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!
The sun is high; and we out-wear the day.

[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,
That do no work to-day!

Enter KING HENRY, attended.

K. Hen. What's he that wishes so?—
My cousin Westmoreland? —No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow

To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men the greater share of honour.
Wish not one man more:

Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he, who hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart! his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man's company,
That fears his fellowship to die with us.--
This day is call'd—the feast of Crispian :
He, that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian:
He, that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his friends,
And say,-To-morrow is Saint Crispian :
Then will he strip his sleeve, and show his scars,
And say,-These wounds I had on Crispian's day :
Old men forget! yet all shall be forgot,

But he'll remember, with advantages,

What feats he did that day: Then shall our names,
Familiar in their mouths as household words,-
Harry the King, Bedford, and Exeter,

Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury, and Gloster, -
Be' in their flowing cups freshly remember'd:

This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd:

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he, to-day that sheds his blood with me,
Shall be my brother; be he neʼer so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition :

And gentlemen in England, now a-bed,

Shall think themselves accurs'd, they were not here;
And hold their manhoods cheap, while any speaks,
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.
Enter GowER.

Gow. My sov'reign lord, bestow yourself with speed;
The French are bravely in their battles set,
And will with all expedience charge on us.

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?
The man, that once did sell the lion's skin

While the beast liv'd, was kill'd with hunting him.—
Let me speak proudly;-Tell the Constable,
We are but warriors for the working day;
Our
gayness and our gilt are all besmirch'd
With rainy marching in the painful field,
And time hath worn us into slovenry;

But, by the mass, our hearts are in the trim:
And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night
They'll be in fresher robes; for they will pluck
The gay new coats o'er the French soldiers' heads,
And turn them out of service.—

Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald;
They shall have none, I swear, but these my joints:
Which, if they have, as I will leave 'em to them,
Shall yield them little, tell the Constable.

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
The mettle of your pasture, let us swear

That you are worth your breeding: which I doubt not;
For there is none of you so mean and base,
That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.—
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start. The game's afoot;
Follow your spirit; and upon this charge,
Cry,-God for Harry! England! and Saint George!

[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: