King Henry the Fifth Part 14

Yon island carrions,[15] desperate of their bones, Ill-favour'dly become the morning field: Their ragged curtains poorly are let loose,[16]

And our air shakes them pa.s.sing scornfully: Big Mars seems bankrupt in their beggar'd host, And their executors, the knavish crows, Fly o'er them, all impatient for their hour.

Description cannot suit itself in words To demonstrate the life of such a battle In life so lifeless as it shows itself.

_Dau._ Shall we go send them dinners and fresh suits, And give their fasting horses provender, And after fight with them?

_Con._ On, to the field!

Come, come, away!

The sun is high, and we outwear the day.

[_Exeunt, R.H._

_Flourish of trumpets._

[Footnote IV.12: _Rambures_,] The Lord of Rambures was commander of the cross-bows in the French army at Agincourt.]

[Footnote IV.13: _And dout them_] _Dout_, is a word still used in Warwickshire, and signifies to _do out_, or _extinguish_.]

[Footnote IV.14: _----a hilding foe._] _Hilding_, or _hinderling_, is a _low wretch_.]

[Footnote IV.15: _Yon island carrion,_] This description of the English is founded on the melancholy account given by our historians of Henry's army, immediately before the battle of Agincourt.]

[Footnote IV.16: _Their ragged curtains poorly are let loose,_] By their _ragged curtains_, are meant their colours.]

SCENE III.--THE ENGLISH POSITION AT AGINCOURT.

_The English Army drawn up for battle;(E) GLOSTER, BEDFORD, EXETER, SALISBURY, ERPINGHAM, and WESTMORELAND._

_Glo._ (R.C.) Where is the king?

_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 n.o.ble 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 pa.s.sport 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 a.s.sured 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 ma.s.s, 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._)