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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)

    1118.1[3.2]
    Enter Nym, Bardolph, Pistol, and Boy.
    1120Bardolph
    On, on, on, on, on, to the breach, to the breach!
    Pray thee, corporal, stay. The knocks are too hot, and for mine own part, I have not a case of lives. The humor of it is too hot, that is the very plainsong of it.
    1125Pistol
    The plainsong is most just, for humors do abound, knocks go and come, God's vassals drop and die,
    [Singing]
    And sword and shield
    In bloody field
    Doth win immortal fame.
    Would I were in an alehouse in London. I 1130would give all my fame for a pot of ale, and safety.
    Pistol
    And I.
    [Singing] If wishes would prevail with me,
    My purpose should not fail with me,
    But thither would I hie.
    [Singing] As duly --
    But not as truly --
    As bird doth sing on 1135bough.
    Enter Fluellen.
    Fluellen
    [Beating them] Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!
    Pistol
    Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold! 1140Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage! Abate thy rage, great duke! Good bawcock, bate thy rage. Use lenity, sweet chuck.
    These be good humors! Your honor wins bad humors!
    [Exeunt Pistol, Bardolph, and Nym.]
    [To audience] As young as I am, I have observed these three swashers. I am boy to them all three, but all they three, though they would serve me, could not be man to me, for indeed three such antics do not amount to a man. For Bardolph, he is white-livered and red-faced, by the 1150means whereof a faces it out, but fights not. For Pistol, he hath a killing tongue and a quiet sword, by the means whereof a breaks words and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he hath heard that men of few words are the best men, and therefore he scorns to say 1155his prayers, lest a should be thought a coward. But his few bad words are matched with as few good deeds, for a never broke any man's head but his own, and that was against a post when he was drunk. They will steal anything, and call it purchase. Bardolph stole a lute case, 1160bore it twelve leagues, and sold it for three halfpence. Nym and Bardolph are sworn brothers in filching, and in Calais they stole a fire-shovel. I knew by that piece of service the men would carry coals. They would have me as familiar with men's pockets as their gloves 1165or their handkerchers, which makes much against my manhood, if I should take from another's pocket to put into mine, for it is plain pocketing up of wrongs. I must leave them and seek some better service. Their villainy goes against my weak stomach, and therefore 1170I must cast it up.
    Exit [Boy].
    Enter Gower.
    Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.
    1175Fluellen
    To the mines? Tell you the duke it is not so good to come to the mines, for look you, the mines is not according to the disciplines of the war. The concavities of it is not sufficient: for look you, th'athversary, you may discuss unto the duke, look you, is digged 1180himself, four yard under, the countermines. By Cheshu, I think a will plow up all if there is not better directions.
    The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the siege is given, is altogether directed by 1185an Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i'faith.
    Fluellen
    It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
    I think it be.
    Fluellen
    By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world. I will verify as much in his beard. He has no more directions in 1190the true disciplines of the wars, look you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppydog.
    Enter Macmorris and Captain Jamy.
    Here a comes, and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
    1195Fluellen
    Captain Jamy is a marvelous falorous gentleman, that is certain, and of great expedition and knowledge in th'aunchient wars, upon my particular knowledge of his directions. By Cheshu, he will maintain his argument 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.
    Fluellen
    Good e'en to your worship, good Captain James.
    How now, Captain Macmorris, have you 1205quit the mines? Have the pioneers given o'er?
    Macmorris
    By Chrish law, 'tish ill done. The work ish give over, the trumpet sound the retreat. By my hand I swear, and my father's soul, the work ish ill done; it ish give over. I would have blowed up the town, 1210so Chrish save me law, in an hour. Oh, 'tish ill done, 'tish ill done, by my hand 'tish ill done.
    Fluellen
    Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will you vouchsafe me, look you, a few disputations with you, as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of 1215the war, the Roman wars, in the way of argument, look you, and friendly communication? Partly to satisfy my opinion, and partly for the satisfaction, look you, of my mind, as touching the direction of the military discipline; that is the point.
    It sall be verray guid, guid faith, guid captains baith, and I sall quit you with guid leve, as I may pick occasion. That sall I, marry.
    Macmorris
    It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me. The day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the 1225king, and the dukes. It is no time to discourse. The town is besieched, and the trumpet call us to the breach, and we talk, and be Chrish do nothing! 'Tis shame for us all; so God sa' me, 'tis shame to stand still. It is shame, by my hand; 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 themselves to slumber, I'll dae guid service, or I'll lig i'th' grund for it; I owe God a death, and I'll pay't as valorously as I may, that sall I surely do. That is the brefe and the long. 1235Marry, I wad full fain heard some question 'tween you twae.
    Fluellen
    Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there is not many of your nation --
    1240Macmorris
    Of my nation? What ish my nation? Ish a villain, and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal? What ish my nation? Who talks of my nation?
    Fluellen
    Look you, if you take the matter otherwise than is meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I 1245shall think you do not use me with that affability as in discretion you ought to use me, look you, being as good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of war and in the derivation of my birth, and in other particularities.
    1250Macmorris
    I do not know you so good a man as myself. So Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.
    Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
    Ah, that's a foul fault.
    A parley [is sounded.]
    The town sounds a parley.
    1255Fluellen
    Captain Macmorris, when there is more better opportunity to be required, look you, I will be so bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of war, and there is an end.
    [Exeunt.]