Henry V

Share
First folio
Modern text

Definitions

Key line

Enter Corporall Nym, and Lieutenant Bardolfe.Enter Corporal Nym and Lieutenant Bardolph H5 II.i.1
Bar.BARDOLPH 
Well met Corporall Nym. Well met, Corporal Nym. H5 II.i.1
Nym.NYM 
Good morrow Lieutenant Bardolfe. Good morrow, Lieutenant Bardolph. H5 II.i.2
Bar.BARDOLPH 
What, are Ancient Pistoll and you friends yet? What, are Ancient Pistol and you friends yet?ancient, aunchient (n.)
ensign, standard-bearer
H5 II.i.3
Nym.NYM 
For my part, I care not: I say little: but when time For my part, I care not. I say little; but when time H5 II.i.4
shall serue, there shall be smiles, but that shall be as it shall serve, there shall be smiles – but that shall be as it H5 II.i.5
may. I dare not fight, but I will winke and holde out mine may. I dare not fight, but I will wink and hold out minewink (v.)

old form: winke
shut one's eyes
H5 II.i.6
yron: it is a simple one, but what though? It will toste iron. It is a simple one, but what though? it will toast H5 II.i.7
Cheese, and it will endure cold, as another mans sword cheese, and it will endure cold as another man's sword H5 II.i.8
will: and there's an end. will – and there's an end. H5 II.i.9
Bar.BARDOLPH 
I will bestow a breakfast to make you friendes, I will bestow a breakfast to make you friends,bestow (v.)
give, provide, grant
H5 II.i.10
and wee'l bee all three sworne brothers to France: Let't and we'll be all three sworn brothers to France. Let'tbrother, sworn
companion-in-arms, devoted friend
H5 II.i.11
be so good Corporall Nym. be so, good Corporal Nym. H5 II.i.12
Nym.NYM 
Faith, I will liue so long as I may, that's the certaine Faith, I will live so long as I may, that's the certain H5 II.i.13
of it: and when I cannot liue any longer, I will doe as I of it; and when I cannot live any longer, I will do as I H5 II.i.14
may: That is my rest, that is the rendeuous of it. may. That is my rest, that is the rendezvous of it.rest (n.)
final stake, last resolve
H5 II.i.15
rendezvous (n.)

old form: rendeuous
last resort, final shift
Bar.BARDOLPH 
It is certaine Corporall, that he is marryed to It is certain, Corporal, that he is married to H5 II.i.16
Nell Quickly, and certainly she did you wrong, for you Nell Quickly, and certainly she did you wrong, for you H5 II.i.17
were troth-plight to her. were troth-plight to her.troth-plight (adj.)
engaged, betrothed
H5 II.i.18
Nym.NYM 
I cannot tell, Things must be as they may: men may I cannot tell; things must be as they may. Men may H5 II.i.19
sleepe, and they may haue their throats about them at sleep, and they may have their throats about them at H5 II.i.20
that time, and some say, kniues haue edges: It must be as that time, and some say knives have edges: it must be as H5 II.i.21
it may, though patience be a tyred name, yet shee will it may – though patience be a tired mare, yet she will H5 II.i.22
plodde, there must be Conclusions, well, I cannot tell. plod – there must be conclusions – well, I cannot tell. H5 II.i.23
Enter Pistoll, & Quickly.Enter Pistol and Hostess Quickly H5 II.i.24
Bar.BARDOLPH 
Heere comes Ancient Pistoll and his wife: good Here comes Ancient Pistol and his wife. Good H5 II.i.24
Corporall be patient heere. Corporal, be patient here. H5 II.i.25
NYM 
How now mine Hoaste Pistoll? How now, mine host Pistol? H5 II.i.26
Pist.PISTOL 
Base Tyke, cal'st thou mee Hoste, Base tike, call'st thou me host?base (adj.)
low-born, lowly, plebeian, of lower rank
H5 II.i.27
now by this hand I sweare I scorne the terme: Now by this hand I swear I scorn the term; H5 II.i.28
nor shall my Nel keep Lodgers. Nor shall my Nell keep lodgers. H5 II.i.29
Host.HOSTESS 
No by my troth, not long: For we cannot lodge No, by my troth, not long; for we cannot lodgetroth, by my
by my truth [exclamation emphasizing an assertion]
H5 II.i.30
and board a dozen or fourteene Gentlewomen that liue and board a dozen or fourteen gentlewomen that live H5 II.i.31
honestly by the pricke of their Needles, but it will bee honestly by the prick of their needles but it will be H5 II.i.32
thought we keepe a Bawdy-house straight. thought we keep a bawdy-house straight.straight (adv.)
straightaway, immediately, at once
H5 II.i.33
bawdy-house (n.)
brothel
Nym draws his sword H5 II.i.34.1
O welliday Lady, if he be not hewne now, we shall O well-a-day, Lady, if he be not drawn now! We shallwell-a-day (int.)
exclamation of grief, sorrow, upset, etc
H5 II.i.34
see wilful adultery and murther committed. see wilful adultery and murder committed. H5 II.i.35
Bar.BARDOLPH 
Good Lieutenant, good Corporal offer Good Lieutenant! Good Corporal! Offeroffer (v.)
attempt, start, try, make a move
H5 II.i.36
nothing heere. nothing here. H5 II.i.37
Nym.NYM 
Pish. Pish! H5 II.i.38
Pist.PISTOL 
Pish for thee, Island dogge: thou prickeard cur of Island. Pish for thee, Iceland dog! thou prick-eared cur of Iceland!Iceland (n.)
country known at the time for its long-haired dogs
H5 II.i.39
Host.HOSTESS 
Good Corporall Nym shew thy valor, and put Good Corporal Nym, show thy valour, and put H5 II.i.40
vp your sword. up your sword. H5 II.i.41
Nym.NYM 
Will you shogge off? I would haue you solus. Will you shog off? I would have you solus.shog, shog off (v.)

old form: shogge
go away, be gone, get along
H5 II.i.42
solus (adv.)
alone, on one's own
He sheathes his sword H5 II.i.43.1
Pist.PISTOL 
Solus, egregious dog? O Viper vile; Solus,’ egregious dog? O viper vile!egregious (adj.)
shocking, outrageous, flagrant
H5 II.i.43
The solus in thy most meruailous face, The ‘ solus ’ in thy most mervailous face!mervailous (adj.)

old form: meruailous
marvellous, amazing, remarkable
H5 II.i.44
the solus in thy teeth, and in thy throate, The ‘ solus ’ in thy teeth and in thy throat, H5 II.i.45
and in thy hatefull Lungs, yea in thy Maw perdy; And in thy hateful lungs, yea, in thy maw, perdy!maw (n.)
belly, stomach; throat, gullet
H5 II.i.46
perdie, perdy (int.)
[French 'par Dieu'] by God
and which is worse, within thy nastie mouth. And, which is worse, within thy nasty mouth! H5 II.i.47
I do retort the solus in thy bowels, I do retort the ‘ solus ’ in thy bowels,retort (v.)
repay, pay back, recompense
H5 II.i.48
for I can take, and Pistols cocke is vp, For I can take, and Pistol's cock is up,take (v.)
strike, hit, catch
H5 II.i.49
cock (n.)

old form: cocke
[of a gun] pistol-hammer, cocking-piece
and flashing fire will follow. And flashing fire will follow. H5 II.i.50
Nym.NYM 
I am not Barbason, you cannot coniure mee: I haue I am not Barbason; you cannot conjure me. I haveBarbason (n.)
[pron: 'bahrbason] in Christian tradition, the name of a devil
H5 II.i.51
conjure (v.)

old form: coniure
expel evil spirits from, exorcise
an humor to knocke you indifferently well: If you grow an humour to knock you indifferently well. If you growhumour (n.)

old form: humor
fancy, whim, inclination, caprice
H5 II.i.52
fowle with me Pistoll, I will scoure you with my Rapier, foul with me, Pistol, I will scour you with my rapier,scour (v.)

old form: scoure
clear out, quickly remove, cleanse
H5 II.i.53
foul (adj.)

old form: fowle
[of a pistol-barrel after firing] dirty, clogged
rapier (n.)
light sharp-pointed sword used for thrusting
as I may, in fayre tearmes. If you would walke off, I would as I may, in fair terms. If you would walk off, I would H5 II.i.54
pricke your guts a little in good tearmes, as I may, and prick your guts a little, in good terms, as I may, and H5 II.i.55
that's the humor of it. that's the humour of it.humour (n.)

old form: humor
style, method, way, fashion
H5 II.i.56
Pist.PISTOL 
O Braggard vile, and damned furious wight, O braggart vile, and damned furious wight!wight (n.)
[archaism] person, human being
H5 II.i.57
The Graue doth gape, and doting death is neere, The grave doth gape, and doting death is near: H5 II.i.58
Therefore exhale. Therefore exhale!exhale (v.)
draw forth [a sword]
H5 II.i.59
They both draw H5 II.i.60
Bar.BARDOLPH 
Heare me, heare me what I say: Hee that strikes Hear me, hear me what I say! He that strikes H5 II.i.60
the first stroake, Ile run him vp to the hilts, as I am a the first stroke, I'll run him up to the hilts, as I am a H5 II.i.61
soldier. soldier. H5 II.i.62
Draws H5 II.i.63.1
Pist.PISTOL 
An oath of mickle might, and fury shall abate. An oath of mickle might, and fury shall abate.mickle (adj.)
great, much, large
H5 II.i.63
Pistol and Nym sheathe their swords H5 II.i.64
Giue me thy fist, thy fore-foote to me giue: Give me thy fist, thy forefoot to me give; H5 II.i.64
spirites are most tall. Thy spirits are most tall.tall (adj.)
brave, valiant, bold
H5 II.i.65
Nym.NYM 
I will cut thy throate one time or other in faire termes, I will cut thy throat one time or other, in fair terms, H5 II.i.66
that is the humor of it. that is the humour of it. H5 II.i.67
Pistoll.PISTOL 
Couple a gorge, Couple a gorge! H5 II.i.68
that is the word. I defie thee againe. That is the word. I thee defy again! H5 II.i.69
O hound of Creet, think'st thou my spouse to get? O hound of Crete, think'st thou my spouse to get?Crete (n.)
Mediterranean island, known for its dogs
H5 II.i.70
No, to the spittle goe, No, to the spital go,spital (n.)

old form: spittle
hospital
H5 II.i.71
and from the Poudring tub of infamy, And from the powdering tub of infamypowdering-tub (n.)

old form: Poudring tub
sweating-tub for the treatment of venereal disease
H5 II.i.72
fetch forth the Lazar Kite of Cressids kinde, Fetch forth the lazar kite of Cressid's kind,kite (n.)
bird of prey; thieving bird [of ill omen; also, strong term of abuse]
H5 II.i.73
lazar (adj.)
leprous
Cressid, Cressida
fickle daughter of Calchas, a priest of Troy; beloved by Troilus, a Trojan prince, she deserted him for Diomed; character in Troilus and Cressida
Doll Teare-sheete, she by name, and her espouse. Doll Tearsheet she by name, and her espouse.espouse (v.)
unite (in marriage), contract
H5 II.i.74
I haue, and I will hold the Quondam Quickely I have, and I will hold, the quondam Quicklyquondam (adj.)
former, erstwhile, previous
H5 II.i.75
for the onely shee: and Pauca, there's enough For the only she; and – pauca, there's enough.she (n.)

old form: shee
lady, woman, girl
H5 II.i.76
to go to. Go to! H5 II.i.77
Enter the Boy.Enter the Boy H5 II.i.78
Boy.BOY 
Mine Hoast Pistoll, you must come to my Mayster, and Mine host Pistol, you must come to my master – and H5 II.i.78
your Hostesse: He is very sicke, & would to bed. Good you, Hostess: he is very sick, and would to bed. Good H5 II.i.79
Bardolfe, put thy face betweene his sheets, and do the Bardolph, put thy face between his sheets, and do the H5 II.i.80
Office of a Warming-pan: Faith, he's very ill. office of a warming-pan. Faith, he's very ill.office (n.)
role, position, place, function
H5 II.i.81
Bard.BARDOLPH 
Away you Rogue. Away, you rogue! H5 II.i.82
Host.HOSTESS 
By my troth he'l yeeld the Crow a pudding one By my troth, he'll yield the crow a pudding onepudding (n.)
type of large savoury dish; dumpling, pasty
H5 II.i.83
of these dayes: the King has kild his heart. Good of these days; the King has killed his heart. Good H5 II.i.84
Husband come home presently. husband, come home presently.presently (adv.)
immediately, instantly, at once
H5 II.i.85
ExitExit with Boy H5 II.i.85
Bar.BARDOLPH 
Come, shall I make you two friends. Wee must Come, shall I make you two friends? We must H5 II.i.86
to France together: why the diuel should we keep kniues to France together: why the devil should we keep knives H5 II.i.87
to cut one anothers throats? to cut one another's throats? H5 II.i.88
Pist.PISTOL 
Let floods ore-swell, and fiends for food howle on. Let floods o'erswell, and fiends for food howl on!overswell , over-swell (v.)

old form: ore-swell
flood, inundate, overflow
H5 II.i.89
Nym.NYM 
You'l pay me the eight shillings I won of you at You'll pay me the eight shillings I won of you atshilling (n.)
coin valued at twelve old pence or one twentieth of a pound
H5 II.i.90
Betting? betting? H5 II.i.91
Pist. PISTOL 
Base is the Slaue that payes. Base is the slave that pays!base (adj.)
dishonourable, low, unworthy
H5 II.i.92
Nym.NYM 
That now I wil haue: that's the humor of it. That now I will have; that's the humour of it. H5 II.i.93
Pist.PISTOL 
As manhood shal compound: push home. As manhood shall compound. Push home!compound (v.)
agree, settle
H5 II.i.94
DrawThey draw H5 II.i.95
Bard.BARDOLPH 
By this sword, hee that makes the first thrust, By this sword, he that makes the first thrust, H5 II.i.95
Ile kill him: By this sword, I wil. I'll kill him! By this sword, I will. H5 II.i.96
Pi.PISTOL 
Sword is an Oath, & Oaths must haue their course Sword is an oath, and oaths must have their course.course (n.)
habit, custom, practise, normal procedure
H5 II.i.97
He sheathes his sword H5 II.i.98.1
Bar.BARDOLPH 
Coporall Nym, & thou wilt be friends be Corporal Nym, an thou wilt be friends, beand, an (conj.)
if, whether
H5 II.i.98
frends, and thou wilt not, why then be enemies with me friends: an thou wilt not, why then be enemies with me H5 II.i.99
to: prethee put vp. too. Prithee put up. H5 II.i.100
NYM 
I shall have my eight shillings I won of you at betting? H5 II.i.101
Pist.PISTOL 
A Noble shalt thou haue, and present pay, A noble shalt thou have, and present pay;noble (n.)
English gold coin, worth one third of a pound
H5 II.i.102
and Liquor likewise will I giue to thee, And liquor likewise will I give to thee, H5 II.i.103
and friendshippe shall combyne, and brotherhood. And friendship shall combine, and brotherhood. H5 II.i.104
Ile liue by Nymme, & Nymme shall liue by me, I'll live by Nym, and Nym shall live by me. H5 II.i.105
is not this iust? For I shal Sutler be Is not this just? For I shall sutler besutler (n.)
provision-seller to the army
H5 II.i.106
vnto the Campe, and profits will accrue. Unto the camp, and profits will accrue. H5 II.i.107
Giue mee thy hand. Give me thy hand. H5 II.i.108
Nym sheathes his sword H5 II.i.109
Nym.NYM 
I shall haue my Noble? I shall have my noble? H5 II.i.109
Pist.PISTOL 
In cash, most iustly payd. In cash most justly paid. H5 II.i.110
Nym.NYM 
Well, then that the humor of't. Well then, that's the humour of't. H5 II.i.111
Enter Hostesse.Enter Hostess H5 II.i.112
Host.HOSTESS 
As euer you come of women, come in quickly As ever you came of women, come in quickly H5 II.i.112
to sir Iohn: A poore heart, hee is so shak'd of a burning to Sir John. Ah, poor heart! he is so shaked of a burning H5 II.i.113
quotidian Tertian, that it is most lamentable to behold. quotidian tertian that it is most lamentable to behold.quotidian (n.)
type of fever with attacks every day
H5 II.i.114
tertian (n.)
type of fever with attacks every third day
Sweet men, come to him. Sweet men, come to him. H5 II.i.115
Nym.NYM 
The King hath run bad humors on the Knight, that's The King hath run bad humours on the knight, that'srun (v.)
pass, spread, bring, cause to flow
H5 II.i.116
humour (n.)

old form: humors
secretion, fluid, juice
the euen of it. the even of it.even (n.)

old form: euen
plain truth, straightforward explanation
H5 II.i.117
Pist.PISTOL 
Nym, thou hast spoke the right, Nym, thou hast spoke the right; H5 II.i.118
his heart is fracted and corroborate. His heart is fracted and corroborate.fracted (adj.)
broken
H5 II.i.119
corroborate (adj.)
[unclear meaning; perhaps a malapropism] strengthened, fortified
Nym.NYM 
The King is a good King, but it must bee as it may: he The King is a good king, but it must be as it may: he H5 II.i.120
passes some humors, and carreeres. passes some humours and careers.career (n.)

old form: carreeres
gambol, capering, nimble movement
H5 II.i.121
pass (v.)
use, show, employ
humour (n.)

old form: humors
fancy, whim, inclination, caprice
Pist.PISTOL 
Let vs condole the Knight, for (Lambekins) we will liue. Let us condole the knight; for, lambkins, we will live.condole (v.)
grieve with, express sympathy with
H5 II.i.122
Exeunt H5 II.i.122
 Previous Act II, Scene I Next  
x

Jump directly to