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-
- Act 5 Scene 3
-
- The fighting has begun. We learn that several
- noblemen are disguised to look like the King; and
- we see how one of these is killed. Prince Hal is
- looking for Hotspur, but Sir John claims that he
- has killed him.
- 2 crossest: oppose.
- 3 Upon my head: by killing me.
- 4 haunt: follow.
- 7, 8 Looking like you has today been very
- expensive for the Earl of Stafford; Douglas
- believes that Blunt really is the King.
- 9 him: i.e. his life.
- 15 I would never have beaten the Scots
- (Douglas and Hotspur were on opposite sides at
- the Battle of Holmedon).
- 16 breathless: i.e. lifeless.
- 19 full: very.
- 21 Semblably furnished: dressed in the same
- way.
- 22 May the name of ôfoolö accompany your
- soul, wherever it has gone (to heaven or hell);
- Douglas speaks to BluntÆs body.
- 23 Pretending to be someone else (the King)
- has cost you too much.
- 25 many: i.e. many men.
- coats: sleeveless tunics (ôsurcoatsö) with heraldic
- devices, worn over the armour so that the wearer
- could be easily identified.
- 29 stand . . . day: have a very good chance of
- victory.
- 30 scape shot-free: escape without being
- wounded; and avoid paying the bill.
- 31 shot: bullets ù or arrows.
- scoring: a pun on ôhittingö and ôcharging the billö.
- pate: head.
- 32 Soft: look at this.
- 32 thereÆs . . . you: Sir John recalls his
- ôcatechismö on honour in Act 5, Scene 1.
- 33 HereÆs no vanity: this (the dead body) is
- the real thing.
- molten: melted.
- 34 God . . . me: God save me from gunshot
- (made of lead).
- 35 bowels: i.e. body.
- led: sent (Sir John would not have marched with
- his soldiers).
- 36 peppered: massacred (Sir John can now
- keep the money which should have been the
- soldiersö pay).
- not: no more than.
- 37 they . . . life: they will have to sit at the
- entrance to the town and beg for the rest of their
- lives; (the soldiers are badly wounded).
- 42 vaunting: boastful.
- 45 breathe awhile: get my breath back, have
- a short rest.
- 46 Turk Gregory: the name of ôTurkö was
- applied to any particularly cruel man; and by
- ôGregoryö Sir John probably refers to Pope
- Gregory XIII, who was associated with the vicious
- Massacre of St BartholomewÆs Day in 1572.
- in arms: in fighting.
- 47 paid: killed.
- Percy: i.e. Hotspur.
- 48 made him sure: made certain that he is
- dead.
- He is indeed: Hal pretends to think that ôsureö =
- ôsafeö.
- 53 case: holster (instead of being ready for
- shooting).
- 54 Ætis hot: i.e. after shooting (Sir John
- pretends that he has put away his pistol until it
- cools).
- thereÆs . . . city: there is enough to conquer a whole
- city. Sir John makes a pun on ôsackö = ôconquerö
- and ôsackö ù the drink his holster contains.
- 55 dally: fool around.
- 56 pierce: the word was pronounced as
- ôperseö; Sir John makes a pun with ôPercyö.
- 57 so: that will be fine.
- if he . . . in his: if he does not come in my way, and
- if I get in his way.
- 58 carbonado: grilled steak (which was
- slashed with a knife before being cooked).
- 58, 59, 60, 61 If I can save my life, that will be
- good; and if I canÆt save it, then I shall get honour
- without making an effort ù and thatÆs all there is
- to it.
-