Henry V
Page 11
FRENCH SOLDIER Sur mes genoux je vous donne mille51
Kneels
remerciements, et je m'estime heureux que j'ai tombe entre les
mains d'un chevalier, je pense, le plus brave, vaillant, et tres
distingue seigneur d'Angleterre.
PISTOL Expound55 unto me, boy.
BOY He gives you, upon his knees, a thousand thanks,
and he esteems himself happy that he hath fallen into the
hands of one, as he thinks, the most brave, valorous, and
thrice-worthy59 signieur of England.
PISTOL As I suck blood60, I will some mercy show. Follow me!
BOY Suivez-vous le grand capitaine!61
[Exeunt Pistol and
French Soldier]
I did never know so full62 a voice issue from so empty a heart.
But the saying is true, 'The empty vessel makes the greatest
sound'. Bardolph and Nym had ten times more valour than
this roaring devil i'th'old play65, that everyone may pare his
nails with a wooden dagger66, and they are both hanged, and
so would this67 be, if he durst steal anything adventurously. I
must stay with the lackeys, with the luggage of our camp.
The French might have a good prey69 of us, if he knew of it, for
there is none to guard it but boys.
Exit
[Act 4 Scene 5]
running scene 13 continues
Enter Constable, Orleans, Bourbon, Dauphin and Rambures
CONSTABLE O diable!1
ORLEANS O Seigneur! Le jour est perdu, tout est perdu!2
DAUPHIN Mort de ma vie!3 All is confounded, all.
Reproach and everlasting shame
Sits mocking in our plumes.5 O mechante fortune!
A short alarum
Do not run away.
CONSTABLE Why, all our ranks are broke.7
DAUPHIN O, perdurable8 shame! Let's stab ourselves.
Be these the wretches that we played at dice for?
ORLEANS Is this the king we sent to for his ransom?
BOURBON Shame and eternal shame, nothing but shame!
Let us die! In12 once more, back again.
And he that will not follow Bourbon now,
Let him go hence, and with his cap in hand,
Like a base pander15, hold the chamber door
Whilst by a base slave, no gentler16 than my dog,
His fairest daughter is contaminated.
CONSTABLE Disorder that hath spoiled18 us, friend us now.
Let us on19 heaps go offer up our lives.
ORLEANS We are enough yet living in the field
To smother up the English in our throngs,
If any order might be thought upon.22
BOURBON The devil take order now! I'll to the throng;
Let life be short, else shame will be too long.
Exeunt
[Act 4 Scene 6]
running scene 13 continues
Alarum. Enter the King and his train [Exeter and others,] with prisoners
KING HENRY V Well have we done, thrice-valiant countrymen.
But all's not done, yet keep2 the French the field.
EXETER The Duke of York commends him to your majesty.
KING HENRY V Lives he, good uncle? Thrice within this hour
I saw him down; thrice up again and fighting,
From helmet to the spur all blood he was.
EXETER In which array, brave soldier, doth he lie,
Larding8 the plain, and by his bloody side,
Yoke-fellow to his honour-owing9 wounds,
The noble Earl of Suffolk also lies.
Suffolk first died, and York, all haggled over11,
Comes to him, where in gore he lay insteeped12,
And takes him by the beard, kisses the gashes
That bloodily did yawn upon his face,
And cries aloud, 'Tarry15, my cousin Suffolk!
My soul shall thine keep company to heaven.
Tarry, sweet soul, for mine, then fly abreast17,
As in this glorious and well-foughten field18
We kept together in our chivalry19'
Upon these words I came and cheered him up.20
He smiled me in the face, raught21 me his hand
And with a feeble grip says, 'Dear my lord,
Commend23 my service to my sovereign.'
So did he turn and over Suffolk's neck
He threw his wounded arm and kissed his lips,
And so espoused26 to death, with blood he sealed
A testament27 of noble-ending love.
The pretty and sweet manner of it forced
Those waters29 from me which I would have stopped,
But I had not so much of man in me,
And all my mother31 came into mine eyes
And gave me up to tears.
KING HENRY V I blame you not,
For hearing this, I must perforce34 compound
With mixed-full35 eyes, or they will issue too.
Alarum
But, hark, what new alarum is this same?
The French have reinforced their scattered men.
Then every soldier kill his prisoners.
Give the word through.
Exeunt
[Act 4 Scene 7]
running scene 13 continues
Enter Fluellen and Gower
FLUELLEN Kill the poys1 and the luggage! 'Tis expressly against
the law of arms. 'Tis as arrant a piece of knavery, mark you
now, as can be offer't3, in your conscience, now, is it not?
GOWER 'Tis certain there's not a boy left alive, and the
cowardly rascals that ran from the battle ha' done this
slaughter. Besides, they have burned and carried away all
that was in the king's tent, wherefore7 the king, most
worthily8, hath caused every soldier to cut his prisoner's
throat. O, 'tis a gallant king!
FLUELLEN Ay, he was porn at Monmouth10, Captain Gower.
What call you the town's name where Alexander the Pig11 was
born?
GOWER Alexander the Great.
FLUELLEN Why, I pray you, is not 'pig' great? The pig, or the
great, or the mighty, or the huge, or the magnanimous, are
all one reckonings16, save the phrase is a little variations.
GOWER I think Alexander the Great was born in Macedon,
his father was called Philip of Macedon18, as I take it.
FLUELLEN I think it is in Macedon where Alexander is porn.
I tell you, captain, if you look in the maps of the 'orld20, I
warrant you sall find, in the comparisons between Macedon
and Monmouth, that the situations22, look you, is both alike.
There is a river in Macedon, and there is also moreover a
river at Monmouth: it is called Wye24 at Monmouth, but it is
out of my prains what is the name of the other river. But 'tis
all one, 'tis alike as my fingers is to my fingers, and there is
salmons in both.27 If you mark Alexander's life well, Harry of
Monmouth's life is come after it28 indifferent well, for there is
figures29 in all things. Alexander, God knows, and you know,
in his rages and his furies and his wraths and his cholers30 and
his moods and his displeasures and his indignations and also
being a little intoxicates32 in his prains, did, in his ales and his
angers, look you, kill his best friend, Cleitus.33
GOWER Our king is not like him in that: he never killed any
of his friends.
FLUELLEN It is not well done, mark you now, to take the tales
out of my mouth ere it is made and finished. I speak but in
the figures and comparisons of it: as Alexander killed his
friend Cleitus, being in his ales and his cups39, so
also Harry
Monmouth, being in his right wits and his good judgements,
turned away the fat knight with the great belly-doublet.41 He
was full of jests and gipes42 and knaveries and mocks -- I have
forgot his name.
GOWER Sir John Falstaff.
FLUELLEN That is he. I'll tell you there is good men porn at
Monmouth.
GOWER Here comes his majesty.
Alarum. Enter King Harry and Bourbon [and others] with prisoners. Flourish
KING HENRY V I was not angry since I came to France
Until this instant.49 Take a trumpet, herald,
Ride thou unto the horsemen on yond hill:
If they will fight with us, bid them come down,
Or void the field: they do offend our sight.
If they'll do neither, we will come to them
And make them skirr54 away, as swift as stones
Enforced55 from the old Assyrian slings.
Besides56, we'll cut the throats of those we have,
And not a man of them that we shall take57
Shall taste our mercy. Go and tell them so.
Enter Montjoy
EXETER Here comes the herald of the French, my liege.
GLOUCESTER His eyes are humbler than they used to be.
KING HENRY V How now? What means this, herald? Know'st thou not
That I have fined62 these bones of mine for ransom?
Com'st thou again for ransom?
MONTJOY No, great king:
I come to thee for charitable licence65,
That we may wander o'er this bloody field
To book67 our dead and then to bury them,
To sort our nobles from our common men.
For many of our princes -- woe the while! --
Lie drowned and soaked in mercenary70 blood,
So do our vulgar71 drench their peasant limbs
In blood of princes, and our wounded steeds
Fret73 fetlock-deep in gore and with wild rage
Yerk74 out their armed heels at their dead masters,
Killing them twice. O, give us leave, great king,
To view the field in safety and dispose
Of their dead bodies!
KING HENRY V I tell thee truly, herald,
I know not if the day79 be ours or no,
For yet a many of your horsemen peer80
And gallop o'er the field.
MONTJOY The day is yours.
KING HENRY V Praised be God, and not our strength, for it!--
What is this castle called that stands hard84 by?
MONTJOY They call it Agincourt.
KING HENRY V Then call we this the field of Agincourt,
Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus.
FLUELLEN Your grandfather of famous memory88, an't please
your majesty, and your great-uncle Edward the Plack Prince
of Wales, as I have read in the chronicles90, fought a most
prave pattle here in France.
KING HENRY V They did, Fluellen.
FLUELLEN Your majesty says very true: if your majesties is
remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service in a
garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their
Monmouth caps96, which, your majesty know, to this hour is
an honourable badge97 of the service, and I do believe your
majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek upon Saint Tavy's98
day.
KING HENRY V I wear it for a memorable honour100,
For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman.
FLUELLEN All the water in Wye cannot wash your majesty's
Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that. God pless it
and preserve it, as long as it pleases his grace104, and his
majesty too!
KING HENRY V Thanks, good my countryman.
FLUELLEN By Jeshu, I am your majesty's countryman, I care
not who know it. I will confess it to all the 'orld. I need not to
be ashamed of your majesty, praised be God, so long as your
majesty is an honest man.
KING HENRY V God keep me so!
Enter Williams
Our heralds go with him.
Bring me just notice of the numbers dead
On both our parts.--
[Exeunt Heralds with Montjoy]
Points to Williams
Call yonder fellow hither.
EXETER Soldier, you must come to the king.
KING HENRY V Soldier, why wear'st thou that glove in thy cap?
WILLIAMS An't please
your majesty, 'tis the gage116 of one that I
should fight withal, if he be alive.
KING HENRY V An Englishman?
WILLIAMS An't please your majesty, a rascal that swaggered119
with me last night, who, if alive and ever dare to challenge120
this glove, I have sworn to take him a box o'th'ear, or if I can
see my glove in his cap, which he swore as he was a soldier he
would wear if alive, I will strike it out soundly.
KING HENRY V What think you, Captain Fluellen? Is it fit124 this
soldier keep his oath?
FLUELLEN He is a craven126 and a villain else, an't please your
majesty, in my conscience.
KING HENRY V It may be his enemy is a gentleman of great sort128,
quite from the answer of his degree.129
FLUELLEN Though he be as good a gentleman as the devil is, as
Lucifer and Beelzebub131 himself, it is necessary, look your
grace, that he keep his vow and his oath: if he be perjured,
see you now, his reputation is as arrant a villain and a jack-sauce133
as ever his black134 shoe trod upon God's ground and his
earth, in my conscience, la!
KING HENRY V Then keep thy vow, sirrah136, when thou meet'st the
fellow.
WILLIAMS So I will, my liege, as I live.
KING HENRY V Who servest thou under?
WILLIAMS Under Captain Gower, my liege.
FLUELLEN Gower is141 a good captain, and is good knowledge and
literatured142 in the wars.
KING HENRY V Call him hither to me, soldier.
WILLIAMS I will, my liege.
Exit
KING HENRY V Here, Fluellen, wear thou this favour145
Gives him Williams' glove
for me and stick it in thy cap. When Alencon146
and myself were down147 together, I plucked this glove from his
helm148: if any man challenge this, he is a friend to Alencon
and an enemy to our person; if thou encounter any such,
apprehend150 him, an thou dost me love.
FLUELLEN Your grace does me as great honours as can be
desired in the hearts of his subjects. I would fain152 see the man
that has but two legs153 that shall find himself aggriefed at this
glove; that is all. But I would fain see it154 once, an please God of
his grace that I might see.
KING HENRY V Know'st thou Gower?
FLUELLEN He is my dear friend, an please you.
KING HENRY V Pray thee go seek him, and bring him to my tent.
FLUELLEN I will fetch him.
Exit
KING HENRY V My lord of Warwick, and my brother Gloucester,
Follow Fluellen closely at the heels.
The glove which I have given him for a favour
May haply163 purchase him a box o'th'ear.
It is the soldier's, I by bargain should
Wear it myself. Follow, good cousin Warwick:
If that the soldier strike him, as I judge
By his blunt167 bearing he will keep his word,
Some sudden mischief168 may arise of it,
For I do know Fluellen valiant
And, touched170 with ch
oler, hot as gunpowder,
And quickly will return an injury.
Follow and see there be no harm between them.
Go you with me, uncle of Exeter.
Exeunt
[Act 4 Scene 8]
running scene 13 continues
Enter Gower and Williams
WILLIAMS I warrant it is to knight you, captain.
Enter Fluellen
FLUELLEN God's will and his pleasure, captain, I beseech you
now, come apace3 to the king: there is more good toward you
peradventure4, than is in your knowledge to dream of.
WILLIAMS Sir, know you5 this glove?
FLUELLEN Know the glove? I know the glove is a glove.
WILLIAMS I know this, and thus I challenge it.
Strikes him
FLUELLEN 'Sblood8, an arrant traitor as any's in the universal
world, or in France, or in England!
To Williams
GOWER How now, sir? You villain!
WILLIAMS Do you think I'll be forsworn?11
FLUELLEN Stand away12, Captain Gower. I will give treason his
payment into ploughs13, I warrant you.
WILLIAMS I am no traitor.
FLUELLEN That's a lie in thy throat.15 I charge you in his
majesty's name, apprehend him. He's a friend of the Duke
Alencon's.
Enter Warwick and Gloucester
WARWICK How now, how now? What's the matter?
FLUELLEN My lord of Warwick, here is -- praised be God for
it! -- a most contagious treason come to light, look you, as
you shall desire in a summer's day.21 Here is his majesty.
Enter King and Exeter
KING HENRY V How now? What's the matter?
FLUELLEN My liege, here is a villain and a traitor, that, look
your grace, has struck the glove which your majesty is take24
out of the helmet of Alencon.
WILLIAMS My liege, this was my glove, here is the fellow of it.
Shows other glove
And he that I gave it to in change promised to
wear it in his cap. I promised to strike him, if he did.
I met this man with my glove in his cap, and I have been as
good as my word.
FLUELLEN Your majesty hear now, saving your majesty's
manhood, what an arrant, rascally, beggarly, lousy knave it
is. I hope your majesty is pear33 me testimony and witness, and
will avouchment34, that this is the glove of Alencon that your
majesty is give35 me, in your conscience, now.
Shows his glove
KING HENRY V Give me thy glove, soldier. Look, here is the fellow of it.
'Twas I, indeed, thou promised'st to strike,
And thou hast given me most bitter terms.38
FLUELLEN An please your majesty, let his neck answer for it, if
there is any martial law in the world.
KING HENRY V How canst thou make me satisfaction?41
WILLIAMS All offences, my lord, come from the heart. Never
came any from mine that might offend your majesty.