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Henry V, Modern text based on the Quarto

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: James D. Mardock
Not Peer Reviewed
The Chronicle History of Henry the Fifth, with his battle fought at Agincourt in France, together with Ancient Pistol
142.1

[Scene 1]

Enter King Henry, Exeter, two Bishops, Clarence, and other 143.1attendants.
Exeter Shall I call in th'ambassadors, my liege?
King Henry Not yet, my cousin, till we be resolved
150Of some serious matters touching us and France.
Bishop God and his angels guard your sacred throne,
And make you long become it.
155King Henry Sure we thank you. And good my lord, proceed:
Why the law Salic which they have in France
Or should or should not stop us in our claim;
160And God forbid, my wise and learned lord,
That you should fashion, frame, or wrest the same.
165For 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,
How you awake the sleeping sword of war;
170We charge you in the name of God, take heed.
After this conjuration speak, my lord,
And we will judge, note, and believe in heart
That what you speak is washed as pure
As sin in baptism.
180[Bishop] Then hear me, gracious sovereign, and you peers,
Which owe your lives, your faith, and services
To this imperial throne.
There is no bar to stay your highness' claim to France
But one, which they produce from Pharamond:
"No female shall succeed in Salic land."
Which Salic land the French unjustly gloss
To be the realm of France, and Pharamond
The founder of this law and female bar.
190Yet their own writers faithfully affirm
That the land Salic lies in Germany,
Between the floods of Saale and of Elbe,
Where Charles the Fifth, having subdued the Saxons,
There left behind and settled certain French,
195Who, holding in disdain the German women
For some dishonest manners of their lives,
Established there this law: to wit,
No female shall succeed in Salic land.
Which Salic land, as I said before,
200Is at this time in Germany called Meissen.
Thus doth it well appear the Salic law
Was not devisèd for the realm of France,
Nor did the French possess the Salic land
Until four hundred one-and-twenty years
205After the function of King Pharamond,
Godly supposed the founder of this law.
Hugh Capet also, that usurped the crown,
To fine his title with some show of truth --
220When in pure truth it was corrupt and naught --
Conveyed himself as heir to the Lady Inger,
230Daughter to Charles, the foresaid Duke of Lorraine.
So that as clear as is the summer's sun,
King Pepin's title and Hugh Capet's claim,
235King Charles his satisfaction, all appear
To hold in right and title of the female;
So do the lords of France until this day,
Howbeit they would hold up this Salic law
To bar your highness claiming from the female,
240And rather choose to hide them in a net
Than amply to embase their crooked causes,
Usurped from you and your progenitors.
King Henry May we with right and conscience make this claim?
Bishop The sin upon my head, dread sovereign.
245For in the book of Numbers is it writ:
"When the son dies, let the inheritance
Descend unto the daughter." Noble lord,
Stand for your own. Unwind your bloody flag.
250Go, my dread lord, to your great-grandsire's grave,
From whom you claim,
And your great-uncle, Edward the Black Prince,
Who on the French ground played a tragedy,
Making defeat on the full power of France
255Whilst his most mighty father on a hill
Stood smiling to behold his lion's whelp
Foraging blood of French nobility.
Oh, noble English, that could entertain
With half their forces the full power of France
260And let another half stand laughing by,
All out of work and cold for action!
King Henry We must not only arm us against the French,
But lay down our proportion 285for the Scot,
Who will make road upon us with all advantages.
Bishop The Marches, gracious sovereign, shall be sufficient
To guard your England from the pilfering borderers.
290King Henry We do not mean the coursing sneakers only,
But fear the main intendment of the Scot,
For you shall read, never my great-grandfather
Unmasked his power for France,
295But that the Scot on his unfurnished kingdom
Came pouring like the tide into a breach,
300That England, being empty of defenses,
Hath shook and trembled at the bruit hereof.
Bishop She hath been then more feared than hurt, my lord,
For hear her but exemplified by herself:
When all her chivalry hath been in France
305And 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 like a caitiff she did lead to France,
310Filling your chronicles as rich with praise
As is the ooze and bottom of the sea
With sunken wreck and shipless treasury.
Lord There is a saying very old and true:
"If you will France win,
Then with Scotland first begin."
315For once the eagle England being in prey,
To his unfurnished nest the weasel Scot
Would suck her eggs, playing the mouse in absence of the cat,
To spoil and havoc more than she can eat.
320Exeter It follows then the cat must stay at home,
Yet that is but a cursed necessity,
Since we have traps to catch the petty thieves.
Whilst that the armèd hand doth fight abroad,
325The advisèd head controls at home:
For government, though high or low being put into parts,
Congrueth with a mutual content
Like music.
330Bishop
True: therefore doth heaven divide
The fate of man in divers functions,
Whereto is added as an aim or butt, obedience.
For so live the honey bees, 335creatures that by awe
Ordain an act of order to a peopled kingdom.
They have a king and officers of sort,
Where some like magistrates correct at home;
Others like merchants venture trade abroad;
340Others, like soldiers armèd in their stings,
Make boot upon the summer's velvet bud,
Which pillage they with merry march bring home
To the tent-royal of their emperor,
Who, busied in his majesty, behold
345The singing masons building roofs of gold,
The civil citizens lading up the honey,
The sad-eyed justice with his surly hum
350Delivering up to executors pale the lazy caning drone.
This I infer: 351.1that twenty actions once afoot
May all end in one moment.
As many arrows loosèd several ways 355fly to one mark,
As many several ways meet in one town,
As many fresh streams run in one self sea,
As many lines close in the dial center,
So may a thousand actions once afoot
End in one moment, and be all well borne
360Without defect. Therefore my liege, to France.
Divide your happy England into four,
Of which take you one quarter into France,
And you withal shall make all Gallia shake.
If we, with thrice that power left at home,
365Cannot defend our own door from the dog,
Let us be beaten, and from henceforth lose
The name of policy and hardiness.
King Henry Call in the messenger sent from the dauphin, --
[Exit attendant.]
370And by your aid, the noble sinews of our land,
France being ours, we'll bring it to our awe,
Or break it all in pieces.
Either our chronicles shall with full mouth speak
Freely of our acts,
Or else like tongueless mutes;
380Not worshipped with a paper epitaph.
Enter the ambassadors from France.
Now are we well prepared to know the dauphin's pleasure,
For we hear your coming is from him.
385Ambassador Pleaseth your majesty to give us leave
Freely to render what we have in charge,
Or shall I sparingly show, afar off,
The dauphin's pleasure and our embassage?
King Henry We are no tyrant, but a Christian king,
390To whom our spirit is as subject,
As are our wretches fettered in our prisons.
Therefore freely and with uncurbed boldness
Tell us the dauphin's mind.
Ambassador Then this in fine the dauphin saith:
Whereas you claim certain towns in France
From your predecessor King Edward the Third,
400This he returns: he saith there's naught in France
That can be with a nimble galliard won;
You cannot revel into dukedoms there.
Therefore he sendeth, meeter for your study,
This tun of treasure, and in lieu of this,
405Desires to let the dukedoms that you crave
Hear no more from you. This the dauphin saith.
King Henry
What treasure, uncle?
Exeter
Tennis balls, my liege.
King Henry We are glad the dauphin is so pleasant with us.
410Your message and his present we accept.
When we have matched our rackets to these balls,
We will, by God's grace, play such a set
Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard.
Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler
415That all the courts of France shall be disturbed
With chases. 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,
420And therefore gave ourselves to barbarous license,
As 'tis common seen that men are merriest when they are from home.
But tell the dauphin we will keep our state,
Be, like a king, mighty, and command
425When we do rouse us in throne of France.
For this have we laid by our majesty
And plodded like a man for working days,
But we will rise there with so full of glory,
That we will dazzle all the eyes of France,
430Ay, strike the dauphin blind to look on us.
And tell him this: his mock hath turned his balls to gunstones,
And his soul shall sit sore charged for the wasteful vengeance
That shall fly from them: for this his mock
435Shall mock many a wife out of their dear husbands,
Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down.
Ay, some are yet ungotten and unborn
That shall have cause to curse the dauphin's scorn.
But this lies all within the will of God,
440To whom we do appeal, and in whose name
Tell you the dauphin we are coming on
To venge us as we may, and to put forth our hand
In a rightful cause. So get you hence and tell your prince
445His jest will savor but of shallow wit,
When thousands weep more than did laugh at it. --
Convey them with safe conduct; see them hence.
[Exeunt ambassadors, attended.]
Exeter This was a merry message.
450King Henry We hope to make the sender blush at it.
455Therefore let our collection for the wars
Be soon provided, for, God before,
We'll check the dauphin at his father's door.
460Therefore let every man now task his thought
That this fair action may on foot be brought.
Exeunt omnes.
504.1

[Scene 2]

505
Enter Nym and Bardolph.
Bardolph Good morrow, Corporal Nym.
Nym Good morrow, Lieutenant Bardolph.
Bardolph What, is Ancient Pistol and thee friends yet?
508.1Nym I cannot tell; things must be as they may: I dare not fight, but I will wink and hold out mine iron. It is a simple one, but what though? It will serve to toast cheese, and it will endure cold as another man's sword will, and there's the humor of it.
Bardolph I'faith, Mistress Quickly did thee great wrong, for thou wert troth-plight to her.
Nym I must do as I may. Though patience be a tired mare, yet she'll plod, and some say knives have edges, 525and men may sleep, and have their throats about them at that time, and there is the humor of it.
515Bardolph Come, i'faith, I'll bestow a breakfast to make Pistol and thee friends. 590What a plague should we carry knives to cut our own throats?
Nym I'faith, I'll live as long as I may, that's the certain of it. And when I cannot live any longer, I'll do 520as I may, and there's my rest, and the rendezvous of it.
530
Enter Pistol and Hostess[, formerly Mistress] Quickly, his wife.
530.1Bardolph Good morrow, Ancient Pistol. Here comes ancient Pistol; I prithee, Nym, be quiet.
Nym How do you, my host?
Pistol Base slave, call'st thou me host? Now by 535Gad's lugs I swear I scorn the title, nor shall my Nell keep lodging.
Hostess No, by my troth not I, for we cannot bed nor board half a score honest gentlewomen that live honestly by the prick of their needle, but it is 540thought straight we keep a bawdy-house.
[Nym draws his sword.] 540.1O Lord, here's Corporal Nym's! Now shall we have willful adultery and murder committed. Good Corporal Nym, show the valor of a man and put up your sword.
Nym Push.
545Pistol What dost thou push, thou prick-eared cur of Iceland?
Nym Will you shog off? I would have you solus.
550Pistol "Solus," egregious dog? That "solus" in thy throat, and in thy lungs, and which is worse, within thy messful mouth! I do retort that "solus" in thy bowels, and in thy jaw, perdie: for I can talk, and 555Pistol's flashing fiery cock is up.
Nym I am not Barbasom; you cannot conjure me. I have an humor, Pistol, to knock you indifferently well. An you fall foul with me, Pistol, I'll scour you with my rapier in fair terms. If you will walk 560off a little, I'll prick your guts a little in good terms, and there's the humor of it.
Pistol O braggart vile, and damnèd furious wight, the grave doth gape, and groaning death is near, therefore exhale.
564.1
They draw.
565Bardolph Hear me: he that strikes the first blow, I'll kill him, as I am a soldier.
Pistol An oath of mickle might, and fury shall abate.
[They sheathe their swords.]
Nym I'll cut your throat at one time or another in fair terms, and there's the humor of it.
Pistol Couple gorge is the word; I thee defy again! A damnèd hound, think'st thou my spouse to get? 575No! To 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 Paco! There, it is enough.
580
Enter the Boy.
Boy Hostess, you must come straight to my master, and you, Host Pistol. -- Good Bardolph, put thy nose between the sheets, and do the office of a warming-pan.
Hostess By my troth, he'll yield the crow a pudding one of these days. I'll go to him. Husband, you'll come?
[Exeunt Boy and Hostess.]
588.1Bardolph Come, Pistol, be friends. Nym, prithee be friends. An if thou wilt not, be enemies with me too.
Nym [To Pistol] I shall have my eight shillings I won of you 595at beating?
Pistol Base is the slave that pays.
Nym That now I will have, and there's the humor of it.
Pistol As manhood shall compound.
They draw [their swords].
Bardolph [Drawing his sword] He that strikes the first blow, 600I'll kill him, by this sword.
Pistol Sword is an oath, and oaths must have their course.
[Sheathes his sword.]
601.1Nym I shall have my eight shillings I won of you at beating?
605Pistol A noble shalt thou have, and ready pay, and liquor likewise will give to thee, and friendship shall combind, and brotherhood. I'll live by Nym as Nym shall live by me: is not this just? For I shall sutler be unto the camp, and profit will accrue.
Nym I shall have my noble?
Pistol In cash most truly paid.
Nym Why there's the humor of it.
Enter Hostess.
615Hostess As ever you came of men, come in. Sir John, poor soul, is so troubled with a burning tashan contigian fever, 'tis wonderful.
[Exit.]
625Pistol Let us condole the knight, for lambkins, we will live.
625.1
Exeunt omnes.
626.1

[Scene 3]

Enter Exeter and Gloucester.
Gloucester Before God, my lord, his grace is too bold to trust these traitors.
Exeter They shall be apprehended by and by.
635Gloucester Ay, but the man that was his bedfellow,
Whom he hath cloyed and graced with princely favors,
That he should, for a foreign purse -- to sell
His sovereign's life to death and treachery!
638.1Exeter Oh, the Lord of Masham.
640
Enter the King and three lords[, Masham, Cambridge, and Grey, and attendants].
King Henry Now sirs, the wind's fair, and we will aboard.
My lord of Cambridge, and my lord of Masham,
And you, my gentle knight, give me your thoughts:
Do you not think the power we bear with us,
645Will make us conquerors in the field of France?
Masham No doubt, my liege, if each man do his best.
Cambridge Never was monarch better feared and loved
655Than is your majesty.
Grey Even those that were your father's enemies
Have steeped their galls in honey for your sake.
King Henry We therefore have great cause of thankfulness,
And shall forget the office of our hands
Sooner than reward and merit,
According to their cause and worthiness.
665Masham So service shall with steelèd sinews shine,
And labor shall refresh itself with hope
To do your grace incessant service.
King Henry Uncle of Exeter, enlarge the man
Committed yesterday, 670that railed against our person.
We consider it was the heat of wine that set him on,
And on his more advice we pardon him.
Masham That is mercy, but too much security.
Let him be punished, sovereign, lest the example of him
675Breed more of such a kind.
King Henry Oh, let us yet be merciful.
Cambridge So may your highness, and punish too.
Grey You show great mercy if you give him life,
After the taste of his correction.
680King Henry Alas, your too much care and love of me
Are heavy orisons 'gainst the poor wretch.
If little faults proceeding on distemper
Should not be winked at, how should we stretch our eye
When capital crimes, chewed, swallowed, and digested,
685Appear before us? We'll yet enlarge the man,
Though Cambridge and the rest, in their dear loves
And tender preservation of our state
Would have him punished. Now to our French causes. --
Who are the late commissioners?
690Cambridge
Me one, my lord.
Your highness bade me ask for it today.
Masham So did you me, my sovereign.
Grey And me, my lord.
King Henry [Giving them papers] Then Richard Earl of Cambridge, there is yours.
695There is yours, my lord of Masham and Sir Thomas Grey,
Knight of Northumberland, this same is yours.
Read them, and know we know your worthiness. --
Uncle Exeter, I will aboard tonight.
Why how now, gentlemen? 700Why change you color?
What see you in those papers
That hath so chased your blood out of appearance?
705Cambridge I do confess my fault, and do submit me
To your highness' mercy.
Masham To which we all appeal.
King Henry The mercy which was quit in us but late
By your own reasons is forestalled and done.
710You must not dare for shame to ask for mercy,
For your own conscience turn upon your bosoms
As dogs upon their masters, worrying them. --
See you, my princes, and my noble peers,
These English monsters: my lord of Cambridge here,
715You know how apt we were to grace him
In all things belonging to his honor;
And this vile man hath for a few light crowns,
Lightly conspired and sworn unto the practices of France
720To kill us here in Hampton. To the which
This knight, no less in bounty bound to us
Than Cambridge is, hath likewise sworn. --
[To Masham] But oh, what shall I say to thee, false man?
Thou cruel, ingrateful, and inhumane creature,
725Thou that didst bear the key of all my counsel,
That knew'st the very secrets of my heart,
That almost mightst'a coined me into gold,
Wouldst thou a'practiced on me for thy use?
Can it be possible that out of thee
730Should proceed one spark that might annoy my finger?
'Tis so strange, that though the truth doth show as gross
As black from white, mine eye will scarcely see it. --
Their faults are open; arrest them to the answer of the law,
And God acquit them of their practices.
Exeter I arrest thee of high treason, by the name of 775Richard, Earl of Cambridge. I arrest thee of high treason, by the name of Henry, Lord of Masham. I arrest thee of high treason, by the name of Thomas Grey, knight of Northumberland.
780Masham Our purposes God justly hath discovered,
And I repent my fault more than my death,
Which I beseech your majesty forgive,
Although my body pay the price of it.
795King Henry God quit you in his mercy. Hear your sentence:
You have conspired against our royal person,
Joined with an enemy proclaimed and fixed,
And from his coffers received the golden earnest of our death.
Touching our person we seek no redress,
But we our kingdom's safety must so tender,
805Whose ruin you have sought, that to our laws
We do deliver you. Get ye therefore hence,
Poor miserable creatures, to your death,
The taste whereof God in his mercy give you
Patience to endure, and true repentance
810Of all your deeds amiss. -- Bear them hence.
810.1
Exit [the] three lords[, Cambridge, Grey, and Masham, guarded].
Now, lords, to France, the enterprise whereof
Shall be to you as us, successively,
Since God cut off 815this dangerous treason lurking in our way.
Cheerly to sea; the signs of war advance.
No king of England if not king of France.
Exeunt omnes.
822.1

[Scene 4]

Enter Nym, Pistol, Bardolph, Hostess, and Boy.
Hostess I prithee, sweetheart, let me bring 825thee so far as Staines.
Pistol No fur, no fur.
Bardolph Well, Sir John is gone. God be with him.
Hostess Ay, he is in Arthur's bosom, if ever any were. He went away as if it were a chrisomed 835child, between twelve and one, just at turning of the tide. His nose was as sharp as a pen; for when I saw him fumble with the sheets, and talk of flowers, and smile upon his 838.1fingers' ends, I knew there was no way but one. "How now, 840Sir John?" quoth I, and he cried three times, "God, God, God." Now I, to comfort him, bade him not think of God; I hope there was no such need. Then he bade me put more clothes at his 845feet: and I felt to them, and they were as cold as any stone; and to his knees, and they were as cold as any stone; and so upward, and upward, and all was as cold as any stone.
Nym They say he cried out on sack.
Hostess Ay, that he did.
850Boy And of women.
Hostess No, that he did not.
Boy Yes, that he did, and he said they were devils incarnate.
Hostess Indeed, carnation was a 855color he never loved.
Boy Well, he did cry out on women.
Hostess Indeed, he did in some sort handle women, but then he was rheumatic, and talked of the whore of 860Babylon.
Boy Hostess, do you remember he saw a flea stand upon Bardolph's nose, and said it was a black soul burning in hell fire?
Bardolph Well, God be with him; 865that was all the wealth I got in his service.
Nym Shall we shog off? The king will be gone from Southampton.
Pistol [To Hostess]Clear up thy crystals. Look to my chattels and my movables. 870Trust none: the word is pitch and pay, men's words are wafer cakes, and Holdfast is the only dog, my dear, therefore Cophetua be thy counselor. -- [To the others] Touch her soft lips and part.
Bardolph [Kisses her] Farewell, hostess.
880.1Nym I cannot kiss, and there's the humor of it, but adieu.
Pistol Keep fast thy buggle boe.
Exeunt omnes.
884.1

[Scene 5]

Enter King of France, Bourbon, Dauphin, [Constable, Orléans, Berry,]and others.
887.1French King Now you Lords of Orléans, of Bourbon, and of Berry,
You see the King of England is not slack,
For he is footed on this land already.
Dauphin My gracious lord, 'tis meet we all go forth,
And arm us against the foe,
910And view the weak and sickly parts of France.
But let us do it with no show of fear,
No, with no more than if we heard
England were busied with a morris dance.
For, my good Lord, she is so idly kinged,
915Her scepter so fantastically borne,
So guided by a shallow humorous youth,
That fear attends her not.
Constable Oh, peace, Prince Dauphin; you deceive yourself. --
920Question your grace the late ambassador:
With what regard he heard his embassage,
How well supplied with agèd counselors,
922.1And how his resolution answered him.
You then would say that Harry was not wild.
French King Well, think we Harry strong,
And strongly arm us to prevent the foe.
939.1Constable My lord, here is an ambassador
From the King of England.
French King Bid him come in.
[Exit Constable.]
960You see this chase is hotly followed, lords.
Dauphin My gracious father, cut up this English short.
Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a thing
As self-neglecting.
Enter Exeter.
French King
From our brother England?
970Exeter From him, and thus he greets your majesty:
He wills you in the name of God almighty
That you divest yourself, and lay apart
That borrowed title, which by gift of heaven,
Of law, of nature, and of nations, longs
975To him and to his heirs, namely the crown
And all wide-stretchèd titles that belongs
Unto the crown of France. That you may know
'Tis no sinister nor no awkward claim
980Picked from the wormholes of old vanished days,
Nor from the dust of old oblivion racked,
He sends you these most memorable lines,
[Offers the French King a paper]
In every branch truly demonstrated,
Willing you overlook this pedigree.
985And when you find him evenly derived
From his most famed and famous ancestors,
Edward the Third, he bids you then resign
Your crown and kingdom, indirectly held
From him, the native and true challenger.
990French King If not, what follows?
Exeter Bloody constraint: for if you hide the crown
Even in your hearts, there will he rake for it.
Therefore in fierce tempest is he coming,
In thunder and in earthquake, like a Jove,
995That if requiring fail, he will compel it.
1000And on your heads turns he the widows' tears,
The orphans' cries, the dead men's bones,
The pining maidens' groans
For husbands, fathers, and distressèd lovers,
Which shall be swallowed in this controversy.
This is his claim, his threat'ning, and my message,
1005Unless the dauphin be in presence here,
To whom expressly we bring greeting too.
1010Dauphin For the dauphin? I stand here for him,
What to hear from England?
Exeter Scorn and defiance, slight regard, contempt,
And anything that may not misbecome
The mighty sender doth he prize you at.
1015Thus saith my king: unless your father's highness
Sweeten the bitter mock you sent his majesty,
He'll call you to so loud an answer for it,
That caves and wombly vaults of France
1020Shall chide your trespass and return your mock
In second accent of his ordinance.
Dauphin Say that, my father render fair reply,
It is against my will, for I desire
Nothing so much as odds with England.
1025And for that cause, according to his youth
I did present him with those Paris balls.
Exeter He'll make your Paris Louvre shake for it,
Were it the mistress court of mighty Europe.
And be assured, you'll find a difference,
1030As we his subjects have in wonder found,
Between his younger days and these he musters now,
Now he weighs time even to the latest grain,
Which you shall find in your own losses
If he stay in France.
1034.1French King Well, for us, you shall return our answer back
To our brother England.
Exeunt omnes.
1118.1

[Scene 6]

Enter Nym, Bardolph, Pistol, [and] Boy.
Nym Before God, here is hot service.
Pistol 'Tis hot indeed. Blows go and come, God's vassals drop and die.
1126.1Nym 'Tis honor, and there's the humor of it.
Boy Would I were in London! 1130I'd give all my honor for a pot of ale.
Pistol And I. If wishes would prevail, I would not stay, but thither would I hie.
Enter Flewellen, and beats them in.
Flewellen God's plood, up to the breaches, you rascals! Will you not up to the breaches?
1140Nym Abate thy rage, sweet knight, abate thy rage.
[Exeunt Nym, Bardolph, and Pistol.]
1140.1Boy [To audience] Well, I would I were once from them. They would have me as familiar with men's pockets as their gloves 1165and their handkerchers. They will steal anything. Bardolph stole a lute case, 1160carried it three mile, and sold it for three ha'pence. Nym stole a fire-shovel. I knew by that, 1163.1they meant to carry coals. Well, if they will not leave me, I mean to leave them.
1170
Exit Boy.
Enter Gower.
Gower Captain Flewellen, you must come straight to the mines, to the Duke of Gloucester.
1175Flewellen Look you, tell the duke it is not so good to come to the mines. The concavities is otherwise, you may discuss to the duke. The enemy is digged 1180himself, five yards under, the countermines. By Jesus, I think he'll blow up all if there be no better direction.
Enter the King and his lords. Alarum.
1260King Henry How yet resolves the governor of the town?
This is the latest parley we'll admit,
Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves,
Or like to men proud of destruction
Defy us to our worst; for as I am a soldier,
1265A name that in my thoughts becomes me best,
If we begin the battery once again,
I will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur
Till in her ashes she be burièd.
The gates of mercy are all shut up.
What say you? Will you yield and this avoid,
Or, guilty in defense, be thus destroyed?
Enter Governor.
Governor Our expectation hath this day an end:
1305The dauphin, whom of succor we entreated,
Returns us word his powers are not yet ready
To raise so great a siege. Therefore, dread king,
We yield our town and lives to thy soft mercy.
Enter our gates; dispose of us and ours,
1310For we no longer are defensive now.
[Exeunt omnes.]
1319.1

[Scene 7]

1320
Enter Catherine, Alice.
Catherine Alice, venez ici. Vous avez quarante ans; vous parlez fort bon l'anglais d'Angleterre. 1325Comment appelez-vous la main en anglais?
Alice La main, madame? De han.
Catherine Et le bras?
1340Alice De arma, madame.
Catherine Le main, da han le bras, de arma.
1331.1Alice Oui, madam.
1350Catherine Et comment appelez-vous le menton et le col?
Alice De neck, et de cin, madame.
Catherine Et de neck, et de cin. Et le coude?
Alice Le coude? Ma foi, j'oublie! Mais je remember -- le coude -- oh! De elbo, madame.
Catherine Ecoutez: je raconterai tout celle que j'ai appris: de han, de arma, de neck, du cin, et de bilbo.
Alice De elbo, madame!
Catherine O Jesu, j'ai oublié! Ma foi! Ecoutez; je raconterai: de han, de arma, de neck, de cin, et de elbo. Est-ça bon?
1355Alice Ma foi, madame, vous parlez aussi bon anglais comme si vous aviez étudié en Angleterre.
1356.1Catherine Par la grace de Dieu, en petit temps je parle meilleur. Comment appelez-vous le pied et la robe?
Alice Le foot,et le con.
Catherine Le fot, et le con? O Jesu! 1370Je ne veux point parler ce plus devant les chères chevaliers de France pour un million! Ma foi!
1371.1Alice Madame, de foot, et le con.
1372.1Catherine Oh! Est-il aussi? Ecoutez, Alice: de han, de arma, 1373.1de neck, de cin, le foot, et de con.
1375Alice C'est fort bon, madame.
Catherine Allons-y a dîner.
Exeunt omnes.
1377.1

[Scene 8]

Enter King of France, Lord Constable, the Dauphin, and Bourbon.
1380French King 'Tis certain he is past the river Somme.
Constable Mort de ma vie! Shall a few sprangs of us,
1385The emptying of our fathers' luxury,
Outgrow their grafters?
Bourbon
Normans, bastard Normans.
1390Mon dieu! And if they pass unfought withal,
I'll sell my dukedom for a foggy farm
In that short-nook isle of England.
Constable Why, whence have they this mettle?
1395Is not their climate raw, foggy and cold,
On whom, as in disdain, the sun looks pale?
Can barley broth, a drench for swollen jades,
Their sodden water, decoct such lively blood?
1400And shall our quick blood, spirited with wine,
Seem frosty? Oh, for honor of our names,
Let us not hang like frozen icicles
Upon our houses' tops while they o' more
Frosty climate sweat drops of youthful blood.
French King Constable, dispatch. Send Montjoy forth
To know what willing ransom he will give.
Son dauphin, you shall stay in Rouen with me.
1445Dauphin Not so, I do beseech your majesty.
1445.1French King Well, I say it shall be so.
Exeunt omnes.
1448.1

[Scene 9]

Enter Gower [and Flewellen, meeting].
Gower How now, Captain Flewellen, come you from the bridge?
Flewellen By Jesus, there's excellent service committed at the bridge.
1455Gower Is the Duke of Exeter safe?
Flewellen The Duke of Exeter is a man whom I love, and I honor, and I worship, with my soul, and my heart, and my life, and my lands and my livings, and my uttermost powers. The duke is, look you, God be praised and 1460pleased for it, no harm in the worell. He is maintain the bridge very gallantly. There is an ensign there, I do not know how you call him, but by Jesus I think he is as valiant a man as Mark Antony. He doth maintain the bridge most gallantly. Yet he is a man of no reckoning, but I did see 1465him do gallant service.
Gower How do you call him?
Flewellen His name is Ancient Pistol.
Gower I know him not.
Enter Ancient Pistol.
1470Flewellen Do you not know him? Here comes the man.
Pistol Captain, I thee beseech to do me favor; the Duke of Exeter doth love thee well.
Flewellen Ay, and I praise God I have merited some love at his hands.
1475Pistol Bardolph, a soldier, one of buxom valor, hath, by furious fate and giddy Fortune's fickle wheel, that goddess blind that stands upon the rolling restless stone --
Flewellen By your patience, Ancient Pistol, Fortune, look you, is 1480painted plind, with a muffler before her eyes, to signify to you that fortune is plind; And she is moreover painted with a wheel, which is the moral that Fortune is turning, and inconstant, and variation, and mutabilities; and her fate is fixed at a 1485spherical stone which rouls, and rouls, and rouls. Surely the poet is make an excellent description of Fortune. Fortune, look you, is an excellent moral.
Pistol Fortune is Bardolph's foe and frowns on him, for he hath stolen a pax, and hanged must he be, a damnèd 1490death. Let gallows gape for dogs; let man go free, and let not death his windpipe stop. But Exeter hath given the doom of death, for pax of petty price, therefore go speak -- the duke will hear thy voice -- and let not Bardolph's vital thread be cut with edge of 1495penny-cord and vile approach. Speak, captain, for his life, and I will thee requite.
Flewellen Ancient Pistol, I partly understand your meaning.
Pistol Why then, rejoice therefore!
1500Flewellen Certainly, Ancient Pistol, 'tis not a thing to rejoice at. For if he were my own brother, I would wish the duke to do his pleasure, and put him to executions; for look you, disciplines ought to be kept. They ought to be kept.
Pistol Die and be damned, and figa for thy friendship!
1505Flewellen That is good.
Pistol The fig of Spain within thy jaw!
Flewellen That is very well.
1507.1Pistol I say the fig within thy bowels and thy dirty maw.
Exit Pistol.
Flewellen Captain Gower, cannot you hear it lighten and thunder?
Gower Why, is this the ancient you told me of? I remember him now. He is a bawd, a cutpurse.
1510Flewellen By Jesus, he is utter as prave words upon the bridge as you shall desire to see in a summer's day. But it's all one; what he hath said to me, look you, is all one.
Gower Why this is a gull, a fool, a rogue that 1515goes to the wars only to grace himself at his return to London, and such fellows as he are perfect in great commanders' names. They will learn by rote where services were done: at such and such a sconce, at such a breach, at such a 1520convoy; who came off bravely, who was shot, who disgraced; what terms the enemy stood on. And this they con perfectly in phrase of war, which they trick up with new-tuned oaths. And what a beard of the general's cut and a horrid shout of the camp will do 1525among the foaming bottles and ale-washed wits is wonderful to be thought on. But you must learn to know such slanders of this age, or else you may marvelously be mistook.
Flewellen Certain, Captain Gower, 1530it is not the man, look you, that I did take him to be, but when time shall serve, I shall tell him a little of my desires. Here comes his majesty.
Enter King, Clarence, Gloucester, and others.
King Henry How now, Flewellen, come you from the bridge?
Flewellen Ay, an it shall please your majesty. 1540There is excellent service at the bridge.
1545King Henry What men have you lost, Flewellen?
1545.1Flewellen An it shall please your majesty, the partition of the adversary hath been great, very reasonable great, but for our own parts, like you now, I think we have lost never a man, unless it be one for robbing of a church: one Bardolph, if your 1550majesty know the man. His face is full of whelks, and knubs, and pumples, and his breath blows at his nose like a coal, sometimes red, sometimes plue. But, God be praised, now his nose is executed and his fire out.
1555King Henry We would have all offenders so cut off, and we here give express commandment that there be nothing taken from the villages but paid for, none of the French abused or upbraided with disdainful language. For when 1560cruelty and lenity play for a kingdom, the gentlest gamester is the sooner winner.
Enter French Herald.
Herald You know me by my habit.
King Henry Well then, we know thee. What should we know of 1565thee?
Herald My master's mind.
King Henry Unfold it.
Herald "Go thee unto Harry of England, and tell him 1570advantage is a better soldier than rashness. Although we did seem dead, we did but slumber. Now we speak upon our cue, and our voice is imperial. England shall repent her folly, see her 1575rashness, and admire our sufferance, which to ransom, his pettiness would bow under. 1580For the effusion of our blood, his army is too weak; for the disgrace we have borne, himself kneeling at our feet a weak and worthless satisfaction. To this, add defiance." 1585So much from the king my master.
King Henry What is thy name? We know thy quality.
Herald Montjoy.
King Henry Thou dost thy office fair. Return thee back
1590And tell thy king I do not seek him now,
But could be well content, without impeach,
1591.1To march on to Calais. 1592.1For to say the sooth,
Though 'tis no wisdom to confess so much
Unto an enemy of craft and vantage,
1595My soldiers are with sickness much enfeebled,
My army lessened, and those few I have
Almost no better than so many French,
Who when they were in heart, I tell thee, herald,
I thought upon one pair of English legs
1600Did march three Frenchmen's. Yet forgive me, God,
That I do brag thus; this your "heir" of France
Hath blown this vice in me. I must repent.
Go tell thy master here I am.
My ransom is this frail and worthless body,
1605My army but a weak and sickly guard.
Yet, God before, we will come on, if France
And such another neighbor stood in our way.
1610If we may pass, we will. If we be hindered,
We shall your tawny ground with your red blood discolor.
So, Montjoy, get you gone. [Gives money] There is for your pains.
The sum of all our answer is but this:
We would not seek a battle as we are,
1615Nor as we are, we say, we will not shun it.
Herald I shall deliver so: thanks to your majesty.
Gloucester My liege, I hope they will not come upon us now.
1620King Henry We are in God's hand, brother, not in theirs.
Tonight we will encamp beyond the bridge,
And on tomorrow bid them march away.
1623.1

[Scene 10]
Enter Bourbon, Constable, Orléans, Gebon.
Constable Tut, I have the best armor in the world.
Orléans You have an excellent armor, but let my horse have his due.
1628.1Bourbon Now you talk of a horse, I have a steed like the palfrey of the sun, nothing but pure air and fire, and hath none of this dull element of earth within him.
Orléans He is of the color of the nutmeg.
1645Bourbon And of the heat o' the ginger. 1660Turn all the sands into eloquent tongues, and my horse is argument for them all. 1665I once writ a sonnet in the praise of my horse, and began thus: "Wonder of nature --"
Constable I have heard a sonnet begin so in the praise of one's mistress.
Bourbon Why, then did they imitate that which I writ 1670in praise of my horse, for my horse is my mistress.
Constable Ma foi, the other day methought your mistress 1675shook you shrewdly.
Bourbon Ay, bearing me. I tell thee, lord constable, my mistress wears her own hair.
Constable I could make as good a boast of that if I had had a 1690sow to my mistress.
Bourbon Tut, thou wilt make use of anything.
Constable Yet I do not use my horse for my mistress.
Bourbon Will it never be morning? I'll ride tomorrow a mile, and my way shall be paved with English faces.
Constable By my faith, so will not I, for fear I be outfaced of my way.
1715Bourbon Well, I'll go arm myself. Hay!
[Exit.]
Gebon The Duke of Bourbon longs for morning.
Orléans Ay, he longs to eat the English.
Constable I think he'll eat all he kills.
1740Orléans Oh, peace. Ill will never said well.
Constable I'll cap that proverb with "There is flattery in friendship."
Orléans Oh, sir, I can answer that with "Give the devil his due."
Constable Have at the eye of that proverb with "A jag of the devil."
Orléans Well, the Duke of Bourbon is simply the most active gentleman of France.
1725Constable Doing his activity, and he'll still be doing.
Orléans He never did hurt as I heard of.
Constable No, I warrant you, nor never will.
Orléans I hold him to be exceeding valiant.
1730Constable I was told so by one that knows him better than you.
Orléans Who's that?
Constable Why, he told me so himself, and said he cared not who knew it.
Orléans Well, who will go with me to hazard for a hundred English prisoners?
Constable You must go to hazard yourself before you have them.
Enter a messenger.
Messenger My lords, the English lie within a hundred paces of your tent.
1755Constable Who hath measured the ground?
Messenger The lord Grandpré.
Constable A valiant man, and an expert gentleman. 1757.1Come, come away. The sun is high, and we wear out the day.
Exeunt omnes.
1881.1

[Scene 11]

Enter the King disguised, to him Pistol.
Pistol Ke ve la?
King Henry A friend.
1885Pistol Discuss unto me: art thou gentleman, or art thou common, base, and popular?
King Henry No sir, I am a gentleman of a company.
Pistol Trail'st thou the puissant pike?
King Henry Even so, sir. What are you?
1890Pistol As good a gentleman as the emperor.
King Henry Oh, then thou art better than the king?
Pistol The king's a bago, and a heart of gold, a lad of life, an imp of fame, of parents good, of fist most valiant. I kiss his dirty shoe, and from 1895my heartstrings I love the lovely bully. What is thy name?
King Henry Harry le Roy.
Pistol Leroy: a Cornishman. Art thou of Cornish crew?
King Henry No sir, I am a Welshman.
Pistol A Welshman. Know'st thou Flewellen?
1900King Henry Ay, sir, he is my kinsman.
1905Pistol Art thou his friend?
1905.1King Henry Ay, sir.
Pistol Figa for thee, then. My name is Pistol.
1910King Henry It sorts well with your fierceness.
Pistol Pistol is my name.
Exit Pistol.
Enter Gower and Flewellen.
Gower Captain Flewellen.
Flewellen In the name of Jesu, speak lower. It 1915is the greatest folly in the worell, when the auncient prerogatives of the wars be not kept. I warrant you, if you look into the wars of the Romans, you shall find no tittle-tattle, nor bible-bable there, 1920but you shall find the cares, and the fears, and the ceremonies, to be otherwise.
Gower Why the enemy is loud; you heard him all night.
Flewellen God-so! Loud! If the enemy be an ass, and a fool, and a prating coxcomb, is it meet that we be also a fool, and a prating coxcomb, in your conscience now?
1930Gower I'll speak lower.
Flewellen I beseech you do, good Captain Gower.
1931.1
Exeunt Gower and Flewellen.
King Henry Though it appear a little out of fashion, yet there's much care in this.
Enter three soldiers.
1 Soldier Is not that the morning yonder?
19402 Soldier Ay, we see the beginning; God knows whether we shall see the end or no.
3 Soldier Well, I think the king could wish himself 1965up to the neck in the middle of the Thames, and so I would he were, 1965.1at all adventures, and I with him.
1941.1King Henry Now, masters, good morrow. What cheer?
3 Soldier I'faith, small cheer some of us is like to have ere this day end.
King Henry Why, fear nothing, man. The king is frolic.
.52 Soldier Ay, he may be, for he hath no such cause as we.
King Henry Nay, say not so. He is a man as we are. The violet smells to him as to us, therefore if he see reasons, he fears 1960as we do.
2 Soldier But the king hath a heavy reckoning to make if his cause be not good, when all those souls whose bodies shall be slaughtered here 1985shall join together at the latter day, and say "I died at such a place," some swearing, some, their wives rawly left, some leaving their children poor behind them. Now if his cause be bad, I think it will be a grievous matter to him.
King Henry Why, so you may say if a man send his servant 1998.1as factor into another country, and he by any means miscarry, you may say the business of the master was the author of his servant's misfortune. 1995Or if a son be employed by his father, and he fall into any lewd action, you may say the father was the author of his son's damnation. But the master is not to answer for his servants, the father for his son, nor the king for his subjects, 2005for they purpose not their deaths when they crave their services. Some there are that have the guilt of 2010premeditated murder on them; others the broken seal of forgery, in beguiling maidens. Now if these outstrip the law, yet they cannot escape God's punishment. War is God's beadle; war is God's vengeance. Every man's service is the king's, but 2025every man's soul is his own. Therefore I would have every soldier examine himself and wash every mote out of his conscience, that in so doing he may be the readier for death, or not dying, why the time was well spent wherein such preparation was 2030made.
3 Soldier I'faith, he says true: every man's fault on 2035his own head. I would not have the king answer for me, yet I intend to fight lustily for him.
King Henry Well, I heard the king. He would not be ransomed.
20402 Soldier Ay, he said so, to make us fight, but when our throats be cut, he may be ransomed and we never the wiser.
King Henry If I live to see that, I'll never trust his word again.
20452 Soldier Mass, you'll pay him then. 'Tis a great displeasure that an elder-gun can do against a cannon, or a subject against a monarch. You'll ne'er take his word again! You're an ass. Go.
King Henry Your reproof is somewhat too bitter. Were it not at this time, I could be angry.
2 Soldier Why let it be a quarrel if thou wilt.
King Henry How shall I know thee?
20602 Soldier Here is my glove, which if ever I see in thy hat, 2065I'll challenge thee, and strike thee.
King Henry Here is likewise another of mine, 2062.1and assure thee I'll wear it.
[They exchange gloves.]
2 Soldier Thou dar'st as well be hanged.
3 Soldier Be friends, you fools. We have French quarrels enough 2071.1in hand; we have no need of English broils.
King Henry 'Tis no treason to cut French crowns, for tomorrow the King himself will be a clipper. --
Exeunt the soldiers.
O God of battles, steel my soldiers' hearts.
Take from them now the sense of reckoning,
That the opposed multitudes 2143.1which stand before them
May not appall their courage. Oh, not today,
2145Not today, O God, think on the fault
My father made in compassing the crown.
I Richard's body have interrèd new,
And on it hath bestowed more contrite tears
Than from it issued forcèd drops of blood.
2150A hundred men have I in yearly pay,
Which every day their withered hands hold up
To heaven to pardon blood,
And I have built two chantries; 2155more will I do,
Though all that I can do is all too little.
Enter Gloucester.
2160Gloucester My lord.
King Henry My brother Gloucester's voice.
2161.1Gloucester My lord, the army stays upon your presence.
King Henry Stay, Gloucester, stay, and I will go with thee.
The day, my friends, and all things stays for me.
[Exeunt.]
2164.1

[Scene 12]

Enter Clarence, Gloucester, Exeter, [Warwick,] and Salisbury.
2237.1Warwick My lords, the French are very strong.
2245Exeter There is five to one, and yet they all are fresh.
Warwick Of fighting men they have full forty thousand.
Salisbury The odds is all too great. Farewell, kind lords.
2250Brave Clarence, and my lord of Gloucester,
My lord of Warwick, and to all, farewell.
2255Clarence [To Salisbury] Farewell, kind lord. Fight valiantly today.
And yet in truth I do thee wrong,
For thou art made on the true sparks of honor.
Enter King.
Warwick Oh, would we had 2260but ten thousand men now, at this instant, that doth not work in England.
King Henry Who's that, that wishes so, my cousin Warwick? 2275God's will, I would not lose the honor one man would share from me, not for my kingdom.
No, faith, my cousin, wish not one man more.
Rather proclaim it presently through our camp
That he that hath no stomach to this feast,
2280Let him depart. His passport shall be drawn
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 called the day of Crispin.
He that outlives this day and sees old age
Shall stand a tiptoe when this day is named
And rouse him at the name of Crispin.
2285He that outlives this day and comes safe home
Shall yearly on the vigil feast his friends,
2290And say, "Tomorrow is Saint Crispin's Day."
Then shall we in their flowing bowls
Be newly remembered: Harry the King,
Bedford and Exeter, Clarence and Gloucester,
Warwick and York,
2295Familiar in their mouths as household words.
This story shall the good man tell his son,
And from this day unto the general doom,
But we in it shall be rememberèd.
We few, we happy few, we bond of brothers,
For he today that sheds his blood by mine
2305Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so base,
This day shall gentle his condition.
Then shall he strip his sleeves, and show his scars
2291.1And say, "These wounds I had on Crispin's day."
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed
And hold their manhood cheap while any speak
2310That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
Gloucester My gracious lord, the French is in the field.
2315King Henry Why all things are ready if our minds be so.
Warwick Perish the man whose mind is backward now.
King Henry Thou dost not wish more help from England, cousin?
Warwick God's will, my liege, would you and I alone
2320Without more help might fight this battle out.
King Henry Why well said. That doth please me better
Than to wish me one. -- You know your charge,
God be with you all.
Enter the Herald from the French.
2325Herald Once more I come to know of thee, King Henry,
What thou wilt give for ransom.
2335King Henry Who hath sent thee now?
Herald The Constable of France.
King Henry I prithee bear my former answer back:
Bid them achieve me and then sell my bones.
Good God, why should they mock good fellows thus?
2340The man that once did sell the lion's skin
While the beast lived, was killed with hunting him.
A many of our bodies shall no doubt
Find graves within your realm of France:
Though buried in your dunghills, we shall be famed,
For there the sun shall greet them,
And draw up their honors reeking up to heaven,
Leaving their earthly parts to choke your clime,
2350The smell whereof shall breed a plague in France.
Mark then abundant valor in our English,
That being dead, like to the bullets crazing,
Breaks forth into a second course of mischief,
Killing in relapse of mortality.
2355Let me speak proudly:
There's not a piece of feather in our camp --
2360Good argument, I hope, we shall 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 they will pluck
2365The gay new clothes o'er your French soldiers' ears
And turn them out of service. If they do this,
As if it please God they shall,
Then shall our ransom soon be levièd.
Save thou thy labor, herald.
2370Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald.
They shall have naught, I swear, but these my bones,
Which if they have as I will leave 'em them,
Will yield them little. Tell the constable.
Herald I shall deliver so.
2375
Exit Herald.
[Enter York.]
York My gracious lord, upon my knee I crave
2380The leading of the vanguard.
King Henry Take it, brave York. -- Come soldiers, let's away,
And as thou pleasest, God, dispose the day.
2383.1
Exeunt.

[Scene 13]

Enter the four French lords[, Gebon, Orléans, Bourbon, and the Constable].
Gebon O diable!
Constable Mort de ma vie!
2460Orléans Oh, what a day is this!
Bourbon Aujourd'hui haute. All is gone; all is lost.
Constable We are enough yet living in the field
To smother up the English,
2480If any order might be thought upon.
Bourbon A plague of order! Once more to the field,
And he that will not follow Bourbon now,
Let him go home and, with his cap in hand
Like a base leno, hold the chamber door,
Whilst by a slave no gentler than my dog,
2475His fairest daughter is contaminate.
Constable Disorder that hath spoiled us, right us now.
Come we: in heaps we'll offer up our lives
2477.1Unto these English, or else die with fame.
Come, come along,
Let's die with honor; our shame doth last too long.
Exeunt omnes.
2482.1

[Scene 14]

2385
Enter Pistol, [a] French [soldier], and the Boy.
Pistol Yield, cur! Yield, cur!
French Soldier O Monsieur, je vous en prie, avez pitié de moi!
Pistol Moy shall not serve. I will have forty moys. 2405Boy, ask him his name.
Boy Comment êtes-vous apellé?
French Soldier Monsieur Fer.
Boy He says his name is Master Fer.
2410Pistol I'll fer him, and ferret him, and firk him. Boy, discuss the same in French.
Boy Sir, I do not know what's French for fer, ferret, and firked.
Pistol Bid him prepare, for I will cut his throat.
Boy Faites-vous prêt: il veut couper votre gorge.
Pistol On y est ma foy! Couple la gorge! 2395Unless thou give to me egregious ransom, die. One point of a fox.
2415French Soldier [To Boy] Que dit-il, monsieur?
2415.1Boy Il dite, si vous ne voulez pas donner lui la grande rançon, il vous tuerez.
French Soldier Oh! Je vous en prie, petit gentilhomme, parlez 2422.1a ce grand capitaine pour avez merci a moi, et je donnerai pour mon rançon cinquante écus. Je suis un gentilhomme de France.
2425Pistol What says he, boy?
Boy Marry, sir, he says he is a gentleman of a great house of France, and for his ransom he will give you five hundred crowns.
Pistol My fury shall abate, and I the crowns 2430will take, and as I suck blood, I will some mercy show. 2445Follow me, cur.
Exeunt omnes.
2456.1

[Scene 15]

Enter the King and his nobles, Pistol.
2483.1King Henry What, the French retire?
Yet all is not done; yet keep the French the field.
[Enter Exeter.]
Exeter The Duke of York commends him to your grace.
King Henry Lives he, good uncle? Twice I saw him down,
Twice up again,
2490From helmet to the spur all bleeding o'er.
Exeter In which array, brave soldier, doth he lie,
Larding the plains. And by his bloody side,
Yoke-fellow to his honor-dyeing wounds,
The noble Earl of Suffolk also lies.
2495Suffolk first died, and York, all hasted o'er,
Comes to him where in blood he lay steeped,
And takes him by the beard, kisses the gashes
That bloodily did yawn upon his face,
And cried aloud, "Tarry, dear cousin Suffolk.
2500My soul shall thine keep company in heaven.
Tarry, dear soul, awhile, then fly to rest,
And in this glorious and well-foughten field,
We kept together in our chivalry."
Upon these words I came and cheered them up.
2505He took me by the hand, said, "Dear my lord,
Commend my service to my sovereign."
So did he turn, and over Suffolk's neck
He threw his wounded arm, 2510and so espoused
To death, with blood he sealed: an argument
Of never-ending love.
The pretty and sweet manner of it forced
Those waters from me which I would have stopped,
But I not so much of man in me,
2515But all my mother came into my eyes,
And gave me up to tears.
King Henry
I blame you not,
For hearing you, I must convert to tears.
Alarum sounds.
2520What new alarum is this?
Bid every soldier kill his prisoner.
2522.1Pistol Couple gorge.
Exeunt omnes.

[Scene 16]
2525
Enter Flewellen and Captain Gower.
Flewellen God's plood! Kill the boys and the luggage? 'Tis the arrant'st piece of knavery as can be desired in the worell now! In your conscience now --
2530Gower 'Tis certain there is not a boy left alive, and the cowardly rascals that ran from the battle themselves have done this slaughter. Beside, they have carried away and burnt all that was in the king's tent, whereupon the king caused every prisoner's 2535throat to be cut. Oh, he is a worthy king.
Flewellen Ay, he was born at Monmorth. Captain Gower, what call you the place where Alexander the Big was born?
Gower Alexander the Great.
2540Flewellen Why, I pray, is nat "big" great? As if I say, big, or great, or magnanimous, I hope it is all one reckoning, save the phrase is a little variation.
Gower I think Alexander the Great was borne at 2545Macedon. His father was called Philip of Macedon, as I take it.
Flewellen I think it was Macedon indeed where Alexander was born. Look you, Captain Gower, and if you look into the maps of the worell well, you shall find little difference 2550between Macedon and Monmorth. Look you, there is a river in Macedon, and there is also a river in Monmorth. The river's name at Monmorth is called Wye, but 'tis out of my brain what is the name of the other. But 'tis all one; 'tis so like as my fingers 2555is to my fingers, and there is salmons in both. Look you, Captain Gower, an you mark it, you shall find our king is come after Alexander. God knows, and you know, that Alexander in his bowls, and his ales, and his wrath, and his displeasures, and indignations, was kill his friend Cleitus.
Gower Ay, but our king is not like him in that, for he never killed 2565any of his friends.
Flewellen Look you, 'tis not well done to take the tale out of a man's mouth ere it is made an end and finished. I speak in the comparisons: as Alexander is kill his friend Cleitus, so 2570our king, being in his ripe wits and judgments, is turn away the fat knight with the great-belly doublet. I am forget his name.
Gower Sir John Falstaff.
2575Flewellen Ay, I think it is Sir John Falstaff indeed. I can tell you, there's good men born at Monmorth.
Enter King and the lords[, among them an English herald].
2580King Henry I was not angry since I came into France,
Until this hour. -- Take a trumpet, herald,
And ride unto the horsemen on yon hill.
If they will fight with us, bid them come down,
Or leave the field. They do offend our sight.
2585Will they do neither, we will come to them
And make them skirr away as fast as stones
Enforcèd from the old Assyrian slings.
Besides, we'll cut the throats of those we have,
And not one alive 2590shall taste our mercy.
Enter the [French] Herald.
God's will, what means this? Know'st 2595thou not
That we have fined these bones of ours for ransom?
Herald I come, great king, for charitable favor,
To sort our nobles from our common men,
2602.1We may have leave to bury all our dead,
Which in the field lie spoiled and trodden on.
King Henry I tell thee truly, herald, I do not know whether the day be ours or no, for yet a many of your French do keep the field.
Herald
The day is yours.
King Henry
Praisèd be God therefore.
What castle call you that?
Herald
We call it Agincourt.
2620King Henry Then call we this the field of Agincourt,
Fought on the day of Crispin, Crispin.
Flewellen Your grandfather of famous memory, 2622.1if your grace be remembered, 2625is do good service in France.
King Henry 'Tis true, Flewellen.
Flewellen Your majesty says very true. 2627.1An it please your majesty, the Welshmen there was do good service in a garden where leeks did grow. And I think your majesty will take no scorn to wear a leek in your cap upon Saint Davy's day.
2635King Henry No, Flewellen, for I am Welsh as well as you.
Flewellen All the water in Wye will not wash your Welsh blood out of you. God keep it, and preserve it, to his grace's will and pleasure.
2640King Henry Thanks, good countryman.
Flewellen By Jesus, I am your majesty's countryman. I care not who know it, so long as your majesty is an honest man.
2645King Henry God keep me so. -- Our herald go with him, and bring us the number of the scattered French.
2648.1Exit [French and English] heralds[, and Gower]. [Enter Second Soldier]. Call yonder soldier hither.
2650Flewellen You, fellow, come to the king.
King Henry Fellow, why dost thou wear that glove in thy hat?
2 Soldier An't please your majesty, 'tis a rascal's that swaggered with me the other day, and he hath one of mine, which if ever I see, I have sworn to strike him. 2661.1So hath he sworn the like to me.
King Henry How think you, Flewellen, is it lawful he keep his oath?
2663.1Flewellen An it please your majesty, 'tis lawful he keep his vow. If he be perjured once, he is as arrant a beggarly knave as treads upon two black shoes.
King Henry His enemy may be a gentleman of worth.
Flewellen And if he be as good a gentleman as Lucifer, and Belzebub, and the devil himself, 2670'tis meet he keep his vow.
King Henry Well, sirrah, keep your word. Under what captain servest thou?
2 Soldier Under Captain Gower.
Flewellen Captain Gower is a good captain, and hath good 2680lit'rature in the wars.
King Henry Go call him hither.
2 Soldier I will, my lord.
Exit Soldier.
King Henry Captain Flewellen, when Alençon and I was 2685down together, I took this glove off from his helmet. Here, Flewellen, wear it. [Gives him 2 Soldier's glove] If any do challenge it, he is a friend of Alençon's, and an enemy to me.
Flewellen Your majesty doth me as great a favor as can be 2690desired in the hearts of his subjects. I would see that man now that should challenge this glove, an it please God of his grace. I would but see him, that is all.
King Henry Flewellen, know'st thou Captain Gower?
2695Flewellen Captain Gower is my friend, and if it like your majesty, I know him very well.
King Henry Go call him hither.
Flewellen I will, an it shall please your majesty.
2700King Henry [To the lords] Follow Flewellen closely at the heels,
The glove he wears, it was the soldier's.
It may be there will be harm between them,
For I do know Flewellen valiant,
And being touched, as hot as gunpowder,
2710And quickly will return an injury.
Go see there be no harm between them.
[Exeunt.]
2711.1

[Scene 17]
Enter Gower, Flewellen, and the [Second] Soldier.
Flewellen Captain Gower, in the name of Jesu, come to his majesty. There is more good toward you than you can dream of.
27202 Soldier Do you hear you, sir? Do you know this glove?
Flewellen I know the glove is a glove.
2 Soldier Sir, I know this, and thus I challenge it.
He strikes him.
Flewellen God's ploot, and his! Captain Gower, stand away. I'll give treason his due presently.
Enter the King, Warwick, Clarence, and Exeter.
2735King Henry How now, what is the matter?
Flewellen An it shall please your majesty, here is the notablest piece of treason come to light as you shall desire to see in a summer's day. Here is a rascal -- beggarly rascal -- is strike the glove which your majesty took out of the helmet of Alençon, and your majesty will bear me witness, and testimony, and avouchments, that this is the glove.
27452 Soldier An it please your majesty, that was my glove. He that I gave it to in the night promised me to wear it in his hat; I promised to strike him if he did. I met that gentleman with my glove in his hat, and I think I have been as good as my word.
2750Flewellen Your majesty hears, under your majesty's manhood, what a beggarly lousy knave it is.
King Henry Let me see thy glove. Look you, this is the fellow of it. It was I indeed you promised to strike, and thou hast given me most bitter words. How canst thou make us amends?
2760Flewellen Let his neck answer it, if there be any marshal's law in the worell.
2 Soldier My liege, all offences come from the heart. Never came any from mine to offend your 2765majesty. You appeared to me as a common man -- witness the night, your garments, your lowliness -- and whatsoever 2770you received under that habit, I beseech your majesty impute it to your own fault and not mine, for yourself came not like yourself. Had you been as you seemed, I had made no offence. Therefore I beseech your grace to pardon me.
King Henry Uncle, fill the glove with crowns, 2775and give it to the soldier. Wear it, fellow, as an honor in thy cap, till I do challenge it. Give him the crowns. Come, Captain Flewellen, I must needs have you friends.
Flewellen By Jesus, the fellow hath 2780mettle enough in his belly. -- Hark you, soldier, there is a shilling for you, and keep yourself out of brawls, and brabbles, and dissentions, and look you, it shall be the better for you.
2 Soldier I'll none of your money sir, not I.
2785Flewellen Why, 'tis a good shilling, man. Why should you be queamish? Your shoes are not so good; it will serve you to mend your shoes.
[Enter herald, with paper for King Henry.]
King Henry [To Exeter] What men of sort are taken, uncle?
2795Exeter Charles, Duke of Orléans, nephew to the king;
John, Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Boucicaut.
Of other lords and barons, knights and squires,
Full fifteen hundred, besides common men.
King Henry This note doth tell me of ten thousand French
2800That in the field lie slain.
Of nobles bearing banners in the field:
Charles d'Albret, High Constable of France,
Jacques of Châtillon, Admiral of France,
The Master of the Crossbows, 2815John Duke Alençon,
Lord Rambures, High Master of France,
The brave Sir Guichard Dauphin. Of noble chevaliers,
Granpré, and Roucy, Fauquembergues and Foix,
Gerard and Verton, Vaudémont and Lestrelles.
2820Here was a royal fellowship of death. --
Where is the number of our English dead?
[Takes a paper]
Edward the Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk,
Sir Richard Kyghley, Davey Gam, Esquire,
And of all other 2825but five-and-twenty.
O God, thy arm was here, and unto thee alone ascribe we praise. When, without stratagem and in even shock of battle, 2830was ever heard so great and little loss on one part and another? Take it, God, for it is only thine.
Exeter 'Tis wonderful.
King Henry Come, let us go on procession through the camp.
2835Let it be death proclaimed to any man
To boast hereof, or take the praise from God
Which is his due.
Flewellen Is it lawful, an it please your majesty, to tell how many is killed?
2840King Henry Yes, Flewellen, but with this acknowledgement: that God fought for us.
Flewellen Yes, in my conscience, he did us great good.
King Henry Let there be sung Non nobis and Te Deum.
2845The dead with charity interred in clay,
We'll then to Calais, and to England then,
Where ne'er from France arrived more happier men.
Exeunt omnes.
2896.1

[Scene 18]

Enter Gower and Flewellen.
Gower But why do you wear your leek today? Saint Davy's day is past.
2900Flewellen There is occasion, Captain Gower, look you, why, and wherefore. The other day, look you, Pistols, which you know is a man of no 2905merits in the worell, is come where I was the other day, and brings bread and salt, and bids me eat my leek. 'Twas in a place, look you, where I could move no dissentions, but if I can see him, I shall tell him a little 2910of my desires.
Gower Here a comes, swelling like a turkey-cock.
Enter Pistol.
Flewellen 'Tis no matter for his swelling and his 2915turkey-cocks. -- God pless you, Ancient Pistol, you scall, beggarly, lousy knave, God pless you.
Pistol Ha, art thou bedlam? Dost thou thirst, base Trojan, to have me fold up Parca's fatal web? Hence! I am qualmish at the smell of leek.
2920Flewellen Ancient Pistol, I would desire you, because it doth not agree with your stomach, and your appetite, and your digestions, 2925to eat this leek.
Pistol Not for Cadwallader and all his goats.
Flewellen There is one goat for you, Ancient Pistol.
He strikes him [with a cudgel].
Pistol Base Trojan, thou shall die.
2930Flewellen Ay, I know I shall die. Meantime, I would desire you to live and eat this leek.
Gower Enough, captain. You have astonished him.
Flewellen Astonished him? By Jesu, I'll beat his head four days and four nights, but I'll make him eat some part of my leek.
Pistol Well, must I bite?
Flewellen Ay, out of question, or doubt, or ambiguities, you must bite.
He makes Ancient Pistol bite of the leek.
Pistol Good, good.
Flewellen Ay, leeks are good, Ancient Pistol. There is a shilling for you 2955to heal your bloody coxcomb.
[Offers money]
Pistol Me a shilling?
Flewellen If you will not take it, I have another leek for you.
Pistol I take thy shilling in earnest of reckoning.
2960Flewellen If I owe you anything, I'll pay you in cudgels. You shall be a woodmonger, and buy cudgels. God b'wi' you, Ancient Pistol, God bless you, and heal your broken pate. Ancient Pistol, if you see leeks another time, mock at them, that is all. God b'wi' you.
Exit Flewellen [and Gower].
Pistol All hell shall stir for this.
2975Doth fortune play the hussy with me now?
Is honor cudgeled from my warlike lines?
Well, France, farewell. News have I certainly
That Doll is sick on a malady of France.
2977.1The wars affordeth naught. Home will I trug.
Bawd will I turn, and use the 2980sleight of hand;
To England will I steal, and there I'll steal,
And patches will I get unto these scars,
And swear I gat them in the Gallia wars.
Exit Pistol.
2983.1

[Scene 19]

Enter at one door the King of England[, the Duke of Exeter] 2985and his [other] lords, and at the other door, the King of France, Catherine, [Alice,] the Duke of Bourbon, [the Duke of Burgundy,] and others.
King Henry Peace to this meeting, wherefore we are met,
And to our brother France, 2990fair time of day.
Fair health unto our lovely cousin Catherine,
And as a branch and member of this stock,
We do salute you, Duke of Burgundy.
French King Brother of England, right joyous are we to behold
Your face. So are we, princes English every one.
2998.1Burgundy With pardon unto both, your mightiness,
Let it not displease you if I demand
3020What rub or bar hath thus far hindered you,
3020.1To keep you from the gentle speech of peace?
3055King Henry If, Duke of Burgundy, you would have peace,
You must buy that peace,
According as we have drawn our articles.
3065French King We have but with a cursenary eye,
O'erviewed them. Pleaseth your grace
To let some of your council sit with us,
3070We shall return our peremptory answer.
King Henry Go, lords,
3071.1And sit with them, and bring us answer back.
Yet leave our cousin Catherine here behind.
French King With all our hearts.
Exeunt all but [King Henry], Catherine, and the Gentlewoman [Alice].
3087.1King Henry Now, Kate, you have a blunt wooer here left with you. If I could win thee at leap-frog, or with vaulting with my armor on my back into my saddle, without brag be it spoken, 3128.1I'd make compare with any. But leaving that, Kate, if thou tak'st me now, thou shalt have me at 3220the worst, and in wearing, thou shalt have me better and better. Thou shalt have a face that is not worth sunburning. But dost thou think that thou and I, between Saint Denis and Saint 3195George, shall get a boy that shall go to Constantinople and take the great Turk by the beard, ha, Kate?
Catherine Is it possible dat me sall love de enemy de France?
3160King Henry No Kate, 'tis unpossible you should love the enemy of France, for Kate, I love France so well that I'll not leave a village; I'll have it all mine. Then, Kate, when France is mine and I am yours, then France is yours 3165and you are mine.
Catherine I cannot tell what is dat.
King Henry No, Kate? Why I'll tell it you in French, which will hang upon my tongue like a bride on her new-married husband. Let me see -- Saint Denis be my speed! -- 3170Quand France est mon, --
3170.1Catherine Dat is, when France is yours.
King Henry -- et vous êtes à moi, --
Catherine And I am to you.
King Henry -- donc France êtes à vous, --
3172.1Catherine Den France sall be mine.
King Henry -- et je suis à vous.
Catherine And you will be to me.
King Henry Wilt believe me, Kate? 'Tis easier for me to conquer the kingdom than speak so much more French.
Catherine Ah, your majesty has false France enough to deceive de best lady in France.
King Henry No, faith, Kate, not I. But Kate, in plain terms, do you love me?
Catherine I cannot tell.
King Henry No? Can any of your neighbors tell? I'll 3185ask them. Come, Kate, I know you love me, and soon, when you are in your closet, you'll question this lady of me. But I pray thee, sweet Kate, use me mercifully, 3190because I love thee cruelly. 3140That I shall die, Kate, is sure, but for thy love, by the Lord, never. What, wench, a straight back will grow crooked, 3150a round eye will grow hollow, 3148.1a great leg will wax small, 3149.1a curled pate prove bald; but a good heart, Kate, is the sun and the moon, and rather the sun and not the moon. And therefore, Kate, take me, 3155take a soldier. Take a soldier, take a king. Therefore tell me, Kate, wilt thou have me?
3235Catherine Dat is as please the king my father.
King Henry Nay, it will please him. Nay, it shall please him, Kate, and upon that condition, Kate, I'll kiss you.
3239.1Catherine O mon Dieu! Je ne voudrai faire quelque chose pour tout le monde. Ce n'est point votre façon en faveur.
King Henry What says she, lady?
Alice Dat it is not de fasion en France for de maids, before dey be married, to -- 3250Mais foi! J'oublie what is to baiser!
King Henry To kiss, to kiss. Oh, that 'tis not the fashion in France for the maids to kiss before they are married.
3255Alice Oui, sauf votre grace.
King Henry Well, we'll break that custom. Therefore, Kate, patience perforce, and yield. [Kisses her] Before God, Kate, you have witchcraft in your kisses, and may persuade with me more 3265than all the French council. Your father is returned.
Enter the King of France, and 3270the lords [Exeter and Burgundy].
3270.1How now, my lords?
French King Brother of England, we have o'erread the articles, 3320and have agreed to all that we in schedule had.
Exeter Only he hath not 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 3330addition, in French: Notre très cher fils Henri, Roi d'Angleterre, et heir de France; and thus in Latin: Praecarissimus filius noster Henricus, Rex Angliae et heres Franciae.
French King Nor this have we so nicely stood upon,
But you, fair brother, may entreat the same.
King Henry Why then, let this among the rest have his full course, and withal, your daughter Catherine in marriage.
3337.1French King This, and what else your majesty shall crave.
God, that disposeth all, give you much joy.
King Henry Why then, fair Catherine, come, give me thy hand.
Our marriage will we present solemnize,
And end our hatred by a bond of love.
Then will I swear to Kate, and Kate to me,
3365And may our vows, once made, unbroken be.
[Exeunt.]