Henry V (1944)

Nicholas Hannen: Duke of Exeter

Quotes 

• King Henry V of England : Tell us the Dauphin's mind.

  Duke of Berri French Ambassador : Thus, then, in few. Your highness, lately sending into France, did claim some certain dukedoms, in the right of your great predecessor, King Edward the Third. In answer of which claim, the prince our master says that you savour too much of your youth. He therefore sends you, fitter for your study, this tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this, desires you let the dukedoms that you claim hear no more of you. This the Dauphin speaks.

  King Henry V of England : What treasure, Uncle.

  Duke of Exeter : Tennis balls, my liege.

  King Henry V of England : We are glad the Dauphin is so pleasant with us; his present and your pains we thank you for: when we have march'd our rackets to these balls, We will, in France, by God's grace, play a set shall strike his father's crown into the hazards. Tell him he hath made a match with such a wrangler that all the courts of France will be disturbed with chaces. And we understand him well, how he comes o'er us with our wilder days, not measuring what use we made of them. But tell the Dauphin I will keep our state, be like a king and show my sail of greatness when I do rouse me in my throne of France. And tell the pleasant prince this mock of his hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones; and his soul shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance that shall fly with them: for many a thousand widows shall this his mock mock out of their dear husbands; mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down!

• Duke of Exeter : Here comes the Herald of the French, my liege.

  Duke of Gloucester : His eyes are humbler than they used to be.

  King Henry V of England : What means this, Herald? Comest thou again for ransom?

  Mountjoy, The French Herald : No, great King: I come to thee for charitable license, that we may wander o'er this bloody field to look our dead and then to bury them. The day is yours.