Henry V – Act 4 Scene 7

FLUELLEN

Kill the poys and the luggage! 'Tis expressly

Killing the boys who looked after the luggage! That’s expressly

against the law of arms: 'tis as arrant a piece of

against the accepted code of war. It’s the worst type of

knavery, mark you now, as can be offer't; in your

villainy, I tell you, as anyone can do. Is it on your

conscience, now, is it not?

conscience now?

GOWER

'Tis certain there's not a boy left alive; and the

It’s certain that no boys survived, and that the

cowardly rascals that ran from the battle ha' done

cowards who ran from the battlefield have carried out

this slaughter: besides, they have burned and

this slaughter. As well as that, they burned and

carried away all that was in the king's tent;

looted everything in the king’s tent;

wherefore the king, most worthily, hath caused every

that’s why the king has worthily ordered every

soldier to cut his prisoner's throat. O, 'tis a

soldier to cut each prisoner’s throat. Oh, he’s a

gallant king!

courageous king!

FLUELLEN

Ay, he was porn at Monmouth, Captain Gower. What

Yes, he was born in Monmouth, Captain Gower. What

call you the town's name where Alexander the Pig was born!

was the name of the town where Alexander the Big was born?

GOWER

Alexander the Great.

You mean, Alexander the Great.

FLUELLEN

Why, I pray you, is not pig great? The pig, or the

Well, I ask you, isn’t a ‘big’ the same as ‘great’? The big, or the

great, or the mighty, or the huge, or the

great, or the mighty, or the huge, or the

magnanimous, are all one reckonings, save the phrase

magnanimous, all have the same meaning, yet merely sound

is a little variations.

a little different.

GOWER

I think Alexander the Great was born in Macedon; his

I think Alexander the Great was born in Macedon; his

father was called Philip of Macedon, as I take it.

father was called Philip of Macedon, as I understand.

FLUELLEN

I think it is in Macedon where Alexander is porn. I

I think Alexander was born in Macedon. I

tell you, captain, if you look in the maps of the

assure you, captain, if you look at maps of the

'orld, I warrant you sall find, in the comparisons

world, I guarantee you will find, when comparing

between Macedon and Monmouth, that the situations,

Macedon and Monmouth, that they are situated,

look you, is both alike. There is a river in

you see, in the same place. There is a river in

Macedon; and there is also moreover a river at

Macedon; and, importantly, there is also a river in

Monmouth: it is called Wye at Monmouth; but it is

Monmouth: it is called the River Wye in Monmouth, but

out of my prains what is the name of the other

my brain forgets what the other river is called.

river; but 'tis all one, 'tis alike as my fingers is

But it doesn’t matter, they’re the same as my fingers

to my fingers, and there is salmons in both. If you

are to each other, and there are salmon in both. If you

mark Alexander's life well, Harry of Monmouth's life

study Alexander’s life closely, Harry of Monmouth’s life

is come after it indifferent well; for there is

follows pretty much the same path, for there is

figures in all things. Alexander, God knows, and

symbolism in everything. God and you know that Alexander

you know, in his rages, and his furies, and his

had fits of rage, a furious temper, suffered

wraths, and his cholers, and his moods, and his

wrath, was irritable, and his mood swings and his

displeasures, and his indignations, and also being a

irritations and anger at perceived injustice, and also

little intoxicates in his prains, did, in his ales and

when he was a little intoxicated in the brain, did, through beer

his angers, look you, kill his best friend, Cleitus.

and subsequent anger, you see, kill his best friend, Cleitus.

GOWER

Our king is not like him in that: he never killed

Our king is not like him in doing that: he has never killed

any of his friends.

any of his friends.

FLUELLEN

It is not well done, mark you now take the tales out

It is not polite, I have to say, to take the words I am

of my mouth, ere it is made and finished. I speak

speaking before I’ve finished what I’m saying. I’m speaking

but in the figures and comparisons of it: as

merely in parallels and comparisons of them both: as

Alexander killed his friend Cleitus, being in his

Alexander killed his friend Cleitus, when he was

ales and his cups; so also Harry Monmouth, being in

intoxicated, so Harry of Monmouth, being

his right wits and his good judgments, turned away

sober and of sound judgement, turned away

the fat knight with the great belly-doublet: he

the fat knight with the beer belly. He

was full of jests, and gipes, and knaveries, and

was full of jest and jokes and tricks and

mocks; I have forgot his name.

mockery; but I’ve forgotten his name.

GOWER

Sir John Falstaff.

Sir John Falstaff.

FLUELLEN

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

That’s him; I tell you good men are born in Monmouth.

GOWER

Here comes his majesty.

Here comes the king.

KING HENRY V

I was not angry since I came to France

I’ve not been angry since I’ve been in France

Until this instant. Take a trumpet, herald;

Up until now. Pick up your trumpet, herald,

Ride thou unto the horsemen on yon hill:

Ride over to the horsemen on that hill.

If they will fight with us, bid them come down,

If they will fight with us, tell them to come here,

Or void the field; they do offend our sight:

Or leave the field: the sight of them’s offensive.

If they'll do neither, we will come to them,

If they’ll do neither, we will go to them

And make them skirr away, as swift as stones

And make them scatter off as quick as rocks

Enforced from the old Assyrian slings:

Flung from a sling of old Assyrians.

Besides, we'll cut the throats of those we have,

Besides, we’ll cut the throats of all our prisoners,

And not a man of them that we shall take

And not a single prisoner we capture

Shall taste our mercy. Go and tell them so.

Will know our mercy. Go and tell them that.

EXETER

Here comes the herald of the French, my liege.

Here’s Montjoy, herald of the French, my lord.

GLOUCESTER

His eyes are humbler than they used to be.

His eyes look humbler than they did before.

KING HENRY V

How now! What means this, herald? Know'st thou not

Hello there! Fancy seeing you! Don’t you know

That I have fined these bones of mine for ransom?

That I have offered up my bones for ransom?

Comest thou again for ransom?

Are you here for another ransom?

MONTJOY

No, great king:

No, king:

I come to thee for charitable licence,

I’ve come to ask your merciful permission

That we may wander o'er this bloody field

To walk across this bloodied battlefield

To book our dead, and then to bury them;

Recording who has died, then bury them;

To sort our nobles from our common men.

And sort our noblemen from commoners.

For many of our princes – woe the while! –

For many of our princes – oh my goodness! –

Lie drowned and soaked in mercenary blood;

Lie drowned and soaked in common soldiers’ blood;

So do our vulgar drench their peasant limbs

And limbs of ghastly commoners lie dripping

In blood of princes; and their wounded steeds

In blood of princes; and their wounded horses,

Fret fetlock deep in gore and with wild rage

Knee-deep in blood and guts, irately flounder

Yerk out their armed heels at their dead masters,

And kick their heeled hooves at their dead masters,

Killing them twice. O, give us leave, great king,

Thus killing them again. Allow us, great king,

To view the field in safety and dispose

To safely view the battlefield and rid it

Of their dead bodies!

Of their dead bodies!

KING HENRY V

I tell thee truly, herald,

Truthfully now, herald,

I know not if the day be ours or no;

I don’t know if we’ve won the fight or not;

For yet a many of your horsemen peer

For even now your horsemen are appearing

And gallop o'er the field.

To gallop on the field.

MONTJOY

The day is yours.

You’ve won the battle.

KING HENRY V

Praised be God, and not our strength, for it!

Praise God for this! But do not praise our strength.

What is this castle called that stands hard by?

What is the castle called that’s close to here?

MONTJOY

They call it Agincourt.

They call it Agincourt.

KING HENRY V

Then call we this the field of Agincourt,

So we’ll call this the field of Agincourt,

Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus.

Where we have fought on this Saint Crispin’s Day.

FLUELLEN

Your grandfather of famous memory, an't please your

Your famous grandfather, if it pleases your

majesty, and your great-uncle Edward the Plack

majesty to recall, and your great-uncle Edward the Black,

Prince of Wales, as I have read in the chronicles,

Prince of Wales, as I have read in history books,

fought a most prave pattle here in France.

fought a very brave battle here in France.

KING HENRY V

They did, Fluellen.

They did, Fluellen.

FLUELLEN

Your majesty says very true: if your majesties is

Your majesty states the truth: if your majesty can

remembered of it, the Welshmen did good service in a

remember it, the Welshmen served well in a

garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their

garden where leeks were growing, and wore leeks in their

Monmouth caps; which, your majesty know, to this

woollen soldiers’ caps, which, I’m sure your majesty knows, even

hour is an honourable badge of the service; and I do

to this day is a badge of honourable service; and I

believe your majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek

believe your majesty doesn’t mind wearing a leek

upon Saint Tavy's day.

on Saint Davy’s day.

KING HENRY V

I wear it for a memorable honour;

I wear it as a tribute badge of honour;

For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman.

For I am Welsh, you know, dear countryman.

FLUELLEN

All the water in Wye cannot wash your majesty's

All of the water in the River Wye cannot wash your majesty’s

Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that:

Welsh blood out of your body, I can tell you that.

God pless it and preserve it, as long as it pleases

God bless it and look after it, as long as it pleases

his grace, and his majesty too!

his grace and majesty!

KING HENRY V

Thanks, good my countryman.

Thank you, my dear countryman.

FLUELLEN

By Jeshu, I am your majesty's countryman, I care not

In Jesus’ name, I am a countryman to your majesty, and I don’t

who know it; I will confess it to all the 'orld: I

care who knows it; I will tell this to the whole world. I

need not to be ashamed of your majesty, praised be

will not be ashamed of your majesty, praise be to

God, so long as your majesty is an honest man.

God, so long as your majesty remains an honest man.

KING HENRY V

God keep me so! Our heralds go with him:

God keep me honest! Messengers, go with him:

Bring me just notice of the numbers dead

Return to let me know how many died

On both our parts. Call yonder fellow hither.

On either side. Now bring that man to me.

EXETER

Soldier, you must come to the king.

Soldier, come forward to the king.

KING HENRY V

Soldier, why wearest thou that glove in thy cap?

Why are you wearing that glove in your cap?

WILLIAMS

An't please your majesty, 'tis the gage of one that

If it pleases your majesty, it is the glove of someone

I should fight withal, if he be alive.

I’m obliged to fight, should he still be alive.

KING HENRY V

An Englishman?

An Englishman?

WILLIAMS

An't please your majesty, a rascal that swaggered

If it pleases your majesty, a scallywag who picked a fight

with me last night; who, if alive and ever dare to

with me last night; who, if he’s still alive and ever dares to

challenge this glove, I have sworn to take him a box

challenge me for this glove, I’ve sworn I’ll give him a clip

o' th' ear: or if I can see my glove in his cap,

round the ear. Or if I ever see my glove in his cap,

which he swore, as he was a soldier, he would wear

which as a soldier he swore he would wear

if alive, I will strike it out soundly.

if he survived, I will knock the glove out of his cap.

KING HENRY V

What think you, Captain Fluellen? Is it fit this

What do you think, Captain Fluellen? Is it appropriate for this

soldier keep his oath?

soldier to carry out his commitment?

FLUELLEN

He is a craven and a villain else, an't please your

He’d be a coward and a villain if he didn’t, assuming your

majesty, in my conscience.

majesty agrees; that’s what I believe.

KING HENRY V

It may be his enemy is a gentleman of great sort,

It may be that his enemy is a high-ranking gentleman,

quite from the answer of his degree.

far above needing to answer to one so low ranking.

FLUELLEN

Though he be as good a gentleman as the devil is, as

Even if he were as decent as the devil, like

Lucifer and Belzebub himself, it is necessary, look

Lucifer and Belzebub, it is essential, you see

your grace, that he keep his vow and his oath: if

your grace, that he keeps his promised oath; if

he be perjured, see you now, his reputation is as

he breaks his oath, you see, his reputation then becomes

arrant a villain and a Jacksauce, as ever his black

as wretched as a villain and a rascal that ever wore his black

shoe trod upon God's ground and his earth, in my

shoes upon God’s earth. That’s my

conscience, la!

opinion, anyway!

KING HENRY V

Then keep thy vow, sirrah, when thou meetest the fellow.

Then honour your oath, sir, when you meet that chap again.

WILLIAMS

So I will, my liege, as I live.

I will, my lord, as long as I live.

KING HENRY V

Who servest thou under?

Who do you serve under?

WILLIAMS

Under Captain Gower, my liege.

Under Captain Gower, my lord.

FLUELLEN

Gower is a good captain, and is good knowledge and

Gower is a good captain, and has excellent knowledge and

literatured in the wars.

is well-read in warfare.

KING HENRY V

Call him hither to me, soldier.

Bring him to me, soldier.

WILLIAMS

I will, my liege.

I will, my lord.

KING HENRY V

Here, Fluellen; wear thou this favour for me and

Here, Fluellen; wear this as a decorative token for me and

stick it in thy cap: when Alencon and myself were

put it in your cap: when Alencon and I were

down together, I plucked this glove from his helm:

fighting on the ground, I plucked this glove from his helmet.

if any man challenge this, he is a friend to

If anyone challenges you for this, he is a friend of

Alencon, and an enemy to our person; if thou

Alencon and an enemy of ours; if you

encounter any such, apprehend him, an thou dost me love.

come across such a person, apprehend him, if you do love me.

FLUELLEN

Your grace doo's me as great honours as can be

Your grace gives me the greatest honour that

desired in the hearts of his subjects: I would fain

those who serve him could ever desire. I would dearly love

see the man, that has but two legs, that shall find

to see the two-legged man that takes

himself aggrieved at this glove; that is all; but I

offence at this glove; that is all I’ll say. But I would

would fain see it once, an please God of his grace

dearly love to see him, if it pleases God and your grace

that I might see.

that I might see him.

KING HENRY V

Knowest thou Gower?

Do you know Gower?

FLUELLEN

He is my dear friend, an please you.

He is my dear friend, if you please.

KING HENRY V

Pray thee, go seek him, and bring him to my tent.

Then, please, go and find him and bring him to my tent.

FLUELLEN

I will fetch him.

I will fetch him.

KING HENRY V

My Lord of Warwick, and my brother Gloucester,

My Lord of Warwick and my brother Gloucester:

Follow Fluellen closely at the heels:

Follow Fluellen, hot upon his heels;

The glove which I have given him for a favour

The glove I’ve given him to be a token

May haply purchase him a box o' th' ear;

Will, hopefully, get him clipped round the ear.

It is the soldier's; I by bargain should

It is the soldier’s; from the deal, I should

Wear it myself. Follow, good cousin Warwick:

Be wearing it myself. Follow him, Warwick:

If that the soldier strike him, as I judge

And if the soldier hits him, as predicted

By his blunt bearing he will keep his word,

Because he’s tough and sure to keep his word,

Some sudden mischief may arise of it;

Some trouble may erupt because of it,

For I do know Fluellen valiant

For I’m aware Fluellen’s valiant,

And, touched with choler, hot as gunpowder,

And, when annoyed, his temper is explosive

And quickly will return an injury:

And quickly he’ll return the injury:

Follow and see there be no harm between them.

So, follow them, preventing injury.

Go you with me, uncle of Exeter.

Come with me, uncle Exeter, let’s go.