Henry V, Modern text based on the Folio

¶Fluellen 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 your conscience ¶now, is it not?

2530Gower '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 ¶away all that was in the king's tent, wherefore the king ¶most worthily hath caused every soldier to cut his 2535prisoner's throat. Oh, 'tis a gallant king.

¶Fluellen Ay, he was porn at Monmouth, Captain Gower. ¶What call you the town's name where Alexander the ¶Pig was born?

¶Gower Alexander the Great.

2540Fluellen 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.

¶Gower I think Alexander the Great was born in 2545Macedon. His father was called Philip of Macedon, as I ¶take it.

¶Fluellen 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 sall find, in the comparisons 2550between Macedon and Monmouth, that the situations, look ¶you, is both alike. There is a river in Macedon, and there ¶is also moreover 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 all one, 'tis alike as my fingers 2555is to 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 2560his 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.

¶Gower Our king is not like him in that. He never killed 2565any of his friends.

¶Fluellen It is not well done, mark you now, to take the ¶tales out of my mouth ere it is made and finished. I speak ¶but in the figures and comparisons of it. As Alexander ¶killed his friend Cleitus, being in his ales and his cups, so 2570also Harry Monmouth, being in his right wits, and his ¶good judgments, turned away the fat knight with the ¶great belly-doublet. He was full of jests, and gipes, and ¶knaveries, and mocks. I have forgot his name.

¶Gower Sir John Falstaff.

2575Fluellen That is he. I'll tell you, there is good men porn ¶at Monmouth.

¶Gower Here comes his majesty.

¶Fluellen 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 2625a most prave pattle here in France.

¶King Henry They did, Fluellen.

¶Fluellen Your majesty says very true. If your majesties ¶is remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service in a ¶garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their 2630Monmouth caps, which your majesty know to this hour ¶is an honorable badge of the service. And I do believe ¶your majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek upon ¶Saint Tavy's day.

¶Fluellen All the water in Wye cannot wash your ¶majesty's Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that. ¶God pless it, and preserve it, as long as it pleases his ¶grace, and his majesty too.

2640King Henry Thanks, good my countryman.

¶Fluellen 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.

2650Exeter [To Williams] Soldier, you must come to the king.

¶King Henry Soldier, why wear'st thou that glove in thy ¶cap?

¶Williams An't please your majesty, 'tis the gage of one ¶that I should fight withal, if he be alive.

2655King Henry An Englishman?

¶Williams An't please your majesty, a rascal that ¶swaggered with me last night, who, if alive and ever dare to ¶challenge this glove, I have sworn to take him a box ¶o'th'ear; or if I can see my glove in his cap, which he 2660swore as he was a soldier he would wear, if alive, I will ¶strike it out soundly.

¶King Henry What think you, Captain Fluellen? Is it fit this ¶soldier keep his oath?

¶Fluellen He is a craven and a villain else, an't please 2665your majesty, in my conscience.

¶King Henry It may be his enemy is a gentleman of great ¶sort, quite from the answer of his degree.

¶Fluellen Though he be as good a gentleman as the devil is, ¶as Lucifer and Belzebub himself, it is necessary, look 2670your 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 jack-sauce as ever his black shoe trod ¶upon God's ground and his earth, in my conscience, law.

¶King Henry Then keep thy vow, sirrah, when thou meet'st 2675the fellow.

¶Williams So I will, my liege, as I live.

¶King Henry Who serv'st thou under?

¶Williams Under Captain Gower, my liege.

¶Fluellen Gower is a good captain, and is good 2680knowledge and literatured in the wars.

¶King Henry Call him hither to me, soldier.

¶Williams I will, my liege.

¶King Henry Here, Fluellen, wear thou this favor for me and ¶stick it in thy cap. [Gives him Williams's glove] When Alençon and myself were 2685down 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, and thou dost me love.

¶Fluellen Your grace does me as great honors as can be 2690desired in the hearts of his subjects. I would fain see ¶the man that has but two legs that shall find himself ¶aggrief'd at this glove. That is all, but I would fain see ¶it once an't please God of his grace that I might see.

¶King Henry Know'st thou Gower?

2695Fluellen He is my dear friend, an't please you.

¶King Henry Pray thee, go seek him and bring him to my ¶tent.

¶Fluellen I will fetch him.