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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: the humor of it is too hot, that is the very
plain-song of it.
PISTOL
The plain-song is most just: for humors do abound: Knocks go and come: God's
vassals drop and die: and sword and shield, 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: 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.
[Enter FLUELLEN]
FLUELLEN
Up to the breach, you dogs: avaunt you cullions.
[Driving them forward]
PISTOL
Be merciful great duke to men of mold: Abate thy rage, abate thy manly
rage; abate thy rage, great duke. Good bawcock, bate thy rage: use lenity
sweet chuck.
NYM
These be good humors: your honor wins bad humors.
[Exeunt all but Boy]
BOY
As young as I am, I have observed these three 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 he faces it out, but
fights not: For Pistol, he hath a killing tongue, and a quiet sword; by the
means whereof, he 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 he should be thought a coward: but his few bad words are
matched with as few good deeds; for he never broke any man's head but his
own, and that was against a post when he was drunk. They will steal anything, and call it purchase. Bardolph stole a lute-case, bore it twelve
leagues, and sold it for three halfpence. 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 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: their villany goes against my weak stomach, and therefore I
must cast it up.
[Exit. Enter FLUELLEN, GOWER following]
GOWER
Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the 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, the adversary, you may
discuss unto the duke, look you, is digt himself four yard under the
countermines: by Cheshu, I think he will plow up all, if there is not
better directions.
GOWER
The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the siege is given, is
altogether directed by an Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, in 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 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 he comes, and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
FLUELLEN
Captain Jamy is a marvelous falorous gentleman, that is certain, and of
great expedition and knowledge in the aunchient wars, upon my particular
knowledge of his directions: by Cheshu he will maintain his argument as
well as any military man in the world, in the disciplines of the pristine
wars of the Romans.
JAMY
I say good day, Captain Fluellen.
FLUELLEN
God-den to your worship, good Captain James.
GOWER
How now Captain Macmorris, have you quit the mines? have the pioneers given
ore?
MACMORRIS
By Chrish law 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 Chrish save me law, 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
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.
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 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 throats to
be cut, and works to be done, and there ish nothing done, so Chrish sa' me
law.
JAMY
By the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves to slomber, aye'll de
gud service, or aye'll lig in the grund for it: aye, or go to death: and
aye'll pay it as valorously 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.
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 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.
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.
[Exeunt]