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  • Title: Henry IV, Part 2 (Quarto 1, 1600)
  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 (Quarto 1, 1600)

    Henry the fourth.
    But indeed these humble considerations make me out of loue
    with my greatnesse. What a disgrace is it to mee to remember
    thy name? or to know thy face to morow? or to take note how
    805many paire of silke stockings thou hast with these, and those
    that were thy peach colourd once, or to beare the inuentorie of
    thy shirts, as one for superfluitie, and another for vse. But that
    the Tennis court keeper knows better than I, for it is a low eb
    810of linnen with thee when thou keepest not racket there, as thou
    hast not done a great while, because the rest of the low Coun-
    tries haue eate vp thy holland: and God knows whether those
    812.1that bal out the ruines of thy linnen shal inherite his kingdom:
    but the Midwiues say, the children are not in the fault where-
    vpon the world increases, and kinreds are mightily strengthe-
    ned.
    Poynes How ill it followes, after you haue labored so hard,
    815you should talke so ydlely! tell me how many good yong prin-
    ces woulde doe so, their fathers being so sicke, as yours at this
    816.1time is.
    Prince Shall I tel thee one thing Poynes?
    Poynes Yes faith, and let it be an excellent good thing.
    820Prince It shall serue among wittes of no higher breeding
    then thine.
    Poynes Go to, I stand the push of your one thing that you
    will tell.
    Prince Mary I tell thee it is not meete that I should bee sad
    825now my father is sicke, albeit I could tell to thee, as to one it
    pleases me for fault of a better to call my friend, I could be sad,
    and sad indeede too.
    Poynes Very hardly, vpon such a subiect.
    Prince By this hand, thou thinkest me as farre in the diuels
    830booke, as thou and Falstaffe, for obduracie and persistancie,
    let the end trie the man, but I tel thee, my heart bleeds inward-
    ly that my father is so sick, and keeping such vile company as
    thou arte, hath in reason taken from me all ostentation of sor-
    rowe.
    835Poynes The reason.
    Prince.