Part 6

_Bed._ (L.C.) The king himself is rode to view their battle.[17]

_West._ (L.) Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand.

_Exe._ (L.C.) There's five to one; besides, they all are fresh.

_Erp._ It is fearful odds. If we no more meet till we meet in heaven, Then, joyfully,--my noble lord of Bedford,--

[_Crosses to L._

My dear lord Gloster,--and my good lord Exeter,-- Warriors all, adieu!

[_Crosses back to R._

_West._ O that we now had here But one ten thousand of those men in England That do no work to-day!(F)

_Enter KING HENRY, attended.(G) U.E.L.H._

_K. Hen._ (C.) What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland?--No, my fair cousin: If we are mark'd to die, we are enough To do our country loss; and if to live, The fewer men, the greater share of honour. I pray thee, wish not one man more. Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host, That he who hath no stomach to this fight. Let him depart; his passport shall be made, And crowns for convoy put into his purse: We would not die in that man's company, That fears his fellowship to die with us. This day is call'd--the feast of Crispian:(H) He, that outlives this day, and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd, And rouse him at the name of Crispian. He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his friends,[18] And say--to-morrow is Saint Crispian: Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars, And say, those wounds I had on Crispin's day. Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot, But he'll remember with advantages[19] What feats he did that day: Then shall our names, Familiar in their mouths as household words,-- Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloster,--(I) Be in their flowing cups freshly remember'd. This story shall the good man teach his son; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by, From this day to the ending[20] of the world, But we in it shall be remembered. We few, we happy few, we band of brothers; For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile, This day shall gentle his condition:[21] And gentlemen in England, now a-bed, Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here; And hold their manhoods cheap while any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

_Enter GOWER, hastily, U.E.L.H._

_Gow._ (R.C.) My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed: The French are bravely in their battles set,[22] And will with all expedience charge on us.

_K. Hen._ (C.) All things are ready, if our minds be so.

_West._ Perish the man whose mind is backward now!

_K. Hen._ Thou dost not wish more help from England, cousin?

_West._ (L.) Would you and I alone, my liege, Without more help, might fight this battle out!

_Trumpet sounds without, L.H._

_Enter MONTJOY, and attendants, U.E.L.H._

_Mont._ (_uncovers and kneels._) Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry, If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound, Before thy most assured overthrow.

_K. Hen._ (C.) Who hath sent thee now?

_Mont._ The Constable of France.

_K. Hen._ I pray thee, bear my former answer back: Bid them achieve me,[23] and then sell my bones. Good Heaven! Why should they mock poor fellows thus? The man, that once did sell the lion's skin While the beast liv'd, was kill'd with hunting him. Let me speak proudly:--Tell the Constable, We are but warriors for the working-day:[24] Our gayness and our guilt[25] are all besmirch'd With rainy marching in the painful field, And time hath worn us into slovenry. But, by the mass, our hearts are in the trim; And my poor soldiers tell me--yet ere night They'll be in fresher robes; or they will pluck The gay new coats o'er the French soldiers' heads, And turn them out of service. Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald: They shall have none, I swear, but these my joints, Which if they have as I will leave 'em to them, Shall yield them little, tell the Constable.

_Mont._ I shall, King Harry.

(_Rises from his knee._)

And so, fare thee well: Thou never shalt hear herald any more.

[_Exit with Attendants, U.E.L.H._

_K. Hen._ Now, soldiers, march away:-- And how thou pleasest, Heaven, dispose the day!(K)

_Trumpet March._

[_Exeunt L.H._

[Footnote IV.17: _The king himself is rode to view their battle._] The king is reported to have dismounted before the battle commenced, and to have fought on foot.]

[Footnote IV.18: _----on the vigil feast his friends_,] i.e., the evening before the festival.]

[Footnote IV.19: _----with advantages_,] Old men, notwithstanding the natural forgetfulness of age, shall remember _their feats of this day_, and remember to tell them _with advantage_. Age is commonly boastful, and inclined to magnify past acts and past times. --JOHNSON.]

[Footnote IV.20: _From this day to the ending_] It may be observed that we are apt to promise to ourselves a more lasting memory than the changing state of human things admits. This prediction is not verified; the feast of Crispin passes by without any mention of Agincourt. Late events obliterate the former: the civil wars have left in this nation scarcely any tradition of more ancient history. --JOHNSON.]

[Footnote IV.21: _----gentle his condition:_] This day shall advance him to the rank of a gentleman.

King Henry V. inhibited any person but such as had a right by inheritance, or grant, to assume coats of arms, except those who fought with him at the battle of Agincourt; and, I think, these last were allowed the chief seats of honour at all feasts and publick meetings. --TOLLET.]

[Footnote IV.22: _----bravely in their battles set._] Bravely, for gallantly.]

[Footnote IV.23: _Bid them achieve me,_] i.e., gain, or obtain me.]

[Footnote IV.24: _----warriors for the +working-day+:_] We are soldiers but coarsely dressed; we have not on our holiday apparel.]

[Footnote IV.25: _----our +guilt+_] i.e., golden show, superficial gilding. The word is obsolete.]

## SCENE IV.--ANOTHER PART OF THE FIELD OF BATTLE.

_Alarums. Enter DAUPHIN, ORLEANS, BOURBON, CONSTABLE, RAMBURES, and Others, hastily, and in confusion, L.H._

_Dau._ (C.) All is confounded, all! Reproach and everlasting shame Sits mocking in our plumes.

[_Alarums, L._

_Con._ Why, all our ranks are broke.

_Dau._ O perdurable shame![26]--let's stab ourselves. Be these the wretches that we play'd at dice for?

_Orl._ (L.C.) Is this the king we sent to for his ransom?

_Dau._ Shame, and eternal shame, nothing but shame! Let us die in honor: Once more back again.

_Con._ (C.) Disorder, that hath spoil'd us, friend us now! Let us in heaps go offer up our lives Unto these English, or else die with fame.

_Dau._ (R.C.) We are enough, yet living in the field, To smother up the English in our throngs, If any order might be thought upon.

_Con._ The devil take order now! I'll to the throng: Let life be short; else shame will be too long.

_Alarums._

[_Exeunt L.H._

[Footnote IV.26: _O +perdurable+ shame!_] _Perdurable_ is lasting.]

## SCENE V.--THE FIELD OF AGINCOURT AFTER THE BATTLE.

[_The bodies of the DUKE OF YORK(L) and EARL OF SUFFOLK are borne across the stage by soldiers._

_Trumpets sound._

_Enter KING HENRY with a part of the English forces; WARWICK, BEDFORD, GLOSTER, EXETER, and others, L.H._

_K. Hen._ (C.) I was not angry since I came to France, Until this instant.--Take a trumpet, herald; Ride thou unto the horsemen on yon hill:(M) If they will fight with us, bid them come down, Or void the field;[27] they do offend our sight: If they'll do neither, we will come to them; And make them skirr away, as swift as stones Enforced from the old Assyrian slings. Go, and tell them so.

[_Exit HERALD with Trumpeter, R.H._

_Exe._ The Duke of York commends him to your majesty.

_K. Hen._ Lives he, good uncle? thrice within this hour, I saw him down; thrice up again and fighting; From helmet to the spur, all blood he was.

_Exe._ In which array, (brave soldier), did he lie, Larding the plain; and by his bloody side, (Yoke fellow to his honour-owing wounds), The noble Earl of Suffolk also lay. Suffolk first died: and York, all haggled over, Comes to him, where in gore he lay insteep'd, And takes him by the hand; kisses the gashes, That bloodily did yarn upon his face; And cries aloud:--_Tarry, dear cousin Suffolk! My soul shall thine keep company to heaven: Tarry, sweet soul, for mine, then fly abreast; As in this glorious and well foughten field, We keep together in our chivalry!_ Upon these words I came, and cheer'd him up: He smil'd me in the face, raught me his hand,[28] And with a feeble gripe, says,--_Dear, my lord, Commend my service to my sovereign._ So did he turn, and over Suffolk's neck He threw his wounded arm, and kiss'd his lips; And so espous'd to death, with blood he seal'd A testament of noble-ending love. The pretty and sweet manner of it forc'd Those waters from me, which I would have stopp'd; But I had not so much of man in me, But all my mother came into mine eyes, And gave me up to tears.

[_Re-enter ENGLISH HERALD and Trumpeter, R.H._

_K. Hen._ I blame you not: For, hearing this, I must perforce compound With mistful eyes, or they will issue too.

[_Trumpet without, R._

_Exe._ Here comes the herald of the French, my liege.

_Glo._ His eyes are humbler than they us'd to be.

_Enter MONTJOY,(N) and attendants, R.H. MONTJOY uncovers and kneels._

_K. Hen._ How now! what means this, herald? Com'st thou again for ransom?

_Mont._ No, great king: I come to thee for charitable licence, That we may wander o'er this bloody field To book our dead, and then to bury them; To sort our nobles from our common men, For many of our princes (woe the while!) Lie drown'd and soak'd in mercenary blood; (So do our vulgar drench their peasant limbs In blood of princes;) and their wounded steeds Fret fetlock deep in gore, and, with wild rage Yerk out their armed heels at their dead masters, Killing them twice. O, give us leave, great king, To view the field in safety, and dispose Of their dead bodies!

_K. Hen._ I tell thee truly, herald, I know not if the day be ours or no; For yet a many of your horsemen peer And gallop o'er the field.

_Mont._ The day is yours.

_K. Hen._ Praised be Heaven, and not our strength, for it!-- What is this castle call'd that stands hard by?

_Mont._ They call it--Agincourt.

_K. Hen._ Then call we this--the field of Agincourt, Fought on the day of Crispin Crispianus.

[_Loud flourish of Trumpets, and shouts of the soldiers. MONTJOY rises from his knee, and stands R._

_Flu._ (L.) Your grandfather of famous memory, an't please your majesty, and your great uncle Edward the plack prince of Wales, as I have read in the chronicles, fought a most prave pattle here in France.

_K. Hen._ (C.) They did, Fluellen.

_Flu._ Your majesty says very true: if your majesties is remembered of it, the Welshman did goot service in a garden where leeks did grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps;[29] which, your majesty knows, to this hour is an honourable padge of the service; and I do believe, your majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek upon Saint Tavy's day.

_K. Hen._ I wear it for a memorable honour; For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman.

_Flu._ All the water in Wye cannot wash your majesty's Welsh plood out of your pody, I can tell you that: Heaven pless it, and preserve it, as long as it pleases his grace, and his majesty too!

_K. Hen._ Thanks, good my countryman.

_Flu._ I am your majesty's countryman, I care not who know it: I will confess it to all the 'orld: I need not to be ashamed of your majesty, praised be Heaven, so long as your majesty is an honest man.

_K. Hen._ Heaven keep me so!--Our herald go with him: Bring me just notice of the numbers dead On both our parts.--

[_Exeunt MONTJOY and attendants, with English Herald, R.H._

Call yonder fellow hither.

[_Points to WILLIAMS, who is standing in the ranks up the stage, L._

_Exe._ Soldier, you must come to the king.

_K. Hen._ (C.) Soldier, why wear'st thou that glove in thy cap?

_Will._ (_kneels R._) An't please your majesty, 'tis the gage of one that I should fight withal, if he be alive.

[_Rises from his knee._

_K. Hen._ An Englishman?

_Will._ An't please your majesty, a rascal that swaggered with me last night; who, if 'a live, and ever dare to challenge this glove, I have sworn to take him a box o' the ear: or, if I can see my glove in his cap (which he swore, as he was a soldier, he would wear, if alive,) I will strike it out soundly.

_K. Hen._ What think you, Captain Fluellen? is it fit this soldier keep his oath?

_Flu._ (L.) He is a craven and a villain else, an't please your majesty, in my conscience.

_K. Hen._ It may be his enemy is a gentleman of great sort,[30] quite from the answer of his degree.[31]

_Flu._ Though he be as goot a gentleman as the tevil is, as Lucifer and Belzebub himself, it is necessary, look your grace, that he keep his vow and his oath.

_K. Hen._ Then keep thy vow, sirrah, when thou meet'st the fellow.

_Will._ So I will, my liege, as I live.

_K. Hen._ Who servest thou under?

_Will._ Under Captain Gower, my liege.

_Flu._ Gower is a goot captain, and is good knowledge and literature in the wars.

_K. Hen._ Call him hither to me, soldier.

_Will._ I will, my liege.

[_Exit, R.H._

_K. Hen._ Here, Fluellen; wear thou this favour for me, and stick it in thy cap: When Alencon and myself were down together,(O) I plucked this glove from his helm: if any man challenge this, he is a friend to Alencon and an enemy to our person; if thou encounter any such, apprehend him, an thou dost love me.

_Flu._ Your grace does me as great honours as can be desired in the hearts of his subjects: I would fain see the man, that has but two legs, that shall find himself aggriefed at this glove, that is all.

_K. Hen._ Knowest thou Gower?

_Flu._ He is my dear friend, an please you.

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

_Flu._ (L.) I will fetch him.

[_Crosses to R., and exit R.H._

_K. Hen._ (L.C.) My lord of Warwick,--and my brother Gloster,

[_Both advance to the KING._

Follow Fluellen closely at the heels: The glove which I have given him for a favour May haply purchase him a box o' the ear; It is the soldier's; I, by bargain, should Wear it myself. Follow, good cousin Warwick:

[_WARWICK crosses to R._

If that the soldier strike him (as, I judge, By his blunt bearing, he will keep his word,) Some sudden mischief may arise of it; For I do know Fluellen valiant, And, touch'd with choler, hot as gunpowder, And quickly will return an injury: Follow,

(_GLOSTER crosses to R._)

and see there be no harm between them.--

[_WARWICK and GLOSTER exeunt R.H._

Go you with me, Uncle of Exeter.

[_Exeunt Omnes, L.H._

_Trumpets sound._

[Footnote IV.27: _Or void the field;_] i.e., avoid, withdraw from the field.]

[Footnote IV.28: _----+raught+ me his hand,_] _Raught_ is the old preterite of the verb _to reach_.]

[Footnote IV.29: _----Monmouth caps;_] Monmouth caps were formerly much worn, and Fuller, in his "Worthies of Wales," says the best caps were formerly made at Monmouth.]

[Footnote IV.30: _----great sort,_] High rank.]

[Footnote IV.31: _----quite from the answer of his degree._] A man of such station as is not bound to hazard his person to _answer_ to a challenge from one of the soldier's _low degree_.]

## SCENE VI.--BEFORE KING HENRY'S PAVILION.

_Enter GOWER and WILLIAMS, R.H._

_Will._ I warrant it is to knight you, captain.

_Enter FLUELLEN, R.H._

_Flu._ Heaven's will and pleasure, captain, I peseech you now, come apace to the king: there is more goot toward you peradventure than is in your knowledge to dream of.

_Will._ Sir, know you this glove?

_Flu._ (C.) Know the glove! I know, the glove is a glove.

_Will._ (R.C.) I know this; and thus I challenge it.

[_Strikes him._

_Flu._ 'Sblud, an arrant traitor as any's in the universal 'orld, or in France, or in England!

_Gow._ (L.C.) How now, sir! you villain!

_Will._ Do you think I'll be forsworn?

_Flu._ Stand away, Captain Gower; I will give treason his payment in plows, I warrant you.

_Will._ I am no traitor.

_Flu._ That's a lie in thy throat.--I charge you in his majesty's name, apprehend him: he's a friend of the duke Alencon's.

_Enter WARWICK and GLOSTER,(P) R.H._

_Glos._ (_crosses to C._) How now, how now! what's the matter?

_Flu._ My lord of Gloster, here is (praised be Heaven for it!) a most contagious treason come to light, look you, as you shall desire in a summer's day. Here is his majesty.

_Enter KING HENRY, EXETER, and others, U.E.L.H._

_K. Hen._ (_coming down centre._) How now! what's the matter?

_Flu._ (L.H.) My liege, here is a villain and a traitor, that, look your grace, has struck the glove which your majesty is take out of the helmet of Alencon.

_Will._ (R.C.) My liege, this was my glove; here is the fellow of it; and he that I gave it to in change promised to wear it in his cap: I promised to strike him, if he did: I met this man with my glove in his cap, and I have been as good as my word.

_Flu._ Your majesty hear now (saving your majesty's manhood) what an arrant, rascally, beggarly, lowsy knave it is: I hope, your majesty is pear me testimony, and witness, and avouchments, that this is the glove of Alencon, that your majesty is give me, in your conscience, now.

_K. Hen._ Give me thy glove, soldier: Look, here is the fellow of it. 'Twas I, indeed, thou promised'st to strike; and thou hast given me most bitter terms.

[_WILLIAMS falls on his knee._

_Flu._ An please your majesty, let his neck answer for it, if there is any martial law in the 'orld.

_K. Hen._ How can'st thou make me satisfaction?

_Will._ All offences, my liege, come from the heart: never came any from mine, that might offend your majesty.

_K. Hen._ It was ourself thou didst abuse.

_Will._ Your majesty came not like yourself: you appeared to me but as a common man; witness the night, your garments, your lowliness; and what your highness suffered under that shape, I beseech you, take it for your own fault, and not mine: for had you been as I took you for, I made no offence; therefore, I beseech your highness, pardon me.

_K. Hen._ Here, uncle Exeter, fill this glove with crowns, And give it to this fellow.-- (_WILLIAMS rises._) Keep it, fellow; And wear it for an honour in thy cap Till I do challenge it.--Give him the crowns:-- And, captain, you must needs be friends with him.

[_The KING goes up the stage with EXETER, BEDFORD, and GLOSTER._

_Flu._ By this day and this light, the fellow has mettle enough in his pelly.--Hold, there is twelve pence for you; and I pray you to serve Heaven, and keep you out of prawls, and prabbles, and quarrels, and dissensions, and, I warrant you, it is the petter for you.

_Will._ I will none of your money.

_Flu._ It is with a goot will; I can tell you, it will serve you to mend your shoes: Come, wherefore should you be so pashful? your shoes is not so goot: 'tis a goot silling, I warrant you, or I will change it.

[_Exit WILLIAMS, R.H._

[_Enter ENGLISH HERALD, R.H._

_K. Hen._ (_coming down C._) Now, herald, are the dead number'd?

[_HERALD uncovers, kneels, and delivers papers. The KING gives one paper to EXETER._

_K. Hen._ (C.) What prisoners of good sort are taken, uncle?

_Exe._ (L.C.) Charles duke of Orleans, nephew to the king; John duke of Bourbon, and lord Bouciqualt: Of other lords and barons, knights and 'squires, Full fifteen hundred, besides common men.

_K. Hen._ (C.) This note doth tell me of ten thousand French That in the field lie slain: of princes, in this number, And nobles bearing banners, there lie dead One hundred twenty-six: added to these, Of knights, esquires, and gallant gentlemen, Eight thousand and four hundred; of the which, Five hundred were but yesterday dubb'd knights:[32] So that, in these ten thousand they have lost, There are but sixteen hundred mercenaries:[33] The rest are--princes, barons, lords, knights, 'squires, And gentlemen of blood and quality. Here was a royal fellowship of death!----(Q) What is the number of our English dead?

_Exe._ (L.C.) Edward the duke of York, the earl of Suffolk, Sir Richard Ketley, Davy Gam, esquire: None else of name; and of all other men But five and twenty.

_K. Hen._ O Heaven, thy arm was here; And not to us, but to thy arm alone, Ascribe we all! When, without stratagem, But in plain shock and even play of battle, Was ever known so great and little loss On one part and on the other?--Take it, Heaven, For it is only thine!

[_Returns papers to HERALD, who rises and stands L._

_Exe._ 'Tis wonderful!

_K. Hen._ Come, go we in procession to the village: And be it death proclaimed through our host To boast of this, or take that praise from Heaven Which is his only.

_Flu._ (R.C.) Is it not lawful, and please your majesty, to tell how many is killed?

_K. Hen._ (_up the stage C._) Yes, captain; but with this acknowledgment, That Heaven fought for us.

_Flu._ Yes, my conscience, he did us great goot.

_K. Hen._ Do we all holy rites:(R)

[_The curtains of the Royal Pavilion are drawn aside, and discover an Altar and Priests._

Let there be sung _Non nobis_ and _Te Deum_; The dead with charity enclos'd in clay: We'll then to Calais; and to England then; Where ne'er from France arriv'd more happy men.

[_Organ music; all kneel, and join in Song of Thanksgiving._

END OF ACT FOUR.

[Footnote IV.32: _Five hundred were but yesterday dubb'd knights:_] In ancient times, the distribution of this honor appears to have been customary on the eve of a battle.]

[Footnote IV.33: _Sixteen hundred mercenaries;_] i.e., common soldiers, hired soldiers.]

HISTORICAL NOTES TO ACT FOURTH.