Henry V – Act 3 Scene 6

GOWER

How now, Captain Fluellen! Come you from the bridge?

Greetings, Captain Fluellen! Have you come from the bridge?

FLUELLEN

I assure you, there is very excellent services

I tell you, there is some excellent military work

committed at the bridge.

going on at the bridge.

GOWER

Is the Duke of Exeter safe?

Is the Duke of Exeter safe?

FLUELLEN

The Duke of Exeter is as magnanimous as Agamemnon;

The Duke of Exeter is as kind and forgiving as Agamemnon;

and a man that I love and honour with my soul, and my

and he’s a man I love and respect with all my soul, and my

heart, and my duty, and my life, and my living, and

heart, and my duty, and my life, and my livelihood, and

my uttermost power: he is not – God be praised and

all the strength I possess. He has not been – and I thank God

blessed! – any hurt in the world; but keeps the

for it! – hurt in any way, and he is defending the

bridge most valiantly, with excellent discipline.

bridge very bravely, and with excellent discipline.

There is an aunchient lieutenant there at the

There is a standard-bearer holding the flag at the

pridge, I think in my very conscience he is as

bridge, and deep down I think he is as

valiant a man as Mark Antony; and he is a man of no

brave a man as Mark Antony; and although he is a man

estimation in the world; but did see him do as

of no significant rank, I saw him act like he was

gallant service.

through his noble service.

GOWER

What do you call him?

What is his name?

FLUELLEN

He is called Aunchient Pistol.

He is called Ensign Pistol.

GOWER

I know him not.

I don’t know him.

FLUELLEN

Here is the man.

Here is the man.

PISTOL

Captain, I thee beseech to do me favours:

Captain, I’m here to ask a favour of you:

The Duke of Exeter doth love thee well.

The Duke of Exeter is fond of you.

FLUELLEN

Ay, I praise God; and I have merited some love at

Yes, thank God; and I have earned some of his

his hands.

goodwill.

PISTOL

Bardolph, a soldier, firm and sound of heart,

Bardolph – a soldier who is strong and decent,

And of buxom valour, hath, by cruel fate,

And very brave – has, by a twist of fate,

And giddy Fortune's furious fickle wheel,

And angry spin upon the wheel of Fortune,

That goddess blind,

That blind goddess

That stands upon the rolling restless stone –

Who balances upon a rolling stone…

FLUELLEN

By your patience, Aunchient Pistol. Fortune is

If you don’t mind, Ensign Pistol. Fortune is

painted blind, with a muffler afore her eyes, to

considered blind, with a blindfold covering her eyes, to

signify to you that Fortune is blind; and she is

demonstrate to you that Fortune is blind; and she is

painted also with a wheel, to signify to you, which

always painted with a wheel to signify to you –

is the moral of it, that she is turning, and

which is the crux of it – that she is always turning,

inconstant, and mutability, and variation: and her

ever-changing, always on the move; and her

foot, look you, is fixed upon a spherical stone,

foot, you see, is always seen standing on the spherical stone

which rolls, and rolls, and rolls: in good truth,

as it rolls and rolls and rolls. Indeed,

the poet makes a most excellent description of it:

the poet always describes it very well:

Fortune is an excellent moral.

Fortune gives us an excellent moral lesson.

PISTOL

Fortune is Bardolph's foe, and frowns on him;

Fortune is an enemy of Bardolph,

For he hath stolen a pax, and hanged must a' be:

He stole a church plate; now he will be hanged,

A damned death!

And that’s an awful death!

Let gallows gape for dog; let man go free

It’s fine to hang a dog; let him go free

And let not hemp his wind-pipe suffocate:

Preventing rope from suffocating him.

But Exeter hath given the doom of death

But Exeter has ordered him to hang

For pax of little price.

For stealing a cheap plate.

Therefore, go speak: the duke will hear thy voice:

So, speak to him: the duke will listen to you;

And let not Bardolph's vital thread be cut

Do not let Bardolph’s life be ended by

With edge of penny cord and vile reproach:

The edge of a cheap rope and in disgrace.

Speak, captain, for his life, and I will thee requite.

Speak up to save his life; I’ll pay you back.

FLUELLEN

Aunchient Pistol, I do partly understand your meaning.

Ensign Pistol, I do somewhat understand what you are saying.

PISTOL

Why then, rejoice therefore.

Well, I’m happy then.

FLUELLEN

Certainly, aunchient, it is not a thing to rejoice

Certainly not, Ensign, it is not the type of thing to be happy

at: for if, look you, he were my brother, I would

about: for if, you see, he was my brother, I would

desire the duke to use his good pleasure, and put

be calling on the duke to act honourably and have

him to execution; for discipline ought to be used.

him executed, because discipline is essential.

PISTOL

Die and be damned! And figo for thy friendship!

Then die and go to hell! And here’s a fig, friend!

FLUELLEN

It is well.

Very well.

PISTOL

The fig of Spain!

I’ll flip you the Spanish finger!

FLUELLEN

Very good.

OK then.

GOWER

Why, this is an arrant counterfeit rascal; I

Well, he’s a cheating fraudster; I

remember him now; a bawd, a cutpurse.

remember him now; he’s a pimp and a pickpocket.

FLUELLEN

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

I promise you, he spoke as bravely at the

bridge as you shall see in a summer's day. But it

bridge as you’d ever hear on a summer’s day. But it’s

is very well; what he has spoke to me, that is well,

OK; what he said to me, it’s OK,

I warrant you, when time is serve.

I assure you, I’ll address it when the time is right.

GOWER

Why, 'tis a gull, a fool, a rogue, that now and then

Well, he’s a fraud, a fool and a rogue, that every so often

goes to the wars, to grace himself at his return

goes to war just so that he can show off when returning

into London under the form of a soldier. And such

to London by pretending to be a soldier. And men

fellows are perfect in the great commanders' names:

like that always know all the leaders’ names,

and they will learn you by rote where services were

and they will memorise where every battle was

done; at such and such a sconce, at such a breach,

fought, at such-and-such a fort, at a certain gap in a wall,

at such a convoy; who came off bravely, who was

at a specific military escort; who fought bravely, who was

shot, who disgraced, what terms the enemy stood on;

shot, who was disgraced, the terms the enemy demanded.

and this they con perfectly in the phrase of war,

And they can fake the expressions used in war

which they trick up with new-tuned oaths: and what

which they embellish with new-fangled terms, and it’s

a beard of the general's cut and a horrid suit of

amazing what having a beard cut like a general and

the camp will do among foaming bottles and

well-used military uniform can do for you in the minds

ale-washed wits, is wonderful to be thought on. But

of drunken folk – it really is quite amazing. But

you must learn to know such slanders of the age, or

you have to be able to spot these modern fraudsters, or

else you may be marvellously mistook.

else you’ll make a massive error.

FLUELLEN

I tell you what, Captain Gower; I do perceive he is

I tell you what, Captain Gower, I don’t think he’s

not the man that he would gladly make show to the

the man he tries to show the world

world he is: if I find a hole in his coat, I will

he is: if I find the right time, I will

tell him my mind.

let him know what I think of him.

[Drum heard]

Hark you, the king is coming, and I must speak with

Listen, the king is coming, and I have to speak with

him from the pridge.

him about the bridge.

[DRUM AND COLOURS. ENTER KING HENRY, GLOUCESTER, AND SOLDIERS]

God pless your majesty!

God bless your majesty!

KING HENRY V

How now, Fluellen! Camest thou from the bridge?

Hello, Fluellen! Did you come from the bridge?

FLUELLEN

Ay, so please your majesty. The Duke of Exeter has

Yes, your majesty. The Duke of Exeter has

very gallantly maintained the pridge: the French is

very bravely defended the bridge: the French have

gone off, look you; and there is gallant and most

withdrawn, you see; and there were gallant and very

prave passages; marry, th' athversary was have

brave battles; indeed, the enemy did seize

possession of the pridge; but he is enforced to

control of the bridge, but they were forced to

retire, and the Duke of Exeter is master of the

retreat, and now the Duke of Exeter is in control of the

pridge: I can tell your majesty, the duke is a

bridge. I can assure your majesty that the duke is a

prave man.

brave man.

KING HENRY V

What men have you lost, Fluellen?

How many men have you lost, Fluellen?

FLUELLEN

The perdition of th' athversary hath been very

The enemy’s losses have been very

great, reasonable great: marry, for my part, I

large, really large: indeed, as far as I know, I

think the duke hath lost never a man, but one that

think the duke hasn’t lost a man, except for one that

is like to be executed for robbing a church, one

is likely to be executed for robbing a church, one

Bardolph, if your majesty know the man: his face is

Bardolph, if your majesty knows the man. His face is

all bubukles, and whelks, and knobs, and flames o'

covered in pimples, swollen lumps and bumps, inflamed red

fire: and his lips blows at his nose, and it is like

like fire; and his lips blow up towards his nose that glows

a coal of fire, sometimes plue and sometimes red;

like coals on a fire, sometimes blue and sometimes red;

but his nose is executed and his fire's out.

but his nose has been executed, and its fire’s gone out.

KING HENRY V

We would have all such offenders so cut off: and we

We’ll have all offenders like that executed. And I give

give express charge, that in our marches through the

an express order that as we march through the

country, there be nothing compelled from the

country, nothing is pilfered from the

villages, nothing taken but paid for, none of the

villages, nothing is taken unless it’s paid for, none of the

French upbraided or abused in disdainful language;

French people insulted or abused with disrespectful words;

for when lenity and cruelty play for a kingdom, the

for when kindness and cruelty compete to win a country,

gentler gamester is the soonest winner.

the kinder player will become the winner.

MONTJOY

You know me by my habit.

You can recognise me by what I’m wearing.

KING HENRY V

Well then I know thee: what shall I know of thee?

I know you then: what shall I learn from you?

MONTJOY

My master's mind.

My master’s mind.

KING HENRY V

Unfold it.

Share it with me.

MONTJOY

Thus says my king: Say thou to Harry of England:

My king says this: You tell Harry of England,

Though we seemed dead, we did but sleep: advantage

Though we seemed dead, we were just sleeping; tactics

is a better soldier than rashness. Tell him we

will make a better soldier than hastiness. Tell him we

could have rebuked him at Harfleur, but that we

could have defeated him at Harfleur, but we

thought not good to bruise an injury till it were

thought we shouldn’t squeeze a spot until it was

full ripe: now we speak upon our cue, and our voice

ready to pop. Now is the time to speak, and we do so

is imperial: England shall repent his folly, see

with a sovereign voice: England will regret its stupidity, see

his weakness, and admire our sufferance. Bid him

its own weaknesses, and admire our patience. Tell him

therefore consider of his ransom; which must

then to ponder what to offer as a ransom; it has to

proportion the losses we have borne, the subjects we

cover the losses we have suffered, the soldiers we

have lost, the disgrace we have digested; which in

have lost, the humiliation we’ve incurred; which in

weight to re-answer, his pettiness would bow under.

repaying, would cripple his small, pathetic country.

For our losses, his exchequer is too poor; for the

He doesn’t have the money to cover our losses; there are

effusion of our blood, the muster of his kingdom too

too few people in his country to make up for the blood

faint a number; and for our disgrace, his own

we have spilled; and for the humiliation he has caused,

person, kneeling at our feet, but a weak and

if he were to kneel at our feet it would only be an empty

worthless satisfaction. To this add defiance: and

and worthless recompense. And in addition, the defiance:

tell him, for conclusion, he hath betrayed his

to conclude, tell him he has betrayed his

followers, whose condemnation is pronounced. So far

followers, who are now condemned to die. That ends

my king and master; so much my office.

the message from my king and master; my task is done.

KING HENRY V

What is thy name? I know thy quality.

What is your name? I know your calibre.

MONTJOY

Montjoy.

Montjoy.

KING HENRY V

Thou dost thy office fairly. Turn thee back,

You do your duty well. Turn and return

And tell thy king I do not seek him now;

And tell your king I do not seek him now;

But could be willing to march on to Calais

I would prefer that we march on to Calais

Without impeachment: for, to say the sooth,

Without impediment; because, in truth,

Though 'tis no wisdom to confess so much

Although it isn’t wise revealing so much

Unto an enemy of craft and vantage,

Unto an enemy with skilled advantage,

My people are with sickness much enfeebled,

My people are all weak with nausea,

My numbers lessened, and those few I have

My numbers are diminished; those I have

Almost no better than so many French;

Are really little better than the French;

Who when they were in health, I tell thee, herald,

But when they’re healthy, let me tell you, envoy,

I thought upon one pair of English legs

I always thought a single English soldier

Did march three Frenchmen. Yet, forgive me, God,

Was equal to three Frenchmen. But, forgive me

That I do brag thus! This your air of France

For showing off like this! The air in France

Hath blown that vice in me: I must repent.

Has made me be a show-off: I am sorry.

Go therefore, tell thy master here I am;

So go and tell your king that I am here;

My ransom is this frail and worthless trunk,

My ransom is my frail and worthless body,

My army but a weak and sickly guard;

My army offers weak and poor defence;

Yet, God before, tell him we will come on,

But, with God’s guidance, tell him we’ll advance

Though France himself and such another neighbour

If all of France, joined by another country,

Stand in our way. There's for thy labour, Montjoy.

Stand in our way. Here’s cash for your work, Montjoy.

Go bid thy master well advise himself:

Go tell your king to think about this wisely:

If we may pass, we will; if we be hindered,

If we can pass, we will; but if we’re hindered,

We shall your tawny ground with your red blood

We’ll turn your brown earth red with all your blood

Discolour: and so Montjoy, fare you well.

We’ll spill. And so a fond farewell now, Montjoy.

The sum of all our answer is but this:

And so to summarise my answer to you:

We would not seek a battle, as we are;

We do not want to fight while we are like this;

Nor, as we are, we say we will not shun it:

Nor, though we’re like this, we’re prepared to fight.

So tell your master.

So tell that to your king.

MONTJOY

I shall deliver so. Thanks to your highness.

I’ll send this message to him. Thanks, your highness.

GLOUCESTER

I hope they will not come upon us now.

I hope they don’t attack us right away.

KING HENRY V

We are in God's hand, brother, not in theirs.

We are in God’s hands, brother, not in theirs.

March to the bridge; it now draws toward night:

March to the bridge; now night-time is approaching.

Beyond the river we'll encamp ourselves,

We’ll set up camp when we’re beyond the river,

And on to-morrow, bid them march away.

And then tomorrow we’ll continue marching.