But then these wicked and treasonous grumblings being fortunately encountered on the spot, and corrected by the king himself in his own august person, would only serve for edification in the end; if, indeed, that appeal to the national pride which would conclude the matter, and the glory of that great day which was even then breaking in the East, should leave room for any reflections upon it. For it was none other than the field of _Agincourt_ that was subjected to this philosophic inquiry. It was the lustre of that immortal victory which was to England then, what Waterloo and the victories of Nelson are now, that was thus chemically treated beforehand. Under the cover of that renowned triumph, it was, that these soldiers could venture to search so deeply the question of war in general; it was in the person of its imperial hero, that the statesman could venture to touch so boldly, an institution which gave to one man, by his own confession no better or wiser than his neighbours, the power to involve nations in such horrors. But let us join the king in his stroll, and hear for ourselves, what it is that these soldiers are discussing, by the camp-fires of _Agincourt_;--what it is that this first voice from the ranks has to say for itself. The king has just encountered by the way a poetical sentinel, who, not satisfied with the watchword--'_a friend_,'-- requests the disguised prince 'to discuss to him, and answer, whether he is an _officer_, or _base, common_, and _popular_,' when the king lights on this little group, and the discussion which Pistol had solicited, apparently on his own behalf, actually takes place, for the benefit of the Poet's audience, and the answer to these inquiries comes out in due order. _Court_. Brother John Bates, is not that the morning which breaks yonder? _Bates_. I think it be, _but we have no great cause to desire the approach of day_. _Will_. We see yonder the beginning of the day, but I think we shall never see the end of it. Who goes there? _King Henry_. A friend. _Will_. Under what captain serve you? _King_. Under Sir Thomas Erpingham. _Will_. A good old commander, and a most kind gentleman: I pray you, what thinks he of our estate? _King._ Even as men wrecked upon a sand, that look to be washed off the next tide. _Bates_. _He hath not told his thought to the king_? _King_. No; nor it is not meet that he should; for though _I speak it to you_, I think the king is but a man as I am. And it is here that he proceeds to make that important disclosure above quoted, that all his senses have but human conditions, and that all his _affections_, though _higher mounted, stoop with the like wing_; and therefore no man should in reason possess him with any appearance of fear, lest he, by showing it, 'should dishearten his army.'