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  • Title: Henry IV, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1598)
  • Editor: Rosemary Gaby
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-371-7

    Copyright Rosemary Gaby. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Rosemary Gaby
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Henry IV, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1598)

    of Henry the fourth.
    Falst. You haue hit it.
    1305Prin. So did he neuer the sparrow.
    Fal. Well, that rascall hath good mettall in him, hee will not
    runne.
    Prin. Why, what a rascall art thou then, to praise him so for
    running?
    1310Fal. A horsebacke (ye cuckoe) but a foote hee will not budge
    a foote.
    Prin. Yes Iacke, vpon instinct.
    Falst. I grant ye vpon instinct: well hee is there to, and one
    Mordacke, and a thousand blew caps more. Worcester is stolne
    1315away to night, thy fathers beard is turnd white with the newes,
    you may buy land now as cheape as stinking Mackrel.
    Prin. Why then, it is like if there come a hote Iune, and this
    ciuill buffeting hold, we shall buy maidenheads as they buy hob
    1320nailes, by the hundreds.
    Falst. By the masse lad thou saiest true, it is like wee shall haue
    good trading that way: but tell mee Hall, art not thou horrible
    afearde? thou being heire apparant, could the world picke thee
    out three such enemies againe? as that fiend Dowglas, that spi-
    1325rit Percy, and that diuel Glendower, art thou not horribly afraid?
    doth not thy bloud thril at it?
    Prin. Not a whit ifaith, I lacke some of thy instinct.
    Falst. Well thou wilt bee horriblie chidde to morrowe when
    1330thou commest to thy father, if thou loue mee practise an aun-
    swere.
    Prin. Do thou stand for my father and examine me vpon the
    particulars of my life.
    Falst. Shall I: content. This chaire shall be my state, this dag-
    1335ger my scepter, and this cushion my crowne.
    Prin. Thy state is taken for a ioynd stoole, thy golden scepter
    for a leaden dagger, and thy precious rich crowne for a pittifull
    bald crowne.
    1340Falst. Well, and the fire of grace bee not quite out of thee
    nowe shalt thou be mooued. Giue me a cup of Sacke to make
    my eyes looke redde, that it maie bee thought I haue wept,
    for I must speake in passion, and I will doe it in king Cambises
    vaine.
    E2 Prin.