Suppose28 th'ambassador from the French comes back,
Tells Harry that the king doth offer him
Katherine his daughter, and with her, to dowry,
Some petty and unprofitable dukedoms.
The offer likes not32, and the nimble gunner
With linstock33 now the devilish cannon touches,
Alarum, and chambers go off
And down goes all before them. Still be kind,
And eke out35 our performance with your mind.
Exit
Act 3 Scene 1
running scene 6
Enter the King, Exeter, Bedford and Gloucester. Alarum. [Enter Soldiers with] scaling-ladders at Harfleur
KING HENRY V Once more unto the breach1, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility,
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger:
Stiffen the sinews, conjure up the blood7,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favoured8 rage,
Then lend9 the eye a terrible aspect:
Let it pry through the portage10 of the head
Like the brass cannon, let the brow o'erwhelm11 it
As fearfully12 as doth a galled rock
O'erhang and jutty13 his confounded base,
Swilled14 with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth15 and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath and bend up16 every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest English,
Whose blood is fet18 from fathers of war-proof,
Fathers that, like so many Alexanders19,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought
And sheathed their swords for lack of argument.21
Dishonour not your mothers22: now attest
That those whom you called fathers did beget23 you.
Be copy24 now to men of grosser blood,
And teach them how to war. And you, good yeoman25,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle27 of your pasture: let us swear
That you are worth your breeding, which I doubt not,
For there is none of you so mean and base29,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips31,
Straining upon the start.32 The game's afoot:
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge33
Cry 'God for Harry34, England, and Saint George!'
[Exeunt]
Alarum, and chambers go off
[Act 3 Scene 2]
running scene 6 continues
Enter Nym, Bardolph, Pistol and Boy
BARDOLPH On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the breach!
NYM Pray thee, corporal, stay: the knocks2 are too hot,
and for mine own part, I have not a case3 of lives. The
humour of it is too hot,
that is the very plainsong4 of it.
PISTOL The plainsong is most just, for humours5 do abound.
Knocks go and come, God's vassals6 drop and die,
Sings
And sword and shield,
In bloody field,
Doth win immortal fame.
BOY Would I were in an ale-house in London: I would
give all my fame11 for a pot of ale and safety.
PISTOL And I:
Sings
If wishes would prevail13 with me,
My purpose should not fail with me14,
But thither would I hie.15
BOY As duly,
Sings
But not as truly17,
As bird doth sing on bough.
Enter Fluellen
Drives them on
FLUELLEN Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt19,
you cullions!20
PISTOL Be merciful, great duke21, to men of mould.
Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage,
Abate thy rage, great duke!
Good bawcock24, bate thy rage: use lenity, sweet chuck!
NYM These be good humours! Your honour wins bad25
humours.
Exeunt [all but Boy]
BOY As young as I am, I have observed these three
swashers.28 I am boy to them all three, but all they three,
though they would serve me, could not be man29 to me; for
indeed three such antics30 do not amount to a man. For
Bardolph, he is white-livered31 and red-faced; by the means
whereof a faces32 it out, but fights not. For Pistol, he hath a
killing tongue and a quiet sword; by the means whereof a
breaks words34, and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he hath
heard that men of few words are the best men, and therefore
he scorns to say his 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.40 Bardolph stole a lute-case,
bore it twelve leagues41, and sold it for three halfpence. Nym
and Bardolph are sworn brothers42 in filching, and in Calais
they stole a fire-shovel.43 I knew by that piece of service the
men would carry coals.44 They would have me as familiar with
men's pockets as their gloves or their handkerchiefs, which
makes much against my manhood46, if I should take from
another's pocket to put into mine; for it is plain pocketing up47
of wrongs. I must leave them, and seek some better service:
their villainy goes against my weak stomach49, and therefore I
must cast it up.50
Exit
Enter Gower [and Fluellen]
GOWER Captain Fluellen, you must come presently51 to the
mines52; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.
FLUELLEN To the mines? Tell you the duke, it is not so good to
come to the mines, for look you, the mines is not54 according
to the disciplines55 of the war: the concavities of it is not
sufficient, for look you, th'athversary56, you may discuss unto
the duke, look you, is digt57 himself, four yard under, the
countermines.58 By Cheshu, I think a will plow up all, if there
is not better directions.59
GOWER The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order60 of the
siege is given, is altogether directed by an Irishman, a very
valiant gentleman, i'faith.
FLUELLEN It is Captain MacMorris, is it not?
GOWER I think it be.
FLUELLEN By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in65 the world. I will verify
as much in his beard.66 He has no more directions in the true
disciplines of the wars, look you, of the Roman disciplines67,
than is a puppy dog.
Enter MacMorris and Captain Jamy
GOWER Here a comes, and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy,
with him.
FLUELLEN Captain Jamy is a marvellous falorous71 gentleman,
that is certain, and of great expedition72 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 the disciplines of the
pristine wars of the Romans.
JAMY I say gud77 day, Captain Fluellen.
FLUELLEN God-den78 to your worship, good Captain James.
GOWER How now, Captain MacMorris? Have you quit the
mines? Have the pioneers80 given o'er?
MACMORRIS By Chrish, la81, tish ill done: the work ish give over,
<
br /> the trompet sound the retreat. By my hand, I swear, and my
father's soul, the work ish ill done, it ish give over.83 I would
have blowed up the town, so Chrish save me, la, in an hour.
O, tish ill done, tish ill done. By my hand, tish ill done!
FLUELLEN Captain MacMorris, I beseech you now, will you
voutsafe87 me, look you, a few disputations with you, as partly
touching or concerning the disciplines of the 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.
JAMY It sall93 be vary gud, gud feith, gud captains bath, and
I sall quit94 you with gud leve, as I may pick occasion; that sall
I, marry.95
MACMORRIS It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me. The
day is hot and the weather and the wars and the king and the
dukes: it is no time to discourse. The town is beseeched98, and
the trumpet call us to the breach, and we talk, and, be99
Chrish, do nothing. 'Tis shame for us all. So God sa'100 me, 'tis
shame to stand still, it is shame, by my hand. And there is
throats to be cut, and works to be done, and there ish
nothing done, so Chrish sa' me, la!
JAMY By the mess104, ere these eyes of mine take themselves
to slomber, I'll de gud service, or I'll lig105 i'th'grund for it; ay, or
go to death. And I'll pay't as valorously as I may, that sall I
suerly107 do, that is the breff and the long. Marry, I wad full fain
heard108 some question 'tween you tway.
FLUELLEN Captain MacMorris, I think, look you, under your109
correction, there is not many of your nation--
MACMORRIS Of my nation? What ish my nation? Ish a villain111
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, peradventure115 I shall think you
do not use116 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.
MACMORRIS I do not know you so good a man as myself. So
Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.
GOWER Gentlemen both, you will122 mistake each other.
A parley123
JAMY Ah, that's a foul fault.
GOWER The town sounds a parley.
FLUELLEN Captain MacMorris, when there is more better
opportunity to be required126, look you, I will be so bold as
to tell you I know the disciplines of war, and there is an
end.
Exeunt
[Act 3 Scene 3]
running scene 6 continues
Enter the King and all his train before the gates
KING HENRY V How yet resolves1 the governor of the town?
This is the latest2 parle we will admit:
Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves,
Or like to men proud of destruction4
Defy us to our worst, for as I am a soldier,
A name that in my thoughts becomes6 me best,
If I begin the batt'ry7 once again,
I will not leave the half-achieved8 Harfleur
Till in her ashes she lie buried.
The gates of mercy shall be all shut up,
And the fleshed11 soldier, rough and hard of heart,
In liberty of bloody hand shall range12
With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass
Your fresh fair virgins and your flow'ring14 infants.
What is it then to me, if impious15 war,
Arrayed in flames like to the prince of fiends16,
Do with his smirched17 complexion all fell feats
Enlinked18 to waste and desolation?
What is't to me, when you yourselves are cause,
If your pure maidens fall into the hand
Of hot21 and forcing violation?
What rein22 can hold licentious wickedness
When down the hill he holds his fierce career?23
We may as bootless24 spend our vain command
Upon th'enraged soldiers in their spoil25
As send precepts26 to the leviathan
To come ashore. Therefore, you men of Harfleur,
Take pity of28 your town and of your people,
Whiles yet my soldiers are in my command,
Whiles yet the cool and temperate30 wind of grace
O'erblows31 the filthy and contagious clouds
Of heady32 murder, spoil and villainy.
If not, why, in a moment look33 to see
The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand
Defile the locks35 of your shrill-shrieking daughters,
Your fathers taken by the silver beards,
And their most reverend heads dashed to the walls,
Your naked infants spitted38 upon pikes,
Whiles the mad mothers with their howls confused39
Do break the clouds, as did the wives of Jewry40
At Herod's bloody-hunting slaughtermen.41
What say you? Will you yield, and this avoid?
Or, guilty in defence43, be thus destroyed?
Enter Governor [above, on the walls]
GOVERNOR Our expectation44 hath this day an end.
The dauphin, whom of succours45 we entreated,
Returns46 us that his powers are yet not ready
To raise47 so great a siege: therefore, great king,
We yield our town and lives to thy soft48 mercy.
Enter our gates, dispose49 of us and ours,
For we no longer are defensible.
KING HENRY V Open your gates.-- Come, uncle Exeter,
Go you and enter Harfleur; there remain,
And fortify it strongly gainst the French.
Use mercy to them all. For us, dear uncle,
The winter coming on and sickness growing
Upon our soldiers, we will retire to Calais.
Tonight in Harfleur will we be your guest;
Tomorrow for the march are we addressed.58
Flourish, and [the King and his train] Enter the town
[Act 3 Scene 4]
running scene 7
Enter Katherine and [Alice,] an old gentlewoman
KATHERINE Alice, tu as ete en Angleterre, et tu bien parles le langage.1
ALICE Un peu, madame2.
KATHERINE Je te prie, m'enseignez: il faut que j'apprenne a parler.3
Comment appelez-vous la main en anglais?
ALICE La main? Elle est appelee5 de hand.
KATHERINE De hand. Et les doigts?6
ALICE Les doigts? Ma foi, j'oublie les doigts, mais je me7
souviendrai. Les doigts? Je pense qu'ils sont appeles de fingres.
Oui, de fingres.
KATHERINE La main, de hand, les doigts, de fingres. Je pense que je10
suis le bon ecolier. J'ai gagne deux mots d'anglais vitement.
Comment appelez-vous les ongles?
ALICE Les13 ongles? Nous les appelons de nails.
KATHERINE De nails. Ecoutez, dites-moi, si je parle bien:14 de hand,
de fingres, et de nails.
ALICE C'est bien dit, madame. Il est fort bon anglais16.
KATHERINE Dites-moi l'anglais pour le bras17.
ALICE De arm18, madame.
KATHERINE Et le coude?19
ALICE D'elbow.
KATHERINE D'elbow. Je21 m'en fais la repetition de tous les mots que
vous m'avez appris des a present.<
br />
ALICE Il est trop difficile, madame, comme je pense23.
KATHERINE Excusez-moi, Alice, ecoutez24: de hand, de fingres, de
nails, de arma, de bilbow.25
ALICE D'elbow, madame.
KATHERINE O Seigneur Dieu, je m'en oublie! D'elbow. Comment27
appelez-vous le col?
ALICE De neck, madame.
KATHERINE De nick.30 Et le menton?
ALICE De chin.
KATHERINE De sin.32 Le col, de nick, le menton, de sin.
ALICE Oui. Sauf votre honneur, en verite, vous prononcez les33
mots aussi droit que les natifs d'Angleterre.
KATHERINE Je ne doute point d'apprendre, par la grace de Dieu, et en35
peu de temps.
ALICE N'avez vous pas deja oublie ce que je vous ai enseigne?37
KATHERINE Non, je reciterai a vous promptement:38 de hand, de
fingres, de mails39--
ALICE De nails, madame.
KATHERINE De nails, de arm, de ilbow.
ALICE Sauf votre honneur, d'elbow.42
KATHERINE Ainsi dis-je, d'elbow, de nick, et de sin. Comment43
appelez-vous le pied et la robe?
ALICE Le foot45, madame, et le coun.
KATHERINE Le foot et le coun! O Seigneur Dieu! Ce sont les mots de46
son mauvais, corruptible, gros, et impudique, et non pour les
dames d'honneur d'user. Je ne voudrais prononcer ces mots devant
les seigneurs de France pour tout le monde. Foh! Le foot et le
coun! Neanmoins, je reciterai une autre fois ma lecon ensemble:
de hand, de fingres, de nails, de arm, d'elbow, de nick, de sin,
de foot, de coun.
ALICE Excellent, madame!53
KATHERINE C'est assez pour une fois. Allons-nous a diner54.
Exeunt
[Act 3 Scene 5]
running scene 7 continues
Enter the King of France, the Dauphin, [the Duke of Brittany,] the Constable of France and others
FRENCH KING 'Tis certain he hath passed the River Somme.1
CONSTABLE And if he be not fought withal2, my lord,
Let us not live in France, let us quit all
And give our vineyards to a barbarous people.
DAUPHIN O Dieu vivant!5 Shall a few sprays of us,
The emptying6 of our fathers' luxury,
Our scions7, put in wild and savage stock,
Spirt8 up so suddenly into the clouds,
And overlook9 their grafters?
BRITTANY Normans10, but bastard Normans, Norman bastards!
Mort de ma vie!11 If they march along
Unfought withal, but I will sell my dukedom
To buy a slobb'ry13 and a dirty farm
In that nook-shotten14 isle of Albion.
CONSTABLE Dieu de batailles!15 Where have they this mettle?
Is not their climate foggy, raw and dull,
On whom, as in despite17, the sun looks pale,
Killing their fruit with frowns? Can sodden18 water,
A drench19 for sur-reined jades, their barley broth,
Decoct20 their cold blood to such valiant heat?
And shall our quick blood, spirited with wine,
Henry V Page 7