Act III, Scene 2

The same.

[Enter NYM, BARDOLPH, PISTOL, and Boy]

• Bardolph. On, on, on, on, on! to the breach, to the breach!

• Nym. Pray thee, corporal, stay: the knocks are too hot;
  and, for mine own part, I have not a case of lives: 1130
  the humour of it is too hot, that is the very
  plain-song of it.

• Pistol. The plain-song is most just: for humours do abound:
  Knocks go and come; God's vassals drop and die;
  And sword and shield, 1135
  In bloody field,
  Doth win immortal fame.

• Boy. Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give
  all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.

• Pistol. And I: 1140
  If wishes would prevail with me,
  My purpose should not fail with me,
  But thither would I hie.

• Boy. As duly, but not as truly,
  As bird doth sing on bough. 1145

[Enter FLUELLEN]

• Fluellen. Up to the breach, you dogs! avaunt, you cullions!

[Driving them forward]

• Pistol. Be merciful, great duke, to men of mould.
  Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage, 1150
  Abate thy rage, great duke!
  Good bawcock, bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck!

• Nym. These be good humours! your honour wins bad humours.

[Exeunt all but Boy]

• Boy. As young as I am, I have observed these three 1155
  swashers. I am boy to them all three: but all they
  three, though they would serve me, could not be man
  to me; for indeed three such antics do not amount to
  a man. For Bardolph, he is white-livered and
  red-faced; by the means whereof a' faces it out, but 1160
  fights not. For Pistol, he hath a killing tongue
  and a quiet sword; by the means whereof a' breaks
  words, and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he hath
  heard that men of few words are the best men; and
  therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest a' 1165
  should be thought a coward: but his few bad words
  are matched with as few good deeds; for a' never
  broke any man's head but his own, and that was
  against a post when he was drunk. They will steal
  any thing, and call it purchase. Bardolph stole a 1170
  lute-case, bore it twelve leagues, and sold it for
  three half pence. Nym and Bardolph are sworn
  brothers in filching, and in Calais they stole a
  fire-shovel: I knew by that piece of service the
  men would carry coals. They would have me as 1175
  familiar with men's pockets as their gloves or their
  handkerchers: which makes much against my manhood,
  if I should take from another's pocket to put into
  mine; for it is plain pocketing up of wrongs. I
  must leave them, and seek some better service: 1180
  their villany goes against my weak stomach, and
  therefore I must cast it up.

[Exit]

[Re-enter FLUELLEN, GOWER following]

• Gower. Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the 1185
  mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.

• 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, 1190
  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 1195
  siege is given, is altogether directed by an
  Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i' faith.

• Fluellen. It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?

• Gower. I think it be.

• Fluellen. By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world: I will 1200
  verify as much in his beard: be has no more
  directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look
  you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy-dog.

[Enter MACMORRIS and Captain JAMY]

• Gower. Here a' comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him. 1205

• Fluellen. Captain Jamy is a marvellous falourous gentleman,
  that is certain; and of great expedition and
  knowledge in th' aunchient wars, upon my particular
  knowledge of his directions: by Cheshu, he will
  maintain his argument as well as any military man in 1210
  the world, in the disciplines of the pristine wars
  of the Romans.

• Jamy. I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen.

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

• Gower. How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the 1215
  mines? have the pioneers given o'er?

• Macmorris. By Chrish, la! tish ill done: the work ish give
  over, the trompet sound the retreat. By my hand, I
  swear, and my father's soul, the work ish ill done;
  it ish give over: I would have blowed up the town, so 1220
  Chrish save me, la! in an hour: O, tish ill done,
  tish ill done; by my hand, tish ill done!

• Fluellen. Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will you
  voutsafe me, look you, a few disputations with you,
  as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of 1225
  the war, the Roman wars, in the way of argument,
  look you, and friendly communication; partly to
  satisfy my opinion, and partly for the satisfaction,
  look you, of my mind, as touching the direction of
  the military discipline; that is the point. 1230

• Jamy. It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captains bath:
  and I sall quit you with gud leve, as I may pick
  occasion; that sall I, marry.

• Macmorris. It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me: the
  day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the 1235
  king, and the dukes: it is no time to discourse. The
  town is beseeched, and the trumpet call us to the
  breach; and we talk, and, be Chrish, do nothing:
  'tis shame for us all: so God sa' me, 'tis shame to
  stand still; it is shame, by my hand: and there is 1240
  throats to be cut, and works to be done; and there
  ish nothing done, so Chrish sa' me, la!

• Jamy. By the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves
  to slomber, ay'll de gud service, or ay'll lig i'
  the grund for it; ay, or go to death; and ay'll pay 1245
  't as valourously as I may, that sall I suerly do,
  that is the breff and the long. Marry, I wad full
  fain hear some question 'tween you tway.

• Fluellen. Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your
  correction, there is not many of your nation— 1250

• Macmorris. Of my nation! What ish my nation? Ish a villain,
  and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal. What ish
  my nation? Who talks of my nation?

• Fluellen. Look you, if you take the matter otherwise than is
  meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I shall think 1255
  you do not use me with that affability as in
  discretion you ought to use me, look you: being as
  good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of
  war, and in the derivation of my birth, and in
  other particularities. 1260

• 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.

• Jamy. A! that's a foul fault.

[A parley sounded]

• Gower. The town sounds a parley.

• Fluellen. Captain Macmorris, when there is more better
  opportunity to be required, look you, I will be so
  bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of war;
  and there is an end. 1270

[Exeunt]