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Henry V

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ACT III SCENE II The same. 
 Enter NYM, BARDOLPH, PISTOL, and Boy 
BARDOLPH On, on, on, on, on! to the breach, to the breach! 
NYM Pray thee, corporal, stay: the knocks are too hot; 
 and, for mine own part, I have not a case of lives: 
 the humour of it is too hot, that is the very 5
 plain-song of it. 
PISTOL The plain-song is most just: for humours do abound: 
 Knocks go and come; God's vassals drop and die; 
 And sword and shield, 
 In bloody field, 10
 Doth win immortal fame. 
Boy Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give 
 all my fame for a pot of ale and safety. 
PISTOL And I: 
 If wishes would prevail with me, 15
 My purpose should not fail with me, 
 But thither would I hie. 
Boy As duly, but not as truly, 
 As bird doth sing on bough. 
 Enter FLUELLEN 
FLUELLEN Up to the breach, you dogs! avaunt, you cullions! 20
 Driving them forward 
PISTOL Be merciful, great duke, to men of mould. 
 Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage, 
 Abate thy rage, great duke! 
 Good bawcock, bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck! 
NYM These be good humours! your honour wins bad humours. 25
 Exeunt all but Boy 
Boy As young as I am, I have observed these three 
 swashers. 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 amount to 
 a man. For Bardolph, he is white-livered and 30
 red-faced; by the means whereof a' faces it out, but 
 fights not. For Pistol, he hath a killing tongue 
 and a quiet sword; by the means whereof a' breaks 
 words, and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he hath 
 heard that men of few words are the best men; and 35
 therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest a' 
 should be thought a coward: but his few bad words 
 are matched with as few good deeds; for a' never 
 broke any man's head but his own, and that was 
 against a post when he was drunk. They will steal 40
 any thing, and call it purchase. Bardolph stole a 
 lute-case, bore it twelve leagues, and sold it for 
 three half pence. Nym and Bardolph are sworn 
 brothers in filching, and in Calais they stole a 
 fire-shovel: I knew by that piece of service the 45
 men would carry coals. They would have me as 
 familiar with men's pockets as their 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 pocketing up of wrongs. I 50
 must leave them, and seek some better service: 
 their villany goes against my weak stomach, and 
 therefore I must cast it up. 
 Exit 
 Re-enter FLUELLEN, GOWER following 
GOWER Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the 
 mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with you. 55
FLUELLEN To the mines! tell you the duke, it is not so good 
 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, 
 the athversary, you may discuss unto the duke, look 60
 you, is digt himself four yard under the 
 countermines: by Cheshu, I think a' will plough up 
 all, if there is not better directions. 
GOWER The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the 
 siege is given, is altogether directed by an 65
 Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i' faith. 
FLUELLEN It is Captain Macmorris, is it not? 
GOWER I think it be. 
FLUELLEN By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world: I will 
 verify as much in his beard: be has no more 70
 directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look 
 you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy-dog. 
 Enter MACMORRIS and Captain JAMY 
GOWER Here a' comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him. 
FLUELLEN Captain Jamy is a marvellous falourous gentleman, 
 that is certain; and of great expedition and 75
 knowledge in th' aunchient wars, upon my particular 
 knowledge of his directions: by Cheshu, he will 
 maintain his argument as well as any military man in 
 the world, in the disciplines of the pristine wars 
 of the Romans. 80
JAMY I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen. 
FLUELLEN God-den to your worship, good Captain James. 
GOWER How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the 
 mines? have the pioneers given o'er? 
MACMORRIS By Chrish, la! tish ill done: the work ish give 85
 over, the trompet sound the retreat. By my hand, I 
 swear, and my father's soul, the work ish ill done; 
 it ish give over: I would have blowed up the town, so 
 Chrish save me, la! in an hour: O, tish ill done, 
 tish ill done; by my hand, tish ill done! 90
FLUELLEN Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will you 
 voutsafe me, look you, a few disputations with you, 
 

as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of
 
 the war, the Roman wars, in the way of argument, 
 look you, and friendly communication; partly to 95
 satisfy my opinion, and partly for the satisfaction, 
 look you, of my mind, as touching the direction of 
 the military discipline; that is the point. 
JAMY It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captains bath: 
 and I sall quit you with gud leve, as I may pick 100
 occasion; that sall I, marry. 
MACMORRIS It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me: the 
 day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the 
 king, and the dukes: it is no time to discourse. The 
 town is beseeched, and the trumpet call us to the 105
 breach; and we talk, and, be Chrish, do nothing: 
 'tis shame for us all: so God sa' me, 'tis shame to 
 stand still; it is shame, by my hand: and there is 
 throats to be cut, and works to be done; and there 
 ish nothing done, so Chrish sa' me, la! 110
JAMY By the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves 
 to slomber, ay'll de gud service, or ay'll lig i' 
 the grund for it; ay, or go to death; and ay'll pay 
 't as valourously as I may, that sall I suerly do, 
 that is the breff and the long. Marry, I wad full 115
 fain hear some question 'tween you tway. 
FLUELLEN Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your 
 correction, there is not many of your nation-- 
MACMORRIS Of my nation! What ish my nation? Ish a villain, 
 and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal. What ish 120
 my nation? Who talks of my nation? 
FLUELLEN Look you, if you take the matter otherwise than is 
 meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I shall think 
 you do not use me with that affability as in 
 discretion you ought to use me, look you: being as 125
 good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of 
 war, and in the derivation of my birth, and in 
 other particularities. 
MACMORRIS I do not know you so good a man as myself: so 
 Chrish save me, I will cut off your head. 130
GOWER Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other. 
JAMY A! that's a foul fault. 
 A parley sounded 
GOWER The town sounds a parley. 
FLUELLEN Captain Macmorris, when there is more better 
 opportunity to be required, look you, I will be so 135
 bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of war; 
 and there is an end. 
 Exeunt 

Henry V, Act 3, Scene 3

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