Act IV, Scene 4

The field of battle.

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

• Pistol. Yield, cur! 2375

• French Soldier. Je pense que vous etes gentilhomme de bonne qualite.

• Pistol. Qualtitie calmie custure me! Art thou a gentleman?
  what is thy name? discuss.

• French Soldier. O Seigneur Dieu!

• 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.

• French Soldier. O, prenez misericorde! ayez pitie de moi! 2385

• 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.

• French Soldier. Est-il impossible d'echapper la force de ton bras?

• Pistol. Brass, cur! 2390
  Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat,
  Offer'st me brass?

• French Soldier. O pardonnez moi!

• 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?

• French Soldier. Monsieur le Fer.

• 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.

• French Soldier. Que dit-il, monsieur?

• 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.

• Pistol. What are his words?

• 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.

• French Soldier. Petit monsieur, que dit-il?

• 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]