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  • Title: Henry IV, Part 2 (Quarto 1, 1600)
  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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 (Quarto 1, 1600)

    The second part of
    Falst. Not so my lord, your ill angell is light, but I hope he
    that lookes vpon me will take me without weighing, and yet
    in some respects I grant I cannot go. I cannot tell, vertue is of
    so little regard in these costar-mongers times, that true valour
    430is turnd Berod, Pregnancie is made a Tapster, & his quick wit
    wasted in giuing reckonings, all the other giftes appertinent
    to man, as the malice of his age shapes the one not worth a
    goosbery, you that are old consider not the capacities of vs that
    435are yong, you doe measure the heate of our liuers with the bit-
    ternesse of your galles, and we that are in the vaward of our
    youth, I must confesse are wagges too.
    Lo. Do you set downe your name in the scroule of youth,
    that are written downe, old with all the characters of age? haue
    440you not a moist eie, a dry hand, a yelow cheeke, a white beard,
    a decreasing leg, an increasing belly? is not your voice broken,
    your winde short, your chinne double, your wit single, and e-
    uery part about you blasted with antiquitie, and will you yet
    call your selfe yong? fie, fie, fie, sir Iohn.
    445Iohn My Lorde, I was borne about three of the clocke in
    the afternoone, with a white head, and something a round bel-
    lie, for my voyce, I haue lost it with hallowing, and singing of
    Anthems: to approoue my youth further, I will not: the truth
    is, I am onely olde in iudgement and vnderstanding: and hee
    that wil caper with me for a thousand markes, let him lend me
    450the money, and haue at him for the boxe of the yeere that the
    Prince gaue you, he gaue it like a rude Prince, and you tooke
    it like a sensible Lord: I haue checkt him for it, and the yong
    lion repents, mary not in ashes and sackcloth, but in new silke,
    455and olde sacke.
    Lord Well, God send the prince a better companion.
    Iohn God send the companion a better prince, I cannot
    ridde my hands of him.
    Lord Well, the King hath seuerd you: I heare you are go-
    460ing with lord Iohn of Lancaster, against the Archbishop and
    the Earle of Northumberland.
    Iohn Yea, I thanke your prety sweet witte for it: but looke
    you
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