King of England, to mope with his fat-brained followers so far out of his knowledge! Bur. If the English had any apprehension, they would run away. Dau. That they lack; for, if their heads had any intellectual armour, they could never wear such heavy head-pieces. Const. That island of England breeds very valiant creatures; their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage. Dau. Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear, and have their heads crushed like rotten apples! You may as well say, that's a valiant flea, that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion. Bur.Just, just; and the men do sympathize with the mastiffs in robustious and rough coming on, leaving their wits with their wives: and then give them great meals of beef, and iron and steel, they will eat like wolves, and fight like devils. Const. Now is it time to arm: Come, shall we about it? Dau. I stay but for my guard :-On, to the field; I will the banner from a trumpet take, And use it for my haste. Come, come away! [Flourish of Drums and Trumpets.-Exeunt. SCENE IV. KING HENRY'S Tent. A March. Enter GLOSTER, BEDFORD, EXETER, WESTMORELAND, FLUELLEN, and all the ENGLISH ARMY. Glost. Where is the king? Bed. The king himself is rode to view their battle. F West. Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand. Ere. That's five to one: besides, they all are fresh. Bed. Heaven's arm strike with us! 'tis a fearful odds! West. Oh, that we now had here But one ten thousand of those men in England, Enter KING HENRY, attended. K. Hen. What's he that wishes so?— To do our country loss; and if to live, Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host, But he'll remember, with advantages, What feats he did that day: Then shall our names, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury, and Gloster, - This story shall the good man teach his son; We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; And gentlemen in England, now a-bed, Shall think themselves accurs'd, they were not here; Gow. My sov'reign lord, bestow yourself with speed; K. Hen. All things are ready, if our minds be so. West. Perish the man, whose mind is backward now! [Tucket sounds. Enter MONTJOY and ATTENDANTS. Mont. Once more I come to know of thee, king Harry, If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound, Before thy most assured overthrow. K. Hen. Who hath sent thee now? Mont. The Constable of France. K. Hen. I pray thee, bear my former answer back: Bid them achieve me, and then sell my bones. Good God! why should they mock poor fellows thus? While the beast liv'd, was kill'd with hunting him.— But, by the mass, our hearts are in the trim: Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald; Mont. I shall, King Harry, and so fare thee well : Thou never shalt hear herald any more. [Exit MONTJOY, with ATTENDANTS. K. Hen. Now on, you noblest English, Whose blood is set from fathers of war-proof,Fathers, that, like so many Alexanders, Have in these parts, from morn till even fought, And sheath'd their swords for lack of argument; Dishonour not your mothers; now attest, That those, whom you call'd fathers, did beget you: Be copy now to men of grosser blood, And teach them how to war. And you, good yeo men, Whose limbs were made in England, show us here That you are worth your breeding: which I doubt not; [Charge, Shouts, Cannon, &c.] Exeunt. SCENE V. The Field of Battle. Alarums. Enter the DAUPHIN, the CONSTABLE OF FRANCE, and GUARDS. Dau. Mort de ma vie ! all is confounded, all ! Reproach and everlasting shame Sit mocking in our plumes. Const. Why, all our ranks are broke. Dau. O, perdurable shame!-let's stab ourselves. Be these the wretches that we play'd at dice for! Is this the king we sent to for his ransom? Const. Disorder, that hath spoil'd us, friend us now! Let us, in heaps, go offer up our lives. Dau. We are enow yet living in the field, To smother up the English in our throngs, If any order might be thought upon. Const. I'll to the throng: Let life be short; else, shame will be too long. [Alarums, Cannon, Shouts, &c.] [Exeunt. SCENE VI. Another Part of the Field of Battle. Alarums, Shouts, Cannon, &c. Enter KING HENRY, GLOSTER, BEDFORD, WestMORELAND, and Troops. K. Hen. Well have we done, thrice valiant countrymen: |