Henry V · Act 4, Scene 4

Listen in app

Original

Modern English

Alarum. Excursions. Enter PISTOL, French Soldier, and Boy
Alarm sounds. Fighting breaks out. Enter PISTOL, French Soldier, and Boy
Pistol

Yield, cur!

Pistol

Surrender, dog!

French Soldier

Je pense que vous etes gentilhomme de bonne qualite.

French Soldier

I think you are a gentleman of good quality.

Pistol

Qualtitie calmie custure me! Art thou a gentleman? what is thy name? discuss.

Pistol

Quality, calm down! Are you a gentleman? What’s your name? Tell me.

French Soldier

O Seigneur Dieu!

French Soldier

Oh Lord God!

Pistol

O, Signieur Dew should be a gentleman: Perpend my words, O Signieur Dew, and mark; O Signieur Dew, thou diest on point of fox, Except, O signieur, thou do give to me Egregious ransom.

Pistol

Oh, Lord Dew should be a gentleman: Listen to me, oh Lord Dew, and pay attention; Oh Lord Dew, you’ll die like a fox, Unless, Lord, you give me A huge ransom.

French Soldier

O, prenez misericorde! ayez pitie de moi!

French Soldier

Oh, have mercy! have pity on me!

Pistol

Moy shall not serve; I will have forty moys; Or I will fetch thy rim out at thy throat In drops of crimson blood.

Pistol

One will not be enough; I want forty of them; Or I’ll cut your throat And make it spill red blood.

French Soldier

Est-il impossible d’echapper la force de ton bras?

French Soldier

Is it impossible to escape the strength of your arm?

Pistol

Brass, cur! Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat, Offer’st me brass?

Pistol

Brass, dog! You damned, rich mountain goat, You offer me brass?

French Soldier

O pardonnez moi!

French Soldier

Oh, forgive me!

Pistol

Say’st thou me so? is that a ton of moys? Come hither, boy: ask me this slave in French What is his name.

Pistol

Are you saying that to me? Is that a pile of coins? Come here, boy: ask this slave in French What’s his name.

Boy

Ecoutez: comment etes-vous appele?

Boy

Listen: what’s your name?

French Soldier

Monsieur le Fer.

French Soldier

Mister Iron.

Boy

He says his name is Master Fer.

Boy

He says his name is Master Iron.

Pistol

Master Fer! I’ll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him: discuss the same in French unto him.

Pistol

Master Iron! I’ll iron him, and mess with him, and trap him: Tell him the same in French.

Boy

I do not know the French for fer, and ferret, and firk.

Boy

I don’t know the French words for iron, mess with, or trap.

Pistol

Bid him prepare; for I will cut his throat.

Pistol

Tell him to get ready; because I’m going to cut his throat.

French Soldier

Que dit-il, monsieur?

French Soldier

What does he say, sir?

Boy

Il me commande de vous dire que vous faites vous pret; car ce soldat ici est dispose tout a cette heure de couper votre gorge.

Boy

He tells me to tell you that you should get ready, because this soldier here is ready right now to cut your throat.

Pistol

Owy, cuppele gorge, permafoy, Peasant, unless thou give me crowns, brave crowns; Or mangled shalt thou be by this my sword.

Pistol

Oh, cut your throat, by my faith, Peasant, unless you give me crowns, brave crowns; Or you’ll be chopped up by this sword of mine.

French Soldier

O, je vous supplie, pour l’amour de Dieu, me pardonner! Je suis gentilhomme de bonne maison: gardez ma vie, et je vous donnerai deux cents ecus.

French Soldier

Oh, I beg you, for the love of God, forgive me! I am a gentleman from a good family: Spare my life, and I’ll give you two hundred crowns.

Pistol

What are his words?

Pistol

What are his words?

Boy

He prays you to save his life: he is a gentleman of a good house; and for his ransom he will give you two hundred crowns.

Boy

He begs you to save his life: he is a gentleman from a good family; and for his ransom, he will give you two hundred crowns.

Pistol

Tell him my fury shall abate, and I the crowns will take.

Pistol

Tell him my anger will calm down, and I’ll take the crowns.

French Soldier

Petit monsieur, que dit-il?

French Soldier

What does he say, little sir?

Boy

Encore qu’il est contre son jurement de pardonner aucun prisonnier, neanmoins, pour les ecus que vous l’avez promis, il est content de vous donner la liberte, le franchisement.

Boy

Although it goes against his oath to forgive any prisoner, nevertheless, for the crowns you’ve promised, he is willing to give you your freedom, your release.

French Soldier

Sur mes genoux je vous donne mille remercimens; et je m’estime heureux que je suis tombe entre les mains d’un chevalier, je pense, le plus brave, vaillant, et tres distingue seigneur d’Angleterre.

French Soldier

On my knees, I give you a thousand thanks; and I consider myself lucky to have fallen into the hands of one, who I believe, is the bravest, most valorous, and highly distinguished lord of England.

Pistol

Expound unto me, boy.

Pistol

Explain it to me, boy.

Boy

He gives you, upon his knees, a thousand thanks; and he esteems himself happy that he hath fallen into the hands of one, as he thinks, the most brave, valorous, and thrice-worthy signieur of England.

Boy

He gives you, on his knees, a thousand thanks; and he considers himself lucky to have fallen into the hands of one, who he thinks, is the bravest, most valorous, and most honorable lord of England.

Pistol

As I suck blood, I will some mercy show. Follow me!

Pistol

As I drink blood, I will show some mercy. Follow me!

Boy

Suivez-vous le grand capitaine.

Boy

Follow the great captain.

Exeunt PISTOL, and French Soldier
Exeunt PISTOL, and French Soldier
Boy

I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true ’The empty vessel makes the greatest sound.’ Bardolph and Nym had ten times more valour than this roaring devil i’ the old play, that every one may pare his nails with a wooden dagger; and they are both hanged; and so would this be, if he durst steal any thing adventurously. I must stay with the lackeys, with the luggage of our camp: the French might have a good prey of us, if he knew of it; for there is none to guard it but boys.

Boy

I’ve never heard such a loud voice come from such an empty heart: but the saying is true, "The empty vessel makes the greatest sound." Bardolph and Nym had ten times more courage than this loud-mouthed devil in the old play, who everyone can ignore by trimming his nails with a wooden dagger; and they’re both hanged; and so would this guy be, if he dared to steal anything recklessly. I have to stay with the servants, with the baggage of our camp: the French could make a good attack on us, if they knew it; because there’s no one to guard it but boys.

Exit
Exit

End of Act 4, Scene 4

That's the end of this scene. Want to keep going? Pick up the next one below — or hear it narrated in the app.

Get the iOS app Get the Android app

Read the summary & analysis →

♪ Listen with the app Get it free →