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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    The second part of
    Bar. You must away to court sir presently,
    1400A dozen captaines stay at doore for you.
    Fal. Pay the musitians sirra, farewel hostesse, farewel Dol,
    you see (my good wenches) how men of merit are sought af-
    ter, the vndeseruer may sleepe, when the man of action is calld
    on, farewell good wenches, if I bee not sent away poste, I will
    1405see you againe ere I goe.
    Dol. I cannot speake: if my heart be not ready to burst: wel
    sweete Iacke haue a care of thy selfe.
    1410Fal. Farewell, farewell. exit.
    Host. Well, fare thee well, I haue knowne thee these twenty
    nine yeares, come pease-cod time, but an honester, and truer
    hearted man: wel, fare thee wel.
    1415Bard. Mistris Tere-sheete.
    Host. Whats the matter?
    Bard. Bid mistris Tere-sheete come to my master.
    Host. O runne Doll, runne, runne good Doll, come, she
    1418.1comes blubberd, yea! will you come Doll?
    exeunt.

    Enter the King in his night-gowne
    1421.1alone.

    King Go call the Earles of Surrey and of War.
    But ere they come, bid them o're-reade these letters,
    And well consider of them, make good speed.
    1425How many thousand of my poorest subiects,
    Are at this howre asleepe? ô sleepe! ô gentle sleep!
    Natures soft nurse, how haue I frighted thee,
    That thou no more wilt weigh my eye-liddes downe,
    And steep my sences in forgetfulnesse,
    1430Why rather sleepe liest thou in smoaky cribbes,
    Vpon vneasie pallets stretching thee,
    And husht with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber,
    Then in the perfumde chambers of the great,
    Vnder