Piercing the night's dull ear; and from the tents, The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll, So tediously away. The poor condemned English, The morning's danger; and their gesture sad, So many horrid ghosts. O, now, who will behold men. Upon his royal face there is no note How dread an army hath enrounded him; His liberal eye doth give to every one, Thawing cold fear. Then mean, and gentle all, [Exit. SCENE I.-The English Camp at Agincourt. Enter King Henry, Bedford, and Gloster. K. Hen. Gloster, 'tis true, that we are in great danger; The greater therefore should our courage be.- Enter Erpingham. Good morrow, old sir Thomas Erpingham: Erp. Not so, my liege; this lodging likes me better, Since I may say-now lie I like a king. K. Hen. 'Tis good for men to love their present pains, Upon example; so the spirit is eased: And, when the mind is quicken'd, out of doubt, Pist. Discuss unto me; Art thou officer ? Pist. As good a gentleman as the emperor. Of parents good, of fist most valiant: I kiss his dirty shoe, and from my heart-strings Pist. Le Roy! a Cornish name; art thou of K. Hen. No, I am a Welshman. Pist. Knowest thou Fluellen ? K. Hen. Yes. Pist. Tell him, I'll knock his leek about his pate, Upon Saint Davy's day. K. Hen. Do not you wear your dagger in your cap that day, lest he knock that about yours. Pist. Art thou his friend? K. Hen. And his kinsman too. K. Hen. I thank you: God be with you! K. Hen. It sorts well with your fierceness. Enter Fluellen and Gower, severally. Gow. Captain Fluellen! [Exit. Flu. So in the name of Cheshu Christ, speak lower. It is the greatest admiration in the universal 'orld, when the true and auncient prerogatifes and laws 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 no tiddle taddle, or pibble pabble, in Pompey's camp; I warrant you, you shall find the ceremonies of 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. Gow. Why, the enemy is loud; you heard him all night. Flu. If 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 coxcomb; in your own conscience now? Gor. I will speak lower. Flu. I pray you, and beseech you, that you will. [Exeunt Gower and Fluellen. K. Hen. Though it appear a little out of fashion, There is much care and valour in this Welshman. Enter Bates, Court, and Williams. Court. Brother John Bates, is not that the morning which breaks yonder? Bates. I think it be: but we have no great cause to desire the approach of day. Will. We see yonder the beginning of the day, but, I think, we shall never see the end of it.— Who goes there? K. Hen. A friend. Will. Under what captain serve you ? K. Hen. Under sir Thomas Erpingham. Will. A good old commander, and a most kin gentleman: I pray you, what thinks he of our estate? K. Hen. Even as men wrecked upon a sand, that look to be washed off the next tide. Bates. He hath not told his thought to the king? K. Hen. No; nor it is not meet he should. For, though 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 his senses have but human conditions: his ceremonies laid by, in his nakedness he appears but a man; and 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 do, his fears, out of doubt, be of the same relish as ours are: Yet, in reason, no man should possess him with any appearance of fear, lest he, by showing it, should dishearten his army. Bates. He may show what outward courage he will: but, I believe, as cold a night as 'tis, he could wish himself in the Thames up to the neck; and so I would he were, and I by him, at all adventures, so we were quit here. K. Hen. By my troth, I will speak my conscience of the king; I think, he would not wish himself any where but where he is. Bates. Then, 'would he were here alone; so should he be sure to be ransomed, and a many poor men's lives saved. K. Hen. I dare say, you love him not so ill, to wish him here alone: howsoever you speak this, to feel other men's minds: Methinks, I could not die any where so contented, as in the king's company; his cause being just, and his quarrel ho nourable. Will. That's more than we know. Bates. Ay, or more than we should seek after; for we know 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. Will. But if the cause be not good, the king himself hath a heavy reckoning to make; when all those 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, crying for a surgeon; some, upon their wives left poor behind them; some, upon the debts they owe; some, upon their children rawly left. I am afeard there are few die well, that die in battle; for how can they charitably dispose of any thing, when blood is their argument? Now, if these men do not die well, it will be a black matter for the king that led them to it; whom to disobey, were against all proportion of subjection. they perish: Then if they die unprovided, no 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 the king's; but every subject's soul is his own. Therefore should every soldier in the wars do as every 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, wherein such preparation was gained: and, in him that escapes, it were not sin to think, that making God so free an offer, he let him outlive that day to see his greatness, and to teach others how they should prepare. Will. 'Tis certain, every man that dies ill, the ill is upon his own head, the king is not to answer for it. Bates. I do not desire he should answer for me; and yet I determine to fight lustily for him. K. Hen. I myself heard the king say, he would not be ransomed. Will. Ay, he said so, to make us fight cheerfully: but, when our throats are cut, he may be ransomed, and we ne'er the wiser. K. Hen. If I live to see it, I will never trust his word after. Will. 'Mass, you'll pay him then! That's a perilous shot out of an elder gun, that a poor and private displeasure can do against a monarch! you may as well go about to turn the sun to ice, with fanning in his face with a peacock's feather. You'll never trust his word after! come, 'tis a foolish saying. K. Hen. Your reproof is something too round; I should be angry with you, if the time were convenient. Will. Let it be a quarrel between us, if you live. Will. How shall I know thee again? K. Hen. Give me any gage of thine, and I will wear it in my bonnet: then, if ever thou darest acknowledge it, I will make it my quarrel. Will. Here's my glove; give me another of thine. Wil.. This will I also wear in my cap: if ever thou come to me and say, after to-morrow, This is my glove, by this hand, I will take thee a box on the ear. it. K. Hen. If ever I live to see it, I will challenge Will. Thou darest as well be hanged. K. Hen. Well, I will do it, though I take thee in the king's company. Will. Keep thy word: fare thee well. Bates. Be friends, you English fools, be friends; we have French quarrels enough, if you could tell how to reckon. K. Hen. So, if a son, that is by his father sent about merchandise, do sinfully miscarry upon the sea, the imputation of his wickedness, by your rule, should be imposed upon his father that sent him: K. Hen. Indeed, the French may lay twenty or if a servant, under his master's command, trans- French crowns to one, they will beat us; for they porting a sum of money, be assailed by robbers, and bear them on their shoulders: But it is no English die in many irreconciled iniquities, you may call treason, to cut French crowns; and, to-morrow, the the business of the master the author of the ser-king himself will be a clipper. [Exeunt Soldiers. vant's damnation :-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 they purpose not their death, when they purpose their services. Besides, there is no king, be his cause never so spotless, if it come to the arbitrement of swords, can try it out with all unspotted soldiers. Some, peradventure, have on What infinite heart's ease must kings neglect, them the guilt of premeditated and contrived mur-That private men enjoy ? Upon the king! let us our lives, our souls, der; some, of beguiling virgins with the broken And what have kings, that privates have not too, seals of perjury; some, making the wars their bul- Save ceremony, save general ceremony? wark, that have before gored the gentle bosom of And what art thou, thou idol ceremony? peace with pillage and robbery. Now, if these men What kind of god art thou, that suffer'st more have defeated the law, and outrun native punishment, though they can outstrip men, they have no wings to fly from God: war 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 the death, they have borne life away; and where they would be safe, Of mortal griefs, than do thy worshippers? Art thou aught else but place, degree, and form, Than they in fearing. go out bread; Command the health of it? No, thou proud dream, Enter Erpingham. Mess. The English are embattled, you French peers. Con. To horse, you gallant princes! straight to horse! Do but behold yon poor and starved band, That our French gallants shall to-day draw out, them, The vapour of our valour will o'erturn them. But that our honours must not. What's to say? And all is done. Then let the trumpets sound Erp. My lord, your nobles, jealous of your ab- For our approach shall so much dare the field, sence, Seek through your camp to find you. K. Hen. Good old knight, Possess them not with fear; take from them now That England shall couch down in fear, and yield. Enter Grandpre. Grand. Why do you stay so long, my lords of Yon island carrions, desperate of their bones, Lob down their heads, dropping the hides and hips; Con. They have said their prayers, and they stay for death. Dau. Shall we go send them dinners, and fresh suits, And give their fasting horses provender, Con. I stay but for my guard: On, to the field : I will the banner from a trumpet take, SCENE III.-The English Camp. Orl. The sun doth gild our armour; up, my lords. Enter the English Host; Gloster, Bedford, Exeter, Dau. Montez a cheval :-My horse! valet! lac quay! ha! Orl. O brave spirit! Dau. Via !-les eaux et la terrc_ Orl. Rien puis l'air et le feu Dan. Ciel! cousin Orleans. Salisbury, and Westmoreland. Glo. Where is the king? Bed. The king himself is rode to view their battle. West. Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand. Ere. There's five to one; besides, they all are fresh. Sul. God's arm strike with us! 'tis a fearful odds. God be wi' you, princes all; I'll to my charge: Bed. Farewell, good Salisbury; and good luck go with thee! Exe. Farewell, kind lord, fight valiantly to-day; And yet I do thee wrong, to mind thee of it, For thou art fram'd of the firm truth of valour. [Exit Salisbury. Bed. He is as full of valour, as of kindness; Princely in both. West. O that we now had here Enter King Henry. But one ten thousand of those men in England, K. Hen. more. Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host, That he, which hath no stomach to this fight, We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; Shall think themselves accurs'd, they were not here; And hold their manhoods cheap, while any speaks, That fought with us upon saint Crispin's day. And draw their honours reeking up to heaven; Let me speak proudly ;-Tell the Constable, Mont. I shall, king Harry. And so fare thee well: Thou never shalt hear herald any more. [Exit. K. Hen. I fear, thou'lt once more come again for ransome. Enter the Duke of York. York. My lord, most humbly on my knee I beg The leading of the vaward. K. Hen. Take it, brave York.-Now, soldiers, march away : And how thou pleasest, God, dispose the day! [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The Field of Battle. Alarums: Excursions. Enter French Soldier, Pistol, and Boy. Pist. Yield, cur. Fr. Sol. Je pense, que vous estes le gentilhomme de bonne qualite. Pist. Quality, call you me ?-Construe me, art thou a gentleman? What is thy name? discuss. Fr. Sol. O seigneur Dieu! Pist. O, signieur Dew should be a gentleman:- Fr. Sol. 0, prennez misericorde! ayez pitie de moy! Pist. Moy shall not serve, I will have forty For I will fetch thy rim out at thy throat, Sits mocking in our plumes.-0 meschante for- Let us die instant: Once more back again; Fr. Sol. Est il impossible d'eschapper la force de And he that will not follow Bourbon now, ton bras? Pist. Brass, cur! Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat, Offer'st me brass? Fr. Sol. O pardonnez moy! Pist. Say'st thou me so ? is that a ton of moys? Boy. Escoutez; Comment estes vous appelle ? Boy. He says, his name is-master Fer. Pist. Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him :-discuss the same in French unto him. Let him go hence, and, with his cap in hand, Con. Disorder, that hath spoil'd us, friend us Let us, in heaps, go offer up our lives Unto these English, or else die with fame. To smother up the English in our throngs, If any order might be thought upon. Bour. The devil take order now! I'll to the throng; Boy. I do not know the French for fer, and fer. Let life be short; else shame will be too long. ret, and firk. Pist. Bid him prepare, for I will cut his throat. Boy. Il me commande de vous dire que vous faites vous prest; car ce soldat icy est dispose tout a cette heure de couper vostre gorge. Pist. Ouy, couper gorge, par ma foy, pesant, Fr. Sol. O, je vous supplie pour l'amour de Dieu, me pardonner! Je suis gentilhomme de bonne maison; gardes ma vie, et je vous donneray deux cents escus. Pist. What are his words? Boy. He prays you to save his life: he is a gentleman of a good house; and, for his ransome, he will give you two hundred crowns. Pist. Tell him,-my fury shall abate, and I The crowns will take. Fr. Sol. Petit monsieur, que dit-il? Boy. Encore qu'il est contre son jurement, de pardonner aucun prisonnier; neantmoins, pour les escus que vous l'avez promis, il est, content de vous donner la liberte, le franchisement. Fr. Sol. Sur mes genoux, je vous donne mille remerciemens et je m'estime heureux que je suis tombe entre les mains d'un chevalier, je pense, le plus brave, valiant, et tres distingue seigneur d'Angleterre. Pist. Expound unto me, boy. [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-Another Part of the Field. Alarums. Enter King Henry and Forces; Exeter, and others. K. Hen. Well have we done, thrice-valiant But all's not done, yet keep the French the field. majesty. K. Hen. Lives he, good uncle? thrice within I saw him down; thrice up again, and fighting; Exe. In which array, (brave soldier,) doth he lie, Larding the plain: and by his bloody side, (Yoke-fellow to his honour-owing wounds,) The noble earl of Suffolk also lies. Suffolk first died: and York, all haggled over, Comes to him, where in gore he lay insteep'd, And takes him by the beard; kisses the gashes, That bloodily did yawn upon his face; And cries aloud,-Tarry, dear cousin Suffolk ! My soul shall thine keep company to heaven: Tarry, sweet soul, for mine, then fly a-breast; As, in this glorious and well-foughten field, We kept together in our chivalry! Upon these words I came, and cheer'd him up: He smil'd me in the face, raught me his hand, And with a feeble gripe, says,- Dear, my lord, Commend my service to my sovereign. So did he turn, and over Suffolk's neck He threw his wounded arm, and kiss'd his lips; Pist. As I suck blood, I will some mercy show. And so, espous'd to death, with blood he seal'd Follow me, cur. [Exit Pistol. A testament of noble-ending love. The pretty and sweet manner of it fore'd Boy. Suivez vous le grand capitaine. [Exit French Soldier. Those waters from me, which I would have stopp'd; I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true,-the empty But I had not so much of man in me, vessel makes the greatest sound. Bardolph, and But all my mother came into mine eyes, Nym, had ten times more valour than this roaring And gave me up to tears. K. Hen. I blame you not; devil i' the old play, that every one may pare his nails with a wooden dagger; and they are both For, hearing this, I must perforce compound hanged; and so would this be, if he durst steal any With mistful eyes, or they will issue too. thing adventurously. I must star with the lackeys, Boy. He gives you, upon his knees, a thousand thanks: and he esteems himself happy that he hath fallen into the hands of (as he thinks) the most brave, valorous, and thrice-worthy signieur of England. [Alarum. |