SCENE II.
The Same.
Forces pass over; then enter Nym, Bardolph, Pistol, and Boy.
Bard.
On, on, on, on, on! to the breach, to the
breach!
Nym.
'Pray thee, corporal2 note
, stay: the knocks
are too hot; and for mine own part, I have not a
case of lives3 note
: the humour of it is too hot, that is
the very plain-song of it.
-- 341 --
Pist.
The plain song is most just; for humours do abound;
Knocks go and come; God's vassals drop and die;
And sword and shield,
In bloody field,
Doth win immortal fame.
Boy.
'Would I were in an alehouse in London! I
would give all my fame for a pot of ale, and safety.
Pist.
And I:
If wishes would prevail with me4 note,
My purpose should not fail with me,
But thither would I hie.
Boy.
As duly, but not as truly, as bird doth sing
on bough5 note
.
Enter Fluellen6 note.
Flu.
Got's plood!—Up to the preaches7 note, you
rascals! will you not up to the preaches?
[Driving them forward.
-- 342 --
Pist.
Be merciful, great duke8 note
, to men of mould9 note
!
Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage!
Abate thy rage, great duke!
Good bawcock, bate thy rage! use lenity, sweet chuck!
Nym.
These be good humours!—your honour
wins bad humours1 note.
[Exeunt Nym, Pistol, and Bardolph, followed by Fluellen.
-- 343 --
Boy.
As young as I am, I have observed these
three swashers. I am boy to them all three: but
all they three2 note
, though they would serve me, could
not be man to me; for, indeed, three such anticks
do not amount to a man. For Bardolph,—he is
white-livered, and red-faced; by the means 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 men3 note; and therefore he scorns to say
his prayers, lest 'a should be thought a coward: but
his few bad words are match'd 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,—
purchase4 note. Bardolph stole a lute-case; bore it
twelve leagues, and sold it for three halfpence.
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 coals5 note
.
-- 344 --
They would have me as familiar with men's pockets,
as their gloves or their handkerchiefs: which makes
much against my manhood, if I should take from
another's pocket, to put into mine; for it is plain
pocketing up of wrongs. I must leave them, and
seek some better service: their villainy goes against
my weak stomach, and therefore I must cast it up.
[Exit Boy.
Re-enter Fluellen, Gower following.
Gow.
Captain Fluellen, you must come presently
to the mines; the duke of Gloster 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 is not sufficient; for, look you,
th' athversary (you may discuss unto the duke, look
you) is dight himself four yards under the countermines5 note;
by Cheshu, I think, 'a will plow up all6 note, if
there is not better directions.
Gow.
The duke of Gloster, to whom the order
of the siege is given, is altogether directed by an
Irishman; a very valiant gentleman, i' faith.
Flu.
It is captain Macmorris, is it not?
Gow.
I think, it be.
Flu.
By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the 'orld:
I will verify as much in his peard: he has no more
directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look
you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy-dog.
-- 345 --
Enter Macmorris and Jamy, at a distance.
Gow.
Here 'a comes; and the Scots captain,
captain Jamy, with him.
Flu.
Captain Jamy is a marvellous falorous gentleman,
that is certain; and of great expedition,
and knowledge, in the ancient wars, upon my particular
knowledge of his directions: by Cheshu, he
will maintain his argument as well as any military
man in the 'orld, in the disciplines of the pristine
wars of the Romans.
Jamy.
I say, gud-day, captain Fluellen.
Flu.
God-den to your worship, goot captain
Jamy.
Gow.
How, now, captain Macmorris? have you
quit the mines? have the pioneers given o'er?
Mac.
By Chrish la, tish ill done: the work ish
give over, the trumpet sound the retreat. By my
hand, I swear, and by 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!
Flu.
Captain Macmorris, I peseech 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 wars, in the way of
argument, look you, and friendly communication;
partly, to satisfy my opinion, and partly, for the
satisfaction, look you, of my mind, as touching the
direction of the military discipline; that is the
point.
Jamy.
It sall be very gud, gud feith, gud captains
bath: and I sall quit you7 note with gud leve, as I
may pick occasion; that sall I, marry.
-- 346 --
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, and the trumpet
calls us to the breach; and we talk, and, by Chrish,
do nothing; 'tis shame for us all: so 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 slumber, aile do gude service, or aile
ligge i' the grund for it; ay, or go to death; and
aile pay it as valorously as I may, that sal I surely
do, that is the breff and the long: Mary, I wad
full fain heard some question 'tween you 'tway.
Flu.
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you,
under your correction, there is not many of your
nation—
Mac.
Of my nation? What ish my nation? ish
a villain, and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal?
What ish my nation? Who talks of my nation?
Flu.
Look you, if you take the matter otherwise
than 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 goot a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of
wars, and in the derivation of my birth, and in other
particularities.
Mac.
I do not know you so good a man as myself:
so Crish save me, I will cut off your head.
Gow.
Gentlemen both, you will mistake each
other.
Jamy.
Au! that's a foul fault.
[A Parley sounded.
-- 347 --
Gow.
The town sounds a parley.
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 an end8 note.
[Exeunt.
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
