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HIV-1.
The First part of King Henry the Fourth
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
KING HENRY the fourth
HAL, Harry Prince of Wales }
Lord John of LANCASTER } King Henry's sons
Earl of WESTMORLAND
Sir Walter BLUNT
Earl of WORCESTER
Percy, Earl of NORTHUMBERLAND, his brother
Harry Percy, known as HOTSPUR, Northumberland's son
Kate, LADY PERCY, Hotspur's wife
Lord Edmund MORTIMER, Earl of March, Lady Percy's brother
LADY MORTIMER, his wife
Owen GLENDOWER, Lady Mortimer's father
Earl of DOUGLAS
Sir Richard VERNON
Scroop, ARCHBISHOP of York
SIR MICHAEL, a member of the Archbishop's household
SIR JOHN Falstaff
Edward POINS, (Ned)
BARDOLPH
PETO
Mistress Quickly, HOSTESS of a tavern in Eastcheap
FRANCIS, a drawer
VINTNER
GADSHILL
CARRIERS
CHAMBERLAIN
OSTLER
TRAVELLERS
SHERIFF
MESSENGERS
SERVANT
Lords, soldiers
ACT I HENRY IV part 1
1.1
Enter King Henry, Lord John of Lancaster, and the
Earl of Westmorland, with other lords
KING HENRY
So shaken as we are, so wan with care,
Find we a time for frighted peace to pant
And breathe short-winded accents of new broils
To be commenced in strands afar remote.
No more the thirsty entrance of this soil 5
Shall daub her lips with her own children's blood.
No more shall trenching war channel her fields,
Nor bruise her flow'rets with the armed hoofs
Of hostile paces. Those opposed eyes,
Which, like the meteors of a troubled heaven, 10
All of one nature, of one substance bred,
Did lately meet in the intestine shock
And furious close of civil butchery,
Shall now in mutual well-beseeming ranks
March all one way, and be no more opposed 15
Against acquaintance, kindred, and allies.
The edge of war, like an ill-sheathed knife,
No more shall cut his master. Therefore, friends,
As far as to the sepulchre of Christ-
Whose soldier now, under whose blessed cross 20
We are impressed and engaged to fight-
Forthwith a power of English shall we levy,
Whose arms were moulded in their mothers' womb
To chase these pagans in those holy fields
Over whose acres walked those blessed feet 25
Which fourteen hundred years ago were nailed,
For our advantage, on the bitter cross.
But this our purpose now is twelve month old,
And bootless 'tis to tell you we will go.
Therefor we meet not now. Then let me hear 30
Of you, my gentle cousin Westmorland,
What yesternight our Council did decree
In forwarding this dear expedience.
WESTMORLAND
My liege, this haste was hot in question,
And many limits of the charge set down 35
But yesternight, when all athwart there came
A post from Wales, loaden with heavy news,
Whose worst was that the noble Mortimer,
Leading the men of Herefordshire to fight
Against the irregular and wild Glendower, 40
Was by the rude hands of that Welshman taken,
A thousand of his people butchered,
Upon whose dead corpse' there was such misuse,
Such beastly shameless transformation,
By those Welshwomen done as may not be 45
Without much shame retold or spoken of.
KING HENRY
It seems then that the tidings of this broil
Brake off our business for the Holy Land.
WESTMORLAND
This matched with other did, my gracious lord,
For more uneven and unwelcome news 50
Came from the north, and thus it did import:
On Holy-rood day the gallant Hotspur there-
Young Harry Percy-and brave Archibald,
That ever valiant and approved Scot,
At Holmedon met, 55
Where they did spend a sad and bloody hour,
As by discharge of their artillery
And shape of likelihood the news was told,
For he that brought them in the very heat
And pride of their contention did take horse, 60
Uncertain of the issue any way.
KING HENRY
Here is a dear, a true industrious friend,
Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse,
Stained with the variation of each soil
Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours, 65
And he hath brought us smooth and welcome news.
The Earl of Douglas is discomfited.
Ten thousand bold Scots, two-and-twenty knights,
Balked in their own blood did Sir Walter see
On Holmedon's plains. Of prisoners Hotspur took 70
Mordake the Earl of Fife and eldest son
To beaten Douglas, and the Earl of Athol,
Of Moray, Angus, and Menteith,
And is not this an honourable spoil,
A gallant prize? Ha, cousin, is it not? 75
WESTMORLAND
In faith, it is a conquest for a prince to boast of.
KING HENRY
Yea, there thou mak'st me sad, and mak'st me sin
In envy that my lord Northumberland
Should be the father to so blest a son-
A son who is the theme of honour's tongue, 80
Amongst a grove the very straightest plant,
Who is sweet Fortune's minion and her pride-
Whilst I by looking on the praise of him
See riot and dishonour stain the brow
Of my young Harry. O, that it could be proved 85
That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged
In cradle clothes our children where they lay,
And called mine Percy, his Plantagenet!
Then would I have his Harry, and he mine.
But let him from my thoughts. What think you, coz, 90
Of this young Percy's pride? The prisoners
Which he in this adventure hath surprised
To his own use he keeps, and sends me word
I shall have none but Mordake Earl of Fife.
WESTMORLAND
This is his uncle's teaching. This is Worcester, 95
Malevolent to you in all aspects,
Which makes him prune himself, and bristle up
The crest of youth against your dignity.
KING HENRY
But I have sent for him to answer this,
And for this cause awhile we must neglect 100
Our holy purpose to Jerusalem.
Cousin, on Wednesday next our Council we
Will hold at Windsor. So inform the lords.
But come yourself with speed to us again,
For more is to be said and to be done 105
Than out of anger can be uttered.
WESTMORLAND
I will, my liege.
Exeunt King Henry, Lancaster, and other
lords at one door, Westmorland at another
1.2
Enter Harry Prince of Wales and Sir John Falstaff
SIR JOHN
Now, Hal, what time of day is it, lad?
HAL
Thou art so fat-witted with drinking of old
sack, and unbuttoning thee after supper, and sleeping
upon benches after noon, that thou hast forgotten to
demand that truly which thou wouldst truly know. 5
What a devil hast thou to do with the time of the day?
Unless hours were cups of sack, and minutes capons,
and clocks the tongues of bawds, and dials the signs
of leaping-houses, and the blessed sun himself a fair
hot wench in flame-coloured taffeta, I see no reason 10
why thou shouldst be so superfluous to demand the
time of the day.
SIR JOHN
Indeed you come near me now, Hal, for we that
take purses go by the moon and the seven stars, and
not `By Phoebus, he, that wand'ring knight so fair' 15
And I prithee, sweet wag, when thou art a king, as
God save thy grace-`majesty' I should say, for grace
thou wilt have none-
HAL
What, none?
SIR JOHN
No, by my troth, not so much as will serve to 20
be prologue to an egg and butter.
HAL
Well, how then? Come, roundly, roundly.
SIR JOHN
Marry then, sweet wag, when thou art king let
not us that are squires of the night's body be called
thieves of the day's beauty. Let us be `Diana's foresters' 25
`gentlemen of the shade', `minions of the moon', and
let men say we be men of good government, being
governed, as the sea is, by our noble and chaste mistress
the moon, under whose countenance we steal.
HAL
Thou sayst well, and it holds well too, for 30
the fortune of us that are the moon's men doth ebb
and flow like the sea, being governed as the sea is by
the moon. As for proof now: a purse of gold most
resolutely snatched on Monday night, and most
dissolutely spent on Tuesday morning, got with 35
swearing `lay by!', and spent with crying `bring in!',
now in as low an ebb as the foot of the ladder, and by
and by in as high a flow as the ridge of the gallows.
SIR JOHN
By the Lord, thou sayst true, lad, and is not my
Hostess of the tavern a most sweet wench? 40
HAL
As the honey of Hybla, my old lad of the
castle, and is not a buff jerkin a most sweet robe of
durance?
SIR JOHN
How now, how now, mad wag? What, in thy
quips and thy quiddities? What a plague have I to do 45
with a buff jerkin?
HAL
Why, what a pox have I to do with
my Hostess of the tavern?
SIR JOHN
Well, thou hast called her to a reckoning many a time and oft.
HAL
Did I ever call for thee to pay thy part?
SIR JOHN
No, I'll give thee thy due, thou hast paid all there.
HAL
Yea, and elsewhere so far as my coin would
stretch, and where it would not, I have used my credit. 55
SIR JOHN
Yea, and so used it that were it not here apparent
that thou art heir apparent-but I prithee, sweet wag,
shall there be gallows standing in England when thou
art king, and resolution thus fubbed as it is with the
rusty curb of old father Antic the law? Do not thou 60
when thou art king hang a thief.
HAL
No, thou shalt.
SIR JOHN
Shall I? O, rare! By the Lord, I'll be a brave judge!
HAL
Thou judgest false already. I mean thou 65
shalt have the hanging of the thieves, and so become
a rare hangman.
SIR JOHN
Well, Hal, well, and in some sort it jumps with
my humour as well as waiting in the court, I can tell
you. 70
HAL
For obtaining of suits?
SIR JOHN
Yea, for obtaining of suits, whereof the hangman
hath no lean wardrobe. 'Sblood, I am as melancholy
as a gib cat, or a lugged bear.
HAL
Or an old lion, or a lover's lute. 75
SIR JOHN
Yea, or the drone of a Lincolnshire bagpipe.
HAL
What sayst thou to a hare, or the
melancholy of Moor-ditch?
SIR JOHN
Thou hast the most unsavoury similes, and art
indeed the most comparative, rascalliest sweet young 80
Prince. But Hal, I prithee trouble me no more with
vanity. I would to God thou and I knew where a
commodity of good names were to be bought. An old
lord of the Council rated me the other day in the street
about you, sir, but I marked him not, and yet he talked 85
very wisely, but I regarded him not, and yet he talked
wisely, and in the street too.
HAL
Thou didst well, for wisdom cries out in
the streets, and no man regards it.
SIR JOHN
O, thou hast damnable iteration, and art indeed 90
able to corrupt a saint. Thou hast done much harm
upon me, Hal, God forgive thee for it. Before I knew
thee, Hal, I knew nothing, and now am I, if a man
should speak truly, little better than one of the wicked.
I must give over this life, and I will give it over. By the 95
Lord, an I do not, I am a villain. I'll be damned for
never a king's son in Christendom.
HAL
Where shall we take a purse tomorrow, Jack?
SIR JOHN
Zounds, where thou wilt, lad! I'll make one, an 100
I do not, call me villain and baffle me.
HAL
I see a good amendment of life in thee,
from praying to purse-taking.
SIR JOHN
Why, Hal, 'tis my vocation, Hal. 'Tis no sin for
a man to labour in his vocation. 105
Enter Poins
Poins! Now shall we know if Gadshill have set a match.
O, if men were to be saved by merit, what hole in hell
were hot enough for him? This is the most omnipotent
villain that ever cried `Stand!' to a true man.
HAL
Good morrow, Ned. 110
POINS
Good morrow, sweet Hal. (To Sir John) What says
Monsieur Remorse? What says Sir John, sack-and-
sugar Jack? How agrees the devil and thee about thy
soul, that thou soldest him on Good Friday last, for a
cup of Madeira and a cold capon's leg? 115
HAL
Sir John stands to his word, the devil shall
have his bargain, for he was never yet a breaker of
proverbs: he will give the devil his due.
POINS (to Sir John)
Then art thou damned for keeping thy word with the devil.
HAL
Else he had been damned for cozening the devil.
POINS
But my lads, my lads, tomorrow morning by four
o'clock early, at Gads Hill, there are pilgrims going to
Canterbury with rich offerings, and traders riding to 125
London with fat purses. I have visors for you all, you
have horses for yourselves. Gadshill lies tonight in
Rochester. I have bespoke supper tomorrow night in
Eastcheap. We may do it as secure as sleep. If you will
go, I will stuff your purses full of crowns, if you will
not, tarry at home and be hanged.
SIR JOHN
Hear ye, Edward, if I tarry at home and go not,
I'll hang you for going.
POINS
You will, chops?
SIR JOHN
Hal, wilt thou make one? 135
HAL
Who, I rob? I a thief? Not I, by my faith.
SIR JOHN
There's neither honesty, manhood, nor good
fellowship in thee, nor thou camest not of the blood
royal, if thou darest not stand for ten shillings.
HAL
Well then, once in my days I'll be a madcap. 140
SIR JOHN
Why, that's well said.
HAL
Well, come what will, I'll tarry at home.
SIR JOHN
By the Lord, I'll be a traitor then, when thou
art king. 145
HAL
I care not.
POINS
Sir John, I prithee leave the Prince and me alone.
I will lay him down such reasons for this adventure
that he shall go.
SIR JOHN
Well, God give thee the spirit of persuasion and 150
him the ears of profiting, that what thou speakest may
move and what he hears may be believed, that the true
prince may, for recreation' sake, prove a false thief, for
the poor abuses of the time want countenance. Farewell.
You shall find me in Eastcheap. 155
HAL
Farewell, the latter spring, farewell, All-hallown summer.
Exit Sir John
POINS
Now, my good sweet honey lord, ride with us
tomorrow. I have a jest to execute that I cannot manage
alone. Falstaff, Harvey, Russell, and Gadshill shall rob 160
those men that we have already waylaid-yourself and
I will not be there - and when they have the booty, if
you and I do not rob them, cut this head off from my
shoulders.
HAL
But how shall we part with them in setting forth? 165
POINS
Why, we will set forth before or after them and
appoint them a place of meeting, wherein it is at our
pleasure to fail. And then will they adventure upon the
exploit themselves, which they shall have no sooner 170
achieved but we'll set upon them.
HAL
Ay, but 'tis like that they will know us by
our horses, by our habits, and by every other
appointment, to be ourselves.
POINS
Tut, our horses they shall not see - I'll tie them in 175
the wood, our visors we will change after we leave
them, and, sirrah, I have cases of buckram for the
nonce, to immask our noted outward garments.
HAL
But I doubt they will be too hard for us.
POINS
Well, for two of them, I know them to be as true 180
bred cowards as ever turned back, and for the third,
if he fight longer than he sees reason, I'll forswear
arms. The virtue of this jest will be the incomprehensible
lies that this same fat rogue will tell us when we meet
at supper: how thirty at least he fought with, what 185
wards, what blows, what extremities he endured, and
in the reproof of this lives the jest.
HAL
Well, I'll go with thee. Provide us all things
necessary, and meet me tomorrow night in Eastcheap,
there I'll sup. Farewell. 190
POINS
Farewell, my lord.
Exit
HAL
I know you all, and will a while uphold
The unyoked humour of your idleness.
Yet herein will I imitate the sun,
Who doth permit the base contagious clouds 195
To smother up his beauty from the world,
That when he please again to be himself,
Being wanted he may be more wondered at
By breaking through the foul and ugly mists
Of vapours that did seem to strangle him. 200
If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work,
But when they seldom come, they wished-for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
So when this loose behaviour I throw off 205
And pay the debt I never promised,
By how much better than my word I am,
By so much shall I falsify men's hopes,
And like bright metal on a sullen ground,
My reformation, glitt'ring o'er my fault, 210
Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes
Than that which hath no foil to set it off.
I'll so offend to make offence a skill,
Redeeming time when men think least I will.
Exit
1.3
Enter the King, the Earls of Northumberland and
Worcester, Hotspur, Sir Walter Blunt, with lords
KING HENRY
My blood hath been too cold and temperate,
Unapt to stir at these indignities,
And you have found me, for accordingly
You tread upon my patience, but be sure
I will from henceforth rather be myself, 5
Mighty and to be feared, than my condition,
Which hath been smooth as oil, soft as young down,
And therefore lost that title of respect
Which the proud soul ne'er pays but to the proud.
WORCESTER
Our house, my sovereign liege, little deserves 10
The scourge of greatness to be used on it,
And that same greatness too, which our own hands
Have holp to make so portly.
NORTHUMBERLAND
My lord-
KING HENRY
Worcester, get thee gone, for I do see
Danger and disobedience in thine eye. 15
O sir, your presence is too bold and peremptory,
And majesty might never yet endure
The moody frontier of a servant brow.
You have good leave to leave us. When we need
Your use and counsel we shall send for you. 20
Exit Worcester
You were about to speak.
NORTHUMBERLAND
Yea, my good lord.
Those prisoners in your highness' name demanded,
Which Harry Percy here at Holmedon took,
Were, as he says, not with such strength denied
As was delivered to your majesty, 25
Who either through envy or misprision
Was guilty of this fault, and not my son.
HOTSPUR
My liege, I did deny no prisoners,
But I remember, when the fight was done,
When I was dry with rage and extreme toil, 30
Breathless and faint, leaning upon my sword,
Came there a certain lord, neat and trimly dressed,
Fresh as a bridegroom, and his chin, new-reaped,
Showed like a stubble-land at harvest-home.
He was perfumed like a milliner, 35
And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he held
A pouncet-box, which ever and anon
He gave his nose and took't away again-
Who therewith angry, when it next came there
Took it in snuff-and still he smiled and talked, 40
And as the soldiers bore dead bodies by,
He called them untaught knaves, unmannerly
To bring a slovenly unhandsome corpse
Betwixt the wind and his nobility.
With many holiday and lady terms 45
He questioned me, amongst the rest demanded
My prisoners in your majesty's behalf.
I then, all smarting with my wounds being cold-
To be so pestered with a popinjay!-
Out of my grief and my impatience 50
Answered neglectingly, I know not what-
He should, or should not-for he made me mad
To see him shine so brisk, and smell so sweet,
And talk so like a waiting gentlewoman
Of guns, and drums, and wounds, God save the mark! 55
And telling me the sovereign'st thing on earth
Was parmacity for an inward bruise,
And that it was great pity, so it was,
This villainous saltpetre should be digged
Out of the bowels of the harmless earth, 60
Which many a good tall fellow had destroyed
So cowardly, and but for these vile guns
He would himself have been a soldier.
This bald unjointed chat of his, my lord,
Made me to answer indirectly, as I said, 65
And I beseech you, let not his report
Come current for an accusation
Betwixt my love and your high majesty.
BLUNT
The circumstance considered, good my lord,
Whate'er Lord Harry Percy then had said 70
To such a person, and in such a place,
At such a time, with all the rest retold,
May reasonably die, and never rise
To do him wrong or any way impeach
What then he said, so he unsay it now. 75
KING HENRY
Why, yet he doth deny his prisoners,
But with proviso and exception
That we at our own charge shall ransom straight
His brother-in-law the foolish Mortimer,
Who, on my soul, hath wilfully betrayed 80
The lives of those that he did lead to fight
Against that great magician, damned Glendower-
Whose daughter, as we hear, the Earl of March
Hath lately married. Shall our coffers, then,
Be emptied to redeem a traitor home? 85
Shall we buy treason, and indent with fears
When they have lost and forfeited themselves?
No, on the barren mountains let him starve,
For I shall never hold that man my friend
Whose tongue shall ask me for one penny cost 90
To ransom home revolted Mortimer-
HOTSPUR
Revolted Mortimer?
He never did fall off, my sovereign liege,
But by the chance of war. To prove that true
Needs no more but one tongue for all those wounds, 95
Those mouthed wounds, which valiantly he took
When on the gentle Severn's sedgy bank,
In single opposition, hand to hand,
He did confound the best part of an hour
In changing hardiment with great Glendower. 100
Three times they breathed, and three times did they drink,
Upon agreement, of swift Severn's flood,
Who, then affrighted with their bloody looks,
Ran fearfully among the trembling reeds,
And hid his crisp head in the hollow bank, 105
Bloodstained with these valiant combatants.
Never did bare and rotten policy
Colour her working with such deadly wounds,
Nor never could the noble Mortimer
Receive so many, and all willingly. 110
Then let not him be slandered with revolt.
KING HENRY
Thou dost belie him, Percy, thou dost belie him.
He never did encounter with Glendower. I tell thee,
He durst as well have met the devil alone
As Owen Glendower for an enemy. 115
Art thou not ashamed? But, sirrah, henceforth
Let me not hear you speak of Mortimer.
Send me your prisoners with the speediest means,
Or you shall hear in such a kind from me
As will displease you.-My lord Northumberland, 120
We license your departure with your son.
Send us your prisoners, or you'll hear of it.
Exeunt all but Hotspur and Northumberland
HOTSPUR
An if the devil come and roar for them
I will not send them. I will after straight
And tell him so, for I will ease my heart, 125
Although it be with hazard of my head.
NORTHUMBERLAND
What, drunk with choler? Stay and pause awhile.
Enter the Earl of Worcester
Here comes your uncle.
HOTSPUR
Speak of Mortimer?
Zounds, I will speak of him, and let my soul
Want mercy if I do not join with him. 130
In his behalf I'll empty all these veins,
And shed my dear blood drop by drop in the dust,
But I will lift the downfall Mortimer
As high in the air as this unthankful King,
As this ingrate and cankered Bolingbroke. 135
NORTHUMBERLAND
Brother, the King hath made your nephew mad.
WORCESTER
Who struck this heat up after I was gone?
HOTSPUR
He will forsooth have all my prisoners,
And when I urged the ransom once again
Of my wife's brother, then his cheek looked pale, 140
And on my face he turned an eye of death,
Trembling even at the name of Mortimer.
WORCESTER
I cannot blame him: was not he proclaimed
By Richard, that dead is, the next of blood?
NORTHUMBERLAND
He was, I heard the proclamation. 145
And then it was when the unhappy King,
Whose wrongs in us God pardon, did set forth
Upon his Irish expedition,
From whence he, intercepted, did return
To be deposed, and shortly murdered. 150
WORCESTER
And for whose death we in the world's wide mouth
Live scandalized and foully spoken of.
HOTSPUR
But soft, I pray you, did King Richard then
Proclaim my brother Edmund Mortimer
Heir to the crown?
NORTHUMBERLAND
He did, myself did hear it. 155
HOTSPUR
Nay, then I cannot blame his cousin King
That wished him on the barren mountains starve.
But shall it be that you that set the crown
Upon the head of this forgetful man,
And for his sake wear the detested blot 160
Of murderous subornation, shall it be
That you a world of curses undergo,
Being the agents or base second means,
The cords, the ladder, or the hangman, rather?
O, pardon me that I descend so low 165
To show the line and the predicament
Wherein you range under this subtle King!
Shall it for shame be spoken in these days,
Or fill up chronicles in time to come,
That men of your nobility and power 170
Did gage them both in an unjust behalf,
As both of you, God pardon it, have done:
To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose,
And plant this thorn, this canker, Bolingbroke?
And shall it in more shame be further spoken 175
That you are fooled, discarded, and shook off
By him for whom these shames ye underwent?
No, yet time serves wherein you may redeem
Your banished honours, and restore yourselves
Into the good thoughts of the world again, 180
Revenge the jeering and disdained contempt
Of this proud King, who studies day and night
To answer all the debt he owes to you
Even with the bloody payment of your deaths.
Therefore, I say-
WORCESTER
Peace, cousin, say no more. 185
And now I will unclasp a secret book,
And to your quick-conceiving discontents
I'll read you matter deep and dangerous,
As full of peril and adventurous spirit
As to o'erwalk a current roaring loud 190
On the unsteadfast footing of a spear.
HOTSPUR
If he fall in, good night, or sink or swim.
Send danger from the east unto the west,
So honour cross it from the north to south,
And let them grapple. O, the blood more stirs 195
To rouse a lion than to start a hare!
NORTHUMBERLAND (to Worcester)
Imagination of some great exploit
Drives him beyond the bounds of patience.
HOTSPUR
By heaven, methinks it were an easy leap
To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon, 200
Or dive into the bottom of the deep,
Where fathom-line could never touch the ground,
And pluck up drowned honour by the locks,
So he that doth redeem her thence might wear,
Without corrival, all her dignities. 205
But out upon this half-faced fellowship!
WORCESTER (to Northumberland)
He apprehends a world of figures here,
But not the form of what he should attend.
(To Hotspur) Good cousin, give me audience for a while,
And list to me. 210
HOTSPUR
I cry you mercy.
WORCESTER
Those same noble Scots that are your prisoners-
HOTSPUR
I'll keep them all.
By God, he shall not have a Scot of them,
No, if a scot would save his soul he shall not.
I'll keep them, by this hand.
WORCESTER
You start away, 215
And lend no ear unto my purposes.
Those prisoners you shall keep.
HOTSPUR
Nay, I will, that's flat.
He said he would not ransom Mortimer,
Forbade my tongue to speak of Mortimer,
But I will find him when he lies asleep, 220
And in his ear I'll hollo `Mortimer!'
Nay, I'll have a starling shall be taught to speak
Nothing but `Mortimer', and give it him
To keep his anger still in motion.
WORCESTER
Hear you, cousin, a word. 225
HOTSPUR
All studies here I solemnly defy,
Save how to gall and pinch this Bolingbroke.
And that same sword-and-buckler Prince of Wales-
But that I think his father loves him not
And would be glad he met with some mischance- 230
I would have him poisoned with a pot of ale.
WORCESTER
Farewell, kinsman. I'll talk to you
When you are better tempered to attend.
NORTHUMBERLAND (to Hotspur)
Why, what a wasp-stung and impatient fool
Art thou to break into this woman's mood, 235
Tying thine ear to no tongue but thine own!
HOTSPUR
Why, look you, I am whipped and scourged with rods,
Nettled and stung with pismires, when I hear
Of this vile politician Bolingbroke.
In Richard's time-what d'ye call the place? 240
A plague upon't, it is in Gloucestershire.
'Twas where the madcap Duke his uncle kept-
His uncle York-where I first bowed my knee
Unto this king of smiles, this Bolingbroke.
'Sblood, when you and he came back from Ravenspurgh.
NORTHUMBERLAND
At Berkeley castle.
HOTSPUR
You say true.
Why, what a candy deal of courtesy
This fawning greyhound then did proffer me!
`Look when his infant fortune came to age',
And `gentle Harry Percy', and `kind cousin' 250
O, the devil take such cozeners!-God forgive me.
Good uncle, tell your tale, I have done.
WORCESTER
Nay, if you have not, to't again.
We'll stay your leisure.
HOTSPUR
I have done, i'faith.
WORCESTER
Then once more to your Scottish prisoners. 255
Deliver them up without their ransom straight,
And make the Douglas' son your only mean
For powers in Scotland, which, for divers reasons
Which I shall send you written, be assured
Will easily be granted. (To Northumberland) You, my lord,
Your son in Scotland being thus employed,
Shall secretly into the bosom creep
Of that same noble prelate well-beloved, the Archbishop.
HOTSPUR
Of York, is't not?
WORCESTER
True, who bears hard
His brother's death at Bristol, the Lord Scroop. 265
I speak not this in estimation,
As what I think might be, but what I know
Is ruminated, plotted, and set down,
And only stays but to behold the face
Of that occasion that shall bring it on. 270
HOTSPUR
I smell it, upon my life, it will do well!
NORTHUMBERLAND
Before the game is afoot thou still lett'st slip.
HOTSPUR
Why, it cannot choose but be a noble plot-
And then the power of Scotland and of York
To join with Mortimer, ha?
WORCESTER
And so they shall. 275
HOTSPUR
In faith, it is exceedingly well aimed.
WORCESTER
And 'tis no little reason bids us speed
To save our heads by raising of a head,
For, bear ourselves as even as we can,
The King will always think him in our debt, 280
And think we think ourselves unsatisfied
Till he hath found a time to pay us home.
And see already how he doth begin
To make us strangers to his looks of love.
HOTSPUR
He does, he does. We'll be revenged on him. 285
WORCESTER
Cousin, farewell. No further go in this
Than I by letters shall direct your course.
When time is ripe, which will be suddenly,
I'll steal to Glendower and Lord Mortimer,
Where you and Douglas and our powers at once, 290
As I will fashion it, shall happily meet,
To bear our fortunes in our own strong arms,
Which now we hold at much uncertainty.
NORTHUMBERLAND
Farewell, good brother. We shall thrive, I trust.
HOTSPUR
Uncle, adieu. O, let the hours be short 295
Till fields and blows and groans applaud our sport!
Exeunt Worcester at one door, Northumberland
and Hotspur at another
ACT II Henry IV part 1
2.1
Enter a Carrier, with a lantern
FIRST CARRIER
Heigh-ho! An't be not four by the day, I'll
be hanged. Charles's Wain is over the new chimney,
and yet our horse not packed. What, ostler!
OSTLER (within)
Anon, anon!
FIRST CARRIER
I prithee, Tom, beat cut's saddle, put a few 5
flocks in the point. Poor jade is wrung in the withers,
out of all cess.
Enter another Carrier
SECOND CARRIER
Peas and beans are as dank here as a
dog, and that is the next way to give poor jades the
bots. This house is turned upside down since Robin 10
Ostler died.
FIRST CARRIER
Poor fellow never joyed since the price of
oats rose, it was the death of him.
SECOND CARRIER
I think this be the most villainous house
in all London road for fleas. I am stung like a tench. 15
FIRST CARRIER
Like a tench? By the mass, there is ne'er
a king christen could be better bit than I have been
since the first cock.
SECOND CARRIER
Why, they will allow us ne'er a jordan,
and then we leak in your chimney, and your chamber- 20
lye breeds fleas like a loach.
FIRST CARRIER
What, ostler! Come away, and be hanged, come away!
SECOND CARRIER
I have a gammon of bacon and two races
of ginger to be delivered as far as Charing Cross. 25
FIRST CARRIER
God's body, the turkeys in my pannier are
quite starved! What, ostler! A plague on thee, hast
thou never an eye in thy head? Canst not hear? An
'twere not as good deed as drink to break the pate on
thee, I am a very villain. Come, and be hanged! Hast 30
no faith in thee?
Enter Gadshill
GADSHILL
Good morrow, carriers. What's o'clock?
FIRST CARRIER
I think it be two o'clock.
GADSHILL
I prithee lend me thy lantern to see my gelding
in the stable. 35
FIRST CARRIER
Nay, by God, soft. I know a trick worth
two of that, i'faith.
GADSHILL (to Second Carrier)
I pray thee, lend me thine.
SECOND CARRIER
Ay, when? Canst tell? `Lend me thy
lantern,' quoth a. Marry, I'll see thee hanged first. 40
GADSHILL
Sirrah carrier, what time do you mean to come to London?
SECOND CARRIER
Time enough to go to bed with a candle,
I warrant thee.-Come, neighbour Mugs, we'll call up
the gentlemen. They will along with company, for they 45
have great charge.
Exeunt Carriers
GADSHILL
What ho, chamberlain!
Enter Chamberlain
CHAMBERLAIN
`At hand' quoth Pickpurse.
GADSHILL
That's even as fair as `At hand: quoth the
chamberlain', for thou variest no more from picking of 50
purses than giving direction doth from labouring: thou
layest the plot how.
CHAMBERLAIN
Good morrow, Master Gadshill. It holds
current that I told you yesternight. There's a franklin
in the Weald of Kent hath brought three hundred 55
marks with him in gold. I heard him tell it to one of
his company last night at supper-a kind of auditor,
one that hath abundance of charge too, God knows
what. They are up already, and call for eggs and butter,
they will away presently. 60
GADSHILL
Sirrah, if they meet not with Saint Nicholas's
clerks, I'll give thee this neck.
CHAMBERLAIN
No, I'll none of it, I pray thee keep that
for the hangman, for I know thou worshippest Saint
Nicholas as truly as a man of falsehood may. 65
GADSHILL
What talkest thou to me of the hangman? If I
hang, I'll make a fat pair of gallows, for if I hang, old
Sir John hangs with me, and thou knowest he's no
starveling. Tut, there are other Trojans that thou
dreamest not of, the which for sport' sake are content 70
to do the profession some grace, that would, if matters
should be looked into, for their own credit' sake make
all whole. I am joined with no foot-landrakers, no long-
staff sixpenny strikers, none of these mad mustachio
purple-hued maltworms, but with nobility and tran- 75
quillity, burgomasters and great `oyez'-ers, such as can
hold in, such as will strike sooner than speak, and
speak sooner than drink, and drink sooner than pray.
And yet, zounds, I lie, for they pray continually to their
saint the commonwealth, or rather, not pray to her, 80
but prey on her, for they ride up and down on her and
make her their boots.
CHAMBERLAIN
What, the commonwealth their boots? Will
she hold out water in foul way?
GADSHILL
She will, she will, justice hath liquored her. We 85
steal as in a castle, cocksure, we have the recipe of
fern-seed, we walk invisible.
CHAMBERLAIN
Nay, by my faith, I think you are more
beholden to the night than to fern-seed for your walking
invisible. 90
GADSHILL
Give me thy hand, thou shalt have a share in
our purchase, as I am a true man.
CHAMBERLAIN
Nay, rather let me have it as you are a false thief.
GADSHILL
Go to, `homo' is a common name to all men. 95
Bid the ostler bring my gelding out of the stable.
Farewell, you muddy knave.
Exeunt severally
2.2
Enter Prince Harry, Poins, Harvey, and Russell
POINS
Come, shelter, shelter!
Exeunt Harvey and Russell at another door
I have removed Falstaff's horse, and he frets like a
gummed velvet.
HAL
Stand close!
Exit Poins
Enter Sir John Falstaff
SIR JOHN
Poins! Poins, and be hanged! Poins! 5
HAL
Peace, ye fat-kidneyed rascal! What a
brawling dost thou keep!
SIR JOHN
Where's Poins, Hal?
HAL
He is walked up to the top of the hill. I'll
go seek him. 10
Exit
SIR JOHN
I am accursed to rob in that thief's company.
The rascal hath removed my horse and tied him I know
not where. If I travel but four foot by the square further
afoot, I shall break my wind. Well, I doubt not but to
die a fair death, for all this-if I scape hanging for 15
killing that rogue. I have forsworn his company hourly
any time this two-and-twenty years, and yet I am
bewitched with the rogue's company. If the rascal have
not given me medicines to make me love him, I'll be
hanged. It could not be else: I have drunk medicines. 20
Poins! Hal! A plague upon you both! Russell! Harvey!
I'll starve ere I'll rob a foot further. An 'twere not as
good a deed as drink to turn true man and to leave
these rogues, I am the veriest varlet that ever chewed
with a tooth. Eight yards of uneven ground is threescore 25
and ten miles afoot with me, and the stony-hearted
villains know it well enough. A plague upon't when
thieves cannot be true one to another!
They whistle. Enter Prince Harry, Poins, Harvey,
and Russell
Whew! A plague upon you all! Give me my horse, you
rogues, give me my horse, and be hanged! 30
HAL
Peace, ye fat-guts. Lie down, lay thine ear
close to the ground, and list if thou canst hear the
tread of travellers.
SIR JOHN
Have you any levers to lift me up again, being
down? 'Sblood, I'll not bear my own flesh so far afoot 35
again for all the coin in thy father's exchequer. What
a plague mean ye to colt me thus?
HAL
Thou liest: thou art not colted, thou art uncolted.
SIR JOHN
I prithee, good Prince Hal, help me to my horse, 40
good king's son.
HAL
Out, ye rogue, shall I be your ostler?
SIR JOHN
Hang thyself in thine own heir-apparent garters!
If I be ta'en, I'll peach for this. An I have not ballads
made on you all and sung to filthy tunes, let a cup of 45
sack be my poison. When a jest is so forward, and
afoot too! I hate it.
Enter Gadshill visored
GADSHILL
Stand!
SIR JOHN
So I do, against my will.
POINS
O, 'tis our setter, I know his voice. Gadshill, what 50
news?
GADSHILL
Case ye, case ye, on with your visors! There's
money of the King's coming down the hill, 'tis going
to the King's exchequer.
SIR JOHN
You lie, ye rogue, 'tis going to the King's tavern. 55
GADSHILL
There's enough to make us all.
SIR JOHN
To be hanged.
They put on visors
HAL
Sirs, you four shall front them in the
narrow lane. Ned Poins and I will walk lower. If they
scape from your encounter, then they light on us. 60
HARVEY
How many be there of them?
GADSHILL
Some eight or ten.
SIR JOHN
Zounds, will they not rob us?
HAL
What, a coward, Sir John Paunch?
SIR JOHN
Indeed I am not John of Gaunt your grandfather, 65
but yet no coward, Hal.
HAL
Well, we leave that to the proof.
POINS
Sirrah Jack, thy horse stands behind the hedge.
When thou needest him, there thou shalt find him.
Farewell, and stand fast. 70
SIR JOHN
Now cannot I strike him if I should be hanged.
HAL (aside to Poins)
Ned, where are our disguises?
POINS (aside to Prince)
Here, hard by. Stand close.
Exeunt the Prince and Poins
SIR JOHN
Now, my masters, happy man be his dole, say
I, every man to his business. 75
They stand aside.
Enter the Travellers, amongst them the Carriers
FIRST TRAVELLER
Come, neighbour, the boy shall lead
our horses down the hill. We'll walk afoot a while, and
ease their legs.
THIEVES [coming forward]
Stand!
SECOND TRAVELLER
Jesus bless us! 80
SIR JOHN
Strike, down with them, cut the villains' throats!
Ah, whoreson caterpillars, bacon-fed knaves! They hate
us youth. Down with them, fleece them!
FIRST TRAVELLER
O, we are undone, both we and ours for ever!
SIR JOHN
Hang ye, gorbellied knaves, are ye undone? No, 85
ye fat chuffs, I would your store were here. On, bacons,
on! What, ye knaves! Young men must live. You are
grand-jurors, are ye? We'll jure ye, faith.
Here they rob them and bind them. Exeunt the
thieves with the travellers
2.3
Enter Prince Harry and Poins, disguised
in buckram suits
HAL
The thieves have bound the true men, now
could thou and I rob the thieves, and go merrily to
London. It would be argument for a week, laughter for
a month, and a good jest for ever.
POINS
Stand close, I hear them coming. 5
They stand aside.
Enter Sir John Falstaff, Russell, Harvey, and
Gadshill, with the travellers' money
SIR JOHN
Come, my masters, let us share, and then to
horse before day. An the Prince and Poins be not two
arrant cowards, there's no equity stirring. There's no
more valour in that Poins than in a wild duck.
As they share, the Prince and Poins set on
them
HAL
Your money! 10
POINS
Villains!
Gadshill, Russell, and Harvey run away severally,
and Falstaff, after a blow or two, roars and
runs away too, leaving behind the booty
HAL
Got with much ease. Now merrily to horse.
The thieves are all scattered, and possessed with fear
So strongly that they dare not meet each other.
Each takes his fellow for an officer. 15
Away, good Ned. Falstaff sweats to death,
And lards the lean earth as he walks along.
Were't not for laughing, I should pity him.
POINS
How the fat rogue roared!
Exeunt with the booty
2.4
Enter Hotspur, reading a letter
HOTSPUR
`But for mine own part, my lord, I could be well
contented to be there, in respect of the love I bear your
house.'-He could be contented, why is he not then?
In respect of the love he bears our house! He shows in
this he loves his own barn better than he loves our 5
house. Let me see some more.-`The purpose you
undertake is dangerous'-Why, that's certain: 'tis
dangerous to take a cold, to sleep, to drink, but I tell
you, my lord fool, out of this nettle danger we pluck
this flower safety.-`The purpose you undertake is 10
dangerous, the friends you have named uncertain, the
time itself unsorted, and your whole plot too light for
the counterpoise of so great an opposition.'-Say you
so, say you so? I say unto you again, you are a shallow,
cowardly hind, and you lie. What a lack-brain is this! 15
By the Lord, our plot is a good plot as ever was laid,
our friends true and constant, a good plot, good friends,
and full of expectation, an excellent plot, very good
friends. What a frosty-spirited rogue is this! Why, my
lord of York commends the plot and the general course 20
of the action. Zounds, an I were now by this rascal, I
could brain him with his lady's fan! Is there not my
father, my uncle, and myself? Lord Edmund Mortimer,
my lord of York, and Owen Glendower? Is there not
besides the Douglas? Have I not all their letters, to 25
meet me in arms by the ninth of the next month? And
are they not some of them set forward already? What
a pagan rascal is this, an infidel! Ha, you shall see
now, in very sincerity of fear and cold heart will he to
the King, and lay open all our proceedings! O, I could 30
divide myself and go to buffets for moving such a dish
of skim-milk with so honourable an action! Hang him!
Let him tell the King we are prepared, I will set forward
tonight.
Enter Lady Percy
How now, Kate? I must leave you within these two hours. 35
LADY PERCY
O my good lord, why are you thus alone?
For what offence have I this fortnight been
A banished woman from my Harry's bed?
Tell me, sweet lord, what is't that takes from thee 40
Thy stomach, pleasure, and thy golden sleep?
Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth,
And start so often when thou sitt'st alone?
Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks,
And given my treasures and my rights of thee 45
To thick-eyed musing and curst melancholy?
In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watched,
And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars,
Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed,
Cry `Courage! To the field!' And thou hast talked 50
Of sallies and retires, of trenches, tents,
Of palisadoes, frontiers, parapets,
Of basilisks, of cannon, culverin,
Of prisoners ransomed, and of soldiers slain,
And all the currents of a heady fight. 55
Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war,
And thus hath so bestirred thee in thy sleep,
That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow
Like bubbles in a late-disturbed stream,
And in thy face strange motions have appeared, 60
Such as we see when men restrain their breath
On some great sudden hest. O, what portents are these?
Some heavy business hath my lord in hand,
And I must know it, else he loves me not.
HOTSPUR
What ho!
Enter Servant
Is Gilliams with the packet gone? 65
SERVANT
He is, my lord, an hour ago.
HOTSPUR
Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff?
SERVANT
One horse, my lord, he brought even now.
HOTSPUR
What horse? A roan, a crop-ear, is it not?
SERVANT
It is, my lord.
HOTSPUR
That roan shall be my throne. 70
Well, I will back him straight.- O, Esperance! -
Bid Butler lead him forth into the park.
LADY PERCY
But hear you, my lord.
HOTSPUR
What sayst thou, my lady?
LADY PERCY
What is it carries you away?
HOTSPUR
Why, my horse, My love, my horse.
LADY PERCY
Out, you mad-headed ape! 75
A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen
As you are tossed with.
In faith, I'll know your business, Harry, that I will.
I fear my brother Mortimer doth stir
About his title, and hath sent for you 80
To line his enterprise, but if you go-
HOTSPUR
So far afoot? I shall be weary, love.
LADY PERCY
Come, come, you paraquito, answer me
Directly to this question that I ask.
In faith, I'll break thy little finger, Harry, 85
An if thou wilt not tell me all things true.
HOTSPUR
Away, away, you trifler! Love? I love thee not,
I care not for thee, Kate. This is no world
To play with maumets and to tilt with lips.
We must have bloody noses and cracked crowns, 90
And pass them current, too. God's me, my horse!-
What sayst thou, Kate? What wouldst thou have with me?
LADY PERCY
Do you not love me? Do you not indeed?
Well, do not, then, for since you love me not
I will not love myself. Do you not love me? 95
Nay, tell me if you speak in jest or no.
HOTSPUR
Come, wilt thou see me ride?
And when I am a-horseback, I will swear
I love thee infinitely. But hark you, Kate.
I must not have you henceforth question me 100
Whither I go, nor reason whereabout.
Whither I must, I must, and, to conclude,
This evening must I leave you, gentle Kate.
I know you wise, but yet no farther wise
Than Harry Percy's wife, constant you are, 105
But yet a woman, and for secrecy
No lady closer, for I well believe
Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know.
And so far will I trust thee, gentle Kate.
LADY PERCY
How, so far? 110
HOTSPUR
Not an inch further. But hark you, Kate,
Whither I go, thither shall you go too.
Today will I set forth, tomorrow you.
Will this content you, Kate?
LADY PERCY
It must, of force.
Exeunt
2.5
Enter Prince Harry
HAL
Ned, prithee come out of that fat room,
and lend me thy hand to laugh a little.
Enter Poins at another door
POINS
Where hast been, Hal?
HAL
With three or four loggerheads, amongst
three or fourscore hogsheads. I have sounded the very 5
bass-string of humility. Sirrah, I am sworn brother to
a leash of drawers, and can call them all by their
christen names, as `Tom', `Dick', and `Francis'. They
take it already, upon their salvation, that though I be
but Prince of Wales yet I am the king of courtesy, and 10
tell me flatly I am no proud jack like Falstaff, but a
Corinthian, a lad of mettle, a good boy-by the Lord,
so they call me, and when I am King of England I shall
command all the good lads in Eastcheap. They call
drinking deep `dyeing scarlet', and when you breathe 15
in your watering they cry `Hem!' and bid you `Play it
off!' To conclude, I am so good a proficient in one
quarter of an hour that I can drink with any tinker in
his own language during my life. I tell thee, Ned, thou
hast lost much honour that thou wert not with me in 20
this action. But, sweet Ned-to sweeten which name
of Ned I give thee this pennyworth of sugar, clapped
even now into my hand by an underskinker, one that
never spake other English in his life than `Eight shillings
and sixpence', and `You are welcome', with this shrill 25
addition, `Anon, anon, sir! Score a pint of bastard in
the Half-moon!' or so. But, Ned, to drive away the time
till Falstaff come, I prithee do thou stand in some
by-room, while I question my puny drawer to what
end he gave me the sugar, and do thou never leave 30
calling `Francis!', that his tale to me may be nothing
but `Anon!' Step aside, and I'll show thee a precedent.
Exit Poins
POINS (within)
Francis!
HAL
Thou art perfect.
POINS (within)
Francis! 35
Enter Francis, a drawer
FRANCIS
Anon, anon, sir! - Look down into the Pomegranate, Ralph!
HAL
Come hither, Francis.
FRANCIS
My lord.
HAL
How long hast thou to serve, Francis? 40
FRANCIS
Forsooth, five years, and as much as to -
POINS (within)
Francis!
FRANCIS
Anon, anon, sir!
HAL
Five year! By'r Lady, a long lease for the
clinking of pewter. But Francis, darest thou be so 45
valiant as to play the coward with thy indenture, and
show it a fair pair of heels, and run from it?
FRANCIS
O Lord, sir, I'll be sworn upon all the books in
England, I could find in my heart -
POINS (within)
Francis! 50
FRANCIS
Anon, sir!
HAL
How old art thou, Francis?
FRANCIS
Let me see, about Michaelmas next I shall be-
POINS (within)
Francis!
FRANCIS
Anon, sir! (to the Prince) Pray, stay a little, my 55
lord.
HAL
Nay, but hark you, Francis. For the sugar
thou gavest me, 'twas a pennyworth, was't not?
FRANCIS
O Lord, I would it had been two!
HAL
I will give thee for it a thousand pound. 60
Ask me when thou wilt, and thou shalt have it-
POINS (within)
Francis!
FRANCIS
Anon, anon!
HAL
Anon, Francis? No, Francis, but tomorrow,
Francis, or, Francis, o' Thursday, or, indeed, Francis, 65
when thou wilt. But Francis.
FRANCIS
My lord.
HAL
Wilt thou rob this leathern-jerkin, crystal-
button, knot-pated, agate-ring, puke-stocking, caddis-
garter, smooth-tongue, Spanish-pouch? 70
FRANCIS
O Lord, sir, who do you mean?
HAL
Why, then, your brown bastard is your only drink!
For look you, Francis, your white canvas doublet will
sully. In Barbary, sir, it cannot come to so much. 75
FRANCIS
What, sir?
POINS (within)
Francis!
HAL
Away, you rogue! Dost thou not hear them call?
As he departs Poins and the Prince both call him.
The Drawer stands amazed, not knowing which
way to go. Enter Vintner
VINTNER
What, standest thou still, and hearest such a 80
calling? Look to the guests within.
Exit Francis
My lord, old Sir John with half a dozen more are at
the door. Shall I let them in?
HAL
Let them alone a while, and then open the door. 85
Exit Vintner
Poins!
POINS [within]
Anon, anon, sir!
Enter Poins
HAL
Sirrah, Falstaff and the rest of the thieves
are at the door. Shall we be merry?
POINS
As merry as crickets, my lad. But hark ye, what 90
cunning match have you made with this jest of the
drawer? Come, what's the issue?
HAL
I am now of all humours that have showed
themselves humours since the old days of goodman
Adam to the pupil age of this present twelve o'clock at 95
midnight.
Enter Francis
What's o'clock, Francis?
FRANCIS
Anon, anon, sir!
Exit at another door
HAL
That ever this fellow should have fewer
words than a parrot, and yet the son of a woman! His 100
industry is upstairs and downstairs, his eloquence the
parcel of a reckoning. I am not yet of Percy's mind,
the Hotspur of the North-he that kills me some six or
seven dozen of Scots at a breakfast, washes his hands,
and says to his wife, `Fie upon this quiet life! I want 105
work.' `O my sweet Harry,' says she, `how many hast
thou killed today?' `Give my roan horse a drench,' says
he, and answers, `Some fourteen,' an hour after, `a
trifle, a trifle.' I prithee call in Falstaff. I'll play Percy,
and that damned brawn shall play Dame Mortimer his 110
wife. `Rivo!' says the drunkard. Call in Ribs, call in
Tallow.
Enter Sir John Falstaff, with sword and buckler,
Russell, Harvey, and Gadshill, followed by
Francis, with wine
POINS
Welcome, Jack. Where hast thou been?
SIR JOHN
A plague of all cowards, I say, and a vengeance
too, marry and amen! - Give me a cup of sack, boy. 115
Ere I lead this life long, I'll sew netherstocks, and mend
them and foot them too. A plague of all cowards! -
Give me a cup of sack, rogue. Is there no virtue extant?
He drinks
HAL
Didst thou never see Titan kiss a dish of
butter - pitiful hearted Titan - that melted at the sweet 120
tale of the sun's? If thou didst, then behold that
compound.
SIR JOHN (to Francis)
You rogue, here's lime in this sack
too. There is nothing but roguery to be found in
villainous man, yet a coward is worse than a cup of 125
sack with lime in it.
Exit Francis
A villainous coward! Go thy ways, old Jack, die when
thou wilt. If manhood, good manhood, be not forgot
upon the face of the earth, then am I a shotten herring.
There lives not three good men unhanged in England, 130
and one of them is fat and grows old, God help the
while. A bad world, I say. I would I were a weaver-I
could sing psalms, or anything. A plague of all cowards,
I say still.
HAL
How now, woolsack, what mutter you? 135
SIR JOHN
A king's son! If I do not beat thee out of thy
kingdom with a dagger of lath, and drive all thy subjects
afore thee like a flock of wild geese, I'll never wear hair
on my face more. You, Prince of Wales!
HAL
Why, you whoreson round man, what's the matter? 140
SIR JOHN
Are not you a coward? Answer me to that. And Poins there?
POINS
Zounds, ye fat paunch, an ye call me coward, by
the Lord I'll stab thee. 145
SIR JOHN
I call thee coward? I'll see thee damned ere I
call thee coward, but I would give a thousand pound
I could run as fast as thou canst. You are straight
enough in the shoulders, you care not who sees your
back. Call you that backing of your friends? A plague 150
upon such backing! Give me them that will face me.
Give me a cup of sack. I am a rogue if I drunk today.
HAL
O villain, thy lips are scarce wiped since
thou drunkest last.
SIR JOHN
All is one for that. 155
He drinketh
A plague of all cowards, still say I.
HAL
What's the matter?
SIR JOHN
What's the matter? There be four of us here
have ta'en a thousand pound this day morning.
HAL
Where is it, Jack, where is it? 160
SIR JOHN
Where is it? Taken from us it is. A hundred
upon poor four of us.
HAL
What, a hundred, man?
SIR JOHN
I am a rogue if I were not at half-sword with a
dozen of them, two hours together. I have scaped by 165
miracle. I am eight times thrust through the doublet,
four through the hose, my buckler cut through and
through, my sword hacked like a handsaw. Ecce signum.
He shows his sword
I never dealt better since I was a man. All would not
do. A plague of all cowards! (Pointing to Gadshill, 170
Harvey, and Russell) Let them speak. If they speak more
or less than truth, they are villains and the sons of
darkness.
HAL
Speak, sirs, how was it?
GADSHILL
We four set upon some dozen 175
SIR JOHN (to the Prince)
Sixteen at least, my lord.
GADSHILL
And bound them.
HARVEY
No, no, they were not bound.
SIR JOHN
You rogue, they were bound every man of them,
or I am a Jew else, an Hebrew Jew. 180
GADSHILL
As we were sharing, some six or seven fresh
men set upon us.
SIR JOHN
And unbound the rest, and then come in the other.
HAL
What, fought you with them all? 185
SIR JOHN
All? I know not what you call all, but if I fought
not with fifty of them, I am a bunch of radish. If there
were not two - or three-and-fifty upon poor old Jack,
then am I no two-legged creature.
HAL
Pray God you have not murdered some of them. 190
SIR JOHN
Nay, that's past praying for. I have peppered
two of them. Two I am sure I have paid-two rogues
in buckram suits. I tell thee what, Hal, if I tell thee a
lie, spit in my face, call me horse. Thou knowest my 195
old ward-
He stands as to fight
here I lay, and thus I bore my point. Four rogues in
buckram let drive at me.
HAL
What, four? Thou saidst but two even now. 200
SIR JOHN
Four, Hal, I told thee four.
POINS
Ay, ay, he said four.
SIR JOHN
These four came all afront, and mainly thrust
at me. I made me no more ado, but took all their seven
points in my target, thus. 205
He wards himself with his buckler
HAL
Seven? Why, there were but four even
now.
SIR JOHN
In buckram?
POINS
Ay, four in buckram suits.
SIR JOHN
Seven, by these hilts, or I am a villain else. 210
HAL (aside to Poins)
Prithee, let him alone. We shall have more anon.
SIR JOHN
Dost thou hear me, Hal?
HAL
Ay, and mark thee too, Jack.
SIR JOHN
Do so, for it is worth the listening to. These nine 215
in buckram that I told thee of-
HAL (aside to Poins)
So, two more already.
SIR JOHN
Their points being broken -
POINS [aside to the Prince]
Down fell their hose.
SIR JOHN
Began to give me ground. But I followed me 220
close, came in foot and hand, and, with a thought,
seven of the eleven I paid.
HAL (aside to Poins)
O monstrous! Eleven buckram men grown out of two!
SIR JOHN
But, as the devil would have it, three misbegotten 225
knaves in Kendal green came at my back and let drive
at me, for it was so dark, Hal, that thou couldst not
see thy hand.
HAL
These lies are like their father that begets
them - gross as a mountain, open, palpable. Why, thou 230
clay - brained guts, thou knotty-pated fool, thou
whoreson obscene greasy tallow-catch -
SIR JOHN
What, art thou mad? Art thou mad? Is not the
truth the truth?
HAL
Why, how couldst thou know these men 235
in Kendal green when it was so dark thou couldst not
see thy hand? Come, tell us your reason. What sayst
thou to this?
POINS
Come, your reason, Jack, your reason.
SIR JOHN
What, upon compulsion? Zounds, an I were at 240
the strappado, or all the racks in the world, I would
not tell you on compulsion. Give you a reason on
compulsion? If reasons were as plentiful as blackberries,
I would give no man a reason upon compulsion, I.
HAL
I'll be no longer guilty of this sin. This 245
sanguine coward, this bed-presser, this horse-back -
breaker, this huge hill of flesh -
SIR JOHN
'Sblood, you starveling, you elf-skin, you dried
neat's tongue, you bull's pizzle, you stock-fish - O, for
breath to utter what is like thee! - you tailor's yard, 250
you sheath, you bow-case, you vile standing tuck -
HAL
Well, breathe awhile, and then to't again,
and when thou hast tired thyself in base comparisons,
hear me speak but this.
POINS
Mark, Jack. 255
HAL
We two saw you four set on four, and
bound them, and were masters of their wealth. - Mark
now how a plain tale shall put you down. - Then did
we two set on you four, and, with a word, outfaced
you from your prize, and have it, yea, and can show 260
it you here in the house. And Falstaff, you carried
your guts away as nimbly, with as quick dexterity, and
roared for mercy, and still run and roared, as ever I
heard bull-calf. What a slave art thou, to hack thy
sword as thou hast done, and then say it was in fight! 265
What trick, what device, what starting-hole canst thou
now find out to hide thee from this open and apparent
shame?
POINS
Come, let's hear, Jack, what trick hast thou now?
SIR JOHN
By the Lord, I knew ye as well as he that made 270
ye. Why, hear you, my masters. Was it for me to kill
the heir-apparent? Should I turn upon the true prince?
Why, thou knowest I am as valiant as Hercules, but
beware instinct. The lion will not touch the true
prince-instinct is a great matter. I was now a coward 275
on instinct. I shall think the better of myself and thee
during my life-I for a valiant lion, and thou for a true
prince. But by the Lord, lads, I am glad you have the
money. - (calling) Hostess, clap to the doors. - Watch
tonight, pray tomorrow. Gallants, lads, boys, hearts of 280
gold, all the titles of good fellowship come to you!
What, shall we be merry, shall we have a play extempore?
HAL
Content, and the argument shall be thy running away. 285
SIR JOHN
Ah, no more of that, Hal, an thou lovest me.
Enter Hostess
HOSTESS
O Jesu, my lord the Prince!
HAL
How now, my lady the Hostess, what sayst thou to me?
HOSTESS
Marry, my lord, there is a nobleman of the court 290
at door would speak with you. He says he comes from
your father.
HAL
Give him as much as will make him a
royal man, and send him back again to my mother.
SIR JOHN
What manner of man is he? 295
HOSTESS
An old man.
SIR JOHN
What doth gravity out of his bed at midnight?
Shall I give him his answer?
HAL
Prithee do, Jack.
SIR JOHN
Faith, and I'll send him packing. 300
Exit
HAL
Now, sirs, (to Gadshill) by'r Lady, you
fought fair-so did you, Harvey, so did you, Russell.
You are lions too-you ran away upon instinct, you
will not touch the true prince, no, fie!
RUSSELL
Faith, I ran when I saw others run. 305
HAL
Faith, tell me now in earnest, how came
Falstaff's sword so hacked?
HARVEY
Why, he hacked it with his dagger, and said he
would swear truth out of England but he would make
you believe it was done in fight, and persuaded us to 310
do the like.
RUSSELL
Yea, and to tickle our noses with speargrass, to
make them bleed, and then to beslubber our garments
with it, and swear it was the blood of true men. I did
that I did not this seven year before-I blushed to hear 315
his monstrous devices.
HAL
O villain, thou stolest a cup of sack eighteen
years ago, and wert taken with the manner, and ever
since thou hast blushed extempore. Thou hadst fire and
sword on thy side, and yet thou rannest away. What 320
instinct hadst thou for it?
RUSSELL (indicating his face)
My lord, do you see these
meteors? Do you behold these exhalations?
HAL
I do.
RUSSELL
What think you they portend? 325
HAL
Hot livers, and cold purses.
RUSSELL
Choler, my lord, if rightly taken.
Exit
HAL
No, if rightly taken, halter.
Enter Sir John Falstaff
Here comes lean Jack, here comes bare-bone. How
now, my sweet creature of bombast? How long is't 330
ago, Jack, since thou sawest thine own knee?
SIR JOHN
My own knee? When I was about thy years,
Hal, I was not an eagle's talon in the waist, I could
have crept into any alderman's thumb-ring. A plague
of sighing and grief-it blows a man up like a bladder. 335
There's villainous news abroad. Here was Sir John
Bracy from your father, you must to the court in the
morning. That same mad fellow of the North, Percy,
and he of Wales that gave Amamon the bastinado, and
made Lucifer cuckold, and swore the devil his true 340
liegeman upon the cross of a Welsh hook-what a
plague call you him?
POINS
Owen Glendower.
SIR JOHN
Owen, Owen, the same, and his son-in-law
Mortimer, and old Northumberland, and that sprightly 345
Scot of Scots Douglas, that runs a-horseback up a hill
perpendicular-
HAL
He that rides at high speed and with his
pistol kills a sparrow flying.
SIR JOHN
You have hit it. 350
HAL
So did he never the sparrow.
SIR JOHN
Well, that rascal hath good mettle in him, he
will not run.
HAL
Why, what a rascal art thou, then, to
praise him so for running! 355
SIR JOHN
A-horseback, ye cuckoo, but afoot he will not
budge a foot.
HAL
Yes, Jack, upon instinct.
SIR JOHN
I grant ye, upon instinct. Well, he is there too,
and one Mordake, and a thousand blue-caps more. 360
Worcester is stolen away tonight. Thy father's beard is
turned white with the news. You may buy land now
as cheap as stinking mackerel.
HAL
Why then, it is like, if there come a hot
June and this civil buffeting hold, we shall buy 365
maidenheads as they buy hobnails: by the hundreds.
SIR JOHN
By the mass, lad, thou sayst true, it is like we
shall have good trading that way. But tell me, Hal, art
not thou horrible afeard? Thou being heir-apparent,
could the world pick thee out three such enemies again 370
as that fiend Douglas, that spirit Percy, and that devil
Glendower? Art thou not horribly afraid? Doth not thy
blood thrill at it?
HAL
Not a whit, i'faith. I lack some of thy instinct. 375
SIR JOHN
Well, thou wilt be horribly chid tomorrow when
thou comest to thy father. If thou love me, practise an
answer.
HAL
Do thou stand for my father, and examine
me upon the particulars of my life. 380
SIR JOHN
Shall I? Content. This chair shall be my state,
this dagger my sceptre, and this cushion my crown.
He sits
HAL
Thy state is taken for a joint-stool, thy
golden sceptre for a leaden dagger, and thy precious
rich crown for a pitiful bald crown. 385
SIR JOHN
Well, an the fire of grace be not quite out of
thee, now shalt thou be moved. Give me a cup of sack
to make my eyes look red, that it may be thought I
have wept, for I must speak in passion, and I will do
it in King Cambyses' vein. 390
HAL (bowing)
Well, here is my leg.
SIR JOHN
And here is my speech. (to Harvey, Poins, and
Gadshill) Stand aside, nobility.
HOSTESS
O Jesu, this is excellent sport, i'faith.
SIR JOHN
Weep not, sweet Queen, for trickling tears are vain. 395
HOSTESS
O the Father, how he holds his countenance!
SIR JOHN
For God's sake, lords, convey my tristful Queen,
For tears do stop the floodgates of her eyes.
HOSTESS
O Jesu, he doth it as like one of these harlotry
players as ever I see! 400
SIR JOHN
Peace, good pint-pot, peace, good tickle-brain. -
Harry, I do not only marvel where thou spendest thy
time, but also how thou art accompanied. For though
the camomile, the more it is trodden on, the faster it
grows, yet youth, the more it is wasted, the sooner it 405
wears. That thou art my son I have partly thy mother's
word, partly my own opinion, but chiefly a villainous
trick of thine eye, and a foolish hanging of thy nether
lip, that doth warrant me. If then thou be son to me,
here lies the point. Why, being son to me, art thou so 410
pointed at? Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove a
micher, and eat blackberries?-A question not to be
asked. Shall the son of England prove a thief, and take
purses?-A question to be asked. There is a thing,
Harry, which thou hast often heard of, and it is known 415
to many in our land by the name of pitch. This pitch,
as ancient writers do report, doth defile. So doth the
company thou keepest. For Harry, now I do not speak
to thee in drink, but in tears, not in pleasure, but in
passion, not in words only, but in woes also. And yet 420
there is a virtuous man whom I have often noted in
thy company, but I know not his name.
HAL
What manner of man, an it like your majesty?
SIR JOHN
A goodly, portly man, i'faith, and a corpulent, 425
of a cheerful look, a pleasing eye, and a most noble
carriage, and, as I think, his age some fifty, or, by'r
Lady, inclining to threescore. And now I remember me,
his name is Falstaff. If that man should be lewdly
given, he deceiveth me, for, Harry, I see virtue in his 430
looks. If, then, the tree may be known by the fruit, as
the fruit by the tree, then peremptorily I speak it-
there is virtue in that Falstaff. Him keep with, the
rest banish. And tell me now, thou naughty varlet, tell
me, where hast thou been this month? 435
HAL
Dost thou speak like a king? Do thou stand
for me, and I'll play my father.
SIR JOHN (standing)
Depose me. If thou dost it half so
gravely, so majestically both in word and matter, hang
me up by the heels for a rabbit sucker, or a poulter's 440
hare.
HAL (sitting)
Well, here I am set.
SIR JOHN
And here I stand. (to the others) Judge, my masters.
HAL
Now, Harry, whence come you? 445
SIR JOHN
My noble lord, from Eastcheap.
HAL
The complaints I hear of thee are grievous.
SIR JOHN
'Sblood, my lord, they are false. [To the others]
Nay, I'll tickle ye for a young prince, i'faith.
HAL
Swearest thou, ungracious boy? Hence 450
forth ne'er look on me. Thou art violently carried away
from grace. There is a devil haunts thee in the likeness
of an old fat man, a tun of man is thy companion.
Why dost thou converse with that trunk of humours,
that bolting-hutch of beastliness, that swollen parcel of 455
dropsies, that huge bombard of sack, that stuffed cloak-
bag of guts, that roasted Manningtree ox with the
pudding in his belly, that reverend Vice, that grey
Iniquity, that father Ruffian, that Vanity in Years?
Wherein is he good, but to taste sack and drink it? 460
Wherein neat and cleanly, but to carve a capon and
eat it? Wherein cunning, but in craft? Wherein crafty,
but in villainy? Wherein villainous, but in all things?
Wherein worthy, but in nothing?
SIR JOHN
I would your grace would take me with you. 465
Whom means your grace?
HAL
That villainous, abominable misleader of
youth, Falstaff, that old white-bearded Satan.
SIR JOHN
My lord, the man I know.
HAL
I know thou dost. 470
SIR JOHN
But to say I know more harm in him than in
myself were to say more than I know. That he is old,
the more the pity, his white hairs do witness it. But
that he is, saving your reverence, a whoremaster, that
I utterly deny. If sack and sugar be a fault, God help 475
the wicked. If to be old and merry be a sin, then many
an old host that I know is damned. If to be fat be to
be hated, then Pharaoh's lean kine are to be loved. No,
my good lord, banish Harvey, banish Russell, banish
Poins, but for sweet Jack Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, 480
true Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff, and therefore
more valiant being, as he is, old Jack Falstaff,
Banish not him thy Harry's company,
Banish not him thy Harry's company.
Banish plump Jack, and banish all the world. 485
HAL
I do, I will.
Knocking within. Exit Hostess.
Enter Russell, running
RUSSELL
O my lord, my lord, the sheriff with a most
monstrous watch is at the door.
SIR JOHN
Out, ye rogue! Play out the play! I have much
to say in the behalf of that Falstaff. 490
Enter the Hostess
HOSTESS
O Jesu! My lord, my lord!
HAL
Heigh, heigh, the devil rides upon a
fiddlestick! What's the matter?
HOSTESS
The sheriff and all the watch are at the door.
They are come to search the house. Shall I let them 495
in?
SIR JOHN
Dost thou hear, Hal? Never call a true piece of
gold a counterfeit - thou art essentially made, without
seeming so.
HAL
And thou a natural coward without instinct. 500
SIR JOHN
I deny your major. If you will deny the sheriff,
so. If not, let him enter. If I become not a cart as well
as another man, a plague on my bringing up. I hope I
shall as soon be strangled with a halter as another. 505
HAL
Go, hide thee behind the arras. The rest
walk up above. Now, my masters, for a true face and
good conscience.
Exeunt Poins, Russell, and Gadshill
SIR JOHN
Both which I have had, but their date is out,
and therefore I'll hide me. 510
He withdraws behind the arras
HAL (to Hostess)
Call in the sheriff.
Exit Hostess
Enter Sheriff and a Carrier
Now, master sheriff, what is your will with me?
SHERIFF
First, pardon me, my lord. A hue and cry
Hath followed certain men unto this house.
HAL
What men? 515
SHERIFF
One of them is well known, my gracious lord,
A gross, fat man.
CARRIER
As fat as butter.
HAL
The man, I do assure you, is not here,
For I myself at this time have employed him.
And, sheriff, I will engage my word to thee 520
That I will by tomorrow dinner-time
Send him to answer thee, or any man,
For anything he shall be charged withal.
And so let me entreat you leave the house.
SHERIFF
I will, my lord. There are two gentlemen 525
Have in this robbery lost three hundred marks.
HAL
It may be so. If he have robbed these men,
He shall be answerable. And so, farewell.
SHERIFF
Good night, my noble lord.
HAL
I think it is good morrow, is it not? 530
SHERIFF
Indeed, my lord, I think it be two o'clock.
Exeunt Sheriff and Carrier
HAL
This oily rascal is known as well as Paul's.
Go call him forth.
HARVEY
Falstaff!
He draws back the arras, revealing Sir John asleep
Fast asleep behind the arras, and snorting like a horse.
HAL
Hark how hard he fetches breath. Search his pockets. 535
Harvey searches his pocket and finds certain
papers. He closes the arras and comes forward
What hast thou found?
HARVEY
Nothing but papers, my lord.
HAL
Let's see what they be. Read them.
HARVEY (reads)
Item: a capon.2s. 2d.
Item: sauce.4d.
Item: sack, two gallons.5s. 8d. 540
Item: anchovies and sack after supper.2s. 6d.
Item: bread.ob.
HAL
O monstrous! But one halfpennyworth of
bread to this intolerable deal of sack! What there is
else, keep close, we'll read it at more advantage. There 545
let him sleep till day. I'll to the court in the morning.
We must all to the wars, and thy place shall be
honourable. I'll procure this fat rogue a charge of foot,
and I know his death will be a march of twelve score.
The money shall be paid back again, with advantage. 550
Be with me betimes in the morning, and so good
morrow, Harvey.
HARVEY
Good morrow, good my lord.
Exeunt severally
ACT III Henry IV part 1
3.1
Enter Hotspur, the Earl of Worcester, Lord
Mortimer, and Owen Glendower, with a map
MORTIMER
These promises are fair, the parties sure,
And our induction full of prosperous hope.
HOTSPUR
Lord Mortimer and cousin Glendower,
Will you sit down? And uncle Worcester?
Mortimer, Glendower, and Worcester sit
A plague upon it, I have forgot the map! 5
GLENDOWER
No, here it is. Sit, cousin Percy, sit,
Good cousin Hotspur,
Hotspur sits
For by that name As oft as Lancaster doth speak of you,
His cheek looks pale, and with a rising sigh
He wisheth you in heaven.
HOTSPUR
And you in hell, 10
As oft as he hears Owen Glendower spoke of.
GLENDOWER
I cannot blame him. At my nativity
The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes,
Of burning cressets, and at my birth
The frame and huge foundation of the earth 15
Shaked like a coward.
HOTSPUR
Why, so it would have done
At the same season if your mother's cat
Had but kittened, though yourself had never been born.
GLENDOWER
I say the earth did shake when I was born.
HOTSPUR
And I say the earth was not of my mind 20
If you suppose as fearing you it shook.
GLENDOWER
The heavens were all on fire, the earth did tremble -
HOTSPUR
O, then the earth shook to see the heavens on fire,
And not in fear of your nativity.
Diseased nature oftentimes breaks forth 25
In strange eruptions, oft the teeming earth
Is with a kind of colic pinched and vexed
By the imprisoning of unruly wind
Within her womb, which for enlargement striving
Shakes the old beldam earth, and topples down 30
Steeples and moss-grown towers. At your birth
Our grandam earth, having this distemp'rature,
In passion shook.
GLENDOWER
Cousin, of many men
I do not bear these crossings. Give me leave
To tell you once again that at my birth 35
The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes,
The goats ran from the mountains, and the herds
Were strangely clamorous to the frighted fields.
These signs have marked me extraordinary,
And all the courses of my life do show 40
I am not in the roll of commen men.
Where is he living, clipped in with the sea
That chides the banks of England, Scotland, Wales,
Which calls me pupil or hath read to me?
And bring him out that is but woman's son 45
Can trace me in the tedious ways of art,
And hold me pace in deep experiments.
HOTSPUR [standing]
I think there's no man speaketh better Welsh.
I'll to dinner.
MORTIMER
Peace, cousin Percy, you will make him mad. 50
GLENDOWER
I can call spirits from the vasty deep.
HOTSPUR
Why, so can I, or so can any man,
But will they come when you do call for them?
GLENDOWER
Why, I can teach you, cousin, to command the devil.
HOTSPUR
And I can teach thee, coz, to shame the devil, 55
By telling truth: `Tell truth, and shame the devil'.
If thou have power to raise him, bring him hither,
And I'll be sworn I have power to shame him hence.
O, while you live, tell truth and shame the devil.
MORTIMER
Come, come, no more of this unprofitable chat. 60
GLENDOWER
Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made head
Against my power, thrice from the banks of Wye
And sandy-bottomed Severn have I sent him
Bootless home, and weather-beaten back.
HOTSPUR
Home without boots, and in foul weather too! 65
How scapes he agues, in the devil's name?
GLENDOWER
Come, here's the map. Shall we divide our right,
According to our threefold order ta'en?
MORTIMER
The Archdeacon hath divided it
Into three limits very equally. 70
England from Trent and Severn hitherto
By south and east is to my part assigned,
All westward-Wales beyond the Severn shore
And all the fertile land within that bound-
To Owen Glendower, (to Hotspur) and, dear coz, to you 75
The remnant northward lying off from Trent.
And our indentures tripartite are drawn,
Which, being sealed interchangeably -
A business that this night may execute -
Tomorrow, cousin Percy, you and I 80
And my good lord of Worcester will set forth
To meet your father and the Scottish power,
As is appointed us, at Shrewsbury.
My father, Glendower, is not ready yet,
Nor shall we need his help these fourteen days. 85
Within that space you may have drawn together
Your tenants, friends, and neighbouring gentlemen.
GLENDOWER
A shorter time shall send me to you, lords,
And in my conduct shall your ladies come,
From whom you now must steal and take no leave, 90
For there will be a world of water shed
Upon the parting of your wives and you.
HOTSPUR
Methinks my moiety north from Burton here
In quantity equals not one of yours.
See how this river comes me cranking in, 95
And cuts me from the best of all my land
A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle, out.
I'll have the current in this place dammed up,
And here the smug and silver Trent shall run
In a new channel fair and evenly. 100
It shall not wind with such a deep indent,
To rob me of so rich a bottom here.
GLENDOWER
Not wind? It shall, it must, you see it doth.
MORTIMER
Yea, but mark how he bears his course, and runs me up
With like advantage on the other side, 105
Gelding the opposed continent as much
As on the other side it takes from you.
WORCESTER
Yea, but a little charge will trench him here,
And on this north side win this cape of land,
And then he runs straight and even. 110
HOTSPUR
I'll have it so, a little charge will do it.
GLENDOWER
I'll not have it altered.
HOTSPUR
Will not you?
GLENDOWER
No, nor you shall not.
HOTSPUR
Who shall say me nay? 115
GLENDOWER
Why, that will I.
HOTSPUR
Let me not understand you, then: speak it in Welsh.
GLENDOWER
I can speak English, lord, as well as you,
For I was trained up in the English court,
Where, being but young, I framed to the harp 120
Many an English ditty lovely well,
And gave the tongue a helpful ornament-
A virtue that was never seen in you.
HOTSPUR
Marry, and I am glad of it, with all my heart.
I had rather be a kitten and cry `mew' 125
Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers.
I had rather hear a brazen canstick turned,
Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree,
And that would set my teeth nothing on edge,
Nothing so much as mincing poetry. 130
'Tis like the forced gait of a shuffling nag.
GLENDOWER
Come, you shall have Trent turned.
HOTSPUR
I do not care. I'll give thrice so much land
To any well-deserving friend,
But in the way of bargain-mark ye me- 135
I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair.
Are the indentures drawn? Shall we be gone?
GLENDOWER
The moon shines fair. You may away by night.
I'll haste the writer, and withal
Break with your wives of your departure hence. 140
I am afraid my daughter will run mad,
So much she doteth on her Mortimer.
Exit
MORTIMER
Fie, cousin Percy, how you cross my father!
HOTSPUR
I cannot choose. Sometime he angers me
With telling me of the moldwarp and the ant, 145
Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies,
And of a dragon and a finless fish,
A clip-winged griffin and a moulten raven,
A couching lion and a ramping cat,
And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff 150
As puts me from my faith. I tell you what,
He held me last night at the least nine hours
In reckoning up the several devils' names
That were his lackeys. I cried, `Hum!' and, `Well, go to!',
But marked him not a word. O, he is as tedious 155
As a tired horse, a railing wife,
Worse than a smoky house. I had rather live
With cheese and garlic, in a windmill, far,
Than feed on cates and have him talk to me
In any summer house in Christendom. 160
MORTIMER
In faith, he is a worthy gentleman,
Exceedingly well read, and profited
In strange concealments, valiant as a lion,
And wondrous affable, and as bountiful
As mines of India. Shall I tell you, cousin? 165
He holds your temper in a high respect,
And curbs himself even of his natural scope
When you come 'cross his humour, faith, he does.
I warrant you, that man is not alive
Might so have tempted him as you have done 170
Without the taste of danger and reproof.
But do not use it oft, let me entreat you.
WORCESTER (to Hotspur)
In faith, my lord, you are too wilful-blame,
And since your coming hither have done enough
To put him quite besides his patience. 175
You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault.
Though sometimes it show greatness, courage, blood-
And that's the dearest grace it renders you-
Yet oftentimes it doth present harsh rage,
Defect of manners, want of government, 180
Pride, haughtiness, opinion, and disdain,
The least of which haunting a nobleman
Loseth men's hearts, and leaves behind a stain
Upon the beauty of all parts besides,
Beguiling them of commendation. 185
HOTSPUR
Well, I am schooled. Good manners be your speed!
Enter Glendower with Ladies Percy and Mortimer
Here come our wives, and let us take our leave.
Mortimer's wife weeps, and speaks to him in
Welsh
MORTIMER
This is the deadly spite that angers me:
My wife can speak no English, I no Welsh.
GLENDOWER
My daughter weeps she'll not part with you. 190
She'll be a soldier, too, she'll to the wars.
MORTIMER
Good father, tell her that she and my aunt Percy
Shall follow in your conduct speedily.
Glendower speaks to her in Welsh, and she answers
GLENDOWER
She is desperate here, a peevish self-willed harlotry,
One that no persuasion can do good upon. 195
The lady speaks in Welsh
MORTIMER
I understand thy looks. That pretty Welsh
Which thou down pourest from these swelling heavens
I am too perfect in, and but for shame
In such a parley should I answer thee.
The lady kisses him, and speaks again in Welsh
MORTIMER
I understand thy kisses, and thou mine, 200
And that's a feeling disputation,
But I will never be a truant, love,
Till I have learnt thy language, for thy tongue
Makes Welsh as sweet as ditties highly penned,
Sung by a fair queen in a summer's bower 205
With ravishing division, to her lute.
GLENDOWER
Nay, if you melt, then will she run mad.
The lady sits on the rushes and speaks in
Welsh
MORTIMER
O, I am ignorance itself in this!
GLENDOWER
She bids you on the wanton rushes lay you down
And rest your gentle head upon her lap, 210
And she will sing the song that pleaseth you,
And on your eyelids crown the god of sleep,
Charming your blood with pleasing heaviness,
Making such difference 'twixt wake and sleep
As is the difference betwixt day and night 215
The hour before the heavenly-harnessed team
Begins his golden progress in the east.
MORTIMER
With all my heart, I'll sit and hear her sing.
By that time will our book, I think, be drawn.
He sits, resting his head on the Welsh lady's lap
GLENDOWER
Do so, and those musicians that shall play to you 220
Hang in the air a thousand leagues from hence,
And straight they shall be here. Sit and attend.
HOTSPUR
Come, Kate, thou art perfect in lying down.
Come, quick, quick, that I may lay my head in thy lap.
LADY PERCY (sitting)
Go, ye giddy goose! 225
Hotspur sits, resting his head on Lady Percy's lap.
The music plays
HOTSPUR
Now I perceive the devil understands Welsh,
And 'tis no marvel, he is so humorous.
By'r Lady, he's a good musician.
LADY PERCY
Then should you be nothing but musical,
For you are altogether governed by humours. 230
Lie still, ye thief, and hear the lady sing in Welsh.
HOTSPUR
I had rather hear Lady my brach howl in Irish.
LADY PERCY
Wouldst thou have thy head broken?
HOTSPUR
No.
LADY PERCY
Then be still. 235
HOTSPUR
Neither - 'tis a woman's fault.
LADY PERCY
Now God help thee!
HOTSPUR
To the Welsh lady's bed.
LADY PERCY
What's that?
HOTSPUR
Peace, she sings. 240
The lady sings a Welsh song
HOTSPUR
Come, Kate, I'll have your song too.
LADY PERCY
Not mine, in good sooth.
HOTSPUR
Not yours, in good sooth! Heart, you swear like
a comfit-maker's wife: `Not you, in good sooth!' and
`As true as I live!' and 245
`As God shall mend me!' and `As sure as day!',
And giv'st such sarcenet surety for thy oaths
As if thou never walk'st further than Finsbury.
Swear me, Kate, like a lady as thou art,
A good mouth-filling oath, and leave `in sooth' 250
And such protest of pepper gingerbread
To velvet-guards and Sunday citizens.
Come, sing.
LADY PERCY
I will not sing.
HOTSPUR
'Tis the next way to turn tailor, or be redbreast 255
teacher. (rising) An the indentures be drawn, I'll away
within these two hours, and so come in when ye will.
Exit
GLENDOWER
Come, come, Lord Mortimer. You are as slow
As hot Lord Percy is on fire to go.
By this our book is drawn. We'll but seal, 260
And then to horse immediately.
MORTIMER (rising)
With all my heart.
The ladies rise, and all exeunt
3.2
Enter King Henry, Prince Harry, and lords
KING HENRY
Lords, give us leave - the Prince of Wales and I
Must have some private conference - but be near at hand,
For we shall presently have need of you.
Exeunt Lords
I know not whether God will have it so
For some displeasing service I have done, 5
That in his secret doom out of my blood
He'll breed revengement and a scourge for me,
But thou dost in thy passages of life
Make me believe that thou art only marked
For the hot vengeance and the rod of heaven 10
To punish my mistreadings. Tell me else,
Could such inordinate and low desires,
Such poor, such bare, such lewd, such mean attempts,
Such barren pleasures, rude society,
As thou art matched withal and grafted to, 15
Accompany the greatness of thy blood,
And hold their level with thy princely heart?
HAL
So please your majesty, I would I could
Quit all offences with as clear excuse
As well as I am doubtless I can purge 20
Myself of many I am charged withal,
Yet such extenuation let me beg
As, in reproof of many tales devised-
Which oft the ear of greatness needs must hear
By smiling pickthanks and base newsmongers 25
I may, for some things true wherein my youth
Hath faulty wandered and irregular,
Find pardon on my true submission.
KING HENRY
God pardon thee! Yet let me wonder, Harry,
At thy affections, which do hold a wing 30
Quite from the flight of all thy ancestors.
Thy place in Council thou hast rudely lost-
Which by thy younger brother is supplied-
And art almost an alien to the hearts
Of all the court and princes of my blood. 35
The hope and expectation of thy time
Is ruined, and the soul of every man
Prophetically do forethink thy fall.
Had I so lavish of my presence been,
So common-hackneyed in the eyes of men, 40
So stale and cheap to vulgar company,
Opinion, that did help me to the crown,
Had still kept loyal to possession,
And left me in reputeless banishment,
A fellow of no mark nor likelihood. 45
By being seldom seen, I could not stir
But, like a comet, I was wondered at,
That men would tell their children `This is he.'
Others would say `Where, which is Bolingbroke?'
And then I stole all courtesy from heaven, 50
And dressed myself in such humility
That I did pluck allegiance from men's hearts,
Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths,
Even in the presence of the crowned King.
Thus did I keep my person fresh and new, 55
My presence like a robe pontifical-
Ne'er seen but wondered at-and so my state,
Seldom but sumptuous, showed like a feast,
And won by rareness such solemnity.
The skipping King, he ambled up and down 60
With shallow jesters and rash bavin wits,
Soon kindled and soon burnt, carded his state,
Mingled his royalty with cap'ring fools,
Had his great name profaned with their scorns,
And gave his countenance, against his name, 65
To laugh at gibing boys, and stand the push
Of every beardless vain comparative,
Grew a companion to the common streets,
Enfeoffed himself to popularity,
That, being daily swallowed by men's eyes, 70
They surfeited with honey, and began
To loathe the taste of sweetness, whereof a little
More than a little is by much too much.
So when he had occasion to be seen,
He was but as the cuckoo is in June, 75
Heard, not regarded, seen but with such eyes
As, sick and blunted with community,
Afford no extraordinary gaze
Such as is bent on sun-like majesty
When it shines seldom in admiring eyes, 80
But rather drowsed and hung their eyelids down,
Slept in his face, and rendered such aspect
As cloudy men use to their adversaries,
Being with his presence glutted, gorged, and full.
And in that very line, Harry, standest thou, 85
For thou hast lost thy princely privilege
With vile participation. Not an eye
But is a-weary of thy common sight,
Save mine, which hath desired to see thee more,
Which now doth that I would not have it do- 90
Make blind itself with foolish tenderness.
He weeps
HAL
I shall hereafter, my thrice-gracious lord,
Be more myself.
KING HENRY
For all the world,
As thou art to this hour was Richard then,
When I from France set foot at Ravenspurgh, 95
And even as I was then is Percy now.
Now by my sceptre, and my soul to boot,
He hath more worthy interest to the state
Than thou, the shadow of succession,
For, of no right, nor colour like to right, 100
He doth fill fields with harness in the realm,
Turns head against the lion's armed jaws,
And, being no more in debt to years than thou,
Leads ancient lords and reverend bishops on
To bloody battles, and to bruising arms. 105
What never-dying honour hath he got
Against renowned Douglas! - whose high deeds,
Whose hot incursions and great name in arms,
Holds from all soldiers chief majority
And military title capital 110
Through all the kingdoms that acknowledge Christ.
Thrice hath this Hotspur, Mars in swaddling-clothes,
This infant warrior, in his enterprises
Discomfited great Douglas, ta'en him once,
Enlarged him, and made a friend of him 115
To fill the mouth of deep defiance up,
And shake the peace and safety of our throne.
And what say you to this? Percy, Northumberland,
The Archbishop's grace of York, Douglas, Mortimer,
Capitulate against us, and are up. 120
But wherefore do I tell these news to thee?
Why, Harry, do I tell thee of my foes,
Which art my near'st and dearest enemy?-
Thou that art like enough, through vassal fear,
Base inclination, and the start of spleen, 125
To fight against me under Percy's pay,
To dog his heels, and curtsy at his frowns,
To show how much thou art degenerate.
HAL
Do not think so, you shall not find it so.
And God forgive them that so much have swayed 130
Your majesty's good thoughts away from me.
I will redeem all this on Percy's head,
And in the closing of some glorious day
Be bold to tell you that I am your son,
When I will wear a garment all of blood, 135
And stain my favours in a bloody mask,
Which, washed away, shall scour my shame with it.
And that shall be the day, whene'er it lights,
That this same child of honour and renown,
This gallant Hotspur, this all-praised knight, 140
And your unthought-of Harry chance to meet.
For every honour sitting on his helm,
Would they were multitudes, and on my head
My shames redoubled, for the time will come
That I shall make this northern youth exchange 145
His glorious deeds for my indignities.
Percy is but my factor, good my lord,
To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf,
And I will call him to so strict account
That he shall render every glory up, 150
Yea, even the slightest worship of his time,
Or I will tear the reckoning from his heart.
This, in the name of God, I promise here,
The which if he be pleased I shall perform,
I do beseech your majesty may salve 155
The long-grown wounds of my intemperature,
If not, the end of life cancels all bonds,
And I will die a hundred thousand deaths
Ere break the smallest parcel of this vow.
KING HENRY
A hundred thousand rebels die in this. 160
Thou shalt have charge and sovereign trust herein.
Enter Sir Walter Blunt
How now, good Blunt? Thy looks are full of speed.
BLUNT
So hath the business that I come to speak of.
Lord Mortimer of Scotland hath sent word
That Douglas and the English rebels met 165
The eleventh of this month at Shrewsbury.
A mighty and a fearful head they are,
If promises be kept on every hand,
As ever offered foul play in a state.
KING HENRY
The Earl of Westmorland set forth today, 170
With him my son Lord John of Lancaster,
For this advertisement is five days old.
On Wednesday next, Harry, you shall set forward.
On Thursday we ourselves will march.
Our meeting is Bridgnorth, and, Harry, you 175
Shall march through Gloucestershire, by which account,
Our business valued, some twelve days hence
Our general forces at Bridgnorth shall meet.
Our hands are full of business, let's away.
Advantage feeds him fat while men delay. 180
Exeunt
3.3
Enter Sir John Falstaff with a truncheon at his
waist, and Russell
SIR JOHN
Russell, am I not fallen away vilely since this
last action? Do I not bate? Do I not dwindle? Why,
my skin hangs about me like an old lady's loose gown.
I am withered like an old apple-john. Well, I'll repent,
and that suddenly, while I am in some liking. I shall 5
be out of heart shortly, and then I shall have no
strength to repent. An I have not forgotten what the
inside of a church is made of, I am a peppercorn, a
brewer's horse-the inside of a church! Company,
villainous company, hath been the spoil of me. 10
RUSSELL
Sir John, you are so fretful you cannot live long.
SIR JOHN
Why, there is it. Come, sing me a bawdy song,
make me merry. I was as virtuously given as a
gentleman need to be: virtuous enough, swore little,
diced not-above seven times a week, went to a bawdy- 15
house not-above once in a quarter-of an hour, paid
money that I borrowed-three or four times, lived well,
and in good compass. And now I live out of all order,
out of all compass.
RUSSELL
Why, you are so fat, Sir John, that you must 20
needs be out of all compass, out of all reasonable
compass, Sir John.
SIR JOHN
Do thou amend thy face, and I'll amend my life.
Thou art our admiral, thou bearest the lantern in the
poop-but 'tis in the nose of thee. Thou art the Knight 25
of the Burning Lamp.
RUSSELL
Why, Sir John, my face does you no harm.
SIR JOHN
No, I'll be sworn, I make as good use of it as
many a man doth of a death's head, or a memento
mori. I never see thy face but I think upon hell-fire and 30
Dives that lived in purple-for there he is in his robes,
burning, burning. If thou wert any way given to virtue,
I would swear by thy face, my oath should be `By this
fire that's God's angel!' But thou art altogether given
over, and wert indeed, but for the light in thy face, the 35
son of utter darkness. When thou rannest up Gads Hill
in the night to catch my horse, if I did not think thou
hadst been an ignis fatuus or a ball of wildfire, there's
no purchase in money. O, thou art a perpetual triumph,
an everlasting bonfire-light! Thou hast saved me a 40
thousand marks in links and torches, walking with
thee in the night betwixt tavern and tavern - but the
sack that thou hast drunk me would have bought me
lights as good cheap at the dearest chandler's in Europe.
I have maintained that salamander of yours with fire 45
any time this two-and-thirty years, God reward me for it.
RUSSELL
'Sblood, I would my face were in your belly!
SIR JOHN
God-a-mercy! So should I be sure to be heart - burnt. 50
Enter Hostess
How now, Dame Partlet the hen, have you enquired
yet who picked my pocket?
HOSTESS
Why, Sir John, what do you think, Sir John? Do
you think I keep thieves in my house? I have searched,
I have enquired, so has my husband, man by man, 55
boy by boy, servant by servant. The tithe of a hair was
never lost in my house before.
SIR JOHN
Ye lie, Hostess: Russell was shaved and lost
many a hair, and I'll be sworn my pocket was picked.
Go to, you are a woman, go. 60
HOSTESS
Who, I? No, I defy thee! God's light, I was never
called so in mine own house before.
SIR JOHN
Go to, I know you well enough.
HOSTESS
No, Sir John, you do not know me, Sir John, I
know you, Sir John. You owe me money, Sir John, and 65
now you pick a quarrel to beguile me of it. I bought
you a dozen of shirts to your back.
SIR JOHN
Dowlas, filthy dowlas. I have given them away
to bakers' wives, they have made bolters of them.
HOSTESS
Now as I am a true woman, holland of eight 70
shillings an ell. You owe money here besides, Sir John:
for your diet, and by-drinkings, and money lent you,
four-and-twenty pound.
SIR JOHN (pointing at Russell)
He had his part of it. Let him pay. 75
HOSTESS
He? Alas, he is poor, he hath nothing.
SIR JOHN
How, poor? Look upon his face. What call you
rich? Let them coin his nose, let them coin his cheeks,
I'll not pay a denier. What, will you make a younker
of me? Shall I not take mine ease in mine inn, but I 80
shall have my pocket picked? I have lost a seal-ring of
my grandfather's worth forty mark.
HOSTESS
O Jesu, (to Russell) I have heard the Prince tell
him, I know not how oft, that that ring was copper.
SIR JOHN
How? The Prince is a jack, a sneak-up. [Raising 85
his truncheon] 'Sblood, an he were here I would cudgel
him like a dog if he would say so.
Enter Prince Harry and Harvey, marching, and Sir
John Falstaff meets them, playing upon his
truncheon like a fife
How now, lad, is the wind in that door, i'faith? Must
we all march?
RUSSELL
Yea, two and two, Newgate fashion. 90
HOSTESS
My lord, I pray you hear me.
HAL
What sayst thou, Mistress Quickly? How doth thy husband?
I love him well, he is an honest man.
HOSTESS
Good my lord, hear me!
SIR JOHN
Prithee, let her alone, and list to me. 95
HAL
What sayst thou, Jack?
SIR JOHN
The other night I fell asleep here behind the
arras, and had my pocket picked. This house is turned
bawdy-house: they pick pockets.
HAL
What didst thou lose, Jack? 100
SIR JOHN
Wilt thou believe me, Hal, three or four bonds
of forty pound apiece, and a seal-ring of my grandfather's.
HAL
A trifle, some eightpenny matter.
HOSTESS
So I told him, my lord, and I said I heard your 105
grace say so, and, my lord, he speaks most vilely of
you, like a foul-mouthed man as he is, and said he
would cudgel you.
HAL
What? He did not!
HOSTESS
There's neither faith, truth, nor womanhood in me else. 110
SIR JOHN
There's no more faith in thee than in a stewed
prune, nor no more truth in thee than in a drawn fox,
and, for womanhood, Maid Marian may be the deputy's
wife of the ward to thee. Go, you thing, go! 115
HOSTESS
Say, what thing, what thing?
SIR JOHN
What thing? Why, a thing to thank God on.
HOSTESS
I am no thing to thank God on. I would thou
shouldst know it, I am an honest man's wife, and
setting thy knighthood aside, thou art a knave to call 120
me so.
SIR JOHN
Setting thy womanhood aside, thou art a beast
to say otherwise.
HOSTESS
Say, what beast, thou knave, thou?
SIR JOHN
What beast? Why, an otter. 125
HAL
An otter, Sir John? Why an otter?
SIR JOHN
Why? She's neither fish nor flesh, a man knows
not where to have her.
HOSTESS
Thou art an unjust man in saying so. Thou or
any man knows where to have me, thou knave, thou. 130
HAL
Thou sayst true, Hostess, and he slanders
thee most grossly.
HOSTESS
So he doth you, my lord, and said this other day
you owed him a thousand pound.
HAL
Sirrah, do I owe you a thousand pound? 135
SIR JOHN
A thousand pound, Hal? A million! Thy love is
worth a million, thou owest me thy love.
HOSTESS
Nay, my lord, he called you `jack' and said he
would cudgel you. 140
SIR JOHN
Did I, Russell?
RUSSELL
Indeed, Sir John, you said so.
SIR JOHN
Yea, if he said my ring was copper.
HAL
I say 'tis copper, darest thou be as good
as thy word now? 145
SIR JOHN
Why, Hal, thou knowest as thou art but man I
dare, but as thou art prince, I fear thee as I fear the
roaring of the lion's whelp.
HAL
And why not as the lion?
SIR JOHN
The King himself is to be feared as the lion. Dost 150
thou think I'll fear thee as I fear thy father? Nay, an I
do, I pray God my girdle break.
HAL
O, if it should, how would thy guts fall
about thy knees! But sirrah, there's no room for faith,
truth, nor honesty in this bosom of thine, it is all filled 155
up with guts and midriff. Charge an honest woman
with picking thy pocket? Why, thou whoreson
impudent embossed rascal, if there were anything in
thy pocket but tavern reckonings, memorandums of
bawdy-houses, and one poor pennyworth of sugar- 160
candy to make thee long-winded - if thy pocket were
enriched with any other injuries but these, I am a
villain. And yet you will stand to it, you will not pocket
up wrong. Art thou not ashamed?
SIR JOHN
Dost thou hear, Hal? Thou knowest in the state 165
of innocency Adam fell, and what should poor Jack
Falstaff do in the days of villainy? Thou seest I have
more flesh than another man, and therefore more
frailty. You confess, then, you picked my pocket.
HAL
It appears so by the story. 170
SIR JOHN
Hostess, I forgive thee. Go make ready breakfast.
Love thy husband, look to thy servants, cherish thy
guests. Thou shalt find me tractable to any honest
reason, thou seest I am pacified still. Nay, prithee, be
gone. 175
Exit Hostess
Now, Hal, to the news at court. For the robbery, lad,
how is that answered?
HAL
O, my sweet beef, I must still be good angel
to thee. The money is paid back again.
SIR JOHN
O, I do not like that paying back, 'tis a double 180
labour.
HAL
I am good friends with my father, and may
do anything.
SIR JOHN
Rob me the exchequer the first thing thou dost,
and do it with unwashed hands too. 185
RUSSELL
Do, my lord.
HAL
I have procured thee, Jack, a charge of foot.
SIR JOHN
I would it had been of horse! Where shall I find
one that can steal well? O, for a fine thief of the age 190
of two-and-twenty or thereabouts! I am heinously
unprovided. Well, God be thanked for these rebels -
they offend none but the virtuous. I laud them, I praise
them.
HAL
Russell. 195
RUSSELL
My lord?
HAL (giving letters)
Go bear this letter to Lord John of Lancaster,
To my brother John, this to my lord of Westmorland.
Exit Russell
Go, Harvey, to horse, to horse, for thou and I
Have thirty miles to ride yet ere dinner time. 200
Exit Harvey
Jack, meet me tomorrow in the Temple Hall
At two o'clock in the afternoon.
There shalt thou know thy charge, and there receive
Money and order for their furniture.
The land is burning, Percy stands on high, 205
And either we or they must lower lie.
Exit
SIR JOHN
Rare words! Brave world! (calling) Hostess, my
breakfast, come! - O, I could wish this tavern were my drum!
Exit
ACT IV HENRY IV part 1
4.1
Enter Hotspur and the Earls of Worcester and
Douglas
HOTSPUR
Well said, my noble Scot! If speaking truth
In this fine age were not thought flattery,
Such attribution should the Douglas have
As not a soldier of this season's stamp
Should go so general current through the world. 5
By God, I cannot flatter, I do defy
The tongues of soothers, but a braver place
In my heart's love hath no man than yourself.
Nay, task me to my word, approve me, lord.
DOUGLAS
Thou art the king of honour. 10
No man so potent breathes upon the ground
But I will beard him.
HOTSPUR
Do so, and 'tis well.
Enter a Messenger with letters
What letters hast thou there? I can but thank you.
MESSENGER
These letters come from your father.
HOTSPUR
Letters from him? Why comes he not himself? 15
MESSENGER
He cannot come, my lord, he is grievous sick.
HOTSPUR
Zounds, how has he the leisure to be sick
In such a jostling time? Who leads his power?
Under whose government come they along?
MESSENGER
His letters bears his mind, not I, my lord. 20
Hotspur reads the letter
WORCESTER
I prithee tell me, doth he keep his bed?
MESSENGER
He did, my lord, four days ere I set forth,
And at the time of my departure thence
He was much feared by his physicians.
WORCESTER
I would the state of time had first been whole 25
Ere he by sickness had been visited.
His health was never better worth than now.
HOTSPUR
Sick now? Droop now? This sickness doth infect
The very life-blood of our enterprise.
'Tis catching hither, even to our camp. 30
He writes me here that inward sickness stays him,
And that his friends by deputation
Could not so soon be drawn, nor did he think it meet
To lay so dangerous and dear a trust
On any soul removed but on his own. 35
Yet doth he give us bold advertisement
That with our small conjunction we should on,
To see how fortune is disposed to us,
For, as he writes, there is no quailing now,
Because the King is certainly possessed 40
Of all our purposes. What say you to it?
WORCESTER
Your father's sickness is a maim to us.
HOTSPUR
A perilous gash, a very limb lopped off.
And yet, in faith, it is not. His present want
Seems more than we shall find it. Were it good 45
To set the exact wealth of all our states
All at one cast, to set so rich a main
On the nice hazard of one doubtful hour?
It were not good, for therein should we read
The very bottom and the sole of hope, 50
The very list, the very utmost bound,
Of all our fortunes.
DOUGLAS
Faith, and so we should, where now remains
A sweet reversion-we may boldly spend
Upon the hope of what is to come in. 55
A comfort of retirement lives in this.
HOTSPUR
A rendezvous, a home to fly unto,
If that the devil and mischance look big
Upon the maidenhead of our affairs.
WORCESTER
But yet I would your father had been here. 60
The quality and hair of our attempt
Brooks no division. It will be thought
By some that know not why he is away
That wisdom, loyalty, and mere dislike
Of our proceedings kept the Earl from hence, 65
And think how such an apprehension
May turn the tide of fearful faction,
And breed a kind of question in our cause.
For, well you know, we of the off'ring side
Must keep aloof from strict arbitrement, 70
And stop all sight-holes, every loop from whence
The eye of reason may pry in upon us.
This absence of your father's draws a curtain
That shows the ignorant a kind of fear
Before not dreamt of.
HOTSPUR
You strain too far. 75
I rather of his absence make this use:
It lends a lustre, and more great opinion,
A larger dare to our great enterprise,
Than if the Earl were here, for men must think
If we without his help can make a head 80
To push against a kingdom, with his help
We shall o'erturn it topsy-turvy down.
Yet all goes well, yet all our joints are whole.
DOUGLAS
As heart can think, there is not such a word
Spoke of in Scotland as this term of fear. 85
Enter Sir Richard Vernon
HOTSPUR
My cousin Vernon! Welcome, by my soul!
VERNON
Pray God my news be worth a welcome, lord.
The Earl of Westmorland, seven thousand strong,
Is marching hitherwards, with him Prince John.
HOTSPUR
No harm. What more?
VERNON
And further I have learned 90
The King himself in person is set forth,
Or hitherwards intended speedily,
With strong and mighty preparation.
HOTSPUR
He shall be welcome too. Where is his son,
The nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales, 95
And his comrades that daffed the world aside
And bid it pass?
VERNON
All furnished, all in arms,
All plumed like ostriches, that with the wind
Baiting like eagles having lately bathed, 100
Glittering in golden coats like images,
As full of spirit as the month of May,
And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer,
Wanton as youthful goats, wild as young bulls.
I saw young Harry with his beaver on, 105
His cuishes on his thighs, gallantly armed,
Rise from the ground like feathered Mercury,
And vaulted with such ease into his seat
As if an angel dropped down from the clouds
To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus, 110
And witch the world with noble horsemanship.
HOTSPUR
No more, no more! Worse than the sun in March,
This praise doth nourish agues. Let them come!
They come like sacrifices in their trim,
And to the fire-eyed maid of smoky war 115
All hot and bleeding will we offer them.
The mailed Mars shall on his altar sit
Up to the ears in blood. I am on fire
To hear this rich reprisal is so nigh,
And yet not ours! Come, let me taste my horse, 120
Who is to bear me like a thunderbolt
Against the bosom of the Prince of Wales.
Harry to Harry shall, hot horse to horse,
Meet and ne'er part till one drop down a corpse.
O, that Glendower were come!
VERNON
There is more news. 125
I learned in Worcester, as I rode along,
He cannot draw his power this fourteen days.
DOUGLAS
That's the worst tidings that I hear of yet.
WORCESTER
Ay, by my faith, that bears a frosty sound.
HOTSPUR
What may the King's whole battle reach unto? 130
VERNON
To thirty thousand.
HOTSPUR
Forty let it be.
My father and Glendower being both away,
The powers of us may serve so great a day.
Come, let us take a muster speedily.
Doomsday is near: die all, die merrily. 135
DOUGLAS
Talk not of dying, I am out of fear
Of death or death's hand for this one half year.
Exeunt
4.2
Enter Sir John Falstaff and Russell
SIR JOHN
Russell, get thee before to Coventry, fill me a
bottle of sack. Our soldiers shall march through. We'll
to Sutton Coldfield tonight.
RUSSELL
Will you give me money, captain?
SIR JOHN
Lay out, lay out. 5
RUSSELL
This bottle makes an angel.
SIR JOHN [giving Russell money]
An if it do, take it for thy
labour, an if it make twenty, take them all, I'll answer
the coinage. Bid my lieutenant Harvey meet me at
town's end. 10
RUSSELL
I will, captain. Farewell.
Exit
SIR JOHN
If I be not ashamed of my soldiers, I am a soused
gurnet. I have misused the King's press damnably. I
have got in exchange of one hundred and fifty soldiers
three hundred and odd pounds. I press me none but 15
good householders, yeomen's sons, enquire me out
contracted bachelors, such as had been asked twice on
the banns, such a commodity of warm slaves as had
as lief hear the devil as a drum, such as fear the report
of a caliver worse than a struck fowl or a hurt wild 20
duck. I pressed me none but such toasts and butter,
with hearts in their bellies no bigger than pins' heads,
and they have bought out their services, and now my
whole charge consists of ensigns, corporals, lieutenants,
gentlemen of companies-slaves as ragged as Lazarus 25
in the painted cloth, where the glutton's dogs licked
his sores-and such as indeed were never soldiers, but
discarded unjust servingmen, younger sons to younger
brothers, revolted tapsters, and ostlers trade-fallen, the
cankers of a calm world and a long peace, ten times 30
more dishonourable-ragged than an old feazed ensign,
and such have I to fill up the rooms of them as have
bought out their services, that you would think that I
had a hundred and fifty tattered prodigals lately come
from swine-keeping, from eating draff and husks. A 35
mad fellow met me on the way and told me I had
unloaded all the gibbets and pressed the dead bodies.
No eye hath seen such scarecrows. I'll not march
through Coventry with them, that's flat. Nay, and the
villains march wide betwixt the legs, as if they had 40
gyves on, for indeed I had the most of them out of
prison. There's not a shirt and a half in all my company,
and the half-shirt is two napkins tacked together and
thrown over the shoulders like a herald's coat without
sleeves, and the shirt, to say the truth, stolen from my 45
host at Saint Albans, or the red-nose innkeeper of
Daventry. But that's all one, they'll find linen enough
on every hedge.
Enter Prince Harry and the Earl of Westmorland
HAL
How now, blown Jack? How now, quilt?
SIR JOHN
What, Hal! How now, mad wag? What a devil 50
dost thou in Warwickshire? My good lord of
Westmorland, I cry you mercy! I thought your honour
had already been at Shrewsbury.
WESTMORLAND
Faith, Sir John, 'tis more than time that I
were there, and you too, but my powers are there 55
already. The King, I can tell you, looks for us all. We
must away all night.
SIR JOHN
Tut, never fear me. I am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream.
HAL
I think to steal cream indeed, for thy theft 60
hath already made thee butter. But tell me, Jack, whose
fellows are these that come after?
SIR JOHN
Mine, Hal, mine.
HAL
I did never see such pitiful rascals.
SIR JOHN
Tut, tut, good enough to toss, food for powder, 65
food for powder. They'll fill a pit as well as better. Tush,
man, mortal men, mortal men.
WESTMORLAND
Ay, but Sir John, methinks they are
exceeding poor and bare, too beggarly.
SIR JOHN
Faith, for their poverty, I know not where they 70
had that, and for their bareness, I am sure they never
learned that of me.
HAL
No, I'll be sworn, unless you call three
fingers in the ribs bare. But sirrah, make haste. Percy
is already in the field. 75
Exit
SIR JOHN
What, is the King encamped?
WESTMORLAND
He is, Sir John. I fear we shall stay too long.
Exit
SIR JOHN
Well, to the latter end of a fray
And the beginning of a feast 80
Fits a dull fighter and a keen guest.
Exit
4.3
Enter Hotspur, the Earls of Worcester and
Douglas, and Sir Richard Vernon
HOTSPUR
We'll fight with him tonight.
WORCESTER
It may not be.
DOUGLAS
You give him then advantage.
VERNON
Not a whit.
HOTSPUR
Why say you so? Looks he not for supply?
VERNON
So do we.
HOTSPUR
His is certain, ours is doubtful.
WORCESTER
Good cousin, be advised. Stir not tonight. 5
VERNON (to Hotspur)
Do not, my lord.
DOUGLAS
You do not counsel well.
You speak it out of fear and cold heart.
VERNON
Do me no slander, Douglas. By my life-
And I dare well maintain it with my life-
If well-respected honour bid me on, 10
I hold as little counsel with weak fear
As you, my lord, or any Scot that this day lives.
Let it be seen tomorrow in the battle
Which of us fears.
DOUGLAS
Yea, or tonight. 15
VERNON
Content.
HOTSPUR
Tonight, say I.
VERNON
Come, come, it may not be. I wonder much,
Being men of such great leading as you are,
That you foresee not what impediments 20
Drag back our expedition. Certain horse
Of my cousin Vernon's are not yet come up.
Your uncle Worcester's horse came but today,
And now their pride and mettle is asleep,
Their courage with hard labour tame and dull, 25
That not a horse is half the half himself.
HOTSPUR
So are the horses of the enemy
In general journey-bated and brought low.
The better part of ours are full of rest.
WORCESTER
The number of the King exceedeth our. 30
For God's sake, cousin, stay till all come in.
The trumpet sounds a parley within. Enter Sir
Walter Blunt
BLUNT
I come with gracious offers from the King,
If you vouchsafe me hearing and respect.
HOTSPUR
Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt, and would to God
You were of our determination. 35
Some of us love you well, and even those some
Envy your great deservings and good name,
Because you are not of our quality,
But stand against us like an enemy.
BLUNT
And God defend but still I should stand so, 40
So long as out of limit and true rule
You stand against anointed majesty.
But to my charge. The King hath sent to know
The nature of your griefs, and whereupon
You conjure from the breast of civil peace 45
Such bold hostility, teaching his duteous land
Audacious cruelty. If that the King
Have any way your good deserts forgot,
Which he confesseth to be manifold,
He bids you name your griefs, and with all speed 50
You shall have your desires, with interest,
And pardon absolute for yourself and these
Herein misled by your suggestion.
HOTSPUR
The King is kind, and well we know the King
Knows at what time to promise, when to pay. 55
My father and my uncle and myself
Did give him that same royalty he wears,
And when he was not six-and-twenty strong,
Sick in the world's regard, wretched and low,
A poor unminded outlaw sneaking home, 60
My father gave him welcome to the shore,
And when he heard him swear and vow to God
He came but to be Duke of Lancaster,
To sue his livery, and beg his peace
With tears of innocency and terms of zeal, 65
My father, in kind heart and pity moved,
Swore him assistance, and performed it too.
Now when the lords and barons of the realm
Perceived Northumberland did lean to him,
The more and less came in with cap and knee, 70
Met him in boroughs, cities, villages,
Attended him on bridges, stood in lanes,
Laid gifts before him, proffered him their oaths,
Gave him their heirs as pages, followed him,
Even at the heels, in golden multitudes. 75
He presently, as greatness knows itself,
Steps me a little higher than his vow
Made to my father while his blood was poor
Upon the naked shore at Ravenspurgh,
And now forsooth takes on him to reform 80
Some certain edicts and some strait decrees
That lie too heavy on the commonwealth,
Cries out upon abuses, seems to weep
Over his country's wrongs, and by this face,
This seeming brow of justice, did he win 85
The hearts of all that he did angle for,
Proceeded further, cut me off the heads
Of all the favourites that the absent King
In deputation left behind him here
When he was personal in the Irish war. 90
BLUNT
Tut, I came not to hear this.
HOTSPUR
Then to the point.
In short time after, he deposed the King,
Soon after that deprived him of his life,
And in the neck of that tasked the whole state,
To make that worse, suffered his kinsman March- 95
Who is, if every owner were well placed,
Indeed his king-to be engaged in Wales,
There without ransom to lie forfeited,
Disgraced me in my happy victories,
Sought to entrap me by intelligence, 100
Rated mine uncle from the Council-board,
In rage dismissed my father from the court,
Broke oath on oath, committed wrong on wrong,
And in conclusion drove us to seek out
This head of safety, and withal to pry 105
Into his title, the which we find
Too indirect for long continuance.
BLUNT
Shall I return this answer to the King?
HOTSPUR
Not so, Sir Walter. We'll withdraw awhile.
Go to the King, and let there be impawned 110
Some surety for a safe return again,
And in the morning early shall mine uncle
Bring him our purposes. And so, farewell.
BLUNT
I would you would accept of grace and love.
HOTSPUR
And maybe so we shall.
BLUNT
Pray God you do. 115
Exeunt Hotspur, Worcester, Douglas, and
Vernon at one door, Blunt at another
4.4
Enter the Archbishop of York, and Sir Michael
ARCHBISHOP (giving letters)
Hie, good Sir Michael, bear this sealed brief
With winged haste to the Lord Marshal,
This to my cousin Scroop, and all the rest
To whom they are directed. If you knew
How much they do import, you would make haste. 5
SIR MICHAEL
My good lord, I guess their tenor.
ARCHBISHOP
Like enough you do.
Tomorrow, good Sir Michael, is a day
Wherein the fortune of ten thousand men
Must bide the touch, for, sir, at Shrewsbury, 10
As I am truly given to understand,
The King with mighty and quick-raised power
Meets with Lord Harry. And I fear, Sir Michael,
What with the sickness of Northumberland,
Whose power was in the first proportion, 15
And what with Owen Glendower's absence thence,
Who with them was a rated sinew too,
And comes not in, overruled by prophecies,
I fear the power of Percy is too weak
To wage an instant trial with the King. 20
SIR MICHAEL
Why, my good lord, you need not fear, there is Douglas
And Lord Mortimer.
ARCHBISHOP
No, Mortimer is not there.
SIR MICHAEL
But there is Mordake, Vernon, Lord Harry Percy,
And there is my lord of Worcester, and a head
Of gallant warriors, noble gentlemen. 25
ARCHBISHOP
And so there is, but yet the King hath drawn
The special head of all the land together-
The Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster,
The noble Westmorland, and warlike Blunt,
And many more corrivals, and dear men 30
Of estimation and command in arms.
SIR MICHAEL
Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well opposed.
ARCHBISHOP
I hope no less, yet needful 'tis to fear,
And to prevent the worst, Sir Michael, speed.
For if Lord Percy thrive not, ere the King 35
Dismiss his power he means to visit us,
For he hath heard of our confederacy,
And 'tis but wisdom to make strong against him,
Therefore make haste. I must go write again
To other friends, and so farewell, Sir Michael. 40
Exeunt severally
ACT V HENRY IV part 1
5.1
Enter King Henry, Prince Harry, Lord John of
Lancaster, the Earl of Westmorland, Sir Walter
Blunt, and Sir John Falstaff
KING HENRY
How bloodily the sun begins to peer
Above yon bulky hill! The day looks pale
At his distemp'rature.
HAL
The southern wind
Doth play the trumpet to his purposes,
And by his hollow whistling in the leaves 5
Foretells a tempest and a blust'ring day.
KING HENRY
Then with the losers let it sympathize,
For nothing can seem foul to those that win.
The trumpet sounds a parley within. Enter the
Earl of Worcester and Sir Richard Vernon
How now, my lord of Worcester? 'Tis not well
That you and I should meet upon such terms 10
As now we meet. You have deceived our trust,
And made us doff our easy robes of peace
To crush our old limbs in ungentle steel.
This is not well, my lord, this is not well.
What say you to it? Will you again unknit 15
This churlish knot of all-abhorred war,
And move in that obedient orb again
Where you did give a fair and natural light,
And be no more an exhaled meteor,
A prodigy of fear, and a portent 20
Of broached mischief to the unborn times?
WORCESTER
Hear me, my liege.
For mine own part, I could be well content
To entertain the lag-end of my life
With quiet hours, for I protest, 25
I have not sought the day of this dislike.
KING HENRY
You have not sought it? How comes it, then?
SIR JOHN
Rebellion lay in his way, and he found it.
HAL
Peace, chewet, peace!
WORCESTER (to the King)
It pleased your majesty to turn your looks 30
Of favour from myself and all our house,
And yet I must remember you, my lord,
We were the first and dearest of your friends.
For you my staff of office did I break
In Richard's time, and posted day and night 35
To meet you on the way and kiss your hand
When yet you were in place and in account
Nothing so strong and fortunate as I.
It was myself, my brother, and his son
That brought you home, and boldly did outdare 40
The dangers of the time. You swore to us,
And you did swear that oath at Doncaster,
That you did nothing purpose 'gainst the state,
Nor claim no further than your new-fall'n right,
The seat of Gaunt, dukedom of Lancaster. 45
To this we swore our aid, but in short space
It rained down fortune show'ring on your head,
And such a flood of greatness fell on you,
What with our help, what with the absent King,
What with the injuries of a wanton time, 50
The seeming sufferances that you had borne,
And the contrarious winds that held the King
So long in his unlucky Irish wars
That all in England did repute him dead,
And from this swarm of fair advantages 55
You took occasion to be quickly wooed
To gripe the general sway into your hand,
Forgot your oath to us at Doncaster,
And being fed by us, you used us so
As that ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird, 60
Useth the sparrow-did oppress our nest,
Grew by our feeding to so great a bulk
That even our love durst not come near your sight
For fear of swallowing. But with nimble wing
We were enforced for safety' sake to fly 65
Out of your sight, and raise this present head,
Whereby we stand opposed by such means
As you yourself have forged against yourself,
By unkind usage, dangerous countenance,
And violation of all faith and troth 70
Sworn to us in your younger enterprise.
KING HENRY
These things indeed you have articulate,
Proclaimed at market crosses, read in churches,
To face the garment of rebellion
With some fine colour that may please the eye 75
Of fickle changelings and poor discontents,
Which gape and rub the elbow at the news
Of hurly-burly innovation,
And never yet did insurrection want
Such water-colours to impaint his cause, 80
Nor moody beggars starving for a time
Of pell-mell havoc and confusion.
HAL
In both our armies there is many a soul
Shall pay full dearly for this encounter
If once they join in trial. Tell your nephew 85
The Prince of Wales doth join with all the world
In praise of Henry Percy. By my hopes,
This present enterprise set off his head,
I do not think a braver gentleman,
More active-valiant or more valiant-young, 90
More daring, or more bold, is now alive
To grace this latter age with noble deeds.
For my part, I may speak it to my shame,
I have a truant been to chivalry,
And so I hear he doth account me too. 95
Yet this, before my father's majesty:
I am content that he shall take the odds
Of his great name and estimation,
And will, to save the blood on either side,
Try fortune with him in a single fight. 100
KING HENRY
And, Prince of Wales, so dare we venture thee,
Albeit considerations infinite
Do make against it. No, good Worcester, no.
We love our people well, even those we love
That are misled upon your cousin's part, 105
And will they take the offer of our grace,
Both he and they and you, yea, every man
Shall be my friend again, and I'll be his.
So tell your cousin, and bring me word
What he will do. But if he will not yield, 110
Rebuke and dread correction wait on us,
And they shall do their office. So be gone.
We will not now be troubled with reply.
We offer fair, take it advisedly.
Exeunt Worcester and Vernon
HAL
It will not be accepted, on my life. 115
The Douglas and the Hotspur both together
Are confident against the world in arms.
KING HENRY
Hence, therefore, every leader to his charge,
For on their answer will we set on them,
And God befriend us as our cause is just! 120
Exeunt all but Prince Harry and Falstaff
SIR JOHN
Hal, if thou see me down in the battle, and
bestride me, so. 'Tis a point of friendship.
HAL
Nothing but a colossus can do thee that
friendship. Say thy prayers, and farewell.
SIR JOHN
I would 'twere bed-time, Hal, and all well. 125
HAL
Why, thou owest God a death.
Exit
SIR JOHN
'Tis not due yet. I would be loath to pay him
before his day. What need I be so forward with him
that calls not on me? Well, 'tis no matter, honour
pricks me on. Yea, but how if honour prick me off 130
when I come on? How then? Can honour set-to a leg?
No. Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound?
No. Honour hath no skill in surgery, then? No. What
is honour? A word. What is in that word `honour'?
What is that `honour'? Air. A trim reckoning! Who 135
hath it? He that died o' Wednesday. Doth he feel it?
No. Doth he hear it? No. 'Tis insensible then? Yea, to
the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why?
Detraction will not suffer it. Therefore I'll none of it.
Honour is a mere scutcheon. And so ends my catechism. 140
Exit
5.2
Enter the Earl of Worcester and Sir Richard Vernon
WORCESTER
O no, my nephew must not know, Sir Richard,
The liberal and kind offer of the King.
VERNON
'Twere best he did.
WORCESTER
Then are we all undone.
It is not possible, it cannot be,
The King should keep his word in loving us. 5
He will suspect us still, and find a time
To punish this offence in other faults.
Supposition all our lives shall be stuck full of eyes,
For treason is but trusted like the fox,
Who, ne'er so tame, so cherished, and locked up, 10
Will have a wild trick of his ancestors.
Look how we can, or sad or merrily,
Interpretation will misquote our looks,
And we shall feed like oxen at a stall,
The better cherished still the nearer death. 15
My nephew's trespass may be well forgot,
It hath the excuse of youth and heat of blood,
And an adopted name of privilege-
A hare-brained Hotspur, governed by a spleen.
All his offences live upon my head, 20
And on his father's. We did train him on,
And, his corruption being ta'en from us,
We as the spring of all shall pay for all.
Therefore, good cousin, let not Harry know
In any case the offer of the King. 25
VERNON
Deliver what you will, I'll say 'tis so.
Enter Hotspur and the Earl of Douglas
Here comes your cousin.
HOTSPUR
My uncle is returned.
Deliver up my lord of Westmorland.
Uncle, what news?
WORCESTER
The King will bid you battle presently. 30
DOUGLAS
Defy him by the Lord of Westmorland.
HOTSPUR
Lord Douglas, go you and tell him so.
DOUGLAS
Marry, and shall, and very willingly.
Exit
WORCESTER
There is no seeming mercy in the King.
HOTSPUR
Did you beg any? God forbid! 35
WORCESTER
I told him gently of our grievances,
Of his oath-breaking, which he mended thus:
By now forswearing that he is forsworn.
He calls us `rebels', `traitors', and will scourge
With haughty arms this hateful name in us. 40
Enter the Earl of Douglas
DOUGLAS
Arm, gentlemen, to arms, for I have thrown
A brave defiance in King Henry's teeth-
And Westmorland that was engaged did bear it-
Which cannot choose but bring him quickly on.
WORCESTER (to Hotspur)
The Prince of Wales stepped forth before the King 45
And, nephew, challenged you to single fight.
HOTSPUR
O, would the quarrel lay upon our heads,
And that no man might draw short breath today
But I and Harry Monmouth! Tell me, tell me,
How showed his tasking? Seemed it in contempt? 50
VERNON
No, by my soul, I never in my life
Did hear a challenge urged more modestly,
Unless a brother should a brother dare
To gentle exercise and proof of arms.
He gave you all the duties of a man, 55
Trimmed up your praises with a princely tongue,
Spoke your deservings like a chronicle,
Making you ever better than his praise
By still dispraising praise valued with you,
And, which became him like a prince indeed, 60
He made a blushing cital of himself,
And chid his truant youth with such a grace
As if he mastered there a double spirit
Of teaching and of learning instantly.
There did he pause, but let me tell the world, 65
If he outlive the envy of this day,
England did never owe so sweet a hope,
So much misconstrued in his wantonness.
HOTSPUR
Cousin, I think thou art enamoured
On his follies. Never did I hear 70
Of any prince so wild a liberty.
But be he as he will, yet once ere night
I will embrace him with a soldier's arm,
That he shall shrink under my courtesy.
Arm, arm, with speed! And fellows, soldiers, friends, 75
Better consider what you have to do
Than I, that have not well the gift of tongue,
Can lift your blood up with persuasion.
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER
My lord, here are letters for you.
HOTSPUR
I cannot read them now. 80
Exit Messenger
O gentlemen, the time of life is short.
To spend that shortness basely were too long
If life did ride upon a dial's point,
Still ending at the arrival of an hour.
An if we live, we live to tread on kings, 85
If die, brave death when princes die with us!
Now for our consciences: the arms are fair
When the intent of bearing them is just.
Enter another Messenger
MESSENGER
My lord, prepare, the King comes on apace.
Exit
HOTSPUR
I thank him that he cuts me from my tale, 90
For I profess not talking, only this:
Let each man do his best. And here draw I
A sword whose temper I intend to stain
With the best blood that I can meet withal
In the adventure of this perilous day. 95
Now Esperance! Percy! And set on!
Sound all the lofty instruments of war,
And by that music let us all embrace,
For, heaven to earth, some of us never shall
A second time do such a courtesy. 100
The trumpets sound. Here they embrace. Exeunt
5.3
King Henry enters with his power. Alarum, and
exeunt to the battle. Then enter the Earl of
Douglas, and Sir Walter Blunt, disguised as the
King
BLUNT
What is thy name, that in the battle thus
Thou crossest me? What honour dost thou seek
Upon my head?
DOUGLAS
Know then my name is Douglas,
And I do haunt thee in the battle thus
Because some tell me that thou art a king. 5
BLUNT
They tell thee true.
DOUGLAS
The Lord of Stafford dear today hath bought
Thy likeness, for instead of thee, King Harry,
This sword hath ended him. So shall it thee,
Unless thou yield thee as my prisoner. 10
BLUNT
I was not born a yielder, thou proud Scot,
And thou shalt find a king that will revenge
Lord Stafford's death.
They fight. Douglas kills Blunt.
Then enter Hotspur
HOTSPUR
O Douglas, hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus,
I never had triumphed upon a Scot. 15
DOUGLAS
All's done, all's won: here breathless lies the King.
HOTSPUR
Where?
DOUGLAS
Here.
HOTSPUR
This, Douglas? No, I know this face full well.
A gallant knight he was, his name was Blunt- 20
Semblably furnished like the King himself.
DOUGLAS (to Blunt's body)
A fool go with thy soul, whither it goes!
A borrowed title hast thou bought too dear.
Why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king?
HOTSPUR
The king hath many marching in his coats. 25
DOUGLAS
Now by my sword, I will kill all his coats.
I'll murder all his wardrobe, piece by piece,
Until I meet the King.
HOTSPUR
Up and away!
Our soldiers stand full fairly for the day.
Exeunt, leaving Blunt's body
Alarum. Enter Sir John Falstaff
SIR JOHN
Though I could scape shot-free at London, I fear 30
the shot here. Here's no scoring but upon the pate.-
Soft, who are you?-Sir Walter Blunt. There's honour
for you. Here's no vanity. I am as hot as molten lead,
and as heavy too. God keep lead out of me, I need no
more weight than mine own bowels. I have led my 35
ragamuffins where they are peppered, there's not three
of my hundred and fifty left alive, and they are for the
town's end, to beg during life.
Enter Prince Harry
But who comes here?
HAL
What, stand'st thou idle here? Lend me thy sword. 40
Many a noble man lies stark and stiff
Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies,
Whose deaths as yet are unrevenged. I prithee
Lend me thy sword.
SIR JOHN
O Hal, I prithee give me leave to breathe awhile. 45
Turk Gregory never did such deeds in arms
As I have done this day. I have paid Percy,
I have made him sure.
HAL
He is indeed, And living to kill thee.
I prithee Lend me thy sword.
SIR JOHN
Nay, before God, Hal, 50
If Percy be alive thou gett'st not my sword,
But take my pistol if thou wilt.
HAL
Give it me. What, is it in the case?
SIR JOHN
Ay, Hal,
'Tis hot, 'tis hot. There's that will sack a city.
The Prince draws it out, and finds it
a bottle ofsack
HAL
What, is it a time to jest and dally now? 55
He throws the bottle at him. Exit
SIR JOHN
Well, if Percy be alive, I'll pierce him. If he do
come in my way, so, if he do not, if I come in his
willingly, let him make a carbonado of me. I like not
such grinning honour as Sir Walter hath. Give me life,
which if I can save, so, if not, honour comes unlooked 60
for, and there's an end.
Exit with Blunt's body
5.4
Alarum. Excursions. Enter King Henry, Prince
Harry, wounded, Lord John of Lancaster, and the
Earl of Westmorland
KING HENRY
I prithee, Harry, withdraw thyself, thou bleed'st too much.
Lord John of Lancaster, go you with him.
LANCASTER
Not I, my lord, unless I did bleed too.
HAL
I beseech your majesty, make up,
Lest your retirement do amaze your friends. 5
KING HENRY
I will do so. My lord of Westmorland,
Lead him to his tent.
WESTMORLAND (to the Prince)
Come, my lord, I'll lead you to your tent.
HAL
Lead me, my lord? I do not need your help,
And God forbid a shallow scratch should drive 10
The Prince of Wales from such a field as this,
Where stained nobility lies trodden on,
And rebels' arms triumph in massacres.
LANCASTER
We breathe too long. Come, cousin Westmorland,
Our duty this way lies. For God's sake, come. 15
Exeunt Lancaster and Westmorland
HAL
By God, thou hast deceived me, Lancaster,
I did not think thee lord of such a spirit.
Before I loved thee as a brother, John,
But now I do respect thee as my soul.
KING HENRY
I saw him hold Lord Percy at the point 20
With lustier maintenance than I did look for
Of such an ungrown warrior.
HAL
O, this boy lends mettle to us all!
Exit. Enter the Earl of Douglas
DOUGLAS
Another king! They grow like Hydra's heads.
I am the Douglas, fatal to all those 25
That wear those colours on them. What art thou
That counterfeit'st the person of a king?
KING HENRY
The King himself, who, Douglas, grieves at heart
So many of his shadows thou hast met
And not the very King. I have two boys 30
Seek Percy and thyself about the field,
But seeing thou fall'st on me so luckily,
I will assay thee, and defend thyself.
DOUGLAS
I fear thou art another counterfeit,
And yet, in faith, thou bear'st thee like a king. 35
But mine I am sure thou art, whoe'er thou be,
And thus I win thee.
They fight. The King being in danger,
enter Prince Harry
HAL
Hold up thy head, vile Scot, or thou art like
Never to hold it up again. The spirits
Of valiant Shirley, Stafford, Blunt, are in my arms. 40
It is the Prince of Wales that threatens thee,
Who never promiseth but he means to pay.
They fight. Douglas flieth
Cheerly, my lord! How fares your grace?
Sir Nicholas Gawsey hath for succour sent,
And so hath Clifton. I'll to Clifton straight. 45
KING HENRY
Stay and breathe awhile.
Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion,
And showed thou mak'st some tender of my life,
In this fair rescue thou hast brought to me.
HAL
O God, they did me too much injury 50
That ever said I hearkened for your death.
If it were so, I might have let alone
The insulting hand of Douglas over you,
Which would have been as speedy in your end
As all the poisonous potions in the world, 55
And saved the treacherous labour of your son.
KING HENRY
Make up to Clifton, I'll to Sir Nicholas Gawsey.
Exit
Enter Hotspur
HOTSPUR
If I mistake not, thou art Harry Monmouth.
HAL
Thou speak'st as if I would deny my name.
HOTSPUR
My name is Harry Percy.
HAL
Why then, I see 60
A very valiant rebel of the name.
I am the Prince of Wales, and think not, Percy,
To share with me in glory any more.
Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere,
Nor can one England brook a double reign 65
Of Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales.
HOTSPUR
Nor shall it, Harry, for the hour is come
To end the one of us, and would to God
Thy name in arms were now as great as mine.
HAL
I'll make it greater ere I part from thee, 70
And all the budding honours on thy crest
I'll crop to make a garland for my head.
HOTSPUR
I can no longer brook thy vanities.
They fight.
Enter Sir John Falstaff
SIR JOHN
Well said, Hal! To it, Hal! Nay, you shall find
no boy's play here, I can tell you. 75
Enter Douglas. He fights with Sir John,
who falls down as if he were dead. Exit
Douglas. The Prince kills Hotspur
HOTSPUR
O Harry, thou hast robbed me of my youth.
I better brook the loss of brittle life
Than those proud titles thou hast won of me.
They wound my thoughts worse than thy sword my flesh.
But thoughts, the slaves of life, and life, time's fool, 80
And time, that takes survey of all the world,
Must have a stop. O, I could prophesy,
But that the earthy and cold hand of death
Lies on my tongue. No, Percy, thou art dust,
And food for- 85
He dies
HAL
For worms, brave Percy. Fare thee well, great heart.
Ill-weaved ambition, how much art thou shrunk!
When that this body did contain a spirit,
A kingdom for it was too small a bound,
But now two paces of the vilest earth 90
Is room enough. This earth that bears thee dead
Bears not alive so stout a gentleman.
If thou wert sensible of courtesy,
I should not make so dear a show of zeal,
But let my favours hide thy mangled face, 95
He covers Hotspur's face
And even in thy behalf I'll thank myself
For doing these fair rites of tenderness.
Adieu, and take thy praise with thee to heaven.
Thy ignominy sleep with thee in the grave,
But not remembered in thy epitaph. 100
He sees Sir John on the ground
What, old acquaintance! Could not all this flesh
Keep in a little life? Poor Jack, farewell.
I could have better spared a better man.
O, I should have a heavy miss of thee,
If I were much in love with vanity. 105
Death hath not struck so fat a deer today,
Though many dearer in this bloody fray.
Embowelled will I see thee by and by.
Till then, in blood by noble Percy lie.
Exit
Sir John arises
SIR JOHN
Embowelled? If thou embowel me today, I'll give 110
you leave to powder me, and eat me too, tomorrow.
'Sblood, 'twas time to counterfeit, or that hot termagant
Scot had paid me, scot and lot too. Counterfeit? I lie, I
am no counterfeit. To die is to be a counterfeit, for he
is but the counterfeit of a man who hath not the life 115
of a man. But to counterfeit dying when a man thereby
liveth is to be no counterfeit, but the true and perfect
image of life indeed. The better part of valour is
discretion, in the which better part I have saved my
life. Zounds, I am afraid of this gunpowder Percy, 120
though he be dead. How if he should counterfeit too,
and rise? By my faith, I am afraid he would prove the
better counterfeit. Therefore I'll make him sure, yea,
and I'll swear I killed him. Why may not he rise as
well as I? Nothing confutes me but eyes, and nobody 125
sees me. Therefore, sirrah, (stabbing Hotspur) with a
new wound in your thigh, come you along with me.
He takes up Hotspur on his back.
Enter Prince Harry and Lord John of Lancaster
HAL
Come, brother John. Full bravely hast thou fleshed
Thy maiden sword.
LANCASTER
But soft, whom have we here?
Did you not tell me this fat man was dead? 130
HAL
I did, I saw him dead,
Breathless and bleeding on the ground.
(to Sir John) Art thou alive?
Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight?
I prithee speak, we will not trust our eyes
Without our ears. Thou art not what thou seem'st. 135
SIR JOHN
No, that's certain: I am not a double man. But
if I be not Jack Falstaff, then am I a jack. There is
Percy. If your father will do me any honour, so, if not,
let him kill the next Percy himself. I look to be either
earl or duke, I can assure you. 140
HAL
Why, Percy I killed myself, and saw thee dead.
SIR JOHN
Didst thou? Lord, Lord, how this world is given
to lying! I grant you I was down and out of breath,
and so was he, but we rose both at an instant, and
fought a long hour by Shrewsbury clock. If I may be 145
believed, so, if not, let them that should reward valour
bear the sin upon their own heads. I'll take't on my
death I gave him this wound in the thigh. If the man
were alive and would deny it, zounds, I would make
him eat a piece of my sword. 150
LANCASTER
This is the strangest tale that e'er I heard.
HAL
This is the strangest fellow, brother John.
(to Sir John) Come, bring your luggage nobly on your back.
For my part, if a lie may do thee grace,
I'll gild it with the happiest terms I have. 155
A retreat is sounded
The trumpet sounds retreat, the day is our.
Come, brother, let us to the highest of the field
To see what friends are living, who are dead.
Exeunt the Prince and Lancaster
SIR JOHN
I'll follow, as they say, for reward. He that
rewards me, God reward him. If I do grow great, I'll 160
grow less, for I'll purge, and leave sack, and live
cleanly, as a nobleman should do.
Exit, bearing Hotspur's body
5.5
The trumpets sound. Enter King Henry, Prince
Harry, Lord John of Lancaster, the Earl of
Westmorland, with the Earl of Worcester and Sir
Richard Vernon, prisoners, and soldiers
KING HENRY
Thus ever did rebellion find rebuke.
Ill-spirited Worcester, did not we send grace,
Pardon, and terms of love to all of you?
And wouldst thou turn our offers contrary,
Misuse the tenor of thy kinsman's trust? 5
Three knights upon our party slain today,
A noble earl, and many a creature else,
Had been alive this hour
If like a Christian thou hadst truly borne
Betwixt our armies true intelligence. 10
WORCESTER
What I have done my safety urged me to,
And I embrace this fortune patiently,
Since not to be avoided it falls on me.
KING HENRY
Bear Worcester to the death, and Vernon too.
Other offenders we will pause upon. 15
Exeunt Worcester and Vernon, guarded
How goes the field?
HAL
The noble Scot Lord Douglas, when he saw
The fortune of the day quite turned from him,
The noble Percy slain, and all his men
Upon the foot of fear, fled with the rest, 20
And falling from a hill he was so bruised
That the pursuers took him. At my tent
The Douglas is, and I beseech your grace
I may dispose of him.
KING HENRY
With all my heart. 25
HAL
Then, brother John of Lancaster,
To you this honourable bounty shall belong.
Go to the Douglas, and deliver him
Up to his pleasure ransomless and free.
His valours shown upon our crests today 30
Have taught us how to cherish such high deeds
Even in the bosom of our adversaries.
LANCASTER
I thank your grace for this high courtesy,
Which I shall give away immediately.
KING HENRY
Then this remains, that we divide our power. 35
You, son John, and my cousin Westmorland,
Towards York shall bend you with your dearest speed
To meet Northumberland and the prelate Scroop,
Who, as we hear, are busily in arms.
Myself and you, son Harry, will towards Wales, 40
To fight with Glendower and the Earl of March.
Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway,
Meeting the check of such another day,
And since this business so fair is done,
Let us not leave till all our own be won. 45
Exeunt the King, the Prince, and their power
at one door, Lancaster, Westmorland, and their
power at another