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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    Not Peer Reviewed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
    For this, the foolish ouer-carefull fathers
    Haue broke their sleepe with thoughts,
    2600Their braines with care, their bones with industry:
    For this they haue ingrossed and pilld vp,
    The cankred heapes of strange atcheeued gold:
    For this they haue beene thoughtfull to inuest
    Their sonnes with arts and martiall exercises,
    2605When like the bee toling from euery flower,
    Our thigh, packt with waxe, our mouthes with hony,
    We bring it to the hiue: and like the bees,
    Are murdred for our paines, this bitter taste
    Yeelds his engrossements to the ending father,
    Now where is he that will not stay so long,
    Till his friend sicknesse hands determind me. Enter Warwicke.
    War. My Lord, I found the prince in the next roome,
    2615Washing with kindly teares, his gentle cheekes,
    With such a deepe demeanour in great sorrow,
    That tyranny, which neuer quaft but bloud,
    Would by beholding him, haue washt his knife,
    With gentle eie-drops, hee is comming hither. Enter Harry.
    2620King But wherefore did he take away the crowne?
    Loe where he comes, come hither to me Harry,
    Depart the chamber, leaue vs here alone. exeunt.
    Harry I neuer thought to heare you speake againe.
    2625King Thy wish was father (Harry,) to that thought
    I stay too long by thee, I weary thee,
    Dost thou so hunger for mine emptie chaire,
    That thou wilt needes inuest thee with my honors,
    Before thy howre be ripe! O foolish youth,
    2630Thou seekst the greatnesse that will ouerwhelme thee,
    Stay but a little, for my clowd of dignity
    Is held from falling with so weake a wind,
    That it will quickly drop: my day is dim,
    Thou hast stolne that, which after some few houres,
    2635Were thine, without offence, and at my death,
    Thou hast seald vp my expectation,
    Thy
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