Henry V Read online

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.