List iconHenry V:
Act 3, scene 2List icon

Henry V
Act 3, scene 2

Synopsis:

Contents

Characters in the Play

Entire Play

Henry V begins at the English court, where the young king is persuaded that he has a claim to the throne…

Prologue

The Chorus wishes for a far greater stage, actors, and audience. He apologizes for the scanty resources that are available…

Act 1, scene 1

The Bishop of Canterbury informs the Bishop of Ely of a bill threatening Church revenues and of a plan to…

Act 1, scene 2

At the King’s request, Canterbury provides an extensive interpretation of French law to support Henry’s claim to the French throne….

Act 2, chorus

The Chorus announces the enthusiastic support of English youth for Henry’s French campaign, but also advises that the French have…

Act 2, scene 1

King Henry’s former tavern companion Bardolph prevents Pistol and Nym from fighting over Hostess Quickly, Pistol’s wife. They are interrupted…

Act 2, scene 2

Henry, informed of the treachery of three of his friends, confronts them with their crimes. They throw themselves on his…

Act 2, scene 3

The tavern crew—Bardolph, Pistol, Nym, and the Boy—join the Hostess in mourning the dead Falstaff and, saying good-bye to the…

Act 2, scene 4

The King of France and his court plan their defense against Henry’s invasion. Exeter arrives to present the King with…

Act 3, chorus

The Chorus describes the embarkation of Henry’s fleet for France, Henry’s preparations to besiege the town of Harfleur, and the…

Act 3, scene 1

Henry delivers an oration to inspire his troops to take Harfleur.

Act 3, scene 2

Bardolph, Pistol, Nym, and the Boy withdraw from the assault on Harfleur. They are driven back to it by Captain…

Act 3, scene 3

Henry threatens the men of Harfleur with the destruction of the town and its population if they do not yield…

Act 3, scene 4

An old gentlewoman, Alice, begins to teach English to Katherine, Princess of France.

Act 3, scene 5

The French nobles speak of their shame at the success of Henry’s invasion. The French King plans to block Henry’s…

Act 3, scene 6

Captains Fluellen and Gower meet Pistol, who pleads for Bardolph, sentenced to die for robbery. Fluellen refuses to intervene and…

Act 3, scene 7

On the eve of battle, the French nobles, confident of their army’s superiority, engage in verbal competition.

Act 4, chorus

The Chorus describes the confident French and anxious English armies on the night before the battle of Agincourt, and portrays…

Act 4, scene 1

Henry borrows Erpingham’s cloak and, in this disguise, passes through his camp, meeting Pistol, overhearing a conversation between Fluellen and…

Act 4, scene 2

The French nobles, about to fight, lament that the English are so few and so weak.

Act 4, scene 3

Henry delivers an oration to his troops urging them on to win glory in the battle. Montjoy again comes to…

Act 4, scene 4

A French soldier surrenders to Pistol, who threatens him with death until the soldier promises to pay a ransom of…

Act 4, scene 5

The French nobles, shamed in their defeat, decide to die fighting.

Act 4, scene 6

Henry, in doubt about the outcome of the battle, hears of York’s and Suffolk’s deaths, and then, when a French…

Act 4, scene 7

Fluellen, in conversation with Gower, compares Henry to the classical world-conqueror Alexander the Great. Montjoy arrives to concede the French…

Act 4, scene 8

Williams and Fluellen are prevented from fighting by Warwick and Gloucester. Henry arrives and accuses Williams of promising to strike…

Act 5, chorus

The Chorus describes the great welcome accorded the English army when it returns home, the visit by the Holy Roman…

Act 5, scene 1

Fluellen avenges Pistol’s insults by making Pistol eat a leek. Pistol, humiliated, plans to return to England in the guise…

Act 5, scene 2

The Duke of Burgundy has brought about a meeting between French and English to sign a peace treaty. Henry delegates…

Act 5, epilogue

The Chorus reminds the audience that Henry died very young, leaving the kingdom to his infant son, during whose reign…
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⌜Scene 2⌝
Enter Nym, Bardolph, Pistol, and Boy.

BARDOLPH On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the
 breach!
NYM Pray thee, corporal, stay. The knocks are too hot,
 and, for mine own part, I have not a case of lives.
5 The humor of it is too hot; that is the very plainsong
 of it.
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ACT 3. SC. 2

PISTOL “The plainsong” is most just, for humors do
 abound.
 Knocks go and come. God’s vassals drop and die,
⌜Sings⌝10  And sword and shield,
  In bloody field,
 Doth 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 15And I.
⌜Sings⌝ If wishes would prevail with me,
 My purpose should not fail with me,
  But thither would I hie.
BOY ⌜sings⌝   As duly,
20  But not as truly,
 As bird doth sing on bough.

Enter Fluellen.

FLUELLEN 
 Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!
PISTOL Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold. Abate
 thy rage, abate thy manly rage, abate thy rage, great
25 duke. Good bawcock, ’bate thy rage. Use lenity,
 sweet chuck.
NYM, ⌜to Fluellen⌝ These be good humors. Your Honor
 wins bad humors.
⌜All but the Boy⌝ exit.
BOY As young as I am, I have observed these three
30 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-livered
 and red-faced, by the means whereof he faces it out
35 but fights not; for Pistol, he hath a killing tongue
 and a quiet sword, by the means whereof he breaks
 words and keeps whole weapons; for Nym, he hath
 heard that men of few words are the best men, and
91
Henry V
ACT 3. SC. 2

 therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest he should
40 be thought a coward, but his few bad words are
 matched with as few good deeds, for he 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
45 it twelve leagues, and sold it for three halfpence.
 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
50 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
55 weak stomach, and therefore I must cast it up.
He exits.

Enter ⌜Fluellen and⌝ Gower.

GOWER Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to
 the mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak
 with you.
FLUELLEN To the mines? Tell you the Duke it is not so
60 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, th’
 athversary, you may discuss unto the Duke, look
 you, is digt himself four yard under the countermines.
65 By Cheshu, I think he 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 70It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
GOWER I think it be.
93
Henry V
ACT 3. SC. 2

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
75 you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy dog.

Enter ⌜Captain⌝ Macmorris, and Captain Jamy.

GOWER Here he comes, and the Scots captain, Captain
 Jamy, with him.
FLUELLEN Captain Jamy is a marvelous falorous gentleman,
 that is certain, and of great expedition and
80 knowledge in th’ 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.
JAMY 85I say gudday, Captain Fluellen.
FLUELLEN Godden to your Worship, good Captain
 James.
GOWER How now, Captain Macmorris, have you quit
 the mines? Have the pioners given o’er?
MACMORRIS 90By 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
95 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
100 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 captens bath,
95
Henry V
ACT 3. SC. 2

105 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
110 discourse. The town is beseeched. An the trumpet
 call us to the breach and we talk and, be Chrish, do
 nothing, ’tis shame for us all. So God sa’ me, ’tis
 shame to stand still. It is shame, by my hand. And
 there is throats to be cut, and works to be done,
115 and there ish nothing done, so Christ sa’ me, la.
JAMY By the Mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves
 to slomber, ay’ll de gud service, or I’ll lig i’
 th’ 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
120 breff and the long. Marry, I wad full fain heard
 some question ’tween you tway.
FLUELLEN Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under
 your correction, there is not many of your
 nation—
MACMORRIS 125Of my nation? What ish my nation? Ish a
 villain and a basterd and a knave 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
130 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 135I 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.
A parley ⌜sounds.⌝
GOWER The town sounds a parley.
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Henry V
ACT 3. SC. 3

FLUELLEN 140Captain 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.
⌜They⌝ exit.


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