Yond' island carrions, desperate of their bones, The horsemen sit like fixed candlesticks, With torch-staves in their hand; and their poor jades Lob down their heads, dropping the hides and hips, The gum down-roping from their pale-dead eyes, And in their pale dull mouths the gimmal bit To demonstrate the life of such a battle, In life so lifeless as it shews itself. Con. They have said their prayers, and they stay for death. Dol. Shall we go send them dinners and fresh suits, And give their fasting horses provender, And after fight with them? Con. I stay but for my guard. On, to the field! I will the banner from a trumpet take, And use it for my haste. Come, come, away! The sun is high, and we outwear the day. [Exeunt. SCENE III. The English Camp. Enter the English Host; GLOSTER, BEDFORD, ExeTER, SALISBURY, and WESTMORELAND. Glo. Where is the King? Bed. The King himself is rode to view their battle. West. Of fighting men they have full threescore thousand. Exe. There's five to one; besides, they all are fresh. Salisbury. God's arm strike with us! 'tis a fearful odds. God b' wi' you, Princes all; I'll to my charge: --- my good Lord Exeter,warriors all, adieu! Bed. Farewell, good Salisbury; and good luck go with thee! Exe. Farewell, kind lord. Fight valiantly to-day: And yet I do thee wrong to mind thee of it; For thou art fram'd of the firm truth of valour. [Exit SALISBURY. Bed. He is as full of valour as of kindness; Princely in both. West. O, that we now had here Enter King HENRY. But one ten thousand of those men in England That do no work to-day. K. Hen. What's he that wishes so? My cousin Westmoreland?—No, my fair cousin : To do our country loss; and if to live, The fewer men the greater share of honour. Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost; It yearns me not if men my garments wear; I am the most offending soul alive. No, 'faith, my coz, wish not a man from England: Then will he strip his sleeve, and shew 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, Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloster,- We few, we happy few, we band of brothers: And gentlemen in England, now a-bed, Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here, And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day. Enter SALISBURY. Sal. My sovereign lord, bestow yourself with speed: The French are bravely in their battles set, And will with all expedience charge on us. K. Hen. All things are ready, if our minds be so. West. Perish the man whose mind is backward now! K. Hen. Thou dost not wish more help from England, cousin? West. God's will! my liege, would you and I alone, Without more help, could fight this royal battle. K. Hen. Why, now thou hast unwish'd five thou sand men, Which likes me better than to wish us one. You know your places: God be with you all! Mont. Tucket. Enter MONTJOY. Once more I come to know of thee, King Harry, If for thy ransom thou wilt now compound, 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. K. Hen. Who hath sent thee now? Mont. The Constable of France. K. Hen. I pray thee, bear my former answer back: Bid them achieve me, and then sell my bones. thus? The man that once did sell the lion's skin While the beast liv'd, was kill'd with hunting him. Find native graves, upon the which, I trust, And draw their honours reeking up to Heaven, Let me speak proudly: - Tell the Constable, We are but warriors for the working-day; |