Henry V Translation Act 3, Scene 2
Enter NYM, BARDOLPH, PISTOL, and BOY
BARDOLPH
On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the breach!
BARDOLPH
On, on, on, on, on! To the gap, to the gap!
NYM
Pray thee, corporal, stay. The knocks are too hot, and,for mine own part, I have not a case of lives. The humor of it is too hot; that is the very plainsong of it.
NYM
Please, corporal, wait. The blows are coming too hot and, as for me, I don't have any spare lives. The way it is is too hot; that's the tune of it.
PISTOL
“The plainsong” is most just, for humors do abound. [sings] Knocks go and come. God’s vassals drop and die, And sword and shield In bloody field Doth win immortal fame.
PISTOL
The "tune" is very true, because emotions are running high.
[sings]
Blows go and come. God's servants drop down and die
And a sword and shield
In a bloody battlefield
Do win immortal fame.
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Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give allmy fame for a pot of ale, and safety.
BOY
I wish I were in a pub in London! I would give all my fame for a mug of ale, and safety.
PISTOL
And I. [sings] If wishes would prevail with me, My purpose should not fail with me, But thither would I hie.
PISTOL
So would I. [sings]
If my wishes could come true
I wouldn't fail in my purpose
But I would go there.
BOY
[sings] As duly, But not as truly, As bird doth sing on bough.
BOY
[sings]
As properly,
But not as well,
As a bird sings on a branch.
Enter FLUELLEN
FLUELLEN
Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!
FLUELLEN
Up to the gap, you dogs! Forward, you good-for-nothings!
PISTOL
Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold. Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage, abate thy rage, great duke. Good bawcock, 'bate thy rage. Use lenity, sweet chuck.
PISTOL
Take mercy, great duke, on men made of earth. Calm your anger, calm your manly anger, calm your anger, great duke. Darling, calm down! Be nice, dear.
NYM
These be good humors. Your Honor wins bad humors.
NYM
Those are good emotions. You, your Honor, are showing bad emotions.
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 red-faced, by the means whereof he faces it out but 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 heard that men of few words are the best men, and therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest he should be 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 post when he was drunk. They will steal anything and call it purchase. Bardolph stole a lute case, bore it 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 piece of service the men would carry coals. They would have me asfamiliar 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 must leave them and seek some better service. Their villainy goes against my weak stomach, and therefore I must cast it up.
BOY
As young as I am, I have watched these three swashbucklers. I am a servant to all three of them, but all three, even if they were my servants, could not be my men. Because three clowns like that don't make up a man. Bardolph is yellow at heart and red-faced, so he brags but never fights. Pistol has a killing mouth and a quiet sword, so he breaks words and keeps his weapons whole. Nym has heard that men of few words are the best men, so he doesn't say his prayers because he's worried about being thought to be a coward. But his few bad words are matched with as few good deeds. He never hurt any man's head except his own, and that was against a post when he was drunk. They will steal anything and say they bought it. Bardolph stole a lute case, carried it for twelve leagues, and sold it for three half-pennies. Nym and Bardolph are partners in crime, and in Calais they stole a fire shovel. I knew by that action that they would be willing to do servants' work. They want me to be as at home in the pockets of men as the men's gloves and handkerchiefs are, but it is degrading to my manliness to take something from another's pocket to put into mine, because that's just pocketing a sin. I must leave them and find someone better to serve. Their crimes upset my weak stomach, so I should throw them up.
Exit
Enter FLUELLEN and GOWER
GOWER
Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the mines;the duke of Gloucester would speak with you.
GOWER
Captain Fluellen, you must come to the tunnels now. The duke of Gloucester wants to speak with you.
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 concavitiesof it is not sufficient, for, look you, th' athversary,you may discuss unto the duke, look you, is digt himself four yard under the countermines. By Cheshu, I think he will plow up all if there is not better directions.
FLUELLEN
To the tunnels? Tell the duke it is not good to come to the tunnels because, see, the tunnels are not according to the strategy of war. The hollowness of them is not sufficient, because, see, you may discuss it with the duke, see, the enemy has dug himself four yards under the tunnels. By Jesus, I think he will dig it all up if there are not better orders.
GOWER
The duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the siege is given, is altogether directed by an Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i' faith.
GOWER
The duke of Gloucester, who is in charge of the siege, does everything an Irishman tells him—a really brave man, truly.
FLUELLEN
It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
FLUELLEN
It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
GOWER
I think it be.
GOWER
I think it is.
FLUELLEN
By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world. I will verifyas much in his beard. He has no more directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy dog.
FLUELLEN
By Jesus, he is an ass, as great any in the world. I will tell him that to his face. He has no more knowledge of the true strategies of war, see, the Roman strategies, than does a puppy dog.
Enter Captain MACMORRIS and Captain JAMY
GOWER
Here he comes, and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
GOWER
Here he comes, and the Scottish captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
FLUELLEN
Captain Jamy is a marvelous falorous gentleman, that iscertain, and of great expedition and 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 disciplinesof the pristine wars of the Romans.
FLUELLEN
Captain Jamy is a marvelously brave man, that is certain, and of great accomplishments and knowledge of the ancient wars, as I know for sure from his orders. By Jesus, he can talk as well as any military man in the world about the strategies of the pure wars of the Romans.
JAMY
I say gudday, Captain Fluellen.
JAMY
I say good-day, Captain Fluellen.
FLUELLEN
Godden to your Worship, good Captain James.
FLUELLEN
Good-day to you, your Worship, good Captain James.
GOWER
How now, Captain Macmorris, have you quit the mines?Have the pioneers given o'er?
GOWER
What, Captain Morris, have you left the tunnels? Have the tunnelers given up?
MACMORRIS
By 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 done. It ish give over. I would have blowed up the town, so Chrish save me, la, in an hour. Oh, ’tish ill done, ’tish ill done, by my hand, ’tish ill done.
MACMORRIS
By Christ, it's badly done. The work is abandoned. The trumpet sounds the retreat. I swear by my hand and my father's soul, the work is badly done. It has been abandoned. I would have blown up the town, Christ save me, in an hour. Oh, it's badly done, it's badly done, by my hand, it's badly done.
FLUELLEN
Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will you voutsafeme, 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 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.
FLUELLEN
Captain Macmorris, I ask you now, will you grant me, see, a few debates with you partly touching on or concerning the strategies of war, the Roman wars? For the sake of argument, see, and friendly communication, partly to satisfy my opinion, and partly for the satisfaction, see, of my mind, concerning the art of military strategy, that is the point.
JAMY
It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captens bath, and Isall quit you with gud leve, as I may pick occasion, that sall I, marry.
JAMY
It will be very good, truly, good captains, and I will leave you if that's all right, when I see fit, that I will, truly.
MACMORRIS
It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me. The day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the king, andthe dukes. It is no time to discourse. The town is beseeched, and the trumpet call us to the breach, and wetalk 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.
MACMORRIS
Now is no time to talk, Christ save me. The day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the king, and the dukes. Now is no time to talk. The town is besieged, and the trumpet calls us to the gap, and we talk and, by Christ, do nothing, it's a shame to us all. So God save me, it's shameful to stand still. It's shameful, by my hand. And there are throats to cut and deeds to be done, and nothing is done, so Christ save me, la.
JAMY
By the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves toslomber, ay’ll de gud service, or I’ll lig i' th' grundfor it, ay, or go to death. And I’ll pay ’t as valorously as I may, that sall I suerly do, that is the breff and the long. Marry, I wad full fain heard some question ’tween you tway.
JAMY
By the mass, before I fall asleep, I'll do good service, or I'll lie on the ground, yes, or die. And I'll pay for my death as bravely as I can, that I will surely do, that is the long and short of it. Come on, I would like to hear some debate between you two.
FLUELLEN
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there is not many of your nation—
FLUELLEN
Captain Macmorris, I think, see, under your command, there are not many of your nation—
MACMORRIS
Of 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?
MACMORRIS
Of my nation? What is my nation? It's a villain and a bastard and a criminal and a good-for-nothing. What is 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 youdo 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 war and in the derivation of my birth and in other particularities.
FLUELLEN
Look, if you take this in a different way than I meant it, Captain Macmorris, perhaps I will think you do not treat me with the politeness that, reasonably, you should treat me with, see, since I am as good a man as you are, as good at the strategies of war and from as good a family and other particulars.
MACMORRIS
I do not know you so good a man as myself. So Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.
MACMORRIS
I do not know you are as good a man as I am. Christ save me, I will cut off your head.
GOWER
Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
GOWER
Gentlemen, you're misunderstanding each other.
JAMY
Ah, that’s a foul fault.
JAMY
Yes, that's a terrible fault.
A parley sounds
GOWER
The town sounds a parley.
GOWER
The town calls for a truce.
FLUELLEN
Captain 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 war, and there is an end.
FLUELLEN
Captain Macmorris, when there is a better opportunity, see, I will be so bold as to tell you I know the strategies of war, and that is the end of it.
Exeunt
