On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the breach!
On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the breach!
On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to the breach!
On, on, on, on, on! To the breach, to 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.
Pray you, 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.
Pray you, corporal, stay. The knocks 're too hot; and, for mine own part, I have not a case of lives. The humour of it 's too hot; that 's the very plain-song of it.
pray you, corporal, stay. the knocks are too hot; and, for mine own part, i have
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 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 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 plain-song is most just, for humours do abound. Knocks g
Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give all my fame for a
pot of ale and safety.
Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.
Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.
Would I were in an alehouse in London! I would give all my f
And I.
If wishes would prevail with me,
My purpose should not fail with me,
But thither would I hie.
And I. If wishes would prevail with me, My purpose should not fail with me, But thither would I hie.
And I. If wishes would prevail with me, My purpose should not fail with me, But thither would I hie.
And I. If wishes would prevail with me, My purpose should no
As duly,
But not as truly,
As bird doth sing on bough.
As duly, But not as truly, As bird does sing on bough.
As duly, But not as truly, As bird does sing on bough.
as duly, but not as truly, as bird does sing on bough.
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!
Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!
Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!
Up to the breach, you dogs! Avaunt, you cullions!
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 Duke, to men of mould. Abate your rage, abate your manly rage, Abate your rage, great Duke! Good bawcock, bate your rage; use lenity, sweet chuck!
Be merciful, great Duke, to men of mould. Abate your rage, abate your manly rage, Abate your rage, great Duke! Good bawcock, bate your rage; use lenity, sweet chuck!
be merciful, great duke, to men of mould. abate your rage, abate your manly rage
These be good humours! Your honour wins bad humours.
These be good humours! Your honour wins bad humours.
These be good humours! Your honour wins bad humours.
These be good humours! Your honour wins bad humours.
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 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 has a killing tongue and a quiet sword; by the means whereof ’a breaks words, and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he has 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 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 's white-liver’d and red-fac’d; by the means whereof ’a faces it out, but fights not. For P'stol, he has a killing tongue and a quiet sword; by the means whereof ’a breaks words, and keeps whole weapons. For Nym, he has heard that men of few words 're the best men; and therefore he scorns to say h's prayers, lest ’a should be thought a coward. But h's few bad words 're match’d with as few good deeds; for ’a never broke any man’s head but h's 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 're sworn brothers in filching, and in Cala's 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 's 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 observ’d these three swashers. i am boy to them all thr
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 presently to the mines. The Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.
Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the mines. The Duke of Gloucester would speak with you.
Captain Fluellen, you must come presently to the mines. The
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 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 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 you the Duke, it is not so good to come t
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, 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, 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, to whom the order of the siege is gi
It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
It is Captain Macmorris, is it not?
I think it be.
I think it be.
I think it be.
I think it be.
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 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 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 Cheshu, he is an ass, as in the world. I will verify as m
Here ’a comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
Here ’a comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
Here ’a comes; and the Scots captain, Captain Jamy, with him.
Here ’a comes; and the Scots captain, Captain 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 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 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 a marvellous falorous gentleman, that is cer
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 gud-day, Captain Fluellen.
I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen.
I say gud-day, Captain Fluellen.
God-den to your worship, good Captain James.
God-den to your worship, good Captain James.
God-den to your worship, good Captain James.
God-den to your worship, good Captain James.
How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the mines?
Have the pioneers given o’er?
How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the mines? Have the pioneers given o’er?
How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the mines? Have the pioneers given o’er?
How now, Captain Macmorris! have you quit the mines? Have th
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 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 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 Chrish, la! ’tish ill done! The work ish give over, the t
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 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 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 beseech you now, will you voutsafe me,
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 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 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 sall be vary gud, gud feith, gud captains bath: and I sal
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 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 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 discourse, so Chrish save me. The day is ho
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 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 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 the mess, ere theise eyes of mine take themselves to slom
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there is
not many of your nation—
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there is not many of your nation—
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction, there is not many of your nation—
Captain Macmorris, I think, look you, under your correction,
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 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 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 nation! What ish my nation? Ish a villain, and a basta
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.
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.
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.
Look you, if you take the matter otherwise than is meant, Ca
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 so good a man as myself. So Chrish save me, I will cut off your head.
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 so good a man as myself. So Chrish save me
Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
Gentlemen both, you will mistake each other.
Ah! that’s a foul fault.
Ah! that’s a foul fault.
Ah! that’s a foul fault.
Ah! that’s a foul fault.
The town sounds a parley.
The town sounds a parley.
The town sounds a parley.
The town sounds a parley.
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 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 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 more better opportunity to
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.