Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Rosemary Gaby
Not Peer Reviewed

Henry IV, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1598)

The Historie
Hot. Come Kate, thou art perfect in lying downe,
1770Come quick, quick, that I may lay my head in thy lap.
La. Go ye giddy goose.
The musicke playes.
Hot. Now I perceiue the diuell vnderstands Welsh,
1775And tis no maruaile he is so humorous,
Birlady he is a good musition.
La. Then should you be nothing but musicall,
For you are altogither gouernd by humors,
Lie still ye thiefe, and heare the Lady sing in Welsh.
1780Hot. I had rather heare lady my brache howle in Irish.
La. Wouldst thou haue thy head broken?
Hotsp. No.
La. Then be still.
1785Hotsp. Neither, tis a womans fault.
La. Nowe God helpe thee.
Hot. To the Welsh Ladies bed.
La. Whats that?
Hot. Peace, she sings.
1790Here the Ladie sings a welsh song.
Hot. Come Kate, ile haue your song too.
La. Not mine in good sooth.
Hot. Not yours in good sooth. Hart, you sweare like a comfit-
makers wife, not you in good sooth, and as true as I liue, and as
God shall mend me, and as sure as day:
And giuest such sarcenet surety for thy oathes,
As if thou neuer walkst further then Finsbury.
Sweare me Kate like a ladie as thou art,
1800A good mouthfilling oath, and leaue in sooth,
And such protest of pepper ginger bread
To veluet gards, and Sunday Citizens.
Come sing.
La. I will not sing.
1805Hot. Tis the next way to turne tayler, or be redbrest teacher,
and the indentures be drawn ile away within these two houres,
and so come in when ye will. Exit.
Glen. Come, come, Lord Mortimer, you are as slow,
1810As Hot. Lord Percy is on fire to go:
By