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Dreamweaver
[Alarum. Excursions. Enter Pistol, French Soldier and Boy.]
Pistol
Yield, cur!
[Je pense que vous êtes le gentilhomme de bonne qualité.]
[Qualité? Caleno custore me!]
Pistol
Art thou a gentleman?
What is thy name? Discuss.
[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.
[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.
[Est-il impossible d’échapper la force de ton bras?]
Pistol
Brass, cur!
Thou damned and luxurious mountain goat,
Offer’st me brass?
[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.
[Écoutez. Comment êtes-vous appelé?]
[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.
[Que dit-il, monsieur?]
Boy
_Il me commande à 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.
[Petit monsieur, que dit-il?]
Boy
_Encore qu’il est contre son jurement de pardonner aucun prisonnier;
néanmoins, pour les écus que vous lui avez promis, il est content à
vous donner la liberté, le franchisement._
French Soldier
_Sur mes genoux je vous donne mille remerciements; 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!
[Suivez-vous le grand capitaine.]
[Exeunt Pistol and French Soldier.]
Boy
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 hang’d; 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.]