1    On, on, on, on, on! to the breach, to the breach!

2    Pray thee, corporal, stay: the knocks are too hot;
3    and, for mine own part, I have not a case of lives:
4    the humour of it is too hot, that is the very
5    plain-song of it.

6    The plain-song is most just: for humours do abound:
7    Knocks go and come; God's vassals drop and die;
8    And sword and shield,
9    In bloody field,
10   Doth win immortal fame.

11   Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give
12   all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.

13   And I:
14   If wishes would prevail with me,
15   My purpose should not fail with me,
16   But thither would I hie.

17   As duly, but not as truly,
18   As bird doth sing on bough.

19   Up to the breach, you dogs! avaunt, you cullions!

20   Be merciful, great duke, to men of mould.
21   Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage,
22   Abate thy rage, great duke!
23   Good bawcock, bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck!

24   These be good humours! your honour wins bad humours.

25   As young as I am, I have observed these three
26   swashers. I am boy to them all three: but all they
27   three, though they would serve me, could not be man
28   to me; for indeed three such antics do not amount to
29   a man. For Bardolph, he is white-livered and
30   red-faced; by the means whereof a' faces it out, but
31   fights not. For Pistol, he hath a killing tongue
32   and a quiet sword; by the means whereof a' breaks
33   words, and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he hath
34   heard that men of few words are the best men; and
35   therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest a'
36   should be thought a coward: but his few bad words
37   are matched with as few good deeds; for a' never
38   broke any man's head but his own, and that was
39   against a post when he was drunk. They will steal
40   any thing, and call it purchase. Bardolph stole a
41   lute-case, bore it twelve leagues, and sold it for
42   three half pence. Nym and Bardolph are sworn
43   brothers in filching, and in Calais they stole a
44   fire-shovel: I knew by that piece of service the
45   men would carry coals. They would have me as
46   familiar with men's pockets as their gloves or their
47   handkerchers: which makes much against my manhood,
48   if I should take from another's pocket to put into
49   mine; for it is plain pocketing up of wrongs. I
50   must leave them, and seek some better service:
51   their villany goes against my weak stomach, and
52   therefore I must cast it up.

53   Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the
54   mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.

55   To the mines! tell you the duke, it is not so good
56   to come to the mines; for, look you, the mines is
57   not according to the disciplines of the war: the
58   concavities of it is not sufficient; for, look you,
59   the athversary, you may discuss unto the duke, look
60   you, is digt himself four yard under the
61   countermines: by Cheshu, I think a' will plough up
62   all, if there is not better directions.

63   The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the
64   siege is given, is altogether directed by an
65   Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i' faith.

66   It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?

67   I think it be.

68   By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world: I will
69   verify as much in his beard: be has no more
70   directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look
71   you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy-dog.

72   Here a' comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.

73   Captain Jamy is a marvellous falourous gentleman,
74   that is certain; and of great expedition and
75   knowledge in th' aunchient wars, upon my particular
76   knowledge of his directions: by Cheshu, he will
77   maintain his argument as well as any military man in
78   the world, in the disciplines of the pristine wars
79   of the Romans.

80   I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen.

81   God-den to your worship, good Captain James.

82   How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the
83   mines? have the pioneers given o'er?

84   By Chrish, la! tish ill done: the work ish give
85   over, the trompet sound the retreat. By my hand, I
86   swear, and my father's soul, the work ish ill done;
87   it ish give over: I would have blowed up the town, so
88   Chrish save me, la! in an hour: O, tish ill done,
89   tish ill done; by my hand, tish ill done!

90   Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will you
91   voutsafe me, look you, a few disputations with you,
92   as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of
93   the war, the Roman wars, in the way of argument,
94   look you, and friendly communication; partly to
95   satisfy my opinion, and partly for the satisfaction,
96   look you, of my mind, as touching the direction of
97   the military discipline; that is the point.

98   It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captains bath:
99   and I sall quit you with gud leve, as I may pick
100  occasion; that sall I, marry.

101  It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me: the
102  day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the
103  king, and the dukes: it is no time to discourse. The
104  town is beseeched, and the trumpet call us to the
105  breach; and we talk, and, be Chrish, do nothing:
106  'tis shame for us all: so God sa' me, 'tis shame to
107  stand still; it is shame, by my hand: and there is
108  throats to be cut, and works to be done; and there
109  ish nothing done, so Chrish sa' me, la!

110  By the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves
111  to slomber, ay'll de gud service, or ay'll lig i'
112  the grund for it; ay, or go to death; and ay'll pay
113  't as valourously as I may, that sall I suerly do,
114  that is the breff and the long. Marry, I wad full
115  fain hear some question 'tween you tway.

116  Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your
117  correction, there is not many of your nation--

118  Of my nation! What ish my nation? Ish a villain,
119  and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal. What ish
120  my nation? Who talks of my nation?

121  Look you, if you take the matter otherwise than is
122  meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I shall think
123  you do not use me with that affability as in
124  discretion you ought to use me, look you: being as
125  good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of
126  war, and in the derivation of my birth, and in
127  other particularities.

128  I do not know you so good a man as myself: so
129  Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.

130  Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.

131  A! that's a foul fault.

132  The town sounds a parley.

133  Captain Macmorris, when there is more better
134  opportunity to be required, look you, I will be so
135  bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of war;
136  and there is an end.