No Fear Shakespeare: Henry V: Act 3 Scene 7

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Henry V

William Shakespeare

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Enter the CONSTABLE of France, the Lord RAMBURES , ORLÉANS , DAUPHIN , with others	Enter the CONSTABLE of France, the Lord RAMBURES , ORLÉANS , DAUPHIN , with others
CONSTABLE Tut, I have the best armor of the world. Would it were day!	CONSTABLE Tut, I have the best armor of the world. Would it were day!
ORLÉANS You have an excellent armor, but let my horse have his due.	ORLÉANS You have an excellent armor, but let my horse have his due.
CONSTABLE It is the best horse of Europe.	CONSTABLE It is the best horse of Europe.
ORLÉANS Will it never be morning?	ORLÉANS Will it never be morning?
DAUPHIN My lord of Orléans, and my Lord High Constable, you talk of horse and armor?	DAUPHIN My lord of Orléans, and my Lord High Constable, you talk of horse and armor?
ORLÉANS You are as well provided of both as any prince in the world.	ORLÉANS You are as well provided of both as any prince in the world.
DAUPHIN What a long night is this! I will not change my horse with any that treads but on four pasterns. Çà ha! He bounds from the earth, as if his entrails were hairs, le cheval volant, the Pegasus, qui a les narines de feu. When I bestride him, I soar; I am a hawk; he trots the air. The earth sings when he touches it. The basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.	DAUPHIN What a long night is this! I will not change my horse with any that treads but on four pasterns. Çà ha! He bounds from the earth, as if his entrails were hairs, le cheval volant, the Pegasus, qui a les narines de feu. When I bestride him, I soar; I am a hawk; he trots the air. The earth sings when he touches it. The basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.
ORLÉANS 15 He’s of the color of the nutmeg.	ORLÉANS He’s of the color of the nutmeg.
DAUPHIN And of the heat of the ginger. It is a beast for Perseus. He is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him. He is indeed a horse, and all other jades you may call beasts.	DAUPHIN And of the heat of the ginger. It is a beast for Perseus. He is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him. He is indeed a horse, and all other jades you may call beasts.
CONSTABLE Indeed, my lord, it is a most absolute and excellent horse.	CONSTABLE Indeed, my lord, it is a most absolute and excellent horse.
DAUPHIN It is the prince of palfreys. His neigh is like the bidding of a monarch, and his countenance enforces homage.	DAUPHIN It is the prince of palfreys. His neigh is like the bidding of a monarch, and his countenance enforces homage.
ORLÉANS No more, cousin.	ORLÉANS No more, cousin.
DAUPHIN Nay, the man hath no wit that cannot, from the rising of the lark to the lodging of the lamb, vary deserved praise on my palfrey. It is a theme as fluent as the sea. Turn the sands into eloquent tongues, and my horse is argument for them all. 'Tis a subject for a sovereign to reason on, and for a sovereign’s sovereign to ride on, and for the world, familiar to us and unknown, to lay apart their particular functions and wonder at him. I once writ a sonnet in his praise and began thus: “Wonder of nature—”	DAUPHIN Nay, the man hath no wit that cannot, from the rising of the lark to the lodging of the lamb, vary deserved praise on my palfrey. It is a theme as fluent as the sea. Turn the sands into eloquent tongues, and my horse is argument for them all. 'Tis a subject for a sovereign to reason on, and for a sovereign’s sovereign to ride on, and for the world, familiar to us and unknown, to lay apart their particular functions and wonder at him. I once writ a sonnet in his praise and began thus: “Wonder of nature—”
ORLÉANS I have heard a sonnet begin so to one’s mistress.	ORLÉANS I have heard a sonnet begin so to one’s mistress.
DAUPHIN Then did they imitate that which I composed to my courser, for my horse is my mistress.	DAUPHIN Then did they imitate that which I composed to my courser, for my horse is my mistress.
ORLÉANS Your mistress bears well.	ORLÉANS Your mistress bears well.
DAUPHIN Me well—which is the prescript praise and perfection of a good and particular mistress.	DAUPHIN Me well—which is the prescript praise and perfection of a good and particular mistress.
CONSTABLE Nay, for methought yesterday your mistress shrewdly shook your back.	CONSTABLE Nay, for methought yesterday your mistress shrewdly shook your back.
DAUPHIN So perhaps did yours.	DAUPHIN So perhaps did yours.
CONSTABLE Mine was not bridled.	CONSTABLE Mine was not bridled.
DAUPHIN Oh, then belike she was old and gentle, and you rode, like a kern of Ireland, your French hose off and in your straight strossers.	DAUPHIN Oh, then belike she was old and gentle, and you rode, like a kern of Ireland, your French hose off and in your straight strossers.
CONSTABLE You have good judgment in horsemanship.	CONSTABLE You have good judgment in horsemanship.
DAUPHIN Be warned by me, then: they that ride so, and ride not warily, fall into foul bogs. I had rather have my horse to my mistress.	DAUPHIN Be warned by me, then: they that ride so, and ride not warily, fall into foul bogs. I had rather have my horse to my mistress.
CONSTABLE I had as lief have my mistress a jade.	CONSTABLE I had as lief have my mistress a jade.
DAUPHIN I tell thee, Constable, my mistress wears his own hair.	DAUPHIN I tell thee, Constable, my mistress wears his own hair.
CONSTABLE I could make as true a boast as that if I had a sow to my mistress.	CONSTABLE I could make as true a boast as that if I had a sow to my mistress.
DAUPHIN “Le chien est retourné à son propre vomissement, et la truie lavée au bourbier.” Thou mak’st use of anything.	DAUPHIN “Le chien est retourné à son propre vomissement, et la truie lavée au bourbier.” Thou mak’st use of anything.
CONSTABLE Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress, or any such proverb so little kin to the purpose.	CONSTABLE Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress, or any such proverb so little kin to the purpose.
RAMBURES My Lord Constable, the armor that I saw in your tent tonight, are those stars or suns upon it?	RAMBURES My Lord Constable, the armor that I saw in your tent tonight, are those stars or suns upon it?
CONSTABLE Stars, my lord.	CONSTABLE Stars, my lord.
DAUPHIN Some of them will fall tomorrow, I hope.	DAUPHIN Some of them will fall tomorrow, I hope.
CONSTABLE And yet my sky shall not want.	CONSTABLE And yet my sky shall not want.
DAUPHIN That may be, for you bear a many superfluously, and ’twere more honor some were away.	DAUPHIN That may be, for you bear a many superfluously, and ’twere more honor some were away.
CONSTABLE Ev'n as your horse bears your praises—who would trot as well were some of your brags dismounted.	CONSTABLE Ev'n as your horse bears your praises—who would trot as well were some of your brags dismounted.
DAUPHIN Would I were able to load him with his desert! Will it never be day? I will trot tomorrow a mile, and my way shall be paved with English faces.	DAUPHIN Would I were able to load him with his desert! Will it never be day? I will trot tomorrow a mile, and my way shall be paved with English faces.
CONSTABLE I will not say so, for fear I should be faced out of my way. But I would it were morning, for I would fain be about the ears of the English.	CONSTABLE I will not say so, for fear I should be faced out of my way. But I would it were morning, for I would fain be about the ears of the English.
RAMBURES Who will go to hazard with me for twenty prisoners?	RAMBURES Who will go to hazard with me for twenty prisoners?
CONSTABLE 75 You must first go yourself to hazard ere you have them.	CONSTABLE You must first go yourself to hazard ere you have them.
DAUPHIN 'Tis midnight. I’ll go arm myself.	DAUPHIN 'Tis midnight. I’ll go arm myself.
Exit	Exit
ORLÉANS The Dauphin longs for morning.	ORLÉANS The Dauphin longs for morning.
RAMBURES He longs to eat the English.	RAMBURES He longs to eat the English.
CONSTABLE I think he will eat all he kills.	CONSTABLE I think he will eat all he kills.
ORLÉANS 80 By the white hand of my lady, he’s a gallant prince.	ORLÉANS By the white hand of my lady, he’s a gallant prince.
CONSTABLE Swear by her foot, that she may tread out the oath.	CONSTABLE Swear by her foot, that she may tread out the oath.
ORLÉANS He is simply the most active gentleman of France.	ORLÉANS He is simply the most active gentleman of France.
CONSTABLE Doing is activity, and he will still be doing.	CONSTABLE Doing is activity, and he will still be doing.
ORLÉANS He never did harm that I heard of.	ORLÉANS He never did harm that I heard of.
CONSTABLE Nor will do none tomorrow. He will keep that good name still.	CONSTABLE Nor will do none tomorrow. He will keep that good name still.
ORLÉANS I know him to be valiant.	ORLÉANS I know him to be valiant.
CONSTABLE I was told that by one that knows him better than you.	CONSTABLE I was told that by one that knows him better than you.
ORLÉANS What’s he?	ORLÉANS What’s he?
CONSTABLE Marry, he told me so himself; and he said he cared not who knew it.	CONSTABLE Marry, he told me so himself; and he said he cared not who knew it.
ORLÉANS He needs not. It is no hidden virtue in him.	ORLÉANS 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 valor, and when it appears, it will bate.	CONSTABLE By my faith, sir, but it is; never anybody saw it but his lackey. 'Tis a hooded valor, and when it appears, it will bate.
ORLÉANS Ill will never said well.	ORLÉANS Ill will never said well.
CONSTABLE I will cap that proverb with “There is flattery in friendship.”	CONSTABLE I will cap that proverb with “There is flattery in friendship.”
ORLÉANS And I will take up that with “Give the devil his due.”	ORLÉANS And I will take up that with “Give the devil his due.”
CONSTABLE Well placed; there stands your friend for the devil. Have at the very eye of that proverb with “A pox of the devil.”	CONSTABLE Well placed; there stands your friend for the devil. Have at the very eye of that proverb with “A pox of the devil.”
ORLÉANS You are the better at proverbs, by how much “A fool’s bolt is soon shot.”	ORLÉANS You are the better at proverbs, by how much “A fool’s bolt is soon shot.”
CONSTABLE You have shot over.	CONSTABLE You have shot over.
ORLÉANS 105 'Tis not the first time you were overshot.	ORLÉANS 'Tis not the first time you were overshot.
Enter MESSENGER	Enter MESSENGER
MESSENGER My Lord High Constable, the English lie within fifteen hundred paces of your tents.	MESSENGER My Lord High Constable, the English lie within fifteen hundred paces of your tents.
CONSTABLE Who hath measured the ground?	CONSTABLE Who hath measured the ground?
MESSENGER The Lord Grandpré.	MESSENGER The Lord Grandpré.
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.	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.
ORLÉANS What a wretched and peevish fellow is this king of England to mope with his fat-brained followers so far out of his knowledge.	ORLÉANS What a wretched and peevish fellow is this king of England to mope with his fat-brained followers so far out of his knowledge.
CONSTABLE If the English had any apprehension, they would run away.	CONSTABLE If the English had any apprehension, they would run away.
ORLÉANS That they lack, for if their heads had any intellectual armor, they could never wear such heavy head-pieces.	ORLÉANS That they lack, for if their heads had any intellectual armor, they could never wear such heavy head-pieces.
RAMBURES That island of England breeds very valiant creatures. Their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage.	RAMBURES That island of England breeds very valiant creatures. Their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage.
ORLÉANS Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crushed like rotten apples. You may as well say, that’s a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.	ORLÉANS Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crushed 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.	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.
ORLÉANS Ay, but these English are shrewdly out of beef.	ORLÉANS Ay, but these English are shrewdly out of beef.
CONSTABLE Then shall we find tomorrow they have only stomachs to eat and none to fight. Now is it time to arm. Come, shall we about it?	CONSTABLE Then shall we find tomorrow they have only stomachs to eat and none to fight. Now is it time to arm. Come, shall we about it?
ORLÉANS It is now two o'clock. But, let me see, by ten We shall have each a hundred Englishmen.	ORLÉANS It is now two o'clock. But, let me see, by ten We shall have each a hundred Englishmen.
Exeunt	Exeunt