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 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 therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest a' should be thought 40 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 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 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 must leave them, and seek some better service: their villany goes against my weak stomach, and therefore I must cast it up. Re-enter FLUELLEN, GOWER following. Gow. Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with you. 32. antics, buffoons. 45. purchase, acquisition. 50. carry coals, do any degrad ing service, submit to insults. 60 55. wrongs (a play upon the two senses injuries received, and injuries done). Flu. 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, th' athversary, you may discuss unto the duke, look you, is digt himself four yard under the countermines: by Cheshu, I think a' will plow up all, if there is not better directions. Gow. The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the siege is given, is altogether directed 70 by an Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i' faith. Flu. It is Captain Macmorris, is it not? Flu. By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world: I will verify as 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. Enter MACMORRIS and Captain JAMY. Gow. Here a' comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him. Flu. Captain Jamy is a marvellous falorous gentleman, that is certain; 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 disciplines of the pristine wars of the Romans. Jamy. I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen. Flu. God-den to your worship, good Captain James. 66. digt himself four yard under the countermines, probably Fluellen's perversion for 80 90 digged countermines four yards under (the mines). Gow. How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the mines? have the pioners given o'er ? Mac. 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: O, tish ill done, tish ill done; by my hand, tish ill done! Flu. Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, 100 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 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, 110 as I may pick occasion; that sall I, marry. Mac. 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 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 120 Chrish sa' me, la ! : 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 valorously as I may, that sall 110. quit, requite. I suerly do, that is the breff and the long. Marry, I wad full fain heard some question 'tween you tway. Flu. Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there is not many of your 130 nation Mac. Of my nation! What ish my nation? Ish a villain, and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal-What ish my nation? Who talks of my Flu. 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 good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of war, and in the derivation of my birth, and in other particularities. Mac. I do not know you so good a man as myself: so Chrish save me, I will cut off your head. Gow. Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other. Jamy. A! that's a foul fault. 140 [A parley sounded. Gow. The town sounds a parley. Flu. Captain Macmorris, when there is more 150 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. [Exeunt. Northern and Scandinavian idiom. So Ff. The Camb. editors wrongly alter to 'hear.' SCENE III. The same. The Governor and some Citizens on the walls; the English forces below. Enter KING HENRY and his train. K. Hen. How yet resolves the governor of the town? This is the latest parle we will admit: Therefore to our best mercy give yourselves; Defy us to our worst: for, as I am a soldier, I will not leave the half-achieved Harfleur The gates of mercy shall be all shut up, And the flesh'd soldier, rough and hard of heart, With conscience wide as hell, mowing like grass What is 't to me, when you yourselves are cause, What rein can hold licentious wickedness When down the hill he holds his fierce career? As send precépts to the leviathan To come ashore. Therefore, you men of Harfleur, 11. flesh'd, inured, hardened. 26. precepts, legal summonses. |