Henry V Read online

  He therefore sends you, meeter258 for your spirit,

  Presents a box

  This tun259 of treasure; and in lieu of this,

  Desires you let the dukedoms that you claim

  Hear no more of you. This the dauphin speaks.

  KING HENRY V What treasure, uncle?

  Looks in the box

  EXETER Tennis balls, my liege.

  KING HENRY V We are glad the dauphin is so pleasant264 with us.

  His present and your pains we thank you for:

  When we have matched our rackets266 to these balls,

  We will in France, by God's grace, play a set

  Shall strike his father's crown268 into the hazard.

  Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler269

  That all the courts270 of France will be disturbed

  With chaces.271 And we understand him well,

  How he comes o'er us272 with our wilder days,

  Not measuring273 what use we made of them.

  We never valued this poor seat274 of England,

  And therefore, living hence275, did give ourself

  To barbarous licence276, as 'tis ever common

  That men are merriest when they are from home.

  But tell the dauphin I will keep my state278,

  Be like a king and show my sail of greatness279

  When I do rouse me280 in my throne of France.

  For that281 I have laid by my majesty

  And plodded like a man for working days282,

  But I will rise there with so full a glory

  That I will dazzle all the eyes of France,

  Yea, strike the dauphin blind to look on us.

  And tell the pleasant prince this mock286 of his

  Hath turned his balls287 to gun-stones, and his soul

  Shall stand sore charged288 for the wasteful vengeance

  That shall fly with them, for many a thousand widows

  Shall this his mock mock out of their dear husbands;

  Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down,

  And some are yet ungotten292 and unborn

  That shall have cause to curse the dauphin's scorn.

  But this lies all within the will of God,

  To whom I do appeal, and in whose name

  Tell you the dauphin I am coming on

  To venge me297 as I may and to put forth

  My rightful hand in a well-hallowed298 cause.

  So get you hence in peace, and tell the dauphin

  His jest will savour but of shallow wit,

  When thousands weep more than did laugh at it.

  Convey them with safe conduct. Fare you well.

  Exeunt Ambassadors

  EXETER This was a merry message.

  KING HENRY V We hope to make the sender blush at it:

  Therefore, my lords, omit no happy hour305

  That may give furth'rance306 to our expedition,

  For we have now no thought in us but France,

  Save those to308 God, that run before our business.

  Therefore let our proportions309 for these wars

  Be soon collected and all things thought upon

  That may with reasonable swiftness add

  More feathers to our wings, for, God before312,

  We'll chide313 this dauphin at his father's door.

  Therefore let every man now task314 his thought,

  That this fair315 action may on foot be brought.

  Flourish. Exeunt

  [Act 2]

  Enter Chorus

  CHORUS Now all the youth of England are on fire1,

  And silken dalliance2 in the wardrobe lies:

  Now thrive the armourers, and honour's thought

  Reigns solely in the breast of every man.

  They sell the pasture now to buy the horse,

  Following the mirror6 of all Christian kings,

  With winged heels, as English Mercuries.7

  For now sits expectation in the air,

  And hides a sword from hilts9 unto the point

  With crowns imperial, crowns and coronets10,

  Promised to Harry and his followers.

  The French, advised by good intelligence12

  Of this most dreadful preparation13,

  Shake in their fear and with pale14 policy

  Seek to divert the English purposes.

  O England! Model to16 thy inward greatness,

  Like little body with a mighty heart,

  What18 mightst thou do, that honour would thee do,

  Were all thy children19 kind and natural?

  But see, thy fault France hath in thee found out,

  A nest of hollow21 bosoms, which he fills

  With treacherous crowns22, and three corrupted men:

  One, Richard Earl of Cambridge, and the second,

  Henry Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,

  Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland,

  Have, for the gilt26 of France -- O guilt indeed! --

  Confirmed conspiracy with fearful27 France,

  And by their hands this grace of kings28 must die,

  If hell and treason hold their promises,

  Ere30 he take ship for France, and in Southampton.

  Linger your patience on, and we'll digest31

  Th'abuse of distance32; force a play.

  The sum is paid, the traitors are agreed,

  The king is set from London, and the scene

  Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton.

  There is the playhouse now, there must you sit,

  And thence to France shall we convey you safe,

  And bring you back, charming38 the narrow seas

  To give you gentle pass39, for if we may,

  We'll not offend one stomach40 with our play.

  But, till the king come forth, and not till then41,

  Unto Southampton do we shift our scene.

  Exit

  [Act 2 Scene 1]

  running scene 2

  Enter Corporal Nym and Lieutenant Bardolph

  BARDOLPH Well met, Corporal Nym.

  NYM Good morrow2, Lieutenant Bardolph.

  BARDOLPH What, are Ancient3 Pistol and you friends yet?

  NYM For my part4, I care not: I say little, but when time

  shall serve, there shall be smiles -- but that shall be as it may.

  I dare not fight, but I will wink6 and hold out mine iron: it is a

  simple one, but what though?7 It will toast cheese, and it will

  endure cold as another man's sword will, and there's an end.8

  BARDOLPH I will bestow9 a breakfast to make you friends, and

  we'll be all three sworn brothers10 to France. Let't be so, good

  Corporal Nym.

  NYM Faith, I will live so long as I may, that's the certain12 of

  it. And when I cannot live any longer, I will do as I may. That

  is my rest14, that is the rendezvous of it.

  BARDOLPH It is certain, corporal, that he is married to Nell

  Quickly, and certainly she did you wrong, for you were troth-plight16

  to her.

  NYM I cannot tell.18 Things must be as they may: men may

  sleep, and they may have their throats about them at that

  time, and some say knives have edges. It must be as it may:

  though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod.21 There

  must be conclusions. Well, I cannot tell.

  Enter Pistol and [Hostess] Quickly

  BARDOLPH Here comes Ancient Pistol and his wife. Good

  corporal, be patient here.-- How now, mine host24 Pistol?

  PISTOL Base tike25, call'st thou me host? Now, by this hand,

  I swear, I scorn the term, nor shall my Nell keep lodgers.26

  HOSTESS QUICKLY No, by my troth27, not long, for we cannot lodge

  and board a dozen or fourteen gentlewomen that live28

  honestly by the prick of their needles, but it will be t
hought

  we keep a bawdy house30 straight. O, well-a-day,

  Nym and Pistol draw

  lady.31 If he be not drawn now, we shall see wilful

  adultery and murder committed.

  BARDOLPH Good lieutenant, good corporal, offer33 nothing here.

  NYM Pish!34

  PISTOL Pish for thee, Iceland dog!35 Thou prick-eared cur of Iceland!

  HOSTESS QUICKLY Good Corporal Nym, show thy valour36 and put up your sword.

  They sheathe their swords

  NYM Will you shog off?38 I would have you solus.

  PISTOL 'Solus', egregious39 dog? O viper vile!

  The 'solus' in thy most marvellous face,

  The 'solus' in thy teeth and in thy throat

  And in thy hateful lungs, yea, in thy maw42, perdy,

  And, which is worse, within thy nasty mouth!

  I do retort44 the 'solus' in thy bowels,

  For I can take45, and Pistol's cock is up,

  And flashing fire46 will follow.

  NYM I am not Barbason.47 You cannot conjure me. I have

  an humour48 to knock you indifferently well. If you grow foul

  with me, Pistol, I will scour49 you with my rapier, as I may, in

  fair terms.50 If you would walk off, I would prick your guts a

  little, in good terms, as I may, and that's the humour of it.

  PISTOL O braggart52 vile and damned furious wight!

  The grave doth gape, and doting death is near:

  Therefore exhale.54

  They draw again

  BARDOLPH Hear me, hear me what I say: he that strikes

  Draws

  the first stroke, I'll run him up to the hilts56, as I am a

  soldier.

  They sheathe their swords

  PISTOL An oath of mickle58 might, and fury shall abate.--

  To Nym

  Give me thy fist59, thy fore-foot to me give.

  Thy spirits are most tall.60

  NYM I will cut thy throat, one time or other, in fair terms:

  that is the humour of it.

  PISTOL 'Couple a gorge!'63

  That is the word. I defy thee again.

  O hound of Crete65, think'st thou my spouse to get?

  No, to the spital66 go,

  And from the powd'ring tub67 of infamy

  Fetch forth the lazar68 kite of Cressid's kind,

  Doll Tearsheet69 she by name, and her espouse:

  I have, and I will hold70, the quondam Quickly

  For the only she71; and -- pauca, there's enough.

  Go to.

  Enter the Boy

  BOY Mine host Pistol, you must come to my master73, and

  you, hostess. He is very sick, and would to bed.--Good

  Bardolph, put thy face between his sheets, and do the office75

  of a warming-pan. Faith, he's very ill.

  BARDOLPH Away, you rogue!

  HOSTESS QUICKLY By my troth, he'll yield the crow a pudding78

  one of these days. The king has killed his heart.79 Good

  husband, come home presently.80

  Exeunt [Hostess and Boy]

  BARDOLPH Come, shall I make you two friends? We must to France together.

  Why the devil should we keep knives to cut one another's throats?

  PISTOL Let floods o'erswell, and fiends for food howl on!

  NYM You'll pay me the eight shillings I won of you at

  betting?

  PISTOL Base86 is the slave that pays.

  NYM That now I will have: that's the humour of it.

  [They] draw

  PISTOL As manhood shall compound.88 Push home.

  BARDOLPH By this sword, he that makes the first thrust, I'll kill

  him. By this sword, I will.

  PISTOL Sword is an oath, and oaths91 must

  have their course.

  Sheathes his sword

  BARDOLPH Corporal Nym, an92 thou wilt be friends, be friends:

  an thou wilt not, why, then, be enemies with me too. Prithee

  put up.94

  PISTOL A noble95 shalt thou have, and present pay,

  And liquor likewise will I give to thee,

  And friendship shall combine, and brotherhood.

  I'll live by Nym98, and Nym shall live by me.

  Is not this just?99 For I shall sutler be

  Unto the camp100, and profits will accrue.

  Give me thy hand.

  NYM I shall have my noble?

  PISTOL In cash most justly103 paid.

  NYM Well, then, that's the humour of't.

  Enter Hostess [Quickly]

  HOSTESS QUICKLY As ever you come of105 women, come in quickly

  to Sir John. Ah, poor heart! He is so shaked of a burning

  quotidian tertian, that it is most lamentable to behold. Sweet

  men, come to him.

  [Exit]

  NYM The king hath run bad humours109 on the knight,

  that's the even of it.110

  PISTOL Nym, thou hast spoke the right.

  His heart is fracted112 and corroborate.

  NYM The king is a good king, but it must be as it may, he

  passes114 some humours and careers.

  PISTOL Let us condole115 the knight, for, lambkins we will live.

  [Exeunt]

  [Act 2 Scene 2]

  running scene 3

  Enter Exeter, Bedford and Westmorland

  BEDFORD 'Fore God, his grace is bold1 to trust these traitors.

  EXETER They shall be apprehended2 by and by.

  WESTMORLAND How smooth3 and even they do bear themselves,

  As if allegiance in their bosoms sat,

  Crowned with faith and constant loyalty.

  BEDFORD The king hath note6 of all that they intend,

  By interception7 which they dream not of.

  EXETER Nay, but the man that was his bedfellow8,

  Whom he hath dulled9 and cloyed with gracious favours,

  That he should for a foreign purse10 so sell

  His sovereign's life to death and treachery.

  Sound trumpets

  Enter the King, Scroop, Cambridge, Grey [and Attendants]

  KING HENRY V Now sits the wind fair, and we will aboard.--

  My lord of Cambridge, and my kind lord of Masham,

  And you, my gentle14 knight, give me your thoughts:

  Think you not that the powers15 we bear with us

  Will cut their passage through the force of France,

  Doing the execution17 and the act

  For which we have in head18 assembled them?

  SCROOP No doubt, my liege, if each man do his best.

  KING HENRY V I doubt not that, since we are well persuaded

  We carry not a heart with us from hence

  That grows not in a fair consent22 with ours,

  Nor leave not one behind that doth not wish

  Success and conquest to attend on24 us.

  CAMBRIDGE Never was monarch better feared25 and loved

  Than is your majesty: there's not, I think, a subject

  That sits in heart-grief27 and uneasiness

  Under the sweet shade of your government.

  GREY True: those that were your father's enemies

  Have steeped their galls in honey30 and do serve you

  With hearts create31 of duty and of zeal.

  KING HENRY V We therefore have great cause of thankfulness,

  And shall forget the33 office of our hand,

  Sooner than quittance34 of desert and merit

  According to the weight and worthiness.35

  SCROOP So service shall with steeled36 sinews toil,

  And labour shall refresh itself with hope,

  To do your grace incessant services.

  KING HENRY V We judge39 no less.-- Uncle of Exeter,

  Enlarge40 the man committed yesterday,

  That railed41 against our person: we consider

  It was excess of wine that set him on, />
  And on his more advice43 we pardon him.

  SCROOP That's mercy, but too much security.44

  Let him be punished, sovereign, lest example

  Breed, by his sufferance46, more of such a kind.

  KING HENRY V O, let us yet be merciful.

  CAMBRIDGE So may your highness, and yet punish too.

  GREY Sir,

  You show great mercy, if you give him life,

  After the taste of much correction.51

  KING HENRY V Alas, your too much love and care of me

  Are heavy orisons53 gainst this poor wretch!

  If little faults, proceeding on distemper54

  Shall not be winked at55, how shall we stretch our eye

  When capital56 crimes, chewed, swallowed and digested,

  Appear before us? -- We'll yet enlarge that man,

  Though Cambridge, Scroop and Grey, in their dear58 care

  And tender preservation of our person,

  Would have him punished. -- And now to our French causes:

  Who are the late commissioners?61

  CAMBRIDGE I one, my lord.

  Your highness bade me ask for it today.

  SCROOP So did you me, my liege.

  GREY And I, my royal sovereign.

  KING HENRY V Then, Richard Earl of Cambridge, there is yours.--

  Gives each a paper

  There yours, Lord Scroop of Masham.-- And, sir knight,

  Grey of Northumberland, this same is yours.

  Read them, and know I know your worthiness.--

  My lord of Westmorland, and uncle Exeter,

  We will aboard tonight.-- Why, how now, gentlemen?

  What see you in those papers that you lose72

  So much complexion?-- Look ye, how they change:

  Their cheeks are paper.74-- Why, what read you there

  That hath so cowarded and chased your blood

  Out of appearance?76

  CAMBRIDGE I do confess my fault,

  And do submit me to your highness' mercy.

  GREY and SCROOP To which we all appeal.

  KING HENRY V The mercy that was quick80 in us but late,

  By your own counsel is suppressed and killed.

  You must not dare, for shame, to talk of mercy,

  For your own reasons83 turn into your bosoms,

  As dogs upon their masters, worrying84 you.--

  See you, my princes, and my noble peers,

  These English monsters. My lord of Cambridge here,

  You know how apt our love was to accord87

  To furnish88 him with all appertinents

  Belonging to his honour; and this man

  Hath, for a few light90 crowns, lightly conspired

  And sworn unto the practices91 of France

  To kill us here in Hampton. To the which

  This knight93, no less for bounty bound to us

  Than Cambridge is, hath likewise sworn.-- But, O,

  What shall I say to thee, Lord Scroop, thou cruel,

  Ingrateful, savage and inhuman creature?

  Thou that didst bear the key of all my counsels97,

  That knew'st the very bottom of my soul,

  That almost mightst have coined me into gold99,