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it doth to me； the element shows to him as it doth to me； all his senses
have but human conditions； his ceremonies laid by； in his nakedness he
appears but a man； and though his affections are higher mounted than ours；
yet； when they stoop； they stoop with the like wing。 Therefore； when he
sees reason of fears； as we do； his fears； out of doubt； be of the same relish
as ours are； yet； in reason； no man should possess him with any
appearance of fear； lest he； by showing it； should dishearten his army。
BATES。 He may show what outward courage he will； but I believe； as
cold a night as 'tis； he could wish himself in Thames up to the neck； and so
I would he were； and I by him； at all adventures； so we were quit here。
KING HENRY。 By my troth； I will speak my conscience of the King： I
think he would not wish himself anywhere but where he is。 BATES。 Then
I would he were here alone； so should he be sure to be ransomed； and a
many poor men's lives saved。 KING HENRY。 I dare say you love him not
so ill to wish him here alone； howsoever you speak this； to feel other
men's minds； methinks I could not die anywhere so contented as in the
King's company； his cause being just and his quarrel honourable。
WILLIAMS。 That's more than we know。 BATES。 Ay； or more than we
should seek after； for we know enough if we know we are the King's
subjects。 If his cause be wrong； our obedience to the King wipes the crime
of it out of us。 WILLIAMS。 But if the cause be not good； the King himself
hath a heavy reckoning to make when all those legs and arms and heads；
chopp'd off in a battle； shall join together at the latter day and cry all 'We
died at such a place'… some swearing； some crying for a surgeon； some
upon their wives left poor behind them； some upon the debts they owe；
some upon their children rawly left。 I am afeard there are few die well that
die in a battle； for how can they charitably dispose of anything when blood
is their argument？ Now； if these men do not die well； it will be a black
matter for the King that led them to it； who to disobey were against all
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proportion of subjection。 KING HENRY。 So； if a son that is by his father
sent about merchandise do sinfully miscarry upon the sea； the imputation
of his wickedness； by your rule； should be imposed upon his father that
sent him； or if a servant； under his master's command transporting a sum
of money； be assailed by robbers and die in many irreconcil'd iniquities；
you may call the business of the master the author of the servant's
damnation。 But this is not so： the King is not bound to answer the
particular endings of his
soldiers； the father of his son； nor the master of his servant； for they
purpose not their death when they purpose their services。 Besides； there is
no king； be his cause never so spotless； if it come to the arbitrement of
swords； can try it out with all unspotted soldiers： some peradventure have
on them the guilt of premeditated and contrived murder； some； of
beguiling virgins with the broken seals of perjury； some； making the wars
their bulwark； that have before gored the gentle bosom of peace with
pillage and robbery。 Now； if these men have defeated the law and outrun
native punishment； though they can outstrip men they have no wings to fly
from God： war is His beadle； war is His vengeance； so that here men are
punish'd for before…breach of the King's laws in now the King's quarrel。
Where they feared the death they have borne life away； and where they
would be safe they perish。 Then if they die unprovided； no more is the
King guilty of their damnation than he was before guilty of those impieties
for the which they are now visited。 Every subject's duty is the King's； but
every subject's soul is his own。 Therefore should every soldier in the wars
do as every sick man in his bed… wash every mote out of his conscience；
and dying so； death is to him advantage； or not dying； the time was
blessedly lost wherein such preparation was gained； and in him that
escapes it were not sin to think that； making God so free an offer； He let
him outlive that day to see His greatness； and to teach others how they
should prepare。 WILLIAMS。 'Tis certain； every man that dies ill； the ill
upon his own head… the King is not to answer for it。 BATES。 I do not
desire he should answer for me； and yet I determine to fight lustily for him。
KING HENRY。 I myself heard the King say he would not be ransom'd。
WILLIAMS。 Ay； he said so； to make us fight cheerfully； but when our
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throats are cut he may be ransom'd； and we ne'er the wiser。 KING HENRY。
If I live to see it； I will never trust his word after。 WILLIAMS。 You pay
him then！ That's a perilous shot out of an elder…gun； that a poor and a
private displeasure can do against a monarch！ You may as well go about to
turn the sun to ice with fanning in his face with a peacock's feather。 You'll
never trust his word after！ Come； 'tis a foolish saying。 KING HENRY。
Your reproof is something too round； I should be angry with you； if the
time were convenient。 WILLIAMS。 Let it be a quarrel between us if you
live。 KING HENRY。 I embrace it。 WILLIAMS。 How shall I know thee
again？ KING HENRY。 Give me any gage of thine； and I will wear it in my
bonnet； then if ever thou dar'st acknowledge it； I will make it my quarrel。
WILLIAMS。 Here's my glove； give me another of thine。 KING HENRY。
There。 WILLIAMS。 This will I also wear in my cap； if ever thou come to
me and say； after to…morrow； 'This is my glove；' by this hand I will take
thee a box on the ear。 KING HENRY。 If ever I live to see it； I will
challenge it。 WILLIAMS。 Thou dar'st as well be hang'd。 KING HENRY。
Well； I will do it； though I take thee in the King's company。 WILLIAMS。
Keep thy word。 Fare thee well。 BATES。 Be friends； you English fools； be
friends； we have French quarrels enow； if you could tell how to reckon。
KING HENRY。 Indeed； the French may lay twenty French crowns to one
they will beat us； for they bear them on their shoulders； but it is no English
treason to cut French crowns； and to…morrow the King himself will be a
clipper。 Exeunt soldiers Upon the King！ Let us our lives； our souls； Our
debts； our careful wives； Our children； and our sins； lay on the King！ We
must bear all。 O hard condition； Twin…born with greatness； subject to the
breath Of every fool； whose sense no more can feel But his own wringing！
What infinite heart's ease Must kings neglect that private men enjoy！ And
what have kings that privates have not too； Save ceremony… save general
ceremony？ And what art thou； thou idol Ceremony？ What kind of god art
thou； that suffer'st more Of mortal griefs than do thy worshippers？ What
are thy rents？ What are thy comings…in？ O Ceremony； show me but thy
worth！ What is thy soul of adoration？ Art thou aught else but place； degree；
and form； Creating awe and fear in other men？ Wherein thou art less
happy being fear'd Than they in fearing。 What drink'st thou oft； instead of
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homage sweet； But poison'd flattery？ O； be sick； great greatness； And bid
thy ceremony give thee cure！ Thinks thou the fiery fever will go out With
titles blown from adulation？ Will it give place to flexure and low bending？
Canst thou； when thou command'st the beggar's knee； Command the
health of it？ No； thou proud dream； That play'st so subtly with a king's
repose。 I am a king that find thee； and I know 'Tis not the balm； the sceptre；
and the ball； The sword； the mace； the crown imperial； The intertissued
robe of gold and pearl； The farced tide running fore the king； The throne
he sits on； nor the tide of pomp That beats up