The well-appointed king at Hampton pier siege; Behold the ordnance on their carriages, back; Tells Harry that the king doth offer him 4. Hampton. Theobald's correction. Ff (through an oversight) read Dover.' 5. brave, gaily decked. 6. the young Phœbus fanning, fluttering in the morning sun. 14. rivage, shore. 17. Harfleur. Qq Ff give the popular form of the name Harflew' (Holinshed, 'Harflue'). 18. to sternage of, astern of. 28. Suppose, etc. This embassy actually met Henry at Winchester. The offer likes not: and the nimble gunner [Alarum, and chambers go off. And down goes all before them. Still be kind, And eke out our performance with your mind. [Exit. SCENE I. France. Before Harfleur. Alarum. Enter King Henry, ExeTER, BEDFORD, GLOUCESTER, and Soldiers, with scalingladders. K. Hen. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more ; Or close the wall up with our English dead. But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Let it pry through the portage of the head 33. linstock, the stick to which the gunner's match was attached. 33. chambers, small cannon, loaded by a movable 'chamber' at the breech. 8. hard-favour'd, grim-looking. 10. portage, 'port-holes,' i. e. eye-sockets. 13. jutty, jet or project over. ib. confounded, destroyed, swallowed up. 16. bend up; as in stringing a bow. To his full height. On, on, you noblest English, 20 Be copy now to men of grosser blood, And teach them how to war. And you, good yeomen, Whose limbs were made in England, show us here That you are worth your breeding; which I doubt not; For there is none of you so mean and base, 30 Cry God for Harry, England, and Saint George!' [Exeunt. Alarum, and chambers go off. SCENE II. The same. Enter NYM, BARDOLPH, PISTOL, and Boy. Bard. 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 18. fet, fetched, derived. 21. argument, matter. The parallel to Alexander makes it probable that lack of enemies to conquer rather than of 'cause to fight for' is meant; none 31. slips, leash. Rowe's cor rection for Ff 'straying.' ! a case of lives: the humour of it is too hot, that is the very plain-song of it. Pist. 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, 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. Pist. And I: If wishes would prevail with me, 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. Flu. Up to the breach, you dogs! avaunt, you cullions! [Driving them forward. Pist. Be merciful, great duke, to men of mould. Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage, Good bawcock, bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck! Nym. These be good humours! your honour wins bad humours. [Exeunt all but Boy. Boy. As young as I am, I have observed these 10 20 5. case of lives, a set of lives. Nym's further allusion to 'plainsong' makes it likely that the allusion is to the 'case of four musical instruments making up the 'consort' of four parts, not to the case of (two) pistols. 6. plain-song, simple melody without variations. 22. cullions, noodles, dolts. 23. duke, general. 26. bawcock (Fr. 'beau coq '), a term of endearment. 28. wins, prevails over. 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 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 30 40 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 50 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. [Exit. Re-enter FLUELLEN, GOWER following. Gow. Captain Fluellen, you must come pre sently to the mines; the would speak with you. Duke of Gloucester 60 32. antics, buffoons. 45. purchase, acquisition. 50. carrycoals, do any degrad ing service, submit to insults. 55. wrongs (a play upon the two senses: injuries received, and injuries done). |