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About this text

  • Title: Henry IV, Part 1 (Folio 1 1623)
  • 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
    Peer Reviewed

    Henry IV, Part 1 (Folio 1 1623)

    The First Part of King Henry the Fourth. 59
    many in our Land, by the Name of Pitch: this Pitch (as
    ancient Writers doe report) doth defile; so doth the com-
    panie thou keepest: for Harry, now I doe not speake to
    thee in Drinke, but in Teares; not in Pleasure, but in Pas-
    1375sion; not in Words onely, but in Woes also: and yet
    there is a vertuous man, whom I haue often noted in thy
    companie, but I know not his Name.
    Prin. What manner of man, and it like your Ma-
    iestie?
    1380Falst. A goodly portly man yfaith, and a corpulent,
    of a chearefull Looke, a pleasing Eye, and a most noble
    Carriage, and as I thinke, his age some fiftie, or (byrlady)
    inclining to threescore; and now I remember mee, his
    Name is Falstaffe: if that man should be lewdly giuen,
    1385hee deceiues mee; for Harry, I see Vertue in his Lookes.
    If then the Tree may be knowne by the Fruit, as the Fruit
    by the Tree, then peremptorily I speake it, there is Vertue
    in that Falstaffe: him keepe with, the rest banish. And
    tell mee now, thou naughtie Varlet, tell mee, where hast
    1390thou beene this moneth?
    Prin. Do'st thou speake like a King? doe thou stand
    for mee, and Ile play my Father.
    Falst. Depose me: if thou do'st it halfe so grauely, so
    maiestically, both in word and matter, hang me vp by the
    1395heeles for a Rabbet-sucker, or a Poulters Hare.
    Prin. Well, heere I am set.
    Falst. And heere I stand: iudge my Masters.
    Prin. Now Harry, whence come you?
    Falst. My Noble Lord, from East-cheape.
    1400Prin. The complaints I heare of thee, are grieuous.
    Falst. Yfaith, my Lord, they are false: Nay, Ile tickle
    ye for a young Prince.
    Prin. Swearest thou, vngracious Boy? henceforth
    ne're looke on me: thou art violently carryed away from
    1405Grace: there is a Deuill haunts thee, in the likenesse of a
    fat old Man; a Tunne of Man is thy Companion: Why
    do'st thou conuerse with that Trunke of Humors, that
    Boulting-Hutch of Beastlinesse, that swolne Parcell of
    Dropsies, that huge Bombard of Sacke, that stuft Cloake-
    1410bagge of Guts, that rosted Manning Tree Oxe with the
    Pudding in his Belly, that reuerend Vice, that grey Ini-
    quitie, that Father Ruffian, that Vanitie in yeeres? where-
    in is he good, but to taste Sacke, and drinke it? wherein
    neat and cleanly, but to carue a Capon, and eat it? where-
    1415in Cunning, but in Craft? wherein Craftie, but in Villa-
    nie? wherein Villanous, but in all things? wherein wor-
    thy, but in nothing?
    Falst. I would your Grace would take me with you:
    whom meanes your Grace?
    1420Prince. That villanous abhominable mis-leader of
    Youth, Falstaffe, that old white-bearded Sathan.
    Falst. My Lord, the man I know.
    Prince. I know thou do'st.
    Falst. But to say, I know more harme in him then in
    1425my selfe, were to say more then I know. That hee is olde
    (the more the pittie) his white hayres doe witnesse it:
    but that hee is (sauing your reuerence) a Whore-ma-
    ster, that I vtterly deny. If Sacke and Sugar bee a fault,
    Heauen helpe the Wicked: if to be olde and merry, be a
    1430sinne, then many an olde Hoste that I know, is damn'd:
    if to be fat, be to be hated, then Pharaohs leane Kine are
    to be loued. No, my good Lord, banish Peto, banish
    Bardolph, banish Poines: but for sweete Iacke Falstaffe,
    kinde Iacke Falstaffe, true Iacke Falstaffe, valiant Iacke Fal-
    1435staffe, and therefore more valiant, being as hee is olde Iack
    Falstaffe, banish not him thy Harryes companie, banish
    not him thy Harryes companie; banish plumpe Iacke, and
    banish all the World.
    Prince. I doe, I will.

    1440 Enter Bardolph running.

    Bard. O, my Lord, my Lord, the Sherife, with a most
    most monstrous Watch, is at the doore.
    Falst. Out you Rogue, play out the Play: I haue much
    to say in the behalfe of that Falstaffe.

    1445 Enter the Hostesse.

    Hostesse. O, my Lord, my Lord.
    Falst. Heigh, heigh, the Deuill rides vpon a Fiddle-
    sticke: what's the matter?
    Hostesse. The Sherife and all the Watch are at the
    1450doore: they are come to search the House, shall I let
    them in?
    Falst. Do'st thou heare Hal, neuer call a true peece of
    Gold a Counterfeit: thou art essentially made, without
    seeming so.
    1455Prince. And thou a naturall Coward, without in-
    stinct.
    Falst. I deny your Maior: if you will deny the
    Sherife, so: if not, let him enter. If I become not a Cart
    as well as another man, a plague on my bringing vp: I
    1460hope I shall as soone be strangled with a Halter, as ano-
    ther.
    Prince. Goe hide thee behinde the Arras, the rest
    walke vp aboue. Now my Masters, for a true Face and
    good Conscience.
    1465Falst. Both which I haue had: but their date is out,
    and therefore Ile hide me. Exit.
    Prince. Call in the Sherife.

    Enter Sherife and the Carrier.

    Prince. Now Master Sherife, what is your will with
    1470mee?
    She. First pardon me, my Lord. A Hue and Cry hath
    followed certaine men vnto this house.
    Prince. What men?
    She. One of them is well knowne, my gracious Lord,
    1475a grosse fat man.
    Car. As fat as Butter.
    Prince. The man, I doe assure you, is not heere,
    For I my selfe at this time haue imploy'd him:
    And Sherife, I will engage my word to thee,
    1480That I will by to morrow Dinner time,
    Send him to answere thee, or any man,
    For any thing he shall be charg'd withall:
    And so let me entreat you, leaue the house.
    She. I will, my Lord: there are two Gentlemen
    1485Haue in this Robberie lost three hundred Markes.
    Prince. It may be so: if he haue robb'd these men,
    He shall be answerable: and so farewell.
    She. Good Night, my Noble Lord.
    Prince. I thinke it is good Morrow, is it not?
    1490She. Indeede, my Lord, I thinke it be two a Clocke.
    Exit.
    Prince. This oyly Rascall is knowne as well as Poules:
    goe call him forth.
    Peto. Falstaffe? fast asleepe behinde the Arras, and
    1495snorting like a Horse.
    Prince. Harke, how hard he fetches breath: search his
    Pockets.
    He