Peer Reviewed
- Edition: Henry V
Henry V (Modern, Folio)
- Introduction
- Texts of this edition
- Contextual materials
- Facsimiles
1118.1[3.2]
1119Enter Nym, Bardolph, Pistol, and Boy.
On, on, on, on, on, to the breach, to the breach!
Pray thee, corporal, stay. The knocks are too 1122hot, and for mine own part, I have not a case of lives. 1123The humor of it is too hot, that is the very plainsong 1124of it.
The plainsong is most just, for humors do 1126abound, knocks go and come, God's vassals drop and 1127die,
3.2.4[Singing]
Would I were in an alehouse in London. I 1130would give all my fame for a pot of ale, and safety.
And I.
3.2.9[Singing] If wishes would prevail with me,
[Singing] As duly --
3.2.13But not as truly --
1136Enter Fluellen.
[Beating them] Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you 1138cullions!
Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold! 1140Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage! Abate thy rage, 1141great duke! Good bawcock, bate thy rage. Use lenity, 1142sweet chuck.
These be good humors! Your honor wins bad humors!1144
3.2.17.1[Exeunt Pistol, Bardolph, and Nym.]
[To audience] As young as I am, I have observed these three 1146swashers. I am boy to them all three, but all they three, 1147though they would serve me, could not be man to me, 1148for indeed three such antics do not amount to a man. 1149For Bardolph, he is white-livered and red-faced, by the 1150means whereof a faces it out, but fights not. For Pistol, 1151he hath a killing tongue and a quiet sword, by the 1152means whereof a breaks words and keeps whole 1153weapons. For Nym, he hath heard that men of few 1154words are the best men, and therefore he scorns to say 1155his prayers, lest a should be thought a coward. But his 1156few bad words are matched with as few good deeds, for 1157a never broke any man's head but his own, and that was 1158against a post when he was drunk. They will steal 1159anything, and call it purchase. Bardolph stole a lute case, 1160bore it twelve leagues, and sold it for three halfpence. 1161Nym and Bardolph are sworn brothers in filching, and 1162in Calais they stole a fire-shovel. I knew by that 1163piece of service the men would carry coals. They would 1164have me as familiar with men's pockets as their gloves 1165or their handkerchers, which makes much against my 1166manhood, if I should take from another's pocket to put 1167into mine, for it is plain pocketing up of wrongs. 1168I must leave them and seek some better service. Their 1169villainy goes against my weak stomach, and therefore 1170I must cast it up.
3.2.18.1Exit [Boy].
Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to 1173the mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with 1174you.
To the mines? Tell you the duke it is not so 1176good to come to the mines, for look you, the mines 1177is not according to the disciplines of the war. The 1178concavities of it is not sufficient: for look you, 1179th'athversary, you may discuss unto the duke, look you, is digged 1180himself, four yard under, the countermines. By Cheshu, 1181I think a will plow up all if there is not better 1182directions.
The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order 1184of the siege is given, is altogether directed by 1185an Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i'faith.
It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
I think it be.
By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world. I will 1189verify as much in his beard. He has no more directions in 1190the true disciplines of the wars, look you, of the 1191Roman disciplines, than is a puppydog.
1192Enter Macmorris and Captain Jamy.
Here a comes, and the Scots captain, Captain 1194Jamy, with him.
Captain Jamy is a marvelous falorous 1196gentleman, that is certain, and of great expedition and 1197knowledge in th'aunchient wars, upon my particular 1198knowledge of his directions. By Cheshu, he will maintain his 1199argument as well as any military man in the world, in 1200the disciplines of the pristine wars of the Romans.
I say guid day, Captain Fluellen.
Good e'en to your worship, good Captain 1203James.
How now, Captain Macmorris, have you 1205quit the mines? Have the pioneers given o'er?
By Chrish law, 'tish ill done. The work ish 1207give over, the trumpet sound the retreat. By my hand 1208I swear, and my father's soul, the work ish ill done; 1209it ish give over. I would have blowed up the town, 1210so Chrish save me law, in an hour. Oh, 'tish ill done, 'tish ill 1211done, by my hand 'tish ill done.
Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, 1213will you vouchsafe me, look you, a few disputations with 1214you, as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of 1215the war, the Roman wars, in the way of argument, 1216look you, and friendly communication? Partly to satisfy 1217my opinion, and partly for the satisfaction, look you, of 1218my mind, as touching the direction of the military 1219discipline; that is the point.
It sall be verray guid, guid faith, guid captains baith, 1221and I sall quit you with guid leve, as I may pick occasion. 1222That sall I, marry.
It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me. 1224The day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the 1225king, and the dukes. It is no time to discourse. The town 1226is besieched, and the trumpet call us to the breach, and 1227we talk, and be Chrish do nothing! 'Tis shame for us all; 1228so God sa' me, 'tis shame to stand still. It is shame, by my 1229hand; and there is throats to be cut, and works to be 1230done, and there ish nothing done, so Christ sa' me law.
By the mess, ere these eyes of mine take 1232themselves to slumber, I'll dae guid service, or I'll lig i'th' 1233grund for it; I owe God a death, and I'll pay't as 1234valorously as I may, that sall I surely do. That is the brefe and the long. 1235Marry, I wad full fain heard some question 1236'tween you twae.
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, 1238under your correction, there is not many of your 1239nation --
Of my nation? What ish my nation? Ish a villain, 1241and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal? What 1242ish my nation? Who talks of my nation?
Look you, if you take the matter otherwise 1244than is meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I 1245shall think you do not use me with that affability as in 1246discretion you ought to use me, look you, being as good 1247a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of war and 1248in the derivation of my birth, and in other 1249particularities.
I do not know you so good a man as myself. 1251So Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.
Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
Ah, that's a foul fault.
3.2.40.1A parley [is sounded.]
The town sounds a parley.
Captain Macmorris, when there is more 1256better opportunity to be required, look you, I will be 1257so bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of war, 1258and there is an end.
[Exeunt.]