On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the breach!
Forward, forward, forward, forward, forward! To the opening in the wall, to the opening in the wall!
Let's go, go, go, go, go! Break through that wall, break through!
go go go through the breach
Pray thee, corporal, stay. The knocks are too hot; and, for mine own
part, I have not a case of lives. The humour of it is too hot; that is
the very plain-song of it.
Wait, wait, soldier. The blows are too fierce; and for my part, I don't have multiple lives. The intensity of it is too fierce; that's exactly what it comes down to.
Hold up, corporal. These hits are coming too hard, and honestly, I only have one life. The whole thing is way too intense—that's just the basic truth of it.
wait up this is too crazy i only got one life
The plain-song is most just, for humours do abound.
Knocks go and come; God’s vassals drop and die;
And sword and shield,
In bloody field,
Doth win immortal fame.
The basic truth is completely accurate—intensities do grow. Blows come and go; God's servants drop and die; And sword and shield, In bloody field, Wins eternal glory.
Yeah, he's got a point there—things do get heated. Blows hit us and move on; God's soldiers fall and die; And with sword and shield, On the battlefield, You win lasting fame.
truth people fight, people die sword and shield bring glory
Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give all my fame for a
pot of ale and safety.
I wish I were in a pub in London! I would give up all my reputation for a mug of ale and safety.
Man, I'd give anything to be in a London bar right now. I'd trade everything for a beer and not dying.
wish i was in london in a bar with a drink and alive
And I.
If wishes would prevail with me,
My purpose should not fail with me,
But thither would I hie.
And so would I. If wishes could work for me, My plan would succeed, But there is where I would go.
Same here. If I could just make my wish happen, I'd follow through, But that's where I'd be heading.
me too if wishes worked i'd be gone already
As duly,
But not as truly,
As bird doth sing on bough.
As loyally, But not as genuinely, As a bird sings on a branch.
With the same commitment, But not as sincerely, As a bird chirps on a limb.
loyal but not real like a bird on a branch
Fluellen is the play's great pedant — obsessed with 'the disciplines of the pristine wars of the Romans' and punctilious about military procedure. His Welsh accent ('look you,' 'by Cheshu,' 'pridge' for 'bridge') marks him as an outsider in the English army who compensates with absolute expertise. Watch for how his formality and his earnestness coexist with genuine courage.
Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!
Forward to the opening in the wall, you cowards! Get out of here, you base men!
Get up there to that breach, you chickens! Out of my way, you lowlifes!
move it cowards get going
Be merciful, great Duke, to men of mould.
Abate thy rage, abate thy manly rage,
Abate thy rage, great Duke!
Good bawcock, bate thy rage; use lenity, sweet chuck!
Be merciful, great leader, to mortal men. Calm your anger, calm your violent rage, Calm your anger, great leader! Good friend, control your rage; show mercy, sweet friend!
Have mercy, powerful general, on us regular soldiers. Take it easy, cool down your anger, Chill out, great leader! Come on buddy, stop the rage; be kind, sweetheart!
mercy calm down be kind
These be good humours! Your honour wins bad humours.
These are good attitudes! But your honor loses points with bad attitudes.
Now that's a good temperament! But sir, you're actually losing respect with that bad mood.
good moves but they hurt your rep
As young as I am, I have observ’d these three swashers. I am boy to
them all three; but all they three, though they would serve me, could
not be man to me; for indeed three such antics do not amount to a man.
For Bardolph, he is white-liver’d and red-fac’d; by the means whereof
’a faces it out, but fights not. For Pistol, he hath a killing tongue
and a quiet sword; by the means whereof ’a breaks words, and keeps
whole weapons. For Nym, he hath heard that men of few words are the
best men; and therefore he scorns to say his prayers, lest ’a should be
thought a coward. But his few bad words are match’d with as few good
deeds; for ’a never broke any man’s head but his own, and that was
against a post when he was drunk. They will steal anything, and call it
purchase. Bardolph stole a lute-case, bore it twelve leagues, and sold
it for three half-pence. Nym and Bardolph are sworn brothers in
filching, and in Calais they stole a fire-shovel. I knew by that piece
of service the men would carry coals. They would have me as familiar
with men’s pockets as their gloves or their handkerchers; which makes
much against my manhood, if I should take from another’s pocket to put
into mine; for it is plain pocketing up of wrongs. I must leave them,
and seek some better service. Their villainy goes against my weak
stomach, and therefore I must cast it up.
As young as I am, I have watched these three warriors. I am assistant to all three of them; but all three, even if they wanted to serve me, could not match me as a man; because three such ridiculous characters do not add up to one real man. As for Bardolph, he is cowardly but looks bold; by means of which he bluffs it, but doesn't actually fight. As for Pistol, he has a deadly way with words and a sword that stays in its sheath; by means of which he breaks words but keeps his weapons intact. As for Nym, he has heard that men of few words are the best men; and therefore he refuses to pray, so no one thinks he's a coward. But his few bad words are matched with just as few good deeds; because he never hit any man's head except his own, and that was against a post when he was drunk. They will steal anything and call it business. Bardolph stole a music case, carried it twelve miles, and sold it for almost nothing. Nym and Bardolph are sworn partners in stealing, and in Calais they stole a fire tool. I knew from that job that the men would stand for anything. They wanted me to be as comfortable stealing from men's pockets as they are with their gloves or their handkerchiefs; which seriously hurts my reputation, if I should take from another's pocket to put into mine; because it is just putting up with wrongs. I have to leave them and find better work. Their crime goes against my conscience, and therefore I have to get rid of it.
Look, I'm young, but I've had a lot of time to size up these three warriors. They're supposed to be my bosses, but honestly, all three of them together wouldn't add up to one real soldier. Bardolph? He looks tough but he's actually a coward—he talks a big game but never actually fights. Pistol? He throws around a lot of aggressive words but his sword never sees action—all talk, no action. Nym? He's heard that quiet guys are the toughest, so he won't even pray because he's worried someone will think he's scared. But his few bad words aren't backed up by any good deeds. The only time he actually hit anyone was his own head, against a wall when he was drunk. These guys steal everything and just call it business deals. Bardolph literally stole a guitar case once, carried it miles away, and sold it for nothing. Nym and Bardolph are basically partners in crime—they even stole a shovel together in France. I can tell these guys will take any disrespect. They want me to be just as comfortable as them reaching into people's pockets—like it's no big deal. But that would completely kill my reputation as a good person. I can't do that. I'm out. Their criminal behavior makes me sick, so I've got to leave.
watched these three clowns they suck at fighting they just steal i can't be like them im leaving
Macmorris's outburst when Fluellen refers to 'your nation' has been read as one of the most politically sensitive moments in Shakespeare. Ireland in 1599, when the play was written, was in the middle of the Nine Years' War — a major Irish rebellion against English rule. An Irish captain serving in an English army was a fraught figure. When Macmorris erupts — 'What is my nation?' — he may be hearing an insult (his nation is filled with villains and knaves), but he also raises a genuine question the play never resolves: what is his national identity? Is he Irish? English? Something else? Shakespeare populates the Henry V army with representatives of the British Isles' four nations — English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish — performing unity under the English crown. But Macmorris's question punctures that neat picture. The union is not as seamless as the play sometimes pretends.
Gower is the play's straight man among the officers — English, practical, moderate, and often the voice that stops arguments before they become violence. He makes clear-eyed assessments of everyone around him and is usually right.
Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the mines.
The Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.
Captain Fluellen, you must come right away to the mines. The Duke of Gloucester wants to speak with you.
Captain Fluellen, you need to get over to the mines right now. The Duke of Gloucester wants to talk to you.
fluellen mines now duke wants u
To the mines! Tell you the Duke, it is not so good to come to the
mines; for, look you, the mines is not according to the disciplines of
the war. The concavities of it is not sufficient; for, look you, the
athversary, you may discuss unto the Duke, look you, is digt himself
four yard under the countermines. By Cheshu, I think ’a will plow up
all, if there is not better directions.
To the mines! Tell the Duke, it is not so good to come to the mines; because, you see, the mines are not according to the strategies of war. The structure of them is not sufficient; because, you see, the enemy, you can tell the Duke, look, has dug himself four yards under the counter-mines. By God, I think he will destroy everything, if there are not better plans.
The mines! Tell the Duke, it's not a good idea to go to the mines; because look, they're not set up right according to military strategy. The structure isn't deep enough; because look, the enemy—you can tell the Duke this—has already dug himself four yards deeper under our counter-mines. By God, I think he'll blow everything up if we don't come up with a better plan.
mines bad idea enemy dug too deep need better plan
The Duke of Gloucester, to whom the order of the siege is given, is
altogether directed by an Irishman, a very valiant gentleman, i’ faith.
The Duke of Gloucester, who is in charge of the siege operations, is completely directed by an Irishman, a very brave officer, truly.
The Duke of Gloucester, who's running this siege, is basically following advice from an Irishman—and the guy is actually really brave and good at this.
duke takes orders from an irish captain he's legit brave
It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
That must be Captain Macmorris, is it not?
That's got to be Captain Macmorris, yeah?
thats him right?
I think it be.
I think so.
Yeah, I think so.
yeah
By Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world. I will verify as much in his
beard. He has no more directions in the true disciplines of the wars,
look you, of the Roman disciplines, than is a puppy-dog.
By God, he is a complete idiot, the worst in the world. I will prove as much to his face. He knows no more about the real strategies of war—look, about Roman military strategy—than a puppy-dog does.
By God, he's an absolute idiot, the worst you could find. I'll tell him that right to his face. He doesn't know anything about actual military strategy—Roman warfare or anything—he's clueless as a puppy.
macmorris is an idiot i'll tell him he knows nothing
Here ’a comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
Here he comes; and the Scottish captain, Captain Jamy, is accompanying him.
And here comes Macmorris now, with Captain Jamy, the Scottish officer, right beside him.
macmorris jamy with him
Captain Jamy is a marvellous falorous gentleman, that is certain; and
of great expedition and knowledge in the anchient wars, upon my
particular knowledge of his directions. By Cheshu, he will maintain his
argument as well as any military man in the world, in the disciplines
of the pristine wars of the Romans.
Captain Jamy is an absolutely brave officer, that is certain; and of great speed and knowledge in the ancient wars, from my personal knowledge of his strategies. By God, he can argue about military tactics as well as any military officer in the world, in the strategies of the original Roman wars.
Captain Jamy is definitely an extremely brave officer; and he knows military tactics and moves fast—I know his work personally. By God, he can debate military strategy as well as any real military expert in the world when it comes to the ancient Roman way of fighting.
jamy is brave knows ancient warfare good strategist
Captain Jamy is the Scottish officer, speaking in dense Scots dialect. Shakespeare treats him with more respect than the comic stereotypes of the other 'national' captains — Jamy is genuinely willing to fight and genuinely curious about tactics. Watch for how he's the peacekeeper in the quarrel between Fluellen and Macmorris.
I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen.
I say good day, Captain Fluellen.
Good day to you, Captain Fluellen.
hey fluellen
God-den to your worship, good Captain James.
Good day to you, sir, good Captain James.
Good day to you too, good Captain James.
hey jamy
How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the mines?
Have the pioneers given o’er?
How now, Captain Macmorris! have you given up the mines? Have the engineers stopped working?
So, Captain Macmorris! Have you abandoned the mines? Have the soldiers given up digging?
macmorris you quit the mines? workers stopped?
The scene with Fluellen (Welsh), Macmorris (Irish), Jamy (Scottish), and Gower (English) is Shakespeare's deliberate showcase of the British Isles under one military command. Each captain is marked by distinct dialect and temperament, but all serve Henry. The political context matters: in 1599, Elizabeth I had no male heir, and the question of who would succeed her — possibly James VI of Scotland — was pressing. Shakespeare's vision of harmonious British partnership, however comedic, had real political resonance. But notice: the harmony is fractious, nearly violent, and only barely held together by the lucky timing of a parley. Fluellen and Macmorris come to the edge of drawn swords before Harfleur's surrender interrupts them. Shakespeare shows the union working — but only just.
Macmorris is Shakespeare's Irish captain — furious, impatient, and explosively direct. His question 'What ish my nation?' is the most politically charged line in the play. Watch for how his impatience contrasts with Fluellen's pedantry: both are obsessed with doing things right, but they disagree on what that means.
By Chrish, la! ’tish ill done! The work ish give over, the trompet
sound the retreat. By my hand I swear, and my father’s soul, the work
ish ill done; it ish give over. I would have blowed up the town, so
Chrish save me, la! in an hour. O, ’tish ill done, ’tish ill done; by
my hand, ’tish ill done!
By God, look! It is done badly! The work is given up, the trumpet sounds the retreat. By my hand I swear, and my father's spirit, the work is done badly; it is given up. I would have blown up the town, by God save me, in an hour. Oh, it is done badly, it is done badly; by my hand, it is done badly!
By God, man! This is terrible! The work is stopped, the trumpet's calling retreat. I swear on my life and my father's soul, this is all wrong; they've stopped it. I would have blown that town to pieces, God help me, in just an hour. Oh, this is awful, this is awful; I'm telling you, this is all wrong!
this is bad work stopped should've blown it up
Captain Macmorris, I beseech you now, will you voutsafe me, look you, a
few disputations with you, as partly touching or concerning the
disciplines of the war, the Roman wars, in the way of argument, look
you, and friendly communication; partly to satisfy my opinion, and
partly for the satisfaction, look you, of my mind, as touching the
direction of the military discipline; that is the point.
Captain Macmorris, I ask you now, will you allow me, you see, a few arguments with you, partly about the strategies of war, the Roman wars, as a debate, look, and friendly discussion; partly to satisfy my thinking, and partly for the satisfaction, you see, of my mind, regarding the direction of military strategy; that is the point.
Captain Macmorris, I'm asking you now, would you let me, you know, have a few arguments with you about military strategy—the Roman way of war—just as a friendly debate and conversation; partly to work through my own thinking, and partly to put my mind at ease about how military strategy should work; that's really what I want.
macmorris let's debate warfare roman strategy please
It sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captains bath: and I sall quit you
with gud leve, as I may pick occasion; that sall I, marry.
It will be very good, in good faith, good captains both: and I will answer you when I get the chance, as I may pick the opportunity; that I will, indeed.
That would be great, honestly, you both are good captains: and I'll jump in and answer when I get a chance to speak up; I definitely will.
sounds good ill answer when i can
It is no time to discourse, so Chrish save me. The day is hot, and the
weather, and the wars, and the King, and the Dukes. It is no time to
discourse. The town is beseech’d, and the trumpet call us to the
breach, and we talk, and, be Chrish, do nothing. ’Tis shame for us all.
So God sa’ me, ’tis shame to stand still; it is shame, by my hand; and
there is throats to be cut, and works to be done; and there ish nothing
done, so Chrish sa’ me, la!
It is no time to debate, by God save me. The day is hot, and the weather, and the wars, and the King, and the Dukes. It is no time to debate. The town is being attacked, and the trumpet calls us to the opening in the wall, and we talk, and, by God, do nothing. It is shame for us all. By God, it is shame to stand still; it is shame, by my hand; and there are throats to be cut, and work to be done; and there is nothing done, by God save me, look!
There's no time for talking, by God. The day is hot, and the weather stinks, and there's a war on, and the King and the Dukes are watching. This is not the time for discussion. The town is being attacked, and the trumpet is calling us to break through, and we're just standing here talking, and, by God, doing nothing. This is a disgrace for all of us. By God, it's shameful to just stand here; it's shameful, I'm telling you; and there are enemies to kill and work to get done; but nothing is getting done, by God, nothing!
stop talking no time town under attack do something
By the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves to slomber, I’ll
de gud service, or I’ll lig i’ the grund for it; ay, or go to death;
and I’ll pay’t as valorously as I may, that sall I suerly do, that is
the breff and the long. Marry, I wad full fain heard some question
’tween you tway.
By God, before these eyes of mine take themselves to sleep, I will do good service, or I will lie in the ground for it; or go to death; and I will pay it as bravely as I can, that I will surely do, that is the brief and the long of it. Indeed, I would very much like to hear some argument between you two.
By God, before I close these eyes and go to sleep, I will do good fighting, or I will be buried for it; or I'll die trying; and I will pay the price as bravely as I can, I definitely will, that's the bottom line. Honestly, I'd really like to hear you two have it out.
ill fight hard or die trying but please let yall argue first
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there is
not many of your nation—
Captain Macmorris, I think, you see, with your permission, there are not many of your nationality—
Captain Macmorris, I think, if you don't mind, there aren't a lot of guys from your country—
macmorris i think theres not many of your people—
Of my nation! What ish my nation? Ish a villain, and a bastard, and a
knave, and a rascal? What ish my nation? Who talks of my nation?
Of my nationality! What is my nationality? Is a criminal, and a bastard, and a crook, and a scoundrel? What is my nationality? Who is talking about my nationality?
My nationality! What is that supposed to mean? Am I a criminal and a bastard and a jerk and a scumbag? What are you getting at with my nationality? Who does this guy think he is bringing up my nationality?
my nationality?? what does that mean? who talks like that??
Look you, if you take the matter otherwise than is meant, Captain
Macmorris, peradventure I shall think you do not use me with that
affability as in discretion you ought to use me, look you, being as
good a man as yourself, both in the disciplines of war, and in the
derivation of my birth, and in other particularities.
You see, if you take the meaning differently than is intended, Captain Macmorris, perhaps I will think you do not treat me with that friendliness that in reason you should treat me, you see, being as good a man as yourself, both in military strategy, and in the status of my birth, and in other respects.
Look, if you're taking what I said the wrong way, Captain Macmorris, then maybe I'll think you're not treating me with the friendliness you should be, you know, seeing as I'm just as good a man as you are, both when it comes to military strategy and my family background and other things.
dont take it wrong im as good as you at war and birth
I do not know you so good a man as myself. So Chrish save me,
I will cut off your head.
I do not know you to be as good a man as myself. By God, I will cut off your head.
I don't think you're as good a man as me. By God, I'll kill you.
youre not as good im cutting you down
Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
Gentlemen both, you will misunderstand each other.
Both of you, you're getting the wrong idea about each other.
stop youre both wrong
Ah! that’s a foul fault.
Oh! that's a serious mistake.
Whoa! That's a bad move.
oh no bad idea
The town sounds a parley.
The town sounds a call for peace talks.
The town is signaling they want to talk.
town wants to talk
Captain Macmorris, when there is more better opportunity to be
required, look you, I will be so bold as to tell you I know the
disciplines of war; and there is an end.
Captain Macmorris, when there is a better opportunity available, you see, I will be so bold as to tell you I know about military strategy; and there is an end to it.
Captain Macmorris, when we get a better chance to talk, I will definitely tell you that I know how to fight a war; and that's the end of this discussion.
later macmorris ill tell u i know war
The Reckoning
Scene 3-1 ended with Henry's magnificent battle cry. Scene 3-2 opens with three men who were presumably in the room for that speech, now refusing to go anywhere near the breach. The Boy's soliloquy is one of the play's great satirical passages: a child cataloging the cowardice and petty theft of the grown men he serves. Then Fluellen arrives with his Roman military obsession, followed by Macmorris in a fury of frustrated Irish energy, and the scene ends on Shakespeare's most loaded question: 'What ish my nation?' — an angry question about identity that the play can't quite answer.
If this happened today…
The motivational speech in the all-hands meeting was fantastic. Now it's 9:15 AM and the three guys who were supposed to launch the campaign are hiding in the break room arguing about whether they should go. The intern who's been watching all this for weeks writes in their journal: 'Bardolph talks a big game but won't do the hard stuff. Pistol says brave things and carries a quiet sword. Nym thinks silence makes him look wise but he's never actually done anything. They steal everything and call it resourceful. I need a better job.' Meanwhile in the server room, the DevOps lead is lecturing the Irish engineer about best practices while the Irish engineer screams that the thing needs to go LIVE RIGHT NOW and someone needs to STOP TALKING.