Original: My learned lord, we pray you to proceed
Modern: My educated lord, we ask you to continue

Original: And justly and religiously unfold
Modern: And fairly and honestly explain

Original: Why the law Salique that they have in France
Modern: Why the Salic law that exists in France

Original: Or should, or should not, bar us in our claim:
Modern: Either should or shouldn’t prevent us from claiming the throne:

Original: And God forbid, my dear and faithful lord,
Modern: And may God prevent you, my trusted and loyal lord,

Original: That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading,
Modern: From twisting, distorting, or bending your interpretation,

Original: Or nicely charge your understanding soul
Modern: Or cleverly burden your informed conscience

Original: With opening titles miscreate, whose right
Modern: By presenting false claims to the throne, whose legitimacy

Original: Suits not in native colours with the truth;
Modern: Doesn’t match up with the actual truth;

Original: For God doth know how many now in health
Modern: For God knows how many men who are healthy right now

Original: Shall drop their blood in approbation
Modern: Will shed their blood in support

Original: Of what your reverence shall incite us to.
Modern: Of whatever your holiness encourages us to do.

Original: Therefore take heed how you impawn our person,
Modern: So be careful about how you put my reputation at stake,

Original: How you awake our sleeping sword of war:
Modern: How you stir up our dormant military power:

Original: We charge you, in the name of God, take heed;
Modern: I command you, in God’s name, be careful;

Original: For never two such kingdoms did contend
Modern: For never have two such great kingdoms fought

Original: Without much fall of blood; whose guiltless drops
Modern: Without much bloodshed; whose innocent drops

Original: Are every one a woe, a sore complaint
Modern: Are each one a tragedy, a serious accusation

Original: ‘Gainst him whose wrong gives edge unto the swords
Modern: Against the person whose false advice sharpens the swords

Original: That make such waste in brief mortality.
Modern: That cause such destruction of human lives.

Original: Under this conjuration, speak, my lord;
Modern: Under this solemn oath, speak, my lord;

Original: For we will hear, note and believe in heart
Modern: For we will listen, pay attention, and believe in our hearts

Original: That what you speak is in your conscience wash’d
Modern: That what you say has been cleansed in your conscience

Original: As pure as sin with baptism.
Modern: As pure as sin is washed away by baptism.

In Act I, Scene 2 of “Henry V,” King Henry meets with his advisors at the English court to discuss his claim to the French throne. The scene opens with Henry questioning the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely about the legitimacy of his claim through the Salic Law, which the French use to deny inheritance through the female line. The Archbishop delivers a lengthy explanation demonstrating that the Salic Law does not apply to France and that Henry has a rightful claim to the French crown through his great-great-grandmother, Isabella of France. Both the Archbishop and other nobles encourage Henry to pursue his claim and assure him of their support, invoking the military successes of his ancestor Edward III and the Black Prince.

The French Ambassador then arrives with a message from the Dauphin in response to Henry’s earlier claims. The Dauphin sends Henry a gift of tennis balls, mocking his youth and suggesting he should occupy himself with sports rather than matters of state. Henry responds with controlled anger, warning that the Dauphin’s jest will turn into serious consequences. He declares his intention to invade France and hold the Dauphin personally responsible for the bloodshed that will follow. The King then dismisses the Ambassador with a message for the Dauphin and the French court, and orders his nobles to prepare for war, stating that either he will claim the throne of France or die in the attempt.

Henry V follows the young English king as he transforms from the wayward Prince Hal into a decisive military leader. The play opens with Henry’s court debating his claim to the French throne through his great-great-grandmother’s lineage. When the French Dauphin mockingly sends Henry tennis balls as a gift, suggesting he should stick to games rather than warfare, Henry uses this insult as justification to invade France. He sentences three conspirators - Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey - to death for plotting against his life, then sets sail for France with his army.

The English forces land in France and lay siege to Harfleur, which Henry captures after his famous “Once more unto the breach” speech. However, his army is weakened by disease and casualties. Meanwhile, we follow the tavern companions from Henry’s youth - Pistol, Nym, Bardolph, and Hostess Quickly, who reports the death of Falstaff. The English army, vastly outnumbered, faces the French at Agincourt. On the eve of battle, Henry disguises himself and walks among his soldiers to gauge their morale, engaging in philosophical discussions about kingship and responsibility.

The Battle of Agincourt proves to be a decisive English victory despite overwhelming French numerical superiority. Henry orders the killing of French prisoners when he believes the French are regrouping, and becomes enraged when he discovers French forces have killed the English boys guarding the baggage train. The English suffer minimal casualties while French losses are enormous. The play concludes with Henry’s courtship of Princess Katherine of France, conducted partly in broken French and English. Their marriage seals the Treaty of Troyes, which names Henry as heir to the French throne, though the Chorus epilogue reminds the audience that Henry’s son would later lose these French territories.