Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

PISTOL

in Henry the Fifth — Shakespeare, William

Metadata

PlayHenry the Fifth
AuthorShakespeare, William
Year (catalogued)1600
First performance1599
Decade1600s
GenreHistory
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyLord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Speech prefix(es)Pist.
Words816
Characters4259
Typicality0.45 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11975
BritDrama no.1183
ClusterCluster 11 — Tosspots & tavern railers

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

Base slave, callest thou me host? Now by gads lugges I swear, I scorn the title, Nor shall my Nell keep lodging. What dost thou push, thou prickeard cur of Iceland: Solus egregious dog, that solus in thy throat, And in thy lungs, and which is worse, within Thy mesfull mouth, I do retort that solus in thy Bowels, and in thy Jaw, perdy: for I can talk, And Pistolls flashing firy cock is up. Oh braggart vile, and damned furious wight, The Grave does gape, and groaning Death is near, therefore exall. And oath of much might, and fury shall abate. Couple gorge is the word, I thee defy again: A damned hound, thinkest thou my spouse to get? No, to the powdering tub of infamy, Fetch forth the lazar kite of Cresides kind, Doll Tear-sheet, she by name, and her espowse I have, and I will hold, the quandom quickly, For the only she and Paco, there it is enough. Base is the slave that pays. As manhood shall compound. They draw. Sword is and oath, and oaths must have their course. A noble shalt thou have, and ready pay, And liquour likewise will I give to thee, And friendship shall combined and brotherhood: I'll live by Nim as Nim shall live by me: Is not this joust? for I shall Sut er be Unto the Camp, and profit will occrue. In cash most truly paid. Let us condoll the knight: for lamkins we will live. No fur, no fur. Clear up thy cristalles, Look to my chattels and my moveables. Trust none: the word is pitch and pay: Men's words are wafer cakes, And holdfast is the only dog my deer. Therefore cophetua be thy counsellor, Touch her soft lips and partly. Keep fast thy buggle Boe. 'Tis hight indeed, blows go and come, Gods vassals drop and die. And I. If wishes would prevail, I would not stay, but thither would I High. Captain, I thee beseech to do me favour, The Duke of Exeter does love thee well. Bardolf a soldier, one of buxsome valour, Hath by furious fate And giddy Fortune's fickle wheel, That Gods blind that stands upon the rolling restless stone. Fortune is Bardolfes foe, and frowns on him, For he hath stolen a packs, and hanged must he be: A damned death, let gallows gape for dogs, Let man go free, and let not death his windpipe stop. But Exeter hath given the doom of death, For packs of petty price: Therefore go speak the Duke will hear thy voice, And let not Bardolfes vital thread be cut, With edge of penny cord and vile approach. Speak Captain for his life, and I will thee requite. Why then rejoice therefore. Die and be damned, and fig a for thy friendship. The fig of Spain within thy Jaw. I say the fig within thy bowels and thy dirty maw. Ke we la? Discus unto me, art thou Gentleman Or art thou common, base, and popeler? Trails thou the puissant pike? As good a gentleman as the Emperor. The kings abago, and a heart of gold. A lad of life, and imp of fame: Of parents good, of fist most valiant: I kiss his dirty shoe: and from my heart strings I love the lovely bully. What is thy name? Le Roy, a Cornish man: Art thou of Cornish crew? A Wealchman: knowest thou Flewellen? Art thou his friend? Figa for thee then: my name is Pistol. Pistol is my name. Eyld cur, eyld cur. Moi shall not serve. I will have forty moys. Boy ask him his name. I'll Fer him, and ferit him, and ferk him: Boy discus the same in French. Bid him prepare, for I will cut his throat. Onye ma foy couple la gorge. Unless thou give to me egregious ransom, die. One point of a fox. What says he boy? My fury shall abate, And I the Crowns will take. And as I suck blood, I will some mercy show. Follow me cur. Couple gorge. Exit omnes. Would, art thou bedlam? Dost thou thirst base Trojan, To have me fold up Parcas fatal web Hence, I am qualmish at the smell of Leek. Not for Cadwalleder and all his goats. Base Trojan, thou shall die. Well must I bite? Good good. Me a shilling. I take thy shilling in earnest of reckoning. All hell shall stir for this. Does Fortune play the huswye with me now? Is honour cudgeld from my warlike lines? Well France farewell, news have I certainly That Doll is sick. One mally die of France, The wars affords nought, home will I trug. Bawd will I turn, and use the slyte of hand: To England will I steal, And there I'll steal. And patches will I get unto these skarres, And swear I got them in the Gallia wars.

Plot summary

Plot — Henry the Fifth
Faced with the prospect of parliamentary legislation to sequester church lands, the Bishop of Canterbury encourages King Henry V to consider his claim to the French throne: he demonstrates that the Salic law debarring succession through the female line does not apply to France, and promises the church's financial support for a war. The Dauphin hears of Henry's ambitions and sends him a mocking gift of tennis balls; annoyed by the suggestion tl1at he should go away and play, Henry gathers his troops. The French bribe three noblemen to assassinate him before he leaves England, but he discovers the plot and has the traitors put to death. The French prepare for battle, but the Dauphin scornfully underestimates Henry. Exeter, sent as ambassador to the French King, demands surrender and delivers to the Dauphin Henry's personal contempt. The French offer a few dukedoms and a marriage alliance if Henry will withdraw. He considers this inadequate, and attacks Harfleur. The Dauphin and his troops fail to arrive in time to relieve the town, so its Governor surrenders to Henry. Exeter is left in command while Henry takes his disease-ridden troops back to winter in Calais, but the French force a battle en route at Agincourt. The night before, the French anticipate victory over the bedraggled English. Henry tours his army and listens to their worries about the battle. He quarrels with one of his soldiers, Williams, and they agree to settle their differences after their battle: they will know one another by the gloves they exchange. The French offer Henry the chance to surrender, but he refuses and battle ensues. The English do well, but when the French regroup for a new assault, Henry orders his troops to kill their prisoners. The French attack the baggage-train and kill the boys who are guarding it. The English are victorious, with remarkably few casualties. Henry persuades Fluellen to wear Williams's glove, claiming it is a battle trophy which will be challenged only by a traitor; the n-vo soldiers are about to fight when the King intervenes and reveals the truth. Henry later agrees a peace with France, is adopted as heir to the French throne, and marries Princess Catherine. In a subsidiary action, Henry's former lowlife associates do less well. Rejected by the King, Falstaff dies, broken-hearted. Pistol, Nim, and Bardolph join the expedition to France, accompanied by Falstaff's boy. Bardolph and Nim are hanged for theft, and the boy killed in the French attack on…