Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

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

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
Shal. By cock and pie sir, you shal not away to night, what
Dauy I say?
2790Falst. You must excuse me master Robert Shallow.
Shal. I will not excuse you, you shall not be excusde, ex-
cuses shall not be admitted, there is no excuse shall serue, you
shall not be excusde: why Dauy.
2795Dauy Here sir.
Shal. Dauy, Dauy, Dauy, Dauy, let me see Dauy, let me see
Dauy, let me see, yea mary VVilliam Cooke, bid him come
hither, sir Iohn, you shal not be excused.
Dauy Mary sir thus, those precepts can not be serued, and
2800againe sir, shal we sow the hade land with wheate?
Shal. VVith red wheat Dauy, but for VVilliam Cooke
are there no yong pigeons?
Dauy Yes sir, here is now the Smiths note for shooing and
plow-yrons.
Shal. Let it be cast and payed: sir Iohn, you shal not be ex-
cused.
Dauy Now sir, a new lincke to the bucket must needes be
2810had: and sir, do you meane to stop any of VVilliams wages, a-
bout the sacke he lost at Hunkly Faire?
Shal. A shall answer it: some pigeons Dauy, a couple of
short legg'd hens, a ioynt of mutton, and any pretty little tinie
2815Kick-shawes, tell william Cooke.
Dauy Doth the man of warre stay all night sir?
Shal. Yea Dauy, I will vse him well, a friend i'th court is
better then a penie in purse: vse his men wel Dauy, for they are
2820arrant knaues, and will backbite.
Dauy No worse then they are back-bitten sir, for they haue
maruailes foule linnen.
Shal. VVell conceited Dauy, about thy businesse Dauy.
Dauy I beseech you sir to countenance VVilliam Visor
of Woncote against Clement Perkes a'th hill.
Sha. There is many complaints Dauy against that Visor,
2830that Visor is an arrant knaue on my knowledge.
Dauy I graunt your worship that he is a knaue sir: but yet
God forbid sir, but a knaue should haue some countenance at
his friends request, an honest man sir is able to speake for him-
2835selfe, when a knaue is not: I haue seru'de your worship truly sir
this eight yeares and I cannot once, or twice in a quarter beare
out a knaue against an honest man, I haue litle credit with your
worship: the knaue is mine honest friend sir, therfore I beseech
2840you let him be countenaunst.
Shal. Go to I say, he shal haue no wrong, look about Dauy:
where are you sir Iohn? come, come, come, off with your boots,
2845giue me your hand master Bardolfe.
Bard. I am glad to see your worship.
Shal I thank thee with my heart kind master Bardolfe, and
welcome my tall fellow, come sir Iohn.
2850Falst. Ile follow you good maister Robert Shallow: Bar-
dolfe, looke to our horses: if I were sawed into quantities, I
should make foure dozen of such berded hermites staues as
maister Shallow: it is a wonderfull thing to see the semblable
coherence of his mens spirits, and his, they, by obseruing him,
2855do beare themselues like foolish Iustices: hee, by conuersing
with them, is turned into a Iustice-like seruingman, their spirits
are so married in coniunction, with the participation of society,
that they flocke together in consent, like so many wild-geese.
2860If I had a suite to master Shallow, I would humour his men
with the imputation, of beeing neere their maister: if to his
men, I would curry with maister Shallow, that no man could
better commaund his seruants. It is certaine, that eyther wise
bearing, or ignorant cariage is caught, as men take diseases one
of another: therefore let men take heede of their company. I
will deuise matter enough out of this Shallow, to keepe prince
Harry in continuall laughter, the wearing out of sixe fashions,
which is foure termes, or two actions, and a shal laugh without
2870interuallums. O it is much that a lie, with a slight oathe, and
a iest, with a sad browe, will doe with a fellow that neuer had
the ach in his shoulders: O you shall see him laugh til his face
be like a wet cloake ill laide vp.
2875Shal. Sir Iohn.
Falst. I come maister Shallow, I come master Shallow.