Act 4

Scene IV

The field of battle.

	Alarum. Excursions. Enter Pistol, French Soldier, and Boy.
Pistol	Yield, cur!
French Soldier	Je pense que vous êtes le gentilhomme de bonne qualité.
Pistol	Qualité calmie custore me! Art thou a gentleman? What is thy name? Discuss.
French Soldier	O Seigneur Dieu!
Pistol	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.
French Soldier	O, prenez miséricorde! ayez pitié de moi!
Pistol	Moy shall not serve; I will have forty moys; Or I will fetch thy rim out at thy throat In drops of crimson blood.
French Soldier	Est-il impossible d’échapper la force de ton bras?
Pistol	Brass, cur! Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat, Offer’st me brass?
French Soldier	O pardonnez-moi!
Pistol	Say’st thou me so? is that a ton of moys? Come hither, boy: ask me this slave in French What is his name.
Boy	Écoutez: comment êtes-vous appelé?
French Soldier	Monsieur le Fer.
Boy	He says his name is Master Fer.
Pistol	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.
Pistol	Bid him prepare; for I will cut his throat.
French Soldier	Que dit-il, monsieur?
Boy	Il me commande de vous dire que vous faites vous prêt; car ce soldat ici est disposé tout à cette heure de couper votre gorge.
Pistol	Owy, cuppele gorge, permafoy, Peasant, unless thou give me crowns, brave crowns; Or mangled shalt thou be by this my sword.
French Soldier	O, je vous supplie, pour l’amour de Dieu, me pardonner! Je suis le gentilhomme de bonne maison: gardez ma vie, et je vous donnerai deux cents écus.
Pistol	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.
Pistol	Tell him my fury shall abate, and I The crowns will take.
French Soldier	Petit monsieur, que dit-il?
Boy	Encore qu’il est contre son jurement de pardonner aucun prisonnier, néanmoins, pour les écus que vous l’avez promis, il est content de vous donner la liberté, le franchisement.
French Soldier	Sur mes genoux je vous donne mille remercîments; et je m’estime heureux que je suis tombé entre les mains d’un chevalier, je pense, le plus brave, vaillant, et très distingué seigneur d’Angleterre.
Pistol	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 seigneur of England.
Pistol	As I suck blood, I will some mercy show. Follow me!
Boy	Suivez-vous le grand capitaine. Exeunt Pistol* and French Soldier.* 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 everyone 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.