Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • Title: Henry V (Modern, Folio)
  • Editor: James D. Mardock
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-409-7

    Copyright James D. Mardock. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: James D. Mardock
    Peer Reviewed

    Henry V (Modern, Folio)

    504.1[2.1]
    505Enter Corporal Nym and Lieutenant Bardolph.
    Bardolph
    Well met, Corporal Nym.
    Good morrow, Lieutenant Bardolph.
    Bardolph
    What, are Ancient Pistol and you friends yet?
    For my part, I care not. I say little, but when 510time shall serve, there shall be smiles. But that shall be as it may. I dare not fight, but I will wink and hold out mine iron. It is a simple one, but what though? It will toast cheese, and it will endure cold as another man's sword will, and there's an end.
    515Bardolph
    I will bestow a breakfast to make you friends, and we'll be all three sworn brothers to France. Letʼt be so, good Corporal Nym.
    Faith, I will live so long as I may, that's the certain of it. And when I cannot live any longer, I will do 520as I may. That is my rest; that is the rendezvous of it.
    Bardolph
    It is certain, corporal, that he is married to Nell Quickly, and certainly she did you wrong, for you were troth-plight to her.
    I cannot tell; things must be as they may. Men 525may sleep, and they may have their throats about them at that time, and some say knives have edges. It must be as it may. Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. There must be conclusions. Well, I cannot tell.
    530Enter Pistol and [Hostess, formerly Mistress] Quickly.
    Bardolph
    Here comes Ancient Pistol and his wife. Good corporal, be patient here. -- How now, mine host Pistol?
    Pistol
    Base tyke, call'st thou me host? Now by this 535hand I swear I scorn the term! Nor shall my Nell keep lodgers.
    Hostess
    No, by my troth, not long, for we cannot lodge and board a dozen or fourteen gentlewomen that live honestly by the prick of their needles, but it will be 540thought we keep a bawdy house straight.
    [Nym draws his sword.]
    Oh, welladay, lady, if he be not hewn now, we shall see willful adultery and murder committed!
    Bardolph
    Good lieutenant, good corporal, offer nothing here.
    Nym
    Pish.
    545Pistol
    Pish for thee, Iceland dog, thou prick-eared cur of Iceland.
    Hostess
    Good Corporal Nym, show thy valor and put up your sword.
    Will you shog off? [To Pistol] I would have you solus.
    550Pistol
    "Solus," egregious dog? O viper vile! The "solus" in thy most marvelous face. The "solus" in thy teeth, and in thy throat, and in thy hateful lungs, yea in thy maw, perdy. And which is worse, within thy nasty mouth. I do retort the "solus" in thy bowels, for I can take, and 555Pistol's cock is up, and flashing fire will follow.
    I am not Barbason; you cannot conjure me. I have an humor to knock you indifferently well. If you grow foul with me, Pistol, I will scour you with my rapier, as I may, in fair terms. If you would walk 560off, I would prick your guts a little in good terms, as I may, and that's the humor of it.
    Pistol
    O braggart vile, and damnèd furious wight,
    The grave doth gape, and doting death is near,
    Therefore exhale.
    [Pistol draws his sword.]
    565Bardolph
    Hear me, hear me what I say. [Draws his sword (?)] He that strikes the first stroke, I'll run him up to the hilts, as I am a soldier.
    Pistol
    An oath of mickle might, and fury shall abate.
    [They sheathe their swords.]
    Give me thy fist. Thy forefoot to me give. Thy spirits 570are most tall.
    I will cut thy throat one time or other in fair terms. That is the humor of it.
    Pistol
    Couple a gorge, that is the word. I defy thee again! O hound of Crete, think'st thou my spouse to get? 575No, to the Spital go, and from the powd'ring 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 pauca, there's enough. Go to.
    580Enter the Boy.
    Mine host Pistol, you must come to my master, and your hostess. He is very sick and would to bed. -- Good Bardolph, put thy face between his sheets and do the office of a warming-pan. Faith, he's very ill.
    585Bardolph
    Away, you rogue.
    Hostess
    By my troth, he'll yield the crow a pudding one of these days. The king has killed his heart. Good husband, come home presently.
    Exeunt [Boy and Hostess.]
    Bardolph
    Come, shall I make you two friends? We must 590to France together. Why the devil should we keep knives to cut one another's throats?
    Pistol
    Let floods o'erswell, and fiends for food howl on.
    [To Pistol] You'll pay me the eight shillings I won of you 595at betting?
    Pistol
    Base is the slave that pays.
    That now I will have. That's the humor of it.
    Pistol
    As manhood shall compound. Push home.
    [They] draw [their swords.]
    Bardolph
    [Drawing his sword (?)] By this sword, he that makes the first thrust, 600I'll kill him. By this sword, I will.
    Pistol
    Sword is an oath, and oaths must have their course.
    [Sheathes his sword]
    Bardolph
    Corporal Nym, an thou wilt be friends, be friends. An thou wilt not, why then be enemies with me, too. Prithee, put up.
    [Nym and Bardolph sheathe their swords. (?)]
    605Pistol
    A noble shalt thou have, and present pay. And liquor likewise will I give to thee, and friendship shall combine, and brotherhood. I'll live by Nym and Nym shall live by me. Is not this just? For I shall sutler be unto the camp, and profits will accrue. Give me 610thy hand.
    I shall have my noble?
    Pistol
    In cash most justly paid.
    Well, then that's the humor of't.
    [Pistol and Nym shake hands. (?)]
    Enter Hostess.
    615Hostess
    As ever you come of women, come in quickly to Sir John. A poor heart, he is so shaked of a burning quotidian tertian that it is most lamentable to behold. Sweet men, come to him.
    [Exit.]
    The king hath run bad humors on the knight. 620That's the even of it.
    Pistol
    Nym, thou hast spoke the right. His heart is fracted and corroborate.
    The king is a good king, but it must be as it may. He passes some humors and careers.
    625Pistol
    Let us condole the knight, for lambkins, we will live.
    [Exeunt.]