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No Fear Shakespheare

Henry V

William Shakespeare

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Act 3, Scene 2

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Enter NYM, BARDOLPH, PISTOL, and BOY
NYM, BARDOLPH, PISTOL, and the BOY enter.

BARDOLPH
On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the breach!
 BARDOLPH
On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the breach!



NYM
Pray thee, corporal, stay. The knocks are too hot, and, for
mine own part, I have not a case of lives. The humor of it is
too hot; that is the very plainsong of it.
 NYM
Please, corporal, stop! The fighting is too violent. Speaking for myself, I only have one life, not dozens. Too violent! That’s just how it is, the plain truth of it.

5




 PISTOL
“The plainsong” is most just, for humors do abound.
(sings)
   Knocks go and come. God’s vassals drop and die,
   And sword and shield
   In bloody field
   Doth win immortal fame.
PISTOL
The plain truth doesn’t lie. You can see how it is all around. Fighting comes and goes, God’s loyal servants drop and die. (he sings)
   And sword and shield
   In bloody field
   Will win immortal fame.


BOY
Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give all my
fame for a pot of ale, and safety.
 BOY
I wish I were in an alehouse in London! I would give all my glory for a mug of ale and safety.


10


 PISTOL
And I.
(sings)
   If wishes would prevail with me,
   My purpose should not fail with me,
   But thither would I hie.
PISTOL
Me too. (he sings)
   If wishes could avail me,
   My purpose would not fail me,
   It’s there that I would go.




BOY
(sings)
   As duly,
   But not as truly,
   As bird doth sing on bough.
BOY
(singing)
   As surely but more poorly
   Than birds sing on the bough.
Enter FLUELLEN
FLUELLEN enters.

FLUELLEN
Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!
 FLUELLEN
Up to the breach, you dogs! Go! Get a move on, you scrotems!
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