King Henry V · William Shakespeare
SCENE IV.--ANOTHER PART OF THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
_Alarums. Enter DAUPHIN, ORLEANS, BOURBON, CONSTABLE, RAMBURES, and Others, hastily, and in confusion, L.H._ _Dau._ (C.) All is confounded, all! Reproach and everlasting shame Sits mocking in our plumes. [_Alarums, L._ _Con._ Why, all our ranks are broke. _Dau._ O perdurable shame![26]--let's stab ourselves. Be these the wretches that we play'd at dice for? _Orl._ (L.C.) Is this the king we sent to for his ransom? _Dau._ Shame, and eternal shame, nothing but shame! Let us die in honor: Once more back again. _Con._ (C.) Disorder, that hath spoil'd us, friend us now! Let us in heaps go offer up our lives Unto these English, or else die with fame. _Dau._ (R.C.) We are enough, yet living in the field, To smother up the English in our throngs, If any order might be thought upon. _Con._ The devil take order now! I'll to the throng: Let life be short; else shame will be too long. _Alarums._ [_Exeunt L.H._ [Footnote IV.26: _O +perdurable+ shame!_] _Perdurable_ is lasting.]
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.