Henry V: Act III, Scene i; First Folio

 

Henry V         Act 3, Scene 1.      The Four Captains (Gower, Fluellen, MacMorris, Jamy)

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Gower
1173  Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with 1174  you. 
Fluellen
1175  To the mines? Tell you the duke it is not so good to come to the mines, for look you, the mines is 1176  not according to the disciplines of the war. The concavities of it is not sufficient: for look you,  
1177  th'athversary, you may discuss unto the duke, look you, is digged himself, four yard under, the   1178  countermines. By Cheshu, I think a will plow up all if there is not better directions. Gower
1179  The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the siege is given, is altogether directed by an 
1180  Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i'faith.
Fluellen
1181  It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
Gower
1182  I think it be.
Fluellen
1183  By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world. I will verify as much in his beard. He has no more
1184  directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a 
1185  puppydog.
                             Enter Macmorris and Captain Jamy.
Gower
1186  Here a comes, and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
Fluellen
1187  Captain Jamy is a marvelous falorous gentleman, that is certain, and of great expedition and 
1188 knowledge in th'aunchient wars, upon my particular knowledge of his directions. By Cheshu, he will 1189  maintain his argument as well as any military man in the world, in the disciplines of the pristine wars 1190  of the Romans.
Jamy
1191  I say guid day, Captain Fluellen.
Fluellen
1192  Good e'en to your worship, good Captain James.
Gower
1193  How now, Captain Macmorris, have you quit the mines? Have the pioneers given o'er?
Macmorris
1194  By Chrish law, 'tish ill done. The work ish give over, the trumpet sound the retreat. By my hand I 1195  swear, and my father's soul, the work ish ill done; it ish give over. I would have blowed up the town, 1196  so Chrish save me law, in an hour. Oh, 'tish ill done, 'tish ill done, by my hand 'tish ill done.
Fluellen
1197  Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will you vouchsafe me, look you, a few disputations with 1198  you, as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of the war, the Roman wars, in the way of 
1199 argument, look you, and friendly communication? Partly to satisfy my opinion, and partly for the 1200  satisfaction, look you, of my mind, as touching the direction of the military discipline; that is the 1201  point.
Jamy
1202  It sall be verray guid, guid faith, guid captains baith, and I sall quit you with guid leve, as I may pick 1203  occasion. That sall I, marry.
Macmorris
1204  It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me. The day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and 1205  the king, and the dukes. It is no time to discourse. The town is besieched, and the trumpet call us 1206  to the breach, and we talk, and be Chrish do nothing! 'Tis shame for us all; so God sa' me, 'tis 
1207  shame to stand still. It is shame, by my hand; and there is throats to be cut, and works to be done, 1208  and there ish nothing done, so Christ sa' me law.
Jamy
1209  By the mess, ere these eyes of mine take themselves to slumber, I'll dae guid service, or I'll lig i'th' 1210  grund for it; I owe God a death, and I'll pay't as valorously as I may, that sall I surely do. That is the 1211  brefe and the long. Marry, I wad full fain heard some question 'tween you twae.
Fluellen
1212  Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there is not many of your nation --
Macmorris
1213  Of my nation? What ish my nation? Ish a villain, and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal? What ish 1214  my nation? Who talks of my nation?
Fluellen
1215  Look you, if you take the matter otherwise than is meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I shall 1216  think you do not use me with that affability as in discretion you ought to use me, look you, being as 1217  good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of war and in the derivation of my birth, and in other 1218  particularities.
Macmorris
1219  I do not know you so good a man as myself. So Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.
Gower
1220  Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
Jamy
1221  Ah, that's a foul fault.
                                             A parley [is sounded.]
Gower
1222  The town sounds a parley.
Fluellen
1223  Captain Macmorris, when there is more better opportunity to be required, look you, I will be so bold 1224  as to tell you I know the disciplines of war, and there is an end.

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