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  • 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. 65
    2120Falst. There's no more faith in thee then a stu'de Prune;
    nor no more truth in thee, then in a drawne Fox: and for
    Wooman-hood, Maid-marian may be the Deputies wife
    of the Ward to thee. Go you nothing: go.
    Host. Say, what thing? what thing?
    2125Falst. What thing? why a thing to thanke heauen on.
    Host. I am no thing to thanke heauen on, I wold thou
    shouldst know it: I am an honest mans wife: and setting
    thy Knighthood aside, thou art a knaue to call me so.
    Falst. Setting thy woman-hood aside, thou art a beast
    2130to say otherwise.
    Host. Say, what beast, thou knaue thou?
    Fal. What beast? Why an Otter.
    Prin. An Otter, sir Iohn? Why an Otter?
    Fal. Why? She's neither fish nor flesh; a man knowes
    2135not where to haue her.
    Host. Thou art vniust man in saying so; thou, or anie
    man knowes where to haue me, thou knaue thou.
    Prince. Thou say'st true Hostesse, and he slanders thee
    most grossely.
    2140Host. So he doth you, my Lord, and sayde this other
    day, You ought him a thousand pound.
    Prince. Sirrah, do I owe you a thousand pound?
    Falst. A thousand pound Hal? A Million. Thy loue is
    worth a Million: thou ow'st me thy loue.
    2145Host. Nay my Lord, he call'd you Iacke, and said hee
    would cudgell you.
    Fal. Did I, Bardolph?
    Bar. Indeed Sir Iohn, you said so.
    Fal. Yea, if he said my Ring was Copper.
    2150Prince. I say 'tis Copper. Dar'st thou bee as good as
    thy word now?
    Fal. Why Hal? thou know'st, as thou art but a man, I
    dare: but, as thou art a Prince, I feare thee, as I feare the
    roaring of the Lyons Whelpe.
    2155Prince. And why not as the Lyon?
    Fal. The King himselfe is to bee feared as the Lyon:
    Do'st thou thinke Ile feare thee, as I feare thy Father? nay
    if I do, let my Girdle breake.
    Prin. O, if it should. how would thy guttes fall about
    2160thy knees. But sirra: There's no roome for Faith, Truth,
    nor Honesty, in this bosome of thine: it is all fill'd vppe
    with Guttes and Midriffe. Charge an honest Woman
    with picking thy pocket? Why thou horson impudent
    imbost Rascall, if there were any thing in thy Pocket but
    2165Tauerne Recknings, Memorandums of Bawdie-houses,
    and one poore peny-worth of Sugar-candie to make thee
    long-winded: if thy pocket were enrich'd with anie o-
    ther iniuries but these, I am a Villaine: And yet you will
    stand to it, you will not Pocket vp wrong. Art thou not
    2170asham'd?
    Fal. Do'st thou heare Hal? Thou know'st in the state
    of Innocency, Adam fell: and what should poore Iacke
    Falstaffe do, in the dayes of Villany? Thou seest, I haue
    more flesh then another man, and therefore more frailty.
    2175You confesse then you pickt my Pocket?
    Prin. It appeares so by the Story.
    Fal. Hostesse, I forgiue thee:
    Go make ready Breakfast, loue thy Husband,
    Looke to thy Seruants, and cherish thy Guests:
    2180Thou shalt find me tractable to any honest reason:
    Thou seest, I am pacified still.
    Nay, I prethee be gone.
    Exit Hostesse.
    Now Hal, to the newes at Court for the Robbery, Lad?
    2185How is that answered?
    Prin. O my sweet Beefe:
    I must still be good Angell to thee.
    The Monie is paid backe againe.
    Fal. O, I do not like that paying backe, 'tis a double
    2190Labour.
    Prin. I am good Friends with my Father, and may do
    any thing.
    Fal. Rob me the Exchequer the first thing thou do'st,
    and do it with vnwash'd hands too.
    2195Bard. Do my Lord.
    Prin. I haue procured thee Iacke, a Charge of Foot.
    Fal. I would it had beene of Horse. Where shal I finde
    one that can steale well? O, for a fine theefe of two and
    twentie, or thereabout: I am heynously vnprouided. Wel
    2200God be thanked for these Rebels, they offend none but
    the Vertuous. I laud them, I praise them.
    Prin. Bardolph.
    Bar. My Lord.
    Prin. Go beare this Letter to Lord Iohn of Lancaster
    2205To my Brother Iohn. This to my Lord of Westmerland,
    Go Peto, to horse: for thou, and I,
    Haue thirtie miles to ride yet ere dinner time.
    Iacke, meet me to morrow in the Temple Hall
    At two a clocke in the afternoone,
    2210There shalt thou know thy Charge, and there receiue
    Money and Order for their Furniture.
    The Land is burning, Percie stands on hye,
    And either they, or we must lower lye.
    Fal. Rare words! braue world.
    2215Hostesse, my breakfast, come:
    Oh, I could wish this Tauerne were my drumme.
    Exeunt omnes.


    Actus Quartus. Scoena Prima.


    Enter Harrie Hotspurre, Worcester,
    2220and Dowglas.

    Hot. Well said, my Noble Scot, if speaking truth
    In this fine Age, were not thought flatterie,
    Such attribution should the Dowglas haue,
    As not a Souldiour of this seasons stampe,
    2225Should go so generall currant through the world.
    By heauen I cannot flatter: I defie
    The Tongues of Soothers. But a Brauer place
    In my hearts loue, hath no man then your Selfe.
    Nay, taske me to my word: approue me Lord.
    2230Dow. Thou art the King of Honor:
    No man so potent breathes vpon the ground,
    But I will Beard him.

    Enter a Messenger.

    Hot. Do so, and 'tis well. What Letters hast there?
    2235I can but thanke you.
    Mess. These Letters come from your Father.
    Hot. Letters from him?
    Why comes he not himselfe?
    Mes. He cannot come, my Lord,
    2240He is greeuous sicke.
    Hot. How? haz he the leysure to be sicke now,
    In such a iustling time? Who leades his power?
    Vnder whose Gonernment come they along?
    f2 Mes
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