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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare - Israel Gollancz William Shakespeare [582]

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grow, wearing leeks in their Monmouth caps; which your

Majesty know to this hour is an honourable badge of the service;

and I do believe your Majesty takes no scorn to wear the leek

upon Saint Tavy's day.

KING HENRY.

I wear it for a memorable honour;

For I am Welsh, you know, good countryman.

FLUELLEN.

All the water in Wye cannot wash your Majesty's Welsh

plood out of your pody, I can tell you that. Got pless it and

preserve it as long as it pleases his Grace and his Majesty too!

KING HENRY.

Thanks, good my countryman.

FLUELLEN.

By Jeshu, I am your Majesty's countryman, care not who

know it; I will confess it to all the 'orld: I need not be

asham'd of your Majesty, praised be Got, so long as your

Majesty is an honest man.

Enter WILLIAMS

KING HENRY.

God keep me so! Our heralds go with him:

Bring me just notice of the numbers dead

On both our parts. Call yonder fellow hither.

Exeunt heralds with MONTJOY

EXETER.

Soldier, you must come to the King.

KING HENRY.

Soldier, why wear'st thou that glove in thy cap?

WILLIAMS.

An't please your Majesty, 'tis the gage of one that I

should fight withal, if he be alive.

KING HENRY.

An Englishman?

WILLIAMS.

An't please your Majesty, a rascal that swagger'd with me

last night; who, if 'a live and ever dare to challenge this

glove, I have sworn to take him a box o' th' ear; or if I can see

my glove in his cap- which he swore, as he was a soldier, he

would wear if alive- I will strike it out soundly.

KING HENRY.

What think you, Captain Fluellen, is it fit this

soldier keep his oath?

FLUELLEN.

He is a craven and a villain else, an't please your

Majesty, in my conscience.

KING HENRY.

It may be his enemy is a gentlemen of great sort, quite

from the answer of his degree.

FLUELLEN.

Though he be as good a gentleman as the Devil is, as

Lucifier and Belzebub himself, it is necessary, look your Grace,

that he keep his vow and his oath; if he be perjur'd, see you

now, his reputation is as arrant a villain and a Jacksauce as

ever his black shoe trod upon God's ground and his earth, in my

conscience, la.

KING HENRY.

Then keep thy vow, sirrah, when thou meet'st the fellow.

WILLIAMS.

So I Will, my liege, as I live.

KING HENRY.

Who serv'st thou under?

WILLIAMS.

Under Captain Gower, my liege.

FLUELLEN.

Gower is a good captain, and is good knowledge and

literatured in the wars.

KING HENRY.

Call him hither to me, soldier.

WILLIAMS.

I will, my liege. Exit

KING HENRY. Here, Fluellen; wear thou this favour for me, and stick

it in thy cap; when Alencon and myself were down together, I

pluck'd this glove from his helm. If any man challenge this, he

is a friend to Alencon and an enemy to our person; if thou

encounter any such, apprehend him, an thou dost me love.

FLUELLEN.

Your Grace does me as great honours as can be desir'd in

the hearts of his subjects. I would fain see the man that has but

two legs that shall find himself aggrief'd at this glove,

that is

all; but I would fain see it once, an please God of his grace

that I might see.

KING HENRY.

Know'st thou Gower?

FLUELLEN.

He is my dear friend, an please you.

KING HENRY.

Pray thee, go seek him, and bring him to my tent.

FLUELLEN.

I will fetch him. Exit

KING HENRY. My Lord of Warwick and my brother Gloucester,

Follow Fluellen closely at the heels;

The glove which I have given him for a favour

May haply purchase him a box o' th' ear.

It is the soldier's: I, by bargain, should

Wear it myself. Follow, good cousin Warwick;

If that the soldier strike him, as I judge

By his blunt bearing he will keep his word,

Some sudden mischief may arise of it;

For I do know Fluellen valiant,

And touch'd with choler, hot as gunpowder,

And quickly will return an injury;

Follow, and see there be no harm between them.

Go you with me, uncle of Exeter. Exeunt

SCENE VIII. Before KING HENRY'S PAVILION

Enter GOWER and WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS.

I warrant it is to knight you, Captain.

Enter FLUELLEN

FLUELLEN.

God's will and

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