William Shakespeare 1564-1616 King Henry V John Bartlett 1919 Familiar Quotations


1
O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention!
King Henry V. Prologue.
2
Consideration, like an angel, came And whipped the offending Adam out of him.
King Henry V. Act i. Sc. 1.
3
Turn him to any cause of policy, The Gordian knot of it he will unloose, Familiar as his garter: that when he speaks, The air, a chartered libertine, is still.
King Henry V. Act i. Sc. 1.
4
Base is the slave that pays.
King Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 1.
5
Even at the turning o’ the tide.
King Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 3.
6
His nose was as sharp as a pen, and a’ babbled of green fields.
King Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 3.
7
As cold as any stone.
King Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 3.
8
Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin As self-neglecting.
King Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 4.
9
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more, Or close the wall up with our English dead! In peace there ’s nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility; But when the blast of war blows in our ears, Then imitate the action of the tiger: Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.
King Henry V. Act iii. Sc. 1.
10
And sheathed their swords for lack of argument.
King Henry V. Act iii. Sc. 1.



11
I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips, Straining upon the start.
King Henry V. Act iii. Sc. 1.
12
I would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.
King Henry V. Act iii. Sc. 2.
13
Men of few words are the best men.
King Henry V. Act iii. Sc. 2.
14
I thought upon one pair of English legs Did march three Frenchmen.
King Henry V. Act iii. Sc. 6.
15
You may as well say, that ’s a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.
King Henry V. Act iii. Sc. 7. 1
16
The hum of either army stilly sounds, That the fixed sentinels almost receive The secret whispers of each other’s watch; Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames Each battle sees the other’s umbered face; Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs Piercing the night’s dull ear, and from the tents The armourers, accomplishing the knights, With busy hammers closing rivets up, 2 Give dreadful note of preparation.
King Henry V. Act iv. Prologue.
17
There is some soul of goodness in things evil, Would men observingly distil it out.
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 1.
18
Every subject’s duty is the king’s; but every subject’s soul is his own.
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 1.
19
That ’s a perilous shot out of an elder-gun.
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 1.
20
Who with a body filled and vacant mind Gets him to rest, crammed with distressful bread.
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 1.
21
Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep.
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 1.
22
But if it be a sin to covet honour, I am the most offending soul alive.
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 3.
23
This day is called the feast of Crispian: He that outlives this day and comes safe home, Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named, And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 3.
24
Then shall our names, Familiar in his mouth 3 as household words,— Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter, Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,— Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 3.
25
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 3.
26
There is a river in Macedon; and there is also moreover a river at Monmouth;… and there is salmons in both.
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 7.
27
An arrant traitor as any is in the universal world, or in France, or in England!
King Henry V. Act iv. Sc. 8.
28
There is occasions and causes why and wherefore in all things.
King Henry V. Act v. Sc. 1.
29
By this leek, I will most horribly revenge: I eat and eat, I swear.
King Henry V. Act v. Sc. 1.
30
All hell shall stir for this.
King Henry V. Act v. Sc. 1.
31
If he be not fellow with the best king, thou shalt find the best king of good fellows.
King Henry V. Act v. Sc. 2.

Note 1.
Act iii. Sc. 6 in Dyce. [back]

Note 2.
With clink of hammers closing rivets up.—Colley Cibber: Richard III. Altered, act v. sc. 3. [back]

Note 3.
”In their mouths” in Dyce, Singer, Staunton, and White. [back]

Contents -AUTHOR INDEX -CONCORDANCE INDEX -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD