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Henry V

Act IV, Scene 4

The field of battle.
 
[Alarum. Excursions. Enter PISTOL, French Soldier, and Boy]
 
PISTOL
Yield cur.
 
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: 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.
 
PISTOL
Moy shall not serve, I will have forty moys: for 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? Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat, offerst me brass?
 
FRENCH SOLDIER
O pardonnez moi.
 
PISTOL
Sayst thou me so? is that a ton of moys? Come hither boy, ask me this slave in French 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 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 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.
 
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 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 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 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 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?
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 valor, than this roaring devil in 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 anything adventurously. I must stay with the lackeys with the luggage of our camp, the French might have a good prey of us, if he knew of it, for there is none to guard it but boys.
 
[Exit]

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