Bartlette's Quotations: King Henry V.



   
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1 O for a Muse of fire, that would ascend
The brightest heaven of invention!
Prologue.
2 Consideration, like an angel, came
And whipped the offending Adam out of him.
Act i. Sc. 1.
3 Turn him to any cause of policy,
The Gordian knot of it he will unloose,
Familiar as his garter: that when he speaks,
The air, a chartered libertine, is still.
Ibid.
4 Base is the slave that pays.
Act ii. Sc. 1.
5 Even at the turning o' the tide.
Sc. 3.
6 His nose was as sharp as a pen, and a' babbled of green fields.
Ibid.
7 As cold as any stone.
Ibid.
8 Self-love, my liege, is not so vile a sin
As self-neglecting.
Sc. 4.
9 Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead!
In peace there 's nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility;
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger:
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood.
Act iii. Sc. 1.
10 And sheathed their swords for lack of argument.
Ibid.
11 I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips,
Straining upon the start.
Ibid.
12 I would give all my fame for a pot of ale and safety.
Sc. 2.
13 Men of few words are the best men.
Ibid.
14 I thought upon one pair of English legs
Did march three Frenchmen.
Sc. 6.
15 You may as well say, that 's a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.
Sc. 7.
16 The hum of either army stilly sounds,
That the fixed sentinels almost receive
The secret whispers of each other's watch;
Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames
Each battle sees the other's umbered face;
Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs
Piercing the night's dull ear, and from the tents
The armourers, accomplishing the knights,
With busy hammers closing rivets up,
Give dreadful note of preparation.
Act iv. Prologue.
17 There is some soul of goodness in things evil,
Would men observingly distil it out.
Sc. 1.
18 Every subject's duty is the king's; but every subject's soul is his own.
Ibid.
19 That 's a perilous shot out of an elder-gun.
Ibid.
20 Who with a body filled and vacant mind
Gets him to rest, crammed with distressful bread.
Ibid.
21 Winding up days with toil and nights with sleep.
Ibid.
22 But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
Sc. 3.
23 This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
Ibid.
24 Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words,--
Harry the King, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,--
Be in their flowing cups freshly remembered.
Ibid.
25 We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
Ibid.
26 There is a river in Macedon; and there is also moreover a river at Monmouth;... and there is salmons in both.
Sc. 7.
27 An arrant traitor as any is in the universal world, or in France, or in England!
Sc. 8.
28 There is occasions and causes why and wherefore in all things.
Act v. Sc. 1.
29 By this leek, I will most horribly revenge: I eat and eat, I swear.
Ibid.
30 All hell shall stir for this.
Ibid.
31 If he be not fellow with the best king, thou shalt find the best king of good fellows.
Sc. 2.