SCENE III.
Enter Nim, Bardolph, Pistol, and Boy.
Bard.
On, on, on, on, on. To the breach, to the
breach.
Nim.
'Pray thee, corporal, stay; the knocks are too
hot, and for mine own part, I have not a* note case of lives.
The humour of it its too hot, that is the very plain song
of it.
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.
-- 408 --
Boy.
'Wou'd I were in an ale-house in London, I
would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.
Pist.
And I;
If wishes would prevail with me,9 note
My purpose should not fail with me,
But thither would I hye.
Enter Fluellen.
Flu.
Up to the breach, you dogs; avaunt, you cullions.
Pist.
Be merciful, great Duke, to men of mould,1 note
Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage;
Good bawcock, 'bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck.
Nim.
These be good humours; your honour wins
bad humours.
[Exeunt.
Boy.
As young as I am, I have observ'd these three
swashers. I am boy to them all three; but all they
three, 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-liver'd and red-fac'd;
by the means whereof he faces it out, but fights
not. For Pistol, he hath a killing tongue and a quiet
sword; by the means whereof he breaks words, and
keeps whole weapons. For Nim, he hath heard, that
men of few words are the 2 notebest men; and therefore he
scorns to say his prayers, lest he should be thought a
coward; but his few bad words are match'd with as
few good deeds; for he 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
-- 409 --
sold it for three half-pence. Nim 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.3 note They would have me as familiar
with men's pockets, as their gloves or their handkerchers,
which makes much against my manhood;
for if I would take from another's pocket to put into
mine, it is plain pocketting 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.
Enter Gower, and Fluellen.
Gower.
Captain Fluellen, you must come presently
to 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
are 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 digt4 note himself four yards under the countermines;
by Cheshu, I think, a' will5 note plow up all, if there is
not petter directions.
Gower.
The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order
of the siege is given, is altogether directed by an Irish
man, a very valiant gentleman, i'faith.
Flu.
It is captain Macmorris, is it not?
Gower.
I think, it be.
Flu.
By Cheshu, he is an Ass, as is in the world; I
will verify as much in his beard. He has no more
-- 410 --
directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look you,
of the Roman disciplines, than is a Puppy-dog.
Enter Macmorris, and Capt. Jamy.
Gower.
Here he comes, and the Scots Captain, Captain
Jamy with him.
Flu.
Captain Jamy is a marvellous valorous 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
world, in the disciplines of the pristine wars of the
Romans.
Jamy.
I say, gudday, Captain Fluellen.
Flu.
Godden to your worship, good captain James.
Gower.
How now, captain Macmorris, have you
quitted the mines? have the pioneers given o'er?
Mac.
By Chrish law, 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 law, in an hour. O tish ill
done, tish ill done; by my hand, tish ill done.
Flu.
Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will
you vouchsafe 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 you4 note with gud leve, as I may pick
occasion; that sall I, marry.
-- 411 --
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 Duke; it is not time to discourse, the
town is beseech'd, 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 is nothing
done, so Chrish sa' me law.
Jamy.
By the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take
themselves to slomber, aile do gud service, or aile ligge
i'th' ground for it; ay, or go to death; and aile pay
it as valorously as I may, that sal I surely do, the breff
and the long; marry, 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
good 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 Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.
Gower.
Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
Jamy.
Au! that's a foul fault.
[A Parley sounded.
Gower.
The town sounds a parley.
Flu.
Captain Macmorris, when there is more better
opportunity to be requir'd, look you, I'll be so bold
as to tell you, I know the disciplines of war; and
there's an end.* note
[Exeunt.
-- 412 --
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
