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  • Title: Henry IV, Part 2 (Folio 1 1623)
  • Editor: Rosemary Gaby

    • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 2 (Folio 1 1623)

    0.1The Second Part of Henry the Fourth,
    Containing his Death: and the Coronation
    of King Henry the Fift.
    1Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.
    INDVCTION.
    Enter Rumour.
    OPen your Eares: For which of you will stop
    5The vent of Hearing, when loud Rumor speakes?
    I, from the Orient, to the drooping West
    (Making the winde my Post-horse) still vnfold
    The Acts commenced on this Ball of Earth.
    Vpon my Tongue, continuall Slanders ride,
    10The which, in euery Language, I pronounce,
    Stuffing the Eares of them with false Reports:
    I speake of Peace, while couert Enmitie
    (Vnder the smile of Safety) wounds the World:
    And who but Rumour, who but onely I
    15Make fearfull Musters, and prepar'd Defence,
    Whil'st the bigge yeare, swolne with some other griefes,
    Is thought with childe, by the sterne Tyrant, Warre,
    And no such matter? Rumour, is a Pipe
    Blowne by Surmises, Ielousies, Coniectures;
    20And of so easie, and so plaine a stop,
    That the blunt Monster, with vncounted heads,
    The still discordant, wauering Multitude,
    Can play vpon it. But what neede I thus
    My well-knowne Body to Anathomize
    25Among my houshold? Why is Rumour heere?
    I run before King Harries victory,
    Who in a bloodie field by Shrewsburie
    Hath beaten downe yong Hotspurre, and his Troopes,
    Quenching the flame of bold Rebellion,
    30Euen with the Rebels blood. But what meane I
    To speake so true at first? My Office is
    To noyse abroad, that Harry Monmouth fell
    Vnder the Wrath of Noble Hotspurres Sword:
    And that the King, before the Dowglas Rage
    35Stoop'd his Annointed head, as low as death.
    This haue I rumour'd through the peasant-Townes,
    Betweene the Royall Field of Shrewsburie,
    And this Worme-eaten-Hole of ragged Stone,
    Where Hotspurres Father, old Northumberland,
    40Lyes crafty sicke. The Postes come tyring on,
    And not a man of them brings other newes
    Then they haue learn'd of Me. From Rumours Tongues,
    They bring smooth-Comforts-false, worse then True-
    wrongs. Exit.
    45Scena Secunda.
    Enter Lord Bardolfe, and the Porter.
    L. Bar. Who keepes the Gate heere hoa?
    Where is the Earle?
    Por. What shall I say you are?
    50Bar. Tell thou the Earle
    That the Lord Bardolfe doth attend him heere.
    Por. His Lordship is walk'd forth into the Orchard,
    Please it your Honor, knocke but at the Gate,
    And he himselfe will answer.
    55Enter Northumberland.
    L. Bar. Heere comes the Earle.
    Nor. What newes Lord Bardolfe? Eu'ry minute now
    Should be the Father of some Stratagem;
    The Times are wilde: Contention (like a Horse
    60Full of high Feeding) madly hath broke loose,
    And beares downe all before him.
    L. Bar. Noble Earle,
    I bring you certaine newes from Shrewsbury.
    Nor. Good, and heauen will.
    65L. Bar. As good as heart can wish:
    The King is almost wounded to the death:
    And in the Fortune of my Lord your Sonne,
    Prince Harrie slaine out-right: and both the Blunts
    Kill'd by the hand of Dowglas. Yong Prince Iohn,
    70And Westmerland, and Stafford, fled the Field.
    And Harrie Monmouth's Brawne (the Hulke Sir Iohn)
    Is prisoner to your Sonne. O, such a Day,
    (So fought, so follow'd, and so fairely wonne)
    Came not, till now, to dignifie the Times
    75Since Caesars Fortunes.
    Nor. How is this deriu'd?
    Saw you the Field? Came you from Shrewsbury?
    L. Bar. I spake with one (my L.) that came frōm thence,
    A Gentleman well bred, and of good name,
    80That freely render'd me these newes for true.
    Nor. Heere comes my Seruant Trauers, whom I sent
    On Tuesday last, to listen after Newes.
    Enter Trauers.
    L. Bar. My Lord, I ouer-rod him on the way,
    85And he is furnish'd with no certainties,
    More then he (haply) may retaile from me.
    Nor. Now Trauers, what good tidings comes frōm you?
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 75
    Tra. My Lord, Sir Iohn Vmfreuill turn'd me backe
    With ioyfull tydings; and (being better hors'd)
    90Out-rod me. After him, came spurring head
    A Gentleman (almost fore-spent with speed)
    That stopp'd by me, to breath his bloodied horse.
    He ask'd the way to Chester: And of him
    I did demand what Newes from Shrewsbury:
    95He told me, that Rebellion had ill lucke,
    And that yong Harry Percies Spurre was cold.
    With that he gaue his able Horse the head,
    And bending forwards strooke his able heeles
    Against the panting sides of his poore Iade
    100Vp to the Rowell head, and starting so,
    He seem'd in running, to deuoure the way,
    Staying no longer question.
    North. Ha? Againe:
    Said he yong Harrie Percyes Spurre was cold?
    105(Of Hot-Spurre, cold-Spurre?) that Rebellion,
    Had met ill lucke?
    L. Bar. My Lord: Ile tell you what,
    If my yong Lord your Sonne, haue not the day,
    Vpon mine Honor, for a silken point
    110Ile giue my Barony. Neuer talke of it.
    Nor. Why should the Gentleman that rode by Trauers
    Giue then such instances of Losse?
    L. Bar. Who, he?
    He was some hielding Fellow, that had stolne
    115The Horse he rode-on: and vpon my life
    Speake at aduenture. Looke, here comes more Newes.
    Enter Morton.
    Nor. Yea, this mans brow, like to a Title-leafe,
    Fore-tels the Nature of a Tragicke Volume:
    120So lookes the Strond, when the Imperious Flood
    Hath left a witnest Vsurpation.
    Say Morton, did'st thou come from Shrewsbury?
    Mor. I ran from Shrewsbury (my Noble Lord)
    Where hatefull death put on his vgliest Maske
    125To fright our party.
    North. How doth my Sonne, and Brother?
    Thou trembl'st; and the whitenesse in thy Cheeke
    Is apter then thy Tongue, to tell thy Errand.
    Euen such a man, so faint, so spiritlesse,
    130So dull, so dead in looke, so woe-be-gone,
    Drew Priams Curtaine, in the dead of night,
    And would haue told him, Halfe his Troy was burn'd.
    But Priam found the Fire, ere he his Tongue:
    And I, my Percies death, ere thou report'st it.
    135This, thou would'st say: Your Sonne did thus, and thus:
    Your Brother, thus. So fought the Noble Dowglas,
    Stopping my greedy eare, with their bold deeds.
    But in the end (to stop mine Eare indeed)
    Thou hast a Sigh, to blow away this Praise,
    140Ending with Brother, Sonne, and all are dead.
    Mor. Dowglas is liuing, and your Brother, yet:
    But for my Lord, your Sonne.
    North. Why, he is dead.
    See what a ready tongue Suspition hath:
    145He that but feares the thing, he would not know,
    Hath by Instinct, knowledge from others Eyes,
    That what he feard, is chanc'd. Yet speake (Morton)
    Tell thou thy Earle, his Diuination Lies,
    And I will take it, as a sweet Disgrace,
    150And make thee rich, for doing me such wrong.
    Mor. You are too great, to be (by me) gainsaid:
    Your Spirit is too true, your Feares too certaine.
    North. Yet for all this, say not that Percies dead.
    I see a strange Confession in thine Eye:
    155Thou shak'st thy head, and hold'st it Feare, or Sinne,
    To speake a truth. If he be slaine, say so:
    The Tongue offends not, that reports his death:
    And he doth sinne that doth belye the dead:
    Not he, which sayes the dead is not aliue:
    160Yet the first bringer of vnwelcome Newes
    Hath but a loosing Office: and his Tongue,
    Sounds euer after as a sullen Bell
    Remembred, knolling a departing Friend.
    L. Bar. I cannot thinke (my Lord) your son is dead.
    165Mor. I am sorry, I should force you to beleeue
    That, which I would to heauen, I had not seene.
    But these mine eyes, saw him in bloody state,
    Rend'ring faint quittance (wearied, and out-breath'd)
    To Henrie Monmouth, whose swift wrath beate downe
    170The neuer-daunted Percie to the earth,
    From whence (with life) he neuer more sprung vp.
    In few; his death (whose spirit lent a fire,
    Euen to the dullest Peazant in his Campe)
    Being bruited once, tooke fire and heate away
    175From the best temper'd Courage in his Troopes.
    For from his Mettle, was his Party steel'd;
    Which once, in him abated, all the rest
    Turn'd on themselues, like dull and heauy Lead:
    And as the Thing, that's heauy in it selfe,
    180Vpon enforcement, flyes with greatest speede,
    So did our Men, heauy in Hotspurres losse,
    Lend to this weight, such lightnesse with their Feare,
    That Arrowes fled not swifter toward their ayme,
    Then did our Soldiers (ayming at their safety)
    185Fly from the field. Then was that Noble Worcester
    Too soone ta'ne prisoner: and that furious Scot,
    (The bloody Dowglas) whose well-labouring sword
    Had three times slaine th'appearance of the King,
    Gan vaile his stomacke, and did grace the shame
    190Of those that turn'd their backes: and in his flight,
    Stumbling in Feare, was tooke. The summe of all,
    Is, that the King hath wonne: and hath sent out
    A speedy power, to encounter you my Lord,
    Vnder the Conduct of yong Lancaster
    195And Westmerland. This is the Newes at full.
    North. For this, I shall haue time enough to mourne.
    In Poyson, there is Physicke: and this newes
    (Hauing beene well) that would haue made me sicke,
    Being sicke, haue in some measure, made me well.
    200And as the Wretch, whose Feauer-weakned ioynts,
    Like strengthlesse Hindges, buckle vnder life,
    Impatient of his Fit, breakes like a fire
    Out of his keepers armes: Euen so, my Limbes
    (Weak'ned with greefe) being now inrag'd with greefe,
    205Are thrice themselues. Hence therefore thou nice crutch,
    A scalie Gauntlet now, with ioynts of Steele
    Must gloue this hand. And hence thou sickly Quoife,
    Thou art a guard too wanton for the head,
    Which Princes, flesh'd with Conquest, ayme to hit.
    210Now binde my Browes with Iron, and approach
    The ragged'st houre, that Time and Spight dare bring
    To frowne vpon th'enrag'd Northumberland.
    Let Heauen kisse Earth: now let not Natures hand
    Keepe the wilde Flood confin'd: Let Order dye,
    215And let the world no longer be a stage
    To feede Contention in a ling'ring Act:
    But let one spirit of the First-borne Caine
    g Reigne
    76The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    Reigne in all bosomes, that each heart being set
    On bloody Courses, the rude Scene may end,
    220And darknesse be the burier of the dead.
    L. Bar. Sweet Earle, diuorce not wisedom from your (Honor.
    Mor. The liues of all your louing Complices
    Leane-on your health, the which if you giue-o're
    To stormy Passion, must perforce decay.
    225You cast th'euent of Warre (my Noble Lord)
    And summ'd the accompt of Chance, before you said
    Let vs make head: It was your presurmize,
    That in the dole of blowes, your Son might drop.
    You knew he walk'd o're perils, on an edge
    230More likely to fall in, then to get o're:
    You were aduis'd his flesh was capeable
    Of Wounds, and Scarres; and that his forward Spirit
    Would lift him, where most trade of danger rang'd,
    Yet did you say go forth: and none of this
    235(Though strongly apprehended) could restraine
    The stiffe-borne Action: What hath then befalne?
    Or what hath this bold enterprize bring forth,
    More then that Being, which was like to be?
    L. Bar. We all that are engaged to this losse,
    240Knew that we ventur'd on such dangerous Seas,
    That if we wrought out life, was ten to one:
    And yet we ventur'd for the gaine propos'd,
    Choak'd the respect of likely perill fear'd,
    And since we are o're-set, venture againe.
    245Come, we will all put forth; Body, and Goods,
    Mor. 'Tis more then time: And (my most Noble Lord)
    I heare for certaine, and do speake the truth:
    The gentle Arch-bishop of Yorke is vp
    With well appointed Powres: he is a man
    250Who with a double Surety bindes his Followers.
    My Lord (your Sonne) had onely but the Corpes,
    But shadowes, and the shewes of men to fight.
    For that same word (Rebellion) did diuide
    The action of their bodies, from their soules,
    255And they did fight with queasinesse, constrain'd
    As men drinke Potions; that their Weapons only
    Seem'd on our side: but for their Spirits and Soules,
    This word (Rebellion) it had froze them vp,
    As Fish are in a Pond. But now the Bishop
    260Turnes Insurrection to Religion,
    Suppos'd sincere, and holy in his Thoughts:
    He's follow'd both with Body, and with Minde:
    And doth enlarge his Rising, with the blood
    Of faire King Richard, scrap'd from Pomfret stones,
    265Deriues from heauen, his Quarrell, and his Cause:
    Tels them, he doth bestride a bleeding Land,
    Gasping for life, vnder great Bullingbrooke,
    And more, and lesse, do flocke to follow him.
    North. I knew of this before. But to speake truth,
    270This present greefe had wip'd it from my minde.
    Go in with me, and councell euery man
    The aptest way for safety, and reuenge:
    Get Posts, and Letters, and make Friends with speed,
    Neuer so few, nor neuer yet more need. Exeunt.
    275Scena Tertia.
    Enter Falstaffe, and Page.
    Fal. Sirra, you giant, what saies the Doct. to my water?
    Pag. He said sir, the water it selfe was a good healthy
    water: but for the party that ow'd it, he might haue more
    280diseases then he knew for.
    Fal. Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at mee: the
    braine of this foolish compounded Clay-man, is not able
    to inuent any thing that tends to laughter, more then I
    inuent, or is inuented on me. I am not onely witty in my
    285selfe, but the cause that wit is in other men. I doe heere
    walke before thee, like a Sow, that hath o'rewhelm'd all
    her Litter, but one. If the Prince put thee into my Ser-
    uice for any other reason, then to set mee off, why then I
    haue no iudgement. Thou horson Mandrake, thou art
    290fitter to be worne in my cap, then to wait at my heeles. I
    was neuer mann'd with an Agot till now: but I will sette
    you neyther in Gold, nor Siluer, but in vilde apparell, and
    send you backe againe to your Master, for a Iewell. The
    Iuuenall (the Prince your Master) whose Chin is not yet
    295fledg'd, I will sooner haue a beard grow in the Palme of
    my hand, then he shall get one on his cheeke: yet he will
    not sticke to say, his Face is a Face-Royall. Heauen may
    finish it when he will, it is not a haire amisse yet: he may
    keepe it still at a Face-Royall, for a Barber shall neuer
    300earne six pence out of it; and yet he will be crowing, as if
    he had writ man euer since his Father was a Batchellour.
    He may keepe his owne Grace, but he is almost out of
    mine, I can assure him. What said M. Dombledon, about
    the Satten for my short Cloake, and Slops?
    305Pag. He said sir, you should procure him better Assu-
    rance, then Bardolfe: he wold not take his Bond & yours,
    he lik'd not the Security.
    Fal. Let him bee damn'd like the Glutton, may his
    Tongue be hotter, a horson Achitophel; a Rascally-yea-
    310forsooth-knaue, to beare a Gentleman in hand, and then
    stand vpon Security? The horson smooth-pates doe now
    weare nothing but high shoes, and bunches of Keyes at
    their girdles: and if a man is through with them in ho-
    nest Taking-vp, then they must stand vpon Securitie: I
    315had as liefe they would put Rats-bane in my mouth, as
    offer to stoppe it with Security. I look'd hee should haue
    sent me two and twenty yards of Satten (as I am true
    Knight) and he sends me Security. Well, he may sleep in
    Security, for he hath the horne of Abundance: and the
    320lightnesse of his Wife shines through it, and yet cannot
    he see, though he haue his owne Lanthorne to light him.
    Where's Bardolfe?
    Pag. He's gone into Smithfield to buy your worship
    a horse.
    325Fal. I bought him in Paules, and hee'l buy mee a horse
    in Smithfield. If I could get mee a wife in the Stewes, I
    were Mann'd, Hors'd, and Wiu'd.
    Enter Chiefe Iustice, and Seruant.
    Pag. Sir, heere comes the Nobleman that committed
    330the Prince for striking him, about Bardolfe.
    Fal. Wait close, I will not see him.
    Ch. Iust. What's he that goes there?
    Ser. Falstaffe, and't please your Lordship.
    Iust. He that was in question for the Robbery?
    335Ser. He my Lord, but he hath since done good seruice
    at Shrewsbury: and (as I heare) is now going with some
    Charge, to the Lord Iohn of Lancaster.
    Iust. What to Yorke? Call him backe againe.
    Ser. Sir Iohn Falstaffe.
    340Fal. Boy, tell him, I am deafe.
    Pag. You must speake lowder, my Master is deafe.
    Iust. I am sure he is, to the hearing of any thing good.
    Go plucke him by the Elbow, I must speake with him.
    Ser. Sir Iohn.
    345Fal. What? a yong knaue and beg? Is there not wars? Is
    there not imployment? Doth not the K. lack subiects? Do
    not the Rebels want Soldiers? Though it be a shame to be
    on
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 77
    on any side but one, it is worse shame to begge, then to
    be on the worst side, were it worse then the name of Re-
    350bellion can tell how to make it.
    Ser. You mistake me Sir.
    Fal. Why sir? Did I say you were an honest man? Set-
    ting my Knight-hood, and my Souldiership aside, I had
    lyed in my throat, if I had said so.
    355Ser. I pray you (Sir) then set your Knighthood and
    your Souldier-ship aside, and giue mee leaue to tell you,
    you lye in your throat, if you say I am any other then an
    honest man.
    Fal. I giue thee leaue to tell me so? I lay a-side that
    360which growes to me? If thou get'st any leaue of me, hang
    me: if thou tak'st leaue, thou wer't better be hang'd: you
    Hunt-counter, hence: Auant.
    Ser. Sir, my Lord would speake with you.
    Iust. Sir Iohn Falstaffe, a word with you.
    365Fal. My good Lord: giue your Lordship good time of
    the day. I am glad to see your Lordship abroad: I heard
    say your Lordship was sicke. I hope your Lordship goes
    abroad by aduise. Your Lordship (though not clean past
    your youth) hath yet some smack of age in you: some rel-
    370lish of the saltnesse of Time, and I most humbly beseech
    your Lordship, to haue a reuerend care of your health.
    Iust. Sir Iohn, I sent you before your Expedition, to
    Shrewsburie.
    Fal. If it please your Lordship, I heare his Maiestie is
    375return'd with some discomfort from Wales.
    Iust. I talke not of his Maiesty: you would not come
    when I sent for you?
    Fal. And I heare moreouer, his Highnesse is falne into
    this same whorson Apoplexie.
    380Iust. Well, heauen mend him. I pray let me speak with (you.
    Fal. This Apoplexie is (as I take it) a kind of Lethar-
    gie, a sleeping of the blood, a horson Tingling.
    Iust. What tell you me of it? be it as it is.
    Fal. It hath it originall from much greefe; from study
    385and perturbation of the braine. I haue read the cause of
    his effects in Galen. It is a kinde of deafenesse.
    Iust. I thinke you are falne into the disease: For you
    heare not what I say to you.
    Fal. Very well (my Lord) very well: rather an't please
    390you) it is the disease of not Listning, the malady of not
    Marking, that I am troubled withall.
    Iust. To punish you by the heeles, would amend the
    attention of your eares, & I care not if I be your Physitian
    Fal. I am as poore as Iob, my Lord; but not so Patient:
    395your Lordship may minister the Potion of imprisonment
    to me, in respect of Pouertie: but how I should bee your
    Patient, to follow your prescriptions, the wise may make
    some dram of a scruple, or indeede, a scruple it selfe.
    Iust. I sent for you (when there were matters against
    400you for your life) to come speake with me.
    Fal. As I was then aduised by my learned Councel, in
    the lawes of this Land-seruice, I did not come.
    Iust. Wel, the truth is (sir Iohn) you liue in great infamy
    Fal. He that buckles him in my belt, cānnot liue in lesse.
    405Iust. Your Meanes is very slender, and your wast great.
    Fal. I would it were otherwise: I would my Meanes
    were greater, and my waste slenderer.
    Iust. You haue misled the youthfull Prince.
    Fal. The yong Prince hath misled mee. I am the Fel-
    410low with the great belly, and he my Dogge.
    Iust. Well, I am loth to gall a new-heal'd wound: your
    daies seruice at Shrewsbury, hath a little gilded ouer
    your Nights exploit on Gads-hill. You may thanke the
    vnquiet time, for your quiet o're-posting that Action.
    415Fal. My Lord?
    Iust. But since all is wel, keep it so: wake not a sleeping (Wolfe.
    Fal. To wake a Wolfe, is as bad as to smell a Fox.
    Iu. What? you are as a candle, the better part burnt out
    Fal. A Wassell-Candle, my Lord; all Tallow: if I did
    420say of wax, my growth would approue the truth.
    Iust. There is not a white haire on your face, but shold
    haue his effect of grauity.
    Fal. His effect of grauy, grauy, grauy.
    Iust You follow the yong Prince vp and downe, like
    425his euill Angell.
    Fal. Not so (my Lord) your ill Angell is light: but I
    hope, he that lookes vpon mee, will take mee without,
    weighing: and yet, in some respects I grant, I cannot go:
    I cannot tell. Vertue is of so little regard in these Costor-
    430mongers, that true valor is turn'd Beare-heard. Pregnan-
    cie is made a Tapster, and hath his quicke wit wasted in
    giuing Recknings: all the other gifts appertinent to man
    (as the malice of this Age shapes them) are not woorth a
    Gooseberry. You that are old, consider not the capaci-
    435ties of vs that are yong: you measure the heat of our Li-
    uers, with the bitternes of your gals: & we that are in the
    vaward of our youth, I must confesse, are wagges too.
    Iust. Do you set downe your name in the scrowle of
    youth, that are written downe old, with all the Charrac-
    440ters of age? Haue you not a moist eye? a dry hand? a yel-
    low cheeke? a white beard? a decreasing leg? an incresing
    belly? Is not your voice broken? your winde short? your
    wit single? and euery part about you blasted with Anti-
    quity? and wil you cal your selfe yong? Fy, fy, fy, sir Iohn.
    445Fal. My Lord, I was borne with a white head, & som-
    thing a round belly. For my voice, I haue lost it with hal-
    lowing and singing of Anthemes. To approue my youth
    farther, I will not: the truth is, I am onely olde in iudge-
    ment and vnderstanding: and he that will caper with mee
    450for a thousand Markes, let him lend me the mony, & haue
    at him. For the boxe of th'eare that the Prince gaue you,
    he gaue it like a rude Prince, and you tooke it like a sensi-
    ble Lord. I haue checkt him for it, and the yong Lion re-
    pents: Marry not in ashes and sacke-cloath, but in new
    455Silke, and old Sacke.
    Iust. Wel, heauen send the Prince a better companion.
    Fal. Heauen send the Companion a better Prince: I
    cannot rid my hands of him.
    Iust. Well, the King hath seuer'd you and Prince Har-
    460ry, I heare you are going with Lord Iohn of Lancaster, a-
    gainst the Archbishop, and the Earle of Northumberland
    Fal. Yes, I thanke your pretty sweet wit for it: but
    looke you pray, (all you that kisse my Ladie Peace, at
    home) that our Armies ioyn not in a hot day: for if I take
    465but two shirts out with me, and I meane not to sweat ex-
    traordinarily: if it bee a hot day, if I brandish any thing
    but my Bottle, would I might neuer spit white againe:
    There is not a daungerous Action can peepe out his head,
    but I am thrust vpon it. Well, I cannot last euer.
    470Iust. Well, be honest, be honest, and heauen blesse your
    Expedition.
    Fal. Will your Lordship lend mee a thousand pound,
    to furnish me forth?
    Iust. Not a peny, not a peny: you are too impatient
    475to beare crosses. Fare you well. Commend mee to my
    Cosin Westmerland.
    Fal. If I do, fillop me with a three-man-Beetle. A man
    can no more separate Age and Couetousnesse, then he can
    part yong limbes and letchery: but the Gowt galles the
    g2 one,
    78The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    480one, and the pox pinches the other; and so both the De-
    grees preuent my curses. Boy?
    Page. Sir.
    Fal. What money is in my purse?
    Page. Seuen groats, and two pence.
    485Fal. I can get no remedy against this Consumption of
    the purse. Borrowing onely lingers, and lingers it out,
    but the disease is incureable. Go beare this letter to my
    Lord of Lancaster, this to the Prince, this to the Earle of
    Westmerland, and this to old Mistris Vrsula, whome I
    490haue weekly sworne to marry, since I perceiu'd the first
    white haire on my chin. About it: you know where to
    finde me. A pox of this Gowt, or a Gowt of this Poxe:
    for the one or th'other playes the rogue with my great
    toe: It is no matter, if I do halt, I haue the warres for my
    495colour, and my Pension shall seeme the more reasonable.
    A good wit will make vse of any thing: I will turne dis-
    eases to commodity. Exeunt
    Scena Quarta.
    Enter Archbishop, Hastings, Mowbray, and
    500 Lord Bardolfe.
    Ar. Thus haue you heard our causes, & kno our Means:
    And my most noble Friends, I pray you all
    Speake plainly your opinions of our hopes,
    And first (Lord Marshall) what say you to it?
    505Mow. I well allow the occasion of our Armes,
    But gladly would be better satisfied,
    How (in our Meanes) we should aduance our selues
    To looke with forhead bold and big enough
    Vpon the Power and puisance of the King.
    510Hast. Our present Musters grow vpon the File
    To fiue and twenty thousand men of choice:
    And our Supplies, liue largely in the hope
    Of great Northumberland, whose bosome burnes
    With an incensed Fire of Iniuries.
    515L. Bar. The question then (Lord Hastings) standeth thus
    Whether our present fiue and twenty thousand
    May hold-vp-head, without Northumberland:
    Hast. With him, we may.
    L. Bar. I marry, there's the point:
    520But if without him we be thought to feeble,
    My iudgement is, we should not step too farre
    Till we had his Assistance by the hand.
    For in a Theame so bloody fac'd, as this,
    Coniecture, Expectation, and Surmise
    525Of Aydes incertaine, should not be admitted.
    Arch. 'Tis very true Lord Bardolfe, for indeed
    It was yong Hotspurres case, at Shrewsbury.
    L. Bar. It was (my Lord) who lin'd himself with hope,
    Eating the ayre, on promise of Supply,
    530Flatt'ring himselfe with Proiect of a power,
    Much smaller, then the smallest of his Thoughts,
    And so with great imagination
    (Proper to mad men) led his Powers to death,
    And (winking) leap'd into destruction.
    535Hast. But (by your leaue) it neuer yet did hurt,
    To lay downe likely-hoods, and formes of hope.
    L. Bar. Yes, if this present quality of warre,
    Indeed the instant action: a cause on foot,
    Liues so in hope: As in an early Spring,
    540We see th'appearing buds, which to proue fruite,
    Hope giues not so much warrant, as Dispaire
    That Frosts will bite them. When we meane to build,
    We first suruey the Plot, then draw the Modell,
    And when we see the figure of the house,
    545Then must we rate the cost of the Erection,
    Which if we finde out-weighes Ability,
    What do we then, but draw a-new the Modell
    In fewer offices? Or at least, desist
    To builde at all? Much more, in this great worke,
    550(Which is (almost) to plucke a Kingdome downe,
    And set another vp) should we suruey
    The plot of Situation, and the Modell;
    Consent vpon a sure Foundation:
    Question Surueyors, know our owne estate,
    555How able such a Worke to vndergo,
    To weigh against his Opposite? Or else,
    We fortifie in Paper, and in Figures,
    Vsing the Names of men, instead of men:
    Like one, that drawes the Modell of a house
    560Beyond his power to builde it; who (halfe through)
    Giues o're, and leaues his part-created Cost
    A naked subiect to the Weeping Clouds,
    And waste, for churlish Winters tyranny.
    Hast. Grant that our hopes (yet likely of faire byrth)
    565Should be still-borne: and that we now possest
    The vtmost man of expectation:
    I thinke we are a Body strong enough
    (Euen as we are) to equall with the King.
    L. Bar. What is the King but fiue & twenty thousand?
    570Hast. To vs no more: nay not so much Lord Bardolf.
    For his diuisions (as the Times do braul)
    Are in three Heads: one Power against the French,
    And one against Glendower: Perforce a third
    Must take vp vs: So is the vnfirme King
    575In three diuided: and his Coffers sound
    With hollow Pouerty, and Emptinesse.
    Ar. That he should draw his seuerall strengths togither
    And come against vs in full puissance
    Need not be dreaded.
    580Hast. If he should do so,
    He leaues his backe vnarm'd, the French, and Welch
    Baying him at the heeles: neuer feare that.
    L. Bar. Who is it like should lead his Forces hither?
    Hast. The Duke of Lancaster, and Westmerland:
    585Against the Welsh himselfe, and Harrie Monmouth.
    But who is substituted 'gainst the French,
    I haue no certaine notice.
    Arch. Let vs on:
    And publish the occasion of our Armes.
    590The Common-wealth is sicke of their owne Choice,
    Their ouer-greedy loue hath surfetted:
    An habitation giddy, and vnsure
    Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart.
    O thou fond Many, with what loud applause
    595Did'st thou beate heauen with blessing Bullingbrooke,
    Before he was, what thou would'st haue him be?
    And being now trimm'd in thine owne desires,
    Thou (beastly Feeder) art so full of him,
    That thou prouok'st thy selfe to cast him vp.
    600So, so, (thou common Dogge) did'st thou disgorge
    Thy glutton-bosome of the Royall Richard,
    And now thou would'st eate thy dead vomit vp,
    And howl'st to finde it. What trust is in these Times?
    They, that when Richard liu'd, would haue him dye,
    605Are now become enamour'd on his graue.
    Thou that threw'st dust vpon his goodly head
    When through proud London he came sighing on,
    After th'admired heeles of Bullingbrooke,
    Cri'st now, O Earth, yeeld vs that King agine,
    And
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 79
    610And take thou this (O thoughts of men accurs'd)
    "Past, and to Come, seemes best; things Present, worst.
    Mow. Shall we go draw our numbers, and set on?
    Hast. We are Times subiects, and Time bids, be gon.
    Actus Secundus. Scoena Prima.
    615Enter Hostesse, with two Officers, Fang, and Snare.
    Hostesse. Mr. Fang, haue you entred the Action?
    Fang. It is enter'd.
    Hostesse. Wher's your Yeoman? Is it a lusty yeoman?
    Will he stand to it?
    620Fang. Sirrah, where's Snare?
    Hostesse. I, I, good M. Snare..
    Snare. Heere, heere.
    Fang. Snare, we must Arrest Sir Iohn Falstaffe.
    Host. I good M. Snare, I haue enter'd him, and all.
    625Sn. It may chance cost some of vs our liues: he wil stab
    Hostesse. Alas the day: take heed of him: he stabd me
    in mine owne house, and that most beastly: he cares not
    what mischeefe he doth, if his weapon be out. Hee will
    foyne like any diuell, he will spare neither man, woman,
    630nor childe.
    Fang. If I can close with him, I care not for his thrust.
    Hostesse. No, nor I neither: Ile be at your elbow.
    Fang. If I but fist him once: if he come but within my
    Vice.
    635Host. I am vndone with his going: I warrant he is an
    infinitiue thing vpon my score. Good M. Fang hold him
    sure: good M. Snare let him not scape, he comes continu-
    antly to Py-Corner (sauing your manhoods) to buy a sad-
    dle, and hee is indited to dinner to the Lubbars head in
    640Lombardstreet, to M. Smoothes the Silkman. I pra' ye, since
    my Exion is enter'd, and my Case so openly known to the
    world, let him be brought in to his answer: A 100. Marke
    is a long one, for a poore lone woman to beare: & I haue
    borne, and borne, and borne, and haue bin fub'd off, and
    645fub'd-off, from this day to that day, that it is a shame to
    be thought on. There is no honesty in such dealing, vnles
    a woman should be made an Asse and a Beast, to beare e-
    uery Knaues wrong. Enter Falstaffe and Bardolfe.
    Yonder he comes, and that arrant Malmesey-Nose Bar-
    650dolfe with him. Do your Offices, do your offices: M. Fang,
    & M. Snare, do me, do me, do me your Offices.
    Fal. How now? whose Mare's dead? what's the matter?
    Fang. Sir Iohn, I arrest you, at the suit of Mist. Quickly.
    Falst. Away Varlets, draw Bardolfe: Cut me off the
    655Villaines head: throw the Queane in the Channel.
    Host. Throw me in the channell? Ile throw thee there.
    Wilt thou? wilt thou? thou bastardly rogue. Murder, mur-
    der, O thou Hony-suckle villaine, wilt thou kill Gods of-
    ficers, and the Kings? O thou hony-seed Rogue, thou art
    660a honyseed, a Man-queller, and a woman-queller.
    Falst. Keep them off, Bardolfe. Fang. A rescu, a rescu.
    Host. Good people bring a rescu. Thou wilt not? thou
    wilt not? Do, do thou Rogue: Do thou Hempseed.
    Page. Away you Scullion, you Rampallian, you Fustil-
    665lirian: Ile tucke your Catastrophe. Enter. Ch. Iustice.
    Iust. What's the matter? Keepe the Peace here, hoa.
    Host. Good my Lord be good to mee. I beseech you
    stand to me.
    Ch. Iust. How now sir Iohn? What are you brauling here?
    670Doth this become your place, your time, and businesse?
    You should haue bene well on your way to Yorke.
    Stand from him Fellow; wherefore hang'st vpon him?
    Host. Oh my most worshipfull Lord, and't please your
    Grace, I am a poore widdow of Eastcheap, and he is arre-
    675sted at my suit. Ch. Iust. For what summe?
    Host. It is more then for some (my Lord) it is for all: all
    I haue, he hath eaten me out of house and home; hee hath
    put all my substance into that fat belly of his: but I will
    haue some of it out againe, or I will ride thee o'Nights,
    680like the Mare.
    Falst. I thinke I am as like to ride the Mare, if I haue
    any vantage of ground, to get vp.
    Ch. Iust. How comes this, Sir Iohn? Fy, what a man of
    good temper would endure this tempest of exclamation?
    685Are you not asham'd to inforce a poore Widdowe to so
    rough a course, to come by her owne?
    Falst. What is the grosse summe that I owe thee?
    Host. Marry (if thou wer't an honest man) thy selfe, &
    the mony too. Thou didst sweare to mee vpon a parcell
    690gilt Goblet, sitting in my Dolphin-chamber at the round
    table, by a sea-cole fire, on Wednesday in Whitson week,
    when the Prince broke thy head for lik'ning him to a sin-
    ging man of Windsor; Thou didst sweare to me then (as I
    was washing thy wound) to marry me, and make mee my
    695Lady thy wife. Canst yu deny it? Did not goodwife Keech
    the Butchers wife come in then, and cal me gossip Quick-
    ly? comming in to borrow a messe of Vinegar: telling vs,
    she had a good dish of Prawnes: whereby yu didst desire to
    eat some: whereby I told thee they were ill for a greene
    700wound? And didst not thou (when she was gone downe
    staires) desire me to be no more familiar with such poore
    people, saying, that ere long they should call me Madam?
    And did'st yu not kisse me, and bid mee fetch thee 30.s? I
    put thee now to thy Book-oath, deny it if thou canst?
    705Fal. My Lord, this is a poore mad soule: and she sayes
    vp & downe the town, that her eldest son is like you. She
    hath bin in good case, & the truth is, pouerty hath distra-
    cted her: but for these foolish Officers, I beseech you, I
    may haue redresse against them.
    710Iust. Sir Iohn, sir Iohn, I am well acquainted with your
    maner of wrenching the true cause, the false way. It is not
    a confident brow, nor the throng of wordes, that come
    with such (more then impudent) sawcines from you, can
    thrust me from a leuell consideration, I know you ha' pra-
    715ctis'd vpon the easie-yeelding spirit of this woman.
    Host. Yes in troth my Lord.
    Iust. Prethee peace: pay her the debt you owe her, and
    vnpay the villany you haue done her: the one you may do
    with sterling mony, & the other with currant repentance.
    720Fal. My Lord, I will not vndergo this sneape without
    reply. You call honorable Boldnes, impudent Sawcinesse:
    If a man wil curt'sie, and say nothing, he is vertuous: No,
    my Lord (your humble duty remēmbred) I will not be your
    sutor. I say to you, I desire deliu'rance from these Officers
    725being vpon hasty employment in the Kings Affaires.
    Iust. You speake, as hauing power to do wrong: But
    answer in the effect of your Reputation, and satisfie the
    poore woman.
    Falst. Come hither Hostesse. Enter M. Gower
    730Ch. Iust. Now Master Gower; What newes?
    Gow. The King (my Lord) and Henrie Prince of Wales
    Are neere at hand: The rest the Paper telles.
    Falst. As I am a Gentleman.
    Host. Nay, you said so before.
    735Fal. As I am a Gentleman. Come, no more words of it
    Host. By this Heauenly ground I tread on, I must be
    faine to pawne both my Plate, and the Tapistry of my dy-
    ning Chambers.
    g3 Falst.
    80The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    Fal. Glasses, glasses, is the onely drinking: and for
    740thy walles a pretty slight Drollery, or the Storie of the
    Prodigall, or the Germane hunting in Waterworke, is
    worth a thousand of these Bed-hangings, and these Fly-
    bitten Tapistries. Let it be tenne pound (if thou canst.)
    Come, if it were not for thy humors, there is not a better
    745Wench in England. Go, wash thy face, and draw thy
    Action: Come, thou must not bee in this humour with
    me, come, I know thou was't set on to this.
    Host. Prethee (Sir Iohn) let it be but twenty Nobles,
    I loath to pawne my Plate, in good earnest la.
    750Fal. Let it alone, Ile make other shift: you'l be a fool
    still.
    Host. Well, you shall haue it although I pawne my
    Gowne. I hope you'l come to Supper: You'l pay me al-
    together?
    755Fal. Will I liue? Go with her, with her: hooke-on,
    hooke-on.
    Host. Will you haue Doll Teare-sheet meet you at sup-
    per?
    Fal. No more words. Let's haue her.
    760Ch. Iust. I haue heard bitter newes.
    Fal. What's the newes (my good Lord?)
    Ch. Iu. Where lay the King last night?
    Mes. At Basingstoke my Lord.
    Fal. I hope (my Lord) all's well. What is the newes
    765my Lord?
    Ch. Iust. Come all his Forces backe?
    Mes. No: Fifteene hundred Foot, fiue hundred Horse
    Are march'd vp to my Lord of Lancaster,
    Against Northumberland, and the Archbishop.
    770Fal. Comes the King backe from Wales, my noble L?
    Ch. Iust. You shall haue Letters of me presently.
    Come, go along with me, good M. Gowre.
    Fal. My Lord.
    Ch. Iust. What's the matter?
    775Fal. Master Gowre, shall I entreate you with mee to
    dinner?
    Gow. I must waite vpon my good Lord heere.
    I thanke you, good Sir Iohn.
    Ch. Iust. Sir Iohn, you loyter heere too long being you
    780are to take Souldiers vp, in Countries as you go.
    Fal. Will you sup with me, Master Gowre?
    Ch. Iust. What foolish Master taught you these man-
    ners, Sir Iohn?
    Fal. Master Gower, if they become mee not, hee was a
    785Foole that taught them mee. This is the right Fencing
    grace (my Lord) tap for tap, and so part faire.
    Ch. Iust. Now the Lord lighten thee, thou art a great
    Foole. Exeunt
    Scena Secunda.
    790Enter Prince Henry, Pointz, Bardolfe,
    and Page.
    Prin. Trust me, I am exceeding weary.
    Poin. Is it come to that? I had thought wearines durst
    not haue attach'd one of so high blood.
    795Prin. It doth me: though it discolours the complexion
    of my Greatnesse to acknowledge it. Doth it not shew
    vildely in me, to desire small Beere?
    Poin. Why, a Prince should not be so loosely studied,
    as to remember so weake a Composition.
    800Prince. Belike then, my Appetite was not Princely
    got: for (in troth) I do now remember the poore Crea-
    ture, Small Beere. But indeede these humble considera-
    tions make me out of loue with my Greatnesse. What a
    disgrace is it to me, to remember thy name? Or to know
    805thy face to morrow? Or to take note how many paire of
    Silk stockings yu hast? (Viz. these, and those that were thy
    peach-colour'd ones:) Or to beare the Inuentorie of thy
    shirts, as one for superfluity, and one other, for vse. But
    that the Tennis-Court-keeper knowes better then I, for
    810it is a low ebbe of Linnen with thee, when thou kept'st
    not Racket there, as thou hast not done a great while, be-
    cause the rest of thy Low Countries, haue made a shift to
    eate vp thy Holland.
    Poin. How ill it followes, after you haue labour'd so
    815hard, you should talke so idlely? Tell me how many good
    yong Princes would do so, their Fathers lying so sicke, as
    yours is?
    Prin. Shall I tell thee one thing, Pointz?
    Poin. Yes: and let it be an excellent good thing.
    820Prin. It shall serue among wittes of no higher breed-
    ing then thine.
    Poin. Go to: I stand the push of your one thing, that
    you'l tell.
    Prin. Why, I tell thee, it is not meet, that I should be
    825sad now my Father is sicke: albeit I could tell to thee (as
    to one it pleases me, for fault of a better, to call my friend)
    I could be sad, and sad indeed too.
    Poin. Very hardly, vpon such a subiect.
    Prin. Thou think'st me as farre in the Diuels Booke, as
    830thou, and Falstaffe, for obduracie and persistencie. Let the
    end try the man. But I tell thee, my hart bleeds inward-
    ly, that my Father is so sicke: and keeping such vild com-
    pany as thou art, hath in reason taken from me, all osten-
    tation of sorrow.
    835Poin. The reason?
    Prin. What would'st thou think of me, if I shold weep?
    Poin. I would thinke thee a most Princely hypocrite.
    Prin. It would be euery mans thought: and thou art
    a blessed Fellow, to thinke as euery man thinkes: neuer a
    840mans thought in the world, keepes the Rode-way better
    then thine: euery man would thinke me an Hypocrite in-
    deede. And what accites your most worshipful thought
    to thinke so?
    Poin. Why, because you haue beene so lewde, and so
    845much ingraffed to Falstaffe.
    Prin. And to thee.
    Pointz. Nay, I am well spoken of, I can heare it with
    mine owne eares: the worst that they can say of me is, that
    I am a second Brother, and that I am a proper Fellowe of
    850my hands: and those two things I confesse I canot helpe.
    Looke, looke, here comes Bardolfe.
    Prince. And the Boy that I gaue Falstaffe, he had him
    from me Christian, and see if the fat villain haue not trans
    form'd him Ape.
    855Enter Bardolfe.
    Bar. Saue your Grace.
    Prin. And yours, most Noble Bardolfe.
    Poin. Come you pernitious Asse, you bashfull Foole,
    must you be blushing? Wherefore blush you now? what
    860a Maidenly man at Armes are you become? Is it such a
    matter to get a Pottle-pots Maiden-head?
    Page. He call'd me euen now (my Lord) through a red
    Lattice, and I could discerne no part of his face from the
    window:
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 81
    window: at last I spy'd his eyes, and me thought he had
    865made two holes in the Ale-wiues new Petticoat, & pee-
    ped through.
    Prin. Hath not the boy profited?
    Bar. Away, you horson vpright Rabbet, away.
    Page. Away, you rascally Altheas dreame, away.
    870Prin. Instruct vs Boy: what dreame, Boy?
    Page. Marry (my Lord) Althea dream'd, she was de-
    liuer'd of a Firebrand, and therefore I call him hir dream.
    Prince. A Crownes-worth of good Interpretation:
    There it is, Boy.
    875Poin. O that this good Blossome could bee kept from
    Cankers: Well, there is six pence to preserue thee.
    Bard. If you do not make him be hang'd among you,
    the gallowes shall be wrong'd.
    Prince. And how doth thy Master, Bardolph?
    880Bar. Well, my good Lord: he heard of your Graces
    comming to Towne. There's a Letter for you.
    Poin. Deliuer'd with good respect: And how doth the
    Martlemas, your Master?
    Bard. In bodily health Sir.
    885Poin. Marry, the immortall part needes a Physitian:
    but that moues not him: though that bee sicke, it dyes
    not.
    Prince. I do allow this Wen to bee as familiar with
    me, as my dogge: and he holds his place, for looke you
    890he writes.
    Poin. Letter.
    Iohn Falstaffe Knight
    : (Euery man must
    know that, as oft as hee hath occasion to name himselfe:)
    Euen like those that are kinne to the King, for they neuer
    pricke their finger, but they say, there is som of the kings
    895blood spilt. How comes that (sayes he) that takes vpon
    him not to conceiue? the answer is as ready as a borrow-
    ed cap: I am the Kings poore Cosin, Sir.
    Prince. Nay, they will be kin to vs, but they wil fetch
    it from Iaphet. But to the Letter: ---
    Sir Iohn Falstaffe,
    900Knight, to the Sonne of the King, neerest his Father, Harrie
    Prince of Wales, greeting.
    Poin. Why this is a Certificate.
    Prin. Peace.
    I will imitate the honourable Romaines in breuitie.
    905Poin. Sure he meanes breuity in breath: short-winded.
    I commend me to thee, I commend thee, and I leaue thee. Bee
    not too familiar with Pointz, for hee misuses thy Fauours so
    much, that he sweares thou art to marrie his Sister Nell. Re-
    pent at idle times as thou mayst, and so farewell.
    910Thine, by yea and no: which is as much as to say, as thou
    vsest him. Iacke Falstaffe with my Familiars:
    Iohn with my Brothers and Sister: & Sir
    Iohn, with all Europe.
    My Lord, I will steepe this Letter in Sack, and make him
    915eate it.
    Prin. That's to make him eate twenty of his Words.
    But do you vse me thus Ned? Must I marry your Sister?
    Poin. May the Wench haue no worse Fortune. But I
    neuer said so.
    920Prin. Well, thus we play the Fooles with the time, &
    the spirits of the wise, sit in the clouds, and mocke vs: Is
    your Master heere in London?
    Bard. Yes my Lord.
    Prin. Where suppes he? Doth the old Bore, feede in
    925the old Franke?
    Bard. At the old place my Lord, in East-cheape.
    Prin. What Company?
    Page. Ephesians my Lord, of the old Church.
    Prin. Sup any women with him?
    930Page. None my Lord, but old Mistris Quickly, and M.
    Doll Teare-sheet.
    Prin. What Pagan may that be?
    Page. A proper Gentlewoman, Sir, and a Kinswoman
    of my Masters.
    935Prin. Euen such Kin, as the Parish Heyfors are to the
    Towne-Bull?
    Shall we steale vpon them (Ned) at Supper?
    Poin. I am your shadow, my Lord, Ile follow you.
    Prin. Sirrah, you boy, and Bardolph, no word to your
    940Master that I am yet in Towne.
    There's for your silence.
    Bar. I haue no tongue, sir.
    Page. And for mine Sir, I will gouerne it.
    Prin. Fare ye well: go.
    945This Doll Teare-sheet should be some Rode.
    Poin. I warrant you, as common as the way betweene
    S. Albans, and London.
    Prin. How might we see Falstaffe bestow himselfe to
    night, in his true colours, and not our selues be seene?
    950Poin. Put on two Leather Ierkins, and Aprons, and
    waite vpon him at his Table, like Drawers.
    Prin. From a God, to a Bull? A heauie declension: It
    was Ioues case. From a Prince, to a Prentice, a low trans-
    formation, that shall be mine: for in euery thing, the pur-
    955pose must weigh with the folly. Follow me Ned. Exeunt
    Scena Tertia.
    Enter Northumberland, his Ladie, and Harrie
    Percies Ladie.
    North. I prethee louing Wife, and gentle Daughter,
    960Giue an euen way vnto my rough Affaires:
    Put not you on the visage of the Times,
    And be like them to Percie, troublesome.
    Wife. I haue giuen ouer, I will speak no more,
    Do what you will: your Wisedome, be your guide.
    965North. Alas (sweet Wife) my Honor is at pawne,
    And but my going, nothing can redeeme it.
    La. Oh yet, for heauens sake, go not to these Warrs;
    The Time was (Father) when you broke your word,
    When you were more endeer'd to it, then now,
    970When your owne Percy, when my heart-deere Harry,
    Threw many a Northward looke, to see his Father
    Bring vp his Powres: but he did long in vaine.
    Who then perswaded you to stay at home?
    There were two Honors lost; Yours, and your Sonnes.
    975For Yours, may heauenly glory brighten it:
    For His, it stucke vpon him, as the Sunne
    In the gray vault of Heauen: and by his Light
    Did all the Cheualrie of England moue
    To do braue Acts. He was (indeed) the Glasse
    980Wherein the Noble-Youth did dresse themselues.
    He had no Legges, that practic'd not his Gate:
    And speaking thicke (which Nature made his blemish)
    Became the Accents of the Valiant.
    For those that could speake low, and tardily,
    985Would turne their owne Perfection, to Abuse,
    To seeme like him. So that in Speech, in Gate,
    In Diet, in Affections of delight,
    In Militarie Rules, Humors of Blood,
    He
    82The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    He was the Marke, and Glasse, Coppy, and Booke,
    990That fashion'd others. And him, O wondrous! him,
    O Miracle of Men! Him did you leaue
    (Second to none) vn-seconded by you,
    To looke vpon the hideous God of Warre,
    In dis-aduantage, to abide a field,
    995Where nothing but the sound of Hotspurs Name
    Did seeme defensible: so you left him.
    Neuer, O neuer doe his Ghost the wrong,
    To hold your Honor more precise and nice
    With others, then with him. Let them alone:
    1000The Marshall and the Arch-bishop are strong.
    Had my sweet Harry had but halfe their Numbers,
    To day might I (hanging on Hotspurs Necke)
    Haue talk'd of Monmouth's Graue.
    North. Beshrew your heart,
    1005(Faire Daughter) you doe draw my Spirits from me,
    With new lamenting ancient Ouer-sights.
    But I must goe, and meet with Danger there,
    Or it will seeke me in another place,
    And finde me worse prouided.
    1010Wife. O flye to Scotland,
    Till that the Nobles, and the armed Commons,
    Haue of their Puissance made a little taste.
    Lady. If they get ground, and vantage of the King,
    Then ioyne you with them, like a Ribbe of Steele,
    1015To make Strength stronger. But, for all our loues,
    First let them trye themselues. So did your Sonne,
    He was so suffer'd; so came I a Widow:
    And neuer shall haue length of Life enough,
    To raine vpon Remembrance with mine Eyes,
    1020That it may grow, and sprowt, as high as Heauen,
    For Recordation to my Noble Husband.
    North. Come, come, go in with me: 'tis with my Minde
    As with the Tyde, swell'd vp vnto his height,
    That makes a still-stand, running neyther way.
    1025Faine would I goe to meet the Arch-bishop,
    But many thousand Reasons hold me backe.
    I will resolue for Scotland: there am I,
    Till Time and Vantage craue my company. Exeunt.
    Scaena Quarta.
    1030Enter two Drawers.
    1. Drawer. What hast thou brought there? Apple-Iohns?
    Thou know'st Sir Iohn cannot endure an Apple-
    Iohn.
    2. Draw. Thou say'st true: the Prince once set a Dish
    1035of Apple-Iohns before him, and told him there were fiue
    more Sir Iohns: and, putting off his Hat, said, I will now
    take my leaue of these sixe drie, round, old-wither'd
    Knights. It anger'd him to the heart: but hee hath for-
    got that.
    10401. Draw. Why then couer, and set them downe: and
    see if thou canst finde out Sneakes Noyse; Mistris Teare-
    sheet would faine haue some Musique.
    2. Draw. Sirrha, heere will be the Prince, and Master
    Points, anon: and they will put on two of our Ierkins,
    1045and Aprons, and Sir Iohn must not know of it: Bardolph
    hath brought word.
    1. Draw. Then here will be old Vtis: it will be an ex-
    cellent stratagem.
    2. Draw. Ile see if I can finde out Sneake. Exit.
    1050Enter Hostesse, and Dol.
    Host. Sweet-heart, me thinkes now you are in an ex-
    cellent good temperalitie: your Pulsidge beates as ex-
    traordinarily, as heart would desire; and your Colour
    (I warrant you) is as red as any Rose: But you haue
    1055drunke too much Canaries, and that's a maruellous sear-
    ching Wine; and it perfumes the blood, ere wee can say
    what's this. How doe you now?
    Dol. Better then I was: Hem.
    Host. Why that was well said: A good heart's worth
    1060Gold. Looke, here comes Sir Iohn.
    Enter Falstaffe.
    Falst.
    When Arthur first in Court
    -- (emptie the Iordan)
    and was a worthy King
    : How now Mistris Dol?
    Host. Sick of a Calme: yea, good-sooth.
    1065Falst. So is all her Sect: if they be once in a Calme,
    they are sick.
    Dol. You muddie Rascall, is that all the comfort you
    giue me?
    Falst. You make fat Rascalls, Mistris Dol.
    1070Dol. I make them? Gluttonie and Diseases make
    them, I make them not.
    Falst. If the Cooke make the Gluttonie, you helpe to
    make the Diseases (Dol) we catch of you (Dol) we catch
    of you: Grant that, my poore Vertue, grant that.
    1075Dol. I marry, our Chaynes, and our Iewels.
    Falst. Your Brooches, Pearles, and Owches: For to
    serue brauely, is to come halting off: you know, to come
    off the Breach, with his Pike bent brauely, and to Surge-
    rie brauely; to venture vpon the charg'd-Chambers
    1080brauely.
    Host. Why this is the olde fashion: you two neuer
    meete, but you fall to some discord: you are both (in
    good troth) as Rheumatike as two drie Tostes, you can-
    not one beare with anothers Confirmities. What the
    1085good-yere? One must beare, and that must bee you:
    you are the weaker Vessell; as they say, the emptier
    Vessell.
    Dol. Can a weake emptie Vessell beare such a huge
    full Hogs-head? There's a whole Marchants Venture
    1090of Burdeux-Stuffe in him: you haue not seene a Hulke
    better stufft in the Hold. Come, Ile be friends with thee
    Iacke: Thou art going to the Warres, and whether I
    shall euer see thee againe, or no, there is no body
    cares.
    1095Enter Drawer.
    Drawer. Sir, Ancient Pistoll is below, and would
    speake with you.
    Dol. Hang him, swaggering Rascall, let him not
    come hither: it is the foule-mouth'dst Rogue in Eng-
    1100land.
    Host. If hee swagger, let him not come here: I must
    liue amongst my Neighbors, Ile no Swaggerers: I am
    in good name, and fame, with the very best: shut the
    doore, there comes no Swaggerers heere: I haue not
    1105liu'd all this while, to haue swaggering now: shut the
    doore, I pray you.
    Falst. Do'st thou heare, Hostesse?
    Host. 'Pray you pacifie your selfe (Sir Iohn) there comes
    no Swaggerers heere.
    s Falst.Do'st
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 83
    1110 Falst. Do'st thou heare? it is mine Ancient.
    Host. Tilly-fally (Sir Iohn) neuer tell me, your ancient
    Swaggerer comes not in my doores. I was before Master
    Tisick the Deputie, the other day: and as hee said to me,
    it was no longer agoe then Wednesday last: Neighbour
    1115Quickly (sayes hee;) Master Dombe, our Minister, was by
    then: Neighbour Quickly (sayes hee) receiue those that
    are Ciuill; for (sayth hee) you are in an ill Name: now
    hee said so, I can tell whereupon: for (sayes hee) you are
    an honest Woman, and well thought on; therefore take
    1120heede what Guests you receiue: Receiue (sayes hee) no
    swaggering Companions. There comes none heere. You
    would blesse you to heare what hee said. No, Ile no
    Swaggerers.
    Falst. Hee's no Swaggerer (Hostesse:) a tame Cheater,
    1125hee: you may stroake him as gently, as a Puppie Grey-
    hound: hee will not swagger with a Barbarie Henne, if
    her feathers turne backe in any shew of resistance. Call
    him vp (Drawer.)
    Host. Cheater, call you him? I will barre no honest
    1130man my house, nor no Cheater: but I doe not loue swag-
    gering; I am the worse when one sayes, swagger: Feele
    Masters, how I shake: looke you, I warrant you.
    Dol. So you doe, Hostesse.
    Host. Doe I? yea, in very truth doe I, if it were an As-
    1135pen Leafe: I cannot abide Swaggerers.
    Enter Pistol, and Bardolph and his Boy.
    Pist. 'Saue you, Sir Iohn.
    Falst. Welcome Ancient Pistol. Here (Pistol) I charge
    you with a Cup of Sacke: doe you discharge vpon mine
    1140Hostesse.
    Pist. I will discharge vpon her (Sir Iohn) with two
    Bullets.
    Falst. She is Pistoll-proofe (Sir) you shall hardly of-
    fend her.
    1145Host. Come, Ile drinke no Proofes, nor no Bullets: I
    will drinke no more then will doe me good, for no mans
    pleasure, I.
    Pist. Then to you (Mistris Dorothie) I will charge
    you.
    1150Dol. Charge me? I scorne you (scuruie Companion)
    what? you poore, base, rascally, cheating, lacke-Linnen-
    Mate: away you mouldie Rogue, away; I am meat for
    your Master.
    Pist. I know you, Mistris Dorothie.
    1155Dol. Away you Cut-purse Rascall, you filthy Bung,
    away: By this Wine, Ile thrust my Knife in your mouldie
    Chappes, if you play the sawcie Cuttle with me. Away
    you Bottle-Ale Rascall, you Basket-hilt stale Iugler, you.
    Since when, I pray you, Sir? what, with two Points on
    1160your shoulder? much.
    Pist. I will murther your Ruffe, for this.
    Host. No, good Captaine Pistol: not heere, sweete
    Captaine.
    Dol. Captaine? thou abhominable damn'd Cheater,
    1165art thou not asham'd to be call'd Captaine? If Captaines
    were of my minde, they would trunchion you out, for ta-
    king their Names vpon you, before you haue earn'd them.
    You a Captaine? you slaue, for what? for tearing a poore
    Whores Ruffe in a Bawdy-house? Hee a Captaine? hang
    1170him Rogue, hee liues vpon mouldie stew'd-Pruines, and
    dry'de Cakes. A Captaine? These Villaines will make
    the word Captaine odious: Therefore Captaines had
    neede looke to it.
    Bard. 'Pray thee goe downe, good Ancient.
    1175Falst. Hearke thee hither, Mistris Dol.
    Pist. Not I: I tell thee what, Corporall Bardolph, I
    could teare her: Ile be reueng'd on her.
    Page. 'Pray thee goe downe.
    Pist. Ile see her damn'd first: to Pluto's damn'd Lake,
    1180to the Infernall Deepe, where Erebus and Tortures vilde
    also. Hold Hooke and Line, say I: Downe: downe
    Dogges, downe Fates: haue wee not Hiren here?
    Host. Good Captaine Peesel be quiet, it is very late:
    I beseeke you now, aggrauate your Choler.
    1185Pist. These be good Humors indeede. Shall Pack-
    Horses, and hollow-pamper'd Iades of Asia, which can-
    not goe but thirtie miles a day, compare with Caesar, and
    with Caniballs, and Troian Greekes? nay, rather damne
    them with King Cerberus, and let the Welkin roare: shall
    1190wee fall foule for Toyes?
    Host. By my troth Captaine, these are very bitter
    words.
    Bard. Be gone, good Ancient: this will grow to a
    Brawle anon.
    1195Pist. Die men, like Dogges; giue Crownes like Pinnes:
    Haue we not Hiren here?
    Host. On my word (Captaine) there's none such here.
    What the good-yere, doe you thinke I would denye her?
    I pray be quiet.
    1200Pist. Then feed, and be fat (my faire Calipolis.) Come,
    giue me some Sack, Si fortune me tormente, sperato me con-
    tente. Feare wee broad-sides? No, let the Fiend giue fire:
    Giue me some Sack: and Sweet-heart lye thou there:
    Come wee to full Points here, and are et cetera's no-
    1205thing?
    Fal. Pistol, I would be quiet.
    Pist. Sweet Knight, I kisse thy Neaffe: what? wee haue
    seene the seuen Starres.
    Dol. Thrust him downe stayres, I cannot endure such
    1210a Fustian Rascall.
    Pist. Thrust him downe stayres? know we not Gallo-
    way Nagges?
    Fal. Quoit him downe (Bardolph) like a shoue-groat
    shilling: nay, if hee doe nothing but speake nothing, hee
    1215shall be nothing here.
    Bard. Come, get you downe stayres.
    Pist. What? shall wee haue Incision? shall wee em-
    brew? then Death rocke me asleepe, abridge my dolefull
    dayes: why then let grieuous, gastly, gaping Wounds,
    1220vntwin'd the Sisters three: Come Atropos, I say.
    Host. Here's good stuffe toward.
    Fal. Giue me my Rapier, Boy.
    Dol. I prethee Iack, I prethee doe not draw.
    Fal. Get you downe stayres.
    1225Host. Here's a goodly tumult: Ile forsweare keeping
    house, before Ile be in these tirrits, and frights. So: Mur-
    ther I warrant now. Alas, alas, put vp your naked Wea-
    pons, put vp your naked Weapons.
    Dol. I prethee Iack be quiet, the Rascall is gone: ah,
    1230you whorson little valiant Villaine, you.
    Host. Are you not hurt i'th'Groyne? me thought hee
    made a shrewd Thrust at your Belly.
    Fal. Haue you turn'd him out of doores?
    Bard. Yes Sir: the Rascall's drunke: you haue hurt
    1235him (Sir) in the shoulder.
    Fal. A Rascall to braue me.
    Dol. Ah, you sweet little Rogue, you: alas, poore Ape,
    how thou sweat'st? Come, let me wipe thy Face: Come
    on, you whorson Chops: Ah Rogue, I loue thee: Thou
    art
    84The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    1240art as valorous as Hector of Troy, worth fiue of Agamem-
    non, and tenne times better then the nine Worthies: ah
    Villaine.
    Fal. A rascally Slaue, I will tosse the Rogue in a Blan-
    ket.
    1245Dol. Doe, if thou dar'st for thy heart: if thou doo'st,
    Ile canuas thee betweene a paire of Sheetes.
    Enter Musique.
    Page. The Musique is come, Sir.
    Fal. Let them play: play Sirs. Sit on my Knee, Dol.
    1250A Rascall, bragging Slaue: the Rogue fled from me like
    Quick-siluer.
    Dol. And thou followd'st him like a Church: thou
    whorson little tydie Bartholmew Bore-pigge, when wilt
    thou leaue fighting on dayes, and foyning on nights, and
    1255begin to patch vp thine old Body for Heauen?
    Enter the Prince and Poines disguis'd.
    Fal. Peace (good Dol) doe not speake like a Deaths-
    head: doe not bid me remember mine end.
    Dol. Sirrha, what humor is the Prince of?
    1260Fal. A good shallow young fellow: hee would haue
    made a good Pantler, hee would haue chipp'd Bread
    well.
    Dol. They say Poines hath a good Wit.
    Fal. Hee a good Wit? hang him Baboone, his Wit is
    1265as thicke as Tewksburie Mustard: there is no more con-
    ceit in him, then is in a Mallet.
    Dol. Why doth the Prince loue him so then?
    Fal. Because their Legges are both of a bignesse: and
    hee playes at Quoits well, and eates Conger and Fennell,
    1270and drinkes off Candles ends for Flap-dragons, and rides
    the wilde-Mare with the Boyes, and iumpes vpon Ioyn'd-
    stooles, and sweares with a good grace, and weares his
    Boot very smooth, like vnto the Signe of the Legge; and
    breedes no bate with telling of discreete stories: and such
    1275other Gamboll Faculties hee hath, that shew a weake
    Minde, and an able Body, for the which the Prince admits
    him; for the Prince himselfe is such another: the
    weight of an hayre will turne the Scales betweene their
    Haber-de-pois.
    1280Prince. Would not this Naue of a Wheele haue his
    Eares cut off?
    Poin. Let vs beat him before his Whore.
    Prince. Looke, if the wither'd Elder hath not his Poll
    claw'd like a Parrot.
    1285Poin. Is it not strange, that Desire should so many
    yeeres out-liue performance?
    Fal. Kisse me Dol.
    Prince. Saturne and Venus this yeere in Coniunction?
    What sayes the Almanack to that?
    1290Poin. And looke whether the fierie Trigon, his Man,
    be not lisping to his Masters old Tables, his Note-Booke,
    his Councell-keeper?
    Fal. Thou do'st giue me flatt'ring Busses.
    Dol. Nay truely, I kisse thee with a most constant
    1295heart.
    Fal. I am olde, I am olde.
    Dol. I loue thee better, then I loue ere a scuruie young
    Boy of them all.
    Fal. What Stuffe wilt thou haue a Kirtle of? I shall
    1300receiue Money on Thursday: thou shalt haue a Cappe
    to morrow. A merrie Song, come: it growes late,
    wee will to Bed. Thou wilt forget me, when I am
    gone.
    Dol. Thou wilt set me a weeping, if thou say'st so:
    1305proue that euer I dresse my selfe handsome, till thy re-
    turne: well, hearken the end.
    Fal. Some Sack, Francis.
    Prin. Poin. Anon, anon, Sir.
    Fal. Ha? a Bastard Sonne of the Kings? And art not
    1310thou Poines, his Brother?
    Prince. Why thou Globe of sinfull Continents, what
    a Life do'st thou lead?
    Fal. A better then thou: I am a Gentleman, thou art
    a Drawer.
    1315Prince. Very true, Sir: and I come to draw you out
    by the Eares.
    Host. Oh, the Lord preserue thy good Grace: Wel-
    come to London. Now Heauen blesse that sweete Face
    of thine: what, are you come from Wales?
    1320Fal. Thou whorson mad Compound of Maiestie: by
    this light Flesh, and corrupt Blood, thou art welcome.
    Dol. How? you fat Foole, I scorne you.
    Poin. My Lord, hee will driue you out of your re-
    uenge, and turne all to a merryment, if you take not the
    1325heat.
    Prince. You whorson Candle-myne you, how vildly
    did you speake of me euen now, before this honest, ver-
    tuous, ciuill Gentlewoman?
    Host. 'Blessing on your good heart, and so shee is by
    1330my troth.
    Fal. Didst thou heare me?
    Prince. Yes: and you knew me, as you did when you
    ranne away by Gads-hill: you knew I was at your back,
    and spoke it on purpose, to trie my patience.
    1335Fal. No, no, no: not so: I did not thinke, thou wast
    within hearing.
    Prince. I shall driue you then to confesse the wilfull
    abuse, and then I know how to handle you.
    Fal. No abuse (Hall) on mine Honor, no abuse.
    1340Prince. Not to disprayse me? and call me Pantler, and
    Bread-chopper, and I know not what?
    Fal. No abuse (Hal.)
    Poin. No abuse?
    Fal. No abuse (Ned) in the World: honest Ned none.
    1345I disprays'd him before the Wicked, that the Wicked
    might not fall in loue with him: In which doing, I haue
    done the part of a carefull Friend, and a true Subiect, and
    thy Father is to giue me thankes for it. No abuse (Hal:)
    none (Ned) none; no Boyes, none.
    1350Prince. See now whether pure Feare, and entire Cow-
    ardise, doth not make thee wrong this vertuous Gentle-
    woman, to close with vs? Is shee of the Wicked? Is thine
    Hostesse heere, of the Wicked? Or is the Boy of the
    Wicked? Or honest Bardolph (whose Zeale burnes in his
    1355Nose) of the Wicked?
    Poin. Answere thou dead Elme, answere.
    Fal. The Fiend hath prickt downe Bardolph irrecoue-
    rable, and his Face is Lucifers Priuy-Kitchin, where hee
    doth nothing but rost Mault-Wormes: for the Boy,
    1360there is a good Angell about him, but the Deuill out-
    bids him too.
    Prince. For the Women?
    Fal. For one of them, shee is in Hell alreadie, and
    burnes poore Soules: for the other, I owe her Mo-
    1365ney; and whether shee bee damn'd for that, I know
    not.
    Host. No, I warrant you.
    Fal. No,
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 85
    Fal. No, I thinke thou art not: I thinke thou art quit
    for that. Marry, there is another Indictment vpon thee,
    1370for suffering flesh to bee eaten in thy house, contrary to
    the Law, for the which I thinke thou wilt howle.
    Host. All Victuallers doe so: What is a Ioynt of
    Mutton, or two, in a whole Lent?
    Prince. You, Gentlewoman.
    1375Dol. What sayes your Grace?
    Falst. His Grace sayes that, which his flesh rebells
    against.
    Host. Who knocks so lowd at doore? Looke to the
    doore there, Francis?
    1380Enter Peto.
    Prince. Peto, how now? what newes?
    Peto. The King, your Father, is at Westminster,
    And there are twentie weake and wearied Postes,
    Come from the North: and as I came along,
    1385I met, and ouer-tooke a dozen Captaines,
    Bare-headed, sweating, knocking at the Tauernes,
    And asking euery one for Sir Iohn Falstaffe.
    Prince. By Heauen (Poines) I feele me much to blame,
    So idly to prophane the precious time,
    1390When Tempest of Commotion, like the South,
    Borne with black Vapour, doth begin to melt,
    And drop vpon our bare vnarmed heads.
    Giue me my Sword, and Cloake:
    Falstaffe, good night. Exit.
    1395Falst. Now comes in the sweetest Morsell of the
    night, and wee must hence, and leaue it vnpickt. More
    knocking at the doore? How now? what's the mat-
    ter?
    Bard. You must away to Court, Sir, presently,
    1400A dozen Captaines stay at doore for you.
    Falst. Pay the Musitians, Sirrha: farewell Hostesse,
    farewell Dol. You see (my good Wenches) how men of
    Merit are sought after: the vndeseruer may sleepe, when
    the man of Action is call'd on. Farewell good Wenches:
    1405if I be not sent away poste, I will see you againe, ere I
    goe.
    Dol. I cannot speake: if my heart bee not readie
    to burst--- Well (sweete Iacke) haue a care of thy
    selfe.
    1410Falst. Farewell, farewell. Exit.
    Host. Well, fare thee well: I haue knowne thee
    these twentie nine yeeres, come Pescod-time: but an
    honester, and truer-hearted man--- Well, fare thee
    well.
    1415Bard. Mistris Teare-sheet.
    Host. What's the matter?
    Bard. Bid Mistris Teare-sheet come to my Master.
    Host. Oh runne Dol, runne: runne, good Dol.
    Exeunt.
    1420 Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.
    Enter the King, with a Page.
    King. Goe, call the Earles of Surrey, and of Warwick:
    But ere they come, bid them ore-reade these Letters,
    And well consider of them: make good speed.
    Exit.
    1425How many thousand of my poorest Subiects
    Are at this howre asleepe? O Sleepe, O gentle Sleepe,
    Natures soft Nurse, how haue I frighted thee,
    That thou no more wilt weigh my eye-lids downe,
    And steepe my Sences in Forgetfulnesse?
    1430Why rather (Sleepe) lyest thou in smoakie Cribs,
    Vpon vneasie Pallads stretching thee,
    And huisht with bussing Night, flyes to thy slumber,
    Then in the perfum'd Chambers of the Great?
    Vnder the Canopies of costly State,
    1435And lull'd with sounds of sweetest Melodie?
    O thou dull God, why lyest thou with the vilde,
    In loathsome Beds, and leau'st the Kingly Couch,
    A Watch-case, or a common Larum-Bell?
    Wilt thou, vpon the high and giddie Mast,
    1440Seale vp the Ship-boyes Eyes, and rock his Braines,
    In Cradle of the rude imperious Surge,
    And in the visitation of the Windes,
    Who take the Ruffian Billowes by the top,
    Curling their monstrous heads, and hanging them
    1445With deaff'ning Clamors in the slipp'ry Clouds,
    That with the hurley, Death it selfe awakes?
    Canst thou (O partiall Sleepe) giue thy Repose
    To the wet Sea-Boy, in an houre so rude:
    And in the calmest, and most stillest Night,
    1450With all appliances, and meanes to boote,
    Deny it to a King? Then happy Lowe, lye downe,
    Vneasie lyes the Head, that weares a Crowne.
    Enter Warwicke and Surrey.
    War. Many good-morrowes to your Maiestie.
    1455King. Is it good-morrow, Lords?
    War. 'Tis One a Clock, and past.
    King. Why then good-morrow to you all (my Lords:)
    Haue you read o're the Letters that I sent you?
    War. We haue (my Liege.)
    1460King. Then you perceiue the Body of our Kingdome,
    How foule it is: what ranke Diseases grow,
    And with what danger, neere the Heart of it?
    War. It is but as a Body, yet distemper'd,
    Which to his former strength may be restor'd,
    1465With good aduice, and little Medicine:
    My Lord Northumberland will soone be cool'd.
    King. Oh Heauen, that one might read the Book of Fate,
    And see the reuolution of the Times
    Make Mountaines leuell, and the Continent
    1470(Wearie of solide firmenesse) melt it selfe
    Into the Sea: and other Times, to see
    The beachie Girdle of the Ocean
    Too wide for Neptunes hippes; how Chances mocks
    And Changes fill the Cuppe of Alteration
    1475With diuers Liquors. 'Tis not tenne yeeres gone,
    Since Richard, and Northumberland, great friends,
    Did feast together; and in two yeeres after,
    Were they at Warres. It is but eight yeeres since,
    This Percie was the man, neerest my Soule,
    1480Who, like a Brother, toyl'd in my Affaires,
    And layd his Loue and Life vnder my foot:
    Yea, for my sake, euen to the eyes of Richard
    Gaue him defiance. But which of you was by
    (You Cousin Neuil, as I may remember)
    1485When Richard, with his Eye, brim-full of Teares,
    (Then check'd, and rated by Northumberland)
    Did speake these words (now prou'd a Prophecie:)
    Northumberland, thou Ladder, by the which
    My
    86The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    My Cousin Bullingbrooke ascends my Throne:
    1490(Though then, Heauen knowes, I had no such intent,
    But that necessitie so bow'd the State,
    That I and Greatnesse were compell'd to kisse:)
    The Time shall come (thus did hee follow it)
    The Time will come, that foule Sinne gathering head,
    1495Shall breake into Corruption: so went on,
    Fore-telling this same Times Condition,
    And the diuision of our Amitie.
    War. There is a Historie in all mens Liues,
    Figuring the nature of the Times deceas'd:
    1500The which obseru'd, a man may prophecie
    With a neere ayme, of the maine chance of things,
    As yet not come to Life, which in their Seedes
    And weake beginnings lye entreasured:
    Such things become the Hatch and Brood of Time;
    1505And by the necessarie forme of this,
    King Richard might create a perfect guesse,
    That great Northumberland, then false to him,
    Would of that Seed, grow to a greater falsenesse,
    Which should not finde a ground to roote vpon,
    1510Vnlesse on you.
    King. Are these things then Necessities?
    Then let vs meete them like Necessities;
    And that same word, euen now cryes out on vs:
    They say, the Bishop and Northumberland
    1515Are fiftie thousand strong.
    War. It cannot be (my Lord:)
    Rumor doth double, like the Voice, and Eccho,
    The numbers of the feared. Please it your Grace
    To goe to bed, vpon my Life (my Lord)
    1520The Pow'rs that you alreadie haue sent forth,
    Shall bring this Prize in very easily.
    To comfort you the more, I haue receiu'd
    A certaine instance, that Glendour is dead.
    Your Maiestie hath beene this fort-night ill,
    1525And these vnseason'd howres perforce must adde
    Vnto your Sicknesse.
    King. I will take your counsaile:
    And were these inward Warres once out of hand,
    Wee would (deare Lords) vnto the Holy-Land.
    1530Exeunt.
    Scena Secunda.
    Enter Shallow and Silence: with Mouldie, Shadow,
    Wart, Feeble, Bull-calfe.
    Shal. Come-on, come-on, come-on: giue mee your
    1535Hand, Sir; giue mee your Hand, Sir: an early stirrer, by
    the Rood. And how doth my good Cousin Silence?
    Sil. Good-morrow, good Cousin Shallow.
    Shal. And how doth my Cousin, your Bed-fellow?
    and your fairest Daughter, and mine, my God-Daughter
    1540Ellen?
    Sil. Alas, a blacke Ouzell (Cousin Shallow.)
    Shal. By yea and nay, Sir, I dare say my Cousin William
    is become a good Scholler? hee is at Oxford still, is hee
    not?
    1545Sil. Indeede Sir, to my cost.
    Shal. Hee must then to the Innes of Court shortly: I
    was once of Clements Inne; where (I thinke) they will
    talke of mad Shallow yet.
    Sil. You were call'd lustie Shallow then (Cousin.)
    1550Shal. I was call'd any thing: and I would haue done
    any thing indeede too, and roundly too. There was I, and
    little Iohn Doit of Staffordshire, and blacke George Bare,
    and Francis Pick-bone, and Will Squele a Cot-sal-man, you
    had not foure such Swindge-bucklers in all the Innes of
    1555Court againe: And I may say to you, wee knew where
    the Bona-Roba's were, and had the best of them all at
    commandement. Then was Iacke Falstaffe (now Sir Iohn)
    a Boy, and Page to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Nor-
    folke.
    1560Sil. This Sir Iohn (Cousin) that comes hither anon a-
    bout Souldiers?
    Shal. The same Sir Iohn, the very same: I saw him
    breake Scoggan's Head at the Court-Gate, when hee was
    a Crack, not thus high: and the very same day did I fight
    1565with one Sampson Stock-fish, a Fruiterer, behinde Greyes-Inne.
    Oh the mad dayes that I haue spent! and to see
    how many of mine olde Acquaintance are dead?
    Sil. Wee shall all follow (Cousin.)
    Shal. Certaine: 'tis certaine: very sure, very sure:
    1570Death is certaine to all, all shall dye. How a good Yoke
    of Bullocks at Stamford Fayre?
    Sil. Truly Cousin, I was not there.
    Shal. Death is certaine. Is old Double of your Towne
    liuing yet?
    1575Sil. Dead, Sir.
    Shal. Dead? See, see: hee drew a good Bow: and
    dead? hee shot a fine shoote. Iohn of Gaunt loued
    him well, and betted much Money on his head. Dead?
    hee would haue clapt in the Clowt at Twelue-score, and
    1580carryed you a fore-hand Shaft at foureteene, and foure-
    teene and a halfe, that it would haue done a mans heart
    good to see. How a score of Ewes now?
    Sil. Thereafter as they be: a score of good Ewes
    may be worth tenne pounds.
    1585Shal. And is olde Double dead?
    Enter Bardolph and his Boy.
    Sil. Heere come two of Sir Iohn Falstaffes Men (as I
    thinke.)
    Shal. Good-morrow, honest Gentlemen.
    1590Bard. I beseech you, which is Iustice Shallow?
    Shal. I am Robert Shallow (Sir) a poore Esquire of this
    Countie, and one of the Kings Iustices of the Peace:
    What is your good pleasure with me?
    Bard. My Captaine (Sir) commends him to you:
    1595my Captaine, Sir Iohn Falstaffe: a tall Gentleman, and a
    most gallant Leader.
    Shal. Hee greetes me well: (Sir) I knew him a
    good Back-Sword-man. How doth the good Knight?
    may I aske, how my Lady his Wife doth?
    1600Bard. Sir, pardon: a Souldier is better accommoda-
    ted, then with a Wife.
    Shal. It is well said, Sir; and it is well said, indeede,
    too: Better accommodated? it is good, yea indeede is
    it: good phrases are surely, and euery where very com-
    1605mendable. Accommodated, it comes of Accommodo:
    very good, a good Phrase.
    Bard. Pardon, Sir, I haue heard the word. Phrase
    call you it? by this Day, I know not the Phrase: but
    I will maintaine the Word with my Sword, to bee a
    1610Souldier-like Word, and a Word of exceeding good
    Command. Accommodated: that is, when a man is
    (as they say) accommodated: or, when a man is, being
    whereby
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 87
    whereby he thought to be accommodated, which is an
    excellent thing.
    1615Enter Falstaffe.
    Shal. It is very iust: Looke, heere comes good Sir
    Iohn. Giue me your hand, giue me your Worships good
    hand: Trust me, you looke well: and beare your yeares
    very well. Welcome, good Sir Iohn.
    1620Fal. I am glad to see you well, good M. Robert Shal-
    low: Master Sure-card as I thinke?
    Shal. No sir Iohn, it is my Cosin Silence: in Commissi-
    on with mee.
    Fal. Good M. Silence, it well befits you should be of
    1625the peace.
    Sil. Your good Worship is welcome.
    Fal. Fye, this is hot weather (Gentlemen) haue you
    prouided me heere halfe a dozen of sufficient men?
    Shal. Marry haue we sir: Will you sit?
    1630Fal. Let me see them, I beseech you.
    Shal. Where's the Roll? Where's the Roll? Where's
    the Roll? Let me see, let me see, let me see: so, so, so, so:
    yea marry Sir. Raphe Mouldie: let them appeare as I call:
    let them do so, let them do so: Let mee see, Where is
    1635Mouldie?
    Moul. Heere, if it please you.
    Shal. What thinke you (Sir Iohn) a good limb'd fel-
    low: yong, strong, and of good friends.
    Fal. Is thy name Mouldie?
    1640Moul. Yea, if it please you.
    Fal. 'Tis the more time thou wert vs'd.
    Shal. Ha, ha, ha, most excellent. Things that are moul-
    die, lacke vse: very singular good. Well saide Sir Iohn,
    very well said.
    1645Fal. Pricke him.
    Moul. I was prickt well enough before, if you could
    haue let me alone: my old Dame will be vndone now, for
    one to doe her Husbandry, and her Drudgery; you need
    not to haue prickt me, there are other men fitter to goe
    1650out, then I.
    Fal. Go too: peace Mouldie, you shall goe. Mouldie,
    it is time you were spent.
    Moul. Spent?
    Shallow. Peace, fellow, peace; stand aside: Know you
    1655where you are? For the other sir Iohn: Let me see: Simon
    Shadow.
    Fal. I marry, let me haue him to sit vnder: he's like to
    be a cold souldier.
    Shal. Where's Shadow?
    1660Shad. Heere sir.
    Fal. Shadow, whose sonne art thou?
    Shad. My Mothers sonne, Sir.
    Falst. Thy Mothers sonne: like enough, and thy Fa-
    thers shadow: so the sonne of the Female, is the shadow
    1665of the Male: it is often so indeede, but not of the Fathers
    substance.
    Shal. Do you like him, sir Iohn?
    Falst. Shadow will serue for Summer: pricke him: For
    wee haue a number of shadowes to fill vppe the Muster-
    1670Booke.
    Shal. Thomas Wart?
    Falst. Where's he?
    Wart. Heere sir.
    Falst. Is thy name Wart?
    1675Wart. Yea sir.
    Fal. Thou art a very ragged Wart.
    Shal. Shall I pricke him downe,
    Sir Iohn?
    Falst. It were superfluous: for his apparrel is built vp-
    1680on his backe, and the whole frame stands vpon pins: prick
    him no more.
    Shal. Ha, ha, ha, you can do it sir: you can doe it: I
    commend you well.
    Francis Feeble.
    1685Feeble. Heere sir.
    Shal. What Trade art thou Feeble?
    Feeble. A Womans Taylor sir.
    Shal. Shall I pricke him, sir?
    Fal. You may:
    1690But if he had beene a mans Taylor, he would haue prick'd
    you. Wilt thou make as many holes in an enemies Bat-
    taile, as thou hast done in a Womans petticote?
    Feeble. I will doe my good will sir, you can haue no
    more.
    1695Falst. Well said, good Womans Tailour: Well sayde
    Couragious Feeble: thou wilt bee as valiant as the wrath-
    full Doue, or most magnanimous Mouse. Pricke the wo-
    mans Taylour well Master Shallow, deepe Maister Shal-
    low.
    1700Feeble. I would Wart might haue gone sir.
    Fal. I would thou wert a mans Tailor, that yu might'st
    mend him, and make him fit to goe. I cannot put him to
    a priuate souldier, that is the Leader of so many thou-
    sands. Let that suffice, most Forcible Feeble.
    1705Feeble. It shall suffice.
    Falst. I am bound to thee, reuerend Feeble. Who is
    the next?
    Shal. Peter Bulcalfe of the Greene.
    Falst. Yea marry, let vs see Bulcalfe.
    1710Bul. Heere sir.
    Fal. Trust me, a likely Fellow. Come, pricke me Bul-
    calfe till he roare againe.
    Bul. Oh, good my Lord Captaine.
    Fal. What? do'st thou roare before th'art prickt.
    1715Bul. Oh sir, I am a diseased man.
    Fal. What disease hast thou?
    Bul. A whorson cold sir, a cough sir, which I caught
    with Ringing in the Kings affayres, vpon his Coronation
    day, sir.
    1720Fal. Come, thou shalt go to the Warres in a Gowne:
    we will haue away thy Cold, and I will take such order,
    that thy friends shall ring for thee. Is heere all?
    Shal. There is two more called then your number:
    you must haue but foure heere sir, and so I pray you go in
    1725with me to dinner.
    Fal. Come, I will goe drinke with you, but I cannot
    tarry dinner. I am glad to see you in good troth, Master
    Shallow.
    Shal. O sir Iohn, doe you remember since wee lay all
    1730night in the Winde-mill, in S. Georges Field.
    Falstaffe. No more of that good Master Shallow: No
    more of that.
    Shal. Ha? it was a merry night. And is Iane Night-
    worke aliue?
    1735Fal. She liues, M. Shallow.
    Shal. She neuer could away with me.
    Fal. Neuer, neuer: she would alwayes say shee could
    not abide M. Shallow.
    Shal. I could anger her to the heart: shee was then a
    1740Bona-Roba. Doth she hold her owne well.
    Fal. Old, old, M. Shallow.
    Shal. Nay, she must be old, she cannot choose but be
    gg old:
    88The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    old: certaine shee's old: and had Robin Night-worke, by
    old Night-worke, before I came to Clements Inne.
    1745Sil. That's fiftie fiue yeeres agoe.
    Shal. Hah, Cousin Silence, that thou hadst seene that,
    that this Knight and I haue seene: hah, Sir Iohn, said I
    well?
    Falst. Wee haue heard the Chymes at mid-night, Ma-
    1750ster Shallow.
    Shal. That wee haue, that wee haue; in faith, Sir Iohn,
    wee haue: our watch-word was, Hem-Boyes. Come,
    let's to Dinner; come, let's to Dinner: Oh the dayes that
    wee haue seene. Come, come.
    1755Bul. Good Master Corporate Bardolph, stand my
    friend, and heere is foure Harry tenne shillings in French
    Crownes for you: in very truth, sir, I had as lief be hang'd
    sir, as goe: and yet, for mine owne part, sir, I do not care;
    but rather, because I am vnwilling, and for mine owne
    1760part, haue a desire to stay with my friends: else, sir, I did
    not care, for mine owne part, so much.
    Bard. Go-too: stand aside.
    Mould. And good Master Corporall Captaine, for my
    old Dames sake, stand my friend: shee hath no body to
    1765doe any thing about her, when I am gone: and she is old,
    and cannot helpe her selfe: you shall haue fortie, sir.
    Bard. Go-too: stand aside.
    Feeble. I care not, a man can die but once: wee owe a
    death. I will neuer beare a base minde: if it be my desti-
    1770nie, so: if it be not, so: no man is too good to serue his
    Prince: and let it goe which way it will, he that dies this
    yeere, is quit for the next.
    Bard. Well said, thou art a good fellow.
    Feeble. Nay, I will beare no base minde.
    1775Falst. Come sir, which men shall I haue?
    Shal. Foure of which you please.
    Bard. Sir, a word with you: I haue three pound, to
    free Mouldie and Bull-calfe.
    Falst. Go-too: well.
    1780Shal. Come, sir Iohn, which foure will you haue?
    Falst. Doe you chuse for me.
    Shal. Marry then, Mouldie, Bull-calfe, Feeble, and
    Shadow.
    Falst. Mouldie, and Bull-calfe: for you Mouldie, stay
    1785at home, till you are past seruice: and for your part, Bull-
    calfe, grow till you come vnto it: I will none of you.
    Shal. Sir Iohn, Sir Iohn, doe not your selfe wrong, they
    are your likelyest men, and I would haue you seru'd with
    the best.
    1790Falst. Will you tell me (Master Shallow) how to chuse
    a man? Care I for the Limbe, the Thewes, the stature,
    bulke, and bigge assemblance of a man? giue mee the
    spirit (Master Shallow.) Where's Wart? you see what
    a ragged appearance it is: hee shall charge you, and
    1795discharge you, with the motion of a Pewterers Ham-
    mer: come off, and on, swifter then hee that gibbets on
    the Brewers Bucket. And this same halfe-fac'd fellow,
    Shadow, giue me this man: hee presents no marke to the
    Enemie, the foe-man may with as great ayme leuell at
    1800the edge of a Pen-knife: and for a Retrait, how swiftly
    will this Feeble, the Womans Taylor, runne off. O, giue
    me the spare men, and spare me the great ones. Put me a
    Calyuer into Warts hand, Bardolph.
    Bard. Hold Wart, Trauerse: thus, thus, thus.
    1805Falst. Come, manage me your Calyuer: so: very well,
    go-too, very good, exceeding good. O, giue me alwayes
    a little, leane, old, chopt, bald Shot. Well said Wart, thou
    art a good Scab: hold, there is a Tester for thee.
    Shal. Hee is not his Crafts-master, hee doth not doe
    1810it right. I remember at Mile-end-Greene, when I lay
    at Clements Inne, I was then Sir Dagonet in Arthurs
    Show: there was a little quiuer fellow, and hee would
    manage you his Peece thus: and hee would about,
    and about, and come you in, and come you in: Rah,
    1815tah, tah, would hee say, Bownce would hee say, and
    away againe would hee goe, and againe would he come:
    I shall neuer see such a fellow.
    Falst. These fellowes will doe well, Master Shallow.
    Farewell Master Silence, I will not vse many wordes with
    1820you: fare you well, Gentlemen both: I thanke you:
    I must a dozen mile to night. Bardolph, giue the Souldiers
    Coates.
    Shal. Sir Iohn, Heauen blesse you, and prosper your
    Affaires, and send vs Peace. As you returne, visit
    1825my house. Let our old acquaintance be renewed: per-
    aduenture I will with you to the Court.
    Falst. I would you would, Master Shallow.
    Shal. Go-too: I haue spoke at a word. Fare you
    well. Exit.
    1830Falst. Fare you well, gentle Gentlemen. On Bar-
    dolph, leade the men away. As I returne, I will fetch off
    these Iustices: I doe see the bottome of Iustice Shal-
    low. How subiect wee old men are to this vice of Ly-
    ing? This same staru'd Iustice hath done nothing but
    1835prate to me of the wildenesse of his Youth, and the
    Feates hee hath done about Turnball-street, and euery
    third word a Lye, duer pay'd to the hearer, then the
    Turkes Tribute. I doe remember him at Clements Inne,
    like a man made after Supper, of a Cheese-paring. When
    1840hee was naked, hee was, for all the world, like a forked
    Radish, with a Head fantastically caru'd vpon it with a
    Knife. Hee was so forlorne, that his Dimensions (to
    any thicke sight) were inuincible. Hee was the very
    Genius of Famine: hee came euer in the rere-ward of
    1845the Fashion: And now is this Vices Dagger become a
    Squire, and talkes as familiarly of Iohn of Gaunt, as if
    hee had beene sworne Brother to him: and Ile be sworne
    hee neuer saw him but once in the Tilt-yard, and then he
    burst his Head, for crowding among the Marshals men.
    1850I saw it, and told Iohn of Gaunt, hee beat his owne
    Name, for you might haue truss'd him and all his Ap-
    parrell into an Eele-skinne: the Case of a Treble Hoe-
    boy was a Mansion for him: a Court: and now hath
    hee Land, and Beeues. Well, I will be acquainted with
    1855him, if I returne: and it shall goe hard, but I will make
    him a Philosophers two Stones to me. If the young
    Dace be a Bayt for the old Pike, I see no reason, in the
    Law of Nature, but I may snap at him. Let time shape,
    and there an end. Exeunt.
    1860Actus Quartus. Scena Prima.
    Enter the Arch-bishop, Mowbray, Hastings,
    Westmerland, Coleuile.
    Bish. What is this Forrest call'd?
    Hast. 'Tis Gualtree Forrest, and't shall please your
    1865Grace.
    Bish. Here stand (my Lords) and send discouerers forth,
    To know the numbers of our Enemies.
    Hast. Wee
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 91
    Hast. Wee haue sent forth alreadie.
    Bish. 'Tis well done.
    1870My Friends, and Brethren (in these great Affaires)
    I must acquaint you, that I haue receiu'd
    New-dated Letters from Northumberland:
    Their cold intent, tenure, and substance thus.
    Here doth hee wish his Person, with such Powers
    1875As might hold sortance with his Qualitie,
    The which hee could not leuie: whereupon
    Hee is retyr'd, to ripe his growing Fortunes,
    To Scotland; and concludes in heartie prayers,
    That your Attempts may ouer-liue the hazard,
    1880And fearefull meeting of their Opposite.
    Mow. Thus do the hopes we haue in him, touch ground,
    And dash themselues to pieces.
    Enter a Messenger.
    Hast. Now? what newes?
    1885Mess. West of this Forrest, scarcely off a mile,
    In goodly forme, comes on the Enemie:
    And by the ground they hide, I iudge their number
    Vpon, or neere, the rate of thirtie thousand.
    Mow. The iust proportion that we gaue them out.
    1890Let vs sway-on, and face them in the field.
    Enter Westmerland.
    Bish. What well-appointed Leader fronts vs here?
    Mow. I thinke it is my Lord of Westmerland.
    West. Health, and faire greeting from our Generall,
    1895The Prince, Lord Iohn, and Duke of Lancaster.
    Bish. Say on (my Lord of Westmerland) in peace:
    What doth concerne your comming?
    West. Then (my Lord)
    Vnto your Grace doe I in chiefe addresse
    1900The substance of my Speech. If that Rebellion
    Came like it selfe, in base and abiect Routs,
    Led on by bloodie Youth, guarded with Rage,
    And countenanc'd by Boyes, and Beggerie:
    I say, if damn'd Commotion so appeare,
    1905In his true, natiue, and most proper shape,
    You (Reuerend Father, and these Noble Lords)
    Had not beene here, to dresse the ougly forme
    Of base, and bloodie Insurrection,
    With your faire Honors. You, Lord Arch-bishop,
    1910Whose Sea is by a Ciuill Peace maintain'd,
    Whose Beard, the Siluer Hand of Peace hath touch'd,
    Whose Learning, and good Letters, Peace hath tutor'd,
    Whose white Inuestments figure Innocence,
    The Doue, and very blessed Spirit of Peace.
    1915Wherefore doe you so ill translate your selfe,
    Out of the Speech of Peace, that beares such grace,
    Into the harsh and boystrous Tongue of Warre?
    Turning your Bookes to Graues, your Inke to Blood,
    Your Pennes to Launces, and your Tongue diuine
    1920To a lowd Trumpet, and a Point of Warre.
    Bish. Wherefore doe I this? so the Question stands.
    Briefely to this end: Wee are all diseas'd,
    And with our surfetting, and wanton howres,
    Haue brought our selues into a burning Feuer,
    1925And wee must bleede for it: of which Disease,
    Our late King Richard (being infected) dy'd.
    But (my most Noble Lord of Westmerland)
    I take not on me here as a Physician,
    Nor doe I, as an Enemie to Peace,
    1930Troope in the Throngs of Militarie men:
    But rather shew a while like fearefull Warre,
    To dyet ranke Mindes, sicke of happinesse,
    And purge th'obstructions, which begin to stop
    Our very Veines of Life: heare me more plainely.
    1935I haue in equall ballance iustly weigh'd,
    What wrongs our Arms may do, what wrongs we suffer,
    And finde our Griefes heauier then our Offences.
    Wee see which way the streame of Time doth runne,
    And are enforc'd from our most quiet there,
    1940By the rough Torrent of Occasion,
    And haue the summarie of all our Griefes
    (When time shall serue) to shew in Articles;
    Which long ere this, wee offer'd to the King,
    And might, by no Suit, gayne our Audience:
    1945When wee are wrong'd, and would vnfold our Griefes,
    Wee are deny'd accesse vnto his Person,
    Euen by those men, that most haue done vs wrong.
    The dangers of the dayes but newly gone,
    Whose memorie is written on the Earth
    1950With yet appearing blood; and the examples
    Of euery Minutes instance (present now)
    Hath put vs in these ill-beseeming Armes:
    Not to breake Peace, or any Branch of it,
    But to establish here a Peace indeede,
    1955Concurring both in Name and Qualitie.
    West. When euer yet was your Appeale deny'd?
    Wherein haue you beene galled by the King?
    What Peere hath beene suborn'd, to grate on you,
    That you should seale this lawlesse bloody Booke
    1960Of forg'd Rebellion, with a Seale diuine?
    Bish. My Brother generall, the Common-wealth,
    I make my Quarrell, in particular.
    West. There is no neede of any such redresse:
    Or if there were, it not belongs to you.
    1965Mow. Why not to him in part, and to vs all,
    That feele the bruizes of the dayes before,
    And suffer the Condition of these Times
    To lay a heauie and vnequall Hand vpon our Honors?
    West. O my good Lord Mowbray,
    1970Construe the Times to their Necessities,
    And you shall say (indeede) it is the Time,
    And not the King, that doth you iniuries.
    Yet for your part, it not appeares to me,
    Either from the King, or in the present Time,
    1975That you should haue an ynch of any ground
    To build a Griefe on: were you not restor'd
    To all the Duke of Norfolkes Seignories,
    Your Noble, and right well-remembred Fathers?
    Mow. What thing, in Honor, had my Father lost,
    1980That need to be reuiu'd, and breath'd in me?
    The King that lou'd him, as the State stood then,
    Was forc'd, perforce compell'd to banish him:
    And then, that Henry Bullingbrooke and hee
    Being mounted, and both rowsed in their Seates,
    1985Their neighing Coursers daring of the Spurre,
    Their armed Staues in charge, their Beauers downe,
    Their eyes of fire, sparkling through sights of Steele,
    And the lowd Trumpet blowing them together:
    Then, then, when there was nothing could haue stay'd
    1990My Father from the Breast of Bullingbrooke;
    O, when the King did throw his Warder downe,
    (His owne Life hung vpon the Staffe hee threw)
    Then threw hee downe himselfe, and all their Liues,
    That by Indictment, and by dint of Sword,
    1995Haue since mis-carryed vnder Bullingbrooke.
    gg2 West. You
    92The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    West. You speak (Lord Mowbray) now you know not what.
    The Earle of Hereford was reputed then
    In England the most valiant Gentleman.
    Who knowes, on whom Fortune would then haue smil'd?
    2000But if your Father had beene Victor there,
    Hee ne're had borne it out of Couentry.
    For all the Countrey, in a generall voyce,
    Cry'd hate vpon him: and all their prayers, and loue,
    Were set on Herford, whom they doted on,
    2005And bless'd, and grac'd, and did more then the King.
    But this is meere digression from my purpose.
    Here come I from our Princely Generall,
    To know your Griefes; to tell you, from his Grace,
    That hee will giue you Audience: and wherein
    2010It shall appeare, that your demands are iust,
    You shall enioy them, euery thing set off,
    That might so much as thinke you Enemies.
    Mow. But hee hath forc'd vs to compell this Offer,
    And it proceedes from Pollicy, not Loue.
    2015West. Mowbray, you ouer-weene to take it so:
    This Offer comes from Mercy, not from Feare.
    For loe, within a Ken our Army lyes,
    Vpon mine Honor, all too confident
    To giue admittance to a thought of feare.
    2020Our Battaile is more full of Names then yours,
    Our Men more perfect in the vse of Armes,
    Our Armor all as strong, our Cause the best;
    Then Reason will, our hearts should be as good.
    Say you not then, our Offer is compell'd.
    2025Mow. Well, by my will, wee shall admit no Parley.
    West. That argues but the shame of your offence:
    A rotten Case abides no handling.
    Hast. Hath the Prince Iohn a full Commission,
    In very ample vertue of his Father,
    2030To heare, and absolutely to determine
    Of what Conditions wee shall stand vpon?
    West. That is intended in the Generals Name:
    I muse you make so slight a Question.
    Bish. Then take (my Lord of Westmerland) this Schedule,
    2035For this containes our generall Grieuances:
    Each seuerall Article herein redress'd,
    All members of our Cause, both here, and hence,
    That are insinewed to this Action,
    Acquitted by a true substantiall forme,
    2040And present execution of our wills,
    To vs, and to our purposes confin'd,
    Wee come within our awfull Banks againe,
    And knit our Powers to the Arme of Peace.
    West. This will I shew the Generall. Please you Lords,
    2045In sight of both our Battailes, wee may meete
    At either end in peace: which Heauen so frame,
    Or to the place of difference call the Swords,
    Which must decide it.
    Bish. My Lord, wee will doe so.
    2050Mow. There is a thing within my Bosome tells me,
    That no Conditions of our Peace can stand.
    Hast. Feare you not, that if wee can make our Peace
    Vpon such large termes, and so absolute,
    As our Conditions shall consist vpon,
    2055Our Peace shall stand as firme as Rockie Mountaines.
    Mow. I, but our valuation shall be such,
    That euery slight, and false-deriued Cause,
    Yea, euery idle, nice, and wanton Reason,
    Shall, to the King, taste of this Action:
    2060That were our Royall faiths, Martyrs in Loue,
    Wee shall be winnowed with so rough a winde,
    That euen our Corne shall seeme as light as Chaffe,
    And good from bad finde no partition.
    Bish. No, no (my Lord) note this: the King is wearie
    2065Of daintie, and such picking Grieuances:
    For hee hath found, to end one doubt by Death,
    Reuiues two greater in the Heires of Life.
    And therefore will hee wipe his Tables cleane,
    And keepe no Tell-tale to his Memorie,
    2070That may repeat, and Historie his losse,
    To new remembrance. For full well hee knowes,
    Hee cannot so precisely weede this Land,
    As his mis-doubts present occasion:
    His foes are so en-rooted with his friends,
    2075That plucking to vnfixe an Enemie,
    Hee doth vnfasten so, and shake a friend.
    So that this Land, like an offensiue wife,
    That hath enrag'd him on, to offer strokes,
    As he is striking, holds his Infant vp,
    2080And hangs resolu'd Correction in the Arme,
    That was vprear'd to execution.
    Hast. Besides, the King hath wasted all his Rods,
    On late Offenders, that he now doth lacke
    The very Instruments of Chasticement:
    2085So that his power, like to a Fanglesse Lion
    May offer, but not hold.
    Bish. 'Tis very true:
    And therefore be assur'd (my good Lord Marshal)
    If we do now make our attonement well,
    2090Our Peace, will (like a broken Limbe vnited)
    Grow stronger, for the breaking.
    Mow. Be it so:
    Heere is return'd my Lord of Westmerland.
    Enter Westmerland.
    2095West. The Prince is here at hand: pleaseth your Lordship
    To meet his Grace, iust distance 'tweene our Armies?
    Mow. Your Grace of Yorke, in heauen's name then
    forward.
    Bish. Before, and greet his Grace (my Lord) we come.
    2100Enter Prince Iohn.
    Iohn. You are wel encountred here (my cosin Mowbray)
    Good day to you, gentle Lord Archbishop,
    And so to you Lord Hastings, and to all.
    My Lord of Yorke, it better shew'd with you,
    2105When that your Flocke (assembled by the Bell)
    Encircled you, to heare with reuerence
    Your exposition on the holy Text,
    Then now to see you heere an Iron man
    Chearing a rowt of Rebels with your Drumme,
    2110Turning the Word, to Sword; and Life to death:
    That man that sits within a Monarches heart,
    And ripens in the Sunne-shine of his fauor,
    Would hee abuse the Countenance of the King,
    Alack, what Mischiefes might hee set abroach,
    2115In shadow of such Greatnesse? With you, Lord Bishop,
    It is euen so. Who hath not heard it spoken,
    How deepe you were within the Bookes of Heauen?
    To vs, the Speaker in his Parliament;
    To vs, th'imagine Voyce of Heauen it selfe:
    2120The very Opener, and Intelligencer,
    Betweene the Grace, the Sanctities of Heauen,
    And our dull workings. O, who shall beleeue,
    But you mis-vse the reuerence of your Place,
    Employ the Countenance, and Grace of Heauen,
    2125As a false Fauorite doth his Princes Name,
    In deedes dis-honorable? You haue taken vp,
    Vnder
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 91
    Vnder the counterfeited Zeale of Heauen,
    The Subiects of Heauens Substitute, my Father,
    And both against the Peace of Heauen, and him,
    2130Haue here vp-swarmed them.
    Bish. Good my Lord of Lancaster,
    I am not here against your Fathers Peace:
    But (as I told my Lord of Westmerland)
    The Time (mis-order'd) doth in common sence
    2135Crowd vs, and crush vs, to this monstrous Forme,
    To hold our safetie vp. I sent your Grace
    The parcels, and particulars of our Griefe,
    The which hath been with scorne shou'd from the Court:
    Whereon this Hydra-Sonne of Warre is borne,
    2140Whose dangerous eyes may well be charm'd asleepe,
    With graunt of our most iust and right desires;
    And true Obedience, of this Madnesse cur'd,
    Stoope tamely to the foot of Maiestie.
    Mow. If not, wee readie are to trye our fortunes,
    2145To the last man.
    Hast. And though wee here fall downe,
    Wee haue Supplyes, to second our Attempt:
    If they mis-carry, theirs shall second them.
    And so, successe of Mischiefe shall be borne,
    2150And Heire from Heire shall hold this Quarrell vp,
    Whiles England shall haue generation.
    Iohn. You are too shallow (Hastings)
    Much too shallow,
    To sound the bottome of the after-Times.
    2155West. Pleaseth your Grace, to answere them directly,
    How farre-forth you doe like their Articles.
    Iohn. I like them all, and doe allow them well:
    And sweare here, by the honor of my blood,
    My Fathers purposes haue beene mistooke,
    2160And some, about him, haue too lauishly
    Wrested his meaning, and Authoritie.
    My Lord, these Griefes shall be with speed redrest:
    Vpon my Life, they shall. If this may please you,
    Discharge your Powers vnto their seuerall Counties,
    2165As wee will ours: and here, betweene the Armies,
    Let's drinke together friendly, and embrace,
    That all their eyes may beare those Tokens home,
    Of our restored Loue, and Amitie.
    Bish. I take your Princely word, for these redresses.
    2170Iohn. I giue it you, and will maintaine my word:
    And thereupon I drinke vnto your Grace.
    Hast. Goe Captaine, and deliuer to the Armie
    This newes of Peace: let them haue pay, and part:
    I know, it will well please them.
    2175High thee Captaine. Exit.
    Bish. To you, my Noble Lord of Westmerland.
    West. I pledge your Grace:
    And if you knew what paines I haue bestow'd,
    To breede this present Peace,
    2180You would drinke freely: but my loue to ye,
    Shall shew it selfe more openly hereafter.
    Bish. I doe not doubt you.
    West. I am glad of it.
    Health to my Lord, and gentle Cousin Mowbray.
    2185Mow. You wish me health in very happy season,
    For I am, on the sodaine, something ill.
    Bish. Against ill Chances, men are euer merry,
    But heauinesse fore-runnes the good euent.
    West. Therefore be merry (Cooze) since sodaine sorrow
    2190Serues to say thus: some good thing comes to morrow.
    Bish. Beleeue me, I am passing light in spirit.
    Mow. So much the worse, if your owne Rule be true.
    Iohn. The word of Peace is render'd: hearke how
    they showt.
    2195Mow. This had been chearefull, after Victorie.
    Bish. A Peace is of the nature of a Conquest:
    For then both parties nobly are subdu'd,
    And neither partie looser.
    Iohn. Goe (my Lord)
    2200And let our Army be discharged too:
    And good my Lord (so please you) let our Traines
    March by vs, that wee may peruse the men
    Exit.
    Wee should haue coap'd withall.
    Bish. Goe, good Lord Hastings:
    2205And ere they be dismiss'd, let them march by. Exit.
    Iohn. I trust (Lords) wee shall lye to night together.
    Enter Westmerland.
    Now Cousin, wherefore stands our Army still?
    West. The Leaders hauing charge from you to stand,
    2210Will not goe off, vntill they heare you speake.
    Iohn. They know their duties. Enter Hastings.
    Hast. Our Army is dispers'd:
    Like youthfull Steeres, vnyoak'd, they tooke their course
    East, West, North, South: or like a Schoole, broke vp,
    2215Each hurryes towards his home, and sporting place.
    West. Good tidings (my Lord Hastings) for the which,
    I doe arrest thee (Traytor) of high Treason:
    And you Lord Arch-bishop, and you Lord Mowbray,
    Of Capitall Treason, I attach you both.
    2220Mow. Is this proceeding iust, and honorable?
    West. Is your Assembly so?
    Bish. Will you thus breake your faith?
    Iohn. I pawn'd thee none:
    I promis'd you redresse of these same Grieuances
    2225Whereof you did complaine; which, by mine Honor,
    I will performe, with a most Christian care.
    But for you (Rebels) looke to taste the due
    Meet for Rebellion, and such Acts as yours.
    Most shallowly did you these Armes commence,
    2230Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence.
    Strike vp our Drummes, pursue the scatter'd stray,
    Heauen, and not wee, haue safely fought to day.
    Some guard these Traitors to the Block of Death,
    Treasons true Bed, and yeelder vp of breath. Exeunt.
    2235Enter Falstaffe and Colleuile.
    Falst. What's your Name, Sir? of what Condition are
    you? and of what place, I pray?
    Col. I am a Knight, Sir:
    And my Name is Colleuile of the Dale.
    2240Falst. Well then, Colleuile is your Name, a Knight is
    your Degree, and your Place, the Dale. Colleuile shall
    still be your Name, a Traytor your Degree, and the Dun-
    geon your Place, a place deepe enough: so shall you be
    still Colleuile of the Dale.
    2245Col. Are not you Sir Iohn Falstaffe?
    Falst. As good a man as he sir, who ere I am: doe yee
    yeelde sir, or shall I sweate for you? if I doe sweate, they
    are the drops of thy Louers, and they weep for thy death,
    therefore rowze vp Feare and Trembling, and do obser-
    2250uance to my mercy.
    Col. I thinke you are Sir Iohn Falstaffe, & in that thought
    yeeld me.
    Fal. I haue a whole Schoole of tongues in this belly of
    mine, and not a Tongue of them all, speakes anie other
    2255word but my name: and I had but a belly of any indiffe-
    rencie, I were simply the most actiue fellow in Europe:
    my wombe, my wombe, my wombe vndoes mee. Heere
    comes our Generall.
    gg3 Enter
    92The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    Enter Prince Iohn, and Westmerland.
    2260Iohn. The heat is past, follow no farther now:
    Call in the Powers, good Cousin Westmerland.
    Now Falstaffe, where haue you beene all this while?
    When euery thing is ended, then you come.
    These tardie Tricks of yours will (on my life)
    2265One time, or other, breake some Gallowes back.
    Falst. I would bee sorry (my Lord) but it should bee
    thus: I neuer knew yet, but rebuke and checke was the
    reward of Valour. Doe you thinke me a Swallow, an Ar-
    row, or a Bullet? Haue I, in my poore and olde Motion,
    2270the expedition of Thought? I haue speeded hither with
    the very extremest ynch of possibilitie. I haue fowndred
    nine score and odde Postes: and heere (trauell-tainted
    as I am) haue, in my pure and immaculate Valour, taken
    Sir Iohn Colleuile of the Dale, a most furious Knight, and
    2275valorous Enemie: But what of that? hee saw mee, and
    yeelded: that I may iustly say with the hooke-nos'd
    fellow of Rome, I came, saw, and ouer-came.
    Iohn. It was more of his Courtesie, then your deser-
    uing.
    2280Falst. I know not: heere hee is, and heere I yeeld
    him: and I beseech your Grace, let it be book'd, with
    the rest of this dayes deedes; or I sweare, I will haue it
    in a particular Ballad, with mine owne Picture on the top
    of it (Colleuile kissing my foot:) To the which course, if
    2285I be enforc'd, if you do not all shew like gilt two-pences
    to me; and I, in the cleare Skie of Fame, o're-shine you
    as much as the Full Moone doth the Cynders of the Ele-
    ment (which shew like Pinnes-heads to her) beleeue not
    the Word of the Noble: therefore let mee haue right,
    2290and let desert mount.
    Iohn. Thine's too heauie to mount.
    Falst. Let it shine then.
    Iohn. Thine's too thick to shine.
    Falst. Let it doe something (my good Lord) that may
    2295doe me good, and call it what you will.
    Iohn. Is thy Name Colleuile?
    Col. It is (my Lord.)
    Iohn. A famous Rebell art thou, Colleuile.
    Falst. And a famous true Subiect tooke him.
    2300Col. I am (my Lord) but as my Betters are,
    That led me hither: had they beene rul'd by me,
    You should haue wonne them dearer then you haue.
    Falst. I know not how they sold themselues, but thou
    like a kinde fellow, gau'st thy selfe away; and I thanke
    2305thee, for thee.
    Enter Westmerland.
    Iohn. Haue you left pursuit?
    West. Retreat is made, and Execution stay'd.
    Iohn. Send Colleuile, with his Confederates,
    2310To Yorke, to present Execution.
    Blunt, leade him hence, and see you guard him sure.
    Exit with Colleuile.
    And now dispatch we toward the Court (my Lords)
    I heare the King, my Father, is sore sicke.
    2315Our Newes shall goe before vs, to his Maiestie,
    Which (Cousin) you shall beare, to comfort him:
    And wee with sober speede will follow you.
    Falst. My Lord, I beseech you, giue me leaue to goe
    through Gloucestershire: and when you come to Court,
    2320stand my good Lord, 'pray, in your good report.
    Iohn. Fare you well, Falstaffe: I, in my condition,
    Shall better speake of you, then you deserue. Exit.
    Falst. I would you had but the wit: 'twere better
    then your Dukedome. Good faith, this same young so-
    2325ber-blooded Boy doth not loue me, nor a man cannot
    make him laugh: but that's no maruaile, hee drinkes no
    Wine. There's neuer any of these demure Boyes come
    to any proofe: for thinne Drinke doth so ouer-coole
    their blood, and making many Fish-Meales, that they
    2330fall into a kinde of Male Greene-sicknesse: and then,
    when they marry, they get Wenches. They are generally
    Fooles, and Cowards; which some of vs should be too,
    but for inflamation. A good Sherris-Sack hath a two-
    fold operation in it: it ascends me into the Braine, dryes
    2335me there all the foolish, and dull, and cruddie Vapours,
    which enuiron it: makes it apprehensiue, quicke, forge-
    tiue, full of nimble, fierie, and delectable shapes; which
    deliuer'd o're to the Voyce, the Tongue, which is the
    Birth, becomes excellent Wit. The second propertie of
    2340your excellent Sherris, is, the warming of the Blood:
    which before (cold, and setled) left the Liuer white, and
    pale; which is the Badge of Pusillanimitie, and Cowar-
    dize: but the Sherris warmes it, and makes it course
    from the inwards, to the parts extremes: it illuminateth
    2345the Face, which (as a Beacon) giues warning to all the
    rest of this little Kingdome (Man) to Arme: and then
    the Vitall Commoners, and in-land pettie Spirits, muster
    me all to their Captaine, the Heart; who great, and pufft
    vp with his Retinue, doth any Deed of Courage: and this
    2350Valour comes of Sherris. So, that skill in the Weapon
    is nothing, without Sack (for that sets it a-worke:) and
    Learning, a meere Hoord of Gold, kept by a Deuill, till
    Sack commences it, and sets it in act, and vse. Hereof
    comes it, that Prince Harry is valiant: for the cold blood
    2355hee did naturally inherite of his Father, hee hath, like
    leane, stirrill, and bare Land, manured, husbanded, and
    tyll'd, with excellent endeauour of drinking good, and
    good store of fertile Sherris, that hee is become very hot,
    and valiant. If I had a thousand Sonnes, the first Principle
    2360I would teach them, should be to forsweare thinne Pota-
    tions, and to addict themselues to Sack. Enter Bardolph.
    How now Bardolph?
    Bard. The Armie is discharged all, and gone.
    Falst. Let them goe: Ile through Gloucestershire,
    2365and there will I visit Master Robert Shallow, Esquire: I
    haue him alreadie tempering betweene my finger and my
    thombe, and shortly will I seale with him. Come away.
    Exeunt.
    Scena Secunda.
    2370Enter King, Warwicke, Clarence, Gloucester.
    King. Now Lords, if Heauen doth giue successefull end
    To this Debate, that bleedeth at our doores,
    Wee will our Youth lead on to higher Fields,
    And draw no Swords, but what are sanctify'd.
    2375Our Nauie is addressed, our Power collected,
    Our Substitutes, in absence, well inuested,
    And euery thing lyes leuell to our wish;
    Onely wee want a little personall Strength:
    And pawse vs, till these Rebels, now a-foot,
    2380Come vnderneath the yoake of Gouernment.
    War. Both which we doubt not, but your Maiestie
    Shall soone enioy.
    King. Hum-
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 93
    King. Humphrey (my Sonne of Gloucester) where is
    the Prince, your Brother?
    2385Glo. I thinke hee's gone to hunt (my Lord) at Wind-
    sor.
    King. And how accompanied?
    Glo. I doe not know (my Lord.)
    King. Is not his Brother, Thomas of Clarence, with
    2390him?
    Glo. No (my good Lord) hee is in presence heere.
    Clar. What would my Lord, and Father?
    King. Nothing but well to thee, Thomas of Clarence.
    How chance thou art not with the Prince, thy Brother?
    2395Hee loues thee, and thou do'st neglect him (Thomas.)
    Thou hast a better place in his Affection,
    Then all thy Brothers: cherish it (my Boy)
    And Noble Offices thou may'st effect
    Of Mediation (after I am dead)
    2400Betweene his Greatnesse, and thy other Brethren.
    Therefore omit him not: blunt not his Loue,
    Nor loose the good aduantage of his Grace,
    By seeming cold, or carelesse of his will.
    For hee is gracious, if hee be obseru'd:
    2405Hee hath a Teare for Pitie, and a Hand
    Open (as Day) for melting Charitie:
    Yet notwithstanding, being incens'd, hee's Flint,
    As humorous as Winter, and as sudden,
    As Flawes congealed in the Spring of day.
    2410His temper therefore must be well obseru'd:
    Chide him for faults, and doe it reuerently,
    When you perceiue his blood enclin'd to mirth:
    But being moodie, giue him Line, and scope,
    Till that his passions (like a Whale on ground)
    2415Confound themselues with working. Learne this Thomas,
    And thou shalt proue a shelter to thy friends,
    A Hoope of Gold, to binde thy Brothers in:
    That the vnited Vessell of their Blood
    (Mingled with Venome of Suggestion,
    2420As force, perforce, the Age will powre it in)
    Shall neuer leake, though it doe worke as strong
    As Aconitum, or rash Gun-powder.
    Clar. I shall obserue him with all care, and loue.
    King. Why art thou not at Windsor with him (Tho-
    2425mas?)
    Clar. Hee is not there to day: hee dines in Lon-
    don.
    King. And how accompanyed? Canst thou tell
    that?
    2430Clar. With Pointz, and other his continuall fol-
    lowers.
    King. Most subiect is the fattest Soyle to Weedes:
    And hee (the Noble Image of my Youth)
    Is ouer-spread with them: therefore my griefe
    2435Stretches it selfe beyond the howre of death.
    The blood weepes from my heart, when I doe shape
    (In formes imaginarie) th'vnguided Dayes,
    And rotten Times, that you shall looke vpon,
    When I am sleeping with my Ancestors.
    2440For when his head-strong Riot hath no Curbe,
    When Rage and hot-Blood are his Counsailors,
    When Meanes and lauish Manners meete together;
    Oh, with what Wings shall his Affections flye
    Towards fronting Perill, and oppos'd Decay?
    2445War. My gracious Lord, you looke beyond him quite:
    The Prince but studies his Companions,
    Like a strange Tongue: wherein, to gaine the Language,
    'Tis needfull, that the most immodest word
    Be look'd vpon, and learn'd: which once attayn'd,
    2450Your Highnesse knowes, comes to no farther vse,
    But to be knowne, and hated. So, like grosse termes,
    The Prince will, in the perfectnesse of time,
    Cast off his followers: and their memorie
    Shall as a Patterne, or a Measure, liue,
    2455By which his Grace must mete the liues of others,
    Turning past-euills to aduantages.
    King. 'Tis seldome, when the Bee doth leaue her Combe
    In the dead Carrion.
    Enter Westmerland.
    2460Who's heere? Westmerland?
    West. Health to my Soueraigne, and new happinesse
    Added to that, that I am to deliuer.
    Prince Iohn, your Sonne, doth kisse your Graces Hand:
    Mowbray, the Bishop, Scroope, Hastings, and all,
    2465Are brought to the Correction of your Law.
    There is not now a Rebels Sword vnsheath'd,
    But Peace puts forth her Oliue euery where:
    The manner how this Action hath beene borne,
    Here (at more leysure) may your Highnesse reade,
    2470With euery course, in his particular.
    King. O Westmerland, thou art a Summer Bird,
    Which euer in the haunch of Winter sings
    The lifting vp of day.
    Enter Harcourt.
    2475Looke, heere's more newes.
    Harc. From Enemies, Heauen keepe your Maiestie:
    And when they stand against you, may they fall,
    As those that I am come to tell you of.
    The Earle Northumberland, and the Lord Bardolfe,
    2480With a great Power of English, and of Scots,
    Are by the Sherife of Yorkeshire ouerthrowne:
    The manner, and true order of the fight,
    This Packet (please it you) containes at large.
    King. And wherefore should these good newes
    2485Make me sicke?
    Will Fortune neuer come with both hands full,
    But write her faire words still in foulest Letters?
    Shee eyther giues a Stomack, and no Foode,
    (Such are the poore, in health) or else a Feast,
    2490And takes away the Stomack (such are the Rich,
    That haue aboundance, and enioy it not.)
    I should reioyce now, at this happy newes,
    And now my Sight fayles, and my Braine is giddie.
    O me, come neere me, now I am much ill.
    2495Glo. Comfort your Maiestie.
    Cla. Oh, my Royall Father.
    West. My Soueraigne Lord, cheare vp your selfe, looke
    vp.
    War. Be patient (Princes) you doe know, these Fits
    2500Are with his Highnesse very ordinarie.
    Stand from him, giue him ayre:
    Hee'le straight be well.
    Clar. No, no, hee cannot long hold out: these pangs,
    Th'incessant care, and labour of his Minde,
    2505Hath wrought the Mure, that should confine it in,
    So thinne, that Life lookes through, and will breake out.
    Glo. The people feare me: for they doe obserue
    Vnfather'd Heires, and loathly Births of Nature:
    The Seasons change their manners, as the Yeere
    2510Had found some Moneths asleepe, and leap'd them ouer.
    Clar. The Riuer hath thrice flow'd, no ebbe betweene:
    And the old folke (Times doting Chronicles)
    Say it did so, a little time before
    That our great Grand-sire Edward sick'd, and dy'de.
    gg4 War. Speake
    94The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    2515War. Speake lower (Princes) for the King reco-
    uers.
    Glo. This Apoplexie will (certaine) be his end.
    King. I pray you take me vp, and beare me hence
    Into some other Chamber: softly 'pray.
    2520Let there be no noyse made (my gentle friends)
    Vnlesse some dull and fauourable hand
    Will whisper Musicke to my wearie Spirit.
    War. Call for the Musicke in the other Roome.
    King. Set me the Crowne vpon my Pillow here.
    2525Clar. His eye is hollow, and hee changes much.
    War. Lesse noyse, lesse noyse.
    Enter Prince Henry.
    P. Hen. Who saw the Duke of Clarence?
    Clar. I am here (Brother) full of heauinesse.
    2530P. Hen. How now? Raine within doores, and none
    abroad? How doth the King?
    Glo. Exceeding ill.
    P. Hen. Heard hee the good newes yet?
    Tell it him.
    2535Glo. Hee alter'd much, vpon the hearing it.
    P. Hen. If hee be sicke with Ioy,
    Hee'le recouer without Physicke.
    War. Not so much noyse (my Lords)
    Sweet Prince speake lowe,
    2540The King, your Father, is dispos'd to sleepe.
    Clar. Let vs with-draw into the other Roome.
    War. Wil't please your Grace to goe along with vs?
    P. Hen. No: I will sit, and watch here, by the King.
    Why doth the Crowne lye there, vpon his Pillow,
    2545Being so troublesome a Bed-fellow?
    O pollish'd Perturbation! Golden Care!
    That keep'st the Ports of Slumber open wide,
    To many a watchfull Night: sleepe with it now,
    Yet not so sound, and halfe so deepely sweete,
    2550As hee whose Brow (with homely Biggen bound)
    Snores out the Watch of Night. O Maiestie!
    When thou do'st pinch thy Bearer, thou do'st sit
    Like a rich Armor, worne in heat of day,
    That scald'st with safetie: by his Gates of breath,
    2555There lyes a dowlney feather, which stirres not:
    Did hee suspire, that light and weightlesse dowlne
    Perforce must moue. My gracious Lord, my Father,
    This sleepe is sound indeede: this is a sleepe,
    That from this Golden Rigoll hath diuorc'd
    2560So many English Kings. Thy due, from me,
    Is Teares, and heauie Sorrowes of the Blood,
    Which Nature, Loue, and filiall tendernesse,
    Shall (O deare Father) pay thee plenteously.
    My due, from thee, is this Imperiall Crowne,
    2565Which (as immediate from thy Place, and Blood)
    Deriues it selfe to me. Loe, heere it sits,
    Which Heauen shall guard:
    And put the worlds whole strength into one gyant Arme,
    It shall not force this Lineall Honor from me.
    2570This, from thee, will I to mine leaue,
    As 'tis left to me. Exit.
    Enter Warwicke, Gloucester, Clarence.
    King. Warwicke, Gloucester, Clarence.
    Clar. Doth the King call?
    2575War. What would your Maiestie? how fares your
    Grace?
    King. Why did you leaue me here alone (my Lords?)
    Cla. We left the Prince (my Brother) here (my Liege)
    Who vndertooke to sit and watch by you.
    2580King. The Prince of Wales? where is hee? let mee
    see him.
    War. This doore is open, hee is gone this way.
    Glo. Hee came not through the Chamber where wee
    stayd.
    2585King. Where is the Crowne? who tooke it from my
    Pillow?
    War. When wee with-drew (my Liege) wee left it
    heere.
    King. The Prince hath ta'ne it hence:
    2590Goe seeke him out.
    Is hee so hastie, that hee doth suppose
    My sleepe, my death? Finde him (my Lord of Warwick)
    Chide him hither: this part of his conioynes
    With my disease, and helpes to end me.
    2595See Sonnes, what things you are:
    How quickly Nature falls into reuolt,
    When Gold becomes her Obiect?
    For this, the foolish ouer-carefull Fathers
    Haue broke their sleepes with thoughts,
    2600Their braines with care, their bones with industry.
    For this, they haue ingrossed and pyl'd vp
    The canker'd heapes of strange-atchieued Gold:
    For this, they haue beene thoughtfull, to inuest
    Their Sonnes with Arts, and Martiall Exercises:
    2605When, like the Bee, culling from euery flower
    The vertuous Sweetes, our Thighes packt with Wax,
    Our Mouthes with Honey, wee bring it to the Hiue;
    And like the Bees, are murthered for our paines.
    This bitter taste yeelds his engrossements,
    2610To the ending Father.
    Enter Warwicke.
    Now, where is hee, that will not stay so long,
    Till his Friend Sicknesse hath determin'd me?
    War. My Lord, I found the Prince in the next Roome,
    2615Washing with kindly Teares his gentle Cheekes,
    With such a deepe demeanure, in great sorrow,
    That Tyranny, which neuer quafft but blood,
    Would (by beholding him) haue wash'd his Knife
    With gentle eye-drops. Hee is comming hither.
    2620King. But wherefore did hee take away the Crowne?
    Enter Prince Henry.
    Loe, where hee comes. Come hither to me (Harry.)
    Depart the Chamber, leaue vs heere alone. Exit.
    P. Hen. I neuer thought to heare you speake againe.
    2625King. Thy wish was Father (Harry) to that thought:
    I stay too long by thee, I wearie thee.
    Do'st thou so hunger for my emptie Chayre,
    That thou wilt needes inuest thee with mine Honors,
    Before thy howre be ripe? O foolish Youth!
    2630Thou seek'st the Greatnesse, that will ouer-whelme thee.
    Stay but a little: for my Cloud of Dignitie
    Is held from falling, with so weake a winde,
    That it will quickly drop: my Day is dimme.
    Thou hast stolne that, which after some few howres
    2635Were thine, without offence: and at my death
    Thou hast seal'd vp my expectation.
    Thy Life did manifest, thou lou'dst me not,
    And thou wilt haue me dye assur'd of it.
    Thou hid'st a thousand Daggers in thy thoughts,
    2640Which thou hast whetted on thy stonie heart,
    To stab at halfe an howre of my Life.
    What? canst thou not forbeare me halfe an howre?
    Then
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 95
    Then get thee gone, and digge my graue thy selfe,
    And bid the merry Bels ring to thy eare
    2645That thou art Crowned, not that I am dead.
    Let all the Teares, that should bedew my Hearse
    Be drops of Balme, to sanctifie thy head:
    Onely compound me with forgotten dust.
    Giue that, which gaue thee life, vnto the Wormes:
    2650Plucke downe my Officers, breake my Decrees;
    For now a time is come, to mocke at Forme.
    Henry the fift is Crown'd: Vp Vanity,
    Downe Royall State: All you sage Counsailors, hence:
    And to the English Court, assemble now
    2655From eu'ry Region, Apes of Idlenesse.
    Now neighbor-Confines, purge you of your Scum:
    Haue you a Ruffian that swill sweare? drinke? dance?
    Reuell the night? Rob? Murder? and commit
    The oldest sinnes, the newest kinde of wayes?
    2660Be happy, he will trouble you no more:
    England, shall double gill'd, his trebble guilt.
    England, shall giue him Office, Honor, Might:
    For the Fift Harry, from curb'd License pluckes
    The muzzle of Restraint; and the wilde Dogge
    2665Shall flesh his tooth in euery Innocent.
    O my poore Kingdome (sicke, with ciuill blowes)
    When that my Care could not with-hold thy Ryots,
    What wilt thou do, when Ryot is thy Care?
    O, thou wilt be a Wildernesse againe,
    2670Peopled with Wolues (thy old Inhabitants.
    Prince. O pardon me (my Liege)
    But for my Teares,
    The most Impediments vnto my Speech,
    I had fore-stall'd this deere, and deepe Rebuke,
    2675Ere you (with greefe) had spoke, and I had heard
    The course of it so farre. There is your Crowne,
    And he that weares the Crowne immortally,
    Long guard it yours. If I affect it more,
    Then as your Honour, and as your Renowne,
    2680Let me no more from this Obedience rise,
    Which my most true, and inward duteous Spirit
    Teacheth this prostrate, and exteriour bending.
    Heauen witnesse with me, when I heere came in,
    And found no course of breath within your Maiestie,
    2685How cold it strooke my heart. If I do faine,
    O let me, in my present wildenesse, dye,
    And neuer liue, to shew th'incredulous World,
    The Noble change that I haue purposed.
    Comming to looke on you, thinking you dead,
    2690(And dead almost (my Liege) to thinke you were)
    I spake vnto the Crowne (as hauing sense)
    And thus vpbraided it. The Care on thee depending,
    Hath fed vpon the body of my Father,
    Therefore, thou best of Gold, art worst of Gold.
    2695Other, lesse fine in Charract, is more precious,
    Preseruing life, in Med'cine potable:
    But thou, most Fine, most Honour'd, most Renown'd,
    Hast eate the Bearer vp.
    Thus (my Royall Liege)
    2700Accusing it, I put it on my Head,
    To try with it (as with an Enemie,
    That had before my face murdred my Father)
    The Quarrell of a true Inheritor.
    But if it did infect my blood with Ioy,
    2705Or swell my Thoughts, to any straine of Pride,
    If any Rebell, or vaine spirit of mine,
    Did, with the least Affection of a Welcome,
    Giue entertainment to the might of it,
    Let heauen, for euer, keepe it from my head,
    2710And make me, as the poorest Vassaile is,
    That doth with awe, and terror kneele to it.
    King. O my Sonne!
    Heauen put it in thy minde to take it hence,
    That thou might'st ioyne the more, thy Fathers loue,
    2715Pleading so wisely, in excuse of it.
    Come hither Harrie, sit thou by my bedde,
    And heare (I thinke, the very latest Counsell
    That euer I shall breath: Heauen knowes, my Sonne)
    By what by-pathes, and indirect crook'd-wayes
    2720I met this Crowne: and I my selfe know well
    How troublesome it sate vpon my head.
    To thee, it shall descend with better Quiet,
    Better Opinion, better Confirmation:
    For all the soyle of the Atchieuement goes
    2725With me, into the Earth. It seem'd in mee,
    But as an Honour snatch'd with boyst'rous hand,
    And I had many liuing, to vpbraide
    My gaine of it, by their Assistances,
    Which dayly grew to Quarrell, and to Blood-shed,
    2730Wounding supposed Peace.
    All these bold Feares,
    Thou seest (with perill) I haue answered:
    For all my Reigne, hath beene but as a Scene
    Acting that argument. And now my death
    2735Changes the Moode: For what in me, was purchas'd,
    Falles vpon thee, in a more Fayrer sort.
    So thou, the Garland wear'st successiuely.
    Yet, though thou stand'st more sure, then I could do,
    Thou art not firme enough, since greefes are greene:
    2740And all thy Friends, which thou must make thy Friends
    Haue but their stings, and teeth, newly tak'n out,
    By whose fell working, I was first aduanc'd,
    And by whose power, I well might lodge a Feare
    To be againe displac'd. Which to auoyd,
    2745I cut them off: and had a purpose now
    To leade out many to the Holy Land;
    Least rest, and lying still, might make them looke
    Too neere vnto my State.
    Therefore (my Harrie)
    2750Be it thy course to busie giddy Mindes
    With Forraigne Quarrels: that Action hence borne out,
    May waste the memory of the former dayes.
    More would I, but my Lungs are wasted so,
    That strength of Speech is vtterly deni'de mee.
    2755How I came by the Crowne, O heauen forgiue:
    And grant it may, with thee, in true peace liue.
    Prince. My gracious Liege:
    You wonne it, wore it: kept it, gaue it me,
    Then plaine and right must my possession be;
    2760Which I, with more, then with a Common paine,
    'Gainst all the World, will rightfully maintaine.
    Enter Lord Iohn of Lancaster,
    and Warwicke.
    King. Looke, looke,
    2765Heere comes my Iohn of Lancaster:
    Iohn. Health, Peace, and Happinesse,
    To my Royall Father.
    King. Thou bring'st me happinesse and Peace
    (Sonne Iohn:
    2770But health (alacke) with youthfull wings is flowne
    From this bare, wither'd Trunke. Vpon thy sight
    My worldly businesse makes a period.
    Where
    96The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    Where is my Lord of Warwicke?
    Prin. My Lord of Warwicke.
    2775King. Doth any name particular, belong
    Vnto the Lodging, where I first did swoon'd?
    War. 'Tis call'd Ierusalem, my Noble Lord.
    King. Laud be to heauen:
    Euen there my life must end.
    2780It hath beene prophesi'de to me many yeares,
    I should not dye, but in Ierusalem:
    Which (vainly) I suppos'd the Holy-Land.
    But beare me to that Chamber, there Ile lye:
    In that Ierusalem, shall Harry dye. Exeunt.
    2785 Actus Quintus. Scoena Prima.
    Enter Shallow, Silence, Falstaffe, Bardolfe,
    Page, and Dauie.
    Shal. By Cocke and Pye, you shall not away to night.
    What Dauy, I say.
    2790Fal. You must excuse me, M. Robert Shallow.
    Shal. I will not excuse you: you shall not be excused.
    Excuses shall not be admitted: there is no excuse shall
    serue: you shall not be excus'd.
    Why Dauie.
    2795Dauie. Heere sir.
    Shal. Dauy, Dauy, Dauy, let me see (Dauy) let me see:
    William Cooke, bid him come hither. Sir Iohn, you shal
    not be excus'd.
    Dauy. Marry sir, thus: those Precepts cannot bee
    2800seru'd: and againe sir, shall we sowe the head-land with
    Wheate?
    Shal. With red Wheate Dauy. But for William Cook:
    are there no yong Pigeons?
    Dauy. Yes Sir.
    2805Heere is now the Smithes note, for Shooing,
    And Plough-Irons.
    Shal. Let it be cast, and payde: Sir Iohn, you shall
    not be excus'd.
    Dauy. Sir, a new linke to the Bucket must needes bee
    2810had: And Sir, doe you meane to stoppe any of Williams
    Wages, about the Sacke he lost the other day, at Hinckley
    Fayre?
    Shal. He shall answer it:
    Some Pigeons Dauy, a couple of short-legg'd Hennes: a
    2815ioynt of Mutton, and any pretty little tine Kickshawes,
    tell William Cooke.
    Dauy. Doth the man of Warre, stay all night sir?
    Shal. Yes Dauy:
    I will vse him well. A Friend i'th Court, is better then a
    2820penny in purse. Vse his men well Dauy, for they are ar-
    rant Knaues, and will backe-bite.
    Dauy. No worse then they are bitten. sir: For they
    haue maruellous fowle linnen.
    Shallow. Well conceited Dauy: about thy Businesse,
    2825Dauy.
    Dauy. I beseech you sir,
    To countenance William Visor of Woncot, against Cle-
    ment Perkes of the hill.
    Shal. There are many Complaints Dauy, against that
    2830Visor, that Visor is an arrant Knaue, on my know-
    ledge.
    Dauy. I graunt your Worship, that he is a knaue Sir:)
    But yet heauen forbid Sir, but a Knaue should haue some
    Countenance, at his Friends request. An honest man sir,
    2835is able to speake for himselfe, when a Knaue is not. I haue
    seru'd your Worshippe truely sir, these eight yeares: and
    if I cannot once or twice in a Quarter beare out a knaue,
    against an honest man, I haue but a very litle credite with
    your Worshippe. The Knaue is mine honest Friend Sir,
    2840therefore I beseech your Worship, let him bee Counte-
    nanc'd.
    Shal. Go too,
    I say he shall haue no wrong: Looke about Dauy.
    Where are you Sir Iohn? Come, off with your Boots.
    2845Giue me your hand M. Bardolfe.
    Bard. I am glad to see your Worship.
    Shal. I thanke thee, with all my heart, kinde Master
    Bardolfe: and welcome my tall Fellow:
    Come Sir Iohn.
    2850Falstaffe. Ile follow you, good Master Robert Shallow.
    Bardolfe, looke to our Horsses. If I were saw'de into
    Quantities, I should make foure dozen of such bearded
    Hermites staues, as Master Shallow. It is a wonderfull
    thing to see the semblable Coherence of his mens spirits,
    2855and his: They, by obseruing of him, do beare themselues
    like foolish Iustices: Hee, by conuersing with them, is
    turn'd into a Iustice-like Seruingman. Their spirits are
    so married in Coniunction, with the participation of So-
    ciety, that they flocke together in consent, like so ma-
    2860ny Wilde-Geese. If I had a suite to Mayster Shallow, I
    would humour his men, with the imputation of beeing
    neere their Mayster. If to his Men, I would currie with
    Maister Shallow, that no man could better command his
    Seruants. It is certaine, that either wise bearing, or ig-
    2865norant Carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of
    another: therefore, let men take heede of their Compa-
    nie. I will deuise matter enough out of this Shallow, to
    keepe Prince Harry in continuall Laughter, the wearing
    out of sixe Fashions (which is foure Tearmes) or two Ac-
    2870tions, and he shall laugh with Interuallums. O it is much
    that a Lye (with a slight Oath) and a iest (with a sadde
    brow) will doe, with a Fellow, that neuer had the Ache
    in his shoulders. O you shall see him laugh, till his Face
    be like a wet Cloake, ill laid vp.
    2875Shal. Sir Iohn.
    Falst. I come Master Shallow, I come Master Shallow.
    Exeunt
    Scena Secunda.
    Enter the Earle of Warwicke, and the Lord
    2880Chiefe Iustice.
    Warwicke. How now, my Lord Chiefe Iustice, whe-
    ther away?
    Ch. Iust. How doth the King?
    Warw. Exceeding well: his Cares
    2885Are now, all ended.
    Ch. Iust. I hope, not dead.
    Warw. Hee's walk'd the way of Nature,
    And to our purposes, he liues no more.
    Ch. Iust. I would his Maiesty had call'd me with him,
    2890The seruice, that I truly did his life,
    Hath left me open to all iniuries.
    War.
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 97
    War. Indeed I thinke the yong King loues you not.
    Ch. Iust. I know he doth not, and do arme my selfe
    To welcome the condition of the Time,
    2895Which cannot looke more hideously vpon me,
    Then I haue drawne it in my fantasie.
    Enter Iohn of Lancaster, Gloucester,
    and Clarence.
    War. Heere come the heauy Issue of dead Harrie:
    2900O, that the liuing Harrie had the temper
    Of him, the worst of these three Gentlemen:
    How many Nobles then, should hold their places,
    That must strike saile, to Spirits of vilde sort?
    Ch. Iust. Alas, I feare, all will be ouer-turn'd.
    2905Iohn. Good morrow Cosin Warwick, good morrow.
    Glou. Cla. Good morrow, Cosin.
    Iohn. We meet, like men, that had forgot to speake.
    War. We do remember: but our Argument
    Is all too heauy, to admit much talke.
    2910Ioh. Well: Peace be with him, that hath made vs heauy
    Ch. Iust. Peace be with vs, least we be heauier.
    Glou. O, good my Lord, you haue lost a friend indeed:
    And I dare sweare, you borrow not that face
    Of seeming sorrow, it is sure your owne.
    2915Iohn. Though no man be assur'd what grace to finde,
    You stand in coldest expectation.
    I am the sorrier, would 'twere otherwise.
    Cla. Wel, you must now speake Sir Iohn Falstaffe faire,
    Which swimmes against your streame of Quality.
    2920Ch. Iust. Sweet Princes: what I did, I did in Honor,
    Led by th'Imperiall Conduct of my Soule,
    And neuer shall you see, that I will begge
    A ragged, and fore-stall'd Remission.
    If Troth, and vpright Innocency fayle me,
    2925Ile to the King (my Master) that is dead,
    And tell him, who hath sent me after him.
    War. Heere comes the Prince.
    Enter Prince Henrie.
    Ch. Iust. Good morrow: and heauen saue your Maiesty
    2930Prince. This new, and gorgeous Garment, Maiesty,
    Sits not so easie on me, as you thinke.
    Brothers, you mixe your Sadnesse with some Feare:
    This is the English, not the Turkish Court:
    Not Amurah, an Amurah succeeds,
    2935But Harry, Harry: Yet be sad (good Brothers)
    For (to speake truth) it very well becomes you:
    Sorrow, so Royally in you appeares,
    That I will deeply put the Fashion on,
    And weare it in my heart. Why then be sad,
    2940But entertaine no more of it (good Brothers)
    Then a ioynt burthen, laid vpon vs all.
    For me, by Heauen (I bid you be assur'd)
    Ile be your Father, and your Brother too:
    Let me but beare your Loue, Ile beare your Cares;
    2945But weepe that Harrie's dead, and so will I.
    But Harry liues, that shall conuert those Teares
    By number, into houres of Happinesse.
    Iohn, &c. We hope no other from your Maiesty.
    Prin. You all looke strangely on me: and you most,
    2950You are (I thinke) assur'd, I loue you not.
    Ch. Iust. I am assur'd (if I be measur'd rightly)
    Your Maiesty hath no iust cause to hate mee.
    Pr. No? How might a Prince of my great hopes forget
    So great Indignities you laid vpon me?
    2955What? Rate? Rebuke? and roughly send to Prison
    Th'immediate Heire of England? Was this easie?
    May this be wash'd in Lethe, and forgotten?
    Ch. Iust. I then did vse the Person of your Father:
    The Image of his power, lay then in me,
    2960And in th'administration of his Law,
    Whiles I was busie for the Commonwealth,
    Your Highnesse pleased to forget my place,
    The Maiesty, and power of Law, and Iustice,
    The Image of the King, whom I presented,
    2965And strooke me in my very Seate of Iudgement:
    Whereon (as an Offender to your Father)
    I gaue bold way to my Authority,
    And did commit you. If the deed were ill,
    Be you contented, wearing now the Garland,
    2970To haue a Sonne, set your Decrees at naught?
    To plucke downe Iustice from your awefull Bench?
    To trip the course of Law, and blunt the Sword
    That guards the peace, and safety of your Person?
    Nay more, to spurne at your most Royall Image,
    2975And mocke your workings, in a Second body?
    Question your Royall Thoughts, make the case yours:
    Be now the Father, and propose a Sonne:
    Heare your owne dignity so much prophan'd,
    See your most dreadfull Lawes, so loosely slighted;
    2980Behold your selfe, so by a Sonne disdained:
    And then imagine me, taking you part,
    And in your power, soft silencing your Sonne:
    After this cold considerance, sentence me;
    And, as you are a King, speake in your State,
    2985What I haue done, that misbecame my place,
    My person, or my Lieges Soueraigntie.
    Prin. You are right Iustice, and you weigh this well:
    Therefore still beare the Ballance, and the Sword:
    And I do wish your Honors may encrease,
    2990Till you do liue, to see a Sonne of mine
    Offend you, and obey you, as I did.
    So shall I liue, to speake my Fathers words:
    Happy am I, that haue a man so bold,
    That dares do Iustice, on my proper Sonne;
    2995And no lesse happy, hauing such a Sonne,
    That would deliuer vp his Greatnesse so,
    Into the hands of Iustice. You did commit me:
    For which, I do commit into your hand,
    Th'vnstained Sword that you haue vs'd to beare:
    3000With this Remembrance; That you vse the same
    With the like bold, iust, and impartiall spirit
    As you haue done 'gainst me. There is my hand,
    You shall be as a Father, to my Youth:
    My voice shall sound, as you do prompt mine eare,
    3005And I will stoope, and humble my Intents,
    To your well-practis'd, wise Directions.
    And Princes all, beleeue me, I beseech you:
    My Father is gone wilde into his Graue,
    (For in his Tombe, lye my Affections)
    3010And with his Spirits, sadly I suruiue,
    To mocke the expectation of the World;
    To frustrate Prophesies, and to race out
    Rotten Opinion, who hath writ me downe
    After my seeming. The Tide of Blood in me,
    3015Hath prowdly flow'd in Vanity, till now.
    Now doth it turne, and ebbe backe to the Sea,
    Where it shall mingle with the state of Floods,
    And flow henceforth in formall Maiesty.
    Now call we our High Court of Parliament,
    3020And let vs choose such Limbes of Noble Counsaile,
    That
    98The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    That the great Body of our State may go
    In equall ranke, with the best gouern'd Nation,
    That Warre, or Peace, or both at once may be
    As things acquainted and familiar to vs,
    3025In which you (Father) shall haue formost hand.
    Our Coronation done, we will accite
    (As I before remembred) all our State,
    And heauen (consigning to my good intents)
    No Prince, nor Peere, shall haue iust cause to say,
    3030Heauen shorten Harries happy life, one day. Exeunt.
    Scena Tertia.
    Enter Falstaffe, Shallow, Silence, Bardolfe,
    Page, and Pistoll.
    Shal. Nay, you shall see mine Orchard: where, in an
    3035Arbor we will eate a last yeares Pippin of my owne graf-
    fing, with a dish of Carrawayes, and so forth (Come Co-
    sin Silence, and then to bed.
    Fal. You haue heere a goodly dwelling, and a rich.
    Shal. Barren, barren, barren: Beggers all, beggers all
    3040Sir Iohn: Marry, good ayre. Spread Dauy, spread Dauie:
    Well said Dauie.
    Falst. This Dauie serues you for good vses: he is your
    Seruingman, and your Husband.
    Shal. A good Varlet, a good Varlet, a very good Var-
    3045let, Sir Iohn: I haue drunke too much Sacke at Supper. A
    good Varlet. Now sit downe, now sit downe: Come
    Cosin.
    Sil. Ah sirra (quoth-a) we shall doe nothing but eate,
    and make good cheere, and praise heauen for the merrie
    3050yeere: when flesh is cheape, and Females deere, and lustie
    Lads rome heere, and there: so merrily, and euer among
    so merrily.
    Fal. There's a merry heart, good M. Silence, Ile giue
    you a health for that anon.
    3055Shal. Good M. Bardolfe: some wine, Dauie.
    Da. Sweet sir, sit: Ile be with you anon: most sweete
    sir, sit. Master Page, good M. Page, sit: Proface. What
    you want in meate, wee'l haue in drinke: but you beare,
    the heart's all.
    3060Shal. Be merry M. Bardolfe, and my little Souldiour
    there, be merry.
    Sil. Be merry, be merry, my wife ha's all:
    For women are Shrewes, both short, and tall:
    'Tis merry in Hall, when Beards wagge all;
    3065And welcome merry Shrouetide. Be merry, be merry.
    Fal. I did not thinke M. Silence had bin a man of this
    Mettle.
    Sil. Who I? I haue beene merry twice and once, ere
    now.
    3070Dauy. There is a dish of Lether-coats for you.
    Shal. Dauie.
    Dau. Your Worship: Ile be with you straight. A cup
    of Wine, sir?
    Sil. A Cup of Wine, that's briske and fine, & drinke
    3075vnto the Leman mine: and a merry heart liues long-a.
    Fal. Well said, M. Silence.
    Sil. If we shall be merry, now comes in the sweete of
    the night.
    Fal. Health, and long life to you, M. Silence.
    3080Sil. Fill the Cuppe, and let it come. Ile pledge you a
    mile to the bottome.
    Shal. Honest Bardolfe, welcome: If thou want'st any
    thing, and wilt not call, beshrew thy heart. Welcome my
    little tyne theefe, and welcome indeed too: Ile drinke to
    3085M. Bardolfe, and to all the Cauileroes about London.
    Dau. I hope to see London, once ere I die.
    Bar. If I might see you there, Dauie.
    Shal. You'l cracke a quart together? Ha, will you not
    M. Bardolfe?
    3090Bar. Yes Sir, in a pottle pot.
    Shal. I thanke thee: the knaue will sticke by thee, I
    can assure thee that. He will not out, he is true bred.
    Bar. And Ile sticke by him, sir.
    Shal. Why there spoke a King: lack nothing, be merry.
    3095Looke, who's at doore there, ho: who knockes?
    Fal Why now you haue done me right.
    Sil. Do me right, and dub me Knight, Samingo. Is't
    not so?
    Fal. 'Tis so.
    3100Sil. Is't so? Why then say an old man can do somwhat.
    Dau. If it please your Worshippe, there's one Pistoll
    come from the Court with newes.
    Fal. From the Court? Let him come in.
    Enter Pistoll.
    3105How now Pistoll?
    Pist. Sir Iohn, 'saue you sir.
    Fal. What winde blew you hither, Pistoll?
    Pist. Not the ill winde which blowes none to good,
    sweet Knight: Thou art now one of the greatest men in
    3110the Realme.
    Sil. Indeed, I thinke he bee, but Goodman Puffe of
    Barson.
    Pist. Puffe? puffe in thy teeth, most recreant Coward
    base. Sir Iohn, I am thy Pistoll, and thy Friend: helter
    3115skelter haue I rode to thee, and tydings do I bring, and
    luckie ioyes, and golden Times, and happie Newes of
    price.
    Fal. I prethee now deliuer them, like a man of this
    World.
    3120Pist. A footra for the World, and Worldlings base,
    I speake of Affrica, and Golden ioyes.
    Fal. O base Assyrian Knight, what is thy newes?
    Let King Couitha know the truth thereof.
    Sil. And Robin-hood, Scarlet, and Iohn.
    3125Pist. Shall dunghill Curres confront the Hellicons?
    And shall good newes be baffel'd?
    Then Pistoll lay thy head in Furies lappe.
    Shal. Honest Gentleman,
    I know not your breeding.
    3130Pist. Why then Lament therefore.
    Shal. Giue me pardon, Sir.
    If sir, you come with news from the Court, I take it, there
    is but two wayes, either to vtter them, or to conceale
    them. I am Sir, vnder the King, in some Authority.
    3135Pist. Vnder which King?
    Bezonian, speake, or dye.
    Shal. Vnder King Harry.
    Pist. Harry the Fourth? or Fift?
    Shal. Harry the Fourth.
    3140Pist. A footra for thine Office.
    Sir Iohn, thy tender Lamb-kinne, now is King,
    Harry the Fift's the man, I speake the truth.
    When Pistoll lyes, do this, and figge-me, like
    The bragging Spaniard.
    Fal.
    The second Part of King Henry the Fourth. 99
    3145Fal. What, is the old King dead?
    Pist. As naile in doore.
    The things I speake, are iust.
    Fal. Away Bardolfe, Sadle my Horse,
    Master Robert Shallow, choose what Office thou wilt
    3150In the Land, 'tis thine. Pistol, I will double charge thee
    With Dignities.
    Bard. O ioyfull day:
    I would not take a Knighthood for my Fortune.
    Pist. What? I do bring good newes.
    3155Fal. Carrie Master Silence to bed: Master Shallow, my
    Lord Shallow, be what thou wilt, I am Fortunes Steward.
    Get on thy Boots, wee'l ride all night. Oh sweet Pistoll:
    Away Bardolfe: Come Pistoll, vtter more to mee: and
    withall deuise something to do thy selfe good. Boote,
    3160boote Master Shallow, I know the young King is sick for
    mee. Let vs take any mans Horsses: The Lawes of Eng-
    land are at my command'ment. Happie are they, which
    haue beene my Friendes: and woe vnto my Lord Chiefe
    Iustice.
    3165Pist. Let Vultures vil'de seize on his Lungs also:
    Where is the life that late I led, say they?
    Why heere it is, welcome those pleasant dayes. Exeunt
    Scena Quarta.
    Enter Hostesse Quickly, Dol Teare-sheete,
    3170and Beadles.
    Hostesse. No, thou arrant knaue: I would I might dy,
    that I might haue thee hang'd: Thou hast drawne my
    shoulder out of ioynt.
    Off. The Constables haue deliuer'd her ouer to mee:
    3175and shee shall haue Whipping cheere enough, I warrant
    her. There hath beene a man or two (lately) kill'd about
    her.
    Dol. Nut-hooke, nut-hooke, you Lye: Come on, Ile
    tell thee what, thou damn'd Tripe-visag'd Rascall, if the
    3180Childe I now go with, do miscarrie, thou had'st better
    thou had'st strooke thy Mother, thou Paper-fac'd Vil-
    laine.
    Host. O that Sir Iohn were come, hee would make
    this a bloody day to some body. But I would the Fruite
    3185of her Wombe might miscarry.
    Officer. If it do, you shall haue a dozen of Cushions
    againe, you haue but eleuen now. Come, I charge you
    both go with me: for the man is dead, that you and Pi-
    stoll beate among you.
    3190Dol. Ile tell thee what, thou thin man in a Censor; I
    will haue you as soundly swindg'd for this, you blew-
    Bottel'd Rogue: you filthy famish'd Correctioner, if you
    be not swing'd, Ile forsweare halfe Kirtles.
    Off. Come, come, you shee-Knight-arrant, come.
    3195Host. O, that right should thus o'recome might. Wel
    of sufferance, comes ease.
    Dol. Come you Rogue, come:
    Bring me to a Iustice.
    Host. Yes, come you staru'd Blood-hound.
    3200Dol. Goodman death, goodman Bones.
    Host. Thou Anatomy, thou.
    Dol. Come you thinne Thing:
    Come you Rascall.
    Off. Very well. Exeunt.
    3205Scena Quinta.
    Enter two Groomes.
    1. Groo. More Rushes, more Rushes.
    2. Groo. The Trumpets haue sounded twice.
    1. Groo. It will be two of the Clocke, ere they come
    3210from the Coronation. Exit Groo.
    Enter Falstaffe, Shallow, Pistoll, Bardolfe, and Page.
    Falstaffe. Stand heere by me, M. Robert Shallow, I will
    make the King do you Grace. I will leere vpon him, as
    he comes by: and do but marke the countenance that hee
    3215will giue me.
    Pistol. Blesse thy Lungs, good Knight.
    Falst. Come heere Pistol, stand behind me. O if I had
    had time to haue made new Liueries, I would haue be-
    stowed the thousand pound I borrowed of you. But it is
    3220no matter, this poore shew doth better: this doth inferre
    the zeale I had to see him.
    Shal. It doth so.
    Falst. It shewes my earnestnesse in affection.
    Pist. It doth so.
    3225Fal. My deuotion.
    Pist. It doth, it doth, it doth.
    Fal. As it were, to ride day and night,
    And not to deliberate, not to remember,
    Not to haue patience to shift me.
    3230Shal. It is most certaine.
    Fal. But to stand stained with Trauaile, and sweating
    with desire to see him, thinking of nothing else, putting
    all affayres in obliuion, as if there were nothing els to bee
    done, but to see him.
    3235Pist. 'Tis semper idem: for obsque hoc nihil est. 'Tis all
    in euery part.
    Shal. 'Tis so indeed.
    Pist. My Knight, I will enflame thy Noble Liuer, and
    make thee rage. Thy Dol, and Helen of thy noble thoghts
    3240is in base Durance, and contagious prison: Hall'd thi-
    ther by most Mechanicall and durty hand. Rowze vppe
    Reuenge from Ebon den, with fell Alecto's Snake, for
    Dol is in. Pistol, speakes nought but troth.
    Fal. I will deliuer her.
    3245Pistol. There roar'd the Sea: and Trumpet Clangour
    sounds.
    The Trumpets sound. Enter King Henrie the
    Fift, Brothers, Lord Chiefe
    Iustice.
    3250Falst. Saue thy Grace, King Hall, my Royall Hall.
    Pist. The heauens thee guard, and keepe, most royall
    Impe of Fame.
    Fal. 'Saue thee my sweet Boy.
    King. My Lord Chiefe Iustice, speake to that vaine
    3255man.
    Ch. Iust. Haue you your wits?
    Know you what 'tis you speake?
    Falst. My King, my Ioue; I speake to thee, my heart.
    King. I know thee not, old man: Fall to thy Prayers:
    3260How ill white haires become a Foole, and Iester?
    I have
    100The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
    I haue long dream'd of such a kinde of man,
    So surfeit-swell'd, so old, and so prophane:
    But being awake, I do despise my dreame.
    Make lesse thy body (hence) and more thy Grace,
    3265Leaue gourmandizing; Know the Graue doth gape
    For thee, thrice wider then for other men.
    Reply not to me, with a Foole-borne Iest,
    Presume not, that I am the thing I was,
    For heauen doth know (so shall the world perceiue)
    3270That I haue turn'd away my former Selfe,
    So will I those that kept me Companie.
    When thou dost heare I am, as I haue bin,
    Approach me, and thou shalt be as thou was't
    The Tutor and the Feeder of my Riots:
    3275Till then, I banish thee, on paine of death,
    As I haue done the rest of my Misleaders,
    Not to come neere our Person, by ten mile.
    For competence of life, I will allow you,
    That lacke of meanes enforce you not to euill:
    3280And as we heare you do reforme your selues,
    We will according to your strength, and qualities,
    Giue you aduancement. Be it your charge (my Lord)
    To see perform'd the tenure of our word. Set on.
    Exit King.
    3285Fal. Master Shallow, I owe you a thousand pound.
    Shal. I marry Sir Iohn, which I beseech you to let me
    haue home with me.
    Fal. That can hardly be, M. Shallow, do not you grieue
    at this: I shall be sent for in priuate to him: Looke you,
    3290he must seeme thus to the world: feare not your aduance-
    ment: I will be the man yet, that shall make you great.
    Shal. I cannot well perceiue how, vnlesse you should
    giue me your Doublet, and stuffe me out with Straw. I
    beseech you, good Sir Iohn, let mee haue fiue hundred of
    3295my thousand.
    Fal. Sir, I will be as good as my word. This that you
    heard, was but a colour.
    Shall. A colour I feare, that you will dye, in Sir Iohn.
    Fal. Feare no colours, go with me to dinner:
    3300Come Lieutenant Pistol, come Bardolfe,
    I shall be sent for soone at night.
    Ch. Iust. Go carry Sir Iohn Falstaffe to the Fleete,
    Take all his Company along with him.
    Fal. My Lord, my Lord.
    3305Ch. Iust. I cannot now speake, I will heare you soone:
    Take them away.
    Pist. Si fortuna me tormento, spera me contento.
    Exit. Manet Lancaster and Chiefe Iustice.
    Iohn. I like this faire proceeding of the Kings:
    3310He hath intent his wonted Followers
    Shall all be very well prouided for:
    But all are banisht, till their conuersations
    Appeare more wise, and modest to the world.
    Ch. Iust. And so they are.
    3315Iohn. The King hath call'd his Parliament,
    My Lord.
    Ch. Iust. He hath.
    Iohn. I will lay oddes, that ere this yeere expire,
    We beare our Ciuill Swords, and Natiue fire
    3320As farre as France. I heare a Bird so sing,
    Whose Musicke (to my thinking) pleas'd the King.
    Come, will you hence? Exeunt
    FINIS.
    EPILOGVE.
    3325FIRST, my Feare: then, my Curtsie:
    last, my Speech.
    My Feare, is your Displeasure: My Curtsie, my Dutie:
    And my speech, to Begge your Pardons. If you looke for a
    good speech now, you vndoe me: For what I haue to say, is
    of mine owne making: and what (indeed) I should say, will
    3330(I doubt) prooue mine owne marring. But to the Purpose,
    and so to the Venture. Be it knowne to you (as it is very
    well) I was lately heere in the end of a displeasing Play, to pray your Patience
    for it, and to promise you a Better: I did meane (indeede) to pay you with this,
    which if (like an ill Venture) it come vnluckily home, I breake; and you, my gen-
    3335tle Creditors lose. Heere I promist you I would be, and heere I commit my Bodie
    to your Mercies: Bate me some, and I will pay you some, and (as most Debtors do)
    promise you infinitely.
    If my Tongue cannot entreate you to acquit me: will you command me to vse
    my Legges? And yet that were but light payment, to Dance out of your debt: But
    3340a good Conscience, will make any possible satisfaction, and so will I. All the Gen-
    tlewomen heere, haue forgiuen me, if the Gentlemen will not, then the Gentlemen
    do not agree with the Gentlewowen, which was neuer seene before, in such an As-
    sembly.
    One word more, I beseech you: if you be not too much cloid with Fat Meate,
    3345our humble Author will continue the Story (with Sir Iohn in it) and make you
    merry, with faire Katherine of France: where (for any thing I know) Fal-
    staffe shall dye of a sweat, vnlesse already he be kill'd with your hard Opinions:
    For Old-Castle dyed a Martyr, and this is not the man. My Tongue is wearie
    when my Legs are too, I will bid you good night; and so kneele downe before you:
    3350But (indeed) to pray for the Queene.
    THE
    ACTORS
    NAMES.
    3350.1RVMOVR the Presentor.
    King Henry the Fourth.
    Prince Henry, afterwards Crowned King Henrie the Fift.
    Prince Iohn of Lancaster. }
    3350.5Humphrey of Gloucester. } Sonnes to Henry the Fourth, & brethren to Henry 5.
    Thomas of Clarence. }
    Northumberland. }
    The Arch Byshop of Yorke. }
    Mowbray.}
    3350.10Hastings. } Opposites against King Henrie the
    Lord Bardolfe. } Fourth.
    Trauers. }
    Morton. }
    Coleuile. }
    3350.15Warwicke. }
    Westmerland. }
    Surrey. }Of the Kings
    Gowre. }Partie.
    Harecourt. }
    3350.20Lord Chiefe Iustice. }
    Shallow. } Both Counrty
    Silence. } Iustices.
    Dauie, Seruant to Shallow. Drawers
    Phang, and Snare, 2. Serieants Beadles.
    3350.25Mouldie. } Groomes
    Shadow. }
    Wart. } Country Soldiers
    Feeble. }
    Bullcalfe. }
    3350.30Pointz. }
    Falstaffe. }
    Bardolphe. } Irregular
    Pistoll. } Humorists.
    Peto. }
    3350.35Page. }
    Northumberlands Wife.
    Percies Widdow.
    Hostesse Quickly.
    Doll Teare-sheete.
    3350.40Epilogue.
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