Act 3, Scene 7 — Henry V — Study Shakespeare

The argument The night before Agincourt in the French camp. The Dauphin delivers an unhinged rhapsody on his horse's transcendence. The Constable and Orleans trade proverbs and barbed wit, mostly at the Dauphin's expense. Rambures bets on prisoners. A messenger announces the English are within fifteen hundred paces. The French mock the English as mastiffs and look forward to morning.

Enter the Constable of France, the Lord Rambures, Orleans, Dauphin

with others.

CONSTABLE ≋ verse

Tut! I have the best armour of the world.

Would it were day!

Tut! I have the best armour of the world. Would it were day!

Why it matters The Constable's opening line sets the scene's dominant mood: confident impatience. He is not nervous; he wants the battle to start so it can be over.

ORLEANS

You have an excellent armour; but let my horse have his due.

CONSTABLE

It is the best horse of Europe.

ORLEANS

Will it never be morning?

DAUPHIN

My Lord of Orleans, and my Lord High Constable, you talk of horse and

armour?

My Lord of Orleans, and my Lord High Constable, you talk of horse and armour?

My Lord of Orleans, and my Lord High Constable, you talk of

ORLEANS

You are as well provided of both as any prince in the world.

DAUPHIN

What a long night is this! I will not change my horse with any that

treads but on four pasterns. Ch’ha! He bounds from the earth, as if his

entrails were hairs; _le cheval volant_, the Pegasus, _qui a les

narines de feu!_ When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk. He trots the

air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is

more musical than the pipe of Hermes.

What a long night is this! I will not change my horse with any that treads but on four pasterns. Ch’ha! He bounds from the earth, as if his entrails were hairs; _le cheval volant_, the Pegasus, _qui a les narines de feu!_ When I bestride him, I soar, I am a hawk. He trots the air; the earth sings when he touches it; the basest horn of his hoof is more musical than the pipe of Hermes.

What a long night is this! I will not change my horse with a

"He bounds from the earth, as if his entrails were hairs" A peculiarly vivid Shakespearean image: a horse so light that it seems to be stuffed with hair rather than organs — as if it's nothing but a hollow vessel of air. The Dauphin is trying to say his horse is supernaturally light-footed, and ends up describing something slightly uncanny.

Why it matters The Dauphin's horse speech is one of Shakespeare's great comedy speeches — an excess of aristocratic enthusiasm so complete it tips from praise into something almost deranged. The comic effect deepens when you remember that Henry's speech in the previous act was about greyhounds straining for battle. The Dauphin's equivalent speech is about his horse.

ORLEANS

He’s of the colour of the nutmeg.

DAUPHIN

And of the heat of the ginger. It is a beast for Perseus. He is pure

air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in

him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him. He is

indeed a horse, and all other jades you may call beasts.

And of the heat of the ginger. It is a beast for Perseus. He is pure air and fire; and the dull elements of earth and water never appear in him, but only in patient stillness while his rider mounts him. He is indeed a horse, and all other jades you may call beasts.

And of the heat of the ginger. It is a beast for Perseus. He

CONSTABLE

Indeed, my lord, it is a most absolute and excellent horse.

DAUPHIN

It is the prince of palfreys; his neigh is like the bidding of a

monarch, and his countenance enforces homage.

It is the prince of palfreys; his neigh is like the bidding of a monarch, and his countenance enforces homage.

It is the prince of palfreys; his neigh is like the bidding

ORLEANS

No more, cousin.

DAUPHIN

Nay, the man hath no wit that cannot, from the rising of the lark to

the lodging of the lamb, vary deserved praise on my palfrey. It is a

theme as fluent as the sea; turn the sands into eloquent tongues, and

my horse is argument for them all. ’Tis a subject for a sovereign to

reason on, and for a sovereign’s sovereign to ride on; and for the

world, familiar to us and unknown, to lay apart their particular

functions and wonder at him. I once writ a sonnet in his praise and

began thus: “Wonder of nature,”—

no, the man has no wit that cannot, from the rising of the lark to the lodging of the lamb, vary deserved praise on my palfrey. It is a theme as fluent as the sea; turn the sands into eloquent tongues, and my horse is argument for them all. ’Tis a subject for a sovereign to reason on, and for a sovereign’s sovereign to ride on; and for the world, familiar to us and unknown, to lay apart their particular functions and wonder at him. I once writ a sonnet in his praise and began thus: “Wonder of nature,”—

no, the man has no wit that cannot, from the r'sing of the lark to the lodging of the lamb, vary deserved pra'se on my palfrey. It 's a theme as fluent as the sea; turn the sands into eloquent tongues, and my horse 's argument for them all. ’T's a subject for a sovereign to reason on, and for a sovereign’s sovereign to ride on; and for the world, familiar to us and unknown, to lay apart their particular functions and wonder at him. I once writ a sonnet in h's pra'se and began thus: “Wonder of nature,”—

no, the man has no wit that cannot, from the rising of the lark to the lodging o

Why it matters The Dauphin's claim that he wrote a sonnet about his horse is the speech's comic climax — he has escalated from casual praise to philosophical argument to poetry. The night before the most important battle of his generation, he is composing love sonnets to an animal.

ORLEANS

I have heard a sonnet begin so to one’s mistress.

DAUPHIN

Then did they imitate that which I compos’d to my courser, for my horse

is my mistress.

Then did they imitate that which I compos’d to my courser, for my horse is my mistress.

Then did they imitate that which I compos’d to my courser, f

Why it matters The Dauphin says it without irony: his horse is his mistress. It is the line that makes the whole speech retroactively funnier — and slightly more disturbing.

ORLEANS

Your mistress bears well.

"Your mistress bears well" A sexual double meaning: 'bears well' means both 'carries you well as a horse' and 'tolerates well in bed.' Orleans is making a joke about the Dauphin's claimed relationship with his horse. The Dauphin misses it.

DAUPHIN

Me well; which is the prescript praise and perfection of a good and

particular mistress.

Me well; which is the prescript praise and perfection of a good and particular mistress.

Me well; which is the prescript praise and perfection of a g

CONSTABLE

Nay, for methought yesterday your mistress shrewdly shook your back.

no, for methought yesterday your mistress shrewdly shook your back.

no, for methought yesterday your m'stress shrewdly shook your back.

no, for methought yesterday your mistress shrewdly shook your back.

DAUPHIN

So perhaps did yours.

CONSTABLE

Mine was not bridled.

DAUPHIN

O then belike she was old and gentle; and you rode, like a kern of

Ireland, your French hose off, and in your strait strossers.

O then belike she was old and gentle; and you rode, like a kern of Ireland, your French hose off, and in your strait strossers.

O then belike she was old and gentle; and you rode, like a k

CONSTABLE

You have good judgment in horsemanship.

DAUPHIN

Be warn’d by me, then; they that ride so and ride not warily, fall into

foul bogs. I had rather have my horse to my mistress.

Be warn’d by me, then; they that ride so and ride not warily, fall into foul bogs. I had rather have my horse to my mistress.

Be warn’d by me, then; they that ride so and ride not warily

CONSTABLE

I had as lief have my mistress a jade.

DAUPHIN

I tell thee, Constable, my mistress wears his own hair.

I tell you, Constable, my mistress wears his own hair.

I tell you, Constable, my m'stress wears h's own hair.

i tell you, constable, my mistress wears his own hair.

CONSTABLE

I could make as true a boast as that, if I had a sow to my mistress.

I could make as true a boast as that, if I had a sow to my m

DAUPHIN

“_Le chien est retourné à son propre vomissement, et la truie lavée au

bourbier_.” Thou mak’st use of anything.

“_Le chien est retourné à son propre vomissement, et la truie lavée au bourbier_.” Thou mak’st use of anything.

“_Le chien est retourné à son propre vomissement, et la trui

CONSTABLE

Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress, or any such proverb so

little kin to the purpose.

Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress, or any such proverb so little kin to the purpose.

Yet do I not use my horse for my mistress, or any such prove

RAMBURES

My Lord Constable, the armour that I saw in your tent tonight, are

those stars or suns upon it?

My Lord Constable, the armour that I saw in your tent tonight, are those stars or suns upon it?

My Lord Constable, the armour that I saw in your tent tonigh

CONSTABLE

Stars, my lord.

DAUPHIN

Some of them will fall tomorrow, I hope.

CONSTABLE

And yet my sky shall not want.

DAUPHIN

That may be, for you bear a many superfluously, and ’twere more honour

some were away.

That may be, for you bear a many superfluously, and ’twere more honour some were away.

That may be, for you bear a many superfluously, and ’twere m

CONSTABLE

Even as your horse bears your praises; who would trot as well, were

some of your brags dismounted.

Even as your horse bears your praises; who would trot as well, were some of your brags dismounted.

Even as your horse bears your praises; who would trot as wel

DAUPHIN

Would I were able to load him with his desert! Will it never be day? I

will trot tomorrow a mile, and my way shall be paved with English

faces.

Would I were able to load him with his desert! Will it never be day? I will trot tomorrow a mile, and my way shall be paved with English faces.

Would I were able to load him with his desert! Will it never

CONSTABLE

I will not say so, for fear I should be fac’d out of my way. But I

would it were morning; for I would fain be about the ears of the

English.

I will not say so, for fear I should be fac’d out of my way. But I would it were morning; for I would fain be about the ears of the English.

I will not say so, for fear I should be fac’d out of my way.

RAMBURES

Who will go to hazard with me for twenty prisoners?

CONSTABLE

You must first go yourself to hazard, ere you have them.

DAUPHIN

’Tis midnight; I’ll go arm myself.

[_Exit._]

ORLEANS

The Dauphin longs for morning.

RAMBURES

He longs to eat the English.

CONSTABLE

I think he will eat all he kills.

"I think he will eat all he kills" A double-edged remark — the Constable implies the Dauphin won't kill many, so eating them all won't be difficult. The insult is polite but unmistakable.

ORLEANS

By the white hand of my lady, he’s a gallant prince.

CONSTABLE

Swear by her foot that she may tread out the oath.

ORLEANS

He is simply the most active gentleman of France.

CONSTABLE

Doing is activity; and he will still be doing.

"Doing is activity; and he will still be doing" The Constable's most pointed remark yet: 'doing' can mean both 'acting/being active' and 'having sex.' He is saying the Dauphin will always be busy but implies he never actually accomplishes anything. The remark is funny and vicious.

ORLEANS

He never did harm, that I heard of.

CONSTABLE

Nor will do none tomorrow. He will keep that good name still.

Nor will do none tomorrow. He will keep that good name still

Why it matters The Constable's prediction that the Dauphin will 'do no harm' tomorrow is his most direct statement: he does not believe the Dauphin will distinguish himself in the battle. Given that the Dauphin is being kept out of it by his father, the remark is prophetic.

ORLEANS

I know him to be valiant.

CONSTABLE

I was told that by one that knows him better than you.

ORLEANS

What’s he?

CONSTABLE

Marry, he told me so himself; and he said he car’d not who knew it.

Marry, he told me so himself; and he said he car’d not who k

Why it matters The Constable's joke is perfect: the person who told him the Dauphin was valiant is the Dauphin himself. A man's self-assessment isn't evidence of valor.

ORLEANS

He needs not; it is no hidden virtue in him.

CONSTABLE

By my faith, sir, but it is; never anybody saw it but his lackey. ’Tis

a hooded valour; and when it appears, it will bate.

By my faith, sir, but it is; never anybody saw it but his lackey. ’Tis a hooded valour; and when it appears, it will bate.

By my faith, sir, but it is; never anybody saw it but his la

Why it matters The 'hooded valour' image is one of the scene's finest pieces of wit — a precise and economical demolition of the Dauphin's reputation that uses the vocabulary of falconry to say he won't perform when tested.

ORLEANS

“Ill will never said well.”

CONSTABLE

I will cap that proverb with “There is flattery in friendship.”

I will cap that proverb with “There is flattery in friendshi

ORLEANS

And I will take up that with “Give the devil his due.”

CONSTABLE

Well plac’d. There stands your friend for the devil; have at the very

eye of that proverb with “A pox of the devil.”

Well plac’d. There stands your friend for the devil; have at the very eye of that proverb with “A pox of the devil.”

Well plac’d. There stands your friend for the devil; have at

ORLEANS

You are the better at proverbs, by how much “A fool’s bolt is soon

shot.”

You are the better at proverbs, by how much “A fool’s bolt is soon shot.”

You are the better at proverbs, by how much “A fool’s bolt i

CONSTABLE

You have shot over.

ORLEANS

’Tis not the first time you were overshot.

Why it matters The proverb game between Constable and Orleans is a piece of comic verbal sparring that runs through the last part of the scene — two witty men competing in elegance of insult while the night before battle ticks away.

Enter a Messenger.

MESSENGER

My Lord High Constable, the English lie within fifteen hundred paces of

your tents.

My Lord High Constable, the English lie within fifteen hundred paces of your tents.

My Lord High Constable, the English lie within fifteen hundr

Why it matters The messenger's news cuts through the wit and banter like cold water. The English are fifteen hundred paces away. Agincourt is no longer an abstraction.

CONSTABLE

Who hath measur’d the ground?

Who has measur’d the ground?

who has measur’d the ground?

MESSENGER

The Lord Grandpré.

CONSTABLE

A valiant and most expert gentleman. Would it were day! Alas, poor

Harry of England, he longs not for the dawning as we do.

A valiant and most expert gentleman. Would it were day! Alas, poor Harry of England, he longs not for the dawning as we do.

A valiant and most expert gentleman. Would it were day! Alas

"Alas, poor Harry of England, he longs not for the dawning as we do" The Constable means this as contempt — Henry doesn't long for morning because he dreads the battle. But the dramatic irony cuts the other way: Henry is spending this night visiting his soldiers, talking to common men in disguise, wrestling with the burden of kingship. He is fully awake. It is the French who are overconfident.

Why it matters The Constable's pity for Henry is one of the play's great ironies. The man he pities is the man who will destroy his army.

🎭 Dramatic irony The Constable's pity for Henry, who 'longs not for morning as we do,' inverts the reality. Henry will spend this night performing the most profound act of royal care in the play — visiting his troops, talking to common soldiers, bearing the weight of their fear. The French who cannot sleep from eagerness are contrasted with an English king who cannot sleep from responsibility.

ORLEANS

What a wretched and peevish fellow is this King of England, to mope

with his fat-brain’d followers so far out of his knowledge!

What a wretched and peevish fellow is this King of England, to mope with his fat-brain’d followers so far out of his knowledge!

What a wretched and peevish fellow is this King of England,

CONSTABLE

If the English had any apprehension, they would run away.

ORLEANS

That they lack; for if their heads had any intellectual armour, they

could never wear such heavy head-pieces.

That they lack; for if their heads had any intellectual armour, they could never wear such heavy head-pieces.

That they lack; for if their heads had any intellectual armo

RAMBURES

That island of England breeds very valiant creatures. Their mastiffs

are of unmatchable courage.

That island of England breeds very valiant creatures. Their mastiffs are of unmatchable courage.

That island of England breeds very valiant creatures. Their

Why it matters Rambures's observation about the English mastiffs is interesting — he's acknowledging courage in the enemy. The others immediately undercut it.

ORLEANS

Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and

have their heads crush’d like rotten apples! You may as well say,

that’s a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.

Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian bear and have their heads crush’d like rotten apples! You may as well say, that’s a valiant flea that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a lion.

Foolish curs, that run winking into the mouth of a Russian b

CONSTABLE

Just, just; and the men do sympathize with the mastiffs in robustious

and rough coming on, leaving their wits with their wives; and then,

give them great meals of beef and iron and steel, they will eat like

wolves and fight like devils.

Just, just; and the men do sympathize with the mastiffs in robustious and rough coming on, leaving their wits with their wives; and then, give them great meals of beef and iron and steel, they will eat like wolves and fight like devils.

Just, just; and the men do sympathize with the mastiffs in r

ORLEANS

Ay, but these English are shrewdly out of beef.

Why it matters Orleans's observation is accurate — Henry's army is depleted, hungry, and sick. He's right about the facts. He's catastrophically wrong about the conclusion.

CONSTABLE

Then shall we find tomorrow they have only stomachs to eat and none to

fight. Now is it time to arm. Come, shall we about it?

Then shall we find tomorrow they have only stomachs to eat and none to fight. Now is it time to arm. Come, shall we about it?

Then shall we find tomorrow they have only stomachs to eat a

ORLEANS ≋ verse

It is now two o’clock; but, let me see, by ten

We shall have each a hundred Englishmen.

It is now two o’clock; but, let me see, by ten We shall have each a hundred Englishmen.

It is now two o’clock; but, let me see, by ten We shall have

Why it matters Orleans's closing prediction — a hundred prisoners each by ten in the morning — is one of the play's most ironic final lines. The French lose Agincourt catastrophically. This confident arithmetic never comes close to materializing.

🎭 Dramatic irony Orleans's prediction of a hundred English prisoners each by morning is one of the play's most pointed reversals. The audience who knows the history knows that Agincourt is a catastrophic French defeat — the casualty figures are thousands of French to hundreds of English. The confidence of this line is its own punishment.

[_Exeunt._]

The Reckoning

This is the play's great comic set piece of hubris. The French are so certain of tomorrow's outcome that they can't sleep — not from fear but from impatience. The Dauphin's horse speech is one of Shakespeare's most sustained pieces of comic excess: a grown man, the night before a battle, delivering what amounts to a five-minute love poem to his horse. The Constable and Orleans watch him with barely concealed contempt, trading proverbs that just barely avoid saying what they mean. Then the messenger arrives: the English are fifteen hundred paces away. The French respond with more mockery. The dramatic irony is total — we know what happens tomorrow. Shakespeare has given the French this night of glorious confidence to make what follows land harder.

If this happened today…

The night before the championship game, and the opposing team is in their hotel doing a coordinated social media countdown, their best player is writing a long post about how he cries when he sees his cleats, and their group chat is full of memes about 'these guys don't even eat real food.' Meanwhile the actual game starts at 9am and the scoreboard doesn't care about any of this.

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