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Enter GLOUCESTER , BEDFORD , EXETER , ERPINGHAM , with all his host, SALISBURY , and WESTMORELAND
Enter GLOUCESTER , BEDFORD , EXETER , ERPINGHAM , with all his host, SALISBURY , and WESTMORELAND

GLOUCESTER

Where is the king?

GLOUCESTER

Where is the king?

BEDFORD

The king himself is rode to view their battle.

BEDFORD

The king himself is rode to view their battle.

WESTMORELAND

Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand.

WESTMORELAND

Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand.

EXETER

There’s five to one. Besides, they all are fresh.

EXETER

There’s five to one. Besides, they all are fresh.

SALISBURY

5 God’s arm strike with us! 'Tis a fearful odds.
God be wi' you, princes all. I’ll to my charge.
If we no more meet till we meet in heaven,
Then joyfully, my noble Lord of Bedford,
My dear Lord Gloucester, and my good Lord Exeter,
10 And my kind kinsman, warriors all, adieu.

SALISBURY

God’s arm strike with us! 'Tis a fearful odds.
God be wi' you, princes all. I’ll to my charge.
If we no more meet till we meet in heaven,
Then joyfully, my noble Lord of Bedford,
My dear Lord Gloucester, and my good Lord Exeter,
And my kind kinsman, warriors all, adieu.

BEDFORD

Farewell, good Salisbury, and good luck go with thee.

BEDFORD

Farewell, good Salisbury, and good luck go with thee.

EXETER

Farewell, kind lord. Fight valiantly today.
And yet I do thee wrong to mind thee of it,
For thou art framed of the firm truth of valor.

EXETER

Farewell, kind lord. Fight valiantly today.
And yet I do thee wrong to mind thee of it,
For thou art framed of the firm truth of valor.
Exit SALISBURY
Exit SALISBURY

BEDFORD

15 He is as full of valor as of kindness,
Princely in both.

BEDFORD

He is as full of valor as of kindness,
Princely in both.
Enter KING HENRY
Enter KING HENRY

WESTMORELAND

Oh, that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work today.

WESTMORELAND

Oh, that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work today.

KING HENRY

20 What’s he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin.
If we are marked to die, we are enough
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honor.
25 God’s will, I pray thee wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
30 But if it be a sin to covet honor,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God’s peace, I would not lose so great an honor
As one man more, methinks, would share from me,
35 For the best hope I have. Oh, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart. His passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse.
40 We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day and comes safe home,
Will stand o' tiptoe when the day is named
45 And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall see this day, and live old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors
And say, “Tomorrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
50 And say, “These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.”

KING HENRY

What’s he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin.
If we are marked to die, we are enough
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honor.
God’s will, I pray thee wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honor,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God’s peace, I would not lose so great an honor
As one man more, methinks, would share from me,
For the best hope I have. Oh, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart. His passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse.
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day and comes safe home,
Will stand o' tiptoe when the day is named
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall see this day, and live old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors
And say, “Tomorrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say, “These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.”
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words,
55 Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
This story shall the good man teach his son,
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
60 From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be rememberèd—
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
65 This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words,
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
This story shall the good man teach his son,
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be rememberèd—
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
Enter SALISBURY
Enter SALISBURY

SALISBURY

70 My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed.
The French are bravely in their battles set,
And will with all expedience charge on us.

SALISBURY

My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed.
The French are bravely in their battles set,
And will with all expedience charge on us.

KING HENRY

All things are ready if our minds be so.

KING HENRY

All things are ready if our minds be so.

WESTMORELAND

Perish the man whose mind is backward now!

WESTMORELAND

Perish the man whose mind is backward now!

KING HENRY

75 Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz?

KING HENRY

Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz?

WESTMORELAND

God’s will, my liege, would you and I alone,
Without more help, could fight this royal battle!

WESTMORELAND

God’s will, my liege, would you and I alone,
Without more help, could fight this royal battle!

KING HENRY

Why, now thou hast unwished five thousand men,
Which likes me better than to wish us one.
80 —You know your places. God be with you all.
Tucket

KING HENRY

Why, now thou hast unwished five thousand men,
Which likes me better than to wish us one.
—You know your places. God be with you all.
Tucket
Enter MONTJOY
Enter MONTJOY

MONTJOY

Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry,
If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound,
Before thy most assurèd overthrow.
85 For certainly thou art so near the gulf
Thou needs must be englutted. Besides, in mercy,
The constable desires thee thou wilt mind
Thy followers of repentance, that their souls
May make a peaceful and a sweet retire
90 From off these fields where, wretches, their poor bodies
Must lie and fester.

MONTJOY

Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry,
If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound,
Before thy most assurèd overthrow.
For certainly thou art so near the gulf
Thou needs must be englutted. Besides, in mercy,
The constable desires thee thou wilt mind
Thy followers of repentance, that their souls
May make a peaceful and a sweet retire
From off these fields where, wretches, their poor bodies
Must lie and fester.

KING HENRY

Who hath sent thee now?

KING HENRY

Who hath sent thee now?

MONTJOY

The constable of France.

MONTJOY

The constable of France.

KING HENRY

I pray thee, bear my former answer back.
95 Bid them achieve me and then sell my bones.
Good God, why should they mock poor fellows thus?
The man that once did sell the lion’s skin
While the beast lived was killed with hunting him.
A many of our bodies shall no doubt
100 Find native graves, upon the which, I trust,
Shall witness live in brass of this day’s work.
And those that leave their valiant bones in France,
Dying like men though buried in your dunghills,
They shall be famed; for there the sun shall greet them
105 And draw their honors reeking up to heaven,
Leaving their earthly parts to choke your clime,

KING HENRY

I pray thee, bear my former answer back.
Bid them achieve me and then sell my bones.
Good God, why should they mock poor fellows thus?
The man that once did sell the lion’s skin
While the beast lived was killed with hunting him.
A many of our bodies shall no doubt
Find native graves, upon the which, I trust,
Shall witness live in brass of this day’s work.
And those that leave their valiant bones in France,
Dying like men though buried in your dunghills,
They shall be famed; for there the sun shall greet them
And draw their honors reeking up to heaven,
Leaving their earthly parts to choke your clime,
The smell whereof shall breed a plague in France.
Mark, then, abounding valor in our English,
That being dead, like to the bullet’s crazing,
110 Break out into a second course of mischief,
Killing in relapse of mortality.
Let me speak proudly: tell the constable
We are but warriors for the working day;
Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched
115 With rainy marching in the painful field.
There’s not a piece of feather in our host—
Good argument, I hope, we will not fly—
And time hath worn us into slovenry.
But, by the Mass, our hearts are in the trim,
120 And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night
They’ll be in fresher robes, or they will pluck
The gay new coats o'er the French soldiers' heads
And turn them out of service. If they do this,
As, if God please, they shall, my ransom then
125 Will soon be levied. Herald, save thou thy labor.
Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald.
They shall have none, I swear, but these my joints,
Which, if they have, as I will leave 'em them,
Shall yield them little. Tell the constable.
The smell whereof shall breed a plague in France.
Mark, then, abounding valor in our English,
That being dead, like to the bullet’s crazing,
Break out into a second course of mischief,
Killing in relapse of mortality.
Let me speak proudly: tell the constable
We are but warriors for the working day;
Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched
With rainy marching in the painful field.
There’s not a piece of feather in our host—
Good argument, I hope, we will not fly—
And time hath worn us into slovenry.
But, by the Mass, our hearts are in the trim,
And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night
They’ll be in fresher robes, or they will pluck
The gay new coats o'er the French soldiers' heads
And turn them out of service. If they do this,
As, if God please, they shall, my ransom then
Will soon be levied. Herald, save thou thy labor.
Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald.
They shall have none, I swear, but these my joints,
Which, if they have, as I will leave 'em them,
Shall yield them little. Tell the constable.

MONTJOY

130 I shall, King Harry. And so fare thee well.
Thou never shalt hear herald anymore.

MONTJOY

I shall, King Harry. And so fare thee well.
Thou never shalt hear herald anymore.
Exit
Exit

KING HENRY

I fear thou wilt once more come again for a ransom.

KING HENRY

I fear thou wilt once more come again for a ransom.
Enter YORK
Enter YORK

YORK

My lord, most humbly on my knee I beg
The leading of the vaward.

YORK

My lord, most humbly on my knee I beg
The leading of the vaward.

KING HENRY

135 Take it, brave York. Now, soldiers, march away,
And how Thou pleasest, God, dispose the day.

KING HENRY

Take it, brave York. Now, soldiers, march away,
And how Thou pleasest, God, dispose the day.
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter GLOUCESTER , BEDFORD , EXETER , ERPINGHAM , with all his host, SALISBURY , and WESTMORELAND
Enter GLOUCESTER , BEDFORD , EXETER , ERPINGHAM , with all his host, SALISBURY , and WESTMORELAND

GLOUCESTER

Where is the king?

GLOUCESTER

Where is the king?

BEDFORD

The king himself is rode to view their battle.

BEDFORD

The king himself is rode to view their battle.

WESTMORELAND

Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand.

WESTMORELAND

Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand.

EXETER

There’s five to one. Besides, they all are fresh.

EXETER

There’s five to one. Besides, they all are fresh.

SALISBURY

5 God’s arm strike with us! 'Tis a fearful odds.
God be wi' you, princes all. I’ll to my charge.
If we no more meet till we meet in heaven,
Then joyfully, my noble Lord of Bedford,
My dear Lord Gloucester, and my good Lord Exeter,
10 And my kind kinsman, warriors all, adieu.

SALISBURY

God’s arm strike with us! 'Tis a fearful odds.
God be wi' you, princes all. I’ll to my charge.
If we no more meet till we meet in heaven,
Then joyfully, my noble Lord of Bedford,
My dear Lord Gloucester, and my good Lord Exeter,
And my kind kinsman, warriors all, adieu.

BEDFORD

Farewell, good Salisbury, and good luck go with thee.

BEDFORD

Farewell, good Salisbury, and good luck go with thee.

EXETER

Farewell, kind lord. Fight valiantly today.
And yet I do thee wrong to mind thee of it,
For thou art framed of the firm truth of valor.

EXETER

Farewell, kind lord. Fight valiantly today.
And yet I do thee wrong to mind thee of it,
For thou art framed of the firm truth of valor.
Exit SALISBURY
Exit SALISBURY

BEDFORD

15 He is as full of valor as of kindness,
Princely in both.

BEDFORD

He is as full of valor as of kindness,
Princely in both.
Enter KING HENRY
Enter KING HENRY

WESTMORELAND

Oh, that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work today.

WESTMORELAND

Oh, that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work today.

KING HENRY

20 What’s he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin.
If we are marked to die, we are enough
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honor.
25 God’s will, I pray thee wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
30 But if it be a sin to covet honor,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God’s peace, I would not lose so great an honor
As one man more, methinks, would share from me,
35 For the best hope I have. Oh, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart. His passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse.
40 We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day and comes safe home,
Will stand o' tiptoe when the day is named
45 And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall see this day, and live old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors
And say, “Tomorrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
50 And say, “These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.”

KING HENRY

What’s he that wishes so?
My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin.
If we are marked to die, we are enough
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honor.
God’s will, I pray thee wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honor,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God’s peace, I would not lose so great an honor
As one man more, methinks, would share from me,
For the best hope I have. Oh, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart. His passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse.
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is called the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day and comes safe home,
Will stand o' tiptoe when the day is named
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall see this day, and live old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbors
And say, “Tomorrow is Saint Crispian.”
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say, “These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.”
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words,
55 Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
This story shall the good man teach his son,
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
60 From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be rememberèd—
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
65 This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words,
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
This story shall the good man teach his son,
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be rememberèd—
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.
Enter SALISBURY
Enter SALISBURY

SALISBURY

70 My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed.
The French are bravely in their battles set,
And will with all expedience charge on us.

SALISBURY

My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed.
The French are bravely in their battles set,
And will with all expedience charge on us.

KING HENRY

All things are ready if our minds be so.

KING HENRY

All things are ready if our minds be so.

WESTMORELAND

Perish the man whose mind is backward now!

WESTMORELAND

Perish the man whose mind is backward now!

KING HENRY

75 Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz?

KING HENRY

Thou dost not wish more help from England, coz?

WESTMORELAND

God’s will, my liege, would you and I alone,
Without more help, could fight this royal battle!

WESTMORELAND

God’s will, my liege, would you and I alone,
Without more help, could fight this royal battle!

KING HENRY

Why, now thou hast unwished five thousand men,
Which likes me better than to wish us one.
80 —You know your places. God be with you all.
Tucket

KING HENRY

Why, now thou hast unwished five thousand men,
Which likes me better than to wish us one.
—You know your places. God be with you all.
Tucket
Enter MONTJOY
Enter MONTJOY

MONTJOY

Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry,
If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound,
Before thy most assurèd overthrow.
85 For certainly thou art so near the gulf
Thou needs must be englutted. Besides, in mercy,
The constable desires thee thou wilt mind
Thy followers of repentance, that their souls
May make a peaceful and a sweet retire
90 From off these fields where, wretches, their poor bodies
Must lie and fester.

MONTJOY

Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry,
If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound,
Before thy most assurèd overthrow.
For certainly thou art so near the gulf
Thou needs must be englutted. Besides, in mercy,
The constable desires thee thou wilt mind
Thy followers of repentance, that their souls
May make a peaceful and a sweet retire
From off these fields where, wretches, their poor bodies
Must lie and fester.

KING HENRY

Who hath sent thee now?

KING HENRY

Who hath sent thee now?

MONTJOY

The constable of France.

MONTJOY

The constable of France.

KING HENRY

I pray thee, bear my former answer back.
95 Bid them achieve me and then sell my bones.
Good God, why should they mock poor fellows thus?
The man that once did sell the lion’s skin
While the beast lived was killed with hunting him.
A many of our bodies shall no doubt
100 Find native graves, upon the which, I trust,
Shall witness live in brass of this day’s work.
And those that leave their valiant bones in France,
Dying like men though buried in your dunghills,
They shall be famed; for there the sun shall greet them
105 And draw their honors reeking up to heaven,
Leaving their earthly parts to choke your clime,

KING HENRY

I pray thee, bear my former answer back.
Bid them achieve me and then sell my bones.
Good God, why should they mock poor fellows thus?
The man that once did sell the lion’s skin
While the beast lived was killed with hunting him.
A many of our bodies shall no doubt
Find native graves, upon the which, I trust,
Shall witness live in brass of this day’s work.
And those that leave their valiant bones in France,
Dying like men though buried in your dunghills,
They shall be famed; for there the sun shall greet them
And draw their honors reeking up to heaven,
Leaving their earthly parts to choke your clime,
The smell whereof shall breed a plague in France.
Mark, then, abounding valor in our English,
That being dead, like to the bullet’s crazing,
110 Break out into a second course of mischief,
Killing in relapse of mortality.
Let me speak proudly: tell the constable
We are but warriors for the working day;
Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched
115 With rainy marching in the painful field.
There’s not a piece of feather in our host—
Good argument, I hope, we will not fly—
And time hath worn us into slovenry.
But, by the Mass, our hearts are in the trim,
120 And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night
They’ll be in fresher robes, or they will pluck
The gay new coats o'er the French soldiers' heads
And turn them out of service. If they do this,
As, if God please, they shall, my ransom then
125 Will soon be levied. Herald, save thou thy labor.
Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald.
They shall have none, I swear, but these my joints,
Which, if they have, as I will leave 'em them,
Shall yield them little. Tell the constable.
The smell whereof shall breed a plague in France.
Mark, then, abounding valor in our English,
That being dead, like to the bullet’s crazing,
Break out into a second course of mischief,
Killing in relapse of mortality.
Let me speak proudly: tell the constable
We are but warriors for the working day;
Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirched
With rainy marching in the painful field.
There’s not a piece of feather in our host—
Good argument, I hope, we will not fly—
And time hath worn us into slovenry.
But, by the Mass, our hearts are in the trim,
And my poor soldiers tell me, yet ere night
They’ll be in fresher robes, or they will pluck
The gay new coats o'er the French soldiers' heads
And turn them out of service. If they do this,
As, if God please, they shall, my ransom then
Will soon be levied. Herald, save thou thy labor.
Come thou no more for ransom, gentle herald.
They shall have none, I swear, but these my joints,
Which, if they have, as I will leave 'em them,
Shall yield them little. Tell the constable.

MONTJOY

130 I shall, King Harry. And so fare thee well.
Thou never shalt hear herald anymore.

MONTJOY

I shall, King Harry. And so fare thee well.
Thou never shalt hear herald anymore.
Exit
Exit

KING HENRY

I fear thou wilt once more come again for a ransom.

KING HENRY

I fear thou wilt once more come again for a ransom.
Enter YORK
Enter YORK

YORK

My lord, most humbly on my knee I beg
The leading of the vaward.

YORK

My lord, most humbly on my knee I beg
The leading of the vaward.

KING HENRY

135 Take it, brave York. Now, soldiers, march away,
And how Thou pleasest, God, dispose the day.

KING HENRY

Take it, brave York. Now, soldiers, march away,
And how Thou pleasest, God, dispose the day.
Exeunt
Exeunt