King Henry V by William Shakespeare

Author:William Shakespeare
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: ManyBooks.net

ORLEANS.

He never did harm, that I heard of.

CONSTABLE.

Nor will do none to-morrow. He will keep that good

name still.

ORLEANS.

I know him to be valiant.

CONSTABLE.

I was told that by one that knows him better than you.

ORLEANS.

What's he?

CONSTABLE.

Marry, he told me so himself; and he said he car'd not

who knew it.

ORLEANS.

He needs not; it is no hidden virtue in him.

CONSTABLE.

By my faith, sir, but it is; never anybody saw it but his

lackey. 'Tis a hooded valour; and when it appears, it will

bate.

ORLEANS.

"Ill will never said well."

CONSTABLE.

I will cap that proverb with "There is flattery in friendship."

ORLEANS.

And I will take up that with "Give the devil his due."

CONSTABLE.

Well plac'd. There stands your friend for the devil; have at the very eye of that proverb with "A pox of the devil."

ORLEANS.

You are the better at proverbs, by how much "A fool's

bolt is soon shot."

CONSTABLE.

You have shot over.

ORLEANS.

'Tis not the first time you were overshot.

[Enter a Messenger.]

MESSENGER.

My Lord High Constable, the English lie within fifteen

hundred paces of your tents.

CONSTABLE.

Who hath measur'd the ground?

MESSENGER.

The Lord Grandpre.

CONSTABLE.

A valiant and most expert gentleman. Would it were day!

Alas, poor Harry of England, he longs not for the dawning as we do.

ORLEANS.

What a wretched and peevish fellow is this King of England, to mope with his fat-brain'd followers so far out of his

knowledge!

CONSTABLE.

If the English had any apprehension, they would run away.

ORLEANS.

That they lack; for if their heads had any intellectual armour, they could never wear such heavy head-pieces.

RAMBURES.

That island of England breeds very valiant creatures. Their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage.

ORLEANS.

Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crush'd like rotten apples! You may as well say, that's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.

CONSTABLE.

Just, just; and the men do sympathize with the mastiffs in

robustious and rough coming on, leaving their wits with their wives; and then, give them great meals of beef and iron and steel, they will eat like wolves and fight like devils.

ORLEANS.

Ay, but these English are shrewdly out of beef.

CONSTABLE.

Then shall we find to-morrow they have only stomachs to

eat and none to fight. Now is it time to arm. Come, shall we about it?

ORLEANS.

It is now two o'clock; but, let me see, by ten

We shall have each a hundred Englishmen.

[Exeunt.]

ACT IV.

PROLOGUE.

[Enter Chorus.]

CHORUS.

Now entertain conjecture of a time

When creeping murmur and the poring dark

Fills the wide vessel of the universe.

From camp to camp through the foul womb of night

The hum of either army stilly sounds,

That the fix'd sentinels almost receive

The secret whispers of each other's watch;

Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames

Each battle sees the other's umber'd face;

Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs

Piercing the night's dull ear; and from the tents

The armourers, accomplishing the knights,

With busy hammers closing rivets up,

Give dreadful note of preparation.

The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll,

And the third hour of drowsy morning name.

Proud of their numbers and secure in soul,

The confident and over-lusty French

Do the low-rated English play at dice;

And chide the cripple tardy-gaited Night

Who, like a foul and ugly witch, doth limp

So tediously away.

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