The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (173 page)

[Alarum, and chambers go off.]

And down goes all before them. Still be kind,


And eke out our performance with your mind.

With your imagination see the king depart with his brave fleet from Hampton pier. Look at the men working on the ship and hear the whistle of orders being given as the sails open up to the creeping wind, pulling the huge ship through the sea. Although this looks like a city dancing in the wind, it is a navy leaving England for France. Imagine the ambassador returns from France with the offer of Katherine, the king’s daughter, as a dowry for the dukedoms. Since, the King does not like the offer, he prepares for battle. Imagine and watch our performance.

Exit.

Alarum. Enter King Henry, Exeter, Bedford, Gloucester, and Soldiers with scaling ladders.

King

Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,


Or close the wall up with our English dead.


In peace there's nothing so becomes a man


As modest stillness and humility;


But when the blast of war blows in our ears,


Then imitate the action of the tiger;


Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood,


Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage;


Then lend the eye a terrible aspect;


Let it pry through the portage of the head


Like the brass cannon; let the brow o'erwhelm it


As fearfully as does a galled rock


O'erhang and jutty his confounded base,


Swill'd with the wild and wasteful ocean.


Now set the teeth and stretch the nostril wide,


Hold hard the breath, and bend up every spirit


To his full height. On, on, you noblest English,


Whose blood is fet from fathers of war-proof!


Fathers that, like so many Alexanders,


Have in these parts from morn till even fought,


And sheath'd their swords for lack of argument.


Dishonour not your mothers; now attest


That those whom you call'd fathers did beget you.


Be copy now to men of grosser blood,


And teach them how to war. And you, good yeomen,


Whose limbs were made in England, show us here


The mettle of your pasture; let us swear


That you are worth your breeding, which I doubt not;


For there is none of you so mean and base,


That hath not noble lustre in your eyes.


I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,


Straining upon the start. The game's afoot!


Follow your spirit, and upon this charge


Cry, "God for Harry! England and Saint George!"

Let’s try one more time, dear friends, to scale the wall or else die trying. In peace, nothing is so becoming a man as stillness and humility, but in times of war, he should imitate the actions of tiger and rage upon the enemy. Open up your senses and fight like your warring English ancestors. Show us what you are made of and honor your mothers and fathers. Good seamen, show your noble nature as we set forth. The time is now. Follow your heart and on command cry, “God for Harry, England, and Saint George!”

Exit. Alarum, and chambers go off.

Enter Nym, Bardolph, Pistol, and Boy.

Bardolph

On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the breach!

On, on, on! To the wall! To the wall!

Nym

Pray thee, corporal, stay. The knocks are too hot; and, for mine own part, I have not a case of lives. The humour of it is too hot; that is the very plain-song of it.

I beg you, corporal, not to go.  It’s too dangerous. I, myself, don’t have enough lives to spare, and that’s that.

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,


Doth win immortal fame."

That’s true, but danger comes and goes. Men live and die, but with their sword and shield in battle, they 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.

I wish I was in an alehouse in London. I would trade all of the fame for a beer and safety.

Pistol

And I.


"If wishes would prevail with me,


My purpose should not fail with me,

But thither would I hie."

And if I had my wishes, I would not fail, but live.

Boy

"As duly, but not as truly,

As bird doth sing on bough."

True, but not possible.

Enter Fluellen.

Fluellen

Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!

Up to the wall, you dogs! Forward, you scumbags!

Driving them forward.

Pistol

Be merciful, great Duke, to men of mould.


Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage,


Abate thy rage, great Duke!


Good bawcock, bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck!

Be merciful, great duke, to old men. Calm down. Go easy, dear man.

Nym

These be good humours! Your honour wins bad humours.

This is nonsense. Honor is unhealthy, if you ask me.

Exit all but Boy.

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 hath a killing tongue and a quiet sword; by the means whereof 'a 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 '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.

As young as I am, I have watched these three fools. I am their servant, their man, but if it was the other way around, none could be considered a man. Bardolph is a lily-livered, red-faced coward. Pistol is all talk, and Nym, who thinks quiet men are best and won’t even say his prayers for fear someone would think he were a coward, has never hurt anyone but himself when he busted his drunken head against a post. They are thieves and liars. Bardolph stole a lute case, carried it for miles and sold it for three half pence. Nym and Bardolph are sworn brothers in thievery. In Calais, they stole a fire shovel, which I knew wasn’t theirs. They want me to get into the business, so I must leave them and find someone better to serve. Their villainous ways makes me sick.

Exit.

Re-enter Fluellen with Gower following.

Gower

Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the mines.


The Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.

Captain Fluellen, you must come to the mines now. The Duke of Gloucester wants to 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.

To the mines! Tell the Duke it’s not a good idea to go the mines. It goes against the disciplines of war. It’s not a good place to fight the adversary. The French are already there and it will not work, by God.

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.

The Duke of Gloucester, who is in command, is being led by an Irishman, a very gallant fellow.

Fluellen

It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?

Is it Captain Macmorris?

Gower

I think it be.

I think so.

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.

By god, he is an ass. He doesn’t know anything about the tactics of war.

Enter Macmorris and Captain Jamy

Gower

Here 'a comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.

Here he comes with Captain Jamy of the Scots.

Fluellen

Captain Jamy is a marvellous 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.

Captain Jamy is a great gentleman for sure and very knowledgeable of the ways of war. By God, he will know what to do.