William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.
Act IV. Scene IV.The Life of King Henry the Fifth
Pist.Yield, cur!
Fr. Sol.Je pense que vous estes le gentilhomme de bonne qualité.
Pist.Quality? Calen O custure me! Art thou a gentleman?
What is thy name? discuss.
Fr. Sol.O Seigneur Dieu!
Pist.O Signieur Dew should be a gentleman:—
Perpend my words, O Signieur Dew, and mark:
O Signieur Dew, thou diest on point of fox
Except, O signieur, thou do give to me
Egregious ransom.
Fr. Sol.O, prenez misericorde! ayez pitié de moy!
Pist.Moy shall not serve; I will have forty moys;
Or I will fetch thy rim out at thy throat
In drops of crimson blood.
Fr. Sol.Est-il impossible d’eschapper la force de ton bras?
Pist.Brass, cur!
Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat,
Offer’st me brass?
Fr. Sol.O pardonnez moy!
Pist.Sayst thou me so? is that a ton of moys?
Come hither, boy: ask me this slave in French
What is his name.
Boy.Escoutez: comment estes vous appellé?
Fr. Sol.Monsieur le Fer.
Boy.He says his name is Master Fer.
Pist.Master Fer! I’ll fer him, and firk him, and ferret him. Discuss the same in French unto him.
Boy.I do not know the French for fer, and ferret, and firk.
Pist.Bid him prepare, for I will cut his throat.
Fr. Sol.Que dit-il, monsieur?
Boy.Il me commande à vous dire que vous faites vous prest; car ce soldat icy est disposé tout à cette heure de couper vostre gorge.
Pist.Ouy, cuppele gorge, permafoy,
Peasant, unless thou give me crowns, brave crowns;
Or mangled shalt thou be by this my sword.
Fr. Sol.O! je vous supplie pour l’amour de Dieu, me pardonner! Je suis le gentilhomme de bonne maison: gardez ma vie, et je vous donneray deux cents escus.
Pist.What are his words?
Boy.He prays you to save his life: he is a gentleman of a good house; and, for his ransom he will give you two hundred crowns.
Pist.Tell him, my fury shall abate, and I
The crowns will take.
Fr. Sol.Petit monsieur, que dit-il?
Boy.Encore qu’il est contre son jurement de pardonner aucan prisonnier; neant-moins, pour les escus que vous l’avez promis, il est content de vous donner la liberté, le franchisement.
Fr. Sol.Sur mes genoux, je vous donne mille remerciemens; et je m’estime heureux que je suis tombé entre les mains d’un chevalier, je pense, le plus brave, valiant, et très distingué seigneur d’Angleterre.
Pist.Expound unto me, boy.
Boy.He gives you, upon his knees, a thousand thanks; and he esteems himself happy that he hath fallen into the hands of one—as he thinks—the most brave, valorous, and thrice-worthy signieur of England.
Pist.As I suck blood, I will some mercy show.—
Follow me![Exeunt P
Boy.Suivez vous le grand capitaine.I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true, ‘The empty vessel makes the greatest sound.’ Bardolph and Nym had ten times more valour than this roaring devil i’ the old play, that every one may pare his nails with a wooden dagger; and they are both hanged; and so would this be if he durst steal anything adventurously. I must stay with the lackeys, with the luggage of our camp: the French might have a good prey of us, if he knew of it; for there is none to guard it but boys.[Exit.