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  • Title: Henry IV, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1598)
  • 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
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Henry IV, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1598)

    The history
    O the diuill take such coosoners, god forgiue me,
    Good vncle tell your tale, I haue done.
    Wor. Nay, if you haue not, to it againe,
    585We wil stay your leisure.
    Hot. I haue done Ifaith.
    Wor. Then once more to your Scottish prisoners,
    Deliuer them vp without their ransome straight,
    And make the Douglas sonne your only meane
    590For Powers in Scotland, which for diuers reasons
    Which I shall send you written, be assur'd
    Wil easely be granted you my Lord.
    Your sonne in Scotland being thus emploied,
    Shal secretly into the bosome creepe
    595Of that same noble prelat welbelou'd,
    The Archbishop.
    Hot. Of Yorke, is it not?
    Wor. True, who beares hard
    His brothers death at Bristow the lord Scroop,
    600I speake not this in estimation,
    As what I thinke might be, but what I know
    Is ruminated, plotted, and set downe,
    And onely staies but to behold the face
    Of that occasion that shal bring it on.
    605Hot. I smell it. Vpon my life it will do well.
    Nort. Before the game is afoote thou still letst slip.
    Hot. Why, it cannot chuse but be a noble plot,
    And then the power of Scotland, and of Yorke,
    610To ioine with Mortimer, ha.
    Wor. And so they shall.
    Hot. In faith it is exceedingly well aimd.
    Wor. And tis no little reason bids vs speed,
    To saue our heads by raising of a head,
    615For beare our selues as euen as we can,
    The king will alwaies thinke him in our debt,
    And thinke we thinke our selues vnsatisfied,
    Till he hath found a time to pay vs home.
    And see already how he doth begin
    620To make vs strangers to his lookes of loue.
    Hot.