Act II, Scene V — Pope. SCENE VI. Johnson. om. Ff
brother England] (Q₁ Q₂) Pope. brother of England (Q₃) Ff.
[4809] 'long] Pope, longs Ff.
[4810] this ... line] Ff. these ... lines (Qq).
[4811] [Gives the French King a Paper. Theobald.
[4812] this] his Rowe.
[4813] Therefore in fierce] (Qq) Ff. And therefore in fierce Rowe. Therefore in fiercest Mitford conj. Therefore in fiery S. Walker conj.
[4814] will] may Pope.
[4815] And bids] He bids Rowe.
[4816] and on] upon Pope.
[4817] Turning] Turns he (Qq) Capell.
[4818] the widows' tears ... groans] the dead men's blood, the widows' tears The orphans' cries, the pining maidens' groans Johnson conj.
[4819] pining] (Qq) Pope. privy Ff. primy Theobald conj. 'prived Warburton conj.
[4820] greeting too] (Qq) F₂ F₃ F₄. greeting to F₁.
[4821] England] (Q₁ Q₂) Pope. of England (Q₃) Ff.
[4822] an if] Dyce (S. Walker conj.). and if Ff.
[4823] hot] loud (Qq) Capell.
of it] for it Pope.
[4824] chide] hide Theobald.
[4825] of] Ff. to Pope.
ordnance] ordenance (Qq). ordinance Ff.
[4826] render] tender F₄.
return] reply (Qq) Pope.
[4827] Arranged as by Rowe. Line 129 ends at England in Ff.
[4828] the] those Pope.
[4829] Louvre] Pope. Louer (Qq) F₁. Loover F₂. Lover F₃. Louver F₄.
[4830] masters] musters (Qq).
[4831] that] which (Qq) Pope.
[4832] he] we (Q₂ Q₃).
[4833] shall you] you shall Rowe (ed. 2).
[4834] breath] F₄. breathe F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4835] [Flourish.] Ff, after line 140. Transferred by Dyce.
Prologue
Enter Chorus.[4836]
Chor. Thus with imagined wing our swift scene flies In motion of no less celerity[4837] Than that of thought. Suppose that you have seen[4837] The well-appointed king at Hampton pier[4838] Embark his royalty; and his brave fleet 5 With silken streamers the young Phœbus fanning:[4839] Play with your fancies, and in them behold Upon the hempen tackle ship-boys climbing; Hear the shrill whistle which doth order give To sounds confused; behold the threaden sails, 10 Borne with the invisible and creeping wind,[4840] Draw the huge bottoms through the furrow'd sea, Breasting the lofty surge: O, do but think You stand upon the rivage and behold A city on the inconstant billows dancing; 15 For so appears this fleet majestical, Holding due course to Harfleur. Follow, follow:[4841] Grapple your minds to sternage of this navy,[4842] And leave your England, as dead midnight still, Guarded with grandsires, babies and old women, 20 Either past or not arrived to pith and puissance;[4843] For who is he, whose chin is but enrich'd With one appearing hair, that will not follow These cull'd and choice-drawn cavaliers to France? Work, work your thoughts, and therein see a siege; 25 Behold the ordnance on their carriages,[4844] With fatal mouths gaping on girded Harfleur. Suppose the ambassador from the French comes back;[4845] Tells Harry that the king doth offer him Katharine his daughter, and with her, to dowry, 30 Some petty and unprofitable dukedoms. The offer likes not: and the nimble gunner With linstock now the devilish cannon touches,
[Alarum, and chambers go off.[4846]
And down goes all before them. Still be kind,[4847] And eke out our performance with your mind. [Exit.[4848] 35
I. France. Before Harfleur.
Alarum. Enter KING HENRY, EXETER, BEDFORD, GLOUCESTER, and Soldiers, with scaling-ladders.[4849]
K. Hen. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more;[4850][4851] Or close the wall up with our English dead.[4851] In peace there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility: But when the blast of war blows in our ears, 5 Then imitate the action of the tiger; Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,[4852] Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect; Let it pry through the portage of the head 10 Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it[4853] As fearfully as doth a galled rock O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,[4854] Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean. Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,[4855] 15 Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit To his full height. On, on, you noblest English,[4856] Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof![4857] Fathers that, like so many Alexanders, Have in these parts from morn till even fought 20 And sheathed their swords for lack of argument: Dishonour not your mothers; now attest That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you. Be copy now to men of grosser blood,[4858] And teach them how to war. And you, good yeomen, 25 Whose limbs were made in England, show us here The mettle of your pasture; let us swear[4859] That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not; For there is none of you so mean and base, That hath not noble lustre in your eyes. 30 I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start. The game's afoot:[4860] Follow your spirit, and upon this charge Cry 'God for Harry, England, and Saint George!'
[Exeunt. Alarum, and chambers go off.[4861]
II. The same.
Enter NYM, BARDOLPH, PISTOL, and Boy.[4862]
Bard. On, on, on, on, on! to the breach, to the breach!
Nym. Pray thee, corporal, stay: the knocks are too[4863] hot; and, for mine own part, I have not a case of lives: the humour of it is too hot, that is the very plain-song of it.
Pist. The plain-song is most just; for humours do 5 abound:[4864]
Knocks go and come; God's vassals drop and die;[4865] And sword and shield,[4865] In bloody field,[4865] Doth win immortal fame.[4865][4866]
Boy. Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would 10 give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.[4867]
Pist. And I:[4867]
If wishes would prevail with me,[4867][4868][4869] My purpose should not fail with me,[4867][4869] But thither would I hie.[4867][4870] 15
Boy. As duly, but not as truly,[4867][4871][4872] As bird doth sing on bough.[4867][4872]
Enter FLUELLEN.[4867][4873]
Flu. Up to the breach, you dogs! avaunt, you cullions![4867][4874][4875]
[Driving them forward.[4867][4874][4876]
Pist. Be merciful, great duke, to men of mould.[4867][4877] 20 Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage,[4867][4877] Abate thy rage, great duke![4867][4877][4878] Good bawcock, bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck![4867][4877]
Nym. These be good humours! your honour wins bad[4867][4879] humours. [Exeunt all but Boy.[4867][4880] 25
Boy. As young as I am, I have observed these three swashers. I am boy to them all three: but all they three,[4881] though they would serve me, could not be man to me; for indeed three such antics do not amount to a man. For Bardolph, he is white-livered and red-faced; by the means 30 whereof a' faces it out, but fights not. For Pistol, he hath a killing tongue and a quiet sword; by the means whereof a' breaks words, and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he hath heard that men of few words are the best men; and therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest a' should be 35 thought a coward: but his few bad words are matched with as few good deeds; for a' never broke any man's head but his own, and that was against a post when he was drunk. They will steal any thing, and call it purchase. Bardolph stole a lute-case, bore it twelve leagues, and sold it for three half-pence. 40 Nym and Bardolph are sworn brothers in filching, and in Calais they stole a fire-shovel: I knew by that piece of service the men would carry coals. They would have me as familiar with men's pockets as their gloves or their hand-kerchers: which makes much against my manhood, if I[4882] 45 should take from another's pocket to put into mine; for it[4882][4883] is plain pocketing up of wrongs. I must leave them, and seek some better service: their villany goes against my weak stomach, and therefore I must cast it up. [Exit.
Re-enter FLUELLEN, GOWER following.[4884]
Gow. Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to 50 the mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.
Flu. To the mines! tell you the duke, it is not so good to come to the mines; for, look you, the mines is not according to the disciplines of the war: the concavities of it[4885] is not sufficient; for, look you, th' athversary, you may discuss 55 unto the duke, look you, is digt himself four yard[4886] under the countermines: by Cheshu, I think a' will plow up all, if there is not better directions.
Gow. The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the siege is given, is altogether directed by an Irishman, a 60 very valiant gentleman, i' faith.
Flu. It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?[4887]
Gow. I think it be.
Flu. By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world: I will[4888] verify as much in his beard: he has no more directions in 65 the true disciplines of the wars, look you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy-dog.
Enter MACMORRIS and Captain JAMY.[4889]
Gow. Here a' comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
Flu. Captain Jamy is a marvellous falorous gentleman,[4890] 70 that is certain; and of great expedition and knowledge in th' aunchient wars, upon my particular knowledge of his directions: by Cheshu, he will maintain his argument as well as any military man in the world, in the disciplines of the pristine wars of the Romans. 75
Jamy. I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen.[4891]
Flu. God-den to your worship, good Captain James.[4892]
Gow. How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit[4893] the mines? have the pioners given o'er?[4894]
Mac. By Chrish, la! tish ill done: the work ish give[4895] 80 over, the trompet sound the retreat. By my hand, I swear, and my father's soul, the work ish ill done; it ish give over: I would have blowed up the town, so Chrish save me, la! in an hour: O, tish ill done, tish ill done; by my hand, tish ill done! 85
Flu. Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will you voutsafe me, look you, a few disputations with you, as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of the war, the Roman[4896] wars, in the way of argument, look you, and friendly communication; partly to satisfy my opinion, and partly 90 for the satisfaction, look you, of my mind, as touching the direction of the military discipline; that is the point.
Jamy. It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captains bath: and I sall quit you with gud leve, as I may pick occasion; that sall I, marry. 95
Mac. It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me: the day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the king, and the dukes: it is no time to discourse. The town is beseeched,[4897] and the trumpet call us to the breach; and we talk, and, be Chrish, do nothing: 'tis shame for us all: so 100 God sa' me, 'tis shame to stand still; it is shame, by my hand: and there is throats to be cut, and works to be done; and there ish nothing done, so Chrish sa' me, la!
Jamy. By the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves to slomber, ay'll de gud service, or ay'll lig i' the[4898] 105 grund for it; ay, or go to death; and ay'll pay 't as valorously[4898] as I may, that sall I suerly do, that is the breff and[4899] the long. Marry, I wad full fain hear some question 'tween[4900] you tway.
Flu. Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your 110 correction, there is not many of your nation--[4901]
Mac. Of my nation! What ish my nation? Ish a villain,[4902] and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal. What ish[4902] my nation? Who talks of my nation?[4902]
Flu. Look you, if you take the matter otherwise than 115 is meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I shall think you do not use me with that affability as in discretion you ought to use me, look you; being as good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of war, and in the derivation of my birth, and in other particularities. 120
Mac. I do not know you so good a man as myself: so Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.
Gow. Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.[4903]
Jamy. A! that's a foul fault.
[A parley sounded.[4904]
Gow. The town sounds a parley. 125
Flu. Captain Macmorris, when there is more better opportunity to be required, look you, I will be so bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of war; and there is[4905] an end. [Exeunt.
III. The same. Before the gates.
The Governor and some Citizens on the walls; the English forces below. Enter KING HENRY and his train.[4906]
K. Hen. How yet resolves the governor of the town? This is the latest parle we will admit:[4907] Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves; Or like to men proud of destruction Defy us to our worst: for, as I am a soldier,[4908] 5 A name that in my thoughts becomes me best, If I begin the battery once again, I will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur Till in her ashes she lie buried. The gates of mercy shall be all shut up, 10 And the flesh'd soldier, rough and hard of heart, In liberty of bloody hand shall range With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass Your fresh-fair virgins and your flowering infants.[4909] What is it then to me, if impious war, 15 Array'd in flames like to the prince of fiends,[4910] Do, with his smirch'd complexion, all fell feats Enlink'd to waste and desolation? What is't to me, when you yourselves are cause, If your pure maidens fall into the hand 20 Of hot and forcing violation? What rein can hold licentious wickedness When down the hill he holds his fierce career? We may as bootless spend our vain command Upon the enraged soldiers in their spoil 25 As send precepts to the leviathan[4911][4912] To come ashore. Therefore, you men of Harfleur,[4911] Take pity of your town and of your people, Whiles yet my soldiers are in my command;[4913] Whiles yet the cool and temperate wind of grace[4913] 30 O'erblows the filthy and contagious clouds[4914] Of heady murder, spoil and villany.[4915] If not, why, in a moment look to see The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand Defile the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters;[4916] 35 Your fathers taken by the silver beards, And their most reverend heads dash'd to the walls, Your naked infants spitted upon pikes, Whiles the mad mothers with their howls confused Do break the clouds, as did the wives of Jewry 40 At Herod's bloody-hunting slaughtermen. What say you? will you yield, and this avoid, Or, guilty in defence, be thus destroy'd?[4917]
Gov. Our expectation hath this day an end: The Dauphin, whom of succours we entreated,[4918] 45 Returns us that his powers are yet not ready[4919] To raise so great a siege. Therefore, great king,[4920] We yield our town and lives to thy soft mercy. Enter our gates; dispose of us and ours; For we no longer are defensible. 50
K. Hen. Open your gates. Come, uncle Exeter, Go you and enter Harfleur; there remain,[4921] And fortify it strongly 'gainst the French: Use mercy to them all. For us, dear uncle,[4922] The winter coming on and sickness growing 55 Upon our soldiers, we will retire to Calais.[4923] To-night in Harfleur we will be your guest; To-morrow for the march are we addrest.
[Flourish. The King and his train enter the town.[4924]
IV. The FRENCH KING'S Palace
Enter KATHARINE and ALICE.[4925]
Kath. Alice, tu as été en Angleterre, et tu parles bien[4926] le langage.
Alice. Un peu, madame.
Kath. Je te prie, m'enseignez; il faut que j'apprenne à parler. Comment appelez-vous la main en Anglois? 5
Alice. La main? elle est appelée de hand.
Kath. De hand. Et les doigts?
Alice. Les doigts? ma foi, j'oublie les doigts; mais je me souviendrai. Les doigts? je pense qu'ils sont appelés de fingres; oui, de fingres. 10
Kath. La main, de hand; les doigts, de fingres. Je pense que je suis le bon écolier; j'ai gagné deux mots d'Anglois vîtement. Comment appelez-vous les ongles?
Alice. Les ongles? nous les appelons de nails.
Kath. De nails. Ecoutez; dites-moi, si je parle bien: 15 de hand, de fingres, et de nails.
Alice. C'est bien dit, madame; il est fort bon Anglois.
Kath. Dites-moi l'Anglois pour le bras.
Alice. De arm, madame.
Kath. Et le coude? 20
Alice. De elbow.
Kath. De elbow. Je m'en fais la répétition de tous les mots que vous m'avez appris dès à présent.
Alice. Il est trop difficile, madame, comme je pense.
Kath. Excusez-moi, Alice; écoutez: de hand, de fingres, 25 de nails, de arma, de bilbow.
Alice. De elbow, madame.
Kath. O Seigneur Dieu, je m'en oublie! de elbow. Comment appelez-vous le col?
Alice. De neck, madame. 30
Kath. De nick. Et le menton?
Alice. De chin.
Kath. De sin. Le col, de nick; le menton, de sin.
Alice. Oui. Sauf votre honneur, en vérité, vous prononcez les mots aussi droit que les natifs d'Angleterre. 35
Kath. Je ne doute point d'apprendre, par la grace de Dieu, et en peu de temps.
Alice. N'avez vous pas déjà oublié ce que je vous ai[4927] enseigné?
Kath. Non, je reciterai à vous promptement: de hand, 40 de fingres, de mails,--[4928]
Alice. De nails, madame.
Kath. De nails, de arm, de ilbow.
Alice. Sauf votre honneur, de elbow.
Kath. Ainsi dis-je; de elbow, de nick, et de sin. 45 Comment appelez-vous le pied et la robe?
Alice. De foot, madame; et de coun.
Kath. De foot et de coun! O Seigneur Dieu! ce sont mots de son mauvais, corruptible, gros, et impudique, et non pour les dames d'honneur d'user: je ne voudrais prononcer 50 ces mots devant les seigneurs de France pour tout le monde. Foh! le foot et le coun! Néanmoins, je reciterai une autre[4929] fois ma leçon ensemble: de hand, de fingres, de nails, de arm, de elbow, de nick, de sin, de foot, de coun.
Alice. Excellent, madame! 55
Kath. C'est assez pour une fois: allons-nous à dîner.
[Exeunt.[4930]
V. The same.
Enter the KING of FRANCE, the DAUPHIN, the DUKE of BOURBON, the CONSTABLE of FRANCE, and others.[4931]
Fr. King. 'Tis certain he hath pass'd the river Somme.
Con. And if he be not fought withal, my lord,[4932] Let us not live in France; let us quit all, And give our vineyards to a barbarous people.
Dau. O Dieu vivant! shall a few sprays of us, 5 The emptying of our fathers' luxury,[4933] Our scions, put in wild and savage stock,[4934] Spirt up so suddenly into the clouds,[4935] And overlook their grafters?[4936]
Bour. Normans, but bastard Normans, Norman bastards![4937] 10 Mort de ma vie! if they march along[4938] Unfought withal, but I will sell my dukedom, To buy a slobbery and a dirty farm[4939] In that nook-shotten isle of Albion.[4940]
Con. Dieu de batailles! where have they this mettle?[4941] 15 Is not their climate foggy, raw and dull, On whom, as in despite, the sun looks pale,[4942] Killing their fruit with frowns? Can sodden water, A drench for sur-rein'd jades, their barley-broth, Decoct their cold blood to such valiant heat? 20 And shall our quick blood, spirited with wine, Seem frosty? O, for honour of our land, Let us not hang like roping icicles[4943] Upon our houses' thatch, whiles a more frosty people[4944] Sweat drops of gallant youth in our rich fields!--[4945] 25 Poor we may call them in their native lords.[4946]
Dau. By faith and honour, Our madams mock at us, and plainly say Our mettle is bred out and they will give Their bodies to the lust of English youth 30 To new-store France with bastard warriors.
Bour. They bid us to the English dancing-schools,[4937] And teach lavoltas high and swift corantos;[4947] Saying our grace is only in our heels, And that we are most lofty runaways. 35
Fr. King. Where is Montjoy the herald? speed him hence: Let him greet England with our sharp defiance. Up, princes! and, with spirit of honour edged More sharper than your swords, hie to the field:[4948] Charles Delabreth, high constable of France;[4949] 40 You Dukes of Orleans, Bourbon, and of Berri, Alençon, Brabant, Bar, and Burgundy; Jaques Chatillon, Rambures, Vaudemont, Beaumont, Grandpré, Roussi, and Fauconberg,[4950] Foix, Lestrale, Bouciqualt, and Charolois;[4951] 45 High dukes, great princes, barons, lords and knights,[4952] For your great seats now quit you of great shames.[4953] Bar Harry England, that sweeps through our land With pennons painted in the blood of Harfleur: Rush on his host, as doth the melted snow 50 Upon the valleys, whose low vassal seat The Alps doth spit and void his rheum upon: Go down upon him, you have power enough, And in a captive chariot into Rouen[4954] Bring him our prisoner.
Con. This becomes the great. 55 Sorry am I his numbers are so few, His soldiers sick and famish'd in their march, For I am sure, when he shall see our army, He'll drop his heart into the sink of fear And for achievement offer us his ransom.[4955] 60
Fr. King. Therefore, lord constable, haste on Montjoy, And let him say to England that we send To know what willing ransom he will give. Prince Dauphin, you shall stay with us in Rouen.[4954]
Dau. Not so, I do beseech your majesty. 65
Fr. King. Be patient, for you shall remain with us. Now forth, lord constable and princes all, And quickly bring us word of England's fall. [Exeunt.
VI. The English camp in Picardy.
Enter GOWER and FLUELLEN, meeting.[4956]
Gow. How now, Captain Fluellen! come you from the bridge?
Flu. I assure you, there is very excellent services[4957] committed at the bridge.
Gow. Is the Duke of Exeter safe? 5
Flu. The Duke of Exeter is as magnanimous as Agamemnon; and a man that I love and honour with my soul, and my heart, and my duty, and my life, and my living,[4958] and my uttermost power: he is not--God be praised and[4959] blessed!--any hurt in the world; but keeps the bridge most[4960] 10 valiantly, with excellent discipline. There is an aunchient[4961] lieutenant there at the pridge, I think in my very conscience[4961] he is as valiant a man as Mark Antony; and he is a man of no estimation in the world; but I did see him do as gallant service.[4962] 15
Gow. What do you call him?
Flu. He is called Aunchient Pistol.
Gow. I know him not.
Enter PISTOL.
Flu. Here is the man.[4963]
Pist. Captain, I thee beseech to do me favours:[4964] 20 The Duke of Exeter doth love thee well.[4964]
Flu. Ay, I praise God; and I have merited some love at his hands.
Pist. Bardolph, a soldier, firm and sound of heart,[4965] And of buxom valour, hath, by cruel fate,[4965][4966] 25 And giddy Fortune's furious fickle wheel,[4965] That goddess blind,[4965][4967] That stands upon the rolling restless stone--[4965][4967][4968]
Flu. By your patience, Aunchient Pistol. Fortune is painted blind, with a muffler afore her eyes, to signify to[4969] 30 you that Fortune is blind; and she is painted also with a wheel, to signify to you, which is the moral of it, that she is turning, and inconstant, and mutability, and variation: and[4970] her foot, look you, is fixed upon a spherical stone, which rolls, and rolls, and rolls: in good truth, the poet makes a most[4971] 35 excellent description of it: Fortune is an excellent moral.[4971][4972]
Pist. Fortune is Bardolph's foe, and frowns on him;[4973] For he hath stolen a pax, and hanged must a' be:[4973][4974] A damned death![4973][4975] Let gallows gape for dog; let man go free[4973] 40 And let not hemp his wind-pipe suffocate:[4973] But Exeter hath given the doom of death[4973] For pax of little price.[4973][4974] Therefore, go speak; the duke will hear thy voice;[4973] And let not Bardolph's vital thread be cut[4973] 45 With edge of penny cord and vile reproach:[4973] Speak, captain, for his life, and I will thee requite.[4973]
Flu. Aunchient Pistol, I do partly understand your meaning.
Pist. Why then, rejoice therefore. 50
Flu. Certainly, aunchient, it is not a thing to rejoice at: for if, look you, he were my brother, I would desire the duke to use his good pleasure, and put him to execution;[4976] for discipline ought to be used.[4976]
Pist. Die and be damn'd! and figo for thy friendship![4977] 55
Flu. It is well.
Pist. The fig of Spain! [Exit.
Flu. Very good.
Gow. Why, this is an arrant counterfeit rascal; I remember him now; a bawd, a cutpurse. 60
Flu. I'll assure you, a' uttered as brave words at the[4978] bridge as you shall see in a summer's day. But it is very well; what he has spoke to me, that is well, I warrant you, when time is serve.
Gow. Why, 'tis a gull, a fool, a rogue, that now and 65 then goes to the wars, to grace himself at his return into London under the form of a soldier. And such fellows are[4979] perfect in the great commanders' names: and they will learn[4980] you by rote where services were done; at such and such a sconce, at such a breach, at such a convoy; who came off 70 bravely, who was shot, who disgraced, what terms the enemy stood on; and this they con perfectly in the phrase of war,[4981] which they trick up with new-tuned oaths: and what a[4982] beard of the general's cut and a horrid suit of the camp[4983] will do among foaming bottles and ale-washed wits, is wonderful 75 to be thought on. But you must learn to know such slanders of the age, or else you may be marvellously mistook.
Flu. I tell you what, Captain Gower; I do perceive he is not the man that he would gladly make show to the world he is: if I find a hole in his coat, I will tell him 80 my mind. [Drum heard.] Hark you, the king is coming,[4984] and I must speak with him from the pridge.[4985]
Drum and Colours. Enter KING HENRY, GLOUCESTER, and Soldiers.[4986]
God pless your majesty!
K. Hen. How now, Fluellen! camest thou from the[4987] bridge?
Flu. Ay, so please your majesty. The Duke of Exeter 85 has very gallantly maintained the pridge: the French is gone off, look you; and there is gallant and most prave passages: marry, th' athversary was have possession of the pridge; but he is enforced to retire, and the Duke of Exeter is master of the pridge: I can tell your majesty, the duke is a prave man. 90
K. Hen. What men have you lost, Fluellen?
Flu. The perdition of th' athversary hath been very great, reasonable great: marry, for my part, I think the[4988] duke hath lost never a man, but one that is like to be[4989] executed for robbing a church, one Bardolph, if your majesty 95 know the man: his face is all bubukles, and whelks, and[4990] knobs, and flames o' fire: and his lips blows at his nose,[4991] and it is like a coal of fire, sometimes plue and sometimes red; but his nose is executed, and his fire's out.
K. Hen. We would have all such offenders so cut off:[4992] 100 and we give express charge, that in our marches through[4992] the country, there be nothing compelled from the villages,[4992] nothing taken but paid for, none of the French upbraided[4992] or abused in disdainful language; for when lenity and[4992][4993] cruelty play for a kingdom, the gentler gamester is the[4992] 105 soonest winner.[4992]
Tucket. Enter MONTJOY.
Mont. You know me by my habit.
K. Hen. Well then I know thee: what shall I know of thee?
Mont. My master's mind.
K. Hen. Unfold it. 110
Mont. Thus says my king: Say thou to Harry of[4994] England: Though we seemed dead, we did but sleep:[4994][4995] advantage is a better soldier than rashness. Tell him we could[4994] have rebuked him at Harfleur, but that we thought not[4994] good to bruise an injury till it were full ripe: now we[4994] 115 speak upon our cue, and our voice is imperial: England[4994][4996] shall repent his folly, see his weakness, and admire our[4994] sufferance. Bid him therefore consider of his ransom;[4994] which must proportion the losses we have borne, the[4994] subjects we have lost, the disgrace we have digested; which[4994] 120 in weight to re-answer, his pettiness would bow under.[4994] For our losses, his exchequer is too poor; for the effusion[4994] of our blood, the muster of his kingdom too faint a[4994] number; and for our disgrace, his own person, kneeling at our[4994] feet, but a weak and worthless satisfaction. To this add[4994] 125 defiance: and tell him, for conclusion, he hath betrayed his[4994] followers, whose condemnation is pronounced. So far my[4994] king and master; so much my office.[4994]
K. Hen. What is thy name? I know thy quality.
Mont. Montjoy. 130
K. Hen. Thou dost thy office fairly. Turn thee back, And tell thy king I do not seek him now; But could be willing to march on to Calais Without impeachment: for, to say the sooth, Though 'tis no wisdom to confess so much 135 Unto an enemy of craft and vantage, My people are with sickness much enfeebled, My numbers lessened, and those few I have Almost no better than so many French; Who when they were in health, I tell thee, herald,[4997] 140 I thought upon one pair of English legs Did march three Frenchmen. Yet, forgive me, God, That I do brag thus! This your air of France Hath blown that vice in me; I must repent. Go therefore, tell thy master here I am; 145 My ransom is this frail and worthless trunk, My army but a weak and sickly guard; Yet, God before, tell him we will come on, Though France himself and such another neighbour Stand in our way. There's for thy labour, Montjoy.[4998] 150 Go, bid thy master well advise himself: If we may pass, we will; if we be hinder'd, We shall your tawny ground with your red blood Discolour: and so, Montjoy, fare you well. The sum of all our answer is but this: 155 We would not seek a battle, as we are; Nor, as we are, we say we will not shun it:[4999] So tell your master.
Mont. I shall deliver so. Thanks to your highness.
[Exit.[5000]
Glou. I hope they will not come upon us now. 160
K. Hen. We are in God's hand, brother, not in theirs. March to the bridge; it now draws toward night: Beyond the river we'll encamp ourselves, And on to-morrow bid them march away. [Exeunt.
VII. The French camp, near Agincourt.[5001]
Enter the CONSTABLE of France, the LORD RAMBURES, ORLEANS, DAUPHIN, with others.
Con. Tut! I have the best armour of the world. Would it were day![5002]
Orl. You have an excellent armour; but let my horse have his due.
Con. It is the best horse of Europe. 5
Orl. Will it never be morning?
Dau. My Lord of Orleans, and my lord high constable, you talk of horse and armour?[5003]
Orl. You are as well provided of both as any prince in the world. 10
Dau. What a long night is this! I will not change my horse with any that treads but on four pasterns. Ça, ha![5004] he bounds from the earth, as if his entrails were hairs; le[5005][5006] cheval volant, the Pegasus, chez les narines de feu! When[5006][5007] I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the 15 earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.
Orl. He's of the colour of the nutmeg.[5008]
Dau. And of the heat of the ginger. It is a beast for Perseus: he is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of 20 earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him: he is indeed a horse; and all other jades you may call beasts.[5009]
Con. Indeed, my lord, it is a most absolute and excellent horse. 25
Dau. It is the prince of palfreys; his neigh is like the bidding of a monarch and his countenance enforces homage.
Orl. No more, cousin.
Dau. Nay, the man hath no wit that cannot, from the 30 rising of the lark to the lodging of the lamb, vary deserved praise on my palfrey: it is a theme as fluent as the sea: turn[5010] the sands into eloquent tongues, and my horse is argument for them all: 'tis a subject for a sovereign to reason on, and for a sovereign's sovereign to ride on; and for the world, 35 familiar to us and unknown to lay apart their particular[5011] functions and wonder at him. I once writ a sonnet in his praise, and began thus: 'Wonder of nature,'--
Orl. I have heard a sonnet begin so to one's mistress.
Dau. Then did they imitate that which I composed to 40 my courser, for my horse is my mistress.
Orl. Your mistress bears well.
Dau. Me well; which is the prescript praise and[5012] perfection of a good and particular mistress.
Con. Nay, for methought yesterday your mistress[5013] 45 shrewdly shook your back.
Dau. So perhaps did yours.
Con. Mine was not bridled.
Dau. O then belike she was old and gentle; and you rode, like a kern of Ireland, your French hose off, and in 50 your strait strossers.[5014]
Con. You have good judgement in horsemanship.
Dau. Be warned by me, then: they that ride so and ride not warily, fall into foul bogs. I had rather have my horse to my mistress. 55
Con. I had as lief have my mistress a jade.
Dau. I tell thee, constable, my mistress wears his own[5015] hair.
Con. I could make as true a boast as that, if I had a sow to my mistress. 60
Dau. 'Le chien est retourné à son propre vomissement, et la truie lavée au bourbier:' thou makest use of any thing.[5016]
Con. Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress, or any such proverb so little kin to the purpose.
Ram. My lord constable, the armour that I saw in 65 your tent to-night, are those stars or suns upon it?
Con. Stars, my lord.
Dau. Some of them will fall to-morrow, I hope.
Con. And yet my sky shall not want.
Dau. That maybe, for you bear a many superfluously,[5017] 70 and 'twere more honour some were away.
Con. Even as your horse bears your praises; who would trot as well, were some of your brags dismounted.
Dau. Would I were able to load him with his desert! Will it never be day? I will trot to-morrow a mile, and 75 my way shall be paved with English faces.
Con. I will not say so, for fear I should be faced out of my way: but I would it were morning; for I would fain be about the ears of the English.
Ram. Who will go to hazard with me for twenty[5018] 80 prisoners?[5019]
Con. You must first go yourself to hazard, ere you have them.
Dau. 'Tis midnight; I'll go arm myself. [Exit.
Orl. The Dauphin longs for morning.[5020] 85
Ram. He longs to eat the English.
Con. I think he will eat all he kills.
Orl. By the white hand of my lady, he's a gallant prince.
Con. Swear by her foot, that she may tread out the oath.
Orl. He is simply the most active gentleman of France. 90
Con. Doing is activity; and he will still be doing.
Orl. He never did harm, that I heard of.
Con. Nor will do none to-morrow: he will keep that good name still.
Orl. I know him to be valiant. 95
Con. I was told that by one that knows him better than you.
Orl. What's he?
Con. Marry, he told me so himself; and he said he cared not who knew it. 100
Orl. He needs not; it is no hidden virtue in him.[5021]
Con. By my faith, sir, but it is; never any body saw it[5021] but his lackey: 'tis a hooded valour; and when it appears,[5021] it will bate.[5021]
Orl. Ill will never said well.[5021] 105
Con. I will cap that proverb with 'There is flattery in[5021] friendship.'[5021]
Orl. And I will take up that with, 'Give the devil his due.'[5021]
Con. Well placed: there stands your friend for the devil:[5021] have at the very eye of that proverb with 'A pox of[5021] 110 the devil.'[5021]
Orl. You are the better at proverbs, by how much[5021] 'A fool's bolt is soon shot.'[5021]
Con. You have shot over.[5021]
Orl. 'Tis not the first time you were overshot.[5021] 115
Enter a Messenger.
Mess. My lord high constable, the English lie within[5022] fifteen hundred paces of your tents.
Con. Who hath measured the ground?
Mess. The Lord Grandpré.
Con. A valiant and most expert gentleman. Would 120 it were day! Alas, poor Harry of England! he longs not for the dawning as we do.
Orl. What a wretched and peevish fellow is this King of England, to mope with his fat-brained followers so far[5023] out of his knowledge! 125
Con. If the English had any apprehension, they would run away.
Orl. That they lack; for if their heads had any intellectual armour, they could never wear such heavy head-pieces.
Ram. That island of England breeds very valiant 130 creatures; their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage.
Orl. Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crushed like rotten apples! You may as well say, that's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.[5024] 135
Con. Just, just; and the men do sympathize with the mastiffs in robustious and rough coming on, leaving their wits with their wives: and then give them great meals of beef and iron and steel, they will eat like wolves and fight like devils. 140
Orl. Ay, but these English are shrewdly out of beef.
Con. Then shall we find to-morrow they have only stomachs to eat and none to fight. Now is it time to arm: come, shall we about it?
Orl. It is now two o'clock: but, let me see, by ten[5025] 145 We shall have each a hundred Englishmen. [Exeunt.
FOOTNOTES:
[4836] ACT III. PROLOGUE.] Actus Secundus. Ff. ACT II. SCENE I. Rowe. ACT III. SCENE I. Pope.
Enter Chorus.] Flourish. Enter Chorus F₁. Enter Chorus. F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4837] In ... thought] Arranged as by Rowe. As one line in Ff.
[4838] Hampton] Theobald. Dover Ff.
[4839] fanning] Rowe. fayning F₁ F₂. faining F₃ F₄.
[4840] Borne] Blown Collier MS.
[4841] Harfleur] Rowe. Harflew Ff (and passim).
[4842] sternage] steerage Malone conj.
[4843] Either] Or Pope.
pith] pitch Rowe (ed. 1).
[4844] ordnance] F₄. ordenance F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4845] the French] France Pope.
[4846] Alarum ...] Omitted by Theobald.
chambers] cannon Pope.
[4847] them] F₁ F₂. him F₃ F₄.
[4848] eke] Pope. eech F₁. ech F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4849] SCENE I.] Hanmer. SCENE II. Pope.
France ... scaling-ladders.] Enter the King, Exeter, Bedford, and Gloucester. Alarum: Scaling Ladders at Harflew. Ff.
[4850] Once ... more] As in Pope. As two lines in Ff.
once more;] once more in, in; Keightley conj.
[4851] Between these lines Johnson supposes a line to have been omitted.
[4852] summon] Rowe. commune Ff.
[4853] cannon; let] F₁ F₂ F₃. cannon, let F₄. cannon let Pope.
[4854] O'erhang] O'erhand Reed (1803).
[4855] nostril] Rowe. nostrill F₁ F₂. nosthril F₃ F₄.
[4856] On, on] F₁. On F₂ F₃ F₄. Now on Pope.
noblest] F₂ F₃ F₄. noblish F₁. noble Malone. nobless Knight.
[4857] fet] fetcht Pope.
[4858] men] F₄. me F₁ F₂ F₃.
[4859] mettle] F₄. mettell F₁ F₂. mettel F₃.
[4860] Straining] Rowe. Straying Ff.
[4861] Harry, England,] Ff. Harry! England! Warburton. _Harry! England_ Delius.
[Exeunt.] Exeunt King and Train. Theobald.
chambers ...] cannon ... Pope.
[4862] SCENE II.] Hanmer. SCENE III. Pope. Dyce continues the scene.
The same. Enter ...] The same. Enter other Forces, and pass over; then Nym ... Capell.
[4863] corporal] lieutenant Capell.
[4864] God's ... die] To all and some, God's vassals feel the same Collier (Collier MS.).
[4865] As verse first by Pope. As prose in Ff.
[4866] Doth] Do Collier (ed. 2).
[4867] Arranged as by Capell. As verse first by Pope. As prose in Ff.
[4868] prevail] avail Johnson conj.
[4869] prevail with me, My ... with me] prevail, I wou'd not stay (Qq) Pope.
[4870] hie] hye F₃ F₄. high F₁ F₂. now Collier (Collier MS.).
[4871] As] And as Collier (Collier MS.).
[4872] As ... bough] As in Capell. As prose in Ff. Omitted by Pope.
[4873] Enter Fluellen.] Ff. Enter Flewellen, and beates them in. (Qq).
[4874] Up ... cullions] Got's plud!--Up to the preaches you rascals! will you not up to the preaches? Capell, from (Qq). See note (VII).
[4875] breach] Ff. preach Hanmer.
[4876] [Driving them forward.] Driving them forward with his Partizan. Capell.
[4877] As verse by Pope. As prose in Ff.
[4878] Abate thy rage, great duke!] Omitted by Pope.
[4879] wins] runs Capell conj.
[4880] [Exeunt ...] Exit. Ff. Exeunt Nym, Pistol, and Bardolph, driven in by Fluellen. Capell.
[4881] they three] the three Malone conj.
[4882] if I should] if I would Rowe. for if I should Pope.
[4883] for] om. Pope.
[4884] Re-enter ...] Steevens. Re-enter Fluellen; to him Gower. Capell. Enter Gower and Fluellen. Theobald. Enter Gower. Ff.
[4885] the war] F₃ F₄.
[4886] digt] dig'd Pope. dight Reed (1803).
yard] yards F₄.
[4887] Flu.] Welch. Ff (and throughout the scene).
[4888] as in] as is in or as any in S. Walker conj.
[4889] Enter ...] Enter ... at a distance. Capell.
[4890] falorous] valorous F₄.
[4891] Jamy.] Scot. Ff (and throughout the scene).
[4892] James] Ff. Jamy Capell.
[4893] now] how F₂.
[4894] pioners] pioneers Rowe.
[4895] Mac.] Irish. Ff (and throughout the scene).
[4896] war] wars Collier (Collier MS.).
[4897] dukes] duke F₄.
no] not F₄.
[4898] ay'll ... ay'll ... ay'll] ayle ... Ile ... Ile Ff.
[4899] that is] om. F₃ F₄.
[4900] hear] Edd. (S. Walker conj.). heard Ff. ha' heard Anon. conj.
[4901] nation--] Pope. nation. Ff.
[4902] See note (VIII).
[4903] you will] you still S. Walker conj. (reading as verse).
[4904] A!] A, Ff. An, Hanmer.
[A parley sounded.] Rowe. A Parley. Ff.
[4905] war] wars Collier.
there is] there's Pope.
[Exeunt.] Rowe. Exit. Ff.
[4906] SCENE III.] Hanmer. SCENE IV. Pope. SCENE II. Dyce.
The same ...] Governor, and Others, upon the walls; below, the English Forces. Flourish. Enter ... Capell. Enter the King and all his Traine before the Gates. Ff.
[4907] parle we will] Ff. parley weele (Qq.)
[4908] to our worst] om. Steevens conj.
for, as I am] as I'm Pope.
[4909] flowering] stowring F₄.
[4910] flames] F₁. games F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4911] As ... ashore] Arranged as in Rowe. As one line in Ff.
[4912] send precepts] sends precepts Rowe (ed. 2). send our precepts Pope.
[4913] Whiles] While Pope.
[4914] O'erblows] Disperse Griffiths conj.
[4915] heady] F₃ F₄. headdy F₂. headly F₁. deadly Reed, 1803 (Capell conj.). heedless Collier conj. See note (IX).
[4916] Defile]Rowe (ed. 2). Desire Ff.
[4917] After this line the Folios have 'Enter Governour.'
[4918] whom of succours] Ff. of whom succours Rowe. whom of succour (Qq) Capell.
[4919] us that] us word (Qq).
yet not] not yet (Qq) Capell.
[4920] great] dread (Qq) Capell.
[4921] [Gates opened. Collier (Collier MS.).
[4922] all. For ... uncle,] Pope. all for ... unckle. Ff.
dear] good Capell.
[4923] we will] we'll Pope.
[4924] are we] we are Rowe.
[Flourish ...] Flourish, and enter the Towne. Ff.
[4925] SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE V. Pope. SCENE III. Dyce. The whole scene is put in the margin, as spurious, by Hanmer.
The ... palace.] The French Court. Theobald. Roan. A Room in the Palace. Capell. Rouen ... Malone.
Enter K. and Alice.] (Qq). Enter K., and an old Gentlewoman. Ff.
[4926] parles bien] Warburton. parte fort bon (Qq). bien parlas F₁. parlois bien F₂ F₄. parlois F₃. See note (X).
[4927] N'avez vous pas déjà] N'aue vos y desia Ff.
[4928] de mails] de maylees F₁. de nayles, Madame F₂ F₃ F₄. om. Johnson conj.
[4929] Foh!] fo F₁. Il faut F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4930] [Exeunt.] Exit. F₁.
[4931] SCENE V.] Capell. SCENE VI. Pope. SCENE IV. Hanmer.
Duke of Bourbon] Theobald. Bourbon (Qq). om. Ff. See note (XI).
[4932] And if] An if Anon. conj.
[4933] luxury] nursery Rann conj.
[4934] stock] stocks Keightley conj.
[4935] Spirt] Sprout Pope.
[4936] overlook] outgrow (Qq). overgrow Capell.
[4937] Bour.] Rowe. Bur. (Qq). Brit. Ff. See note (XI).
[4938] de] du F₁.
if] if thus Rowe. an if Anon. conj.
[4939] slobbery] slobbry Ff. foggy (Qq) Pope. slabby W. N. conj. apud Long MS.
[4940] nook-shotten] short nooke (Qq). hook-shotten Rowe (ed. 2). short, nooky Pope.
[4941] where] why whence Pope.
[4942] despite] disdain (Qq).
[4943] roping] frozen (Qq) Pope.
[4944] Upon our] Upon the Steevens (1778).
houses' thatch] house-tops (Qq) Pope. house-thatch Steevens conj.
whiles a] while Pope.
[4945] gallant youth] youthful blood (Qq). gallant blood Pope.
[4946] we may call] F₂ F₃ F₄. we call F₁.
[4947] corantos] Johnson. carranto's Ff. curranto's Rowe.
[4948] More] Yet Pope.
[4949] Delabreth] De-la-bret Capell. See note (XII).
[4950] Grandpré] Steevens. Grand Pree Ff. Grandpree Rowe. Grandprée Capell.
Fauconberg] Capell (from Holinshed). Faulconbridge Ff.
[4951] Foix] Capell. Loys Ff.
[4952] lords] earls Capell conj.
knights] Pope ed. 2 (Theobald). kings Ff.
[4953] seats] states Collier MS.
[4954] Rouen] Malone. Rone (Qq). Roan Ff.
[4955] for] 'fore Staunton conj.
for ... his ransom] his achievement offer us for ransom Mason conj.
[4956] SCENE VI.] Capell. SCENE VII. Pope. SCENE V. Hanmer.
The ... Picardy.] Malone. The English Camp. Theobald. Camp of the English Forces in Picardy. Capell.
Enter ... meeting.] Capell. Enter Gower. (Q₁ Q₂). Enter Gower and Flewellen. (Q₃). Enter Captaines, English and Welch, Gower and Fluellen. Ff (Welch and English, F₃ F₄).
[4957] services] service (Qq) Capell.
[4958] life] (Qq) Rowe. live Ff.
living] livings (Qq) Capell.
[4959] power] powers (Qq) Capell.
[4960] but keeps] he is maintain (Qq) Pope.
[4961] aunchient lieutenant there] ensign (Qq) Malone. auncient there Dyce.
[4962] as gallant service.] gallant services. Pope. gallant service. (Qq) Capell. as gallant service-- S. Walker conj. us gallant service. Anon. conj.
[4963] Here is] Do you not know him? Here comes (Qq) Capell.
[4964] As verse in Qq. As prose in Ff.
[4965] As irregular verse in (Qq). As prose in Ff.
[4966] And of] And Pope. Of Capell.
[4967] Arranged as in Capell. As one line in (Qq) Pope.
[4968] stone--] Rowe. stone. Ff.
[4969] painted blind,] painted plinde (Qq). painted Warburton.]
afore her] Capell. before her (Qq) Rowe. afore his Ff.
[4970] mutability, and variation] variation; and mutabilities (Qq). mutabilities and variations Pope. variations, and mutabilities Capell.
[4971] in ... excellent] surely, the poet is make an excellent (Qq) Capell.
[4972] of it: Fortune is] of Fortune; Fortune, look you, is (Qq) Capell.
[4973] Arranged as in Capell. As verse in (Qq). As prose in Ff. Warburton prints 37-39 Fortune ... death! as prose.
[4974] pax] Ff. packs (Qq). pix Theobald (from Holinshed).
[4975] A] (Qq). a F₁. om. F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4976] execution ... discipline] executions ... disciplines (Qq) Pope.
[4977] and figo] Ff. and figa (Q₁ Q₂). a fig (Q₃). and fico Collier.
[4978] a'] a Ff. he Pope.
[4979] And] om. Pope.
[4980] perfect] (Qq). perfit Ff.
the] om. (Qq) Capell.
[4981] perfectly] (Qq). perfitly Ff.
the] om. (Qq) Capell.
[4982] new-tuned] new-turned Pope. new-coined Collier (Collier MS.).
[4983] suit] sute Ff. shout (Qq) Capell.
[4984] [Drum heard] Capell.
[4985] from the pridge] om. Pope.
[4986] Drum and Colours.] Ff. om. Capell.
Enter ...] Malone. Enter King, Clarence, Gloster, and others. (Qq). Enter the King and his poore Souldiers. Ff.
[4987] SCENE VIII. Pope. SCENE VI. Hanmer.
[4988] reasonable] very reasonably (Qq) Johnson. very reasonable Pope.
[4989] like to be] om. Rann (Malone conj.).
[4990] bubukles] Ff. pumples (Qq). pupuncles Capell.
[4991] o' fire] Dyce. a fire Ff. of fire Pope. afire Anon. conj.
[4992] As verse in (Qq) and Pope. See note (XIII).
[4993] lenity] (Qq) Rowe. Leniti F₁. Levity F₂ F₃ F₄.
[4994] As verse in Qq and Pope. See note (XIV).
[4995] did] bid F₂. om. Long MS.
[4996] our cue] our kue (Qq). our Q. Ff.
[4997] health] Ff. heart (Qq).
[4998] [Giving a chain. Collier (Collier MS.).
[4999] Nor] Yet Pope.
[5000] [Exit.] Rowe. om. Ff.
[5001] SCENE VII.] Hanmer. SCENE IX. Pope. SCENE VI. Dyce.
The ... Agincourt.] Theobald.
[5002] Would it were day!] Omitted by Pope.
[5003] armour?] Ff. armour,-- Capell.
[5004] pasterns] F₂ F₃ F₄. postures F₁.
Ça, ha!] Theobald. Ch' ha: Ff. om. Pope. Ha, ha! Rann.
[5005] he bounds ... hairs] Transposed after feu! by Theobald.
hairs] air Collier MS. eyries Long MS.
[5006] le cheval ... feu!] Omitted by Pope.
[5007] chez] Theobald. ches Ff. qu'il a Rowe. qui a Capell. voyez Heath conj. Ch' ha! Anon. conj.
[5008] the nutmeg] a nutmeg Rowe (ed. 2).
[5009] jades ... beasts] beasts ... jades Warburton.
[5010] theme] threame F₂.
[5011] unknown] known Capell.
[5012] Dau.] Well. F₂.
[5013] Nay, for methought yesterday] Methought yesterday Pope. Ma foi! the other day, methought, (Qq) Steevens.
[5014] your] you F₃ F₄.
strossers] trossers Theobald. troussers Hanmer.
[5015] his] her (Qq) Pope.
[5016] truie] Rowe. levye Ff.
[5017] a many] many Pope.
[5018] to hazard] hazard F₃ F₄.
[5019] prisoners] English prisoners (Qq) Pope.
[5020] morning] the morning Keightley conj.
[5021] He needs ... overshot] Put in the margin by Pope.
[5022] SCENE X. Pope. SCENE VIII. Hanmer.
[5023] followers] fellowers F₂.
[5024] dare eat] dare to eat F₃ F₄. dares eat Pope.
[5025] It is now two] 'Tis two Pope.
Act IV
PROLOGUE.[5026]
Enter Chorus.
Chor. Now entertain conjecture of a time When creeping murmur and the poring dark Fills the wide vessel of the universe. From camp to camp through the foul womb of night The hum of either army stilly sounds, 5 That the fixed sentinels almost receive The secret whispers of each other's watch: Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames Each battle sees the other's umber'd face; Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs 10 Piercing the night's dull ear, and from the tents The armourers, accomplishing the knights, With busy hammers closing rivets up, Give dreadful note of preparation: The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll, 15 And the third hour of drowsy morning name.[5027] Proud of their numbers and secure in soul, The confident and over-lusty French Do the low-rated English play at dice;[5028] And chide the cripple tardy-gaited night[5029] 20 Who, like a foul and ugly witch, doth limp So tediously away. The poor condemned English,[5030] Like sacrifices, by their watchful fires Sit patiently and inly ruminate The morning's danger, and their gesture sad 25 Investing lank-lean cheeks and war-worn coats[5031] Presenteth them unto the gazing moon[5032] So many horrid ghosts. O now, who will behold[5033] The royal captain of this ruin'd band Walking from watch to watch, from tent to tent, 30 Let him cry 'Praise and glory on his head!' For forth he goes and visits all his host, Bids them good morrow with a modest smile And calls them brothers, friends and countrymen. Upon his royal face there is no note[5034] 35 How dread an army hath enrounded him; Nor doth he dedicate one jot of colour Unto the weary and all-watched night, But freshly looks and over-bears attaint With cheerful semblance and sweet majesty; 40 That every wretch, pining and pale before, Beholding him, plucks comfort from his looks: A largess universal like the sun His liberal eye doth give to every one, Thawing cold fear, that mean and gentle all,[5035] 45 Behold, as may unworthiness define, A little touch of Harry in the night.[5036] And so our scene must to the battle fly; Where--O for pity!--we shall much disgrace With four or five most vile and ragged foils, 50 Right ill-disposed in brawl ridiculous, The name of Agincourt. Yet sit and see, Minding true things by what their mockeries be. [Exit.
Act IV, Scene I — The English camp at Agincourt.
Enter KING HENRY, BEDFORD, and GLOUCESTER.[5037]
K. Hen. Gloucester, 'tis true that we are in great danger; The greater therefore should our courage be. Good morrow, brother Bedford. God Almighty! There is some soul of goodness in things evil, Would men observingly distil it out. 5 For our bad neighbour makes us early stirrers, Which is both healthful and good husbandry: Besides, they are our outward consciences, And preachers to us all, admonishing That we should dress us fairly for our end.[5038] 10 Thus may we gather honey from the weed, And make a moral of the devil himself.
Enter ERPINGHAM.
Good morrow, old Sir Thomas Erpingham: A good soft pillow for that good white head Were better than a churlish turf of France. 15
Erp. Not so, my liege: this lodging likes me better, Since I may say 'Now lie I like a king.'
K. Hen. 'Tis good for men to love their present pains[5039] Upon example; so the spirit is eased:[5040] And when the mind is quicken'd, out of doubt, 20 The organs, though defunct and dead before, Break up their drowsy grave and newly move, With casted slough and fresh legerity.[5041] Lend me thy cloak, Sir Thomas. Brothers both, Commend me to the princes in our camp; 25 Do my good morrow to them, and anon Desire them all to my pavilion.
Glou. We shall, my liege.
Erp. Shall I attend your grace?
K. Hen. No, my good knight; Go with my brothers to my lords of England: 30 I and my bosom must debate a while, And then I would no other company.
Erp. The Lord in heaven bless thee, noble Harry!
[Exeunt all but King.[5042]
K. Hen. God-a-mercy, old heart! thou speak'st cheerfully.
Enter PISTOL.
Pist. Qui va lá?[5043] 35
K. Hen. A friend.
Pist. Discuss unto me; art thou officer?[5044] Or art thou base, common, and popular?[5044]
K. Hen. I am a gentleman of a company.
Pist. Trail'st thou the puissant pike? 40
K. Hen. Even so. What are you?
Pist. As good a gentleman as the emperor.
K. Hen. Then you are a better than the king.[5045]
Pist. The king's a bawcock, and a heart of gold,[5046] A lad of life, an imp of fame;[5046][5047] 45 Of parents good, of fist most valiant:[5046] I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heart-string[5046][5048] I love the lovely bully. What is thy name?[5046][5049]
K. Hen. Harry le Roy.
Pist. Le Roy! a Cornish name: art thou of Cornish crew? 50
K. Hen. No, I am a Welshman.
Pist. Know'st thou Fluellen?
K. Hen. Yes.
Pist. Tell him, I'll knock his leek about his pate[5050] Upon Saint Davy's day.[5050][5051] 55
K. Hen. Do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day, lest he knock that about yours.
Pist. Art thou his friend?
K. Hen. And his kinsman too.
Pist. The figo for thee, then! 60
K. Hen. I thank you: God be with you!
Pist. My name is Pistol call'd. [Exit.
K. Hen. It sorts well with your fierceness.
Enter FLUELLEN and GOWER.[5052]
Gow. Captain Fluellen!
Flu. So! in the name of Jesu Christ, speak lower. It[5053] 65 is the greatest admiration in the universal world, when the true and aunchient prerogatifes and laws of the wars is not kept: if you would take the pains but to examine the wars of Pompey the Great, you shall find, I warrant you, that there is no tiddle taddle nor pibble pabble in Pompey's 70 camp; I warrant you, you shall find the ceremonies of the wars, and the cares of it, and the forms of it, and the sobriety[5054] of it, and the modesty of it, to be otherwise.
Gow. Why, the enemy is loud; you hear him all night.
Flu. If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a prating 75 coxcomb, is it meet, think you, that we should also, look you, be an ass and a fool and a prating coxcomb? in your own conscience, now?
Gow. I will speak lower.
Flu. I pray you and beseech you that you will. 80
[Exeunt Gower and Fluellen.[5055]
K. Hen. Though it appear a little out of fashion, There is much care and valour in this Welshman.
Enter three soldiers, JOHN BATES, ALEXANDER COURT, and MICHAEL WILLIAMS.
Court. Brother John Bates, is not that the morning[5056] which breaks yonder?
Bates. I think it be: but we have no great cause to 85 desire the approach of day.
Will. We see yonder the beginning of the day, but I think we shall never see the end of it. Who goes there?
K. Hen. A friend.
Will. Under what captain serve you? 90
K. Hen. Under Sir Thomas Erpingham.[5057]
Will. A good old commander and a most kind gentleman: I pray you, what thinks he of our estate?
K. Hen. Even as men wrecked upon a sand, that look to be washed off the next tide. 95
Bates. He hath not told his thought to the king?
K. Hen. No; nor it is not meet he should. For, though[5058] I speak it to you, I think the king is but a man, as I am: the violet smells to him as it doth to me; the element shows to him as it doth to me; all his senses have but human conditions; 100 his ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man; and though his affections are higher mounted than ours, yet, when they stoop, they stoop with the like wing. Therefore when he sees reason of fears, as we do, his fears, out of doubt, be of the same relish as ours are: yet, in 105 reason, no man should possess him with any appearance of fear, lest he, by showing it, should dishearten his army.
Bates. He may show what outward courage he will; but I believe, as cold a night as 'tis, he could wish himself in Thames up to the neck; and so I would he were, and I by[5059] 110 him, at all adventures, so we were quit here.
K. Hen. By my troth, I will speak my conscience of the king: I think he would not wish himself any where but where he is.
Bates. Then I would he were here alone; so should he[5060] 115 be sure to be ransomed, and a many poor men's lives saved.[5061]
K. Hen. I dare say you love him not so ill, to wish him here alone, howsoever you speak this to feel other men's minds: methinks I could not die any where so contented as in the king's company; his cause being just and his quarrel 120 honourable.
Will. That's more than we know.
Bates. Ay, or more than we should seek after; for we[5062] know enough, if we know we are the king's subjects: if his cause be wrong, our obedience to the king wipes the crime 125 of it out of us.
Will. But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make, when all those legs and arms and heads, chopped off in a battle, shall join together[5063] at the latter day and cry all 'We died at such a place;' some 130 swearing, some crying for a surgeon, some upon their wives left poor behind them, some upon the debts they owe, some upon their children rawly left. I am afeard there are few die well that die in a battle; for how can they charitably[5064] dispose of any thing, when blood is their argument? 135 Now, if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the king that led them to it; whom to disobey were[5065] against all proportion of subjection.
K. Hen. So, if a son that is by his father sent about merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea, the[5066] 140 imputation of his wickedness, by your rule, should be imposed upon his father that sent him: or if a servant, under his master's command transporting a sum of money, be assailed by robbers and die in many irreconciled iniquities, you may call the business of the master the author of the 145 servant's damnation: but this is not so: the king is not bound to answer the particular endings of his soldiers, the father of his son, nor the master of his servant; for they purpose not their death, when they purpose their services. Besides,[5067] there is no king, be his cause never so spotless, if it come to 150 the arbitrement of swords, can try it out with all unspotted soldiers: some peradventure have on them the guilt of premeditated and contrived murder; some, of beguiling virgins with the broken seals of perjury; some, making the wars their bulwark, that have before gored the gentle bosom of 155 peace with pillage and robbery. Now, if these men have defeated the law and outrun native punishment, though they can outstrip men, they have no wings to fly from God: war is his beadle, war is his vengeance; so that here men are punished for before-breach of the king's laws in now the[5068][5069] 160 king's quarrel: where they feared the death, they have borne[5069] life away; and where they would be safe, they perish: then if they die unprovided, no more is the king guilty of their damnation than he was before guilty of those impieties for the which they are now visited. Every subject's duty is 165 the king's; but every subject's soul is his own. Therefore should every soldier in the wars do as every sick man in his[5070] bed, wash every mote out of his conscience: and dying so,[5071] death is to him advantage; or not dying, the time was blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gained: and in[5072] 170 him that escapes, it were not sin to think that, making God[5073] so free an offer, He let him outlive that day to see His greatness and to teach others how they should prepare.
Will. 'Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill upon[5074] his own head, the king is not to answer it. 175
Bates. I do not desire he should answer for me; and yet I determine to fight lustily for him.
K. Hen. I myself heard the king say he would not be ransomed.
Will. Ay, he said so, to make us fight cheerfully: but 180 when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed, and we ne'er the wiser.
K. Hen. If I live to see it, I will never trust his word after.
Will. You pay him then. That's a perilous shot out[5075] 185 of an elder-gun, that a poor and private displeasure can[5076] do against a monarch! you may as well go about to turn the sun to ice with fanning in his face with a peacock's feather. You'll never trust his word after! come, 'tis a foolish saying. 190
K. Hen. Your reproof is something too round: I should be angry with you, if the time were convenient.
Will. Let it be a quarrel between us, if you live.
K. Hen. I embrace it.
Will. How shall I know thee again? 195
K. Hen. Give me any gage of thine, and I will wear it in my bonnet: then, if ever thou darest acknowledge it, I will make it my quarrel.
Will. Here's my glove: give me another of thine.
K. Hen. There. 200
Will. This will I also wear in my cap: if ever thou come to me and say, after to-morrow, 'This is my glove,' by this hand, I will take thee a box on the ear.[5077]
K. Hen. If ever I live to see it, I will challenge it.
Will. Thou darest as well be hanged. 205
K. Hen. Well, I will do it, though I take thee in the king's company.
Will. Keep thy word: fare thee well.
Bates. Be friends, you English fools, be friends: we have French quarrels enow, if you could tell how to reckon. 210
K. Hen. Indeed, the French may lay twenty French[5078] crowns to one, they will beat us; for they bear them on[5078] their shoulders: but it is no English treason to cut French[5078] crowns, and to-morrow the king himself will be a clipper.[5078]
[Exeunt Soldiers.[5079]
Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls,[5080][5081] 215 Our debts, our careful wives,[5081] Our children and our sins lay on the king![5081] We must bear all. O hard condition,[5081][5082] Twin-born with greatness, subject to the breath[5081][5083] Of every fool, whose sense no more can feel[5081] 220 But his own wringing! What infinite heart's-ease[5081][5084] Must kings neglect, that private men enjoy![5081] And what have kings, that privates have not too, Save ceremony, save general ceremony?[5085] And what art thou, thou idol ceremony? 225 What kind of god art thou, that suffer'st more Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers? What are thy rents? what are thy comings in?[5086] O ceremony, show me but thy worth![5086][5087] What is thy soul of adoration?[5088] 230 Art thou aught else but place, degree and form, Creating awe and fear in other men? Wherein thou art less happy being fear'd Than they in fearing. What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet, 235 But poison'd flattery? O, be sick, great greatness, And bid thy ceremony give thee cure! Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out[5089] With titles blown from adulation? Will it give place to flexure and low bending?[5090] 240 Canst thou, when thou command'st the beggar's knee, Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream, That play'st so subtly with a king's repose;[5091] I am a king that find thee, and I know 'Tis not the balm, the sceptre and the ball, 245 The sword, the mace, the crown imperial, The intertissued robe of gold and pearl, The farced title running 'fore the king, The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp That beats upon the high shore of this world, 250 No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony,[5092] Not all these, laid in bed majestical, Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave,[5093] Who with a body fill'd and vacant mind Gets him to rest, cramm'd with distressful bread;[5094] 255 Never sees horrid night, the child of hell,[5095] But, like a lackey, from the rise to set[5096] Sweats in the eye of Phœbus and all night Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn, Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse,[5097] 260 And follows so the ever-running year, With profitable labour, to his grave: And, but for ceremony, such a wretch, Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep, Had the fore-hand and vantage of a king.[5098] 265 The slave, a member of the country's peace, Enjoys it; but in gross brain little wots What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace, Whose hours the peasant best advantages.
Enter ERPINGHAM.
Erp. My lord, your nobles, jealous of your absence,[5099] 270 Seek through your camp to find you.
K. Hen. Good old knight,[5100] Collect them all together at my tent: I'll be before thee.[5100]
Erp. I shall do't, my lord. [Exit.
K. Hen. O God of battles! steel my soldiers' hearts; Possess them not with fear; take from them now 275 The sense of reckoning, if the opposed numbers[5101] Pluck their hearts from them. Not to-day, O Lord,[5101][5102] O, not to-day, think not upon the fault[5103] My father made in compassing the crown! I Richard's body have interred new; 280 And on it have bestow'd more contrite tears Than from it issued forced drops of blood: Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay, Who twice a-day their wither'd hands hold up Toward heaven, to pardon blood; and I have built[5104] 285 Two chantries, where the sad and solemn priests[5104] Sing still for Richard's soul. More will I do;[5104] Though all that I can do is nothing worth, Since that my penitence comes after all,[5105] Imploring pardon. 290
Enter GLOUCESTER.
Glou. My liege!
K. Hen. My brother Gloucester's voice? Ay;[5106][5107] I know thy errand, I will go with thee:[5107] The day, my friends and all things stay for me.[5108]
[Exeunt.
Act IV, Scene II — The French camp.[5109]
Enter the DAUPHIN, ORLEANS, RAMBURES, and others.
Orl. The sun doth gild our armour; up, my lords![5110]
Dau. Montez à cheval! My horse! varlet! laquais! ha![5111][5112]
Orl. O brave spirit![5111]
Dau. Via! les eaux et la terre.[5111][5113]
Orl. Rien puis? l'air et le feu.[5111][5114] 5
Dau. Ciel, cousin Orleans.[5111][5115]
Enter CONSTABLE.[5111]
Now, my lord constable![5111]
Con. Hark, how our steeds for present service neigh![5111]
Dau. Mount them, and make incision in their hides,[5111] That their hot blood may spin in English eyes,[5111] 10 And dout them with superfluous courage, ha![5111][5116]
Ram. What, will you have them weep our horses' blood?[5111] How shall we, then, behold their natural tears?[5111]
Enter Messenger.[5111]
Mess. The English are embattled, you French peers.[5111][5117]
Con. To horse, you gallant princes! straight to horse! 15 Do but behold yon poor and starved band, And your fair show shall suck away their souls, Leaving them but the shales and husks of men. There is not work enough for all our hands; Scarce blood enough in all their sickly veins 20 To give each naked curtle-axe a stain,[5118] That our French gallants shall to-day draw out, And sheathe for lack of sport: let us but blow on them,[5119] The vapour of our valour will o'erturn them. 'Tis positive 'gainst all exceptions, lords,[5120] 25 That our superfluous lackeys and our peasants, Who in unnecessary action swarm About our squares of battle, were enow[5121] To purge this field of such a hilding foe, Though we upon this mountain's basis by 30 Took stand for idle speculation: But that our honours must not. What's to say? A very little little let us do, And all is done. Then let the trumpets sound The tucket sonance and the note to mount;[5122] 35 For our approach shall so much dare the field That England shall couch down in fear and yield.
Enter GRANDPRE.
Grand. Why do you stay so long, my lords of France? Yon island carrions, desperate of their bones, Ill-favouredly become the morning field: 40 Their ragged curtains poorly are let loose, And our air shakes them passing scornfully: Big Mars seems bankrupt in their beggar'd host And faintly through a rusty beaver peeps: The horsemen sit like fixed candlesticks, 45 With torch-staves in their hand; and their poor jades[5123] Lob down their heads, dropping the hides and hips,[5124] The gum down-roping from their pale-dead eyes, And in their pale dull mouths the gimmal bit[5125] Lies foul with chew'd grass, still and motionless; 50 And their executors, the knavish crows, Fly o'er them, all impatient for their hour.[5126] Description cannot suit itself in words To demonstrate the life of such a battle[5127] In life so lifeless as it shows itself.[5128] 55
Con. They have said their prayers, and they stay for death.[5129]
Dau. Shall we go send them dinners and fresh suits And give their fasting horses provender, And after fight with them?
Con. I stay but for my guidon: to the field![5130][5131] 60 I will the banner from a trumpet take,[5130] And use it for my haste. Come, come, away! The sun is high, and we outwear the day. [Exeunt.
Act IV, Scene III — The English camp.[5132]
Enter GLOUCESTER, BEDFORD, EXETER, ERPINGHAM, _with all this host_: SALISBURY and WESTMORELAND.
Glou. Where is the king?
Bed. The king himself is rode to view their battle.
West. Of fighting men they have full three score thousand.
Exe. There's five to one; besides, they all are fresh.[5133]
Sal. God's arm strike with us! 'tis a fearful odds. 5 God be wi' you, princes all; I'll to my charge:[5134] If we no more meet till we meet in heaven, Then, joyfully, my noble Lord of Bedford, My dear Lord Gloucester, and my good Lord Exeter, And my kind kinsman, warriors all, adieu! 10
Bed. Farewell, good Salisbury; and good luck go with thee!
Exe. Farewell, kind lord; fight valiantly to-day: And yet I do thee wrong to mind thee of it,[5135] For thou art framed of the firm truth of valour.[5135]
[Exit Salisbury.[5136]
Bed. He is as full of valour as of kindness; 15 Princely in both.
Enter the KING.
West. O that we now had here But one ten thousand of those men in England That do no work to-day!
K. Hen. What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin:[5137] If we are mark'd to die, we are enow[5138] 20 To do our country loss; and if to live, The fewer men, the greater share of honour. God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more. By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,[5139] Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost; 25 It yearns me not if men my garments wear; Such outward things dwell not in my desires: But if it be a sin to covet honour, I am the most offending soul alive. No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England:[5140] 30 God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour As one man more, methinks, would share from me For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more![5141] Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host, That he which hath no stomach to this fight, 35 Let him depart; his passport shall be made And crowns for convoy put into his purse: We would not die in that man's company That fears his fellowship to die with us. This day is call'd the feast of Crispian: 40 He that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named, And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this day, and see old age,[5142] Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,[5143] 45 And say 'To-morrow is Saint Crispian:' Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, And say 'These wounds I had on Crispin's day.'[5144] Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,[5145] But he'll remember with advantages[5145] 50 What feats he did that day: then shall our names,[5146] Familiar in his mouth as household words,[5147] Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester, Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd. 55 This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending of the world, But we in it shall be remembered; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; 60 For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition: And gentlemen in England now a-bed Shall think themselves accursed they were not here, 65 And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks[5148] That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
Re-enter SALISBURY.[5149]
Sal. My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed: The French are bravely in their battles set,[5150] And will with all expedience charge on us. 70
K. Hen. All things are ready, if our minds be so.
West. Perish the man whose mind is backward now!
K. Hen. Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz?[5151]
West. God's will! my liege, would you and I alone, Without more help, could fight this royal battle![5152] 75
K. Hen. Why, now thou hast unwish'd five thousand men;[5153] Which likes me better than to wish us one. You know your places: God be with you all!
Tucket. Enter MONTJOY.
Mont. Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry,[5154] If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound, 80 Before thy most assured overthrow: For certainly thou art so near the gulf, Thou needs must be englutted. Besides, in mercy,[5155] The constable desires thee thou wilt mind Thy followers of repentance; that their souls 85 May make a peaceful and a sweet retire From off these fields, where, wretches, their poor bodies Must lie and fester.
K. Hen. Who hath sent thee now?
Mont. The Constable of France.
K. Hen. I pray thee, bear my former answer back: 90 Bid them achieve me and then sell my bones. Good God! why should they mock poor fellows thus? The man that once did sell the lion's skin While the beast lived, was killed with hunting him. A many of our bodies shall no doubt[5156] 95 Find native graves; upon the which, I trust, Shall witness live in brass of this day's work: And those that leave their valiant bones in France, Dying like men, though buried in your dunghills, They shall be famed; for there the sun shall greet them, 100 And draw their honours reeking up to heaven; Leaving their earthly parts to choke your clime, The smell whereof shall breed a plague in France. Mark then abounding valour in our English,[5157][5158] That being dead, like to the bullet's grazing,[5157][5159] 105 Break out into a second course of mischief,[5157] Killing in relapse of mortality.[5157][5160] Let me speak proudly: tell the constable We are but warriors for the working-day; Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch'd 110 With rainy marching in the painful field; There's not a piece of feather in our host-- Good argument, I hope, we will not fly-- And time hath worn us into slovenry: But, by the mass, our hearts are in the trim; 115 And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night They'll be in fresher robes, or they will pluck[5161] The gay new coats o'er the French soldiers' heads And turn them out of service. If they do this,--[5162] As, if God please, they shall,--my ransom then[5163] 120 Will soon be levied. Herald, save thou thy labour;[5164] Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald: They shall have none, I swear, but these my joints; Which if they have as I will leave 'em them,[5165] Shall yield them little, tell the constable.[5166] 125
Mont. I shall, King Harry. And so fare thee well: Thou never shalt hear herald any more. [Exit.
K. Hen. I fear thou'lt once more come again for ransom.[5167]
Enter YORK.
York. My lord, most humbly on my knee I beg The leading of the vaward. 130
K. Hen. Take it, brave York. Now, soldiers, march away: And how thou pleasest, God, dispose the day! [Exeunt.
Act IV, Scene IV — The field of battle.[5168]
Alarum. Excursions. Enter PISTOL, French Soldier, and Boy.
Pist. Yield, cur!
Fr. Sol. Je pense que vous êtes gentilhomme de bonne[5169] qualité.
Pist. Qualtitie calmie custure me! Art thou a gentleman?[5170] what is thy name? discuss. 5
Fr. Sol. O Seigneur Dieu!
Pist. O, Signieur Dew should be a gentleman:[5171] Perpend my words, O Signieur Dew, and mark;[5171] O Signieur Dew, thou diest on point of fox,[5171][5172] Except, O signieur, thou do give to me[5171] 10 Egregious ransom.[5171]
Fr. Sol. O, prenez miséricorde! ayez pitié de moi!
Pist. Moy shall not serve; I will have forty moys;[5173] Or I will fetch thy rim out at thy throat[5173][5174] In drops of crimson blood.[5173] 15
Fr. Sol. Est-il impossible d'échapper la force de ton bras?
Pist. Brass, cur![5175] Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat,[5175] Offer'st me brass?[5175] 20
Fr. Sol. O pardonnez moi!
Pist. Say'st thou me so? is that a ton of moys?[5176] Come hither, boy: ask me this slave in French[5176] What is his name.[5176]
Boy. Écoutez: comment êtes-vous appelé? 25
Fr. Sol. Monsieur le Fer.
Boy. He says his name is Master Fer.
Pist. Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him: discuss the same in French unto him.
Boy. I do not know the French for fer, and ferret, and 30 firk.
Pist. Bid him prepare; for I will cut his throat.
Fr. Sol. Que dit-il, monsieur?
Boy. Il me commande de vous dire que vous faites vous prèt; car ce soldat ici est disposé tout à cette heure[5177] 35 de couper votre gorge.
Pist. Owy, cuppele gorge, permafoy,[5178] Peasant, unless thou give me crowns, brave crowns;[5178][5179] Or mangled shalt thou be by this my sword.[5178]
Fr. Sol. O, je vous supplie, pour l'amour de Dieu, me 40 pardonner! Je suis gentilhomme de bonne maison: gardez[5180] ma vie, et je vous donnerai deux cents écus.
Pist. What are his words?
Boy. He prays you to save his life: he is a gentleman of a good house; and for his ransom he will give you two 45 hundred crowns.
Pist. Tell him my fury shall abate, and I[5181] The crowns will take.[5181]
Fr. Sol. Petit monsieur, que dit-il?
Boy. Encore qu'il est centre son jurement de pardonner 50 aucun prisonnier, néanmoins, pour les écus que vous l'avez promis, il est content de vous donner la liberté, le franchisement.
Fr. Sol. Sur mes genoux je vous donne mille remercîmens; et je m'estime heureux que je suis tombé entre les[5182] 55 mains d'un chevalier, je pense, le plus brave, vaillant, et très distingué seigneur d'Angleterre.
Pist. Expound unto me, boy.
Boy. He gives you, upon his knees, a thousand thanks; and he esteems himself happy that he hath fallen into the[5183] 60 hands of one, as he thinks, the most brave, valorous, and thrice-worthy signieur of England.
Pist. As I suck blood, I will some mercy show.[5184] Follow me![5185]
Boy. Suivez-vous le grand capitaine. [Exeunt Pistol,[5186] 65 and French Soldier.] I did never know so full a voice[5187] issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true, 'The[5188] empty vessel makes the greatest sound.' Bardolph and Nym had ten times more valour than this roaring devil i' the old play, that every one may pare his nails with a[5189] 70 wooden dagger; and they are both hanged; and so would[5190] this be, if he durst steal any thing adventurously. I must stay with the lackeys, with the luggage of our camp: the French might have a good prey of us, if he knew of it; for[5191] there is none to guard it but boys. [Exit. 75
Act IV, Scene V — Another part of the field.
Enter CONSTABLE, ORLEANS, BOURBON, DAUPHIN, and RAMBURES.[5192]
Con. O diable!
Orl. O seigneur! le jour est perdu, tout est perdu!
Dau. Mort de ma vie! all is confounded, all![5193] Reproach and everlasting shame[5194] Sits mocking in our plumes. O méchante fortune![5195] 5 Do not run away.[5195] [A short alarum.
Con. Why, all our ranks are broke.
Dau. O perdurable shame! let's stab ourselves. Be these the wretches that we play'd at dice for?
Orl. Is this the king we sent to for his ransom?
Bour. Shame and eternal shame, nothing but shame! 10 Let us die in honour: once more back again;[5196] And he that will not follow Bourbon now,[5197] Let him go hence, and with his cap in hand, Like a base pander, hold the chamber-door Whilst by a slave, no gentler than my dog,[5198] 15 His fairest daughter is contaminated.[5199]
Con. Disorder, that hath spoil'd us, friend us now! Let us on heaps go offer up our lives.[5200]
Orl. We are enow yet living in the field[5201] To smother up the English in our throngs, 20 If any order might be thought upon.
Bour. The devil take order now! I'll to the throng: Let life be short; else shame will be too long. [Exeunt.
Act IV, Scene VI — Another part of the field.
Alarums. Enter KING HENRY and forces, EXETER, and others.[5202]
K. Hen. Well have we done, thrice valiant countrymen: But all's not done; yet keep the French the field.[5203]
Exe. The Duke of York commends him to your majesty.
K. Hen. Lives he, good uncle? thrice within this hour I saw him down; thrice up again, and fighting; 5 From helmet to the spur all blood he was.[5204]
Exe. In which array, brave soldier, doth he lie, Larding the plain; and by his bloody side,[5205] Yoke-fellow to his honour-owing wounds, The noble Earl of Suffolk also lies. 10 Suffolk first died: and York, all haggled over, Comes to him, where in gore he lay insteep'd, And takes him by the beard; kisses the gashes That bloodily did yawn upon his face; And cries aloud 'Tarry, dear cousin Suffolk![5206] 15 My soul shall thine keep company to heaven;[5207] Tarry, sweet soul, for mine, then fly abreast, As in this glorious and well-foughten field We kept together in our chivalry!' Upon these words I came and cheer'd him up: 20 He smiled me in the face, raught me his hand,[5208] And, with a feeble gripe, says 'Dear my lord, Commend my service to my sovereign.' So did he turn and over Suffolk's neck He threw his wounded arm and kiss'd his lips; 25 And so espoused to death, with blood he seal'd A testament of noble-ending love.[5209] The pretty and sweet manner of it forced Those waters from me which I would have stopp'd; But I had not so much of man in me, 30 And all my mother came into mine eyes[5210] and gave me up to tears.
K. Hen. I blame you not; For, hearing this, I must perforce compound With mistful eyes, or they will issue too.[5211] [Alarum. But, hark! what new alarum is this same?[5212] 35 The French have reinforced their scatter'd men:[5213][5214] Then every soldier kill his prisoners;[5213][5215] Give the word through. [Exeunt.[5216]
Act IV, Scene VII — Another part of the field.
Enter FLUELLEN and GOWER.[5217]
Flu. Kill the poys and the luggage! 'tis expressly against the law of arms: 'tis as arrant a piece of knavery, mark you now, as can be offer't; in your conscience, now, is it not?[5218]
Gow. 'Tis certain there's not a boy left alive; and the cowardly rascals that ran from the battle ha' done this 5 slaughter: besides, they have burned and carried away all[5219] that was in the king's tent; wherefore the king, most worthily, hath caused every soldier to cut his prisoner's throat. O, 'tis a gallant king!
Flu. Ay, he was porn at Monmouth, Captain Gower. 10 What call you the town's name where Alexander the Pig was born?
Gow. Alexander the Great.
Flu. Why, I pray you, is not pig great? the pig, or the great, or the mighty, or the huge, or the magnanimous, 15 are all one reckonings, save the phrase is a little variations.
Gow. I think Alexander the Great was born in Macedon: his father was called Philip of Macedon, as I take it.
Flu. I think it is in Macedon where Alexander is porn. 20 I tell you, captain, if you look in the maps of the 'orld, I warrant you sall find, in the comparisons between Macedon[5220] and Monmouth, that the situations, look you, is both alike. There is a river in Macedon; and there is also moreover[5221] a river at Monmouth: it is called Wye at Monmouth; 25 but it is out of my prains what is the name of the other river; but 'tis all one, 'tis alike as my fingers is to my fingers,[5222] and there is salmons in both. If you mark Alexander's life well, Harry of Monmouth's life is come after it indifferent well; for there is figures in all things. Alexander, 30 God knows, and you know, in his rages, and his furies, and his wraths, and his cholers, and his moods, and his displeasures, and his indignations, and also being a little intoxicates in his prains, did, in his ales and his angers, look you, kill his best friend, Cleitus.[5223] 35
Gow. Our king is not like him in that: he never killed any of his friends.
Flu. It is not well done, mark you now, to take the tales out of my mouth, ere it is made and finished. I[5224] speak but in the figures and comparisons of it: as Alexander[5225] 40 killed his friend Cleitus, being in his ales and his[5223] cups; so also Harry Monmouth, being in his right wits and his good judgements, turned away the fat knight with the[5226] great belly-doublet: he was full of jests, and gipes, and knaveries, and mocks; I have forgot his name.[5227] 45
Gow. Sir John Falstaff.
Flu. That is he: I'll tell you there is good men porn at Monmouth.
Gow. Here comes his majesty.
Alarum. Enter KING HENRY, and forces; WARWICK, GLOUCESTER, EXETER, and others.[5228]
K. Hen. I was not angry since I came to France[5229][5230] 50 Until this instant. Take a trumpet, herald;[5230] Ride thou unto the horsemen on yon hill:[5230] If they will fight with us, bid them come down,[5230] Or void the field; they do offend our sight:[5230] If they'll do neither, we will come to them,[5230] 55 And make them skirr away, as swift as stones[5230][5231] Enforced from the old Assyrian slings:[5230] Besides, we'll cut the throats of those we have,[5230] And not a man of them that we shall take[5230] Shall taste our mercy. Go and tell them so.[5230] 60
Enter MONTJOY.
Exe. Here comes the herald of the French, my liege.
Glo. His eyes are humbler than they used to be.
K. Hen. How now! what means this, herald? know'st thou not[5232] That I have fined these bones of mine for ransom? Comest thou again for ransom?
Mont. No, great king: 65 I come to thee for charitable license, That we may wander o'er this bloody field To look our dead, and then to bury them;[5233] To sort our nobles from our common men. For many of our princes--woe the while!-- 70 Lie drown'd and soak'd in mercenary blood; So do our vulgar drench their peasant limbs In blood of princes; and their wounded steeds[5234] Fret fetlock deep in gore and with wild rage Yerk out their armed heels at their dead masters, 75 Killing them twice. O, give us leave, great king, To view the field in safety and dispose Of their dead bodies!
K. Hen. I tell thee truly, herald, I know not if the day be ours or no; For yet a many of your horsemen peer[5235] 80 And gallop o'er the field.
Mont. The day is yours.
K. Hen. Praised be God, and not our strength, for it! What is this castle call'd that stands hard by?
Mont. They call it Agincourt.
K. Hen. Then call we this the field of Agincourt, 85 Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus.
Flu. Your grandfather of famous memory, an't please your majesty, and your great-uncle Edward the Plack Prince of Wales, as I have read in the chronicles, fought a most prave pattle here in France. 90
K. Hen. They did, Fluellen.
Flu. Your majesty says very true: if your majesties[5236] is remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps; which, your majesty know, to this hour is an[5237] 95 honourable badge of the service; and I do believe your majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek upon Saint Tavy's day.
K. Hen. I wear it for a memorable honour; For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman.
Flu. All the water in Wye cannot wash your majesty's 100 Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that: God pless it and preserve it, as long as it pleases his grace, and[5238] his majesty too!
K. Hen. Thanks, good my countryman.[5239]
Flu. By Jeshu, I am your majesty's countryman, I 105 care not who know it; I will confess it to all the 'orld: I need not to be ashamed of your majesty, praised be God, so long as your majesty is an honest man.
K. Hen. God keep me so! Our heralds go with him:[5240] Bring me just notice of the numbers dead 110 On both our parts. Call yonder fellow hither.
[Points to Williams. Exeunt Heralds with Montjoy.[5241]
Exe. Soldier, you must come to the king.[5242]
K. Hen. Soldier, why wearest thou that glove in thy cap?
Will. An't please your majesty, 'tis the gage of one[5243] that I should fight withal, if he be alive. 115
K. Hen. An Englishman?
Will. An't please your majesty, a rascal that swaggered[5243] with me last night; who, if alive and ever dare to challenge[5244] this glove, I have sworn to take him a box o' th' ear: or if I[5245] can see my glove in his cap, which he swore, as he was a 120 soldier, he would wear if alive, I will strike it out soundly.
K. Hen. What think you, Captain Fluellen? is it fit this soldier keep his oath?
Flu. He is a craven and a villain else, an't please your[5246] majesty, in my conscience. 125
K. Hen. It may be his enemy is a gentleman of great sort, quite from the answer of his degree.
Flu. Though he be as good a gentleman as the devil is, as Lucifer and Belzebub himself, it is necessary, look your grace, that he keep his vow and his oath: if he be perjured, 130 see you now, his reputation is as arrant a villain and a Jacksauce, as ever his black shoe trod upon God's ground[5247] and his earth, in my conscience, la!
K. Hen. Then keep thy vow, sirrah, when thou meetest the fellow. 135
Will. So I will, my liege, as I live.
K. Hen. Who servest thou under?
Will. Under Captain Gower, my liege.
Flu. Gower is a good captain, and is good knowledge and literatured in the wars.[5248] 140
K. Hen. Call him hither to me, soldier.
Will. I will, my liege. [Exit.
K. Hen. Here, Fluellen; wear thou this favour for me and stick it in thy cap: when Alençon and myself were down together, I plucked this glove from his helm: if any 145 man challenge this, he is a friend to Alençon, and an enemy to our person; if thou encounter any such, apprehend him, an thou dost me love.[5249]
Flu. Your grace doo's me as great honours as can be[5250] desired in the hearts of his subjects: I would fain see the 150 man, that has but two legs, that shall find himself aggriefed[5251] at this glove; that is all; but I would fain see it once,[5252] an please God of his grace that I might see.[5253]
K. Hen. Knowest thou Gower?
Flu. He is my dear friend, an please you.[5254] 155
K. Hen. Pray thee, go seek him, and bring him to my tent.
Flu. I will fetch him. [Exit.
K. Hen. My Lord of Warwick, and my brother Gloucester, Follow Fluellen closely at the heels: 160 The glove which I have given him for a favour May haply purchase him a box o' th' ear;[5245] It is the soldier's; I by bargain should Wear it myself. Follow, good cousin Warwick: If that the soldier strike him, as I judge 165 By his blunt bearing he will keep his word,[5255] Some sudden mischief may arise of it; For I do know Fluellen valiant And, touched with choler, hot as gunpowder, And quickly will return an injury:[5256] 170 Follow, and see there be no harm between them.[5257] Go you with me, uncle of Exeter.[5258] [Exeunt.
Act IV, Scene VIII — Before KING HENRY'S pavilion.[5259]
Enter GOWER and WILLIAMS.
Will. I warrant it is to knight you, captain.
Enter FLUELLEN.
Flu. God's will and his pleasure, captain, I beseech you now, come apace to the king: there is more good toward you peradventure than is in your knowledge to dream of.
Will. Sir, know you this glove? 5
Flu. Know the glove! I know the glove is a glove.
Will. I know this; and thus I challenge it.
[Strikes him.
Flu. 'Sblood! an arrant traitor as any is in the universal[5260] world, or in France, or in England![5261]
Gow. How now, sir! you villain! 10
Will. Do you think I'll be forsworn?
Flu. Stand away, Captain Gower; I will give treason his payment into plows, I warrant you.[5262]
Will. I am no traitor.
Flu. That's a lie in thy throat. I charge you in his 15 majesty's name, apprehend him: he's a friend of the Duke Alençon's.
Enter WARWICK and GLOUCESTER.
War. How now, how now! what's the matter?
Flu. My Lord of Warwick, here is--praised be God for it!--a most contagious treason come to light, look you, as 20 you shall desire in a summer's day. Here is his majesty.[5263]
Enter KING HENRY and EXETER.
K. Hen. How now! what's the matter?
Flu. My liege, here is a villain and a traitor, that, look your grace, has struck the glove which your majesty is take out of the helmet of Alençon. 25
Will. My liege, this was my glove; here is the fellow of it; and he that I gave it to in change promised to wear it in his cap: I promised to strike him, if he did: I met this man with my glove in his cap, and I have been as[5264] good as my word. 30
Flu. Your majesty hear now, saving your majesty's manhood, what an arrant, rascally, beggarly, lousy knave it is: I hope your majesty is pear me testimony and witness,[5265] and will avouchment, that this is the glove of Alençon,[5265] that your majesty is give me; in your conscience, now? 35
K. Hen. Give me thy glove, soldier: look, here is the[5266][5267] fellow of it.[5266] 'Twas I, indeed, thou promised'st to strike;[5268][5269] And thou hast given me most bitter terms.[5268]
Flu. An please your majesty, let his neck answer for[5270] 40 it, if there is any martial law in the world.
K. Hen. How canst thou make me satisfaction?
Will. All offences, my lord, come from the heart:[5271] never came any from mine that might offend your majesty.
K. Hen. It was ourself thou didst abuse. 45
Will. Your majesty came not like yourself: you appeared to me but as a common man; witness the night, your garments, your lowliness; and what your highness suffered under that shape, I beseech you take it for your own fault[5272] and not mine: for had you been as I took you for, I made[5273] 50 no offence; therefore, I beseech your highness, pardon me.
K. Hen. Here, uncle Exeter, fill this glove with crowns, And give it to this fellow. Keep it, fellow;[5274] And wear it for an honour in thy cap Till I do challenge it. Give him the crowns: 55 And, captain, you must needs be friends with him.
Flu. By this day and this light, the fellow has mettle enough in his belly. Hold, there is twelve pence for you;[5275] and I pray you to serve Got, and keep you out of prawls, and prabbles, and quarrels, and dissensions, and, I warrant 60 you, it is the better for you.
Will. I will none of your money.
Flu. It is with a good will; I can tell you, it will serve you to mend your shoes: come, wherefore should you be so pashful? your shoes is not so good: 'tis a good silling, 65 I warrant you, or I will change it.
Enter an English Herald.[5276]
K. Hen. Now, herald, are the dead number'd?[5277]
Her. Here is the number of the slaughter'd French.[5278]
K. Hen. What prisoners of good sort are taken, uncle?
Exe. Charles Duke of Orleans, nephew to the king; 70 John Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Bouciqualt:[5279] Of other lords and barons, knights and squires, Full fifteen hundred, besides common men.
K. Hen. This note doth tell me of ten thousand French That in the field lie slain: of princes, in this number,[5280] 75 And nobles bearing banners, there lie dead One hundred twenty six: added to these, Of knights, esquires, and gallant gentlemen, Eight thousand and four hundred; of the which, Five hundred were but yesterday dubb'd knights: 80 So that, in these ten thousand they have lost, There are but sixteen hundred mercenaries; The rest are princes, barons, lords, knights, squires, And gentlemen of blood and quality. The names of those their nobles that lie dead: 85 Charles Delabreth, high constable of France; Jaques of Chatillon, admiral of France;[5281] The master of the cross-bows, Lord Rambures; Great Master of France, the brave Sir Guichard Dolphin, John Duke of Alençon, Anthony Duke of Brabant,[5282] 90 The brother to the Duke of Burgundy, And Edward Duke of Bar: of lusty earls, Grandpré and Roussi, Fauconberg and Foix,[5283] Beaumont and Marie, Vaudemont and Lestrale.[5284] Here was a royal fellowship of death! 95 Where is the number of our English dead?
[Herald shews him another paper.[5285]
Edward the Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk,[5286] Sir Richard Ketly, Davy Gam, esquire:[5286] None else of name; and of all other men[5286] But five and twenty. O God, thy arm was here;[5286][5287] 100 And not to us, but to thy arm alone, Ascribe we all! When, without stratagem, But in plain shock and even play of battle, Was ever known so great and little loss[5288] On one part and on th' other? Take it, God,[5288] 105 For it is none but thine![5289]
Exe. 'Tis wonderful!
K. Hen. Come, go we in procession to the village:[5290] And be it death proclaimed through our host To boast of this or take that praise from God Which is his only. 110
Flu. Is it not lawful, an please your majesty, to tell[5291] how many is killed?
K. Hen. Yes, captain; but with this acknowledgement, That God fought for us.
Flu. Yes, my conscience, he did us great good. 115
K. Hen. Do we all holy rites; Let there be sung 'Non nobis' and 'Te Deum;' The dead with charity enclosed in clay:[5292] And then to Calais; and to England then;[5293] Where ne'er from France arrived more happy men.[5294] 120
[Exeunt.
FOOTNOTES:
[5026] ACT IV. PROLOGUE.] Actus Tertius. Ff. ACT III. SCENE I. Rowe. ACT IV. SCENE I. Pope. om. Theobald.
[5027] And ... name.] Steevens (Tyrwhitt conj.). And ... nam’d, Ff. And (the ... morning nam'd) Pope. And the ... morning's nam’d. Hanmer.
[5028] Do] For Hanmer.
[5029] cripple tardy-gaited] creeple-tardy-gated Ff.
[5030] away] om. Pope.
[5031] Investing] In wasted Hanmer. Invest in Warburton. In fasting Heath conj. Infesting, Becket conj. Inverting Jackson conj. Infestive Staunton conj.
Investing ... coats] And war-worn coats, investing lank-lean cheeks Capell.
[5032] Presenteth] Hanmer. Presented Ff.
[5033] O now, who will behold] Who now beholds Pope.
[5034] his] this F₄.
[5035] fear, that] Ff. fear. Then, Theobald. See note (XV).
[5036] night] fight Staunton conj.
[5037] SCENE I.] Hanmer. SCENE II. Pope.
The English ...] Theobald. King Henry] the King Ff.
Bedford] om. Johnson.
[5038] dress] 'dress Malone.
[5039] pains] paines F₁. paine F₂. pain F₃ F₄.
[5040] the spirit is] is the spirit Anon. conj.
[5041] legerity] celerity F₃ F₄.
[5042] [Exeunt all ...] Exeunt. Ff.
[5043] SCENE III. Pope. SCENE II. Hanmer.
Qui va lá?] Rowe. Che vous la? Ff.
[5044] Discuss ... popular?] As verse first by Pope. As prose in Ff.
[5045] Then] Why, then S. Walker conj.
[5046] The king's ... name?] As verse first in Pope. As prose in Ff.
[5047] an imp] and eke an imp Keightley conj.
[5048] heart-string] my heart-string Pope. my heart-strings (Qq) Capell.
[5049] What is] What's Pope.
[5050] Tell ... day] As in Pope. As prose in Ff.
[5051] Davy's] David's Rowe (ed. 2).
[5052] [Manet King. Ff.
Enter ...] Ff. Enter ... meeting. Capell.
[5053] lower] (Q₃) Malone. fewer Ff. lewer (Q₁ Q₂).
[5054] sobriety] sobrieties Pope.
[5055] [Exeunt ...] Exeunt. Rowe. Exit. Ff.
[5056] SCENE IV. Pope. SCENE III. Hanmer.
[5057] Thomas] Pope ed. 2 (Theobald). John Ff.
[5058] it is not] is it Rowe.
[5059] Thames] Ff. the Thames (Qq) Rowe.
[5060] I would] would F₂ F₃ F₄.
[5061] a many] many Pope.
[5062] Bates.] Court. Malone conj.
[5063] in a] F₁. in F₂ F₃ F₄.
[5064] a battle] a Battaile F₁. Battaile F₂. Battel F₃ F₄.
[5065] whom] F₂ F₃ F₄. who F₁.
[5066] sinfully miscarry upon the sea] fall into some lewd action and miscarry Pope.
[5067] purpose] crave Pope.
[5068] before-breach] Capell. before breach Ff. former breach Pope.
[5069] now the king's quarrel] the king's quarrell now Pope.
[5070] do] om. F₄.
[5071] mote] Malone. moth Ff. moath (Qq).
[5072] blessedly lost] well spent (Qq) Pope.
[5073] not sin] sin not Long MS.
[5074] Will.] Court, or Bates. Capell conj.
upon] is upon F₄.
[5075] You] 'Mass, you'll (Qq) Malone.
[5076] and private] private F₁ F₄.
[5077] take] give F₃ F₄.
[5078] Indeed ... clipper] Put in the margin by Pope.
[5079] [Exeunt ...] Johnson. Exeunt ... F₂ F₃ F₄ (after line 210). Exit ... F₁ (after line 210).
[5080] SCENE V. Pope. SCENE IV. Hanmer.
Upon the king!] Upon the King! upon the King! (ending the line at us) Anon. conj.
[5081] Upon ... enjoy!] Edd. In Ff the lines end soules, ... wives, ... king ... all ... greatnesse ... sence ... wringing ... neglect, ... enjoy? Rowe ends the lines 215-219 souls, ... and ... all ... greatness.
[5082] We] He F₃ F₄.
[5083] Twin-born] and twin-bern Pope.
subject] Subjected Hanmer, ending the line at fool.
to] unto Keightley conj.
the] om. Pope.
[5084] heart's-ease] heart-ease F₃ F₄.
[5085] save general ceremony] Omitted by Pope, who reads That private ... save ceremony as two lines, the first ending kings.
[5086] Lettsom conjectures that these lines should be transposed.
[5087] show] tell Hanmer.
[5088] What is ... adoration?] Knight. What? is thy Soule of Odoration F₁. What? is thy Soule of Adoration? F₂ F₃ F₄ (soul F₃ F₄). What!... adoration? Rowe. What is thy toll, O adoration? Theobald (Warburton). What is thy shew of adoration? Hanmer. What is thy soul, O adoration? Johnson. What is this coyl of adoration Heath conj. What is thy roul of adoration? Capell. What is the soul of adoration? Malone. What is thy soulless adoration? Lettsom conj. What is thy soul but adulation? Collier (Collier MS.). What is thy source of adoration? Keightley conj.
[5089] Think'st] Rowe. Thinks Ff.
[5090] Will] Wilt F₂.
[5091] That] Thou F₃ F₄.
[5092] these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony] these, thrice-gorgeous ceremonie F₁. these, thrice-gorgeous ceremonies F₂ F₃ F₄. these thrice-gorgeous ceremonies Rowe.
[5093] wretched] wretched'st S. Walker conj.
[5094] distressful] distasteful Collier MS. disrestful Staunton conj.
[5095] Never] He never Keightley conj.
[5096] a lackey] his lackey Seward conj.
[5097] Hyperion] Hiperio F₁.
[5098] Had] Hath Collier MS.
[5099] SCENE VI. Pope. SCENE V. Hanmer.
[5100] Good ... thee.] Arranged as by Pope. As two lines in Ff, the first ending together.
[5101] reckoning, if ... numbers Pluck ... them.] Steevens (Tyrwhitt conj.). reck'ning of ... numbers: Pluck ... them. Ff. reck'ning of th' opposed numbers Which stand before them. Pope from (Qq). reck'ning; lest th' opposed numbers Pluck ... them. Theobald. reckoning; oft ... them. Jackson conj. reckoning, or ... them. Anon. conj. See note (XVI).
[5102] Pluck ... them. Not ... Lord,] Pluck their hearts from them not to day, O Lord. Knight.
[5103] to-day, think] to-day. Think Knight.
[5104] Toward ... do] Arranged as by Pope. In Ff the lines end blood: ... chauntries, ... still ... doe.
[5105] Since] Save Theobald conj.
all] call Theobald (Warburton).
[5106] Ay] Ay, ay Anon. conj.
[5107] Ay; I know] I; I know F₁ F₂. I know F₃ F₄. Glo. Ay. K. Hen. I know Anon. conj.
[5108] friends] (Qq) Theobald. friend Ff.
[5109] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE VII. Pope. SCENE VI. Hanmer.
The French camp.] Theobald. and others.] Capell. and Beaumont. Ff.
[5110] armour; up,] armour, up F₂ F₃ F₄. armour up, F₁.
[5111] Montez ... peers] Put in the margin by Pope.
[5112] Montez à] Steevens (Capell conj.). Monte Ff. Montez Theobald. Mon Heath conj.
varlet] verlot F₁. valet F₂ F₃ F₄.
[5113] Via!] Via Ff. Voyer Rowe. Voyez! Heath conj.
les eaux] Theobald. les ewes Ff. les cieux Rowe. l'eau Capell.
la terre] Rowe. terre Ff.
[5114] Rien puis? l'air] Malone. Rien puis! l'air Theobald. Rien puis le air Ff. L'air et le feu--Rien puis? Johnson conj. Rien plus! l'air Capell. Bien--puis l'air Heath conj.
le feu] Rowe. feu Ff.
[5115] Ciel] Theobald. Cein F₁ F₂. Cien F₃ F₄.
[5116] dout] Rowe (ed. 2). d'out Rowe (ed. 1). doubt Ff. daunt Pope. out Jackson conj. daub Keightley and Bullock conj. paint Anon. conj.
[5117] you] yon, Anon. conj.
[5118] curtle-axe] cuttle-ax Pope. coutelas Hanmer.
[5119] let us] let's Pope.
[5120] 'gainst] F₂ F₃ F₄. against F₁.
exceptions] F₁ F₂. exception F₃ F₄.
[5121] enow] enough Capell.
[5122] tucket sonance] Johnson. tucket-sonnance] Collier. Tucket Sonuance Ff. tucket-sonaunce Knight.
[5123] hand] hands Capell conj.
[5124] dropping the hides] F₁. drooping the hide F₂ F₃ F₄.
[5125] pale dull] palled Capell. pull’d dull Rann.
gimmal] Johnson. Iymold Ff. grimmal Rann.
[5126] them, all] Rowe. them all, Ff.
[5127] To ...battle] The life of such a battle to demonstrate Hanmer.
[5128] lifeless] Capell. livelesse F₁ F₂ F₃. liveless F₄.
[5129] They have....death] As two lines in Ff. They’ve ... Pope, reading as one line.
[5130] Arranged as in Rowe. As two lines in Ff, the first ending guard: on.
[5131] guidon:] Anon, apud Rann conj. Guard: on Ff. See note (XVII).
[5132] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE VIII. Pope. SCENE VII. Hanmer.
The English camp.] Theobald.
[5133] all are] are all Rowe.
[5134] be wi’] Rowe. buy’ Ff.
[5135] And yet ... valour] These lines follow line 11, go with thee: in Ff. Transposed by Theobald (Thirlby conj.). See note (XVIII).
[5136] framed] fram'd F₁. fam'd F₂ F₃ F₄. made (Qq) Pope.
[Exit Salisbury.] Rowe. om. Ff.
[5137] Westmoreland?] Rowe. Westmerland. Ff.
[5138] enow] enough Capell.
[5139] Jove] Heaven Malone conj.
for] of Pope.
[5140] coz] couze Ff. lord Pope.
[5141] hope] hopes Pope.
O, do not wish] Don't wish Pope. Wish not Ritson conj.
[5142] shall live....and see] Pope. shall see ...and live Ff. outlives ...and sees (Qq) Warburton. shall see ...and live to Keightley conj.
[5143] neighbours] friends (Qq) Capell.
[5144] And ... day.] (Qq) Malone. Omitted in Ff.
[5145] yet all shall be forgot, But he’ll] Malone. yet all shall be forgot: But hee'le F₁. yet all shall not be forgot But hee'le F₂ F₃ F₄. yet shall not all forget But they'll Pope. all shall not be forgot; But he’ll Capell. yet all shall be forgot, But they’ll Steevens (1778). yea, all shall be forgot; But he'll Malone conj.
[5146] he] they Pope.
[5147] his mouth] Ff. their mouths (Qq) Malone. their mouth Pope. See note (XIX).
[5148] whiles] while Pope.
[5149] Crispin's] Crispian's Pope.
Re-enter S.] Enter S. Ff.
[5150] battles] battle Anon. conj.
[5151] coz] couze Ff. cousin (Qq) Pope.
[5152] could fight this royal battle] might fight this battle out (Qq) Capell.
[5153] five] twelve Hamner. me fifteen Capell conj.
[5154] SCENE IX. Pope. SCENE VIII. Hanmer.
[5155] Besides] Thus Pope.
[5156] A] And (Q₃) Pope.
[5157] Mark ...mortality] Put in the margin by Pope.
[5158] abounding] Ff. abundant (Qq). a bounding Theobald. rebounding Knight conj.
[5159] bullet's] Hanmer. bullets Ff.
grazing] grasing F₂ F₃ F₄. crasing F₁.
[5160] relapse] reliques Johnson conj. relays Jackson conj. reflex Collier MS.
of mortality] Omitted by Capell.
[5161] or] for Hanmer.
[5162] this] om. Pope.
[5163] As] And Rowe (ed. 2).
[5164] Will ... labour] As two lines in Ff. As one in Pope, omitting thou.
[5165] 'em] um F₁ F₂ F₃. 'um F₄.
them] to them Steevens.
[5166] yield] leave Pope.
[5167] I fear ... ransom.] Omitted by Pope.
thou'lt ... again] thou wilt ... here Collier (Collier MS.).
thou'lt ... for ransom] Theobald. thou wilt ... for a ransome Ff. thou wilt once more come for a ransom Edd. conj.
[5168] SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE X. Pope. SCENE IX. Hanmer.
The ... battle.] Theobald.
[5169] êtes] estes le Ff.
[5170] Qualtitie] F₁. Qualtity F₂ F₃. Quality F₄.
calmie custure me] F₁. cality--consture me Warburton. cality!--construe me Capell. call you me?--Construe me Steevens (Edwards conj.). calmly:--Construe me Rann (Ritson conj.). Calen, o custure me Malone. Callino, castore me Boswell.
[5171] O, Signieur ... ransom] As in Pope. As prose in Ff.
[5172] fox] faulchion Johnson conj.
[5173] Moy ... blood] As in Johnson. As prose in Ff.
[5174] Or] Hanmer (Theobald conj.). For Ff.
rim] Capell. rym F₄. rymme F₁ F₂ F₃. ransom Warburton (Theobald conj.). rheum Steevens conj. ryno Mason conj. rime Knight conj.
at] of Warburton conj.
[5175] Brass ... brass?] As in Johnson. As prose in Ff. As two lines in Pope, ending cur ... brass.
[5176] Say'st ... name] As in Pope. As prose in Ff.
[5177] à cette heure] Theobald. asture Ff. à l'heure Anon. conj.
[5178] Owy ... sword] Edd. As verse first by Johnson, ending first line at pesant. As prose in Ff.
[5179] give me] give unto me Keightley conj.
[5180] suis] Theobald. suis le Ff.
[5181] Tell ... take] As in Johnson. As prose in Ff.
[5182] suis tombé] Theobald. intombe Ff.
[5183] and he] F₁. and F₂ F₃ F₄.
[5184] As I ... show.] As in Pope. As prose in Ff.
[5185] me!] me. Ff. me, cur. (Qq) Pope.
[5186] [Exeunt ...] Pope. om. Ff.
[5187] full] F₁. wofull F₂ F₃. woful F₄.
[5188] saying] F₁. song F₂ F₃ F₄.
[5189] that] om. Pope.
[5190] and they] yet they Pope.
[5191] he] they Collier MS.
[5192] SCENE V.] Capell. SCENE XI. Pope. SCENE X. Hanmer.
Another part ...] Theobald.
Enter ...] Alarums, &c. Enter D., O., C., B., and divers others. Capell.
[5193] de] du(Qq). Dieu Ff.
[5194] Reproach] Reproach, reproach Capell. Reproach, contempt S. Walker conj. Reproach, rebuke Anon. conj.
[5195] Sits ... away] As in Capell. The lines end plumes ... away in Ff.
[5196] Let ... again] Omitted by Pope.
Let us die in honour: once] Let's die in honour: once Knight, from (Qq). Let us dye in once F₁. Let us flye in once F₂ F₃ F₄. _Let us dye, instant:--once_ Theobald. Let us die in fight: once Malone. Let us hie instant: once Becket conj. Let us not fly:--in!--once Collier (Collier MS.).
honour] fight or arms Mason conj.
[5197] And he] The man Pope.
[5198] by a slave] (Qq) Pope, a base slave F₁. by a base slave F₂ F₃ F₄.
[5199] contaminated] contamuracke (Qq). contaminate Capell.
[5200] on heaps] Ff. in heaps (Qq) Steevens. Reed (1803).
Steevens adds from (Qq) Unto these English or else die with fame.
[5201] enow] enough Capell.
[5202] SCENE VI.] Capell. SCENE XII. Pope. SCENE XI. Hanmer.
Enter King Henry....] Capell. Enter the king and his trayne, with Prisoners. Ff.
[5203] yet keep the French] the French yet keep Pope.
[5204] blood he was] bleeding o'er (Qq) Pope.
[5205] Larding] Loading Collier MS.
[5206] And (Qq) Pope. He Ff.
dear (Qq) Steevens. my Ff.
[5207] thine keep] keep thine S. Walker conj.
[5208] raught] gave Pope.
[5209] noble-ending] never ending (Qq).
[5210] And all] But all (Qq) Pope.
[5211] mistful] Theobald (Warburton). mixtful Ff.
[5212] [Enter a Messenger who whispers the King. Malone conj.
[5213] The French ... Then] Enter a Messenger. Mess. The French ... K. Hen. Then Upton conj.
[5214] reinforced] re-enfor'd F₃.
[5215] Then] Bid (Qq).
prisoners] prisoner (Qq).
[5216] [Exeunt.] Rowe (ed. 2).
[5217] SCENE VII.] Capell. ACTUS QUARTUS. Ff. ACT IV. SCENE I. Rowe. SCENE XIII. Pope. SCENE XII. Hanmer.
Enter ...] Ff. Alarums continued, after which Enter ... Theobald.
[5218] offer't; in] offert in Ff. desir'd in (Qq) Pope.
[5219] and carried] or carried Pope.
[5220] you] that you Rowe.
[5221] and there is also moreover] there is also moreover Rowe (ed. 2). there is also Pope.
[5222] but 'tis] Ff. but it is Pope.
alike] Ff. as like Rowe.
is to] to Rowe.
[5223] Cleitus] Clitus (Qq). Clytus Ff.
[5224] made] made an end (Qq) Capell.
[5225] the figures] Ff. figures Pope.
[5226] turned] is turn (Qq) Capell.
[5227] have forgot] am forget (Qq) Capell.
[5228] Alarum.] Alarums. Capell.
Enter ...] Capell. Enter King Harry and Burbon with prisoners. Flourish. Ff.
[5229] SCENE XIV. Pope. SCENE XIII. Hanmer.
[5230] Johnson proposes to place these lines at the beginning of Scene VI.
[5231] skirr] sker Ff.
[5232] means this, herald] Steevens. meanes this herald F₁. meanes their herald F₂. means their herald F₃ F₄. mean'st thou, herald Hanmer.
[5233] look]Grant White, (Collier MS.). book Ff.
[5234] and their] Malone. and with Ff. while their Pope, and the Capell.
[5235] horsemen peer] horse appear Capell.
[5236] majesties] majesty Keightley conj.
[5237] know] know's Pope.
[5238] pless it] pless F₄.
[5239] countryman] countrymen F₁.
[5240] God] F₃ F₄. Good F₁ F₂.
God ... him] As in Capell. As two lines in Ff.
[5241] [Points to Williams.] Malone. Seeing Williams among the troops. Capell. Enter Williams. Ff (after so! line 109).
[Exeunt....] Theobald. om. Ff.
[5242] SCENE XV. Pope. SCENE XIV. Hanmer.
[5243] An't] Hanmer. And't Ff.
[5244] alive] Ff. a' live Capell.
ever] if ever he Pope.
[5245] o' th'] a' th' Ff.
[5246] an't] Pope. and't Ff.
[5247] ever] even Warburton.
[5248] literatured] litterature Pope.
[5249] an ... me love] an ... love me Capell. and ... me love Ff. if ... love me Pope.
[5250] doo's] F₁ F₂. do's F₃. does F₄.
[5251] aggriefed] agreefd F₁. agreev'd F₂. agriev'd F₃ F₄.
[5252] but I would fain] I would fain but Dyce conj.
[5253] an] Pope. and Ff.
[5254] an] Theobald. and Ff. an't Delius.
[5255] his] this F₃ F₄.
[5256] will] he'll Pope.
[5257] no] not Rowe.
[5258] Go] Come Pope.
[5259] SCENE VIII.] Capell. SCENE XVI. Pope. SCENE XV. Hanmer.
Before ...] Theobald.
[5260] 'Sblood] 'Sblud F₁ F₂. 'Slbud F₃. 'Sbud F₄.
any is] any es F₁ F₂ F₃. any' F₄.
[5261] or in France] in France Pope.
[5262] into] in two Heath conj. in Capell. in due Steevens conj.
[5263] Here ...] Glo. Here ... Anon. conj.
[5264] have] have have F₂.
[5265] testimony and witness, and will avouchment] testimonies, and witnesses, and avouchments Pope, from Q₃. testimony, and witness, and avouchments Capell.
[5266] Give ... of it] As in Pope. As two lines in Ff, the first ending soldier.
[5267] thy] my Johnson conj.
[5268] As prose in Pope.
[5269] I] me Pope.
[5270] An] Pope. And Ff.
[5271] lord] Ff. liege (Qq) Capell.
[5272] your own] your Rowe.
[5273] made] had made (Qq).
[5274] And] Add F₂.
[5275] belly] body Rowe (ed. 2).
[5276] Enter an English Herald.] Malone. Enter Herauld. Ff. Enter a Herald, and others. Capell.
[5277] SCENE XVII. Pope. SCENE XVI. Hanmer.
number'd] on both sides number'd Steevens conj.
[5278] [kneeling, and delivering Papers. Capell.
[5279] Bouciqualt] Bouchiquald Ff.
[5280] That ... slain] Slain in the field Pope.
[5281] Jaques of Chatillon] Jaques Chatillon S. Walker conj.
[5282] Anthony] Anthonie F₁. Anthonio F₂ F₃ F₄.
[5283] Fauconberg] Capell. Fauconbridge Ff.
Foix] Capell. Foyes Ff.
[5284] Vaudemont] Vandemont F₁.
[5285] [Herald ...] Capell.
[5286] Edward ... twenty. O God] F₁. Edward ... twenty. King. _O God_] F₂ F₃ F₄. Exe. Edward ... twenty. K. Henry. O God (Q₂ Q₃) Pope.
[5287] five] four Farmer conj. MS.
[5288] loss ... other? Take] Pope losse?... other, take Ff.
[5289] none but] none’s but F₄. only (Qq) Pope.
[5290] we] me F₁.
[5291] an] Pope. and Ff. and it (Qq).
[5292] enclosed] enterred (Qq).
[5293] And] We'll (Qq) Capell.
[5294] happy] happier (Qq) Capell.
Act V
PROLOGUE.[5295]
Enter Chorus.
Chor. Vouchsafe to those that have not read the story,[5296] That I may prompt them: and of such as have,[5297] I humbly pray them to admit the excuse Of time, of numbers and due course of things, Which cannot in their huge and proper life 5 Be here presented. Now we bear the king Toward Calais: grant him there; there seen,[5298] Heave him away upon your winged thoughts Athwart the sea. Behold, the English beach Pales in the flood with men, with wives and boys,[5299] 10 Whose shouts and claps out-voice the deep-mouth'd sea, Which like a mighty whiffler 'fore the king Seems to prepare his way: so let him land, And solemnly see him set on to London. So swift a pace hath thought that even now 15 You may imagine him upon Blackheath; Where that his lords desire him to have borne His bruised helmet and his bended sword Before him through the city: he forbids it, Being free from vainness and self-glorious pride; 20 Giving full trophy, signal and ostent Quite from himself to God. But now behold, In the quick forge and working-house of thought, How London doth pour out her citizens! The mayor and all his brethren in best sort, 25 Like to the senators of the antique Rome,[5300] With the plebeians swarming at their heels, Go forth and fetch their conquering Cæsar in: As, by a lower but loving likelihood,[5301] Were now the general of our gracious empress, 30 As in good time he may, from Ireland coming, Bringing rebellion broached on his sword, How many would the peaceful city quit, To welcome him! much more, and much more cause, Did they this Harry. Now in London place him; 35 As yet the lamentation of the French[5302] Invites the King of England's stay at home;[5303] The emperor's coming in behalf of France,[5304] To order peace between them; and omit[5305] All the occurrences, whatever chanced, 40 Till Harry's back-return again to France: There must we bring him; and myself have play'd The interim, by remembering you 'tis past. Then brook abridgement, and your eyes advance, After your thoughts, straight back again to France. [Exit. 45
Act V, Scene I — France. The English Camp.[5306]
Enter FLUELLEN and GOWER.
Gow. Nay, that's right; but why wear you your leek to-day? Saint Davy's day is past.[5307]
Flu. There is occasions and causes why and wherefore in all things: I will tell you, asse my friend, Captain Gower:[5308] the rascally, scald, beggarly, lousy, pragging knave, Pistol, 5 which you and yourself and all the world know to be no[5309] petter than a fellow, look you now, of no merits, he is come to me and prings me pread and salt yesterday, look you, and bid me eat my leek: it was in a place where I could not breed no contention with him; but I will be so[5310] 10 bold as to wear it in my cap till I see him once again, and then I will tell him a little piece of my desires.
Enter PISTOL.
Gow. Why, here he comes, swelling like a turkey-cock.
Flu. 'Tis no matter for his swellings nor his turkey-cocks.[5311] God pless you, Aunchient Pistol! you scurvy, lousy knave,[5312] 15 God pless you!
Pist. Ha! art thou bedlam? dost thou thirst, base Trojan,[5313][5314] To have me fold up Parca's fatal web?[5313] Hence! I am qualmish at the smell of leek.[5313]
Flu. I peseech you heartily, scurvy, lousy knave, at[5315] 20 my desires, and my requests, and my petitions, to eat, look you, this leek: because, look you, you do not love it, nor[5316] your affections and your appetites and your disgestions[5317] doo's not agree with it, I would desire you to eat it.[5318]
Pist. Not for Cadwallader and all his goats. 25
Flu. There is one goat for you. [Strikes him.] Will[5319] you be so good, scauld knave, as eat it?
Pist. Base Trojan, thou shalt die.
Flu. You say very true, scauld knave, when God's will is: I will desire you to live in the mean time, and eat your 30 victuals: come, there is sauce for it. [Strikes him.] You[5320] called me yesterday mountain-squire; but I will make you to-day a squire of low degree. I pray you, fall to: if you[5321] can mock a leek, you can eat a leek.
Gow. Enough, captain: you have astonished him. 35
Flu. I say, I will make him eat some part of my leek, or I will peat his pate four days. Bite, I pray you; it is[5322] good for your green wound and your ploody coxcomb.
Pist. Must I bite?
Flu. Yes, certainly, and out of doubt and out of question[5323] 40 too, and ambiguities.
Pist. By this leek, I will most horribly revenge: I eat[5324][5325] and eat, I swear--[5325]
Flu. Eat, I pray you: will you have some more sauce to your leek? there is not enough leek to swear by. 45
Pist. Quiet thy cudgel; thou dost see I eat.
Flu. Much good do you, scauld knave, heartily. Nay, pray you, throw none away; the skin is good for your broken coxcomb. When you take occasions to see leeks hereafter, I pray you, mock at 'em; that is all.[5326] 50
Pist. Good.
Flu. Ay, leeks is good: hold you, there is a groat to heal your pate.
Pist. Me a groat!
Flu. Yes, verily and in truth, you shall take it; or I 55 have another leek in my pocket, which you shall eat.
Pist. I take thy groat in earnest of revenge.
Flu. If I owe you any thing, I will pay you in cudgels: you shall be a woodmonger, and buy nothing of me but cudgels. God b' wi' you, and keep you, and heal your[5327] 60 pate. [Exit.
Pist. All hell shall stir for this.
Gow. Go, go; you are a counterfeit cowardly knave. Will you mock at an ancient tradition, begun upon an[5328] honourable respect, and worn as a memorable trophy of 65 predeceased valour and dare not avouch in your deeds any of your words? I have seen you gleeking and galling at this gentleman twice or thrice. You thought, because he could not speak English in the native garb, he could not therefore handle an English cudgel: you find it otherwise;[5329] 70 and henceforth let a Welsh correction teach you a good English condition. Fare ye well.[5330] [Exit.
Pist. Doth Fortune play the huswife with me now?[5331] News have I, that my Doll is dead i' the spital[5331][5332] Of malady of France;[5331][5333] 75 And there my rendezvous is quite cut off.[5331] Old I do wax; and from my weary limbs[5331] Honour is cudgelled. Well, bawd I'll turn,[5331][5334] And something lean to cutpurse of quick hand.[5331] To England will I steal, and there I'll steal: 80 And patches will I get unto these cudgell'd scars,[5335] And swear I got them in the Gallia wars.[5336] [Exit.
Act V, Scene II — France. A royal palace.
Enter, at one door, KING HENRY, EXETER, BEDFORD, GLOUCESTER, WARWICK, WESTMORELAND, and other Lords; _at another, the_ FRENCH KING, QUEEN ISABEL, the PRINCESS KATHARINE, ALICE and other Ladies; the DUKE of BURGUNDY, _and his train._[5337]
K. Hen. Peace to this meeting, wherefore we are met! Unto our brother France, and to our sister, Health and fair time of day; joy and good wishes To our most fair and princely cousin Katharine; And, as a branch and member of this royalty, 5 By whom this great assembly is contrived, We do salute you, Duke of Burgundy;[5338] And, princes French, and peers, health to you all!
Fr. King. Right joyous are we to behold your face, Most worthy brother England; fairly met:[5339] 10 So are you, princes English, every one.
Q. Isa. So happy be the issue, brother England,[5340] Of this good day and of this gracious meeting, As we are now glad to behold your eyes; Your eyes, which hitherto have borne in them[5341] 15 Against the French, that met them in their bent,[5341] The fatal balls of murdering basilisks: The venom of such looks, we fairly hope, Have lost their quality, and that this day[5342] Shall change all griefs and quarrels into love. 20
K. Hen. To cry amen to that, thus we appear.
Q. Isa. You English princes all, I do salute you.
Bur. My duty to you both, on equal love, Great Kings of France and England! That I have labour'd,[5343] With all my wits, my pains and strong endeavours, 25 To bring your most imperial majesties Unto this bar and royal interview, Your mightiness on both parts best can witness.[5344] Since then my office hath so far prevail'd That, face to face and royal eye to eye, 30 You have congreeted, let it not disgrace me, If I demand, before this royal view, What rub or what impediment there is, Why that the naked, poor and mangled Peace, Dear nurse of arts, plenties and joyful births, 35 Should not in this best garden of the world Our fertile France, put up her lovely visage?[5345] Alas, she hath from France too long been chased, And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps, Corrupting in its own fertility.[5346] 40 Her vine, the merry cheerer of the heart, Unpruned dies; her hedges even-pleach'd,[5347] Like prisoners wildly overgrown with hair, Put forth disorder'd twigs; her fallow leas The darnel, hemlock and rank fumitory[5348] 45 Doth root upon, while that the coulter rusts[5349] That should deracinate such savagery; The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth The freckled cowslip, burnet and green clover, Wanting the scythe, all uncorrected, rank,[5350] 50 Conceives by idleness and nothing teems But hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies, burs,[5351] Losing both beauty and utility. And as our vineyards, fallows, meads and hedges,[5352][5353] Defective in their natures, grow to wildness,[5353][5354] 55 Even so our houses and ourselves and children, Have lost, or do not learn for want of time, The sciences that should become our country; But grow like savages,--as soldiers will[5355] That nothing do but meditate on blood,-- 60 To swearing and stern looks, diffused attire[5356] And every thing that seems unnatural, Which to reduce into our former favour You are assembled: and my speech entreats That I may know the let, why gentle Peace 65 Should not expel these inconveniences And bless us with her former qualities.
K. Hen. If, Duke of Burgundy, you would the peace,[5357] Whose want gives growth to the imperfections Which you have cited, you must buy that peace 70 With full accord to all our just demands; Whose tenours and particular effects[5358] You have enscheduled briefly in your hands.
Bur. The king hath heard them; to the which as yet There is no answer made.
K. Hen. Well then the peace, 75 Which you before so urged, lies in his answer.
Fr. King. I have but with a cursorary eye[5359] O'erglanced the articles: pleaseth your grace To appoint some of your council presently To sit with us once more, with better heed[5360] 80 To re-survey them, we will suddenly Pass our accept and peremptory answer.[5361]
K. Hen. Brother, we shall. Go, uncle Exeter, And brother Clarence, and you, brother Gloucester,[5362] Warwick and Huntingdon, go with the king;[5363] 85 And take with you free power to ratify, Augment, or alter, as your wisdoms best Shall see advantageable for our dignity,[5364] Any thing in or out of our demands;[5365] And we'll consign thereto. Will you, fair sister, 90 Go with the princes, or stay here with us?
Q. Isa. Our gracious brother, I will go with them: Haply a woman's voice may do some good,[5366] When articles too nicely urged be stood on.
K. Hen. Yet leave our cousin Katharine here with us: 95 She is our capital demand, comprised Within the fore-rank of our articles.
Q. Isa. She hath good leave.
[Exeunt all except Henry, Katharine, and Alice.[5367]
K. Hen. Fair Katharine, and most fair, Will you vouchsafe to teach a soldier terms Such as will enter at a lady's ear 100 And plead his love-suit to her gentle heart?
Kath. Your majesty shall mock at me; I cannot speak your England.
K. Hen. O fair Katharine, if you will love me soundly with your French heart, I will be glad to hear you confess it 105 brokenly with your English tongue. Do you like me, Kate?
Kath. Pardonnez-moi, I cannot tell vat is 'like me.'[5368]
K. Hen. An angel is like you, Kate, and you are like an angel.
Kath. Que dit-il? que je suis semblable à les anges? 110
Alice. Oui, vraiment, sauf votre grace, ainsi dit-il.
K. Hen. I said so, dear Katharine; and I must not blush to affirm it.
Kath. O bon Dieu! les langues des homines sont pleines de tromperies. 115
K. Hen. What says she, fair one? that the tongues of[5369] men are full of deceits?
Alice. Oui, dat de tongues of de mans is be full of deceits: dat is de princess.[5370]
K. Hen. The princess is the better Englishwoman. I' 120 faith, Kate, my wooing is fit for thy understanding: I am glad thou canst speak no better English; for, if thou couldst, thou wouldst find me such a plain king that thou wouldst think I had sold my farm to buy my crown. I know no ways to mince it in love, but directly to say 'I love you:' 125 then if you urge me farther than to say 'do you in faith?' I wear out my suit. Give me your answer; i' faith, do: and so clap hands and a bargain: how say you, lady?
Kath. Sauf votre honneur, me understand vell.[5371]
K. Hen. Marry, if you would put me to verses or to 130 dance for your sake, Kate, why you undid me: for the one, I have neither words nor measure, and for the other, I have no strength in measure, yet a reasonable measure in strength. If I could win a lady at leap-frog, or by vaulting[5372] into my saddle with my armour on my back, under the 135 correction of bragging be it spoken, I should quickly leap into a wife. Or if I might buffet for my love, or bound my horse for her favours, I could lay on like a butcher and sit like a jack-an-apes, never off. But, before God, Kate, I cannot look greenly nor gasp out my eloquence, nor I 140 have no cunning in protestation; only downright oaths,[5373] which I never use till urged, nor never break for urging.[5374] If thou canst love a fellow of this temper, Kate, whose face is not worth sun-burning, that never looks in his glass for love of any thing he sees there, let thine eye be thy cook. 145 I speak to thee plain soldier: if thou canst love me for this,[5375] take me; if not, to say to thee that I shall die, is true; but for thy love, by the Lord, no; yet I love thee too. And[5376] while thou livest, dear Kate, take a fellow of plain and uncoined[5377] constancy; for he perforce must do thee right, 150 because he hath not the gift to woo in other places: for[5378] these fellows of infinite tongue, that can rhyme themselves into ladies' favours, they do always reason themselves out again. What! a speaker is but a prater; a rhyme is but a ballad. A good leg will fall; a straight back will stoop; a 155 black beard will turn white; a curled pate will grow bald; a fair face will wither; a full eye will wax hollow: but a good heart, Kate, is the sun and the moon; or, rather, the sun, and not the moon; for it shines bright and never changes, but keeps his course truly. If thou would have[5379] 160 such a one, take me; and take me, take a soldier; take a[5380] soldier, take a king. And what sayest thou then to my love? speak, my fair, and fairly, I pray thee.
Kath. Is it possible dat I sould love de enemy of France? 165
K. Hen. No; it is not possible you should love the enemy of France, Kate: but, in loving me, you should love the friend of France; for I love France so well that I will not part with a village of it; I will have it all mine: and, Kate, when France is mine and I am yours, then yours is[5381] 170 France and you are mine.
Kath. I cannot tell vat is dat.[5382]
K. Hen. No, Kate? I will tell thee in French; which I am sure will hang upon my tongue like a new-married[5383] wife about her husband's neck, hardly to be shook off. Je[5384] 175 quand sur le possession de France, et quand vous avez[5384][5385] le possession de moi,--let me see, what then? Saint Denis[5385] be my speed!--done votre est France et vous êtes mienne. It is as easy for me, Kate, to conquer the kingdom as to speak so much more French: I shall never move thee in 180 French, unless it be to laugh at me.
Kath. Sauf votre honneur, le François que vous parlez, il est meilleur que l'Anglois lequel je parle.[5386]
K. Hen. No, faith, is't not, Kate: but thy speaking of my tongue, and I thine, most truly-falsely, must needs be[5387] 185 granted to be much at one. But, Kate, dost thou understand thus much English, canst thou love me?
Kath. I cannot tell.
K. Hen. Can any of your neighbours tell, Kate? I'll ask them. Come, I know thou lovest me: and at night, 190 when you come into your closet, you'll question this gentlewoman about me; and I know, Kate, you will to her dispraise those parts in me that you love with your heart: but, good Kate, mock me mercifully; the rather, gentle princess, because I love thee cruelly. If ever thou beest 195 mine, Kate, as I have a saving faith within me tells me thou shalt, I get thee with scambling, and thou must therefore needs prove a good soldier-breeder: shall not thou and I, between Saint Denis and Saint George, compound a boy, half French, half English, that shall go to 200 Constantinople and take the Turk by the beard? shall we not? what sayest thou, my fair flower-de-luce?
Kath. I do not know dat.
K. Hen. No; 'tis hereafter to know, but now to promise: do but now promise, Kate, you will endeavour for your 205 French part of such a boy; and for my English moiety take the word of a king and a bachelor. How answer you, la plus belle Katharine du monde, mon très cher et devin déesse?[5388]
Kath. Your majestee ave fausse French enough to[5389] deceive de most sage demoiselle dat is en France.[5390] 210
K. Hen. Now, fie upon my false French! By mine honour, in true English, I love thee, Kate: by which honour I dare not swear thou lovest me; yet my blood begins to flatter me that thou dost, notwithstanding the poor and untempering effect of my visage. Now, beshrew[5391] 215 my father's ambition! he was thinking of civil wars when he got me: therefore was I created with a stubborn outside, with an aspect of iron, that, when I come to woo ladies, I fright them. But, in faith, Kate, the elder I wax, the better I shall appear: my comfort is, that old age, that 220 ill layer up of beauty, can do no more spoil upon my face: thou hast me, if thou hast me, at the worst; and thou shalt wear me, if thou wear me, better and better: and therefore tell me, most fair Katharine, will you have me? Put off your maiden blushes; avouch the thoughts of your 225 heart with the looks of an empress; take me by the hand, and say 'Harry of England, I am thine:' which word thou shalt no sooner bless mine ear withal, but I will tell thee aloud 'England is thine, Ireland is thine, France is thine, and Henry Plantagenet is thine;' who, though I speak it 230 before his face, if he be not fellow with the best king, thou[5392] shalt find the best king of good fellows. Come, your answer in broken music; for thy voice is music and thy English broken; therefore, queen of all, Katherine, break[5393] thy mind to me in broken English; wilt thou have me? 235
Kath. Dat is as it sall please de roi mon père.[5394]
K. Hen. Nay, it will please him well, Kate; it shall please him, Kate.
Kath. Den it sail also content me.[5394]
K. Hen. Upon that I kiss your hand, and I call you 240 my queen.
Kath. Laissez, mon seigneur, laissez, laissez: ma foi, je ne veux point que vous abaissiez votre grandeur en baisant la main d'une de votre seigneurie indigne serviteur;[5395] excusez-moi, je vous supplie, mon très-puissant seigneur. 245
K. Hen. Then I will kiss your lips, Kate.
Kath. Les dames et demoiselles pour être baisées devant leur noces, il n'est pas la coutume de France.[5396]
K. Hen. Madam my interpreter, what says she?
Alice. Dat it is not be de fashion pour les ladies of 250 France,--I cannot tell vat is baiser en Anglish.[5397]
K. Hen. To kiss.
Alice. Your majesty entendre bettre que moi.
K. Hen. It is not a fashion for the maids in France to[5398] kiss before they are married, would she say? 255
Alice. Oui, vraiment.
K. Hen. O Kate, nice customs courtesy to great kings.[5399] Dear Kate, you and I cannot be confined within the weak list of a country's fashion: we are the makers of manners, Kate; and the liberty that follows our places stops the 260 mouth of all find-faults; as I will do yours, for upholding[5400] the nice fashion of your country in denying me a kiss: therefore, patiently and yielding. [Kissing her.] You have[5401] witchcraft in your lips, Kate: there is more eloquence in a sugar touch of them than in the tongues of the French[5402] 265 council; and they should sooner persuade Harry of England than a general petition of monarchs. Here comes your father.
Re-enter the FRENCH KING and his QUEEN, BURGUNDY, and other Lords.[5403]
Bur. God save your majesty! my royal cousin, teach[5404][5405] you our princess English?[5405] 270
K. Hen. I would have her learn, my fair cousin, how perfectly I love her; and that is good English.
Bur. Is she not apt?[5406]
K. Hen. Our tongue is rough, coz, and my condition[5407] is not smooth; so that, having neither the voice nor the 275 heart of flattery about me, I cannot so conjure up the spirit[5408] of love in her, that he will appear in his true likeness.
Bur. Pardon the frankness of my mirth, if I answer you for that. If you would conjure in her, you must make a circle; if conjure up love in her in his true likeness, he 280 must appear naked and blind. Can you blame her then, being a maid yet rosed over with the virgin crimson of[5409] modesty, if she deny the appearance of a naked blind boy in her naked seeing self? It were, my lord, a hard condition for a maid to consign to. 285
K. Hen. Yet they do wink and yield, as love is blind and enforces.
Bur. They are then excused, my lord, when they see not what they do.
K. Hen. Then, good my lord, teach your cousin to 290 consent winking.[5410]
Bur. I will wink on her to consent, my lord, if you will teach her to know my meaning: for maids, well summered[5411] and warm kept, are like flies at Bartholomew-tide, blind, though they have their eyes; and then they will 295 endure handling, which before would not abide looking on.
K. Hen. This moral ties me over to time and a hot[5412] summer; and so I shall catch the fly, your cousin, in the latter end and she must be blind too.
Bur. As love is, my lord, before it loves. 300
K. Hen. It is so: and you may, some of you, thank love for my blindness, who cannot see many a fair French city for one fair French maid that stands in my way.
Fr. King. Yes, my lord, you see them perspectively, the cities turned into a maid; for they are all girdled with 305 maiden walls that war hath never entered.[5413]
K. Hen. Shall Kate be my wife?
Fr. King. So please you.
K. Hen. I am content; so the maiden cities you talk of may wait on her: so the maid that stood in the way for[5414] 310 my wish shall show me the way to my will.[5414]
Fr. King. We have consented to all terms of reason.
K. Hen. Is't so, my lords of England?
West. The king hath granted every article: His daughter first, and then in sequel all,[5415] 315 According to their firm proposed natures.[5416]
Exe. Only he hath not yet subscribed this: Where your majesty demands, that the King of France, having any occasion to write for matter of grant, shall name your highness in this form and with this addition, in French, 320 Notre très-cher fils Henri, Roi d'Angleterre, Hèritier de[5417] France; and thus in Latin, Præclarissimus filius noster[5418] Henricus, Rex Angliæ, et Hæres Franciæ.
Fr. King. Nor this I have not, brother, so denied,[5419] But your request shall make me lot it pass. 325
K. Hen. I pray you then, in love and dear alliance, Let that one article rank with the rest; And thereupon give me your daughter.[5420]
Fr. King. Take her, fair, son and from her blood raise up Issue to me; that the contending kingdoms[5421] 330 Of France and England, whose very shores look pale[5422] With envy of each other's happiness, May cease their hatred, and this dear conjunction Plant neighbourhood and Christian-like accord In their sweet bosoms, that never war advance[5423] 335 His bleeding sword 'twixt England and fair France.
All. Amen![5424]
K. Hen. Now, welcome, Kate: and bear me witness all, That here I kiss her as my sovereign queen. [Flourish.
Q. Isa. God, the best maker of all marriages, 340 Combine your hearts in one, your realms in one! As man and wife, being two, are one in love, So be there 'twixt your kingdoms such a spousal, That never may ill office, or fell jealousy, Which troubles oft the bed of blessed marriage, 345 Thrust in between the paction of these kingdoms,[5425] To make divorce of their incorporate league; That English may as French, French Englishmen,[5426] Receive each other. God speak this Amen!
All. Amen![5427] 350
K. Hen. Prepare we for our marriage: on which day, My Lord of Burgundy, we'll take your oath, And all the peers', for surety of our leagues.[5428] Then shall I swear to Kate, and you to me; And may our oaths well kept and prosperous be! 360
[Sennet. Exeunt.[5429]