Henry V: Act III, Scene i
Henry V Act 3, Scene 1. The Four Captains (Gower, Fluellen, MacMorris, Jamy)
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GOWER 56 Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to 57 the mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak 58 with you. FLUELLEN 59 To the mines? Tell you the Duke it is not so 60 good to come to the mines, for, look you, the mines 61 is not according to the disciplines of the war. The 62 concavities of it is not sufficient, for, look you, th’ 63 athversary, you may discuss unto the Duke, look 64 you, is digt himself four yard under the countermines. 65 By Cheshu, I think he will plow up all if 66 there is not better directions. GOWER 67 The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of 68 the siege is given, is altogether directed by an 69 Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i’ faith. FLUELLEN 70 It is Captain Macmorris, is it not? GOWER 71 I think it be. FLUELLEN 72 By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world. I 73 will verify as much in his beard. He has no more 74 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 76 Here he comes, and the Scots captain, Captain 77 Jamy, with him. FLUELLEN 78 Captain Jamy is a marvelous falorous gentleman, 79 that is certain, and of great expedition and 80 knowledge in th’ aunchient wars, upon my particular 81 knowledge of his directions. By Cheshu, he will 82 maintain his argument as well as any military man 83 in the world in the disciplines of the pristine wars 84 of the Romans. JAMY 85 I say gudday, Captain Fluellen. FLUELLEN 86 Godden to your Worship, good Captain 87 James. GOWER 88 How now, Captain Macmorris, have you quit 89 the mines? Have the pioners given o’er? MACMORRIS 90 By Chrish, la, ’tish ill done. The work ish 91 give over. The trompet sound the retreat. By my 92 hand I swear, and my father’s soul, the work ish ill 93 done. It ish give over. I would have blowed up the 94 town, so Chrish save me, la, in an hour. O, ’tish ill 95 done, ’tish ill done, by my hand, ’tish ill done. FLUELLEN 96 Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, 97 will you voutsafe me, look you, a few disputations 98 with you as partly touching or concerning the 99 disciplines of the war, the Roman wars? In the way 100 of argument, look you, and friendly communication, 102 partly to satisfy my opinion, and partly for the 103 satisfaction, look you, of my mind, as touching the 104 direction of the military discipline, that is the point. JAMY 105 It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captens bath, 106 and I sall quit you with gud leve, as I may pick 107 occasion, that sall I, marry. MACMORRIS 108 It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save 109 me. The day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, 110 and the King, and the dukes. It is no time to 111 discourse. The town is beseeched. An the trumpet 112 call us to the breach and we talk and, be Chrish, do 113 nothing, ’tis shame for us all. So God sa’ me, ’tis 114 shame to stand still. It is shame, by my hand. And 115 there is throats to be cut, and works to be done, 116 and there ish nothing done, so Christ sa’ me, la. JAMY 117 By the Mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves 118 to slomber, ay’ll de gud service, or I’ll lig i’ 119 th’ grund for it, ay, or go to death. And I’ll pay ’t as 120 valorously as I may, that sall I suerly do, that is the 121 breff and the long. Marry, I wad full fain heard 122 some question ’tween you tway. FLUELLEN 123 Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under 124 your correction, there is not many of your 125 nation— MACMORRIS 126 Of my nation? What ish my nation? Ish a 127 villain and a basterd and a knave and a rascal. What 128 ish my nation? Who talks of my nation? FLUELLEN 129 Look you, if you take the matter otherwise 130 than is meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I 131 shall think you do not use me with that affability as, 132 in discretion, you ought to use me, look you, being 133 as good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of 134 war and in the derivation of my birth, and in other 135 particularities. MACMORRIS 136 I do not know you so good a man as 137 myself. So Chrish save me, I will cut off your head. GOWER 138 Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other. JAMY 139 Ah, that’s a foul fault. A parley sounds. GOWER 140 The town sounds a parley. FLUELLEN 141 Captain Macmorris, when there is more 142 better opportunity to be required, look you, I will 143 be so bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of 144 war, and there is an end.