Original: When from the Dauphin’s crest thy sword struck fire,
Modern: When your sword struck the French prince’s helmet and made sparks,

Original: It warm’d thy father’s heart with proud desire
Modern: It filled your father’s heart with proud longing

Original: Of bold-faced victory. Then leaden age,
Modern: For a confident victory. Then my heavy old age,

Original: Quicken’d with youthful spleen and warlike rage,
Modern: Energized with youthful passion and battle fury,

Original: Beat down Alencon, Orleans, Burgundy,
Modern: Defeated Alencon, Orleans, and Burgundy,

Original: And from the pride of Gallia rescued thee.
Modern: And rescued you from the arrogant French forces.

Original: The ireful bastard Orleans, that drew blood
Modern: The angry illegitimate son Orleans, who drew blood

Original: From thee, my boy, and had the maidenhood
Modern: From you, my boy, and who had the honor

Original: Of thy first fight, I soon encountered,
Modern: Of being your first opponent in battle, I soon faced myself,

Original: And interchanging blows I quickly shed
Modern: And trading strikes with him I quickly spilled

Original: Some of his bastard blood; and in disgrace
Modern: Some of his illegitimate blood; and to insult him

Original: Bespoke him thus; ‘Contaminated, base
Modern: I spoke to him like this: ‘Contaminated, lowborn

Original: And misbegotten blood I spill of thine,
Modern: And illegitimate blood of yours that I’m spilling,

Original: Mean and right poor, for that pure blood of mine
Modern: Cheap and worthless, in exchange for that noble blood of mine

Original: Which thou didst force from Talbot, my brave boy:’
Modern: That you forced from Talbot, my brave boy:’

Original: Here, purposing the Bastard to destroy,
Modern: At this point, as I intended to kill the Bastard,

Original: Came in strong rescue. Speak, thy father’s care,
Modern: Strong reinforcements came to save him. Tell me, your father who cares for you,

Original: Art thou not weary, John? how dost thou fare?
Modern: Aren’t you tired, John? How are you holding up?

Original: Wilt thou yet leave the battle, boy, and fly,
Modern: Will you now leave the battle, boy, and escape,

Original: Now thou art seal’d the son of chivalry?
Modern: Now that you’ve proven yourself as a true knight’s son?

Original: Fly, to revenge my death when I am dead:
Modern: Escape, so you can avenge my death after I’m dead:

Original: The help of one stands me in little stead.
Modern: The help of just one person does me little good.

Original: O, too much folly is it, well I wot,
Modern: Oh, it’s too much foolishness, I know well,

Original: To hazard all our lives in one small boat!
Modern: To risk all our lives in one small boat!

Original: If I to-day die not with Frenchmen’s rage,
Modern: If I don’t die today from the Frenchmen’s attack,

Original: To-morrow I shall die with mickle age:
Modern: Tomorrow I’ll die from great old age:

Original: By me they nothing gain an if I stay;
Modern: They gain nothing from me if I stay;

Original: ‘Tis but the shortening of my life one day:
Modern: It’s only shortening my life by one day:

Original: In thee thy mother dies, our household’s name,
Modern: In you lives your mother, our family’s name,

Original: My death’s revenge, thy youth, and England’s fame:
Modern: The revenge for my death, your youth, and England’s honor:

Original: All these and more we hazard by thy stay;
Modern: All these things and more we risk if you stay;

Original: All these are saved if thou wilt fly away.
Modern: All these things are saved if you will escape.

Henry VI, Part 1 opens with the funeral of King Henry V, England’s great warrior king. The English nobles mourn his death while news arrives of military disasters in France, where English territories are being lost to French forces led by the Dauphin Charles. The Duke of Gloucester and the Bishop of Winchester engage in a bitter power struggle over control of the young King Henry VI, creating division within the English court.

In France, Joan of Pucelle (Joan of Arc) arrives at the French court, claiming divine guidance to drive the English from French soil. She demonstrates her supernatural powers and convinces the Dauphin of her mission. Joan leads the French forces to several victories, including the recapture of Orléans from the English. Meanwhile, the English hero Lord Talbot fights valiantly but faces increasingly difficult circumstances as French resistance grows stronger under Joan’s leadership.

The English nobles’ internal conflicts intensify when Richard Plantagenet (later Duke of York) and Edmund Beaufort, Earl of Somerset, quarrel in the Temple Garden. Their dispute leads to the symbolic plucking of white and red roses, representing the future Wars of the Roses. Plantagenet seeks to restore his family’s honor after his father’s execution for treason, while Somerset defends the Lancastrian cause.

The play concludes with the capture and execution of Joan of Pucelle by the English, though not before she attempts various defenses including claims of pregnancy. Despite her death, the French continue their resistance. Lord Talbot dies heroically in battle alongside his son John at Bordeaux, abandoned by the feuding English nobles who fail to send reinforcements. The Earl of Suffolk captures Margaret of Anjou and arranges her marriage to King Henry VI, setting the stage for future conflicts. The play ends with the English position in France severely weakened and internal divisions threatening the stability of the English crown.