Welcome to Bookwise, a full-featured digital book reader.

Tap left edge for menu.

Tap page to scroll.

Sign in for the best reading experience.

Sign in   Maybe later

Previous note
Hide notes
Next note

Add comment
Share
Quote copied to clipboard
Delete

Bookwise is better with an account.

Please Sign in for the best reading experience.


Henry IV, Part 2

1597–1598

William Shakespeare's signature

William Shakespeare


This is the Bookwise complete ebook of Henry IV, Part 2 by William Shakespeare, available to read online as an alternative to epub, mobi, kindle, pdf or text only versions. For information about the status of this work, see Copyright Notice.


Summary

Henry IV, Part 2 is a history play by William Shakespeare believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. It is the third part of a tetralogy, preceded by Richard II and Henry IV, Part 1 and succeeded by Henry V.

The play is often seen as an extension of aspects of Henry IV, Part 1, rather than a straightforward continuation of the historical narrative, placing more emphasis on the highly popular character of Falstaff and introducing other comic figures as part of his entourage, including Ancient Pistol, Doll Tearsheet, and Justice Robert Shallow. Several scenes specifically parallel episodes in Part 1.

Source: Wikipedia

Dramatis Personæ

Dramatis Personæ

Rumor, Presenter of the Induction

King Henry IV, formerly Henry Bolingbroke

Prince Hal, Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, later King Henry V

John of Lancaster

Thomas of Clarence

Humphrey of Gloucester

younger sons of King Henry IV

Earl of Northumberland, Henry Percy

Northumberland’s wife

Lady Percy, widow of Hotspur

Richard Scroop, Archbishop of York

Lord Mowbray

Lord Hastings

Lord Bardolph

Travers

Morton

Sir John Colevile

in rebellion against King Henry IV

Earl of Westmoreland

Earl of Warwick

Earl of Surrey

Sir John Blunt

Gower

Harcourt

supporters of King Henry IV

Lord Chief Justice

Sir John Falstaff

Poins

Bardolph

Peto

Pistol

Falstaff’s Page

Hostess of the tavern (also called Mistress Quickly)

Doll Tearsheet

Justice Robert Shallow

Justice Silence

Davy, servant to Shallow

Mouldy

Shadow

Wart

Feeble

Bullcalf

men of Gloucestershire

Fang

Snare

London officers

Epilogue

Drawers, Musicians, Beadles, Grooms, Messenger, Soldiers, Lords, Attendants, Page, Porter, Servants, Officers


INDUCTION

Enter Rumor, painted full of tongues.

RUMOR
line 0001Open your ears, for which of you will stop
line 0002The vent of hearing when loud Rumor speaks?
line 0003I, from the orient to the drooping west,
line 0004Making the wind my post-horse, still unfold
5line 0005The acts commencèd on this ball of earth.
line 0006Upon my tongues continual slanders ride,
line 0007The which in every language I pronounce,
line 0008Stuffing the ears of men with false reports.
line 0009I speak of peace while covert enmity
10line 0010Under the smile of safety wounds the world.
line 0011And who but Rumor, who but only I,
line 0012Make fearful musters and prepared defense
line 0013Whiles the big year, swoll’n with some other grief,
line 0014Is thought with child by the stern tyrant war,
15line 0015And no such matter? Rumor is a pipe
line 0016Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures,
line 0017And of so easy and so plain a stop
line 0018That the blunt monster with uncounted heads,
line 0019The still-discordant wav’ring multitude,
20line 0020Can play upon it. But what need I thus
line 0021My well-known body to anatomize
line 0022Among my household? Why is Rumor here?
line 0023I run before King Harry’s victory,
Page 9 - Henry IV, Part 2 - INDUCTION line 0024Who in a bloody field by Shrewsbury
25line 0025Hath beaten down young Hotspur and his troops,
line 0026Quenching the flame of bold rebellion
line 0027Even with the rebels’ blood. But what mean I
line 0028To speak so true at first? My office is
line 0029To noise abroad that Harry Monmouth fell
30line 0030Under the wrath of noble Hotspur’s sword,
line 0031And that the King before the Douglas’ rage
line 0032Stooped his anointed head as low as death.
line 0033This have I rumored through the peasant towns
line 0034Between that royal field of Shrewsbury
35line 0035And this worm-eaten hold of ragged stone,
line 0036Where Hotspur’s father, old Northumberland,
line 0037Lies crafty-sick. The posts come tiring on,
line 0038And not a man of them brings other news
line 0039Than they have learnt of me. From Rumor’s
40line 0040tongues
line 0041They bring smooth comforts false, worse than
line 0042true wrongs.

Rumor exits.


ACT 1


Scene 1

Enter the Lord Bardolph at one door.

LORD BARDOLPH
line 0043Who keeps the gate here, ho?

Enter the Porter.

line 0044Where is the Earl?
PORTER
line 0045What shall I say you are?
line 0046LORD BARDOLPHTell thou the Earl
5line 0047That the Lord Bardolph doth attend him here.
PORTER
line 0048His Lordship is walked forth into the orchard.
line 0049Please it your Honor knock but at the gate
line 0050And he himself will answer.

Enter the Earl Northumberland, his head wrapped in a kerchief and supporting himself with a crutch.

line 0051LORD BARDOLPHHere comes the Earl.

Porter exits.

NORTHUMBERLAND
10line 0052What news, Lord Bardolph? Every minute now
line 0053Should be the father of some stratagem.
line 0054The times are wild. Contention, like a horse
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 13 line 0055Full of high feeding, madly hath broke loose
line 0056And bears down all before him.
15line 0057LORD BARDOLPHNoble earl,
line 0058I bring you certain news from Shrewsbury.
NORTHUMBERLAND
line 0059Good, an God will!
line 0060LORD BARDOLPHAs good as heart can wish.
line 0061The King is almost wounded to the death,
20line 0062And, in the fortune of my lord your son,
line 0063Prince Harry slain outright; and both the Blunts
line 0064Killed by the hand of Douglas; young Prince John
line 0065And Westmoreland and Stafford fled the field;
line 0066And Harry Monmouth’s brawn, the hulk Sir John,
25line 0067Is prisoner to your son. O, such a day,
line 0068So fought, so followed, and so fairly won,
line 0069Came not till now to dignify the times
line 0070Since Caesar’s fortunes.
line 0071NORTHUMBERLANDHow is this derived?
30line 0072Saw you the field? Came you from Shrewsbury?
LORD BARDOLPH
line 0073I spake with one, my lord, that came from thence,
line 0074A gentleman well bred and of good name,
line 0075That freely rendered me these news for true.

Enter Travers.

NORTHUMBERLAND
line 0076Here comes my servant Travers, who I sent
35line 0077On Tuesday last to listen after news.
LORD BARDOLPH
line 0078My lord, I overrode him on the way,
line 0079And he is furnished with no certainties
line 0080More than he haply may retail from me.
NORTHUMBERLAND
line 0081Now, Travers, what good tidings comes with you?
TRAVERS
40line 0082My lord, Sir John Umfrevile turned me back
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 15 line 0083With joyful tidings and, being better horsed,
line 0084Outrode me. After him came spurring hard
line 0085A gentleman, almost forspent with speed,
line 0086That stopped by me to breathe his bloodied horse.
45line 0087He asked the way to Chester, and of him
line 0088I did demand what news from Shrewsbury.
line 0089He told me that rebellion had bad luck
line 0090And that young Harry Percy’s spur was cold.
line 0091With that he gave his able horse the head
50line 0092And, bending forward, struck his armèd heels
line 0093Against the panting sides of his poor jade
line 0094Up to the rowel-head, and starting so
line 0095He seemed in running to devour the way,
line 0096Staying no longer question.
55line 0097NORTHUMBERLANDHa? Again:
line 0098Said he young Harry Percy’s spur was cold?
line 0099Of Hotspur, Coldspur? That rebellion
line 0100Had met ill luck?
line 0101LORD BARDOLPHMy lord, I’ll tell you what:
60line 0102If my young lord your son have not the day,
line 0103Upon mine honor, for a silken point
line 0104I’ll give my barony. Never talk of it.
NORTHUMBERLAND
line 0105Why should that gentleman that rode by Travers
line 0106Give then such instances of loss?
65line 0107LORD BARDOLPHWho, he?
line 0108He was some hilding fellow that had stol’n
line 0109The horse he rode on and, upon my life,
line 0110Spoke at a venture.

Enter Morton.

line 0111Look, here comes more news.
NORTHUMBERLAND
70line 0112Yea, this man’s brow, like to a title leaf,
line 0113Foretells the nature of a tragic volume.
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 17 line 0114So looks the strand whereon the imperious flood
line 0115Hath left a witnessed usurpation.—
line 0116Say, Morton, didst thou come from Shrewsbury?
MORTON
75line 0117I ran from Shrewsbury, my noble lord,
line 0118Where hateful death put on his ugliest mask
line 0119To fright our party.
line 0120NORTHUMBERLANDHow doth my son and brother?
line 0121Thou tremblest, and the whiteness in thy cheek
80line 0122Is apter than thy tongue to tell thy errand.
line 0123Even such a man, so faint, so spiritless,
line 0124So dull, so dead in look, so woebegone,
line 0125Drew Priam’s curtain in the dead of night
line 0126And would have told him half his Troy was burnt;
85line 0127But Priam found the fire ere he his tongue,
line 0128And I my Percy’s death ere thou report’st it.
line 0129This thou wouldst say: “Your son did thus and thus;
line 0130Your brother thus; so fought the noble Douglas”—
line 0131Stopping my greedy ear with their bold deeds.
90line 0132But in the end, to stop my ear indeed,
line 0133Thou hast a sigh to blow away this praise,
line 0134Ending with “Brother, son, and all are dead.”
MORTON
line 0135Douglas is living, and your brother yet,
line 0136But for my lord your son—
95line 0137NORTHUMBERLANDWhy, he is dead.
line 0138See what a ready tongue suspicion hath!
line 0139He that but fears the thing he would not know
line 0140Hath, by instinct, knowledge from others’ eyes
line 0141That what he feared is chancèd. Yet speak,
100line 0142Morton.
line 0143Tell thou an earl his divination lies,
line 0144And I will take it as a sweet disgrace
line 0145And make thee rich for doing me such wrong.
MORTON
line 0146You are too great to be by me gainsaid,
105line 0147Your spirit is too true, your fears too certain.
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 19 NORTHUMBERLAND
line 0148Yet, for all this, say not that Percy’s dead.
line 0149I see a strange confession in thine eye.
line 0150Thou shak’st thy head and hold’st it fear or sin
line 0151To speak a truth. If he be slain, say so.
110line 0152The tongue offends not that reports his death;
line 0153And he doth sin that doth belie the dead,
line 0154Not he which says the dead is not alive.
line 0155Yet the first bringer of unwelcome news
line 0156Hath but a losing office, and his tongue
115line 0157Sounds ever after as a sullen bell
line 0158Remembered tolling a departing friend.
LORD BARDOLPH
line 0159I cannot think, my lord, your son is dead.
MORTONto Northumberland
line 0160I am sorry I should force you to believe
line 0161That which I would to God I had not seen,
120line 0162But these mine eyes saw him in bloody state,
line 0163Rend’ring faint quittance, wearied and outbreathed,
line 0164To Harry Monmouth, whose swift wrath beat down
line 0165The never-daunted Percy to the earth,
line 0166From whence with life he never more sprung up.
125line 0167In few, his death, whose spirit lent a fire
line 0168Even to the dullest peasant in his camp,
line 0169Being bruited once, took fire and heat away
line 0170From the best-tempered courage in his troops;
line 0171For from his mettle was his party steeled,
130line 0172Which, once in him abated, all the rest
line 0173Turned on themselves, like dull and heavy lead.
line 0174And as the thing that’s heavy in itself
line 0175Upon enforcement flies with greatest speed,
line 0176So did our men, heavy in Hotspur’s loss,
135line 0177Lend to this weight such lightness with their fear
line 0178That arrows fled not swifter toward their aim
line 0179Than did our soldiers, aiming at their safety,
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 21 line 0180Fly from the field. Then was that noble Worcester
line 0181So soon ta’en prisoner; and that furious Scot,
140line 0182The bloody Douglas, whose well-laboring sword
line 0183Had three times slain th’ appearance of the King,
line 0184Gan vail his stomach and did grace the shame
line 0185Of those that turned their backs and in his flight,
line 0186Stumbling in fear, was took. The sum of all
145line 0187Is that the King hath won and hath sent out
line 0188A speedy power to encounter you, my lord,
line 0189Under the conduct of young Lancaster
line 0190And Westmoreland. This is the news at full.
NORTHUMBERLAND
line 0191For this I shall have time enough to mourn.
150line 0192In poison there is physic, and these news,
line 0193Having been well, that would have made me sick,
line 0194Being sick, have in some measure made me well.
line 0195And as the wretch whose fever-weakened joints,
line 0196Like strengthless hinges, buckle under life,
155line 0197Impatient of his fit, breaks like a fire
line 0198Out of his keeper’s arms, even so my limbs,
line 0199Weakened with grief, being now enraged with
line 0200grief,
line 0201Are thrice themselves. Hence therefore, thou
160line 0202nice crutch.He throws down his crutch.
line 0203A scaly gauntlet now with joints of steel
line 0204Must glove this hand. And hence, thou sickly
line 0205coif.He removes his kerchief.
line 0206Thou art a guard too wanton for the head
165line 0207Which princes, fleshed with conquest, aim to hit.
line 0208Now bind my brows with iron, and approach
line 0209The ragged’st hour that time and spite dare bring
line 0210To frown upon th’ enraged Northumberland.
line 0211Let heaven kiss Earth! Now let not Nature’s hand
170line 0212Keep the wild flood confined. Let order die,
line 0213And let this world no longer be a stage
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 23 line 0214To feed contention in a lingering act;
line 0215But let one spirit of the firstborn Cain
line 0216Reign in all bosoms, that, each heart being set
175line 0217On bloody courses, the rude scene may end,
line 0218And darkness be the burier of the dead.
LORD BARDOLPH
line 0219This strainèd passion doth you wrong, my lord.
MORTON
line 0220Sweet earl, divorce not wisdom from your honor.
line 0221The lives of all your loving complices
180line 0222Lean on your health, the which, if you give o’er
line 0223To stormy passion, must perforce decay.
line 0224You cast th’ event of war, my noble lord,
line 0225And summed the accompt of chance before you
line 0226said
185line 0227“Let us make head.” It was your presurmise
line 0228That in the dole of blows your son might drop.
line 0229You knew he walked o’er perils on an edge,
line 0230More likely to fall in than to get o’er.
line 0231You were advised his flesh was capable
190line 0232Of wounds and scars, and that his forward spirit
line 0233Would lift him where most trade of danger
line 0234ranged.
line 0235Yet did you say “Go forth,” and none of this,
line 0236Though strongly apprehended, could restrain
195line 0237The stiff-borne action. What hath then befall’n,
line 0238Or what did this bold enterprise bring forth,
line 0239More than that being which was like to be?
LORD BARDOLPH
line 0240We all that are engagèd to this loss
line 0241Knew that we ventured on such dangerous seas
200line 0242That if we wrought out life, ’twas ten to one;
line 0243And yet we ventured, for the gain proposed
line 0244Choked the respect of likely peril feared;
line 0245And since we are o’erset, venture again.
line 0246Come, we will all put forth, body and goods.
Act 1 Scene 1 - Pg 25 MORTON
205line 0247’Tis more than time.—And, my most noble lord,
line 0248I hear for certain, and dare speak the truth:
line 0249The gentle Archbishop of York is up
line 0250With well-appointed powers. He is a man
line 0251Who with a double surety binds his followers.
210line 0252My lord your son had only but the corpse,
line 0253But shadows and the shows of men, to fight;
line 0254For that same word “rebellion” did divide
line 0255The action of their bodies from their souls,
line 0256And they did fight with queasiness, constrained,
215line 0257As men drink potions, that their weapons only
line 0258Seemed on our side. But, for their spirits and
line 0259souls,
line 0260This word “rebellion,” it had froze them up
line 0261As fish are in a pond. But now the Bishop
220line 0262Turns insurrection to religion.
line 0263Supposed sincere and holy in his thoughts,
line 0264He’s followed both with body and with mind,
line 0265And doth enlarge his rising with the blood
line 0266Of fair King Richard, scraped from Pomfret
225line 0267stones;
line 0268Derives from heaven his quarrel and his cause;
line 0269Tells them he doth bestride a bleeding land,
line 0270Gasping for life under great Bolingbroke;
line 0271And more and less do flock to follow him.
NORTHUMBERLAND
230line 0272I knew of this before, but, to speak truth,
line 0273This present grief had wiped it from my mind.
line 0274Go in with me and counsel every man
line 0275The aptest way for safety and revenge.
line 0276Get posts and letters, and make friends with speed.
235line 0277Never so few, and never yet more need.

They exit.

Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 27

Scene 2

Enter Sir John Falstaff, with his Page bearing his sword and buckler.

line 0278FALSTAFFSirrah, you giant, what says the doctor to my
line 0279water?
line 0280PAGEHe said, sir, the water itself was a good healthy
line 0281water, but, for the party that owed it, he might have
5line 0282more diseases than he knew for.
line 0283FALSTAFFMen of all sorts take a pride to gird at me.
line 0284The brain of this foolish-compounded clay, man, is
line 0285not able to invent anything that intends to laughter
line 0286more than I invent, or is invented on me. I am not
10line 0287only witty in myself, but the cause that wit is in
line 0288other men. I do here walk before thee like a sow
line 0289that hath overwhelmed all her litter but one. If the
line 0290Prince put thee into my service for any other reason
line 0291than to set me off, why then I have no judgment.
15line 0292Thou whoreson mandrake, thou art fitter to be
line 0293worn in my cap than to wait at my heels. I was never
line 0294manned with an agate till now, but I will inset you
line 0295neither in gold nor silver, but in vile apparel, and
line 0296send you back again to your master for a jewel. The
20line 0297juvenal, the Prince your master, whose chin is not
line 0298yet fledge—I will sooner have a beard grow in the
line 0299palm of my hand than he shall get one off his cheek,
line 0300and yet he will not stick to say his face is a face
line 0301royal. God may finish it when He will. ’Tis not a hair
25line 0302amiss yet. He may keep it still at a face royal, for a
line 0303barber shall never earn sixpence out of it, and yet
line 0304he’ll be crowing as if he had writ man ever since his
line 0305father was a bachelor. He may keep his own grace,
line 0306but he’s almost out of mine, I can assure him. What
30line 0307said Master Dommelton about the satin for my
line 0308short cloak and my slops?
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 29 line 0309PAGEHe said, sir, you should procure him better
line 0310assurance than Bardolph. He would not take his
line 0311band and yours. He liked not the security.
35line 0312FALSTAFFLet him be damned like the glutton! Pray
line 0313God his tongue be hotter! A whoreson Achitophel, a
line 0314rascally yea-forsooth knave, to bear a gentleman in
line 0315hand and then stand upon security! The whoreson
line 0316smoothy-pates do now wear nothing but high shoes
40line 0317and bunches of keys at their girdles; and if a man is
line 0318through with them in honest taking up, then they
line 0319must stand upon security. I had as lief they would
line 0320put ratsbane in my mouth as offer to stop it with
line 0321“security.” I looked he should have sent me two-and-twenty
45line 0322yards of satin, as I am a true knight, and
line 0323he sends me “security.” Well, he may sleep in
line 0324security, for he hath the horn of abundance, and the
line 0325lightness of his wife shines through it, and yet
line 0326cannot he see though he have his own lantern to
50line 0327light him. Where’s Bardolph?
line 0328PAGEHe’s gone in Smithfield to buy your Worship a
line 0329horse.
line 0330FALSTAFFI bought him in Paul’s, and he’ll buy me a
line 0331horse in Smithfield. An I could get me but a wife in
55line 0332the stews, I were manned, horsed, and wived.

Enter Lord Chief Justice and Servant.

line 0333PAGEto Falstaff Sir, here comes the nobleman that
line 0334committed the Prince for striking him about
line 0335Bardolph.
line 0336FALSTAFFWait close. I will not see him.

They begin to exit.

60line 0337CHIEF JUSTICEto Servant What’s he that goes there?
line 0338SERVANTFalstaff, an ’t please your Lordship.
line 0339CHIEF JUSTICEHe that was in question for the robbery?
line 0340SERVANTHe, my lord; but he hath since done good
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 31 line 0341service at Shrewsbury, and, as I hear, is now going
65line 0342with some charge to the Lord John of Lancaster.
line 0343CHIEF JUSTICEWhat, to York? Call him back again.
line 0344SERVANTSir John Falstaff!
line 0345FALSTAFFBoy, tell him I am deaf.
line 0346PAGEYou must speak louder. My master is deaf.
70line 0347CHIEF JUSTICEI am sure he is, to the hearing of
line 0348anything good.—Go pluck him by the elbow. I must
line 0349speak with him.
line 0350SERVANTplucking Falstaff’s sleeve Sir John!
line 0351FALSTAFFWhat, a young knave and begging? Is there
75line 0352not wars? Is there not employment? Doth not the
line 0353King lack subjects? Do not the rebels need soldiers?
line 0354Though it be a shame to be on any side but one, it is
line 0355worse shame to beg than to be on the worst side,
line 0356were it worse than the name of rebellion can tell
80line 0357how to make it.
line 0358SERVANTYou mistake me, sir.
line 0359FALSTAFFWhy sir, did I say you were an honest man?
line 0360Setting my knighthood and my soldiership aside, I
line 0361had lied in my throat if I had said so.
85line 0362SERVANTI pray you, sir, then set your knighthood and
line 0363your soldiership aside, and give me leave to tell you,
line 0364you lie in your throat if you say I am any other than
line 0365an honest man.
line 0366FALSTAFFI give thee leave to tell me so? I lay aside that
90line 0367which grows to me? If thou gett’st any leave of me,
line 0368hang me; if thou tak’st leave, thou wert better be
line 0369hanged. You hunt counter. Hence! Avaunt!
line 0370SERVANTSir, my lord would speak with you.
line 0371CHIEF JUSTICESir John Falstaff, a word with you.
95line 0372FALSTAFFMy good lord. God give your Lordship good
line 0373time of the day. I am glad to see your Lordship
line 0374abroad. I heard say your Lordship was sick. I hope
line 0375your Lordship goes abroad by advice. Your Lordship,
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 33 line 0376though not clean past your youth, have yet
100line 0377some smack of an ague in you, some relish of the
line 0378saltness of time in you, and I most humbly beseech
line 0379your Lordship to have a reverend care of your
line 0380health.
line 0381CHIEF JUSTICESir John, I sent for you before your
105line 0382expedition to Shrewsbury.
line 0383FALSTAFFAn ’t please your Lordship, I hear his Majesty
line 0384is returned with some discomfort from Wales.
line 0385CHIEF JUSTICEI talk not of his Majesty. You would not
line 0386come when I sent for you.
110line 0387FALSTAFFAnd I hear, moreover, his Highness is fallen
line 0388into this same whoreson apoplexy.
line 0389CHIEF JUSTICEWell, God mend him. I pray you let me
line 0390speak with you.
line 0391FALSTAFFThis apoplexy, as I take it, is a kind of
115line 0392lethargy, an ’t please your Lordship, a kind of
line 0393sleeping in the blood, a whoreson tingling.
line 0394CHIEF JUSTICEWhat tell you me of it? Be it as it is.
line 0395FALSTAFFIt hath it original from much grief, from
line 0396study, and perturbation of the brain. I have read the
120line 0397cause of his effects in Galen. It is a kind of deafness.
line 0398CHIEF JUSTICEI think you are fallen into the disease,
line 0399for you hear not what I say to you.
line 0400FALSTAFFVery well, my lord, very well. Rather, an ’t
line 0401please you, it is the disease of not listening, the
125line 0402malady of not marking, that I am troubled withal.
line 0403CHIEF JUSTICETo punish you by the heels would amend
line 0404the attention of your ears, and I care not if I do
line 0405become your physician.
line 0406FALSTAFFI am as poor as Job, my lord, but not so
130line 0407patient. Your Lordship may minister the potion of
line 0408imprisonment to me in respect of poverty, but how
line 0409I should be your patient to follow your prescriptions,
line 0410the wise may make some dram of a scruple,
line 0411or indeed a scruple itself.
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 35 135line 0412CHIEF JUSTICEI sent for you, when there were matters
line 0413against you for your life, to come speak with me.
line 0414FALSTAFFAs I was then advised by my learned counsel
line 0415in the laws of this land-service, I did not come.
line 0416CHIEF JUSTICEWell, the truth is, Sir John, you live in
140line 0417great infamy.
line 0418FALSTAFFHe that buckles himself in my belt cannot
line 0419live in less.
line 0420CHIEF JUSTICEYour means are very slender, and your
line 0421waste is great.
145line 0422FALSTAFFI would it were otherwise. I would my means
line 0423were greater and my waist slender.
line 0424CHIEF JUSTICEYou have misled the youthful prince.
line 0425FALSTAFFThe young prince hath misled me. I am the
line 0426fellow with the great belly, and he my dog.
150line 0427CHIEF JUSTICEWell, I am loath to gall a new-healed
line 0428wound. Your day’s service at Shrewsbury hath a
line 0429little gilded over your night’s exploit on Gad’s Hill.
line 0430You may thank th’ unquiet time for your quiet
line 0431o’erposting that action.
155line 0432FALSTAFFMy lord.
line 0433CHIEF JUSTICEBut since all is well, keep it so. Wake not
line 0434a sleeping wolf.
line 0435FALSTAFFTo wake a wolf is as bad as to smell a fox.
line 0436CHIEF JUSTICEWhat, you are as a candle, the better
160line 0437part burnt out.
line 0438FALSTAFFA wassail candle, my lord, all tallow. If I did
line 0439say of wax, my growth would approve the truth.
line 0440CHIEF JUSTICEThere is not a white hair in your face but
line 0441should have his effect of gravity.
165line 0442FALSTAFFHis effect of gravy, gravy, gravy.
line 0443CHIEF JUSTICEYou follow the young prince up and
line 0444down like his ill angel.
line 0445FALSTAFFNot so, my lord. Your ill angel is light, but I
line 0446hope he that looks upon me will take me without
170line 0447weighing. And yet in some respects I grant I cannot
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 37 line 0448go. I cannot tell. Virtue is of so little regard in these
line 0449costermongers’ times that true valor is turned bearherd;
line 0450pregnancy is made a tapster, and hath his
line 0451quick wit wasted in giving reckonings. All the other
175line 0452gifts appurtenant to man, as the malice of this age
line 0453shapes them, are not worth a gooseberry. You that
line 0454are old consider not the capacities of us that are
line 0455young. You do measure the heat of our livers with
line 0456the bitterness of your galls, and we that are in the
180line 0457vaward of our youth, I must confess, are wags too.
line 0458CHIEF JUSTICEDo you set down your name in the scroll
line 0459of youth, that are written down old with all the
line 0460characters of age? Have you not a moist eye, a dry
line 0461hand, a yellow cheek, a white beard, a decreasing
185line 0462leg, an increasing belly? Is not your voice broken,
line 0463your wind short, your chin double, your wit single,
line 0464and every part about you blasted with antiquity?
line 0465And will you yet call yourself young? Fie, fie, fie, Sir
line 0466John.
190line 0467FALSTAFFMy lord, I was born about three of the clock
line 0468in the afternoon, with a white head and something
line 0469a round belly. For my voice, I have lost it with
line 0470halloing and singing of anthems. To approve my
line 0471youth further, I will not. The truth is, I am only old
195line 0472in judgment and understanding. And he that will
line 0473caper with me for a thousand marks, let him lend
line 0474me the money, and have at him. For the box of the
line 0475ear that the Prince gave you, he gave it like a rude
line 0476prince, and you took it like a sensible lord. I have
200line 0477checked him for it, and the young lion repents.
line 0478Aside. Marry, not in ashes and sackcloth, but in
line 0479new silk and old sack.
line 0480CHIEF JUSTICEWell, God send the Prince a better
line 0481companion.
205line 0482FALSTAFFGod send the companion a better prince. I
line 0483cannot rid my hands of him.
Act 1 Scene 2 - Pg 39 line 0484CHIEF JUSTICEWell, the King hath severed you and
line 0485Prince Harry. I hear you are going with Lord John
line 0486of Lancaster against the Archbishop and the Earl of
210line 0487Northumberland.
line 0488FALSTAFFYea, I thank your pretty sweet wit for it. But
line 0489look you pray, all you that kiss my Lady Peace at
line 0490home, that our armies join not in a hot day, for, by
line 0491the Lord, I take but two shirts out with me, and I
215line 0492mean not to sweat extraordinarily. If it be a hot day
line 0493and I brandish anything but a bottle, I would I
line 0494might never spit white again. There is not a dangerous
line 0495action can peep out his head but I am thrust
line 0496upon it. Well, I cannot last ever. But it was always
220line 0497yet the trick of our English nation, if they have a
line 0498good thing, to make it too common. If you will
line 0499needs say I am an old man, you should give me rest.
line 0500I would to God my name were not so terrible to the
line 0501enemy as it is. I were better to be eaten to death
225line 0502with a rust than to be scoured to nothing with
line 0503perpetual motion.
line 0504CHIEF JUSTICEWell, be honest, be honest, and God
line 0505bless your expedition.
line 0506FALSTAFFWill your Lordship lend me a thousand
230line 0507pound to furnish me forth?
line 0508CHIEF JUSTICENot a penny, not a penny. You are too
line 0509impatient to bear crosses. Fare you well. Commend
line 0510me to my cousin Westmoreland.

Lord Chief Justice and his Servant exit.

line 0511FALSTAFFIf I do, fillip me with a three-man beetle. A
235line 0512man can no more separate age and covetousness
line 0513than he can part young limbs and lechery; but the
line 0514gout galls the one, and the pox pinches the other,
line 0515and so both the degrees prevent my curses.—Boy!
line 0516PAGESir.
240line 0517FALSTAFFWhat money is in my purse?
line 0518PAGESeven groats and two pence.
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 41 line 0519FALSTAFFI can get no remedy against this consumption
line 0520of the purse. Borrowing only lingers and lingers
line 0521it out, but the disease is incurable.
245line 0522Giving papers to the Page. Go bear this letter to my Lord
line 0523of Lancaster, this to the Prince, this to the Earl
line 0524of Westmoreland, and this to old Mistress Ursula,
line 0525whom I have weekly sworn to marry since I perceived
line 0526the first white hair of my chin. About it. You
250line 0527know where to find me. Page exits. A pox of this
line 0528gout! Or a gout of this pox, for the one or the other
line 0529plays the rogue with my great toe. ’Tis no matter if I
line 0530do halt. I have the wars for my color, and my
line 0531pension shall seem the more reasonable. A good wit
255line 0532will make use of anything. I will turn diseases to
line 0533commodity.

He exits.


Scene 3

Enter th’ Archbishop of York, Thomas Mowbray (Earl Marshal), the Lord Hastings, and Lord Bardolph.

ARCHBISHOP
line 0534Thus have you heard our cause and known our
line 0535means,
line 0536And, my most noble friends, I pray you all
line 0537Speak plainly your opinions of our hopes.
5line 0538And first, Lord Marshal, what say you to it?
MOWBRAY
line 0539I well allow the occasion of our arms,
line 0540But gladly would be better satisfied
line 0541How in our means we should advance ourselves
line 0542To look with forehead bold and big enough
10line 0543Upon the power and puissance of the King.
HASTINGS
line 0544Our present musters grow upon the file
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 43 line 0545To five-and-twenty thousand men of choice,
line 0546And our supplies live largely in the hope
line 0547Of great Northumberland, whose bosom burns
15line 0548With an incensèd fire of injuries.
LORD BARDOLPH
line 0549The question, then, Lord Hastings, standeth thus:
line 0550Whether our present five-and-twenty thousand
line 0551May hold up head without Northumberland.
HASTINGS
line 0552With him we may.
20line 0553LORD BARDOLPHYea, marry, there’s the point.
line 0554But if without him we be thought too feeble,
line 0555My judgment is we should not step too far
line 0556Till we had his assistance by the hand.
line 0557For in a theme so bloody-faced as this,
25line 0558Conjecture, expectation, and surmise
line 0559Of aids incertain should not be admitted.
ARCHBISHOP
line 0560’Tis very true, Lord Bardolph, for indeed
line 0561It was young Hotspur’s cause at Shrewsbury.
LORD BARDOLPH
line 0562It was, my lord; who lined himself with hope,
30line 0563Eating the air and promise of supply,
line 0564Flatt’ring himself in project of a power
line 0565Much smaller than the smallest of his thoughts,
line 0566And so, with great imagination
line 0567Proper to madmen, led his powers to death
35line 0568And, winking, leapt into destruction.
HASTINGS
line 0569But, by your leave, it never yet did hurt
line 0570To lay down likelihoods and forms of hope.
LORD BARDOLPH
line 0571Yes, if this present quality of war —
line 0572Indeed the instant action, a cause on foot—
40line 0573Lives so in hope, as in an early spring
line 0574We see th’ appearing buds, which to prove fruit
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 45 line 0575Hope gives not so much warrant as despair
line 0576That frosts will bite them. When we mean to build,
line 0577We first survey the plot, then draw the model,
45line 0578And when we see the figure of the house,
line 0579Then must we rate the cost of the erection,
line 0580Which if we find outweighs ability,
line 0581What do we then but draw anew the model
line 0582In fewer offices, or at least desist
50line 0583To build at all? Much more in this great work,
line 0584Which is almost to pluck a kingdom down
line 0585And set another up, should we survey
line 0586The plot of situation and the model,
line 0587Consent upon a sure foundation,
55line 0588Question surveyors, know our own estate,
line 0589How able such a work to undergo,
line 0590To weigh against his opposite. Or else
line 0591We fortify in paper and in figures,
line 0592Using the names of men instead of men,
60line 0593Like one that draws the model of an house
line 0594Beyond his power to build it, who, half through,
line 0595Gives o’er and leaves his part-created cost
line 0596A naked subject to the weeping clouds
line 0597And waste for churlish winter’s tyranny.
HASTINGS
65line 0598Grant that our hopes, yet likely of fair birth,
line 0599Should be stillborn and that we now possessed
line 0600The utmost man of expectation,
line 0601I think we are a body strong enough,
line 0602Even as we are, to equal with the King.
LORD BARDOLPH
70line 0603What, is the King but five-and-twenty thousand?
HASTINGS
line 0604To us no more, nay, not so much, Lord Bardolph,
line 0605For his divisions, as the times do brawl,
line 0606Are in three heads: one power against the French,
line 0607And one against Glendower; perforce a third
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 47 75line 0608Must take up us. So is the unfirm king
line 0609In three divided, and his coffers sound
line 0610With hollow poverty and emptiness.
ARCHBISHOP
line 0611That he should draw his several strengths together
line 0612And come against us in full puissance
80line 0613Need not to be dreaded.
line 0614HASTINGSIf he should do so,
line 0615He leaves his back unarmed, the French and Welsh
line 0616Baying him at the heels. Never fear that.
LORD BARDOLPH
line 0617Who is it like should lead his forces hither?
HASTINGS
85line 0618The Duke of Lancaster and Westmoreland;
line 0619Against the Welsh, himself and Harry Monmouth;
line 0620But who is substituted against the French
line 0621I have no certain notice.
line 0622ARCHBISHOPLet us on,
90line 0623And publish the occasion of our arms.
line 0624The commonwealth is sick of their own choice.
line 0625Their over-greedy love hath surfeited.
line 0626An habitation giddy and unsure
line 0627Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart.
95line 0628O thou fond many, with what loud applause
line 0629Didst thou beat heaven with blessing Bolingbroke
line 0630Before he was what thou wouldst have him be.
line 0631And being now trimmed in thine own desires,
line 0632Thou, beastly feeder, art so full of him
100line 0633That thou provok’st thyself to cast him up.
line 0634So, so, thou common dog, didst thou disgorge
line 0635Thy glutton bosom of the royal Richard,
line 0636And now thou wouldst eat thy dead vomit up
line 0637And howl’st to find it. What trust is in these
105line 0638times?
line 0639They that, when Richard lived, would have him die
line 0640Are now become enamored on his grave.
Act 1 Scene 3 - Pg 49 line 0641Thou, that threw’st dust upon his goodly head
line 0642When through proud London he came sighing on
110line 0643After th’ admirèd heels of Bolingbroke,
line 0644Criest now “O earth, yield us that king again,
line 0645And take thou this!” O thoughts of men accursed!
line 0646Past and to come seems best; things present,
line 0647worst.
MOWBRAY
115line 0648Shall we go draw our numbers and set on?
HASTINGS
line 0649We are time’s subjects, and time bids begone.

They exit.


ACT 2


Scene 1

Enter Hostess Quickly of the tavern with two Officers, Fang and Snare, who lags behind.

line 0650HOSTESSMaster Fang, have you entered the action?
line 0651FANGIt is entered.
line 0652HOSTESSWhere’s your yeoman? Is ’t a lusty yeoman?
line 0653Will he stand to ’t?
5line 0654FANGcalling Sirrah! Where’s Snare?
line 0655HOSTESSO Lord, ay, good Master Snare.
line 0656SNAREcatching up to them Here, here.
line 0657FANGSnare, we must arrest Sir John Falstaff.
line 0658HOSTESSYea, good Master Snare, I have entered him
10line 0659and all.
line 0660SNAREIt may chance cost some of us our lives, for he
line 0661will stab.
line 0662HOSTESSAlas the day, take heed of him. He stabbed me
line 0663in mine own house, and that most beastly, in good
15line 0664faith. He cares not what mischief he does. If his
line 0665weapon be out, he will foin like any devil. He will
line 0666spare neither man, woman, nor child.
line 0667FANGIf I can close with him, I care not for his thrust.
line 0668HOSTESSNo, nor I neither. I’ll be at your elbow.
20line 0669FANGAn I but fist him once, an he come but within my
line 0670view—
line 0671HOSTESSI am undone by his going. I warrant you, he’s
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 55 line 0672an infinitive thing upon my score. Good Master
line 0673Fang, hold him sure. Good Master Snare, let him
25line 0674not ’scape. He comes continuantly to Pie Corner,
line 0675saving your manhoods, to buy a saddle, and he is
line 0676indited to dinner to the Lubber’s Head in Lumbert
line 0677Street, to Master Smooth’s the silkman. I pray you,
line 0678since my exion is entered, and my case so openly
30line 0679known to the world, let him be brought in to his
line 0680answer. A hundred mark is a long one for a poor
line 0681lone woman to bear, and I have borne, and borne,
line 0682and borne, and have been fubbed off, and fubbed
line 0683off, and fubbed off from this day to that day, that it is
35line 0684a shame to be thought on. There is no honesty in
line 0685such dealing, unless a woman should be made an
line 0686ass and a beast to bear every knave’s wrong. Yonder
line 0687he comes, and that arrant malmsey-nose knave,
line 0688Bardolph, with him. Do your offices, do your offices,
40line 0689Master Fang and Master Snare, do me, do me,
line 0690do me your offices.

Enter Sir John Falstaff and Bardolph, and the Page.

line 0691FALSTAFFHow now, whose mare’s dead? What’s the
line 0692matter?
line 0693FANGSir John, I arrest you at the suit of Mistress
45line 0694Quickly.
line 0695FALSTAFFAway, varlets!—Draw, Bardolph. Cut me off
line 0696the villain’s head. Throw the quean in the
line 0697channel.They draw.
line 0698HOSTESSThrow me in the channel? I’ll throw thee in
50line 0699the channel. Wilt thou, wilt thou, thou bastardly
line 0700rogue?—Murder, murder!—Ah, thou honeysuckle
line 0701villain, wilt thou kill God’s officers and the King’s?
line 0702Ah, thou honeyseed rogue, thou art a honeyseed, a
line 0703man-queller, and a woman-queller.
55line 0704FALSTAFFKeep them off, Bardolph.
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 57 line 0705OFFICERSA rescue, a rescue!
line 0706HOSTESSGood people, bring a rescue or two.—Thou
line 0707wot, wot thou? Thou wot, wot ta? Do, do, thou
line 0708rogue. Do, thou hempseed.
60line 0709PAGEAway, you scullion, you rampallian, you fustilarian!
line 0710I’ll tickle your catastrophe.

Enter Lord Chief Justice and his Men.

CHIEF JUSTICE
line 0711What is the matter? Keep the peace here, ho!
line 0712HOSTESSGood my lord, be good to me. I beseech you
line 0713stand to me.
CHIEF JUSTICE
65line 0714How now, Sir John? What, are you brawling here?
line 0715Doth this become your place, your time, and
line 0716business?
line 0717You should have been well on your way to York.—
line 0718Stand from him, fellow. Wherefore hang’st thou
70line 0719upon him?
line 0720HOSTESSO my most worshipful lord, an ’t please your
line 0721Grace, I am a poor widow of Eastcheap, and he is
line 0722arrested at my suit.
line 0723CHIEF JUSTICEFor what sum?
75line 0724HOSTESSIt is more than for some, my lord; it is for all I
line 0725have. He hath eaten me out of house and home. He
line 0726hath put all my substance into that fat belly of his.
line 0727To Falstaff. But I will have some of it out again, or I
line 0728will ride thee o’ nights like the mare.
80line 0729FALSTAFFI think I am as like to ride the mare if I have
line 0730any vantage of ground to get up.
line 0731CHIEF JUSTICEHow comes this, Sir John? Fie, what
line 0732man of good temper would endure this tempest of
line 0733exclamation? Are you not ashamed to enforce a
85line 0734poor widow to so rough a course to come by her
line 0735own?
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 59 line 0736FALSTAFFWhat is the gross sum that I owe thee?
line 0737HOSTESSMarry, if thou wert an honest man, thyself
line 0738and the money too. Thou didst swear to me upon a
90line 0739parcel-gilt goblet, sitting in my Dolphin chamber at
line 0740the round table by a sea-coal fire, upon Wednesday
line 0741in Wheeson week, when the Prince broke thy head
line 0742for liking his father to a singing-man of Windsor,
line 0743thou didst swear to me then, as I was washing thy
95line 0744wound, to marry me and make me my lady thy wife.
line 0745Canst thou deny it? Did not Goodwife Keech, the
line 0746butcher’s wife, come in then and call me Gossip
line 0747Quickly, coming in to borrow a mess of vinegar,
line 0748telling us she had a good dish of prawns, whereby
100line 0749thou didst desire to eat some, whereby I told thee
line 0750they were ill for a green wound? And didst thou not,
line 0751when she was gone downstairs, desire me to be no
line 0752more so familiarity with such poor people, saying
line 0753that ere long they should call me madam? And didst
105line 0754thou not kiss me and bid me fetch thee thirty
line 0755shillings? I put thee now to thy book-oath. Deny it if
line 0756thou canst.
line 0757FALSTAFFMy lord, this is a poor mad soul, and she says
line 0758up and down the town that her eldest son is like
110line 0759you. She hath been in good case, and the truth is,
line 0760poverty hath distracted her. But, for these foolish
line 0761officers, I beseech you I may have redress against
line 0762them.
line 0763CHIEF JUSTICESir John, Sir John, I am well acquainted
115line 0764with your manner of wrenching the true cause the
line 0765false way. It is not a confident brow, nor the throng
line 0766of words that come with such more than impudent
line 0767sauciness from you, can thrust me from a level
line 0768consideration. You have, as it appears to me, practiced
120line 0769upon the easy-yielding spirit of this woman,
line 0770and made her serve your uses both in purse and in
line 0771person.
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 61 line 0772HOSTESSYea, in truth, my lord.
line 0773CHIEF JUSTICEPray thee, peace.—Pay her the debt you
125line 0774owe her, and unpay the villainy you have done with
line 0775her. The one you may do with sterling money, and
line 0776the other with current repentance.
line 0777FALSTAFFMy lord, I will not undergo this sneap without
line 0778reply. You call honorable boldness “impudent
130line 0779sauciness.” If a man will make curtsy and say
line 0780nothing, he is virtuous. No, my lord, my humble
line 0781duty remembered, I will not be your suitor. I say to
line 0782you, I do desire deliverance from these officers,
line 0783being upon hasty employment in the King’s affairs.
135line 0784CHIEF JUSTICEYou speak as having power to do wrong;
line 0785but answer in th’ effect of your reputation, and
line 0786satisfy the poor woman.
line 0787FALSTAFFCome hither, hostess.

He speaks aside to the Hostess.

Enter a Messenger, Master Gower.

line 0788CHIEF JUSTICENow, Master Gower, what news?
GOWER
140line 0789The King, my lord, and Harry Prince of Wales
line 0790Are near at hand. The rest the paper tells.

He gives the Chief Justice a paper to read.

line 0791FALSTAFFto the Hostess As I am a gentleman!
line 0792HOSTESSFaith, you said so before.
line 0793FALSTAFFAs I am a gentleman. Come. No more words
145line 0794of it.
line 0795HOSTESSBy this heavenly ground I tread on, I must be
line 0796fain to pawn both my plate and the tapestry of my
line 0797dining chambers.
line 0798FALSTAFFGlasses, glasses, is the only drinking. And for
150line 0799thy walls, a pretty slight drollery, or the story of the
line 0800Prodigal or the German hunting in waterwork is
line 0801worth a thousand of these bed-hangers and these
Act 2 Scene 1 - Pg 63 line 0802fly-bitten tapestries. Let it be ten pound, if thou
line 0803canst. Come, an ’twere not for thy humors, there’s
155line 0804not a better wench in England. Go wash thy face,
line 0805and draw the action. Come, thou must not be in this
line 0806humor with me. Dost not know me? Come, come. I
line 0807know thou wast set on to this.
line 0808HOSTESSPray thee, Sir John, let it be but twenty
160line 0809nobles. I’ faith, I am loath to pawn my plate, so God
line 0810save me, la.
line 0811FALSTAFFLet it alone. I’ll make other shift. You’ll be a
line 0812fool still.
line 0813HOSTESSWell, you shall have it, though I pawn my
165line 0814gown. I hope you’ll come to supper. You’ll pay
line 0815me all together?
line 0816FALSTAFFWill I live? Aside to Bardolph. Go with her,
line 0817with her. Hook on, hook on.
line 0818HOSTESSWill you have Doll Tearsheet meet you at
170line 0819supper?
line 0820FALSTAFFNo more words. Let’s have her.

Hostess, Fang, Snare, Bardolph, Page, and others exit.

line 0821CHIEF JUSTICEto Gower I have heard better news.
line 0822FALSTAFFto Chief Justice What’s the news, my good
line 0823lord?
175line 0824CHIEF JUSTICEto Gower Where lay the King
line 0825tonight?
line 0826GOWERAt Basingstoke, my lord.
line 0827FALSTAFFto Chief Justice I hope, my lord, all’s
line 0828well. What is the news, my lord?
180line 0829CHIEF JUSTICEto Gower Come all his forces back?
GOWER
line 0830No. Fifteen hundred foot, five hundred horse
line 0831Are marched up to my Lord of Lancaster
line 0832Against Northumberland and the Archbishop.
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 65 FALSTAFFto Chief Justice
line 0833Comes the King back from Wales, my noble lord?
CHIEF JUSTICEto Gower
185line 0834You shall have letters of me presently.
line 0835Come. Go along with me, good Master Gower.
line 0836FALSTAFFMy lord!
line 0837CHIEF JUSTICEWhat’s the matter?
line 0838FALSTAFFMaster Gower, shall I entreat you with me to
190line 0839dinner?
line 0840GOWERI must wait upon my good lord here. I thank
line 0841you, good Sir John.
line 0842CHIEF JUSTICESir John, you loiter here too long, being
line 0843you are to take soldiers up in counties as you go.
195line 0844FALSTAFFWill you sup with me, Master Gower?
line 0845CHIEF JUSTICEWhat foolish master taught you these
line 0846manners, Sir John?
line 0847FALSTAFFMaster Gower, if they become me not, he was
line 0848a fool that taught them me.—This is the right
200line 0849fencing grace, my lord: tap for tap, and so part fair.
line 0850CHIEF JUSTICENow the Lord lighten thee. Thou art a
line 0851great fool.

They separate and exit.


Scene 2

Enter the Prince and Poins.

line 0852PRINCEBefore God, I am exceeding weary.
line 0853POINSIs ’t come to that? I had thought weariness durst
line 0854not have attached one of so high blood.
line 0855PRINCEFaith, it does me, though it discolors the complexion
5line 0856of my greatness to acknowledge it. Doth it
line 0857not show vilely in me to desire small beer?
line 0858POINSWhy, a prince should not be so loosely studied
line 0859as to remember so weak a composition.
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 67 line 0860PRINCEBelike then my appetite was not princely got,
10line 0861for, by my troth, I do now remember the poor
line 0862creature small beer. But indeed these humble considerations
line 0863make me out of love with my greatness.
line 0864What a disgrace is it to me to remember thy name,
line 0865or to know thy face tomorrow, or to take note how
15line 0866many pair of silk stockings thou hast—with these,
line 0867and those that were thy peach-colored ones—or to
line 0868bear the inventory of thy shirts, as, one for superfluity
line 0869and another for use. But that the tennis-court
line 0870keeper knows better than I, for it is a low ebb of
20line 0871linen with thee when thou keepest not racket there,
line 0872as thou hast not done a great while, because the rest
line 0873of the low countries have made a shift to eat up thy
line 0874holland; and God knows whether those that bawl
line 0875out the ruins of thy linen shall inherit His kingdom;
25line 0876but the midwives say the children are not in the
line 0877fault, whereupon the world increases and kindreds
line 0878are mightily strengthened.
line 0879POINSHow ill it follows, after you have labored so
line 0880hard, you should talk so idly! Tell me, how many
30line 0881good young princes would do so, their fathers being
line 0882so sick as yours at this time is?
line 0883PRINCEShall I tell thee one thing, Poins?
line 0884POINSYes, faith, and let it be an excellent good thing.
line 0885PRINCEIt shall serve among wits of no higher breeding
35line 0886than thine.
line 0887POINSGo to. I stand the push of your one thing that
line 0888you will tell.
line 0889PRINCEMarry, I tell thee it is not meet that I should be
line 0890sad, now my father is sick—albeit I could tell to
40line 0891thee, as to one it pleases me, for fault of a better, to
line 0892call my friend, I could be sad, and sad indeed too.
line 0893POINSVery hardly, upon such a subject.
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 69 line 0894PRINCEBy this hand, thou thinkest me as far in the
line 0895devil’s book as thou and Falstaff for obduracy and
45line 0896persistency. Let the end try the man. But I tell thee,
line 0897my heart bleeds inwardly that my father is so sick;
line 0898and keeping such vile company as thou art hath in
line 0899reason taken from me all ostentation of sorrow.
line 0900POINSThe reason?
50line 0901PRINCEWhat wouldst thou think of me if I should
line 0902weep?
line 0903POINSI would think thee a most princely hypocrite.
line 0904PRINCEIt would be every man’s thought, and thou art
line 0905a blessed fellow to think as every man thinks. Never
55line 0906a man’s thought in the world keeps the roadway
line 0907better than thine. Every man would think me an
line 0908hypocrite indeed. And what accites your most worshipful
line 0909thought to think so?
line 0910POINSWhy, because you have been so lewd and so
60line 0911much engraffed to Falstaff.
line 0912PRINCEAnd to thee.
line 0913POINSBy this light, I am well spoke on. I can hear it
line 0914with mine own ears. The worst that they can say of
line 0915me is that I am a second brother, and that I am a
65line 0916proper fellow of my hands; and those two things, I
line 0917confess, I cannot help. By the Mass, here comes
line 0918Bardolph.

Enter Bardolph and Page.

line 0919PRINCEAnd the boy that I gave Falstaff. He had him
line 0920from me Christian, and look if the fat villain have
70line 0921not transformed him ape.
line 0922BARDOLPHGod save your Grace.
line 0923PRINCEAnd yours, most noble Bardolph.
line 0924POINSto Bardolph Come, you virtuous ass, you bashful
line 0925fool, must you be blushing? Wherefore blush
75line 0926you now? What a maidenly man-at-arms are you
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 71 line 0927become! Is ’t such a matter to get a pottle-pot’s
line 0928maidenhead?
line 0929PAGEHe calls me e’en now, my lord, through a red
line 0930lattice, and I could discern no part of his face from
80line 0931the window. At last I spied his eyes, and methought
line 0932he had made two holes in the ale-wife’s new
line 0933petticoat and so peeped through.
line 0934PRINCEHas not the boy profited?
line 0935BARDOLPHto Page Away, you whoreson upright rabbit,
85line 0936away!
line 0937PAGEAway, you rascally Althea’s dream, away!
line 0938PRINCEInstruct us, boy. What dream, boy?
line 0939PAGEMarry, my lord, Althea dreamt she was delivered
line 0940of a firebrand, and therefore I call him her dream.
90line 0941PRINCEA crown’s worth of good interpretation. There
line 0942’tis, boy.He gives the Page money.
line 0943POINSO, that this good blossom could be kept from
line 0944cankers! Well, there is sixpence to preserve thee.

He gives the Page money.

line 0945BARDOLPHAn you do not make him be hanged among
95line 0946you, the gallows shall have wrong.
line 0947PRINCEAnd how doth thy master, Bardolph?
line 0948BARDOLPHWell, my good lord. He heard of your
line 0949Grace’s coming to town. There’s a letter for you.

He gives the Prince a paper.

line 0950POINSDelivered with good respect. And how doth the
100line 0951Martlemas your master?
line 0952BARDOLPHIn bodily health, sir.
line 0953POINSMarry, the immortal part needs a physician, but
line 0954that moves not him. Though that be sick, it dies not.
line 0955PRINCEI do allow this wen to be as familiar with me as
105line 0956my dog, and he holds his place, for look you how he
line 0957writes.He shows the letter to Poins.
line 0958POINSreads the superscription John Falstaff, knight.
line 0959Every man must know that as oft as he has occasion
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 73 line 0960to name himself, even like those that are kin to the
110line 0961King, for they never prick their finger but they say
line 0962“There’s some of the King’s blood spilt.” “How
line 0963comes that?” says he that takes upon him not to
line 0964conceive. The answer is as ready as a borrower’s
line 0965cap: “I am the King’s poor cousin, sir.”
115line 0966PRINCENay, they will be kin to us, or they will fetch it
line 0967from Japheth. But to the letter: Reads. Sir John
line 0968Falstaff, knight, to the son of the King nearest his
line 0969father, Harry Prince of Wales, greeting.
line 0970POINSWhy, this is a certificate.
120line 0971PRINCEPeace!
line 0972Reads. I will imitate the honorable Romans in
line 0973brevity.
line 0974POINSHe sure means brevity in breath, short-winded.
line 0975PRINCEreads I commend me to thee, I commend thee,
125line 0976and I leave thee. Be not too familiar with Poins, for he
line 0977misuses thy favors so much that he swears thou art to
line 0978marry his sister Nell. Repent at idle times as thou
line 0979mayst, and so farewell.
line 0980Thine by yea and no, which is as much as
130line 0981to say, as thou usest him,
line 0982Jack Falstaff with my familiars,
line 0983John with my brothers and sisters, and
line 0984Sir John with all Europe.
line 0985POINSMy lord, I’ll steep this letter in sack and make
135line 0986him eat it.
line 0987PRINCEThat’s to make him eat twenty of his words.
line 0988But do you use me thus, Ned? Must I marry your
line 0989sister?
line 0990POINSGod send the wench no worse fortune! But I
140line 0991never said so.
line 0992PRINCEWell, thus we play the fools with the time, and
line 0993the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us.
line 0994To Bardolph. Is your master here in London?
line 0995BARDOLPHYea, my lord.
Act 2 Scene 2 - Pg 75 145line 0996PRINCEWhere sups he? Doth the old boar feed in the
line 0997old frank?
line 0998BARDOLPHAt the old place, my lord, in Eastcheap.
line 0999PRINCEWhat company?
line 1000PAGEEphesians, my lord, of the old church.
150line 1001PRINCESup any women with him?
line 1002PAGENone, my lord, but old Mistress Quickly and
line 1003Mistress Doll Tearsheet.
line 1004PRINCEWhat pagan may that be?
line 1005PAGEA proper gentlewoman, sir, and a kinswoman of
155line 1006my master’s.
line 1007PRINCEEven such kin as the parish heifers are to the
line 1008town bull.—Shall we steal upon them, Ned, at
line 1009supper?
line 1010POINSI am your shadow, my lord. I’ll follow you.
160line 1011PRINCESirrah—you, boy—and Bardolph, no word to
line 1012your master that I am yet come to town. There’s for
line 1013your silence.He gives money.
line 1014BARDOLPHI have no tongue, sir.
line 1015PAGEAnd for mine, sir, I will govern it.
165line 1016PRINCEFare you well. Go.Bardolph and Page exit.
line 1017This Doll Tearsheet should be some road.
line 1018POINSI warrant you, as common as the way between
line 1019Saint Albans and London.
line 1020PRINCEHow might we see Falstaff bestow himself
170line 1021tonight in his true colors, and not ourselves be
line 1022seen?
line 1023POINSPut on two leathern jerkins and aprons, and
line 1024wait upon him at his table as drawers.
line 1025PRINCEFrom a god to a bull: a heavy descension. It
175line 1026was Jove’s case. From a prince to a ’prentice: a low
line 1027transformation that shall be mine, for in everything
line 1028the purpose must weigh with the folly. Follow me,
line 1029Ned.

They exit.

Act 2 Scene 3 - Pg 77

Scene 3

Enter Northumberland, his wife, and the wife to Harry Percy.

NORTHUMBERLAND
line 1030I pray thee, loving wife and gentle daughter,
line 1031Give even way unto my rough affairs.
line 1032Put not you on the visage of the times
line 1033And be, like them, to Percy troublesome.
LADY NORTHUMBERLAND
5line 1034I have given over. I will speak no more.
line 1035Do what you will; your wisdom be your guide.
NORTHUMBERLAND
line 1036Alas, sweet wife, my honor is at pawn,
line 1037And, but my going, nothing can redeem it.
LADY PERCY
line 1038O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars.
10line 1039The time was, father, that you broke your word
line 1040When you were more endeared to it than now,
line 1041When your own Percy, when my heart’s dear Harry,
line 1042Threw many a northward look to see his father
line 1043Bring up his powers; but he did long in vain.
15line 1044Who then persuaded you to stay at home?
line 1045There were two honors lost, yours and your son’s.
line 1046For yours, the God of heaven brighten it.
line 1047For his, it stuck upon him as the sun
line 1048In the gray vault of heaven, and by his light
20line 1049Did all the chivalry of England move
line 1050To do brave acts. He was indeed the glass
line 1051Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves.
line 1052He had no legs that practiced not his gait;
line 1053And speaking thick, which nature made his blemish,
25line 1054Became the accents of the valiant;
line 1055For those that could speak low and tardily
line 1056Would turn their own perfection to abuse
Act 2 Scene 3 - Pg 79 line 1057To seem like him. So that in speech, in gait,
line 1058In diet, in affections of delight,
30line 1059In military rules, humors of blood,
line 1060He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
line 1061That fashioned others. And him—O wondrous him!
line 1062O miracle of men!—him did you leave,
line 1063Second to none, unseconded by you,
35line 1064To look upon the hideous god of war
line 1065In disadvantage, to abide a field
line 1066Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur’s name
line 1067Did seem defensible. So you left him.
line 1068Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong
40line 1069To hold your honor more precise and nice
line 1070With others than with him. Let them alone.
line 1071The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong.
line 1072Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
line 1073Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck,
45line 1074Have talked of Monmouth’s grave.
line 1075NORTHUMBERLANDBeshrew your
line 1076heart,
line 1077Fair daughter, you do draw my spirits from me
line 1078With new lamenting ancient oversights.
50line 1079But I must go and meet with danger there,
line 1080Or it will seek me in another place
line 1081And find me worse provided.
line 1082LADY NORTHUMBERLANDO, fly to Scotland
line 1083Till that the nobles and the armèd commons
55line 1084Have of their puissance made a little taste.
LADY PERCY
line 1085If they get ground and vantage of the King,
line 1086Then join you with them like a rib of steel
line 1087To make strength stronger; but, for all our loves,
line 1088First let them try themselves. So did your son;
60line 1089He was so suffered. So came I a widow,
line 1090And never shall have length of life enough
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 81 line 1091To rain upon remembrance with mine eyes
line 1092That it may grow and sprout as high as heaven
line 1093For recordation to my noble husband.
NORTHUMBERLAND
65line 1094Come, come, go in with me. ’Tis with my mind
line 1095As with the tide swelled up unto his height,
line 1096That makes a still-stand, running neither way.
line 1097Fain would I go to meet the Archbishop,
line 1098But many thousand reasons hold me back.
70line 1099I will resolve for Scotland. There am I
line 1100Till time and vantage crave my company.

They exit.


Scene 4

Enter Francis and another Drawer.

line 1101FRANCISWhat the devil hast thou brought there—
line 1102applejohns? Thou knowest Sir John cannot endure
line 1103an applejohn.
line 1104SECOND DRAWERMass, thou sayst true. The Prince
5line 1105once set a dish of applejohns before him and told
line 1106him there were five more Sir Johns and, putting off
line 1107his hat, said “I will now take my leave of these six
line 1108dry, round, old, withered knights.” It angered him
line 1109to the heart. But he hath forgot that.
10line 1110FRANCISWhy then, cover and set them down, and see if
line 1111thou canst find out Sneak’s noise. Mistress Tearsheet
line 1112would fain hear some music. Dispatch. The
line 1113room where they supped is too hot. They’ll come in
line 1114straight.

Enter Will.

15line 1115WILLSirrah, here will be the Prince and Master
line 1116Poins anon, and they will put on two of our jerkins
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 83 line 1117and aprons, and Sir John must not know of it.
line 1118Bardolph hath brought word.
line 1119SECOND DRAWERBy the Mass, here will be old utis. It
20line 1120will be an excellent stratagem.
line 1121FRANCISI’ll see if I can find out Sneak.

He exits with the Second Drawer.

Enter Hostess and Doll Tearsheet.

line 1122HOSTESSI’ faith, sweetheart, methinks now you are in
line 1123an excellent good temperality. Your pulsidge beats
line 1124as extraordinarily as heart would desire, and your
25line 1125color, I warrant you, is as red as any rose, in good
line 1126truth, la. But, i’ faith, you have drunk too much
line 1127canaries, and that’s a marvellous searching wine,
line 1128and it perfumes the blood ere one can say “What’s
line 1129this?” How do you now?
30line 1130DOLLBetter than I was. Hem.
line 1131HOSTESSWhy, that’s well said. A good heart’s worth
line 1132gold. Lo, here comes Sir John.

Enter Sir John Falstaff.

FALSTAFFsinging
line 1133When Arthur first in court—
line 1134To Will. Empty the jordan.Will exits.
35line 1135And was a worthy king—
line 1136How now, Mistress Doll?
line 1137HOSTESSSick of a calm, yea, good faith.
line 1138FALSTAFFSo is all her sect. An they be once in a calm,
line 1139they are sick.
40line 1140DOLLA pox damn you, you muddy rascal. Is that all the
line 1141comfort you give me?
line 1142FALSTAFFYou make fat rascals, Mistress Doll.
line 1143DOLLI make them? Gluttony and diseases make them;
line 1144I make them not.
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 85 45line 1145FALSTAFFIf the cook help to make the gluttony, you
line 1146help to make the diseases, Doll. We catch of you,
line 1147Doll, we catch of you. Grant that, my poor virtue,
line 1148grant that.
line 1149DOLLYea, joy, our chains and our jewels.
50line 1150FALSTAFFYour brooches, pearls, and ouches—for to
line 1151serve bravely is to come halting off, you know; to
line 1152come off the breach with his pike bent bravely, and
line 1153to surgery bravely, to venture upon the charged
line 1154chambers bravely—
55line 1155DOLLHang yourself, you muddy conger, hang yourself!
line 1156HOSTESSBy my troth, this is the old fashion. You two
line 1157never meet but you fall to some discord. You are
line 1158both, i’ good truth, as rheumatic as two dry toasts.
line 1159You cannot one bear with another’s confirmities.
60line 1160What the good-year! One must bear, and to Doll
line 1161that must be you. You are the weaker vessel, as they
line 1162say, the emptier vessel.
line 1163DOLLCan a weak empty vessel bear such a huge full
line 1164hogshead? There’s a whole merchant’s venture of
65line 1165Bordeaux stuff in him. You have not seen a hulk
line 1166better stuffed in the hold.—Come, I’ll be friends
line 1167with thee, Jack. Thou art going to the wars, and
line 1168whether I shall ever see thee again or no, there is
line 1169nobody cares.

Enter Drawer.

70line 1170DRAWERSir, Ancient Pistol’s below and would speak
line 1171with you.
line 1172DOLLHang him, swaggering rascal! Let him not come
line 1173hither. It is the foul-mouthed’st rogue in England.
line 1174HOSTESSIf he swagger, let him not come here. No, by
75line 1175my faith, I must live among my neighbors. I’ll no
line 1176swaggerers. I am in good name and fame with the
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 87 line 1177very best. Shut the door. There comes no swaggerers
line 1178here. I have not lived all this while to have
line 1179swaggering now. Shut the door, I pray you.
80line 1180FALSTAFFDost thou hear, hostess?
line 1181HOSTESSPray you pacify yourself, Sir John. There
line 1182comes no swaggerers here.
line 1183FALSTAFFDost thou hear? It is mine ancient.
line 1184HOSTESSTilly-vally, Sir John, ne’er tell me. And your
85line 1185ancient swaggerer comes not in my doors. I was
line 1186before Master Tisick the debuty t’ other day, and, as
line 1187he said to me—’twas no longer ago than Wednesday
line 1188last, i’ good faith—“Neighbor Quickly,” says
line 1189he—Master Dumb, our minister, was by then—
90line 1190“Neighbor Quickly,” says he, “receive those that
line 1191are civil, for,” said he, “you are in an ill name.”
line 1192Now he said so, I can tell whereupon. “For,” says
line 1193he, “you are an honest woman, and well thought
line 1194on. Therefore take heed what guests you receive.
95line 1195Receive,” says he, “no swaggering companions.”
line 1196There comes none here. You would bless you to
line 1197hear what he said. No, I’ll no swaggerers.
line 1198FALSTAFFHe’s no swaggerer, hostess, a tame cheater, i’
line 1199faith. You may stroke him as gently as a puppy
100line 1200greyhound. He’ll not swagger with a Barbary hen if
line 1201her feathers turn back in any show of resistance.—
line 1202Call him up, drawer.Drawer exits.
line 1203HOSTESS“Cheater” call you him? I will bar no honest
line 1204man my house, nor no cheater, but I do not love
105line 1205swaggering. By my troth, I am the worse when one
line 1206says “swagger.” Feel, masters, how I shake; look
line 1207you, I warrant you.
line 1208DOLLSo you do, hostess.
line 1209HOSTESSDo I? Yea, in very truth, do I, an ’twere an
110line 1210aspen leaf. I cannot abide swaggerers.
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 89

Enter Ancient Pistol, Bardolph, and Page.

line 1211PISTOLGod save you, Sir John.
line 1212FALSTAFFWelcome, Ancient Pistol. Here, Pistol, I
line 1213charge you with a cup of sack. Do you discharge
line 1214upon mine hostess.
115line 1215PISTOLI will discharge upon her, Sir John, with two
line 1216bullets.
line 1217FALSTAFFShe is pistol-proof. Sir, you shall not hardly
line 1218offend her.
line 1219HOSTESSCome, I’ll drink no proofs nor no bullets. I’ll
120line 1220drink no more than will do me good, for no man’s
line 1221pleasure, I.
line 1222PISTOLThen, to you, Mistress Dorothy! I will charge
line 1223you.
line 1224DOLLCharge me? I scorn you, scurvy companion.
125line 1225What, you poor, base, rascally, cheating lack-linen
line 1226mate! Away, you mouldy rogue, away! I am meat for
line 1227your master.
line 1228PISTOLI know you, Mistress Dorothy.
line 1229DOLLAway, you cutpurse rascal, you filthy bung, away!
130line 1230By this wine, I’ll thrust my knife in your mouldy
line 1231chaps an you play the saucy cuttle with me. Away,
line 1232you bottle-ale rascal, you basket-hilt stale juggler,
line 1233you. Since when, I pray you, sir? God’s light, with
line 1234two points on your shoulder? Much!
135line 1235PISTOLGod let me not live but I will murder your ruff
line 1236for this.
line 1237FALSTAFFNo more, Pistol. I would not have you go off
line 1238here. Discharge yourself of our company, Pistol.
line 1239HOSTESSNo, good Captain Pistol, not here, sweet
140line 1240captain!
line 1241DOLLCaptain? Thou abominable damned cheater, art
line 1242thou not ashamed to be called captain? An captains
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 91 line 1243were of my mind, they would truncheon you out for
line 1244taking their names upon you before you have
145line 1245earned them. You a captain? You slave, for what?
line 1246For tearing a poor whore’s ruff in a bawdy house?
line 1247He a captain! Hang him, rogue. He lives upon
line 1248mouldy stewed prunes and dried cakes. A captain?
line 1249God’s light, these villains will make the word as
150line 1250odious as the word “occupy,” which was an excellent
line 1251good word before it was ill sorted. Therefore
line 1252captains had need look to ’t.
line 1253BARDOLPHto Pistol Pray thee go down, good ancient.
line 1254FALSTAFFHark thee hither, Mistress Doll.
155line 1255PISTOLto Bardolph Not I. I tell thee what, Corporal
line 1256Bardolph, I could tear her. I’ll be revenged of her.
line 1257PAGEPray thee go down.
line 1258PISTOLI’ll see her damned first to Pluto’s damnèd
line 1259lake, by this hand, to th’ infernal deep with Erebus
160line 1260and tortures vile also. Hold hook and line, say I.
line 1261Down, down, dogs! Down, Fates! Have we not
line 1262Hiren here?He draws his sword.
line 1263HOSTESSGood Captain Peesell, be quiet. ’Tis very late,
line 1264i’ faith. I beseek you now, aggravate your choler.
165line 1265PISTOLThese be good humors indeed. Shall pack-horses
line 1266and hollow pampered jades of Asia, which
line 1267cannot go but thirty mile a day, compare with
line 1268Caesars and with cannibals and Troyant Greeks?
line 1269Nay, rather damn them with King Cerberus, and let
170line 1270the welkin roar. Shall we fall foul for toys?
line 1271HOSTESSBy my troth, captain, these are very bitter
line 1272words.
line 1273BARDOLPHBegone, good ancient. This will grow to a
line 1274brawl anon.
175line 1275PISTOLDie men like dogs! Give crowns like pins! Have
line 1276we not Hiren here?
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 93 line 1277HOSTESSO’ my word, captain, there’s none such here.
line 1278What the good-year, do you think I would deny her?
line 1279For God’s sake, be quiet.
180line 1280PISTOLThen feed and be fat, my fair Calipolis. Come,
line 1281give ’s some sack. Si fortune me tormente, sperato
line 1282me contento. Fear we broadsides? No, let the fiend
line 1283give fire. Give me some sack, and, sweetheart, lie
line 1284thou there. Laying down his sword. Come we to
185line 1285full points here? And are etceteras nothings?
line 1286FALSTAFFPistol, I would be quiet.
line 1287PISTOLSweet knight, I kiss thy neaf. What, we have
line 1288seen the seven stars.
line 1289DOLLFor God’s sake, thrust him downstairs. I cannot
190line 1290endure such a fustian rascal.
line 1291PISTOL“Thrust him downstairs”? Know we not Galloway
line 1292nags?
line 1293FALSTAFFQuoit him down, Bardolph, like a shove-groat
line 1294shilling. Nay, an he do nothing but speak
195line 1295nothing, he shall be nothing here.
line 1296BARDOLPHCome, get you downstairs.
line 1297PISTOLtaking up his sword What, shall we have
line 1298incision? Shall we imbrue? Then death rock me
line 1299asleep, abridge my doleful days. Why then, let
200line 1300grievous, ghastly, gaping wounds untwind the Sisters
line 1301Three. Come, Atropos, I say.
line 1302HOSTESSHere’s goodly stuff toward!
line 1303FALSTAFFGive me my rapier, boy.
line 1304DOLLI pray thee, Jack, I pray thee do not draw.
205line 1305FALSTAFFto Pistol Get you downstairs.They fight.
line 1306HOSTESSHere’s a goodly tumult. I’ll forswear keeping
line 1307house afore I’ll be in these tirrits and frights. So,
line 1308murder, I warrant now. Alas, alas, put up your
line 1309naked weapons, put up your naked weapons.

Bardolph and Pistol exit.

210line 1310DOLLI pray thee, Jack, be quiet. The rascal’s gone. Ah,
line 1311you whoreson little valiant villain, you.
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 95 line 1312HOSTESSto Falstaff Are you not hurt i’ th’ groin?
line 1313Methought he made a shrewd thrust at your belly.

Enter Bardolph.

line 1314FALSTAFFHave you turned him out o’ doors?
215line 1315BARDOLPHYea, sir. The rascal’s drunk. You have hurt
line 1316him, sir, i’ th’ shoulder.
line 1317FALSTAFFA rascal to brave me!
line 1318DOLLAh, you sweet little rogue, you. Alas, poor ape,
line 1319how thou sweat’st! Come, let me wipe thy face.
220line 1320Come on, you whoreson chops. Ah, rogue, i’ faith, I
line 1321love thee. Thou art as valorous as Hector of Troy,
line 1322worth five of Agamemnon, and ten times better
line 1323than the Nine Worthies. Ah, villain!
line 1324FALSTAFFAh, rascally slave! I will toss the rogue in a
225line 1325blanket.
line 1326DOLLDo, an thou darest for thy heart. An thou dost, I’ll
line 1327canvass thee between a pair of sheets.

Enter Musicians and Francis.

line 1328PAGEThe music is come, sir.
line 1329FALSTAFFLet them play.—Play, sirs.—Sit on my knee,
230line 1330Doll. A rascal bragging slave! The rogue fled from
line 1331me like quicksilver.
line 1332DOLLI’ faith, and thou followed’st him like a church.
line 1333Thou whoreson little tidy Bartholomew boar-pig,
line 1334when wilt thou leave fighting a-days and foining a-nights
235line 1335and begin to patch up thine old body for
line 1336heaven?

Enter behind them Prince and Poins disguised.

line 1337FALSTAFFPeace, good Doll. Do not speak like a death’s-head;
line 1338do not bid me remember mine end.
line 1339DOLLSirrah, what humor’s the Prince of?
240line 1340FALSTAFFA good shallow young fellow, he would have
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 97 line 1341made a good pantler; he would ’a chipped bread
line 1342well.
line 1343DOLLThey say Poins has a good wit.
line 1344FALSTAFFHe a good wit? Hang him, baboon. His wit’s
245line 1345as thick as Tewkesbury mustard. There’s no more
line 1346conceit in him than is in a mallet.
line 1347DOLLWhy does the Prince love him so then?
line 1348FALSTAFFBecause their legs are both of a bigness, and
line 1349he plays at quoits well, and eats conger and fennel,
250line 1350and drinks off candles’ ends for flap-dragons, and
line 1351rides the wild mare with the boys, and jumps upon
line 1352joint stools, and swears with a good grace, and
line 1353wears his boots very smooth like unto the sign of
line 1354the Leg, and breeds no bate with telling of discreet
255line 1355stories, and such other gambol faculties he has that
line 1356show a weak mind and an able body, for the which
line 1357the Prince admits him; for the Prince himself is
line 1358such another. The weight of a hair will turn the
line 1359scales between their avoirdupois.
260line 1360PRINCEaside to Poins Would not this nave of a wheel
line 1361have his ears cut off?
line 1362POINSLet’s beat him before his whore.
line 1363PRINCELook whe’er the withered elder hath not his
line 1364poll clawed like a parrot.
265line 1365POINSIs it not strange that desire should so many years
line 1366outlive performance?
line 1367FALSTAFFKiss me, Doll.
line 1368PRINCEaside to Poins Saturn and Venus this year in
line 1369conjunction! What says th’ almanac to that?
270line 1370POINSAnd look whether the fiery trigon, his man, be
line 1371not lisping to his master’s old tables, his notebook,
line 1372his counsel keeper.
line 1373FALSTAFFto Doll Thou dost give me flattering busses.
line 1374DOLLBy my troth, I kiss thee with a most constant
275line 1375heart.
line 1376FALSTAFFI am old, I am old.
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 99 line 1377DOLLI love thee better than I love e’er a scurvy young
line 1378boy of them all.
line 1379FALSTAFFWhat stuff wilt thou have a kirtle of? I shall
280line 1380receive money o’ Thursday; thou shalt have a cap
line 1381tomorrow. A merry song! Come, it grows late. We’ll
line 1382to bed. Thou ’lt forget me when I am gone.
line 1383DOLLBy my troth, thou ’lt set me a-weeping an thou
line 1384sayst so. Prove that ever I dress myself handsome till
285line 1385thy return. Well, harken a’ th’ end.
line 1386FALSTAFFSome sack, Francis.
line 1387PRINCE, POINScoming forward Anon, anon, sir.
line 1388FALSTAFFHa? A bastard son of the King’s?—And art
line 1389not thou Poins his brother?
290line 1390PRINCEWhy, thou globe of sinful continents, what a
line 1391life dost thou lead?
line 1392FALSTAFFA better than thou. I am a gentleman. Thou
line 1393art a drawer.
line 1394PRINCEVery true, sir, and I come to draw you out by
295line 1395the ears.
line 1396HOSTESSO, the Lord preserve thy good Grace! By my
line 1397troth, welcome to London. Now the Lord bless that
line 1398sweet face of thine. O Jesu, are you come from
line 1399Wales?
300line 1400FALSTAFFto Prince Thou whoreson mad compound
line 1401of majesty, by this light flesh and corrupt blood,
line 1402thou art welcome.
line 1403DOLLHow? You fat fool, I scorn you.
line 1404POINSMy lord, he will drive you out of your revenge
305line 1405and turn all to a merriment if you take not the heat.
line 1406PRINCEto Falstaff You whoreson candle-mine, you,
line 1407how vilely did you speak of me even now before
line 1408this honest, virtuous, civil gentlewoman!
line 1409HOSTESSGod’s blessing of your good heart, and so she
310line 1410is, by my troth.
line 1411FALSTAFFto Prince Didst thou hear me?
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 101 line 1412PRINCEYea, and you knew me as you did when you ran
line 1413away by Gad’s Hill. You knew I was at your back,
line 1414and spoke it on purpose to try my patience.
315line 1415FALSTAFFNo, no, no, not so. I did not think thou wast
line 1416within hearing.
line 1417PRINCEI shall drive you, then, to confess the wilfull
line 1418abuse, and then I know how to handle you.
line 1419FALSTAFFNo abuse, Hal, o’ mine honor, no abuse.
320line 1420PRINCENot to dispraise me and call me pantler and
line 1421bread-chipper and I know not what?
line 1422FALSTAFFNo abuse, Hal.
line 1423POINSNo abuse?
line 1424FALSTAFFNo abuse, Ned, i’ th’ world, honest Ned,
325line 1425none. I dispraised him before the wicked,
line 1426 to Prince that the wicked might not fall in love with
line 1427thee; in which doing, I have done the part of a
line 1428careful friend and a true subject, and thy father is to
line 1429give me thanks for it. No abuse, Hal.—None, Ned,
330line 1430none. No, faith, boys, none.
line 1431PRINCESee now whether pure fear and entire cowardice
line 1432doth not make thee wrong this virtuous gentlewoman
line 1433to close with us. Is she of the wicked, is
line 1434thine hostess here of the wicked, or is thy boy of the
335line 1435wicked, or honest Bardolph, whose zeal burns in
line 1436his nose, of the wicked?
line 1437POINSAnswer, thou dead elm, answer.
line 1438FALSTAFFThe fiend hath pricked down Bardolph irrecoverable,
line 1439and his face is Lucifer’s privy kitchen,
340line 1440where he doth nothing but roast malt-worms. For
line 1441the boy, there is a good angel about him, but the
line 1442devil blinds him too.
line 1443PRINCEFor the women?
line 1444FALSTAFFFor one of them, she’s in hell already and
345line 1445burns poor souls. For th’ other, I owe her money,
line 1446and whether she be damned for that I know not.
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 103 line 1447HOSTESSNo, I warrant you.
line 1448FALSTAFFNo, I think thou art not. I think thou art quit
line 1449for that. Marry, there is another indictment upon
350line 1450thee for suffering flesh to be eaten in thy house
line 1451contrary to the law, for the which I think thou wilt
line 1452howl.
line 1453HOSTESSAll vitlars do so. What’s a joint of mutton or
line 1454two in a whole Lent?
355line 1455PRINCEto Doll You, gentlewoman.
line 1456DOLLWhat says your Grace?
line 1457FALSTAFFHis grace says that which his flesh rebels
line 1458against.

Peto knocks at door.

line 1459HOSTESSWho knocks so loud at door? Look to th’ door
360line 1460there, Francis.Francis exits.

Enter Peto.

line 1461PRINCEPeto, how now, what news?
PETO
line 1462The King your father is at Westminster,
line 1463And there are twenty weak and wearied posts
line 1464Come from the north, and as I came along
365line 1465I met and overtook a dozen captains,
line 1466Bareheaded, sweating, knocking at the taverns
line 1467And asking everyone for Sir John Falstaff.
PRINCE
line 1468By heaven, Poins, I feel me much to blame
line 1469So idly to profane the precious time
370line 1470When tempest of commotion, like the south
line 1471Borne with black vapor, doth begin to melt
line 1472And drop upon our bare unarmèd heads.—
line 1473Give me my sword and cloak.—Falstaff, good
line 1474night.Prince, Peto, and Poins exit.
375line 1475FALSTAFFNow comes in the sweetest morsel of the
line 1476night, and we must hence and leave it unpicked.
Act 2 Scene 4 - Pg 105 line 1477Knocking. Bardolph exits. More knocking at the
line 1478door? Bardolph returns. How now, what’s the
line 1479matter?
BARDOLPH
380line 1480You must away to court, sir, presently.
line 1481A dozen captains stay at door for you.
line 1482FALSTAFFto Page Pay the musicians, sirrah.—
line 1483Farewell, hostess.—Farewell, Doll. You see, my
line 1484good wenches, how men of merit are sought after.
385line 1485The undeserver may sleep when the man of action
line 1486is called on. Farewell, good wenches. If I be not sent
line 1487away post, I will see you again ere I go.
line 1488DOLLI cannot speak. If my heart be not ready to
line 1489burst—well, sweet Jack, have a care of thyself.
390line 1490FALSTAFFFarewell, farewell.

He exits with Bardolph, Page, and Musicians.

line 1491HOSTESSWell, fare thee well. I have known thee these
line 1492twenty-nine years, come peasecod time, but an
line 1493honester and truer-hearted man—well, fare thee
line 1494well.
395line 1495BARDOLPHwithin Mistress Tearsheet!
line 1496HOSTESSWhat’s the matter?
line 1497BARDOLPHwithin Bid Mistress Tearsheet come to my
line 1498master.
line 1499HOSTESSO, run, Doll, run, run, good Doll. Come.—
400line 1500She comes blubbered.—Yea! Will you come, Doll?

They exit.


ACT 3


Scene 1

Enter the King in his nightgown with a Page.

KING
line 1501Go call the Earls of Surrey and of Warwick;
line 1502But, ere they come, bid them o’erread these letters
line 1503And well consider of them. Make good speed.

Page exits.

line 1504How many thousand of my poorest subjects
5line 1505Are at this hour asleep! O sleep, O gentle sleep,
line 1506Nature’s soft nurse, how have I frighted thee,
line 1507That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down
line 1508And steep my senses in forgetfulness?
line 1509Why rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs,
10line 1510Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee,
line 1511And hushed with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber,
line 1512Than in the perfumed chambers of the great,
line 1513Under the canopies of costly state,
line 1514And lulled with sound of sweetest melody?
15line 1515O thou dull god, why liest thou with the vile
line 1516In loathsome beds and leavest the kingly couch
line 1517A watch-case or a common ’larum bell?
line 1518Wilt thou upon the high and giddy mast
line 1519Seal up the shipboy’s eyes and rock his brains
20line 1520In cradle of the rude imperious surge
line 1521And in the visitation of the winds,
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 111 line 1522Who take the ruffian billows by the top,
line 1523Curling their monstrous heads and hanging them
line 1524With deafing clamor in the slippery clouds
25line 1525That with the hurly death itself awakes?
line 1526Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy repose
line 1527To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude,
line 1528And, in the calmest and most stillest night,
line 1529With all appliances and means to boot,
30line 1530Deny it to a king? Then, happy low, lie down.
line 1531Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

Enter Warwick, Surrey and Sir John Blunt.

WARWICK
line 1532Many good morrows to your Majesty.
line 1533KINGIs it good morrow, lords?
line 1534WARWICK’Tis one o’clock, and past.
KING
35line 1535Why then, good morrow to you all, my lords.
line 1536Have you read o’er the letter that I sent you?
line 1537WARWICKWe have, my liege.
KING
line 1538Then you perceive the body of our kingdom
line 1539How foul it is, what rank diseases grow,
40line 1540And with what danger near the heart of it.
WARWICK
line 1541It is but as a body yet distempered,
line 1542Which to his former strength may be restored
line 1543With good advice and little medicine.
line 1544My Lord Northumberland will soon be cooled.
KING
45line 1545O God, that one might read the book of fate
line 1546And see the revolution of the times
line 1547Make mountains level, and the continent,
line 1548Weary of solid firmness, melt itself
line 1549Into the sea, and other times to see
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 113 50line 1550The beachy girdle of the ocean
line 1551Too wide for Neptune’s hips; how chance’s mocks
line 1552And changes fill the cup of alteration
line 1553With divers liquors! O, if this were seen,
line 1554The happiest youth, viewing his progress through,
55line 1555What perils past, what crosses to ensue,
line 1556Would shut the book and sit him down and die.
line 1557’Tis not ten years gone
line 1558Since Richard and Northumberland, great friends,
line 1559Did feast together, and in two years after
60line 1560Were they at wars. It is but eight years since
line 1561This Percy was the man nearest my soul,
line 1562Who like a brother toiled in my affairs
line 1563And laid his love and life under my foot,
line 1564Yea, for my sake, even to the eyes of Richard
65line 1565Gave him defiance. But which of you was by—
line 1566To Warwick. You, cousin Nevil, as I may
line 1567remember—
line 1568When Richard, with his eye brimful of tears,
line 1569Then checked and rated by Northumberland,
70line 1570Did speak these words, now proved a prophecy?
line 1571“Northumberland, thou ladder by the which
line 1572My cousin Bolingbroke ascends my throne”—
line 1573Though then, God knows, I had no such intent,
line 1574But that necessity so bowed the state
75line 1575That I and greatness were compelled to kiss—
line 1576“The time shall come,” thus did he follow it,
line 1577“The time will come that foul sin, gathering head,
line 1578Shall break into corruption”—so went on,
line 1579Foretelling this same time’s condition
80line 1580And the division of our amity.
WARWICK
line 1581There is a history in all men’s lives
line 1582Figuring the natures of the times deceased,
line 1583The which observed, a man may prophesy,
line 1584With a near aim, of the main chance of things
Act 3 Scene 1 - Pg 115 85line 1585As yet not come to life, who in their seeds
line 1586And weak beginning lie intreasurèd.
line 1587Such things become the hatch and brood of time,
line 1588And by the necessary form of this,
line 1589King Richard might create a perfect guess
90line 1590That great Northumberland, then false to him,
line 1591Would of that seed grow to a greater falseness,
line 1592Which should not find a ground to root upon
line 1593Unless on you.
line 1594KINGAre these things then necessities?
95line 1595Then let us meet them like necessities.
line 1596And that same word even now cries out on us.
line 1597They say the Bishop and Northumberland
line 1598Are fifty thousand strong.
line 1599WARWICKIt cannot be, my lord.
100line 1600Rumor doth double, like the voice and echo,
line 1601The numbers of the feared. Please it your Grace
line 1602To go to bed. Upon my soul, my lord,
line 1603The powers that you already have sent forth
line 1604Shall bring this prize in very easily.
105line 1605To comfort you the more, I have received
line 1606A certain instance that Glendower is dead.
line 1607Your Majesty hath been this fortnight ill,
line 1608And these unseasoned hours perforce must add
line 1609Unto your sickness.
110line 1610KINGI will take your counsel.
line 1611And were these inward wars once out of hand,
line 1612We would, dear lords, unto the Holy Land.

They exit.

Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 117

Scene 2

Enter Justice Shallow and Justice Silence.

line 1613SHALLOWCome on, come on, come on. Give me your
line 1614hand, sir, give me your hand, sir. An early stirrer, by
line 1615the rood. And how doth my good cousin Silence?
line 1616SILENCEGood morrow, good cousin Shallow.
5line 1617SHALLOWAnd how doth my cousin your bedfellow?
line 1618And your fairest daughter and mine, my goddaughter
line 1619Ellen?
line 1620SILENCEAlas, a black ousel, cousin Shallow.
line 1621SHALLOWBy yea and no, sir. I dare say my cousin
10line 1622William is become a good scholar. He is at Oxford
line 1623still, is he not?
line 1624SILENCEIndeed, sir, to my cost.
line 1625SHALLOWHe must then to the Inns o’ Court shortly. I
line 1626was once of Clement’s Inn, where I think they will
15line 1627talk of mad Shallow yet.
line 1628SILENCEYou were called “Lusty Shallow” then,
line 1629cousin.
line 1630SHALLOWBy the Mass, I was called anything, and I
line 1631would have done anything indeed too, and roundly
20line 1632too. There was I, and little John Doit of Staffordshire,
line 1633and black George Barnes, and Francis Pickbone,
line 1634and Will Squele, a Cotswold man. You had
line 1635not four such swinge-bucklers in all the Inns o’
line 1636Court again. And I may say to you, we knew where
25line 1637the bona robas were and had the best of them all at
line 1638commandment. Then was Jack Falstaff, now Sir
line 1639John, a boy, and page to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of
line 1640Norfolk.
line 1641SILENCEThis Sir John, cousin, that comes hither anon
30line 1642about soldiers?
line 1643SHALLOWThe same Sir John, the very same. I see him
line 1644break Scoggin’s head at the court gate, when he
line 1645was a crack not thus high; and the very same day did
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 119 line 1646I fight with one Sampson Stockfish, a fruiterer,
35line 1647behind Grey’s Inn. Jesu, Jesu, the mad days that I
line 1648have spent! And to see how many of my old acquaintance
line 1649are dead.
line 1650SILENCEWe shall all follow, cousin.
line 1651SHALLOWCertain, ’tis certain, very sure, very sure.
40line 1652Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all. All
line 1653shall die. How a good yoke of bullocks at Stamford
line 1654Fair?
line 1655SILENCEBy my troth, cousin, I was not there.
line 1656SHALLOWDeath is certain. Is old Dooble of your town
45line 1657living yet?
line 1658SILENCEDead, sir.
line 1659SHALLOWJesu, Jesu, dead! He drew a good bow, and
line 1660dead? He shot a fine shoot. John o’ Gaunt loved him
line 1661well, and betted much money on his head. Dead! He
50line 1662would have clapped i’ th’ clout at twelve score, and
line 1663carried you a forehand shaft a fourteen and fourteen
line 1664and a half, that it would have done a man’s
line 1665heart good to see. How a score of ewes now?
line 1666SILENCEThereafter as they be, a score of good ewes
55line 1667may be worth ten pounds.
line 1668SHALLOWAnd is old Dooble dead?
line 1669SILENCEHere come two of Sir John Falstaff’s men, as I
line 1670think.

Enter Bardolph and one with him.

line 1671SHALLOWGood morrow, honest gentlemen.
60line 1672BARDOLPHI beseech you, which is Justice Shallow?
line 1673SHALLOWI am Robert Shallow, sir, a poor esquire of
line 1674this county and one of the King’s justices of the
line 1675peace. What is your good pleasure with me?
line 1676BARDOLPHMy captain, sir, commends him to you, my
65line 1677captain, Sir John Falstaff, a tall gentleman, by
line 1678heaven, and a most gallant leader.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 121 line 1679SHALLOWHe greets me well, sir. I knew him a good
line 1680backsword man. How doth the good knight? May I
line 1681ask how my lady his wife doth?
70line 1682BARDOLPHSir, pardon. A soldier is better accommodated
line 1683than with a wife.
line 1684SHALLOWIt is well said, in faith, sir, and it is well said
line 1685indeed too. “Better accommodated.” It is good,
line 1686yea, indeed is it. Good phrases are surely, and ever
75line 1687were, very commendable. “Accommodated.” It
line 1688comes of accommodo. Very good, a good phrase.
line 1689BARDOLPHPardon, sir, I have heard the word—
line 1690“phrase” call you it? By this day, I know not the
line 1691phrase, but I will maintain the word with my sword
80line 1692to be a soldierlike word, and a word of exceeding
line 1693good command, by heaven. “Accommodated,” that
line 1694is when a man is, as they say, accommodated, or
line 1695when a man is being whereby he may be thought to
line 1696be accommodated, which is an excellent thing.

Enter Falstaff.

85line 1697SHALLOWIt is very just. Look, here comes good Sir
line 1698John.—Give me your good hand, give me your
line 1699Worship’s good hand. By my troth, you like well and
line 1700bear your years very well. Welcome, good Sir John.
line 1701FALSTAFFI am glad to see you well, good Master
90line 1702Robert Shallow.—Master Sure-card, as I think?
line 1703SHALLOWNo, Sir John. It is my cousin Silence, in
line 1704commission with me.
line 1705FALSTAFFGood Master Silence, it well befits you
line 1706should be of the peace.
95line 1707SILENCEYour good Worship is welcome.
line 1708FALSTAFFFie, this is hot weather, gentlemen. Have you
line 1709provided me here half a dozen sufficient men?
line 1710SHALLOWMarry, have we, sir. Will you sit?

They sit at a table.

Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 123 line 1711FALSTAFFLet me see them, I beseech you.
100line 1712SHALLOWWhere’s the roll? Where’s the roll? Where’s
line 1713the roll? Let me see, let me see, let me see. So, so,
line 1714so, so, so. So, so. Yea, marry, sir.—Rafe Mouldy!—
line 1715Let them appear as I call, let them do so, let them
line 1716do so.

Enter Mouldy, followed by Shadow, Wart, Feeble, and Bullcalf.

105line 1717Let me see, where is Mouldy?
line 1718MOULDYcoming forward Here, an it please you.
line 1719SHALLOWWhat think you, Sir John? A good-limbed
line 1720fellow, young, strong, and of good friends.
line 1721FALSTAFFIs thy name Mouldy?
110line 1722MOULDYYea, an ’t please you.
line 1723FALSTAFF’Tis the more time thou wert used.
line 1724SHALLOWHa, ha, ha, most excellent, i’ faith! Things
line 1725that are mouldy lack use. Very singular good, in
line 1726faith. Well said, Sir John, very well said.
115line 1727FALSTAFFPrick him.

Shallow marks the scroll.

line 1728MOULDYI was pricked well enough before, an you
line 1729could have let me alone. My old dame will be
line 1730undone now for one to do her husbandry and her
line 1731drudgery. You need not to have pricked me. There
120line 1732are other men fitter to go out than I.
line 1733FALSTAFFGo to. Peace, Mouldy. You shall go. Mouldy,
line 1734it is time you were spent.
line 1735MOULDYSpent?
line 1736SHALLOWPeace, fellow, peace. Stand aside. Know you
125line 1737where you are?—For th’ other, Sir John. Let me
line 1738see.—Simon Shadow!
line 1739FALSTAFFYea, marry, let me have him to sit under.
line 1740He’s like to be a cold soldier.
line 1741SHALLOWWhere’s Shadow?
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 125 130line 1742SHADOWcoming forward Here, sir.
line 1743FALSTAFFShadow, whose son art thou?
line 1744SHADOWMy mother’s son, sir.
line 1745FALSTAFFThy mother’s son! Like enough, and thy
line 1746father’s shadow. So the son of the female is the
135line 1747shadow of the male. It is often so, indeed, but much
line 1748of the father’s substance.
line 1749SHALLOWDo you like him, Sir John?
line 1750FALSTAFFShadow will serve for summer. Prick him,
line 1751for we have a number of shadows to fill up the
140line 1752muster book.
line 1753SHALLOWThomas Wart!
line 1754FALSTAFFWhere’s he?
line 1755WARTcoming forward Here, sir.
line 1756FALSTAFFIs thy name Wart?
145line 1757WARTYea, sir.
line 1758FALSTAFFThou art a very ragged wart.
line 1759SHALLOWShall I prick him down, Sir John?
line 1760FALSTAFFIt were superfluous, for his apparel is built
line 1761upon his back, and the whole frame stands upon
150line 1762pins. Prick him no more.
line 1763SHALLOWHa, ha, ha. You can do it, sir, you can do it. I
line 1764commend you well.—Francis Feeble!
line 1765FEEBLEcoming forward Here, sir.
line 1766SHALLOWWhat trade art thou, Feeble?
155line 1767FEEBLEA woman’s tailor, sir.
line 1768SHALLOWShall I prick him, sir?
line 1769FALSTAFFYou may, but if he had been a man’s tailor,
line 1770he’d ha’ pricked you.—Wilt thou make as many
line 1771holes in an enemy’s battle as thou hast done in a
160line 1772woman’s petticoat?
line 1773FEEBLEI will do my good will, sir. You can have no
line 1774more.
line 1775FALSTAFFWell said, good woman’s tailor, well said,
line 1776courageous Feeble. Thou wilt be as valiant as the
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 127 165line 1777wrathful dove or most magnanimous mouse.—
line 1778Prick the woman’s tailor well, Master Shallow,
line 1779deep, Master Shallow.
line 1780FEEBLEI would Wart might have gone, sir.
line 1781FALSTAFFI would thou wert a man’s tailor, that thou
170line 1782mightst mend him and make him fit to go. I cannot
line 1783put him to a private soldier that is the leader of so
line 1784many thousands. Let that suffice, most forcible
line 1785Feeble.
line 1786FEEBLEIt shall suffice, sir.
175line 1787FALSTAFFI am bound to thee, reverend Feeble.—Who
line 1788is the next?
line 1789SHALLOWPeter Bullcalf o’ th’ green.
line 1790FALSTAFFYea, marry, let’s see Bullcalf.
line 1791BULLCALFcoming forward Here, sir.
180line 1792FALSTAFFFore God, a likely fellow. Come, prick me
line 1793Bullcalf till he roar again.
line 1794BULLCALFO Lord, good my lord captain—
line 1795FALSTAFFWhat, dost thou roar before thou art
line 1796pricked?
185line 1797BULLCALFO Lord, sir, I am a diseased man.
line 1798FALSTAFFWhat disease hast thou?
line 1799BULLCALFA whoreson cold, sir, a cough, sir, which I
line 1800caught with ringing in the King’s affairs upon his
line 1801coronation day, sir.
190line 1802FALSTAFFCome, thou shalt go to the wars in a gown.
line 1803We will have away thy cold, and I will take such
line 1804order that thy friends shall ring for thee.—Is here
line 1805all?
line 1806SHALLOWHere is two more called than your number.
195line 1807You must have but four here, sir, and so I pray you
line 1808go in with me to dinner.
line 1809FALSTAFFCome, I will go drink with you, but I cannot
line 1810tarry dinner. I am glad to see you, by my troth,
line 1811Master Shallow.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 129 200line 1812SHALLOWO, Sir John, do you remember since we lay
line 1813all night in the windmill in Saint George’s Field?
line 1814FALSTAFFNo more of that, good Master Shallow, no
line 1815more of that.
line 1816SHALLOWHa, ’twas a merry night. And is Jane Nightwork
205line 1817alive?
line 1818FALSTAFFShe lives, Master Shallow.
line 1819SHALLOWShe never could away with me.
line 1820FALSTAFFNever, never. She would always say she could
line 1821not abide Master Shallow.
210line 1822SHALLOWBy the Mass, I could anger her to th’ heart.
line 1823She was then a bona roba. Doth she hold her own
line 1824well?
line 1825FALSTAFFOld, old, Master Shallow.
line 1826SHALLOWNay, she must be old. She cannot choose but
215line 1827be old. Certain, she’s old, and had Robin Nightwork
line 1828by old Nightwork before I came to Clement’s Inn.
line 1829SILENCEThat’s fifty-five year ago.
line 1830SHALLOWHa, cousin Silence, that thou hadst seen that
line 1831that this knight and I have seen!—Ha, Sir John, said
220line 1832I well?
line 1833FALSTAFFWe have heard the chimes at midnight, Master
line 1834Shallow.
line 1835SHALLOWThat we have, that we have, that we have. In
line 1836faith, Sir John, we have. Our watchword was “Hem,
225line 1837boys.” Come, let’s to dinner, come, let’s to dinner.
line 1838Jesus, the days that we have seen! Come, come.

Shallow, Silence, and Falstaff rise and exit.

line 1839BULLCALFGood Master Corporate Bardolph, stand my
line 1840friend, and here’s four Harry ten-shillings in
line 1841French crowns for you. He gives Bardolph money.
230line 1842In very truth, sir, I had as lief be hanged, sir, as go.
line 1843And yet, for mine own part, sir, I do not care, but
line 1844rather because I am unwilling, and, for mine own
line 1845part, have a desire to stay with my friends. Else, sir,
line 1846I did not care, for mine own part, so much.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 131 235line 1847BARDOLPHGo to. Stand aside.
line 1848MOULDYAnd, good Master Corporal Captain, for my
line 1849old dame’s sake, stand my friend. She has nobody to
line 1850do anything about her when I am gone, and she is
line 1851old and cannot help herself. You shall have forty,
240line 1852sir.He gives money.
line 1853BARDOLPHGo to. Stand aside.
line 1854FEEBLEBy my troth, I care not. A man can die but
line 1855once. We owe God a death. I’ll ne’er bear a base
line 1856mind. An ’t be my destiny, so; an ’t be not, so. No
245line 1857man’s too good to serve ’s prince, and let it go
line 1858which way it will, he that dies this year is quit for
line 1859the next.
line 1860BARDOLPHWell said. Th’ art a good fellow.
line 1861FEEBLEFaith, I’ll bear no base mind.

Enter Falstaff and the Justices.

250line 1862FALSTAFFCome, sir, which men shall I have?
line 1863SHALLOWFour of which you please.
line 1864BARDOLPHaside to Falstaff Sir, a word with you. I
line 1865have three pound to free Mouldy and Bullcalf.
line 1866FALSTAFFGo to, well.
255line 1867SHALLOWCome, Sir John, which four will you have?
line 1868FALSTAFFDo you choose for me.
line 1869SHALLOWMarry, then, Mouldy, Bullcalf, Feeble, and
line 1870Shadow.
line 1871FALSTAFFMouldy and Bullcalf! For you, Mouldy, stay
260line 1872at home till you are past service.—And for your
line 1873part, Bullcalf, grow till you come unto it. I will
line 1874none of you.Mouldy and Bullcalf exit.
line 1875SHALLOWSir John, Sir John, do not yourself wrong.
line 1876They are your likeliest men, and I would have you
265line 1877served with the best.
line 1878FALSTAFFWill you tell me, Master Shallow, how to
line 1879choose a man? Care I for the limb, the thews, the
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 133 line 1880stature, bulk and big assemblance of a man? Give
line 1881me the spirit, Master Shallow. Here’s Wart. You see
270line 1882what a ragged appearance it is. He shall charge you
line 1883and discharge you with the motion of a pewterer’s
line 1884hammer, come off and on swifter than he that
line 1885gibbets on the brewer’s bucket. And this same half-faced
line 1886fellow, Shadow, give me this man. He presents
275line 1887no mark to the enemy. The foeman may with
line 1888as great aim level at the edge of a penknife. And for
line 1889a retreat, how swiftly will this Feeble, the woman’s
line 1890tailor, run off! O, give me the spare men, and spare
line 1891me the great ones.—Put me a caliver into Wart’s
280line 1892hand, Bardolph.
line 1893BARDOLPHgiving Wart a musket Hold, Wart. Traverse.
line 1894Thas, thas, thas.
line 1895FALSTAFFto Wart Come, manage me your caliver: so,
line 1896very well, go to, very good, exceeding good. O, give
285line 1897me always a little, lean, old, chopped, bald shot.
line 1898Well said, i’ faith, Wart. Th’ art a good scab. Hold,
line 1899there’s a tester for thee.He gives Wart money.
line 1900SHALLOWHe is not his craft’s master. He doth not do it
line 1901right. I remember at Mile End Green, when I lay at
290line 1902Clement’s Inn—I was then Sir Dagonet in Arthur’s
line 1903show—there was a little quiver fellow, and he
line 1904would manage you his piece thus. Shallow performs with the musket.
line 1905And he would about and
line 1906about, and come you in, and come you in. “Rah,
295line 1907tah, tah,” would he say. “Bounce,” would he say,
line 1908and away again would he go, and again would he
line 1909come. I shall ne’er see such a fellow.
line 1910FALSTAFFThese fellows will do well, Master Shallow.
line 1911—God keep you, Master Silence. I will not use
300line 1912many words with you. Fare you well, gentlemen
line 1913both. I thank you. I must a dozen mile tonight.—
line 1914Bardolph, give the soldiers coats.
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 135 line 1915SHALLOWSir John, the Lord bless you. God prosper
line 1916your affairs. God send us peace. At your return, visit
305line 1917our house. Let our old acquaintance be renewed.
line 1918Peradventure I will with you to the court.
line 1919FALSTAFFFore God, would you would, Master
line 1920Shallow.
line 1921SHALLOWGo to. I have spoke at a word. God keep you.
310line 1922FALSTAFFFare you well, gentle gentlemen.

Shallow and Silence exit.

line 1923On, Bardolph. Lead the men away.

All but Falstaff exit.

line 1924As I return, I will fetch off these justices. I do see
line 1925the bottom of Justice Shallow. Lord, Lord, how
line 1926subject we old men are to this vice of lying. This
315line 1927same starved justice hath done nothing but prate to
line 1928me of the wildness of his youth and the feats he hath
line 1929done about Turnbull Street, and every third word a
line 1930lie, duer paid to the hearer than the Turk’s tribute. I
line 1931do remember him at Clement’s Inn, like a man
320line 1932made after supper of a cheese paring. When he was
line 1933naked, he was, for all the world, like a forked radish
line 1934with a head fantastically carved upon it with a
line 1935knife. He was so forlorn that his dimensions to
line 1936any thick sight were invincible. He was the very
325line 1937genius of famine, yet lecherous as a monkey,
line 1938and the whores called him “mandrake.” He came
line 1939ever in the rearward of the fashion, and sung
line 1940those tunes to the overscutched huswives that he
line 1941heard the carmen whistle, and swore they were his
330line 1942fancies or his good-nights. And now is this Vice’s
line 1943dagger become a squire, and talks as familiarly
line 1944of John o’ Gaunt as if he had been sworn brother
line 1945to him, and I’ll be sworn he ne’er saw him but
line 1946once in the tilt-yard, and then he burst his head
335line 1947for crowding among the Marshal’s men. I saw it
line 1948and told John o’ Gaunt he beat his own name, for
Act 3 Scene 2 - Pg 137 line 1949you might have thrust him and all his apparel into
line 1950an eel-skin; the case of a treble hautboy was a
line 1951mansion for him, a court. And now has he land and
340line 1952beefs. Well, I’ll be acquainted with him if I return,
line 1953and ’t shall go hard but I’ll make him a philosopher’s
line 1954two stones to me. If the young dace be a
line 1955bait for the old pike, I see no reason in the law of
line 1956nature but I may snap at him. Let time shape, and
345line 1957there an end.

He exits.


ACT 4


Scene 1

Enter the Archbishop of York, Mowbray, Lord Bardolph, Hastings, and their officers within the Forest of Gaultree.

line 1958ARCHBISHOPWhat is this forest called?
HASTINGS
line 1959’Tis Gaultree Forest, an ’t shall please your Grace.
ARCHBISHOP
line 1960Here stand, my lords, and send discoverers forth
line 1961To know the numbers of our enemies.
HASTINGS
5line 1962We have sent forth already.
line 1963ARCHBISHOP’Tis well done.
line 1964My friends and brethren in these great affairs,
line 1965I must acquaint you that I have received
line 1966New-dated letters from Northumberland,
10line 1967Their cold intent, tenor, and substance, thus:
line 1968Here doth he wish his person, with such powers
line 1969As might hold sortance with his quality,
line 1970The which he could not levy; whereupon
line 1971He is retired, to ripe his growing fortunes,
15line 1972To Scotland, and concludes in hearty prayers
line 1973That your attempts may overlive the hazard
line 1974And fearful meeting of their opposite.
MOWBRAY
line 1975Thus do the hopes we have in him touch ground
line 1976And dash themselves to pieces.
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 143

Enter Messenger.

20line 1977HASTINGSNow, what news?
MESSENGER
line 1978West of this forest, scarcely off a mile,
line 1979In goodly form comes on the enemy,
line 1980And, by the ground they hide, I judge their number
line 1981Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand.
MOWBRAY
25line 1982The just proportion that we gave them out.
line 1983Let us sway on and face them in the field.

Enter Westmoreland.

ARCHBISHOP
line 1984What well-appointed leader fronts us here?
MOWBRAY
line 1985I think it is my Lord of Westmoreland.
WESTMORELAND
line 1986Health and fair greeting from our general,
30line 1987The Prince Lord John and Duke of Lancaster.
ARCHBISHOP
line 1988Say on, my Lord of Westmoreland, in peace,
line 1989What doth concern your coming.
line 1990WESTMORELANDThen, my lord,
line 1991Unto your Grace do I in chief address
35line 1992The substance of my speech. If that rebellion
line 1993Came like itself, in base and abject routs,
line 1994Led on by bloody youth, guarded with rage,
line 1995And countenanced by boys and beggary—
line 1996I say, if damned commotion so appeared
40line 1997In his true, native, and most proper shape,
line 1998You, reverend father, and these noble lords
line 1999Had not been here to dress the ugly form
line 2000Of base and bloody insurrection
line 2001With your fair honors. You, Lord Archbishop,
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 145 45line 2002Whose see is by a civil peace maintained,
line 2003Whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touched,
line 2004Whose learning and good letters peace hath tutored,
line 2005Whose white investments figure innocence,
line 2006The dove and very blessèd spirit of peace,
50line 2007Wherefore do you so ill translate yourself
line 2008Out of the speech of peace, that bears such grace,
line 2009Into the harsh and boist’rous tongue of war,
line 2010Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood,
line 2011Your pens to lances, and your tongue divine
55line 2012To a loud trumpet and a point of war?
ARCHBISHOP
line 2013Wherefore do I this? So the question stands.
line 2014Briefly, to this end: we are all diseased
line 2015And with our surfeiting and wanton hours
line 2016Have brought ourselves into a burning fever,
60line 2017And we must bleed for it; of which disease
line 2018Our late King Richard, being infected, died.
line 2019But, my most noble Lord of Westmoreland,
line 2020I take not on me here as a physician,
line 2021Nor do I as an enemy to peace
65line 2022Troop in the throngs of military men,
line 2023But rather show awhile like fearful war
line 2024To diet rank minds sick of happiness
line 2025And purge th’ obstructions which begin to stop
line 2026Our very veins of life. Hear me more plainly.
70line 2027I have in equal balance justly weighed
line 2028What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we
line 2029suffer,
line 2030And find our griefs heavier than our offenses.
line 2031We see which way the stream of time doth run
75line 2032And are enforced from our most quiet there
line 2033By the rough torrent of occasion,
line 2034And have the summary of all our griefs,
line 2035When time shall serve, to show in articles;
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 147 line 2036Which long ere this we offered to the King
80line 2037And might by no suit gain our audience.
line 2038When we are wronged and would unfold our griefs,
line 2039We are denied access unto his person
line 2040Even by those men that most have done us wrong.
line 2041The dangers of the days but newly gone,
85line 2042Whose memory is written on the earth
line 2043With yet-appearing blood, and the examples
line 2044Of every minute’s instance, present now,
line 2045Hath put us in these ill-beseeming arms,
line 2046Not to break peace or any branch of it,
90line 2047But to establish here a peace indeed,
line 2048Concurring both in name and quality.
WESTMORELAND
line 2049Whenever yet was your appeal denied?
line 2050Wherein have you been gallèd by the King?
line 2051What peer hath been suborned to grate on you,
95line 2052That you should seal this lawless bloody book
line 2053Of forged rebellion with a seal divine
line 2054And consecrate commotion’s bitter edge?
ARCHBISHOP
line 2055My brother general, the commonwealth,
line 2056To brother born an household cruelty,
100line 2057I make my quarrel in particular.
WESTMORELAND
line 2058There is no need of any such redress,
line 2059Or if there were, it not belongs to you.
MOWBRAY
line 2060Why not to him in part, and to us all
line 2061That feel the bruises of the days before
105line 2062And suffer the condition of these times
line 2063To lay a heavy and unequal hand
line 2064Upon our honors?
line 2065WESTMORELANDO, my good Lord Mowbray,
line 2066Construe the times to their necessities,
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 149 110line 2067And you shall say indeed it is the time,
line 2068And not the King, that doth you injuries.
line 2069Yet for your part, it not appears to me
line 2070Either from the King or in the present time
line 2071That you should have an inch of any ground
115line 2072To build a grief on. Were you not restored
line 2073To all the Duke of Norfolk’s seigniories,
line 2074Your noble and right well remembered father’s?
MOWBRAY
line 2075What thing, in honor, had my father lost
line 2076That need to be revived and breathed in me?
120line 2077The King that loved him, as the state stood then,
line 2078Was force perforce compelled to banish him,
line 2079And then that Henry Bolingbroke and he,
line 2080Being mounted and both rousèd in their seats,
line 2081Their neighing coursers daring of the spur,
125line 2082Their armèd staves in charge, their beavers down,
line 2083Their eyes of fire sparkling through sights of steel,
line 2084And the loud trumpet blowing them together,
line 2085Then, then, when there was nothing could have
line 2086stayed
130line 2087My father from the breast of Bolingbroke,
line 2088O, when the King did throw his warder down—
line 2089His own life hung upon the staff he threw—
line 2090Then threw he down himself and all their lives
line 2091That by indictment and by dint of sword
135line 2092Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke.
WESTMORELAND
line 2093You speak, Lord Mowbray, now you know not what.
line 2094The Earl of Hereford was reputed then
line 2095In England the most valiant gentleman.
line 2096Who knows on whom fortune would then have
140line 2097smiled?
line 2098But if your father had been victor there,
line 2099He ne’er had borne it out of Coventry;
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 151 line 2100For all the country in a general voice
line 2101Cried hate upon him; and all their prayers and
145line 2102love
line 2103Were set on Hereford, whom they doted on
line 2104And blessed and graced, indeed more than the
line 2105King.
line 2106But this is mere digression from my purpose.
150line 2107Here come I from our princely general
line 2108To know your griefs, to tell you from his Grace
line 2109That he will give you audience; and wherein
line 2110It shall appear that your demands are just,
line 2111You shall enjoy them, everything set off
155line 2112That might so much as think you enemies.
MOWBRAY
line 2113But he hath forced us to compel this offer,
line 2114And it proceeds from policy, not love.
WESTMORELAND
line 2115Mowbray, you overween to take it so.
line 2116This offer comes from mercy, not from fear.
160line 2117For, lo, within a ken our army lies,
line 2118Upon mine honor, all too confident
line 2119To give admittance to a thought of fear.
line 2120Our battle is more full of names than yours,
line 2121Our men more perfect in the use of arms,
165line 2122Our armor all as strong, our cause the best.
line 2123Then reason will our hearts should be as good.
line 2124Say you not then our offer is compelled.
MOWBRAY
line 2125Well, by my will, we shall admit no parley.
WESTMORELAND
line 2126That argues but the shame of your offense.
170line 2127A rotten case abides no handling.
HASTINGS
line 2128Hath the Prince John a full commission,
line 2129In very ample virtue of his father,
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 153 line 2130To hear and absolutely to determine
line 2131Of what conditions we shall stand upon?
WESTMORELAND
175line 2132That is intended in the General’s name.
line 2133I muse you make so slight a question.
ARCHBISHOPgiving Westmoreland a paper
line 2134Then take, my Lord of Westmoreland, this schedule,
line 2135For this contains our general grievances.
line 2136Each several article herein redressed,
180line 2137All members of our cause, both here and hence
line 2138That are insinewed to this action,
line 2139Acquitted by a true substantial form
line 2140And present execution of our wills
line 2141To us and to our purposes confined,
185line 2142We come within our awful banks again
line 2143And knit our powers to the arm of peace.
WESTMORELAND
line 2144This will I show the General. Please you, lords,
line 2145In sight of both our battles we may meet,
line 2146And either end in peace, which God so frame,
190line 2147Or to the place of difference call the swords
line 2148Which must decide it.
line 2149ARCHBISHOPMy lord, we will do so.

Westmoreland exits.

MOWBRAY
line 2150There is a thing within my bosom tells me
line 2151That no conditions of our peace can stand.
HASTINGS
195line 2152Fear you not that. If we can make our peace
line 2153Upon such large terms and so absolute
line 2154As our conditions shall consist upon,
line 2155Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.
MOWBRAY
line 2156Yea, but our valuation shall be such
200line 2157That every slight and false-derivèd cause,
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 155 line 2158Yea, every idle, nice, and wanton reason,
line 2159Shall to the King taste of this action,
line 2160That, were our royal faiths martyrs in love,
line 2161We shall be winnowed with so rough a wind
205line 2162That even our corn shall seem as light as chaff,
line 2163And good from bad find no partition.
ARCHBISHOP
line 2164No, no, my lord. Note this: the King is weary
line 2165Of dainty and such picking grievances,
line 2166For he hath found to end one doubt by death
210line 2167Revives two greater in the heirs of life;
line 2168And therefore will he wipe his tables clean
line 2169And keep no telltale to his memory
line 2170That may repeat and history his loss
line 2171To new remembrance. For full well he knows
215line 2172He cannot so precisely weed this land
line 2173As his misdoubts present occasion;
line 2174His foes are so enrooted with his friends
line 2175That, plucking to unfix an enemy,
line 2176He doth unfasten so and shake a friend;
220line 2177So that this land, like an offensive wife
line 2178That hath enraged him on to offer strokes,
line 2179As he is striking holds his infant up
line 2180And hangs resolved correction in the arm
line 2181That was upreared to execution.
HASTINGS
225line 2182Besides, the King hath wasted all his rods
line 2183On late offenders, that he now doth lack
line 2184The very instruments of chastisement,
line 2185So that his power, like to a fangless lion,
line 2186May offer but not hold.
230line 2187ARCHBISHOP’Tis very true,
line 2188And therefore be assured, my good Lord Marshal,
line 2189If we do now make our atonement well,
line 2190Our peace will, like a broken limb united,
line 2191Grow stronger for the breaking.
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 157 235line 2192MOWBRAYBe it so.
line 2193Here is returned my Lord of Westmoreland.

Enter Westmoreland.

WESTMORELANDto the Archbishop
line 2194The Prince is here at hand. Pleaseth your Lordship
line 2195To meet his Grace just distance ’tween our armies.

Enter Prince John and his army.

MOWBRAYto the Archbishop
line 2196Your Grace of York, in God’s name then set
240line 2197forward.
ARCHBISHOP
line 2198Before, and greet his Grace.—My lord, we come.

All move forward.

JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2199You are well encountered here, my cousin
line 2200Mowbray.—
line 2201Good day to you, gentle Lord Archbishop,—
245line 2202And so to you, Lord Hastings, and to all.—
line 2203My Lord of York, it better showed with you
line 2204When that your flock, assembled by the bell,
line 2205Encircled you to hear with reverence
line 2206Your exposition on the holy text
250line 2207Than now to see you here, an iron man talking,
line 2208Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum,
line 2209Turning the word to sword, and life to death.
line 2210That man that sits within a monarch’s heart
line 2211And ripens in the sunshine of his favor,
255line 2212Would he abuse the countenance of the King,
line 2213Alack, what mischiefs might he set abroach
line 2214In shadow of such greatness! With you, Lord
line 2215Bishop,
line 2216It is even so. Who hath not heard it spoken
260line 2217How deep you were within the books of God,
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 159 line 2218To us the speaker in His parliament,
line 2219To us th’ imagined voice of God Himself,
line 2220The very opener and intelligencer
line 2221Between the grace, the sanctities, of heaven,
265line 2222And our dull workings? O, who shall believe
line 2223But you misuse the reverence of your place,
line 2224Employ the countenance and grace of heaven
line 2225As a false favorite doth his prince’s name,
line 2226In deeds dishonorable? You have ta’en up,
270line 2227Under the counterfeited zeal of God,
line 2228The subjects of His substitute, my father,
line 2229And both against the peace of heaven and him
line 2230Have here up-swarmed them.
line 2231ARCHBISHOPGood my Lord of
275line 2232Lancaster,
line 2233I am not here against your father’s peace,
line 2234But, as I told my Lord of Westmoreland,
line 2235The time misordered doth, in common sense,
line 2236Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form
280line 2237To hold our safety up. I sent your Grace
line 2238The parcels and particulars of our grief,
line 2239The which hath been with scorn shoved from the
line 2240court,
line 2241Whereon this Hydra son of war is born,
285line 2242Whose dangerous eyes may well be charmed asleep
line 2243With grant of our most just and right desires,
line 2244And true obedience, of this madness cured,
line 2245Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty.
MOWBRAY
line 2246If not, we ready are to try our fortunes
290line 2247To the last man.
line 2248HASTINGSAnd though we here fall down,
line 2249We have supplies to second our attempt;
line 2250If they miscarry, theirs shall second them,
line 2251And so success of mischief shall be born,
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 161 295line 2252And heir from heir shall hold his quarrel up
line 2253Whiles England shall have generation.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2254You are too shallow, Hastings, much too shallow
line 2255To sound the bottom of the after-times.
WESTMORELAND
line 2256Pleaseth your Grace to answer them directly
300line 2257How far forth you do like their articles.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2258I like them all, and do allow them well,
line 2259And swear here by the honor of my blood
line 2260My father’s purposes have been mistook,
line 2261And some about him have too lavishly
305line 2262Wrested his meaning and authority.
line 2263To the Archbishop. My lord, these griefs shall be
line 2264with speed redressed;
line 2265Upon my soul, they shall. If this may please you,
line 2266Discharge your powers unto their several counties,
310line 2267As we will ours, and here, between the armies,
line 2268Let’s drink together friendly and embrace,
line 2269That all their eyes may bear those tokens home
line 2270Of our restorèd love and amity.
ARCHBISHOP
line 2271I take your princely word for these redresses.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
315line 2272I give it you, and will maintain my word,
line 2273And thereupon I drink unto your Grace.

The Leaders of both armies begin to drink together.

HASTINGS, to an Officer
line 2274Go, captain, and deliver to the army
line 2275This news of peace. Let them have pay, and part.
line 2276I know it will well please them. Hie thee, captain.

Officer exits.

ARCHBISHOPtoasting Westmoreland
320line 2277To you, my noble Lord of Westmoreland.
WESTMORELANDreturning the toast
Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 163 line 2278I pledge your Grace, and if you knew what pains
line 2279I have bestowed to breed this present peace,
line 2280You would drink freely. But my love to you
line 2281Shall show itself more openly hereafter.
ARCHBISHOP
325line 2282I do not doubt you.
line 2283WESTMORELANDI am glad of it.—
line 2284Health to my lord and gentle cousin, Mowbray.
MOWBRAY
line 2285You wish me health in very happy season,
line 2286For I am on the sudden something ill.
ARCHBISHOP
330line 2287Against ill chances men are ever merry,
line 2288But heaviness foreruns the good event.
WESTMORELAND
line 2289Therefore be merry, coz, since sudden sorrow
line 2290Serves to say thus: “Some good thing comes
line 2291tomorrow.”
ARCHBISHOP
335line 2292Believe me, I am passing light in spirit.
MOWBRAY
line 2293So much the worse if your own rule be true.

Shout within.

JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2294The word of peace is rendered. Hark how they
line 2295shout.
MOWBRAY
line 2296This had been cheerful after victory.
ARCHBISHOP
340line 2297A peace is of the nature of a conquest,
line 2298For then both parties nobly are subdued,
line 2299And neither party loser.
line 2300JOHN OF LANCASTERto Westmoreland Go, my lord,
line 2301And let our army be dischargèd too.

Westmoreland exits.

Act 4 Scene 1 - Pg 165 345line 2302To the Archbishop. And, good my lord, so please
line 2303you, let our trains
line 2304March by us, that we may peruse the men
line 2305We should have coped withal.
line 2306ARCHBISHOPGo, good Lord
350line 2307Hastings,
line 2308And ere they be dismissed, let them march by.

Hastings exits.

JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2309I trust, lords, we shall lie tonight together.

Enter Westmoreland.

line 2310Now, cousin, wherefore stands our army still?
WESTMORELAND
line 2311The leaders, having charge from you to stand,
355line 2312Will not go off until they hear you speak.
line 2313JOHN OF LANCASTERThey know their duties.

Enter Hastings.

HASTINGSto the Archbishop
line 2314My lord, our army is dispersed already.
line 2315Like youthful steers unyoked, they take their
line 2316courses
360line 2317East, west, north, south, or, like a school broke up,
line 2318Each hurries toward his home and sporting-place.
WESTMORELAND
line 2319Good tidings, my Lord Hastings, for the which
line 2320I do arrest thee, traitor, of high treason.—
line 2321And you, Lord Archbishop, and you, Lord Mowbray,
365line 2322Of capital treason I attach you both.
MOWBRAY
line 2323Is this proceeding just and honorable?
line 2324WESTMORELANDIs your assembly so?
ARCHBISHOP
line 2325Will you thus break your faith?
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 167 line 2326JOHN OF LANCASTERI pawned thee none.
370line 2327I promised you redress of these same grievances
line 2328Whereof you did complain, which, by mine honor,
line 2329I will perform with a most Christian care.
line 2330But for you rebels, look to taste the due
line 2331Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours.
375line 2332Most shallowly did you these arms commence,
line 2333Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence.—
line 2334Strike up our drums; pursue the scattered stray.
line 2335God, and not we, hath safely fought today.—
line 2336Some guard these traitors to the block of death,
380line 2337Treason’s true bed and yielder-up of breath.

They exit.


Scene 2

Alarum. Excursions. Enter Falstaff and Colevile.

line 2338FALSTAFFWhat’s your name, sir? Of what condition are
line 2339you, and of what place, I pray?
line 2340COLEVILEI am a knight, sir, and my name is Colevile of
line 2341the Dale.
5line 2342FALSTAFFWell then, Colevile is your name, a knight is
line 2343your degree, and your place the Dale. Colevile shall
line 2344be still your name, a traitor your degree, and the
line 2345dungeon your place, a place deep enough so shall
line 2346you be still Colevile of the Dale.
10line 2347COLEVILEAre not you Sir John Falstaff?
line 2348FALSTAFFAs good a man as he, sir, whoe’er I am. Do
line 2349you yield, sir, or shall I sweat for you? If I do sweat,
line 2350they are the drops of thy lovers and they weep for
line 2351thy death. Therefore rouse up fear and trembling,
15line 2352and do observance to my mercy.
line 2353COLEVILEI think you are Sir John Falstaff, and in that
line 2354thought yield me.
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 169 line 2355FALSTAFFI have a whole school of tongues in this belly
line 2356of mine, and not a tongue of them all speaks any
20line 2357other word but my name. An I had but a belly of any
line 2358indifferency, I were simply the most active fellow in
line 2359Europe. My womb, my womb, my womb undoes
line 2360me. Here comes our general.

Enter John, Westmoreland, and the rest.

JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2361The heat is past. Follow no further now.
25line 2362Call in the powers, good cousin Westmoreland.

Westmoreland exits. Retreat is sounded.

line 2363Now, Falstaff, where have you been all this while?
line 2364When everything is ended, then you come.
line 2365These tardy tricks of yours will, on my life,
line 2366One time or other break some gallows’ back.
30line 2367FALSTAFFI would be sorry, my lord, but it should be
line 2368thus. I never knew yet but rebuke and check was the
line 2369reward of valor. Do you think me a swallow, an
line 2370arrow, or a bullet? Have I in my poor and old
line 2371motion the expedition of thought? I have speeded
35line 2372hither with the very extremest inch of possibility. I
line 2373have foundered ninescore and odd posts, and here,
line 2374travel-tainted as I am, have in my pure and immaculate
line 2375valor taken Sir John Colevile of the Dale, a most
line 2376furious knight and valorous enemy. But what of
40line 2377that? He saw me and yielded, that I may justly say,
line 2378with the hook-nosed fellow of Rome, “There, cousin,
line 2379I came, saw, and overcame.”
line 2380JOHN OF LANCASTERIt was more of his courtesy than
line 2381your deserving.
45line 2382FALSTAFFI know not. Here he is, and here I yield him.
line 2383And I beseech your Grace let it be booked with the
line 2384rest of this day’s deeds, or, by the Lord, I will have it
line 2385in a particular ballad else, with mine own picture
line 2386on the top on ’t, Colevile kissing my foot; to the
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 171 50line 2387which course if I be enforced, if you do not all show
line 2388like gilt twopences to me, and I in the clear sky of
line 2389fame o’ershine you as much as the full moon doth
line 2390the cinders of the element (which show like pins’
line 2391heads to her), believe not the word of the noble.
55line 2392Therefore let me have right, and let desert mount.
line 2393JOHN OF LANCASTERThine’s too heavy to mount.
line 2394FALSTAFFLet it shine, then.
line 2395JOHN OF LANCASTERThine’s too thick to shine.
line 2396FALSTAFFLet it do something, my good lord, that may
60line 2397do me good, and call it what you will.
line 2398JOHN OF LANCASTERIs thy name Colevile?
line 2399COLEVILEIt is, my lord.
line 2400JOHN OF LANCASTERA famous rebel art thou,
line 2401Colevile.
65line 2402FALSTAFFAnd a famous true subject took him.
COLEVILE
line 2403I am, my lord, but as my betters are
line 2404That led me hither. Had they been ruled by me,
line 2405You should have won them dearer than you have.
line 2406FALSTAFFI know not how they sold themselves, but
70line 2407thou, like a kind fellow, gavest thyself away gratis,
line 2408and I thank thee for thee.

Enter Westmoreland.

line 2409JOHN OF LANCASTERNow, have you left pursuit?
WESTMORELAND
line 2410Retreat is made and execution stayed.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2411Send Colevile with his confederates
75line 2412To York, to present execution.—
line 2413Blunt, lead him hence, and see you guard him sure.

Blunt exits with Colevile.

line 2414And now dispatch we toward the court, my lords.
line 2415I hear the King my father is sore sick.
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 173 line 2416Our news shall go before us to his Majesty,
80line 2417To Westmoreland. Which, cousin, you shall bear
line 2418to comfort him,
line 2419And we with sober speed will follow you.
line 2420FALSTAFFMy lord, I beseech you give me leave to go
line 2421through Gloucestershire, and, when you come to
85line 2422court, stand my good lord, pray, in your good
line 2423report.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2424Fare you well, Falstaff. I, in my condition,
line 2425Shall better speak of you than you deserve.

All but Falstaff exit.

line 2426FALSTAFFI would you had but the wit; ’twere better
90line 2427than your dukedom. Good faith, this same young
line 2428sober-blooded boy doth not love me, nor a man
line 2429cannot make him laugh. But that’s no marvel; he
line 2430drinks no wine. There’s never none of these demure
line 2431boys come to any proof, for thin drink doth so
95line 2432overcool their blood, and making many fish meals,
line 2433that they fall into a kind of male green-sickness, and
line 2434then, when they marry, they get wenches. They are
line 2435generally fools and cowards, which some of us
line 2436should be too, but for inflammation. A good sherris
100line 2437sack hath a two-fold operation in it. It ascends me
line 2438into the brain, dries me there all the foolish and
line 2439dull and crudy vapors which environ it, makes it
line 2440apprehensive, quick, forgetive, full of nimble, fiery,
line 2441and delectable shapes, which, delivered o’er to the
105line 2442voice, the tongue, which is the birth, becomes
line 2443excellent wit. The second property of your excellent
line 2444sherris is the warming of the blood, which,
line 2445before cold and settled, left the liver white and pale,
line 2446which is the badge of pusillanimity and cowardice.
110line 2447But the sherris warms it and makes it course from
line 2448the inwards to the parts’ extremes. It illumineth the
Act 4 Scene 2 - Pg 175 line 2449face, which as a beacon gives warning to all the rest
line 2450of this little kingdom, man, to arm; and then the
line 2451vital commoners and inland petty spirits muster me
115line 2452all to their captain, the heart, who, great and puffed
line 2453up with this retinue, doth any deed of courage, and
line 2454this valor comes of sherris. So that skill in the
line 2455weapon is nothing without sack, for that sets it
line 2456a-work; and learning a mere hoard of gold kept
120line 2457by a devil till sack commences it and sets it in
line 2458act and use. Hereof comes it that Prince Harry is
line 2459valiant, for the cold blood he did naturally inherit
line 2460of his father he hath, like lean, sterile, and bare
line 2461land, manured, husbanded, and tilled with excellent
125line 2462endeavor of drinking good and good store
line 2463of fertile sherris, that he is become very hot and valiant.
line 2464If I had a thousand sons, the first human principle
line 2465I would teach them should be to forswear
line 2466thin potations and to addict themselves to sack.

Enter Bardolph.

130line 2467How now, Bardolph?
line 2468BARDOLPHThe army is discharged all and gone.
line 2469FALSTAFFLet them go. I’ll through Gloucestershire,
line 2470and there will I visit Master Robert Shallow,
line 2471Esquire. I have him already temp’ring between my
135line 2472finger and my thumb, and shortly will I seal with
line 2473him. Come away.

They exit.

Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 177

Scene 3

Enter the King in a chair, Warwick, Thomas Duke of Clarence, Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, and Attendants.

KING
line 2474Now, lords, if God doth give successful end
line 2475To this debate that bleedeth at our doors,
line 2476We will our youth lead on to higher fields
line 2477And draw no swords but what are sanctified.
5line 2478Our navy is addressed, our power collected,
line 2479Our substitutes in absence well invested,
line 2480And everything lies level to our wish.
line 2481Only we want a little personal strength;
line 2482And pause us till these rebels now afoot
10line 2483Come underneath the yoke of government.
WARWICK
line 2484Both which we doubt not but your Majesty
line 2485Shall soon enjoy.
KING
line 2486Humphrey, my son of Gloucester, where is the
line 2487Prince your brother?
HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
15line 2488I think he’s gone to hunt, my lord, at Windsor.
KING
line 2489And how accompanied?
line 2490HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTERI do not know, my lord.
KING
line 2491Is not his brother Thomas of Clarence with him?
HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
line 2492No, my good lord, he is in presence here.
20line 2493THOMAS OF CLARENCEcoming forward What would
line 2494my lord and father?
KING
line 2495Nothing but well to thee, Thomas of Clarence.
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 179 line 2496How chance thou art not with the Prince thy
line 2497brother?
25line 2498He loves thee, and thou dost neglect him, Thomas.
line 2499Thou hast a better place in his affection
line 2500Than all thy brothers. Cherish it, my boy,
line 2501And noble offices thou mayst effect
line 2502Of mediation, after I am dead,
30line 2503Between his greatness and thy other brethren.
line 2504Therefore omit him not, blunt not his love,
line 2505Nor lose the good advantage of his grace
line 2506By seeming cold or careless of his will.
line 2507For he is gracious if he be observed;
35line 2508He hath a tear for pity, and a hand
line 2509Open as day for melting charity;
line 2510Yet notwithstanding, being incensed he is flint,
line 2511As humorous as winter, and as sudden
line 2512As flaws congealèd in the spring of day.
40line 2513His temper therefore must be well observed.
line 2514Chide him for faults, and do it reverently,
line 2515When you perceive his blood inclined to mirth;
line 2516But, being moody, give him time and scope
line 2517Till that his passions, like a whale on ground,
45line 2518Confound themselves with working. Learn this,
line 2519Thomas,
line 2520And thou shalt prove a shelter to thy friends,
line 2521A hoop of gold to bind thy brothers in,
line 2522That the united vessel of their blood,
50line 2523Mingled with venom of suggestion
line 2524(As, force perforce, the age will pour it in),
line 2525Shall never leak, though it do work as strong
line 2526As aconitum or rash gunpowder.
THOMAS OF CLARENCE
line 2527I shall observe him with all care and love.
KING
55line 2528Why art thou not at Windsor with him, Thomas?
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 181 THOMAS OF CLARENCE
line 2529He is not there today; he dines in London.
KING
line 2530And how accompanied? Canst thou tell that?
THOMAS OF CLARENCE
line 2531With Poins and other his continual followers.
KING
line 2532Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds,
60line 2533And he, the noble image of my youth,
line 2534Is overspread with them; therefore my grief
line 2535Stretches itself beyond the hour of death.
line 2536The blood weeps from my heart when I do shape,
line 2537In forms imaginary, th’ unguided days
65line 2538And rotten times that you shall look upon
line 2539When I am sleeping with my ancestors.
line 2540For when his headstrong riot hath no curb,
line 2541When rage and hot blood are his counsellors,
line 2542When means and lavish manners meet together,
70line 2543O, with what wings shall his affections fly
line 2544Towards fronting peril and opposed decay!
WARWICK
line 2545My gracious lord, you look beyond him quite.
line 2546The Prince but studies his companions
line 2547Like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the
75line 2548language,
line 2549’Tis needful that the most immodest word
line 2550Be looked upon and learned; which, once attained,
line 2551Your Highness knows, comes to no further use
line 2552But to be known and hated. So, like gross terms,
80line 2553The Prince will, in the perfectness of time,
line 2554Cast off his followers, and their memory
line 2555Shall as a pattern or a measure live,
line 2556By which his Grace must mete the lives of others,
line 2557Turning past evils to advantages.
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 183 KING
85line 2558’Tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb
line 2559In the dead carrion.

Enter Westmoreland.

line 2560Who’s here? Westmoreland?
WESTMORELAND
line 2561Health to my sovereign, and new happiness
line 2562Added to that that I am to deliver.
90line 2563Prince John your son doth kiss your Grace’s hand.
line 2564Mowbray, the Bishop Scroop, Hastings, and all
line 2565Are brought to the correction of your law.
line 2566There is not now a rebel’s sword unsheathed,
line 2567But peace puts forth her olive everywhere.
95line 2568The manner how this action hath been borne
line 2569Here at more leisure may your Highness read
line 2570With every course in his particular.

He gives the King a paper.

KING
line 2571O Westmoreland, thou art a summer bird,
line 2572Which ever in the haunch of winter sings
100line 2573The lifting up of day.

Enter Harcourt.

line 2574Look, here’s more news.
HARCOURT
line 2575From enemies heavens keep your Majesty,
line 2576And when they stand against you, may they fall
line 2577As those that I am come to tell you of.
105line 2578The Earl Northumberland and the Lord Bardolph,
line 2579With a great power of English and of Scots,
line 2580Are by the shrieve of Yorkshire overthrown.
line 2581The manner and true order of the fight
line 2582This packet, please it you, contains at large.

He gives the King papers.

Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 185 KING
110line 2583And wherefore should these good news make me
line 2584sick?
line 2585Will Fortune never come with both hands full,
line 2586But write her fair words still in foulest letters?
line 2587She either gives a stomach and no food—
115line 2588Such are the poor, in health—or else a feast
line 2589And takes away the stomach—such are the rich,
line 2590That have abundance and enjoy it not.
line 2591I should rejoice now at this happy news,
line 2592And now my sight fails, and my brain is giddy.
120line 2593O, me! Come near me, now I am much ill.
HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
line 2594Comfort, your Majesty.
line 2595THOMAS OF CLARENCEO, my royal father!
WESTMORELAND
line 2596My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself, look up.
WARWICK
line 2597Be patient, princes. You do know these fits
125line 2598Are with his Highness very ordinary.
line 2599Stand from him, give him air. He’ll straight be
line 2600well.
THOMAS OF CLARENCE
line 2601No, no, he cannot long hold out these pangs.
line 2602Th’ incessant care and labor of his mind
130line 2603Hath wrought the mure that should confine it in
line 2604So thin that life looks through and will break out.
HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
line 2605The people fear me, for they do observe
line 2606Unfathered heirs and loathly births of nature.
line 2607The seasons change their manners, as the year
135line 2608Had found some months asleep and leapt them
line 2609over.
THOMAS OF CLARENCE
line 2610The river hath thrice flowed, no ebb between,
line 2611And the old folk, time’s doting chronicles,
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 187 line 2612Say it did so a little time before
140line 2613That our great-grandsire, Edward, sicked and died.
WARWICK
line 2614Speak lower, princes, for the King recovers.
HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
line 2615This apoplexy will certain be his end.
KING
line 2616I pray you take me up and bear me hence
line 2617Into some other chamber. Softly, pray.

The King is carried to a bed on another part of the stage.

145line 2618Let there be no noise made, my gentle friends,
line 2619Unless some dull and favorable hand
line 2620Will whisper music to my weary spirit.
WARWICKto an Attendant
line 2621Call for the music in the other room.
KING
line 2622Set me the crown upon my pillow here.

The crown is placed on the bed.

THOMAS OF CLARENCEaside to the others
150line 2623His eye is hollow, and he changes much.
WARWICK
line 2624Less noise, less noise.

Enter Prince Harry.

line 2625PRINCEWho saw the Duke of Clarence?
THOMAS OF CLARENCEweeping
line 2626I am here, brother, full of heaviness.
PRINCE
line 2627How now, rain within doors, and none abroad?
155line 2628How doth the King?
line 2629HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTERExceeding ill.
PRINCE
line 2630Heard he the good news yet? Tell it him.
HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
line 2631He altered much upon the hearing it.
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 189 line 2632PRINCEIf he be sick with joy, he’ll recover without
160line 2633physic.
WARWICK
line 2634Not so much noise, my lords.—Sweet prince, speak
line 2635low.
line 2636The King your father is disposed to sleep.
THOMAS OF CLARENCE
line 2637Let us withdraw into the other room.
WARWICK
165line 2638Will ’t please your Grace to go along with us?
PRINCE
line 2639No, I will sit and watch here by the King.

All but Prince and King exit.

line 2640Why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow,
line 2641Being so troublesome a bedfellow?
line 2642O polished perturbation, golden care,
170line 2643That keep’st the ports of slumber open wide
line 2644To many a watchful night! Sleep with it now;
line 2645Yet not so sound and half so deeply sweet
line 2646As he whose brow with homely biggen bound
line 2647Snores out the watch of night. O majesty,
175line 2648When thou dost pinch thy bearer, thou dost sit
line 2649Like a rich armor worn in heat of day,
line 2650That scald’st with safety. By his gates of breath
line 2651There lies a downy feather which stirs not;
line 2652Did he suspire, that light and weightless down
180line 2653Perforce must move. My gracious lord, my father,
line 2654This sleep is sound indeed. This is a sleep
line 2655That from this golden rigol hath divorced
line 2656So many English kings. Thy due from me
line 2657Is tears and heavy sorrows of the blood,
185line 2658Which nature, love, and filial tenderness
line 2659Shall, O dear father, pay thee plenteously.
line 2660My due from thee is this imperial crown,
line 2661Which, as immediate from thy place and blood,
line 2662Derives itself to me. He puts on the crown. Lo,
190line 2663where it sits,
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 191 line 2664Which God shall guard. And, put the world’s whole
line 2665strength
line 2666Into one giant arm, it shall not force
line 2667This lineal honor from me. This from thee
195line 2668Will I to mine leave, as ’tis left to me.

He exits with the crown.

line 2669KINGrising up in his bed Warwick! Gloucester!
line 2670Clarence!

Enter Warwick, Gloucester, Clarence, and others.

line 2671THOMAS OF CLARENCEDoth the King call?
WARWICK
line 2672What would your Majesty? How fares your Grace?
KING
200line 2673Why did you leave me here alone, my lords?
THOMAS OF CLARENCE
line 2674We left the Prince my brother here, my liege,
line 2675Who undertook to sit and watch by you.
KING
line 2676The Prince of Wales? Where is he? Let me see him.
line 2677He is not here.
WARWICK
205line 2678This door is open. He is gone this way.
HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
line 2679He came not through the chamber where we
line 2680stayed.
KING
line 2681Where is the crown? Who took it from my pillow?
WARWICK
line 2682When we withdrew, my liege, we left it here.
KING
210line 2683The Prince hath ta’en it hence. Go seek him out.
line 2684Is he so hasty that he doth suppose my sleep my
line 2685death?
line 2686Find him, my Lord of Warwick. Chide him hither.

Warwick exits.

line 2687This part of his conjoins with my disease
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 193 215line 2688And helps to end me. See, sons, what things you
line 2689are,
line 2690How quickly nature falls into revolt
line 2691When gold becomes her object!
line 2692For this the foolish overcareful fathers
220line 2693Have broke their sleep with thoughts,
line 2694Their brains with care, their bones with industry.
line 2695For this they have engrossèd and piled up
line 2696The cankered heaps of strange-achievèd gold.
line 2697For this they have been thoughtful to invest
225line 2698Their sons with arts and martial exercises—
line 2699When, like the bee, tolling from every flower
line 2700The virtuous sweets,
line 2701Our thighs packed with wax, our mouths with
line 2702honey,
230line 2703We bring it to the hive and, like the bees,
line 2704Are murdered for our pains. This bitter taste
line 2705Yields his engrossments to the ending father.

Enter Warwick.

line 2706Now where is he that will not stay so long
line 2707Till his friend sickness hath determined me?
WARWICK
235line 2708My lord, I found the Prince in the next room,
line 2709Washing with kindly tears his gentle cheeks,
line 2710With such a deep demeanor in great sorrow
line 2711That tyranny, which never quaffed but blood,
line 2712Would, by beholding him, have washed his knife
240line 2713With gentle eyedrops. He is coming hither.
KING
line 2714But wherefore did he take away the crown?

Enter Prince Harry with the crown.

line 2715Lo where he comes.—Come hither to me, Harry.—
line 2716Depart the chamber. Leave us here alone.

Gloucester, Clarence, Warwick, and others exit.

Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 195 PRINCE
line 2717I never thought to hear you speak again.
KING
245line 2718Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought.
line 2719I stay too long by thee; I weary thee.
line 2720Dost thou so hunger for mine empty chair
line 2721That thou wilt needs invest thee with my honors
line 2722Before thy hour be ripe? O foolish youth,
250line 2723Thou seek’st the greatness that will overwhelm
line 2724thee.
line 2725Stay but a little, for my cloud of dignity
line 2726Is held from falling with so weak a wind
line 2727That it will quickly drop. My day is dim.
255line 2728Thou hast stol’n that which after some few hours
line 2729Were thine without offense, and at my death
line 2730Thou hast sealed up my expectation.
line 2731Thy life did manifest thou loved’st me not,
line 2732And thou wilt have me die assured of it.
260line 2733Thou hid’st a thousand daggers in thy thoughts,
line 2734Whom thou hast whetted on thy stony heart
line 2735To stab at half an hour of my life.
line 2736What, canst thou not forbear me half an hour?
line 2737Then get thee gone, and dig my grave thyself,
265line 2738And bid the merry bells ring to thine ear
line 2739That thou art crownèd, not that I am dead.
line 2740Let all the tears that should bedew my hearse
line 2741Be drops of balm to sanctify thy head;
line 2742Only compound me with forgotten dust.
270line 2743Give that which gave thee life unto the worms.
line 2744Pluck down my officers, break my decrees,
line 2745For now a time is come to mock at form.
line 2746Harry the Fifth is crowned. Up, vanity,
line 2747Down, royal state, all you sage councillors,
275line 2748hence,
line 2749And to the English court assemble now,
line 2750From every region, apes of idleness.
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 197 line 2751Now, neighbor confines, purge you of your scum.
line 2752Have you a ruffian that will swear, drink, dance,
280line 2753Revel the night, rob, murder, and commit
line 2754The oldest sins the newest kind of ways?
line 2755Be happy, he will trouble you no more.
line 2756England shall double gild his treble guilt.
line 2757England shall give him office, honor, might,
285line 2758For the fifth Harry from curbed license plucks
line 2759The muzzle of restraint, and the wild dog
line 2760Shall flesh his tooth on every innocent.
line 2761O my poor kingdom, sick with civil blows!
line 2762When that my care could not withhold thy riots,
290line 2763What wilt thou do when riot is thy care?
line 2764O, thou wilt be a wilderness again,
line 2765Peopled with wolves, thy old inhabitants.
PRINCEplacing the crown on the pillow
line 2766O pardon me, my liege! But for my tears,
line 2767The moist impediments unto my speech,
295line 2768I had forestalled this dear and deep rebuke
line 2769Ere you with grief had spoke and I had heard
line 2770The course of it so far. There is your crown,
line 2771And He that wears the crown immortally
line 2772Long guard it yours. He kneels. If I affect it
300line 2773more
line 2774Than as your honor and as your renown,
line 2775Let me no more from this obedience rise,
line 2776Which my most inward true and duteous spirit
line 2777Teacheth this prostrate and exterior bending.
305line 2778God witness with me, when I here came in
line 2779And found no course of breath within your Majesty,
line 2780How cold it struck my heart! If I do feign,
line 2781O, let me in my present wildness die
line 2782And never live to show th’ incredulous world
310line 2783The noble change that I have purposèd.
line 2784Coming to look on you, thinking you dead,
line 2785And dead almost, my liege, to think you were,
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 199 line 2786I spake unto this crown as having sense,
line 2787And thus upbraided it: “The care on thee
315line 2788depending
line 2789Hath fed upon the body of my father;
line 2790Therefore thou best of gold art worst of gold.
line 2791Other, less fine in carat, is more precious,
line 2792Preserving life in med’cine potable;
320line 2793But thou, most fine, most honored, most renowned,
line 2794Hast eat thy bearer up.” Thus, my most royal liege,
line 2795Accusing it, I put it on my head
line 2796To try with it, as with an enemy
line 2797That had before my face murdered my father,
325line 2798The quarrel of a true inheritor.
line 2799But if it did infect my blood with joy
line 2800Or swell my thoughts to any strain of pride,
line 2801If any rebel or vain spirit of mine
line 2802Did with the least affection of a welcome
330line 2803Give entertainment to the might of it,
line 2804Let God forever keep it from my head
line 2805And make me as the poorest vassal is
line 2806That doth with awe and terror kneel to it.
line 2807KINGO my son,
335line 2808God put it in thy mind to take it hence
line 2809That thou mightst win the more thy father’s love,
line 2810Pleading so wisely in excuse of it.
line 2811Come hither, Harry, sit thou by my bed
line 2812And hear, I think, the very latest counsel
340line 2813That ever I shall breathe.

The Prince rises from his knees and sits near the bed.

line 2814God knows, my son,
line 2815By what bypaths and indirect crook’d ways
line 2816I met this crown, and I myself know well
line 2817How troublesome it sat upon my head.
345line 2818To thee it shall descend with better quiet,
line 2819Better opinion, better confirmation,
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 201 line 2820For all the soil of the achievement goes
line 2821With me into the earth. It seemed in me
line 2822But as an honor snatched with boist’rous hand,
350line 2823And I had many living to upbraid
line 2824My gain of it by their assistances,
line 2825Which daily grew to quarrel and to bloodshed,
line 2826Wounding supposèd peace. All these bold fears
line 2827Thou seest with peril I have answerèd,
355line 2828For all my reign hath been but as a scene
line 2829Acting that argument. And now my death
line 2830Changes the mood, for what in me was purchased
line 2831Falls upon thee in a more fairer sort.
line 2832So thou the garland wear’st successively.
360line 2833Yet though thou stand’st more sure than I could do,
line 2834Thou art not firm enough, since griefs are green,
line 2835And all my friends, which thou must make thy
line 2836friends,
line 2837Have but their stings and teeth newly ta’en out,
365line 2838By whose fell working I was first advanced
line 2839And by whose power I well might lodge a fear
line 2840To be again displaced; which to avoid,
line 2841I cut them off and had a purpose now
line 2842To lead out many to the Holy Land,
370line 2843Lest rest and lying still might make them look
line 2844Too near unto my state. Therefore, my Harry,
line 2845Be it thy course to busy giddy minds
line 2846With foreign quarrels, that action, hence borne
line 2847out,
375line 2848May waste the memory of the former days.
line 2849More would I, but my lungs are wasted so
line 2850That strength of speech is utterly denied me.
line 2851How I came by the crown, O God forgive,
line 2852And grant it may with thee in true peace live.
380line 2853PRINCEMy gracious liege,
line 2854You won it, wore it, kept it, gave it me.
Act 4 Scene 3 - Pg 203 line 2855Then plain and right must my possession be,
line 2856Which I with more than with a common pain
line 2857’Gainst all the world will rightfully maintain.

Enter John of Lancaster and others.

KING
385line 2858Look, look, here comes my John of Lancaster.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2859Health, peace, and happiness to my royal father.
KING
line 2860Thou bring’st me happiness and peace, son John,
line 2861But health, alack, with youthful wings is flown
line 2862From this bare withered trunk. Upon thy sight
390line 2863My worldly business makes a period.
line 2864Where is my Lord of Warwick?
line 2865PRINCEMy Lord of Warwick.

Enter Warwick.

KING
line 2866Doth any name particular belong
line 2867Unto the lodging where I first did swoon?
WARWICK
395line 2868’Tis called Jerusalem, my noble lord.
KING
line 2869Laud be to God! Even there my life must end.
line 2870It hath been prophesied to me many years,
line 2871I should not die but in Jerusalem,
line 2872Which vainly I supposed the Holy Land.
400line 2873But bear me to that chamber; there I’ll lie.
line 2874In that Jerusalem shall Harry die.

They exit.


ACT 5


Scene 1

Enter Shallow, Falstaff, Page, and Bardolph.

line 2875SHALLOWBy cock and pie, sir, you shall not away
line 2876tonight.—What, Davy, I say!
line 2877FALSTAFFYou must excuse me, Master Robert Shallow.
line 2878SHALLOWI will not excuse you. You shall not be
5line 2879excused. Excuses shall not be admitted. There is no
line 2880excuse shall serve. You shall not be excused.—
line 2881Why, Davy!

Enter Davy.

line 2882DAVYHere, sir.
line 2883SHALLOWDavy, Davy, Davy, Davy, let me see, Davy, let
10line 2884me see, Davy, let me see. Yea, marry, William cook,
line 2885bid him come hither.—Sir John, you shall not be
line 2886excused.
line 2887DAVYMarry, sir, thus: those precepts cannot be served.
line 2888And again, sir: shall we sow the hade land with
15line 2889wheat?
line 2890SHALLOWWith red wheat, Davy. But for William cook,
line 2891are there no young pigeons?
line 2892DAVYYes, sir. Here is now the smith’s note for shoeing
line 2893and plow irons.He gives Shallow a paper.
20line 2894SHALLOWLet it be cast and paid.—Sir John, you shall
line 2895not be excused.
line 2896DAVYNow, sir, a new link to the bucket must needs be
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 209 line 2897had. And, sir, do you mean to stop any of William’s
line 2898wages about the sack he lost the other day at
25line 2899Hinckley Fair?
line 2900SHALLOWHe shall answer it. Some pigeons, Davy, a
line 2901couple of short-legged hens, a joint of mutton, and
line 2902any pretty little tiny kickshaws, tell William cook.

Shallow and Davy walk aside.

line 2903DAVYDoth the man of war stay all night, sir?
30line 2904SHALLOWYea, Davy, I will use him well. A friend i’ th’
line 2905court is better than a penny in purse. Use his men
line 2906well, Davy, for they are arrant knaves and will
line 2907backbite.
line 2908DAVYNo worse than they are back-bitten, sir, for they
35line 2909have marvelous foul linen.
line 2910SHALLOWWell-conceited, Davy. About thy business,
line 2911Davy.
line 2912DAVYI beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor
line 2913of Woncot against Clement Perkes o’ th’ hill.
40line 2914SHALLOWThere is many complaints, Davy, against that
line 2915Visor. That Visor is an arrant knave, on my
line 2916knowledge.
line 2917DAVYI grant your Worship that he is a knave, sir, but
line 2918yet, God forbid, sir, but a knave should have some
45line 2919countenance at his friend’s request. An honest
line 2920man, sir, is able to speak for himself when a knave is
line 2921not. I have served your Worship truly, sir, this eight
line 2922years; an I cannot once or twice in a quarter bear
line 2923out a knave against an honest man, I have but a
50line 2924very little credit with your Worship. The knave is
line 2925mine honest friend, sir; therefore I beseech you let
line 2926him be countenanced.
line 2927SHALLOWGo to, I say, he shall have no wrong. Look
line 2928about, Davy. Davy exits. Where are you, Sir John?
55line 2929Come, come, come, off with your boots.—Give me
line 2930your hand, Master Bardolph.
Act 5 Scene 1 - Pg 211 line 2931BARDOLPHI am glad to see your Worship.
line 2932SHALLOWI thank thee with all my heart, kind Master
line 2933Bardolph, to Page and welcome, my tall
60line 2934fellow.—Come, Sir John.
line 2935FALSTAFFI’ll follow you, good Master Robert Shallow.
line 2936Shallow exits. Bardolph, look to our horses.
line 2937Bardolphand Page exit. If I were sawed into quantities,
line 2938I should make four dozen of such bearded hermits’
65line 2939staves as Master Shallow. It is a wonderful thing to
line 2940see the semblable coherence of his men’s spirits
line 2941and his. They, by observing of him, do bear
line 2942themselves like foolish justices; he, by conversing
line 2943with them, is turned into a justice-like servingman.
70line 2944Their spirits are so married in conjunction with the
line 2945participation of society that they flock together in
line 2946consent like so many wild geese. If I had a suit to
line 2947Master Shallow, I would humor his men with the
line 2948imputation of being near their master; if to his men,
75line 2949I would curry with Master Shallow that no man
line 2950could better command his servants. It is certain
line 2951that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is
line 2952caught, as men take diseases, one of another. Therefore
line 2953let men take heed of their company. I will
80line 2954devise matter enough out of this Shallow to keep
line 2955Prince Harry in continual laughter the wearing out
line 2956of six fashions, which is four terms, or two actions,
line 2957and he shall laugh without intervallums. O, it is
line 2958much that a lie with a slight oath and a jest with a
85line 2959sad brow will do with a fellow that never had the
line 2960ache in his shoulders. O, you shall see him laugh till
line 2961his face be like a wet cloak ill laid up.
line 2962SHALLOWwithin Sir John.
line 2963FALSTAFFI come, Master Shallow, I come, Master
90line 2964Shallow.

He exits.

Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 213

Scene 2

Enter Warwick and Lord Chief Justice.

WARWICK
line 2965How now, my Lord Chief Justice, whither away?
line 2966CHIEF JUSTICEHow doth the King?
WARWICK
line 2967Exceeding well. His cares are now all ended.
CHIEF JUSTICE
line 2968I hope, not dead.
5line 2969WARWICKHe’s walked the way of nature,
line 2970And to our purposes he lives no more.
CHIEF JUSTICE
line 2971I would his Majesty had called me with him.
line 2972The service that I truly did his life
line 2973Hath left me open to all injuries.
WARWICK
10line 2974Indeed, I think the young king loves you not.
CHIEF JUSTICE
line 2975I know he doth not, and do arm myself
line 2976To welcome the condition of the time,
line 2977Which cannot look more hideously upon me
line 2978Than I have drawn it in my fantasy.

Enter John, Thomas, and Humphrey.

WARWICK
15line 2979Here come the heavy issue of dead Harry.
line 2980O, that the living Harry had the temper
line 2981Of he the worst of these three gentlemen!
line 2982How many nobles then should hold their places
line 2983That must strike sail to spirits of vile sort!
CHIEF JUSTICE
20line 2984O God, I fear all will be overturned.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2985Good morrow, cousin Warwick, good morrow.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 215 line 2986HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER, THOMAS OF CLARENCEGood morrow, cousin.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2987We meet like men that had forgot to speak.
WARWICK
line 2988We do remember, but our argument
25line 2989Is all too heavy to admit much talk.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 2990Well, peace be with him that hath made us heavy.
CHIEF JUSTICE
line 2991Peace be with us, lest we be heavier.
HUMPHREY OF GLOUCESTER
line 2992O, good my lord, you have lost a friend indeed,
line 2993And I dare swear you borrow not that face
30line 2994Of seeming sorrow; it is sure your own.
JOHN OF LANCASTERto the Chief Justice
line 2995Though no man be assured what grace to find,
line 2996You stand in coldest expectation.
line 2997I am the sorrier; would ’twere otherwise.
THOMAS OF CLARENCE
line 2998Well, you must now speak Sir John Falstaff fair,
35line 2999Which swims against your stream of quality.
CHIEF JUSTICE
line 3000Sweet princes, what I did I did in honor,
line 3001Led by th’ impartial conduct of my soul;
line 3002And never shall you see that I will beg
line 3003A ragged and forestalled remission.
40line 3004If truth and upright innocency fail me,
line 3005I’ll to the king my master that is dead
line 3006And tell him who hath sent me after him.

Enter the Prince, as Henry V, and Blunt.

line 3007WARWICKHere comes the Prince.
CHIEF JUSTICE
line 3008Good morrow, and God save your Majesty.
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 217 PRINCE
45line 3009This new and gorgeous garment majesty
line 3010Sits not so easy on me as you think.—
line 3011Brothers, you mix your sadness with some fear.
line 3012This is the English, not the Turkish court;
line 3013Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds,
50line 3014But Harry Harry. Yet be sad, good brothers,
line 3015For, by my faith, it very well becomes you.
line 3016Sorrow so royally in you appears
line 3017That I will deeply put the fashion on
line 3018And wear it in my heart. Why then, be sad.
55line 3019But entertain no more of it, good brothers,
line 3020Than a joint burden laid upon us all.
line 3021For me, by heaven, I bid you be assured,
line 3022I’ll be your father and your brother too.
line 3023Let me but bear your love, I’ll bear your cares.
60line 3024Yet weep that Harry’s dead, and so will I,
line 3025But Harry lives that shall convert those tears
line 3026By number into hours of happiness.
BROTHERS
line 3027We hope no otherwise from your Majesty.
PRINCE
line 3028You all look strangely on me. To the Chief Justice.
65line 3029And you most.
line 3030You are, I think, assured I love you not.
CHIEF JUSTICE
line 3031I am assured, if I be measured rightly,
line 3032Your Majesty hath no just cause to hate me.
PRINCE
line 3033No? How might a prince of my great hopes forget
70line 3034So great indignities you laid upon me?
line 3035What, rate, rebuke, and roughly send to prison
line 3036Th’ immediate heir of England? Was this easy?
line 3037May this be washed in Lethe and forgotten?
CHIEF JUSTICE
line 3038I then did use the person of your father;
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 219 75line 3039The image of his power lay then in me.
line 3040And in th’ administration of his law,
line 3041Whiles I was busy for the commonwealth,
line 3042Your Highness pleasèd to forget my place,
line 3043The majesty and power of law and justice,
80line 3044The image of the King whom I presented,
line 3045And struck me in my very seat of judgment,
line 3046Whereon, as an offender to your father,
line 3047I gave bold way to my authority
line 3048And did commit you. If the deed were ill,
85line 3049Be you contented, wearing now the garland,
line 3050To have a son set your decrees at nought?
line 3051To pluck down justice from your awful bench?
line 3052To trip the course of law and blunt the sword
line 3053That guards the peace and safety of your person?
90line 3054Nay more, to spurn at your most royal image
line 3055And mock your workings in a second body?
line 3056Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours;
line 3057Be now the father and propose a son,
line 3058Hear your own dignity so much profaned,
95line 3059See your most dreadful laws so loosely slighted,
line 3060Behold yourself so by a son disdained,
line 3061And then imagine me taking your part
line 3062And in your power soft silencing your son.
line 3063After this cold considerance, sentence me,
100line 3064And, as you are a king, speak in your state
line 3065What I have done that misbecame my place,
line 3066My person, or my liege’s sovereignty.
PRINCE
line 3067You are right, justice, and you weigh this well.
line 3068Therefore still bear the balance and the sword.
105line 3069And I do wish your honors may increase
line 3070Till you do live to see a son of mine
line 3071Offend you and obey you as I did.
line 3072So shall I live to speak my father’s words:
Act 5 Scene 2 - Pg 221 line 3073“Happy am I that have a man so bold
110line 3074That dares do justice on my proper son;
line 3075And not less happy, having such a son
line 3076That would deliver up his greatness so
line 3077Into the hands of justice.” You did commit me,
line 3078For which I do commit into your hand
115line 3079Th’ unstainèd sword that you have used to bear,
line 3080With this remembrance: that you use the same
line 3081With the like bold, just, and impartial spirit
line 3082As you have done ’gainst me. There is my hand.

They clasp hands.

line 3083You shall be as a father to my youth,
120line 3084My voice shall sound as you do prompt mine ear,
line 3085And I will stoop and humble my intents
line 3086To your well-practiced wise directions.—
line 3087And, princes all, believe me, I beseech you:
line 3088My father is gone wild into his grave,
125line 3089For in his tomb lie my affections,
line 3090And with his spirits sadly I survive
line 3091To mock the expectation of the world,
line 3092To frustrate prophecies, and to raze out
line 3093Rotten opinion, who hath writ me down
130line 3094After my seeming. The tide of blood in me
line 3095Hath proudly flowed in vanity till now.
line 3096Now doth it turn and ebb back to the sea,
line 3097Where it shall mingle with the state of floods
line 3098And flow henceforth in formal majesty.
135line 3099Now call we our high court of parliament,
line 3100And let us choose such limbs of noble counsel
line 3101That the great body of our state may go
line 3102In equal rank with the best-governed nation;
line 3103That war, or peace, or both at once, may be
140line 3104As things acquainted and familiar to us,
line 3105To the Chief Justice. In which you, father, shall
line 3106have foremost hand.
Act 5 Scene 3 - Pg 223 line 3107Our coronation done, we will accite,
line 3108As I before remembered, all our state.
145line 3109And, God consigning to my good intents,
line 3110No prince nor peer shall have just cause to say
line 3111God shorten Harry’s happy life one day.

They exit.


Scene 3

Enter Sir John Falstaff, Shallow, Silence, Davy, Bardolph, and Page.

line 3112SHALLOWNay, you shall see my orchard, where, in an
line 3113arbor, we will eat a last year’s pippin of mine own
line 3114graffing, with a dish of caraways, and so forth.—
line 3115Come, cousin Silence.—And then to bed.
5line 3116FALSTAFFFore God, you have here a goodly dwelling,
line 3117and a rich.
line 3118SHALLOWBarren, barren, barren, beggars all, beggars
line 3119all, Sir John. Marry, good air.—Spread, Davy,
line 3120spread, Davy. Well said, Davy.
10line 3121FALSTAFFThis Davy serves you for good uses. He is
line 3122your servingman and your husband.
line 3123SHALLOWA good varlet, a good varlet, a very good
line 3124varlet, Sir John. By the Mass, I have drunk too
line 3125much sack at supper. A good varlet. Now sit down,
15line 3126now sit down.—Come, cousin.
line 3127SILENCEAh, sirrah, quoth he, we shall
line 3128Sings. Do nothing but eat and make good cheer,
line 3129And praise God for the merry year,
line 3130When flesh is cheap and females dear,
20line 3131And lusty lads roam here and there
line 3132So merrily,
line 3133And ever among so merrily.
line 3134FALSTAFFThere’s a merry heart!—Good Master Silence,
line 3135I’ll give you a health for that anon.
Act 5 Scene 3 - Pg 225 25line 3136SHALLOWGive Master Bardolph some wine, Davy.
line 3137DAVYto the guests Sweet sir, sit. I’ll be with you
line 3138anon. Most sweet sir, sit. Master page, good master
line 3139page, sit. Proface. What you want in meat, we’ll
line 3140have in drink, but you must bear. The heart’s all.

He exits.

30line 3141SHALLOWBe merry, Master Bardolph.—And, my little
line 3142soldier there, be merry.
SILENCEsings
line 3143Be merry, be merry, my wife has all,
line 3144For women are shrews, both short and tall.
line 3145’Tis merry in hall when beards wags all,
35line 3146And welcome merry Shrovetide.
line 3147Be merry, be merry.
line 3148FALSTAFFI did not think Master Silence had been a
line 3149man of this mettle.
line 3150SILENCEWho, I? I have been merry twice and once ere
40line 3151now.

Enter Davy.

line 3152DAVYto the guests There’s a dish of leather-coats for
line 3153you.
line 3154SHALLOWDavy!
line 3155DAVYYour Worship, I’ll be with you straight.—A cup
45line 3156of wine, sir.
SILENCEsings
line 3157A cup of wine that’s brisk and fine,
line 3158And drink unto thee, leman mine,
line 3159And a merry heart lives long-a.
line 3160FALSTAFFWell said, Master Silence.
50line 3161SILENCEAnd we shall be merry; now comes in the
line 3162sweet o’ th’ night.
line 3163FALSTAFFHealth and long life to you, Master Silence.
SILENCEsings
line 3164Fill the cup, and let it come,
line 3165I’ll pledge you a mile to th’ bottom.
Act 5 Scene 3 - Pg 227 55line 3166SHALLOWHonest Bardolph, welcome. If thou want’st
line 3167anything and wilt not call, beshrew thy heart.—
line 3168Welcome, my little tiny thief, and welcome indeed
line 3169too. I’ll drink to Master Bardolph, and to all the
line 3170cabileros about London.
60line 3171DAVYI hope to see London once ere I die.
line 3172BARDOLPHAn I might see you there, Davy!
line 3173SHALLOWBy the Mass, you’ll crack a quart together,
line 3174ha, will you not, Master Bardolph?
line 3175BARDOLPHYea, sir, in a pottle-pot.
65line 3176SHALLOWBy God’s liggens, I thank thee. The knave
line 3177will stick by thee, I can assure thee that. He will not
line 3178out, he. ’Tis true bred!
line 3179BARDOLPHAnd I’ll stick by him, sir.
line 3180SHALLOWWhy, there spoke a king. Lack nothing, be
70line 3181merry. One knocks at door. Look who’s at door
line 3182there, ho. Who knocks?Davy exits.
line 3183FALSTAFFWhy, now you have done me right.
SILENCEsings
line 3184Do me right,
line 3185And dub me knight,
75line 3186Samingo.
line 3187Is ’t not so?
line 3188FALSTAFF’Tis so.
line 3189SILENCEIs ’t so? Why then, say an old man can do
line 3190somewhat.

Enter Davy.

80line 3191DAVYAn ’t please your Worship, there’s one Pistol
line 3192come from the court with news.
line 3193FALSTAFFFrom the court? Let him come in.

Enter Pistol.

line 3194How now, Pistol?
line 3195PISTOLSir John, God save you.
Act 5 Scene 3 - Pg 229 85line 3196FALSTAFFWhat wind blew you hither, Pistol?
line 3197PISTOLNot the ill wind which blows no man to good.
line 3198Sweet knight, thou art now one of the greatest men
line 3199in this realm.
line 3200SILENCEBy ’r Lady, I think he be, but Goodman Puff of
90line 3201Barson.
line 3202PISTOLPuff?
line 3203Puff in thy teeth, most recreant coward base!—
line 3204Sir John, I am thy Pistol and thy friend,
line 3205And helter-skelter have I rode to thee,
95line 3206And tidings do I bring, and lucky joys,
line 3207And golden times, and happy news of price.
line 3208FALSTAFFI pray thee now, deliver them like a man of
line 3209this world.
PISTOL
line 3210A foutre for the world and worldlings base!
100line 3211I speak of Africa and golden joys.
FALSTAFF
line 3212O base Assyrian knight, what is thy news?
line 3213Let King Cophetua know the truth thereof.
SILENCEsings
line 3214And Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John.
PISTOL
line 3215Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons,
105line 3216And shall good news be baffled?
line 3217Then, Pistol, lay thy head in Furies’ lap.
line 3218SHALLOWHonest gentleman, I know not your
line 3219breeding.
line 3220PISTOLWhy then, lament therefor.
110line 3221SHALLOWGive me pardon, sir. If, sir, you come with
line 3222news from the court, I take it there’s but two ways,
line 3223either to utter them, or to conceal them. I am, sir,
line 3224under the King in some authority.
PISTOL
line 3225Under which king, besonian? Speak or die.
Act 5 Scene 3 - Pg 231 SHALLOW
115line 3226Under King Harry.
line 3227PISTOLHarry the Fourth, or Fifth?
SHALLOW
line 3228Harry the Fourth.
line 3229PISTOLA foutre for thine office!—
line 3230Sir John, thy tender lambkin now is king.
120line 3231Harry the Fifth’s the man. I speak the truth.
line 3232When Pistol lies, do this and fig me, like
line 3233The bragging Spaniard.Pistol makes a fig.
line 3234FALSTAFFWhat, is the old king dead?
PISTOL
line 3235As nail in door. The things I speak are just.
125line 3236FALSTAFFAway, Bardolph.—Saddle my horse.—
line 3237Master Robert Shallow, choose what office thou
line 3238wilt in the land, ’tis thine.—Pistol, I will double-charge
line 3239thee with dignities.
line 3240BARDOLPHO joyful day! I would not take a knight-hood
130line 3241for my fortune.
line 3242PISTOLWhat, I do bring good news!
line 3243FALSTAFFCarry Master Silence to bed.—Master Shallow,
line 3244my Lord Shallow, be what thou wilt. I am
line 3245Fortune’s steward. Get on thy boots. We’ll ride all
135line 3246night.—O sweet Pistol!—Away, Bardolph!—Come,
line 3247Pistol, utter more to me, and withal devise something
line 3248to do thyself good.—Boot, boot, Master Shallow.
line 3249I know the young king is sick for me. Let us
line 3250take any man’s horses. The laws of England are at
140line 3251my commandment. Blessed are they that have been
line 3252my friends, and woe to my Lord Chief Justice!
PISTOL
line 3253Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also!
line 3254“Where is the life that late I led?” say they.
line 3255Why, here it is. Welcome these pleasant days.

They exit.

Act 5 Scene 4 - Pg 233

Scene 4

Enter Hostess Quickly, Doll Tearsheet, and Beadles.

line 3256HOSTESSNo, thou arrant knave. I would to God that I
line 3257might die, that I might have thee hanged. Thou hast
line 3258drawn my shoulder out of joint.
line 3259BEADLEThe Constables have delivered her over to me,
5line 3260and she shall have whipping cheer enough, I
line 3261warrant her. There hath been a man or two lately
line 3262killed about her.
line 3263DOLLNut-hook, nut-hook, you lie! Come on, I’ll tell
line 3264thee what, thou damned tripe-visaged rascal: an the
10line 3265child I now go with do miscarry, thou wert better
line 3266thou hadst struck thy mother, thou paper-faced
line 3267villain.
line 3268HOSTESSO the Lord, that Sir John were come! I would
line 3269make this a bloody day to somebody. But I pray God
15line 3270the fruit of her womb might miscarry.
line 3271BEADLEIf it do, you shall have a dozen of cushions
line 3272again; you have but eleven now. Come, I charge you
line 3273both go with me, for the man is dead that you and
line 3274Pistol beat amongst you.
20line 3275DOLLI’ll tell you what, you thin man in a censer, I will
line 3276have you as soundly swinged for this, you bluebottle
line 3277rogue, you filthy famished correctioner. If you be
line 3278not swinged, I’ll forswear half-kirtles.
line 3279BEADLECome, come, you she-knight-errant, come.
25line 3280HOSTESSO God, that right should thus overcome
line 3281might! Well, of sufferance comes ease.
line 3282DOLLCome, you rogue, come, bring me to a justice.
line 3283HOSTESSAy, come, you starved bloodhound.
line 3284DOLLGoodman Death, Goodman Bones!
30line 3285HOSTESSThou atomy, thou!
line 3286DOLLCome, you thin thing, come, you rascal.
line 3287BEADLEVery well.

They exit.

Act 5 Scene 5 - Pg 235

Scene 5

Enter two Grooms.

line 3288FIRST GROOMMore rushes, more rushes.
line 3289SECOND GROOMThe trumpets have sounded twice.
line 3290FIRST GROOM’Twill be two o’clock ere they come
line 3291from the coronation. Dispatch, dispatch.

Grooms exit.

Trumpets sound, and the King and his train pass over the stage. After them enter Falstaff, Shallow, Pistol, Bardolph, and the Page.

5line 3292FALSTAFFStand here by me, Master Robert Shallow. I
line 3293will make the King do you grace. I will leer upon
line 3294him as he comes by, and do but mark the countenance
line 3295that he will give me.
line 3296PISTOLGod bless thy lungs, good knight!
10line 3297FALSTAFFCome here, Pistol, stand behind me.—O, if I
line 3298had had time to have made new liveries, I would
line 3299have bestowed the thousand pound I borrowed of
line 3300you. But ’tis no matter. This poor show doth better.
line 3301This doth infer the zeal I had to see him.
15line 3302SHALLOWIt doth so.
line 3303FALSTAFFIt shows my earnestness of affection—
line 3304SHALLOWIt doth so.
line 3305FALSTAFFMy devotion—
line 3306SHALLOWIt doth, it doth, it doth.
20line 3307FALSTAFFAs it were, to ride day and night, and not to
line 3308deliberate, not to remember, not to have patience
line 3309to shift me—
line 3310SHALLOWIt is best, certain.
line 3311FALSTAFFBut to stand stained with travel and sweating
25line 3312with desire to see him, thinking of nothing else,
line 3313putting all affairs else in oblivion, as if there were
line 3314nothing else to be done but to see him.
Act 5 Scene 5 - Pg 237 line 3315PISTOL’Tis semper idem, for obsque hoc nihil est; ’tis
line 3316all in every part.
30line 3317SHALLOW’Tis so indeed.
line 3318PISTOLMy knight, I will inflame thy noble liver, and
line 3319make thee rage. Thy Doll and Helen of thy noble
line 3320thoughts is in base durance and contagious prison,
line 3321haled thither by most mechanical and dirty hand.
35line 3322Rouse up revenge from ebon den with fell Alecto’s
line 3323snake, for Doll is in. Pistol speaks nought but truth.
line 3324FALSTAFFI will deliver her.

Shouts within. The trumpets sound.

PISTOL
line 3325There roared the sea, and trumpet-clangor sounds.

Enter the King and his train.

FALSTAFF
line 3326God save thy Grace, King Hal, my royal Hal.
PISTOL
40line 3327The heavens thee guard and keep, most royal
line 3328imp of fame!
line 3329FALSTAFFGod save thee, my sweet boy!
KING
line 3330My Lord Chief Justice, speak to that vain man.
CHIEF JUSTICEto Falstaff
line 3331Have you your wits? Know you what ’tis you
45line 3332speak?
FALSTAFFto the King
line 3333My king, my Jove, I speak to thee, my heart!
KING
line 3334I know thee not, old man. Fall to thy prayers.
line 3335How ill white hairs becomes a fool and jester.
line 3336I have long dreamt of such a kind of man,
50line 3337So surfeit-swelled, so old, and so profane;
line 3338But being awaked, I do despise my dream.
line 3339Make less thy body hence, and more thy grace;
Act 5 Scene 5 - Pg 239 line 3340Leave gormandizing. Know the grave doth gape
line 3341For thee thrice wider than for other men.
55line 3342Reply not to me with a fool-born jest.
line 3343Presume not that I am the thing I was,
line 3344For God doth know—so shall the world perceive—
line 3345That I have turned away my former self.
line 3346So will I those that kept me company.
60line 3347When thou dost hear I am as I have been,
line 3348Approach me, and thou shalt be as thou wast,
line 3349The tutor and the feeder of my riots.
line 3350Till then I banish thee, on pain of death,
line 3351As I have done the rest of my misleaders,
65line 3352Not to come near our person by ten mile.
line 3353For competence of life I will allow you,
line 3354That lack of means enforce you not to evils.
line 3355And, as we hear you do reform yourselves,
line 3356We will, according to your strengths and qualities,
70line 3357Give you advancement. To the Lord Chief Justice.
line 3358Be it your charge, my lord,
line 3359To see performed the tenor of my word.—
line 3360Set on.

King and his train exit.

line 3361FALSTAFFMaster Shallow, I owe you a thousand pound.
75line 3362SHALLOWYea, marry, Sir John, which I beseech you to
line 3363let me have home with me.
line 3364FALSTAFFThat can hardly be, Master Shallow. Do not
line 3365you grieve at this. I shall be sent for in private to
line 3366him. Look you, he must seem thus to the world.
80line 3367Fear not your advancements. I will be the man yet
line 3368that shall make you great.
line 3369SHALLOWI cannot well perceive how, unless you
line 3370should give me your doublet and stuff me out with
line 3371straw. I beseech you, good Sir John, let me have five
85line 3372hundred of my thousand.
line 3373FALSTAFFSir, I will be as good as my word. This that
line 3374you heard was but a color.
Act 5 Scene 5 - Pg 241 line 3375SHALLOWA color that I fear you will die in, Sir John.
line 3376FALSTAFFFear no colors. Go with me to dinner.—
90line 3377Come, lieutenant Pistol.—Come, Bardolph.—I
line 3378shall be sent for soon at night.

Enter the Lord Chief Justice and Prince John, with Officers.

CHIEF JUSTICE
line 3379Go, carry Sir John Falstaff to the Fleet.
line 3380Take all his company along with him.
line 3381FALSTAFFMy lord, my lord —
CHIEF JUSTICE
95line 3382I cannot now speak. I will hear you soon.—
line 3383Take them away.
line 3384PISTOLSi fortuna me tormenta, spero me contenta.

All but John of Lancaster and Chief Justice exit.

JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 3385I like this fair proceeding of the King’s.
line 3386He hath intent his wonted followers
100line 3387Shall all be very well provided for,
line 3388But all are banished till their conversations
line 3389Appear more wise and modest to the world.
line 3390CHIEF JUSTICEAnd so they are.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 3391The King hath called his parliament, my lord.
105line 3392CHIEF JUSTICEHe hath.
JOHN OF LANCASTER
line 3393I will lay odds that, ere this year expire,
line 3394We bear our civil swords and native fire
line 3395As far as France. I heard a bird so sing,
line 3396Whose music, to my thinking, pleased the King.
110line 3397Come, will you hence?

They exit.


EPILOGUE


line 3398 First my fear, then my curtsy, last my speech. My
line 3399fear is your displeasure, my curtsy my duty, and my
line 3400speech, to beg your pardons. If you look for a good
line 3401speech now, you undo me, for what I have to say is
5line 3402of mine own making, and what indeed I should say
line 3403will, I doubt, prove mine own marring.
line 3404 But to the purpose, and so to the venture. Be it
line 3405known to you, as it is very well, I was lately here in
line 3406the end of a displeasing play to pray your patience
10line 3407for it and to promise you a better. I meant indeed to
line 3408pay you with this, which, if like an ill venture it
line 3409come unluckily home, I break, and you, my gentle
line 3410creditors, lose. Here I promised you I would be,
line 3411and here I commit my body to your mercies. Bate
15line 3412me some, and I will pay you some, and, as most
line 3413debtors do, promise you infinitely. And so I kneel
line 3414down before you, but, indeed, to pray for the
line 3415Queen.
line 3416 If my tongue cannot entreat you to acquit me,
20line 3417will you command me to use my legs? And yet that
line 3418were but light payment, to dance out of your debt.
line 3419But a good conscience will make any possible
line 3420satisfaction, and so would I. All the gentlewomen
line 3421here have forgiven me; if the gentlemen will not,
25line 3422then the gentlemen do not agree with the gentlewomen,
Page 245 - Henry IV, Part 2 - EPILOGUE line 3423which was never seen before in such an
line 3424assembly.
line 3425 One word more, I beseech you: if you be not too
line 3426much cloyed with fat meat, our humble author will
30line 3427continue the story, with Sir John in it, and make
line 3428you merry with fair Katherine of France, where, for
line 3429anything I know, Falstaff shall die of a sweat, unless
line 3430already he be killed with your hard opinions; for
line 3431Oldcastle died a martyr, and this is not the man.
35line 3432My tongue is weary; when my legs are too, I will bid
line 3433you good night.

#haveread
Login to use this functionality
Link copied to clipboard
Library
Contents
Notes
Settings
Read

Title

Author

#reading #haveread
Login to use this functionality
Link copied to clipboard

This website © 2024 Bookwise.io [v0.93]

Notes & Highlights

Highlight some text to create a note.

Clear Notes & Highlights

Are you sure? Yes / No

Reading History

Your reading sessions will be listed here.

Clear Reading History

Are you sure? Yes / No


Settings

“Read more, beautifully”

Typography

Default size
Smaller font
Bigger font

Colour scheme

Dark
Light
Nightvision

Tap zones

Diagonal
Top & bottom
Left & right
None