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)

    2164.1[4.2]
    2165Enter the Dauphin, Orléans, Rambures, and Beaumont.
    Orléans
    The sun doth gild our armor. Up, my lords!
    Dauphin
    Montez à cheval: my horse, varlet lackey, 2170ha!
    Orléans
    Oh, brave spirit!
    Dauphin
    Via les eaux et terres.
    Orléans
    Rien plus? L'air et feu?
    Dauphin
    Cieux, Cousin Orléans.
    Enter Constable.
    2175Now my lord constable?
    Constable
    Hark how our steeds for present service neigh.
    Dauphin
    Mount them, and make incision in their hides,
    That their hot blood may spin in English eyes
    2180And d'out them with superfluous courage. Ha!
    Rambures
    What, will you have them weep our horses' blood?
    How shall we then behold their natural tears?
    Enter Messenger.
    Messenger
    The English are embattled, you French 2185peers.
    Constable
    To horse, you gallant princes, straight to horse!
    Do but behold yon poor and starvèd band
    And your fair show shall suck away their souls,
    Leaving them but the shales and husks of men.
    2190There is not work enough for all our hands,
    Scarce blood enough in all their sickly veins
    To give each naked curtle-ax a stain
    That our French gallants shall today draw out
    And sheathe for lack of sport. Let us but blow on them,
    2195The vapor of our valor will o'erturn them.
    'Tis positive against all exceptions, lords,
    That our superfluous lackeys and our peasants,
    Who in unnecessary action swarm
    About our squares of battle, were enough
    2200To purge this field of such a hilding foe
    Though we upon this mountain's basis by
    Took stand for idle speculation,
    But that our honors must not. What's to say?
    A very little little let us do
    2205And all is done. Then let the trumpets sound
    The tucket sonance and the note to mount,
    For our approach shall so much dare the field
    That England shall couch down in fear and yield.
    Enter Grandpré.
    2210Grandpré
    Why do you stay so long, my lords of France?
    Yon island carrions, desperate of their bones,
    Ill-favoredly become the morning field.
    Their ragged curtains poorly are let loose
    And our air shakes them passing scornfully.
    2215Big Mars seems bankrupt in their beggared host
    And faintly through a rusty beaver peeps.
    The horsemen sit like fixèd candlesticks
    With torch-staves in their hand, and their poor jades
    Lob down their heads, dropping the hides and hips,
    2220The gum down-roping from their pale dead eyes,
    And in their pale dull mouths the gemelled bit
    Lies foul with chawed grass, still and motionless;
    And their executors, the knavish crows,
    Fly o'er them all, impatient for their hour.
    2225Description cannot suit itself in words
    To demonstrate the life of such a battle
    In life so lifeless as it shows itself.
    Constable
    They have said their prayers, and they stay for death.
    2230Dauphin
    Shall we go send them dinners and fresh suits
    And give their fasting horses provender,
    And after fight with them?
    Constable
    I stay but for my guard. On to the field;
    I will the banner from a trumpet take
    2235And use it for my haste. Come, come away.
    The sun is high and we outwear the day.
    Exeunt.