BARDOLPH
On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the breach!
NYM
Pray , corporal, stay. The knocks are too hot; and, for mine own part, I have not a case of lives. The of it is too hot; that is the very plain-song of it.
PISTOL
The plain-song is most just, for humours do abound.
Knocks go and come; God’s vassals drop and die;
And sword and shield,
In bloody field,
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 would I hie.
BOY
As duly,
But not as truly,
As bird sing on bough.
FLUELLEN
Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!
PISTOL
Be merciful, great Duke, to men of mould.
Abate rage, abate manly rage,
Abate rage, great Duke!
Good bawcock, bate rage; use lenity, sweet chuck!
NYM
These be good humours! Your honour wins bad humours.
BOY
As young as I am, I have observ’d 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-liver’d and red-fac’d; by the means whereof ’a faces it out, but fights not. For Pistol, he a killing tongue and a quiet sword; by the means whereof ’a breaks words, and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he heard that men of few words are the best men; and therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest ’a should be thought a coward. But his few bad words are match’d with as few good deeds; for ’a 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 half-pence. 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 villainy goes against my weak stomach, and therefore I must cast it up.
GOWER
Captain Fluellen, you must come 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 athversary, you may discuss unto the Duke, look you, is digt himself four yard under the countermines. By Cheshu, I think ’a 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, i’ 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. He has no more directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy-dog.
GOWER
Here ’a comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
FLUELLEN
Captain Jamy is a marvellous falorous gentleman, that is certain; and of great expedition and knowledge in the anchient 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 gud-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 ?
MACMORRIS
By Chrish, la! ’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, la! 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 beseech’d, and the trumpet call us to the breach, and we talk, and, be Chrish, do nothing. shame for us all. So God sa’ me, 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, la!
JAMY
By the mess, theise eyes of mine take themselves to slomber, I’ll de gud service, or I’ll lig i’ the grund for it; ay, or go to death; and I’ll pay’t as valorously as I may, that sall I suerly do, that is the breff and the long. Marry, I wad full heard 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 , 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
Ah! that’s a foul fault.
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.