No Fear Shakespeare

Henry V

William Shakespeare

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Act 4, Scene 4, Page 2

Original Text

Modern Text


PISTOL
Brass, cur? Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat, offer’st me brass?
PISTOL
(mishearing bras, the French word for “arm,” as “brass”) Brass, you dog! You damned lazy mountain goat, do you offer me brass?

FRENCH SOLDIER
Ô, pardonnez-moi!
FRENCH SOLDIER
(speaking in French) Oh, spare 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
Really? Is that a lot of moys? Come over here, boy and ask this slave in French what his name is.

BOY
Écoutez. Comment êtes-vous appelé?
BOY
(speaking in French) Look, what’s your name?

FRENCH SOLDIER
Monsieur le Fer.
FRENCH SOLDIER
(speaking in French) Monsieur le Fer.

20
BOY
He says his name is Master Fer.
BOY
He says his name is Master Fer.


PISTOL
Master Fer. I’ll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him.
Discuss the same in French unto him.
PISTOL
Master Fer! I’ll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him: expound as much to him in French.

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

PISTOL
Bid him prepare, for I will cut his throat.
PISTOL
Tell him to prepare himself for death, for I’m going to cut his throat.

25
FRENCH SOLDIER
(to the BOY) Que dit-il, monsieur?
FRENCH SOLDIER
(speaking in French, to the BOY) What is he saying, sir?

BOY
Il me commande à vous dire que vous faites vous prêt, car ce soldat ici est disposé tout à cette heure de couper votre gorge.
BOY
(speaking in French) He told me to tell you to prepare to die, for this soldier here is of a mind to cut your throat without delay.

PISTOL
Owy, cuppele gorge, permafoy, peasant, unless thou give me crowns, brave crowns, or mangled shalt thou be by this my sword.
PISTOL
(trying to speak French) Yes, cut your throat, by God, you peasant, unless you give me gold coins, good gold coins. If not, you’ll be mangled by this sword of mine.

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