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
William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].
