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Henry V (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: James D. Mardock
Peer Reviewed
82
The Life of Henry the Fift.
Const. Indeed my Lord, it is a most absolute and ex-
cellent Horse.
Dolph. It is the Prince of Palfrayes, his Neigh is like
the bidding of a Monarch, and his countenance enforces
1655Homage.
Orleance. No more Cousin.
Dolph. Nay, the man hath no wit, that cannot from
the rising of the Larke to the lodging of the Lambe,
varie deserued prayse on my Palfray: it is a Theame as
1660fluent as the Sea: Turne the Sands into eloquent tongues,
and my Horse is argument for them all: 'tis a subiect
for a Soueraigne to reason on, and for a Soueraignes So-
ueraigne to ride on: And for the World, familiar to vs,
and vnknowne, to lay apart their particular Functions,
1665and wonder at him, I once writ a Sonnet in his prayse,
and began thus, Wonder of Nature.
Orleance. I haue heard a Sonnet begin so to ones Mi-
stresse.
Dolph. Then did they imitate that which I compos'd
1670to my Courser, for my Horse is my Mistresse.
Orleance. Your Mistresse beares well.
Dolph. Me well, which is the prescript prayse and per-
fection of a good and particular Mistresse.
Const. Nay, for me thought yesterday your Mistresse
1675shrewdly shooke your back.
Dolph. So perhaps did yours.
Const. Mine was not bridled.
Dolph. O then belike she was old and gentle, and you
rode like a Kerne of Ireland, your French Hose off, and in
1680your strait Strossers.
Const. You haue good iudgement in Horseman-
ship.
Dolph. Be warn'd by me then: they that ride so, and
ride not warily, fall into foule Boggs: I had rather haue
1685my Horse to my Mistresse.
Const. I had as liue haue my Mistresse a Iade.
Dolph. I tell thee Constable, my Mistresse weares his
owne hayre.
Const. I could make as true a boast as that, if I had a
1690Sow to my Mistresse.
Dolph. Le chien est retourne a son propre vemissement est
la leuye lauee au bourbier:
thou mak'st vse of any thing.
Const. Yet doe I not vse my Horse for my Mistresse,
or any such Prouerbe, so little kin to the purpose.
1695Ramb. My Lord Constable, the Armour that I saw in
your Tent to night, are those Starres or Sunnes vpon it?
Const. Starres my Lord.
Dolph. Some of them will fall to morrow, I hope.
Const. And yet my Sky shall not want.
1700Dolph. That may be, for you beare a many superflu-
ously, and 'twere more honor some were away.
Const. Eu'n as your Horse beares your prayses, who
would trot as well, were some of your bragges dismoun-
ted.
1705Dolph. Would I were able to loade him with his de-
sert. Will it neuer be day? I will trot to morrow a mile,
and my way shall be paued with English Faces.
Const. I will not say so, for feare I should be fac't out
of my way: but I would it were morning, for I would
1710faine be about the eares of the English.
Ramb. Who will goe to Hazard with me for twentie
Prisoners?
Const. You must first goe your selfe to hazard, ere you
haue them.
1715Dolph. 'Tis Mid-night, Ile goe arme my selfe. Exit.
Orleance. The Dolphin longs for morning.

Ramb. He longs to eate the English.
Const. I thinke he will eate all he kills.
Orleance. By the white Hand of my Lady, hee's a gal-
1720lant Prince.
Const. Sweare by her Foot, that she may tread out the
Oath.
Orleance. He is simply the most actiue Gentleman of
France.
1725Const. Doing is actiuitie, and he will still be doing.
Orleance. He neuer did harme, that I heard of.
Const. Nor will doe none to morrow: hee will keepe
that good name still.
Orleance. I know him to be valiant.
1730Const. I was told that, by one that knowes him better
then you.
Orleance. What's hee?
Const. Marry hee told me so himselfe, and hee sayd hee
car'd not who knew it.
1735Orleance. Hee needes not, it is no hidden vertue in
him.
Const. By my faith Sir, but it is: neuer any body saw
it, but his Lacquey: 'tis a hooded valour, and when it
appeares, it will bate.
1740Orleance. Ill will neuer sayd well.
Const. I will cap that Prouerbe with, There is flatterie
in friendship.
Orleance. And I will take vp that with, Giue the Deuill
his due.
1745Const. Well plac't: there stands your friend for the
Deuill: haue at the very eye of that Prouerbe with, A
Pox of the Deuill.
Orleance. You are the better at Prouerbs, by how much
a Fooles Bolt is soone shot.
1750Const. You haue shot ouer.
Orleance. 'Tis not the first time you were ouer-shot.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. My Lord high Constable, the English lye within
fifteene hundred paces of your Tents.
1755Const. Who hath measur'd the ground?
Mess. The Lord Grandpree.
Const. A valiant and most expert Gentleman. Would
it were day? Alas poore Harry of England: hee longs
not for the Dawning, as wee doe.
1760Orleance. What a wretched and peeuish fellow is this
King of England, to mope with his fat-brain'd followers
so farre out of his knowledge.
Const. If the English had any apprehension, they
would runne away.
1765Orleance. That they lack: for if their heads had any in-
tellectuall Armour, they could neuer weare such heauie
Head-pieces.
Ramb. That Iland of England breedes very valiant
Creatures; their Mastiffes are of vnmatchable cou-
1770rage.
Orleance. Foolish Curres, that runne winking into
the mouth of a Russian Beare, and haue their heads crusht
like rotten Apples: you may as well say, that's a valiant
Flea, that dare eate his breakefast on the Lippe of a
1775Lyon.
Const. Iust, iust: and the men doe sympathize with
the Mastiffes, in robustious and rough comming on,
leauing their Wits with their Wiues: and then giue
them great Meales of Beefe, and Iron and Steele; they
1780will eate like Wolues, and fight like Deuils.
Orleance. I,