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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    Not Peer Reviewed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 Historie.
    Prince. I, and marke thee to iacke.
    Falst. Do so, for it is worth the listning to, these nine in Buck-
    rom that I told thee of.
    Prince. So, two more alreadie.
    Falst. Their points being broken.
    Poy. Downe fell their hose.
    Falst. Began to giue me ground: but I followed me close, came
    1175in, foot, and hand, and with a thought, seuen of the eleuen I paid.
    Prin. O monstrous! eleuen Buckrom men growne out of two.
    Fal. But as the diuell would haue it, three misbegotten knaues
    1180in Kendall greene came at my backe, and let driue at mee, for it
    was so darke Hal, that thou couldest not see thy hand.
    Prin. These lies are like their father that begets them, grosse as
    a mountaine, open, palpable. Why thou clay-braind guts, thou
    1185knotty-pated foole, thou horeson obscene greasie tallow-catch.
    Falst. What art thou mad? art thou mad? is not the truth the
    truth?
    Pr. Why, how couldst thou know these men in Kendal greene
    1190when it was so darke thou couldst not see thy hand, come tell vs
    your reason. What sayest thou to this?
    Po. Come your reason, Iacke, your reason.
    Falst. What, vppon compulsion: Zoundes, and I were at the
    1195strappado, or all the rackes in the worlde, I would not tell you on
    compulsion. Giue you a reason on compulsion? if reasons were
    as plentifull as blackberries, I would giue no man a reason vppon
    compulsion, I.
    Prin. Ile be no longer guiltie of this sinne. This sanguine co-
    1200ward, this bed-presser, this horse-backe-breaker, this huge hill
    of flesh.
    Fa. Zbloud you starueling, you elsskin, you dried neatstong, you
    bulspizzle, you stockfish: O for breath to vtter what is like thee,
    you tailers yard, you sheath, you bowcase, you vile standing tuck.
    Prin. Wel, breath a while, and then to it againe, and when thou
    hast tired thy selfe in base comparisons heare mee speake but this.
    Po. Marke iacke.
    1210Prin. We two saw you foure set on foure, and bound them and
    were maisters of their wealth: marke now how a plaine tale shall
    put you downe, then did wee two set on you foure, and with a
    worde,
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