A damned death! Let gallows gape for dog; let man go free Therefore, go speak: the duke will hear thy voice; And let not Bardolph's vital thread be cut With edge of penny cord and vile reproach: Pist. Why then, rejoice therefore. Flu. Certainly, aunchient, it is not a thing to rejoice at for if, look you, he were my brother, I would desire the duke to use his good pleasure, and put him to execution; for discipline ought to be used. Pist. Die and be damn'd! and figo for thy friendship! Flu. It is well. Pist. The fig of Spain ! Flu. Very good. [Exit. Gow. Why, this is an arrant counterfeit rascal; I remember him now; a bawd, a cutpurse. Flu. I'll assure you, a' uttered as prave words at the pridge as you shall see in a summer's day. But it is very well; what he has spoke to me, that is well, I warrant you, when time is serve. Gow. Why, 'tis a gull, a fool, a rogue, that now and then goes to the wars, to grace himself 'pix' (pyx) was the box in which the host or consecrated wafer was preserved. 'Pax' was a small picture of Christ on wood or metal, 'solemnly tendered to all people to kiss.' 50 бо 70 60. figo, an insulting gesture derived from Spain. 62. The fig of Spain, probably equivalent to figo.' According to others, a reference to poisoned figs. at his return into London under the form of a soldier. And such fellows are perfect in the great commanders' names: and they will learn you by rote where services were done; at such and such a sconce, at such a breach, at such a convoy; who came off bravely, who was shot, who disgraced, what terms the enemy stood on; and this they con perfectly in the phrase of war, which they trick up with new-tuned oaths: and what a beard 80 of the general's cut and a horrid suit of the camp will do among foaming bottles and ale-washed wits, is wonderful to be thought on. But you must learn to know such slanders of the age, or else you may be marvellously mistook. Flu. I tell you what, Captain Gower; I do perceive he is not the man that he would gladly make show to the world he is: if I find a hole in his coat, I will tell him my mind. [Drum heard.] Hark you, the king is coming, and I must speak 90 with him from the pridge. Drum and colours. Enter KING HENRY, God pless your majesty ! K. Hen. How now, Fluellen! camest thou from the bridge? Flu. Ay, so please your majesty. The Duke of Exeter has very gallantly maintained the pridge: the French is gone off, look you; and there is gallant and most prave passages; marry, th' athversary was have possession of the pridge; but he is enforced to retire, and the Duke of 80. new-tuned, to a new tune; new-fangled. 84. slanders of, scandals to. 90. speak with him from, bring him news from (i.e. of). Exeter is master of the pridge: I can tell your 100 majesty, the duke is a prave man. K. Hen. What men have you lost, Fluellen? Flu. The perdition of th' athversary hath been very great, reasonable great: marry, for my part, I think the duke hath lost never a man, but one that is like to be executed for robbing a church, one Bardolph, if your majesty know the man : his face is all bubukles, and whelks, and knobs, and flames o' fire and his lips blows at his nose, and it is like a coal of fire, sometimes plue and 110 sometimes red; but his nose is executed, and his fire's out. K. Hen. We would have all such offenders so cut off and we give express charge, that in our marches through the country, there be nothing compelled from the villages, nothing taken but paid for, none of the French upbraided or abused in disdainful language; for when lenity and cruelty play for a kingdom, the gentler gamester is the soonest winner. Mont. You know me by my habit. K. Hen. Well then I know thee: what shall Mont. My master's mind. K. Hen. Unfold it. Mont. Thus says my king: Say thou to Harry of England: Though we seemed dead, we did but 108. bubukles; a coinage of Fluellen's, for 'carbuncles.' 118. lenity. Rowe's correction from Qq Ff 'levity.' These lines appear to convey a pointed allusion to Essex's campaign in 120 Ireland, and are in any case significant of Shakespeare's judgment upon the harsh policy commonly pursued there. 120. Tucket, trumpet-blast. sleep advantage is a better soldier than rashness. Tell him we could have rebuked him at Harfleur, but that we thought not good to bruise an injury till it were full ripe: now we speak upon our cue, 130 and our voice is imperial: England shall repent his folly, see his weakness, and admire our sufferance. Bid him therefore consider of his ransom ; which must proportion the losses we have borne, the subjects we have lost, the disgrace we have digested; which in weight to re-answer, his pettiness would bow under. For our losses, his exchequer is too poor; for the effusion of our blood, the muster of his kingdom too faint a number; and for our disgrace, his own person, kneeling at our 140 feet, but a weak and worthless satisfaction. Το this add defiance and tell him, for conclusion, he hath betrayed his followers, whose condemnation is pronounced. So far my king and master; so much my office. . K. Hen. What is thy name? I know thy quality. Mont. Montjoy. K. Hen. Thou dost thy office fairly. Turn thee back, And tell thy king I do not seek him now; 127. advantage, favourable opportunity. 130. upon our cue, i. e. at the due moment. 136. in weight to re-answer, to repay in full measure. 150 151. impeachment, hindrance. 153. of craft and vantage, who has both a natural superiority and the cunning to make the best of it. Almost no better than so many French; Who when they were in health, I tell thee, herald, I thought upon one pair of English legs Did march three Frenchmen. God, Yet, forgive me, That I do brag thus! This your air of France Mont. I shall deliver so. Thanks to your [Exit. Glou. I hope they will not come upon us now. March to the bridge; it now draws toward night : 167. There's for thy labour. Shakespeare found in Holinshed [Exeunt. 160 170 180 that the king gave the herald ' a princely reward.' |