Henry V

PROLOGUE

Enter Chorus as Prologue.

CHORUS

O, for a muse of fire that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention!
A kingdom for a stage, princes to act,
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene!
55Then should the warlike Harry, like himself,
Assume the port of Mars, and at his heels,
Leashed in like hounds, should famine, sword, and
fire
Crouch for employment. But pardon, gentles all,
1010The flat unraisèd spirits that hath dared
On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth
So great an object. Can this cockpit hold
The vasty fields of France? Or may we cram
Within this wooden O the very casques
1515That did affright the air at Agincourt?
O pardon, since a crookèd figure may
Attest in little place a million,
And let us, ciphers to this great account,
On your imaginary forces work.
2020Suppose within the girdle of these walls
Are now confined two mighty monarchies,
Whose high uprearèd and abutting fronts
The perilous narrow ocean parts asunder.
Piece out our imperfections with your thoughts.
2525Into a thousand parts divide one man,
And make imaginary puissance.
Think, when we talk of horses, that you see them
Printing their proud hoofs i’ th’ receiving earth,
For ’tis your thoughts that now must deck our
3030kings,
Carry them here and there, jumping o’er times,
Turning th’ accomplishment of many years
Into an hourglass; for the which supply,
Admit me chorus to this history,
3535Who, prologue-like, your humble patience pray
Gently to hear, kindly to judge our play.

He exits.

ACT 1

Scene 1

Enter the two Bishops of Canterbury and Ely.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

My lord, I’ll tell you that self bill is urged
Which in th’ eleventh year of the last king’s reign
Was like, and had indeed against us passed
40But that the scambling and unquiet time
5Did push it out of farther question.

BISHOP OF ELY

But how, my lord, shall we resist it now?

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

It must be thought on. If it pass against us,
We lose the better half of our possession,
45For all the temporal lands which men devout
10By testament have given to the Church
Would they strip from us, being valued thus:
“As much as would maintain, to the King’s honor,
Full fifteen earls and fifteen hundred knights,
50Six thousand and two hundred good esquires;
15And, to relief of lazars and weak age
Of indigent faint souls past corporal toil,
A hundred almshouses right well supplied;
And to the coffers of the King besides,
55A thousand pounds by th’ year.” Thus runs the bill.

BISHOP OF ELY

20This would drink deep.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

’Twould drink the cup and
all.

BISHOP OF ELY

But what prevention?

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

60The King is full of grace and fair regard.

BISHOP OF ELY

25And a true lover of the holy Church.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

The courses of his youth promised it not.
The breath no sooner left his father’s body
But that his wildness, mortified in him,
65Seemed to die too. Yea, at that very moment
30Consideration like an angel came
And whipped th’ offending Adam out of him,
Leaving his body as a paradise
T’ envelop and contain celestial spirits.
70Never was such a sudden scholar made,
35Never came reformation in a flood
With such a heady currance scouring faults,
Nor never Hydra-headed willfulness
So soon did lose his seat, and all at once,
75As in this king.

BISHOP OF ELY

40We are blessèd in the change.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

Hear him but reason in divinity
And, all-admiring, with an inward wish
You would desire the King were made a prelate;
80Hear him debate of commonwealth affairs,
45You would say it hath been all in all his study;
List his discourse of war, and you shall hear
A fearful battle rendered you in music;
Turn him to any cause of policy,
85The Gordian knot of it he will unloose
50Familiar as his garter; that, when he speaks,
The air, a chartered libertine, is still,
And the mute wonder lurketh in men’s ears
To steal his sweet and honeyed sentences;
90So that the art and practic part of life
55Must be the mistress to this theoric;
Which is a wonder how his Grace should glean it,
Since his addiction was to courses vain,
His companies unlettered, rude, and shallow,
95His hours filled up with riots, banquets, sports,
60And never noted in him any study,
Any retirement, any sequestration
From open haunts and popularity.

BISHOP OF ELY

The strawberry grows underneath the nettle,
100And wholesome berries thrive and ripen best
65Neighbored by fruit of baser quality;
And so the Prince obscured his contemplation
Under the veil of wildness, which, no doubt,
Grew like the summer grass, fastest by night,
105Unseen yet crescive in his faculty.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

70It must be so, for miracles are ceased,
And therefore we must needs admit the means
How things are perfected.

BISHOP OF ELY

But, my good lord,
110How now for mitigation of this bill
75Urged by the Commons? Doth his Majesty
Incline to it or no?

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

He seems indifferent,
Or rather swaying more upon our part
115Than cherishing th’ exhibitors against us;
80For I have made an offer to his Majesty—
Upon our spiritual convocation
And in regard of causes now in hand,
Which I have opened to his Grace at large,
120As touching France—to give a greater sum
85Than ever at one time the clergy yet
Did to his predecessors part withal.

BISHOP OF ELY

How did this offer seem received, my lord?

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

With good acceptance of his Majesty—
125Save that there was not time enough to hear,
90As I perceived his Grace would fain have done,
The severals and unhidden passages
Of his true titles to some certain dukedoms,
And generally to the crown and seat of France,
130Derived from Edward, his great-grandfather.

BISHOP OF ELY

95What was th’ impediment that broke this off?

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

The French ambassador upon that instant
Craved audience. And the hour, I think, is come
To give him hearing. Is it four o’clock?

BISHOP OF ELY

135It is.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

100Then go we in to know his embassy,
Which I could with a ready guess declare
Before the Frenchman speak a word of it.

BISHOP OF ELY

I’ll wait upon you, and I long to hear it.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter the King of England, Humphrey Duke of
Gloucester, Bedford, Clarence, Warwick, Westmoreland,
and Exeter, with other Attendants.

KING HENRY

140Where is my gracious Lord of Canterbury?

EXETER

Not here in presence.

KING HENRY

Send for him, good uncle.

WESTMORELAND

Shall we call in th’ Ambassador, my liege?

KING HENRY

5Not yet, my cousin. We would be resolved,
145Before we hear him, of some things of weight
That task our thoughts concerning us and France.

Enter the two Bishops of Canterbury and Ely.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

God and his angels guard your sacred throne
And make you long become it.

KING HENRY

10Sure we thank you.
150My learnèd lord, we pray you to proceed
And justly and religiously unfold
Why the law Salic that they have in France
Or should or should not bar us in our claim.
15And God forbid, my dear and faithful lord,
155That you should fashion, wrest, or bow your
reading,
Or nicely charge your understanding soul
With opening titles miscreate, whose right
20Suits not in native colors with the truth;
160For God doth know how many now in health
Shall drop their blood in approbation
Of what your reverence shall incite us to.
Therefore take heed how you impawn our person,
25How you awake our sleeping sword of war.
165We charge you in the name of God, take heed,
For never two such kingdoms did contend
Without much fall of blood, whose guiltless drops
Are every one a woe, a sore complaint
30’Gainst him whose wrongs gives edge unto the
170swords
That makes such waste in brief mortality.
Under this conjuration, speak, my lord,
For we will hear, note, and believe in heart
35That what you speak is in your conscience washed
175As pure as sin with baptism.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

Then hear me, gracious sovereign, and you peers
That owe yourselves, your lives, and services
To this imperial throne. There is no bar
40To make against your Highness’ claim to France
180But this, which they produce from Pharamond:
“In terram Salicam mulieres ne succedant”
(No woman shall succeed in Salic land),
Which Salic land the French unjustly gloze
45To be the realm of France, and Pharamond
185The founder of this law and female bar.
Yet their own authors faithfully affirm
That the land Salic is in Germany,
Between the floods of Sala and of Elbe,
50Where Charles the Great, having subdued the
190Saxons,
There left behind and settled certain French,
Who, holding in disdain the German women
For some dishonest manners of their life,
55Established then this law: to wit, no female
195Should be inheritrix in Salic land,
Which “Salic,” as I said, ’twixt Elbe and Sala
Is at this day in Germany called Meissen.
Then doth it well appear the Salic law
60Was not devisèd for the realm of France,
200Nor did the French possess the Salic land
Until four hundred one and twenty years
After defunction of King Pharamond,
Idly supposed the founder of this law,
65Who died within the year of our redemption
205Four hundred twenty-six; and Charles the Great
Subdued the Saxons and did seat the French
Beyond the river Sala in the year
Eight hundred five. Besides, their writers say,
70King Pepin, which deposèd Childeric,
210Did, as heir general, being descended
Of Blithild, which was daughter to King Clothair,
Make claim and title to the crown of France.
Hugh Capet also, who usurped the crown
75Of Charles the Duke of Lorraine, sole heir male
215Of the true line and stock of Charles the Great,
To find his title with some shows of truth,
Though in pure truth it was corrupt and naught,
Conveyed himself as th’ heir to th’ Lady Lingare,
80Daughter to Charlemagne, who was the son
220To Lewis the Emperor, and Lewis the son
Of Charles the Great. Also King Lewis the Tenth,
Who was sole heir to the usurper Capet,
Could not keep quiet in his conscience,
85Wearing the crown of France, till satisfied
225That fair Queen Isabel, his grandmother,
Was lineal of the Lady Ermengare,
Daughter to Charles the foresaid Duke of Lorraine:
By the which marriage the line of Charles the Great
90Was reunited to the crown of France.
230So that, as clear as is the summer’s sun,
King Pepin’s title and Hugh Capet’s claim,
King Lewis his satisfaction, all appear
To hold in right and title of the female.
95So do the kings of France unto this day,
235Howbeit they would hold up this Salic law
To bar your Highness claiming from the female,
And rather choose to hide them in a net
Than amply to imbar their crooked titles
100Usurped from you and your progenitors.

KING HENRY

240May I with right and conscience make this claim?

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

The sin upon my head, dread sovereign,
For in the Book of Numbers is it writ:
“When the man dies, let the inheritance
105Descend unto the daughter.” Gracious lord,
245Stand for your own, unwind your bloody flag,
Look back into your mighty ancestors.
Go, my dread lord, to your great-grandsire’s tomb,
From whom you claim; invoke his warlike spirit
110And your great-uncle’s, Edward the Black Prince,
250Who on the French ground played a tragedy,
Making defeat on the full power of France
Whiles his most mighty father on a hill
Stood smiling to behold his lion’s whelp
115Forage in blood of French nobility.
255O noble English, that could entertain
With half their forces the full pride of France
And let another half stand laughing by,
All out of work and cold for action!

BISHOP OF ELY

120Awake remembrance of these valiant dead
260And with your puissant arm renew their feats.
You are their heir, you sit upon their throne,
The blood and courage that renownèd them
Runs in your veins; and my thrice-puissant liege
125Is in the very May-morn of his youth,
265Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprises.

EXETER

Your brother kings and monarchs of the Earth
Do all expect that you should rouse yourself
As did the former lions of your blood.

WESTMORELAND

130They know your Grace hath cause and means and
270might;
So hath your Highness. Never king of England
Had nobles richer, and more loyal subjects,
Whose hearts have left their bodies here in England
135And lie pavilioned in the fields of France.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

275O, let their bodies follow, my dear liege,
With blood and sword and fire to win your right,
In aid whereof we of the spiritualty
Will raise your Highness such a mighty sum
140As never did the clergy at one time
280Bring in to any of your ancestors.

KING HENRY

We must not only arm t’ invade the French,
But lay down our proportions to defend
Against the Scot, who will make road upon us
145With all advantages.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

285They of those marches, gracious sovereign,
Shall be a wall sufficient to defend
Our inland from the pilfering borderers.

KING HENRY

We do not mean the coursing snatchers only,
150But fear the main intendment of the Scot,
290Who hath been still a giddy neighbor to us.
For you shall read that my great-grandfather
Never went with his forces into France
But that the Scot on his unfurnished kingdom
155Came pouring like the tide into a breach
295With ample and brim fullness of his force,
Galling the gleanèd land with hot assays,
Girding with grievous siege castles and towns,
That England, being empty of defense,
160Hath shook and trembled at th’ ill neighborhood.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

300She hath been then more feared than harmed, my
liege,
For hear her but exampled by herself:
When all her chivalry hath been in France
165And she a mourning widow of her nobles,
305She hath herself not only well defended
But taken and impounded as a stray
The King of Scots, whom she did send to France
To fill King Edward’s fame with prisoner kings
170And make her chronicle as rich with praise
310As is the ooze and bottom of the sea
With sunken wrack and sumless treasuries.

BISHOP OF ELY

But there’s a saying very old and true:
“If that you will France win,
175Then with Scotland first begin.”
315For once the eagle England being in prey,
To her unguarded nest the weasel Scot
Comes sneaking and so sucks her princely eggs,
Playing the mouse in absence of the cat,
180To ’tame and havoc more than she can eat.

EXETER

320It follows, then, the cat must stay at home.
Yet that is but a crushed necessity,
Since we have locks to safeguard necessaries
And pretty traps to catch the petty thieves.
185While that the armèd hand doth fight abroad,
325Th’ advisèd head defends itself at home.
For government, though high and low and lower,
Put into parts, doth keep in one consent,
Congreeing in a full and natural close,
190Like music.

BISHOP OF CANTERBURY

330Therefore doth heaven divide
The state of man in divers functions,
Setting endeavor in continual motion,
To which is fixèd as an aim or butt
195Obedience; for so work the honeybees,
335Creatures that by a rule in nature teach
The act of order to a peopled kingdom.
They have a king and officers of sorts,
Where some like magistrates correct at home,
200Others like merchants venture trade abroad,
340Others like soldiers armèd in their stings
Make boot upon the summer’s velvet buds,
Which pillage they with merry march bring home
To the tent royal of their emperor,
205Who, busied in his majesty, surveys
345The singing masons building roofs of gold,
The civil citizens kneading up the honey,
The poor mechanic porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate,
210The sad-eyed justice with his surly hum
350Delivering o’er to executors pale
The lazy yawning drone. I this infer:
That many things, having full reference
To one consent, may work contrariously,
215As many arrows loosèd several ways
355Come to one mark, as many ways meet in one town,
As many fresh streams meet in one salt sea,
As many lines close in the dial’s center,
So may a thousand actions, once afoot,
220End in one purpose and be all well borne
360Without defeat. Therefore to France, my liege!
Divide your happy England into four,
Whereof take you one quarter into France,
And you withal shall make all Gallia shake.
225If we, with thrice such powers left at home,
365Cannot defend our own doors from the dog,
Let us be worried, and our nation lose
The name of hardiness and policy.

KING HENRY

Call in the messengers sent from the Dauphin.
Attendants exit.
230Now are we well resolved, and by God’s help
370And yours, the noble sinews of our power,
France being ours, we’ll bend it to our awe
Or break it all to pieces. Or there we’ll sit,
Ruling in large and ample empery
235O’er France and all her almost kingly dukedoms,
375Or lay these bones in an unworthy urn,
Tombless, with no remembrance over them.
Either our history shall with full mouth
Speak freely of our acts, or else our grave,
240Like Turkish mute, shall have a tongueless mouth,
380Not worshiped with a waxen epitaph.

Enter Ambassadors of France, with Attendants.


Now are we well prepared to know the pleasure
Of our fair cousin Dauphin, for we hear
Your greeting is from him, not from the King.

AMBASSADOR

245May ’t please your Majesty to give us leave
385Freely to render what we have in charge,
Or shall we sparingly show you far off
The Dauphin’s meaning and our embassy?

KING HENRY

We are no tyrant, but a Christian king,
250Unto whose grace our passion is as subject
390As is our wretches fettered in our prisons.
Therefore with frank and with uncurbèd plainness
Tell us the Dauphin’s mind.

AMBASSADOR

Thus, then, in few:
255Your Highness, lately sending into France,
395Did claim some certain dukedoms in the right
Of your great predecessor, King Edward the Third;
In answer of which claim, the Prince our master
Says that you savor too much of your youth
260And bids you be advised there’s naught in France
400That can be with a nimble galliard won;
You cannot revel into dukedoms there.
He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit,
This tun of treasure and, in lieu of this,
265Desires you let the dukedoms that you claim
405Hear no more of you. This the Dauphin speaks.

KING HENRY

What treasure, uncle?

EXETER

Tennis balls,
my liege.

KING HENRY

270We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us.
410His present and your pains we thank you for.
When we have matched our rackets to these balls,
We will in France, by God’s grace, play a set
Shall strike his father’s crown into the hazard.
275Tell him he hath made a match with such a
415wrangler
That all the courts of France will be disturbed
With chases. And we understand him well,
How he comes o’er us with our wilder days,
280Not measuring what use we made of them.
420We never valued this poor seat of England,
And therefore, living hence, did give ourself
To barbarous license, as ’tis ever common
That men are merriest when they are from home.
285But tell the Dauphin I will keep my state,
425Be like a king, and show my sail of greatness
When I do rouse me in my throne of France,
For that I have laid by my majesty
And plodded like a man for working days;
290But I will rise there with so full a glory
430That I will dazzle all the eyes of France,
Yea, strike the Dauphin blind to look on us.
And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his
Hath turned his balls to gun-stones, and his soul
295Shall stand sore chargèd for the wasteful vengeance
435That 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;
300And some are yet ungotten and unborn
440That 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,
305To venge me as I may and to put forth
445My rightful hand in a well-hallowed cause.
So get you hence in peace. And tell the Dauphin
His jest will savor but of shallow wit
When thousands weep more than did laugh at it.—
310Convey them with safe conduct.—Fare you well.

Ambassadors exit, with Attendants.

EXETER

450This was a merry message.

KING HENRY

We hope to make the sender blush at it.
Therefore, my lords, omit no happy hour
That may give furth’rance to our expedition;
315For we have now no thought in us but France,
455Save those to God, that run before our business.
Therefore let our proportions for these wars
Be soon collected, and all things thought upon
That may with reasonable swiftness add
320More feathers to our wings. For, God before,
460We’ll chide this Dauphin at his father’s door.
Therefore let every man now task his thought,
That this fair action may on foot be brought.

Flourish. They exit.

ACT 2

Chorus

Enter Chorus.

CHORUS

Now all the youth of England are on fire,
And silken dalliance in the wardrobe lies;
465Now thrive the armorers, and honor’s thought
Reigns solely in the breast of every man.
5They sell the pasture now to buy the horse,
Following the mirror of all Christian kings
With wingèd heels, as English Mercurys.
470For now sits Expectation in the air
And hides a sword, from hilts unto the point,
10With crowns imperial, crowns, and coronets
Promised to Harry and his followers.
The French, advised by good intelligence
475Of this most dreadful preparation,
Shake in their fear, and with pale policy
15Seek to divert the English purposes.
O England, model to thy inward greatness,
Like little body with a mighty heart,
480What might’st thou do, that honor would thee do,
Were all thy children kind and natural!
20But see, thy fault France hath in thee found out,
A nest of hollow bosoms, which he fills
With treacherous crowns, and three corrupted men—
485One, Richard, Earl of Cambridge, and the second,
Henry, Lord Scroop of Masham, and the third,
25Sir Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland—
Have, for the gilt of France (O guilt indeed!),
Confirmed conspiracy with fearful France,
490And by their hands this grace of kings must die,
If hell and treason hold their promises,
30Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton.
Linger your patience on, and we’ll digest
Th’ abuse of distance, force a play.
495The sum is paid, the traitors are agreed,
The King is set from London, and the scene
35Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton.
There is the playhouse now, there must you sit,
And thence to France shall we convey you safe
500And bring you back, charming the narrow seas
To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,
40We’ll not offend one stomach with our play.
But, till the King come forth, and not till then,
Unto Southampton do we shift our scene.

He exits.

Scene 1

Enter Corporal Nym and Lieutenant Bardolph.

BARDOLPH

505Well met, Corporal Nym.

NYM

Good morrow, Lieutenant Bardolph.

BARDOLPH

What, are Ancient Pistol and you friends
yet?

NYM

5For my part, I care not. I say little, but when time
510shall serve, there shall be smiles; but that shall be as
it may. I dare not fight, but I will wink and hold out
mine iron. It is a simple one, but what though? It
will toast cheese, and it will endure cold as another
10man’s sword will, and there’s an end.

BARDOLPH

515I will bestow a breakfast to make you
friends, and we’ll be all three sworn brothers to
France. Let ’t be so, good Corporal Nym.

NYM

Faith, I will live so long as I may, that’s the
15certain of it; and when I cannot live any longer, I
520will do as I may. That is my rest, 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
20you were troth-plight to her.

NYM

525I cannot tell. 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
25mare, yet she will plod. There must be conclusions.
530Well, I cannot tell.

Enter Pistol and Hostess Quickly.

BARDOLPH

Here comes Ancient Pistol and his wife.
Good corporal, be patient here.—How now, mine
host Pistol?

PISTOL

30Base tyke, call’st thou me host? Now, by this
535hand, I swear I scorn the term, nor shall my Nell
keep lodgers.

HOSTESS

No, by my troth, not long; for we cannot
lodge and board a dozen or fourteen gentlewomen
35that live honestly by the prick of their needles but it
540will be thought we keep a bawdy house straight.
Nym and Pistol draw their swords.
O well-a-day, Lady! If he be not hewn now, we shall
see willful adultery and murder committed.

BARDOLPH

Good lieutenant, good corporal, offer nothing
40here.

NYM

545Pish!

PISTOL

Pish for thee, Iceland dog, thou prick-eared
cur of Iceland!

HOSTESS

Good Corporal Nym, show thy valor, and put
45up your sword.

NYM

550Will you shog off? To Pistol. I would have you
solus.

PISTOL

“Solus,” egregious dog? O viper vile, the solus
in thy most marvelous face, the solus in thy teeth
50and in thy throat and in thy hateful lungs, yea, in thy
555maw, perdy, and, which is worse, within thy nasty
mouth! I do retort the solus in thy bowels, for I can
take, and Pistol’s cock is up, and flashing fire will
follow.

NYM

55I am not Barbason, you cannot conjure me. I
560have an humor to knock you indifferently well. If
you grow foul with me, Pistol, I will scour you with
my rapier, as I may, in fair terms. If you would walk
off, I would prick your guts a little in good terms, as
60I may, and that’s the humor of it.

PISTOL

565O braggart vile and damnèd furious wight,
The grave doth gape, and doting death is near.
Therefore exhale.

BARDOLPH

Hear me, hear me what I say: he that strikes
65the first stroke, I’ll run him up to the hilts, as I am a
570soldier.

He draws.

PISTOL

An oath of mickle might, and fury shall abate.
Pistol and Nym and then Bardolph
sheathe their swords.
Give me thy fist, thy forefoot to me give. Thy spirits
are most tall.

NYM , to Pistol

70I will cut thy throat one time or other
575in fair terms, that is the humor of it.

PISTOL

Couple à gorge, that is the word. I defy thee
again. O hound of Crete, think’st thou my spouse to
get? No, to the spital go, and from the powd’ring tub
75of infamy fetch forth the lazar kite of Cressid’s kind,
580Doll Tearsheet she by name, and her espouse. I
have, and I will hold, the quondam Quickly for the
only she: and pauca, there’s enough too! Go to.

Enter the Boy.

BOY

Mine host Pistol, you must come to my master,
80and your hostess. He is very sick and would to
585bed.—Good Bardolph, put thy face between his
sheets, and do the office of a warming-pan. Faith,
he’s very ill.

BARDOLPH

Away, you rogue!

HOSTESS

85By my troth, he’ll yield the crow a pudding
590one of these days. The King has killed his heart.
Good husband, come home presently.

She exits with the Boy.

BARDOLPH

Come, shall I make you two friends? We
must to France together. Why the devil should we
90keep knives to cut one another’s throats?

PISTOL

595Let floods o’erswell and fiends for food howl on!

NYM

You’ll pay me the eight shillings I won of you at
betting?

PISTOL

Base is the slave that pays.

NYM

95That now I will have, that’s the humor of it.

PISTOL

600As manhood shall compound. Push home.

They draw.

BARDOLPH , drawing his sword

By this sword, he that
makes the first thrust, I’ll kill him. By this sword, I
will.

PISTOL , sheathing his sword

100“Sword” is an oath, and
605oaths must have their course.

BARDOLPH

Corporal Nym, an thou wilt be friends, be
friends; an thou wilt not, why then be enemies with
me too. Prithee, put up.

PISTOL , to Nym

105A noble shalt thou have, and present
610pay, and liquor likewise will I give to thee, and
friendship shall combine, and brotherhood. I’ll live
by Nym, and Nym shall live by me. Is not this just?
For I shall sutler be unto the camp, and profits will
110accrue. Give me thy hand.

NYM

615I shall have my noble?

PISTOL

In cash, most justly paid.

NYM

Well, then, that’s the humor of ’t.

Nym and Bardolph sheathe their swords.Enter Hostess.

HOSTESS

As ever you come of women, come in quickly
115to Sir John. Ah, poor heart, he is so shaked of a
620burning quotidian-tertian that it is most lamentable
to behold. Sweet men, come to him.

NYM

The King hath run bad humors on the knight,
that’s the even of it.

PISTOL

120Nym, thou hast spoke the right. His heart is
625fracted and corroborate.

NYM

The King is a good king, but it must be as it may;
he passes some humors and careers.

PISTOL

Let us condole the knight, for, lambkins, we
125will live.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter Exeter, Bedford, and Westmoreland.

BEDFORD

630’Fore God, his Grace is bold to trust these traitors.

EXETER

They shall be apprehended by and by.

WESTMORELAND

How smooth and even they do bear themselves,
As if allegiance in their bosoms sat
5Crownèd with faith and constant loyalty.

BEDFORD

635The King hath note of all that they intend,
By interception which they dream not of.

EXETER

Nay, but the man that was his bedfellow,
Whom he hath dulled and cloyed with gracious
10favors—
640That he should, for a foreign purse, so sell
His sovereign’s life to death and treachery!

Sound Trumpets. Enter the King of England,
Scroop, Cambridge, and Grey, with Attendants.

KING HENRY

Now sits the wind fair, and we will aboard.—
My Lord of Cambridge, and my kind Lord of
15Masham,
645And you, my gentle knight, give me your thoughts.
Think you not that the powers we bear with us
Will cut their passage through the force of France,
Doing the execution and the act
20For which we have in head assembled them?

SCROOP

650No doubt, my liege, if each man do his best.

KING HENRY

I doubt not that, since we are well persuaded
We carry not a heart with us from hence
That grows not in a fair consent with ours,
25Nor leave not one behind that doth not wish
655Success and conquest to attend on us.

CAMBRIDGE

Never was monarch better feared and loved
Than is your Majesty. There’s not, I think, a subject
That sits in heart-grief and uneasiness
30Under the sweet shade of your government.

GREY

660True. Those that were your father’s enemies
Have steeped their galls in honey, and do serve you
With hearts create of duty and of zeal.

KING HENRY

We therefore have great cause of thankfulness,
35And shall forget the office of our hand
665Sooner than quittance of desert and merit
According to the weight and worthiness.

SCROOP

So service shall with steelèd sinews toil,
And labor shall refresh itself with hope
40To do your Grace incessant services.

KING HENRY

670We judge no less.—Uncle of Exeter,
Enlarge the man committed yesterday
That railed against our person. We consider
It was excess of wine that set him on,
45And on his more advice we pardon him.

SCROOP

675That’s mercy, but too much security.
Let him be punished, sovereign, lest example
Breed, by his sufferance, more of such a kind.

KING HENRY

O, let us yet be merciful.

CAMBRIDGE

50So may your Highness, and yet punish too.

GREY

680Sir, you show great mercy if you give him life
After the taste of much correction.

KING HENRY

Alas, your too much love and care of me
Are heavy orisons ’gainst this poor wretch.
55If little faults proceeding on distemper
685Shall not be winked at, how shall we stretch our eye
When capital crimes, chewed, swallowed, and
digested,
Appear before us? We’ll yet enlarge that man,
60Though Cambridge, Scroop, and Grey, in their dear
690care
And tender preservation of our person,
Would have him punished. And now to our French
causes.
65Who are the late commissioners?

CAMBRIDGE

695I 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 , giving them papers

70Then Richard, Earl of Cambridge, there is yours—
700There yours, Lord Scroop of Masham.—And, sir
knight,
Grey of Northumberland, this same is yours.—
Read them, and know I know your worthiness.—
75My Lord of Westmoreland and uncle Exeter,
705We will aboard tonight.—Why how now, gentlemen?
What see you in those papers, that you lose
So much complexion?—Look you, how they change.
Their cheeks are paper.—Why, what read you there
80That have so cowarded and chased your blood
710Out of appearance?

CAMBRIDGE

I do confess my fault,
And do submit me to your Highness’ mercy.

GREY/SCROOP

To which we all appeal.

KING HENRY

85The mercy that was quick in us but late
715By your own counsel is suppressed and killed.
You must not dare, for shame, to talk of mercy,
For your own reasons turn into your bosoms
As dogs upon their masters, worrying you.—
90See you, my princes and my noble peers,
720These English monsters. My Lord of Cambridge
here,
You know how apt our love was to accord
To furnish him with all appurtenants
95Belonging to his honor, and this man
725Hath, for a few light crowns, lightly conspired
And sworn unto the practices of France
To kill us here in Hampton; to the which
This knight, no less for bounty bound to us
100Than Cambridge is, hath likewise sworn.—But O,
730What shall I say to thee, Lord Scroop, thou cruel,
Ingrateful, savage, and inhuman creature?
Thou that didst bear the key of all my counsels,
That knew’st the very bottom of my soul,
105That almost mightst have coined me into gold,
735Wouldst thou have practiced on me for thy use—
May it be possible that foreign hire
Could out of thee extract one spark of evil
That might annoy my finger? ’Tis so strange
110That, though the truth of it stands off as gross
740As black and white, my eye will scarcely see it.
Treason and murder ever kept together,
As two yoke-devils sworn to either’s purpose,
Working so grossly in a natural cause
115That admiration did not whoop at them.
745But thou, ’gainst all proportion, didst bring in
Wonder to wait on treason and on murder,
And whatsoever cunning fiend it was
That wrought upon thee so preposterously
120Hath got the voice in hell for excellence.
750All other devils that suggest by treasons
Do botch and bungle up damnation
With patches, colors, and with forms being fetched
From glist’ring semblances of piety;
125But he that tempered thee bade thee stand up,
755Gave thee no instance why thou shouldst do treason,
Unless to dub thee with the name of traitor.
If that same demon that hath gulled thee thus
Should with his lion gait walk the whole world,
130He might return to vasty Tartar back
760And tell the legions “I can never win
A soul so easy as that Englishman’s.”
O, how hast thou with jealousy infected
The sweetness of affiance! Show men dutiful?
135Why, so didst thou. Seem they grave and learnèd?
765Why, so didst thou. Come they of noble family?
Why, so didst thou. Seem they religious?
Why, so didst thou. Or are they spare in diet,
Free from gross passion or of mirth or anger,
140Constant in spirit, not swerving with the blood,
770Garnished and decked in modest complement,
Not working with the eye without the ear,
And but in purgèd judgment trusting neither?
Such and so finely bolted didst thou seem.
145And thus thy fall hath left a kind of blot
775To mark the full-fraught man and best endued
With some suspicion. I will weep for thee,
For this revolt of thine methinks is like
Another fall of man.—Their faults are open.
150Arrest them to the answer of the law,
780And God acquit them of their practices.

EXETER

I arrest thee of high treason, by the name of
Richard, Earl of Cambridge.—
I arrest thee of high treason, by the name of
155Henry, Lord Scroop of Masham.—
785I arrest thee of high treason, by the name of
Thomas Grey, knight, of Northumberland.

SCROOP

Our purposes God justly hath discovered,
And I repent my fault more than my death,
160Which I beseech your Highness to forgive,
790Although my body pay the price of it.

CAMBRIDGE

For me, the gold of France did not seduce,
Although I did admit it as a motive
The sooner to effect what I intended;
165But God be thankèd for prevention,
795Which I in sufferance heartily will rejoice,
Beseeching God and you to pardon me.

GREY

Never did faithful subject more rejoice
At the discovery of most dangerous treason
170Than I do at this hour joy o’er myself,
800Prevented from a damnèd enterprise.
My fault, but not my body, pardon, sovereign.

KING HENRY

God quit you in His mercy. Hear your sentence:
You have conspired against our royal person,
175Joined with an enemy proclaimed, and from his
805coffers
Received the golden earnest of our death,
Wherein you would have sold your king to
slaughter,
180His princes and his peers to servitude,
810His subjects to oppression and contempt,
And his whole kingdom into desolation.
Touching our person, seek we no revenge,
But we our kingdom’s safety must so tender,
185Whose ruin you have sought, that to her laws
815We do deliver you. Get you therefore hence,
Poor miserable wretches, to your death,
The taste whereof God of His mercy give
You patience to endure, and true repentance
190Of all your dear offenses.—Bear them hence.
They exit under guard.
820Now, lords, for France, the enterprise whereof
Shall be to you as us, like glorious.
We doubt not of a fair and lucky war,
Since God so graciously hath brought to light
195This dangerous treason lurking in our way
825To hinder our beginnings. We doubt not now
But every rub is smoothèd on our way.
Then forth, dear countrymen. Let us deliver
Our puissance into the hand of God,
200Putting it straight in expedition.
830Cheerly to sea. The signs of war advance.
No king of England if not king of France.

Flourish. They exit.

Scene 3

Enter Pistol, Nym, Bardolph, Boy, and Hostess.

HOSTESS

Prithee, honey-sweet husband, let me bring
thee to Staines.

PISTOL

No; for my manly heart doth earn.—Bardolph,
835be blithe.—Nym, rouse thy vaunting veins.— Boy,
5bristle thy courage up. For Falstaff, he is dead, and
we must earn therefore.

BARDOLPH

Would I were with him, wheresome’er he
is, either in heaven or in hell.

HOSTESS

840Nay, sure, he’s not in hell! He’s in Arthur’s
10bosom, if ever man went to Arthur’s bosom. He
made a finer end, and went away an it had been any
christom child. He parted ev’n just between twelve
and one, ev’n at the turning o’ th’ tide; for after I saw
845him fumble with the sheets and play with flowers
15and smile upon his finger’s end, I knew there was
but one way, for his nose was as sharp as a pen and
he talked of green fields. “How now, Sir John?”
quoth I. “What, man, be o’ good cheer!” So he cried
850out “God, God, God!” three or four times. Now I, to
20comfort him, bid him he should not think of God; I
hoped there was no need to trouble himself with
any such thoughts yet. So he bade me lay more
clothes on his feet. I put my hand into the bed and
855felt them, and they were as cold as any stone. Then I
25felt to his knees, and so upward and upward, and
all was as cold as any stone.

NYM

They say he cried out of sack.

HOSTESS

Ay, that he did.

BARDOLPH

860And of women.

HOSTESS

30Nay, that he did not.

BOY

Yes, that he did, and said they were devils
incarnate.

HOSTESS

He could never abide carnation. ’Twas a
865color he never liked.

BOY

35He said once, the devil would have him about
women.

HOSTESS

He did in some sort, indeed, handle women,
but then he was rheumatic and talked of the Whore
870of Babylon.

BOY

40Do you not remember he saw a flea stick upon
Bardolph’s nose, and he said it was a black soul
burning in hell?

BARDOLPH

Well, the fuel is gone that maintained that
875fire. That’s all the riches I got in his service.

NYM

45Shall we shog? The King will be gone from
Southampton.

PISTOL

Come, let’s away.—My love, give me thy lips.
They kiss. Look to my chattels and my movables.
880Let senses rule. The word is “Pitch and pay.” Trust
50none, for oaths are straws, men’s faiths are wafer-cakes,
and Holdfast is the only dog, my duck.
Therefore, Caveto be thy counselor. Go, clear thy
crystals.—Yoke-fellows in arms, let us to France,
885like horse-leeches, my boys, to suck, to suck, the
55very blood to suck.

BOY

And that’s but unwholesome food, they say.

PISTOL

Touch her soft mouth, and march.

BARDOLPH , kissing the Hostess

Farewell, hostess.

NYM

890I cannot kiss, that is the humor of it. But adieu.

PISTOL , to the Hostess

60Let huswifery appear. Keep
close, I thee command.

HOSTESS

Farewell. Adieu.

They exit.

Scene 4

Flourish. Enter the French King, the Dauphin, the Dukes
of Berri and Brittany, the Constable, and others.

KING OF FRANCE

Thus comes the English with full power upon us,
895And more than carefully it us concerns
To answer royally in our defenses.
Therefore the Dukes of Berri and of Brittany,
5Of Brabant and of Orléans, shall make forth,
And you, Prince Dauphin, with all swift dispatch,
900To line and new-repair our towns of war
With men of courage and with means defendant.
For England his approaches makes as fierce
10As waters to the sucking of a gulf.
It fits us then to be as provident
905As fear may teach us out of late examples
Left by the fatal and neglected English
Upon our fields.

DAUPHIN

15My most redoubted father,
It is most meet we arm us ’gainst the foe,
910For peace itself should not so dull a kingdom,
Though war nor no known quarrel were in question
But that defenses, musters, preparations
20Should be maintained, assembled, and collected
As were a war in expectation.
915Therefore I say ’tis meet we all go forth
To view the sick and feeble parts of France.
And let us do it with no show of fear,
25No, with no more than if we heard that England
Were busied with a Whitsun morris-dance.
920For, my good liege, she is so idly kinged,
Her scepter so fantastically borne
By a vain, giddy, shallow, humorous youth,
30That fear attends her not.

CONSTABLE

O peace, Prince Dauphin!
925You are too much mistaken in this king.
Question your Grace the late ambassadors
With what great state he heard their embassy,
35How well supplied with noble councillors,
How modest in exception, and withal
930How terrible in constant resolution,
And you shall find his vanities forespent
Were but the outside of the Roman Brutus,
40Covering discretion with a coat of folly,
As gardeners do with ordure hide those roots
935That shall first spring and be most delicate.

DAUPHIN

Well, ’tis not so, my Lord High Constable.
But though we think it so, it is no matter.
45In cases of defense, ’tis best to weigh
The enemy more mighty than he seems.
940So the proportions of defense are filled,
Which of a weak and niggardly projection
Doth, like a miser, spoil his coat with scanting
50A little cloth.

KING OF FRANCE

Think we King Harry strong,
945And, princes, look you strongly arm to meet him.
The kindred of him hath been fleshed upon us,
And he is bred out of that bloody strain
55That haunted us in our familiar paths.
Witness our too-much-memorable shame
950When Cressy battle fatally was struck
And all our princes captived by the hand
Of that black name, Edward, Black Prince of
60Wales,
Whiles that his mountain sire, on mountain standing
955Up in the air, crowned with the golden sun,
Saw his heroical seed and smiled to see him
Mangle the work of nature and deface
65The patterns that by God and by French fathers
Had twenty years been made. This is a stem
960Of that victorious stock, and let us fear
The native mightiness and fate of him.

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER

Ambassadors from Harry King of England
70Do crave admittance to your Majesty.

KING OF FRANCE

We’ll give them present audience. Go, and bring
965them.Messenger exits.
You see this chase is hotly followed, friends.

DAUPHIN

Turn head and stop pursuit, for coward dogs
75Most spend their mouths when what they seem to
threaten
970Runs far before them. Good my sovereign,
Take up the English short, and let them know
Of what a monarchy you are the head.
80Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin
As self-neglecting.

Enter Exeter, with Lords and Attendants.

KING OF FRANCE

975From our brother of England?

EXETER

From him, and thus he greets your Majesty:
He wills you, in the name of God almighty,
85That you divest yourself and lay apart
The borrowed glories that, by gift of heaven,
980By law of nature and of nations, ’longs
To him and to his heirs—namely, the crown
And all wide-stretchèd honors that pertain
90By custom and the ordinance of times
Unto the crown of France. That you may know
985’Tis no sinister nor no awkward claim
Picked from the wormholes of long-vanished days
Nor from the dust of old oblivion raked,
95He sends you this most memorable line,
He offers a paper.
In every branch truly demonstrative,
990Willing you overlook this pedigree,
And when you find him evenly derived
From his most famed of famous ancestors,
100Edward the Third, he bids you then resign
Your crown and kingdom, indirectly held
995From him, the native and true challenger.

KING OF FRANCE

Or else what follows?

EXETER

Bloody constraint, for if you hide the crown
105Even in your hearts, there will he rake for it.
Therefore in fierce tempest is he coming,
1000In thunder and in earthquake like a Jove,
That, if requiring fail, he will compel,
And bids you, in the bowels of the Lord,
110Deliver up the crown and to take mercy
On the poor souls for whom this hungry war
1005Opens his vasty jaws, and on your head
Turning the widows’ tears, the orphans’ cries,
The dead men’s blood, the privèd maidens’
115groans,
For husbands, fathers, and betrothèd lovers
1010That shall be swallowed in this controversy.
This is his claim, his threat’ning, and my message—
Unless the Dauphin be in presence here,
120To whom expressly I bring greeting too.

KING OF FRANCE

For us, we will consider of this further.
1015Tomorrow shall you bear our full intent
Back to our brother of England.

DAUPHIN , to Exeter

For the Dauphin,
125I stand here for him. What to him from England?

EXETER

Scorn and defiance, slight regard, contempt,
1020And anything that may not misbecome
The mighty sender, doth he prize you at.
Thus says my king: an if your father’s Highness
130Do not, in grant of all demands at large,
Sweeten the bitter mock you sent his Majesty,
1025He’ll call you to so hot an answer of it
That caves and womby vaultages of France
Shall chide your trespass and return your mock
135In second accent of his ordinance.

DAUPHIN

Say, if my father render fair return,
1030It is against my will, for I desire
Nothing but odds with England. To that end,
As matching to his youth and vanity,
140I did present him with the Paris balls.

EXETER

He’ll make your Paris Louvre shake for it,
1035Were it the mistress court of mighty Europe.
And be assured you’ll find a difference,
As we his subjects have in wonder found,
145Between the promise of his greener days
And these he masters now. Now he weighs time
1040Even to the utmost grain. That you shall read
In your own losses, if he stay in France.

KING OF FRANCE

Tomorrow shall you know our mind at full.

Flourish.

EXETER

150Dispatch us with all speed, lest that our king
Come here himself to question our delay,
1045For he is footed in this land already.

KING OF FRANCE

You shall be soon dispatched with fair conditions.
A night is but small breath and little pause
155To answer matters of this consequence.

Flourish. They exit.

ACT 3

Chorus

Enter Chorus.

CHORUS

Thus with imagined wing our swift scene flies
1050In motion of no less celerity
Than that of thought. Suppose that you have seen
The well-appointed king at Dover pier
5Embark his royalty, and his brave fleet
With silken streamers the young Phoebus
1055fanning.
Play with your fancies and in them behold,
Upon the hempen tackle, shipboys climbing.
10Hear the shrill whistle, which doth order give
To sounds confused. Behold the threaden sails,
1060Borne with th’ invisible and creeping wind,
Draw the huge bottoms through the furrowed sea,
Breasting the lofty surge. O, do but think
15You stand upon the rivage and behold
A city on th’ inconstant billows dancing,
1065For so appears this fleet majestical,
Holding due course to Harfleur. Follow, follow!
Grapple your minds to sternage of this navy,
20And leave your England, as dead midnight still,
Guarded with grandsires, babies, and old women,
1070Either past or not arrived to pith and puissance,
For who is he whose chin is but enriched
With one appearing hair that will not follow
25These culled and choice-drawn cavaliers to France?
Work, work your thoughts, and therein see a siege;
1075Behold the ordnance on their carriages,
With fatal mouths gaping on girded Harfleur.
Suppose th’ Ambassador from the French comes
30back,
Tells Harry that the King doth offer him
1080Katherine his daughter and with her, to dowry,
Some petty and unprofitable dukedoms.
The offer likes not, and the nimble gunner
35With linstock now the devilish cannon touches,
Alarum, and chambers go off.
And down goes all before them. Still be kind,
1085And eke out our performance with your mind.

He exits.

Scene 1

Enter the King of England, Exeter, Bedford, and
Gloucester. Alarum. Enter Soldiers with scaling
ladders at Harfleur.

KING HENRY

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once
more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man
51090As modest stillness and humility,
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger:
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,
Disguise fair nature with hard-favored rage,
101095Then lend the eye a terrible aspect,
Let it pry through the portage of the head
Like the brass cannon, let the brow o’erwhelm it
As fearfully as doth a gallèd rock
O’erhang and jutty his confounded base
151100Swilled with the wild and wasteful ocean.
Now set the teeth, and stretch the nostril wide,
Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spirit
To his full height. On, on, you noblest English,
Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof,
201105Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,
Have in these parts from morn till even fought,
And sheathed their swords for lack of argument.
Dishonor not your mothers. Now attest
That those whom you called fathers did beget you.
251110Be copy now to men of grosser blood
And teach them how to war. And you, good
yeomen,
Whose limbs were made in England, show us here
The mettle of your pasture. Let us swear
301115That you are worth your breeding, which I doubt
not,
For there is none of you so mean and base
That hath not noble luster in your eyes.
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
351120Straining upon the start. The game’s afoot.
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry “God for Harry, England, and Saint George!”

Alarum, and chambers go off.They exit.

Scene 2

Enter Nym, Bardolph, Pistol, and Boy.

BARDOLPH

On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the
breach!

NYM

1125Pray thee, corporal, stay. The knocks are too hot,
and, for mine own part, I have not a case of lives.
5The humor of it is too hot; that is the very plainsong
of it.

PISTOL

“The plainsong” is most just, for humors do
1130abound.
Knocks go and come. God’s vassals drop and die,
Sings10And sword and shield,
In bloody field,
Doth win immortal fame.

BOY

1135Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would
give all my fame for a pot of ale, and safety.

PISTOL

15And I.
SingsIf wishes would prevail with me,
My purpose should not fail with me,
1140But thither would I hie.

BOY sings

As duly,
20But not as truly,
As bird doth sing on bough.

Enter Fluellen.

FLUELLEN

Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!

PISTOL

1145Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold. Abate
thy rage, abate thy manly rage, abate thy rage, great
25duke. Good bawcock, ’bate thy rage. Use lenity,
sweet chuck.

NYM , to Fluellen

These be good humors. Your Honor
1150wins bad humors.

BOY

As young as I am, I have observed these three
30swashers. I am boy to them all three, but all they
three, though they would serve me, could not be
man to me. For indeed three such antics do not
1155amount to a man: for Bardolph, he is white-livered
and red-faced, by the means whereof he faces it out
35but fights not; for Pistol, he hath a killing tongue
and a quiet sword, by the means whereof he breaks
words and keeps whole weapons; for Nym, he hath
1160heard that men of few words are the best men, and
therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest he should
40be thought a coward, but his few bad words are
matched with as few good deeds, for he never broke
any man’s head but his own, and that was against a
1165post when he was drunk. They will steal anything
and call it purchase. Bardolph stole a lute case, bore
45it twelve leagues, and sold it for three halfpence.
Nym and Bardolph are sworn brothers in filching,
and in Calais they stole a fire shovel. I knew by that
1170piece of service the men would carry coals. They
would have me as familiar with men’s pockets as
50their gloves or their handkerchers, which makes
much against my manhood, if I should take from
another’s pocket to put into mine, for it is plain
1175pocketing up of wrongs. I must leave them and seek
some better service. Their villainy goes against my
55weak stomach, and therefore I must cast it up.

He exits.Enter Fluellen and Gower.

GOWER

Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to
the mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak
1180with you.

FLUELLEN

To the mines? Tell you the Duke it is not so
60good to come to the mines, for, look you, the mines
is not according to the disciplines of the war. The
concavities of it is not sufficient, for, look you, th’
1185athversary, you may discuss unto the Duke, look
you, is digt himself four yard under the countermines.
65By Cheshu, I think he will plow up all if
there is not better directions.

GOWER

The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of
1190the siege is given, is altogether directed by an
Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i’ faith.

FLUELLEN

70It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?

GOWER

I think it be.

FLUELLEN

By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world. I
1195will verify as much in his beard. He has no more
directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look
75you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy dog.

Enter Captain Macmorris, and Captain Jamy.

GOWER

Here he comes, and the Scots captain, Captain
Jamy, with him.

FLUELLEN

1200Captain Jamy is a marvelous falorous gentleman,
that is certain, and of great expedition and
80knowledge in th’ aunchient wars, upon my particular
knowledge of his directions. By Cheshu, he will
maintain his argument as well as any military man
1205in the world in the disciplines of the pristine wars
of the Romans.

JAMY

85I say gudday, Captain Fluellen.

FLUELLEN

Godden to your Worship, good Captain
James.

GOWER

1210How now, Captain Macmorris, have you quit
the mines? Have the pioners given o’er?

MACMORRIS

90By Chrish, la, ’tish ill done. The work ish
give over. The trompet sound the retreat. By my
hand I swear, and my father’s soul, the work ish ill
1215done. It ish give over. I would have blowed up the
town, so Chrish save me, la, in an hour. O, ’tish ill
95done, ’tish ill done, by my hand, ’tish ill done.

FLUELLEN

Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now,
will you voutsafe me, look you, a few disputations
1220with you as partly touching or concerning the
disciplines of the war, the Roman wars? In the way
100of argument, look you, and friendly communication,
partly to satisfy my opinion, and partly for the
satisfaction, look you, of my mind, as touching the
1225direction of the military discipline, that is the point.

JAMY

It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captens bath,
105and I sall quit you with gud leve, as I may pick
occasion, that sall I, marry.

MACMORRIS

It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save
1230me. The day is hot, and the weather, and the wars,
and the King, and the dukes. It is no time to
110discourse. The town is beseeched. An the trumpet
call us to the breach and we talk and, be Chrish, do
nothing, ’tis shame for us all. So God sa’ me, ’tis
1235shame to stand still. It is shame, by my hand. And
there is throats to be cut, and works to be done,
115and there ish nothing done, so Christ sa’ me, la.

JAMY

By the Mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves
to slomber, ay’ll de gud service, or I’ll lig i’
1240th’ grund for it, ay, or go to death. And I’ll pay ’t as
valorously as I may, that sall I suerly do, that is the
120breff and the long. Marry, I wad full fain heard
some question ’tween you tway.

FLUELLEN

Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under
1245your correction, there is not many of your
nation—

MACMORRIS

125Of my nation? What ish my nation? Ish a
villain and a basterd and a knave and a rascal. What
ish my nation? Who talks of my nation?

FLUELLEN

1250Look you, if you take the matter otherwise
than is meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I
130shall think you do not use 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
1255war and in the derivation of my birth, and in other
particularities.

MACMORRIS

135I do not know you so good a man as
myself. So Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.

GOWER

Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.

JAMY

1260Ah, that’s a foul fault.

A parley sounds.

GOWER

The town sounds a parley.

FLUELLEN

140Captain Macmorris, when there is more
better opportunity to be required, look you, I will
be so bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of
1265war, and there is an end.

They exit.

Scene 3

Enter the King of England and all his train
before the gates.

KING HENRY , to the men of Harfleur

How yet resolves the Governor of the town?
This is the latest parle we will admit.
Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves
Or, like to men proud of destruction,
51270Defy us to our worst. For, as I am a soldier,
A name that in my thoughts becomes me best,
If I begin the batt’ry once again,
I will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur
Till in her ashes she lie burièd.
101275The gates of mercy shall be all shut up,
And the fleshed soldier, rough and hard of heart,
In liberty of bloody hand, shall range
With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass
Your fresh fair virgins and your flow’ring infants.
151280What is it then to me if impious war,
Arrayed in flames like to the prince of fiends,
Do with his smirched complexion all fell feats
Enlinked to waste and desolation?
What is ’t to me, when you yourselves are cause,
201285If your pure maidens fall into the hand
Of hot and forcing violation?
What rein can hold licentious wickedness
When down the hill he holds his fierce career?
We may as bootless spend our vain command
251290Upon th’ enragèd soldiers in their spoil
As send precepts to the Leviathan
To come ashore. Therefore, you men of Harfleur,
Take pity of your town and of your people
Whiles yet my soldiers are in my command,
301295Whiles yet the cool and temperate wind of grace
O’erblows the filthy and contagious clouds
Of heady murder, spoil, and villainy.
If not, why, in a moment look to see
The blind and bloody soldier with foul hand
351300Desire the locks of your shrill-shrieking daughters,
Your fathers taken by the silver beards
And their most reverend heads dashed to the walls,
Your naked infants spitted upon pikes
Whiles the mad mothers with their howls confused
401305Do break the clouds, as did the wives of Jewry
At Herod’s bloody-hunting slaughtermen.
What say you? Will you yield and this avoid
Or, guilty in defense, be thus destroyed?

Enter Governor.

GOVERNOR

Our expectation hath this day an end.
451310The Dauphin, whom of succors we entreated,
Returns us that his powers are yet not ready
To raise so great a siege. Therefore, great king,
We yield our town and lives to thy soft mercy.
Enter our gates, dispose of us and ours,
501315For we no longer are defensible.

KING HENRY

Open your gates.Governor exits.
Come, uncle Exeter,
Go you and enter Harfleur. There remain,
And fortify it strongly ’gainst the French.
551320Use 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.

Flourish, and enter the town.

Scene 4

Enter Katherine and Alice, an old Gentlewoman.

KATHERINE

1325Alice, tu as été en Angleterre, et tu parles
bien le langage.

ALICE

Un peu, madame.

KATHERINE

Je te prie, m’enseignez. Il faut que j’apprenne
5à parler. Comment appelez-vous “la main” en
1330anglais?

ALICE

La main? Elle est appelée “de hand.”

KATHERINE

De hand. Et “les doigts”?

ALICE

Les doigts? Ma foi, j’oublie les doigts; mais je
10me souviendrai. Les doigts? Je pense qu’ils sont
1335appelés “de fingres”; oui, de fingres.

KATHERINE

La main, de hand. Les doigts, le fingres.
Je pense que je suis le bon écolier. J’ai gagné deux
mots d’anglais vitement. Comment appelez-vous “les
15ongles”?

ALICE

1340Les ongles? Nous les appelons “de nailes.”

KATHERINE

De nailes. Écoutez. Dites-moi si je parle
bien: de hand, de fingres, et de nailes.

ALICE

C’est bien dit, madame. Il est fort bon anglais.

KATHERINE

20Dites-moi l’anglais pour “le bras.”

ALICE

1345“De arme,” madame.

KATHERINE

Et “le coude”?

ALICE

“D’ elbow.”

KATHERINE

D’ elbow. Je m’en fais la répétition de tous
25les mots que vous m’avez appris dès à présent.

ALICE

1350Il est trop difficile, madame, comme je pense.

KATHERINE

Excusez-moi, Alice. Écoutez: d’ hand, de
fingre, de nailes, d’ arma, de bilbow.

ALICE

D’ elbow, madame.

KATHERINE

30Ô Seigneur Dieu! Je m’en oublie; d’ elbow.
1355Comment appelez-vous “le col”?

ALICE

“De nick,” madame.

KATHERINE

De nick. Et “le menton”?

ALICE

“De chin.”

KATHERINE

35De sin. Le col, de nick; le menton, de sin.

ALICE

1360Oui. Sauf votre honneur, en vérité vous prononcez
les mots aussi droit que les natifs d’Angleterre.

KATHERINE

Je ne doute point d’apprendre, par le grâce
de Dieu, et en peu de temps.

ALICE

40N’avez-vous pas déjà oublié ce que je vous ai
1365enseigné?

KATHERINE

Non. Je réciterai à vous promptement: d’
hand, de fingre, de mailes—

ALICE

De nailes, madame.

KATHERINE

45De nailes, de arme, de ilbow—

ALICE

1370Sauf votre honneur, d’ elbow.

KATHERINE

Ainsi dis-je: d’ elbow, de nick, et de sin.
Comment appelez-vous “le pied” et “la robe”?

ALICE

“Le foot,” madame, et “le count.”

KATHERINE

50Le foot, et le count. Ô Seigneur Dieu! Ils
1375sont les mots de 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
55count! Néanmoins, je réciterai une autre fois ma
1380leçon ensemble: d’ hand, de fingre, de nailes, d’
arme, d’ elbow, de nick, de sin, de foot, le count.

ALICE

Excellent, madame.

KATHERINE

C’est assez pour une fois. Allons-nous à
60dîner.

They exit.

Scene 5

Enter the King of France, the Dauphin, the Duke of
Brittany, the Constable of France, and others.

KING OF FRANCE

1385’Tis certain he hath passed the river Somme.

CONSTABLE

An if he be not fought withal, my lord,
Let us not live in France. Let us quit all,
And give our vineyards to a barbarous people.

DAUPHIN

5Ô Dieu vivant, shall a few sprays of us,
1390The emptying of our fathers’ luxury,
Our scions, put in wild and savage stock,
Spurt up so suddenly into the clouds
And overlook their grafters?

BRITTANY

10Normans, but bastard Normans, Norman bastards!
1395Mort de ma vie, if they march along
Unfought withal, but I will sell my dukedom
To buy a slobb’ry and a dirty farm
In that nook-shotten isle of Albion.

CONSTABLE

15Dieu de batailles, where have they this mettle?
1400Is not their climate foggy, raw, and dull,
On whom, as in despite, the sun looks pale,
Killing their fruit with frowns? Can sodden water,
A drench for sur-reined jades, their barley broth,
20Decoct their cold blood to such valiant heat?
1405And shall our quick blood, spirited with wine,
Seem frosty? O, for honor of our land,
Let us not hang like roping icicles
Upon our houses’ thatch, whiles a more frosty
25people
1410Sweat drops of gallant youth in our rich fields!
“Poor” we may call them in their native lords.

DAUPHIN

By faith and honor,
Our madams mock at us and plainly say
30Our mettle is bred out, and they will give
1415Their bodies to the lust of English youth
To new-store France with bastard warriors.

BRITTANY

They bid us to the English dancing-schools,
And teach lavoltas high, and swift corantos,
35Saying our grace is only in our heels
1420And that we are most lofty runaways.

KING OF FRANCE

Where is Montjoy the herald? Speed him hence.
Let him greet England with our sharp defiance.
Up, princes, and, with spirit of honor edged
40More sharper than your swords, hie to the field:
1425Charles Delabreth, High Constable of France;
You Dukes of Orléans, Bourbon, and of Berri,
Alençon, Brabant, Bar, and Burgundy;
Jacques Chatillon, Rambures, Vaudemont,
45Beaumont, Grandpré, Roussi, and Faulconbridge,
1430Foix, Lestrale, Bouciquault, and Charolois;
High dukes, great princes, barons, lords, and
knights,
For your great seats now quit you of great shames.
50Bar Harry England, that sweeps through our land
1435With pennons painted in the blood of Harfleur.
Rush on his host, as doth the melted snow
Upon the valleys, whose low vassal seat
The Alps doth spit and void his rheum upon.
55Go down upon him—you have power enough—
1440And in a captive chariot into Rouen
Bring him our prisoner.

CONSTABLE

This becomes the great!
Sorry am I his numbers are so few,
60His soldiers sick and famished in their march,
1445For, I am sure, when he shall see our army,
He’ll drop his heart into the sink of fear
And for achievement offer us his ransom.

KING OF FRANCE

Therefore, Lord Constable, haste on Montjoy,
65And let him say to England that we send
1450To know what willing ransom he will give.—
Prince Dauphin, you shall stay with us in Rouen.

DAUPHIN

Not so, I do beseech your Majesty.

KING

Be patient, for you shall remain with us.—
70Now forth, Lord Constable and princes all,
1455And quickly bring us word of England’s fall.

They exit.

Scene 6

Enter Captains, English and Welsh, Gower and Fluellen.

GOWER

How now, Captain Fluellen? Come you from
the bridge?

FLUELLEN

I assure you there is very excellent services
committed at the bridge.

GOWER

51460Is the Duke of Exeter safe?

FLUELLEN

The Duke of Exeter is as magnanimous as
Agamemnon, and a man that I love and honor with
my soul and my heart and my duty and my life and
my living and my uttermost power. He is not, God
101465be praised and blessed, any hurt in the world, but
keeps the bridge most valiantly, with excellent
discipline. There is an aunchient lieutenant there at
the pridge; I think in my very conscience he is as
valiant a man as Mark Antony, and he is a man of no
151470estimation in the world, but I did see him do as
gallant service.

GOWER

What do you call him?

FLUELLEN

He is called Aunchient Pistol.

GOWER

I know him not.

Enter Pistol.

FLUELLEN

201475Here is the man.

PISTOL

Captain, I thee beseech to do me favors. The
Duke of Exeter doth love thee well.

FLUELLEN

Ay, I praise God, and I have merited some
love at his hands.

PISTOL

251480Bardolph, a soldier firm and sound of heart and
of buxom valor, hath, by cruel Fate and giddy
Fortune’s furious fickle wheel, that goddess blind,
that stands upon the rolling restless stone—

FLUELLEN

By your patience, Aunchient Pistol, Fortune
301485is painted blind, with a muffler afore her eyes, to
signify to you that Fortune is blind; and she is
painted also with a wheel to signify to you, which is
the moral of it, that she is turning and inconstant,
and mutability and variation; and her foot, look you,
351490is fixed upon a spherical stone, which rolls and rolls
and rolls. In good truth, the poet makes a most
excellent description of it. Fortune is an excellent
moral.

PISTOL

Fortune is Bardolph’s foe and frowns on him,
401495for he hath stolen a pax and hangèd must he be. A
damnèd death! Let gallows gape for dog, let man go
free, and let not hemp his windpipe suffocate. But
Exeter hath given the doom of death for pax of little
price. Therefore go speak; the Duke will hear thy
451500voice, and let not Bardolph’s vital thread be cut
with edge of penny cord and vile reproach. Speak,
captain, for his life, and I will thee requite.

FLUELLEN

Aunchient Pistol, I do partly understand
your meaning.

PISTOL

501505Why then, rejoice therefore.

FLUELLEN

Certainly, aunchient, it is not a thing to
rejoice at, for if, look you, he were my brother, I
would desire the Duke to use his good pleasure and
put him to execution, for discipline ought to be
551510used.

PISTOL

Die and be damned, and figo for thy friendship!

FLUELLEN

It is well.

PISTOL

The fig of Spain!

He exits.

FLUELLEN

Very good.

GOWER

601515Why, this is an arrant counterfeit rascal. I
remember him now, a bawd, a cutpurse.

FLUELLEN

I’ll assure you he uttered as prave words at
the pridge as you shall see in a summer’s day. But it
is very well; what he has spoke to me, that is well, I
651520warrant you, when time is serve.

GOWER

Why, ’tis a gull, a fool, a rogue, that now and
then goes to the wars to grace himself at his return
into London under the form of a soldier; and such
fellows are perfect in the great commanders’
701525names, and they will learn you by rote where
services were done—at such and such a sconce, at
such a breach, at such a convoy; who came off
bravely, who was shot, who disgraced, what terms
the enemy stood on; and this they con perfectly in
751530the phrase of war, which they trick up with new-tuned
oaths; and what a beard of the general’s cut
and a horrid suit of the camp will do among
foaming bottles and ale-washed wits is wonderful to
be thought on. But you must learn to know such
801535slanders of the age, or else you may be marvelously
mistook.

FLUELLEN

I tell you what, Captain Gower. I do perceive
he is not the man that he would gladly make
show to the world he is. If I find a hole in his coat, I
851540will tell him my mind.
Drum and Colors. Enter the King of England and his
poor Soldiers, and Gloucester.

Hark you, the King is coming, and I must speak
with him from the pridge.—God pless your
Majesty.

KING HENRY

How now, Fluellen, cam’st thou from the
901545bridge?

FLUELLEN

Ay, so please your Majesty. The Duke of
Exeter has very gallantly maintained the pridge.
The French is gone off, look you, and there is gallant
and most prave passages. Marry, th’ athversary was
951550have possession of the pridge, but he is enforced
to retire, and the Duke of Exeter is master of the
pridge. I can tell your Majesty, the Duke is a prave
man.

KING HENRY

What men have you lost, Fluellen?

FLUELLEN

1001555The perdition of th’ athversary hath been
very great, reasonable great. Marry, for my part, I
think the Duke hath lost never a man but one that is
like to be executed for robbing a church, one
Bardolph, if your Majesty know the man. His face is
1051560all bubukles and whelks and knobs and flames o’
fire; and his lips blows at his nose, and it is like a
coal of fire, sometimes plue and sometimes red, but
his nose is executed, and his fire’s out.

KING HENRY

We would have all such offenders so cut
1101565off; and we give express charge that in our marches
through the country there be nothing compelled
from the villages, nothing taken but paid for,
none of the French upbraided or abused in disdainful
language; for when lenity and cruelty play
1151570for a kingdom, the gentler gamester is the soonest
winner.

Tucket. Enter Montjoy.

MONTJOY

You know me by my habit.

KING HENRY

Well then, I know thee. What shall I know
of thee?

MONTJOY

1201575My master’s mind.

KING HENRY

Unfold it.

MONTJOY

Thus says my king: “Say thou to Harry of
England, though we seemed dead, we did but sleep.
Advantage is a better soldier than rashness. Tell him
1251580we could have rebuked him at Harfleur, but that we
thought not good to bruise an injury till it were full
ripe. Now we speak upon our cue, and our voice is
imperial. England shall repent his folly, see his
weakness, and admire our sufferance. Bid him
1301585therefore consider of his ransom, which must proportion
the losses we have borne, the subjects we
have lost, the disgrace we have digested, which, in
weight to reanswer, his pettiness would bow under.
For our losses, his exchequer is too poor; for th’
1351590effusion of our blood, the muster of his kingdom
too faint a number; and for our disgrace, his own
person kneeling at our feet but a weak and worthless
satisfaction. To this, add defiance, and tell him,
for conclusion, he hath betrayed his followers,
1401595whose condemnation is pronounced.” So far my
king and master; so much my office.

KING HENRY

What is thy name? I know thy quality.

MONTJOY

Montjoy.

KING HENRY

Thou dost thy office fairly. Turn thee back,
1451600And tell thy king I do not seek him now
But could be willing to march on to Calais
Without impeachment, for, to say the sooth,
Though ’tis no wisdom to confess so much
Unto an enemy of craft and vantage,
1501605My people are with sickness much enfeebled,
My numbers lessened, and those few I have
Almost no better than so many French,
Who when they were in health, I tell thee, herald,
I thought upon one pair of English legs
1551610Did march three Frenchmen. Yet forgive me, God,
That I do brag thus. This your air of France
Hath blown that vice in me. I must repent.
Go therefore, tell thy master: here I am.
My ransom is this frail and worthless trunk,
1601615My army but a weak and sickly guard,
Yet, God before, tell him we will come on
Though France himself and such another neighbor
Stand in our way. There’s for thy labor, Montjoy.
Gives money.
Go bid thy master well advise himself:
1651620If we may pass, we will; if we be hindered,
We shall your tawny ground with your red blood
Discolor. And so, Montjoy, fare you well.
The sum of all our answer is but this:
We would not seek a battle as we are,
1701625Nor, as we are, we say we will not shun it.
So tell your master.

MONTJOY

I shall deliver so. Thanks to your Highness.

He exits.

GLOUCESTER

I hope they will not come upon us now.

KING HENRY

We are in God’s hand, brother, not in theirs.
1751630March to the bridge. It now draws toward night.
Beyond the river we’ll encamp ourselves,
And on tomorrow bid them march away.

They exit.

Scene 7

Enter the Constable of France, the Lord Rambures,
Orléans, Dauphin, with others.

CONSTABLE

Tut, I have the best armor of the world.
Would it were day!

ORLÉANS

1635You have an excellent armor, but let my
horse have his due.

CONSTABLE

5It is the best horse of Europe.

ORLÉANS

Will it never be morning?

DAUPHIN

My Lord of Orléans and my Lord High Constable,
1640you talk of horse and armor?

ORLÉANS

You are as well provided of both as any
10prince in the world.

DAUPHIN

What a long night is this! I will not change
my horse with any that treads but on four pasterns.
1645Çà, ha! He bounds from the earth, as if his
entrails were hairs, le cheval volant, the Pegasus, qui
15a les narines de feu. When I bestride him, I soar; I
am a hawk; he trots the air. The earth sings when he
touches it. The basest horn of his hoof is more
1650musical than the pipe of Hermes.

ORLÉANS

He’s of the color of the nutmeg.

DAUPHIN

20And of the heat of the ginger. It is a beast for
Perseus. He is pure air and fire, and the dull
elements of earth and water never appear in him,
1655but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts
him. He is indeed a horse, and all other jades you
25may call beasts.

CONSTABLE

Indeed, my lord, it is a most absolute and
excellent horse.

DAUPHIN

1660It is the prince of palfreys; his neigh is like
the bidding of a monarch, and his countenance
30enforces homage.

ORLÉANS

No more, cousin.

DAUPHIN

Nay, the man hath no wit that cannot, from
1665the rising of the lark to the lodging of the lamb,
vary deserved praise on my palfrey. It is a theme as
35fluent as the sea. Turn the sands into eloquent
tongues, and my horse is argument for them all. ’Tis
a subject for a sovereign to reason on, and for a
1670sovereign’s sovereign to ride on, and for the world,
familiar to us and unknown, to lay apart their
40particular functions and wonder at him. I once writ
a sonnet in his praise and began thus: “Wonder of
nature—”

ORLÉANS

1675I have heard a sonnet begin so to one’s
mistress.

DAUPHIN

45Then did they imitate that which I composed
to my courser, for my horse is my mistress.

ORLÉANS

Your mistress bears well.

DAUPHIN

1680Me well—which is the prescript praise and
perfection of a good and particular mistress.

CONSTABLE

50Nay, for methought yesterday your mistress
shrewdly shook your back.

DAUPHIN

So perhaps did yours.

CONSTABLE

1685Mine was not bridled.

DAUPHIN

O, then belike she was old and gentle, and
55you rode like a kern of Ireland, your French hose
off, and in your strait strossers.

CONSTABLE

You have good judgment in horsemanship.

DAUPHIN

1690Be warned by me, then: they that ride so, and
ride not warily, fall into foul bogs. I had rather have
60my horse to my mistress.

CONSTABLE

I had as lief have my mistress a jade.

DAUPHIN

I tell thee, constable, my mistress wears his
1695own hair.

CONSTABLE

I could make as true a boast as that if I had
65a sow to my mistress.

DAUPHIN

“Le chien est retourné à son propre vomissement,
et la truie lavée au bourbier.” Thou mak’st use
1700of anything.

CONSTABLE

Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress,
70or any such proverb so little kin to the purpose.

RAMBURES

My Lord Constable, the armor that I saw in
your tent tonight, are those stars or suns upon it?

CONSTABLE

1705Stars, my lord.

DAUPHIN

Some of them will fall tomorrow, I hope.

CONSTABLE

75And yet my sky shall not want.

DAUPHIN

That may be, for you bear a many superfluously,
and ’twere more honor some were away.

CONSTABLE

1710Ev’n as your horse bears your praises—
who would trot as well were some of your brags
80dismounted.

DAUPHIN

Would I were able to load him with his
desert! Will it never be day? I will trot tomorrow a
1715mile, and my way shall be paved with English faces.

CONSTABLE

I will not say so for fear I should be faced
85out of my way. But I would it were morning, for I
would fain be about the ears of the English.

RAMBURES

Who will go to hazard with me for twenty
1720prisoners?

CONSTABLE

You must first go yourself to hazard ere you
90have them.

DAUPHIN

’Tis midnight. I’ll go arm myself.

He exits.

ORLÉANS

The Dauphin longs for morning.

RAMBURES

1725He longs to eat the English.

CONSTABLE

I think he will eat all he kills.

ORLÉANS

95By the white hand of my lady, he’s a gallant
prince.

CONSTABLE

Swear by her foot, that she may tread out
1730the oath.

ORLÉANS

He is simply the most active gentleman of
100France.

CONSTABLE

Doing is activity, and he will still be doing.

ORLÉANS

He never did harm, that I heard of.

CONSTABLE

1735Nor will do none tomorrow. He will keep
that good name still.

ORLÉANS

105I know him to be valiant.

CONSTABLE

I was told that by one that knows him
better than you.

ORLÉANS

1740What’s he?

CONSTABLE

Marry, he told me so himself, and he said
110he cared not who knew it.

ORLÉANS

He needs not. It is no hidden virtue in him.

CONSTABLE

By my faith, sir, but it is; never anybody
1745saw it but his lackey. ’Tis a hooded valor, and when
it appears, it will bate.

ORLÉANS

115Ill will never said well.

CONSTABLE

I will cap that proverb with “There is
flattery in friendship.”

ORLÉANS

1750And I will take up that with “Give the devil
his due.”

CONSTABLE

120Well placed; there stands your friend for
the devil. Have at the very eye of that proverb with
“A pox of the devil.”

ORLÉANS

1755You are the better at proverbs, by how much
“A fool’s bolt is soon shot.”

CONSTABLE

125You have shot over.

ORLÉANS

’Tis not the first time you were overshot.

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER

My Lord High Constable, the English lie
1760within fifteen hundred paces of your tents.

CONSTABLE

Who hath measured the ground?

MESSENGER

130The Lord Grandpré.

CONSTABLE

A valiant and most expert gentleman.—
Would it were day! Alas, poor Harry of England! He
1765longs not for the dawning as we do.

ORLÉANS

What a wretched and peevish fellow is this
135King of England to mope with his fat-brained
followers so far out of his knowledge.

CONSTABLE

If the English had any apprehension, they
1770would run away.

ORLÉANS

That they lack; for if their heads had any
140intellectual armor, they could never wear such
heavy headpieces.

RAMBURES

That island of England breeds very valiant
1775creatures. Their mastiffs are of unmatchable
courage.

ORLÉANS

145Foolish curs, that run winking into the
mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads
crushed like rotten apples. You may as well say
1780that’s a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the
lip of a lion.

CONSTABLE

150Just, just; and the men do sympathize with
the mastiffs in robustious and rough coming on,
leaving their wits with their wives. And then give
1785them great meals of beef and iron and steel, they
will eat like wolves and fight like devils.

ORLÉANS

155Ay, but these English are shrewdly out of
beef.

CONSTABLE

Then shall we find tomorrow they have
1790only stomachs to eat and none to fight. Now is it
time to arm. Come, shall we about it?

ORLÉANS

160It is now two o’clock. But, let me see, by ten
We shall have each a hundred Englishmen.

They exit.

ACT 4

Chorus

Enter Chorus.

CHORUS

Now entertain conjecture of a time
1795When creeping murmur and the poring dark
Fills the wide vessel of the universe.
From camp to camp, through the foul womb of
5night,
The hum of either army stilly sounds,
1800That the fixed sentinels almost receive
The secret whispers of each other’s watch.
Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames
10Each battle sees the other’s umbered face;
Steed threatens steed in high and boastful neighs
1805Piercing the night’s dull ear; and from the tents
The armorers, accomplishing the knights,
With busy hammers closing rivets up,
15Give dreadful note of preparation.
The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll,
1810And, the third hour of drowsy morning named,
Proud of their numbers and secure in soul,
The confident and overlusty French
20Do the low-rated English play at dice
And chide the cripple, tardy-gaited night,
1815Who like a foul and ugly witch doth limp
So tediously away. The poor condemnèd English,
Like sacrifices, by their watchful fires
25Sit patiently and inly ruminate
The morning’s danger; and their gesture sad,
1820Investing lank-lean cheeks and war-worn coats,
Presenteth them unto the gazing moon
So many horrid ghosts. O now, who will behold
30The royal captain of this ruined band
Walking from watch to watch, from tent to tent,
1825Let him cry, “Praise and glory on his head!”
For forth he goes and visits all his host,
Bids them good morrow with a modest smile,
35And calls them brothers, friends, and countrymen.
Upon his royal face there is no note
1830How dread an army hath enrounded him,
Nor doth he dedicate one jot of color
Unto the weary and all-watchèd night,
40But freshly looks and overbears attaint
With cheerful semblance and sweet majesty,
1835That every wretch, pining and pale before,
Beholding him, plucks comfort from his looks.
A largesse universal, like the sun,
45His liberal eye doth give to everyone,
Thawing cold fear, that mean and gentle all
1840Behold, as may unworthiness define,
A little touch of Harry in the night.
And so our scene must to the battle fly,
50Where, O for pity, we shall much disgrace,
With four or five most vile and ragged foils
1845Right ill-disposed in brawl ridiculous,
The name of Agincourt. Yet sit and see,
Minding true things by what their mock’ries be.

He exits.

Scene 1

Enter the King of England, Bedford, and Gloucester.

KING HENRY

Gloucester, ’tis true that we are in great danger.
The greater therefore should our courage be.—
1850Good morrow, brother Bedford. God almighty,
There is some soul of goodness in things evil,
5Would men observingly distill it out.
For our bad neighbor makes us early stirrers,
Which is both healthful and good husbandry.
1855Besides, they are our outward consciences
And preachers to us all, admonishing
10That we should dress us fairly for our end.
Thus may we gather honey from the weed
And make a moral of the devil himself.

Enter Erpingham.

1860Good morrow, old Sir Thomas Erpingham.
A good soft pillow for that good white head
15Were better than a churlish turf of France.

ERPINGHAM

Not so, my liege, this lodging likes me better,
Since I may say “Now lie I like a king.”

KING HENRY

1865’Tis good for men to love their present pains
Upon example. So the spirit is eased;
20And when the mind is quickened, out of doubt,
The organs, though defunct and dead before,
Break up their drowsy grave and newly move
1870With casted slough and fresh legerity.
Lend me thy cloak, Sir Thomas.
He puts on Erpingham’s cloak.
25Brothers both,
Commend me to the princes in our camp,
Do my good morrow to them, and anon
1875Desire them all to my pavilion.

GLOUCESTER

We shall, my liege.

ERPINGHAM

30Shall I attend your Grace?

KING HENRY

No, my good knight.
Go with my brothers to my lords of England.
1880I and my bosom must debate awhile,
And then I would no other company.

ERPINGHAM

35The Lord in heaven bless thee, noble Harry.

All but the King exit.

KING HENRY

God-a-mercy, old heart, thou speak’st cheerfully.

Enter Pistol.

PISTOL

Qui vous là?

KING HENRY

1885A friend.

PISTOL

Discuss unto me: art thou officer or art thou
40base, common, and popular?

KING HENRY

I am a gentleman of a company.

PISTOL

Trail’st thou the puissant pike?

KING HENRY

1890Even so. What are you?

PISTOL

As good a gentleman as the Emperor.

KING HENRY

45Then you are a better than the King.

PISTOL

The King’s a bawcock and a heart of gold, a lad
of life, an imp of fame, of parents good, of fist most
1895valiant. I kiss his dirty shoe, and from heartstring I
love the lovely bully. What is thy name?

KING HENRY

50Harry le Roy.

PISTOL

Le Roy? A Cornish name. Art thou of Cornish
crew?

KING HENRY

1900No, I am a Welshman.

PISTOL

Know’st thou Fluellen?

KING HENRY

55Yes.

PISTOL

Tell him I’ll knock his leek about his pate upon
Saint Davy’s day.

KING HENRY

1905Do not you wear your dagger in your cap
that day, lest he knock that about yours.

PISTOL

60Art thou his friend?

KING HENRY

And his kinsman too.

PISTOL

The figo for thee then!

KING HENRY

1910I thank you. God be with you.

PISTOL

My name is Pistol called.

He exits.

KING HENRY

65It sorts well with your fierceness.

He steps aside.Enter Fluellen and Gower.

GOWER

Captain Fluellen.

FLUELLEN

So. In the name of Jesu Christ, speak fewer.
1915It is the greatest admiration in the universal world
when the true and aunchient prerogatifes and
70laws of the wars is not kept. If you would take the
pains but to examine the wars of Pompey the
Great, you shall find, I warrant you, that there is
1920no tiddle taddle nor pibble babble in Pompey’s
camp. I warrant you, you shall find the ceremonies
75of the wars and the cares of it and the forms
of it and the sobriety of it and the modesty of it to
be otherwise.

GOWER

1925Why, the enemy is loud. You hear him all
night.

FLUELLEN

80If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a prating
coxcomb, is it meet, think you, that we should also,
look you, be an ass and a fool and a prating
1930coxcomb, in your own conscience now?

GOWER

I will speak lower.

FLUELLEN

85I pray you and beseech you that you will.

Gower and Fluellen exit.

KING HENRY

Though it appear a little out of fashion,
There is much care and valor in this Welshman.

Enter three Soldiers, John Bates, Alexander Court, and
Michael Williams.

COURT

1935Brother John Bates, is not that the morning
which breaks yonder?

BATES

90I think it be, but we have no great cause to desire
the approach of day.

WILLIAMS

We see yonder the beginning of the day, but
1940I think we shall never see the end of it.—Who goes
there?

KING HENRY

95A friend.

WILLIAMS

Under what captain serve you?

KING HENRY

Under Sir Thomas Erpingham.

WILLIAMS

1945A good old commander and a most kind
gentleman. I pray you, what thinks he of our
100estate?

KING HENRY

Even as men wracked upon a sand, that
look to be washed off the next tide.

BATES

1950He hath not told his thought to the King?

KING HENRY

No. Nor it is not meet he should, for,
105though I speak it to you, I think the King is but a
man as I am. The violet smells to him as it doth to
me. The element shows to him as it doth to me. All
1955his senses have but human conditions. His ceremonies
laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man,
110and though his affections are higher mounted than
ours, yet when they stoop, they stoop with the like
wing. Therefore, when he sees reason of fears as we
1960do, his fears, out of doubt, be of the same relish as
ours are. Yet, in reason, no man should possess him
115with any appearance of fear, lest he, by showing it,
should dishearten his army.

BATES

He may show what outward courage he will,
1965but I believe, as cold a night as ’tis, he could wish
himself in Thames up to the neck; and so I would
120he were, and I by him, at all adventures, so we were
quit here.

KING HENRY

By my troth, I will speak my conscience
1970of the King. I think he would not wish himself
anywhere but where he is.

BATES

125Then I would he were here alone; so should he
be sure to be ransomed, and a many poor men’s
lives saved.

KING HENRY

1975I dare say you love him not so ill to wish
him here alone, howsoever you speak this to feel
130other men’s minds. Methinks I could not die anywhere
so contented as in the King’s company, his
cause being just and his quarrel honorable.

WILLIAMS

1980That’s more than we know.

BATES

Ay, or more than we should seek after, for we
135know enough if we know we are the King’s subjects.
If his cause be wrong, our obedience to the
King wipes the crime of it out of us.

WILLIAMS

1985But if the cause be not good, the King
himself hath a heavy reckoning to make, when all
140those legs and arms and heads, chopped off in a
battle, shall join together at the latter day, and cry
all “We died at such a place,” some swearing, some
1990crying for a surgeon, some upon their wives left
poor behind them, some upon the debts they owe,
145some upon their children rawly left. I am afeard
there are few die well that die in a battle, for how
can they charitably dispose of anything when blood
1995is their argument? Now, if these men do not die
well, it will be a black matter for the king that led
150them to it, who to disobey were against all proportion
of subjection.

KING HENRY

So, if a son that is by his father sent about
2000merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea,
the imputation of his wickedness, by your rule,
155should be imposed upon his father that sent him.
Or if a servant, under his master’s command transporting
a sum of money, be assailed by robbers and
2005die in many irreconciled iniquities, you may call the
business of the master the author of the servant’s
160damnation. But this is not so. The King is not bound
to answer the particular endings of his soldiers, the
father of his son, nor the master of his servant, for
2010they purpose not their death when they purpose
their services. Besides, there is no king, be his cause
165never so spotless, if it come to the arbitrament of
swords, can try it out with all unspotted soldiers.
Some, peradventure, have on them the guilt of
2015premeditated and contrived murder; some, of beguiling
virgins with the broken seals of perjury;
170some, making the wars their bulwark, that have
before gored the gentle bosom of peace with pillage
and robbery. Now, if these men have defeated the
2020law and outrun native punishment, though they can
outstrip men, they have no wings to fly from God.
175War is His beadle, war is His vengeance, so that here
men are punished for before-breach of the King’s
laws in now the King’s quarrel. Where they feared
2025the death, they have borne life away; and where they
would be safe, they perish. Then, if they die unprovided,
180no more is the King guilty of their damnation
than he was before guilty of those impieties for the
which they are now visited. Every subject’s duty is
2030the King’s, but every subject’s soul is his own.
Therefore should every soldier in the wars do as
185every sick man in his bed: wash every mote out of
his conscience. And, dying so, death is to him
advantage; or not dying, the time was blessedly lost
2035wherein such preparation was gained. And in him
that escapes, it were not sin to think that, making
190God so free an offer, He let him outlive that day to
see His greatness and to teach others how they
should prepare.

WILLIAMS

2040’Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill
upon his own head; the King is not to answer it.

BATES

195I do not desire he should answer for me, and yet
I determine to fight lustily for him.

KING HENRY

I myself heard the King say he would not
2045be ransomed.

WILLIAMS

Ay, he said so to make us fight cheerfully,
200but when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed
and we ne’er the wiser.

KING HENRY

If I live to see it, I will never trust his
2050word after.

WILLIAMS

You pay him then. That’s a perilous shot out
205of an elder gun, that a poor and a private displeasure
can do against a monarch. You may as well go
about to turn the sun to ice with fanning in his face
2055with a peacock’s feather. You’ll “never trust his
word after.” Come, ’tis a foolish saying.

KING HENRY

210Your reproof is something too round. I
should be angry with you if the time were
convenient.

WILLIAMS

2060Let it be a quarrel between us, if you live.

KING HENRY

I embrace it.

WILLIAMS

215How shall I know thee again?

KING HENRY

Give me any gage of thine, and I will wear
it in my bonnet. Then, if ever thou dar’st acknowledge
2065it, I will make it my quarrel.

WILLIAMS

Here’s my glove. Give me another of thine.

KING HENRY

220There.

They exchange gloves.

WILLIAMS

This will I also wear in my cap. If ever thou
come to me and say, after tomorrow, “This is my
2070glove,” by this hand I will take thee a box on the
ear.

KING HENRY

225If ever I live to see it, I will challenge it.

WILLIAMS

Thou dar’st as well be hanged.

KING HENRY

Well, I will do it, though I take thee in the
2075King’s company.

WILLIAMS

Keep thy word. Fare thee well.

BATES

230Be friends, you English fools, be friends. We
have French quarrels enough, if you could tell how
to reckon.

KING HENRY

2080Indeed, the French may lay twenty
French crowns to one they will beat us, for they
235bear them on their shoulders. But it is no English
treason to cut French crowns, and tomorrow the
King himself will be a clipper.
Soldiers exit.
2085Upon the King! Let us our lives, our souls, our
debts, our careful wives, our children, and our sins,
240lay on the King!
We must bear all. O hard condition,
Twin-born with greatness, subject to the breath
2090Of every fool whose sense no more can feel
But his own wringing. What infinite heart’s ease
245Must kings neglect that private men enjoy?
And what have kings that privates have not too,
Save ceremony, save general ceremony?
2095And what art thou, thou idol ceremony?
What kind of god art thou that suffer’st more
250Of mortal griefs than do thy worshipers?
What are thy rents? What are thy comings-in?
O ceremony, show me but thy worth!
2100What is thy soul of adoration?
Art thou aught else but place, degree, and form,
255Creating awe and fear in other men,
Wherein thou art less happy, being feared,
Than they in fearing?
2105What drink’st thou oft, instead of homage sweet,
But poisoned flattery? O, be sick, great greatness,
260And bid thy ceremony give thee cure!
Think’st thou the fiery fever will go out
With titles blown from adulation?
2110Will it give place to flexure and low bending?
Canst thou, when thou command’st the beggar’s
265knee,
Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream,
That play’st so subtly with a king’s repose.
2115I am a king that find thee, and I know
’Tis not the balm, the scepter, and the ball,
270The sword, the mace, the crown imperial,
The intertissued robe of gold and pearl,
The farcèd title running ’fore the King,
2120The throne he sits on, nor the tide of pomp
That beats upon the high shore of this world;
275No, not all these, thrice-gorgeous ceremony,
Not all these, laid in bed majestical,
Can sleep so soundly as the wretched slave
2125Who, with a body filled and vacant mind,
Gets him to rest, crammed with distressful bread;
280Never sees horrid night, the child of hell,
But, like a lackey, from the rise to set
Sweats in the eye of Phoebus, and all night
2130Sleeps in Elysium; next day after dawn
Doth rise and help Hyperion to his horse,
285And follows so the ever-running year
With profitable labor to his grave.
And, but for ceremony, such a wretch,
2135Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep,
Had the forehand and vantage of a king.
290The slave, a member of the country’s peace,
Enjoys it, but in gross brain little wots
What watch the King keeps to maintain the peace,
2140Whose hours the peasant best advantages.

Enter Erpingham.

ERPINGHAM

My lord, your nobles, jealous of your absence,
295Seek through your camp to find you.

KING HENRY

Good old knight,
Collect them all together at my tent.
2145I’ll be before thee.

ERPINGHAM

I shall do ’t, my lord.

He exits.

KING HENRY

300O God of battles, steel my soldiers’ hearts.
Possess them not with fear. Take from them now
The sense of reck’ning or th’ opposèd numbers
2150Pluck their hearts from them. Not today, O Lord,
O, not today, think not upon the fault
305My father made in compassing the crown.
I Richard’s body have interrèd new
And on it have bestowed more contrite tears
2155Than from it issued forcèd drops of blood.
Five hundred poor I have in yearly pay
310Who twice a day their withered hands hold up
Toward heaven to pardon blood. And I have built
Two chantries where the sad and solemn priests
2160Sing still for Richard’s soul. More will I do—
Though all that I can do is nothing worth,
315Since that my penitence comes after all,
Imploring pardon.

Enter Gloucester.

GLOUCESTER

My liege.

KING HENRY

2165My brother Gloucester’s voice.—Ay,
I know thy errand. I will go with thee.
320The day, my friends, and all things stay for me.

They exit.

Scene 2

Enter the Dauphin, Orléans, Rambures, and Beaumont.

ORLÉANS

The sun doth gild our armor. Up, my lords.

DAUPHIN

Montez à cheval! My horse, varlet! Lackey! Ha!

ORLÉANS

2170O brave spirit!

DAUPHIN

Via les eaux et terre.

ORLÉANS

5Rien puis? L’air et feu?

DAUPHIN

Cieux, cousin Orléans.

Enter Constable.

Now, my Lord Constable?

CONSTABLE

2175Hark how our steeds for present service neigh.

DAUPHIN

Mount them, and make incision in their hides,
10That their hot blood may spin in English eyes
And dout them with superfluous courage. Ha!

RAMBURES

What, will you have them weep our horses’ blood?
2180How shall we then behold their natural tears?

Enter Messenger.

MESSENGER

The English are embattled, you French peers.

CONSTABLE

15To horse, you gallant princes, straight to horse.
Do but behold yond poor and starvèd band,
And your fair show shall suck away their souls,
2185Leaving them but the shales and husks of men.
There is not work enough for all our hands,
20Scarce blood enough in all their sickly veins
To give each naked curtal ax a stain,
That our French gallants shall today draw out
2190And sheathe for lack of sport. Let us but blow on
them,
25The vapor of our valor will o’erturn them.
’Tis positive against all exceptions, lords,
That our superfluous lackeys and our peasants,
2195Who in unnecessary action swarm
About our squares of battle, were enough
30To purge this field of such a hilding foe,
Though we upon this mountain’s basis by
Took stand for idle speculation,
2200But that our honors must not. What’s to say?
A very little little let us do,
35And all is done. Then let the trumpets sound
The tucket sonance and the note to mount,
For our approach shall so much dare the field
2205That England shall couch down in fear and yield.

Enter Grandpré.

GRANDPRÉ

Why do you stay so long, my lords of France?
40Yond island carrions, desperate of their bones,
Ill-favoredly become the morning field.
Their ragged curtains poorly are let loose,
2210And our air shakes them passing scornfully.
Big Mars seems bankrupt in their beggared host
45And faintly through a rusty beaver peeps.
The horsemen sit like fixèd candlesticks
With torch staves in their hand, and their poor jades
2215Lob down their heads, drooping the hides and hips,
The gum down-roping from their pale dead eyes,
50And in their pale dull mouths the gemeled bit
Lies foul with chawed grass, still and motionless.
And their executors, the knavish crows,
2220Fly o’er them all, impatient for their hour.
Description cannot suit itself in words
55To demonstrate the life of such a battle
In life so lifeless, as it shows itself.

CONSTABLE

They have said their prayers, and they stay for death.

DAUPHIN

2225Shall we go send them dinners and fresh suits,
And give their fasting horses provender,
60And after fight with them?

CONSTABLE

I stay but for my guard. On, to the field!
I will the banner from a trumpet take
2230And use it for my haste. Come, come away.
The sun is high, and we outwear the day.

They exit.

Scene 3

Enter Gloucester, Bedford, Exeter, Erpingham with all
his host, Salisbury, and Westmoreland.

GLOUCESTER

Where is the King?

BEDFORD

The King himself is rode to view their battle.

WESTMORELAND

Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand.

EXETER

2235There’s five to one. Besides, they all are fresh.

SALISBURY

5God’s arm strike with us! ’Tis a fearful odds.
God be wi’ you, princes all. I’ll to my charge.
If we no more meet till we meet in heaven,
Then joyfully, my noble Lord of Bedford,
2240My dear Lord Gloucester, and my good Lord Exeter,
10And my kind kinsman, warriors all, adieu.

BEDFORD

Farewell, good Salisbury, and good luck go with
thee.
And yet I do thee wrong to mind thee of it,
2245For thou art framed of the firm truth of valor.

EXETER

15Farewell, kind lord. Fight valiantly today.

Salisbury exits.

BEDFORD

He is as full of valor as of kindness,
Princely in both.

Enter the King of England.

WESTMORELAND

O, that we now had here
2250But one ten thousand of those men in England
20That do no work today.

KING HENRY

What’s he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin.
If we are marked to die, we are enough
2255To do our country loss; and if to live,
25The fewer men, the greater share of honor.
God’s will, I pray thee wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
2260It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
30Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honor,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, ’faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
2265God’s peace, I would not lose so great an honor
35As one man more, methinks, would share from me,
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
2270Let him depart. His passport shall be made,
40And crowns for convoy put into his purse.
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian.
2275He that outlives this day and comes safe home
45Will stand o’ tiptoe when this day is named
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall see this day, and live old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors
2280And say “Tomorrow is Saint Crispian.”
50Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
2285Familiar in his mouth as household words,
55Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
This story shall the good man teach his son,
2290And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
60From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be rememberèd—
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
2295Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
65This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
2300That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.

Enter Salisbury.

SALISBURY

70My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed.
The French are bravely in their battles set,
And will with all expedience charge on us.

KING HENRY

All things are ready if our minds be so.

WESTMORELAND

2305Perish the man whose mind is backward now!

KING HENRY

75Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz?

WESTMORELAND

God’s will, my liege, would you and I alone,
Without more help, could fight this royal battle!

KING HENRY

Why, now thou hast unwished five thousand men,
2310Which likes me better than to wish us one.—
80You know your places. God be with you all.

Tucket. Enter Montjoy.

MONTJOY

Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry,
If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound,
Before thy most assurèd overthrow.
2315For certainly thou art so near the gulf
85Thou needs must be englutted. Besides, in mercy,
The Constable desires thee thou wilt mind
Thy followers of repentance, that their souls
May make a peaceful and a sweet retire
2320From off these fields where, wretches, their poor
90bodies
Must lie and fester.

KING HENRY

Who hath sent thee now?

MONTJOY

The Constable of France.

KING HENRY

2325I pray thee bear my former answer back.
95Bid them achieve me and then sell my bones.
Good God, why should they mock poor fellows
thus?
The man that once did sell the lion’s skin
2330While the beast lived was killed with hunting him.
100A many of our bodies shall no doubt
Find native graves, upon the which, I trust,
Shall witness live in brass of this day’s work.
And those that leave their valiant bones in France,
2335Dying like men, though buried in your dunghills,
105They shall be famed; for there the sun shall greet
them
And draw their honors reeking up to heaven,
Leaving their earthly parts to choke your clime,
2340The smell whereof shall breed a plague in France.
110Mark, then, abounding valor in our English,
That being dead, like to the bullet’s crazing,
Break out into a second course of mischief,
Killing in relapse of mortality.
2345Let me speak proudly: tell the Constable
115We are but warriors for the working day;
Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched
With rainy marching in the painful field.
There’s not a piece of feather in our host—
2350Good argument, I hope, we will not fly—
120And time hath worn us into slovenry.
But, by the Mass, our hearts are in the trim,
And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night
They’ll be in fresher robes, or they will pluck
2355The gay new coats o’er the French soldiers’ heads
125And turn them out of service. If they do this,
As, if God please, they shall, my ransom then
Will soon be levied. Herald, save thou thy labor.
Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald.
2360They shall have none, I swear, but these my joints,
130Which, if they have, as I will leave ’em them,
Shall yield them little, tell the Constable.

MONTJOY

I shall, King Harry. And so fare thee well.
Thou never shalt hear herald anymore.

KING HENRY

2365I fear thou wilt once more come again
135for a ransom.

Montjoy exits.Enter York.

YORK , kneeling

My lord, most humbly on my knee I beg
The leading of the vaward.

KING HENRY

Take it, brave York.York rises.
2370Now, soldiers, march away,
140And how Thou pleasest, God, dispose the day.

They exit.

Scene 4

Alarum. Excursions. Enter Pistol, French Soldier,
and Boy.

PISTOL

Yield, cur.

FRENCH SOLDIER

Je pense que vous êtes le gentilhomme
de bonne qualité.

PISTOL

2375Qualtitie calmie custure me. Art thou a gentleman?
5What is thy name? Discuss.

FRENCH SOLDIER

Ô Seigneur Dieu!

PISTOL

O, Seigneur Dew should be a gentleman. Perpend
my words, O Seigneur Dew, and mark: O
2380Seigneur Dew, thou diest on point of fox, except, O
10Seigneur, thou do give to me egregious ransom.

FRENCH SOLDIER

Ô, prenez miséricorde! Ayez pitié de
moi!

PISTOL

Moy shall not serve. I will have forty moys, or
2385I will fetch thy rim out at thy throat in drops of
15crimson blood.

FRENCH SOLDIER

Est-il impossible d’échapper la force
de ton bras?

PISTOL

Brass, cur? Thou damned and luxurious
2390mountain goat, offer’st me brass?

FRENCH SOLDIER

20Ô, pardonnez-moi!

PISTOL

Say’st thou me so? Is that a ton of moys?—
Come hither, boy. Ask me this slave in French what
is his name.

BOY

2395Écoutez. Comment êtes-vous appelé?

FRENCH SOLDIER

25Monsieur le Fer.

BOY

He says his name is Master Fer.

PISTOL

Master Fer. I’ll fer him, and firk him, and ferret
him. Discuss the same in French unto him.

BOY

2400I do not know the French for “fer,” and “ferret,”
30and “firk.”

PISTOL

Bid him prepare, for I will cut his throat.

FRENCH SOLDIER , to the Boy

Que dit-il, monsieur?

BOY

Il me commande à vous dire que vous faites vous
2405prêt, car ce soldat ici est disposé tout à cette heure de
35couper votre gorge.

PISTOL

Owy, cuppele gorge, permafoy, peasant, unless
thou give me crowns, brave crowns, or mangled
shalt thou be by this my sword.

FRENCH SOLDIER

2410Ô, je vous supplie, pour l’amour de
40Dieu, me pardonner. Je suis le gentilhomme de bonne
maison. Gardez ma vie, et je vous donnerai deux
cents écus.

PISTOL

What are his words?

BOY

2415He prays you to save his life. He is a gentleman of a
45good house, and for his ransom he will give you two
hundred crowns.

PISTOL

Tell him my fury shall abate, and I the crowns
will take.

FRENCH SOLDIER , to the Boy

2420Petit monsieur, que dit-il?

BOY

50Encore qu’il est contre son jurement de pardonner
aucun prisonnier; néanmoins, pour les écus que vous
lui avez promis, il est content à vous donner la liberté,
le franchisement.

French soldier kneels.

FRENCH SOLDIER

2425Sur mes genoux je vous donne mille
55remercîments, et je m’estime heureux que j’ai tombé
entre les mains d’un chevalier, je pense, le plus brave,
vaillant, et très distingué seigneur d’Angleterre.

PISTOL

Expound unto me, boy.

BOY

2430He gives you upon his knees a thousand thanks,
60and he esteems himself happy that he hath fall’n
into the hands of one, as he thinks, the most
brave, valorous, and thrice-worthy seigneur of
England.

PISTOL

2435As I suck blood, I will some mercy show.
65Follow me.

BOY

Suivez-vous le grand capitaine.
The French Soldier stands up. He and Pistol exit.
I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty
a heart. But the saying is true: “The empty vessel
2440makes the greatest sound.” Bardolph and Nym had
70ten times more valor than this roaring devil i’ th’ old
play, that everyone may pare his nails with a wooden
dagger, and they are both hanged, and so would
this be if he durst steal anything adventurously. I
2445must stay with the lackeys with the luggage of our
75camp. The French might have a good prey of us if he
knew of it, for there is none to guard it but boys.

He exits.

Scene 5

Enter Constable, Orléans, Bourbon, Dauphin, and
Rambures.

CONSTABLE

Ô diable!

ORLÉANS

Ô Seigneur! Le jour est perdu, tout est perdu!

DAUPHIN

2450Mort de ma vie, all is confounded, all!
Reproach and everlasting shame
5Sits mocking in our plumes.A short Alarum.
Ô méchante Fortune!
Do not run away.

CONSTABLE

2455Why, all our ranks are broke.

DAUPHIN

O perdurable shame! Let’s stab ourselves.
10Be these the wretches that we played at dice for?

ORLÉANS

Is this the king we sent to for his ransom?

BOURBON

Shame, and eternal shame, nothing but shame!
2460Let us die. In once more! Back again!
And he that will not follow Bourbon now,
15Let him go hence, and with his cap in hand
Like a base pander hold the chamber door,
Whilst by a slave, no gentler than my dog,
2465His fairest daughter is contaminate.

CONSTABLE

Disorder, that hath spoiled us, friend us now.
20Let us on heaps go offer up our lives.

ORLÉANS

We are enough yet living in the field
To smother up the English in our throngs,
2470If any order might be thought upon.

BOURBON

The devil take order now! I’ll to the throng.
25Let life be short, else shame will be too long.

They exit.

Scene 6

Alarum. Enter the King of England and his train,
with prisoners.

KING HENRY

Well have we done, thrice-valiant countrymen,
But all’s not done. Yet keep the French the field.

Enter Exeter.

EXETER

2475The Duke of York commends him to your Majesty.

KING HENRY

Lives he, good uncle? Thrice within this hour
5I 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,
2480Larding the plain, and by his bloody side,
Yoke-fellow to his honor-owing wounds,
10The noble Earl of Suffolk also lies.
Suffolk first died, and York, all haggled over,
Comes to him where in gore he lay insteeped,
2485And takes him by the beard, kisses the gashes
That bloodily did yawn upon his face.
15He cries aloud “Tarry, my cousin Suffolk.
My soul shall thine keep company to heaven.
Tarry, sweet soul, for mine; then fly abreast,
2490As in this glorious and well-foughten field
We kept together in our chivalry.”
20Upon these words I came and cheered him up.
He smiled me in the face, raught me his hand,
And with a feeble grip, says “Dear my lord,
2495Commend my service to my sovereign.”
So did he turn, and over Suffolk’s neck
25He threw his wounded arm and kissed his lips,
And so, espoused to death, with blood he sealed
A testament of noble-ending love.
2500The pretty and sweet manner of it forced
Those waters from me which I would have stopped,
30But I had not so much of man in me,
And all my mother came into mine eyes
And gave me up to tears.

KING HENRY

2505I blame you not,
For, hearing this, I must perforce compound
35With my full eyes, or they will issue too.Alarum.
But hark, what new alarum is this same?
The French have reinforced their scattered men.
2510Then every soldier kill his prisoners.
Give the word through.

They exit.

Scene 7

Enter Fluellen and Gower.

FLUELLEN

Kill the poys and the luggage! ’Tis expressly
against the law of arms. ’Tis as arrant a piece of
knavery, mark you now, as can be offert, in your
2515conscience now, is it not?

GOWER

5’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,
2520wherefore the King, most worthily, hath caused
10every soldier to cut his prisoner’s throat. O, ’tis a
gallant king!

FLUELLEN

Ay, he was porn at Monmouth, Captain
Gower. What call you the town’s name where
2525Alexander the Pig was born?

GOWER

15Alexander 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 reckonings, save the
2530phrase is a little variations.

GOWER

20I think Alexander the Great was born in Macedon.
His father was called Philip of Macedon, as I
take it.

FLUELLEN

I think it is in Macedon where Alexander is
2535porn. I tell you, captain, if you look in the maps of
25the ’orld, I warrant you sall find, in the comparisons
between Macedon and Monmouth, that the
situations, look you, is both alike. There is a river in
Macedon, and there is also, moreover, a river at
2540Monmouth. It is called Wye at Monmouth, but it is
30out 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. If you mark
Alexander’s life well, Harry of Monmouth’s life is
2545come after it indifferent well, for there is figures in
35all things. Alexander, God knows and you know, in
his rages and his furies and his wraths and his
cholers and his moods and his displeasures and his
indignations, and also being a little intoxicates in
2550his prains, did, in his ales and his angers, look you,
40kill his best friend, Cleitus.

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
2555the tales out of my mouth ere it is made and
45finished. I speak but in the figures and comparisons
of it. As Alexander killed his friend Cleitus, being in
his ales and his cups, so also Harry Monmouth,
being in his right wits and his good judgments,
2560turned away the fat knight with the great-belly
50doublet; he was full of jests and gipes 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
2565porn at Monmouth.

GOWER

55Here comes his Majesty.

Alarum. Enter King Harry, Exeter, Warwick, Gloucester,
Heralds and Bourbon with other prisoners. Flourish.

KING HENRY

I was not angry since I came to France
Until this instant. Take a trumpet, herald.
Ride thou unto the horsemen on yond hill.
2570If they will fight with us, bid them come down,
60Or void the field. They do offend our sight.
If they’ll do neither, we will come to them
And make them skirr away as swift as stones
Enforcèd from the old Assyrian slings.
2575Besides, we’ll cut the throats of those we have,
65And not a man of them that we shall take
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

2580How now, what means this, herald? Know’st thou
70not
That I have fined these bones of mine for ransom?
Com’st thou again for ransom?

MONTJOY

No, great king.
2585I come to thee for charitable license,
75That we may wander o’er this bloody field
To book our dead and then to bury them,
To sort our nobles from our common men,
For many of our princes—woe the while!—
2590Lie drowned and soaked in mercenary blood.
80So do our vulgar drench their peasant limbs
In blood of princes, and the wounded steeds
Fret fetlock deep in gore, and with wild rage
Yerk out their armèd heels at their dead masters,
2595Killing them twice. O, give us leave, great king,
85To view the field in safety and dispose
Of their dead bodies.

KING HENRY

I tell thee truly, herald,
I know not if the day be ours or no,
2600For yet a many of your horsemen peer
90And gallop o’er the field.

MONTJOY

The day is yours.

KING HENRY

Praised be God, and not our strength, for it!
What is this castle called that stands hard by?

MONTJOY

2605They call it Agincourt.

KING HENRY

95Then call we this the field of Agincourt,
Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus.

FLUELLEN

Your grandfather of famous memory, an ’t
please your Majesty, and your great-uncle Edward
2610the Plack Prince of Wales, as I have read in the
100chronicles, fought a most prave pattle here in
France.

KING HENRY

They did, Fluellen.

FLUELLEN

Your Majesty says very true. If your Majesties
2615is remembered of it, the Welshmen did good
105service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing
leeks in their Monmouth caps, which, your Majesty
know, to this hour is an honorable badge of the
service. And I do believe your Majesty takes no
2620scorn to wear the leek upon Saint Tavy’s day.

KING HENRY

110I wear it for a memorable honor,
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
2625you that. God pless it and preserve it as long as it
115pleases his Grace and his Majesty too.

KING HENRY

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
2630’orld. I need not to be ashamed of your Majesty,
120praised be God, so long as your Majesty is an
honest man.

KING HENRY

God keep me so.—Our heralds, go with him.
Bring me just notice of the numbers dead
2635On both our parts.
Montjoy, English Heralds, and Gower exit.

Enter Williams.

125Call yonder fellow hither.

EXETER

Soldier, you must come to the King.

KING HENRY

Soldier, why wear’st thou that glove in thy
cap?

WILLIAMS

2640An ’t please your Majesty, ’tis the gage of
130one that I should fight withal, if he be alive.

KING HENRY

An Englishman?

WILLIAMS

An ’t please your Majesty, a rascal that
swaggered with me last night, who, if alive and ever
2645dare to challenge this glove, I have sworn to take
135him 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

What think you, Captain Fluellen, is it fit
2650this soldier keep his oath?

FLUELLEN

140He is a craven and a villain else, an ’t
please your Majesty, in my conscience.

KING HENRY

It may be his enemy is a gentleman of
great sort, quite from the answer of his degree.

FLUELLEN

2655Though he be as good a gentleman as the
145devil is, as Lucifer and Beelzebub 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 Sauce as
2660ever his black shoe trod upon God’s ground and His
150earth, in my conscience, la.

KING HENRY

Then keep thy vow, sirrah, when thou
meet’st the fellow.

WILLIAMS

So I will, my liege, as I live.

KING HENRY

2665Who serv’st thou under?

WILLIAMS

155Under Captain Gower, my liege.

FLUELLEN

Gower is a good captain, and is good knowledge
and literatured in the wars.

KING HENRY

Call him hither to me, soldier.

WILLIAMS

2670I will, my liege.

He exits.

KING HENRY , giving Fluellen Williams’s glove

160Here,
Fluellen, wear thou this favor for me, and stick it in
thy cap. When Alençon and myself were down
together, I plucked this glove from his helm. If any
2675man challenge this, he is a friend to Alençon and an
165enemy to our person. If thou encounter any such,
apprehend him, an thou dost me love.

FLUELLEN , putting the glove in his cap

Your Grace
does me as great honors as can be desired in the
2680hearts of his subjects. I would fain see the man that
170has but two legs that shall find himself aggriefed at
this glove, that is all; but I would fain see it once, an
please God of His grace that I might see.

KING HENRY

Know’st thou Gower?

FLUELLEN

2685He is my dear friend, an please you.

KING HENRY

175Pray thee, go seek him, and bring him to
my tent.

FLUELLEN

I will fetch him.

He exits.

KING HENRY

My Lord of Warwick and my brother Gloucester,
2690Follow Fluellen closely at the heels.
180The glove which I have given him for a favor
May haply purchase him a box o’ th’ ear.
It is the soldier’s. I by bargain should
Wear it myself. Follow, good cousin Warwick.
2695If that the soldier strike him, as I judge
185By his blunt bearing he will keep his word,
Some sudden mischief may arise of it,
For I do know Fluellen valiant
And, touched with choler, hot as gunpowder,
2700And quickly will return an injury.
190Follow, and see there be no harm between them.—
Go you with me, uncle of Exeter.

They exit.

Scene 8

Enter Gower and Williams.

WILLIAMS

I warrant it is to knight you, captain.

Enter Fluellen, wearing Williams’s glove.

FLUELLEN , to Gower

God’s will and His pleasure,
2705captain, I beseech you now, come apace to the
King. There is more good toward you peradventure
5than is in your knowledge to dream of.

WILLIAMS , to Fluellen, pointing to the glove in his own
hat

Sir, know you this glove?

FLUELLEN

Know the glove? I know the glove is a glove.

WILLIAMS

2710I know this, and thus I challenge it.

Strikes him.

FLUELLEN

’Sblood, an arrant traitor as any ’s in the
10universal world, or in France, or in England!

GOWER , to Williams

How now, sir? You villain!

WILLIAMS

Do you think I’ll be forsworn?

FLUELLEN

2715Stand away, Captain Gower. I will give treason
his payment into plows, I warrant you.

WILLIAMS

15I am no traitor.

FLUELLEN

That’s a lie in thy throat.—I charge you in
his Majesty’s name, apprehend him. He’s a friend
2720of the Duke Alençon’s.

Enter Warwick and Gloucester.

WARWICK

How now, how now, what’s the matter?

FLUELLEN

20My 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
2725day.

Enter King of England and Exeter.

Here is his Majesty.

KING HENRY

25How 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
2730Majesty is take out of the helmet of Alençon.

WILLIAMS

My liege, this was my glove; here is the fellow
30of it. 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
2735been as good as my word.

FLUELLEN

Your Majesty, hear now, saving your Majesty’s
35manhood, what an arrant, rascally, beggarly,
lousy knave it is. I hope your Majesty is pear me
testimony and witness and will avouchment that
2740this is the glove of Alençon that your Majesty is give
me, in your conscience now.

KING HENRY , to Williams

40Give me thy glove, soldier.
Look, here is the fellow of it.
’Twas I indeed thou promised’st to strike,
2745And thou hast given me most bitter terms.

FLUELLEN

An please your Majesty, let his neck answer
45for it, if there is any martial law in the world.

KING HENRY , to Williams

How canst thou make me
satisfaction?

WILLIAMS

2750All offenses, my lord, come from the heart.
Never came any from mine that might offend your
50Majesty.

KING HENRY

It was ourself thou didst abuse.

WILLIAMS

Your Majesty came not like yourself. You
2755appeared to me but as a common man; witness the
night, your garments, your lowliness. And what
55your Highness suffered under that shape, I beseech
you take it for your own fault and not mine, for, had
you been as I took you for, I made no offense.
2760Therefore, I beseech your Highness pardon me.

KING HENRY

Here, uncle Exeter, fill this glove with crowns
60And give it to this fellow.—Keep it, fellow,
And wear it for an honor in thy cap
Till I do challenge it.—Give him the crowns.—
2765And, captain, you must needs be friends with him.

FLUELLEN

By this day and this light, the fellow has
65mettle enough in his belly.—Hold, there is twelvepence
for you, and I pray you to serve God and keep
you out of prawls and prabbles and quarrels and
2770dissensions, and I warrant you it is the better for
you.

WILLIAMS

70I will none of your money.

FLUELLEN

It is with a good will. I can tell you it will
serve you to mend your shoes. Come, wherefore
2775should you be so pashful? Your shoes is not so
good. ’Tis a good silling, I warrant you, or I will
75change it.

Enter an English Herald.

KING HENRY

Now, herald, are the dead numbered?

HERALD , giving the King a paper

Here is the number of the slaughtered French.

KING HENRY , to Exeter

2780What prisoners of good sort are taken, uncle?

EXETER

Charles, Duke of Orléans, nephew to the King;
80John, Duke of Bourbon, and Lord Bouciqualt.
Of other lords and barons, knights and squires,
Full fifteen hundred, besides common men.

KING HENRY

2785This note doth tell me of ten thousand French
That in the field lie slain. Of princes in this number
85And nobles bearing banners, there lie dead
One hundred twenty-six. Added to these,
Of knights, esquires, and gallant gentlemen,
2790Eight thousand and four hundred, of the which
Five hundred were but yesterday dubbed knights.
90So that in these ten thousand they have lost,
There are but sixteen hundred mercenaries.
The rest are princes, barons, lords, knights, squires,
2795And gentlemen of blood and quality.
The names of those their nobles that lie dead:
95Charles Delabreth, High Constable of France;
Jacques of Chatillon, Admiral of France;
The Master of the Crossbows, Lord Rambures;
2800Great Master of France, the brave Sir Guichard
Dauphin;
100John, Duke of Alençon; Anthony, Duke of Brabant,
The brother to the Duke of Burgundy;
And Edward, Duke of Bar. Of lusty earls:
2805Grandpré and Roussi, Faulconbridge and Foix,
Beaumont and Marle, Vaudemont and Lestrale.
105Here was a royal fellowship of death.
Where is the number of our English dead?
Herald gives him another paper.
Edward the Duke of York, the Earl of Suffolk,
2810Sir Richard Ketly, Davy Gam, esquire;
None else of name, and of all other men
110But five and twenty. O God, thy arm was here,
And not to us, but to thy arm alone
Ascribe we all! When, without stratagem,
2815But in plain shock and even play of battle,
Was ever known so great and little loss
115On one part and on th’ other? Take it, God,
For it is none but thine.

EXETER

’Tis wonderful.

KING HENRY

2820Come, go we in procession to the village,
And be it death proclaimèd through our host
120To boast of this or take that praise from God
Which is His only.

FLUELLEN

Is it not lawful, an please your Majesty, to
2825tell how many is killed?

KING HENRY

Yes, captain, but with this acknowledgment:
125That God fought for us.

FLUELLEN

Yes, my conscience, He did us great good.

KING HENRY

Do we all holy rites.
2830Let there be sung and
The dead with charity enclosed in clay,
130And then to Calais, and to England then,
Where ne’er from France arrived more happy men.

They exit.

ACT 5

Chorus

Enter Chorus.

CHORUS

Vouchsafe to those that have not read the story
2835That I may prompt them; and of such as have,
I humbly pray them to admit th’ excuse
Of time, of numbers, and due course of things,
5Which cannot in their huge and proper life
Be here presented. Now we bear the King
2840Toward Calais. Grant him there. There seen,
Heave him away upon your wingèd thoughts
Athwart the sea. Behold, the English beach
10Pales in the flood with men, wives, and boys,
Whose shouts and claps outvoice the deep-mouthed
2845sea,
Which, like a mighty whiffler ’fore the King
Seems to prepare his way. So let him land,
15And solemnly see him set on to London.
So swift a pace hath thought that even now
2850You may imagine him upon Blackheath,
Where that his lords desire him to have borne
His bruisèd helmet and his bended sword
20Before him through the city. He forbids it,
Being free from vainness and self-glorious pride,
2855Giving full trophy, signal, and ostent
Quite from himself, to God. But now behold,
In the quick forge and workinghouse of thought,
25How London doth pour out her citizens.
The Mayor and all his brethren in best sort,
2860Like to the senators of th’ antique Rome,
With the plebeians swarming at their heels,
Go forth and fetch their conqu’ring Caesar in—
30As, by a lower but by loving likelihood
Were now the general of our gracious empress,
2865As in good time he may, from Ireland coming,
Bringing rebellion broachèd on his sword,
How many would the peaceful city quit
35To welcome him! Much more, and much more
cause,
2870Did they this Harry. Now in London place him
(As yet the lamentation of the French
Invites the King of England’s stay at home;
40The Emperor’s coming in behalf of France
To order peace between them) and omit
2875All the occurrences, whatever chanced,
Till Harry’s back return again to France.
There must we bring him, and myself have played
45The interim, by remembering you ’tis past.
Then brook abridgment, and your eyes advance
2880After your thoughts, straight back again to France.

He exits.

Scene 1

Enter Fluellen and Gower.

GOWER

Nay, that’s right. But why wear you your leek
today? Saint Davy’s day is past.

FLUELLEN

There is occasions and causes why and
wherefore in all things. I will tell you ass my
52885friend, Captain Gower. The rascally, scald, beggarly,
lousy, pragging knave Pistol, which you and
yourself and all the world know to be no petter than
a fellow, look you now, of no merits, he is come to
me and prings me pread and salt yesterday, look
102890you, and bid me eat my leek. It was in a place where
I could not breed no contention with him, but I will
be so bold as to wear it in my cap till I see him once
again, and then I will tell him a little piece of my
desires.

Enter Pistol.

GOWER

152895Why here he comes, swelling like a
turkey-cock.

FLUELLEN

’Tis no matter for his swellings, nor his
turkey-cocks.—God pless you, Aunchient Pistol,
you scurvy, lousy knave, God pless you.

PISTOL

202900Ha, art thou bedlam? Dost thou thirst, base
Trojan, to have me fold up Parca’s fatal web? Hence.
I am qualmish at the smell of leek.

FLUELLEN

I peseech you heartily, scurvy, lousy knave,
at my desires and my requests and my petitions, to
252905eat, look you, this leek. Because, look you, you do
not love it, nor your affections and your appetites
and your disgestions does not agree with it, I would
desire you to eat it.

PISTOL

Not for Cadwallader and all his goats.

FLUELLEN

302910There is one goat for you. (Strikes him
with a cudgel.) Will you be so good, scald knave,
as eat it?

PISTOL

Base Trojan, thou shalt die.

FLUELLEN

You say very true, scald knave, when God’s
352915will is. I will desire you to live in the meantime and
eat your victuals. Come, there is sauce for it. Strikes
him. You called me yesterday “mountain squire,”
but I will make you today a squire of low degree. I
pray you, fall to. If you can mock a leek, you can eat
402920a leek.

GOWER

Enough, captain. You have astonished him.

FLUELLEN

I say I will make him eat some part of my
leek, or I will peat his pate four days.—Bite, I pray
you. It is good for your green wound and your
452925ploody coxcomb.

PISTOL

Must I bite?

FLUELLEN

Yes, certainly, and out of doubt and out of
question, too, and ambiguities.

PISTOL

By this leek, I will most horribly revenge.
502930Fluellen threatens him. I eat and eat, I swear—

FLUELLEN

Eat, I pray you. Will you have some more
sauce to your leek? There is not enough leek to
swear by.

PISTOL

Quiet thy cudgel. Thou dost see I eat.

FLUELLEN

552935Much good do you, scald knave, heartily.
Nay, pray you throw none away. The skin is good for
your broken coxcomb. When you take occásions to
see leeks hereafter, I pray you mock at ’em, that is
all.

PISTOL

602940Good.

FLUELLEN

Ay, leeks is good. Hold you, there is a groat
to heal your pate.

PISTOL

Me, a groat?

FLUELLEN

Yes, verily, and in truth you shall take it, or I
652945have another leek in my pocket, which you shall
eat.

PISTOL

I take thy groat in earnest of revenge.

FLUELLEN

If I owe you anything, I will pay you in
cudgels. You shall be a woodmonger and buy
702950nothing of me but cudgels. God be wi’ you and
keep you and heal your pate.

He exits.

PISTOL

All hell shall stir for this.

GOWER

Go, go. You are a counterfeit cowardly knave.
Will you mock at an ancient tradition begun upon
752955an honorable respect and worn as a memorable
trophy of predeceased valor, and dare not avouch in
your deeds any of your words? I have seen you
gleeking and galling at this gentleman twice or
thrice. You thought because he could not speak
802960English in the native garb, he could not therefore
handle an English cudgel. You find it otherwise, and
henceforth let a Welsh correction teach you a good
English condition. Fare you well.

He exits.

PISTOL

Doth Fortune play the huswife with me now?
852965News have I that my Doll is dead i’ th’ spital of a
malady of France, and there my rendezvous is quite
cut off. Old I do wax, and from my weary limbs
honor is cudgeled. Well, bawd I’ll turn, and something
lean to cutpurse of quick hand. To England
902970will I steal, and there I’ll steal.
And patches will I get unto these cudgeled scars,
And swear I got them in the Gallia wars.

He exits.

Scene 2

Enter at one door, King Henry, Exeter, Bedford,
Warwick, Westmoreland, and other Lords. At another,
Queen Isabel of France, the King of France, the
Princess Katherine and Alice, the Duke of Burgundy,
and other French.

KING HENRY

Peace to this meeting wherefor we are met.
Unto our brother France and to our sister,
2975Health and fair time of day.—Joy and good wishes
To our most fair and princely cousin Katherine.—
5And, as a branch and member of this royalty,
By whom this great assembly is contrived,
We do salute you, Duke of Burgundy.—
2980And princes French, and peers, health to you all.

KING OF FRANCE

Right joyous are we to behold your face,
10Most worthy brother England. Fairly met.—
So are you, princes English, every one.

QUEEN OF FRANCE

So happy be the issue, brother Ireland,
2985Of this good day and of this gracious meeting,
As we are now glad to behold your eyes—
15Your eyes which hitherto have borne in them
Against the French that met them in their bent
The fatal balls of murdering basilisks.
2990The venom of such looks, we fairly hope,
Have lost their quality, and that this day
20Shall change all griefs and quarrels into love.

KING HENRY

To cry “Amen” to that, thus we appear.

QUEEN OF FRANCE

You English princes all, I do salute you.

BURGUNDY

2995My duty to you both, on equal love,
Great kings of France and England. That I have
25labored
With all my wits, my pains, and strong endeavors
To bring your most imperial Majesties
3000Unto this bar and royal interview,
Your Mightiness on both parts best can witness.
30Since, then, my office hath so far prevailed
That face to face and royal eye to eye
You have congreeted, let it not disgrace me
3005If I demand before this royal view
What rub or what impediment there is
35Why that the naked, poor, and mangled peace,
Dear nurse of arts, plenties, and joyful births,
Should not in this best garden of the world,
3010Our fertile France, put up her lovely visage?
Alas, she hath from France too long been chased,
40And all her husbandry doth lie on heaps,
Corrupting in its own fertility.
Her vine, the merry cheerer of the heart,
3015Unprunèd, dies. Her hedges, even-pleached,
Like prisoners wildly overgrown with hair,
45Put forth disordered twigs. Her fallow leas
The darnel, hemlock, and rank fumitory
Doth root upon, while that the coulter rusts
3020That should deracinate such savagery.
The even mead, that erst brought sweetly forth
50The freckled cowslip, burnet, and green clover,
Wanting the scythe, withal uncorrected, rank,
Conceives by idleness, and nothing teems
3025But hateful docks, rough thistles, kecksies, burrs,
Losing both beauty and utility.
55And all our vineyards, fallows, meads, and hedges,
Defective in their natures, grow to wildness.
Even so our houses and ourselves and children
3030Have lost, or do not learn for want of time,
The sciences that should become our country,
60But grow like savages, as soldiers will
That nothing do but meditate on blood,
To swearing and stern looks, diffused attire,
3035And everything that seems unnatural.
Which to reduce into our former favor
65You are assembled, and my speech entreats
That I may know the let why gentle peace
Should not expel these inconveniences
3040And bless us with her former qualities.

KING HENRY

If, Duke of Burgundy, you would the peace,
70Whose want gives growth to th’ imperfections
Which you have cited, you must buy that peace
With full accord to all our just demands,
3045Whose tenors and particular effects
You have, enscheduled briefly, in your hands.

BURGUNDY

75The King hath heard them, to the which as yet
There is no answer made.

KING HENRY

Well then, the peace which you before so urged
3050Lies in his answer.

KING OF FRANCE

I have but with a cursitory eye
80O’erglanced the articles. Pleaseth your Grace
To appoint some of your council presently
To sit with us once more with better heed
3055To resurvey them, we will suddenly
Pass our accept and peremptory answer.

KING HENRY

85Brother, we shall.—Go, uncle Exeter,
And brother Clarence, and you, brother Gloucester,
Warwick, and Huntington, go with the King,
3060And take with you free power to ratify,
Augment, or alter, as your wisdoms best
90Shall see advantageable for our dignity,
Anything in or out of our demands,
And we’ll consign thereto.—Will you, fair sister,
3065Go with the princes or stay here with us?

QUEEN OF FRANCE

Our gracious brother, I will go with them.
95Haply a woman’s voice may do some good
When articles too nicely urged be stood on.

KING HENRY

Yet leave our cousin Katherine here with us.
3070She is our capital demand, comprised
Within the forerank of our articles.

QUEEN OF FRANCE

100She hath good leave.

All but Katherine, and the King of England,
and Alice exit.

KING HENRY

Fair Katherine, and most fair,
Will you vouchsafe to teach a soldier terms
3075Such as will enter at a lady’s ear
And plead his love-suit to her gentle heart?

KATHERINE

105Your Majesty shall mock at me. I cannot
speak your England.

KING HENRY

O fair Katherine, if you will love me
3080soundly with your French heart, I will be glad to
hear you confess it brokenly with your English
110tongue. Do you like me, Kate?

KATHERINE

Pardonnez-moi, I cannot tell wat is “like
me.”

KING HENRY

3085An angel is like you, Kate, and you are
like an angel.

KATHERINE , to Alice

115Que dit-il? Que je suis semblable à
les anges?

ALICE

Oui, vraiment, sauf votre Grâce, ainsi dit-il.

KING HENRY

3090I said so, dear Katherine, and I must not
blush to affirm it.

KATHERINE

120Ô bon Dieu, les langues des hommes sont
pleines de tromperies.

KING HENRY , to Alice

What says she, fair one? That the
3095tongues of men are full of deceits?

ALICE

Oui, dat de tongues of de mans is be full of
125deceits; dat is de Princess.

KING HENRY

The Princess is the better Englishwoman.—
I’ faith, Kate, my wooing is fit for thy
3100understanding. I am glad thou canst speak no
better English, for if thou couldst, thou wouldst
130find me such a plain king that thou wouldst think I
had sold my farm to buy my crown. I know no ways
to mince it in love, but directly to say “I love you.”
3105Then if you urge me farther than to say “Do you, in
faith?” I wear out my suit. Give me your answer, i’
135faith, do; and so clap hands and a bargain. How say
you, lady?

KATHERINE

Sauf votre honneur, me understand well.

KING HENRY

3110Marry, if you would put me to verses or
to dance for your sake, Kate, why you undid me.
140For the one, I have neither words nor measure; and
for the other, I have no strength in measure, yet a
reasonable measure in strength. If I could win a
3115lady at leapfrog or by vaulting into my saddle with
my armor on my back, under the correction of
145bragging be it spoken, I should quickly leap into a
wife. Or if I might buffet for my love, or bound my
horse for her favors, I could lay on like a butcher
3120and sit like a jackanapes, never off. But, before God,
Kate, I cannot look greenly nor gasp out my eloquence,
150nor I have no cunning in protestation, only
downright oaths, which I never use till urged, nor
never break for urging. If thou canst love a fellow of
3125this temper, Kate, whose face is not worth sun-burning,
that never looks in his glass for love of
155anything he sees there, let thine eye be thy cook. I
speak to thee plain soldier. If thou canst love me for
this, take me. If not, to say to thee that I shall die is
3130true, but for thy love, by the Lord, no. Yet I love thee
too. And while thou liv’st, dear Kate, take a fellow of
160plain and uncoined constancy, for he perforce must
do thee right because he hath not the gift to woo in
other places. For these fellows of infinite tongue,
3135that can rhyme themselves into ladies’ favors, they
do always reason themselves out again. What? A
165speaker is but a prater, a rhyme is but a ballad, a
good leg will fall, a straight back will stoop, a black
beard will turn white, a curled pate will grow bald,
3140a fair face will wither, a full eye will wax hollow, but
a good heart, Kate, is the sun and the moon, or
170rather the sun and not the moon, for it shines bright
and never changes but keeps his course truly. If
thou would have such a one, take me. And take me,
3145take a soldier. Take a soldier, take a king. And what
say’st thou then to my love? Speak, my fair, and
175fairly, I pray thee.

KATHERINE

Is it possible dat I sould love de enemy of
France?

KING HENRY

3150No, it is not possible you should love the
enemy of France, Kate. But, in loving me, you
180should love the friend of France, for I love France
so well that I will not part with a village of it. I will
have it all mine. And, Kate, when France is mine
3155and I am yours, then yours is France and you are
mine.

KATHERINE

185I cannot tell wat is dat.

KING HENRY

No, Kate? I will tell thee in French,
which I am sure will hang upon my tongue like a
3160new-married wife about her husband’s neck, hardly
to be shook off. Je quand sur le possession de
190France, et quand vous avez le possession de moi—let
me see, what then? Saint Denis be my speed!—donc
vôtre est France, et vous êtes mienne. It is as easy for
3165me, Kate, to conquer the kingdom as to speak so
much more French. I shall never move thee in
195French, unless it be to laugh at me.

KATHERINE

Sauf votre honneur, le français que vous
parlez, il est meilleur que l’anglais lequel je parle.

KING HENRY

3170No, faith, is ’t not, Kate, but thy speaking
of my tongue, and I thine, most truly-falsely must
200needs be granted to be much at one. But, Kate, dost
thou understand thus much English? Canst thou
love me?

KATHERINE

3175I cannot tell.

KING HENRY

Can any of your neighbors tell, Kate? I’ll
205ask them. Come, I know thou lovest me; and at
night, when you come into your closet, you’ll question
this gentlewoman about me, and, I know, Kate,
3180you will, to her, dispraise those parts in me that you
love with your heart. But, good Kate, mock me
210mercifully, the rather, gentle princess, because I
love thee cruelly. If ever thou beest mine, Kate, as I
have a saving faith within me tells me thou shalt, I
3185get thee with scambling, and thou must therefore
needs prove a good soldier-breeder. Shall not thou
215and I, between Saint Denis and Saint George, compound
a boy, half French, half English, that shall go
to Constantinople and take the Turk by the beard?
3190Shall we not? What say’st thou, my fair flower de
luce?

KATHERINE

220I do not know dat.

KING HENRY

No, ’tis hereafter to know, but now to
promise. Do but now promise, Kate, you will
3195endeavor for your French part of such a boy; and
for my English moiety, take the word of a king and
225a bachelor. How answer you, la plus belle Katherine
du monde, mon très cher et divin déesse?

KATHERINE

Your Majesté ’ave fausse French enough to
3200deceive de most sage demoiselle dat is en France.

KING HENRY

Now fie upon my false French. By mine
230honor, in true English, I love thee, Kate. By which
honor I dare not swear thou lovest me, yet my blood
begins to flatter me that thou dost, notwithstanding
3205the poor and untempering effect of my visage. Now
beshrew my father’s ambition! He was thinking of
235civil wars when he got me; therefore was I created
with a stubborn outside, with an aspect of iron, that
when I come to woo ladies, I fright them. But, in
3210faith, Kate, the elder I wax, the better I shall appear.
My comfort is that old age, that ill layer-up of
240beauty, can do no more spoil upon my face. Thou
hast me, if thou hast me, at the worst, and thou shalt
wear me, if thou wear me, better and better. And
3215therefore tell me, most fair Katherine, will you have
me? Put off your maiden blushes, avouch the
245thoughts of your heart with the looks of an empress,
take me by the hand, and say “Harry of England, I
am thine,” which word thou shalt no sooner bless
3220mine ear withal, but I will tell thee aloud “England
is thine, Ireland is thine, France is thine, and Henry
250Plantagenet is thine,” who, though I speak it before
his face, if he be not fellow with the best king, thou
shalt find the best king of good fellows. Come, your
3225answer in broken music, for thy voice is music, and
thy English broken. Therefore, queen of all, Katherine,
255break thy mind to me in broken English. Wilt
thou have me?

KATHERINE

Dat is as it shall please de roi mon père.

KING HENRY

3230Nay, it will please him well, Kate; it shall
please him, Kate.

KATHERINE

260Den it sall also content me.

KING HENRY

Upon that I kiss your hand, and I call you
my queen.

KATHERINE

3235Laissez, mon seigneur, laissez, laissez! Ma
foi, je ne veux point que vous abaissiez votre grandeur,
265en baisant la main d’ une—Notre Seigneur!—
indigne serviteur. Excusez-moi, je vous supplie, mon
très puissant seigneur.

KING HENRY

3240Then I will kiss your lips, Kate.

KATHERINE

Les dames et demoiselles, pour être baisées
270devant leurs noces, il n’est pas la coutume de France.

KING HENRY

Madam my interpreter, what says she?

ALICE

Dat it is not be de fashion pour les ladies of
3245France—I cannot tell wat is baiser en Anglish.

KING HENRY

To kiss.

ALICE

275Your Majesté entendre bettre que moi.

KING HENRY

It is not a fashion for the maids in France
to kiss before they are married, would she say?

ALICE

3250Oui, vraiment.

KING HENRY

O Kate, nice customs curtsy to great
280kings. Dear Kate, you and I cannot be confined
within the weak list of a country’s fashion. We are
the makers of manners, Kate, and the liberty that
3255follows our places stops the mouth of all find-faults,
as I will do yours for upholding the nice fashion of
285your country in denying me a kiss. Therefore,
patiently and yielding. He kisses her. You have
witchcraft in your lips, Kate. There is more eloquence
3260in a sugar touch of them than in the tongues
of the French council, and they should sooner
290persuade Harry of England than a general petition
of monarchs.

Enter the French power, the French King and Queen
and Burgundy, and the English Lords Westmoreland
and Exeter.
Here comes your father.

BURGUNDY

3265God save your Majesty. My royal cousin,
teach you our princess English?

KING HENRY

295I would have her learn, my fair cousin,
how perfectly I love her, and that is good English.

BURGUNDY

Is she not apt?

KING HENRY

3270Our tongue is rough, coz, and my condition
is not smooth, so that, having neither the voice
300nor the heart of flattery about me, I cannot so
conjure up the spirit of love in her that he will
appear in his true likeness.

BURGUNDY

3275Pardon the frankness of my mirth if I
answer you for that. If you would conjure in her,
305you must make a circle; if conjure up Love in her in
his true likeness, he must appear naked and blind.
Can you blame her, then, being a maid yet rosed
3280over with the virgin crimson of modesty, if she deny
the appearance of a naked blind boy in her naked
310seeing self? It were, my lord, a hard condition for a
maid to consign to.

KING HENRY

Yet they do wink and yield, as love is
3285blind and enforces.

BURGUNDY

They are then excused, my lord, when they
315see not what they do.

KING HENRY

Then, good my lord, teach your cousin to
consent winking.

BURGUNDY

3290I will wink on her to consent, my lord, if
you will teach her to know my meaning, for maids
320well summered and warm kept are like flies at
Bartholomew-tide: blind, though they have their
eyes; and then they will endure handling, which
3295before would not abide looking on.

KING HENRY

This moral ties me over to time and a hot
325summer. And so I shall catch the fly, your cousin,
in the latter end, and she must be blind too.

BURGUNDY

As love is, my lord, before it loves.

KING HENRY

3300It is so. And you may, some of you, thank
love for my blindness, who cannot see many a fair
330French city for one fair French maid that stands in
my way.

KING OF FRANCE

Yes, my lord, you see them perspectively,
3305the cities turned into a maid, for they are all
girdled with maiden walls that war hath never
335entered.

KING HENRY

Shall Kate be my wife?

KING OF FRANCE

So please you.

KING HENRY

3310I am content, so the maiden cities you
talk of may wait on her. So the maid that stood in
340the way for my wish shall show me the way to my
will.

KING OF FRANCE

We have consented to all terms of reason.

KING HENRY

3315Is ’t so, my lords of England?

WESTMORELAND

The King hath granted every article,
345His daughter first, and, in sequel, all,
According to their firm proposèd natures.

EXETER

Only he hath not yet subscribèd this:
3320Where your Majesty demands that the King of
France, having any occasion to write for matter of
350grant, shall name your Highness in this form and
with this addition, in French: Notre très cher fils
Henri, roi d’ Angleterre, héritier de France; and thus
3325in Latin: Praeclarissimus filius noster Henricus, rex
Angliae et hœres Franciae.

KING OF FRANCE

355Nor this I have not, brother, so denied
But your request shall make me let it pass.

KING HENRY

I pray you, then, in love and dear alliance,
3330Let that one article rank with the rest,
And thereupon give me your daughter.

KING OF FRANCE

360Take her, fair son, and from her blood raise up
Issue to me, that the contending kingdoms
Of France and England, whose very shores look pale
3335With envy of each other’s happiness,
May cease their hatred, and this dear conjunction
365Plant neighborhood and Christian-like accord
In their sweet bosoms, that never war advance
His bleeding sword ’twixt England and fair France.

LORDS

3340Amen.

KING HENRY

Now welcome, Kate, and bear me witness all
370That here I kiss her as my sovereign queen.

He kisses her. Flourish.

QUEEN OF FRANCE

God, the best maker of all marriages,
Combine your hearts in one, your realms in one.
3345As man and wife, being two, are one in love,
So be there ’twixt your kingdoms such a spousal
375That never may ill office or fell jealousy,
Which troubles oft the bed of blessèd marriage,
Thrust in between the paction of these kingdoms
3350To make divorce of their incorporate league,
That English may as French, French Englishmen,
380Receive each other. God speak this Amen!

ALL

Amen.

KING HENRY

Prepare we for our marriage; on which day,
3355My Lord of Burgundy, we’ll take your oath,
And all the peers’, for surety of our leagues.
385Then shall I swear to Kate, and you to me,
And may our oaths well kept and prosp’rous be.

Sennet. They exit.

Epilogue

Enter Chorus as Epilogue.

CHORUS

Thus far with rough and all-unable pen
3360Our bending author hath pursued the story,
In little room confining mighty men,
Mangling by starts the full course of their glory.
5Small time, but in that small most greatly lived
This star of England. Fortune made his sword,
3365By which the world’s best garden he achieved
And of it left his son imperial lord.
Henry the Sixth, in infant bands crowned King
10Of France and England, did this king succeed,
Whose state so many had the managing
3370That they lost France and made his England bleed,
Which oft our stage hath shown. And for their sake,
In your fair minds let this acceptance take.

He exits.