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Henry V (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: James D. Mardock
Peer Reviewed
The Life of Henry the Fift.
73
480What mightst thou do, that honour would thee do,
Were all thy children kinde and naturall:
But see, thy fault France hath in thee found out,
A nest of hollow bosomes, which he filles
With treacherous Crownes, and three corrupted men:
485One, Richard Earle of Cambridge, and the second
Henry Lord Scroope of Masham, and the third
Sir Thomas Grey Knight of Northumberland,
Haue for the Gilt of France (O guilt indeed)
Confirm'd Conspiracy with fearefull France,
490And by their hands, this grace of Kings must dye.
If Hell and Treason hold their promises,
Ere he take ship for France; and in Southampton.
Linger your patience on, and wee'l digest
Th'abuse of distance; force a play:
495The summe is payde, the Traitors are agreed,
The King is set from London, and the Scene
Is now transported (Gentles) to Southampton,
There is the Play-house now, there must you sit,
And thence to France shall we conuey you safe,
500And bring you backe: Charming the narrow seas
To giue you gentle Passe: for if we may,
Wee'l not offend one stomacke with our Play.
But till the King come forth, and not till then,
Vnto Southampton do we shift our Scene.
Exit

505
Enter Corporall Nym, and Lieutenant Bardolfe.
Bar. Well met Corporall Nym.
Nym. Good morrow Lieutenant Bardolfe.
Bar. What, are Ancient Pistoll and you friends yet?
Nym. For my part, I care not: I say little: but when
510time shall serue, there shall be smiles, but that shall be as
it may. I dare not fight, but I will winke and holde out
mine yron: it is a simple one, but what though? It will
toste Cheese, and it will endure cold, as another mans
sword will: and there's an end.
515Bar. I will bestow a breakfast to make you friendes,
and wee'l bee all three sworne brothers to France: Let't
be so good Corporall Nym.
Nym. Faith, I will liue so long as I may, that's the cer-
taine of it: and when I cannot liue any longer, I will doe
520as I may: That is my rest, that is the rendeuous of it.
Bar. It is certaine Corporall, that he is marryed to
Nell Quickly, and certainly she did you wrong, for you
were troth-plight to her.
Nym. I cannot tell, Things must be as they may: men
525may sleepe, and they may haue their throats about them
at that time, and some say, kniues haue edges: It must
be as it may, though patience be a tyred name, yet shee
will plodde, there must be Conclusions, well, I cannot
tell.
530
Enter Pistoll, & Quickly.
Bar. Heere comes Ancient Pistoll and his wife: good
Corporall be patient heere. How now mine Hoaste Pi-
stoll?
Pist. Base Tyke, cal'st thou mee Hoste, now by this
535hand I sweare I scorne the terme: nor shall my Nel keep
Lodgers.
Host. No by my troth, not long: For we cannot lodge
and board a dozen or fourteene Gentlewomen that liue
honestly by the pricke of their Needles, but it will bee
540thought we keepe a Bawdy-house straight. O welliday
Lady, if he be not hewne now, we shall see wilful adulte-
ry and murther committed.
Bar. Good Lieutenant, good Corporal offer nothing
heere.
Nym. Pish.

545Pist. Pish for thee, Island dogge: thou prickeard cur
of Island.
Host. Good Corporall Nym shew thy valor, and put
vp your sword.
Nym. Will you shogge off? I would haue you solus.
550Pist. Solus, egregious dog? O Viper vile; The solus
in thy most meruailous face, the solus in thy teeth, and
in thy throate, and in thy hatefull Lungs, yea in thy Maw
perdy; and which is worse, within thy nastie mouth. I
do retort the solus in thy bowels, for I can take, and Pi-
555stols cocke is vp, and flashing fire will follow.
Nym. I am not Barbason, you cannot coniure mee: I
haue an humor to knocke you indifferently well: If you
grow fowle with me Pistoll, I will scoure you with my
Rapier, as I may, in fayre tearmes. If you would walke
560off, I would pricke your guts a little in good tearmes, as
I may, and that's the humor of it.
Pist. O Braggard vile, and damned furious wight,
The Graue doth gape, and doting death is neere,
Therefore exhale.
565Bar. Heare me, heare me what I say: Hee that strikes
the first stroake, Ile run him vp to the hilts, as I am a sol-
dier.
Pist. An oath of mickle might, and fury shall abate.
Giue me thy fist, thy fore-foote to me giue: Thy spirites
570are most tall.
Nym. I will cut thy throate one time or other in faire
termes, that is the humor of it.
Pistoll. Couple a gorge, that is the word. I defie thee a-
gaine. O hound of Creet, think'st thou my spouse to get?
575No, to the spittle goe, and from the Poudring tub of in-
famy, fetch forth the Lazar Kite of Cressids kinde, Doll
Teare-sheete, she by name, and her espouse. I haue, and I
will hold the Quondam Quickely for the onely shee: and
Pauca, there's enough to go to.
580
Enter the Boy.
Boy. Mine Hoast Pistoll, you must come to my May-
ster, and your Hostesse: He is very sicke, & would to bed.
Good Bardolfe, put thy face betweene his sheets, and do
the Office of a Warming-pan: Faith, he's very ill.
585Bard. Away you Rogue.
Host. By my troth he'l yeeld the Crow a pudding one
of these dayes: the King has kild his heart. Good Hus-
band come home presently.
Exit
Bar. Come, shall I make you two friends. Wee must
590to France together: why the diuel should we keep kniues
to cut one anothers throats?
Pist. Let floods ore-swell, and fiends for food howle
on.
Nym. You'l pay me the eight shillings I won of you
595at Betting?
Pist. Base is the Slaue that payes.
Nym. That now I wil haue: that's the humor of it.
Pist. As manhood shal compound: push home.
Draw
Bard. By this sword, hee that makes the first thrust,
600Ile kill him: By this sword, I wil.
Pi. Sword is an Oath, & Oaths must haue their course
Bar. Coporall Nym, & thou wilt be friends be frends,
and thou wilt not, why then be enemies with me to: pre-
thee put vp.
605Pist. A Noble shalt thou haue, and present pay, and
Liquor likewise will I giue to thee, and friendshippe
shall combyne, and brotherhood. Ile liue by Nymme, &
Nymme shall liue by me, is not this iust? For I shal Sut-
ler be vnto the Campe, and profits will accrue. Giue mee
610thy hand.
h 3
Nym.