Henry V (Modern, Folio)

Introduction
Texts of this edition
1. Henry V (1623 Folio version)
3. Modern
5. Old-spelling transcription
6. Henry V (1600 Quarto version)
8. Modern
10. Old-spelling transcription
Contextual materials
Facsimiles
 1843.1[4.1]
 1844Enter the King [and Gloucester, meeting Bedford].
 4.1.11845King Henry
 Gloucester, 'tis true that we are in great danger;
 4.1.21846The greater therefore should our courage be.--
 4.1.31847Good morrow, brother Bedford. God almighty,
 4.1.41848There is some soul of goodness in things evil,
 4.1.51849Would men observingly distill it out.
 4.1.61850For our bad neighbor makes us early stirrers,
 4.1.71851Which is both healthful and good husbandry.
 4.1.81852Besides, they are our outward consciences
 4.1.91853And preachers to us all, admonishing
 4.1.101854That we should dress us fairly for our end.
 4.1.111855Thus may we gather honey from the weed,
 4.1.121856And make a moral of the devil himself.
 4.1.12.11857Enter Erpingham.
 4.1.131858Good morrow, old Sir Thomas Erpingham.
 4.1.141859A good soft pillow for that good white head
 4.1.151860Were better than a churlish turf of France.
 4.1.161861Erpingham
 Not so, my liege. This lodging likes me better,
 4.1.171862Since I may say "Now lie I like a king."
 4.1.181863King Henry
 'Tis good for men to love their present pains.
 4.1.191864Upon example so, the spirit is eased,
 4.1.201865And when the mind is quickened, out of doubt
 4.1.211866The organs, though defunct and dead before,
 4.1.221867Break up their drowsy grave and newly move
 4.1.231868With casted slough, and fresh legerity.
 4.1.241869Lend me thy cloak, Sir Thomas. -- Brothers both,
 4.1.251870Commend me to the princes in our camp.
 4.1.261871Do my good morrow to them, and anon
 4.1.271872Desire them all to my pavilion.
 4.1.281873Gloucester
 We shall, my liege.
 4.1.291874Erpingham
 Shall I attend your grace?
 1875King Henry
 Shall I attend your grace?  No, my good knight,
 4.1.301876Go with my brothers to my lords of England.
 4.1.311877I and my bosom must debate awhile,
 4.1.321878And then I would no other company.
 4.1.331879Erpingham
 The lord in heaven bless thee, noble 1880Harry.
 4.1.33.1Exeunt [all but King Henry, who disguises himself in Erpingham's cloak].
 4.1.341881King Henry
 God-a-mercy, old heart; thou speak'st 1882cheerfully.
 4.1.34.1Enter Pistol.
 4.1.351883Pistol
 Che vous la?
 4.1.361884King Henry
 A friend.
 4.1.371885Pistol
 Discuss unto me: art thou officer, or art thou 1886base, common, and popular?
 4.1.381887King Henry
 I am a gentleman of a company.
 4.1.391888Pistol
 Trail'st thou the puissant pike?
 4.1.401889King Henry
 Even so. What are you?
 4.1.411890Pistol
 As good a gentleman as the emperor.
 4.1.421891King Henry
 Then you are a better than the king.
 4.1.431892Pistol
 The king's a bawcock and a heart of gold, a 1893lad of life, an imp of fame, of parents good, of fist 1894most valiant. I kiss his dirty shoe, and from 1895heartstring I love the lovely bully. What is thy name?
 4.1.441896King Henry
 Harry le Roy.
 4.1.451897Pistol
 Leroy? A Cornish name; art thou of Cornish crew?
 4.1.461898King Henry
 No, I am a Welshman.
 4.1.471899Pistol
 Know'st thou Fluellen?
 4.1.481900King Henry
 Yes.
 4.1.491901Pistol
 Tell him I'll knock his leek about his pate upon 1902Saint Davy's day.
 4.1.501903King Henry
 Do not you wear your dagger in your cap 1904that day, lest he knock that about yours.
 4.1.511905Pistol
 Art thou his friend?
 4.1.521906King Henry
 And his kinsman too.
 4.1.531907Pistol
 The fico for thee then.
 4.1.541908King Henry
 I thank you. God be with you.
 4.1.551909Pistol
 My name is Pistol called.
 Exit [Pistol].
 4.1.561910King Henry
 It sorts well with your fierceness.
 19111912Enter Fluellen and Gower [separately].
 4.1.571913Gower
 Captain Fluellen.
 4.1.581914Fluellen
 'So! In the name of Jesu Christ speak fewer! It 1915is the greatest admiration in the universal world when 1916the true and aunchient prerogatiffs and laws of the 1917wars is not kept. If you would take the pains but to 1918examine the wars of Pompey the Great, you shall find, 1919I warrant you, that there is no tiddle-taddle nor pibble-babble 1920in Pompey's camp. I warrant you, you shall find 1921the ceremonies of the wars, and the cares of it, and 1922the forms of it, and the sobriety of it, and the modesty 1923of it, to be otherwise.
 4.1.591924Gower
 Why, the enemy is loud; you hear him all 1925night.
 4.1.601926Fluellen
 If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a 1927prating coxcomb, is it meet, think you, that we should 1928also, look you, be an ass and a fool and a prating 1929coxcomb, in your own conscience now?
 4.1.611930Gower
 I will speak lower.
 4.1.621931Fluellen
 I pray you and beseech you that you will.
 [Exeunt Gower and Fluellen.]
 4.1.631932King Henry
 Though it appear a little out of fashion,
 4.1.641933There is much care and valor in this Welshman.
 1934Enter three soldiers: John Bates, Alexander Court, 1935and Michael Williams.
 4.1.651936Court
 Brother John Bates, is not that the morning 1937which breaks yonder?
 4.1.661938Bates
 I think it be, but we have no great cause to 1939desire the approach of day.
 4.1.671940Williams
 We see yonder the beginning of the day, 1941but I think we shall never see the end of it. -- Who goes 1942there?
 4.1.681943King Henry
 A friend.
 4.1.691944Williams
 Under what captain serve you?
 4.1.701945King Henry
 Under Sir Thomas Erpingham.
 4.1.711946Williams
 A good old commander and a most kind 1947gentleman. I pray you, what thinks he of our estate?
 4.1.721948King Henry
 Even as men wrecked upon a sand, that look to 1949be washed off the next tide.
 4.1.731950Bates
 He hath not told his thought to the king?
 4.1.741951King Henry
 No, nor it is not meet he should. For though I 1952speak it to you, I think the king is but a man, as I am. 1953The violet smells to him as it doth to me; the element 1954shows to him as it doth to me; all his senses have but 1955human conditions. His ceremonies laid by, in his 1956nakedness he appears but a man, and though his 1957affections are higher mounted than ours, yet when they stoop, 1958they stoop with the like wing. Therefore when he sees 1959reason of fears, as we do, his fears out of doubt be of 1960the same relish as ours are. Yet in reason, no man should 1961possess him with any appearance of fear, lest he by 1962showing it should dishearten his army.
 4.1.751963Bates
 He may show what outward courage he will, 1964but I believe, as cold a night as 'tis, he could wish 1965himself in Thames up to the neck. And so I would he were, 1966and I by him, at all adventures, so we were quit here.
 4.1.761967King Henry
 By my troth, I will speak my conscience of the 1968king: I think he would not wish himself anywhere 1969but where he is.
 4.1.771970Bates
 Then I would he were here alone. So should he be 1971sure to be ransomed, and a many poor men's lives saved.
 4.1.781972King Henry
 I dare say you love him not so ill to wish him 1973here alone, howsoever you speak this to feel other 1974men's minds. Methinks I could not die anywhere so 1975contented as in the king's company, his cause being just and 1976his quarrel honorable.
 4.1.791977Williams
 That's more than we know.
 4.1.801978Bates
 Ay, or more than we should seek after. For we 1979know enough if we know we are the king's subjects. 1980If his cause be wrong, our obedience to the king wipes 1981the crime of it out of us.
 4.1.811982Williams
 But if the cause be not good, the king 1983himself hath a heavy reckoning to make, when all those 1984legs and arms and heads chopped off in a battle 1985shall join together at the latter day, and cry all, "We 1986died at such a place," some swearing, some crying for a 1987surgeon, some upon their wives left poor behind them, 1988some upon the debts they owe, some upon their children 1989rawly left. I am afeared there are few die well that die 1990in a battle, for how can they charitably dispose of any1991thing when blood is their argument? Now if these men 1992do not die well, it will be a black matter for the king 1993that led them to it, who to disobey were against all 1994proportion of subjection.
 4.1.821995King Henry
 So if a son that is by his father sent about 1996merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea, the 1997imputation of his wickedness, by your rule, should be 1998imposed upon his father that sent him. Or if a servant, 1999under his master's command transporting a sum of 2000money, be assailed by robbers and die in many irreconciled 2001iniquities, you may call the business of the master the 2002author of the servant's damnation. But this is not so. 2003The king is not bound to answer the particular endings 2004of his soldiers, the father of his son, nor the master 2005of his servant, for they purpose not their death when 2006they purpose their services. Besides, there is no king, be 2007his cause never so spotless, if it come to the 2008arbitrament of swords, can try it out with all unspotted 2009soldiers. Some, peradventure, have on them the guilt of 2010premeditated and contrived murder; some of 2011beguiling virgins with the broken seals of perjury; some, 2012making the wars their bulwark, that have before 2013gored the gentle bosom of peace with pillage and 2014robbery. Now if these men have defeated the law and 2015outrun native punishment, though they can outstrip 2016men, they have no wings to fly from God. War is 2017his beadle; war is his vengeance. So that here men 2018are punished for before-breach of the king's laws in 2019now the king's quarrel. Where they feared the death, 2020they have borne life away; and where they would be 2021safe, they perish. Then if they die unprovided, no more 2022is the king guilty of their damnation than he was 2023before guilty of those impieties for the which they are 2024now visited. Every subject's duty is the king's, but 2025every subject's soul is his own. Therefore should 2026every soldier in the wars do as every sick man in 2027his bed, wash every mote out of his conscience. And 2028dying so, death is to him advantage, or not dying, 2029the time was blessedly lost wherein such preparation was 2030gained. And in him that escapes, it were not sin to 2031think that, making God so free an offer, he let him 2032outlive that day to see his greatness and to teach others 2033how they should prepare.
 4.1.832034Williams
 'Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill upon 2035his own head; the king is not to answer it.
 4.1.842036Bates
 I do not desire he should answer for me, and 2037yet I determine to fight lustily for him.
 4.1.852038King Henry
 I myself heard the king say he would not be 2039ransomed.
 4.1.862040Williams
 Ay, he said so to make us fight cheerfully, but 2041when our throats are cut he may be ransomed and we 2042ne'er the wiser.
 4.1.872043King Henry
 If I live to see it, I will never trust his word 2044after.
 4.1.882045Williams
 You pay him, then! That's a perilous shot out 2046of an elder-gun that a poor and a private displeasure 2047can do against a monarch. You may as well go about 2048to turn the sun to ice with fanning in his face with a 2049peacock's feather. You'll never trust his word after! 2050Come, 'tis a foolish saying.
 4.1.892051King Henry
 Your reproof is something too round. I should 2052be angry with you if the time were convenient.
 4.1.902053Williams
 Let it be a quarrel between us if you 2054live.
 4.1.912055King Henry
 I embrace it.
 4.1.922056Williams
 How shall I know thee again?
 4.1.932057King Henry
 Give me any gage of thine and I will wear it 2058in my bonnet. Then if ever thou darest acknowledge it, 2059I will make it my quarrel.
 4.1.942060Williams
 Here's my glove. Give me another of 2061thine.
 4.1.952062King Henry
 There.
 4.1.95.1[They exchange gloves.]
 4.1.962063Williams
 This will I also wear in my cap. If ever thou 2064come to me and say, after tomorrow, "This is my glove," 2065by this hand I will take thee a box on the ear.
 4.1.972066King Henry
 If ever I live to see it, I will challenge it.
 4.1.982067Williams
 Thou darest as well be hanged.
 4.1.992068King Henry
 Well, I will do it, though I take thee in the 2069king's company.
 4.1.1002070Williams
 Keep thy word. Fare thee well.
 4.1.1012071Bates
 Be friends, you English fools, be friends! We 2072have French quarrels enough, if you could tell how to 2073reckon.
 [Exeunt] Soldiers.
 4.1.1022074King Henry
 Indeed, the French may lay twenty French 2075crowns to one they will beat us, for they bear them 2076on their shoulders. But it is no English treason to cut 2077French crowns, and tomorrow the king himself will 2078be a clipper. --
 4.1.1032079Upon the king! "Let us our lives, our souls,
 4.1.1042080Our debts, our careful wives, 2081our children, and
 4.1.105Our sins lay on the king." 2082We must bear all.
 4.1.1062083O hard condition, twin-born with greatness,
 4.1.1072084Subject to the breath of every fool whose sense
 4.1.1082085No more can feel but his own wringing.
 4.1.1092086What infinite heart's-ease must kings neglect,
 4.1.1102087That private men enjoy?
 4.1.1112088And what have kings that privates have not too,
 4.1.1122089Save ceremony, save general ceremony?
 4.1.1132090And what art thou, thou idol ceremony?
 4.1.1142091What kind of god art thou, that suffer'st more
 4.1.1152092Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers?
 4.1.1162093What are thy rents? What are thy comings in?
 4.1.1172094O ceremony, show me but thy worth.
 4.1.1182095What? Is thy soul of adoration?
 4.1.1192096Art thou aught else but place, degree, and form,
 4.1.1202097Creating awe and fear in other men,
 4.1.1212098Wherein thou art less happy being feared
 4.1.1222099Than they in fearing?
 4.1.1232100What drink'st thou oft, instead of homage sweet,
 4.1.1242101But poisoned flattery? O, be sick, great greatness,
 4.1.1252102And bid thy ceremony give thee cure.
 4.1.1262103Think'st thou the fiery fever will go out
 4.1.1272104With titles blown from adulation?
 4.1.1282105Will it give place to flexure and low bending?
 4.1.1292106Canst thou, when thou command'st the beggar's knee,
 4.1.1302107Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream
 4.1.1312108That play'st so subtly with a king's repose.
 4.1.1322109I am a king that find thee, and I know
 4.1.1332110'Tis not the balm, the scepter, and the ball,
 4.1.1342111The sword, the mace, the crown imperial,
 4.1.1352112The intertissued robe of gold and pearl,
 4.1.1362113The farcèd title running 'fore the king,
 4.1.1372114The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp
 4.1.1382115That beats upon the high shore of this world --
 4.1.1392116No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony,
 4.1.1402117Not all these, laid in bed majestical,
 4.1.1412118Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave
 4.1.1422119Who, with a body filled and vacant mind,
 4.1.1432120Gets him to rest, crammed with distressful bread;
 4.1.1442121Never sees horrid night, the child of hell,
 4.1.1452122But like a lackey, from the rise to set,
 4.1.1462123Sweats in the eye of Phoebus, and all night
 4.1.1472124Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn
 4.1.1482125Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse,
 4.1.1492126And follows so the ever-running year
 4.1.1502127With profitable labor to his grave.
 4.1.1512128And but for ceremony, such a wretch,
 4.1.1522129Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep,
 4.1.1532130Had the forehand and vantage of a king.
 4.1.1542131The slave, a member of the country's peace,
 4.1.1552132Enjoys it, but in gross brain little wots
 4.1.1562133What watch the king keeps to maintain the peace,
 4.1.1572134Whose hours the peasant best advantages.
 2135Enter Erpingham.
 4.1.1582136Erpingham
 My lord, your nobles, jealous of your absence,
 4.1.1592137Seek through your camp to find you.
 2138King Henry
 Seek through your camp to find you.  Good old knight,
 4.1.160Collect them all together 2139at my tent:
 4.1.161I'll be before thee.
 2140Erpingham
 I'll be before thee.  I shall do't, my lord.
 Exit.
 4.1.1622141King Henry
 [Kneeling] O God of battles, steel my soldiers' hearts.
 4.1.1632142Possess them not with fear. Take from them now
 4.1.1642143The sense of reck'ning, ere th'opposèd numbers
 4.1.1652144Pluck their hearts from them. Not today, O Lord,
 4.1.1662145Oh, not today -- think not upon the fault
 4.1.1672146My father made in compassing the crown.
 4.1.1682147I Richard's body have interrèd new,
 4.1.1692148And on it have bestowed more contrite tears
 4.1.1702149Than from it issued forcèd drops of blood.
 4.1.1712150Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay
 4.1.1722151Who twice a day their withered hands hold up
 4.1.1732152Toward heaven to pardon blood, 2153and I have built
 4.1.174Two chantries 2154where the sad and solemn priests
 4.1.175Sing still 2155for Richard's soul. More will I do,
 4.1.1762156Though all that I can do is nothing worth,
 4.1.1772157Since that my penitence comes after all,
 4.1.1782158Imploring pardon.
 2159Enter Gloucester.
 4.1.1792160Gloucester
 My liege.
 2161King Henry
 My liege.  My brother Gloucester's voice? Ay,
 4.1.1802162I know thy errand. I will go with thee.
 4.1.1812163The day, my friend, and all things stay for me.
 2164Exeunt.
Internet Shakespeare Editions

Reading Room

Toolbox

About this text

Henry V (Modern, Folio)
