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Henry IV, Part 2 (Quarto 1, 1598).

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
Iohn You are well incountred here, my cousen Mowbray,
Good day to you, gentle Lord Archbishop,
And so to you Lord Hastings, and to all.
My Lord of Yorke, it better shewed with you,
2105When that your flocke assembled by the bell,
Encircled you, to heare with reuerence,
Your exposition on the holy text,
That now to see you here, an yron man talking,
Cheering a rowt of rebells with your drumme,
2110Turning the word to sword, and life to death.
That man that sits within a monarches heart,
And ripens in the sun-shine of his fauor,
Would he abuse the countenance of the King:
Alacke what mischeefes might he set abroach,
2115In shadow of such greatnesse? with you Lord bishop
It is euen so, who hath not heard it spoken,
How deepe you were within the bookes of God,
To vs the speaker in his parliament,
To vs th'imagine voice of God himselfe,
2120The very opener and intelligencer,
Betweene the grace, the sanctities of heauen,
And our dull workings? O who shal beleeue,
But you misuse the reuerence of your place,
Imply the countenance and grace of heau'n,
2125As a false fauorite doth his princes name:
In deedes dishonorable you haue tane vp,
Vnder the counterfeited zeale of God,
The subiects of his substitute my father,
And both against the peace of heauen and him,
2130Haue here vpswarmd them.
Bishop Good my Lord of Lancaster,
I am not here against your fathers peace,
But as I told my lord of Westmerland,
The time misordred doth in common sense,
2135Crowd vs and crush vs to this monstrous forme,
To hold our safety vp: I sent your grace,
The parcells and particulars of our griefe,
The which hath beene with scorne shoued from the court,
Whereon this Hidra, sonne of warre is borne,
2140Whose dangerous eies may well be charmd asleepe,
With graunt of our most iust, and right desires,
And true obedience of this madnes cured,
Stoope tamely to the foote of maiestie.
Mow. If not, we ready are to trie our fortunes,
2145To the last man.
Hast. And though we here fal downe,
We haue supplies to second our attempt,
If they miscarry, theirs shal second them,
And so successe of mischiefe shall be borne,
2150And heire from heire shall hold his quarrell vp,
Whiles England shall haue generation.
Prince You are too shallow Hastings, much too shallow,
To sound the bottome of the after times.
2155West. Pleaseth your grace to answere them directly,
How far forth you do like their articles.
Prince I like them all, and do allow them well,
And sweare here by the honour of my bloud,
My fathers purposes haue beene mistooke,
2160And some about him haue too lauishly,
Wrested his meaning and authority.
My Lord, these griefes shall be with speed redrest,
Vppon my soule they shal, if this may please you,
Discharge your powers vnto their seuerall counties,
2165As we will ours, and here betweene the armies,
Lets drinke together friendly and embrace,
That all their eies may beare those tokens home,
Of our restored loue and amitie.
Bishop I take your princely word for these redresses,
2170I giue it you, and will maintaine my word,
And therevpon I drinke vnto your grace.
Prince Go Captaine, and deliuer to the armie
This newes of peace, let them haue pay, and part.
I know it will well please them, hie thee captaine.
Bishop To you my noble lord of Westmerland.
West. I pledge your grace, and if you knew what paines,
I haue bestowed to breed this present peace,
2180You would drinke freely, but my loue to ye
Shall shew it selfe more openly hereafter.
Bishop I do not doubt you.
West. I am glad of it,
Health to my Lord, and gentle cosin Mowbray.
2185Mow. You wish me health in very happy season,
For I am on the sodaine something ill.
Bishop Against ill chaunces men are euer mery,
But heauinesse fore-runnes the good euent.
West. Therefore be mery coze, since sodaine sorrow
2190Serues to say thus, some good thing comes to morow.
Bishop Beleeue me I am passing light in spirit.
Mow. So much the worse if your owne rule be true.
shout.
Prin. The word of peace is rendred, heark how they showt.
2195Mow. This had bin cheerefull after victory.
Bishop A peace is of the nature of a conquest,
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
And neither party looser.
Prince Go my lord,
2200And let our army be discharged too,
And, good my lord, so please you, let our traines
March by vs, that we may peruse the men,
VVe should haue coap't withall.
Bishop Go, good Lord Hastings,
2205And ere they be dismist, let them march by.
enter Westmerland.
Prince I trust Lords we shal lie to night togither:
Now coosin, wherefore stands our army stil?
West. The Leaders hauing charge from you to stand,
2210Wil not goe off vntil they heare you speake.
Prince They know their dueties.
enter Hastings
Hastings My lord, our army is disperst already,
Like youthfull steeres vnyoakt they take their courses,
East, weast, north, south, or like a schoole broke vp,
2215Each hurries toward his home, and sporting place.
West. Good tidings my lord Hastings, for the which
I do arest thee traitor of high treason,
And you lord Archbishop, and you lord Mowbray,
Of capitall treason I attach you both.
2220Mowbray Is this proceeding iust and honorable?
West. Is your assembly so?
Bishop will you thus breake your faith?
Prince I pawnde thee none,
I promist you redresse of these same grieuances
2225Whereof you did complaine, which by mine honour
I will performe, with a most christian care.
But for you rebels, looke to taste the due
Meete for rebellion:
Most shallowly did you these armes commence,
2230Fondly brought heere, and foolishly sent hence.
Strike vp our drummes, pursue the scattred stray:
God, and not we, hath safely fought to day:
Some guard this traitour to the blocke of death,
Treasons true bed, and yeelder vp of breath.