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History of Henry V

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Act IV, Scene 4

The field of battle.

       
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[Alarum. Excursions. Enter PISTOL, French Soldier, and Boy]

  • Pistol. Qualtitie calmie custure me! Art thou a gentleman?
    what is thy name? discuss.
  • Pistol. O, Signieur Dew should be a gentleman: 2380
    Perpend my words, O Signieur Dew, and mark;
    O Signieur Dew, thou diest on point of fox,
    Except, O signieur, thou do give to me
    Egregious ransom.
  • Pistol. Moy shall not serve; I will have forty moys;
    Or I will fetch thy rim out at thy throat
    In drops of crimson blood.
  • Pistol. Brass, cur! 2390
    Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat,
    Offer'st me brass?
  • Pistol. Say'st thou me so? is that a ton of moys?
    Come hither, boy: ask me this slave in French 2395
    What is his name.
  • Boy. Ecoutez: comment etes-vous appele?
  • Boy. He says his name is Master Fer.
  • Pistol. Master Fer! I'll fer him, and firk him, and ferret 2400
    him: discuss the same in French unto him.
  • Boy. I do not know the French for fer, and ferret, and firk.
  • Pistol. Bid him prepare; for I will cut his throat.
  • Boy. Il me commande de vous dire que vous faites vous 2405
    pret; car ce soldat ici est dispose tout a cette
    heure de couper votre gorge.
  • Pistol. Owy, cuppele gorge, permafoy,
    Peasant, unless thou give me crowns, brave crowns;
    Or mangled shalt thou be by this my sword. 2410
  • French Soldier. O, je vous supplie, pour l'amour de Dieu, me
    pardonner! Je suis gentilhomme de bonne maison:
    gardez ma vie, et je vous donnerai deux cents ecus.
  • Boy. He prays you to save his life: he is a gentleman of 2415
    a good house; and for his ransom he will give you
    two hundred crowns.
  • Pistol. Tell him my fury shall abate, and I the crowns will take.
  • Boy. Encore qu'il est contre son jurement de pardonner 2420
    aucun prisonnier, neanmoins, pour les ecus que vous
    l'avez promis, il est content de vous donner la
    liberte, le franchisement.
  • French Soldier. Sur mes genoux je vous donne mille remercimens; et
    je m'estime heureux que je suis tombe entre les 2425
    mains d'un chevalier, je pense, le plus brave,
    vaillant, et tres distingue seigneur d'Angleterre.
  • Pistol. Expound unto me, boy.
  • Boy. He gives you, upon his knees, a thousand thanks; and
    he esteems himself happy that he hath fallen into 2430
    the hands of one, as he thinks, the most brave,
    valorous, and thrice-worthy signieur of England.
  • Pistol. As I suck blood, I will some mercy show.
    Follow me!
  • Boy. Suivez-vous le grand capitaine. 2435
    [Exeunt PISTOL, and French Soldier]
    I did never know so full a voice issue from so
    empty a heart: but the saying is true 'The empty
    vessel makes the greatest sound.' Bardolph and Nym
    had ten times more valour than this roaring devil i' 2440
    the old play, that every one may pare his nails with
    a wooden dagger; and they are both hanged; and so
    would this be, if he durst steal any thing
    adventurously. I must stay with the lackeys, with
    the luggage of our camp: the French might have a 2445
    good prey of us, if he knew of it; for there is
    none to guard it but boys.

[Exit]