Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • Title: Henry IV, Part 2 (Folio 1 1623)
  • Editor: Rosemary Gaby

    • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 2 (Folio 1 1623)

    2785 Actus Quintus. Scoena Prima.
    Enter Shallow, Silence, Falstaffe, Bardolfe,
    Page, and Dauie.
    Shal. By Cocke and Pye, you shall not away to night.
    What Dauy, I say.
    2790Fal. You must excuse me, M. Robert Shallow.
    Shal. I will not excuse you: you shall not be excused.
    Excuses shall not be admitted: there is no excuse shall
    serue: you shall not be excus'd.
    Why Dauie.
    2795Dauie. Heere sir.
    Shal. Dauy, Dauy, Dauy, let me see (Dauy) let me see:
    William Cooke, bid him come hither. Sir Iohn, you shal
    not be excus'd.
    Dauy. Marry sir, thus: those Precepts cannot bee
    2800seru'd: and againe sir, shall we sowe the head-land with
    Wheate?
    Shal. With red Wheate Dauy. But for William Cook:
    are there no yong Pigeons?
    Dauy. Yes Sir.
    2805Heere is now the Smithes note, for Shooing,
    And Plough-Irons.
    Shal. Let it be cast, and payde: Sir Iohn, you shall
    not be excus'd.
    Dauy. Sir, a new linke to the Bucket must needes bee
    2810had: And Sir, doe you meane to stoppe any of Williams
    Wages, about the Sacke he lost the other day, at Hinckley
    Fayre?
    Shal. He shall answer it:
    Some Pigeons Dauy, a couple of short-legg'd Hennes: a
    2815ioynt of Mutton, and any pretty little tine Kickshawes,
    tell William Cooke.
    Dauy. Doth the man of Warre, stay all night sir?
    Shal. Yes Dauy:
    I will vse him well. A Friend i'th Court, is better then a
    2820penny in purse. Vse his men well Dauy, for they are ar-
    rant Knaues, and will backe-bite.
    Dauy. No worse then they are bitten. sir: For they
    haue maruellous fowle linnen.
    Shallow. Well conceited Dauy: about thy Businesse,
    2825Dauy.
    Dauy. I beseech you sir,
    To countenance William Visor of Woncot, against Cle-
    ment Perkes of the hill.
    Shal. There are many Complaints Dauy, against that
    2830Visor, that Visor is an arrant Knaue, on my know-
    ledge.
    Dauy. I graunt your Worship, that he is a knaue Sir:)
    But yet heauen forbid Sir, but a Knaue should haue some
    Countenance, at his Friends request. An honest man sir,
    2835is able to speake for himselfe, when a Knaue is not. I haue
    seru'd your Worshippe truely sir, these eight yeares: and
    if I cannot once or twice in a Quarter beare out a knaue,
    against an honest man, I haue but a very litle credite with
    your Worshippe. The Knaue is mine honest Friend Sir,
    2840therefore I beseech your Worship, let him bee Counte-
    nanc'd.
    Shal. Go too,
    I say he shall haue no wrong: Looke about Dauy.
    Where are you Sir Iohn? Come, off with your Boots.
    2845Giue me your hand M. Bardolfe.
    Bard. I am glad to see your Worship.
    Shal. I thanke thee, with all my heart, kinde Master
    Bardolfe: and welcome my tall Fellow:
    Come Sir Iohn.
    2850Falstaffe. Ile follow you, good Master Robert Shallow.
    Bardolfe, looke to our Horsses. If I were saw'de into
    Quantities, I should make foure dozen of such bearded
    Hermites staues, as Master Shallow. It is a wonderfull
    thing to see the semblable Coherence of his mens spirits,
    2855and his: They, by obseruing of him, do beare themselues
    like foolish Iustices: Hee, by conuersing with them, is
    turn'd into a Iustice-like Seruingman. Their spirits are
    so married in Coniunction, with the participation of So-
    ciety, that they flocke together in consent, like so ma-
    2860ny Wilde-Geese. If I had a suite to Mayster Shallow, I
    would humour his men, with the imputation of beeing
    neere their Mayster. If to his Men, I would currie with
    Maister Shallow, that no man could better command his
    Seruants. It is certaine, that either wise bearing, or ig-
    2865norant Carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of
    another: therefore, let men take heede of their Compa-
    nie. 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 Tearmes) or two Ac-
    2870tions, and he shall laugh with Interuallums. O it is much
    that a Lye (with a slight Oath) and a iest (with a sadde
    brow) will doe, with a Fellow, that neuer had the Ache
    in his shoulders. O you shall see him laugh, till his Face
    be like a wet Cloake, ill laid vp.
    2875Shal. Sir Iohn.
    Falst. I come Master Shallow, I come Master Shallow.
    Exeunt
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC