No Fear Shakespeare

Henry V

William Shakespeare

Get this No Fear to go!

Act 5, Scene 1, Page 3

Original Text

Modern Text


FLUELLEN
Much good do you, scald knave, heartily. Nay, pray you throw none away. The skin is good for your broken coxcomb. When you take occasions to see leeks hereafter, I pray you, mock at 'em, that is all.
FLUELLEN
I sincerely hope it does you good, mangy rascal. No, don’t throw any of it away. The skin is good for your cracked head. When you see leeks in the future, I hope you keep mocking them. That’s all.

PISTOL
Good.
PISTOL
Good.

FLUELLEN
Ay, leeks is good. Hold you, there is a groat to heal your pate.
FLUELLEN
Yes, leeks are good. Wait, here’s a penny to heal your head.

PISTOL
Me, a groat?
PISTOL
Me, a penny?

55
FLUELLEN
Yes, verily, and in truth you shall take it, or I have another leek in my pocket, which you shall eat.
FLUELLEN
Yes, and you’ll take it. If not, I have another leek in my pocket that you can eat.

PISTOL
I take thy groat in earnest of revenge.
PISTOL
I’ll take this penny as a token that you’ll pay for this.

FLUELLEN
If I owe you anything, I will pay you in cudgels. You shall be a woodmonger and buy nothing of me but cudgels. God be wi' you and keep you and heal your pate.
FLUELLEN
If I owe you anything, I’ll pay you in clubbings. You’ll become a wood salesman and buy nothing but clubs from me. God be with you and keep you, and may he heal your head.
Exit
He exits.

PISTOL
All hell shall stir for this.
PISTOL
There’ll be hell to pay for this.

GOWER
Go, go. You are a counterfeit cowardly knave. Will you mock at an ancient tradition begun upon an honorable respect and worn as a memorable trophy of predeceased valor, and dare not avouch in your deeds any of your words? I have seen you gleeking and galling at this gentleman twice or thrice. You thought because he could not speak English in the native garb, he could not therefore handle an English cudgel. You find it otherwise, and henceforth let a Welsh correction teach you a good English condition. Fare you well.
GOWER
Go on, get out of here. You’re a lying, cowardly wretch. You mock an ancient tradition, born of reverence and worn in honor of brave men who have died, and then have the gall not to stand by your words. I’ve seen you bait and mock this man more than once. You thought because he didn’t speak English like a native he couldn’t handle an English club. You’ve learned otherwise. Let this be a Welsh lesson to you to behave with English manners in the future. Farewell.

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