King Henry the Fifth Part 8

[Footnote IIIc.7: _Whose blood is +fet+_] To fet is an obsolete word meaning _to fetch_. That is, "whose blood is derived," &c.

The word is used by Spencer and Ben Jonson.]

[Footnote IIIc.8: _----like greyhounds in the +slips+,_] _Slips_ are a contrivance of leather, to start two dogs at the same time.]

[Footnote IIIc.9: _----whom of succour we entreated,_] This phraseology was not uncommon in Shakespeare's time.]

[Footnote IIIc.10: _----are we +addrest+._] i.e., prepared.]

ACT III.

SCENE I.--FRANCE. ROOM IN THE FRENCH KING'S PALACE.

_Trumpets sound._

_Enter the FRENCH KING, the DAUPHIN, DUKE OF BOURBON, the CONSTABLE OF FRANCE, and others, L.H._

_Fr. King._ (C.) 'Tis certain he hath pa.s.s'd the river Somme.

_Con._ (R.C.) And 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.

_Dau._ (R.) By faith and honour, Our madams mock at us; They bid us--to the English dancing-schools, And teach lavoltas high[1] and swift corantos;[2]

Saying our grace is only in our heels, And that we are most lofty runaways.

_Fr. King._ Where is Montjoy the herald? speed him hence: Let him greet England with our sharp defiance.-- Up, princes! and, with spirit of honour edg'd More sharper than your swords, hie to the field: Bar Harry England, that sweeps through our land With pennons[3] painted in the blood of Harfleur: Go down upon him,--you have power enough,-- And in a captive chariot into Rouen Bring him our prisoner.

_Con._ This becomes the great.

Sorry am I his numbers are so few, His soldiers sick, and famish'd in their march; For, 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.[4]

_Fr. King._ Therefore, lord constable, haste on Montjoy;

[_CONSTABLE crosses to L._

And let him say to England, that we send To know what willing ransom he will give.-- Prince Dauphin, you shall stay with us in Rouen.

_Dau._ Not so, I do beseech your majesty.

_Fr. King._ Be patient; for you shall remain with us.-- Now, forth, lord constable (_Exit CONSTABLE, L.H._), and princes all, And quickly bring us word of England's fall.

[_Exeunt L.H._

_Trumpets sound._

[Footnote III.1: _----lavoltas high_] A dance in which there was much turning, and much capering.]

[Footnote III.2: _----swift corantos;_] A corant is a sprightly dance.]

[Footnote III.3: _With +pennons+_] _Pennons_ armorial were small flags, on which the arms, device, and motto of a knight were painted.]

SCENE II.--A VIEW IN PICARDY.

_Distant Battle heard._

_Enter GOWER, L.U.E., meeting FLUELLEN, R.H._

_Gow._ (C.) How now, Captain Fluellen! come you from the bridge?(A)

_Flu._ (R.C.) I a.s.sure you, there is very excellent service committed at the pridge.

_Gow._ Is the Duke of Exeter safe?

_Flu._ The Duke of Exeter is as magnanimous as Agamemnon; and a man that I love and honour with my soul, and my heart, and my duty, and my life, and my livings, and my uttermost powers: he is not (Heaven be praised and plessed!) any hurt in the 'orld; but keeps the pridge most valiantly, with excellent discipline. There is an ensign there at the pridge,--I think in my very conscience he is as valiant as Mark Antony; and he is a man of no estimation in the 'orld; but I did see him do gallant service.

_Gow._ What do you call him?

_Flu._ He is called--ancient Pistol.[5]

_Gow._ I know him not.

_Enter PISTOL, R.H._

_Flu._ Do you not know him? Here comes the man.

_Pist._ Captain, I thee beseech to do me favours: The Duke of Exeter doth love thee well.

_Flu._ Ay, I praise Heaven; and I have merited some love at his hands.

_Pist._ Bardolph, a soldier, firm and sound of heart, Of buxom valour,[6] hath,--by cruel fate, And giddy fortune's furious fickle wheel, That G.o.ddess blind.

That stands upon the rolling restless stone,--[7]

_Flu._ By your patience, ancient Pistol. Fortune is painted plind, with a m.u.f.fler before her eyes,[8] to signify to you that fortune is plind; 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 variations, and mutabilities: and her foot, look you, is fixed upon a spherical stone, which rolls, and rolls, and rolls:--In good truth, the poet makes a most excellent description of fortune: fortune, look you, is an excellent moral.

_Pist._ Fortune is Bardolph's foe, and frowns on him; For he has stolen a _pix_,[9] and hang'd must 'a be.(B) A d.a.m.ned death!

Let gallows gape for dog; let man go free,

[_Crosses to L.H._

But Exeter hath given the doom of death, For _pix_ of little price.

Therefore, go speak, the duke will hear thy voice; 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.

[_Crosses to R.H._

_Flu._ Ancient Pistol, I do partly understand your meaning.