Original: Now all the youth of England are on fire,
Modern: Now all the young men of England are burning with excitement,

Original: And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies:
Modern: And fancy clothes and fooling around have been put away:

Original: Now thrive the armourers, and honour’s thought
Modern: Now the armor-makers are doing great business, and thoughts of honor

Original: Reigns solely in the breast of every man:
Modern: Are the only thing in every man’s heart:

Original: They sell the pasture now to buy the horse,
Modern: They’re selling their land now to buy war horses,

Original: Following the mirror of all Christian kings,
Modern: Following the perfect example of all Christian kings,

Original: With winged heels, as English Mercuries.
Modern: Moving as fast as messengers with wings on their feet.

Original: For now sits Expectation in the air,
Modern: Because right now anticipation fills the air,

Original: And hides a sword from hilts unto the point
Modern: And covers a sword from handle to tip

Original: With crowns imperial, crowns and coronets,
Modern: With royal crowns and nobles’ coronets,

Original: Promised to Harry and his followers.
Modern: Promised as rewards to Harry and his men.

Original: The French, advised by good intelligence
Modern: The French, warned by good spy reports

Original: Of this most dreadful preparation,
Modern: About this terrifying military buildup,

Original: Shake in their fear and with pale policy
Modern: Tremble with fear and with desperate scheming

Original: Seek to divert the English purposes.
Modern: Try to stop the English plans.

Original: O England! model to thy inward greatness,
Modern: Oh England! You’re too small compared to your inner greatness,

Original: Like little body with a mighty heart,
Modern: Like a small body with a huge heart,

Original: What mightst thou do, that honour would thee do,
Modern: What could you accomplish, what honor could you achieve,

Original: Were all thy children kind and natural!
Modern: If all your sons were loyal and true!

Original: But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out
Modern: But look at your flaw! France has discovered in you

Original: A nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills
Modern: A group of empty hearts, which he fills

Original: With treacherous crowns; and three corrupted men,
Modern: With bribe money; and three corrupted men,

Original: One, Richard Earl of Cambridge, and the second,
Modern: One, Richard Earl of Cambridge, and the second,

Original: Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,
Modern: Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,

Original: Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland,
Modern: Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland,

Original: Have, for the gilt of France,—O guilt indeed!
Modern: Have, for the gold of France—oh, guilt indeed!

Original: Confirm’d conspiracy with fearful France;
Modern: Made a definite conspiracy with frightened France;

Original: And by their hands this grace of kings must die,
Modern: And by their hands this gracious king must die,

Original: If hell and treason hold their promises,
Modern: If hell and treason keep their promises,

Original: Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton.
Modern: Before he sets sail for France, right there in Southampton.

Original: Linger your patience on; and we’ll digest
Modern: Keep being patient a little longer; and we’ll compress

Original: The abuse of distance; force a play:
Modern: The problem of distance; squeeze in a play:

Original: The sum is paid; the traitors are agreed;
Modern: The bribe money is paid; the traitors have made their deal;

Original: The king is set from London; and the scene
Modern: The king has left London; and the scene

Original: Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton;
Modern: Is now moved, ladies and gentlemen, to Southampton;

Original: There is the playhouse now, there must you sit:
Modern: That’s the theater now, that’s where you must imagine sitting:

Original: And thence to France shall we convey you safe,
Modern: And from there to France we’ll transport you safely,

Original: And bring you back, charming the narrow seas
Modern: And bring you back, enchanting the English Channel

Original: To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,
Modern: To give you smooth sailing; because, if we can,

Original: We’ll not offend one stomach with our play.
Modern: We won’t make anyone seasick with our play.

Original: But, till the king come forth, and not till then,
Modern: But, until the king comes out, and not until then,

Original: Unto Southampton do we shift our scene.
Modern: We’re moving our scene to Southampton.

The Chorus returns to address the audience, describing how England is now unified and preparing enthusiastically for war with France. Young men throughout the kingdom are eager to follow King Henry into battle, with noblemen selling their estates to purchase horses and equipment. The entire nation appears to be rallying behind their king’s military campaign, creating an atmosphere of patriotic fervor and martial excitement across the land.

However, the Chorus reveals that this glorious enterprise faces a dark threat from within. Three noblemen—Richard Earl of Cambridge, Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and Sir Thomas Grey of Northumberland—have been corrupted by French gold and are plotting to assassinate King Henry before he can sail from Southampton to France. The Chorus explains that the audience will soon witness how this treasonous conspiracy is discovered and dealt with, and asks for the audience’s indulgence to imagine the journey from London to Southampton where these events will unfold.

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.