French soldier, and boy.
Pist.
Yield, cur.
Fr. Sol.
Je pense, que vous estes le gentilhomme
de bonne qualité.
Pist.
Quality, calmy, custure me, art thou a gentleman?3 note
what is thy name? discuss.
Fr. Sol.
O Seigneur Dieu!
Pist.
O, Signieur Dewe should be a gentleman.
Perpend my words, O Signieur Dewe, and mark;
O Signieur Dewe, 4 note
thou diest on point of fox,
-- 454 --
Except, O Signieur, thou do give to me
Egregious ransom.
Fr. Sol.
O, prennez misericorde, ayez pitié de moy.
Pist.
Moy shall not serve, I will have forty moys;
5 note
For I will fetch thy rym out at thy throat,
In drops of crimson blood.
Fr. Sol.
Est-il impossible d' eschapper la force de ton
bras?
Pist.
Brass, cur?6Q0170
Thou damned and luxurious mountain Goat,
Offer'st me brass?
Fr. Sol.
O pardonnez moy.
Pist.
Say'st thou me so? is that a ton of 6 notemoys?
Come hither, Boy; ask me this slave in French,
What is his name?
Boy.
Escoutez, comment estes vous appellé?
Fr. Sol.
Monsieur le Fer.
Boy.
He says, his name is Mr. Fer.
Pist.
Mr. Fer! I'll fer him, and ferk him, and ferret
him: discuss the same in French unto him.
Boy.
I do not know the French for fer, and ferret,
and ferk.
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 vous teniez
prest; car ce soldat icy est disposé tout à cette heure de
couper vostre gorge.
Pist.
Owy, cuppelle gorge, parmafoy, pesant,
Unless thou give me crowns, brave crowns,
Or mangled shalt thou be by this my sword.
Fr. Sol.
O, je vous supplie pour l'amour de Dieu, me
pardonner, je suis gentilhomme de bonne maison, gardez
ma vie, & je vous donneray deux cents escus.
-- 455 --
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 hundred crowns.
Pist.
Tell him, my fury shall abate, and I
The crowns will take.
Fr. Sol.
Petit Monsieur, que dit-il?
Boy.
Encore qu'il est contre son jurement, de pardonner
aucun prisonnier, neantmoins pour les escus que vous l'avez
promettes, il est content de vous donner la liberté, le
franchisement.
Fr. Sol.
Sur mes genoux je vous donne mille remerciemens,
& je m' estime heureux que je suis tombé entre les
mains d'un Chevalier, je pense, le plus brave, valiant,
& tres estimé Signeur d' Angleterre.
Pist.
Expound unto me, boy.
Boy.
He gives you upon his knees a thousand thanks,
and esteems himself happy that he hath fall'n into the
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 shew.
Follow me, cur.
Boy.
Suivez le grand capitain.
[Ex. Pist. and Fr. Sol.
I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a
heart; but the saying is true, The empty vessel makes
the greatest sound. Bardolph and Nim had ten times
more valour than this roaring devil i'th' old play;7 note
every one may pare his nails with a wooden dagger:
yet they are both hang'd; and so would this be, if he
durst steal any thing advent'rously. I must stay with
the lacqueys, with the luggage of our camp; the
French might have a good prey of us, if he knew of
it; for there is none to guard it but boys.
[Exit.
-- 456 --
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].
