Editorial note — Scene II.—INTERIOR OF THE CATHEDRAL AT TROYES IN CHAMPAGNE.

V.1 To have me fold up, &c.] Dost thou desire to have me put thee to death.

V.2 ——a squire of low degree.] That is, I will bring thee to the ground.

V.3 ——astonished him.] That is, you have stunned him with the blow.

V.4 ——gleeking] i.e., scoffing, sneering. Gleek was a game at cards.

V.5 ——English condition.] Condition is temper, disposition of mind.

V.6 ——Doth fortune play the huswife] That is, the jilt.

V.7 The dresses of Queen Isabella, her ladies, and the Princess Katharine, are taken from Montfaucon Monarchie Françoise.

V.8 ——wherefore we are met!] i.e., Peace, for which we are here met, be to this meeting.

V.9 The fatal balls of murdering basilisks:] It was anciently supposed that this serpent could destroy the object of its vengeance by merely looking at it.

V.10

i.e., our answer shall be such as to leave no room for further questioning in the matter. “We will peremptorily make answer.”

V.11 ——look greenly,] i.e., like a young lover, awkwardly.

V.12 ——take a good fellow of plain and uncoined constancy;] Uncoined constancy signifies real and true constancy, unrefined and unadorned.

V.13 ——a good leg will fall,] i.e., shrink—fall away.

V.14 ——shall go to Constantinople] Shakespeare has here committed an anachronism. The Turks were not possessed of Constantinople before the year 1463, when Henry the Fifth had been dead thirty-one years.

V.15 ——my condition is not smooth;] i.e., manners, appearance.

Kean Shakespeare

I.1 I.1

I.2 II.3 with Boy’s speech from III.2

II.1 II.2

II.2 II.4

III (unnumbered scene after Chorus) III.1

III.1 III.5

III.2 III.6

IV (unnumbered scene interrupting Chorus) III.7

IV.1 IV.1

IV.2 IV.2

IV.3 IV.3

IV.4 IV.5

IV.5 IV.6 and IV.7 (intermingled)

IV.6 IV.8

Interlude —

V.1 V.1

V.2 V.2

— Epilogue (Chorus)