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About this text

  • Title: Henry V (Modern, Quarto)
  • 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, Quarto)

    1881.1[Scene 11]
    Enter the King disguised, to him Pistol.
    Ke ve la?
    King Henry
    A friend.
    Discuss unto me: art thou gentleman, or art thou common, base, and popular?
    King Henry
    No sir, I am a gentleman of a company.
    Trail'st thou the puissant pike?
    King Henry
    Even so, sir. What are you?
    As good a gentleman as the emperor.
    King Henry
    Oh, then thou art better than the king?
    The king's a bago, and a heart of gold, a lad of life, an imp of fame, of parents good, of fist most valiant. I kiss his dirty shoe, and from 1895my heartstrings I love the lovely bully. What is thy name?
    King Henry
    Harry le Roy.
    Leroy: a Cornishman. Art thou of Cornish crew?
    King Henry
    No sir, I am a Welshman.
    A Welshman. Know'st thou Flewellen?
    1900King Henry
    Ay, sir, he is my kinsman.
    Art thou his friend?
    1905.1King Henry
    Ay, sir.
    Figa for thee, then. My name is Pistol.
    1910King Henry
    It sorts well with your fierceness.
    Pistol is my name.
    Exit Pistol.
    Enter Gower and Flewellen.
    Captain Flewellen.
    Flewellen
    In the name of Jesu, speak lower. It 1915is the greatest folly in the worell, when the auncient prerogatives of the wars be not kept. I warrant you, if you look into the wars of the Romans, you shall find no tittle-tattle, nor bible-bable there, 1920but you shall find the cares, and the fears, and the ceremonies, to be otherwise.
    Why the enemy is loud; you heard him all night.
    Flewellen
    God-so! Loud! If the enemy be an ass, and a fool, and a prating coxcomb, is it meet that we be also a fool, and a prating coxcomb, in your conscience now?
    I'll speak lower.
    Flewellen
    I beseech you do, good Captain Gower.
    1931.1Exeunt Gower and Flewellen.
    King Henry
    Though it appear a little out of fashion, yet there's much care in this.
    Enter three soldiers.
    1 Soldier
    Is not that the morning yonder?
    19402 Soldier
    Ay, we see the beginning; God knows whether we shall see the end or no.
    3 Soldier
    Well, I think the king could wish himself 1965up to the neck in the middle of the Thames, and so I would he were, 1965.1at all adventures, and I with him.
    1941.1King Henry
    Now, masters, good morrow. What cheer?
    3 Soldier
    I'faith, small cheer some of us is like to have ere this day end.
    King Henry
    Why, fear nothing, man. The king is frolic.
    1941.52 Soldier
    Ay, he may be, for he hath no such cause as we.
    King Henry
    Nay, say not so. He is a man as we are. The violet smells to him as to us, therefore if he see reasons, he fears 1960as we do.
    2 Soldier
    But the king hath a heavy reckoning to make if his cause be not good, when all those souls whose bodies shall be slaughtered here 1985shall join together at the latter day, and say "I died at such a place," some swearing, some, their wives rawly left, some leaving their children poor behind them. Now if his cause be bad, I think it will be a grievous matter to him.
    King Henry
    Why, so you may say if a man send his servant 1998.1as factor into another country, and he by any means miscarry, you may say the business of the master was the author of his servant's misfortune. 1995Or if a son be employed by his father, and he fall into any lewd action, you may say the father was the author of his son's damnation. But the master is not to answer for his servants, the father for his son, nor the king for his subjects, 2005for they purpose not their deaths when they crave their services. Some there are that have the guilt of 2010premeditated murder on them; others the broken seal of forgery, in beguiling maidens. Now if these outstrip the law, yet they cannot escape God's punishment. War is God's beadle; war is God's vengeance. Every man's service is the king's, but 2025every man's soul is his own. Therefore I would have every soldier examine himself and wash every mote out of his conscience, that in so doing he may be the readier for death, or not dying, why the time was well spent wherein such preparation was 2030made.
    3 Soldier
    I'faith, he says true: every man's fault on 2035his own head. I would not have the king answer for me, yet I intend to fight lustily for him.
    King Henry
    Well, I heard the king. He would not be ransomed.
    20402 Soldier
    Ay, he said so, to make us fight, but when our throats be cut, he may be ransomed and we never the wiser.
    King Henry
    If I live to see that, I'll never trust his word again.
    20452 Soldier
    Mass, you'll pay him then. 'Tis a great displeasure that an elder-gun can do against a cannon, or a subject against a monarch. You'll ne'er take his word again! You're an ass. Go.
    King Henry
    Your reproof is somewhat too bitter. Were it not at this time, I could be angry.
    2 Soldier
    Why let it be a quarrel if thou wilt.
    King Henry
    How shall I know thee?
    20602 Soldier
    Here is my glove, which if ever I see in thy hat, 2065I'll challenge thee, and strike thee.
    King Henry
    Here is likewise another of mine, 2062.1and assure thee I'll wear it.
    [They exchange gloves.]
    2 Soldier
    Thou dar'st as well be hanged.
    3 Soldier
    Be friends, you fools. We have French quarrels enough 2071.1in hand; we have no need of English broils.
    King Henry
    'Tis no treason to cut French crowns, for tomorrow the King himself will be a clipper. --
    Exeunt the soldiers.
    O God of battles, steel my soldiers' hearts.
    Take from them now the sense of reckoning,
    That the opposed multitudes 2143.1which stand before them
    May not appall their courage. Oh, not today,
    2145Not today, O God, think on the fault
    My father made in compassing the crown.
    I Richard's body have interrèd new,
    And on it hath bestowed more contrite tears
    Than from it issued forcèd drops of blood.
    2150A hundred men have I in yearly pay,
    Which every day their withered hands hold up
    To heaven to pardon blood,
    And I have built two chantries; 2155more will I do,
    Though all that I can do is all too little.
    Enter Gloucester.
    2160Gloucester
    My lord.
    King Henry
    My brother Gloucester's voice.
    2161.1Gloucester
    My lord, the army stays upon your presence.
    King Henry
    Stay, Gloucester, stay, and I will go with thee.
    The day, my friends, and all things stays for me.
    [Exeunt.]