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Speeches (Lines) for Gower
in "Henry V"

Total: 27

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# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

III,2,1185

(stage directions). [Re-enter FLUELLEN, GOWER following]

Gower. Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the
mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.


2

III,2,1195

Fluellen. 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,
the athversary, you may discuss unto the duke, look
you, is digt himself four yard under the
countermines: by Cheshu, I think a' will plough up
all, if there is not better directions.

Gower. The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the
siege is given, is altogether directed by an
Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i' faith.


3

III,2,1199

Fluellen. It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?

Gower. I think it be.


4

III,2,1205

(stage directions). [Enter MACMORRIS and Captain JAMY]

Gower. Here a' comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.


5

III,2,1215

Fluellen. God-den to your worship, good Captain James.

Gower. How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the
mines? have the pioneers given o'er?


6

III,2,1263

Macmorris. I do not know you so good a man as myself: so
Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.

Gower. Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.


7

III,2,1266

(stage directions). [A parley sounded]

Gower. The town sounds a parley.


8

III,6,1462

(stage directions). [Enter GOWER and FLUELLEN, meeting]

Gower. How now, Captain Fluellen! come you from the bridge?


9

III,6,1465

Fluellen. I assure you, there is very excellent services
committed at the bridge.

Gower. Is the Duke of Exeter safe?


10

III,6,1477

Fluellen. The Duke of Exeter is as magnanimous as Agamemnon;
and a man that I love and honour with my soul, and my
heart, and my duty, and my life, and my living, and
my uttermost power: he is not-God be praised and
blessed!—any hurt in the world; but keeps the
bridge most valiantly, with excellent discipline.
There is an aunchient lieutenant there at the
pridge, I think in my very conscience he is as
valiant a man as Mark Antony; and he is a man of no
estimation in the world; but did see him do as
gallant service.

Gower. What do you call him?


11

III,6,1479

Fluellen. He is called Aunchient Pistol.

Gower. I know him not.


12

III,6,1523

Fluellen. Very good.

Gower. Why, this is an arrant counterfeit rascal; I
remember him now; a bawd, a cutpurse.


13

III,6,1529

Fluellen. I'll assure you, a' uttered as brave words at the
bridge 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.

Gower. Why, 'tis a gull, a fool, a rogue, that now and then
goes to the wars, to grace himself 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 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.


14

IV,1,1912

(stage directions). [Enter FLUELLEN and GOWER]

Gower. Captain Fluellen!


15

IV,1,1923

Fluellen. So! in the name of Jesu Christ, speak lower. It is
the greatest admiration of the universal world, when
the true and aunchient prerogatifes and laws of the
wars is not kept: if you would take the pains but to
examine the wars of Pompey the Great, you shall
find, I warrant you, that there is no tiddle toddle
nor pibble pabble in Pompey's camp; I warrant you,
you shall find the ceremonies of the wars, and the
cares of it, and the forms of it, and the sobriety
of it, and the modesty of it, to be otherwise.

Gower. Why, the enemy is loud; you hear him all night.


16

IV,1,1928

Fluellen. If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a prating
coxcomb, is it meet, think you, that we should also,
look you, be an ass and a fool and a prating
coxcomb? in your own conscience, now?

Gower. I will speak lower.


17

IV,7,2523

Fluellen. Kill the poys and the luggage! 'tis expressly
against the law of arms: 'tis as arrant a piece of
knavery, mark you now, as can be offer't; in your
conscience, now, is it not?

Gower. 'Tis certain there's not a boy left alive; and the
cowardly rascals that ran from the battle ha' done
this slaughter: besides, they have burned and
carried away all that was in the king's tent;
wherefore the king, most worthily, hath caused every
soldier to cut his prisoner's throat. O, 'tis a
gallant king!


18

IV,7,2532

Fluellen. Ay, he was porn at Monmouth, Captain Gower. What
call you the town's name where Alexander the Pig was born!

Gower. Alexander the Great.


19

IV,7,2537

Fluellen. Why, I pray you, is not pig great? the pig, or the
great, or the mighty, or the huge, or the
magnanimous, are all one reckonings, save the phrase
is a little variations.

Gower. I think Alexander the Great was born in Macedon; his
father was called Philip of Macedon, as I take it.


20

IV,7,2557

Fluellen. I think it is in Macedon where Alexander is porn. I
tell you, captain, if you look in the maps of the
'orld, I warrant you sall find, in the comparisons
between Macedon and Monmouth, that the situations,
look you, is both alike. There is a river in
Macedon; and there is also moreover a river at
Monmouth: it is called Wye at Monmouth; but it is
out of my prains what is the name of the other
river; but 'tis all one, 'tis alike as my fingers is
to my fingers, and there is salmons in both. If you
mark Alexander's life well, Harry of Monmouth's life
is come after it indifferent well; for there is
figures in all things. Alexander, God knows, and
you know, in his rages, and his furies, and his
wraths, and his cholers, and his moods, and his
displeasures, and his indignations, and also being a
little intoxicates in his prains, did, in his ales and
his angers, look you, kill his best friend, Cleitus.

Gower. Our king is not like him in that: he never killed
any of his friends.


21

IV,7,2568

Fluellen. It is not well done, mark you now take the tales out
of my mouth, ere it is made and finished. I speak
but in the figures and comparisons of it: as
Alexander killed his friend Cleitus, being in his
ales and his cups; so also Harry Monmouth, being in
his right wits and his good judgments, turned away
the fat knight with the great belly-doublet: he
was full of jests, and gipes, and knaveries, and
mocks; I have forgot his name.

Gower. Sir John Falstaff.


22

IV,7,2570

Fluellen. That is he: I'll tell you there is good men porn at Monmouth.

Gower. Here comes his majesty.
[Alarum. Enter KING HENRY, and forces; WARWICK,]
GLOUCESTER, EXETER, and others]


23

IV,8,2718

Fluellen. 'Sblood! an arrant traitor as any is in the
universal world, or in France, or in England!

Gower. How now, sir! you villain!


24

V,1,2886

(stage directions). [Enter FLUELLEN and GOWER]

Gower. Nay, that's right; but why wear you your leek today?
Saint Davy's day is past.


25

V,1,2901

(stage directions). [Enter PISTOL]

Gower. Why, here he comes, swelling like a turkey-cock.


26

V,1,2926

Fluellen. You say very true, scauld knave, when God's will is:
I will desire you to live in the mean time, and eat
your victuals: come, there is sauce for it.
[Strikes him]
You called me yesterday mountain-squire; but I will
make you to-day a squire of low degree. I pray you,
fall to: if you can mock a leek, you can eat a leek.

Gower. Enough, captain: you have astonished him.


27

V,1,2954

Pistol. All hell shall stir for this.

Gower. Go, go; you are a counterfeit cowardly knave. Will
you mock at an ancient tradition, begun upon an
honourable respect, and worn as a memorable trophy of
predeceased valour and dare not avouch in your deeds
any of your words? I have seen you gleeking and
galling at this gentleman twice or thrice. You
thought, because he could not speak English in the
native garb, he could not therefore handle an
English cudgel: you find it otherwise; and
henceforth let a Welsh correction teach you a good
English condition. Fare ye well.


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