh’d with conquest, aim to hit.
Modern: That princes, excited by victory, are trying to strike.

Original: Now bind my brows with iron; and approach
Modern: Now wrap my forehead with iron; and let come

Original: The ragged’st hour that time and spite dare bring
Modern: The most brutal moment that time and malice dare to bring

Original: To frown upon th’ enrag’d Northumberland!
Modern: To threaten the furious Northumberland!

Original: Let heaven kiss earth! Now let not Nature’s hand
Modern: Let the sky crash down to earth! Don’t let Nature’s hand

Original: Keep the wild flood confin’d! Let order die!
Modern: Hold back the raging flood anymore! Let order collapse!

Original: And let this world no longer be a stage
Modern: And don’t let this world continue to be a stage

Original: To feed contention in a ling’ring act;
Modern: That drags out conflict in an endless play;

Original: But let one spirit of the first-born Cain
Modern: Instead, let the murderous spirit of Cain (the first killer)

Original: Reign in all bosoms, that, each heart being set
Modern: Rule in everyone’s hearts, so that each heart being focused

Original: On bloody courses, the rude scene may end
Modern: On violence and bloodshed, this savage scene can finally end

Original: And darkness be the burier of the dead!
Modern: And let darkness itself be the one to bury all the dead!

In Act I, Scene 1 of Henry IV, Part 2, Lord Bardolph arrives at Warkworth Castle to inform the Earl of Northumberland that his son Henry Percy (Hotspur) has achieved victory over King Henry IV at the Battle of Shrewsbury. Northumberland initially receives this news with great joy and relief, celebrating what he believes to be his son’s triumph and the king’s defeat. However, this moment of elation is short-lived when Travers arrives with contradictory reports, followed by Morton who brings the devastating truth about the battle’s outcome.

Morton confirms that the rebels have indeed been defeated at Shrewsbury, that Hotspur has been killed in combat by Prince Hal, and that the Earl of Douglas has been captured. The scene depicts Northumberland’s emotional journey from hope to despair as he learns of his son’s death. Despite his grief and the urging of others to seek revenge, Northumberland ultimately decides against immediately taking up arms again. Morton warns him that King Henry is now marching north with a strong force, accompanied by Prince John of Lancaster and the Earl of Westmoreland, setting up the political tensions that will drive the remainder of the play.

Henry IV, Part Two - Summary of Events

The play opens with Rumour spreading false news that Hotspur has defeated King Henry IV at Shrewsbury. Northumberland soon learns the truth: his son Hotspur is dead, and the rebellion has failed. Despite his grief and calls from his allies to continue the fight, Northumberland eventually flees to Scotland. Meanwhile, the rebel leaders—the Archbishop of York, Lord Mowbray, and Lord Hastings—gather forces for a new uprising against the King.

Prince Hal continues his time in the taverns of Eastcheap with Falstaff, Mistress Quickly, Doll Tearsheet, and his companions. Falstaff, deep in debt and pursued by the Hostess for unpaid bills, manipulates his way out of trouble and is eventually called to join the King’s forces. The King himself is gravely ill and troubled by insomnia, burdened by guilt over how he obtained the crown. He laments that Hal remains irresponsible and fears for England’s future under his son’s rule.

In Gaultree Forest, Prince John of Lancaster meets with the rebels under a flag of truce. He promises to address their grievances, and the rebel leaders dismiss their armies. Once the rebel forces disperse, Prince John arrests the leaders for treason and orders their execution. When the dying King Henry hears of this victory and later finds Hal with the crown at his bedside (believing him dead, Hal had taken it), father and son reconcile. Henry dies, and Hal becomes King Henry V.

As the new king, Henry V publicly rejects Falstaff, who arrives expecting rewards and favor. The King banishes his former companion from his presence, promises him support at a distance, but makes clear their relationship is over. The Lord Chief Justice is retained in his position, and the new king prepares to rule England. The epilogue promises that the story will continue with Henry V’s wars in France and hints that Falstaff will appear again.