Bishop of Ely.
Cant.
My lord, I'll tell you; that self bill is urged,
Which in the eleventh year of the last king's reign
Was like, and had indeed against us pass'd,
But that the scambling and unquiet time
Did push note it out of farther question.
Ely.
But how, my lord, shall we resist it now?
-- 493 --
Cant.
It must be thought on. If it pass against us,
We lose the better half note of our possession note:
For all the temporal lands which men devout
By testament have given to the church
Would they strip from us; being valued thus:
As much as would maintain, to the king's honour,
Full fifteen earls and fifteen hundred knights,
Six thousand and two hundred good esquires;
And, to relief of lazars and weak age,
Of indigent faint souls past corporal toil,
A hundred almshouses right well supplied;
And to the coffers of the king beside,
A thousand pounds note by the year: thus runs the bill.
Ely.
This would drink deep.
Cant.
'Twould drink the cup and all.
Ely.
But what prevention?
Cant.
The king is full of grace and fair regard.
Ely.
And note a true lover of the holy church.
Cant. note
The courses of his youth promised it not.
The breath no sooner left his father's body,
But that his wildness, mortified in him,
Seem'd to die too; yea, at that very moment
Consideration, like an angel, came
And whipp'd the offending Adam out of him,
Leaving his body as a paradise,
To envelope and contain celestial spirits.
Never was such a sudden scholar made;
Never came reformation in a flood,
With such a heady currance note, scouring faults;
Nor never note Hydra-headed wilfulness
So soon did lose his seat and all note at once
As in this king.
Ely.
We are note blessed in the change.
-- 494 --
Cant.
Hear him but reason in divinity,
And all-admiring with an inward wish
You would desire the king were made a prelate:
Hear him debate of commonwealth affairs,
You would note say it hath been all in all his study:
List his discourse of war, and you shall hear
A fearful battle render'd you in music:
Turn him to any cause note of policy,
The Gordian knot of it he will unloose,
Familiar as his garter: that note, when he speaks,
The air, a charter'd libertine, is still,
And the mute wonder lurketh in men's ears,
To steal his sweet and honey'd sentences;
So that the art note and practic part of life
Must be the mistress to this note theoric:
Which is a wonder how his grace should glean it,
Since his addiction was to courses vain,
His companies unletter'd, rude and shallow,
His hours fill'd up with riots, banquets, sports,
And never noted in him any study,
Any retirement, any sequestration
From open haunts and popularity.
Ely.
The strawberry grows underneath the nettle
And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best
Neighbour'd by fruit of baser quality:
And so the prince obscured his contemplation
Under the veil of wildness; which, no doubt,
Grew like the summer grass, fastest by night,
Unseen, yet crescive note in his faculty.
Cant.
It must be so; for miracles are ceased;
And therefore we must needs admit the means
How things are perfected.
Ely.
But, my good lord,
How now for mitigation of this bill
Urged by the commons? Doth his majesty
-- 495 --
Incline to it, or no?
Cant.
He seems indifferent,
Or rather swaying more upon our part
Than cherishing the exhibiters against us;
For I have made an offer to his majesty,
Upon note our spiritual convocation
And in regard of causes now in hand,
Which I have open'd to his grace at large,
As touching France, to give a greater sum
Than ever at one time the clergy yet
Did to his predecessors part withal.
Ely.
How did this offer seem received, my lord?
Cant.
With good acceptance of his majesty;
Save that there was not time enough to hear,
As I perceived his grace would fain have done,
The severals note and unhidden passages note
Of his true titles to some certain dukedoms
And generally to the crown and seat note of France
Derived from Edward, his great-grandfather.
Ely.
What was the impediment that broke this off?
Cant.
The French ambassador upon that instant
Craved audience; and the hour, I think, is come
To give him hearing: is it four o'clock?
Ely.
It is.
Cant.
Then go we in, to know his embassy;
Which I could with a ready guess declare,
Before the Frenchman speak note a word of it.
Ely.
I'll wait upon you, and I long to hear it.
[Exeunt.
-- 496 --
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
The same. The Presence chamber. note
Enter King Henry, Gloucester note, Bedford, Exeter, Warwick, Westmoreland, and Attendants note.
K. Hen.
Where is my gracious Lord of Canterbury?
Exe.
Not here in presence.
K. Hen.
Send for him, good uncle.
West.
Shall we call in the ambassador, my liege?
K. Hen.
Not yet, my cousin: we would be resolved,
Before we hear him, of some things of weight
That task our thoughts, concerning us and France.
Enter note the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Ely.
Cant.
God and his angels guard your note sacred throne,
And make you long become it!
K. Hen.
Sure, we thank you.
My learned lord, we pray you to proceed
And justly and religiously unfold
Why the law Salique that they note have in France
Or should, or should not, bar us in our claim:
And God forbid, my dear and faithful lord,
That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your reading,
Or nicely charge your understanding soul
With opening titles miscreate, whose right
Suits not in native colours with the truth;
For God doth know how many now in health
Shall drop their blood in approbation
Of what your reverence shall incite us to.
Therefore take heed how you impawn our person note,
-- 497 --
How you awake our sleeping note sword of war:
We charge you, in the name of God, take heed;
For never two such kingdoms did contend
Without much fall of blood; whose guiltless note drops
Are every one a woe, a sore complaint
'Gainst him whose wrong gives note edge unto the swords
That make note such waste in brief mortality.
Under note this conjuration speak, my lord;
For note we will hear, note and believe in heart
That what you speak is in your conscience wash'd
As pure as sin with note baptism.
Cant.
Then hear me, gracious sovereign, and you peers,
That owe yourselves, your lives note and services
To this imperial throne. There is no bar
To make against your highness' claim to France
But this, which they produce from Pharamond,
‘In terram Salicam mulieres ne succedant note:’ note
‘No woman shall succeed in Salique land:’
Which Salique land the French unjustly gloze
To be the realm of France, and Pharamond
The founder of this law and female bar.
Yet their own authors faithfully affirm
That the land Salique is note in Germany,
Between the floods of Sala and of Elbe note;
Where Charles the Great, having subdued the Saxons,
There left behind and settled certain French;
Who, holding in disdain the German women
For some dishonest note manners of their life,
Establish'd then note this law; to wit, no female
-- 498 --
Should be inheritrix in Salique land:
Which Salique, as I said, 'twixt Elbe note and Sala,
Is at this day in Germany call'd Meisen.
Then note doth it well appear the Salique law
Was not devised for the realm of France;
Nor did the French possess the Salique land
Until four hundred one and twenty years
After defunction of King Pharamond,
Idly supposed the founder of this law;
Who died within the year of our redemption
Four hundred twenty-six; and Charles the Great
Subdued the Saxons, and did seat the French
Beyond the river Sala, in the year
Eight hundred five. Besides, their writers say,
King Pepin, which deposed Childeric,
Did, as heir general, being descended
Of Blithild, which was daughter to King note Clothair,
Make claim and title to the crown of France.
Hugh Capet also, who note usurp'd the crown
Of Charles the duke of Lorraine, sole heir male
Of the true line and stock of Charles the Great,
To find note his title with some shows note of truth,
Though note, in pure truth, it was corrupt and naught,
Convey'd himself as heir note to the Lady Lingare,
Daughter to Charlemain, who was the son
To Lewis the emperor, and Lewis note the son
Of Charles the Great. Also King Lewis the tenth note,
Who was sole heir to the usurper Capet,
Could not keep quiet in his conscience,
Wearing the crown of France, till satisfied
That fair Queen Isabel, his grandmother,
Was lineal of the Lady Ermengare,
-- 499 --
Daughter to Charles the foresaid note duke of Lorraine:
By the which marriage note the line of Charles the Great
Was re-united to the crown of France.
So that, as clear as is the summer's sun,
King Pepin's title and Hugh Capet's claim,
King Lewis his satisfaction note, all appear
To hold in right and title of the female:
So do the kings of France unto note this day;
Howbeit they would hold up this Salique law
To bar your highness claiming from the female,
And rather choose to hide them in a net
Than amply to imbar note note their crooked titles
Usurp'd from you and your progenitors.
K. Hen.
May I with right and conscience make this claim?
Cant.
The sin upon my head, dread sovereign!
For in the book of Numbers is it note writ,
When the man note dies, let the inheritance
Descend unto the daughter. Gracious lord,
Stand for your own; unwind your bloody flag;
Look back into note your mighty ancestors:
Go, my dread lord, to your great-grandsire's tomb note,
From whom you claim; invoke his warlike spirit,
And your great-uncle's note, Edward the Black Prince,
Who on the French ground play'd a tragedy,
Making defeat on the full power of France,
Whiles note his most mighty father on a hill
Stood smiling to behold his lion's whelp
Forage in note blood of French nobility.
-- 500 --
O noble English, that could entertain
With half their forces the full pride note of France
And let another half stand laughing by,
All out of work and cold for action note!
Ely.
Awake remembrance of these valiant dead
And with your puissant arm renew their feats:
You are their heir; you sit upon their throne;
The blood and courage that renowned them
Runs in your veins; and my thrice-puissant liege
Is in the very May-morn of his youth,
Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises.
Exe.
Your brother kings and monarchs of the earth
Do all expect that you should rouse yourself,
As did the former lions of your blood.
West.
They know your grace hath note cause and means and might; note
So hath note your highness; never king of England
Had nobles richer and more loyal subjects,
Whose hearts have left their bodies here in England
And lie pavilion'd in the fields note of France.
Cant.
O, let their bodies follow, my dear liege,
With blood note and sword and fire to win your right; note
In aid whereof we of the spiritualty note
Will raise your highness such a mighty sum
As never did the clergy at one time
Bring in to any of your ancestors.
K. Hen.
We must not only arm to invade the French,
But lay down our proportions to defend note
Against the Scot, who will make road upon us
With all advantages.
-- 501 --
Cant.
They of those marches, gracious sovereign note,
Shall be a wall sufficient to defend
Our inland from the pilfering borderers.
K. Hen.
We do not mean the coursing snatchers note only,
But fear the main intendment of the Scot,
Who hath been still a giddy note neighbour to us;
For you shall read that my great-grandfather
Never went with his forces note into France
But that the Scot on his unfurnish'd kingdom
Came pouring, like the tide into a breach,
With ample and brim fulness of his force,
Galling the gleaned land with hot assays note,
Girding with grievous siege castles and towns;
That England, being empty of defence,
Hath shook and trembled at the ill neighbourhood note.
Cant.
She hath been then more fear'd than harm'd, my liege;
For hear her but note exampled by herself:
When all her chivalry hath been in France
And she a mourning widow of her nobles,
She hath herself not only well defended
But taken and impounded as a stray
The King of Scots; whom she did send to France,
To fill King Edward's fame note with prisoner kings
And make her chronicle note as rich with praise note
As is the ooze and note bottom of the sea
With sunken wreck and sumless treasuries.
West. note
But there's a saying very old and true,
note
‘If that you will France win,
Then with Scotland first begin:’
-- 502 --
For once the eagle England being in prey,
To her unguarded nest the weasel Scot
Comes sneaking and so sucks her princely eggs,
Playing the mouse in absence of the cat,
To tear note and havoc more than she can eat.
Exe. note
It follows then the cat must stay at home:
Yet that is but a crush'd note necessity,
Since we have locks to safeguard necessaries,
And pretty traps to catch the petty note thieves.
While that the armed hand doth fight abroad,
The advised head defends itself at home;
For government, though note high and low and lower,
Put into parts, doth keep in one consent note,
Congreeing note in a full and natural close note,
Like music.
Cant.
Therefore note doth heaven divide
The state of man in divers functions,
Setting endeavour in continual motion;
To which is fixed, as an aim or butt,
Obedience: for so work the honey-bees,
Creatures that by a rule in note nature teach
The act note of order to a peopled kingdom.
They have a king and officers of sorts note;
Where some, like magistrates, correct at home,
Others, like merchants, venture note trade abroad,
Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings,
Make boot upon the summer's velvet buds note,
-- 503 --
Which pillage they with merry march bring home
To the tent-royal of their emperor;
Who, busied in his majesty note, surveys
The singing masons note building roofs of gold,
The civil citizens kneading note up the honey,
The poor mechanic porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate,
The sad-eyed justice, with his surly hum,
Delivering o'er to executors pale
The lazy yawning drone. I this infer,
That many things, having full reference
To one consent, may work contrariously:
As many arrows, loosed several ways,
Come note to one mark; as many ways note meet in one town note;
As many fresh streams meet in one salt note sea;
As many lines close in the dial's centre;
So may a thousand actions, once note afoot,
End note in one purpose, and be all well borne
Without defeat note. Therefore to France, my liege.
Divide your happy England into four;
Whereof take you one quarter into France,
And you withal shall make all Gallia shake.
If we, with thrice such powers left at home,
Cannot defend our own doors from the dog,
Let us be worried and our nation lose
The name of hardiness and policy.
note
K. Hen.
Call in the messengers sent from the Dauphin note.
[Exeunt some Attendants. note
Now are we well resolved; and, by God's help,
-- 504 --
And yours, the noble sinews of our power,
France being ours, we'll bend it to our awe,
Or break it all to pieces: or there note we'll sit,
Ruling in large and ample empery
O'er France and all her almost kingly dukedoms,
Or lay these bones in an unworthy urn,
Tombless, with no remembrance over them:
Either our history shall with full note mouth
Speak freely of our acts, or else our grave,
Like Turkish mute note, shall have a tongueless mouth,
Not worshipp'd with a waxen note epitaph.
Enter note Ambassadors of France.
note
Now are we well prepared to know the pleasure
Of our fair cousin Dauphin; for we hear
Your greeting is from him, not from the king.
First Amb. note
May't note please your majesty to give us leave
Freely to render what we have in charge;
Or shall we sparingly show you far off
The Dauphin's meaning and our embassy?
K. Hen.
We are no tyrant, but a Christian king;
Unto whose grace our passion is as subject
As are note our wretches fetter'd in our prisons:
Therefore with frank and with uncurbed plainness
Tell us the Dauphin's mind.
First Amb.
Thus, then note, in few.
Your highness, lately sending into France,
Did claim some certain dukedoms, in the right
Of your great predecessor, King Edward the third note.
In answer of which claim, the prince our master
Says that you savour too much of your youth,
-- 505 --
And bids you be advised there's note nought in France
That can be with a nimble galliard won;
You cannot revel into dukedoms there.
He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit,
This tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this,
Desires you let the dukedoms that you claim
Hear no more of you. This note the Dauphin speaks.
K. Hen.
What treasure, uncle?
Exe.
Tennis-balls, my liege.
K. Hen.
We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us;
His present and your pains we thank you for:
When we have match'd our rackets to these balls,
We will, in France, by God's grace, play a set
Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard.
Tell him he hath note made a match with such a wrangler
That all the courts of France will be disturb'd
With chaces. And we understand him well,
How he comes o'er us with our wilder days,
Not measuring what use we made of them.
We never valued this poor seat of England;
And therefore, living hence note, did give ourself
To barbarous license; as 'tis ever common
That men are merriest when they are from home.
But tell the Dauphin I will keep my state,
Be like a king and show my sail note of greatness
When I do rouse me in my throne of France:
For that note I have laid by my majesty
And plodded like a man for working-days,
But I will rise there with so full a glory
That I will dazzle all the eyes of France,
Yea, strike the Dauphin blind to look on us.
And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his
Hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones; and his soul
-- 506 --
Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance
That shall fly with them: for many a note thousand widows
Shall this his mock mock out of their dear husbands;
Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down;
And some are yet note ungotten and unborn
That shall have cause to curse the Dauphin's scorn.
But this lies all within the will of God,
To whom I do appeal; and in whose name
Tell you the Dauphin I am coming on,
To venge me as I may and to put forth
My rightful hand in a well-hallow'd cause.
So get you hence in peace; and tell the Dauphin
His jest will savour but of shallow wit,
When thousands weep more note than did laugh at it.
Convey them with safe conduct. Fare you note well.
[Exeunt Ambassadors.
Exe.
This was a merry message.
note
K. Hen.
We hope to make the sender blush at it.
Therefore, my lords, omit no happy hour
That may give furtherance to our expedition;
For we have now no thought note in us but France,
Save those to God, that run before our business.
Therefore let our proportions for these wars
Be soon collected and all things note thought upon
That may with reasonable note swiftness add
More feathers to our wings; for, God before,
We'll chide this Dauphin at his father's door.
Therefore let every man now task his thought,
That this fair action may on foot be brought.
[Exeunt. Flourish. note
-- 507 --
ACT II.
note
PROLOGUE. [Footnote:
Enter Chorus.
note
Chor.
Now all the youth of England are on fire,
And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies:
Now thrive note the armorers, and honour's thought
Reigns solely in the breast of every man:
They sell the pasture now to buy the horse,
Following the mirror of all Christian kings,
With winged heels, as English Mercuries.
For now sits Expectation in the air,
And hides a sword from hilts unto the point
With crowns imperial, crowns and coronets,
Promised to Harry and his followers.
The French, advised by good intelligence
Of this most dreadful preparation,
Shake in their fear and with pale policy
Seek to divert the English purposes.
O England! model to thy inward greatness,
Like little body with a mighty heart,
What mightst thou do, that honour would thee do,
Were all thy children kind and natural!
But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out
A nest note of hollow bosoms, which he note fills
With treacherous crowns; and three corrupted men,
One, Richard Earl of Cambridge, and the second,
Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,
Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland,
Have, for the gilt of France,—O guilt indeed!—
-- 508 --
Confirm'd conspiracy with fearful France;
And by their hands this grace of kings must die,
If hell and treason hold their promises,
Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton. note
Linger your patience on; and we'll note digest
The abuse of distance; force note note a play note:
The sum is paid; the traitors are agreed; note
The king is set from London; and the scene
Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton note;
There is the playhouse now, there must you sit:
And thence to France shall we convey you safe,
And bring you back, charming the narrow seas
To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,
We'll not offend one stomach with our play.
But, till the king come note forth, and not note note till then,
Unto Southampton do we shift our scene.
[Exit.
note
Scene I. [Footnote:
London note. A street.
Enter Corporal Nym and Lieutenant Bardolph.
Bard.
Well met, Corporal Nym.
Nym.
Good morrow, Lieutenant Bardolph.
Bard.
What, are Ancient Pistol and you friends yet?
Nym.
For my part, I care not: I say little; but when
-- 509 --
time shall serve, there shall be smiles note; but that shall be as
it may. I dare not fight; but I will wink and hold out
mine iron: it is a simple one; but what though? it will
toast cheese, and it will endure cold as another man's
sword will: and there's an end note.
Bard.
I will bestow a breakfast to make you friends;
and we'll be all three sworn brothers to note France: let it note be
so, good Corporal Nym.
Nym.
Faith, I will live so long as I may, that's the
certain of it; and when I cannot live any longer, I will
do note as I may: that is my rest, that is the rendezvous note
of it.
Bard.
It is certain, corporal, that he is married to Nell
Quickly: and, certainly, she did you wrong; for you were
troth-plight to her.
Nym.
I cannot tell: things must be as they may: men
may sleep, and they may have their throats note about them at
that time; and some say knives have edges. It must be
as it may: though patience be a tired mare note, yet she will
plod. There must be conclusions. Well, I cannot tell.
Enter Pistol and Hostess. note
Bard.
Here comes Ancient Pistol and his wife: good
corporal, be patient here. How now, mine host Pistol!
Pist.
Base tike note, call'st thou me host?
Now, by this hand, I swear, I scorn the term;
Nor shall my Nell keep lodgers. note
Host.
No, by my troth, not long; for we cannot lodge
and board a dozen or fourteen gentlewomen that live
honestly by the prick of their needles, but it will be thought
-- 510 --
we keep a bawdy house straight. [Nym and Pistol draw. note]
O well a day, Lady note, if he be not drawn now! note we shall see
wilful adultery and murder committed.
Bard. note
Good lieutenant! good corporal! offer nothing
here.
Nym.
Pish! note
Pist.
Pish for thee, Iceland note dog! thou prick-ear'd cur of Iceland!
Host.
Good Corporal Nym, show thy valour note, and put
up your sword.
note
Nym.
Will you shog off note? I would have you solus.
Pist.
‘Solus,’ egregious dog? O viper vile!
The ‘solus’ in thy most mervailous note face;
The ‘solus’ in thy teeth, and in thy throat,
And in thy hateful lungs, yea, in thy maw, perdy,
And, which is worse, within thy nasty note mouth!
I do retort the ‘solus’ in thy bowels;
For I can take note, and Pistol's cock is up,
And flashing fire will follow note.
Nym.
I am not Barbason; you cannot conjure me. I
have an humour to knock you indifferently well. If you
grow foul with me, Pistol, I will scour you with my rapier,
as I may, in fair terms: if you would walk off, I would
prick your guts a little, in good terms, as I may: and
that's the humour of it.
Pist.
O braggart vile and damned furious wight!
-- 511 --
The grave doth gape, and doting note death is near;
note
Therefore exhale.
Bard.
Hear me, hear me what I say: he that strikes the
first stroke, I'll run him up to the hilts, as I am a soldier.
[Draws. note
Pist.
An oath of mickle might; and fury shall abate.
Give me thy fist, thy fore-foot to me give:
Thy spirits are most note tall note.
Nym.
I will cut thy throat, one time or other, in fair
terms: that is the humour of it.
Pist.
‘Couple a note gorge!’
That is the word. I thee defy note again.
O hound of Crete, think'st thou my spouse to get?
No; to the spital go,
And from the powdering-tub of infamy
Fetch forth the lazar kite of Cressid's kind,
Doll Tearsheet she by name, and her espouse:
I have, and I will hold, the quondam Quickly
For the only she; and—pauca, there's enough.
Go to note. note
Enter the Boy.
Boy.
Mine host Pistol, you note must come to my master,
and you, hostess: he is very sick, and would to bed.
Good Bardolph, put thy face note between his sheets, and do
the office of a warming-pan. Faith, he's very ill.
Bard.
Away, you rogue!
Host.
By my troth, he'll yield the crow a pudding one
of these days. The king has killed his heart. Good husband,
come home presently.
[Exeunt note Hostess and Boy.
-- 512 --
Bard.
Come, shall I make you two friends? We must
to France together: why the devil should we keep knives
to cut one another's throats?
Pist.
Let floods o'erswell, and fiends for food howl on!
Nym.
You'll pay me the eight shillings I won of you
at betting?
Pist.
Base is the slave that pays.
Nym.
That now I will have: that's the humour of it.
Pist.
As manhood shall compound: push home.
[They draw. note
Bard.
By this sword, he that makes the first thrust,
I'll kill him; by this sword, I will.
Pist.
Sword is an oath, and oaths must have their course.
Bard.
Corporal Nym, an note thou wilt be friends, be
friends: an thou wilt not, why, then, be enemies with me
too. Prithee, put up.
Nym. note
I shall have my eight shillings I won of you at
betting?
Pist.
A noble shalt thou have, and present pay;
And liquor likewise will I give to thee,
And friendship shall combine, and note brotherhood:
I'll live by Nym, and Nym shall live by me;
Is not this just? for I shall sutler be
Unto the camp, and profits will accrue.
Give me thy hand. note
Nym.
I shall have my noble?
Pist.
In cash most justly paid.
Nym.
Well, then, that's note the humuor of't note.
Re-enter note Hostess.
Host.
As ever you came note of women, come in quickly to
-- 513 --
Sir John. Ah note, poor heart! he is so shaked of a burning
quotidian tertian, that it is most lamentable to behold.
Sweet men, come to him.
Nym.
The king hath run bad humours on the knight;
that's the even of it.
note
Pist.
Nym, thou hast spoke the right;
His heart is fracted and corroborate.
Nym.
The king is a good king: but it must be as it
may; he passes some humours and careers.
Pist.
Let us condole the knight; for, lambkins we note will live.
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
Southampton. note A council-chamber. note
Enter Exeter, Bedford, and Westmoreland.
Bed.
'Fore God, his grace is bold, to trust these traitors.
Exe.
They shall be apprehended by and by.
West.
How smooth and even they do bear themselves!
As if allegiance in their bosoms sat,
Crowned with faith and constant loyalty.
Bed.
The king hath note of all that they intend,
By interception which they dream not of.
Exe.
Nay, but the man that was his bedfellow,
Whom he hath dull'd note and cloy'd note with gracious favours,
That he should, for a foreign purse, so sell
His sovereign's life to death and treachery. note
Trumpets sound. note Enter King Henry note, Scroop, Cambridge, Grey, and Attendants. note
K. Hen.
Now sits the wind fair, and we will aboard.
-- 514 --
My Lord of Cambridge, and my kind note Lord of Masham,
And you, my gentle knight, give me your thoughts:
Think you not that the powers we bear with us
Will cut their passage through the force of France,
Doing the execution and the act
For which we have in head note assembled them?
Scroop.
No doubt, my liege, if each man do his best.
K. Hen.
I doubt not that; since we are well persuaded
We carry not a heart with us from hence
That grows not in a fair consent note with ours,
Nor note leave not one behind that doth not wish
Success and conquest to attend on us.
Cam.
Never was monarch note better fear'd and loved
Than is your majesty: there's not, I think note, a subject
That sits in heart-grief and uneasiness
Under the sweet shade of your government.
Grey. note
True: those note that were your father's enemies
Have steep'd their galls in honey and do serve note you
With hearts create of duty and of zeal.
K. Hen.
We therefore have great cause of thankfulness;
And shall forget the office of our hand,
Sooner than quittance of desert and merit
According to the weight note and worthiness.
Scroop.
So service shall with steeled sinews toil,
And labour shall refresh itself with hope,
To do your grace incessant services.
K. Hen.
We judge no less. Uncle of Exeter,
Enlarge the man committed yesterday,
That rail'd against our person: we consider
It was excess of wine that set him on;
And on his note more advice we pardon him.
Scroop.
That's mercy, but too much security:
Let him be punish'd, sovereign, lest example
-- 515 --
Breed, by his sufferance, more of such a kind.
K. Hen.
O, let us yet be merciful note.
Cam.
So may your highness, and yet punish too.
Grey.
Sir,
You note show great mercy, if you give him life,
After the taste of much correction.
K. Hen.
Alas, your too much love and care of me
Are heavy orisons 'gainst this poor wretch!
If little faults, proceeding on distemper,
Shall not be wink'd at, how shall we stretch our eye
When capital crimes, chew'd, swallow'd and digested,
Appear before us? We'll yet note enlarge that man,
Though Cambridge, Scroop and Grey, in their dear care
And tender preservation of our person,
Would have him punish'd. And note now to our French causes:
Who are the late note commissioners?
Cam.
I one, my lord:
Your highness bade me ask for it to-day.
Scroop.
So did you me, my liege.
Grey.
And I note, my royal note sovereign.
K. Hen.
Then, Richard Earl of Cambridge, there is yours;
There yours, Lord note Scroop of Masham; and, sir knight,
Grey of Northumberland, this same is yours:
Read them; and know, I know your worthiness.
My Lord of Westmoreland, and uncle Exeter,
We will aboard to night. Why, how now, gentlemen!
What see you in those papers that you lose
So much complexion? Look ye, how they change!
Their cheeks are paper. Why, what read you there,
That hath note so cowarded and chased your blood
Out of appearance?
Cam.
I do confess note my fault;
-- 516 --
And do submit me to your highness' mercy.
Grey. Scroop.
To which we all appeal.
K. Hen.
The mercy that was quick in us but late,
By your own counsel is suppress'd and kill'd:
You must not dare, for shame, to talk of mercy;
For your own reasons turn into note your bosoms,
As dogs upon their masters, worrying you note.
See you, my princes and my noble peers,
These English monsters! My Lord of note Cambridge here,
You know how apt our love was to accord
To furnish him note with all appertinents
Belonging to his honour; and this man
Hath, for a few light crowns, lightly conspired,
And sworn unto the practices of France,
To kill us here in Hampton: to the which
This knight, no less for bounty bound to us
Than Cambridge is, hath likewise sworn. But, O,
What shall I say to thee, Lord Scroop? thou cruel,
Ingrateful, savage and inhuman creature!
Thou that didst bear the key of all my counsels,
That knew'st the very bottom of my soul,
That almost mightst have coin'd me into gold,
Wouldst thou have practised on me for thy use,
May it be possible, that foreign hire
Could out of thee extract one spark of evil
That might annoy my finger? 'tis so strange,
That, though the truth of it stands note off as gross
As black and white note, my eye will scarcely see it.
Treason and murder ever kept together,
As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose,
Working so grossly note in a natural note cause note,
That admiration did not whoop note at them:
-- 517 --
But thou, 'gainst all proportion, didst bring in
Wonder to wait on treason and on note murder:
And whatsoever cunning fiend it was
That wrought upon thee note so preposterously
Hath note got the voice in hell for excellence:
All note other devils that suggest by treasons note
Do botch and bungle up damnation
With patches, colours, and with forms being note fetch'd
From glistering semblances of piety;
But he that temper'd note thee bade thee stand up,
Gave thee no instance why thou shouldst do treason,
Unless to dub thee with the name of traitor.
If that same demon that hath gull'd thee thus
Should with his lion gait note walk the whole world,
He might return to vasty Tartar back,
And tell the legions ‘I can never win
A soul so easy as that Englishman's.’
O, how hast thou with jealousy infected
The sweetness of affiance! Show men dutiful?
Why, so didst thou: seem note they grave and learned?
Why, so didst thou: come they of noble family?
Why, so didst thou: seem they religious?
Why, so didst thou: or are they spare in diet,
Free from gross passion or of mirth or anger,
Constant in spirit, not note swerving with the blood,
Garnish'd and deck'd in modest complement note,
Not working with the eye without the ear note,
And but in purged judgement trusting neither?
Such and so finely bolted didst thou seem:
And thus thy fall hath left a kind of blot,
-- 518 --
To mark the full-fraught man and best indued
With note some suspicion. I note will weep for thee;
For this revolt of thine, methinks, is like
Another fall of man. Their faults are open:
Arrest them to the answer of the law;
And God acquit them of their practices!
Exe.
I arrest thee of high treason, by the name of
Richard Earl of Cambridge.
I arrest thee of high treason, by the name of Henry note
Lord Scroop of Masham.
I arrest thee of high treason, by the name of Thomas
Grey, knight, of note Northumberland.
Scroop.
Our purposes God justly hath discover'd;
And I repent my fault more than my death;
Which I beseech your highness to forgive,
Although my body pay the price of it.
Cam.
For me, the gold of France did not seduce note;
Although I did admit it as a motive
The sooner to effect what I intended:
But God be thanked for prevention;
Which I note in sufferance heartily will rejoice note,
Beseeching God and you to pardon me.
Grey.
Never did faithful subject more rejoice
At the discovery of most dangerous treason
Than I do at this hour joy o'er myself,
Prevented from a damned enterprise:
My fault, but not my body, pardon, sovereign.
K. Hen.
God quit you in his mercy! Hear your sentence.
-- 519 --
You have conspired against our royal person,
Join'd with an enemy proclaim'd note and from his coffers
Received the golden earnest of our death;
Wherein you would have sold your king to slaughter,
His princes and his peers to servitude,
His subjects to oppression and contempt
And his whole kingdom into note desolation.
Touching our person seek we no revenge;
But we our kingdom's safety must so tender,
Whose ruin you have note sought, that to her laws
We do deliver you. Get you note therefore hence,
Poor miserable wretches, to your death:
The taste whereof, God of his mercy give
You patience to endure, and true repentance
Of all your dear offences! Bear them hence.
[Exeunt note Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey, guarded.
Now, lords, for France; the enterprise whereof
Shall be to you, as us, like glorious.
We doubt not of a fair and lucky war, note
Since God so graciously hath brought to light
This dangerous treason lurking in our way note
To hinder our beginnings. We note doubt not now note
But every rub is smoothed on note our way.
Then forth, dear countrymen: let us deliver
Our puissance into the hand of God,
Putting it straight in expedition.
Cheerly to sea; note the signs of war advance:
No king of England, if not king of France,
[Exeunt.
-- 520 --
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
London. Before a Tavern. note
Enter Pistol, Hostess, Nym, Bardolph, and Boy.
Host.
Prithee, honey-sweet note husband, let me bring thee
to Staines.
Pist.
No; for my manly heart doth yearn note.
Bardolph, be blithe: Nym, rouse thy vaunting veins:
note
Boy note, bristle thy courage up; for Falstaff he is dead,
And we must yearn note therefore note.
Bard.
Would I were with him, wheresome'er he is,
either in heaven or in hell note!
Host.
Nay, sure, he's not in hell note: he's in Arthur's bosom,
if ever man went to Arthur's bosom. A' made a
finer note end and went away an it note had been any christom note
child; a' parted even just note between twelve and one, even at
the note turning o' note the tide: for after I saw him fumble with
the sheets and play with note flowers and smile upon his
fingers' ends note, I knew there was but one way; for his nose
was as sharp as a pen, and a' babbled of green fields. note
-- 521 --
‘How now, Sir John!’ quoth I: ‘what, man! be o' good note
cheer.’ So a' cried out ‘God, God, God!’ three or four
times. Now I, to comfort him, bid him a' should not
think of God; I hoped there was no need to trouble himself
with any such thoughts yet. So a' bade me lay more
clothes on his feet: I put my hand into the bed and felt
them, and they were as cold as any note stone; then I felt to
his knees, and they were as cold as any stone, and so note
upward and upward note, and all was as cold as any stone.
Nym.
They say he cried out of note sack.
Host.
Ay, that a' did.
Bard. note
And of women.
Host.
Nay, that a' did not.
Boy.
Yes, that a' did; and said they were devils note
incarnate.
Host. note
A' could never abide carnation; 'twas a colour
he never liked.
Boy.
A' said once, the devil note would have him about
women.
Host.
A' did in some sort, indeed, handle women; but
then he was rheumatic, and talked of the whore of Babylon.
Boy.
Do you not remember, a' saw a flea stick upon
Bardolph's nose, and a' said it was a black soul burning in
hell-fire note?
Bard.
Well, the fuel is gone that maintained that fire:
that's all the riches I got in his service.
Nym.
Shall we shog? the king will be gone from
Southampton.
-- 522 --
Pist.
Come, let's away. My love, give me thy lips.
Look to my chattels and my movables:
Let senses rule note; the word note is ‘Pitch note and Pay:’
Trust none;
For oaths are straws, men's faiths are wafer-cakes,
And hold-fast is the only dog, my duck:
Therefore, Caveto note be thy counsellor.
Go, clear thy crystals. Yoke-fellows note in arms,
Let us to France; like horse-leeches, my boys,
To suck, to suck, the very blood to suck! note
Boy.
And that's note but unwholesome food, they say.
Pist.
Touch her soft mouth, and march.
Bard.
Farewell, hostess.
[Kissing her. note
Nym.
I cannot kiss, that is the humour of it; but, adieu.
Pist.
Let housewifery appear: keep close, I thee command.
Host.
Farewell; adieu.
[Exeunt.
note
Scene IV. [Footnote:
France. note The King's Palace.
Flourish. note Enter note the French King, the Dauphin note, the Dukes of Berri and Bretagne, the Constable, and others.
Fr. King.
Thus comes note the English with full power upon us;
And more than carefully note it us concerns
-- 523 --
To answer royally in our defences.
Therefore the Dukes of Berri and of Bretagne,
Of Brabant and of Orleans note, shall make forth,
And you, Prince Dauphin, with all swift dispatch,
To line and new repair our towns of war
With men of courage and with means defendant;
For England his approaches makes as fierce
As waters to the sucking of a gulf.
It fits us then to be as provident
As fear may teach us out of late examples
Left by the fatal and note neglected English
Upon our fields.
Dau.
My most redoubted father,
It is most meet we arm us 'gainst the foe;
For peace itself should not so dull a kingdom,
Though war nor no known quarrel were in question,
But that defences, musters, preparations,
Should be maintain'd, assembled and collected,
As were a war in expectation.
Therefore, I say 'tis meet we all go forth
To view the sick and feeble parts of France:
And note let us do it with no show of fear;
No, with no more than if we heard that England
Were busied with a Whitsun morris-dance:
For, my good liege, she is so idly king'd,
Her sceptre so fantastically borne
By a vain, giddy, shallow, humorous note youth,
That fear attends her not.
Con.
O peace, Prince Dauphin!
You are too much mistaken in this king:
Question your grace the late ambassadors,
With what great state he heard their embassy,
How well supplied with noble counsellors,
How modest in exception, and withal
How terrible in constant resolution,
-- 524 --
And you shall find his vanities forespent
Were but the outside of the Roman Brutus,
Covering discretion with a coat of folly;
As gardeners do with ordure hide those roots
That shall first spring and be most delicate.
Dau.
Well, 'tis not so, my lord high constable;
But though we think it note so, it is no matter:
In cases note of defence 'tis best to weigh
The enemy more mighty than he seems:
So the proportions of defence are fill'd;
Which of note a weak and niggardly projection note
Doth, like a miser, spoil his coat with scanting
A little cloth.
Fr. King.
Think we King Harry strong;
And, princes, look you strongly arm to meet him.
The kindred of him hath been flesh'd upon us;
And he is bred out of that bloody strain
That haunted note us in our familiar paths:
Witness our too much memorable shame
When Cressy battle fatally was struck,
And all our princes captived by the hand
Of that black name, Edward, Black Prince of Wales;
Whiles note that his mountain note sire, on mountain standing,
Up in the air, crown'd with the golden sun note,
Saw his heroical note seed, and smiled to see him,
Mangle the work of nature and deface
The patterns that by God and by French fathers
Had twenty years been made. This is a stem
Of that victorious stock; and let us fear
The native mightiness and fate note of him.
-- 525 --
Enter a Messenger.
Mess.
Ambassadors from Harry note King of England
Do crave admittance to your majesty.
Fr. King.
We'll give them present audience. Go, and bring them.
[Exeunt note Messenger and certain Lords.
You see this chase is hotly follow'd, friends.
Dau.
Turn head, and stop pursuit; for coward dogs
Most spend their mouths when what they seem to threaten
Runs far note before them. Good my sovereign,
Take up the English note short, and let them know
Of what a monarchy you are the head:
Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin
As self-neglecting.
noteRe-enter note Lords, with Exeter and train.
Fr. King.
From our brother England note?
Exe.
From him; and thus he greets your majesty.
He wills you, in the name of God Almighty,
That you divest yourself, and lay apart
The borrow'd glories that by gift of heaven,
By law of nature and of nations, 'long note
To him and to his heirs; namely, the crown
And all wide-stretched honours that pertain
By custom and the ordinance of times
Unto the crown of France. That you may know
'Tis no sinister nor no awkward claim,
Pick'd from the worm-holes of long-vanish'd days,
Nor from the dust of old oblivion raked,
He sends you this most memorable line note,
-- 526 --
note
In every branch truly demonstrative;
Willing you overlook this note pedigree:
And when you find him evenly derived
From his most famed of famous ancestors,
Edward the third, he bids you then resign
Your crown and kingdom, indirectly held
From him the native and true challenger.
Fr. King.
Or else what follows?
Exe.
Bloody constraint; for if you hide the crown
Even in your hearts, there will he rake for it:
Therefore in fierce note tempest is he coming,
In thunder and in earthquake, like a Jove,
That, if requiring fail, he will note compel;
And bids note you, in the bowels of the Lord,
Deliver up the crown, and to take mercy
On the poor souls for whom this hungry war
Opens his vasty jaws; and on note your head
Turning note the widows' tears, the orphans' cries,
The dead men's blood, the pining note maidens' groans note,
For husbands, fathers and betrothed lovers,
That shall be swallow'd in this controversy.
This is his claim, his threatening and my message;
Unless the Dauphin be in presence here,
To whom expressly I bring greeting too note.
Fr. King.
For us, we will consider of this further:
To-morrow shall you bear our full intent
Back to our brother England note.
Dau.
For the Dauphin,
I stand here for him: what to him from England?
-- 527 --
Exe.
Scorn and defiance; slight regard, contempt,
And any thing that may not misbecome
The mighty sender, doth he prize you at.
Thus says my king; an if note your father's highness
Do not, in grant of all demands at large,
Sweeten the bitter mock you sent his majesty,
He'll call you to so hot note an answer of it note,
That caves and womby vaultages of France
Shall chide note your trespass and return your mock
In second accent of note his ordnance note.
Dau.
Say, if my father render note fair return note,
It is against my will; for I desire
note
Nothing but odds with England: to that end,
As matching to his youth and vanity,
I did present him with the note Paris balls.
Exe.
He'll make your Paris Louvre note shake for it,
Were it the mistress-court of mighty Europe:
And, be assured, you'll find a difference,
As we his subjects have in wonder found,
Between the promise of his greener days
And these he masters note now: now he weighs time
Even to the utmost grain: that note you shall read
In your own losses, if he note stay in France.
Fr. King.
To-morrow shall you note know our mind at full.
Exe.
Dispatch us with all speed, lest that our king
Come here himself to question our delay;
For he is footed in this land already.
Fr. King.
You shall be soon dispatch'd with fair conditions:
-- 528 --
A night is but small breath note and little pause
To answer matters of this consequence.
[Flourish. note Exeunt.
ACT III.
note
PROLOGUE. [Footnote:
Enter Chorus. note
Chor.
Thus with imagined wing our swift scene flies
In motion of no less celerity
Than that of thought note. Suppose that you have seen
The well-appointed king at Hampton note pier
Embark his royalty; and his brave fleet
With silken streamers the young Phœbus fanning note:
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,
Borne note with the invisible and creeping wind,
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;
For so appears this fleet majestical,
Holding due course to Harfleur note. Follow, follow:
Grapple your minds to sternage note of this navy,
And leave your England, as dead midnight still,
Guarded with grandsires, babies and old women,
-- 529 --
Either note past or not arrived to pith note and puissance;
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;
Behold the ordnance note on their carriages,
With fatal mouths gaping on girded Harfleur.
Suppose the ambassador from the French note comes back;
Tells Harry that the king doth offer him
Katharine his daughter, and with her, to dowry,
Some petty and unprofitable dukedoms.
The offer likes not: and the nimble gunner
With linstock now the devilish cannon touches,
[Alarum note, and chambers note go off.
And down goes all before them note. Still be kind,
And eke note out our performance with your mind.
[Exit.
note
Scene I. [Footnote:
France. Before Harfleur.
Alarum. Enter King Henry, Exeter, Bedford, Gloucester, and Soldiers, with scaling-ladders. note
note
K. Hen.
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more note; note
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility:
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
-- 530 --
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon note up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;
Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;
Let it pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon; let note the brow o'erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a galled rock
O'erhang note and jutty his confounded base,
Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril note wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on note, you noblest note English,
Whose blood is fet note from fathers of war-proof!
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought
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 note of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war. And you, good yeomen,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle note of your pasture; let us swear
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.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining note upon the start. The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry ‘God for Harry, England, note and Saint George!’
[Exeunt. note Alarum, and chambers note go off.
-- 531 --
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
The same.
Enter note Nym, Bardolph, Pistol, and Boy.
Bard.
On, on, on, on, on! to the breach, to the breach!
Nym.
Pray thee, corporal note, stay: the knocks are too
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 abound:
Knocks go and come; God's vassals drop and die note;
And sword and shield,
In bloody field,
Doth note win immortal fame. note
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 note with me,
My purpose should not fail with me note,
But thither would I hie note.
Boy.
As note duly, but not as truly,
As bird doth sing on bough note.
-- 532 --
Enter Fluellen. note
Flu.
Up to the breach note, you dogs! avaunt, you cullions note!
[Driving them forward. note
Pist.
Be merciful, great duke, to men of mould.
Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage,
Abate thy rage, great duke! note
Good bawcock, bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck! note
Nym.
These be good humours! your honour wins note bad
humours. note
[Exeunt note all but Boy.
Boy.
As young as I am, I have observed these three
swashers. I am boy to them all three: but all they three note,
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
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
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.
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 handkerchers:
which makes much against my manhood, if I
-- 533 --
should note take from another's pocket to put into mine; for note it
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 note Fluellen, Gower following.
Gow.
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 is not according
to the disciplines of the war note: the concavities of it
is not sufficient; for, look you, th' athversary, you may discuss
unto the duke, look you, is digt note himself four yard note
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
very valiant gentleman, i' faith.
Flu. note
It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
Gow.
I think it be.
Flu.
By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in note the world: I will
verify as much in his beard: he has no more directions in
the true disciplines of the wars, look you, of the Roman
disciplines, than is a puppy-dog.
Enter note Macmorris and Captain Jamy.
Gow.
Here a' comes; and the Scots captain, Captain
Jamy, with him.
Flu.
Captain Jamy is a marvellous falorous note gentleman,
that is certain; and of great expedition and knowledge in
-- 534 --
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.
Jamy. note
I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen.
Flu.
God-den to your worship, good Captain James note.
Gow.
How now note, Captain Macmorris! have you quit
the mines? have the pioners note given o'er?
Mac. note
By Chrish, la! tish ill done: the work ish give
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!
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 note, 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 vary gud, gud feith, gud captains
bath: and I sall quit you with gud leve, as I may pick
occasion; that sall I, marry.
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 note: it is no note time to discourse. The town is beseeched,
and the trumpet call us to the breach; and we
talk, and, be 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
-- 535 --
to slomber, ay'll de gud service, or ay'll lig i' the
grund for it; ay, or go to death; and ay'll note pay 't as valorously
as I may, that sall I suerly do, that is note the breff and
the long. Marry, I wad full fain hear note some question 'tween
you tway.
Flu.
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your
correction, there is not many of your nation— note
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? note
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 war, 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.
Gow.
Gentlemen both, you will note mistake each other.
Jamy.
A! note that's a foul fault.
[A parley sounded. note
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 note; and there is note
an end.
Exeunt. note
-- 536 --
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
The same note. Before the gates.
The Governor and some Citizens on the walls; the English forces below. Enter King Henry and his train.
K. Hen.
How yet resolves the governor of the town?
This is the latest parle we will note admit:
Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves;
Or like to men proud of destruction
Defy us to our worst note: for, as I am note a soldier,
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,
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 note infants.
What is it then to me, if impious war,
Array'd in flames note like to the prince of fiends,
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
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
-- 537 --
Upon the enraged soldiers in their spoil
As send precepts note to the leviathan
To come ashore note. Therefore, you men of Harfleur,
Take pity of your town and of your people,
Whiles note yet my soldiers are in my command;
Whiles note yet the cool and temperate wind of grace
O'erblows note the filthy and contagious clouds
Of heady note murder, spoil and villany.
If not, why, in a moment look to see
The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand
Defile note the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters;
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
At Herod's bloody-hunting slaughtermen.
What say you? will you yield, and this avoid,
note
Or, guilty in defence, be thus destroy'd?
Gov.
Our expectation hath this day an end:
The Dauphin, whom of succours note we entreated,
Returns us that note his powers are yet not note ready
To raise so great note a siege. Therefore, great king,
We yield our town and lives to thy soft mercy.
Enter our gates; dispose of us and ours;
For we no longer are defensible.
K. Hen.
Open your gates. Come, uncle Exeter,
note
Go you and enter Harfleur; there remain,
And fortify it strongly 'gainst the French:
-- 538 --
Use mercy to them all. For us, dear note uncle, note
The winter coming on and sickness growing
Upon our soldiers, we will note retire to Calais.
To-night in Harfleur we will be your guest;
To-morrow for the march are we note addrest.
[Flourish note. The King and his train enter the town.
note
Scene IV. [Footnote:
The French King's Palace. note
Enter Katharine and Alice. note
Kath.
Alice, tu as été en Angleterre, et tu parles bien note
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?
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.
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:
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.
-- 539 --
Kath.
Et le coude?
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,
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.
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.
Kath.
Je ne doute point d'apprendre, par la grace de
Dieu, et en peu de temps.
Alice.
N'avez vous pas déjà note oublié ce que je vous ai
enseigné?
Kath.
Non, je reciterai à vous promptement: de hand,
de fingres, de mails note,—
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. 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
ces mots devant les seigneurs de France pour tout le monde.
Foh! note le foot et le coun! Néanmoins, je reciterai une autre
fois ma leçon ensemble: de hand, de fingres, de nails, de
arm, de elbow, de nick, de sin, de foot, de coun.
-- 540 --
Alice.
Excellent, madame!
Kath.
C'est assez pour une fois: allons-nous à dîner.
[Exeunt. note
note
Scene V. [Footnote:
The same.
Enter the King of France, the Dauphin, the Duke of Bourbon note, the Constable of France, and others.
Fr. King.
'Tis certain he hath pass'd the river Somme.
Con.
And if note he be not fought withal, my lord,
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,
The emptying of our fathers' luxury note,
Our scions, put in wild and savage stock note,
Spirt note up so suddenly into the clouds,
And overlook note their grafters?
Bour. note
Normans, but bastard Normans, Norman bastards!
Mort de note ma vie! if note they march along
Unfought withal, but I will sell my dukedom,
To buy a slobbery note and a dirty farm
In that nook-shotten note isle of Albion.
Con.
Dieu de batailles! where note have they this mettle?
Is not their climate foggy, raw and dull,
On whom, as in despite note, the sun looks pale,
Killing their fruit with frowns? Can sodden water,
A drench for sur-rein'd jades, their barley-broth,
-- 541 --
Decoct their cold blood to such valiant heat?
And shall our quick blood, spirited with wine,
Seem frosty? O, for honour of our land,
Let us not hang like roping note icicles
Upon our note houses' thatch note, whiles a note more frosty people
Sweat drops of gallant youth note in our rich fields!—
Poor we may call note them in their native lords.
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
To new-store France with bastard warriors.
Bour. note
They bid us to the English dancing-schools,
And teach lavoltas high and swift corantos note;
Saying our grace is only in our heels,
And that we are most lofty runaways.
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 note sharper than your swords, hie to the field:
Charles Delabreth note, high constable of France;
You Dukes of Orleans, Bourbon, and of Berri,
Alençon, Brabant, Bar, and Burgundy;
Jaques Chatillon, Rambures, Vaudemont,
Beaumont, Grandpré note, Roussi, and Fauconberg note,
Foix note, Lestrale, Bouciqualt, and Charolois;
High dukes, great princes, barons, lords note and knights note,
-- 542 --
For your great seats note now quit you of great shames.
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
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 note
Bring him our prisoner.
Con.
This becomes the great.
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 note achievement offer us his ransom note.
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 note.
Dau.
Not so, I do beseech your majesty.
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.
note
Scene VI. [Footnote:
The English camp in Picardy. note
Enter Gower and Fluellen, meeting. note
Gow.
How now, Captain Fluellen! come you from the
bridge?
-- 543 --
Flu.
I assure you, there is very excellent services note
committed at the bridge.
Gow.
Is the Duke of Exeter safe?
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 note, and my living note,
and my uttermost power note: he is not—God be praised and
blessed!—any hurt in the world; but keeps note the bridge most
valiantly, with excellent discipline. There is an aunchient
lieutenant there note at the pridge, I think in my very conscience
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. note
Gow.
What do you call him?
Flu.
He is called Aunchient Pistol.
Gow.
I know him not.
Enter Pistol.
Flu.
Here is note the man.
note
Pist.
Captain, I thee beseech to do me favours:
The Duke of Exeter doth love thee well.
Flu.
Ay, I praise God; and I have merited some love
at his hands.
Pist.
Bardolph, a soldier, firm and sound of heart,
And of note buxom valour, hath, by cruel fate,
-- 544 --
And giddy Fortune's furious fickle wheel,
note
That goddess blind,
That stands upon the rolling restless stone— note note
Flu.
By your patience, Aunchient Pistol. Fortune is
painted blind, note with a muffler afore her note eyes, to signify to
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 note: and
her foot, look you, is fixed upon a spherical stone, which rolls,
and rolls, and rolls: in good truth, the poet makes a most
excellent note description of it: Fortune is note an excellent moral.
Pist.
Fortune is Bardolph's foe, and frowns on him;
For he hath stolen a pax note, and hanged must a' be:
A note damned death!
Let gallows gape for dog; let man go free
And let not hemp his wind-pipe suffocate:
But Exeter hath given the doom of death
For pax note of little price.
Therefore, go speak; the duke will hear thy voice;
And let not Bardolph's vital thread be cut
With edge of penny cord and vile reproach:
Speak, captain, for his life, and I will thee requite. note
Flu.
Aunchient Pistol, I do partly understand your
meaning.
Pist.
Why then, rejoice therefore.
Flu.
Certainly, aunchient, it is not a thing to rejoice at:
for if, look you, he were my brother, I would desire the
-- 545 --
duke to use his good pleasure, and put him to execution;
for discipline note ought to be used.
Pist.
Die and be damn'd! and figo note for thy friendship!
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.
Flu.
I'll assure you, a' note uttered as brave words at the
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
then goes to the wars, to grace himself at his return into
London under the form of a soldier. And note such fellows are
perfect note in the note great commanders' names: and they will learn
you by rote where services were done; at such and such a
sconce, at such a breach, at such a convoy; who came off
bravely, who was shot, who disgraced, what terms the enemy
stood on; and this they con perfectly note in the note phrase of war,
which they trick up with new-tuned note oaths: and what a
beard of the general's cut and a horrid suit note of the camp
will do among foaming bottles and ale-washed wits, is wonderful
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
my mind. [Drum heard note.] Hark you, the king is coming,
and I must speak with him from the pridge note.
-- 546 --
Drum and Colours. note Enter note King Henry, Gloucester, and Soldiers.
note
God pless your majesty!
K. Hen.
How now, Fluellen! camest thou from the bridge?
Flu.
Ay, so please your majesty. The Duke of Exeter
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.
K. Hen.
What men have you lost, Fluellen?
Flu.
The perdition of th' athversary hath been very
great, reasonable note great: marry, for my part, I think the
duke hath lost never a man, but one that is like to be note executed
for robbing a church, one Bardolph, if your majesty
know the man: his face is all bubukles note, and whelks, and
knobs, and flames o' fire note: and his lips blows at his nose,
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:
and we give express charge, that in our marches through
the country, there be nothing compelled from the villages,
nothing taken but paid for, none of the French upbraided
or abused in disdainful language; for when lenity note and
cruelty play for a kingdom, the gentler gamester is the
soonest winner. note
Tucket. Enter Montjoy.
Mont.
You know me by my habit.
-- 547 --
K. Hen.
Well then I know thee: what shall I know of thee?
Mont.
My master's mind.
K. Hen.
Unfold it.
Mont.
Thus says my king: Say thou to Harry of England:
Though we seemed dead, we did note but sleep: advantage
is a better soldier than rashness. Tell him we could
have rebuked him at Harfleur, but that we thought not
good to bruise an injury till it were full ripe: now we
speak upon our cue note, and our voice is imperial: England
shall repent his folly, see his weakness, and admire our
sufferance. Bid him therefore consider of his ransom;
which must proportion the losses we have borne, the subjects
we have lost, the disgrace we have digested; which
in weight to re-answer, his pettiness would bow under.
For our losses, his exchequer is too poor; for the effusion
of our blood, the muster of his kingdom too faint a number;
and for our disgrace, his own person, kneeling at our
feet, but a weak and worthless satisfaction. To this add
defiance: and tell him, for conclusion, he hath betrayed his
followers, whose condemnation is pronounced. So far my
king and master; so much my office. note
K. Hen.
What is thy name? I know thy quality.
Mont.
Montjoy.
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
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 note, I tell thee, herald,
I thought upon one pair of English legs
-- 548 --
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;
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
note
Stand in our way. There's for thy labour, Montjoy.
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:
We would not seek a battle, as we are;
Nor note, as we are, we say we will not shun it:
So tell your master.
Mont.
I shall deliver so. Thanks to your highness.
[Exit. note
Glou.
I hope they will not come upon us now.
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.
note
Scene VII. [Footnote:
The French camp, near Agincourt. note
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! note
-- 549 --
Orl.
You have an excellent armour; but let my horse
have his due.
Con.
It is the best horse of Europe.
Orl.
Will it never be morning?
Dau.
My Lord of Orleans, and my lord high constable,
you talk of horse and armour? note
Orl.
You are as well provided of both as any prince in
the world.
Dau.
What a long night is this! I will not change my
horse with any that treads but on four pasterns note. Ça, ha! note
he bounds from the earth, as if his entrails were hairs note note; le
cheval volant, the Pegasus, chez note les narines de feu! note When
I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk: he trots the air; the
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 note.
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
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 note.
Con.
Indeed, my lord, it is a most absolute and excellent
horse.
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
rising of the lark to the lodging of the lamb, vary deserved
praise on my palfrey: it is a theme note as fluent as the sea: turn
the sands into eloquent tongues, and my horse is argument
-- 550 --
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,
familiar to us and unknown note to lay apart their particular
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
my courser, for my horse is my mistress.
Orl.
Your mistress bears well.
Dau. note
Me well; which is the prescript praise and perfection
of a good and particular mistress.
Con.
Nay, for methought yesterday note your mistress
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
your note strait strossers note.
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.
Con.
I had as lief have my mistress a jade.
Dau.
I tell thee, constable, my mistress wears his note own
hair.
Con.
I could make as true a boast as that, if I had a
sow to my mistress.
Dau.
‘Le chien est retourné à son propre vomissement,
et la truie note lavée au bourbier:’ thou makest use of any thing.
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
your tent to-night, are those stars or suns upon it?
-- 551 --
Con.
Stars, my lord.
Dau.
Some of them will fall to-morrow, I hope.
Con.
And yet my sky shall not want.
Dau.
That may be, for you bear a many note superfluously,
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
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 note with me for twenty
prisoners note?
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 note.
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.
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.
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.
Orl.
He needs not; it is no hidden virtue in him.
-- 552 --
Con.
By my faith, sir, but it is; never any body saw it
but his lackey: 'tis a hooded valour; and when it appears,
it will bate.
Orl.
Ill will never said well.
Con.
I will cap that proverb with ‘There is flattery in
friendship.’
Orl.
And I will take up that with, ‘Give the devil his due.’
Con.
Well placed: there stands your friend for the devil:
have at the very eye of that proverb with ‘A pox of
the devil.’
Orl.
You are the better at proverbs, by how much
‘A fool's bolt is soon shot.’
Con.
You have shot over.
Orl.
'Tis not the first time you were overshot note.
noteEnter a Messenger.
Mess.
My lord high constable, the English lie within
fifteen hundred paces of your tents.
Con.
Who hath measured the ground?
Mess.
The Lord Grandpré.
Con.
A valiant and most expert gentleman. Would
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 note so far
out of his knowledge!
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
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
-- 553 --
apples! You may as well say, that's a valiant flea that
dare eat note his breakfast on the lip of a lion.
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.
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 note o'clock: but, let me see, by ten
We shall have each a hundred Englishmen.
[Exeunt.
ACT IV.
note
PROLOGUE. [Footnote:
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,
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
Piercing the night's dull ear, and from the tents
The armourers, accomplishing the knights,
-- 554 --
With busy hammers closing rivets up,
Give dreadful note of preparation:
The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll,
And the third hour of drowsy morning name. note
Proud of their numbers and secure in soul,
The confident and over-lusty French
Do note the low-rated English play at dice;
And chide the cripple tardy-gaited note night
Who, like a foul and ugly witch, doth limp
So tediously away note. The poor condemned English,
Like sacrifices, by their watchful fires
Sit patiently and inly ruminate
The morning's danger, and their gesture sad
Investing note lank-lean cheeks and war-worn coats note
Presenteth note them unto the gazing moon
So many horrid ghosts. O now, who will behold note
The royal captain of this ruin'd band
Walking from watch to watch, from tent to tent,
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 note royal face there is no note
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;
That every wretch, pining and pale before,
-- 555 --
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 note mean and gentle all,
Behold, as may unworthiness define,
A little touch of Harry in the night note.
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,
Right ill-disposed in brawl ridiculous,
The name of Agincourt. Yet sit and see,
Minding true things by what their mockeries be.
[Exit.
note
Scene I. [Footnote:
The English note camp at Agincourt.
Enter King Henry note, Bedford note, and Gloucester.
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.
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 note us fairly for our end.
Thus may we gather honey from the weed,
And make a moral of the devil himself.
Enter Erpingham.
Good morrow, old Sir Thomas Erpingham:
-- 556 --
A good soft pillow for that good white head
Were better than a churlish turf of France.
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 note
Upon example; so the spirit is note eased:
And when the mind is quicken'd, out of doubt,
The organs, though defunct and dead before,
Break up their drowsy grave and newly move,
With casted slough and fresh legerity note.
Lend me thy cloak, Sir Thomas. Brothers both,
Commend me to the princes in our camp;
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:
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 note but King.
K. Hen.
God-a-mercy, old heart! thou speak'st cheerfully.
noteEnter Pistol.
Pist.
Qui va là? note
K. Hen.
A friend.
Pist.
Discuss unto me; art thou officer?
Or art thou base, common, and popular? note
K. Hen.
I am a gentleman of a company.
Pist.
Trail'st thou the puissant pike?
-- 557 --
K. Hen.
Even so. What are you?
Pist.
As good a gentleman as the emperor.
K. Hen.
Then note you are a better than the king.
Pist.
The king's a bawcock, and a heart of gold,
A lad of life, an imp note of fame;
Of parents good, of fist most valiant:
I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heart-string note
I love the lovely bully. What is note thy name? note
K. Hen.
Harry le Roy.
Pist.
Le Roy! a Cornish name: art thou of Cornish crew?
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
Upon Saint Davy's note day note.
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!
K. Hen.
I thank you: God be with you!
Pist.
My name is Pistol call'd.
[Exit.
note
K. Hen.
It sorts well with your fierceness.
Enter note Fluellen and Gower.
Gow.
Captain Fluellen!
Flu.
So! in the name of Jesu Christ, speak lower note. It
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
-- 558 --
of Pompey the Great, you shall find, I warrant you, that
there is no tiddle taddle nor pibble pabble in Pompey's
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 note
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
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.
[Exeunt note Gower and Fluellen.
K. Hen.
Though it appear a little out of fashion,
There is much care and valour in this Welshman.
noteEnter three soldiers, John Bates, Alexander Court, and Michael Williams.
Court.
Brother John Bates, is not that the morning
which breaks yonder?
Bates.
I think it be: but we have no great cause to 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?
K. Hen.
Under Sir Thomas note Erpingham.
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.
Bates.
He hath not told his thought to the king?
K. Hen.
No; nor it is not note meet he should. For, though
-- 559 --
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:
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
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 note up to the neck; and so I would he were, and I by
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 note he were here alone; so should he
be sure to be ransomed, and a many note poor men's lives saved.
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
honourable.
Will.
That's more than we know.
Bates. note
Ay, or more than we should seek after; for we
know enough, if we know we are the king's subjects: if his
cause be wrong, our obedience to the king wipes the crime
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 note battle, shall join together
at the latter day and cry all ‘We died at such a place;’ some
swearing, some crying for a surgeon, some upon their wives
left poor behind them, some upon the debts they owe,
-- 560 --
some upon their children rawly left. I am afeard there are
few die well that die in a battle note; for how can they charitably
dispose of any thing, when blood is their argument?
Now, if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter
for the king that led them to it; whom note to disobey were
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 note, the 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 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 note their services. Besides,
there is no king, be his cause never so spotless, if it come to
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
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 note of the king's laws in now the
king's quarrel note: where they feared the death, they have borne
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
the king's; but every subject's soul is his own. Therefore
-- 561 --
should every soldier in the wars do note as every sick man in his
bed, wash every mote note out of his conscience: and dying so,
death is to him advantage; or not dying, the time was
blessedly lost note wherein such preparation was gained: and in
him that escapes, it were not sin note to think that, making God
so free an offer, He let him outlive that day to see His
greatness and to teach others how they should prepare.
Will. note
'Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill upon note
his own head, the king is not to answer it.
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
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 note pay him then. That's a perilous shot out
of an elder-gun, that a poor and private note displeasure can
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.
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?
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.
-- 562 --
K. Hen.
There.
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 note thee a box on the ear.
K. Hen.
If ever I live to see it, I will challenge it.
Will.
Thou darest as well be hanged.
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.
K. Hen.
Indeed, the French may lay twenty French
crowns to one, they will beat us; for they bear them on
their shoulders: but it is no English treason to cut French
crowns, and to-morrow the king himself will be a clipper note.
[Exeunt note Soldiers.
note
Upon the king! note let us our lives, our souls,
Our debts, our careful wives,
Our children and our sins lay on the king!
We note must bear all. O hard condition,
Twin-born note with greatness, subject note to note the note breath
Of every fool, whose sense no more can feel
But his own wringing! What infinite heart's-ease note
Must kings neglect, that private men enjoy! note
And what have kings, that privates have not too,
Save ceremony, save general ceremony note?
-- 563 --
And what art thou, thou idol ceremony?
What kind of god art thou, that suffer'st more
Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers?
note
What are thy rents? what are thy comings in?
O ceremony, show note me but thy worth!
What is thy soul of adoration? note
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,
But poison'd flattery? O, be sick, great greatness,
And bid thy ceremony give thee cure!
Think'st note thou the fiery fever will go out
With titles blown from adulation?
Will note it give place to flexure and low bending?
Canst thou, when thou command'st the beggar's knee,
Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream,
That note play'st so subtly with a king's repose;
I am a king that find thee, and I know
'Tis not the balm, the sceptre and the ball,
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,
No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous note ceremony,
Not all these, laid in bed majestical,
-- 564 --
Can sleep so soundly as the wretched note slave,
Who with a body fill'd and vacant mind
Gets him to rest, cramm'd with distressful note bread;
Never note sees horrid night, the child of hell,
But, like a lackey note, from the rise to set
Sweats in the eye of Phœbus and all night
Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn,
Doth rise and help Hyperion note to his horse,
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 note the fore-hand and vantage of a king.
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.
noteEnter Erpingham.
Erp.
My lord, your nobles, jealous of your absence,
Seek through your camp to find you.
K. Hen.
Good old knight,
Collect them all together at my tent:
I'll be before thee. note
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
The sense of reckoning, if the opposed numbers
-- 565 --
Pluck their hearts from them. note Not to-day, O Lord, note
O, not to-day, think note not upon the fault
My father made in compassing the crown!
I Richard's body have interred new;
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
Two chantries, where the sad and solemn priests
Sing still for Richard's soul. More will I do note;
Though all that I can do is nothing worth,
Since note that my penitence comes after all note,
Imploring pardon.
Enter Gloucester.
Glou.
My liege!
K. Hen.
My brother Gloucester's voice? Ay note;
I know note thy errand, I will go with thee:
The day, my friends note and all things stay for me.
[Exeunt.
-- 566 --
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
The French camp. note
Enter the Dauphin, Orleans, Rambures, and others. note
Orl.
The sun doth gild our armour; up, note my lords!
Dau.
Montez à note cheval! My horse! varlet note! laquais! ha!
Orl.
O brave spirit!
Dau.
Via! note les eaux note et la terre note.
Orl.
Rien puis? l'air note et le feu note.
Dau.
Ciel note, cousin Orleans.
Enter Constable.
Now, my lord constable!
Con.
Hark, how our steeds for present service neigh!
Dau.
Mount them, and make incision in their hides,
That their hot blood may spin in English eyes,
And dout note them with superfluous courage, ha!
Ram.
What, will you have them weep our horses' blood?
How shall we, then, behold their natural tears?
Enter Messenger.
Mess.
The English are embattled, you note French peers note.
Con.
To horse, you gallant princes! straight to horse!
-- 567 --
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
To give each naked curtle-axe note a stain,
That our French gallants shall to-day draw out,
And sheathe for lack of sport: let us note but blow on them,
The vapour of our valour will o'erturn them.
'Tis positive 'gainst note all exceptions note, lords,
That our superfluous lackeys and our peasants,
Who in unnecessary action swarm
About our squares of battle, were enow note
To purge this field of such a hilding foe,
Though we upon this mountain's basis by
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 note and the note to mount;
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:
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,
-- 568 --
With torch-staves in their hand note; and their poor jades
Lob down their heads, dropping the hides note and hips,
The gum down-roping from their pale-dead eyes,
And in their pale dull note mouths the gimmal note bit
Lies foul with chew'd grass, still and motionless;
And their executors, the knavish crows,
Fly o'er them, all note impatient for their hour.
Description cannot suit itself in words
To demonstrate the life of such a battle note
In life so lifeless note as it shows itself.
Con.
They have said their prayers, and they stay for death note.
Dau.
Shall we go send them dinners and fresh suits
And give their fasting horses provender,
And after fight with them?
note
Con.
I stay but for my guidon: note to the field!
I will the banner from a trumpet take,
And use it for my haste. Come, come, away!
The sun is high, and we outwear the day.
[Exeunt.
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
The English camp. note
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.
-- 569 --
West.
Of fighting men they have full three score thousand.
Exe.
There's five to one; besides, they all are note fresh.
Sal.
God's arm strike with us! 'tis a fearful odds.
God be wi' note you, princes all; I'll to my charge:
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!
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,
For thou art framed note of the firm truth of valour note.
[Exit Salisbury. note
Bed.
He is as full of valour as of kindness;
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? note No, my fair cousin:
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow note
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 note, I am not covetous for note gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
-- 570 --
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 note, wish not a man from England:
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more, methinks, would share from me
For the best hope note I have. O, do not wish note one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
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:
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 note old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours note,
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. note’
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll note remember with advantages
What feats he note did that day: then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth note as household words,
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
-- 571 --
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd.
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;
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,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles note any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's note day.
Re-enter note Salisbury.
Sal.
My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed:
The French are bravely in their battles note set,
And will with all expedience charge on us.
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 note?
West.
God's will! my liege, would you and I alone,
Without more help, could fight this royal battle note!
K. Hen.
Why, now thou hast unwish'd five note thousand men;
Which likes me better than to wish us one.
You know your places: God be with you all!
noteTucket. Enter Montjoy.
Mont.
Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry,
-- 572 --
If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound,
Before thy most assured overthrow:
For certainly thou art so near the gulf,
Thou needs must be englutted. Besides note, in mercy,
The constable desires thee thou wilt mind
Thy followers of repentance; that their souls
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:
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 note many of our bodies shall no doubt
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,
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 note valour in our English,
That being dead, like to the bullet's note grazing note,
Break out into a second course of mischief,
Killing in relapse note of mortality note. note
Let me speak proudly: tell the constable
We are but warriors for the working-day;
Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch'd
-- 573 --
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;
And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night
They'll be in fresher robes, or note they will pluck
The gay new coats o'er the French soldiers' heads
And turn them out of service. If they do this note,—
As note, if God please, they shall,—my ransom then
Will soon be levied. Herald, save thou thy labour note;
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 note them note,
Shall yield note them little, tell the constable.
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 note for ransom note. note
Enter York.
York.
My lord, most humbly on my knee I beg
The leading of the vaward.
K. Hen.
Take it, brave York. Now, soldiers, march away:
And how thou pleasest, God, dispose the day!
[Exeunt.
-- 574 --
note
Scene IV. [Footnote:
The field of battle. note
Alarum. Excursions. Enter Pistol, French Soldier, and Boy.
Pist.
Yield, cur!
Fr. Sol.
Je pense que vous êtes note gentilhomme de bonne
qualité.
Pist.
Qualtitie note calmie custure me note! Art thou a gentleman?
what is thy name? discuss.
Fr. Sol.
O Seigneur Dieu!
Pist.
O, Signieur Dew should be a gentleman:
Perpend my words, O Signieur Dew, and mark;
O Signieur Dew, thou diest on point of fox note,
Except, O signieur, thou do give to me
Egregious ransom note.
Fr. Sol.
O, prenez miséricorde! ayez pitié de moi!
Pist.
Moy shall not serve; I will have forty moys;
Or note I will fetch thy rim note out at note thy throat
In drops of crimson blood note.
Fr. Sol.
Est-il impossible d'échapper la force de ton
bras?
Pist.
Brass, cur!
Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat,
Offer'st me brass? note
-- 575 --
Fr. Sol.
O pardonnez moi!
Pist.
Say'st thou me so? is that a ton of moys?
Come hither, boy: ask me this slave in French
What is his name note.
Boy.
Écoutez: comment êtes-vous appelé?
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
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 prêt; car ce soldat ici est disposé tout à cette heure note
de couper votre gorge.
Pist.
Owy, cuppele gorge, permafoy,
Peasant, unless thou give me note crowns, brave crowns;
Or mangled shalt thou be by this my sword note.
Fr. Sol.
O, je vous supplie, pour l'amour de Dieu, me
pardonner! Je suis note gentilhomme de bonne maison: gardez
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
hundred crowns.
Pist.
Tell him my fury shall abate, and I
The crowns will take note.
Fr. Sol.
Petit monsieur, que dit-il?
Boy.
Encore qu'il est contre son jurement de pardonner
aucun prisonnier, néanmoins, pour les écus que vous
l'avez promis, il est content de vous donner la liberté, le
franchisement.
-- 576 --
Fr. Sol.
Sur mes genoux je vous donne mille remercîmens;
et je m'estime heureux que je suis tombé note entre les
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 note esteems himself happy that he hath fallen 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 show. note
Follow me! note
Boy.
Suivez-vous le grand capitaine.
[Exeunt note Pistol,
and French Soldier.] I did never know so full note a voice
issue from so empty a heart: but the saying note is true, ‘The
empty vessel makes the greatest sound.’ Bardolph and
Nym had ten times more valour than this roaring devil i'
the old play, that note every one may pare his nails with a
wooden dagger; and they note are both hanged; and so would
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 note knew of it; for
there is none to guard it but boys.
[Exit.
note
Scene V. [Footnote:
Another part note of the field.
Enter note Constable, Orleans, Bourbon, Dauphin, and Rambures.
Con.
O diable!
Orl.
O seigneur! le jour est perdu, tout est perdu!
-- 577 --
Dau.
Mort de note ma vie! all is confounded, all!
Reproach note and everlasting shame
Sits mocking in our plumes. O méchante fortune!
Do not run away note.
[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!
Let us die in honour note: once note more back again note;
And he note that will not follow Bourbon now,
Let him go hence, and with his cap in hand,
Like a base pander, hold the chamber-door
Whilst by a slave note, no gentler than my dog,
His fairest daughter is contaminated note.
Con.
Disorder, that hath spoil'd us, friend us now!
note
Let us on heaps note go offer up our lives.
Orl.
We are enow note yet living in the field
To smother up the English in our throngs,
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.
-- 578 --
note
Scene VI. [Footnote:
Another part of the field.
Alarums. Enter King Henry note and forces, Exeter, and others.
K. Ken.
Well have we done, thrice valiant countrymen:
But all's not done; yet keep the French note the field.
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;
From helmet to the spur all blood he was note.
Exe.
In which array, brave soldier, doth he lie,
Larding note the plain; and by his bloody side,
Yoke-fellow to his honour-owing wounds,
The noble Earl of Suffolk also lies.
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 note cries aloud ‘Tarry, dear note cousin Suffolk!
My soul shall thine keep note company to heaven;
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:
He smiled me in the face, raught note me his hand,
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;
And so espoused to death, with blood he seal'd
-- 579 --
A testament of noble-ending note love.
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,
And all note my mother came into mine eyes
And gave me up to tears.
K. Hen.
I blame you not;
For, hearing this, I must perforce compound
With mistful note eyes, or they will issue too.
[Alarum.
note
But, hark! what new alarum is this same?
The French have reinforced note their scatter'd men:
Then note note every soldier kill his prisoners note;
Give the word through.
[Exeunt. note
note
Scene VII. [Footnote:
Another part of the field.
Enter note Fluellen and Gower.
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 note your conscience, now, is it not?
Gow.
'Tis certain there's not a boy left alive; and the
cowardly rascals that ran from the battle ha' done this
slaughter: besides, they have burned and carried note away all
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.
-- 580 --
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,
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.
I tell you, captain, if you look in the maps of the 'orld, I
warrant you note sall find, in the comparisons between Macedon
and Monmouth, that the situations, look you, is both
alike. There is a river in Macedon; and there is also moreover note
a river at Monmouth: it is called Wye at Monmouth;
but it is out of my prains what is the name of the other
river; but 'tis note all one, 'tis alike note as my fingers is to note my fingers,
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,
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 note.
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 note and finished. I
speak but in the figures note and comparisons of it: as Alexander
killed his friend Cleitus note, being in his ales and his
cups; so also Harry Monmouth, being in his right wits and
his good judgements, turned note away the fat knight with the
-- 581 --
great belly-doublet: he was full of jests, and gipes, and
knaveries, and mocks; I have forgot note his name.
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. note Enter note King Henry, and forces; Warwick, Gloucester, Exeter, and others.
note
K. Hen.
I was not angry since I came to France
Until this instant. Take a trumpet, herald;
Ride thou unto the horsemen on yon hill:
If they will fight with us, bid them come down,
Or void the field; they do offend our sight:
If they'll do neither, we will come to them,
And make them skirr note away, as swift as stones
Enforced from the old Assyrian slings:
Besides, we'll cut the throats of those we have,
And not a man of them that we shall take
Shall taste our mercy. Go and tell them so. note
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 note? know'st thou not
That I have fined these bones of mine for ransom?
Comest thou again for ransom?
Mont.
No, great king:
I come to thee for charitable license,
That we may wander o'er this bloody field
-- 582 --
To look note our dead, and then to bury them;
To sort our nobles from our common men.
For many of our princes—woe the while!—
Lie drown'd and soak'd in mercenary blood;
So do our vulgar drench their peasant limbs
In blood of princes; and their note wounded steeds
Fret fetlock deep in gore and with wild rage
Yerk out their armed heels at their dead masters,
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 note
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,
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.
K. Hen.
They did, Fluellen.
Flu.
Your majesty says very true: if your majesties note
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 note, to this hour is an
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.
-- 583 --
Flu.
All the water in Wye cannot wash your majesty's
Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that: God
pless it note and preserve it, as long as it pleases his grace, and
his majesty too!
K. Hen.
Thanks, good my countryman note.
Flu.
By Jeshu, I am your majesty's countryman, I
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 note keep me so! Our heralds go with him note:
Bring me just notice of the numbers dead
On both our parts. Call yonder fellow hither.
[Points to Williams. note Exeunt note Heralds with Montjoy.
note
Exe.
Soldier, you must come to the king.
K. Hen.
Soldier, why wearest thou that glove in thy cap?
Will.
An't note please your majesty, 'tis the gage of one
that I should fight withal, if he be alive.
K. Hen.
An Englishman?
Will.
An't note please your majesty, a rascal that swaggered
with me last night; who, if alive note and ever note dare to challenge
this glove, I have sworn to take him a box o' th' note ear: or if I
can see my glove in his cap, which he swore, as he was a
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 note please your
majesty, in my conscience.
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
-- 584 --
grace, that he keep his vow and his oath: if he be perjured,
see you now, his reputation is as arrant a villain and a
Jacksauce, as ever note his black shoe trod upon God's ground
and his earth, in my conscience, la!
K. Hen.
Then keep thy vow, sirrah, when thou meetest
the fellow.
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 note in the wars.
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
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 note.
Flu.
Your grace doo's note me as great honours as can be
desired in the hearts of his subjects: I would fain see the
man, that has but two legs, that shall find himself aggriefed note
at this glove; that is all; but I would fain note see it once,
an note please God of his grace that I might see.
K. Hen.
Knowest thou Gower?
Flu.
He is my dear friend, an note please you.
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:
-- 585 --
The glove which I have given him for a favour
May haply purchase him a box o' th' note ear;
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
By his blunt bearing he will keep his note word,
Some sudden mischief may arise of it;
For I do know Fluellen valiant
And, touched with choler, hot as gunpowder,
And quickly will note return an injury:
Follow, and see there be no note harm between them.
Go note you with me, uncle of Exeter.
[Exeunt.
note
Scene VIII. [Footnote:
Before note King Henry's pavilion.
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?
Flu.
Know the glove! I know the glove is a glove.
Will.
I know this; and thus I challenge it.
Strikes him.
Flu.
'Sblood note! an arrant traitor as any is note in the universal
world, or in France note, or in England!
Gow.
How now, sir! you villain!
Will.
Do you think I'll be forsworn?
-- 586 --
Flu.
Stand away, Captain Gower; I will give treason
his payment into note plows, I warrant you.
Will.
I am no traitor.
Flu.
That's a lie in thy throat. I charge you in his
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
you shall desire in a summer's day. Here note is his majesty.
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.
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 note been as
good as my word.
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,
and will avouchment note, that this is the glove of Alençon,
that your majesty is give me; in your conscience, now?
K. Hen.
Give me thy note glove, soldier: look, here is the
fellow of it note.
note
'Twas I note, indeed, thou promised'st to strike;
And thou hast given me most bitter terms.
-- 587 --
Flu.
An note please your majesty, let his neck answer for
it, if there is any martial law in the world.
K. Hen.
How canst thou make me satisfaction?
Will.
All offences, my lord note, come from the heart:
never came any from mine that might offend your majesty.
K. Hen.
It was ourself thou didst abuse.
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 note fault
and not mine: for had you been as I took you for, I made note
no offence; therefore, I beseech your highness, pardon me.
K. Hen.
Here, uncle Exeter, fill this glove with crowns,
And note give it to this fellow. Keep it, fellow;
And wear it for an honour in thy cap
Till I do challenge it. Give him the crowns:
And, captain, you must needs be friends with him.
Flu.
By this day and this light, the fellow has mettle
enough in his belly note. Hold, there is twelve pence for you;
and I pray you to serve Got, and keep you out of prawls,
and prabbles, and quarrels, and dissensions, and, I warrant
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,
I warrant you, or I will change it.
Enter an English Herald. note
note
K. Hen.
Now, herald, are the dead number'd note?
note
Her.
Here is the number of the slaughter'd French.
K. Hen.
What prisoners of good sort are taken, uncle?
Exe.
Charles Duke of Orleans, nephew to the king;
-- 588 --
John Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Bouciqualt note:
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 note: of princes, in this number,
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:
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:
Charles Delabreth, high constable of France;
Jaques of Chatillon note, admiral of France;
The master of the cross-bows, Lord Rambures;
Great Master of France, the brave Sir Guichard Dolphin,
John Duke of Alençon, Anthony note Duke of Brabant,
The brother to the Duke of Burgundy,
And Edward Duke of Bar: of lusty earls,
Grandpré and Roussi, Fauconberg note and Foix note,
Beaumont and Marle, Vaudemont note and Lestrale.
Here was a royal fellowship of death!
Where is the number of our English dead?
[Herald note shews him another paper.
Edward the Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk,
Sir Richard Ketly, Davy Gam, esquire:
None else of name; and of all other men
But five note and twenty. O God note, thy arm was here;
And not to us, but to thy arm alone,
-- 589 --
Ascribe we all! When, without stratagem,
But in plain shock and even play of battle,
Was ever known so great and little loss
On one part and on th' other? note Take it, God,
For it is none but note thine!
Exe.
'Tis wonderful!
K. Hen.
Come, go we note in procession to the village:
And be it death proclaimed through our host
To boast of this or take that praise from God
Which is his only.
Flu.
Is it not lawful, an note please your majesty, to tell
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.
K. Hen.
Do we all holy rites;
Let there be sung ‘Non nobis’ and ‘Te Deum;’
The dead with charity enclosed note in clay:
And note then to Calais; and to England then;
Where ne'er from France arrived more happy note men.
[Exeunt.
ACT V.
note
PROLOGUE. [Footnote:
Enter Chorus.
Chor.
Vouchsafe to those note that have not read the story,
That I may prompt them: and of such note as have,
I humbly pray them to admit the excuse
Of time, of numbers and due course of things,
-- 590 --
Which cannot in their huge and proper life
Be here presented. Now we bear the king
Toward Calais: grant him there; there note seen note,
Heave him away upon your winged thoughts
Athwart the sea. Behold, the English beach
Pales in the flood with men, with wives note and boys,
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
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;
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,
Like to the senators of the antique note Rome,
With the plebeians swarming at their heels,
Go forth and fetch their conquering Cæsar in:
As, by a lower but note loving likelihood,
Were now the general of our gracious empress,
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;
As yet note the lamentation of the French
Invites the King of England's stay at home note;
-- 591 --
The emperor's note coming in behalf of France,
To order peace between them; and note omit
All the occurrences, whatever chanced,
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.
note
Scene I. [Footnote:
France note. The English Camp.
Enter Fluellen and Gower.
Gow.
Nay, that's right; but why wear you your leek
to-day? Saint Davy's note day is past.
Flu.
There is occasions and causes why and wherefore
in all things: I will tell you, asse my note friend, Captain Gower:
the rascally, scald, beggarly, lousy, pragging knave, Pistol,
which you and yourself note and all the world know to be no
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 note breed no contention note with him; but I will be so
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 note nor his turkey-cocks.
God pless you note, Aunchient Pistol! you scurvy, lousy knave,
God pless you!
-- 592 --
Pist.
Ha! art thou bedlam note? dost thou thirst, base Trojan,
To have me fold up Parca's fatal web?
Hence! I am qualmish at the smell of leek note.
note
Flu.
I peseech you heartily, scurvy, lousy knave, at
my desires, and my requests, and my petitions, to eat, look
you, this leek: because, look you, you do not love it, nor note
your affections and your appetites and your disgestions note
doo's note not agree with it, I would desire you to eat it.
Pist.
Not for Cadwallader and all his goats.
Flu.
There is one goat for you. [Strikes him. note] Will
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
victuals: come, there is sauce for it. [Strikes him note.] You
called me yesterday mountain-squire; but I will make you
noteto-day a squire of low degree. I pray you, fall to: if you
can mock a leek, you can eat a leek.
Gow.
Enough, captain: you have astonished him.
Flu.
I say, I will make him eat some part of my leek,
noteor I will peat his pate four days note. Bite, I pray you; it is
good for your green wound and your ploody coxcomb.
Pist.
Must I bite?
Flu.
Yes, certainly, and note out of doubt and out of question note
too, and ambiguities.
note note
Pist.
By this leek, I will most horribly revenge: I eat
and eat, I swear— note
-- 593 --
Flu.
Eat, I pray you: will you have some more sauce
to your leek? there is not enough leek to swear by.
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 note; that is note all.
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
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' note you, and keep you, and heal your
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 note upon an
honourable respect, and worn as a memorable trophy of
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 note otherwise;
and henceforth let a Welsh correction teach you a good
English condition. Fare ye note well.
[Exit.
Pist.
Doth Fortune play the huswife with me now?
News have I, that my Doll note is dead i' the spital note
Of malady note of France; note
-- 594 --
And there my rendezvous is quite cut off.
Old I do wax; and from my weary limbs
Honour is cudgelled note. Well, bawd I'll note turn,
And something lean to cutpurse of quick hand note.
To England will I steal, and there I'll steal:
And patches will I get unto these cudgell'd note scars,
And swear note I got them in the Gallia wars.
[Exit.
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
France note. A royal palace.
Enter, at one door, King Henry, Exeter, Bedford, Gloucester note,
Warwick, Westmoreland note, and other Lords; at another, the
French King, Queen Isabel, the Princess Katharine, note Alice
and other Ladies; the Duke of Burgundy, and his train. note
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,
By whom this great assembly is contrived,
We do salute you, Duke of Burgundy note;
And, princes French, and peers, health to you all!
Fr. King.
Right joyous are we to behold your face,
Most worthy brother England; fairly note met:
So are you, princes English, every one.
-- 595 --
Q. Isa.
So happy be the issue, brother England note,
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
Against note the French, that met them in their bent,
The fatal balls of murdering basilisks:
The venom of such looks, we fairly hope,
Have lost their note quality, and that this day
Shall change all griefs and quarrels into love.
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 note labour'd,
With all my wits, my pains and strong endeavours,
To bring your most imperial majesties
Unto this bar and royal interview,
Your mightiness on both parts best can note witness.
Since then my office hath so far prevail'd
That, face to face and royal eye to eye,
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,
Should not in this best garden of the world
Our fertile France, put note up her lovely visage?
Alas, she hath from France too long been chased,
And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps,
Corrupting in its note own fertility.
Her vine, the merry cheerer of the heart,
Unpruned dies note; her hedges even-pleach'd note,
-- 596 --
Like prisoners wildly overgrown with hair,
Put forth disorder'd twigs; her fallow leas
The darnel, hemlock and rank fumitory note
Doth note root upon, while that the coulter note rusts
That should deracinate such savagery;
The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth
The freckled cowslip, burnet and green clover,
Wanting the scythe, all note uncorrected, rank,
Conceives by idleness and nothing teems
But hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies note, burs,
Losing both beauty and utility.
And as note our vineyards, fallows, meads and hedges,
Defective in their natures note, grow to wildness, note
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 note like savages,—as soldiers will
That nothing do but meditate on blood,—
To swearing, and stern looks, diffused note attire
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
Should not expel these inconveniences
And bless us with her former qualities.
K. Hen.
If, Duke of Burgundy note, you would the peace,
Whose want gives growth to the imperfections
Which you have cited, you must buy that peace
With full accord to all our just demands;
Whose tenours note and particular effects
You have enscheduled briefly in your hands.
-- 597 --
Bur.
The king hath heard them; to the which as yet
There is no answer made.
K. Hen.
Well then the peace,
Which you before so urged, lies in his answer.
Fr. King.
I have note but with a cursorary note eye
O'erglanced the articles: pleaseth your grace
To appoint some of your council presently
To sit with us once more, with note better heed
To re-survey them, we will suddenly
Pass our accept note and peremptory answer.
K. Hen.
Brother, we shall. Go, uncle Exeter,
And brother Clarence, and you note, brother Gloucester,
Warwick and Huntingdon note, go with the king;
And take with you free power to ratify,
Augment, or alter, as your wisdoms best
Shall see advantageable note for our dignity,
Any thing in or out of our demands note;
And we'll consign thereto. Will you, fair sister,
Go with the princes, or stay here with us?
Q. Isa.
Our gracious brother, I will go with them:
Haply note a woman's voice may do some good,
When articles too nicely urged be stood on.
K. Hen.
Yet leave our cousin Katharine here with us:
She is our capital demand, comprised
Within the fore-rank of our articles.
Q. Isa.
She hath good leave.
[Exeunt all note except Henry, Katharine, and Alice.
note
K. Hen.
Fair Katharine, and note most fair,
Will you vouchsafe to teach a soldier terms
-- 598 --
Such as will enter at a lady's ear
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
brokenly with your English tongue. Do you like me, Kate?
Kath.
Pardonnez-moi, I cannot tell vat note is ‘like me.’
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?
Alice.
Qui, 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 hommes sont
pleines de tromperies.
K. Hen.
What says she, fair one? that the tongues note of
men are full of deceits?
Alice.
Oui, dat de tongues of de mans is be full of
deceits: dat is de princess note.
K. Hen.
The princess is the better Englishwoman. I'
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:’
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 note vell.
K. Hen.
Marry, if you would put me to verses or to
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 note
-- 599 --
into my saddle with my armour on my back, under the
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
have no note cunning in protestation; only downright oaths,
which I never use till urged, nor note never break for urging.
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.
I speak to thee note plain soldier: if thou canst love me for this,
take me; if not, to say to thee that I shall die, is true; but
for thy love, by the Lord note, no; yet I love thee too. And
while thou livest, dear note Kate, take a fellow of plain and uncoined
constancy; for he perforce must do thee right,
because he hath not the gift to woo in other places note: for
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
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 note have
such a one, take me; and take me, take a soldier; take note a
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?
K. Hen.
No; it is not possible you should love the
enemy of France, Kate: but, in loving me, you should love
-- 600 --
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 note yours is
France and you are mine.
Kath.
I cannot tell vat note is dat.
K. Hen.
No, Kate? I will tell thee in French; which
I am sure will hang upon my tongue like a new-married note
wife about her husband's neck, hardly to be shook off. Je
quand sur note le possession de France, et quand vous avez
le note possession de moi,—let me see, what then? Saint Denis
be my speed!—donc 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
French, unless it be to laugh at me.
Kath.
Sauf votre honneur, le François que vous parlez,
il est note meilleur note que l'Anglois lequel je parle.
K. Hen.
No, faith, is't not, Kate: but thy speaking of
my tongue, and I thine note, most truly-falsely note, must needs be
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,
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
mine, Kate, as I have a saving faith within me tells me
thou shalt, I get thee with scambling, and thou must
-- 601 --
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
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
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 note déesse?
Kath.
Your majestee ave note fausse French enough to
deceive de most sage demoiselle note dat is en France.
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 note effect of my visage. Now, beshrew
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
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
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
before his face, if he be not fellow with the best king, note thou
-- 602 --
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, note break
thy mind to me in broken English; wilt thou have me?
Kath.
Dat is as it sall please de roi mon père.
K. Hen.
Nay, it will please him well, Kate; it shall
please him, Kate.
Kath.
Den it sall note also content me.
K. Hen.
Upon that I kiss your hand, and I call you
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 note serviteur; excusez-moi,
je vous supplie, mon très-puissant seigneur.
K. Hen.
Then I will kiss your lips, Kate.
Kath.
Les dames et demoiselles pour être baisées
devant leur noces note, il n'est pas la coutume de France.
K. Hen.
Madam my interpreter, what says she?
Alice.
Dat it is not be de fashion pour les ladies of
France,—I cannot tell vat note is baiser note en Anglish.
K. Hen.
To kiss.
Alice.
Your majesty entendre bettre que moi.
K. Hen.
It is note not a fashion for the maids in France to
kiss before they are married, would she say?
Alice.
Oui, vraiment.
K. Hen.
O Kate, nice customs courtesy note to great kings.
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
mouth of all find-faults; as I will do yours, for upholding note
-- 603 --
the nice fashion of your country in denying me a kiss:
therefore, patiently and yielding. [Kissing her note.] You have
witchcraft in your lips, Kate: there is more eloquence in
a sugar note touch of them than in the tongues of the French
council; and they should sooner persuade Harry of England
than a general petition of monarchs. Here comes
your father.
Re-enter note the French King and his Queen, Burgundy, and other Lords.
note note
Bur.
God save your majesty! my royal cousin, teach
you our princess English?
K. Hen.
I would have her learn, my fair cousin, how
perfectly I love her; and that is good English.
Bur.
Is she not note apt?
K. Hen.
Our tongue is rough, coz, note and my condition
is not smooth; so that, having neither the voice nor the
heart of flattery note about me, I cannot so conjure up the spirit
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
must appear naked and blind. Can you blame her then,
being a maid yet rosed note over with the virgin crimson of
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.
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.
-- 604 --
K. Hen.
Then, good my lord, teach your cousin to
consent winking note.
Bur.
I will wink on her to consent, my lord, if you
will teach her to know my meaning: for note maids, well summered
and warm kept, are like flies at Bartholomew-tide,
blind, though they have their eyes; and then they will
endure handling, which before would not abide looking on.
K. Hen.
This moral ties note me over to time and a hot
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.
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
maiden walls that war hath never note entered.
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
my note wish shall show me the way to my will.
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 note all,
According to their firm proposed natures note.
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,
Notre très-cher fils Henri, Roi d'Angleterre, Héritier note de
-- 605 --
France; and thus in Latin, Præclarissimus note filius noster
Henricus, Rex Angliæ, et Hæres Franciæ.
Fr. King.
Nor note this I have not, brother, so denied,
But your request shall make me let it pass.
K. Hen.
I pray you then, in love and dear alliance,
Let that one article rank with the rest;
And thereupon give me note your daughter note.
Fr. King.
Take her, fair, son and from her blood raise up
Issue to me; that the note contending kingdoms
Of France and England note, whose very shores look pale
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 note, that never note war advance
His bleeding sword 'twixt England and fair France.
All. note
Amen!
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,
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,
Thrust in between the paction note of these kingdoms,
To make divorce of their incorporate league;
That note English may as French, French Englishmen,
Receive each other. God speak this Amen!
All. note
Amen!
K. Hen.
Prepare we for our marriage: on which day,
My Lord of Burgundy, we'll take your oath,
And all the peers' note, for surety of our leagues.
-- 606 --
Then shall I swear to Kate, and you to me;
And may our oaths well kept and prosperous be!
[Sennet. note Exeunt.
note
Epilogue. [Footnote:
Enter Chorus.
Chor.
Thus far, with rough and all-unable pen,
Our bending note author hath pursued the story,
In little room confining mighty men,
Mangling by starts the full course of their glory.
Small time, but in that small most greatly lived
This star of England: Fortune made his sword;
By which the world's best garden he achieved,
And of it left his son imperial lord. note
Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crown'd King
Of France and England, did this king succeed;
Whose state so many had the managing,
That they lost France and made note his England bleed:
Which oft our stage hath shown; and, for their sake,
In your fair minds let this acceptance take.
[Exit. note
