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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    of Henrie the fourth.
    1085Falst. You rogue, heeres lime in this sacke too: there is no-
    thing but rogery to be found in villanous man, yet a cowarde is
    worse then a cup of sacke with lime in it. A villanous cowarde.
    Go thy waies old Iacke, die when thou wilt, if manhood, good
    manhood be not forgot vpon the face of the earth, then am I a
    1090shotten herring: there liues not three good men vnhangde in
    England, and one of them is fat, and growes old, God helpe the
    while, a bad world I say, I would I were a weauer. I could sing
    psalmes, or any thing. A plague of all cowards I say still.
    1095Prin. How now Wolsacke, what mutter you?
    Falst. A kings sonne, if I do not beat thee out of thy kingdom
    with a dagger of lath, and driue all thy subiects afore thee like a
    flock of wild geese, ile neuer weare haire on my face more, you
    prince of Wales.
    1100Prin. Why you horeson round-man, whats the matter?
    Falst. Are not you a cowarde? aunswere mee to that, and
    Poines there.
    Poin. Zoundes ye fat paunch, and ye call me cowarde by the
    Lord ile stab thee.
    1105Falst. I call thee cowarde, ile see thee damnde ere I call thee
    coward, but I woulde giue a thousand pound I coulde runne as
    fast as thou canst. You are streight enough in the shoulders, you
    care not who sees your backe: call you that backing of your
    friends, a plague vpon such backing, giue me them that will
    1110face me, giue me a cup of sacke. I am a rogue if I drunke to day.
    Prin. O villain, thy lips are scarse wipt since thou drunkst last.
    Falst. All is one for that.
    He drinketh.
    1115A plague of all cowards still say I.
    Prin, Whats the matter?
    Falst. Whats the matter, there be foure of vs here haue tane a
    thousand pound this day morning
    Prin. Where is it Iacke, where is it?
    1120Fal. Where is it? taken from vs it is: a hundred vppon poore
    foure of vs.
    Prin. What, a hundred, man?
    Falst. I am a rogue if I were not at halfe sword with a douzen
    of them two houres together. I haue scapt by myracle. I am
    1125eight times thrust through the doublet, foure through the hose,
    my