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Modern English
On, on, on, on, on! to the breach, to the breach!
Go, go, go, go, go! to the breach, to the breach!
Pray thee, corporal, stay: the knocks are too hot; and, for mine own part, I have not a case of lives: the humour of it is too hot, that is the very plain-song of it.
Please, corporal, stop: the blows are too intense; and as for me, I don’t have many lives to spare: The mood of it is too fierce, that’s the simple truth of it.
The plain-song is most just: for humours do abound: Knocks go and come; God’s vassals drop and die; And sword and shield, In bloody field, Doth win immortal fame.
The truth is most fitting: for moods do overflow: Blows come and go; God’s servants fall and die; And sword and shield, In bloody battle, Earn eternal fame.
Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.
I wish I were in a pub in London! I’d trade all my glory for a pint of ale and safety.
And I: If wishes would prevail with me, My purpose should not fail with me, But thither would I hie.
And I: If wishes would work for me, My resolve would not fail me, But I would go there.
As duly, but not as truly, As bird doth sing on bough.
As surely, but not as truly, As a bird sings on a branch.
Up to the breach, you dogs! avaunt, you cullions!
Go to the breach, you dogs! Get out of the way, you cowards!
Be merciful, great duke, to men of mould. Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage, Abate thy rage, great duke! Good bawcock, bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck!
Be merciful, great duke, to men of your own kind. Calm your rage, calm your strong rage, Calm your rage, great duke! Good fellow, calm your rage; be gentle, sweet darling!
These be good humours! your honour wins bad humours.
This is funny! Your honor creates trouble.
As young as I am, I have observed these three swashers. I am boy to them all three: but all they three, though they would serve me, could not be man to me; for indeed three such antics do not amount to a man. For Bardolph, he is white-livered and red-faced; by the means whereof a’ faces it out, but fights not. For Pistol, he hath a killing tongue and a quiet sword; by the means whereof a’ breaks words, and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he hath heard that men of few words are the best men; and therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest a’ should be thought a coward: but his few bad words are matched with as few good deeds; for a’ never broke any man’s head but his own, and that was against a post when he was drunk. They will steal any thing, and call it purchase. Bardolph stole a lute-case, bore it twelve leagues, and sold it for three half pence. Nym and Bardolph are sworn brothers in filching, and in Calais they stole a fire-shovel: I knew by that piece of service the men would carry coals. They would have me as familiar with men’s pockets as their gloves or their handkerchers: which makes much against my manhood, if I should take from another’s pocket to put into mine; for it is plain pocketing up of wrongs. I must leave them, and seek some better service: their villany goes against my weak stomach, and therefore I must cast it up.
Even though I’m young, I’ve noticed these three tough guys. I serve all three of them: but none of them could be a man to me, even if they wanted to; because honestly, three clowns like them don’t make up one man. Bardolph, for example, is a coward and has a red face; because of that, he puts on a brave face, but doesn’t actually fight. Pistol, he has a sharp tongue but a quiet sword; so he talks a big game but keeps his sword sheathed. As for Nym, he’s heard that men of few words are the best, so he refuses to say his prayers, in case anyone thinks he’s a coward. But his few bad words are matched by just as few good deeds, because he’s never hurt anyone but himself, and that was by crashing into a post while drunk. They’ll steal anything and call it a bargain. Bardolph stole a lute-case, carried it twelve miles, and sold it for three pennies. Nym and Bardolph are partners in crime, and in Calais, they stole a fire-shovel. I knew by that action that they’d steal anything. They want me to be as familiar with people’s pockets as their gloves or their handkerchiefs: which goes against my sense of honor, if I were to take from someone else’s pocket and put it in mine; because it’s just stealing. I have to leave them, and find a better job: their evil ways make me sick, and so I have to get away from them.
Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the mines; the Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.
Captain Fluellen, you need to come right away to the mines; the Duke of Gloucester wants to speak with you.
To the mines! tell you the duke, it is not so good to come to the mines; for, look you, the mines is not according to the disciplines of the war: the concavities of it is not sufficient; for, look you, the athversary, you may discuss unto the duke, look you, is digt himself four yard under the countermines: by Cheshu, I think a’ will plough up all, if there is not better directions.
To the mines! Tell the duke, it’s not a good idea to go to the mines; because, look, the mines aren’t set up according to the rules of war: the structure of it isn’t good enough; because, look, the enemy, you can tell the duke, look, is digging himself four yards below the countermines: by God, I think he’ll dig up everything if we don’t give better instructions.
The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the siege is given, is altogether directed by an Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i’ faith.
The Duke of Gloucester, who is in charge of the siege, is being guided entirely by an Irishman, a very brave man, really.
It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
It’s Captain Macmorris, isn’t it?
I think it be.
I think so.
By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world: I will verify as much in his beard: be has no more directions in the true disciplines of the wars, look you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy-dog.
By God, he’s a fool, as everyone knows: I’ll prove it by his beard: he has no more knowledge of the true rules of war, like the Roman rules, than a puppy dog.
Here a’ comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
Here he comes; and the Scottish captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
Captain Jamy is a marvellous falourous gentleman, that is certain; and of great expedition and knowledge in th’ aunchient wars, upon my particular knowledge of his directions: by Cheshu, he will maintain his argument as well as any military man in the world, in the disciplines of the pristine wars of the Romans.
Captain Jamy is a very honorable gentleman, that’s for sure; and he’s quick and knowledgeable in the ancient wars, based on my personal knowledge of his orders: by God, he can defend his position as well as any soldier in the world, in the tactics of the early Roman wars.
I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen.
I say good day, Captain Fluellen.
God-den to your worship, good Captain James.
Good day to you, good Captain James.
How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the mines? have the pioneers given o’er?
How’s it going, Captain Macmorris! Have you left the mines? Have the engineers given up?
By Chrish, la! tish ill done: the work ish give over, the trompet sound the retreat. By my hand, I swear, and my father’s soul, the work ish ill done; it ish give over: I would have blowed up the town, so Chrish save me, la! in an hour: O, tish ill done, tish ill done; by my hand, tish ill done!
By Christ, no! It’s badly done: the work has been called off, the trumpet sounds the retreat. By my word, I swear, and my father’s soul, the work is badly done; it’s called off: I would have blown up the town, if God help me, in an hour: Oh, it’s badly done, it’s badly done; by my word, it’s badly done!
Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will you voutsafe me, look you, a few disputations with you, as partly touching or concerning the disciplines of the war, the Roman wars, in the way of argument, look you, and friendly communication; partly to satisfy my opinion, and partly for the satisfaction, look you, of my mind, as touching the direction of the military discipline; that is the point.
Captain Macmorris, I beg you now, would you please, look you, have a few discussions with me, partly about the tactics of war, the Roman wars, in the way of reasoning, look you, and friendly conversation; partly to clarify my opinion, and partly for the satisfaction, look you, of my mind, as regarding the direction of military tactics; that’s the point.
It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captains bath: and I sall quit you with gud leve, as I may pick occasion; that sall I, marry.
It shall be very good, good faith, good captains both: and I shall leave you with good leave, as I may find the chance; that I will, indeed.
It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me: the day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the king, and the dukes: it is no time to discourse. The town is beseeched, and the trumpet call us to the breach; and we talk, and, be Chrish, do nothing: ’tis shame for us all: so God sa’ me, ’tis shame to stand still; it is shame, by my hand: and there is throats to be cut, and works to be done; and there ish nothing done, so Chrish sa’ me, la!
It’s not the time to talk, God save me: the day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the king, and the dukes: it’s not the time to talk. The town is under siege, and the trumpet calls us to the breach; and we talk, and, by God, do nothing: it’s shameful for us all: so help me God, it’s shameful to stand still; it’s shame, by my word: and there are throats to be cut, and tasks to be done; and there’s nothing done, so help me God!
By the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves to slomber, ay’ll de gud service, or ay’ll lig i’ the grund for it; ay, or go to death; and ay’ll pay ’t as valourously as I may, that sall I suerly do, that is the breff and the long. Marry, I wad full fain hear some question ’tween you tway.
By the Mass, before these eyes of mine close in sleep, I’ll do good service, or I’ll lie in the ground for it; yes, or die for it; and I’ll pay for it as bravely as I can, that I will surely do, that’s the short and the long of it. Indeed, I would love to hear some argument between you two.
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there is not many of your nation--
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there aren’t many of your nation--
Of my nation! What ish my nation? Ish a villain, and a bastard, and a knave, and a rascal. What ish my nation? Who talks of my nation?
My nation! What is my nation? It’s a villain, and a bastard, and a scoundrel, and a rascal. What is my nation? Who talks about my nation?
Look you, if you take the matter otherwise than is meant, Captain Macmorris, peradventure I shall think you do not use me with that affability as in discretion you ought to use me, look you: being as good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of war, and in the derivation of my birth, and in other particularities.
Look you, if you take it the wrong way, Captain Macmorris, perhaps I will think you don’t treat me with the respect I deserve as in You should use some discretion with me, look: being as good a man as you are, both in the arts of war, and in the details of my birth, and in other personal matters.
I do not know you so good a man as myself: so Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.
I don’t know you as a better man than myself: so God save me, I will cut off your head.
Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
Gentlemen, you’re both making a mistake with each other.
A! that’s a foul fault.
Ah! that’s a terrible mistake.
The town sounds a parley.
The town is calling for a parley.
Captain Macmorris, when there is more better opportunity to be required, look you, I will be so bold as to tell you I know the disciplines of war; and there is an end.
Captain Macmorris, when there’s a better opportunity to be had, look, I will be bold enough to say that I know the arts of war; and that’s all there is to it.