Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Rosemary Gaby
Not Peer Reviewed

Henry IV, Part 2 (Folio 1 1623)

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.