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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)

    50 The First Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    Poines. Good morrow sweet Hal. What saies Mon-
    220sieur Remorse? What sayes Sir Iohn Sacke and Sugar:
    Iacke? How agrees the Diuell and thee about thy Soule,
    that thou soldest him on Good-Friday last, for a Cup of
    Madera, and a cold Capons legge?
    Prin. Sir Iohn stands to his word, the diuel shall haue
    225his bargaine, for he was neuer yet a Breaker of Prouerbs:
    He will giue the diuell his due.
    Poin. Then art thou damn'd for keeping thy word with
    the diuell.
    Prin. Else he had damn'd for cozening the diuell.
    230Poy. But my Lads, my Lads, to morrow morning, by
    foure a clocke early at Gads hill, there are Pilgrimes go-
    ing to Canterbury with rich Offerings, and Traders ri-
    ding to London with fat Purses. I haue vizards for you
    all; you haue horses for your selues: Gads-hill lyes to
    235night in Rochester, I haue bespoke Supper to morrow in
    Eastcheape; we may doe it as secure as sleepe: if you will
    go, I will stuffe your Purses full of Crownes: if you will
    not, tarry at home and be hang'd.
    Fal. Heare ye Yedward, if I tarry at home and go not,
    240Ile hang you for going.
    Poy. You will chops.
    Fal. Hal, wilt thou make one?
    Prin. Who, I rob? I a Theefe? Not I.
    Fal. There's neither honesty, manhood, nor good fel-
    245lowship in thee, nor thou cam'st not of the blood-royall,
    if thou dar'st not stand for ten shillings.
    Prin. Well then, once in my dayes Ile be a mad-cap.
    Fal. Why, that's well said.
    Prin. Well, come what will, Ile tarry at home.
    250Fal. Ile be a Traitor then, when thou art King.
    Prin. I care not.
    Poyn. Sir Iohn, I prythee leaue the Prince & me alone,
    I will lay him downe such reasons for this aduenture, that
    he shall go.
    255Fal. Well, maist thou haue the Spirit of perswasion;
    and he the eares of profiting, that what thou speakest,
    may moue; and what he heares may be beleeued, that the
    true Prince, may (for recreation sake) proue a false theefe;
    for the poore abuses of the time, want countenance. Far-
    260well, you shall finde me in Eastcheape.
    Prin. Farwell the latter Spring. Farewell Alhollown
    Summer.
    Poy. Now, my good sweet Hony Lord, ride with vs
    to morrow. I haue a iest to execute, that I cannot man-
    265nage alone. Falstaffe, Haruey, Rossill, and Gads-hill, shall
    robbe those men that wee haue already way-layde, your
    selfe and I, wil not be there: and when they haue the boo-
    ty, if you and I do not rob them, cut this head from my
    shoulders.
    270Prin. But how shal we part with them in setting forth?
    Poyn. Why, we wil set forth before or after them, and
    appoint them a place of meeting, wherin it is at our plea-
    sure to faile; and then will they aduenture vppon the ex-
    ploit themselues, which they shall haue no sooner atchie-
    275ued, but wee'l set vpon them.
    Prin. I, but tis like that they will know vs by our
    horses, by our habits, and by euery other appointment to
    be our selues.
    Poy. Tut our horses they shall not see, Ile tye them in
    280the wood, our vizards wee will change after wee leaue
    them: and sirrah, I haue Cases of Buckram for the nonce,
    to immaske our noted outward garments.
    Prin. But I doubt they will be too hard for vs.
    Poin. Well, for two of them, I know them to bee as
    285true bred Cowards as euer turn'd backe: and for the third
    if he fight longer then he sees reason, Ile forswear Armes.
    The vertue of this Iest will be, the incomprehensible lyes
    that this fat Rogue will tell vs, when we meete at Supper:
    how thirty at least he fought with, what Wardes, what
    290blowes, what extremities he endured; and in the reproofe
    of this, lyes the iest.
    Prin. Well, Ile goe with thee, prouide vs all things
    necessary, and meete me to morrow night in Eastcheape,
    there Ile sup. Farewell.
    295Poyn. Farewell, my Lord. Exit Pointz
    Prin. I know you all, and will a-while vphold
    The vnyoak'd humor of your idlenesse:
    Yet heerein will I imitate the Sunne,
    Who doth permit the base contagious cloudes
    300To smother vp his Beauty from the world,
    That when he please againe to be himselfe,
    Being wanted, he may be more wondred at,
    By breaking through the foule and vgly mists
    Of vapours, that did seeme to strangle him.
    305If all the yeare were playing holidaies,
    To sport, would be as tedious as to worke;
    But when they seldome come, they wisht-for come,
    And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
    So when this loose behauiour I throw off,
    310And pay the debt I neuer promised;
    By how much better then my word I am,
    By so much shall I falsifie mens hopes,
    And like bright Mettall on a sullen ground:
    My reformation glittering o're my fault,
    315Shall shew more goodly, and attract more eyes,
    Then that which hath no foyle to set it off.
    Ile so offend, to make offence a skill,
    Redeeming time, when men thinke least I will.


    Scoena Tertia.


    320 Enter the King, Northumberland, Worcester, Hotspurre,
    Sir Walter Blunt, and others.

    King. My blood hath beene too cold and temperate,
    Vnapt to stirre at these indignities,
    And you haue found me; for accordingly,
    325You tread vpon my patience: But be sure,
    I will from henceforth rather be my Selfe,
    Mighty, and to be fear'd, then my condition
    Which hath beene smooth as Oyle, soft as yong Downe,
    And therefore lost that Title of respect,
    330Which the proud soule ne're payes, but to the proud.
    Wor. Our house (my Soueraigne Liege) little deserues
    The scourge of greatnesse to be vsed on it,
    And that same greatnesse too, which our owne hands
    Haue holpe to make so portly.
    335Nor. My Lord.
    King. Worcester get thee gone: for I do see
    Danger and disobedience in thine eye.
    O sir, your presence is too bold and peremptory,
    And Maiestie might neuer yet endure
    340The moody Frontier of a seruant brow,
    You haue good leaue to leaue vs. When we need
    Your vse and counsell, we shall send for you.
    You were about to speake.
    North. Yea, my good Lord.
    Those
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