K. Hen. Thou dost thy office fairly. Turn thee back,
And tell thy king I do not seek him now;
But could be willing to march on to Calais
Without impeachment: for, to say the sooth,
Though 'tis no wisdom to confess so much135
Unto an enemy of craft and vantage,
My people are with sickness much enfeebled,
My numbers lessened, and those few I have
Almost no better than so many French;
Who when they were in health, I tell thee, herald,[4997]140
I thought upon one pair of English legs
Did march three Frenchmen. Yet, forgive me, God,
That I do brag thus! This your air of France
Hath blown that vice in me; I must repent.
Go therefore, tell thy master here I am;145
My ransom is this frail and worthless trunk,
My army but a weak and sickly guard;
Yet, God before, tell him we will come on,
Though France himself and such another neighbour
Stand in our way. There's for thy labour, Montjoy.[4998]150
Go, bid thy master well advise himself:
If we may pass, we will; if we be hinder'd,
We shall your tawny ground with your red blood
Discolour: and so, Montjoy, fare you well.
The sum of all our answer is but this:155
We would not seek a battle, as we are;
Nor, as we are, we say we will not shun it:[4999]
So tell your master.
Mont. I shall deliver so. Thanks to your highness.
[Exit.[5000]
Glou. I hope they will not come upon us now.160
K. Hen. We are in God's hand, brother, not in theirs.
March to the bridge; it now draws toward night:
Beyond the river we'll encamp ourselves,
And on to-morrow bid them march away. [Exeunt.
Scene VII. The French camp, near Agincourt.[5001]
Enter the Constable of France, the Lord Rambures, Orleans, Dauphin, with others.
Con. Tut! I have the best armour of the world.
Would it were day![5002]
Orl. You have an excellent armour; but let my horse
have his due.
Con. It is the best horse of Europe.5