Summary: Act III, scene vi
After the English take Harfleur, the Welsh Captain Fluellen
talks with the English Captain Gower about the battle for a bridge
that is currently taking place. Ancient Pistol enters with a favor
to beg of Fluellen. Pistol’s good friend and fellow soldier Bardolph,
has been found guilty of stealing from the conquered French town.
He has stolen a “pax,” a tablet made out of some valuable material
and used in religious rites (III.vi.35).
Bardolph has been sentenced to death by hanging, since
that is the punishment Henry has decreed for looters. Pistol begs
Fluellen to intercede with the Duke of Exeter to save Bardolph’s
life, but Fluellen politely refuses, saying that discipline must
be maintained. Despairing, Pistol curses Fluellen, makes an obscene
gesture at him, and stalks away.
Gower, who has watched the whole exchange, realizes that
he recognizes Pistol and tells Fluellen that he has met Pistol before.
Pistol, Gower says, is the kind of man who only goes off to war
now and then but pretends to be a full-time soldier when he is back
home. Fluellen says that he will keep an eye on Pistol and try to
detect his deceptions.
With a drumroll and fanfare, King Henry enters. He questions Fluellen
about the battle for the bridge and about how many soldiers the
English side lost in the last skirmish. Fluellen answers that, thanks
to the smart fighting of the Duke of Exeter, the English have won
the bridge. Amazingly, no English soldiers have been lost—except
Bardolph, who has been sentenced to hang for stealing. At this news,
King Henry displays no visible emotion (which is somewhat surprising,
given that when Henry was a prince, he and Bardolph were friends).
Henry merely voices his approval of the punishment, stressing how
important it is that the conquered French, and their property, be
treated with the utmost respect.
Montjoy, a French messenger, arrives with a deeply menacing message
from the king of France. King Charles declares that the time has
come for him to punish the overly proud King Henry. He suggests
that Henry start thinking about his “ransom”—the recompense that
the French will demand for their losses when they defeat the English
king (III.vi.113).
King Henry sends back a surprisingly even-tempered reply.
He admits that his army has tired and that he would rather not fight
the French if he can avoid it. He states, however, that he will
continue to march on because he believes he is in the right and
that he thinks that he will eventually be victorious. Montjoy departs,
and the English camp goes to sleep for the night.
