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SHAKESPEARE'S
HISTORY OF
King Henry the Fourth
Part II
EDITED, WITH NOTES
BY
WILLIAM J. ROLFE, Litt.D.
FORMERLY HEAD MASTER OF THE HIGH SCHOOL,
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
ILLUSTRATED
28651
NEW YORK • :• CINCINNATI • :■ CHICAGO
AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY
Copyright, 1880 and 1898, by Harper & Brothers.
Copyright, 1904, by
WILLIAM J. ROLFE,
henry IV. PART II.
W. P. I
\
^9
y^'Z.
PREFATORY NOTE
This play, first edited by me in 1880, is now thor-
oughly revised on the same general plan as T/ie Mer-
chant of Venice and the other plays that have preceded
it in the new series.
CONTENTS
PAGE
Introduction to the Second Part of King Henry
THE Fourth 9
The History of the Play 9
The Sources of the Plot . . . . . . .II
General Comments on the Play . . , . .II
King Henry the Fourth. Part II 19
Induction ....,..., 21
Act I 23
Act II 45
Act III 76
Act IV . 93
Act V 128
Notes 153
Appendix 259
Comments on Some of the Characters .... 259
The Time-Analysis of the Play 263
List of Characters in the Play 265
Index of Words and Phrases Explained . . . 267
^^;rrini?"^^bl''1
Warkworth Castle
BOOK ^^^
isco
INTRODUCTION TO THE SECOND PART
OF KING HENRY THE FOURTH
The History of the Play
It is almost certain that 2 Heiuy IV was written im-
mediately after i Henry IV, and before the entry of the
latter on the Stationers' Registers, February 25, 1598;^
for that entry shows that the name of Oldcastle, originally
given to the fat knight in both plays, had already been
changed to Falstaff. It was certainly written before
Ben Jonson's Every Man out of his Humour, which was
acted in 1599 ; for in that play Justice Silence is alluded
to by name.
The earliest edition of the play was a quarto printed
1 As the year did not then end until March 25, the date " February
25, 1597," on the Registers was of course Februairy 25, 1598.
9
lo Second Part of King Henry IV
in 1600; and in this the prefix ''Old." was accidentally
retained before one of the speeches of Falstaff (i. 2. 113) :
" Very well, my lord, very well," etc. In some copies
of the quarto the first scene of act iii is wanting. The
error seems to have been discovered after part of the edi-
tion had been printed, and was rectified by inserting two
new leaves. For these the type of some of the preceding
and following leaves was used, so that there are two differ-
ent impressions of the latter part of act ii and the begin-
ning of iii. 2.
No other edition of the play appears to have been
issued before the publication of the folio of 1623, in
which it was probably printed either from a transcript
of the original manuscript, or from a complete copy of
the quarto collated with such a transcript. " It contains
])assages of considerable length which are not found in
the quarto. Some of these are among the finest in the
play, and are too closely connected with the context to
allow of the supposition that they were later additions
inserted by the author after the publication of the quarto.
In the manuscript from which that edition was printed,
these passages had been most likely omitted, or erased,
in order to shorten the play for the stage." On the other
hand, the quarto contains several passages which do not
appear in the folio. Some of these were probably struck
out by tiie author, and others by the Master of the Revels.
The play is inferior to i Henry IV in dramatic interest,
and long ago disappeared from the stage. Furnivall
remarks: "All continuations do fall off, and this is no
Introduction 1 1
exception to the rule. How are Hotspur and the first
impressions of Falstaff to be equalled? Ev^en Shallow
cannot make up for them. There 's a quieter tone, too,
in this Part II, though the rhetorical speeches are still
kept up by Northumberland and Mowbray. The King
leads, not at the head of his army, but in his quiet prog-
ress to the grave." Verplanck, however, as will be seen
below, does not entirely agree with this estimate of the
play.
The Sources of the Plot
As in I Henry IV, Shakespeare took the main inci-
dents of his plot from Holinshed's Chronicles and from
the old play of T/ie Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth.
The history of Henry is here continued from the battle
of Shrewsbury, July 21, 1403, to his death and the acces-
sion of Henry V in March, 141 3.
General Cojlments on the Play
Verplanck remarks : ^ " The play having been written, as
the external and internal evidence concur in showing, not
very long after the first part, when the author's mind was
filled with the characters, story, and the spirit of that, the
1 From The Illustrated Shakespeare, edited by G. C. Verplanck (New-
York, 1847). Here, as in the introduction to i Heiny IV, I make an
ex'ception to my rule in this revised edition of omitting the extended
comments from other authors quoted in the former edition, because
Verplanck's edition, having been destroj'ed by fire a few years after
publication, is out of print and not to be found in most of the hbraries.
It was the first thoroughly annotated American edition of Shakespeare,
and is still one of the best, whether American or English,
12 Second Part of King Henry IV
two together have the unity of a single drama. It is,
however, inferior to its predecessor as a work of dramatic
art, though, in my judgment, not at all so as a work of
genius. It is not so perfect as the other as an historical
tragi-comedy, as on its tragic side it has a less vivid and
sustained interest, and approaches in those scenes more
to the dramatized chronicle ; in fact, adhering much more
rigidly to historical authority, and deviating from it very
little except in compressing into connected continuous
7 actions events really separated by years. Its nobler
characters have much less of chivalric and romantic
i splendour, and its action less of stage interest and effect,
\ and its poetry far less of kindling and exciting fervour.
On this account it has long disappeared as a whole from
the stage ; but portions of it are familiar even to those
whose knowledge of Shakespeare is acquired only from
the stage, having been interwoven by Gibber, or some
other manufacturer of the ' acted drama,' into the action
of Richard III. Other portions, like the King's invo-
cation to sleep, the Archbishop's meditation on the insta-
bility of popular favour. Lady Percy's lament for Hotspur,
and the last scene between the Prince and his father, have
sunk deep into thousands of hearts, and live in the general]
memory. Noj is the entire graver dialogue unworthy of
these gems with which it is studded ; foj it is through-
out rich in thought, noble and impressive in style, and the
characters it presents are drawn, if not with the same bold
freedom and pointed invention as in the first part, yet
with undiminished truth and discrimination.
Introduction 13
" But on the comic side of the play there is no flagging
either of spirit or invention. On the contrary, the humour,
if perhaps less hvely and sparkling, is still more rich and)^^^
copious. It overflows on all sides. The return of a char-
acter of comic invention in a second part is a hard test of
originality and fertility, which even Don Quixote and Gil
Bias did not stand without some loss of the charm of our
first acquaintance with them. Falstaff"'s humour, as well
that which he exhibits in his character as that which he
utters, is more copious, more luxuriously mirthful, and —
if the phrase may be allowed — more unctuous than ever.
Those of his companions, whose acquaintance we made in
the first part, lose nothing of their droll effect ; and our
new acquaintances. Shallow, Slender, etc., are still more
amusing. The scenes in which these last figure give
us a delightful peep into the habits of the rural gentry
of old England, and, as mere history, are worth volumes
of antiquarian research. ^vCi
" Both parts of this drama, as well as its prelude, -
Richard II, and its sequel, Henry V, present a contin-
uous historical chain of revolutions, wars, conspiracies,
and rebellions. Every incident is connected with some
great political movement. Nothing can be more pic-
turesque, more lifelike, than the manner in which these
are put into action, or more like the very reality of such
things, than the ruminations, motives, conferences, coun-
sels, and contests of the princes and chiefs and their fol-
lowers. Nor does the poet allow our minds to rest on
the mere external shows of the hurried and crowded
14 Second Part of King Henry IV
scene. ilc is earnest and abundant in wise moral
teaching. The instability of all moral greatness and the
emptiness of human pomp and power — the dread re-
sponsibility of that power — the base ingratitude of the
great, and the fickleness of the masses — the independ-
ence of conscious rectitude, — all these, and other topics,
are enforced in verses that have made them the lessons
of youthful instruction and household morality wherever
the language is spoken. Yet it is very observable that,
though the facts and scenes from which these ethical
teachings arise are all in some sort pohtical, or connected
with public transactions, the speculation or admonition
is always of a personal nature, the philosophy ethical, not
political, without any thing of those larger views of
society as an organized whole, or of the conflicts of
political principles, which may be found in the Roman
dramas and elsewhere ; as, for example, in the eloquent
didactic dialogue of the strangely blended Troilus and
Cressida.
" This difference must be ascribed, I think, chiefly to
the different periods at which these plays were severally
produced — a circumstance which critics often overlook
in their speculations upon Shakespeare's opinions, as well
as in those upon his taste, style, and knowledge. The
plays last referred to ^ were written some time after the
accession of James I, when the great parliamentary and
1 With the exception of y«//«j- Ccssar, which, since Verplanck wrote,
has been proved to have been written before 1601, and probably as early
as 1599.
Introduction i c
J
national struggle against the crown first commenced —
when the royal authority and the rights of the people, in
the republican sense of the term, began to be brought
into collision — when the very principles of government
were openly canvassed ; when all those elements of the
great approaching conflict of radically differing political
opinions were fermenting in the public mind, and already
entering into the popular elections. Although parties had
not yet become finally arrayed in the distinct manner they
became in the next reign, this state of things could not
but famiharize the mind of a thinking man, however aloof
from active participation in party, to general poHtical
reflection, and to make literary and poetical references
to such topics, or exhibitions of such scenes, more
acceptable to the public taste. Hence we find in those
later dramas that the author looks more distinctly upon
man as a member of a state, upon the various forms of
civil polity, and upon the conflicts of party and revolu-
tions of government, as influenced by political opinion.
The English historical dramas, except the last one of
the series, Heitry VIII, were all written under the stern
and steady rule of EHzabeth, and the author, still young,
had grown up in a state of society where the only question
of principle which had, during the memory of that genera-
tion or their fathers, divided the nation was that of reh-
gious diff'erence; their only other notion of poHtical party
being that of the conflicts of rival houses, or of personal
ambition. It is probably fortunate, not less for the
spirited accuracy of historic delineations in these dramas
i6 Second Part of King Henry IV
than for their dramatic and poetic effect, that this was
the case.
" Even when the insurrections, revolutions, and contests
under the Plantagenets really involved or affected the prin-
ciples of freedom, and the substantial permanent rights
and happiness of the subject, they did not (unless so
far as the acquisition of Magna Charta and the subse-
quent appeals to it may be exceptions) take that form ;
but were struggles for immediate and practical objects,
the redress of pressing grievances, the defence of char-
tered rights, or the overthrow of an oppressor. The
divisions and dissensions, which, like the Wars of the
Roses, deluged England with blood, had nothing in view
beyond a change of rulers or of dynasty, neither attain-
ing nor looking to, in the result, any object of a truly
public nature, and leaving nothing to the faithful chron-
icler to record but (as old Hall says) 'what misery,
what murder, and what execrable plagues this famous
region hath suffered.'
" Into all these conflicts, calling forth high energies and
exhibiting stirring scenes and a crowd of majestic per-
sonages, the young dramatist entered with the very spirit
and sympathies of the times, naturally assimilating his
mind to that of the men of those days, and thus paint-
ing them and their deeds as they showed to their own
generation, not as they now appear to the philosophical
student of history. Thus he vehemendy asserts, in the
person of Richard II and his adherents, the indefeasible,
hereditary right of kings; but shortly after makes the
Introduction 17
successful usurper, Bolingbroke, equally ready to rebuke
rebellion and * hurly-burly innovation,' without troubling
himself to discuss the truth of the doctrine, or the pro-
priety of its application, in the mouth of either. His
business was with the passions and actions of men, not
with the principles of government ; and the Wars of the
Roses were more graphically and vividly described in the
absence of any wish or design, however indirect or remote,
to inculcate political opinion or political philosophy, of
any sort or colour."
2 HENRY TV — 2
Of.
KING HENRY IV
PART 11
DRAMATIS PERSONS
Rumour, the Presenter.
KiNc; Henry the Fourth.
Henky, Prince of Wales, afterwards King Henry V, 1
Tho.\i.\s, Duke of Clarence, I j^j^ jqjjj^
Pkince Iohn of Lancaster, |
Pkince Hl-mi'hrey of Gloucester, J
Earl of Warwick.
Earl of Westmoreland.
Earl of Surrey.
Gower.
Harcourt.
Blunt.
Lord Chief-Justice of the King's Bench.
A Servant of the Chief-Justice.
Earl of Northumberland.
SCROOH, Archbishop of York.
Lord Mowbray.
Lord Hastings.
Lord Bardolph.
Sir John Colevile.
Travkrs and Morton, retainers of Northumberland.
Sir John Falstafp.
His Page.
Bardolph.
Pistol.
PoiNS.
Peto.
ifL^E';^°E:'!-"-o'Wices.
Davy, Servant to Shallow.
.-Mouldy, Shadow, Wart, Feeble, and Bullcalf, recruits.
Fang and Snare, sheriff's officers.
Lady Northumberland.
Lady Percy.
Mistress Quickly, hostess of a tavern in Eastcheap.
Doll Tearsheet.
Lords and Attendants ; Porter, Drawers, Beadles, Grooms, &c.
A Dancer, speaker of the Epilogue.
Scene ; England.
-/ :ii^r
Entrance Tower of Warkworth Castle
INDUCTION
Warkworth. Before the Castle
Enter Rumour, painted full of tongues
Rumour. Open your ears ; for which of you will stop
The vent of hearing when loud Rumour speaks ?
I, from the orient to the drooping west,
Making the wind my post-horse, still unfold
The acts commenced on this ball of earth.
Upon my tongues continual slanders ride,
The which in every language I pronounce.
Stuffing the ears of men with false reports.
I speak of peace while covert enmity
21
2 2 Second Part of King Henry IV [induction
Under the smile of safety wounds the world ; lo
And who but Biimoiir, who but only I,
Make fearful musters and prepar'd defence
Whiles the big year, swoln with some other grief.
Is thought with child by the stern tyrant War,
J. And no such matter? Rumour is a pipe
I Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures,
[' And of so easy and so plain a stop
i That the blunt monster with uncounted heads,
, The still-discordant wavering multitude,
Can play upon it. — But what need I thus 20
My well-known body to anaixmiize
Among my household? Why is Rumour here?
I run before King Harry's victory.
Who in a bloody field by Shrewsbury
Hath beaten down young Hotspur and his troops,
Quenching the flame of bold rebellion
Even with the rebels' blood. But what mean I
To speak so true at firstW my office is
To noise abroad that Harry Monmouth fell
' Under the wrath of noble Hotspur's sword, 3°
And that the king before the Douglas' rage
Stoop'd his anointed head as low as death.
This have I rumour'd through the peasant towns
Between that royal field of Shrewsbury
And this worm-eaten hold of ragged stone,
Where Hotspur's father, old Northumberland,
T.ies crafty-sick. The posts come tiring on,
And not a man of them brings other news
Scene ij Second Part of King Henry IV 23
Than they have learn'd of me ; from Rumour's tongues
They bring smooth comforts false, worse than true
wrongs. \_Exit.
ACT I
Scene I. The Same
E titer Lord Bardolph
Lord Bardolph. Who keeps the gate here, ho? —
The Porter opens the gate
Where is the earl ?
Porter. What shall I say you are ?
Lord Betrdolph. Tell thou the earl
That the Lord Bardolph doth attend him here.
Porter. His lordship is walk'd forth into the orchard ;
Please it your honour, knock but at the gate
And he himself will answer.
Enter Northumberland
Lord Bardolph. Here comes the earl.
\_Exit Porter.
Northumberland. What news. Lord Bardolph? every
minute now
Should be the father of some stratagem.
The times are wild ; contention, like a horse
Full of high feeding, madly hath broke loose 10
And bears down all before him.
Lord Bardolph. Noble earl,
I bring you certain news from Shrewsbury.
24 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act i
Northumberland. Good, an God will !
Lord Bardolph. As good as heart can wish.
The king is almost wounded to the death ;
And, in the fortune of my lord your son,
Prince Harry slain outright ; and both the Blunts
Kill'd by the hand of Douglas ; young Prince John
And Westmoreland and Stafford fled the field ;
And Harry Monmouth's brawn, the hulk Sir John,
Is prisoner to your son. O, such a day, 20
So fought, so follow'd, and so fairly won,
Came not till now to dignify the times
Since Caesar's fortunes !
Northumberland. How is this deriv'd? .
Saw you the field? came you from Shrewsbury?
Lord Bardolph. I spake with one, my lord, that came
from thence,
A gentleman well bred and of good name.
That freely render'd me these news for true.
Northumberland. Here comes my servant Travers,
whom I sent
On Tuesday last to listen after news.
Enter Travers
Lord Bardolph. My lord, I over-rode him on the way.
And he is furnish'd with no certainties 31
More than he haply may retail from me^
Northumberland. Now, Travers, what good tidings
comes with you?
Travers. My lord, Sir John Umfrevile turn'd me back
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 25
With joyful tidings and, being better hors'd,
Outrode me. After him came spurring hard
A gentleman, almost forspent with speed.
That stopp'd by me to breathe his bloodied horse.
He ask'd the way to Chester, and of him
I did demand what news from Shrewsbury. 40
He told me that rebellion had bad luck.
And that young Harry Percy's spur was cold.
With that, he gave his able horse the head.
And bending forward struck his armed heels
Against the panting sides of his poor jade
Up to the rowel-head, and starting so
He seem'd in running to devour the way,
Staying no longer question.
Northumberland. Ha ! — Again.
Said he young Harry Percy's spur was cold?
Of Hotspur, Coldspur? that rebellion 50
Had met ill luck?
Lord Bardolph. My lord, I '11 tell you what,
If my young lord your son have not the day,
Upon mine honour, for a silken point
I '11 give my barony ; never talk of it.
Northumberland. Why should that gentleman that
rode by Travers
Give then such instances of loss?
Lord Bardolph. Who, he ?
He was some hilding fellow that had stolen
The horse he rode on, and, upon my life,
Sjooke at a venture. Look, here comes more news.
26 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act I
Entei- Morton
Northumberland. Yea, this man's brow, like to a title-
leaf, 60
Foretells the nature of a tragic volume ;
So looks the strand whereon the imperious flood
Hath left a witness'd usurpation. —
Say, Morton, didst thou come from Shrewsbury?
Morton. I ran from Shrewsbury, my noble lord,
Where hateful Death put on his ugliest mask
To fright our party.
Northiunbcrland. How doth my son and brother?
Thou tremblest, and the whiteness in thy cheek
Is apter than thy tongue to tell thy errand.
I'^ven such a man, so faint, so spiritless, 70
So dull, so dead in look, so woebegone,
Drew Priam's curtain in the dead of night,
And would have told him half his Troy was burnt ;
But Priam found the fire ere he his tongue.
And I my Percy's death ere thou report'st it.
This thou wouldst say, 'Your son did thus and thus.
Your brother thus ; so fought the noble Douglas ; '
Stopping my greedy ear with their bold deeds
But in the end, to stop mine ear indeed.
Thou hast a sigh to blow away" this praise, 80
Ending with ' Brother, son, and all are dead.'
Morton. Douglas is living, and your brother, yet ;
But, for my lord your son, —
Northumberland. Why, he is dead.
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 27
See what a ready tongue suspicion hath !
He that but fears the thing he would not know
Hath by instinct knowledge from others' eyes
That what he fear'd is chanc'd. Yet speak, Morton ;
Tell thou an earl his divination lies,
And I will take it as a sweet disgrace.
And make thee rich for doing me such wrong. 90
Morton. You are too great to be by me gainsaid ;
Your spirit is too true, your fears too certain.
Northumberland. Yet, for all this, say not that Percy 's
dead. —
I see a strange confession in thine eye ;
Thou shak'st thy head, and hold'st it fear or sin
To speak a truth. If he be slain, say so.
The tongue offends not that reports his death ;
And he doth sin that doth belie the dead.
Not he which says the dead is not alive.
Yet the first bringer of unwelcome news 100
Hath but a losing office, and his tongue
Sounds ever after as a sullen bell,
Remember'd knoUing a departing friend.
Lord Bardolph. I cannot think, my lord, your son is
dead.
Morton. I am sorry I should force you to believe
That which I would to God I had not seen ;
But these mine eyes saw him in bloody state,
Rendering faint quittance, wearied and out-breath'd.
To Harry Monmouth, whose swift wrath beat down
The never-daunted Percy to the earth, no
2 8 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act I
From whence with life he never more sprung up.
In few, his death, whose spirit lent a fire
Even to the dullest peasant in his camp,
Being bruited once, took fire and heat away
Imohi the best-temper'd courage in his troops,
For from his metal was his party steel'd,
Which once in him abated, all the rest
Turn'd on themselves, like dull and heavy lead ;
And as the thing that 's heavy in itself
Upon enforcement (lies with greatest speed, 120
So did our men, heavy in Hotspur's loss,
Lend to this weight such lightness with their fear
That arrows fled not swifter toward their aim
Than did our soldiers, aiming at their safety.
Fly from the field. Then was that noble Worcester
Too soon ta'en prisoner ; and that furious Scot,
The bloody Douglas, whose well-labouring sword
Had three times slain the appearance of the king,
Gan vail his stomach and did grace the shame
Of those that turn'd their backs, and in his flight, 130
Stumbling in fear, was took. The sum of all
Is that the king hath won, and hath sent out
A speedy power to encounter you, my lord.
Under the conduct of young Lancaster
And Westmoreland. This is the news at full.
Northumberland. For this I shall have time enough to
mourn.
\ In poison there is pbj^ic, and these news.
Having been well, that would have made me sick,
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 29
Being sick, have in some measure made me well ;
And as the wretch whose f^g^er-weaken'd joints, 140
Like strengthless hinges, buckle under life,
Impatient of his fit, breaks like a fire
Out of his keeper's arms, even so my limbs,
Weaken'd with grief, being now enrag'd with grief.
Are thrice themselves. Hence, therefore, thou nice
crutch !
A scaly gauntlet now with joints of steel
Must glove this hand ; and hence, thou sickly quoif !
Thou art a guard too wanton for the head
Which princes, flesh'd with conquest, aim to hit.
Now bind my brows with irons ; and approach 150
The ragged'st hour that time and spite dare bring
To frown upon the enrag'd Northumberland !
Let heaven kiss earth ! now let not Nature's hand
Keep the wild flood confin'd ! let order die !
And let this world no longer be a stage
To feed contention in a fingering act ;
But let one spirit of the first-born Cain
Reign in all bosoms, that, each heart being set
On bloody courses, the rude scene may end
And darkness be the burier of the dead ! 160
Travers. This strained passion doth you wrong, my
lord.
Lord Bardolph. Sweet earl, divorce not wisdom from
your honour.
Morton. The lives of all your loving complices
Lean on your health, the which, if you give o'er
30 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act i
To stormy passion, must perforce decay.
You cast the event of war, my noble lord,
And summ'd the account of chance, before you said
' Let us make head.' It was your presurmise
That, in the dole of blows, your son might drop.
You knew he walk'd o'er perils, on an edge, 170
More likely to fall in than to get o'er ;
You were advis'd his flesh was capable
Of wounds and scars, and that his forward spirit
Would lift him where most trade of danger rang'd.
Yet did you say ' Go forth ; ' and none of this.
Though strongly apprehended, could restrain
The stifif-borne action. What hath then befallen.
Or what hath this bold enterprise brought forth,
More than that being which was like to be ?
Lord Bardolph. W^e all that are engaged to this loss
Knew that we ventur'd on such dangerous seas 181
That if we wrought our life 't was ten to one,
And yet we ventur'd, for the gain propos'd
Chok'd the respect of likely peril fear'd ;
And since we are o'erset, venture again.
Come, we will all put forth, body and goods.
Morton. 'T is more than time, and, my most noble lord,
I hear for certain, and do speak the truth,
The gentle Archbishop of York is up
With well-appointed powers ; he is a man 190
Who with a double surety binds his followers.
My lord your son had only but the corpse,
But shadows and the shows of men, to fight,
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 31
For that same word, rebellion, did divide
The action of their bodies from their souls,
And they did fight with queasiness, constrain'd.
As men drink potions, that their weapons only
Seem'd on our side ; but, for their spirits and souls,
This word, rebellion, it had froze them up,
As fish are in a pond. But now the bishop 200
j Turns insurrection to religion.
Suppos'd sincere and holy in his thoughts,
He 's foUow'd both with body and with mind,
And doth enlarge his rising with the blood
Of fair King Richard, scrap'd from Pomfret stones,
Derives from heaven his quarrel and his cause,
Tells them he doth bestride a bleeding land,
Gasping for hfe under great Bolingbroke ;
And more and less do flock to follow him.
Northumberland. I knew of this before ; but, to speak
truth, 210
This present grief had wip'd it from my mind.
Go in with me, and counsel every man
The aptest way for safety and revenge.
Get posts and letters, and make friends with speed ;
Never so few, and never yet more need. \_Exei/iit.
Scene II. London. A Street
Enter Falstaff, with his Page bearing his sword and
buckler
Falstaff. Sirrah, you giant, what says the doctor to
my water ?
J 2 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act i
Page. He said, sir, tlie water itself was a good liealthy
water ; but, for the party that owed it, he might have
more diseases than he knew for.
Fahtaff. Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at
me /the brain of this foolish-compounded clay, man,
is not able to invent any thing that tends to laughter,
more than I invent or is invented on me. I am not
only wittv in myself, but the cause that wit is in other lo
me^Jf I do here walk before thee like a sow that hath
overwhelmed all her litter but one. If the prince put
thee into my service for any other reason than to set
me off, why then I have no judgment. Thou whoreson
mandrake, thou art fitter to be worn in my cap than
to wait at my heels. I was 'never manned with an
agate till now ; but I will inset you neither in gold
nor silver, but in vile apparel, and send you back again
to your master, for a jewel, — the juvenal, the prince
your master, whose chin is not yet fledged. I will 20
sooner have a beard grow in the palm of my hand
than he shall get one on his cheek; and yet he will
not stick to say his face is a face-royal. God may
finish it when he will, 't is not a hair amiss yet ; he
may keep it still at a face-royal, for a barber shall
never earn six-pence out of it, and yet he '11 be
crowing as if he had writ man ever since his father
was a bachelor. He may keep his- own grace, but
he 's almost out of mine, I can assure him. What said
Master Dombledon about the satin for my short cloak 30
and my slops?
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 33
Page. He said, sir, you should procure him better
assurance than Bardolph. He would not take his
bond and yours ; he liked not the security.
Falstaff. Let him be damned, like the glutton !
pray God his tongue be hotter ! A whoreson Achi-
tophel ! a rascally yea-forsooth knave ! to bear a
gendeman in liand, and then stand upon security !
The whoreson smooth-pates do now wear nothing but
high shoes, and bunches of keys at their girdles; and ^o
if a man is through with them in honest taking up,
then they must stand upon security. I had as lief
they would put ratsbane in my mouth as offer to stop
it with security. I looked a' should have sent me two
and twenty yards of satin, as I am a true knight, and
he sends me security. Well, he may sleep in security,
for he hath the horn of abundance, and the lightness
of his wife shines through it ; and yet cannot he see,
though he have his own lanthorn to light him. Where 's
Bardolph ? 50
Page. He 's gone into Smithfield to buy your wor-
ship a horse.
Falstaff. I bought him in Paul's, and he '11 buy me
a horse in Smithfield ; an I could get me but a wife in
the stews, I were manned, horsed, and wived.
Entej' the Lord Chief-Justice and Servant
Page. Sir, here comes the nobleman that committed
the prince for striking him about Bardolph.
Falstaff. Wait close ; I will not see him.
2 HENKY IV — 3
34 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act I
Chief-Justice. What 's he that goes there?
Sennint. Falstaff, an 't please your lordship. 60
Chief-Justice. He that was in question for the rob-
bery?
Servant. He, my lord; but he hath since done
good service at Shrewsbury, and, as I hear, is now
going with some charge to the Lord John of Lancaster.
Chief -Justice. What, to York? Call him back again.
Sen)ant Sir John Falstaff !
Falstaff. Boy, tell him I am deaf.
Page. You must speak louder ; my master is deaf.
Chief -Justice. I am sure he is, to the hearing of
any thing good. — Go, pluck him by the elbow ; I
must speak with him. 72
Seiva?it. Sir John !
Falstaff. What ! a young knave, and begging ! Is
there not wars? is there not employment? doth not
the king lack subjects? do not the rebels need sol-
diers ? Though it be a shame to be on any side but
one, it is worse shame to beg than to be on the worst
side, were it worse than the name of rebellion can tell
how to make it. ^°
Soiiaut. You mistake me, sir.
Falstaff. Why, sir, did I say you were an honest
man? setting my knighthood and my soldiership
aside, I had lied in my throat if I h"ad said so.
Sen>ant. I pray you, sir, then set your knighthood
and your soldiership aside ; and give me leave to tell
you, you lie in your throat, if you say I am any other
than an honest man.
Scens iij Second Part of King Henry IV 2S
Fahtaff. I give thee leave to tell me so ! I lay
aside that which grows to me ! If thou gettest any
leave of me, hang me ; if thou takest leave, thou wert
better be hanged. You hunt counter ; hence! avaunt !
Servant. Sir, my lord would speak with you. 93
Chief-Justice. Sir John Falstaff, a word with you.
Fahtaff. My good lord ! God give your lordship
good time of day. I am glad to see your lordship
abroad ; I heard say your lordship was sick. I hope
your lordship goes abroad by advice. Your lordship,
though not clean past j'our youth, hath yet some smack
of age in you, some rehsh of the saltness of time ; and
I most humbly beseech your lordship to have a rever-
ent care of your health. 102
Chief-Justice. Sir John, I sent for you before your
expedition to Shrewsbury.
Falstaff. An 't please your lordship, I hear his maj-
esty is returned with some discomfort from Wales.
Chief Justice. I talk not of his majesty ; you would
not come when I sent for you.
Falstaff. And I hear, moreover, his highness is fallen
into this same whoreson apoplexy. "o
Chief-Justice. Well, God mend him ! I pray you,
let me speak with you.
Falstaff. This apoplexy is, as I take it, a kind of
lethargy, an 't please your lordship ; a kind of sleeping
in the blood, a whoreson tingling.
Chief Justice. What tell you me of it? be it as it is.
Falstaff. It hath it original from much grief, from
36 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act i
study and perturbation of the brain, I have read the
cause of his effects in (kilen ; it is a kind of deafness.
Chief-Justice. I think you are fallen into the dis-
ease ; for you hear not what I say to you. 121
Falstaff. Very well, my lord, very well; rather, an 't
please you, it is the disease of not listening, the mal-
ady of not marking, that I am troubled withal.
Chief -Justice. To punish you by the heels would
amend the attention of your ears, and I care not if I
do become your physician.
Falstaff. I am as poor as Job, my lord, but not so
patient. Your lordship may minister the potion of
imprisonment to me in respect of poverty ; but how I
should be your patient to follow your prescriptions,
the wise may make some dram of a scruple, or indeed
a scruple itself. 133
Chief-Justice. I sent for you, when there were mat-
ters against you for your life, to come speak with me.
Falstaff. As I was then advised by my learned
counsel in the laws of this land-service, I did not come.
Chief-Justice. Well, the truth is. Sir John, you live
in great infamy.
Falstaff. He that buckles him in my belt cannot
live in less. 141
Chief Justice. Your means are very slender, and
your waste is great.
Falstaff. I would it were otherwise ; I would my
means were greater, and my waist slenderer.
Chief-Justice. You have misled the youthful prince.
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 37
Falstaff. The young prince hath misled me ; I am
the fellow with the great belly, and he my dog.
Chief -Justice. Well, I am loath to gall a new-healed
wound. Your day's service at Shrewsbui-y hath a
little gilded over your night's exploit on Gadshill ;
you may thank the unquiet time for your quiet o'er-
posting that action. 153
Falstaff. Vbj lord ?
Chief -Justice. But since all is well, keep it so ; wake
not a sleeping wolf.
Falstaff. To wake a wolf is as bad as to smell a fox.
Chief -Justice. What ! you are as a candle, the bet-
ter part burnt out.
Falstaff. A wassail candle, my lord, all tallow \ if
I did say of wax, my growth would approve the truth.
Chief-Justice. There is not a white hair on your
face but should have his effect of gravity. 163
Falstaff. His effect of gravy, gravy, gravy.
Chief Justice. You follow the young prince up and
down, Uke his ill angel.
Falstaff. Not so, my lord, your ill angel is light,
but I hope he that looks upon me will take me with-
out weighing ; and yet, in some respects, I grant, I
cannot go, I cannot tell. Virtue is of so little regard 170
in these costermonger times that true valour is turned
bear-herd ; pregnancy is made a tapster, and hath
his quick wit wasted in giving reckonings ; all the
other gifts appertinent to man, as the malice of this
' age shapes them, are not worth a gooseberry. You that
38 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act I
are old consider not the capacities of us that are
young, you measure the heat of our Hvers with the
bitterness of your galls ; and we that are in the va-
ward of our youth, I must confess, are wags too. 179
—^ Chief-Justice. Do you set down your name in the
scroll of youth, that are written down old with all
the characters of age? Have you not a moist eye? a
dry hand? a yellow cheek? a white beard? a decreas-
ing leg? an increasing belly? is not your voice broken?
your wind short? your chin double? your wit single ?
and every part about you blasted with antiquity? and
will you yet call yourself young? Fie, fie, fie. Sir
John ! 188
Falstaff. My lord, I was born about three of the
clock in the afternoon, with a white head and something
a round belly. For my voice, I have lost it with hal-
looing and singing of anthems. To approve my youth
further, I will not ; the truth is, I anvonly old in judg-
ment and understanding, and he that will caper with me
for a thousand marks, let him lend me the money, and
have at him ! For the box of the ear that the prince
gave you, he gave it like a rude prince, and you took
it like a sensible lord. I have checked him for it,
and the young lion repents ; marry, not in ashes and
sackcloth, but in new silk and old sack. 200
Chief -Justice. Well, God send the prince a better
companion !
Falstaff. God send the companion a better prince !
I cannot rid my hands of him.
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 39
Chief -Justice. Well, the king hath severed you and
Prince Harry ; I hear you are going with Lord John
of Lancaster against the Archbishop and the Earl of
Northumberland.
Fahtaff. Yea ; I thank your pretty sweet wit for
it. But look you pray, all you that kiss my lady 210
Peace at home, that our armies join not in a hot day ;
for, by the Lord, I take but two shirts out with me,
and I mean not to sweat extraordinarily. If it be a
hot day and I brandish any thing but a bottle, I would
I might never spit white again. There is not a dan-
gerous action can peep out his head but I am thrust
upon it. Well, I cannot last ever ; but it was always
yet the trick of our English nation, if they have a
good thing, to make it too common. If ye will needs
say I am an old man, you should give me rest. 1 220
would to God my name were not so terrible to the
enemy as it is ; I were better to be eaten to death
with a rust than to be scoured to nothing with per-
petual motion.
Chief-Justice. Well, be honest, be honest ; and God
bless your expedition !
Falstaff. Will your lordship lend me a thousand
pound to furnish me forth?
Chief -Justice. Not a penny, not a penny ; you are
too impatient to bear crosses. Fare you well ; com- 230
mend me to my cousin Westmoreland.
\_Exeunt Chief Justice and Seroant.
Falstaff. If I do, fillip me with a three-man beetle.
40 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act i
Unian can no more separate age and covetousness \
an a' can part young limbs and lechery. — Boy ! J
Page. Sir?
Falstaff. What money is in my purse?
Page. Seven groats and two pence.
^-T" Falstaff. I can get no remedy against this consump-
L tion of the purse ; borrowing only lingers and lingers
\ it out, but the disease is incurable. Go bear this let- 240
ter to my Lord of Lancaster ; this to the prince ; this
to the Earl of Westmoreland ; and this to old Mistress
Ursula, whom I have weekly sworn to marry since I
perceived the first white hair on my chin. About it ;
you know where to find me. — ^Exit Pagc.'\ A pox of
this_gout^! 'T is no matter if I do halt; I have the
wars for my colour, and my pension shall seem the
more reasonable. A good wit will make use of any
I thing ; I will turn diseases to commodity. \_Exit.
Scene IIL York. The Archbishofs Palace
Enter the Archbishop, the Lords Hastings, Mowbray,
and Bardolph
Archbishop. Thus have you heard our cause and known
our means ;
And, my most noble friends, I pray you all.
Speak plainly your opinions of our hopes. —
And first, lord marshal, what say you to it?
Mowbray. I well allow the occasion of our arms,
Scene III] Second Part of King Henry IV 41
But gladly would be better satisfied
How in our means we should advance ourselves
To look with forehead bold and big enough
Upon the power and puissance of the king.
Hastings. Our present musters grow upon the file 10
To five and twenty thousand men of choice ;
And our supplies live largely in the hope
Of great Northumberland, whose bosom burns
With an incensed fire of injuries.
Lord Bardolph. The question then, Lord Hastings,
standeth thus, —
Whether our present five and twenty thousand
May hold up head without Northumberland.
Hastings. With him, we may.
Lord Bardolph. Yea, marry, there's the point ;
But if without him we be thought too feeble.
My judgment is, we should not step too far 20
Till we had his assistance by the hand,
For in a theme so bloody-fac'd as this,
Conjecture, expectation, and surmise
Of aids incertain should not be admitted.
Archbishop. 'T is very true. Lord Bardolph, for indeed
It was young Hotspur's case at Shrewsbury.
Lord Bardolph. It was, my lord, — who lin'd himself
with hope,
Eating the air on promise of supply,
Flattering himself in project of a power
Much smaller than the smallest of his thoughts ; 30
And so, with great imagination
42 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act I
Proper to madmen, led his powers to death
And winking leap'd into destruction.
Hastings. Ikit, by your leave, it never yet did hurt
To lay down likelihoods and forms of hope.
Lord Bardolph. Yes, in this present quality of war.
Indeed the instant action — a cause on foot —
Lives so in hope as in an early spring
3Ve see the appearing buds, which to prove fruit,
^ope gives not so much warrant as despair 4c
ijhat frosts will bite them. When we mean to build,
We first survey the plot, then draw the model
And when we see the figure of the house.
Then must we rate the cost of the erection,
Which if we find outweighs ability,
^Vhat do we then but draw anew the model
In fewer offices, or at least desist
To build at all? Much more, in this great work,
Which is almost to pluck a kingdom down
And set another up, should we survey 50
The plot of situation and the model,
Consent upon a sure foundation.
Question surveyors, know our own estate,
How able such a work to undergo,
To weigh against his opposite ; or else
We fortify in paper and in figures,
Using the names of men instead of men,
Like one that draws the model of a house
Beyond his power to build it, who, half through,
Gives o'er and leaves his part-created cost 60
Scene III] Second Part of King Henry IV 43
A naked subject to the weeping clouds
And waste for churlish winter's tyranny.
Hastings. Grant that our hopes, yet likely of fair
birth,
Should be stillborn, and that we now possess'd
The utmost man of expectation,
I think we are a body strong enough,
Even as we are, to equal with the king.
Lord Bardolph. What, is the king but five and twenty
thousand ?
Hastings. To us no more ; nay, not so much. Lord
Bardolph.
For his divisions, as the times do brawl, 70
Are in three heads : one power against the French,
And one against Glendower ; perforce a third
Must take up us. So is the unfirm king
In three divided, and his coffers sound
With hollow poverty and emptiness.
Archbishop. That he should draw his several strengths
together
And come against us in full puissance
Need not be dreaded.
Hastings. If he should do so.
He leaves his back unarm'd, the French and Welsh
Baying him at the heels ; never fear that. 80
I ord Bardolph. Who is it like should lead his forces
hither?
Hastings. The Duke of Lancaster and Westmoreland ;
Against the Welsh, himself and Harry Monmouth ;
44 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act i
But who is substituted 'gainst the French,
I have no certain notice.
Archbishop. Let us on
And publish the occasion of our arms.
The commonwealth is sick of their own choice ;
'I'hcir over-greedy love hath surfeited.
An habitation giddy and unsure
Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart. — 90
O thou fond many, with what loud applause
Didst thou beat heaven with blessing Bolingbroke
Before he was what thou wouldst have him be !
And being now trimm'd in thine own desires,
Thou, beastly feeder, art so full of him
That thou provok'st thyself to cast him up.
So, so, thou common dog, didst thou disgorge
Thy glutton bosom of the royal Richard ;
And now thou wouldst eat thy dead vomit up.
And howl'st to find it. What trust is in these times? 100
They that, when Richard liv'd, would have him die
Are now become enamour'd on his grave ;
Thou, that threw'st dust upon his goodly head
When through proud London he came sighing on
After the admired heels of Bolingbroke,
Criest now ' O earth, yield us that king again,
And take thou this ! ' O thoughts of men accurs'd !
Past and to come seems best; things present worst.
Mowbray. Shall we go draw our numbers and set on ?
Hastings. We are time's subjects, and time bids be
gone. [^Exeunt.
/<?
A Street in London
ACT II
Scene I. Lojidon. A Street
Enter Hostess, Fang and his Boy with her, and Snare
following
Hostess. Master Fang, have you entered the action?
^ang. It is entered.
Hostess. Where 's your yeoman? Is 't a lusty yeo-
man ? will a' stand to 't ?
45
46 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act 11
Favg. Sirrah, where 's Snare?
Hostess. O Lord, ay ! good Master Snare.
Snare. Here, here.
Fang. Snare, we must arrest Sir John Falstaff.
Hostess. Yea, good Master Snare ; I have entered
him and all. 10
Snare. It may chance cost some of us our lives, for
he will stab.
Hostess. Alas the day ! take heed of him ; he stabbed
me in mine own house, and that most beastly. In good
faith, he cares not what mischief he does, if his weapon
be out. He will foin like any devil ; he will spare
neither man, woman, nor child.
Fang. If I can close with him, I care not for his
thrust.
Hostess. No, nor I neither ; I '11 be at your elbow. 20
Fang. An I but fist him once, an a' come but
within my vice, —
Hostess. I am undone by his going ; I warrant you,
he 's an infinitive thing upon ray score. . Good Master
Fang, hold him sure ; good Master Snare, let him not
scape. A' comes continuantly to Pie-corner — saving
your manhoods — to buy a saddle ; and he is indited
to dinner to the Lubb^r's-head in Lumbert Street, to
Master Smooth's the silkman. I pray ye, since my
exion is entered and my case so openly known to the 30
world, let him be brought in to his answer. A hundred
mark is a long one for a poor lone woman to bear ;
and I have borne, and borne, and borne, and have
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 47
been fubbed off, and fubbed off, and fubbed off, from
this day to that day, that it is a shame to be thought
on. There is no honesty in such deahng, unless a
woman should be made an ass and a beast, to bear
every knave's wrong. Yonder he comes ; and that
arrant malmsey-nose knave, Bardolph, with him. Do
your offices, do your offices ; Master Fang and Master
Snare, do me, do me, do me your offices. 41
Enter Falstaff, Page, and Bardolph
Falstaff. How now! whose mare's dead? what's
the matter?
Fang. Sir John, I arrest you at the suit of Mistress
Quickly.
Falstaff. Away, varlets ! Draw, Bardolph ! cut me
off the villain's head ; throw the quean in the channel.
Hostess. Throw me in the channel ! I '11 throw thee
in the channel. Wilt thou? wilt thou? thou bastardly •
rogue ! Murther, murther ! Ah, thou honey-suckle 50
villain! wilt thou kill God's officers and the king's?
Ah, thou honey-seed rogue ! thou art a honey-seed, a
man-queller, and a Avoman-queller.
Falstaff. Keep them off, Bardolph.
Fang. A rescue ! a rescue !
Hostess. Good people, bring a rescue or two. Thou
woo't, woo't thou? thou woo't, woo't thou? do, do,
tho-i rogue ! do, thou hemp-seed !
Falstaff. Away, you scullion ! you rampallian ! you
fustilarian ! I '11 tickle your catastrophe. 60
48 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act 11
Enter the Lord Chief-Justice, atid his men
Chief-Justice. What is the matter? keep the peace
here, ho !
Hostess. Good, my lord, be good to me. I beseech
you, stand to me.
Chief-Justice. How now, Sir John ! what are you
brawling here?
Doth this become your place, your time, and business?
You should have been well on your way to York. —
Stand from him, fellow; wherefore hang'st upon him?
Hostess. O my most worshipful lord, an 't please
your grace, I am a poor widow of Eastcheap, and he
is arrested at my suit. 70
Chief-Justice. For what sum ?
Hostess. It is more than for some, my lord ; it is for
all, all I have. He hath eaten me out of house and
home, he hath put all my substance into that fat belly
of his, — but I will have some of it out again, or I will
ride thee o' nights like the mare.
Chief-Justice. How comes this. Sir John? Fie!
what man of good temper would endure this tempest
of exclamation? Are you not ashamed to enforce a
poor widow to so rough a course to come by her own?
Falstaff. What is the gross sum that I owe thee? 81
Hostess. Marry, if thou wert an honest man, thy-
self and the money too. Thou didst swear to me upon
a parcel-gilt goblet, sitting in my Dolphin-chamber, at
the round table, by a sea-coal fire, on Wednesday in
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 49
Wheeson week, when the prince broke thy head for
hking his father to a singing-man of Windsor, thou
didst swear to me then, as I was washing thy wound,
to marry me and make me my lady thy wife. Canst
thou deny it? Did not goodwife Keech, the butcher's 90
wife, come in then and call me gossip Quickly? com-
ing in to borrow a mess of vinegar, teUing us she had
a good dish of prawns ; whereby thou didst desire to
eat some ; whereby I told thee they were ill for a green
wound? And didst thou not, when she was gone down
stairs, desire me to be no more so familiarity with such
poor people, saying that ere long they should call me
madam? And didst thou not kiss me and bid me
fetch thee thirty shillings? I put thee now to thy
book-oath ; deny it, if thou canst. 100
Falstaff. My lord, this is a poor mad soul ; and she
says up and down the town that her eldest son is like
you. She hath been in good case, and the truth is,
poverty hath distracted her. But for these foolish
officers, I beseech you I may have redress against them.
Chief -Justice. Sir John, Sir John, I am well ac-
quainted with your manner of wrenching the true
cause the false way. It is not a confident brow, nor
the throng of words that come with such more than
impudent sauciness from you, can thrust me from a no
level consideration ; you have, as it appears to me,
practised upon the easy-yielding spirit of this woman,
and made her serve your uses both in purse and in
person.
2 HENRY IV — 4
50 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act il
Hosfess. Yea, in truth, my lord.
Chief -Justice. Pray thee, peace. — Pay her the debt
you owe her, and unpay the villainy you have done
her; the one you may do with sterling money, and
the other with current repentance.
Fahtaff. My lord, I will not undergo this sneap 120
without reply. You call honourable boldness impu-
dent sauciness ; if a man will make courtesy and say
nothing, he is virtuous. No, my lord, my humble
duty remembered, I will not be your suitor. I say to
you, I do desire deliverance from these officers, being
upon hasty employment in the king's affairs.
Chief -Justice. You speak as having power to do
wrong ; but answer in the effect of your reputation,
and satisfy the poor woman.
Fa/staff. Come hither, hostess. 130
Enter Gower
Chief Justice. Now, Master Gower, what news?
Gower. The king, my lord, and Harry Prince of
Wales
Are near at hand ; the rest the paper tells.
Falstaff. As I am a gentleman.
Hostess. Faith, you said so before.
Falstaff. As I am a gentleman. Come, no more
words of it.
Hostess. By this heavenly ground I tread on, I must
be fain to pawn both my plate and the tapestry of my
dining-chambers. 140
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 51
Fahtaff. Glasses, glasses, is the only drinking ; and
for thy walls, a pretty slight drollery, or the story of the
Prodigal, or the German hunting in water-work, is
worth a thousand of these bed-hangings and these fly-
bitten tapestries. Let it be ten pound, if thou canst.
Come, an 't were not for thy humours, there 's not a
better wench in England. Go, wash thy face, and
draw the action. Come, thou must not be in this
humour with me; dost not know me? come, come, I
know thou wast set on to this. 150
Hostess. Pray thee. Sir John, let it be but twenty
nobles ; i' faith, I am loath to pawn my plate, so God
save me, la !
Falstaff. Let it alone, I '11 make other shift ; you '11
be a fool still.
Hostess. Well, you shall have it, though I pawn my
gown. I hope you '11 come to supper. You '11 pay
me all together?
Falstaff. Will I live?— [71? BardoIpJi] Go, with
her, with her ; hook on, hook on. 160
Hostess. Will you have Doll Tearsheet meet you at
supper?
Falstaff. No more words ; let 's have her.
'[^Exeunt Hostess, Banlolph, Officers, and Boy.
Chief-Justice. I have heard better news.
Falstaff. What 's the news, my lord?
thief -Justice. Where lay the king last night?
Gower. At Basingstoke, my lord.
52 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act II
Fahtaff. I hope, my lord, all 's well; what is the
news, my lord?
Chief-Justice. Come all his forces back? 170
Gower. No ; fifteen hundred foot, five hundred
horse,
Are march'd uj) to my lord of Lancaster,
Against Northumberland and the Archbishop,
Falstaff. Comes the king back from Wales, my noble
lord?
Chief -Justice. You shall have letters of me presently. —
Come, go along with me, good Master Gower.
Falstaff. My lord !
Chief-Justice. What 's the matter?
Falstaff. Master Gower, shall I entreat you with me
to dinner? iSo
Gower. I must wait upon my good lord here ; I
thank you, good Sir John.
Chief Justice. Sir John, you loiter here too long,
being you are to take soldiers up in counties as you
go-
Falstaff. Will you sup with me. Master Gower?
Chief-Justice. What foolish master taught you these
manners, Sir John?
Falstaff. Master Gower, if they become me not, he
was a fool that taught them me. — This is the right
fencing grace, my lord, — tap for tap, and so part
fair. 192
Chief -Justice. Now the Lord lighten thee ! thou art
a great fool. \Exeunt.
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 53
Scene II. London. Another Street
Enter Prince Henry and Poins
Prince. Before God, I am exceeding weary.
Foins. Is 't come to that? I had thought weariness
durst not have attached one of so high blood.
Prince. Faith, it does me, though it discolours the
complexion of my greatness to acknowledge it. Doth
it not show vilely in me to desire small beer?
Poins. Why, a prince should not be so loosely
studied as to remember so weak a composition.
Prince. Belike then my appetite was not princely
got; for, by my troth, I do now remember the poor 10
creature, small beer. But, indeed, these humble con-
siderations make me out of love with my greatness.
What a disgrace is it to me to remember thy name !
or to know thy face to-morrow ! or to take note how
many pairs of silk stockings thou hast, namely, these,
and those that were thy peach-coloured ones ! or to
bear the inventory of thy shirts, as, one for superfluity,
and another for use ! But that the tennis-court keeper
knows better than I, for it is a low ebb of linen with
thee when thou keepest not racket there, as thou hast 20
not done a great while, because the rest of thy low
countries have made a shift to eat up thy holland ;
and God knows whether those that bawl out the ruins
of thy linen shall inherit his kingdom.
Poins. How ill it follows, after you have laboured
so hard, you should talk so idly ! Tell me, how many
54 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act il
good young princes would do so, their fathers being
so sick as yours at this time is ?
Prince. Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?
Pains. Yes, faith; and let it be ian excellent good
thing. 30
Prince. It shall serve among wits of no higher
breeding than thine.
Poins. Go to ; I stand the push of your one
thing that you will tell.
Prince. Marry, I tell thee, it is not meet that I
should be sad, now my father is sick ; albeit I could
tell to thee, as to one it pleases me, for fault of a bet-
ter, to call my friend, I could be sad, and sad indeed
too.
Poins. Very hardly upon such a subject. 40
Prince. By this hand, thou thinkest me as far in
the devil's book as thou and Falstaff for obduracy and
persistency ; let the end try the man. But I tell thee,
my heart bleeds inwardly that my father is so sick ;
and keeping such vile company as thou art hath in
reason taken from me all ostentation of sorrow.
Poins. The reason?
Prince. What wouldst thou think of me if I should
weep?
Poins. I would think thee a most princely hypocrite.
\ -^Prince. It would be every man's thought, and thou 50
art a blessed fellow to think as every man thinks.
Never a man's thought in the world keeps the road-
way better than thine ; every man would think me an
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV ^^
hypocrite indeed. And what accites your most wor-
shipful thought to think so?
Poins. Why, because you have been so lewd and
so much engraffed to Falstaff.
Prince. And to thee.
Poins. By this hght, I am well spoke on ; I can
hear it with mine own ears. The worst that they can 60
say of me is that I am a second brother and that I
am a proper fellow of my hands ; and those two
things, I confess, I cannot help. — By the mass, here
comes Bardolph.
Enter Bardolph and Page
Pri?ice. And the boy that I gave Falstaff; he had
him from me Christian, and look if the fat villain have
not transformed him ape.
Bardolph. God save your grace !
Prince. And yours, most noble Bardolph? 69
Bardolph. Come, you virtuous ass, you bashful
fool, must you be blushing? wherefore blush you now?
What a maidenly man-at-arms are you become !
Page. A' calls me e'en now, my lord, through a red
lattice, and I could discern no part of his face from
the window ; at last I spied his eyes, and methought
he had made two holes in the ale-wife's new petticoat
anJ peeped through.
Prince. Has not the boy profited?
Bardolph. Away, you whoreson upright rabbit, away !
Page. Away, you rascally Althaea's dream, away ! 80
56 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act 11
Prince. Instruct us, boy ; what dream, boy?
Page. Marry, my lord, Alth?ea dreamed she was
delivered of a fire-brand ; and therefore I call him
her dream.
Prince. A crown's worth of good interpretation. —
There 't is, boy.
Poins. O, that this good blossom could be kept
from cankers! — Well, there is sixpence to preserve
them.
Bardolph. An you do not make him hanged among 90
you, the gallows shall have wrong.
Prince. And how doth thy master, Bardolph?
Bardolpii. Well, my lord. He heard of your grace's
coming to town ; there's a letter for you.
Poins. Delivered with good respect; — And how
doth the martlemas, your master?
Bardolpii. In bodily health, sir.
Poins. Marry, the immortal part needs a physician,
but that moves not him ; though that be sick, it dies
not. 100
Prince. I do allow this wen to be as familiar with
me as my dog ; and he holds his place, for look you
how he writes.
Poins. [ Reads] 'John Falsfaff, knight,^ — every man
must know that, as oft as he has occasion to name him-
self; even like those that are kin to the king, for they
never prick their finger but they say, ' There 's some of
the king's blood spilt.' ' How comes that?' says he,
that takes upon him not to conceive. The answer is
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 57
as ready as a borrower's cap, ' I am the king's poor no
cousin, sir.'
Prince. Nay, they will be kin to us, or they will
fetch it from Japhet. But to the letter.
Poins. [Reads] ' Sir John Fahtaff, knight, to the
son of the king, Clearest his father, Harry Prince of
Wales, greeting' — Why, this is a certificate.
Prince. Peace !
Poins. [Reads] ' I will imitate the honourable Ro-
mans in brevity; ' he sure means brevity in breath,
short-winded . ' /commend me to thee, I cotnmend thee, 120
ajid I leave thee. Be not too fajniliar with Poins ; for
he misuses thy favours so much that he swears thou art
to marry his sister Nell. Repent at idle times as thou
mayest; and so, farewell.
' Thine, by yea and no, which is as much as to
say, as thou usesthim. Jack Falstaff ay//A my
familiars, John with my brothers and sisters,
and Sir John with all Europe.''
My lord, I'll steep this letter in sack and make him
Cu,L It. T 'yr\
Prince. That 's to make him eat twenty of his
words. But do you use me thus, Ned ? must I marry
your sister?
Poins. God send the wench no worse fortune ! But
I never said so.
Prince. Well, thus we play the fools with the time,
and the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock
us. — Is your master here in London ?
58 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act 11
Bardolph. Yea, my lord.
Prince, ^^'here sups he ? doth the old boar feed in
the old frank? Hi
Bardolph. At the old place, my lord, in Eastcheap.
Prince. What company?
Page. Ephesians, my lord, of the old church.
Prince. Sup any women with him?
Page. None, my lord, but old Mistress Quickly and
Mistress Doll Tearsheet.
Prince. What pagan may that be?
Page. A proper gentlewoman, sir, and a kinswoman
of my master's. 15°
Prince. Shall we steal upon them, Ned, at supper?
Poins. I am your shadow, my lord ; I '11 follow you.
Prince. Sirrah, you boy, — and Bardolph, — no word
to your master that I am yet come to town. There 's
for your silence.
Bardolph. I have no tongue, sir.
Page. And for mine, sir, I will govern it.
Prince. Fare you well ; go, — \_Exeiint Bardolph
and Page.\ How might we see Falstaff bestow himself
to-night in his true colours, and not ourselves be seen?
Poins. Put on two leathern jerkins and aprons, and
wait upon him at his table as drawers. 162
Prince. From a God to a bull? a heavy declension !
it was Jove's case. From a prince to a prentice? a
low transformation ! that shall be mine ; for in every
thing the purpose must weigh with the folly. Follow
me, Ned. {^Exeunt.
Scene III] Second Part of King Henry IV 59
Scene III. Warkworth. Before the Castle
Enter Northumberland, Lady Northumberland, and
Lady Percy
Noi-thumberland. I prithee, loving wife, and gentle
daughter,
Give even way unto my rough affairs ;
Put not you on the visage of the times.
And be like them to Percy troublesome.
Lady Northumberland. I have given over, I will speak
no more.
Do what you will ; your wisdom be your guide.
Northumberland. Alas, sweet wife, my honour is at
pawn ;
And, but my going, nothing can redeem it.
Lady Percy. O yet, for God's sake, go not to these
wars !
The time was, father, that you broke your word 10
When you were more endear'd to it than now,
When your own Percy, when my heart's dear Harry,
Threw many a northward look to see his father
Bring up his powers ; but he did long in vain.
Who then persuaded you to stay at home?
There were two honours lost, yours and your son's.
For yours, the God of heaven brighten it !
For his, it stuck upon him as the sun
In the grey vault of heaven, and by his light
Did all the chivalry of England move 20
6o Second Part of King Henry IV [Act il
To do brave acts ; he was indeed the glass
Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves.
He had no legs that practis'd not his gait ;
And speaking thick, which nature made his blemish,
Became the accents of the valiant,
For those that could speak low and tardily
Would turn their own perfection to abuse,
To seem like him ; so that in speech, in gait,
In diet, in affections of delight,
In military rules, humours of blood, 3°
He was the mark and glass, copy and book.
That fashion'd others. And him, O wondrous him !
O miracle of men ! him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war
In disadvantage, to abide a field
Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur's name
Did seem defensible ; so you left him.
Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong
To hold your honour more precise and nice 4°
With others than with him ! let them alone.
The marshal and the archbishop are strong ;
Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
To-day might I, hanging on Hotspur's neck.
Have talk'd of Monmouth's grave.
Northumberland. Beshrew your heart.
Fair daughter, you do draw my spirits from me
With new lamenting ancient oversights.
But I must go and meet with danger there,
Scene IV] Second Part of King Henry IV 6i
Or it will seek me in another place
And find me worse provided.
Lady Noi'thuinberland. O, fly to Scotland, 50
Till that the nobles and the armed commons
Have of their puissance made a little taste.
Lady Percy. If they get ground and vantage of the
king,
Then join you with them, like a rib of steel,
To make strength stronger ; but, for all our loves,
First let them try themselves. So did your son,
He was so suffer'd ; so came I a widow,
And never shall have length of life enough
To rain upon remembrance with mine eyes,
That it may grow and sprout as high as heaven 60
For recordation to my noble husband.
Northumbet'land. Come, come, go in with me. 'T is
with my mind
As with the tide swell'd up unto his height,
That makes a still-stand, running neither way.
Fain would I go to meet the archbishop.
But many thousand reasons hold me back. —
I will resolve for Scotland ; there am I
Till time and vantage crave my company. \_Exeunt.
Scene IV. London. The Boar's-head Tavern in East-
cheap. Enter two Drawers
I Drawer. What the devil hast thou brought there?
apple-johns? thou knowest Sir John cannot endure an
apple-john.
Si Second Part of King Henry IV [Act II
2 Drcnocr. Mass, thou sayest true. The prince once
set a dish of apple-johns before him, and told him
there were five more Sir Johns, and, putting off his
hat, said ' I will now take my leave of these six dry,
round, old, withered knights.' It angered him to the
heart ; but he hath forgot that.
1 Draiver. Why, then, cover, and set them down ; lo
and see if thou canst find out Sneak's noise. Mistress
Tearsheet would fain hear some music.
2 Drawer. Sirrah, here will be the prince and Mas-
ter Poins anon, and they will put on two of our jerkins
and aprons, and Sir John must not know of it ; Bar-
dolph hath brought word.
1 Draiver. By the mass, here will be old utis ; it
will be an excellent stratagem.
2 Drawe)'. I '11 see if I can find out Sneak. [_Exif.
Better Hostess and Doll Tearsheet
Hostess. V faith, sweetheart, methinks now you are 20
in an excellent good temperality ; your pulsidge
beats as extraordinarily as heart would desire, and
your colour, I warrant you, is as red as any rose, in
good truth, la ! But, i' faith, you have drunk too much
canaries ; and that 's a marvellous searching wine, and
it perfumes the blood ere one can say 'What's this?'
— How do you now?
Do//. Better than I was ; hem !
Hostess. Why, that 's well said ; a good heart 's
worth gold. Lo, here comes Sir John. 30
Scene IV] Second Part of King Henry IV 6,
T
Enter Falstaff
Fahtaff. [Singing] ' When Arthurfirst in court —
And was a worthy kifig.' — \^Exit i Drawer?\ — How
now, Mistress Doll !
Hostess. Sick of a calm ; yea, good faith.
Falstaff. So is all her sect; an they be once in a
calm, they are sick.
Doll. You muddy rascal, is that all the comfort you
give me?
Falstaff. You make fat rascals, Mistress Doll.
Doll. I make them ! gluttony and diseases make 40
them; I make them not.
Hostess. By my troth, this is the old fashion ; you
two never meet but you fall to some discord. You are
both, i' good truth, as rheumatic as two dry toasts ; you
cannot one bear with another's confirmities. What the
good-year ! one must bear, and that must be you ; you
are the weaker vessel, as they say, the emptier vessel.
Doll. Come, I '11 be friends with thee, Jack ; thou
art going to the wars, and whether I shall ever see thee
again or no, there is nobody cares. 50
Re-enter i Drawer
I Draiuer. Sir, Ancient Pistol 's below, and would
speak with you.
Doll. Hang him, swaggering rascal ! let him not
come hither; it is the foul-mouthed'st rogue in
England.
Hostess. If he swagger, let him not come here.
64 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act II
No, by my faith ; I must live among my neighbours,
I '11 no swaggerers. I am in good name and fame
with the very best. — Shut the door; — there comes
no swaggerers here. I have not lived all this while 60
to have swaggering now. — Shut the door, I pray you.
Falstaff. Dost thou hear, hostess?
Hostess. Pray ye, pacify yourself, Sir John; there
comes no swaggerers here.
Falstaff. Dost thou hear? it is mine ancient.
Hostess. Tilly-fally, Sir John, ne'er tell me ; your
ancient swaggerer comes not in my doors. I was be-
fore Master Tisick, the debuty, t' other day ; and, as
he said to me — 't was no longer ago than Wednesday
last — ' r good faith, neighbour Quickly,' says he — 70
Master Dumbe, our minister, was by then — 'Neigh-
bour Quickly,' says he, ' receive those that are civil ;
for,' said he, ' you are in an ill name.' Now a' said
so, I can tell whereupon ; ' for,' says he, * you are an
honest woman and well thought on, therefore take
heed what guests you receive ; receive,' says he, ' no
swaggering companions.' There comes none here ;
— you would bless you to hear what he said. — No,
I '11 no swaggerers.
Falstaff. He 's no swaggerer, hostess, a tame 80
cheater, i' faith ; you may stroke him as gently as a
puppy greyhound. He '11 not swagger with a Barbary
hen, if her feathers turn back in any show of resist-
ance. — Call him up, drawer. \_Fxit i Drawer.
Hostess. Cheater, call you him ? I will bar no hon-
Scene IVJ Second Part of King Henry IV 65
est man my house, nor no cheater, but I do not love
swaggering, by my troth ; I am the worse, when one
says swagger. — Feel, masters, how I shake ; look you,
I warrant you.
Doll. So you do, hostess. 90
Hostess. Do I ! yea, in very truth, do I, an 't were
an aspen leaf. I cannot abide swaggerers.
Enter Pistol, Bardolph, and Page
Pistol. God save you. Sir John !
Falstaff. Welcome, Ancient Pistol. Here, Pistol,
I charge you with a cup of sack ; do you discharge
upon mine hostess.
Pistol. I will discharge her, Sir John.
Falstaff. She is pistol-proof, sir; you shall hardly
ofTend her.
Hostess. Come, I '11 drink no proofs ; I '11 drink no 100
more than will do me good, for no man's pleasure, I.
Pistol Then to you. Mistress Dorothy ; I will
charge you.
Doll. Charge me ! I scorn you, scurvy companion.
What ! you poor, base, rascally, cheating, lack-hnen
mate ! Away, you mouldy rogue, away ! I am meat
for your master.
Pistol. I know you, Mistress Dorothy.
Doll. Away, you cut-purse rascal ! you filthy bung,
away ! by this wine, I '11 thrust my knife in your mouldy no
chaps, an you play the saucy cuttle with me. Away,
you bottle-ale rascal ! you basket-hilt stale juggler,
2 HENRY IV — 5
66 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act il
you ! Since when, I pray you, sir? God's light, with
two points on your shoulder? much !
Pistol. God let me not live but I will murther your
ruff for this.
Falstaff. No more, Pistol, I would not have you go
off here : discharge yourself of our company. Pistol.
Hostess. No, good Captain Pistol ; not here, sweet
captain. 120
Doll. Captain ! thou abominable damned cheater,
art thou not ashamed to be called captain ? An cap-
tains were of my mind, they would truncheon you out,
for taking their names upon you before you have
earned them. You a captain ! you slave, for what?
He a captain ! hang him, rogue ! he lives upon
mouldy stewed prunes and dried cakes. A captain !
God's light, these villains will mak? the word captain
odious ; therefore captains had need look to 't.
Bardolph. Pray thee, go down, good ancient. 130
Falstaff. Hark thee hither. Mistress Doll.
Pistol. Not I. I tell thee what, Corporal Bardolph,
I could tear her ; I '11 be revenged of her.
Page. Pray thee, go down.
Pistol. I '11 see her damned first ; to Pluto's damned
lake, by this hand, to the infernal deep, with Erebus
and tortures vile also. Hold hook and line, say I.
Down, down, dogs ! down, faitors ! Have we not Hi-
ren here?
Hostess. Good Captain Peesel, be quiet ; 't is very 140
late, i' faith. I beseek you now, aggravate your choler.
Scene IV] Second Part of King Henry IV 67
Pistol. These be good humours, indeed ! Shall pack-
horses
And hollow pamper'd jades of Asia,
Which cannot go but thirty mile a-day,
Compare with Caesars, and with Cannibals,
And Trojan Greeks? nay, rather damn them with
King Cerberus ; and let the welkin roar.
Shall we fall foul for toys?
Hostess. By my troth, captain, these are very bitter
words. 150
Bardolph. Be gone, good ancient ; this will grow to
a brawl anon.
Pistol. Die men like dogs ! give crowns like pins !
Have we not Hiren here?
Hostess. O' my word, captain, there 's none such
here. What the good-year ! do you think I would
deny her? For God's sake, be quiet.
Pistol. Then feed, and be fat, my fair Calipolis.
Come, give 's some sack.
Si fortune me tormente, sperato me contento. 160
Fear we broadsides? no, let the fiend give fire.
Give me some sack ; and, sweetheart, lie thou there.
\_Laying down his sword.
Come we to full points here, and are etceteras nothing?
Falstaff. Pistol, I would be quiet.
Pistol. Sweet knight, I kiss thy neif. What ! we
have seen the seven stars.
Doll. For God's sake, thrust him down stairs ; I
cannot endure such a fustian rascal.
68 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act ii
Pistol. Thrust him down stairs ! know we not Gal-
loway nags? 170
Falstaff. Quoit him down, Bardolph, like a shove-
groat shilHng; nay, an a' do nothing but speak
nothing, a' shall be nothing here.
Bardolph, Come, get you down stairs.
Pistol. What! shall we have incision? shall we
imbrue? — \_Snaiching tip his sword.
Then death rock me asleep, abridge my doleful days !
Why, then, let grievous, ghastly, gaping wounds
Untwine the Sisters Three ! Come, Atropos, I say !
Hostess. Here 's goodly stuff toward !
Falstaff. Give me my rapier, boy. iSo
Doll. I pray thee, Jack, I pray thee, do not draw.
Falstaff. Get you down stairs.
\_Draztnng, and driving Pistol out.
Hostess. Here 's a goodly tumult ! I '11 forswear
keeping house, afore I '11 be in these tirrits and frights.
So ; murther, I warrant now. — Alas, alas ! put up
your naked weapons, put up your naked weapons.
\_Exeinit Pistol and Bardolph.
Doll. I pray thee, Jack, be quiet ; the rascal 's gone.
Ah, you whoreson little valiant villain, you !
Hostess. Are you not hurt i' the groin? methought
a' made a shrewd thrust at your belly. 190
Re-e7iter Bardolph
Falstaff. Have you turned him out o' doors?
Scene IV] Second Part of King Henry IV 69
Bardolph. Yea, sir. The rascal 's drunk. You have
hurt him, sir, i' the shoulder.
Falstaff. A rascal ! to brave me !
Doll. Ah, you sweet little rogue, you ! Alas, poor
ape, how thou sweatest ! come, let me wipe thy face ;
come on, yoa whoreson chops. — Ah, rogue ! i' faith,
I love thee ; thou art as valorous as Hector of Troy,
worth five of Agamemnon, and ten times better than
the Nine Worthies. Ah, villain ! 200
Falstaff. A rascally slave ! I will toss the rogue in
a blanket.
Enter Music
Page. The music is come, sir.
Falstaff. Let them play. — Play, sirs. — A rascal
bragging slave ! the rogue fled from me like quicksilver.
Doll. V faith, and thou foUowedst him like a church.
Thou whoreson little tidy Bartholomew boar-pig, when
wilt thou leave fighting and foining, and begin to patch
up thine old body for heaven? 209
Enter, behmd, Prince Henry and Poins, disguised
Falstaff. Peace, good Doll ! do not speak like a
death's-head ; do not bid me remember mine end.
Doll. Sirrah, what humour 's the prince of?
.^Falstaff. A good shallow young fellow; a' would
have made a good pantler, a' would ha' chipped bread
well.
Doll. They say Poins has a good wit.
Falstaff. He a good wit? hang him, baboon! his
yo Second Part of King Henry IV [Act il
wit 's as thick as Tewksbury mustard ; there 's no
more conceit in him than is in a mallet.
Doll. Why does the prince love him so, then? 220
Falsfaff. Because their legs are both of a bigness,
and a' plays at quoits well, and eats conger and fennel,
and drinks off candles' ends for flap-dragons, and rides
the wild-mare with the boys, and jumps upon joined-
stools, and swears with a good grace, and wears his
boots very smooth, like unto the sign of the leg, and
breeds no bate with teUing of discreet stories; and
such other gambol faculties a' has, that show a weak
mind and an able body, for the which the prince ad-
mits him, for the prince himself is such another ; the
weight of a hair will turn the scales between their
avoirdupois. 232
Prince. Would not this nave of a wheel have his
ears cut off?
Poins. Let 's beat him.
Prince. Look, whether the withered elder hath not
his poll clawed like a parrot.
Falsfaff. Kiss me, Doll.
Prince. Saturn and Venus this year in conjunction !
what says the almanac to that? 240
Poins. And, look, whether the fiery Trigon, his
man, be not lisping to his master's old tables, his note-
book, his counsel-keeper.
Falsfaff. Thou dost give me flattering busses.
Doll. By my troth, I kiss thee with a most constant
heart.
Scene IV] Second Part of King Henry IV 71
Fills /aff. I am old, I am old.
Do/I. I love thee better than I love e'er a scurvy
young boy of them all. 249
Falstaff. What stuff wilt have a kirtle of? I shall
receive money o' Thursday ; thou shalt have a cap to-
morrow. A merry song, come ! it grows late. Thou 'It
forget me when I am gone.
Doll. By my troth, thou 'It set me a-weeping, an
thou sayest so ; prove that ever I dress myself hand-
some till thy return. — Well, hearken the end.
Falstaff. Some sack, Francis.
Prince. ) . ^ _, .
„ . >- Anon, anon, sir. \_Coining forwai-d.
Falstaff. Ha ! a bastard son of the king's ? — And
art not thou Poins his brother? 260
Prince. Why, thou globe of sinful continents, what
a life dost thou lead !
Falstaff. A better than thou ; I am a gentleman,
thou art a drawer.
Prince. Very true, sir ; and I come to draw you out
by the ears.
Hostess. O, the Lord preserve thy good grace ! by
my troth, welcome to London. — Now, the Lord bless
that sweet face of thine ! O Jesu, are you come from
Wales ? 270
Falstaff. Thou whoreson mad compound of maj-
esty, by this light flesh and corrupt blood, thou art
welcome.
Doll. How, you fat fool ! I scorn you.
72 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act ii
Poins. j\Iy lord, he will drive you out of your re-
venge and turn all to a merriment, if you take not the
heat.
Prince. You whoreson candle-mine, you, how vilely
did you speak of me even now before this honest,
virtuous, civil gentlewoman ! 2S0
Hostess. God's blessing of your good heart ! and so
she is, by my troth.
Falstaff. Didsi thou hear me?
Prince. Yea, and you knew me, as you did when
you ran away by Gadshill ; you knew I was at your
back, and spoke it on purpose to try ray patience.
Falstaff. No, no, no, not so ; I did not think thou
wast within hearing.
Prince. I shall drive you then to confess the wilful
abuse ; and then I know how to handle you. 290
Falstaff. No abuse, Hal, o' mine honour, no abuse.
Prince. Not to dispraise me, and call me pantler
and bread-chipper and I know not what?
Falstaff. No abuse, Hal.
Poins. No abuse?
Falstaff. No abuse, Ned, i' the world ; honest Ned,
none. I dispraised him before the wicked, that the
wicked might not fall in love with him; in which do-
ing, I have done the part of a careful friend and a
true subject, and thy father is to give me thanks for it.
No abuse, Hal; — none, Ned, none : — no, faith, boys,
none. 3°^
Prince. See now, whether pure fear and entire cow-
Scene ivj Second Part of King Henry IV 73
ardice doth not make thee wrong this virtuous gentle-
woman to close with us? is she of the wicked ? is thine
hostess here of the wicked? or is thy boy of the
wicked ? or honest Bardolph, whose zeal burns in his
nose, of the wicked?
Foiiis. Answer, thou dead elm, answer. 309
Falstaff. The fiend hath pricked down Bardolph
irrecoverable ; and his face is Lucifer's privy-kitchen,
where he doth nothing but roast malt-worms. For the
boy, there is a good angel about him ; but the devil
outbids him too.
Prince. For the women?
Falstaff. For one of them, she is in hell already, and
burns, poor soul. For the other, I owe her money;
and whether she be damned for that, I know not.
Hostess. No, I warrant you. 319
Falstaff. No, I think thou art not ; I think thou art
quit for that. Marry, there is another indictment
upon thee, for suffering flesh to be eaten in thy house,
contrary to the law ; for the which I think thou wilt
howl.
Hostess. All victuallers do so ; what 's a joint of
mutton or two in a whole Lent?
Prince. You, gentlewoman, —
Doll. What says your grace ?
Falstaff. His grace says that which his flesh rebels
against. \_Knocking within.
Hostess. Who knocks so loud at door ? — Look to
the door there, Francis. 333
74 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act il
Enter Peto
Prince. Peto, how now ! what news ?
Pcto. The king your father is at Westminster ;
And there are twenty weak and wearied posts
Come from the north ; and, as I came along,
I met and overtook a dozen captains.
Bare-headed, sweating, knocking at the taverns,
And asking every one for Sir John Falstaff.
Prince. By heaven, Poins, I feel me much to blame,
So idly to profane the precious time 341
When tempest of commotion, like the south
Borne with black vapour, doth begin to melt
And drop upon our bare unarmed heads.
Give me my sword and cloak. — Falstaff, good night.
\_Exemit Prince Henry, Poins, Peto, and Bardolph.
Falstaff. Now comes in the sweetest morsel of the
night, and we must hence and leave it unpicked. —
\_Knocking within.~\ More knocking at the door ! —
Re-enter Bardolph
How now ! what 's the matter?
Bardolph. You must away to court, sir, presently; 350
A dozen captains stay at door for you.
Falstaff. [ To the Page~\ Pay the musicians, sirrah.
— Farewell, hostess ; — farewell, Doll. You see, my
good wenches, how men of merit are sought after ; the
undeserved may sleep when the man of action is called
Scene IV] Second Part of King Henry IV 75
on. Farewell, good wenches ; if I be not sent away
post, I will see you again ere I go.
Doll. I cannot speak ; if my heart be not ready to
burst, — well, sweet Jack, have a care of thyself.
Falstaff. Farewell, farewell, 360
\_Exeunt Falstaff and Bardolph.
Hostess. Well, fare thee well. I have known thee
these twenty-nine years, come peascod-time ; but an
honester and truer-hearted man, — well, fare thee well.
Bardolph. [Wit/u'n'] Mistress Tearsheet !
Hostess. What 's the matter?
Bardolph. [ IVithiii] Bid Mistress Tearsheet come
to my master.
Hostess. O, run, Doll, run ; run, good Doll ; come.
\_She comes blubbered.'] Yea, will you come, Doll?
\_Exeunt.
Falstaff and his Recruits
A
ACT III
Scene I. Westminster. The Palace
Enter the King in his nightgown, with a Page
King. Go call the Earls of Surrey and of Warwick ;
But, ere they come, bid them o'er-read these letters,
And well consider of them. Make good speed. —
\_Exit Page.
How many thousand of my poorest subjects
Are at this hour asleep ! — O Sleep, Q gentle Sleep,
Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee,
That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down
And steep my senses in forgetfulness?
Why rather. Sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs,
76
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 77
Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee 10
And hush'd with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber,
Than in the perfum'd chambers of the great,
Under the canopies of costly state,
And luU'd with sound of sweetest melody?
O thou dull god, why liest thou with the vile
In loathsome beds, and leav'st the kingly couch
A watch-case or a common larum-bell?
Wilt thou upon the high and giddy mast
Seal up the ship-boy's eyes, and rock his brains
In cradle of the rude imperious surge 20
And in the visitation of the winds,
Who take the ruffian billows by the top,
Curling their monstrous heads and hanging them
With deafening clamour in the slippery clouds,
That with the hurly death itself awakes ?
Canst thou, O partial Sleep, give thy repose
To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude,
And in the calmest and most stillest night,
With all appliances and means to boot, /
Deny it to a king? Then, happy low, lie down ! 30
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
N
Enter Warwick and Surrey
Warwick. Many good morrows to your majesty !
Ki?ig. Is it good morrow, lords?
Warwick. 'T is one o'clock, and past.
King. Why, then, good morrow to you all, my lords.
Have you read o'er the letters that I sent you ?
7 8 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act iii
Wanvick. W'e have, my liege.
King. Then you perceive the body of our kingdom
How foul it is ; what rank diseases grow,
And with what danger, near the heart of it. 40
IVaj-wick. It is but as a body yet distemper'd,
Which to his former strength may be restor'd
With good advice and little medicine.
My Lord Northumberland will soon be cool'd.
Kitig. O God ! that one might read the book of fate,
And see the revolution of the times
Make mountains level, and the continent,
Weary of solid firmness, melt itself
Into the sea ! and, other times, to see
The beachy girdle of the ocean 50
Too wide for Neptune's hips ; how chances mock.
And changes fill the cup of alteration
With divers liquors ! O, if this were seen.
The happiest youth, viewing his progress through,
What perils past, what crosses to ensue.
Would shut the book, and sit him down and die.
'T is not ten years gone
Since Richard and Northumberland, great friends.
Did feast together, and in two years after
Were they at wars ; it is but eight years since 60
This Percy was the man nearest my soul.
Who like a brother toil'd in my affairs
And laid his love and life under my foot.
Yea, for my sake, even to the eyes of Richard
Gave him defiance. But which of you was by —
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 79
You, cousin Nevil, as I may remember — [To Warwick.']
When Richard, with his eye brimful of tears.
Then check'd and rated by Northumberland,
Did speak these words, now prov'd a prophecy?
' Northumberland, thou ladder by the which 70
My cousin Bolingbroke ascends my throne ; ' —
Though then, God knows, I had no such intent,
But that necessity so bow'd the state
That I and greatness were compell'd to kiss.
'The time shall come,' thus did he follow it,
' The time will come that foul sin, gathering head.
Shall break into corruption ; ' — so went on,
Foretelling this same time's condition
And the division of our amity.
IVarwick. There is a history in all men's lives, 80
Figuring the nature of the times deceas'd.
The which observ'd, a man may prophesy,
With a near aim, of the main chance of things
As yet not come to hfe, which in their seeds
And weak beginnings lie intreasured.
Such things become the hatch and brood of time ;
And by the necessary form of this
King Richard might create a perfect guess
That great Northumberland, then false to him.
Would of that seed grow to a greater falseness, 90
^Vhich should not find a ground to root upon
Unless on you.
King. Are these things then necessities?
Then let us meet them like necessities ;
8o Second Part of King Henry TV" [Act ill
And that same word even now cries out on us.
They say the bishop and Northumberland
Are fifty thousand strong.
War7aick. It cannot be, my lord ;
Rumour doth double, like the voice and echo,
The numbers of the fear'd. — Please it your grace
To go to bed. Upon my soul, my lord,
The powers that you already have sent forth loo
Shall bring this prize in very easily.
To comfort you the more, I have receiv'd
A certain instance tliat Glendower is dead.
Your majesty hath been this fortnight ill.
And these unseason'd hours perforce must add
Unto your sickness.
King. I will take your counsel ;
And were these inward wars once out of hand,
^Ve would, dear lords, unto the Holy Land. \_Exeunt.
Scene II. Gloucestershire. Before Justice Shalloiv's
House
Enter Shallow and Silence, meeting ; Mouldy, Shadow,
Wart, Feeble, Bullcalf, and Servants with them
SJialhnu. Come on, come on, come on, sir ; give me
your hand, sir, give me your hand, sir. An early
stirrer, by the rood ! And how doth* my good cousin
Silence ?
Silence. Good morrow, good cousin Shallow.
Shallow. And how doth my cousin, your bed-
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 8i
fellow? and your fairest daughter and mine, my god-
daughter Ellen?
Silence. Alas, a black ousel, cousin Shallow !
Shallow. By yea and nay, sir, I dare say my cousin lo
William is become a good scholar; he is at Oxford
still, is he not?
Silence. Indeed, sir, to my cost.
Shallow. He must, then, to the inns o' court shortly.
I was once of Clement's Imi, where I think they will
talk of mad Shallow yet.
Silence. You were called lusty Shallow then, cousin.
Shallow. By the mass, I was called any thing; and
I would have done any thing indeed too, and roundly
too. There was I, and little John Doit of Stafford- 20
shire, and black George Barnes, and Francis Pickbone,
and Will Squele, a Cotswold man ; you had not four
such swinge-bucklers in all the inns o' court again.
Then was Jack Falstaff, now Sir John, a boy, and page
to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk.
Silence. This Sir John, cousin, that comes hither
anon about soldiers?
Shallow. The same Sir John, the very same. I saw
him break Skogan's head at the court-gate, when a' was
a crack not thus high ; and the very same day did I fight
with one Sampson Stockfish, a fruiterer, behind Gray's
Inn. • Jesu, Jesu, the mad days that I have spent ! and
to see how many of my old acquaintance are dead !
Silence. We shall all follow, cousin.
Shallow. Certain, 't is certain ; very sure, very sure.
2 HENRY IV — 6
82 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act HI
Death, as the Psahiiist saith, is certain to all ; all shall
die. — How a good yoke of bullocks at Stamford fair?
Silence. By my troth, I was not there.
Shallow. Death is certain. — Is old Double of your
town living yet? 4°
Silence. Dead, sir.
Shallow. Jesu, Jesu, dead ! a' drew a good bow ;
and dead ! a' shot a fine shoot ; John o' Gaunt loved
him well, and betted much money on his head. Dead I
a' would have clapped i' the clout at twelve score, and
carried you a forehand shaft at fourteen and fourteen
and a half, that it would have done a man's heart good
to see. — How a score of ewes now?
Silence. Thereafter as they be ; a score of good
ewes may be worth ten pounds. 50
Shalhnu. And is old Double dead?
Silence. Here come two of Sir John Falstaff s men,
as I think.
Enter Bardolph and one wifh him
Bardolph. Good morrow, honest gentlemen. I
beseech you, which is Justice Shallow?
Shallow. I am Robert Shallow, sir ; a poor esquire
of this county, and one of the king's justices of the
peace. What is your good pleasure with me ?
Bardolph. My captain, sir, comrnends him to you ;
my captain. Sir John Falstaff, a tall gentleman, by 60
heaven, and a most gallant leader.
Shallow. He greets me well, sir. I knew him a
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 83
good backsword man. How doth the good knight?
may I ask how my lady his wife doth?
Bardolph. Sir, pardon ; a soldier is better accom-
modated than with a wife.
Shallow, It is well said, in faith, sir ; and it is well
said indeed too. Better accommodated ! it is good ;
yea, indeed, is it ; good phrases are surely, and ever
were, very commendable. Accommodated ! it comes 70^-
of accommodo ; very good, a good phrase.
Bardolph. Pardon me, sir; I have heard the word.
Phrase call you it? by this good day, I know not the
phrase ; but I will maintain the word with my sword
to be a soldier-like word, and a word of exceeding
good command, by heaven. Accommodated ; that is,
when a man is, as they say, accommodated ; or when
a man is, being, whereby a' may be thought to be
accommodated, which is an excellent thing.
Shallota. It is very just. — 80
E filer Falstaff
Look, here comes good Sir John. — Give me your
good hand, give me your worship's good hand. By
my troth, you look well and bear your years very well ;
welcome, good Sir John.
Falstaff. I am glad to see you well, good Master
Robert Shallow. — Master Surecard, as I think?
Shallow. No, Sir John ; it is my cousin Silence, in
commission with me.
Falstaff. Good Master Silence, it well befits you
should be of the peace, 90
84 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act iii
Silence. Your good worship is welcome.
Fills faff. Fie ! this is hot weather, gentlemen. —
Have you provided me here half a dozen sufficient
men?
Shallow. Marry, have we, sir. Will you sit?
Falstaff. Let me see them, I beseech you.
Shallow. Where 's the roll ? where 's the roll? where 's
the roll? Let me see, let me see, let me see. So, so,
so, so, so, so, so ; yea, marry, sir. — Ralph Mouldy !
— Let them appear as I call ; let them do so, let them
do so. — Let me see ; where is Mouldy ! loi
Mouldy. Here, an 't please you.
Shallow. What think you. Sir John? a good-limbed
"fellow ; young, strong, and of good friends.
Falstaff. Is thy name Mouldy?
Mouldy. Yea, an 't please you,
Falstaff. 'T is the more time thou.vvert used.
Shallow. Ha, ha, ha ! most excellent, i' faith ! things
that are mouldy lack use ; very singular good ! — In
faith, well said, Sir John, very well said. no
Falstaff. Prick him.
Mouldy. I was pricked well enough before, an you
could have let me alone ; my old dame will be undone
now for one to do her husbandry and her drudgery.
You need not to have pricked me; there are other
men fitter to go out than I.
Falstaff. Go to ; peace. Mouldy ! you shall go.
Mouldy, it is time you were spent.
Mouldy. Spent !
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 85
Shallow. Peace, fellow, peace ! stand aside ; know
you where you are? — For the other, Sir John ; let me
see. — Simon Shadow ! 122
Falstaff. Yea, marry, let me have him to sit under ;
he 's Hke to be a cold soldier.
Shallow. Where 's Shadow?
Shadow. Here, sir.
Falstaff. Shadow, whose son art thou?
Shadow. My mother's son, sir.
Falstaff. Thy mother's son ! like enough, and thy
father's shadow ; so the son of the female is the
shadow of the male. It is often so, indeed ; but
much of the f;ither's substance ! 132
Shallow. Do you like him. Sir John ?
Falstaff. Shadow will serve for summer ; prick him,
for we have a number of shadows to fill up the
muster-book.
Shallota. Thomas Wart !
Falstaff. Where 's he?
Wart. Here, sir.
Falstaff. Is thy name Wart ? 140
Wart. Yea, sir.
Falstaff. Thou art a very ragged wart.
Shallow. Shall I prick him down. Sir John?
Falstaff. It were superfluous, for his apparel is
built upon his back and the whole frame, stands upon
pins ; prick him no more.
Shallow. Ha, ha, ha ! you can do it, sir, you can do
it ; I commend you well. — Francis Feeble !
86 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act ill
Feeble. Here, sir.
Fahtaff. What trade art thou, Feeble? 150
Feeble. A woman's tailor, sir.
Shallow. Shall I prick him, sir?
Fahtaff. You may ; but if he had been a man's
tailor, he 'd ha' pricked you. — Wilt thou make as
many holes in an enemy's battle as thou hast done in
a woman's petticoat?
Feeb^. I will do my good will, sir ; you can have
no more.
Falstaff. Well said, good woman's tailor ! well said,
courageous Feeble ! thou wilt be as valiant as the 160
wrathful dove or most magnanimous mouse. — Prick
the woman's tailor well, Master Shallow ; deep, Master
Shallow.
Feeble. I would Wart might have gone, sir.
Falstaff. I would thou wert a man's tailor, that
thou mightst mend him and make him fit to go. — I
cannot put him to a private soldier that is the leader
of so many thousands ; let that suffice, most forcible
Feeble.
Feeble. It shall suffice, sir. 170
Falstaff. I am bound to thee, reverend Feeble. —
Who is next?
Shallow. Peter Bullcalf o' the green !
Falstaff. Yea, marry, let 's see Bullcalf.
Bullcalf. Here, sir.
Falstaff. Fore God, a likely fellow ! — Come, prick
me Bullcalf till he roar agaia
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 87
BuUcalf. O Lord ! good my lord captain, —
Falstaff. What, dost thou roar before thou art
pricked ? 180
Bulkalf. O Lord, sir ! I am a diseased man.
Falstaff. What disease hast thou?
Bullcalf. A whoreson cold, sir, a cough, sir, which
I caught with ringing in the king's affairs upon his
coronation-day, sir.
Falstaff. Come, thou shalt go to the wars in a
gown ; we will have away thy cold, and I will take
such order that thy friends shall ring for thee. — Is
here all?
Shallow. Here is two more called than your num-
ber, you must have but four here, sir ; and so, I pray
you, go in with me to dinner. 192
Falstaff. Come, I will go drink with you, but I
cannot tarry dinner. I am glad to see you, by my
troth. Master Shallow.
Shallow. O, Sir John, do you remember since
we lay all night in the windmill in Saint George's
field?
Falstaff. No more of that, good Master Shallow,
no more of that. 200
Shallow. Ha ! 't was a merry night. And is Jane
Nightwork alive?
Falstaff. She lives, Master Shallow.
Shallow. She never could away with me.
Falstaff. Never, never; she would always say she
could not abide Master Shallow.
88 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act ill
Shallow. By the mass, I could anger her to the
heart. Doth she hold her own well?
Falstaff. Old, old, Master Shallow.
Shallow. Nay, she must be old, she cannot choose 210
but be old ; certain she 's old, and had Robin Night-
work by old Nightwork before I came to Clement's
Inn.
Silence. That 's fifty-five year ago.
Shallow. Ha, cousin Silence, that thou hadst seen
that that this knight and I have seen ! — Ha, Sir John,
said I well?
Falstaff. We have heard the chimes at midnight,
Master Shallow.
Shallow. That we have, that we have, that we 220
have ; in faith, Sir John, we have ; our watchword was
'Hem, boys!' — Come, let 's to dinner; come, let 's
to dinner. — Jesu, the days that we have seen ! —
Come, come. \_Exeitnl Falstaff and the Justices.
Bullcalf. Good Master Corporate Bardolph, stand
my friend ; and here 's four Harry ten shillings in
French crowns for you. In very truth, sir, I had as
lief be hanged, sir, as go ; and yet, for mine own part,
sir, I do not care, but rather because I am unwilling,
and, for mine own part, have a desire to stay with my 230
friends ; else, sir, I did not care, for mine own part,
so much.
Bardolph. Go to ; stand aside.
Mouldy. And, good master corporal captain, for my
old dame's sake, stand my friend. She has nobody
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 89
to do any thing about her when I am gone ; and she
is old, and cannot help herself. You shall have forty,
sir.
Bardolph. Go to ; stand aside.
Feeble. By my troth, I care not ; a man can die but 240
once; we owe God a death. I '11 ne'er bear a base
mind ; an 't be my destiny, so ; an 't be not, so. No
man is too good to serve 's prince ; and let it go
which way it will, he that dies this year is quit for the
next.
Bardolph. Well said ; thou 'rt a good fellow.
Feeble. Faith, I '11 bear no base mind.
Re-enter Falstaff and the Justices
Falstaff. Come, sir, which men shall I have?
Shallow. Four of which you please.
Bardolph. Sir, a word with you. — I have three
pound to free Mouldy and Bullcalf. 251
Falstaff. Go to ; well,
Shallozv. Come, Sir John, which four will you
have?
Falstaff. Do you choose for me.
Shallow. Marry, then. Mouldy, Bullcalf, Feeble,
and Shadow.
Falstaff. Mouldy and Bullcalf. — For you, Mouldy,
stay at home till you are past service ; — and for your
part, Bullcalf, grow till you come unto it; I will none
of you. 261
Shallow. Sir John, Sir John, do not yourself wrong;
90 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act ill
they are your likeliest men, and I would have you
served with the best.
Falstaff. Will you tell me, Master Shallow, how to
choose a man? Care I for the limb, the thews, the
stature, bulk, and big assemblance of a man ! Give
me the spirit, Master Shallow. — Here's Wart ; you
see what a ragged appearance it is ; a' shall charge
you and discharge you with the motion of a pewterer's 270
hammer, come off and on swifter than he that gibbets
on the brewer's bucket. — And this same half-faced
fellow, Shadow ; give me this man. He presents no
mark to the enemy ; the foeman may with as great
aim level at the edge of a penknife. And for a re-
treat, — how swiftly will this Feeble the woman's
tailor run off ! O, give me the spare men, and spare
me the great ones. — Put me a caliver into Wart's
hand, Bardolph.
Bardolph. Hold, Wart, traverse ; thus, thus, thus. 280
Falstaff. Come, manage me your caliver. So :
very well ; go to ; very good, exceeding good. O,
give me always a little, lean, old, chopt, bald shot. —
Well said, i' faith, Wart, thou 'rt a good scab ; hold,
there 's a tester for thee.
Shallow. He is not his craft's master ; he doth not
do it right. I remember at Mile-end Green, when I
lay at Clement's Inn, — I was then Sir Dagonet in
Arthur's show, — there was a little quiver fellow, and a'
would manage you his piece thus ; and a' would about 290
and about, and come you in and come you in \ ' rah.
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 91
tah, tah,' would a' say,- 'bounce' would a' say; and
away again would a' go, and again would a' come. — I
shall ne'er see such a fellow.
Falstaff. These fellows will do well, Master Shal-
low. — Farewell, Master Silence ; I will not use many
words with you. — Fare you well, gentlemen both; I
thank you. I must a dozen mile to-night. — Bar-
dolph, giv^e the soldiers coats.
Shallow. Sir John, the Lord bless you ! God pros- 300
per your affairs ! God send us peace ! At your return
visit our house, let our old acquaintance be renewed ;
peradventure I will with ye to the court.
Falstaff. Fore God, I would you would. Master
Shallow.
Shallow. Go to ; I have spoke at a word. God
keep you.
Falstaff. Fare you well, gentle gentlemen. \_Exeunt
Justices.~\ — On, Bardolph ; lead the men away. \_Exe-
unt Bardolph, Recruits, &c.] As I return, I will 310
fetch off these justices ; I do see the bottom of Justice
Shallow. Lord, Lord, how subject we old men are to
this vice of lying ! This same starved justice hath
done nothing but prate to me of the wildness of his
youth, and the feats he hath done about Turnbull
Street ; and every third word a lie, duer paid to the
hearer than the Turk's tribute. I do remember him
at Clement's Lm like a man made after supper of a
cheese-paring ; when a' was naked, he was, for all the
world, like a forked radish, with a head fantastically 320
92 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act iii
carved upon it with a knife. A' was so forlorn that
his dimensions to any thick sight were invincible ; a'
was the very genius of famine. A' came ever in the
rearward of the flishion, and sung those tunes that he
heard the carmen whistle, and sware they were his
fancies or his good-nights. And now is this Vice's
dagger become a squire, and talks as familiarly of
John o' Gaunt as if he had been sworn brother to him ;
and I '11 be sworn a' ne'er saw him but once in the
Tilt-yard, and then he burst his head for crowding 330
among the marshal's men. I saw it, and told John
o' Gaunt he beat his own name, for you might have
thrust him and all his apparel into an eel-skin, the
case of a treble hautboy was a mansion for him, a
court ; and now has he land and beefs. Well, I '11 be
acquainted with him if I return ; and it shall go hard
but I will make him a philosopher's two stones to me.
If the young dace be a bait for the old pike, I see no
reason in the law of nature but I may snap at him.
Let time shape, and there an end, [_Exii. 340
Gaultree Forest
ACT IV
Scene I. Yorkshire. Gaultree Foi-est
Enter the Archbishop of York, Mowbray, Hastings,
and others
Archbishop. What is this forest call'd?
Hastings. 'T is Gaultree Forest, an 't shall please your
grace.
Archbishop. Here stand, my lords ; and send discov-
erers forth
To know the numbers of our enemies.
Hastings. We have sent forth already.
Archbishop. 'T is well done. —
My friends and brethren in these great affairs,
93
94 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
I must acquaint you that I have receiv'd
New-dated letters from Northumberland,
Their cold intent, tenor ami substance, thus :
Here doth he wish his person, with such powers lo
As might hold sortance with his quality.
The which he could not levy ; whereupon
He is retir'd, to ripe his growing fortunes,
To Scotland, and concludes in hearty prayers
That your attempts may overlive the hazard
And fearful meeting of their opposite.
Mowbray. Thus do the hopes we have in him touch
ground
And dash themselves to pieces.
Enter a Messenger
Hastings. Now, what news?
Messenger. West of this forest, scarcely off a mile,
In goodly form comes on the enemy ; 20
And, by the ground they hide, I judge their number
Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand.
Mowbray. The just proportion that we gave them out.
Let us sway on and face them in the field.
Archbishop. What well-appointed leader fronts us
here ?
Enter Westmoreland
Mowbray. I think it is my Lord of Westmoreland.
Westmoreland. Health and fair greeting from our
general,
The prince, Lord John and Duke of Lancaster.
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 95
Archbishop. Say on, my Lord of Westmoreland, in peace :
What doth concern your coming ?
Westmoreland. Then, my lord, 30 ■
Unto your grace do I in chief address
The substance of my speech. If that rebelhon
Came like itself, in base and abject routs,
Led on by bloody youth, guarded with rags.
And countenanc'd by boys and beggary, — •
I say, if damn'd commotion so appear'd.
In his true, native, and most proper shape.
You, reverend father, and these noble lords
Had not been here, to dress the ugly form
Of base and bloody insurrection 4°
With your fair honours. — You, lord archbishop,
Whose see is by a civil peace maintain'd.
Whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touch'd.
Whose learning and good letters peace hath tutor'd,
Whose white investments figure innocence.
The dove and very blessed spirit of peace.
Wherefore do you so ill translate yourself
Out of the speech of peace that bears such grace
Into the harsh and boisterous tongue of war.
Turning your books to greaves, your ink to blood, 50
Your pens to lances, and your tongue divine
To a loud trumpet and a point of war?
Archbishop. Wherefore do I this? so the question
stands.
Briefly to this end : we are all diseas'd.
And with our surfeiting and wanton hours
96 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
Have brought ourselves into a burning fever,
And we must bleed for it, of which disease
Our late king, Richard, being infected, died.
But, my most noble Lortl of \V'estmoreland,
I take not on me here as a physician, 60
Nor do I as an enemy to peace
Troop in the throngs of miHtary men.
But rather show awhile like fearful war,
To diet rank minds sick of happiness
And purge the obstructions which begin to stop
Our very veins of life. Hear me more plainly :
I have in equal balance justly weigh'd
What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer.
And find our griefs heavier than our offences.
We see which way the stream of time doth run, 70
And are enforc'd from our most quiet sphere
By the rough torrent of occasion,
And have the summary of all our griefs.
When times shall serve, to show in articles
Which long ere this we offer'd to the king
And might by no suit gain our audience.
When we are wrong'd and would unfold our griefs,
We are denied access unto his person
Even by those men that most have done us wrong.
The dangers of the days but newly gone, 80
Whose memory is written on the earth
With yet appearing blood, and the examples
Of every minute's instance, present now.
Hath put us in these ill-beseeming arms.
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 97
Not to break peace or any branch of it,
But to establish here a peace indeed,
Concurring both in name and quahty.
Westi7ioreland. When ever yet was your appeal denied ?
Wherein have you been galled by the king?
What peer hath been suborn'd to grate on you, 90
That you should seal this lawless bloody book
Of forg'd rebellion with a seal divine
And consecrate commotion's bitter edge?
Archbishop. My brother general, the commonwealth,
To brother born an household cruelty,
I make my quarrel in particular.
Westmoreland. There is no need of any such redress ;
Or if there were, it not belongs to you.
Mowbray. ^Vhy not to him in part, and to us all
That feel the bruises of the days before, 100
And suffer the condition of these times
To lay a heavy and unequal hand
Upon our honours?
IVestmorehmd. O, my good Lord Mowbray,
Construe the times to their necessities.
And you shall say indeed, it is the time,
And not the king, that doth you injuries.
Yet for your part, it not appears to me,
Either from the king or in the present time,
That you should have an inch of any ground
To build a grief on. Were you not restor'd no
To all the Duke of Norfolk's signories.
Your noble and right well remember'd father's?
2 HENKV IV — 7
98 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act iv
Mowbray. What thing, in honour, had my father lost,
That need to be reviv'd and breath'd in me ?
The king that lov'd him, as the state stood then,
Was force perforce compell'd to banish him ;
And then that Henry Bohngbroke and he,
Being mounted and both roused in their seats,
Their neighing coursers daring of the spur,
Their armed staves in charge, their beavers down, 120
Their eyes of fire sparkling through sights of steel,
And the loud trumpet blowing them together,
Then, then, when there was nothing could have stay'd
My father from the breast of Bolingbroke, —
O, when the king did throw his warder down.
His own life hung upon the staff he threw ;
Then threw he down himself and all their lives
That by indictment and by dint of sword
Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke.
Westmoreland. You speak, Lord Mowbray, now you
know not what. 130
The Earl of Hereford was reputed then
In England the most valiant gentleman.
Who knows on whom fortune would then have smil'd ?
But if your father had been victor there.
He ne'er had borne it out of Coventry ;
For all the country in a general voice
Cried hate upon him, and all their prayers and love
Were set on Hereford, whom they doted on
And bless'd and grac'd indeed, more than the king.
But this is mere digression from my purpose. 140
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 99
Here come I from our princely general
To know your griefs ; to tell you from his grace
That he will give you audience ; and wherein
It shall appear that your demands are just,
You shall enjoy them, every thing set off
That might so much as think you enemies.
Mowbray. But he hath forc'd us to compel this offer,
And it proceeds from policy, not love.
Westmoreland. Mowbray, you overween to take it
so.
This offer comes from mercy, not from fear, 150
For, lo ! within a ken our army lies.
Upon mine honour, all too confident
To give admittance to a thought of fear.
Our battle is more full of names than yours.
Our men more perfect in the use of arms,
Our armour all as strong, our cause the best ;
Then reason will our hearts should be as good.
Say you not then our offer is compell'd.
Mowbray. Well, by my will we shall admit no parley.
Westmoreland. That argues but the shame of your
offence ; 160
A rotten case abides no handling.
Hastings. Hath the Prince John a full commission,
In very ample virtue of his father.
To' hear and absolutely to determine
Of what conditions we shall stand upon ?
Westmoreland. That is intended in the general's name ;
I muse you make so slight a question.
lOO Second Part of King Henry IV [Act iv
Archbishop. Then take, my Lord of Westmoreland,
this schedule,
For this contains our general grievances.
Each several article herein redress'd, 170
All members of our cause, both here and hence,
That are insinevved to this action.
Acquitted by a true substantial form
And present execution of our wills
To us and to our purposes confin'd,
We come within our awful banks again.
And knit our powers to the arm of peace.
Westmoreland. This will I show the general. — Please
you, lords,
In sight of both our battles we may. meet,
And either end in peace — which God so frame ! — 180
Or to the place of difference call the swords
Which must decide it.
Archbishop. My lord, we will do so,
\^Exit Westmoreland.
Mowbray. There is a thing within my bosom tells me
That no conditions of our peace can stand.
Hastings. Fear you not that ; if we can make our peace
Upon such large terms and so absolute
As our conditions shall consist upon,
Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.
Mowbray. Yea, but our valuation shall be such
That every slight and false-derived cause, 190
Yea, every idle, nice, and wanton reason
Shall to the king taste of this action ;
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV loi
That, were our royal foiths martyrs in love,
We shall be winnowed with so rough a wind
That even our corn shall seem as light as chaff
And good from bad find no partition.
Archbishop. No, no, my lord. Note this : the king is
weary
Of dainty and such picking grievances,
For he hath found to end one doubt by death
Revives two greater in the heirs of life, 200
And therefore will he wipe his tables clean,
And keep no tell-tale to his memory
That may repeat and history his loss
To new remembrance ; for full well he knows
He cannot so precisely weed this land
As his misdoubts present occasion.
His foes are so enrooted with his friends
That, plucking to unfix an enemy,
He doth unfasten so and shake a friend ;
So that this land, like an offensive wife 210
That hath enrag'd him on to offer strokes,
As he is striking, holds his infant up
And hangs resolv'd correction in the arm
That was uprear'd to execution.
Hastings. Besides, the king hath wasted all his rods
On late offenders, that he now doth lack
The very instruments of chastisement ;
So that his power, like to a fangless lion,
May offer, but not hold.
Archbishop. 'T is very true ;
I02 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act iv
And therefore be assur'd, my good lord marshal, 220
If we do now make our atonement well,
Our peace will, like a broken limb united,
Grow stronger for the breaking.
Motvb7-ay. Be it so.
Here is return'd my Lord of Westmoreland.
Re-enter Westmoreland
Westmoreland. The prince is here at hand ; pleaseth
your lordship
To meet his grace just distance 'tween our armies?
Mowbray. Your grace of York, in God's name, then,
set forward.
Archbishop. Before, and greet his grace ; my lord, we
come. \_Exeunt.
Scene II. Another Fart of the Forest
Enter, fro?n one side, Mowbray, the Archbishop, Hast-
ings, and others : from the other side, Prince John of
Lancaster and Westmoreland ; Officers, and others
with them
Lancaster. You are well encounter'd here, my cousin
Mowbray. —
Good day to you, gentle lord archbishop ; —
And so to you, Lord Hastings, — andto all. —
My Lord of York, it better show'd with you
When that your flock, assembled by the bell,
Encircled you to hear with reverence
Your exposition on the holy text,
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 103
Than now to see you here an iron man,
Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum,
Turning the word to sword and hfe to death. 10
That man that sits within a monarch's heart
And ripens in the sunshine of his favour,
Would he abuse the countenance of the king.
Alack, what mischiefs might he set abroach
In shadow of such greatness ! With you, lord bishop,
It is even so. Who hath not heard it spoken
How deep you were within the books of God ?
To us the speaker in his parliament ;
To us the imagin'd voice of God himself;
The very opener and intelligencer 20
Between the grace, the sanctities, of heaven
And our dull workings. O, who shall beheve
But you misuse the reverence of your place.
Employ the countenance and grace of heaven.
As a false favourite doth his prince's name,
In deeds dishonourable ? You have ta'en up,
Under the counterfeited zeal of God,
The subjects of his substitute, my father,
And both against the peace of heaven and him
Have here up-swarm'd them.
Archbishop. Good my Lord of Lancaster,
I am not here against your father's peace ; 31
But, as I told my Lord of Westmoreland,
The time misorder'd doth, in common sense.
Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form,
To hold our safety up. I sent your grace
I04 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
The parcels and particulars of our grief,
The which hath been with scorn shov'd from the court,
Whereon this Hydra son of war is born,
Whose dangerous eyes may well be charm'd asleep
With grant of our most just and right desires, 40
And true obedience, of this madness cur'd,
Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty.
Mowbray. If not, we ready are to try our fortunes
To the last man.
Hastings. And though we here fall down,
We have supplies to second our attempt.
If they miscarry, theirs shall second them ;
And so success of mischief shall be born,
And heir from heir shall hold this quarrel up
Whiles England shall have generation.
Lancaster. You are too shallow, Hastings, much too
shallow, 50
To sound the bottom of the after-times.
Westmoreland. Pleaseth your grace to answer them
direcdy
How far forth you do like their articles.
Lancaster. I like them all, and do allow them well,
And swear here, by the honour of my blood,
My father's purposes have been mistook,
And some about him have too lavishly
Wrested his meaning and authority. —
My lord, these griefs shall be with speed redress'd ;
Upon my soul, they shall. If this may please you, 60
Discharge your powers unto their several counties,
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 105
As we will ours ; and here between the armies
Let 's drink together friendly and embrace,
That all their eyes may bear those tokens home
Of our restored love and amity.
Archbishop. I take your princely word for these
redresses.
Lancaster. I give it you, and will maintain my word ;
And thereupon I drink unto your grace.
Hastings. Go, captain, and deliver to the army
This news of peace ; let them have pay, and part. 70
I know it will well please them. Hie thee, captain.
\_Exit Officer.
Archbishop. To you, my noble Lord of Westmoreland.
Westmoreland. I pledge your grace; and, if you knew
what pains
I have bestow'd to breed this present peace.
You would drink freely ; but my love to ye
Shall show itself more openly hereafter.
Archbishop. I do not doubt you.
Westmoreland. I am glad of it. —
Health to my lord and gentle cousin, Mowbray.
Mowbray. You wish me health in very happy season.
For I am, on the sudden, something ill. So
Archbishop. Against ill chances men are ever merry.
But heaviness foreruns the good event.
Westmoreland. Therefore be merry, coz; since sud-
den sorrow
Serves to say thus, — some good thing comes to-morrow.
Archbishop. BeUeve me, I am passing light in spirit.
io6 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
Mowbray. So much the worse, if your own rule be
true. \Shoiits taifhin.
Lancaster. The word of peace is render'd ; hark, how
they shout !
Motvbray. This had been cheerful after victory.
Archbishop. A peace is of the nature of a conquest ;
For then both parties nobly are subdued 90
And neither party loser.
Lancaster. Go, my lord,
And let our army be discharged too. —
\_Exit Westmoreland.
And, good my lord, so please you, let our trains
March by us, that we may peruse the men
We should have cop'd withal.
Archbishop. Go, good Lord Hastings,
And, ere they be dismiss'd, let them march by.
\_Exit LLastings.
Lancaster. I trust, lords, we shall lie to-night to-
gether. —
Re-enter Westmoreland
Now cousin, wherefore stands our army still?
Westmoreland. The leaders, having charge from you
to stand.
Will not go off until they hear you speak. 100
Lancaster. They know their duties..
Re-enter Hastings
Hastings. My lord, our army is dispers'd already.
Like youthful steers unyok'd, they take their courses
Scene III] Second Part of King Henry IV 107
East, west, north, south ; or, like a school broke up,
Each hurries toward his home and sporting-place.
WestJiwreland. Good things, my Lord Hastings, for
the which
I do arrest thee, traitor, of high treason ; —
And you, lord archbishop, — - and you. Lord Mowbray, —
Of capital treason I attach you both.
Mowbray. Is this proceeding just and honourable? no
Westmoreland. Is your assembly so?
Archbishop. Will you thus break your faith?
Lancaster. I pawn'd thee none.
I promis'd you redress of these same grievances
Whereof you did complain, which, by mine honour,
I will perform with a most Christian care. —
But for you, rebels, look to taste the due
Meet for rebeUion and such acts as yours.
Most shallowly did you these arms commence.
Fondly brought here and foolishly sent hence. —
Strike up our drums, pursue the scatter'd stray ; 120
God, and not we, hath safely fought to-day. —
Some guard these traitors to the block of death,
Treason's true bed and yielder up of breath. \_Exetmt.
Scene III. Another Part of the Forest
Alarum. Excursions. Enter Falstaff and Colevile,
meeting
Falstaff. What 's your name, sir? of what condition
are you, and of what place, I pray ?
io8 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
Colevile. I am a knight, sir ; and my name is Cole-
vile of the Dale.
Falstaff. Well, then, Colevile is your name, a knight
is your degree, and your place the dale. Colevile
shall be still your name, a traitor your degree, and the
dungeon your place, a place deep enough j so shall
you be still Colevile of the dale.
Colevile. Are not you Sir John Falstnff? lo
Falstaff. As good a man as he, sir, whoe'er I am.
Do ye yield, sir? or shall I sweat for you? If I do
sweat, they are the drops of thy lovers, and they weep
for thy death ; therefore rouse up fear and trembling,
and do observance to my mercy.
Colevile. I think you are Sir John Falstaff, and in
that thought yield me.
Falstaff. I have a whole school of tongues in this
belly of mine, and not a tongue of them all speaks any
other word but my name. An I had but a belly of 20
any indifferency, I were simply the most active fellow
in Europe ; my womb, my womb, my womb undoes
me. — Here comes our general.
Enter Prince John of Lancaster, Westmoreland,
Blunt, and others
Laftcaster. The heat is past ; follow no further now. —
Call in the powers, good cousin Westmoreland. —
\_Exit Westmoreland.
Now, Falstaff, where have you been all this while?
When every thing is ended, then you come.
Scene III] Second Part of King Henry IV 109
These tardy tricks of yours will, on my life,
One time or other break some gallows' back.
Fahtaff. I would be sorry, my lord, but it should be 30
thus ; I never knew yet but rebuke and check was the
reward of valour. Do you think me a swallow, an
arrow, or a bullet? have I, in my poor and old motion,
the expedition of thought ? I have speeded hither with
the very extremest inch of possibility, I have foundered
nine score and odd posts, and here, travel-tainted as I
am, have, in my pure and immaculate valour, taken
Sir John Colevile of the Dale, a most furious knight
and valorous enemy. But what of that? he saw me,
and yielded ; that I may justly say, with the hook- 40
nosed fellow of Rome, 1 came, saw, and overcame.
Lancaster. It was more of his courtesy than your
deserving.
Fahtaff. I know not ; here he is, and here I yield
him ; and I beseech your grace, let it be booked with
the rest of this day's deeds,, or, by the Lord, I will have
it in a particular ballad else, with mine own picture on
the top on 't, Colevile kissing my foot. To the which
course if I be enforced, if you do not all show like gilt
twopences to me, and I in the clear sky of fame o'er- 50
shine you as much as the full moon doth the cinders of
the element, which show like pins' heads to her, beheve
not the word of the noble. Therefore let me have
right, and let desert mount.
Lancaster. Thine 's too heavy to mount.
Falstaff. Let it shine, then.
iio Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
Lancaster. Thine 's too thick to shine.
Falstaff. Let it do something, my good lord, that
may do me good, and call it what you will.
Lancaster. Is thy name Colevile? 60
Colevile. It is, my lord.
Lancaster. A famous rebel art thou, Colevile.
Falstaff. And a famous true subject took him.
Colevile. I am, my lord, but as my betters are,
That led me hither ; had they been rul'd by me,
You should have won them dearer than you have.
Falstaff. I know not how they sold themselves, but
thou, like a kind fellow, gavest thyself away gratis ;
and I thank thee for thee.
Re-enter Westmoreland
Lancaster. Now, have you left pursuit? 70
Westmoreland. Retreat is made and execution stay'd.
Lancaster. Send Colevile with his confederates
To York, to present execution. —
Blunt, lead him hence, and see you guard him sure, —
\_Exeunt Blunt and others with Colevile.
And now dispatch we toward the court, my lords.
I hear the king my father is sore sick ;
Our news shall go before us to his majesty, —
Which, cousin, you shall bear to comfort him,
And we with sober speed will follow you.
Falstaff. My lord, I beseech you, give me leave to 80
go through Gloucestershire ; and, when you come to
court, stand my good lord, pray, in your good report.
Scene III] Second Part of King Henry IV iii
Lancaster. Fare you well, Falstaff; I, in my condition,
Shall better speak of you than you deserve.
\_Exeiint all hut Falstaff.
Falstaff. I would yon had but the wit ; 't were
better than your dukedom. Good faith, this same
young sober-blooded boy doth not love me ; nor a
man cannot make him laugh ; but that 's no marvel,
he drinks no wine. There 's never none of these
demure boys come to any proof; for thin drink doth 90
so over-cool their blood, and making many fish-meals,
that they are generally fools and cowards, which some
of us should be too but for inflammation. A good
sherris-sack hath a two-fold operation in it. It ascends
me into the brain, dries me there all the foolish and
dull and crudy vapours which environ it, makes it
apprehensive, quick, forgetive, full of nimble, fiery,
and delectable shapes, which, delivered o'er to the
voice, the tongue, which is the birth, becomes excel-
lent wit.t The second property of your excellent 100
sherris is the warming of the blood, which, before
cold and settled, left the liver white and pale, which
is the badge of pusillanimity and cowardice ; but the
sherris warms it and makes it course from the inwards
to the parts extreme. It illumineth the face, which as
a beacon gives warning to all the rest of this little
kingdom, man, to arm ; and then the vital commoners
and inland petty spirits muster me all to their captain,
the heart, who, great and puffed up with this retinue,
doth any deed of courage; and this valour comes of no
112 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
sherris. So that skill in the weapon is nothing without
sack, for that sets it a-work ; and learning a mere hoard
of gold kept by a devil, till sack commences it and sets
it in act and use. Hereof comes it that Prince Harry
is valiant ; for the cold blood he did naturally inherit
of his father, he liath, like lean, sterile, and bare land,
manured, husbanded, and tilled with excellent endeav-
our of drinking good and good store of fertile sherris,
that he is become very hot and vahant. If I had a
thousand sons, the first humane principle I would teach
them should be, to forswear thin potations and to ad-
dict themselves to sack. 122
Enter Bardolph
How now, Bardolph?
Bardo/ph. The army is discharged all and gone.
Falstaff. Let them go. I '11 through Gloucester-
shire ; and there will I visit Master Robert Shallow,
esquire. I have him already tempering between my
finger and my thumb, and shortly will I seal with him.
Come away. \_Exeunt.
Scene IV. Westminster. The Jerusalem Chamber
Enter the King, the Princes Thomas of Clarence and
Humphrey of Gloucester, Warwick, and others
King. Now, lords, ff God doth give successful end
To this debate that bleedeth at our doors,
We will our youth lead on to higher fields
And draw no swords but what are sanctified.
Scene IV] Second Part of King Henry IV 113
Our navy is address'd, our power collected,
Our substitutes in absence well invested,
And every thing lies level to our wish ;
Only, we want a little personal strength,
And pause us till these rebels, now afoot,
Come underneath the yoke of government. 10
IVanoick. Both which we doubt not but your majesty
Shall soon enjoy.
King. Humphrey, my son of Gloucester,
Where is the prince your brother?
Gloucester. I think he 's gone to hunt, my lord, at
Windsor.
Kifig. And how accompanied?
Gloucester. I do not know, my lord.
King. Is not his brother, Thomas of Clarence, with him ?
Gloucester. No, my good lord ; he is in presence here.
Claj'cnce. What would my lord and father?
King. Nothing but well to thee, Thomas of Clarence.
How chance thou art not with the prince thy brother? 20
He loves thee, and thou dost neglect him, Thomas.
Thou hast a better place in his affection
Then all thy brothers ; cherish it, my boy,
And noble offices thou mayst effect
Of mediation, after I am dead.
Between his greatness and thy other brethren.
Therefore omit him not ; blunt not his love,
Nor lose the good advantage of his grace
By seeming cold or careless of his will,
For he is gracious, if he be observ'd. 30
2 HENRY IV — 8
114 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
He hath a tear for pity and a hand
Open as day for melting charity;
Yet notwithstanding, being incens'd, he 's flint,
As humorous as winter, and as sudden
As flaws congealed in the spring of day.
His temper, therefore, must be well observ'd.
Chide him for faults, and do it reverently,
When you perceive his blood inclin'd to mirth ;
But, being moody, give him line and scope, /^
/Till that his passions, hke a whale on ground, -^^^/.f/f^o/^
Confound themselves with working. Learn this, Thomas,
And thou shalt prove a shelter to thy friends,
A hoop of gold to bind thy brothers in.
That the united vessel of their blood.
Mingled with venom of suggestion —
As, force perforce, the age will pour it in —
Shall never leak, though it do work as strong
As aconitum or rash gunpowder.
Clarence. I shall observe him with all care and love. 49
King. Why art thou not at Windsor with him, Thomas?
Clarence. He is not there to-day ; he dines in London.
King. And how accompanied? canst thou tell that?
Clarence. With Poins, and other his continual fol-
lowers.
King. Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds.
And he, the noble image of my youth.
Is overspread with them \ therefore my grief
Stretches itself beyond the hour of death.
The blood weeps from my heart when I do shape
Scene IV] Second Part of King Henry IV 115
In forms imaginary the unguided days
And rotten times that you shall look upon 60
When I am sleeping with my ancestors.
For when his headstrong riot hath no curb,
When rage and hot blood are his counsellors,
When means and lavish manners meet together,
O, with what wings shall his affections fly
Towards fronting peril and oppos'd decay !
Wanoick. My gracious lord, you look beyond him "7
quite.
The prince but studies his companions
Like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the language,
'T is needful that the most immodest word 70
Be look'd upon and learn'd, which, once attain'd, ;..
Your highness knows, comes to no further use
But to be known and hated. So, like gross terms,
The prince will in the perfectness of time
Cast off his followers ; and their memory
Shall as a pattern or a measure live
By which his grace must mete the lives of others,
Turning past evils to advantages.
King. 'T is seldom when the bee doth leave her comb
In the dead carrion. —
Enter Westmoreland
Who 's here? Westmoreland ! 80
Westmoreland. Health to my sovereign, and new hap-
piness
Added to that that I am to deliver !
ii6 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
Prince John your son doth kiss your grace's hand ;
Mowbray, tlie Bishop Scroop, Hastings, and all
Are brought to the correction of your law,
There is not now a rebel's sword unsheath'd,
But Peace puts forth her olive everywhere.
The manner how this action hath been borne
Here at more leisure may your highness read,
With every course in his particular. 90
King. O ^Vestmoreland, thou art a summer bird.
Which ever in the haunch of winter sings
The lifting up of day. —
Enter Harcourt
Look, here 's more news.
Harcotirt. From enemies heaven keep your majesty ;
And, when they stand against you, may they fall
As those that I am come to tell you of !
The Earl Northumberland and the Lord Bardolph,
With a great power of English and of Scots,
Are by the sheriff of Yorkshire overthrown.
The manner and true order of the fight 100
This packet, please it you, contains at large.
King. And wherefore should these good news make
me sick?
Will Fortune never come with both hands full,
But write her fair words still in foulest letters?
She either gives a stomach and no food, —
Such are the poor, in health ; or else a feast
And takes away the stomach, — such are the rich,
Scene IV] Second Part of King Henry IV 117
That have abundance and enjoy it not.
I should rejoice now at this happy news ;
And now my sight fails, and my brain is giddy. — no
O me ! come near me, now I am much ill.
Gloucester. Comfort, your majesty !
Clarence. O my royal father !
Westmoreland. My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself,
look up.
War7vick. Be patient, princes; you do know, these
fits
Are with his highness very ordinary.
Stand from him, give him air ; he '11 straight be well.
Clai-ence. No, no, he cannot long hold out these pangs.
The incessant care and labour of his mind
Hath wrought the mure that should confine it in
So thin that life looks through and will break out. 120
Gloucester. The people fear me ; for they do observe
Unfather'd heirs and loathly births of nature ;
The seasons change their manners, as the year
Had found some months asleep and leap'd them over.
Clarence. The river hath thrice flow'd, no ebb
between ;
And the old folk, time's doting chronicles.
Say it did so a little time before
That our great-grandsire, Edward, sick'd and died.
Warwick. Speak lower, princes, for the king recovers.
Gloucester. This apoplexy will certain be his end. 130
King. I pray you, take me up, and bear me hence
Into some other chamber ; softly, pray. [^Exeunt.
ii8 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
Scene V. Another ChaiJiber
The King lying on a bed : Clarence, Gloucester, War-
wick, and others in attendance
King. Let there be no noise made, my gentle friends,
Unless some dull and fovourable hand
Will whisper music to my weary spirit.
Warwick. Call for music in the other room.
King. Set me the crown upon my pillow here.
Clarence. His eye is hollow, and he changes much.
Warwick. Less noise, less noise !
Enter Prince Henry
Prince. Who saw the Duke of Clarence ?
Clarence. I am here, brother, full of heaviness.
Prince. How now ! rain within doors, and none
abroad !
How doth the king? lo
Gloucester. Exceeding ill.
Prince. Heard he the good news yet?
Tell it him.
Gloucester. He alter'd much upon the hearing it.
Prince. If he be sick with joy, he will recover
Without physic.
Warwick. Not so much noise, my lords. — Sweet
prince, speak low ;
The king your father is dispos'd to sleep.
Clarence. Let us withdraw into the other room.
Scene V] Second Part of King Henry IV 119
Warwick. Will 't please your grace to go along
with us?
Prince. No ; I will sit and watch here by the king. —
\_Exeuiit all but the Prince.
Why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow, 21
Being so troublesome a bedfellow?
O polish'd perturbation ! golden care !
That keep'st the ports of slumber open wide
To many a watchful night ! sleep with it now !
Yet not so sound and half so deeply sweet
As he whose brow with homely biggen bound
Snores out the watch of night. O majesty !
When thou dost pinch thy bearer, thou dost sit
Like a rich armour worn in heat of day, 30
That scalds with safety. By his gates of breath
There lies a downy feather which stirs not ;
Did he suspire, that light and weightless down
Perforce must move. — My gracious lord ! my father ! —
This sleep is sound indeed ; this is a sleep
That from this golden rigol hath divorc'd
So many English kings. Thy due from me
Is tears and heavy sorrows of the blood.
Which nature, love, and filial tenderness
Shall, O dear father, pay thee plenteously; 40
My due from thee is this imperial crown.
Which, as immediate from thy place and blood,
Derives itself to me. Lo, here it sits.
Which God shall guard; and put the world's whole
strength
I20 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
Into one giant arm, it shall not force
Tills lineal honour from me ; this from thee
\\'i]l I to mine leave, as 't is left to me. \_Exit.
King. Warwick ! Gloucester ! Clarence !
Re-enter Warwick, Gloucester, Clarence, and the rest
Clarence. Doth the king call?
Warwick. What would your majesty? How fares
your grace? 50
King. Why did you leave me here alone, my lords?
Clarence. We left the prince my brother here, my
liege.
Who undertook to sit and watch by you.
King. The Prince of Wales ! Where is he? let me see
him ;
He is not here.
Warivick. This door is open ; he is gone this way.
Gloucester. He came not through the chamber where
we stay'd.
King. Where is the crown? who took it from my
pillow?
Warwick. When we withdrew, my liege, we left it
here.
King. The prince hath ta'en it hence ; go, seek him
out. 60
Is he so hasty that he doth suppose
My sleep my death ? —
Find him, my Lord of Warwick ; chide him hither. —
\_^Exit Warwick.
Scene V] Second Part of King Henry IV 121
This part of his conjoins with my disease,
And helps to end me. — See, sons, what things you are !
How quickly nature falls into revolt
When gold becomes her object !
For this the foolish over-careful fathers
Have broke their sleep with thoughts, their brains with
care.
Their bones with industry ; 70
For this they have engrossed and pil'd up
The canker'd heaps of strange-achieved gold ;
For this they have been thoughtful to invest
Their sons with arts and martial exercises :
When, like the bee, culling from every flower
The virtuous sweets.
Our thighs pack'd with wax, our mouths with honey,
We bring it to the hive, and, like the bees,
Are murthered for our pains. This bitter taste
Yield his engrossments to the ending father. — 80
Re-enter Warwick
Now, where is he that will not stay so long
Till his friend sickness hath determin'd me ?
Warwick. My lord, I found the prince in the next room.
Washing with kindly tears his gentle cheeks,
With such a deep demeanour in great sorrow
That tyranny, which never quaff'd but blood,
Would, by beholding him, have wash'd his knife
With gentle eye-drops. He is coming hither.
King. But wherefore did he take away the crown?
122 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
Re-enter Prince Henry
Lo, where he comes. — Come hither to me, Harry. — 9°
Depart the chamber ; leave us here alone.
\Exeunt Warwick and the i-est.
Prince. I never thought to hear you speak again.
King. Thy^^ft^Sk wa^Jiithfir,.. Harry, to that thought ;
I stay too long by thee, I weary thee.
Dost thou so hunger for mine empty chair
That thou wilt needs invest thee with my honours
Before thy hour be ripe ? O foolish youth !
Thou seek'st the greatness that will overwhelm thee.
Stay but a little, for my cloud of dignity
Is held from falling with so weak a wind loo
That it will quickly drop ; my day is dim.
Thou hast stolen that which after some few hours
Were thine without offence, and at my death
Thou hast seal'd up my expectation ;
Thy life did manifest them lov'dst me not,
And thou wilt have me die assur'd of it.
Thou hid'st a thousand daggers in thy thoughts,
Which thou hast whetted on thy stony heart,
To stab at half an hour of my life.
What ! canst thou not forbear me half an hour? no
Then get thee gone and dig my grave thyself.
And bid the merry bells ring to thine ear
That thou art crowned, not that I am dead.
Let all the tears that should bedew my hearse
Be drops of balm to sanctify thy head.
Scene V] Second Part of King Henry IV 123
Only compound me with forgotten dust ;
Give that which gave thee hfe unto the worms.
Pkick down my officers, break my decrees ;
For now a time is come to mock at form.
Harry the Fifth is crown'd ! up, vanity ! 120
Down, royal state ! all you sage counsellors, hence !
And to the English court assemble now.
From every region, apes of idleness ! —
Now, neighbour confines, purge you of your scum !
Have you a ruffian that will swear, drink, dance,
Revel the night, rob, murther, and commit
The oldest sins the newest kind of ways?
Be happy, he will trouble you no more ;
England shall double gild his treble guilt,
England shall give him office, honour, might ; 130
For the fifth Harry from curb'd hcense plucks
The muzzle of restraint, and the wild dog
Shall flesh his tooth on every innocent. —
0 my poor kingdom, sick with civil blows !
^Vhen that my care could not withhold thy riots,
What wilt thou do when riot is thy care ?
O, thou wilt be a wilderness again,
Peopled with wolves, thy old inhabitants !
Prince. O, pardon me, my hege ! but for my tears.
The moist impediments unto my speech, 140
1 had forestall'd this dear and deep rebuke
Ere you with grief had spoke and I had heard
The course of it so far. There is your crown ;
And He that wears the crown immortally
124 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act IV
Long guard it yours ! If I affect it more
Than as your honour and as your renown,
Let me no more from this obedience rise,
Which my most inward true and duteous spirit
Teacheth, this prostrate and exterior bending.
God witness with me, when I here came in, 150
And found no course of breath within your majesty,
How cold it struck my heart ! If I do feign,
O, let me in my present wildness die,
And never live to show the incredulous world
The noble change that I have purposed !
Coming to look on you, thinking you dead.
And dead almost, my liege, to think you were,
I spake unto this crown as having sense,
And thus upbraided it : ' The care on thee depending
Hath fed upon the body of my father ; 160
Therefore, thou best of gold art worst of gold.
Other, less fine in carat, is more precious.
Preserving life in medicine potable ;
But thou, most fine, most honour'd, most renown'd.
Hast eat thy bearer up.' Thus, my most royal liege,
Accusing it, I put it on my head,
To try with it, as with an enemy
That had before my face murther'd my father,
The quarrel of a true inheritor.
But if it did infect my blood with joy 170
Or swell my thoughts to any strain of pride,
If any rebel or vain spirit of mine
Did with the least affection of a welcome
Scene V] Second Part of King Henry IV 125
Give entertainment to the might of it,
Let God for ever keep it from my head,
And make me as the poorest vassal is
That doth with awe and terror kneel to it !
King. O my son,
God put it in thy mind to take it hence,
That thou mightst win the more thy father's love, .180
Pleading so wisely in excuse of it !
Come hither, Harry, sit thou by my bed ;
And hear, I think, the very latest counsel
That ever I shall breathe. God knows, my son,
By what by-paths and indirect crook'd ways
I met this crown ; and I myself know well
How troublesome it sat upon my head.
To thee it shall descend with better quiet,
Better opinion, better confirmation ;
For all the soil of the achievement goes 190
With me into the earth. It seem'd in me
But as an honour snatch'd with boisterous hand,
And I had many living to upbraid
My gain of it by their assistances,
Which daily grew to quarrel and to bloodshed.
Wounding supposed peace. All these bold fears
Thou see'st with peril I have answered.
For all my reign hath been but as a scene
Acting that argument ; and now my death
Changes the mode, for what in me was purchas'd, 200
Falls upon thee in a more fairer sort,
So thou the garland wear'st successively.
126 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act iv
Yet, though thou stand'st more sure than I could do,
Thou art not firm enough, since griefs are green ;
And all my friends, which thou must make thy friends,
Have but their stings and teeth newly ta'en out,
By whose fell working I was first advanc'd
And by whose power I well might lodge a fear
To be again displac'd, which to avoid,
I cut them off, and had a purpose now 210
To lead out many to the Holy Land,
Lest rest and lying still might make them look
Too near unto my state. Therefore, my Harry,
Be it thy course to busy giddy minds
With foreign quarrels, that action, hence borne out,
May waste the memory of the former days.
More would I, but my lungs are wasted so
That strength of speech is utterly denied me. —
How I came by the crown, O God forgive,
And grant it may with thee in true peace live ! 220
Prince. My gracious liege,
You won it, wore it, kept it, gave it me ;
Then plain and right must my possession be,
Which I with more than with a common pain
'Gainst all the world will rightfully maintain.
Enter Prince John of Lancaster
King. Look, look, here comes my John of Lancaster.
Lancaster. Health, peace, and happiness to my royal
father !
Scene V] Second Part of King Henry IV 127
King. Thou bring'st me happiness and peace, son
John,
But health, alack, with youthful wings is flown
From this bare wither'd trunk ; upon thy sight 230
My worldly business makes a period.
Where is my Lord of Warwick ?
Prince. My Lord of Warwick !
Enter Warwick, and others
King. Doth any name particular belong
Unto the lodging where I first did swoon?
Warwick. 'T is call'd Jerusalem, my noble lord.
King. Laud be to God ! even there my life must end.
It has been prophesied to me many years
I should not die but in Jerusalem,
Which vainly I suppos'd the Holy Land. —
But bear me to that chamber ; there I '11 lie, 240
In that Jerusalem shall Harry die. \_Exeunt.
■//////■.rt^
Hall in Shallow's House
ACT V
Scene I. Gloucestershire. Shallow'' s House.
Enter Shallow, Falstaff, Bardolph, and Page
Shallow. By cock and pie, sir, you shall not away
to-night. — What, Davy, I say !
Falstaff. You must excuse me, Master Robert
Shallow.
Shalloza. I will not excuse you ;" you shall not be
excused ; excuses shall not be admitted ; there is no
excuse shall serve ; you shall not be excused. — Why,
Davy !
128
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 129
Enter Davy
Davy. Here, sir.
Shalloiv. Davy, Davy, Davy, Davy, let me see, Davy ; 10
let me see, Davy ; let me see : yea, marry, William cook,
bid him come hither. — Sir John, you shall not be ex-
cused,
Davy. Marry, sir, thus : those precepts cannot be
served ; — and, again, sir, shall we sow the headland
with wheat?
Shalioia. With red wheat, Davy. But for William
cook ; — are there no young pigeons ?
Davy. Yes, sir. — Here is now the smith's note for
shoeing and plough-irons. 20
Shallow. Let it be cast and paid. — Sir John, you
shall not be excused.
Da-oy. Now, sir, a new link to the bucket must
needs be had ; — and, sir, do you mean to stop any
of William's wages, about the sack he lost the other
day at Hinckley fair?
Shallozv. A' shall answer it. — Some pigeons, Davy,
a couple of short-legged hens, a joint of mutton, and
any pretty little tiny kickshaws, tell William cook.
Davy. Doth the man of war stay all night, sir? 30
Shallow. Yea, Davy. I will use him well ; a friend
i' court is better than a penny in purse. Use his men
well, Davy ; for they are arrant knaves, and will
backbite.
Davy. No worse than they are backbitten, sir ; for
they have marvellous foul linen.
2 HENRY IV — 9
130 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act V
Shallow. Well conceited, Davy. About thy busi-
ness, Davy.
Davy. I beseech you, sir, to countenance William
Visor of Woncot against Clement Perkes of the 40
hill.
Shallotv. There is many complaints, Davy, against
that Visor ; that Visor is an arrant knave, on my
knowledge.
Davy. I grant your worship that he is a knave, sir ;
but yet, God forbid, sir, but a knave should have
some countenance at his friend's request. An honest
man, sir, is able to speak for himself, when a knave is
not. I have served your worship truly, sir, this eight
years ; and if I cannot once or twice in a quarter bear 50
out a knave against an honest man, I have but a very
little credit with your worship. The knave is mine
honest friend, sir ; therefore, I beseech your worship,
let him be countenanced.
Shallow. Go to ; I say he shall have no wrong.
Look about, Davy. — \^Exii Davy.'\ Where are you.
Sir John? Come, come, come, off with your boots.
Give me your hand, Master Bardolph.
Bardolph. I am glad to see your worship.
Shallozv. I thank thee with all my heart, kind Mas- 60
ter Bardolph ; — and welcome, my tall fellow \_to the
Page']. — Come, Sir John.
Falstaff. I '11 follow you, good Master Robert Shal-
low.— [_Exil Shallow.'] Bardolph, look to our horses.
— \_Exeinit Bardolph and Pi-igc] If I were sawed into
Scene I] Second Part of King Henry IV 131
quantities, I should make four dozen of such bearded
hermits' staves as Master Shallow. It is a wonderful
thing to see the semblable coherence of his men's
spirits and his : they, by observing of him, do bear
themselves Hke foohsh justices; he, by conversing 70
with them, is turned into a justice-Uke serving-man.
Their spirits are so married in conjunction with the
participation of society that they flock together in
consent, like so many wild-geese. If I had a suit to
Master Shallow, I would humour his men with the im-
putation of being near their master; if to his men, I
would curry with Master Shallow that no man could
better command his servants. It is certain that either
wise bearing or ignorant carriage is caught, as men
take diseases, one of another ; therefore let men take 80
heed of their company. I will devise matter enough
out of this Shallow to keep Prince Harry in continual ./.
laughter the wearing out of six fashions, which is four
terms, or two actions, and a' shall laugh without inter-
vallums. O, it is much that a he with a slight oath
and a jest with a sad brow will do with a fellow that
never had the ache in his shoulders ! O, you shall
see him laugh till his face be like a wet cloak ill laid
up !
Shalloiu. [ Withvi] Sir John ! 90
Fahtaff. I come, Master Shallow ; I come, Master
Shallow. \_Exit.
132 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act v
Scene II. Westmmster. The Palace
Enter Warwick and the Lord Chief-Justice, meetijjg
Wai-wick. How now, my lord chief-justice ! whither
away ?
Chief-Justice. How doth the king?.
Warwick. Exceeding well; his cares are now all
ended.
Chief-Justice. I hope, not dead.
Warwick. He 's walk'd the way of nature,
And to our purposes he lives no more.
Chief Justice. I would his majesty had call'd me with
him ;
The service that I truly did his life
Hath left me open to all injuries.
Warwick. Indeed I think the young king loves you
not.
Chief Justice. I know he doth not, and do arm
myself 10
To welcome the condition of the time.
Which cannot look more hideously upon me
Than I have drawn it in my fantasy.
Enter Lancaster, Clarence, Gloucester, Westmore-
land, and others^
Warwick. Here come the heavy issue of dead Harry.
O that the living Harry had the temper
Of him, the worst of these three gentlemen 1
Scene II] Secoild Part of King Henry IV 133
How many nobles then should hold their places,
That must strike sail to spirits of vile sort !
Chief- Justice. O God, I fear all will be overturn 'd !
Lancaster. Good morrow, cousin Warwick, good mor-
row. 20
Gloucester. ) „ ,
^, - Good morrow, cousui.
Clarence. )
Lancaster. We meet like men that had forgot to speak.
IVanuick. We do remember, but our argument
Is all too heavy to admit much talk.
Lancaster. Well, peace be with him that hath made
us heavy !
Chief-Justice. Peace be with us, lest we be heavier !
Gloucester. O, good my lord, you have lost a friend
indeed !
And I dare swear you borrow not that face
Of seeming sorrow, it is sure your own.
Lancaster. Though no man be assur'd what grace to
find, 30
You stand in coldest expectation.
I am the sorrier ; would 't were otherwise.
Clarence. Well, you must now speak Sir John Falstaff
fair.
Which swims against your stream of quality.
Chief-Justice. Sweet princes, what I did I did in hon-
our,
Led by the impartial conduct of my soul ;
And never shall you see that I will beg
A ragged and forestall'd remission.
134 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act V
If truth and upright innocency fail me,
I '11 to the king my master that is dead, 40
And tell him who hath sent me after him.
Warwick. Here comes the prince.
Enter King Henry the P'ifth, attended
Chief-Justice. Good morrow; and God save your
majesty !
King. This new and gorgeous garment, majesty,
Sits not so easy on me as you think. —
Brothers, you mix your sadness with some fear.
This is the English, not the Turkish court ;
Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds.
But Harry Harry. Yet be sad, good brothers,
For, by my faith, it very well becomes you. 50
Sorrow so royally in you appears
That I will deeply put the fashion on
And wear it in my heart. Why then, be sad ;
But entertain no more of it, good brothers.
Than a joint burden laid upon us all.
For me, by heaven, I bid you be assur'd,
I '11 be your father and your brother too ;
Let me but bear your love, I '11 bear your cares.
Yet weep that Harry 's dead, and so will I ;
But Harry lives that shall convert those tears 60
By number into hours of happiness.
Princes. We hope no other from your majesty.
King. You all look strangely on me, — and you most ;
You are, I think, assur'd I love you not.
Scene II] Second Part of King Henry IV 135
Chief-Justice. I am assur'd, if I be measur'd rightly,
Your majesty hath no just cause to hate me.
King. No?
How might a prince of my great hopes forget
So great indignities you laid upon me ?
What ! rate, rebuke, and roughly send to prison 70
The immediate heir of England ! Was this easy?
May this be wash'd in Lethe and forgotten?
Chief -Justice. I then did use the person of your father,
The image of his power lay then in me ;
And, in the administration of his law,
Whiles I was busy for the commonwealth.
Your highness pleased to forget my place,
The majesty and power of law and justice.
The image of the king whom I presented.
And struck me in my very seat of judgment; 80
Whereon, as an offender to your father,
I gave bold way to my authority
And did commit you. If the deed were ill.
Be you contented, wearing now the garland,
To have a son set your degrees at nought,
To pluck down justice from your awful bench.
To trip the course of law, and blunt the sword
That guards the peace and safety of your person,
Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image
And mock your workings in a second body. 90
Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours :
Be now the father and propose a son,
Hear your own dignity so much profan'd,
136 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act V
See your most dreadful laws so loosely slighted,
Behold yourself so by a son disdain'd,
And then imagine me taking your part
And in your power soft silencing your son.
After this cold considerance, sentence me ;
And, as you are a king, speak in your state
What I have done that misbecame my place, 100
My person, or my liege's sovereignty.
King. You are right, justice, and you weigh this well ;
Therefore still bear the balance and the sword,
And I do wish your honours may increase
Till you do live to see a son of mine
Offend you and obey you, as I did.
So shall I live to speak my father's words :
' Happy am I, that have a man so bold
That dares do justice on my proper son ;
And not less happy, having such a son no
That would deliver up his greatness so
Into the hands of justice.' You did commit me,
For which I do commit into your hand
Th' unstained sword that you have us'd to bear ;
With this remembrance, — that you use the same
With the like bold, just, and impartial spirit
As you have done 'gainst me. There is my hand.
You shall be as a father to my youth ;
My voice shall sound as you do prompt mine ear,
And I will stoop and humble my intents 120
To your well-practis'd wise directions. —
And, princes all, believe me, I beseech you ;
Scene III] Second Part of King Henry IV 137
My father is gone wild into his grave,
For in his tomb lie my affections,
And with his spirit sadly I survive,
To mock the expectation of the world.
To frustrate prophecies and to raze out
Rotten opinion, who hath writ me down
After my seeming. The tide of blood in me
Hath proudly flow'd in vanity till now ; 130
Now doth it turn and ebb back to the sea,
Where it shall mingle with the state of floods
And flow henceforth in formal majesty.
Now call we our high court of parliament.
And let us choose such limbs of noble counsel
That the great body of our state may go
In equal rank with the best govern'd nation,
That war, or peace, or both at once, may be
As things acquainted and familiar to us ; —
In which you, father, shall have foremost hand. — 140
Our coronation done, we will accite,
As I before remember'd, all our state;
And, God consigning to my good intents,
No prince nor peer shall have just cause to say,
God shorten Harry's happy life one day ! \_Exeunf.
Scene III. Gloucestershire. Shallow's Orchard
Enter Falstaff, Shallow, Silence, Davy, Bardolph,
ajid the Page
Shallow. Nay, you shall see my orchard, where, in
an arbour, we will eat a last year's pippin of my own
138 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act V
graffing, witli a dish of caraways, and so forth ; — come,
cousin Silence ; — and then to bed.
Falsiaff. Fore God, you have here a goodly dwell-
ing and a rich.
Shallow. Barren, barren, barren ; beggars all, beg-
gars all. Sir John ; marry, good air. — Spread, Davy ;
spread, Davy. Well said, Davy.
Falsiaff. This Davy serves you for good uses ; he is 10
your serving-man and your husband.
Shallo7v. A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good
varlet. Sir John — by the mass, I have drunk too much
sack at supper ! — a good varlet. — Now sit down, now
sit down. — Come, cousin.
Silence. Ah, sirrah ! quoth-a, we shall \_Sings]
Do nothing but eat, and make good cheer.
And praise God for the merry year ;
When flesh is cheap and females dear,
And lusty lads roam here and there 20
So merrily,
And ever among so merrily.
Falsfaff. There 's a merry heart ! — Good Master
Silence, I '11 give you a health for that anon.
Shallow. Give Master Bardolph some wine, Davy.
Daiy. Sweet sir, sit ; I '11 be with you anon ; most
sweet sir, sit. — Master page, good master page, sit.
Proface ! What you want in meat,- we 'Ih have in
drink. But you must bear ; the heart 's all. \_Exit.
Shallow. Be merry, Master Bardolph; — and, my 30
litde soldier there, be merry.
Scene III] Second Part of King Henry IV 139
Silence. [Sings]
Be merry, be merry, my wife has all.
For women are shi'etvs, both sho?-t and tall ;
^T is fnerry in hall when beards wag all,
And welcome merry Shrove-tide.
Be merry, be merry.
Falstaff. I did not think ]\laster Silence had been
a man of this mettle.
Silence. Who, I? I have been merry twice and
once ere now. 40
Re-enter Davy
Davy. There 's a dish of leather-coats for you.
\To Bjxrdolph.
Shallow. Davy !
Davy. Your worship ! — I '11 be with you straight
\to Bardolph'\. — A cup of wine, sir?
Siiejice. [Sings]
A cup of wine that's brisk and fine,
And drink unto the leman mine ;
And a merry heart lives long-a.
Falstaff. Well said, Master Silence.
Silence. An we shall be merry, now comes in the
sweet o' the night. 50
Falstaff. Health and long life to you. Master Silence.
Silence. [Sings]
Fill the cup, and let it come ;
I'' II pledge you a mile to the bottom.
Shallow. Honest Bardolph, welcome ; if thou want-
est any thing and will not call, beshrew thy heart. —
140 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act v
Welcome, my little tiny thief [/o the Page\ and wel-
come indeed too. — I '11 drink to Master Bardolph, and
to all the cavaleros about London.
Davy. I hope to see London once ere I die.
Bardolph. An I might see you there, Davy, — 60
Shallow. By the mass, you '11 crack a quart together,
ha ! will you not. Master Bardolph?
Bardolph. Yea, sir, in a pottle-pot.
Shallow. By God's liggens, I thank thee. — The
knave will stick by thee, I can assure thee that. A'
will not out ; he is true bred.
Bardolph. And I '11 stick by him, sir.
Shallotv. Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing ;
be merry. — \_Kiiocking unlhin.'] Look who 's at door
there. — Ho! who knocks? \_Exit Davy. 70
Falstaff. Why, now you have done me right.
[ To Silence, seeing him take off a bumper.
Silence. [Sings] Do me right,
And dub me knight ;
Samingo.
Is 't not so?
Falstaff. 'T is so.
Silence. Is 't so ? Why then, say an old man can
do somewhat.
Re-enter Davy
Davy. An 't please your worship, there 's one Pistol
come from the court with news. 80
Falstaff. From the court ! let him come in. —
Scene III] Second Part of King Henry IV 141
Enter Pistol
How now, Pistol !
Pistol. Sir John, God save you !
Falstaff. What wind blew you hither, Pistol?
Pistol. Not the ill wind which blows no man to
good. Sweet knight, thou art now one of the greatest
men in this realm.
Silence. By 'r lady, I think a' be, but goodman Puff
of Barson.
Pistol. Puff! 9°
Puff in thy teeth, most recreant coward base ! —
Sir John, I am thy Pistol and thy friend,
And helter-skelter have I rode to thee.
And tidings do I bring, and lucky joys,
And golden times, and happy news of price.
Falstaff. I pray thee now, deliver them like a man
of this world.
Pistol. A foutra for the world and worldlings base !
I speak of Africa and golden joys.
Falstaff. O base Assyrian knight, what is thy news !
Let King Cophetua know the truth thereof. loi
Silence. [Sings] And Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John.
Pistol. Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons?
And shall good news be baffled?
Then, Pistol, lay thy head in Furies' lap.
Silence. Honest gentleman, I know not your breed-
ing.
Pistol. Why then, lament therefore.
142 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act v
S/ia/Ami. Give me pardon, sir. — If, sir, you come
with news from the court, I take it there's but two no
ways, — either to utter them, or to conceal them. 1
am, sir, under the Icing in some authority.
Pistol. Under which king, bezonian? speak, or die.
Shallow. Under King Harry.
Pistol. Harry the Fourth? or Fifth?
Shalhnu. Harry the Fourth.
Pistol. A foutra for thine office ! —
Sir John, thy tender lambkin now is king ;
Harry the Fifth 's the man. I speak the truth ;
When Pistol lies, do this, and fig me, hke
The bragging Spaniard.
Falstaff. What, is the old king dead? 120
Pistol. As nail in door; the things I speak are just.
Falstaff. Away, Bardolph ! saddle my horse. —
Master Robert Shallow, choose what office thou wilt
in the landjJUsJhine. — Pistol, I will double-charge
thee with dignities.
Bardolph. O joyful day ! — I would not take a
knighthood for my fortune.
Pistol. What ! I do bring good news?
Falstaff. Carry Master Silence to bed. — Master
Shallow, my Lord Shallow, — be what thou wilt ; I am 130
fortune's steward — get on thy boots; we'll ride all
night. — O sweet Pistol ! — Away, Bardolph ! — \_Exit
Bardolph?^ Come, Pistol, utter more to me ; and
withal devise something to do thyself good. — Boot,
boot, Master Shallow; I know the young king is sick
Scene IV] Second Part of King Henry IV 143
for me. Let us take any man's horses ; the laws of
England are at my commandment. Blessed are they
that have been my friends, and woe t^olSy lord chief-
justice !
Pistol. Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also ! 140
'Where is the life that late I led?' say they :
Why, here it is ; welcome these pleasant days ! \_Exeunf.
Scene IV. London. A Street
Enter Beadles, dragging in Hostess Quickly and Doll
Tearsheet
Hostess. No, thou arrant knave, I would to God
that I might die, that I might have thee hanged ; thou
hast drawn my shoulder out of joint.
I Beadle. The constables have delivered her over to
me, and she shall have whipping-cheer enough, I war-
rant her ; there hath been a man or two lately killed
aljout her.
Doll. Nut-hook, nut-hook, you lie. Come on, thou
damned tripe-visaged rascal, thou paper-faced villain.
Hostess. O the Lord, that Sir John would come ! he 10
would make this a bloody day to somebody.
I Beadle. Come, I charge you both go with me ;
for the man is dead that you and Pistol beat amongst
you.
Doll. I '11 tell you what, you thin man in a censer, I
will have you as soundly swinged for this, — you blue-
bottle rogue, you filthy famished correctioner, if you
be not swinged, I '11 forswear half-kirtles.
144 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act V
I Beadle. Come, come, you she knight-errant, come.
Hostess. O God, that right should thus overcome
might ! Well, of sufferance comes ease. 21
Doll. Come, you rogue, come; bring me to a jus-
tice.
Hostess. Ay, come, you starved blood-hound.
Doll. Goodman death, goodman bones !
Hostess. Thou atomy, thou !
Doll. Come, you thin thing ; come, you rascal.
I Beadle. Very well. \_Exeunt.
Scene V. A Public Place near Westminster Abbey
Enter two Grooms, stretaing rushes
1 Groom. More rushes, more rushes.
2 Groom. The trumpets have sounded twice.
I Groom. 'T will be two o'clock ere they come
from the coronation. Dispatch, dispatch. \_Exeiint.
Enter Falstaff, Shallow, Pistol, Bardolph, and Page
Falstaff. Stand here by me. Master Robert Shallow ;
T will make the king do you grace. I will leer upon
him as a' comes by ; and do but mark the counte-
nance that he will give me.
Pistol. God bless thy lungs, good knight !
Falstaff. Come here, Pistol ; stand behind me. — 10
O, if I had had time to have mad-e new hveries, I
would have bestowed the thousand pound I borrowed
of you. But 't is no matter, this poor show doth bet-
ter ; this doth infer the zeal I had to see him.
Scene V] Second Part of King Henry IV 145
Shallow. It doth so.
Fills taff. It shows my earnestness of affection, —
Shallow. It doth so.
■ Falstaff. My devotion, —
Shallow. It doth, it doth, it doth.
Falstaff. As it were, to ride day and night; and 20
not to deUberate, not to remember, not to have pa-
tience to shift me, —
Shallow. It is best, certain.
Falstaff. But to stand stained with travel, and
sweating with desire to see him ; thinking of nothing
else, putting all affairs else in oblivion, as if there were
nothing else to be done but to see him.
Pistol. 'T is semper idem, for obsque hoc nihil est;
't is all in every part.
Shalloiv. 'T is so, indeed. 3°
Pistol. j\Iy knight, I will inflame my noble liver,
And make thee rage.
Thy Doll, and Helen of thy noble thoughts,
Is in base durance and contagious prison ;
Hal'd thither
By most mechanical and dirty hand. —
Rouse up revenge from ebon den with fell Alecto's
snake,
For Doll is in. Pistol speaks nought but truth.
Falstaff. I will deliver her.
\Shoiit withiti, and the tni^npets sound.
Pistol. There roar'd the sea, and trumpet- clangor
sounds. 40
2 HENRY IV — 10
146 Second Part of King Henry IV" [Act v
E7iter the King ami his train, the Lord Chief-Justice
among them
Falstaff. God save thy grace, King Hal ! my royal
Hal!
Pistol. The heavens thee guard and keep, most royal
imp of fame !
Falstaff. God save thee, my sweet boy !
King. My lord chief-justice, speak to that vain man.
Chief -Justice. Have you your wits? know you what
't is you speak?
Falstaff. My king ! my Jove ! I speak to thee, my
heart !
King. I know thee not, old man ; fall to thy prayers.
How ill white hairs become a fool and jester !
I have long dream'd of such a kind of man,
So surfeit-swell'd, so old, and so profane ; 50
But, being awak'd, I do despise my dream.
Make less thy body hence, and more thy grace ;
Leave gormandizing ; know the grave doth gape
For thee thrice wider than for other men. ' / .
Reply not to me with a fool-born jest.
Presume not that I am the thing I was.
For God doth know, so shall the world perceive,
That I have turn'd away my former self;
So will I those that kept me company.
When thou dost hear I am as I have been, 60
Approach me, and thou shalt be as thou wast,
The tutor and the feeder of my riots ;
Scene V] Second Part of King Henry IV 147
Till then, I banish thee, on pain of death.
As I have done the rest of my misleaders,
Not to come near our person by ten mile.
For competence of life I will allow you,
That lack of means enforce you not to evil;
And, as we hear you do reform yourselves.
We will, according to your strengths and qualities.
Give you advancement. — Be it your charge, my lord,
\^To Chief -Justice.
To see perform'd the tenor of our word. — 71
Set on. \_Exeiint King, etc.
Falstaff. Master Shallow, I owe you a thousand
pound.
Shalhnv. Yea, marry, Sir John, which I beseech
you to let me have home with me.
Falstaff. That can hardly be, Master Shallow. Do
not you grieve at this ; I shall be sent for in private
to him. Look you, he must seem thus to the world.
Fear not your advancements ; I will be the man yet
that shall make you great. 81
Shallow. I cannot well perceive how, unless you
should give me your doublet and stuff me out with
straw. I beseech you, good Sir John, let me have five
hundred of my thousand.
Falstaff. Sir, I will be as good as my word ; this
that you heard was but a colour.
Shalloiv. A colour that I fear you will die in,
Sir John.
Falstaff. Fear no colours ; go with me to dinner. —
148 Second Part of King Henry IV [Act v
Come, Lieutenant Pistol ; — come, Bardolph. — I sliall
be sent for soon at night. 92
Re-enie?- Prince John, the Lord Chief-Justice ; Officers
with them
Chief-Justice. Go carry Sir John Falstaff to the Fleet.
Take all his company along with him.
Fa/staff. My lord, my lord, —
Chief-Justice. I cannot now speak ; I will hear you
soon.
Take them away.
Pistol. Si fortuna me tormento, spera me contento.
\_Excuiit all but Prince John and the Chief -Justice.
Lancaster. I like this fair proceeding of the king's.
He hath intent his wonted followers 100
Shall all be very well provided for ;
But all are banish'd till their conversations
Appear more wise and modest to the world.
Chief Justice. And so they are.
Lancaster. The king hath call'd his parliament, my
lord.
Chief Justice. He hath.
Lancaster. I will lay odds that, ere this year expire,
We bear our civil swords and native fire
As far as France. I heard a bird so sing,
Whose music, to my thinking, pleas'd the king.
Come, will you hence? \_Exeunt.
Epilogue] Second Part of King Henry IV 149
Epilogue
Spoken by a Dancer
First my fear, then my courtesy, last my speech.
My fear is your displeasure, my courtesy my duty,
and my speech to beg your pardons. If you look for
a good speech now, you undo me ; for what I have to
say is of mine own making, and what indeed I should
say will, I doubt, prove mine own marring. But to
the purpose, and so to the venture. Be it known to
you, as it is very well, 1 was lately here in the end of a
displeasing play, to pray your patience for it and to
promise you a better. I meant indeed to pay you 10
with this, — which, if like an ill venture it come un-
luckily home, I break, and you, my gentle creditors,
lose. Here I promised you I would be, and here I
commit my body to your mercies ; bate me some
and I will pay you some, and, as most debtors do,
promise you infinitely.
If my tongue cannot entreat you to acquit me, will
you command me to use my legs? and yet that were
but light payment, to dance out of your debt. But a
good conscience will make any possible satisfaction, 20
and so would I. All the gentlewomen here have for-
given me ; if the gendemen will not, then the gentle-
men do not agree with the gentlewomen, which was
never seen before in such an assembly.
One word more, I beseech you. If you be not too
much cloyed with f.it meat, our humble author will
150 Second Part of King Henry IV [Epilogue
continue the story, with Sir John in it, and make you
merry with fair Katherine of France, where, for any
thing I know, Falstaff shall die of a sweat, unless
already a' be killed with your hard opinions, for Old- 30
castle died a martyr, and this is not the man. My
tongue is weary ; when my legs are too, I will bid you
good night, — and so kneel down before you ; but,
indeed, to pray for the queen.
NOTES
Flagons, Etc.
NOTES
Introduction
The Metre of the Play. — It should be understood at the
outset that metre, or the mechanism of verse, is something alto-
gether distinct from the music of verse. The one is matter of rule,
the other of taste and feeling. Music is not an absolute necessity
of verse ; the metrical form is a necessity, being that which consti-
tutes the verse.
The plays of Shakespeare (with the exception of rhymed pas-
sages, and of occasional songs and interludes) are all in unrhymed
or blank verse ; and the normal form of this blank verse is illus-
trated by the second line of the present play : " The vent of hearing
when loud Rumour speaks."
This line, it will be seen, consists of ten syllables, with the even
syllables (2d, 4th, 6th, 8th, and loth) accented, the odd syllables
(ist, 3d, etc.) being unaccented. Theoretically, it is made up of
five y^^/ of two syllables each, with the accent on the second sylla-
ble. Such a foot is called an iambus (plural, iambuses, or the
Latin iambi), and the form of verse is called iambic.
153
154 Notes
This fundamental law of Shakespeare's verse is subject to certain
modifications, the most important of which are a*s follows : —
1. After the tenth syllable an unaccented syllable (or even two
such syllables) may be added, forminj^ what is sometimes called a
female line ; as in line i6 : " Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjec-
tures." The rhythm is complete with the second syllable of con-
jectures, the third being an extra eleventh syllable. In iv. 2. 30 we
have two extra syllables, the rhythm being complete with the first
syllable of Lancaster.
2. The accent in any part of the verse may be shifted from an
even to an odd syllable ; as in the first line of the play : " Open
your ears," etc.; and the fourth line: "Making the wind my post-
horse," etc. In both lines the accent is shifted from the second
to the first syllable. This change occurs very rarely in the tenth
syllable, and seldom in the fourth ; and it is not allowable in two
successive accented syllables.
3. An extra unaccented syllable may occur in any part of the
line ; as in lines 3, 6, and 19. In 3 the second syllable of orient
is superfluous ; in 6 the third syllable of continual ; and in 19 the
second of wavering.
4. Any unaccented syllable, occurring in an even place immedi-
ately before or after an even syllable which is properly accented, is
reckoned as accented for the purposes of the verse ; as, for instance,
in lines 9 and 23, In 9 the last syllable of enmity, and in 23 that
of victory, are metrically equivalent to accented syllables ; and so
with the third syllable of Shrewsbury in 24 and 34, and the fourth
of Northumberland in 36.
5. In many instances in Shakespeare words must be lengthened
in order to fill out the rhythm : —
(«) In a large class of words in which 4 or i is followed by
another vowel, the e or i is made a separate syllable ; as ocean,
opinion, soldier, patience, partial, marriage, etc. For instance,
line 26 of this play appears to have only nine syllables, but rebellion
is a quadrisyllable, as in i. I. 50 below. Other instances of the
Notes 155
kind (for which see the notes) are action, imagination, destruction,
expectation, ocean, occasion, commission, partition, valiant, etc.
This lengthening occurs most frequently at the end of the line.
(^) Many monosyllables ending in r, re, rs, res, preceded by a
long vowel or diphthong, are often made dissyllables ; 2.% fare, fear,
dear, fire, hair, hour, more, your, etc. If the word is repeated in
a verse, it is often both monosyllable and dissyllable ; as in M. of
V. iii. 2. 20: "And so, though yours, not yours. Prove it so,"
where either jv^wj (preferably the first) is a dissyllable, the other
being a monosyllable. In/. C. iii. I. 172: "As fire drives out fire,
so pity, pity," the first fire is a dissyllable.
(f) Words containing / or r, preceded by another consonant,
are often pronounced as if a vowel came between or after the
consonants ; as in iv. i. 161 : "A rotten case abides no handling"
[handl(e)ing] ; T. of S. ii. i. 158 : " While she did call me rascal
fiddler " [fiddl(e)er] ; Alfs Well, iii. 5. 43 = " If you will tarry, holy
pilgrim" [pilg(e)rim]; C. of E. v. i. 360: "These are the parents
of these children" (childeren, the original form of the word);
W. T. iv. 4. 76: "Grace and remembrance [rememb(e) ranee] be
to you both ! " etc.
{d) Monosyllabic exclamations {ay, O, yea, nay, hail, etc.) and
monosyllables otherwise emphasized are similarly lengthened ; also
some longer words, as commandement in M. of V. iv. i. 451 ; safety
(trisyllable) in Ham. i. 3. 21; business (trisyllable, as originally
pronounced) in/. C. iv. i. 22: "To groan and sweat under the
business" (so in several other passages); and other words men-
tioned in the notes to the plays in which they occur.
6. Words are also contracted for metrical reasons, like plurals
and possessives ending in a sibilant, as corpse (plural ; as in i. I.
192), balance, horse (for horses and horse's), princess, sense, mar-
riage (plural and possessive), iviage, etc. So with many adjectives
in the superlative (like cold'st, stern' st, kindest, secrefst, etc.), and
certain other words.
7. The accent of words is also varied in many instances for
156 Notes
metrical reasons. Thus we find both 7'!veiiiie and revenue in the
first scene of M. iV. D. (lines 6 and 15S), cdiifme (noun) and con-
fine, mdture and maitire, pursue and pursue, distinct and distinct,
etc.
These instances of variable accent must not be confounded with
those in which words were uniformly accented differently in the
time of Shakespeare ; like aspect, impdrtune, sepi'dchre (verb),
persever (never persei'ere), perseverance, rheiimatic, etc.
8. Alexandrines, or verses of twelve syllables, with six accents,
occur here and there in the plays. They must not be confounded
with female lines with two extra syllables (see on i above) or with
other lines in which two extra unaccented syllables may occur.
9. Incomplete verses, of one or more syllables, are scattered
through the plays. See iii. i. 37, 57, iv. i. i, iv. 2. loi, in, etc.
10. Doggerel measure is used in the very earliest comedies (Z. Z.
Z. and C. of E. in particular) in the mouths of comic characters,
but nowhere else in those plays, and never anywhere in plays
written after 1598.
11. Rhyme occurs frequently in the early plays, but diminishes
with comparative regularity from that period until the latest.
Thus, in Z. L. Z. there are about iioo rhyming verses (about
one-third of the whole number), in M. A^. D. about 900, in
Rich. II. and R. and J. about 500 each, while in Cor. and A.
and C. there are only about 40 each, in Temp, only two, and in
VV. T. none at all, except in the chorus introducing act iv. Songs,
interludes, and other matter not in ten-syllable measure are not
included in this enumeration. In the present play, out of some
1500 ten-syllable verses, only about 50 are in rhyme.
Alternate rhymes are found only in plays written before 1599 or
1600. In M. of V. there are only four linss at the end of iii. 2.
In Much Ado and A. Y. Z., we also find a few lines, but none at all
in this and subsequent plays.
Rhymed couplets, or "rhyme-tags" are often found at the end of
scenes ; as in 8 of the 19 scenes of the present play. In Ham.
Notes 157
14 out of 20 scenes, and in Macb. 21 out of 28, have such "tags ;"
but in the latest plays they are not so frequent. In Temp., for
instance, there is but one, and in IV. T. none.
12. In this edition of Shakespeare, the final -ed of past tenses
and participles iii verse is printed -d when the word is to be
pronounced in the ordinary way; as in prepared, line 12, and
rumour''d, line 33, of the induction to this play. But when the
metre requires that the -ed be made a separate syllable, the e is
retained; as in commenced, line 5, where the word is a trisyllable.
The only variation from this rule is in verbs like c}y, die, sue, etc.,
the -ed of which is very rarely, if ever, made a separate syllable.
Shakespeare's Use of Verse and Prose in the Plays. —
This is a subject to which the critics have given very little atten-
tion, but it is an interesting study. This play has scenes entirely
in verse or in prose, and others in which the two are mixed.
In general, we may say that verse is used for what is distinctly
poetical, and prose for what is not poetical. The distinction, how-
ever, is not so clearly marked in the earlier as in the later plays.
The second scene of RI. of V., for instance, is in prose, because
Portia and Nerissa are talking about the suitors in a famihar
and playful way ; but in T. G. of V., where Julia and Lucetta are
discussing the suitors of the former in much the same fashion, the
scene is in verse. Dowden, commenting on Kick. II., remarks :
" Had Shakespeare written the play a few years later, we may be
certain that the gardener and his servants (iii. 4) would not have
uttered stately speeches in verse, but would have spoken homely
prose, and that humour would have mingled with the pathos of the
scene. The same remark may be made with reference to the sub-
sequent scene (v. 5) in which his groom visits the dethroned king
in the Tower." Comic characters and those in low life generally
speak in prose in the later plays, as Dowden intimates, but in the
very earliest ones doggerel verse is much used instead. See on 10
above.
The change from prose to verse is well illustrated in the third
.J8
Notes
scene of AI. of V. It begins with plain prosaic talk about a busi-
ness matter ; but when Antonio enters, it rises at once to the
higher level of poetry. The sight of Antonio reminds Shylock of
his hatred of the Merchant, and the passion expresses itself in verse,
the vernacular tongue of poetry. We have a similar change in
the first scene ofy. C, where, after the quibbling "chaff" of the
mechanics about their trades, the mention of Pompey reminds the
Tribune of their plebeian fickleness, and his scorn and indignation
flame out in most eloquent verse.
The reasons for the choice of prose or verse are not always so
clear as in these instances. We are seldom puzzled to explain the
prose, but not unfrequently we meet with verse where we might
expect prose. As Professor Corson remarks (^Introduction to Shake-
speare, 1889), "Shakespeare adopted verse as the general tenor of
his language, and therefore expressed much in verse that is within
the capabilities of prose ; in other words, his verse constantly en-
croaches upon the domain of prose, but his prose can never be said
to encroach upon the domain of verse." If in rare instances we
think we find exceptions to this latter statement, and prose actually
seems to usurp the place of verse, I believe that careful study of
the passage will prove the supposed exception to be apparent rather
than real.
Some Books for Teachers and Students. — A few out of
the many books that might be commended to the teacher and the
critical student are the following: Halliwell-Phillipps's Outlines of
the Life of Shakespeare (7th ed. 1887) ; Sidney Lee's Life of Shake-
speare (1898; for ordinary students the abridged ed. of 1899 is
preferable); Schmidt's Shakespeare Lexicon (3d ed. 1902); Little-
dale's ed. of Dyce's Glossary (1902); Bartlett's Concordance to
Shakespeare (1895); Abbott's Shakespearian Grammar (1873);
Furness's " New Variorum " ed. of the plays (encyclopaedic and
exhaustive); Dowden's Shakspere : LLis Mind and Art (Ameri-
can ed. 1881); Hudson's Life, Art, and Characters of Shakespeare
(revised ed. 1882); Mrs. Jameson's Characteristics of Women
Notes 159
(several eds. ; some with the title, Shakespeare Heroines) ; Ten
'Qnx^'s Five Lectures on Shakespeare {iZg^); Boas's Shakespeare
and His Predecessors (1895); Dyer's Folk-lore of Shakespeare
(American ed. 1884); Gervinus's Shakespeare Commentaries (Bun-
nett's translation, 1875); Wordsworth's Shakespeare's Knowledge
of the Bible (3d ed. 1880); Elson's Shakespeare in Music (1901).
Some of the above books will be useful to all readers who are
interested in special subjects or in general criticism of Shakespeare.
Among those which are better suited to the needs of ordinary
readers and students, the following may be mentioned: Mabie's
William Shakespeare: Poet, Dramatist, and Man (1900); Dow-
den's Shakspere Primer (1877; small but invaluable); Rolfe's
Shakespeare the Boy (1896 ; treating of the home and school life,
the games and sports, the manners, customs, and folk-lore of the
poet's time); Guerber's Myths of Greece and Rome (for young
students who may need information on mythological allusions not
explained in the notes).
H. Snowden ^Yard's Shakespeare's Town and Times (2d ed.
1902) and John Leyland's Shakespeare Country (enlarged ed.
1903) are copiously illustrated books (yet inexpensive) which may
be particularly commended for school libraries ; and W. H. Brass-
ington's Shakespeare's Homeland (1903) deserves similar praise.
Abbreviations in the Notes. — The abbreviations of the
names of Shakespeare's plays will be readily understood ; as
T. N. for Twelfth Night, Cor. for Coriolanus, 3 Hen. VT. for
The Third Part of King Henry the Sixth, etc. P. P. refers to
The Passionate Pilgrim ; V. and A. to Vemis and Adonis ; L. C.
to Lover's Complaint ; and Sonn. to the Sonnets.
Other abbreviations that hardly need explanation are Cf {confer,
compare), Fol. (following), Ld. {idem, the same), and Prol. (pro-
logue). The numbers of the lines in the references (except for the
present play) are those of the " Globe " edition (the cheapest and
best edition of Shakespeare in one compact volume), which is
now generally accepted as the standard for line-numbers in works
i6o Notes
of reference (Schmidt's Lexicon, Abbott's Grammar, Dowden's
Primer, the publications of the New Shakspere Society, etc.).
The Story of the Play as tolu ky IIolinshed. — The
following extracts from Ilolinshed's History of England comprise
all the passages of any importance illustrating the play: —
"The king was minded to have gone into Wales against the
Welsh rebels, that, under their chieftain, Owen Giendower, ceased
not to do much mischief still against the English subjects. But at
the same time, to his further disquieting, there was a conspiracy
put in practice against him at home by the earl of Northumber-
land, who had conspired with Richard Scroope, archbisliop of
York, Thomas Mowbray, earl marshal!, son to Thomas, duke of
Norfolk, who for the quarrel betwixt him and King Henry had
been banished, the lords Hastings, Fauconbridge, Bardolfe, and
diverse others. It was appointed that they should meet alto-
gether with their whole power upon Yorkswold, at a day assigned,
and that the carl of Northumberland should be chieftain, promis-
ing to bring with him a great number of Scots. The archbishop,
accompanied with the earl marshal!, devised certain articles of
such matters as it was supposed that, not only the commonalty
of the realm, but also the nobility, found themselves grieved with :
which articles they showed first unto such of their adherents as
were near about them, and after sent them abroad to their friends
further off, assuring them that, for redress of such oppressions,
they would shed the last drop of blood in their bodies, if need
were.
" The archbishop, not meaning to stay after he saw himself ac-
companied with a great number of men, that came flocking to
York to take his part in this quarrel, forthwith discovered^ his
enterprise, causing the articles aforesaid to'be set up in the public
streets of the city of York, and upon the gates of the monasteries,
that each man might understand the cause that moved him to rise
1 Disclosed, made known ; as in R. and J. iii. i, 147, etc.
Notes 1 6 1
in arms against the king, the reforming whereof did not yet apper-
tain unto him. Hereupon knights, esquires, gentlemen, yeomen,
and other of the commons, as well of the city, towns, and countries
about, being allured either for desire of change, or else for desire
to see a reformation in such things as were mentioned in the arti-
cles, assembled together in great numbers ; and the archbishop
coming forth amongst them, clad in armour, encouraged, exhorted,
and pricked them forth to take the enterprise in hand, and man-
fully to continue in their begun purpose ; promising forgiveness of
sins to all them whose hap it was to die in the quarrel ; and thus,
not only all the citizens of York, but all other in the countries
about that were able to bear weapon, came to the archbishop and
the earl marshall. Indeed, the respect that men had to the arch-
bishop caused them to like the better of the cause, since the grav-
ity of his age, his integrity of life, and incomparable learning, with
the reverend aspect of his amiable personage, moved all men to
have him in no small estimation.
"The king, advertised of these matters, meaning to prevent
them, left his journey into Wales, and marched with all speed
towards the north parts. Also Rafe Nevill, earl of Westmoreland,
that was not far off, together with the lord John of Lancaster, the
king's son, being informed of this rebellious attempt, assembled
together such power as they might make, and together with those
which were appointed to attend on the said lord John, to defend
the borders against the Scots, as the lord Henry Fitzhugh, the lord
Rafe Evers, the lord Robert Umfrevill, and others, made forward
against the rebels, and coming into a plain within the forest of
Galtree, caused their standards to be pitched down in like sort
as the archbishop had pitched his over against them, being far
stronger in number of people than the other, for (as some write)
there were of the rebels at the least twenty thousand men.
" When the earl of Westmoreland perceived the force of the ad-
versaries, and that they lay still and attempted not to come forward
upon him, he subtilly devised how to quail their purpose ; and
2 HENRY IV — II
1 62 Notes
forthwith despatched messengers unto the archbishop, to under-
stand the cause as it were uf that great assembly, and for what
cause (contrary to the king's peace) they came . so in armour.
The archbishop answered, that he took nothing in hand against
the king's peace, but that whatsoever he did tended ratlier to ad-
vance the peace and quiet of the commonwealth than otherwise;
and where he and his company were in arms, it was for fear of the
king, to whom he could have no free access, by reason of such a
multitude of flatterers as were about him ; and therefore he main-
tained that his purpose to be good and profitable, as well for the
king himself as for the realm, if men were willing to understand
the truth ; and herewith he showed forth a scroll, in which the
articles were written whereof before ye have heard.
"The messengers returning to the earl of Westmoreland, showed
him what they had heard and brought from the archbishop. When
he had read the articles, he showed in word and countenance out-
wardly that he liked of the archbishop's holy and virtuous intent
and purpose, promising that he and his would prosecute the same
in assisting the archbishop, who rejoicing hereat gave credit to the
earl, and persuaded the earl marshall (against his will as it were)
to go with him to a place appointed for them to commune to-
gether. Here when they were met with like number on either
part, the articles were read over, and without any more ado the
earl of Westmoreland and those that were with him, agreed to do
their best to see that a reformation might be had, according to the
same.
"The earl of Westmoreland using more policy than the rest:
Well (said he) then our travail is come to the wished end : and
where our people have been long in armour, let them depart home
to their wonted trades and occupations: iq, the meantime let us
drink together in sign of agreement, that the people on both sides
may see it, and know that it is true, that we be light at point.
They had no sooner shaken hands together, but that a knight was
sent straightways from the archbishop, to bring word to the people
Notes 163
that there was peace concluded, commanding each man to lay
aside his arms, and to resort home to their houses. The people
beholding such tokens of peace, as shaking of hands and drinking
together of the lords in loving manner, they being already wearied
with the unaccustomed travail of war, brake up their field and
returned homewards : but in the meantime, whilst the people of
the archbishop's side withdrew away, the number of the contrary
part increased, according to order given by the earl of Westmore-
land ; and yet the archbishop perceived not that he was deceived,
until the earl of Westmoreland arrested both him and the earl mar-
shall with diverse other. Thus saith Walsingham. But others write
somewhat otherwise of this matter, affirming that the earl of West-
moreland indeed, and the lord Rafe Evers, procured the archbishop
and the earl marshall to come to a communication with them, upon
a ground just in the midway betwixt both the armies, where the
earl of Westmoreland in talk declared to them how perilous an en-
terprise they had taken in hand, so as to raise the people, and to
move war against the king ; advising them therefore to submit
themselves without further delay unto the king's mercy, and his
son the lord John, who was present there in the field with ban-
ners spread, ready to try the matter by dint of sword, if they
refused this counsel ; and therefore he willed them to remember
themselves well : and if they would not yield and crave the
king's pardon, he bade them to do their best to defend them-
selves.
" Hereupon as well the archbishop as the earl marshall sub-
mitted themselves unto the king, and to his son the lord John that
was there present, and returned not to their army. Whereupon
their troops scaled and fled their ways ; but being pursued, many
were taken, many slain, and many spoiled of that that they had
about them, and so permitted to go their ways. Howsoever the
matter was handled, true it is that the archbishop and the earl
marshall were brought to Pomfret to the king, who in this mean-
while was advanced thither with his power ; and from thence he
164
Notes
went to York, whither the prisoners were also brought, and there
beheaded the morrow after Whitsunday, in a place without the
city: that is to understand, the archbishop himself, the earl mar-
shall, sir John I.aniplcy, and sir Robert I'knnpton. Unto all wliich
persons though indemnity were promised, yet was the same to none
of them at any hand performed.
"After the king, accordingly as seemed to him good, had ran-
somed and punished by grievous lines the citizens of York (which
had borne armour on their archbishop's side against him), he
departed from York, with an army of thirty and seven thousand
fighting men, furnished with all provision necessary, marching
northwards against the earl of Northumberland. At his coming
to Durham, the lord Hastings, the lord Fauconbridge, sir John
Collevill of the Dale, and sir John Griffith, being convicted of the
conspiracy, were there beheaded. The earl of Northumberland,
hearing that his counsel was betrayed and his confederates brought
to confusion, through too much haste of the archbishop of York,
with three hundred horse got him to Berwick. The king coming
forward quickly, wan the castle of Warkworth. Whereupon the
earl of Northumberland, not thinking himself in surety at Berwick,
fled with the lord Bardolfe into Scotland, where they were received
of David, lord Fleming.
"The earl of Northumberland and the lord Bardolfe, after they
had been in Wales, in France, and Flanders, to purchase aid
against King Henry, were returned back into Scotland, and had
remained there now for the space of a whole year ; and, as their
evil fortune would, whilst the king held a council of the nobility
at London, the said earl of Northumberland and lord Bardolfe in
a dismal hour, with a great power of Scots, returned into England,
recovering diverse of the earl's castles antl signiories ; for the
people in great numbers resorted unto them. The king, advertised
hereof, caused a great army to be assembled, and came forward
with the same towards his enemies ; but ere the king came to
Nottingham, sir Thomas, or (as other copies have) Rafe Rokesby,
Notes 165
sheriff of Yorkshire, assembled the forces of the country to resist
the earl and his power.
" There was a sore encounter and cruel conflict betwixt the par-
ties, but in the end the victory fell to the sheriff. The lord Bar-
dolfe was taken, but sore wounded, so that he shortly after died
of his hurts. As for the earl of Northumberland, he was slain
outright.
" The lord Henry, prince of Wales, eldest son to King Henry,
got knowledge that certain of his father's servants were busy to
give informations against him, whereby discord might arise betwixt
him and his father ; for they put into the king's head, not only
what evil rule (according to the course of youth) the prince kept,
to the offence of many, but also what great resort of people came
to his house, so that the court was nothing furnished with such a
train as daily followed the prince. These tales brought no small
suspicion into the king's head, lest his son would presume to usurp
the crown, he being yet alive ; through which suspicious jealousy,
it was perceived that he favoured not his son as in times past he
had done. The prince, sore offended with such persons as by
slanderous reports souglit, not only to spot his good name abroad
in the realm, but to sow discord also betwixt him and his father,
wrote his letters into every part of the realm, to reprove all such
slanderous devices of those that sought his discredit. And to clear
himself the belter, that the world might understand what wrong
he had to be slandered in such wise, about the feast of Peter and
Paul, to wit, the nine-and-twentieth day of June, he came to the
court, with such a numlier of noblemen and other his friends that
wished him well, as the like train had been seldom seen repairing
to the court at any one time in those days. The court was then
at Westminster, where he being entered into the hall, not one of
his company durst once advance himself further than the fire in
the same hall, notwithstanding they were earnestly requested by
the lords to come higher ; but they, regarding what they had in
commandment of the prince, would not presume to do in any thing
1 66 Notes
contrary thereunto. He himself, only accompanied with those of
the king's house, was straight admitted to the presence of the king
his father, who being at that time grievously diseased, yet caused
himself in his chair to be borne into his privy chamber, where, in
the presence of three or four persons in whom he had most con-
fidence, he commanded the prince to show what he had to say
concerning the cause of his coming.
"The prince kneeling down before his father, said: Most re-
doubted and sovereign lord and father, I am at this time come to
your presence as your liege man, and as your natural son, in all
things to be at your commandment. And where I understand
you have in suspicion my demeanour against your grace, you know
very well, that if I knew any man within this realm of whom you
should stand in fear, my duty were to punish that person, thereby
to remove that grief from your heart. Then how much more ought
I to suffer death, to ease your grace of that grief which you have
of me, being your natural son and liege man ; and to that end I
have this day made myself ready by confession and receiving the
sacrament. And therefore I beseech you, most redoubted lord
and dear father, for the honour of God, to ease your heart of all
such suspicion as you have of me, and to despatch me here before
your knees with this same dagger (and withal he delivered unto
the king his dagger in all humble reverence, adding further, that
his life was not so dear to him that he wished to live one day with
his displeasure) ; and therefore, in thus ridding me out of life, and
yourself from all suspicion, here in presence of these lords, and
before God at the day of the general judgment, I faithfully protest
clearly to forgive you.
"The king, moved herewith, cast from him the dagger, and,
embracing the prince, kissed him, and with shedding tears con-
fessed, that indeed he had him partly in suspicion, though now (as
he perceived) not with just cause ; and therefore from thenceforth
no misreport should cause him to have him in mistrust ; and this
he promised of his honour.
Notes 167
"Thus were the father and the son reconciled, betwixt whom
the said pickthanks had sown division, insomuch thai the son,
upon a vehement conceit of unkindness sprung in the father was
in the way to be worn out of favour ; which was the more likely
to come to pass, by their informations that privily charged him
with riot, and other uncivil demeanour unseemly for a prince. In-
deed, he was youthfully given, grown to audacity, and had chosen
him companions agreeable to his age, with whom he spent the time
in such recreations, exercises, and delights as he fancied. But yet
it should seem (by the report of some writers) that his behaviour
was not offensive, or at least tending to the damage of anybody ;
sith he had a care to avoid doing of wrong, and to tender his affec-
tions within the tract of virtue, whereby he opened unto himself
a ready passage of good liking among the prudent sort, and was
beloved of such as could discern his disposition, which was in no
degree so excessive, as that he deserved in such vehement manner
to be suspected,
" In this fourteenth and last year of King Henry's reign, a coun-
cil was holden in the Whitefriars in London, at the which, among
other things, order was taken for ships and gallies to be builded
and made ready, and all other things necessary to be provided, for
a voyage which he meant to make into the holy land, there to re-
cover the city of Jerusalem from the infidels. For it grieved him
to consider the great malice of Christian princes that were bent
upon a mischievous purpose to destroy one another, to the peril of
their own souls, rather than to make war against the enemies of the
Christian faith, as in conscience (it seemed to him) they were
bound. He held his Christmas this year at Eltham, being sore
vexed with sickness, so that it was thought sometime that he had
been dead ; notwithstanding it pleased God that he somewhat re-
covered his strength again, and so passed that Christmas with as
much joy as he might.
"The morrow after Candlemas day began a parliament which he
had called at London, but he departed this life before the same
1 68 Notes
parliament was ended ; for now that his provisions were ready, and
that he was furnished witli sufficient treasure, soldiers, captains,
victuals, munitions, tall ships, strong gallies, and all things neces-
sary for such a royal journey as he pretended to take into the holy
land, he was eftsoons taken with a sore sickness, which was not a
leprosy, stricken by the hand of God (saith Maister Hall), as fool-
ish friars imagined, i)ut a very apoplexy. During this his last sick-
ness he caused his crown (as some write) to be set on a pillow at
his bed's head, and suddenly his pangs so troubled him, that he lay
as though all his vital spirits had been from him departed. Such
as were about him, thinking verily that he had been departed, cov-
ered his face with a linen cloth. The prince his son, being hereof
advertised, entered into the chamber, took away the crown, and
departed. The father, being suddenly revived out of that trance,
quickly perceived the lack of his crown ; and, having knowledge
that the prince his son had taken it away, caused him to come be-
fore his presence, requiring of him what he meant so to misuse him-
self. The prince with a good audacity answered : Sir, to mine and
all men's judgments, you seemed dead in this world ; wherefore, I,
as your next heir apparent, took that as mine own, and not as yours.
Well, fair son (said the king with a great sigh), what right I had
to it, God knoweth. Well (said the prince), if you die king, I will
have the garland, and trust to keep it with the sword against all
mine enemies, as you have done. Then, said the king, I commit
all to God ; and remember you do well. With that he turned him-
self in his bed, and shortly after departed to God, in a chamber of
the abbot's of Westminster called Jerusalem, the twentieth day of
March, in the year 141 3, in the year of his age 46, when he had
reigned thirteen years five months and odd days.
" We find that he was taken with his last -sickness while he was
making his prayers at saint Edward's shrine, there as it were to
take his leave and so to proceed forth on his journey. He was so
suddenly and grievously taken, that such as were about him feared
lest he would have died presently. Wherefore, to relieve him (if it
Notes 169
were possible), they bare him unto a chamber that was next at
hand belonging to the abbot of Westminster, where they laid him
on a pallet before the fire, and used all remedies to revive him.
At length he recovered his speech and understanding, and perceiv-
ing himself in a strange place which he knew not, he willed to
know if the chamber had any particular name ; whereunto answer
was made that it was Jerusalem. Then, said the king, lauds lie
given to the Father of heaven ; for now I know that I shall die
here in this chamber, according to the prophecy of me declared,
that I should depart this life in Jerusalem.
" Henry, prince of Wales, son and heir to King Henry the Fourth,
born in Wales, at Monmouth on the river of Wye, after his father
was departed took upon him the regiment of this realm of England,
the twentieth of March, 141 3, the morrow after proclaimed king by
the name of Henry the Fifth. This king even at first appointing
with himself to show that in his person princely honours should
change public manners, he determined to put on him the shape of a
new man. For whereas aforetime he had made himself a compan-
ion unto misruly mates of dissolute order and life, he now banished
them all from his presence (but not unrewarded, or else unpre-
ferred), inhibiting them, upon a great pain, not once to approach,
lodge, or sojourn within ten miles of his court or presence ; and in
their places he chose men of gravity, wit, and high policy, by whose
wise counsel he might at all times rule to his honour and dignity ;
calling to mind how once, to high offence of the king his father, he
had with his fist stricken the chief justice, for sending one of his
minions 1 (upon desert) to prison, when the justice stoutly com-
manded himself also straight to ward, and he (then prince) obeyed.
The king after expelled him out of his privy council, banished him
the court, and made the duke of Clarence, his younger brother,
president of council in his stead."
1 Favourites. Cf. K. John, ii. i. 392, Macb. i. 2. 19, etc.
lyo
Notes
DRAMATIS PERSONS
In the 1st folio the last scene of the play ends on p. lOO, with
" FINIS " appended and a " tail-piece '" which (ills out the page.
The Epilogue occupies the next page, which is not numbered, and
on the back of this we find the following list of characters: —
THE ACTORS NAMES
RvMOVR the Presenter.
King Henry the Fourth.
Prince Henry, afterwards Crowned King Henrie the Fift.
Prince lohn of Lancaster. 'J „ .. tt ..u t- ^i. o
bonnes to Henry the Fourth, &
brethren to Henry 5.
Humphrey of Gloucester.
Thomas of Clarence.
Northumberland.
The Arch Byshop of Yorke.
Mowbray.
Hastings.
Lord Bardolfe.
Trauers.
Morton.
Coleuile.
Warwicke.
Westmerland.
Surrey.
Gowre.
Harecourt. I
Lord Chiefe lustice.J
Shallow. \ Both Country
Silence, j lustices.
Dauie, Seruant to Shallow.
Phang, and Snare, 2. Serieants. Drawers
Mouldie. \ Beadles.
Shadow. I Groomes
Wart. \ Country Soldiers
Feeble. |
Bullcalfe. J
Opposites against King Henrie the
Fourth.
Of the Kings
Partie.
Pointz.
Falstaffe.
Bardolphe. Irregular
Pistoll. j Humorists.
Peto. I
Page. J
Northumberlands Wife.
Percies Widdow.
Hostesse Quickly.
Doll Teare-sheete.
Epilogue.
Notes 171
INDUCTION
In the folio this is headed " Actus Primus. Scoena Prima.
Indvction." In the quarto there is no division into acts and
scenes.
I. Enter Rumour, painted full of tongues. This is according
to the quarto ; the folio has simply " Enter Rumour!^ Warton
quotes Holinshed's description of a pageant exhibited in the court
of Henry VIII. : " Then entered a person called Report, apparelled
in crimson sattin, full of toongs, or chronicles." Farmer remarks
that Stephen Hawes, in his Pastime of Pleasure, had described
Rumour as
" A goodly lady, envyroned about
With tongues of fire ; "
and so had Sir Thomas More, in one of his Pageants : —
" Fame I am called, merveyle you nothing
Though with tonges I am compassed all rounde."
Cf. also Chaucer, The House of Fame, 298 : —
" And sothe to tellen also sheC
Had also fele up stondyng eres
And tonges, as on bestes heres."
This description, as the context shows, was suggested by Virgil's in
Aineid, iv. 174 fol., to which the others quoted above were doubt-
less also indebted.
Judge Holmes, in his Authorship of Shakespeare, among his
" parallelisms " between Bacon and Shakespeare, cites this descrip-
tion of Rumour and the following from Bacon's Essay of Fame :
" The poets make fame a 7nonster. They describe her in part finely
and elegantly ; and in part gravely and sententiously. They say,
look how many feathers she hath; so many eyes she hath under-
neath ; so many tongues ; so many voices ; she pricks up so many
ears. This is a flourish. There follow excellent parables ; as that
ijl Notes
she gathereth strength in going ; that she goeth upon the ground
and yet hideth her head in the elouds ; that in the daytime she
sitteth in a watch-tower, and flieth most by night ; that she min-
gleth things done with tilings not done, and that she is a terror to
great cities."
It will be seen that this is almost a literal translation of Virgil's
description ; even the word monster, which the Judge italicizes as
parallel to " the blunt monster with uncounted heads," being
directly suggested by the " monstriiui horrendum " of the Latin.
And yet it is quoted as one of the " instances of striking resem-
blances, in particular words and phrases, lying beyond the range of
accidental coincidence," etc. !
3. Drooping. Sinking, declining. Malone quotes J\/acb. iii. 2,
52 : " Good things of day begin to droop and drowse," etc.
12. Fearful. Full of fear ; as in I Hen. IV. iv. I. 67, etc.
13. Big. Pregnant; as in W. T. iv. I. 64, Cynib. i. i. 39, etc.
15. And no such matter? And it is nothing of the kind. Cf.
Sonn. 87. 14 : " In sleep a king, but waking no such matter ; "
Much Ado, ii. 3. 225 : " The sport will be, when they hold one an
opinion of another's dotage, and no such matter," etc.
17. Stop. The holes in a pipe or flute are called stops. Cf.
Ham. iii. 2. 76, 376, 381, etc.
18. Blunt. Dull, stupid ; as in T. G. of V. ii. 6. 41 : —
" But, Valentine being gone, I '11 quickly cross
By some sly trick blunt Thurio's dull proceeding."
20. What need I, etc. Why need I, etc. Cf. i. 2. 107 below:
"What tell you me of it?" See also R.ofL. 31,/. C. ii. i. 123,
Hen. Vni. ii. 4. 12S, etc.
26. Rebellion. A quadrisyllable ; as in i.- 1. 50 below.
33. Peasant. Here = provincial, or rural.
37. Crafty-sick. Craftily sick, or feigning sickness. The
hyphen is not in the early eds. In these compound adjectives, the
first part is often adverbial.
Notes 173
ACT I
Scene I. — i. The Porter opens the gate. The quarto reads:
" Enter the Lord Bardolfe at one doore ; " the folios : " Ettter Lord
Bardolfe, and the Porter.'''
2. What. Who ; as often. Cf. i. 2. 59 below : " What's he
that goes there? "
5. Please it. If it please ; as often.
8. Stratagem. " A dreadful deed, any thing amazing and appall-
ing" (Schmidt). Cf. M. of V. v. I. 85: "fit for treasons, strata-
gems, and spoils ; " 3 Lien. VI. ii. 5. 89: "What stratagems, how
fell, how butcherly," etc.
13. God. Changed in the folios to "heaven," as in many other
cases, on account of King James's statute forbidding the use of the
name of God on the stage.
19. Braivn. Mass of flesh ; applied contemptuously to Falstaff,
as in I Hen. IV. ii. 4. 123: "that damned brawn."
20. Day. Day of battle, combat ; as often. Cf. 52 and i. 2.
150 below,
21. Follow'' d. That is, the advantage gained being followed up.
Cf. iii. I. 75 : "thus did he follow it" (that is, follow it up). See
also T. N.\. I. 373 : " How with a sportful malice it was foUow'd."
30. Over-rode. Outrode, rode past ; used by S. only here. Cf.
overrun — outrun, in Hen. VIII. i. I. 143.
37. Forspent. Exhausted, worn out. Cf. 3 Hen. VI. ii. 3. I :
"Forspent with toil, as runners with a race." In Hen. V. ii. 4. 36.
forspent = foregone, past. Steevens quotes Sir A. Gorges, trans,
of Incan : " crabbed sires, forspent with age." Fordone is used in
the same sense in AI. A\ D.v. i. 381.
45. Poor jade. " Used not in contempt but in compassion "
(Steevens). Malone cites Rich. II. v. 5. 85 : "That jade hath eat
bread from my royal hand ; " but there something of reproach may
be implied.
47. Devour the way. Cf. Catullus, ad Papyr. 7 : " viam vorabit."
174 Notes [Act I
Steevens quotes /,?(5, xxxix. 24, and Jonson, Sejanits \. 10 : "they
greedily devour the way."
48. Staying no longer question. Cf. M. of V. iv. I. 346 : " I '11
Stay no longer question." See also M. N. D. ii. i. 235.
53. Point. A tagged lace, used in fastening parts of the dress,
especially the breeches. Cf. ii. 4. 163 below, where it may mean
some mark of his commission, like the modern "shoulder-straps."
56. Instances. Details (Schmidt). Some make it = evidences,
proofs; as in iii. i. 103 below.
57. Hilding. Base, menial. S. also uses it as a noun (its
proper sense); as in R. and J, ii. 4. 44, iii. 5. 169, etc.
60. Title-leaf. Steevens remarks that in the time of S. the title-
page to an elegy was entirely black ; but the simile is equally ex-
pressive if we take title-leaf in its ordinary sense.
63. Usurpation. Metrically five syllables. See on ind. 26
above. A witnessed jisurpation = " traces that bear witness to its
invasion."
69. Apter. For the comparative, cf. A. Y. L. iii. 2. 408 : " she
is apter to do than to confess she does." The superlative occurs in
213 below.
71. Woe-begone. This compound, which is familiar enough now,
seems to have been less common half a century ago. Warburton
and Steevens think it necessary to define and illustrate it. S. uses
the word nowhere else.
72. Dreiv Priat?i's curtain. That is, drew it aside. Cf. i Hen.
IV. iv. I. 73, etc. It is also used in the other sense ; as in M. ofV.
iii. 7. 78, ii. 9. 84, etc.
86. Instinct. Accented on the last syllable, as elsewhere in S. Cf.
Cymh. iv. 2. 177: "That an invisible instinct should frame them ; "
Rich. III. ii. 3. 42 : " By a divine instinct men^s minds mistrust," etc.
87. Morton. Here accented on the second syllable.
93. Yet, for all this, etc. Johnson would give this line to
Bardolph, as inconsistent with what follows. The contradiction
cannot, he says, be imputed to the distraction of Northumberland's
Scene IJ Notes 175
mind, on account of " the calmness of the reflection contained in
the last lines." He also gave lines 100-103 to Morton, as " a proper
preparation for the tale that he is unwilling to tell." The old text
may well enough stand if we assume a pause after this first line.
Northumberland is not willing to accept the intimation expressed
in the preceding speech. "And yet," he says, " don't tell me that
he is dead." But his appealing words and look meet with no en-
couraging response in Morton's face, and he goes on, " I see a
strange confession," etc.
95. Fear. Something to be afraid of, a fearful thing. Cf. iv.
5. 196 below.
102. Sullen. Cf. Son7t. 71. 2 : "the surly sullen bell ; " R. and J.
iv. 5. 88 : " Our solemn hymns to sullen dirges change," etc. See
also Milton, // Fens. 76 : " Swinging slow with sullen roar."
103. Knolliug. The folio reading ; the quartos have " tolling."
Cf. A. Y. L. ii. 7. 114: "where bells have knoll'd to church; "
and Macb. v. 8. 50 : " his knell is knoU'd." Malone took depart-
itig to be = departed ; but, as Steevens notes, the allusion is to
" the passing bell, that is, the bell that solicited prayers for the
soul passing into another world."
108. Quittance. Requital, return of blows. The word is used
as a verb (= requite, retaliate) in i Hen. VI. ii. I. 14. Oiit-
breaiVd = out of breath, exhausted.
112. In few. In few words, in short ; as not unfrequently.
114. Bruited. Noised abroad. Cf. Macb. v. 7. 22, Hani. i. 2.
127, etc.
T17. Abated. " Reduced to lo"ver temper, or, as the workmen
call it, let down'" (Johnson). Clarke remarks: "So correctly
maintained in technical appropriateness are many of Shakespeare's
figurative allusions that he often uses words with peculiar and un-
usually inclusive force, which should be examined and known, in
order fully to appreciate the whole scope of his passages."
120. Enforcement. Application of force. Cf. A. IV. v. 3. 107:
" by what rough enforcement," etc.
176
Notes [Act I
128. Had three times slain, etc. See i Hen. IV. v. 3.
129. Can vail Itis stomach. Began to lower his pride or cour-
age. Cf. T. of S. V. 2. 176: " Then vail your stomachs, for it is
no boot." This vail (Fr. avaler') has been often confounded with
veil, even by critical scholars.
133. Power. Armed force ; as in iv. 4. 5 below.
135. At fall. In full, fully; as in M. for M. i. i. 44, C. of E. i.
I. 123, etc.
137. In poison there is physic. Vaughan remarks: " S. seems
to have heard the just old maxim of medicine, ' Ubi virus, ibi vir-
tus ; ' but he has added to it explanations so expressed as to fur-
nish a good motto for the modern principle of homicopathy."
These news. The quarto reading ; the folios have " this news."
S. uses the forms interchangeably.
138. Having been 'veil, etc. Such transposition of participial
clauses is not uncommon.
141. Streitgthless. Cf. V. and A. 153: "Two strengthless
doves ; " R. of L. 709 : " Strengthless pace," etc.
Buckle = bow, or bend. Cf. the Yankee expression, " buckle
down to it." Jonson uses the word in his Staple of News, ii. I : —
" And teach this body
To bend, and these my aged knees to buckle,
In adoration and just worship of you."
144. The first grief = pain ; as in i Hen. IV. i. 3. 51 and v. i.
134-
145. Nice. " Over-delicate, effeminate " (Qarke).
147. Quoif Cap, or hood ; as in W. T. iv. 4. 226.
148. Wanton. Luxurious. Cf. i Hen. IV. iii. i. 214: "the
wanton rushes," etc.
149. Flesh' d. "Made fierce and eager for combat, as a dog fed
with flesh only" (Schmidt). Cf. Hen. T. iii. 3. 11 : "the flesh'd
soldier," etc.
Scene I] Notes 1 77
151. Ragged' si. Roughest, wildest. Cf. A. V. L. ii. 5. 15 : "My
voice is ragged."
156. To feed contention, etc. "Where civil war drags out its
course in successive scenes" (Herford).
157. Cain. Cf. L. L. L. iv. 2. 36, K. John, iii. 4. 79, Rich. II.
V. 6. 43, I Hen. VI. i. 3. 39, and Ham. v. i. 85.
160. And daj'kness, etc. "The conclusion of this noble speech
is extremely striking. There is no need to suppose it exactly philo-
sophical ; darkness, in poetry, may be absence of eyes, as well as pri-
vation (if light. Yet we may remark that by an ancient opinion it
has been held that if the human race, for whom the world was
made, were extirpated, the whole system of sublunary nature would
cease " (Johnson).
Vaughan remarks : " Johnson did not fully apprehend the ima-
gery of this passage, in which there is no want of perfect and lit-
eral fidelity to the truth. Da)-kness here means objective darkness.
. . . The metaphor is one drawn from the stage on which trage-
dies are exhibited, as the words stage, act, and scene intimate ; and
it is perfectly sustained from beginning to end. He prays that the
world may become a stage for the exhibition, not of a prolonged
contention, but of such a truculent and furious death-struggle as
will quickly culminate in the catastrophe of a vast slaughter, and
that the dead lying on the ground may be buried out of sight by a
darkness which will envelop everything. It is certain that during
the performance the stage was artificially lighted, and the rest of
the theatre also ; and it is probable that these lights were extin-
guished immediately on the close of the performance. The parallel-
ism of the actual atrocity wished for to the tragical representation
by which it is illustrated is sustained into the darkness which ends
both."
161. Strained. Exaggerated, excessive.
163. Complices. Accomplices, confederates. Cf. Rich. II. ii. 3.
165, iii. I. 43, etc.
165. Perforce. Of necessity ; as in i. 3. 72 and iv. 5. 34 below.
2 HENKY IV — 12
lyS Notes [Act I
It often means by force. See on iv. i. Ii6 below. The remainder
of this speech is omitted in the quarto.
l66. Cast. Calculated. Cf. v. i. 21 below: "Let it be cast
and paid."
168. Make head. Raise an army. Cf. i Hen. IV. iii. i. 64: —
" Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made head
Against my power," etc.
On head, cf. i. 3. 71 below. Presurniise = surmise or suspicion in
advance ; a word used by S. nowhere else.
169. Dole. Dealing, distribution. Elsewhere it is = share, por-
tion ; as in A. W. ii. 3. 176, etc.
170. On an edge. Cf. i Hen. IV. i. 3. 191 : —
" As full of peril and adventurous spirit
As to o'erwalk a current roaring loud
On the unsteadfast footing of a spear."
172. Advishl Well aware. Cf. T. of S. i. i. 191 : "But art
thou not advis'd," etc. (are you not aware, do you not understand,
etc.). Capable — susceptible ; as in K.John, ii. I. 476: "capable
of this ambition;" Id. iii. i. 12: "capable of fears," etc.
174. Trade. Activity, lively interchange. Cf. Hen. VIII. v. I.
36 : " Stands in the gap and trade of more preferments " (that is,
in the common course of preferment).
177. Stiff-borne. Obstinately carried on.
180. Engaged (0 this loss. That is, bound or tied to it (Schmidt) ;
involved in it. Malone cites I Hen. IV. iii. 2. 98 : " more worthy
interest to the state."
184. Choked the respect of. Did away with our regard for, made
us indifferent to. For respect — consideration, regard, cf. K.John,
iii. I. 90, AF. of V.\. I. 74, etc,
189-209. The gentle Archbishop . . . follow him. These lines
are omitted in the quarto.
190. Poivers. Forces. Cf. the use of the singular in 133 above.
Scene II] Notes 1 79
192. Corpse. Plural ; as in I Hen. IV. i. I. 43. See p. 155
above.
196, Queasiness. Nausea, distaste ; used by S. only here.
197. T/taL So that ; as in iv. I. 216 below.
201. Religion. A quadrisyllable. See on ind. 26 above. Turns
insurrection to religion — makes rebellion seem a sacred duty.
204. Enlarge his rising. Extend his insurrection, increase the
number of his followers. With — by ; as often.
205. Poinfret. Alluding to Pomfret Castle, where, according to
S., Richard was murdered.
207. Bestride. That is, in defence of one fallen. Cf. i Hen.
IV. V. I. 122: "Hal, if thou see me down in the battle, and be-
stride me, so," etc.
209. More and less. High and low. Cf. I Hen. IV. iv. 3. 68:
" The more and less came in with cap and knee," etc.
213. Aptest. See on 69 above.
Scene H. — l. What says the doctor, etc. "The method of
investigating diseases by the inspection of urine only was once so
much the fashion that Linacre, the founder of the College of Physi-
cians, formed a statute to restrain apothecaries from carrying the
water of their patients to a doctor, and afterwards giving medi-
cines in consequence of the opinions they received concerning it "
(Steevens). Bosvvell remarks: "The same impudent quackery is
carried on at this day." For the playful use oi giant, cf. T. N. i.
5. 218, where it refers to the petite Maria.
4. Owed. Owned ; as very often.
6. Gird. Gibe, jeer. Cf. Cor. i. i. 260: "Being mov'd, he
will not spare to gird the gods." We find the noun in T. of S.
V. 2. 58 and I Hen. VI. iii. I. 131.
15. Mandrake. The forked root of this plant was supposed to
resemble the human form.
17. Agate. Alluding to the figures cut in agates used for seals,
etc. Cf. L. L. L. ii. I. 236: "His heart, like an agate, with your
i8o Notes [Act I
print impress'd;" Much Ado, iii. i. 65: "If low, an agate very
vilely cut," etc.
19. Juvenal. Youth ; a word used elsewhere in S. only l)y
Armado ( L. L. L. i. 2. S, iii. i. 67) and Flute (J/. N. D. iii. i.
97)-
23. Face-royal. Playing on the double sense of a royal or
kingly face and the profile stamped on the coin called a royal —
the subject of many old puns.
25. For a barber, e-tz. "The poet seems to mean that a barber
can no more earn sixpence by his face-royal than by the face
stamped on the coin ; the one requiring as little shaving as the
other" (Steevens). Mason explains it better: "if nothing be
taken out of a royal, it will remain a royal as it was."
31. Slops. Loose breeches. Cf. R. and J. ii. 4. 47, Aluch Ado,
iii. 2. 36, etc.
34. Band. Bond; as in I I/en. IV. iii. 2. 157, etc.
36. His tongue be hotter. Alluding to the rich man in the
parable (^Luke, xvi. 24).
Achitophel. Ahithophel, the counsellor of Absalom, cursed by
David (2 Samuel, xv. 31).
37. A rascally, yea-forsooth knave. A vulgar Puritan. The
mild quality of citizen oaths is here again alluded to (see i Hen.
IV. iii. I. 252 fob), and excites no less disgust in Falstaff than in
Hotspur.
To bear a gentleman in hand. That is, to keep him in expecta-
tion, flatter him with false hopes. Cf. Aluch Ado, iv, i. 305, Macb.
iii. I. 81, etc.
39. Smooth-pates. " A synonym for the later and more histori-
cal name roundheads''"' (Vaughan).
41. If a man, etc. " If a man does his utmost in borrowing, or
rather if a man condescends to borrow, in an honourable manner"
(Schmidt). Pope changed through to " thorough." For take up
= obtain on trust, cf. Much Ado, iii. 3. 191, etc.
42. Had as lief. Good English then as now.
Scene II] Notes l8l
44. Looked. Expected. Cf. Sonn.' 22. 4 : " Then look I death
my days should expiate." See also Jiich. II. i. 3. 243, Hen. VIII.
V. I. 118, etc.
47. Horn. There is an allusion to the horn of the cuckold, and
also to the use of horn instead of glass in lanterns, with a play on
lightness (= wantonness), for which cf. L. L. L. v. 2. 19 fol., M.
of V.y. I. 130, etc. Steevens cites The Two Maids of Moreclacke,
1609 : —
" your wrongs
Shine through the horn, as candles in the eve,
To light out others."
Vaughan observes that the old spelling of lanthorti (as in the
quarto) favours the joke, it having arisen out of the notion that
the article took its name from the horn used for its sides.
53. In Paul's. That is, in Old St. Paul's Cathedral, which was
a place of daily resort for the idle and unemployed, as well as for
the man of business. Reed quotes The Choice of Change, 1598:
" a man must not make choyce of three things in three places.
Of a wife in Westminster ; of a servant in Paules ; of a horse in
Smithfield ; lest he chuse a queane, a knave, or a jade." Malone
adds from Osborne, Memoirs of James I. : " It was the fashion in
those times ... for the principal gentry, lords, courtiers, and men
of all professions, not merely mechanicks, to meet in St. Paul's
church by eleven, and walk in the middle aisle till twelve, and
after dinner from three to six ; during which time some discoursed
of business, others of news. Now, in regard of the universal com-
merce— there happened little that did not first or last arrive here."
Before the introduction of newspapers, notices and advertisements
were often posted on the pillars in this church. Blakeway quotes
the letter of a servant in Harl. MS. 2050: "for yf . . . I sett my
bill in Paules, in one or two dayes I cannot want a servisse." Cf.
Nash, Pierce Pennilesse : "the masterlesse men, that sette up their
bills in Paules for services." In Ben Jonson's Every Man oiit of
his Humour, the scene through the chief part of act iii. is laid in
1 82 Notes [Act I
Paul's, and the action is in keeping with these descriptions of the
habits of the place. Cf. Kick. III. iii. 6. i : —
" This is the indictment of the good lord Hastings ;
Which in a set hand fairly is engross'd
That it may be this day read over in Paul's."
Bought is here = hired.
56. The nobleman, etc. Sir William Gascoigne, Chief-Justice of
the King's Bench. See also on v. 2. 113 below.
84. / had lied in my throat. "The lie in the throat was a lie
uttered deliberately ; the lie in the teeth was one for which some
excuse was allowed on the ground of its having proceeded from
haste or some palliating cause."
90. Grows to me. Is an essential part of me.
91. Thou wert better. It were better for thee.
92. You hunt counter. You are on the wrong scent, you are at
fault. The folio has " Hunt-counter," which is followed hy some
of the modern eds, Johnson defines hunt-counter as " blunderer,"
and Ritson as " worthless dog." Turbervile, in his Booke of Hunt-
ing, says : " When a hound hunteth backwards the same way that
the chase is come, then we say he hunteth counter." Cf C. of E.
iv. 2. 39 : "a hound that runs counter ; " and Ham. iv. 5. 1 10 :
" O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs ! "
no. Whoreson. "Applied not only to persons, but -to any
thing, as a term of reproach or ludicrous dislike, and sometimes
(as in the language of Doll Tearsheet) used even in a tone of
coarse tenderness" (Schmidt). Cf. ii. 4. 189 and 197 below.
116. What tell you, etc. Why tell you, etc. See on ind. 20
above.
117. It original. This old possessive it is- used fourteen times by
S., seven of them being in the phrase it own. In the next clause,
in his effects, we have the usual his = its.
122. Very well, etc. This speech in the quarto has the prefix
"Old." See p. 10 above.
Scene II] Notes 183
125. To punish you by the keels. Schmidt makes this = "to
set you in the stocks ; " but Clarke quotes Lord Campbell: "To
iay by the heels was the technical expression for committing to
prison, and I could produce from the Reports various instances of
its being so used by distinguished judges from the bench." Cf.
Hen. VIII. V. 4. 83. The reply of Falstaft" seems to show that
imprisonment is referred to here.
136. Advised by my learned counsel. As Clarke remarks, Fal-
staff had good legal ground for not coming. Being engaged on
military service under the king's order, he was not bound to
answer the summons of the Chief-Justice.
148. The fellow with the great belly. Probably an allusion to
some well-known blind beggar of the time who was led by his dog.
152. For your quiet & er-posting. For your getting easily clear
of.
160. A wassail candle. "A large candle lighted up at a feast.
There is a poor quibble upon the word wax, which signifies
increase as well as the matter of the honey-comb" (Johnson).
Steevens notes that a similar play occurs in L. L. L. v. 2. 10:
"That was the way to make his godhead wax." For wassail ( =
drinking-bout, carousal), cf. L. L. L. v. 2. 318: "wakes and was-
sails ; " and Ham. i. 4. 9 : " keeps wassail."
164. Gravy. " Falstaff's reply has an interest besides its waggish-
ness, as showing that gravity was pronounced grave-ity, preserving
the sound of its root ; else his joke would have been no joke at
all " (White).
166. ///. The folio has "evil" ("euill"), which White says is
"an epithet much better suited to angel than ill;'" but compare
" ill spirit " in Temp. i. 2. 458 and/. C. iv. 3. 289.
Angel, A play upon the name of the coin ; as in Much Ado, ii.
3. 35 and M. W. i. 3. 60.
169. I cannot go, I cajtnot tell. Probably there is a play on go
and tell in the senses of "pass current" and "count as good
money."
1 84 Notes [Act I
171. These costermonger times. "These times when the preva-
lence of trade has produced that meanness that rates the merit of
every tiling I)y money" (Johnson).
172. Bear-herd. One wlio leads about a tame ijear as a show.
Cf. Much Ado, ii. i. 43, 7'. 0/ S. ind. 2. 21, etc.
Pregnancy. Ready wit ; the only instance of the noun in S.
Cf. the use of the adjective mHam.W. 2. 212: " How pregnant
sometimes his replies are ! "
177. The heat of our livers. For the liver as the seat of animal
passion, cf. i Hen. IV. ii. 4. 355, Temp. iv. i. 56, M. of V.\. i. 81,
etc. See also v. 5. 31 below.
178. Vaxuard. Literally = vanguard, as in Hen. F. iv. 3. 130;
here used metaphorically, as in M. N. D. iv. i. iio : "the vavvard
of the day."
185. Your ivit single. That is, simple or silly. Singh is thus
used only in quibbling (Schmidt). Cf. Cor. ii. i. 40: "your helps
are many, or else your actions would grow wondrous single."
Clarke remarks here: "That the Chief-Justice should use the
epithet single here to express simple affords a notable instance of
Falstaff' s being ' the cause that wit is in other men ; ' and that his
lordship should apply the epithet single to Falstaff's 7vit is as nota-
ble a token of how thoroughly the knight's imperturbable humour
has power to put him out of humour ; just as, later in the play, he
loses his temper so utterly as to call Falstaff 'a gxez.t fool ! ' "
186. Antiquity. Old age; as in Sonn. 62. 10, 108. 12, A. Y. L.
iv. 3. 106, and A. IV. ii. 3. 220.
190. Something a. A somewhat. Somethi jig \% ohen used ad-
verbially ; as in M. of V. \. I. 124, 129, ii. 2. 18, 194, etc.
192. Approve. Prove ; as in 161 above.
196. Have at him. That is, I am ready for the trial.
198. Checked. Reproved ; as in iii. i. 68 below.
200. Old sack. Cf. Sir John Harington, Epigrams : —
" Sackcloth and cinders they advise to use ;
Sack, cloves, and sugar thou wouldst have to chuse."
Scene III] Notes 1 85
210. Look you pray, etc. That is, take care that you pray, etc.
Cf. K.John, iv. I. i, Hen. V. ii. 4. 49, etc.
215. Spit wliite. A perplexing expression. Clarke says :" Reck-
oned a sign of thirst ; which Falstaff, with his relish for wine,
desires to feel, as giving anticipatory zest. Spungius, in Massinger's
Virgin Martyr, says, ' Had I been a pagan still, I should not have
spit white for want of drink.' " Furnivall quotes Batman iippon
Bartholonie, ed. 1582: " If the spettle be white viscus, the sick-
nesse commeth of fleame ; if black, of melancholy. . . . The whitte
spettle not knottie, signiiieth health." Perhaps this last sentence
is the key to the puzzle.
217. Well, I cannot last ever. The remainder of the speech is
omitted in the folios.
228. Pound. Often plural with numerals.
230. To bear crosses. Another quibble from the venerable
Chief-Justice. He plays upon cross, which often meant a coin
stamped with a cross. Cf. A. V. L. ii. 4. 12: "I should bear no
cross if I did bear you ; for I think you have no money in your
purse." See also L. L. L. i. 2. 36.
232. Fillip me zuith a three-i)ian beetle. It was a common sport
with Warwickshire boys to put a toad on one end of a short board
placed across a small log, and then to strike the other end with a
bat, thus throwing the creature high in the air. This was called
filliping the toad. A three-man beetle is a heavy rammer with
'three handles used in driving piles, requiring three men to wield it.
Such a beetle would be needed iot filliping a weight like Falstaff's.
247. Colour. Pretext, excuse for my halting, or lameness. Cf.
V. 5. 86 below.
249. Commodity. Profit, advantage. Cf. Lear, iv. i. 23: —
" our mere defects
Prove our commodities."
Scene III. — 7. Ln our means. With the means we have.
8. To look, etc. That is, to present a sufficiently bold front.
1 86 Notes [Act I
Cf. the use of look big (= look boldly or threateningly) in T. of S.
iii. 2. 230, VV. T. iv. 3. 113, i lien. IV. iv. i. 58, etc.
9. Puissance. Used as a dissyllable or a trisyllable, according
to the measure. Cf. 77 below.
10. Our present musters grow upon the file. That is, " the muster
file amounts" {A. IV. iv. 3. 189).
12. Supplies. Reinforcements ; as in K.fohn, v. 3. 9, v. 5. 12,
I Hen. IV. iv. 3. 3, etc. See also 28 below.
14. Incensed. Kindled, blazing.
22. The/ne. Matter, business. Cf. Ham. v. I. 289: " I will
fight with him upon this theme," etc.
24. Incertain. Used by S. interchangeably with uncertain.
27. Lin^d. Strengthened, sustained. Cf. I //^w. /F. ii. 3. 86 :
" To line his enterprise." See also Hen. V. ii. 4. 7, Macb. i. 3.
112, etc.
28. Eating the air, etc. Cf. Ham. iii. 2. 99 : "I eat the air,
promise-crammed ; " alluding, as here, to " the chameleon's dish."
29. In project of a power, c^z. That is, with expectations of a
force which proved to be much smaller, etc.
31. Imagination. Metrically six syllables. See on ind. 26
above, and cf. t,2> ^"d 65 below.
32. Proper to. Appropriate to, belonging to. Cf. y. C i. 2. 41 :
" Conceptions only proper to myself;" Ham.W. i. 114: "proper
to our age," etc.
;^2,- IVinking. Shutting his eyes. Cf. R. of L. 458, 553, Sonn.
43. I, K. John, ii. I. 215, etc. See also the use of the noun 7uink
in Temp. ii. i. 285 and IV. T. i. 2. 317.
36-55. Yes, in . . . or else. Omitted in the quarto. In the
folio, the passage begins thus : —
" Yes, if this present quality of warre,"
Indeed the instant action: a cause on foot,
Liues so in hope : As in an early Spring," etc.
This is unquestionably corrupt, and it may be that something has
been lost from the text. Of the various attempts to mend it.
Scene III] Notes 1 87
Malone's is perhaps the most satisfactory, as it certainly is the
simplest. White, who also adopts it, paraphrases the opening
Hnes as follows : " Yes, in this present quality, function, or business
of war, it is harmful to lay down likelihoods, etc. Indeed this very
action or affair — a cause on foot^ — -is no more hopeful of fruition
than the buds of an unseasonably early spring."
39. IVhich to prove frtiiL And that these will become fruit.
For the construction, cf. A. V. L. v. 4. 171 : —
" This to be true
I do engage my life."
See also C. of E. v. i. 11.
42. Model. Plan. Cf. Much Ado, i. 3. 48, Rich. III. v. 3. 24,
etc.
47. Itt fewer offices. With fewer apartments. (9^i-f5 was espe-
cially applied to the servants' quarters in a house. At least, as
Clarke suggests, may here be — " at worst, supposing the least
advantageous prospect."
52. Consent. Agree; as in ^. F.Z. v. 1.48: " all your writers
do consent that ipse is he," etc.
54. Hozu able sucli a work, etc. Vaughan remarks : " Two con-
structions are admissible. First, ' how far such a property is able to
bear a work that will counterpoise the work opposed to it, or the
opposition to be brought against it.' Such frequently refers in S.
to the party, person, or quality last spoken of. The second con-
struction is, ' how far our estate is able to bear the expense of such
a work as will counterpoise that which is opposed to it.' The
ellipse of as under such circumstances is not rare." I prefer, as he
does, the latter explanation. Cf. i Hen. IV. ii. 3. 13: "and your
whole plot too light for the counterpoise of so great an opposi-
tion."
55. Opposite. Opponent ; as in i v. i. 16 below.
56. In paper. On paper ; a common use of in.
60. Cost. Put for that on which the money has been spent, or
the costly building.
1 88 Notes [Act I
62. Churlish. Rough, rude. Cf. ^. F. Z. ii. i. 7 : "And churlish
chiding of the winter's wind."
67. Equal with. Cope with.
71. Against the French. During this rebellion, a French army
of twelve thousand men landed at Milford Haven, in Wales, for the
aid of Glendower (Steevens).
72. Perforce. Of necessity. See on i. i. 165 above.
73. Take up. Encounter, cope with ; as in Cor. iii. i. 244: —
" I could myself
Take up a brace o' the best of them," etc.
Unfirm. Cf. T. N. ii. 4. 34, /. C. i. 3. 4, R. and J. v. 3. 6, etc.
S. also uses infirm ; as in Macb. ii. 2. 52, etc. See on 24 above.
76. Strengths. For the concrete use, cf. K.fohn, ii. i. 388:
" your united strengths," etc.
77. Puissance. Here a trisyllable. See on 9 above.
80. Baying him. Chasing him, driving him to bay. Cf. M.
N. D. iv. I. 118: —
" When in a wood of Crete they bay'd the bear
With hounds of Sparta ; "
andy. C. iii. i. 204: " Here wast thou bay'd, brave hart."
81. Like. Likely; as often. Cf. yl/. (?/F. ii. 7. 49 : " Is 't like
that lead contains her ? "
82. Duke of Lancaster. Prince John of Lancaster. Later he
was made Duke of Bedford (see Hen. V.), but he was never Duke
of Lancaster.
85-108. Let tis on, etc. This speech is omitted in the quarto.
91. Fond. Foolish ; the commonest meaning of the word in S.
Douce considers many to be = meytiy, from-the Fr. mcsnie ; but it
is probably nothing more than the adjective used as a noun and
personified.
94. Trimin\i in thine own desires. A peculiar expression, ap-
parently = trimmed up (the 2d, 3d, and 4th folios read " trimm'd
Scene IJ Notes 1 89
up ") in the things thou desiredst. Cf. Rich. Ill, iv. 3. 34 : " and
be inheritor of thy desire."
102. Enainour'd on. Cf. i Hen. IV. v. 2. 70, etc.
103. That threw' St dust, etc. Cf. Rich. II. v. 2. 30: "But dust
was thrown upon his sacred head."
109. Di'aiv. Draw together, assemble ; as in K. John, iv. 2.
113, Cymb. iii. 5. 25, etc. Set on = set out, march ; as often.
ACT II
Scene I. — 3. Yeoman. Under-bailiff, or sheriff's officer.
16. Foin. Thrust; a fencing term. Cf. AI. IV. ii. 3. 24: "To
see thee fight, to see thee foin ;" Much Ado, v. i. 84 : "I '11 whip
you from your foining fence," etc. See also ii. 4. 193 below.
22. Vice. Figuratively = grasp.
24. hifiiiitive. Mrs. Quickly 's " derangement of epitaphs " needs
no special comment.
26. Saving your manhoods. An expression used also by Fluellen
{Hen. V. iv. 8. 36) and = saving your honour, ox your reverence.
28. Lubber'' s-head. That is, Libbard's-head. For libbard ( =
leopard), cf. L. L. L. v, 2. 551 : "With libbard's head on knee."
Lumbert = Lombard.
30. Exion. Elsewhere (as in i above) we find action in the
dame's talk ; but, as Clarke remarks, this is in accordance with
Shakespeare's mode of indicating these peculiarities of diction.
32. A long one. " The hostess means to say that a hundred
mark is a long mark, that is, score, reckoning, for her to bear.
The use of mark in the singular number in familiar language (cf.
pound in i. 2. 209 above) admits very well of this equivoque "
(Douce).
34. Fubbed off. Put off with false excuses. Fid) is the same
word z'i fob — delude, trick, which some substitute here. Cf. Cor,
i. I. 97, etc.
i^o Notes [Act II
39. I^Talmsey-vose. Cf. red-nose in I Hen. IV. iv. 2. 51. ATalm-
sey wine is mentioned in L. L, L. v, 2. 233 and Rich. III. i. 4. 161,
277.
47. Channel. Gutter; as in 3 i%«. VI. \\. 2. 141: "As if a
channel should be call'd the sea."
50. Honeysuckle. Homicidal ; as honey-seel (and hemp-seed
just below) is homicide. Man-queller, for man-killer or man-
slayer, is an archaism rather than a blunder. Achilles calls Hec-
tor a "boy-queller " in T. and C. v. 5. 45.
57. IVoo^t. Wouldst ; a provincial contraction. Q.i. Ham.s, \,
298: "Woo't weep? woo't fight?" etc.
59. Away, etc. This speech is given to " Boy " in the quarto,
and to " Page " in the 1st and 2d folios ; the later folios assign it to
Falstaff, to whom it probably belongs.
Ratnpallian is found as a term of reproach in Beaumont and
Fletcher, Greene, and other writers of the time. Fustilarian,
which Schmidt is inclined to connect with fustian and Sleevens
with the \j&.\.rn fustis, a club, is more probably ixovn fusty, as Malone
and Nares give it. Fustilugs was a contemptuous appellation for
a very fat person. Ci. funius, 1639: "You may daily see such
fustilugs walking in the streets, like so many tuns, each moving on
two pottlepots."
62. Good my lord, be good to me. The same expression occurs
in M. for M. iii. 2. 203. Good = favourable, propitious.
64. What are, etc. Why are, etc. See on ind. 20 above.
76. The mare. That is, the nightmare.
79. Exclatnation. Outcry against you. Cf. K. fohn, ii. i. 558,
Rich. III. iv. 4. 153, etc.
82. Marry, if thou wert, etc. Coleridge, in his Essay on Method,
has given this speech as an example of " the absence of method
which characterizes the uneducated, occasioned by an habitual
submission of the understanding to mere events and images as
such, and independent of any power in the mind to classify or
appropriate them. The general accompaniments of time and
Scene I] Notes loi
place are the only relations which persons of this class appear to
regard in their statements."
84. Parcel-gilt. Part-gilt, or gilt on the embossed portions.
Steevens quotes from the books of the Stationers' Company, in the
list of their plate, 1560: "Item, nine spoynes of silver, whereof
vii gylte and ii parcell-gylte." The same records contain fifty
instances to the same purpose. Of these spoons the saint or other
ornament on the handle was the only part gilt. Holinshed, de-
scribing Wolsey's plate, says : " and in the council-chamber was
all white and parcel-gilt plate." Langham says of a; bride-cup
that it was " foormed of a sweet sucket barrel, a faire turned foot
set too it, all seemly besylvered and parcel-gilt."
Dolphin-chainber. On the custom of giving names to particular
rooms in taverns, cf. " Half-moon " and " Pomgarnet " in i Hen.
IV. ii. 4. 30, 42.
86. Wheeson. Whitsun. The folio has " Whitson ; " but the
corruption is characteristic, like " Peesel " for Pistol in ii. 4. 126
below.
87. Liking his father. For like = liken, cf. I Heji. VI. iv. 6. 48:
" And like me to the peasant boys of France."
90. Keech. The word meant a lump of fat rolled up by the
butcher for the chandler. For the personal application, cf. Hen.
VIII. i. I. 55, where Woisey is so designated.
92. Mess. " The common term for a small portion of any thing
belonging to the kitchen" (Steevens). Cf. 0th. iv. i. 211: "I
will chop her into messes."
119. Current. Genuine; suggested by the ^/^;//«^ in 1 18.
120. Sneap. Snubbing, reprimand; the only instance of the
noun in S. For the verb, cf. \V. T. i. 2. 13 and L. L. L.\. i. 100.
122. Make courtesy. In Shakespeare's day the form of obeisance
known as courtesy or curtsy was used by men as well as women.
Cf. R. of L. 1338: "The homely villain court'sies to her low,"
etc.
125. I do desire deliverance, etc. " Falstaff claimed the protec-
192 Notes [Act II
tion legally called quia profecturiis {%z& Co/ee upon Littleton, 130 a).
This is one of the many examples of Shakespeare's somewhat inti-
mate acquaintance with legal forms and phrases" (Knight).
128. In the effect of your reputation. " In a manner suitable to
your character" (Johnson).
141. Glasses, glasses, etc. Steevens remarks: "Mrs. Quickly is
here in the same state as the Earl of Shrewsbury, who, not having
been paid for the diet, etc., of Mary Queen of Scots while she was
in his custody, in 1580, writes as follows to Thomas Bradewyn : 'I
wold have you bye me glasses to (h-ink in: Send me word what
olde plat yeldes the ounce, for I wyll not leve me a cuppe of syl-
vare to drink, but I wyll see the next terme my creditors payde.' "
142. Drollery. Apparently = a humorous painting. In Temp.
iii. 3. 21, it may have the same sense, or = a puppet-show, as Nares
explains it.
The Prodigal. Cf. M. IV. iv. 5. 8: "There 's his chamber . . .
't is painted about with the story of the Prodigal, fresh and new."
143. The German hunting. " Hunting subjects were much in
favour for the decoration of interiors ; and the chase of the wild
boar in Germany would naturally form a spirited scene" (Clarke).
Cf. Cymd. ii. 5. 16: "Like a fuU-acorn'd boar, a German one."
In water-ivork = in water-colours. This style of painting was
done upon the walls (see Gentleman's Magazine, 1833, p. 393),
like the modern frescos, and must not be confounded with the
" painted cloth " hangings, which were done in oil.
144. Bed-hangings. Falstaff calls them so in contempt, as fitter
to make curtains than to hang walls (Johnson).
146. Humours. Caprices ; as in ii. 3. 30 below,
147. Wash thy face. Tiie poor dame has been crying. Draw
= withdraw ; as in 3 Hen. VI. v. i. 25, etc..
152. Nobles. The noble was a gold coin, worth 6j. 8(/. Cf.
Rich. II. i. I. 88, Hen. V. ii. i. 112, 119, etc.
184. Being you are. It being the case that you are, since you
are. Cf. Much Ado, iv. i. 251 : " Being that I flow in grief," etc.
Scene II] Notes 1 93
191. Tap for tap. That is, tit for tat ; referring to his retalia-
tion of the Justice's inattention to his questions.
193. Lighten. Enlighten; as in Hen. VIII. ii. 3. 79: "a gem
to lighten all this isle." Vaughan thinks there may be a play on
lighten ; but the Chief-Justice is too much out of temper for a pun
here. See on i. 2. 1S5 above.
Scene II. — i. Before God. The folio substitutes "Trust me ; "
as it omits Faith in 4 just below.
3. Attached. Seized. Cf. Temp. iii. 3. 5 : " Who am myself
attach'd with weariness."
4. Discolours the complexion, etc. That is, makes me blush.
8. Studied. Studious, inclined. Cf. A. and C. ii. 6. 48 : " well
studied for a liberal thanks," etc.
9. Belike. As it seems, very likely; as in M. N. D. i. i. 130,
Ham. iii. 2. 149, 305, etc.
20. When thou kecpest not racket there. "Showing that racket-
players usually played in their shirt-sleeves ; so that when Master
Poins's stock of linen was worn out, he could not frequent the
tennis-court, because he could not take off his coat at the game "
(Clarke). That shirts were expensive in the time of S. is evident
from I Hen. IV. iii. 3. 82 fol.
22. Holland. That is, Holland linen ; with a play on the
word. Cf. the passage in I Hen. IV. just quoted. The remainder
of this speech is omitted in the folios.
23. Bawl out. That is, bawl out from. Cf. Cor. v. 2. 41 :
"when you have pushed out your gates the defender of them."
The reference is to Poins's children wrapped up in his old shirts.
33. Stand the push. Stand the thrust. Cf. i Hen. IV. iii.
2.66.
35, Marry. The quarto spells it " Mary," which was the origin
of the oath ; and the folio changes it to " Why."
42. The deviPs book. Alluding to the old belief that the devil
had a register of the persons who were subject to him.
2 HENRY IV — 13
194 Notes [Act II
43. Persistency. That is, in evil. S. uses the word nowhere else.
46. Ostentation. Outward show. Cf. Much Ado, iv. i. 207: "a
mourning ostentation."
54. Accites. Perhaps, as Schmidt considers it, a misprint for
"excites," which the 3d folio substitutes. Accite (= cite, sum-
mon) occurs in v. 2. 141 below; also in T. A. i. i. 27.
56. Lewd. Referring in a general way to his low tastes and
associations, not = licentious. Cf. T. of S. iv. 3. 65, Rich. III.
i. 3. 61, etc.
57. Engraffed to. Attached to, intimate with. Cf. enrooted in
iv. I. 207 below. For graff = graft, see v. 3. 2 below, and cf.
misgraffed'xw M. N. D.'\. I. 137.
62. A proper fellow of my hands. " A handsome fellow of my
size" (Mason). For proper, cf. llehreivs, xi. 23. It would seem
from the context that the term here implied something of con-
tempt. Vaughan remarks : " Possibly a proper man of his hands
was a phrase often made use of to introduce qualifications dis-
creditable to the object of them; as in Holinshed, for instance:
'a good man of his hands (as we call him), but perverse of mind,
and very deceitful.' "
67. Transformed him ape. Elsewhere in S. the verb is followfed
by to or into.
69. Most noble Bardolph. A sportive response. Cf. J/, of V.
ii. 9. 86 and Rich. II. v. 5. 67.
73. Red lattice. An alehouse window. Cf. M. IV. ii. 2. 28 :
" your red-lattice phrases ; " that is, your alehouse talk. In a note
on the latter passage Steevens quotes llie Miseries of Inforc'd
Marriage, 1607: " 't is treason to the red lattice, enemy to the
signpost." Malone cites Braithwaite, Strapado for the Divell,
1615: "Monsieur Bacchus, master-gunner of tlie pottle-pot ord-
nance, prime founder of red lattices ; " and Douce adds, from the
Blacke Booke, 1604: "watched sometimes ten hours together in
an ale-house, ever and anon peeping forth, and sampling thy nose
with the red Lattis."
Scene II] Notes 195
78. Profited. Become proficient ; that is, under Falstaff 's train-
ing. Cf. Temp. i. 2. 172: —
" and here
Have I, thy schoolmaster, made thee more profit
Than other princess can."
See also M. W. iv. i. 15, T. of S. iv. 2. 6, etc.
80. Althaa^s dream. S. here confounds Althaea's firebrand
with Hecuba's (Johnson). The former is correctly referred to in
2 Hen. VI. i. i. 234: "As did the fatal brand Althiea burn'd."
Clarke believes that the poet intended that the boy should blun-
der ; but it is more likely that he was forgetful himself, as in
sundry other mythological allusions.
88. Cankers. Canker-worms ; as in AT. N. D. ii. 2. 3 : " Some
to kill cankers in the musk-rose buds."
96. Alartletnas. Martinmas, or the feast of St. Martin, the nth
of November. It was considered the close of autumn, and the
word probably has here the same significance as " AU-hallown
summer" in I Hen. IV. i. 2. 178. "But," as Clarke remarks,
" there are so many allusions to ' Martlemas beef ' in writers of
Shakespeare's time — Martinmas being the season for salting,
smoking, and hanging beef as winter provision — that it is very
likely Prince Hal's name of Martlemas for Sir John may include
this meaning also, since he elsewhere calls him ' my sweet beef^
(i Hen. IV. iii. 3. 199)."
loi. This wen. " This swoln excrescence of a man " (Johnson).
no. Borrower'' s. The early eds. have " borrowed." The emen-
dation is due to Warburton, who remarks : " a man that goes to
borrow money is of all others the most complaisant ; his cap is
always at hand." Cf. T. of A. ii. i. 18 : —
" Importune him for my moneys; be not ceas'd
With slight denial, nor then silenc'd when —
' Commend me to your master ' — and the cap
Plays in the right hand, thus — but tell him
My uses cry to me," etc.
196
Notes [Act II
118. Romajis. Some suppose the reference to be to Marcus
Brutus, and others have thought that Julius Qx^sar is meant.
131. Twenty. Warburton sagely asks: "Why just twenty,
when the letter contained above eight times twenty?" This is
as good in its way as Judge Holmes's putting the use of tiucnty
as an " expletive " among his " parallelisms " of expression in
Bacon and Shakespeare.
Steevens says : " Robert Green, the pamphleteer, indeed, obliged
an apparitor to eat his citation, wax and all. In the play of Sir
John Oldcastle, the Sumner is compelled to do the like, and says
on the occasion, 'I'll eat my word.' Harpoole replies, 'I meane
you shall eate more than your own word, I'll make you eate all the
words in the processe.' "
141. Frank. Sty; used by S. only here, but the verb (= to
shut up in a sty) occurs in Rick. III. i. 3. 314 and iv. 5, 3.
144. Ephesians. Jolly companions ; a cant term of that day,
like Corinthian in i Hen. IV. ii. 4. 13. Cf. M. IV. iv. 5. 19: "it
is thine host, thine Ephesian, calls."
159. Bestow. Deport, behave. Cf. A. Y. L. iv. 3. 87, K.John,
iii. I. 225, etc.
161. Leathern jerkins. Commonly worn by vintners. Cf. i
Hen. IV. ii. 4. 77.
163. Declension. Decline, degradation. Cf. Rich. III. iii. 7.
189 and Ham. ii. 4. 149.
Scene III. — 11. Endeared. Bound; as in T. oj A. i. 2. 233
and iii. 2. 36.
17. For. As for, as regards; especially common at the begin-
ning of a sentence. Cf. Ham. i. 2. 112, i. 5. 139, etc. 77^1? God
of heaven is changed in the folio to " may heavenly glory."
21. The glass, etc. Cf. Ham. iii. i. 161 : "The glass of fashion
and the mould of form ; " Hen. V. ii. chor. 6 : " the mirror of all
Christian kings," etc.
23-45. He had . . . grave. Omitted in the quarto.
Scene III] Notes loy
24. Speaking thick. Speaking fast. Tardily in 26 is evidently
antithetical to it. Cf. Cyinb. iii. 2. 58 : " say, and speak thick ; "
and R. of L. 1784 : —
"Weak words, so thick come in his poor heart's aid
That no man could distinguish what he said."
25. Became the accents of the valiant. Came to be the utterance
of all brave men. The plural accents is after the manner of S.
when referring to more than one person. Cf. 55 just below, also
iv. I. 193. Valiant is here a trisyllable. See on ind. 26 above.
30. Humours of blood. Caprices of disposition. See on ii. i.
146 above, and cf. iv. 4. 38 below.
31. Glass, copy and book. See on 21 above, and cf. also R. of L.
615:-
" For princes are the glass, tlie school, the book.
Where subjects' eyes do learn, do read, do look."
36. Abide. Meet the perils of.
38. Defensible. Not capable of defence, hvii furnishittg the means
of defence (Malone).
45. Beshreio. A mild form of imprecation ; as often.
47. Ancient. Former, bygone. Cf. T. of S. ind. 2. 33 : " thy
ancient thoughts ; " Cor. iv. i. 3: "your ancient courage," etc.
52. Puissance. A dissyllable here. See on i. 3. 9 above.
57. So suffered. Allowed thus to try his single strength.
59. Remembrance. Clarke (following Warburton) believes that
the metaphor of a plant was suggested by " rosemary, which, as a
symbol of remembrance, was used at marriages and funerals." Cf.
Ham. iv. 5. 175 : " rosemary, that's for remembrance."
61. For recordation to. In memory of. Cf. T. and C. v. 2.
116: —
" To make a recordation to my soul
Of every syllable that here was spoke ; "
that is, to recall to mind every syllable, etc.
64. Still-stand. Standstill; the only instance of either word in S.
198 Notes [Act II
Scene IV. — l. The devil. Omitted in the folio, like Mass just
below. See on ii. 2. I and ii. 3. 17 above.
2. Apple-Johns. A kind of apple, which kept two years, but be-
came wrinkled and shrivelled. See i Hen. IV. iii. 3. 5: " withered
like an old apple-john." The French called it denx-ans. Steevens
quotes Cogan, Haven of Health, 1595: "The best apples that we
have in England are pepins, deusants, costards, darlings, and such
other ; " and Hakluyt, Voyages : " the apple John that durcth two
yeares."
10. Cover. Lay the table ; as in M. of V. iii. 5. 57 and A. V. L.
ii. 5. 32.
11. Noise. Band of musicians ; the only instance of this sense
in S. The word is often applied to music, as in Temp. iii. 2. 144,
Macb. iv. i. 106, etc.
12. Some music. The speech ends here in the folio. The
quarto adds "Dispatch: the room where they supped is too hot;
they '11 come in straight." Clarke remarks: "This shows that the
apple-johns and the prepared table were for what was called an
after-supper, a repast of fruit and wine, like the modern dessert,
and which was frequently taken in a different room from that in
which the more substantial meal was eaten." Kere-supper (or
rear-supper') and rere-banquet were also = dessert.
1 7. Old utis. Great fun, rare sport. For old as an intensive,
cf. M. of V. iv. 2. 15, Much Ado, v. 2. 98, Macb. ii. 3. 2, etc. Cf.
the modern slang phrase, " a high old time." Utis — merriment ;
from the Yx. huit as applied to the octave of a festival, or the eighth
day after it.
25. Canaries. That is, Canary wine ; mentioned also in M. W.
iii. 2. 89 and T. N. i. 3. 85, 88. What Mrs. Quickly means by
canaries in M. W. ii. 2. 61 is not so clear.- Quandary has been
suggested, but S. does not use the word.
31. When Arthur first in court. The ballad may be found in
Percy's Reliques. The lines there are
" When Arthur first in court began,
And was approved king."
Scene IV] Notes
99
34. Calm. Qualm ; though, as White remarks, the two words
were pronounced alike in the time of S.
35. Sect. If Mrs. Quickly had used the word, we should have no
doubt that she meant sex ; but in Falstaff's mouth it may be =
class. iSteevens gives sundry examples of sect = sex ; as Marston,
Insatiate Countess: "Deceives our sect of fame and chastity;"
Beaumont and Fletcher, Valentinian : "The purest temple of her
sect," etc. On the other hand, in Mother Bombie, 1594, a courtesan
says, " I am none of that sect ; " which is followed by the rejoinder,
"Thy loving sect is an ancient sect, and an honourable," etc.
Douce remarks : " P'alstaff means to say that all courtesans, when
their trade is at a stand, are apt to be sick."
37. Rascal. The word rascal literally meant a deer in poor
condition ; as in A. V. L. iii. 3. 58, etc. " He tells her she calls him
wrong; being ya/ he cannot be a rascal" (Johnson). For the
quibble, cf. v. 4. 27 below.
44. Rheiwiatic. Perhaps for "splenetic," as has been suggested.
Rheum and spleen were sometimes confounded ; as in Jonson,
Every Man in his J/n/itour, where Cob says, " Nay, I have my
rheum, and can be angry as well as another ; " to which Cash
replies, "Thy rheum. Cob ! thy humour, thy humour; thou mis-
tak'st." " The mutual asperities of tivo dry toasts when brought in
contact with each other are sufficiently obvious to render Quickly's
simile less ridiculous than is her general style of diction " (Clarke).
45. The good-year. A petty imprecation, of doubtful origin.
Cf. 156 below. Much Ado, i. 3. I, etc.
51. Ancient. Ensign; as often in C/Zi. and elsewhere. " Fal-
staff was captain, Peto lieutenant, and Pistol ensign, or ancient^'
(Johnson).
54. It is. Contemptuous. Cf. iii. 2. 269 below. See also
Hen. V. iii. 6. 70, R. and J. iv. 2. 14, etc. Elsewhere it expresses
affectionate familiarity; as in Macb. i. 4. 58: "it is a peerless
kinsman," etc.
58. Swaggerers. Bullies. Ritson quotes Cooke, Greeners Tu
200 Notes [Act II
Qupque : " drinke with a drunkard, be ciuill with a citizen, fight a
swaggerer," etc. See also ./. F. Z. iv. 3. 14: " play the swaggerer."
66. Tilly-fally. Tilly-vally ; a contemptuous exclamation. Cf.
T. N. ii. 3. 83 ; the only other instance in S.
80. A tame cheater. A cant phrase = a petty rogue, a low
gamester. Cf. Beaumont and Fletcher, Fair Maid of the Inn :
" By this decoy-duck, this tame cheater." Mrs. ()uickly takes it to
mean esclieator (vulgarly called cheate?-^ or officer of the exchequer.
82. A Barbary hen. A fowl whose feathers are naturally
ruffled. In A. Y. L. \\. i. 151 we find mention of "a Barbary
cock-pigeon."
104. Companion. Used contemptuously, z.% fellow is now. Cf.
J. C. iv. 3. 138: "Companion, hence!"
109. Bung. A cant name for a sharper, or pickpocket. Nares
quotes An Age for Apes, 1655 : —
" My bung observing this, takes hold of time,
Just as this lord was drawing for a prime.
And smoothly nims his purse that lay beside him."
The word was also applied, in the thieves' dialect, to a pocket or
purse. To nip a bung was to cut a purse.
III. Cuttle. A slang term for the knife used by cut -purses ;
hence for such characters themselves. Basket-hilt stale juggler =
worn-out performer of sword-tricks.
113. Since xuhen, etc. A scoffing inquiry. Cf. I Hen. IV. ii.
I. 43 : « Ay, when ? Canst tell ? "
114. Two points. "Asa mark of his commission" (Johnson).
See on i. i. 53 above. The folio, as usual, omits the oath in this
and the next speech. See on i above.
127. Mouldy stewed prunes, etc. " StewecTprunes, when mouldy,
were perhaps formerly sold at a cheap rate, as stale pies and cakes
are at present" (Steevens). Stewed prunes wt^xe a common article
of food in brothels.
128. IVill make the word captain odious. The folio reading;
Scene IV] Notes 20I
the quarto has : " will make the word as odious as the word occupy,
which was an excellent good word before it was ill sorted ; there-
fore captains had need look to it." Occtipy had come to have an
indecent sense in the time of S. Jonson in his Discoveries says :
" Many out of their own oliscene apprehensions refuse proper and
fit words, as occupy, nature, and the like."
138. Faitors. The word, according to Minsheu's Diet., is a cor-
ruption of the Yx. faiseurs — factores, doers; and it is used in a
statute of the time of Richard II. for evil-doers. Spenser uses it in
the sense of traitor, villain ; as in F. Q. i. 4. 47 : —
" By this false faytor, who unworthie ware
His worthie shield ; "
and Id. iv. I. 44: "False faitour, Scudamour," etc.
Have we not Hiren here? A lost play by George Peele was
entitled The Turkish Mahomet and Hyren the Fair Greek, from
which this is probably a quotation. Steevens quotes the old
comedy oi Law Tricks, 1608: —
" What ominous news can Polymetes daunt ?
Have we not Hiren here ? "
Massinger's Old Law : —
" Clown. No dancing for me, we have Siren here.
Cook. Siren ! 't was Hiren, the fair Greek, man ; "
and Dekker, Satiromastix : "whilst we have Hiren here, speak,
my little dish-washers." Hiren is a corruption of Irene. Pistol
applies it to his sword, but Mrs. Quickly supposes him to be inquir-
ing for some woman.
141. Beseek. Intended as a blunder for beseech, though it is really
an old form and pronunciation of that word. Cf. Chaucer, C. T.
918: " But we biseken mercy."
143. And hollozv, e.ic. Pistol's misquotation of Marlowe's T'.a:;;;-
burlaine, 2d Part, iv. 4 : —
" Holla, ye pamper'd jades of Asia!
What ! can ye draw but twenty miles a day ? "
202 Notes [Act II
145. Cannibals. For Hannibah.
147. Let the welkin roai: Steevens finds the expression in two
ballads of the time.
148. Toys. Trifles. Cf. M. N. D. v. i. 3, Ham. iv. 5. 18, etc.
158. Then feed, etc. A burlesque of 'J'he Battle of Alcazar,
1594, in which Muley Mahomet enters to his wife with lion's flesh
on his sword, and says : " Feed then, and faint not, my faire Cali-
polis ; " and again, " Hold thee, Calipolis ; feed, and faint no
more ; " and again : " I-'eed and be fat, that we may meet the foe,"
etc. (Steevens).
160. Si fortune, etc. As printed in both quarto and folio,
except that the latter has " contente." P"armer remarks : " Pistol
is only a copy of Hannibal Gonsaga, who vaunted on yielding him-
self a prisoner, as you may read in an old collection of tales, called
Wits, Fits, and Fancies : —
' Si fortuna me tormenta,
II speranza me contenta.' "
Correct Italian would read " Se " for " Si " and " La " for « II "
(j/^r(?«sa: being feminine). The meaning of the couplet is, "If
fortune torments me, hope contents me." Douce gives an illus-
tration of a sword with a French version of the motto, " Si fortune
me tourmente, I'esperance me contente."
163. Come we to full points, etc. "That is, shall we stop here,
shall we have no further entertainment ?" (Johnson). There is a
play on points, as in 7'. N. i. 5. 25 and i Hen. IV. ii. 4. 238.
165. Neif. Fist ; also spelt neaf Cf. M. N. D. iv. i. 20 (Bot-
tom's speech) : " Give me thy neif."
166. The seven stars. The Pleiades. Cf. Hen. IV. i. 2. 16 and
Lear, i. 5. 38.
168. Fustian. Nonsensical ; used again as an adjective in T. N.
ii. 5. 1 19 : "A fustian riddle ! "
169. Galloway nags. "That is, common hackneys " (Johnson).
The Galloway horses were a small and inferior breed.
Scene IV] Notes 203
171. Quoit him. Pitch him; the only instance of the verb in
S., as 222 below is the only one of the noun. Shove-groat was a
game similar to shovel-hoard, but on a smaller scale. It was played
on a board or table, three or four feet long and about a foot wide,
with a diagram on one end divided into nine partitions marked
with the nine digits. The coin (at first the silver ^r<7a/, afterwards
the shilling) was shoved or slid from the other end of the board,
the aim being to land it in one of the numbered spaces. Cf.
Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, iii. 5 : " run as smooth off the
tongue as a shove-groat shilling ; " and The Roaring Girl: "and
away slid my man, like a shovel-board shilling." See also M. W.
i. I. 159: "and two Edward shovel-boards, that cost me two
shillings and twopence apiece." Taylor the Water Poet calls the
game shove-board, and in a note he says that Edward \T. shillings
were then generally used in playing it. He makes one of these
coins say : —
" You see my face is beardlesse, smooth, and plaine,
Because my soveraigne was a child 't is knowne,
When as he did put on the English crowne ;
But had my stamp beene bearded, as with haire,
Long before this it had beene worne out bare ;
For why, with me the unthrifts every day,
With my face downward, do at shove-board play."
175. Imbrue. Thisbe also uses the word in M. N. D. v. i. 351 :
" Come, blade, my breast imbrue."
176. Then death, etc. Steevens says that this is a fragment of
a song supposed to have been written by Anne Boleyn : —
" O death rock me on slepe,
Bring me on quiet rest," etc.
Reed adds, from Arnold Cosine's Ultimum Vale to the Vaine
World, an elegie written by himselfe in the Marshalsea, after his
condemnation, for murthering Lord Brooke, 1 591 : —
204 Notes [Act II
" O death, rock me asleepe ! Father of heaven,
That hast sole power to pardon sinnes of men.
Forgive the faults and follies of my youth."
178. Airopos. The Sisters Three are apostrophized by Thisbe
in M. N. D.\. I. 343 ; and in the same speech she alludes to the
" shears " of Atropos, but the name of the goddess occurs in S.
only in the present passage.
179. Toward. At hand, in preparation. Cf. M. N. D. iii. i. 81 :
" What ! a play toward ? "
184. Tirrits. Mrs. Quickly 's own word, and " probably =
terrors'''' (Schmidt).
190. Shreivd. Evil, mischievous; the original sense. Cf«
A. V. L. \. 4. 179: "shrewd days," etc.
197. Chops. Poins applies the same epithet to Falstaff in
I Hen. IV. i. 2. 151 : "You will, chops?"
200. The Nine Worthies. These were commonly said to be
three Gentiles: Hector, Alexander, Julius Ccesar ; three Jews:
Joshua, David, Judas Maccabaeus ; and three Christians : Arthur,
Charlemagne, Godfrey of Bouillon. In L. L. L.v. I. 125 fol. and
v. 2. 486 fol. Pompey and Hercules are reckoned among the nine.
205. Quicksilver. Used as a simile for swiftness in the only
other instance of the word in S., Ham. i. 5. 66 : " swift as quick-
silver."
207. Tidy. The word occurs nowhere else in S., and its mean-
ing here is disputed. It means fat in a passage from an old trans-
lation of Galateo on Manners and Behaviour, 1578, cited by Reed;
and Gawin Douglas uses it in the same sense in his Virgil. It was
sometime? = nimble, agile, and Malone believes that to be the
meaning here.
Roast /?^ was one of the attractions of Baj'tholomeiv Fair. " A
more appropriate image for representing the appearance of the
rotund Falstaff, hot, glistening, reeking, from his encounter with
the pestiferous Pistol, could hardly be devised " (Clarke).
208. Foining. Thrusting. See on ii. I. 16 above.
Scene IV] Notes 205
214. Pantler. The servant who had charge of the pantry. Cf.
W. T. iv. 4. 56 : " This clay she was both pantler, butler, cook," etc.
218. Tewkshiiry mustard. Tewksbury (or Tewkesbury), in the
county of Gloucester, was formerly noted for mustard.
222. Conger. A kind of eel. Y or fennel, cf. Ham. iv. 5. 180.
" The fennel was perhaps used as a dressing for the conger, as
parsley is now for other fish" (White). Beisly says it was used
" with fish hard of digestion." Why the dish is mentioned has not
been satisfactorily explained.
223. Flap-dragons. '' K flap-dragon is some small combustible
body, fired at one end, and put afloat in a glass of liquor. It is an
act of a toper's dexterity to toss off the glass in such a manner as to
prevent ihe flap-dragon from doing mischief" (Johnson). Rides
the wild wrt;-f = plays at see-saw (Schmidt). Joined-stools, or
joint-stools, were a kind of folding-chair. Cf. i Hen. IV. ii. 4. 418
and R. and J. i. 5. 7.
226. Sign. That is, a sign over the shop-door of a boot-maker.
227. Breeds no bate, etc. " Creates no disturbance by telling
decent stories ; the inference being that, in the company frequented
by the Prince and Poins, indecent stories would be preferred, and
decent ones resented as inappropriate " (Clarke). For bate (= con-
tention), cf. the Countess of Pembroke's Antonins : —
" Shall ever civil bate
Gnaw and devour our taste ? "
and Mirror for Magistrates : " She set my brother first with me at
bate." The word occurs elsewhere in S. only in the compounds
bate-breeding (in V. and A. 6sS- "this bate-breeding spy") and
breed-bate (in M. IV. i. 4.' 12 : " no tell-tale nor breed-bate "). Cf
make-bate in Tlie Countess of Pejnbroke's Arcadia : " So that love
in her passions, like a right make-bate, whispered to both sides
arguments of quarrel."
233. Nave of a wheel. Alluding to " Sir John's combined
knavery and rotundity."
2o6 Notes [Act II
239. Saturn and Venus, etc. " This was, indeed, a prodigy.
The astrologers, says Ficiiius, remark that Saturn and Venus are
never conjoined " (Johnson).
241. Fiery Trigon. A trigon is a triangle. The astrologers
divided the zodiacal signs into four trigons or triplicities : one
consisting of the three fiery signs (Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius) ;
the others, respectively, of three airy, three watery, and three earthy
signs. When the three superior planets were in the three fiery
signs they formed a Jiery irigon ; when in Cancer, Scorpio, and
Pisces, a watery one, etc.
242. Lisping to his master'' s old tables. Making love to his
master's old mistress, Steevens says : " Bardolph was very proli-
ably drunk, and might lisp a little in his courtship ; or he might
assume an affected softness of speech, like Chaucer's Frere : —
' Somewhat he lisped for his wantonnesse,
To make his English swete upon his tonge.' "
Malone remarks that lisping is " saying soft things," and compares
M. IF. iii. 3. 77 : " Come, I cannot cog and say thou art this and
that, like a many of these lisping hawthorn-lDuds, tliat come like
women in men's apparel, and smell like Bucklersbury in simple
time ; I cannot, l)ut I love thee," etc.
For tad/es = table-book, or memorandum-book, cf. iv. i. 201
below, and Ham. i. 5. 107.
244. Busses. The only instance of the noun in S. For the
verb, see K.John, iii. 4. 35, T. and C. iv. 5. 220, etc.
250. Kirtle. A garment concerning which the commentators
have much disputed. See nearly two pages on the subject in the
Variorum of 1821. It seems to have been made sometimes like a
petticoat, sometimes like an apron, sometimes like a tunic, some-
times like a cloak. Schmidt defines it as *"' a jacket, with a petti-
coat attached to it ;" and the half-kirtle (see v. 4. 18 below) as
either the jacket or the petticoat attached. The words occur
nowhere else in S. We find kirtle in P. P. 363, but the song is
Marlowe's, not Shakespeare's,
Scene IV] Notes 207
256. Hearken the end. The meaning seems to be " wait, and
judge when all is done." Schmidt is doubtful whether it means
this or "listen to the end of the piece of music."
258. Anon, anon, sir. The usual answer of the drawers. See
I Hen. IV. ii. 1.5 fol.
260. Poins his brother. Ritsou explains this as = Poins's brother,
and the editors generally adopt the interpretation. It may be the
right one, but perhaps there is quite as humorous a sarcasm in
calling Poins the Prince's brother.
261. Continents. Probably used as carrying out the metaphor
in globe.
272. By this light flesh, etc. Rowe added here the stage direc-
tion, " Leaning his hand upon Doll." Light = wanton ; as often.
276. Take not the heat. That is, strike while the iron is hot.
Cf. Lear, i. 1. 312: "We must do something, and i' the heat."
Clarke makes the expression = " get the start of him, get ahead of
him."
278. Candle-mine. Mine or magazine of tallow.
284. When you ran away, t'i.c. See i //d-w. /F. ii. 4. 295 fol.
305. To close ivith us. In order to make your peace with us.
Cf./. C. iii. 1.202: —
" It would become me better than to close
In terms of friendship with thine enemies."
See also IV. T. iv. 4. 830: "Close with him (make terms with
him), give him gold," etc.
309. Dead elm. Poins calls him so " perhaps on account of the
weak support which he had given to Doll" (Schmidt). Cf. the
only other instances of elm in S. : C. of E. ii. 2. 176 and AI. N. D.
iv. I. 49.
310. Pricked down. Marked down. Cf. iii. 2. Ill, 1 15, I43»
146, etc. below.
312. Malt-wortns. Ale-topers. Cf. i Hen. IV. ii. i. 83.
317. Burns, poor soul. That is, with disease. The early eds.
have " burns poor souls," which some eds. retain.
2o8 Notes [Act III
323. Contrary io the law. Several statutes of the time of Eliza-
beth and James I. forbade victuallers to furnish flesh during Lent.
329. //is grace. Falstaff plays upon the vi'ord^raci?.
331. .U door. A contraction still in provincial use, according to
Clarke. Bardolph also uses it in 351 below; but Falstaff (348)
says "at the door."
342. The south. The south wind, always represented by S. as
damp and disagreeable. Cf. A.Y.L. iii. 5. 50: "like foggy south,"
etc.
343. Borne. Laden, freighted.
346. Tlie siveetest morsel of the night. Cf. v. 3. 49 below : "now
comes in the sweet o' the night."
362. PeascoJ-time. The time of year when peas are in pod.
But an honester and truer-Jiearted man, — . " These valedictory
words (printed also in the folio with a dash, to indicate a broken
speech, as if unfinished from incapacity to express all she feels of
admiration) uttered by hostess Quickly after nearly thirty years'
experience of Sir John's honesty and truth, serve better than pages
of commentary upon his powers of fascination to show how strong
is the spell he exercises upon the judgment and affections of those
with whom he associates" (Clarke).
369. \^She comes blubbered.'] The quarto reads: "come, shee
comes blubberd, yea? wil you come Doll?" The speech in the
foHo is simply, ''/lost. Oh runne Dol, runne: runne, good Dot."
Dyce was the first to see here that a stage-direction (as not un-
frequently happened) had got into the text. For blubbered, cf.
R. and J. iii. 3. 87 : "Blubbering and weeping."
ACT III
Scene I. — The whole scene is omitted in some copies of the
quarto. See p. 10 above.
2. O^er-read. Read over, peruse; as in Sonn. 81. 10, y. C. iii.
Scene I] NoteS 200
I. 4, and Lear, i. 2. 38. So over-read \ry M. for M. iv. 2. 212. Cf.
36 below.
3. Co7isider. Often followed by of, as here. Cf. Hen. V. ii. 4.
113, iii. 6. 133,/. C. iii. 2. 114, Macb. iii. i. 75, etc.
17. A zvatch-case. A sentry-box. Hanmer says : "This alludes
to the watchman set in garrison-towns on some eminence, attend-
ing upon an alarum-bell, which was to ring out in case of fire or
any approaching danger." Holt White makes it refer to an alarm-
watch or clock. Lariiin is the uniform spelling in S., not " 'larum,"
as usually given in modern eds. Alarum also occurs ; as in Heit. V.
iv. 6. 35, etc.
19. Ship-bo/ s. The word is found also in K.John, iv. 3. 4 and
Hen. V. iii. chor. 8. Cf. shipman in Alacb. i. 3. 17, etc.
24. The clouds seem to be called slippery as not being able to
retain the billows thrown up to them (Steevens).
25. That. So that. See on i. i. 197 above. For hiirly (= tu-
mult), cf. K.John, iii. 4. 169 : " I see this hurly all on foot," etc.
28. Most stillest. Double comparatives and superlatives are
frequent in S. Cf. iv. 5. 201 below.
30. Then, happy low, lie doiun I The quarto reads : " then
(happy) low lie downe ;" the folio: "Then happy Lowe, lye
downe." As Steevens remarks, the sense seems to be : " You
who are happy in your humble situations, lay down your heads
to rest ! the head that wears a crown lies too uneasy to expect
such a blessing." Various alterations have been proposed.
T)^. Is it good morrow? Is it morning? The salutation was
used only before nocfn. Cf. R. and J. i. i, 166: "Is the day so
young?"
35. All. Again applied to two persons in 2 Heti. VI. ii. 2. 26:
" as all you know," etc.
41. It is but as a body yet distemper'' d. It is as yet only a body
disordered, or out of health. Transpositions of jt/ are common.
43. Little. That is, a little, Cf. T. A^. v. i . 1 74.
50, Ocean. A trisyllable ; as in T. G. of V. ii. 7. 32, K. John,
2 HENRY IV — 14
2IO
Notes [Act III
ii. I. 340, etc. See on ind, 26 above. On the passage, cf. Sonn.
64. 5 : " When I have seen the hungry ocean gain," etc.
53-56. O, if this . . . and die. Omitted in the folios, where
the imperfect line '7" is not teti years gone fills out 53. White
remarks of the lines: "If S. ever wrote them, I believe that he
omitted them because of their weakness ; but I more than doubt
that he did write this feelile whine, which seems all the feebler
because it is made the needless sequent of the manly and majestic
aspiration that precedes it. . . . It is a square block of puling
commonplace let into a grand and vigorous passage."
64. To the eyes. To the face ; as in M. for M. v. i. i6i : " Her
shall you hear disproved to her eyes." Cf. Id. i. i. 69.
65. But which of you, etc. "He refers to Rich. II. iv. 2 ; but
whether the king's or the author's memory fails him, so it was,
that Warwick was not present at that conversation" (Johnson).
66. Nevil. As Steevens notes, the earldom of Warwick was
then in the family of Beauchamp, and did not come into tliat of
the Nevils till many years after, in the latter part of the reign of
Henry VI., when it descended to Anne Beauchamp (the daughter
of the earl here introduced), who was married to Richard Nevil,
Earl of Salisbury.
68. Checked. Reproved. See on i. 2. 198 above.
72. Had no such intent, etc. " He means ' / should have had
no such intent, but that necessity,' etc.; or S. has here forgotten
his former play, or has chosen to make Henry forget his situation
at the time mentioned. He had then actually accepted the crown "
(Malone). Cf. Rich. II. iv. I. 1 13: "In God's name, I '11 ascend
the regal throne."
74. To kiss. Cf. A. W. i. i. 238: "To join like likes, and kiss
like native things."
75. Shall come. Changed by Johnson to " will come," to corre-
spond with the next line. Clarke remarks : " The present forms a
notable instance of that purposed variation in repeated phrases that
S. occasionally gives with so much naturalness of effect. Here the
Scene II] Notes 211
variation occurs in a repeated sentence uttered by the selfsame
speaker, and one following immediately upon the other ; but in
repeating it he varies one word of it, just as persons do in actual
life, and just as Shakespeare's people do."
85. Intreasured. Laid up. Q,l.entreaszired'\\\Per.\\\.2.(i<^.
86. Hatch. Cf. Ham. iii. I. 174: "the hatch and the disclose,"
etc.
87. This. Used in a general way, referring to " this history of
the times deceased " (Henley) or "the instance which the king has
been recounting of Northumberland's previous conduct" (Clarke).
98. Please it. May it please. See on i. i. 5 above.
103. htstance. Proof. Cf. iv. I. 83 below.
105. Unseasoii''d. Unseasonable; as in J/. ?F. ii. 2. 174: "this
unseasoned intrusion." Yox perforce, see on i. i. 165 above.
Scene II. — 3. Rood. Cross, crucifix. Cf. Rich. III. iii. 2. 77,
iv. 4. 165, etc.
9. Otisel. Blackbird; as in M. N. D. iii. i. 128: "The ousel
cock so black of hue." There it is spelt "woosel" in the early
eds., as it is here in the quarto. " Master Silence speaks with
mock-modest disparagement of his pretty dark-haired daughter "
(Clarke).
15. Cletnenfs Inn. One of the " Inns of Chancery," which were
subsidiary to the " Inns of Court." See on 31 below.
16. Alad. Madcap, merry; as in 32 below.
22. Cotstvold man. The quarto has " Cotsole man," and the 1st
folio "Cot-sal-man; " both of which indicate the common pronun-
ciation of the word. Cotswold (open downs in Gloucestershire) was
celebrated in the poet's time for athletic sports and the skill of the
natives therein. Cf. Rich. II. ii. 3. 9.
23. Swinge-bucklers. Roisterers. Swash-bucklers was used in
the same sense. Steevens quotes Nash, addressing Gabriel Harvey,
1598: " Turpe senex miles, 't is time for such an olde foole to
leave playing the swash-buckler." Qi. swashers in lien. V. iii. 2. 30.
212 Notes [Act III
24. Page to Thomas Mowbray, etc. One of the points of evi-
dence that Falstaff was originally called Oldcastle in i and 2 Hen.
IV., Sir John Oldcastle having actually been in his youth page to
the Duke of Norfolk.
29. Slogan's head. There were two noted persons of the name,
the one a poet and the other a jester, and there has been much
controversy as to which of them is here referred to. John Sco-
gan, " being an excellent mimick, and of great pleasantry in con-
versation, became the favourite buffoon of the court of King
Edward IV." (Warton). Henry Scogan, the poet, is described
by Ben Jonson, in The Fortunate Isles, as
" a fine gentleman, and master of arts
Of Henry the Fourth's times, that made disguises
For the king's sons, and writ in ballad royal
Daintily well."
A book of " Scogin's Jests " was published by Andrew Borde in
1565, and may have suggested the name to Shakespeare. The
subject is discussed to the extent of nearly three pages in the
Variorum of 1 82 1.
30. Crack. A pert boy. Cf. Cor. i. 3. 74 : —
" Valeria. Indeed, la, 't is a noble child.
Virgilia. A crack, madam."
31. Grafs Intl. One of the four great "Inns of Court," which
are " incorporations for the study of law, possessing by common
law the exclusive privilege of calling to the bar." In the Hall of
Gray's Inn (built about 1560) Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors
was acted in 1594.
37. Hoiv a, etc. How go a, or how sell a, etc. Cf. 48 below,
and the answer to the question.
45. Clapped V the clout. Hit the white mark in the target. Cf.
Z. L. L. iv. I. 136: "Indeed, a' must shoot nearer, or he '11 ne'er
hit the clout." At twelve score = twelve score yards.
46. A forehattd shaft. A kind of shaft referred to — not very
Scene II] Notes 213
clearly — by Ascham, in his Toxophihis, z.% follows: "Agayne the
bygg-brested shafte is fytte for hym which shoteth right afore him,
or els the brest, being weke, should never wythstande that strong
piththy kinde of shootynge; thus the underhande must have a
small breste, to go cleane awaye out of the bowe, the forehande
must have a bigge breste, to bere the great myghte of the bowe."
Fourteen and a half. That is, two hundred and ninety yards.
Malone remarks: "The utmost distance that the archers of ancient
times reached is supposed to have been about three hundred yards.
Old Double therefore certainly drew a good bow." To hit a mark
at twelve score was, however, a more extraordinary feat than merely
sending a shaft fourteen and a half. Instances are recorded of
shots at eighteen score.
49. Thereafter as they be. According as they turn out. The
good which follows is emphatic. The price mentioned is that of the
poet's time.
60. Tall. Stout, sturdy. Cf. A. and C. ii. 6. 7: "much tall
youth," etc.
63. Backsword man. "Fencer at single-sticks " (Schmidt).
70. Accommodated. "This was one of the words that were
fashionably affected and brought in upon every occasion by gal-
lants in Shakespeare's time, and which affectation he has satirized.
Its favour among would-be martial men is indicated by Bardolph's
affirming it to be a soldier-like word; while the absurd way in
which it was hacked and introduced upon all occasions, pertinent
or not pertinent, and without the slightest idea as to what was its
real meaning, is shly shown by Bardolph's floundering in his at-
tempted definition of the word " (Clarke). Cf. Jonson, Discoveries :
" You are not to cast or wring for the perfumed terms of the time,
as accommodation, complement, spirit, &c., but use them properly
in their places as others." He ridicules it also in Every Man in
his Humour (quoted by Steevens) : —
" Hostess, accommodate us with another bedstaff. —
The woman does not understand the words of action."
214 Notes [Act III
86. Surecard. " Surecard wa.s used as a term for a booti cojii-
panion so lately as the latter end of the last [iSth] century"
(Malone).
III. Prick him. Mark him, put him on the list. See on ii.
4. 310 above.
121. Ot/te}-. Others; as in T. and C. i. 3. 91: "Amidst the
other," etc. See also quotation from Stowe in note on 283 below.
130. Son. There is a play on the word, in antithesis to shadow.
132. Much. The expression is ironical. Cf. A. Y. L. iv. 3. 2:
" Is it not past two o'clock? And here much Orlando ! "
135. Shadows to fill up, Qic. "That is, we have in the muster-
book many names for which we receive pay, though we have not
the men" (Johnson). Steevens quotes Barnabie Riches Sonldiers
IVishe to Britons Welfare, 1604 : " One speciall meane that a shift-
ing captaine hath to deceive his prince, is in his number, to take
pay for a whole company, when he hath not halfe."
151. A woman's tailor. Cf. T. of S. iv. 3. 61 : —
"Come, tailor, let us see these ornaments;
Lay forth the gown."
See the whole dialogue that follows. Cf. also Clitus, Character of
a Zealous Neighbotir : " Hee buyes his wive's gownes ready made,
fearing (belike) some false measure from the tayler."
155. Battle. Battalion, army. Cf. A', yb/^;;, iv. 2. 78 and I //<?«.
IV. iv. I. 129.
167. Put him to. Put \vvm.for, employ him as.
168. So many thousands. " In several instances where his con-
temporary playwrights would have made occasion for coarse ex-
pression, S. has managed to word allusions with comparative
decency ; as witness Falstaffs hint at the Swarming condition of
Wart's ragged garments" (Clarke). Cf also Lear, iii. 4. 164.
187. Take such order. Take such measures, give such orders ;
as in 0th. v. 2. 72, etc.
190. Two more. " Five only have been called, and the number
Scene II] Notes 215
required \sfour. The restoration of the sixth man would solve the
difficulty that occurs below ; for when Mouldy and Bullcalf are set
aside, Falstaff gets but three recruits" (Malone). S. was careless
in these little matters. '
196. Since. When. Cf. 31. N. D.W. i. 149: —
" Thou rememberest
Since once I sat upon a promontory," etc.
204. Could axvay with me. Could endure me. Reed remarks
that the expression had not become obsolete even in the time of
Locke. Cf. his Conduct of the Understanding : "with those alone
he converses, and can away with no company whose discourse goes
beyond what claret or dissoluteness inspires." See also Isaiah,
i. 13.
210. Cannot choose but be. Cannot help being. Cf. i Hen. IV.
i. 3. 278, V. 2. 45, etc.
214. That ''s fifty-five year ago. If Falstaff was then " a boy and
page to Thomas Mowbray" (see 24 above), he must now be at
least seventy. For the plural year, cf. pound in i. 2. 228 above
and 251 below, and mile in v. 5. 65 below.
217. Said I well? Cf. M. IV. i. 3. 11 : "said I well, bully
Hector ? "
222. Hem, boys! Cf. Much Ado, v. i. 16: "Bid sorrow wag,
cry hem," etc.
225. Corporate. A blunder for Corporal.
226. Harry ten shillings. There were no ten-shilling coins
until the time of Henry VII. (Douce).
227. Had as lief. See on i. 2. 42 above.
241. Bear a base niijid. For bear a 7iiind= have a disposition,
cf. V. and A. 202, A', of I. 1148, 1540, Temp. ii. I. 266, T. A'', ii.
I. 30, etc.
242. So. A common use of the word = so be it. Cf. i Hen. IV.
ii- 4- 545. V. 3. 60, 64, etc.
244. Quit. Exempt ; as in Hen. V. iv. i. 122, etc.
2 1 6 Notes [Act III
250. Three pound. Johnson says : " Here seems to be a wrong
computation. He had forty shillings for each. Perhaps he meant
to conceal part of the profit." Of course he did. The amount
paid was above the average for that day. See i Hen. IV. iv. 2. 13.
266. Theivs. Muscle. Cf. /. C. i. 3. 81 and Ham. i. 3. 12.
267. Assemblance. That is, tout ensemble. S. uses the word
only here.
269. Charge you. The you is the " expletive " pronoun. Cf.
Put Die in 278 below.
271. Swifter than he that gibbets on the brewer's bucket. Refer-
ring to the quick motion with which brewers' men sling the beer-
bucket on each end of the gibbet (or yoke across the shoulders) in
carrying beer from the vat to the barrel.
272. Half-faced. With so thin and sharp a figure that he looks
like the profile of a man. Cf. i Hen. IV. i. 3. 208 : " half-fac'd
fellowship."
274. foeman. Steevens says : "This is an obsolete term for an
enemy in war." It is in common use in our day, at least in poetry.
278. Ca liver. A kind of musket. Cf. i Hen. IV. iv. 2. 21.
Steevens quotes The Masque of Flowers, 1613 : "The serjeant of
Kawasha carried on his shoulders a great tobacco-pipe as big as
a caliver." He adds: "It is singular that S., who has so often
derived his sources of merriment from recent customs or fashion-
able follies, should not once have mentioned tobacco, though at a
time when all his contemporaries were active in its praise or its
condemnation." Some have suspected such an allusion in i Hen.
IV. i. 3. 41 : " took it in snuff ; " but probably perfumed powder
is there meant. Judge Hosmer, author of a " Baconian " book,
believes that the iveed in Sonn. 76. 6 is tobacco !
280. Traverse. March. Cf. 0th. i. 3. 378 : " traverse, go," etc.
283. Chopt. The reading of the early eds. for which the modern
ones generally substitute " chapt" or "chapped," which means the
same. Shot is used for shooter. We still speak of " a good shot,"
etc. Cf. Stowe's Annates, 1631 : " men with armour, . . . the
Scene II] Notes 217
greater part whereof were shot, and other were pikes and halberts,
in faire corslets."
284. Scab. A term of contempt, here used with quibbling ref-
erence to Wart's name. Cf. the play on the word in Much Ado,
iii. 3. 107 and Cor. i. i. 169.
285. Tester. Sixpence ; as in M. W. i. 3. 96 : " Tester I '11
have in pouch," etc. Cf. testril in T. N. ii. 3. 34. We find the
verb iestern ( = give a tester) in T. G. of V. i. i. 153.
287. Mile-End Greenr The place in the suburbs of London for
public sports, and also for military drill. According to Stowe, 4000
citizens were trained and exercised there in 1585. In Barnabie
Riches Soiddiers Wishe (see on 135 above), we find contemptuous
mention of " a trayning at Mile-end greene."
28S. Lay — resided. Cf. iv. 2. 97 below.
Sir Dagonet. The story of Sir Dagonet is to be found in La
Morte d'Arthure, where he is the king's squire. Arthur's Show was
an exhibition of archery by a society who styled themselves "The
Auncient Order, Society, and Unitie laudable of Prince Arthure
and his Knightly Armory of the Round Table." The members,
fifty-eight in number, took the names of the knights in the old
romance, and their usual place of meeting was Mile-End Green.
289. Quiver. Nimble, active ; used by S. nowhere else. Hen-
derson quotes Bartholotneus, 1535: "There is a maner fishe that
hyght mugill, which is full quiver and swifte."
292. Bounce. Bang. Cf. K. John, ii. I. 462: "He speaks
plain cannon fire, and smoke and bounce."
306. At a word. In a word ( = briefly, but what I mean). Cf.
M. W. i. 3. 15 : "I am at a word ; follow" (that is, I am not of
many words).
311. Fetchoff. " Fleece, make a prey of " (Schmidt). In IF. T.
i. 2. 334 it is = make away with.
315. TiirnbiiU Street. A corruption of Turnmill Street, a dis-
reputable quarter in London. Steevens quotes Ram Alley : " You
swaggering, cheating, Turnbull-street rogue ; " and Beaumont and
2 1 8 Notes [Act III
Fletcher, Scornful Lady : " Here has been such a hurry, such a
din, such dismal drinking, swearing, &c., we have all lived in a per-
petual TurnbuU-street."
322, Invincible. " Not to be evinced, not to be made out, inde-
terminable " (Schmidt). Some eds. change it to "invisible."
326. "Fancies and Good-nights were the common titles of little
poems. One of Gascoigne's Good-nights is published among his
Flowers^'' (Steevens).
This Vice's dagger. Alluding to the w^ooden dagger of the Vice
in the old moralities. Cf. T. N. iv. 2. 136 and i Hen. IV. ii. 4.
151-
328. Sworn brother. Alluding to the fratres jurati of the times
of chivalry. Cf. A. V. L. v. 4. 107, Much Ado, i. i. 73, etc.
330. Burst. Broke. Cf. T. of S. ind. 1.8: " the glasses you
have burst," etc.
332. His o'vn name. That is, a gaunt fellow. Cf. Gaunt's
death-bed playing on his own name in I\ich II. ii. i. 74 fol. See
also on iv. 5. 129 below.
2,^^. Eel-skin. Cf. IC. John, i. i. 141.
335. Beefs. "Beeves" (the folio reading). Cf. M. of V. i. 3.
168 : "muttons, beefs, or goats."
337. A philosopher'' s two stones. That is, double the value of
the philosopher's stone, or "more than the philosopher's stone"
(Johnson). " Falstaff thus vaunts his power of transferring men's
money from their pocket to his own as surpassing that of the phi-
losopher's stone to transmute base metals into gold ; and the result
proves his boast to be no empty one, for he afterwards succeeds in
obtaining 'a thousand pound' from Master Shallow" (Clarke).
See V. 5. 12 below.
338. If the young dace, t\.c. "That is, if the pike may prey upon
the dace, if it be the law of nature that the stronger may seize upon
the weaker, Falstaff may, with great propriety, devour Shallow "
(Johnson). Vaughan remarks: "The piscatorial metaphor of
F"alstaff seems peculiarly natural to one born on the banks of the
Scene I] Notes 219
Avon, where probably the best kind of angling was trolling for pike
with dace or gudgeon for bait."
340. And there an end. And there's no more to say about it.
Cf. R. and J. iii. 4. 28, Jiich II. v. i. 69, etc.
ACT IV
Scene I. — 2. Gaultree. So spelled in the folios. Holinshed
(see p. 161 above) has " Galtree." The forest of Galtres anciently
extended to the north of the city of York, and comprised nearly
100,000 acres of land. It remained a royal forest until 1670, when
an act of parliament was obtained for its division and enclosure.
It is the " Calaterium Nemus " of Geoffrey of Monmouth, who
makes it the scene of his story of Arthegal and Elidure.
3. Discoverers. Scouts.
8. New-dated. Of recent date. S. is fond of compounds with
new. Cf. i. 2. 149 above.
10. Here doth he wish, etc. He wishes he could have been here
in person, etc. Yox poivers = forces, cf. iv. 2. 61 below.
11. Hold sortance. Be in accordance. CLsort within M. N. D.
v. I. 55 and Hen. V. iv. I. 63.
13. Ripe. Ripen, mature ; as in K. John, ii. i. 472, etc.
15. Overlive. Outlive, survive ; used by S. only here.
16. Opposite. Opponent, adversary; as in i. 3.55 above. Cf.
T. N. iii. 2. 68, iii. 4. 253, 293, etc.
23. Gave them out. Declared them, said they were.
24. Sivay. "This verb has excellent effect thus employed, to
give the idea of a military movement, a body of forces sweeping
heavily, yet impetuously, on in a given direction" (Clarke).
Johnson compares the use of the noun in Milton, P. L. vi. 251
(which he misquotes) : " with huge two-handed sway Brandish'd
aloft," etc.
34. Bloody. " Sanguine, or full of blood and of those passions
220 Notes [Act IV
which blood is supposed to incite or nourish " (Johnson). Malone
compares M. IV. v. 5. 99: "Lust is but a bloody tire." For
guarded = UimraGd., decked, cf. M. of V. ii. 2. 164, Hen, VI I I.
prol. 16, etc.
42. Civil. Well-ordered ; or perhaps, as Steevens makes it,
"grave, solemn." Cf. R. and J.\\\. 2. 10: "Come, civil Night,"
etc.
45. White investmeftis. Dr. Grey says that formerly all bishops
wore white (the episcopal rochet) even when they travelled.
50. Greaves. Steevens's conjecture for the "graves" of the
early eds. According to some, the latter is only another way of
spelling greaves. Herford attempts to defend " graves " thus :
' As books result from the exercise of the graceful ' speech of peace,'
so ' graves ' from the exercise of the boisterous tongue of war ; "
but this seems a forced interpretation.
52. Point. "A signal given by the blast of a trumpet"
(Schmidt). Many passages in the old dramatists confirm this
explanation.
55-79. And . . . wrong. Omitted in the quarto.
57. Bleed. That is, be bled. Cf. Rich. II. i. i. 157: "Our doc-
tors say this is no month to bleed."
60. I take not on tiie here as a physician. I do not profess to be
a physician. Cf. C. of E. \. i. 242 : —
" this pernicious slave,
Forsooth, took on him as a conjurer," etc.
69. Griefs. Grievances; as in 77 and no below.
71. Sphere. Warburton's correction of the " there " of the folios,
and generally adopted ; but some editors retain " there," making
most (/?</(?/= greatest quiet (cf. M. for M.Av. i. 44 : "my most
stay," etc.) and "there "= therein, referring to the stream of life.
72. Occasion. A quadrisyllable here. See on ind. 26 above.
Cf. commission in 162 below.
83. Instance. Proof, illustration. See on iii. i. 103 above.
Scene I J Notes 221
84. Ill-beseeming. Unbecoming. CL R. ajtd J. i. 5. 76, iii. 3.
113, etc. We have well-beseeming in I Hen. IV. i. i. 14.
90. Grate on. Vex, worry. Cf. M. W. ii. 2. 6 : "I have grated
upon my good friends," etc. The metaphor is similar to that in
galled.
93. Commotion = insurrection ; as in 36 and ii. 4. 342 above.
For edge = sword, cf. I. I/en. IV. i. I. 17 : "The edge of war ; "
Kick. III. V. 5. 35 : " the edge of traitors," etc.
This Hne and 95 below are omitted in the folios and in some
copies of the quarto. It is the opinion of some of the critics that
several lines have been lost here and the remaining ones displaced.
Various attempts at rearrangement and emendation have been
made.
94. My brothe}-, etc. This speech, as it stands, is thus explained
by Clarke : " The grievances of my brother general, the common-
wealth, and the home cruelty to my born brother, cause me to
make this quarrel my own." The archbishop's brother had been
beheaded by the king's order. Cf. i. He7i. IV. i. 3. 270 : —
" who bears hard
His brother's death at Bristol, the Lord Scroop."
97. Redress. This favours the supposition that something has
been lost above, " since it is said in reply, and as if redress had
been one of the words used by the archbishop."
98. Not. For the transposition, cf. Tenip. ii. i. 121 : "I not
doubt," etc. See also 107 below.
103-139. O, my good . . . the king. Omitted in the quarto.
104. To. According to.
107. Yet for your part, etc. " Whether the faults of govern-
ment be imputed to the time or the king, it appears not that you
have, for your part, been injured either by the king ox the time''
(Johnson).
116. Force perforce. A more emphatic form ol perforce, and like
222 Notes [Act IV
that sometimes = by force, sometimes = of necessity (see on i, 3. 72
above). Cf. iv. 4. 46 below, where it has the latter sense.
117. For the events referred to, see Rich. II. i. 3.
120. In charge. "In rest" for the charge or encounter. For
beaver (= the movable front of the helmet), cf. Ham. i. 2, 230 :
"his beaver up," etc.
121. Sights. The eye-holes of the helmet.
125. Warder. Truncheon or staff of command. Cf. Rich. II,
i. 3. 118 : "Stay, the king hath thrown his warder down."
127. Then threiv he dmvn himself, etc. Cf. Antony's speech in
J. C. iii. 2. 195 : "Then I, and you, and all of us fell down," etc.
129. Miscarried. Perished, been lost ; the most common sense
in S. Cf. iv. 2. 46 below.
131. Earl. He was Duke of Hereford (Malone). See Rich.
II. Elsewhere (see .4. IV. iii. 5. 12, 19, Hen. V. iv. 8. 103, R. and
J. iii. 4. 21) S. uses earl loosely of foreign noblemen (= count).
135. Coventry. The place where the lists were held. See
Rich. II. i. 3.
145. Every thing set off. The phrase is ambiguous, and thus
serves the speaker's purpose. 5(?/ <^ may be = cast out, ignored,
or = rendered account for.
149. Overween, Think arrogantly, CL T. A.W. \. 2<^, Rich. II.
i. I. 147, etc. See also Milton, Sonn. 4. 6: —
"and they that overween,
And at thy growing virtues fret their spleen," etc.
151. Within a ken. Within sight. Cf. Cyi)i/>.m. 6. 6 : "Thou
wast within a ken ; " R. of L. 1 1 14 : " 'T is double death to die in
ken of shore," etc.
154. Battle. Army. See on iii. 2. 155 above, and cf. 179 below.
Names = great names, or men of note.
161. Handling. A trisyllable here.
164. Determine. Followed by of; as in T, C. of V. ii. 4. l8l,
Rich. Ill, iii. 4. 2, R. and J. iii. 2. 51, etc.
Scene I] Notes 223
166. Intended. Understood, implied (Fr. entendu).
167. / 7niise, etc. I wonder that you can ask a question so
frivolous. For muse, cf. K.John, iii. i. 317, Cor. iii. 2. 7, etc.
172. Insitiewed. Joined, allied. Ci. K. /ohii,v. 2. 6;^: —
" so nobles, shall you all
That knit your sinews to the strength of-mine."
See also 177 below.
1 73. By a true substantial for j)i. " That is, by a pardon of due
form and legal validity" (Johnson).
174. Present. Immediate ; as often. Cf. iv. 3. 73 below.
175. ConJi)i\i. "What they demand is, a speedy execution of
their wills, so far as they relate to themselves, and to the grievances
which they proposed to redress" (Mason). Some editors adopt
Johnson's conjecture of " consign'd." He explained the amended
passage thus : " Let the execution of our demands be put into our
hands, according to our declared purposes." Malone followed
Johnson, but made " consigned " = "sealed, ratified, confirmed"
(cf. V. ii. 143 below).
176. Our awful banks. "The proper limits of reverence"
(Johnson). For awful ^= filled with awe or reverence, cf. Rich. II.
iii. 3. 76 : "To pay their awful duty to our presence."
187. Consist. Either = stand, rest (as explained by Malone) or
= " insist," which Rowe substituted. Cf. Per. i. 4. 83 : " Welcome
is peace, if he on peace consist." The context (cf. 165 and 184
above) favours the former interpretation.
189. Our valuation. That is, the king's estimate or opinion of us.
191. Alee. Trivial. Cf R. and J. iii. i. 159: "The letter was
not nice, but full of charge."
192. Action. A trisyllable. See on 72 above, and cL partition
in 196 just below.
193. T/iat. So that. See on i. i. 197 above, and cf. 216 below.
Our royal faiths — our faith or fidelity to the king. For the plural,
see on ii. 3. 25 above.
224 Notes [Act IV
196. Partition. Cf. Cymb. i. 6. 37 : —
" and can we not
Partition make with spectacles so precious
'Twixt fair and foul ? "
198. Picking. Petty, insignificant. Schmidt explains it as
"sought industriously (German gesiicht).'" Cf. picked = re.fme.d,
fastidious {^Ham. v. i. 151). Herford makes it = " capricious."
201. Tables. Tablets, note-book. See on ii. 4. 242 above.
203. History. The only instance of the verb in S.
206. Misdoubts. Suspicions. The noun is found again in
2 Hen. VI. iii. i. 332. For occasion, see on 72 above.
208. Plucking, etc. White notes the allusion to the parable of
the tares and the wheat.
211. Hitn on. The pronoun gives "the double effect of the
husband who is implied in the word wife, and the king who was
mentioned at the beginning of the speech."
213. Hangs. That is, suspends it, in a figurative as well as a
literal sense. Cf. T. and C. iv. 5. 188 : —
" When tliou hast hung thy advanced sword i' the air,
Not letting it decline on the declin'd."
Resolv'd correction = the chastisement he has resolved or de-
termined upon. Cf. K.John, ii. i. 585: "a resolv'd and honour-
able war." The meaning of the whole passage is: and checks or
restrains the purposed chastisement in the hand already raised to
execute it. The passage does not strike me as a difficult one, but
Hudson (school ed.) obscures it by the following note : " The
meaning is rather obscure. The antithesis is between correction
and execution. Resolv'd has the sense of assured, a frequent use
of the word in S. In the case supposed, the arm upreared to strike
is sure to be arrested." The antithesis is not between correction
and execution, and resolv'd cannot possibly mean " sure to be
arrested."
216. That. See on 193 above.
Scene II] Notes 225
219. Offer. Menace, or assail. Cf. i He^i. IV. iv. i. 69: "the
offering side."
221. Atonement. Reconciliation; the only sense in S. Cf.
M. W. i. I. 33 and Rich. III. i. 3. 36.
225. Pleaseth. Cf. iv. 2. 52 below, and see on i. i. 5 above.
Scene II. — l. You are well e7icotmter''d. We are glad to meet
you.
8. An iron man. Hohnshed (see p. 161 above) describes the
archbishop as " clad in armour."
14. Set abroach. Cause; but only in a bad sense. Cf. i'??V//. ///.
i. 3. 325 and R. and J. i. i. iii.
20. Intelligencer. Mediator, agent ; asm Rich. III. u. ^."Ji'. —
" Richard yet lives, hell's black intelligencer,
Only reserv'd their factor, to buy souls
And send them thither."
26. Ta'enup. Levied; as in ii. i. 184 above. For other senses
of the expression, see on i. 2. 41 and i. 3. 73 above.
27. Zeal of God. Pious zeal ; devotion to God's cause.
33. iMisorder'd. Disordered ; used by S. nowhere else.
36. Grief. See on iv. i. 69 above.
39. Whose dangerous eyes, etc. Alluding to the dragon charmed
to rest by the spells of Medea.
45. Supplies. Reserves, reinforcements. See on i. 3. 12 above.
47, Success. Succession. Cf. IV. 7". i. 2. 394 : —
" our parents' noble names,
In whose success we are gentle," etc.
49. Whiles. Used interchangeably with T^////^. ¥ox generation,
see on ind. 26 above.
52. Pleaseth. Let it please. See on i. i. 5 and iii. i. 98 above.
54. Allow. Approve. Malone compares Zmr, ii. 4. 194: —
" if your sweet sway
Allow obedience."
2 HENRY IV — 15
126 Notes [Act IV
The meaning, however, may be, I readily admit or grant them. Cf.
i. 3. 5 above.
56. Mistook. S. uses both mistook and mistaken (or mista'eii)
as the participle. Cf. lien. V. ii. 4. 30 with Id. iii. 6. 85.
61. Discharge your powers. Dismiss your forces. It was West-
moreland, according to Ilolinshed (see p. 162 above), who made
this deceitful proposal, Yox powers, see on iv. i. lo above.
70. Part. Depart ; as often.
79. In very happy season. Cf. J. C. ii. 2. 60 : "in very happy time."
81. Against ill chances men are ever merry. Thus Romeo feels
an unacc7cstomed degree of cheerfulness just before he hears the
news of the death of Juliet. See A", and J. v. i. i fol.
85. Passing. Exceedingly ; used only before adjectives and
adverbs.
93. Otir. Changed by Capell to " your " ; but, as Clarke re-
marks, " it is just one of those fair-sounding proposals that this
perfidious son of tricking Bolingbroke makes ; he proposes to let
the forces on each side march by, that each party may see those
that were to have contended with them, well knowing that no such
thing will take place, having evidently had an understanding with
Westmoreland as to what was to be really done."
94. Peruse. Survey, examine. Cf. Ham. iv. 7. 135: "Will not
peruse the foils," etc.
97. Lie. Occupy the same house or lodgings. Vaughan re-
marks that the same expression occurs rather quaintly in Holin-
shed, who says of Edward Balliol after his expulsion from Scotland,
" After this he went and laie a time with the Lady of Gines, that
was his kinswoman." Cf. iii. 2. 288 above.
109. Attach. Arrest ; as in C. of E. iv. i. 6, 73, iv. 4. 6, Rich.
II. i. 3. 196, etc.
112. Pawn''d. Pledged. <Z{. K. John,\\\. \. ()%: "Have I not
pawn'd to you my majesty ? "
119. Fondly. Foolishly; as in Rich. II. iii. 3. 185, Rich. III.
iii. 7. 147, etc.
Scene III] Notes 227
121. God, and not we, G.\.z. " This sickening hypocrisy of daring
to ascribe to Heaven so glaring an act of treachery and faithless-
ness is thoroughly in keeping with Prince John's cohl-natured and
treacherous character — as inherited from his oily, crafty father"
(Clarke).
Johnson remarks : " It cannot but raise some indignation, to find
this horrid violation of faith passed over thus slightly by the poet,
without any note of censure or detestation." Verplanck adds : " In
this indignation most commentators have joined. I do not see
why. Chief-Justice jNIarshall is said to have observed to a prolix
counsel, who had entered upon a demonstration of some familiar
elementary doctrine, that ' he ought to presume that the court
knew something!' Shakespeare always presumes his readers to
have the first principles of morals and human feelings in their
hearts, and does not enter into declamatory demonstration to show
the baseness or guilt of the deeds he represents in his scenes.
Here he portrays the political craft of Bolingbroke and his cold-
blooded son, whom he has thought fit, for his dramatic purpose,
with little warrant from history, to place in contrast with his nobler
brother. He took it for granted that, when Mowbray asks, ' Is
this proceeding just and honourable ? ' his audience would find an
unhesitating and unanimous nega'tive and indignant reply in their
own hearts, without hearing a sermon upon it from the deceived
archbishop, or a lecture from some bystander."
Scene III. — 8. Place. Tyrwhitt proposed to change place in
the next line to " dale ; " but Vaughan says : " In Falstaff's reason-
ing, the major premiss — that is, 'all places deep enough are dales'
— is understood without being expressed; the minor premiss, 'a
dungeon is a place deep enough,' is expressed. From the two
combined follows logically and strictly the conclusion, ' You, being
in a dungeon and of a dungeon, are in a dale and of a dale ! ' "
That Falstaff was a logician we might infer from l Hen, IV. ii. 4.
544 : " I deny your major."
228 Notes [Act IV
15. Observattce. Homage. Cf. AI. W. ii. 2. 203: "a doting
observance," etc.
21. Indifferency. Moderate measure; used again \n K. John,
ii. I. 579. S. does not use indifference.
22. Womb. Used jocosely by Falstaff, but in Old English
equivalent to belly. Wiclit's Bible, in Luke, xv. 16, has, "he
coveted to fill his womb of the cods that the hogs did eat."
24. The heat is past. The race is over ; referring to the pursuit
of " the scattered stray" (iv. 2. 120). Johnson explained heat ^^
" the violence of resentment, the eagerness of revenge." Schmidt
makes heat = " haste, urgency."
31. Chech. Reproof; as often. Cf. the verb in i. 2. 198 and
iii. I. 68 above.
33. Poor and old motioji. " Sir John's wit can make his age as
good a plea here as he made his youth answer the purpose on
another occasion " (Clarke). Cf. i. 2. 175 fol. above.
36. Posts. Post-horses. Clarke remarks : " Falstaff's fine exag-
gerations have so rich an excess that they proclaim their own im-
munity from censure as lies. They at once avow innocence of
intention to deceive ; they are uttered for the pure pleasure of
wit-invention. . . . He never proves his case ; but he so ably
defends his cause that he invariably gains the day. No one can
condemn, though no one acquits him ; he is left unjudged, and
suffered still to go at large, and in triumph — the victor ever."
47. /;/ a particular ballad. According to the fashion in Shake-
speare's time of making important or interesting events of the day
the subjects of ballads. Cf. W. T. iv. 4. 186, 188, 262, 263, etc.
52. The element. The sky. Cf. /. C. i. 3. 128, Lear, iii. i. 4,
etc. Vaughan remarks: "This old signification is still retained
by the folk of South Pembrokeshire. A peasant recently said to
me: 'I thought this morning that we should have rain, for I saw,
as I came along, a weather-gall in the element.' A ' weather-gall '
is a kind of half-rainbow, and is regarded as a sign of wet weather
by the country people."
Scene III] Notes 229
62. Colevile. Here, as in 72 below, the word appears to be a
trisyllable, and it may have been intended to be regularly so. Lines
60 and 6 1 might then be a Une of verse; but they are generally
made prose, as here.
73. Present. See on iv. i. 174 above.
80. My lord, etc. Some editors print this speech as verse, ex-
plaining Falstaff's use of it as due to " the seriousness of the
request."
82. Stand 7ny good lord. Be my kind patron, befriend me. Cf.
ii. I. 63 above.
83. In my condition. " In my official capacity " (Schmidt). It
often means rank or social position ; as in Temp. iii. i. 59, i Hen.
IV. iv. 3. I, etc.
87. A man cannot make him laugh. "A quality deeply dis-
tasteful to Shakespeare, to his finest characters, and to all those
who know how essentially a sense of humour is allied to the finest
sensibilities of humanity. . . . The man who could see and hear
Falstaff unmoved was the very man to coolly order ' those traitors
to the block of death,' after having cheated them by fair-sound-
ing promises — cold, hard, impervious to feeling throughout"
(Clarke).
90. Come to any proof. Prove to be worth anything. Cf.
Holinshed, Chron. : " a vehement frost . . . destroyed up all the
seed almost that was sowne, by reason whereof small store of
winter corne came to proof in the summer following."
94. Sherris-sack. Sherry wine ; called simply sherris just be-
low. Sack was "the generic name of Spanish and Canary
wines" (Schmidt). Malone quotes Minsheu, Span. Diet., 1617:
" XSres, or Xeres, oppidum BceticK, i.e. Andalusioe, prope Cadiz,
unde nomen vini de Xeres. A. [Anglice] Xeres sacked Cole, who
m 1679 renders sack "vinum Hispanicum," defines Sherry-sack zs
" vinum Eseritaiium."
Ascends me. The me is the expletive. See on iii. 2. 269 above.
Verplanck thinks that S. here " was indebted to the conversation
230 Notes [Act IV
of his friend Ben Jonson, borrowing this from his tall<, without
meaning that the resemblance went any further." He adds: "It
seems, from lately discovered manuscripts of old Ben's, that he had
precisely this opinion of excellent ' sherris,' in making the brain
' apprehensive, quick, forgetive, full of nimble, fiery, and delectable
shapes,' etc. In an unpublished sort of diary of Ben Jonson's,
preserved at Duluich College, quoted by Ilughson (^History of
London'), he says : ' Mem. I laid the plot of my Volpone, and wrote
most of it, after a present of ten doz. of Paitn sack, from my very
good lord T ; that play, I am positive, will last to posterity,
when I and Envy are friends with applause.' Afterwards he speaks
of his Catiline in a similar way, but adds that he thinks one of liis
scenes flat ; and thereupon resolves to drink no more water with
his wine. The Alchemist and Silent Woman he describes as the
product of much and good wine ; but he adds that his comedy
The Devil is an Ass 'was written when I and my boys drank bad
wine.' "
96. Crudy. Crude, raw; used by S. only here. Crude does
not occur in his works.
97. Forgetive. Inventive, imaginative ; horn forge. The word
is found nowhere else.
102. 7'he liver white, etc. Cf. M. of V. iii. 2. 86 : " How many
cowards . . . have livers white as milk ; " 7'. and C. ii. 2. 50 :
" Make livers pale and lustihood deject," etc. Cf. also lily-livered
{Macb. v. 3. 15, Lear, ii. 2. 18), milk-livered (^L. L. L. iv. 2. 50),
white-livered {//en. V. iii. 2. 34, /\ich. ///. iv. 4. 465), etc.
106. This little kingdom, man. Cf. A'. John, iv. 2. 246 : —
"this fleshly land,
This kingdom, this confine of blood and breath ; "
and see also T. and C. ii. 3. 185,/. C. ii. i. 58, and Macb. i. 3. 140.
108. Muster me. Cf. 94 above.
112. A-work. To work ; used only with set. Cf. R. of L, 1496,
T. and C. v. 10. 38, Ham. ii. 2. 510, and Lear, iii. 5. 8.
Scene IV] Notes 23 1
113. Kept by a devil. Alluding to the old superstition that
mines of gold, etc., were guarded by evil spirits. Steevens quotes
Fenton, Secrete Wonders of Nature, 1569: "There appeare at this
day many strange visions and wicked spirites in the metal-mines of
the Create Turke ; " and again : " In the mine at Anneburg was a
mettal sprite which killed twelve workmen ; the same causing the
rest to forsake the myne, albeit it was very riche."
Commences it and sets in act and use. The critics generally
agree with Tyrwhitt that there is an allusion here " to the Cam-
bridge Commencement s.T\d the Oxford ^<r// for by those different
names the two universities have long distinguished the season at
which each gives to her respective students a complete authority
to use those hoards of learning \vh\ch have entitled them to their
several degrees."
119. Tliat. So Ihat. See on i. I. 197 above. Fertile = ievtWhing.
120. Hniuane. Omitted in the folios. Johnson changed it to
" human." Humane is the only spelling of the word in the early
eds. even when it is equivalent to the modern human, and the
accent in verse is regularly on the first syllable.
127. Tempering. An allusion to the old use of soft wax for
sealing. Steevens quotes Middleton, Any Thing for a Quiet Life :
"You must temper him like wax, or he '11 not seal;" and Your
Five Gallants : " Fetch a pennyworth of soft wax to seal letters."
See also V. ajid A. 565.
Scene IV. — 5. Address'd. Prepared, ready. Cf./. C. iii. i.
29, Af. N. D. v. I. 107, etc. Po-wer= army; as in i. i. 133, i. 3.
29, 71, etc.
6. IVcll invested. Properly installed, or invested with author-
ity. Cf. Macli. ii. 4. 32 : "gone to Scone To be invested."
9. Pause us. The only instance of the reflexive use of the verb
inS.
20. Ho'ci) chance, etc. How chances it, etc. Cf. Kich. If. iv. 2.
99. etc.
232 Notes [Act IV
27. Omit. Neglect ; a sense which it has elsewhere (as in
Temp. i. 2. 183, ii. i. 194, Cor. iii. i. 146, etc.), though this is the
only instance w ith a personal object.
30. Observ'd. Treated with due obse7-vance or deference; as in
T. and C. ii. 3. 137, T. of A. iv. 3. 212, etc.
33. Being iticens V, he ^s flint. " If any thing be done to pro-
voke him, he breaks out in angry and transient sparks like a flint"
(Vaughan). Cf. _/. C. iv. 3. in : "That carries anger as the flint
bears fire."
34. Humorous. Wayward, capricious. Cf. A. Y. L. i. 2. 278,
ii. 3. 8, etc. The simile as winter would seem natural enough in
New England, but is not so appropriate in Old England. Malone
suggests \\\2X htimoroiis may jje used equivocally: "he abounds in
capricious fancies, as winter abounds in moisture." "As humor-
ous as April" (cf. T. G. of V. i. 3. 85) occurs in The Silent
Woman and elsewhere.
35. As flaws congealed, etc. " Alluding to the opinion of some
philosophers that the vapours being congealed in the air by cold
(which is most intense towards the morning), and being after-
wards rarefied and let loose by the warmth of the sun, occasion
those sudden and impetuous gusts of wind which are C3.\\c([ flaws"
(Warburton). Edwards says ih^i flaw sometimes means a blade
of ice seen on edges of water in winter mornings ; and Dyce adds
that he has heard the word similarly used. S. may use the word
in this sense.
39. Being moody. When he is out of humour.
41. Confound. Exhaust. It often means to wear away or de-
stroy.
44. The imited vessel of their blood. The vessel of their united
blood. Such transposition of epithets in S. is.not uncommon.
45. Mingled with venom of suggestion. Malone makes this =
" though their blood be inflamed by the temptations to which youth
is peculiarly subject." I am inclined to agree with Vaughan, who
says : " The whole tenor of the king's address to Clarence is that
Scene IV] Notes 233
of an exhortation to keep the brotherhood of the princes free from
fatal dissensions. Youthful temptations under any point of view
are not alluded to." He interprets the passage thus : "even al-
though that blood shall be mingled with the venomous infusion of
all such provocatives of discord as the persons and circumstances
of the age in which we live are certain to pour into it despite of
every precaution, and although, further, that infusion work like
aconite or gunpowder."
46. Force perforce. See on iv. i . 116 above.
48. Aconituin. Aconite. The Latin form is the one regularly
used by writers of the time. Steevens cites Hey wood, Brazen Age,
1613: "With aconitum that in Tartar springs," etc. I\ash =
quickly ignited ; as in Kick. II. ii. i. t^t, : " His rash fierce blaze of
riot cannot last ; " and I Hen. IV. iii. 2. 61 : "rash, bavin wits,
Soon kindled and soon burnt."
53. And other his. Cf. M. IV. ii. 2. 259 : "and a thousand other
her defences ; " and Lear, i. 4. 259 : " Of other your new pranks."
64. Lavish. Loose, licentious.
65. Affections. Propensities, inclinations. Cf. R. and J. i. i.
118, Ham. iii. i. 170, etc.
67. You look beyond him. You misjudge or misconstrue him.
Schmidt compares Ham. ii. i. 115 : "To cast beyond ourselves in
our opinions." The idea seems to be that of " overshooting the
mark " in our estimate.
74. Perfectness. The word occurs again in L. L. L. v. 2. 173 :
" Is this your perfectness ? "
79. Seldom when. Seldom that. Cf. M. for M. iv. 2. 89 : —
" This is a gentle provost ; seldom when
The steeled jailer is the friend of men."
Johnson paraphrases the passage thus : " as the bee, having once
placed her comb in a carcase, stays by her honey, so he that has
once taken pleasure in bad company will continue to associate with
those that have the art of pleasing him."
234 Notes [Act IV
90. In his pa7-ticular. In its detail.
92. l^he haunch. The latter part, the close.
loi. Please it you. May it please you. See on i. i. 5 and on ill.
I. 98 above.
105. Stomach. Appetite. Cf. Much Ado, i. 3. 16, M. of V. iii.
5. 92, etc.
119. Hath wrought the inure. Hath worn the wall. The past
tense of work is regularly wrought in S. The " workcnl " in T. of
A. V. I. 116 is "an inadmissible substitution of modern editors"
(Schmidt). Mure (Lat. iiiurus) is used by S. nowhere else.
Steevens cites, among other examples of the word, Heywood,
Golden Age, 1611 : "Girt with a triple mure of shining brass."
We find the verb (= shut up) in Spenser, F. Q. vi. 12. 34 : —
" he looke a muzzel strong
Of surest yron, made with many a lincke:
Therewith he mured up his mouth along,
And therein shut up his blasphemous tong."
The same thought occurs in Daniel's Ci7Jil Wars, book iv., refer-
ring, as here, to the sickness of Henry IV. : —
" As that the walls worn thin permit the mind
To look out thorow, and his frailtie find."
The first four books of the Civil PVars were printed in 1595, and
S. had probably read them. In the tirst ed. the lines read : —
" Wearing the walls so thin, that now the mind
Might well look thorough, and his frailty find."
His here = its, referring to wall, not to mind (Malone).
121. Fear me. Make me fear, alarm me. -Cf. T. of S. i. 2. 211 :
" Fear boys with bugs," etc.
122. Loathly. Loathsome. Cf. Femp. iv. i. 21 : "weeds so
loathly." In 0th. iii. 4. 62, the ist quarto has " loathly," the other
early eds. " loathed,"
Scene V] Notes 235
Uitfaiher\i heirs = creatures supposed to be born without pro-
genitors ; and loathly births of nature = unnatural births, monstrosi-
ties. According to Staunton, the unfathe7-'' d heirs were certain
so-called prophets, who pretended to have been conceived by
miracle, like Merlin. Cf. Spenser, F. Q. iii. 3. 13 : —
" And, sooth, men say that he was not the Sonne
Of mortall Syre or other living wight,
But wondrously begotten, and begonne
By false ilhision of a guilefull Spright
On a faire Lady Nonne, that whilome hight
Matilda, daughter to Pubidius,
Who was the lord of Mathraval by right,
And coosen unto King Ambrosius ;
Whence he indued was with skill so merveilous."
See also Montaigne, Essays : " In Mahouiefs religion, by the easie
beleefe of that people, are many Merlins found ; That is to say,
fatherles children ; Spiritual children, conceived and borne devinely
in the wombs of virgins," etc.
123. The seasons change their manners, etc. Cf. J\f. N. D. ii. i.
106-114. As — as if.
125. The river, etc. Referring to the tides in the Thames. Cf.
ii. 3. 63 above. Steevens remarks : "This is historically true; it
happened on the 12th of October, 1411."
128. Sick'd. The only instance of the verb in S.
132. Exeunt. Omitted in ist Cambridge edition. See next
note.
Scene V, — There is no new scene here in the early eds., and
the modern ones generally follow Capell in directing that the king
be " conveyed into an inner part of the room and laid upon a bed."
Dyce has the following stage-direction : " They place the King on
a bed ; a change of scene being supposed here." In a note he says :
"The audience of Shakespeare's time were to suppose that a change
of scene took place as soon as the king was laid on the bed."
236
Notes [Act IV
The Cambridge editors, who begin a new scene here, remark :
"Capell's stage-direction is not satisfactory, for it implies a change
of scene, though none is indicated in the text. The king's couch
would not be placed in a recess at the back of the stage, because
he has to make speeches from it of considerable length. He must
therefore be lying in front of the stage, where he could be seen and
heard by the audience." To my mind it is perfectly clear that the
king is now carried to another room. At the close of the scene
(see 233 below) he asks what was the name of the chamber in
which he "first did swoon " (see iv. 4. no above), and, being told
that it is the Jerusalem Chamber, he asks to be borne to it ; but if
there is no change of scene here, he is already in the Jerusalem
Chamber. No commentator, so far as I am aware, refers to this.
The Jerusalem Chamber is not a bedroom. The king is holding a
council there when he swoons ; and when he asks to be taken to
"some other chamber" (that is, to a bedroom), he is of course
obeyed, and the scene shifts to that chamber, where he remains
until he asks to be borne back to the Jerusalem Chamber, on
account of the prophecy concerning his death.
2. Dull. " Gentle, soothing " (Johnson) ; or rather, as Malone
and Schmidt give it, " producing dulness, disposing to sleep." Cf.
the use of dull — drowsy, in iii. i. 15 above. So dulness = drowsi-
ness in Temp. i. 2. 185.
24. Ports. Portals, gates; as in T. and C. iv, 4, 113, 138, Cor.
i. 7. I, v. 6. 6, etc.
27. Biggen. Nightcap. The word properly means a coarse
headband or cap like that worn by the Bcguines, an order of Flem-
ish nuns. Cf. Jonson, \''olpone : " Get you a biggin more, your
brain breaks loose."
31. With safety. That is, while it gives safety or protects from
danger.
2,2), Suspire. Breathe ; used by S, only here and in K. Jokuy
iii. 4. 80.
34. Perforce. Of necessity. See on i. I, 165 above.
Scene V] Notes 237
36. Rigol. Circle; a word found _only here and in R. of L.
1745: "a watery rigol." It is from the old Italian rigolo, a small
wheel.
42. Immediate. Next in place. Cf. v. 2. 71 below. See also
Ham. i. 2. 109: "You are the most immediate to our throne."
64. Part. "Characteristic action" (Schmidt).
71. Eugross'ii. Amassed. Cf. i Hen. IV.m. z. i\^: "To en-
gross up glorious deeds on my behalf."
72. Strange-achieved. " Gained and yet not enjoyed " (Schmidt).
The hyphen is in the folio. Strange-achieved ma.y be = gained in
foreign lands. In canker'd the metaphor is taken from rust or
corrosion, and perhaps suggests the idea of disuse, like that of the
miser. Some make it = polluted.
76. Virtuous. Powerful (Schmidt) ; or perhaps = characteris-
tic. Cf. M. N. D. iii. 2. 367 : " Whose hquor hath this virtuous
property," etc.
79. Murthered. The folio reading ; not " murther'd."
80. Yield his engrossments. Do his accumulations yield.
82. Determined. Put an end to. Cf. the intransitive use (= end)
in Cor. iii. 3. 43, v. 3. 120, etc.
84. Kindly. Natural, "not feigned" (Schmidt). Cf. Much
Ado, iv. I. 75 : "fatherly and kindly power," etc.
87. By. As a consequence of.
91. Depart the chamber. Cf. Lear, iii. 5. I : "ere I depart his
house," etc.
94. By thee. " In thy opinion " (Schmidt) ; but by may be =
near or with.
104, SeaPd up. Confirmed fully. The up has an intensive
force, as often.
108. Which thou hast whetted, etc. Cf. M. of V. iv. I. 123 : —
" Not on thy sole, but on thy soul, harsh Jew,
Thou mak'st thy knife keen."
115. Balm. Referring to the anointing-oil used in the cere-
238
Notes [Act IV
niony of coronation. Cf. lien. V, iv. I. 277: "The balm, the
sceptre," etc.
129. Gild his treble guilt. Pope omitted this line, ami Warlnir-
ton declared it to be " evidently the nonsense of some fot)lish
player;" but compare Rich. II. ii. I. 73 fol. where tlie dying
Gaunt plays upon his name: "Old Gaunt indeed, and gaunt
in being old," etc. King Richard asks, " Can sick men play so
nicely with their names ? " and Coleridge answers the question
thus : " Ves ! on a death-bed there is a feeling which may make all
things appear but as puns and equivocations. And a passion there
is that carries off its own excess by plays on words as naturally, and,
therefore, as appropriately to drama, as by gesticulations, looks, or
tones. This belongs to human nature as such, independently of
associations and habits from any particular rank of life or mode
of employment ; and in this consists Shakespeare's vulgarisms, as
in Macbeth's 'The devil damn thee black, thou cream-fac'd loon ! '
etc. This is (to equivocate on Dante's words) in truth the nobile
volgare eloquenza. Indeed, it is profoundly true that there is a
natural, an almost irresistible, tendency in the mind, when im
mersed in one strong feeling, to coimect that feeling with every
sight and object around it; especially if there be opposition, and
the words addressed to it are in any way repugnant to the feeling
itself, as here in the instance of Richard's unkind language : ' Misery
makes sport to mock itself.'
"No doubt, something of Shakespeare's punning must be attrib-
uted to his age, in which direct and formal combats of wit were a
favourite pastime of the courtly and accomplished. It was an
age more favourable, upon the whole, to vigour of intellect than the
present, in which a dread of being thought pedantic dispirits and
flattens the energies of original minds. But independently of this,
I have no hesitation in saying that a pun, if it be congruous with
the feeling of the scene, is not only allowable in the dramatic dia-
logue, but oftentimes one of the most effectual intensives of passion."
For the play on guilt, cf Hen. J\ ii. chor. 26: "the gilt of
Scene V] Notes 239
France — O guilt indeed!" Malone quotes Nicholson, Acolasius
his Afterioit, 1600 : —
" O sacred thirst of golde, what canst thou not ?
Some terms \h&e.gylt, that every soule might reade,
Even in thy name, \hy guilt is great indeede."
141. Dear. Earnest. Cf. T. and C. v. 3. 9 : "loud and clear
petition," etc.
145. Affect. Desire, aspire to. Cf. Cor. iii. 3. i : " affects ty-
rannical power ; " Id. iv. 6. 32 : " affecting one sole throne," etc.
149. Teacheth. Prompts me to ; this prostrate and exterior
bending being in apposition with obedience, which is = obeisance
(Mason).
162. Carat. Here used in the modern sense as expressing the
degree of fineness in the gold; but in the only other instance in
which it occurs in S. it seems to express absolute weight. See
C. of E. iv. I. 28: "How much your chain weighs to the utmost
carat."
163. Medicine potable. Alluding to the auriini potabile, or pota-
ble gold, of the alchemists. Johnson remarl^s : " There has long
prevailed an opinion that a solution of gold has great medicinal
virtues, and that the incorruptibility of gold might be communicated
to the body impregnated with it." Cf. Chaucer, C. T. 443 : " For
gold in phisik is a cordial."
186. Met. Got, gained.
194. Assistances. For the plural see on iv. i. 193 above,
196. Supposed. That is, supposed to exist, " imaginary, not real "
(Johnson). Fears = causes or objects of fear. See on i. i. 95
aljove.
200. Mode. "Th^for/n or state of things " (Johnson) ; the only
instance of the word in S. Purchased; " used in its legal sense,
acquired by a man's cwn act (perquisitio) as opposed to an acquisi-
tion by descent" (Malone). Cf. A. and C. i. 4. 14: —
" hereditary,
Rather than purchased."
240 Notes [Act IV
201. More fairer. See on iii. i. 28 above.
202. Successively. " By order of succession. Every usurper
snatches a claim of hereditary right as soon as he can" (Johnson).
Garland = crown ; as in v. 2. 84.
204. Griefs are green. Grievances are fresh; referring to the
recent rebellion. Vor griefs, see on iv. i. 69 above.
205. My friends. The early eds. have " thy friends." The
correction was suggested by Tyrwhitt. Perhaps Clarke is right in
retaining the old reading. " By the first thy friends the king means
those who are friendly inclined to the prince, and who, he goes on
to say, must be made securely friends."
208. By whose power. This of course modifies displac'd.
214. Giddy. " Hot-brained, excitable " (Schmidt) ; or, perhaps,
unsteady, unsettled.
2ig. H01V I came by the cro7vn, &X.C. "This is a true picture of a
mind divided between heaven and earth. He prays for the pros-
perity of guilt while he deprecates its punishment" (Johnson).
233. Doth any na>?ie, etc. See the extract from Holinshed,
p. 169 above. Steevens notes that a similar equivocal prediction
occurs also in the Cronykil of Androiv of Wyniown. Pope
Sylvester, having sold himself to the devil, is told that he shall live
to enjoy his honours until he sees Jerusalem. Soon afterwards his
duties call him into a church which he had never visited before;
and on his inquiring what the church is called, he is told that it is
" Jerusalem in Vy Laterane." Thereupon the prophecy is com-
pleted by his death. Boswell adds that the same story of Pope
Sylvester is told in Lodge's Devil Conjured, where, however, his
holiness manages to outwit the devil.
The Jerusalem Chamber, which adjoins the southwest tower of
Westminster Abbey, was built by Abbot Littlington between 1376
and 1386 as a guest-chamber, and probably"derived its name from
the tapestries of the history of Jerusalem with which it was after-
wards hung. Later it was used as a council-chamber (see p. 236
above), as it now is for the meetings of Convocation. The West-
Scene I] Notes 241
minster Assembly met here in 1643, having found the Chapel of
Henry VII. too cold. The existing decorations of the room are
of the time of James I., but the stained glass is older.
ACT V
Scene I. — i. By cock and pie. A petty oath in common use
in the time of S. It occurs again in M. W. i. i. 316. Cock is
probably a corruption of God, as in Cock's passion {T. of S. iv. I.
121), Cock's body. Cock's ivoiinds, and many similar oaths found in
the plays of that day. The pie may refer to the Romish service-
book, which vk'as sometimes so called ; the word being more prop-
erly applied to a table or index in the book for finding out the
service to be read upon each day. In the preface to the English
Prayer-Book, this table is referred to as follows : " Moreover the
number and hardness of the rules called the Fie and the manifold
changes," etc. On the other hand. The Cock and Pie (with pic-
tures of the cock and the magpie) was a common sign for taverns
and alehouses. Blakeway gives an engraving of one at Bewdley.
Boswell quotes A Caiechisine by George Giffard, 1583, which seems
to show that cock and pie referred only to the birds or to the tavern-
sign : " Men suppose that they do not offende when they do not
sweare falsly ; and because they will not take the name of God to
abuse it, they sware by small ihinges, as by cocke and pye, by the
mouse foote, and many other suche like." Uouce endeavours to
prove that the oath had its origin in the grand feasts of the days
of chivalry, when a xoz.'sXe.A peacock was presented to each knight,
who then made the particular vow he had chosen. When this
custom had fallen into disuse, the peacock still continued to be a
favourite dish at the feast, and was served up in 2. pie. "The rec-
ollection of the old peacock vows might occasion the less serious,
or even burlesque, imitation of swearing not only by the bird itself,
but also by the pie." Even if the oath referred at first to God and
2 HENRY IV — 16
242 Notes [Act V
the service-book, this was doubtless forgotten in Shakespeare's
time (like the connection of i/iarry ! with the Virgin Mary), and
the cock and the pie came to be associated in the popular mind
with the birds. Not a few such " illusive etymologies " have found
pictorial illustration in the old tavern-signs.
II. IVilliam cook. Cf. i lien. IV. ii. I. 12: "since Robin
ostler died."
14. Precepts. "Justice's warrants" (Johnson). Cf. Hen. V.
iii. 3. 26: —
" As send precepts to the leviathan
To come ashore."
17. With red ivheat. Vaughan remarks: "This accords with
an old practice of sowing a later wheat on the headland than in
the rest of the field, because the headland, being used for turning
the plough, naturally came into condition for sowing later than the
rest of the field. It is still common in some parts to see red wheat
— that is, a spring wheat — on the headland, together with white
wheat — that is, winter wheat — in the field,"
21. Cast. Computed. Cf. i. i. 166 above.
26. Hinckley. A market-town in Leicestershire.
29. Kickshaws. We find kickshawses in T. N. i. 3. 1 22, the only
other instance of the word in S.
31. A friend /' co7irt, etc. Malone remarks that "A friend in
court is worth a penny in purse " is one of Camden's proverbial
sentences. Dr. Grey cites The Romaunt of the Rose, 5540: —
" For frende in courte aie better is
Than peny is in purse, certis."
37. Well conceited. A happy conceit ! " Justice Shallow ap-
plauds his servingman's grinning jest with the same expression that
Nym uses when he says, ' Is not the humour conceited?' in M. W.
i. 3. 26" (Clarke).
40. Woiicot. Woodmancote (still pronounced Woncot) a village
in Gloucestershire, where there has been a family of Visor or Vizard
I
Scene II] Notes 243
since the time of S. A house on the neighbouring Stinchcombe
Hill (still locally known as the Hill) was then the residence of a
family oi Perkes (Madden's Diary of William Silence).
55. He shall have no wrong. A fair sample of the course of
justice in that day. Blakeway cites a speech of Sir Nicholas
Bacon, in parliament, 1559: "Is it not a monstrous disguising to
have a justice a maintainer, acquitting some for gain, enditing
others for malice, bearing with him as his servant, overthrowing
the other as his enemy?" A member of the House of Commons
in 1601 defined a "justice of the peace" as a creature that "for
half a dozen chickens will dispense with half a dozen penal
statutes."
61. Tall. A joke of Shallow's. See on iii. 2. 60 above.
66. Quantities. That is, i-wr?// pieces ; as in T. of S. iv. 3. 112
and K. John, v. 4. 23.
68. Semblable. Similar ; used as a noun in Ham. v. 2. 124 and
T. of A. iv. 3. 22.
74. Consent. Agreement, accord.
76. Near their master. That is, being intimate with him, having
influence with him.
77. Curry with. That is, " curry favour with him," flatter him.
S. uses the expression nowhere else.
84. Terms. Cf. A. Y. L. iii. 2.350: " \Yith lawyers in the
vacation ; for they sleep between term and term," etc. On actions
Johnson remarks : " There is something humorous in making a
spendthrift compute time by the operation of an action for debt."'
Intervallums is a jocose appropriation of the Latin word inter-
vallum, interval.
86. Sad. Sober, serious. Cf. Much Ado, i. i. 185: "Speak
you this with a sad brow ? "
Scene II. — 3. Exceeding well. On well as used of the dead,
cf. R. and J. iv. 5. 72, v. I. 17, Macb. iv. 3. 179, A. and C. ii. 5. 33,
etc. Exceeding is often used adverbially.
244 Notes [Act V
13. Fantasy. Fancy, imagination. Cf. i Hen. IV. v. 4. 138:
" Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight ? "
16. Of him, the ivorst. Of the worst, whichever it might be.
31. Coldest. Most disagreeable or unwelcome. Cf. 3 lien. VI.
iii. 2. 133: "A cold premeditation for my purpose!" etc. Expec-
tation is metrically five syllables.
33. Speak Sir John Falstaff fair. Cf. M.N.D. ii. i. 199: "Do
I entice you ? do I speak you fair ? "
34. Swims against yotir stream. A metaphor equivalent to
" goes against your grain."
38. Ragged. Beggarly, wretched. ForestaWd remission — a
pardon that is sure not to be granted, the case having been pre-
judged. Malone says : " I believe forestalPd only means asked
before it is granted. If he w-ill grant me pardon unasked, so ; if
not, I will not condescend to solicit it."
48. A^ot Ainurath, etc. Amurath the Third, who became Sultan
in 1574, had his five brothers strangled on the day of his accession
to the throne ; and his son Mohammed III. followed the paternal
example in 1595, only a few years before the play was written.
50. By my faith. Altered in the folio to " to speak truth," like
so many other expressions which the Master of the Revels doubt-
less considered profane. See on ii. 2. i above.
61. By 7iumber. That is, as many hours as tears.
62. No other. Nothing else ; as in Macb. v. 4. 8 : —
" We learn no other but the confident tyrant
Keeps still in Dunsinane," etc.
71. Easy. That is, easy to be borne ; as in K. John, iii. i, 207,
etc.
72. Lethe. For the poet's allusions to tke old mythical river of
oblivion, cf. T. N. iv. i. 66, Rich. III. iv. 4. 250, and A. and C.
ii. 7. 114.
79. Presented. Represented. Cf. Temp. iv. i. 167: "When I
presented Ceres," etc.
Scene II] Notes 245
80. And struck me, etc. See extract from Holinshed, p. 169
above.
84. Garland. Crown ; as in iv. 5. 202 above. Cf. Rich. III.
iii. 2. 40: "Till Richard wear the garland of the realm" (note the
next line). Hohnshed uses the word in this sense. See p. 168
above.
86. Aivfid. Cf. iv. i. 176 above.
87. To trip the co2crse of law. To defeat the process of justice.
90. And mock, etc. " To treat with contempt your acts executed
by a representative" (Johnson).
92. Propose. Suppose, imagine, picture to yourself; as in T.
and C. ii. 2. 146, etc.
96. Taking your part. Acting in your behalf.
97. Soft silencing. Mildly restraining. Perhaps Theobald was
right in changing soft to " so." According to the king (see 70
above), the justice's treatment of him had not been soft.
98. Cold considerance. Calm or dispassionate reflection. S. uses
considerance only here.
99. Speak in your state. Say, " in your regal character and
office, not with the passion of a man interested, but with the im-
partiality of a legislator " (Johnson).
109. Proper. Own; as in Temp. iii. 3. 60: "their proper
selves," etc.
113. For which I do commit, etc. Verplanck remarks: "The
reader must bear in mind that the present tenure of office for life
by the English judges is but modern ; and that, under the Piantage-
nets and Tudors, a Chief-Justice might be removed like any other
officer of the crown. Henry's voluntary retaining the Chief-Justice
in his high station is, therefore, a manly acknowledgment of his
own error, and a magnanimous tribute to the uprightness of the
magistrate. The story of the Prince's insolence, and his commit-
ment to prison, is strictly historical, being related briefly by Hall
and Holinshed, and more minutely by Sir Thomas Elyot, in his
book of political ethics entitled I'he Governour. But these are all
246
Notes [Act V
silent as to Henry V.'s after-treatment of the Chief-Justice, or the
latter's being continued in office after the accession of Henry V.
Several of the Shakespearian historical critics, as Sir John Hawkins,
Malone, and Steevens, in the last century, and very lately Tytler
and Courtenay, deny the fact itself, and some of them in a tone of
rebuke for the ' author's deviation from history.' I should be sorry
to lose a noble example of moderation ami magnanimity, in the
exercise of political patronage, from history ; but if those comments
are correct, Shakespeare deserves the higher honour of not having
merely adopted and beautifully enforced, but having invented the
striking incident, embodying a noble lesson of political ethics,
which in our own days even republican rulers may profit by. I in-
cline to the opinion that the PInglish commentators are in error as
to the fact, and that the poet has merely decorated and enforced
the truth, which probably came down to him by popular and general
tradition, as a plain fact, to which he has given the impressive
weight of moral instruction.
"Hawkins asserts that the poet 'has deviated from historical
truth by bringing the Chief-Justice and Henry IV. together,' as
it is expressly said by Fuller, in his Worthies of Yorkshire, that
Gascoigne died in the lifetime of Henry IV. (viz. 1st Nov. 141 2).
Malone also mentions Shakespeare's 'anachronism,' on the au-
thority of a transcript (in the Gentleman's Magazine) of the
inscription on the Chief-Justice's tomb, ' once legible,' which re-
cords his death as ' 17 Deer. A7in. Dom. 141 2.' Steevens, I know
not on what authority, places his death 13th Dec. 1413. Henry
IV. died March 20, 1413. The discrepancy of these dates would
throw some doubt on any one of them, or all of them, were there
no contradiction as to the year. But they are all overthrown by a
recent discovery by Mr. Tytler of the record of Sir William Gas-
coigne's will, bearing date 20th March, 1419, showing that there
must have been some error of the press or of a copyist in the dates
before mentioned. But Tytler and Courtenay say that Gascoigne
was left out of office at Henry V.'s accession, which is still less to
Scene II] Notes 247
the royal honour, and perhaps more to the poet's. Yet old Stowe,
the most accurate of chroniclers, says, ' William Gascoigne was
Chief- Justice of the King's Bench from the sixt of Henry IV. to
the third Henry V.'
" Stowe's authority may be fortified by an American author, who
must have little thought, in preparing his curious and interesting
volume, of being quoted by a Shakespearian annotator. The
Judicial Chronicle (Cambridge, Mass., 1834), by George Gibbs,
of New York, is a most exact chronological list of the judges of
the higher courts of England and America, from the earliest
periods ; the lists of the earlier English judges being compiled
from Dugdale, Beatson, and Woolrycke. In that list Gascoigne
is recorded to have ' died or retired in 1414, the second year of
Henry V. ;' and the same date is given for the appointment of his
successor, Hankford. Upon these statements, the more probable
conclusion would seem to be that Gascoigne must have been re-
tained in office during the first two years of Henry V., or, as Stowe
says, 'to the third year of Henry V.'; and that his retirement was
then voluntary."
It is now, however, well established that Gascoigne resigned or
was removed soon after the accession of Henry V., as his successor.
Sir William Hankford, was appointed March 29, 14 13.
115. Remembrance. Reminder, admonition.
116. The like. The same ; followed by as, as in Rich. III. iv.
1.9: " Upon the like devotion as yourselves," etc.
123. My father is gone unld, etc. "My wild dispositions hav-
ing ceased on my father's death, and being now as it were buried
in his tomb, he and wildness are interred in the same grave"
(Malone). Cf. Hen. V. i. i. 25 : —
" The breath no sooner left his father's body
But that his wildness, mortified in him,
Seem'd to die too."
125. Sadly. Soberly ; as opposed to wild (Johnson). Cf sad
in V. I. 86 above.
248 Notes [Act V
128. Who. Often equivalent to w/^zV/5, especially in personifica-
tions. Rotten — unsound, false.
129. After my seeming. According to what I appeared to be.
132. The state of JlooJs. "The majestic dignity of the ocean"
(Malone).
133. Formal. "Grave, dignified" (Schmidt); as in/. C. ii. I.
227 : " formal constancy."
141. Accite. Summon. See on ii. 2. 54 above.
142. Remembered. Called to mind, mentioned. Cf. Temp. i. 2.
405 : "The ditty does remember my drown'd father," etc.
143. Consigning to. Setting his seal to, confirming. See on iv.
I. 175 above. In Cytnb. iv. 2. 275, consign to — come to the same
state, submit to the same terms ; and Schmidt explains it here as
= " agree, come to the same terms."
Scene III. — i. Orchard. Garden; as elsewhere in S.
3. Graffing. Grafting; as in/i. Y. L. iii. 2. 124. Cf. engraved
in ii. 2. 57 above.
Caraways. Goldsmith thought that apples of that name were
meant; but the best critics agree that the reference is to caraway
seeds, or some confection containing them. Malone quotes Florio's
Second Frutes, 1591, where, after a dinner, a servant is ordered to
bring in " apples, pears, . . . some bisket, and carrawaies, with
other comfects;" s\?,o the h\SiC\fi-\et\.e.x Booke of Carvyng : "Serve
after meat, peres, nuts, strawberies, hurtleberies and hard cheese :
also blaiidrels or pipins, with caraway in cofects." Steevens adds
from Cogan's Haven of Health, 1595: " Howbeit we are wont to
eate carawaies or biskets, or some other kind of comfits or seedes
together with apples, thereby to breake winde ingendred by them :
and surely it is a very good way for students^'
II. Husband. An old form of husbandman, which is substi-
tuted in the 3d folio. Cf. Spenser, F. Q. iv. 3. 29 : —
" Like as a withered tree, through husband's toyle,
Is often scene full freshly to have flourisht,
Scene III] Notes 249
And fruitful! apples to have borne awhile,
As fresh as when it first was planted in the soyle ; "
and Mother Htibberds Tale, 266 : " For husbands life is labourous
and hard."
14. At Slipper. As Clarke notes, this shows that the pippins
and caraways formed the meal called an after-supper. See on ii.
4. 12 above.
22. Ever atnojig. An old expression = "ever and anon."
28. Preface. "An Anglicized form of the Italian /;•() vi faccia ;
which Florio renders 'Much good may it do you!'" (Clarke).
Steevens quotes Taylor the Water Poet, in the preface to his
Praise of Hempseed : "A preamble, preatrot, preagallop, preapace,
or preface; and preface, my masters, if your stomach serve;"
and Springes for Woodcocks, 1 606: " Proface, quoth Fulvius, fill
us t' other quart." Cf. the German prosit.
29. The heart's all. "That is, the intention with which the
entertainment is given. The humour consists in making Davy
act as master of the house " (Johnson).
32. My wife has all, Boswell remarks that " has all is a good
introduction to what follows ; it is a proof that she is a shrew."
34. '7" is merry in hall ivhen beards wag all. A very old prov-
erb, as might be shown by sundry quotations.
35. Shrove-tide. A time of special merriment, as the close of
the carnival season.
41. Leather-coats. A kind of russet apple.
46. Leman. Sweetheart. Cf. T. N. ii. 3. 26. In M. IV. iv. 2.
172, it is masculine (= paramour).
49. The szveet <?' the night. Cf. W. T. iv. 2>- li'- " ^^^ sweet o'
the year." See also ii. 4. 346 above.
53. A mile to the bottom. Though the cup were as deep as that.
55. Beshrew your heart. See on ii. 3. 45 above.
58. Cavaleros. Cavaliers, dashing fellows. Cf. M. IV. ii. 3. 77 :
" Cavalero Slender."
250 Notes [Act V
59. Once. Perhaps = some time. Cf. M. W. iii. 4. 103 : " I
pray thee, once to-night give my sweet Nan this ring."
63. Pottle-pot. A tanl<ar(l, hukling a /()//'/<', or two quarts.
64. By God's liggens. y\.n oath of Shallow's own making;
omitted of course in the folio.
66. Will not out. Will not fail you ; a sportsman's expression.
Staunton quotes Turbervile, Booke of Hunting : "If they run it
endways orderly and make it good, then when they hold in to-
gether merrily, we say, They are in crie." Cf. A. and C. ii. 7. 36 :
"I am not so well as I should be, but I '11 ne'er out."
72. Do me right. A common expression in drinking healths.
Steevens cites Massinger, The Bondman: —
" These glasses contain nothing. Do me right,
As ere you hope for liberty."
73. And dub me knight. It was a custom in the time of S. to
drink a mighty bumper kneeling, to the health of one's mistress.
He who performed this exploit was dubbed 2. knight for the evening.
Cf. The Yorkshire Tragedy, 1608: "They call it knighting in Lon-
don when they drink upon their knees. Come follow me ; I '11
give you all the degrees of it in order."
74. Samingo. A boozy abbreviation of " San Domingo," which
was a common burden of drinking-songs. Steevens quotes Nash's
Summer's Last I Vi II and Testament, 1 600: —
" Monsieur Mingo for quaffing doth surpass
In cup, in can, or glass;
God Bacchus, do me right,
And dub me knight,
Domingo."
88. Bztt. Except. Some, however, point* thus : " I think a'
be; but goodman Puff of Barson — "
89. Barson is a corruption of Barcheston (locally pronounced
and sometimes written Barson), a village not far from Stratford-
on-.'Vvon (French).
Scene IV] Notes 25 1
98. ~Foutra. A vulgar expression of contempt.
100, O base Assyrian knighl, etc. Falstaff, finding it impossible
to make Pistol talk " like a man of this world," humours him by
adopting his bombastic style.
loi. King Cophetua. The ballad of King Copheiua aiid the
Beggar may be found in Percy's Reliques. Cf. L. L. L. iv. i. 66
and R. and J. ii. i. 14.
102. And Robin Hood, etc. From one of the old Robin Hood
ballads.
106. I knotv not your breeding. Schmidt and others make breed-
ing ^ " desc&nt, extraction;" but I think the meaning may be,
" I don't understand your manners." Shallow seems to be mysti-
fied by Pistol's impudence and rant.
113. Bezonian. A base fellow, or beggar. Cf. 2 lien. VI. iv. I.
134 : "Great men oft die by vile bezonians." It is derived from
the Italian bisogno, need. Steevens quotes Nash, Pierce Pennilesse,
1595 : "Proud lordes do tumble from the towers of their high
descents and be trod under feet of every inferior Besonian ; " and
Chapman, The Widow'' s Tears: " like abase Besogno." The editors
generally print the word with a capital, as if it were a proper noun.
118. Fig ?ne. "To Jig, in Spanish higas dar, is to insult by put-
ting the thumb between the fore and middle finger " (Johnson).
121. As nail in door. "This proverbial expression is oftener
used than understood. The door nail is the nail on which in
ancient doors the knocker strikes. It is therefore used as a com-
parison to any one irrecoverably dead, one who has fallen (as Virgil
says) multa morte, that is, with abundant death, such as iteration
of strokes on the head would naturally produce " (Steevens).
141. Where is the life, etc. From an old ballad, quoted also in
T. of S. w.i. 143.
Scene IV. — Enter Beadles. The quarto has " Enter Sincklo and
three or four officers." Sincklo was the actor who played the first
Beadle. In the folio the name appears again at the beginning of
252 Notes [Act V
a speech in T. of S. ind. i. 88. In 3 Hen. VI. iii. i, we find the
stage-direction '' Enter Siuklo, and llumfrey, with erosse-boives in
their hands ■ " and " Sin/c," " Sinklo," or « Sin." is prefixed to the
speeches of the 1st Keeper that follow. This actor belonged to
Shakespeare's company.
5. Whipping-cheer. Whipping as her cheer, or fare. Steevens
quotes an old ballad : —
" And if he chance to scape the rope,
He shall liave whipping-cheer."
Cf. wedding-cheer in T. of S. iii. 2. 188 and R. and J. iv. 5. 87.
8. Nut-hook. " A name of reproach for a catchpole" (Johnson).
Cf. M. W. i. I. 171 : "if you run the nut-hook's humour on me."
As we have seen in ii. 4 above, Doll has a copious vocabulary of
abusive epithets at command.
15. Thin man in a censer. The old censers of thin metal had
often a rudely hammered or embossed figure in the middle of the
pierced convex lid. These censers were used for burning perfumes
in dwelling-houses, which often needed such sweetening in those
unsavoury times. Cf. Much Ado, i. 3. 61.
16. Blue-bottle rogue. Alluding to the colour of the beadle's
livery (Johnson).
17. Correctioner. A word found nowhere else in S.
18. Halfkirtles. See on ii. 4. 250 above.
2\. Sufferance. Suffering. Cf./. C ii. 1. 115 : "The sufferance
of our souls," etc.
26. Atomy. The quarto reading; the folio has "anatomy,"
which (= skeleton, as in K. John, iii. 4. 40) is what Mistress
Quickly means.
27. Rascal Used with a reference to its original sense of a lean
deer. See on ii. 4. 39 above.
Scene V. — i. Rushes. For strewing the path of the royal pro-
cession. For their use on floors, cf. R. and J. i. 4. 36, Cy7nb. ii. 2.
13, etc.
Scene V] Notes -253
12. The thousand pound I borroTved, See on iii. 2. 337 above.
14. Infer. Suggest, show.
24. Stained zaith ij-avel. Cf. I Hen. IV. i. I. 64 : —
" Stain'd with the variation of each soil
Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours."
28. 'Tis semper idem, etc. "Pistol uses a Latin expression,
' Ever the same, for without this there is nothing,' and then goes on
to allude to an English proverbial phrase, 'AH in all, and all in
every part,' which he seems to give as its free rendering " (Clarke).
See on ii. 4. 160 above.
Verplanck remarks : " I do not find that any of the English critics
have explained this sudden burst of learning in Ancient Pistol,
though they note that the ' all in every part ' is an old phrase of
metaphysical poetry, and applied to the soul by Sir John Davies
and Drayton. In the absence of authority, I take them all to be
heraldic devices, then familiar (as the ' semper idem ' certainly was),
such as Pistol would be likely to have observed, as well as Shake-
speare's audiences, in the pageants and processions of the day ;
and they are jumbled together quite in Pistol's vein, to the great
edification of Justice Shallow."
31. liT'er. See on i. 2. 177 and iv. 3. 1 02 above.
35. IlaVd. Dragged. Cf. T. N. iii. 2. 64, Much Ado, ii. 3.
62, etc.
37. Alectd's. The only mention of the Fury by name in S.
42. Itnp. Youngling (used only by Armado, Holofernes, and
Pistol). See Z. Z. Z. i. 2. 5, v. 2. 592, and Hen. V. iv. i. 45.
Holinshed speaks of " Prince Edward, that goodlie impe," and
Churchyard calls Edward VI. " that impe of grace." Fulwell,
addressing Anne Boleyn, refers to Elizabeth as " thy royal impe."
52. Hence. Henceforth ; as in Z. Z. Z. v. 2. 826 and Otii. iii.
3- 379-
55. Reply not, etc. " We see by this that there was a light in
Falstaff' s eye, a play of his Hp that betokened some repartee as to
254 Notes [Act V
wherefore the grave should naturally gape wider for him than for
other and slenderer men; anil the king, knowing of old that once
let Falstaff retort and he is silenced, forestalls the intended reply
by forbidding and condemning it beforehand" (Clarke). Warbur-
ton remarks : " Nature is highly touched in this passage. The
king, having shaken off his vanities, schools his old companion for
his follies with great severity : he assumes the air of a preacher,
bids him fall to his prayers, seek grace, and leave gormandizing.
But that word unluckily presenting him with a pleasant idea, he
cannot forbear pursuing it — ' Know, the grave doth gape for thee
thrice wider,' etc. — and is just falling l^ack into Hal, by a humor-
ous allusion to Falstaff 's bulk. But he perceives it immediately,
and fearing Sir John should take the advantage of it, checks both
himself and the knight with ' Reply not to me with a fool-born
jest ; ' and so resumes the thread of his discourse, and goes moral-
izing on to the end of the chapter. Thus the poet copies nature
with great skill, and shows us how apt men are to fall back into
their old customs, when the change is not made by degrees and
brought into a habit, but determined of at once, on the motives of
honour, interest, or reason."
65. Ten mile. See on a thousand pound, i. 2. 227 above.
72. Set on. Go on. See on i. 3. 109 above.
86. Colour. Pretence ; as in i. 2. 247 above. According to
Schmidt, there is a play on collar in the reply ; and there seems to
be one also on die and dye.
89. Fear no colours. Do not fear ; originally = fear no enemy.
91. Soon at night. This very night. Cf. M. W. i. 4. 8, ii. 2.
295, 298, M.for M. i. 4. 88, etc.
92. To the Fleet. That is, to the Fleet Prison. This is evi-
dently the Justice's sentence, and he should be- held responsible for
it, not the King, who has left the stage, and who had simply ordered
that Falstaff should not come near him " by ten mile." He had,
moreover, promised that the knight should have " competence of
life," and had even held out the hope of " advancement " in case
Scene V] Notes 255
he should reform. The Chief- Justice, looking at the matter from a
judicial point of view, naturally felt that the fat old reprobate had
been let off too easily, and took the responsibility of punishing him
more according to his deserts. The king, whom the critics gen-
erally have been disposed to blame here, doubtless reversed the
hard sentence afterwards ; for we find Falstaff and his friends all
at liberty in the opening scenes of Henry V. Sir John, however,
does not rally from the disappointment he has met in being turned
away by his " royal Hal." His heart, as Pistol expresses it, " is
fracted and corroborate ; " but it is a comfort to know that he dies
in his old quarters at the Boar's Head, with his faithful old friend
Dame Quickly to care for him in his last hours, and not in the
Fleet Prison. If the reader is not familiar with the topography of
London in the olden time, he may not know that this prison, like
Fleet Street, takes its name from the Fleet River, which used to
flow through the valley now bridged by the Holborn Viaduct, turn-
ing the mills which gave a name to Turnmill Street (see on iii. 2.
315 above). The prison (demolished in 1844) had a gate on the
Fleet, like the Traitor's Gate of the Tower upon the Thames. It
was first used for those who were condemned by the Star Chamber,
and not, as Hudson supposes from its name, " for the accommoda-
tion of naughty sailors."
97. Si fortitim, etc. See on ii. 4. 160 above.
100. Shall all be very well provided for. Even the cold-blooded
John of Lancaster seems to endorse the merciful policy of the king,
and to assume that the orders to carry Falstaff and his company to
the Fleet are not to interfere with it. Possibly they were put in
prison only until arrangements should be made for carrying out the
king's purposes concerning them. But Clarke may be right in his
opinion that Prince John, like the Chief- Justice, rejoices at the dis-
grace of Falstaff ; " but he puts a demure face on the affair, and
applauds the ' fairness ' of the proceeding, while saying nothing
about the extreme manner in which the king's orders are carried
out."
256
Notes [Act V
loi. Conversations. Habits, behaviour. Cf. A. atid C. ii. 6.
131 : "Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation; " where
tie modern sense of coni'ersation would be a bull. See also M. W.
ii. I. 25. Bacon, in Essay 27, speaks of "a love and desire to
sequester a mans selfe, for a higher conversation ; " and Latimer,
in one of his Sermons, refers to " the conversations or doings of
the saints." Cf. Psalms., xxxvii. 14, 1. 23.
108. / heard a bird so sing. This expression was proverbial,
and we sometimes hear it even nowadays. Steevens cites the old
ballad of The Rising in (he A'orth : —
*' 1 heare a bird sing in mine eare,
That I must either fight or flee."
Epilogue
It is doubtful whether S. wrote this Epilogue. White remarks
that the speaker, who was a dancer, seems to imply that it is not
the poet's by saying that it is of his own making. " It is a manifest
and poor imitation of the Epilogue to J. V. Z."
I. Courtesy. The same word as curtsy. Cf. A. V. L. epil. 23,
and see on ii. i. 122 above.
5. Should. Sometimes used instead of shall, even after a present
tense. Doubt = fear, suspect ; as often.
12. Break. Become bankrupt ; as in vT/. of V.\\\. i. 120 : "he
cannot choose but break," etc.
14. Bate. Remit ; as in Temp. \. 2. 250 : —
" thou didst promise
To bate me a full year," etc.
21. All the gentle^vomen, etc. Johnson compares the epilogue
to A. V. L. for " the trick of influencing one part of the audience
by the favour of the other."
Epilogue] Notes 157
26. Our hu?nble au/hor, tic. Dowden remarks : "The epilogue
to 2 Henry IV. (whether it was written by S. or not remains
doubtful) had promised that ' our humble author will continue the
story with Sir John in it.' But our humble author decided (with a
finer judgment than Cervantes in the case of his hero) that the
public was not to be indulged in laughter for laughter's sake at the
expense of his play. The tone of the entire play of Henry V.
would have been altered if Falstaff had been allowed to appear in
it. During the monarchy of a Henry IV. no glorious enthusiasm
animated England. It was distracted by civil contention. Mouldy,
Shallow, and Feeble were among the champions of the royal cause.
... At such a time our imagination can loiter among the humours
and follies of a tavern. When the nation was divided into various
parties, when no interest was absorbing and supreme, Sir John
might well appear upon his throne at Eastcheap, monarch by virtue
of his wit, and form with his company of followers a state within the
state. But with the coronation of Henry V. opens a new period,
when a higher interest animates history, when the national life was
unified, and the glorious struggle with France began. At such a
time private and secondary interests must cease ; the magnificent
swing, the impulse and advance of the life of England occupy our
whole imagination. It goes hard with us to part from Falstaff, but,
like the king, part from him we must ; we cannot be encumbered
with that tun of flesh ; Agincourt is not the field for splendid
mendacity. Falstaff, whose principle of life is an attempt to corus-
cate away the facts of life, and who was so potent during the
Prince's minority, would now necessarily appear trivial. There is
no place for Falstaff any longer on earth ; he must find refuge ' in
Arthur's bosom.' "
30. For Oldcastle died a martyr, etc. An important part of the
evidence that Falstaff was originally called Oldcastle in the play.
See p. 10 above.
33. And so kneel . . . to pray for the qiteen. In the quarto these
words (reading " / kneele ") are placed at the end of the first para-
2 HENRY IV — 17
258 Notes [Act V
graph of the epilogue, after promise yoti infinitely. Perhaps, as
White suggests, the epilogue, as at first written, consisted only of
this paragraph, and the necessary transposition was overlooked
when the rest was added in the quarto. It was the custom in the
poet's time to end the performance with a prayer for the sovereign.
In many instances, the form of prayer is found at the close of
the play; as, for example, in Preston's Catnbyses (quoted by
Steevens) : —
" As duty binds us, for our noble queene let us pray,
And for her honourable councel, the truth that they may use,
To practise justice, and defend her grace eche day;
To maintaine God's word they may not refuse,
To correct all those that would her grace and grace's laws abuse;
Beseeching God over us she may reign long,
To be guided by trueth and defended from wrong.
Amen, q. Thomas Preston."
This custom seems to have been adopted from the old moralities.
APPENDIX
Comments on Some of the Characters
Falstaff. — In the present play we see Falstaff in his decadence.
" We have the old wit, and humour, the old slipperiness when
seemingly caught, the old mastery over every one, till the triumph
should come, when comes catastrophe instead. But we have more
of the sharper, the cheat, the preyer on others (the hostess.
Shallow, the soldiers at the choosing) brought out." The un-
scrupulous plundering of his friends is not to be palliated ; and his
treatment of Shallow while enjoying his hospitality is outrageous.
It is worse than all his immoralities, for it reveals a depth of mean-
ness in his nature wdiich is past all hope of reform. With all his
sagacity and wit, he was an incorrigible old reprobate ; and Henry
knew it when he finally cast him off so completely and inexorably.
The King has been blamed for this harsh treatment of his former
boon companion ; but if we examine the play carefully we shall
see that he is not responsible for sending Falstaff to the Fleet
Prison. He forbids the knight and his companions to come near
his person, l)ut he adds : —
" For competence of life I "will allow you,
That lack of means enforce you not to evil ;
And, as we hear you do reform yourselves,
We will, according to your strengths and qualities,
Give you advancement."
Then, turning to the Chief-Justice, he says: —
" Be it your charge, my lord,
To see perform'd the tenor of our word."
259
26o Appendix
After he has departed with his train, the Chief-Justice says to
his officers : —
" Go carry Sir John Falstaff to the Fleet ;
Take all his company along with him."
He evidently does this on his own responsibility. He doubtless
felt that the fat old rogue had been let off too easily, and deter-
mined to take his punishment into his own hands. We have
reason, however, to believe that the King reversed the hard sen-
tence, for a little later (in the opening scenes of the play that fol-
lows), we find Falstaff and his friends all at liberty. [See also on
v. 5. 92 above.] ,
The epilogue to this play had promised that Falstaff should be
brought upon the stage again, and we cannot doubt that when
Henry V. was first performed, the failure to fulfil the promise was
a serious disappointment to the audience. It is improbable, how-
ever, that the epilogue in question was written by Shakespeare.
If he indirectly authorized the promise that Jack should reappear
on the boards, his sober second thought !ed him to abandon the
idea. Falstaff would have been an unmanageable character in the
new play. After the King had banished him from his presence.
Jack's occupation was gone. True, he could have regained the
royal favour by reforming, but it is impossible to conceive of Fal-
staff reformed. It would have required a re-forming in^leed —
a radical reconstruction that would have left him scarcely recog-
nizable, unless by his mere corporal bulk — if, indeed, that could
have been maintained without his unlimited potations of sack.
The delightful old sinner would, I fear, h|ve been rather dull in
a more virtuous and respectable role. The better course was to
get him out of the way as gently as possible, and Dame Quickly's
account of his last hours is as pathetic as it is natural. We bid
him good-bye as Prince Hal did when he supposed him dead on
Shrewsbury field : —
" Poor Jack, farewell !
I could have better spared a better man."
Appendix 261
" The rogues," says Miss Constance O'Brien, " all come to a bad
end. Falstaff dies in obscure poverty, Nym and Bardolph get
hung in France, Pistol is stripped of his braggart honour, and even
the ' boy and the luggage,' as Fluellen puts it, are killed together.
Poins also, the best of the set, vanishes silently, without a word as
to his fate ; and so that wild crew breaks up and disappears, leav-
ing the world to laugh over them and their leader forever. If
Falstaff was drawn from a living man, that man must have been a
little Irish ; no purely English brains work quite so fast."
John of Lancaster. — Prince John seems to have inherited all
the meaner qualities of his father, with no touch of the redeeming
ones. No wonder that Falstaff hated him. With his keen insight
into human nature he saw through the bloodless, treacherous fel-
low. We may suspect that Prince Henry understood him, at least
in part, from the impulsive tribute he paid to his bravery on the
battlefield : —
" By heaven, thou hast deceiv'd me, Lancaster!
I did not think thee lord of such a spirit.
Before I lov'd thee as a brother, John ;
But now I do respect thee as my soul."
I think I have never seen any comment on that little speech, but
to me it is very significant. Its very praise is an indirect reproof,
though Henry does not mean it so. How plainly it says that hith-
erto he has really considered his brother a sneak, though he has
felt a kind of love for him because he was a brother, but now for
the first time he feels a genuine regard and respect for him on ac-
count of what he is in himself, apart from the claims of kindred
blood.
Never was there baser treachery than that of John to York, Mow-
bray, and Hastings after they had surrendered, on his pledge that
their grievances should be redressed ; and the pious cant with
which he follows it up — " Heaven, and not we, hath safely fought
to-day" — makes it only the more detestable. Johnson (see on
262 Appendix
iv. 2. 121) has found fault with the dramatist for not denouncing
this treachery and hypocrisy ; but Shalcespeare knew that it was
sufficient to show the devil in his diabolical character without
labelling the picture or adding a homily upon its blackness. lie
knew that he could trust his auditors or readers to that extent.
Lady Pekcy. — The wife of Hotspur fills no large place in the
play, and yet, like all Shakespeare's women, she is delineated so
graphically that she has a distinct individuality. Her appeal to her
husband to make her the confidant of his cares and anxieties has
been compared with that of Portia to Brutus in Julius Casar ;
but, as Mrs. Jameson has well shown, though the circumstances
are almost exactly similar, the difference in the two women is as
obvious as that in their husbands. Lady Percy is the slighter
character of the two, and seeks to rule her husband rather by
caresses than by reason and an appeal to her rights as a woman
and a wife ; but after Hotspur's death she rises to heroic dignity
in her reproof of her weak and vacillating father-in-law for his
inaction in the war that cost both him and her so much. He
talks of his " pledged honour " as a reason why he must not desert
the new enterprise, but how bitterly she reminds him of his loss of
honour in the former one !
" Who then persuaded you to stay at home?
There were two honours lost, yours and your son's.
For yours, the God of heaven brighten it !
For his, it stuck upon him as the sun
On the grey vault of heaven, and by his light
Did all the chivalry of England move
To do brave acts.
And him, O wondrous him !
O miracle of men ! him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war
On disadvantage, to abide a field
Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur's name
Appendix 262
Did seem defensible; so you left him.
Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong
To hold your honour more precise and nice
With others than with him ! "
The Northumberland of the play is the Northumberland of his-
tory, always more ready to promise than to perform, to talk, than
to act. How could the fiery Hotspur have been the son of such
an impotent old braggart?
The Time-Analysis of the Play
This is summed up in Mr. P. A. Daniel's paper " On the Times
or Durations of the Action of Shakspere's Plays," Transactions of
New Shaks. Soc. 1877-79, p. 288 fol., as follows: —
"Time of this Play, nine days represented on the stage, with
three extra Falstaffian days, and intervals. The total dramatic
time, including intervals, is not easily determined ; I fancy a couple
of months would be a liberal estimate.
Day I. Act I. sc. i. Warkworth. Lord Bardolph with Northum-
berland.
Interval: time for Lord Bardolph to join the Archbishop at York.
Day 2. Act I. sc. Hi. York. Lord Bardolph with the Archbishop
and confederates. While this scene takes place at York we
may suppose that in Act II. sc. Hi. Northumberland resolves for
Scotland.
Interval, including the Falstaffian Days \a and 2a, during which
the King arrives in London.
[Day \a. Act I. sc. ii. Falstaff in London.
Day 2fl. Act II. sc. i. FalstafPs arrest. The Ivng and Prince Hal
arrive from Wales.
Act II. sc. ii. Prince Hal and Poins,
264 Appendix
Aci II. sc. iv. Supper at the Boar's Head.]
Day 3. Act III. sc. i. Westminster. The King receives uncertain
news of the rebellion. This scene must be the morrow of
Day 2a.
Interval. Falstaff s journey into Gloucestershire.
Day 4. Act III. sc. ii. Falstaff takes up recruits.
Interval. Falstaff's journey into Yorkshire to join the army of
Prince John.
Day 5. Act IV. sc. i. to Hi. Yorkshire. Suppression of the re-
bellion.
Interval. Westmoreland, followed by Prince John, returns to Lon-
don. Falstaff travels into Gloucestershire.
Day 6. Act IV. sc. iv. and v. Westminster. Westmoreland and
Prince John arrive at the Court. Mortal sickness of the King.
[Day 3a. Act V. sc. i. Falstaff arrives at Justice Shallow's.
Act V. sc. Hi. Justice Shallow's. Pistol arrives with news of the
King's death.]
Day 7. Act V. sc. ii. Westminster. Immediately after the King's
death; the morrow, I take it, of Day 6.
Interval. Funeral of the late King ; preparations for the corona-
tion of the new. Within this interval must be supposed Falstaff's
arrival at Justice Shallow's, Pistol's journey from London with
news of the King's death, and the return of Falstaff and com-
pany to London.
Day 8. Act V. sc. iv. Mrs. Quickly and Doll Tearsheet in custody.
Day 9. Act V. sc. v. London. Arrival of Falstaff and company.
Coronation of Henry V.
I append for the convenience of the reader the dates of the
chief historical events dealt with in the play: Battle of Shrewsbury,
2ist July, 1403 ; suppression of the Archbishup of York's rebel-
lion, 1405 ; final defeat of Northumberland and Lord Bardolph,
28th Feb., 1408; death of Henry IV., 20th March, 1413; coro-
nation of Henry V., 9th April, 1413; death of Owen Glendower,
20th Sept., 141 5."
Appendix 265
List of Characters in the Play
The numbers in parentheses indicate the lines the characters
have in each scene.
Rumour :, ind. (40). Whole no. 40.
King : iii. 1(80) ; iv. 4(76), 5(138). Whole no. 294.
Prince Henry : ii. 2(93), 4(37); iv. 5(81); v. 2(70), 5(27).
Whole no. 308.
Clarence: iv. 4(13), 5(6); v. 2(4). Whole no. 23.
Lancaster: iv. 2(67), 3(23), 5(1); v. 2(7), 5(11). Whole no.
109.
Gloucester: iv. 4(9), 5(3); v. 2(5), Whole no. 17.
Lord Bardolph : i. 1(40), 3(46). Whole no. 86.
Warioick: iii. 1(31); iv. 4(18), 5(15); v. 2(13). Whole no.
77-
Westmoreland : iv, I (81), 2(17), 3(1), 4(11). Whole no. no.
Gozver : ii. 1(8). Whole no. 8.
Harcourt : iv. 4(8). Whole no. 8.
Chief Justice : i. 2(63); ii. 1(42); v. 2(50), 5(7). Whole no.
162.
Servant of Chief Justice : i. 2(13). Whole no. 13.
Northumberland : i. 1(87); ii. 3(19). Whole no. 106.
Archbishop : i. 3(33); iv. 1(91), 2(25). Whole no. 149.
Mowbray: i. 3(6); iv. 1(43), 2(7). Whole no. 56.
Hastings : i. 3(28); iv. I (16), 2(13). Whole no. 57.
Colevile : iv. 3(9). Whole no. 9.
Travers : i. 1(16). Whole no. 16.
Morton: i. 1(78). Whole no. 78.
Falstaff: i. 2(185); "• i(57)' 4(i22); iii. 2(140); iv. 3(108);
V. 1(33). 3(36), 5(38). Whole no. 719.
Bardolph: ii. 2(17), 4(11) ; iii. 2(22); iv. 3(1); v. l(l),3(5).
Whole no. 57.
Pistol: ii. 4(38); v. 3(28), 5(15). Whole no. 81.
Poins : ii. 2(70), 4(12). Whole no. 82.
266 Appendix
Peto : ii. 4(6). Whole no. 6.
Shallow: iii. 2(136); v. 1(36), 3(38), 5(13). Whole no. 223.
Silence: iii. 2(16); v. 3(31). Whole no. 47.
Davy : v. 1(28), 3(11). Whole no. 39.
Mouldy : iii. 2(13). Whole no. 13.
Shadow : iii. 2(2). Whole no. 2.
Wart : iii. 2(2). Whole no. 2.
Feeble : iii. 2(13). Whole no. 13.
Bullcalf: iii. 2(14). Whole no. 14.
Fang: ii. i(io). Whole no. 10.
Snare: ii. 1(8). Whole no. 8.
isl Beadle : v. 4(11)- Whole no. II.
\st Groom : v, 5(3). Whole no. 3.
2d Groom: v. 5(1). Whole no. i.
Page : i. 2(17); ii. 2(16), 4(2). Whole no. 35.
Porter: i. 1(4). Whole no. 4.
\st Draiver : ii. 4(12). Whole no. 12.
2d Drawer : 11.4(13). Whole no. 13.
Messenger : iv. 1(4). Whole no. 4.
Dancer : epil. (37).
Lady iVorthumberland : ii. 3(5). Whole no. 5.
Lady Percy : ii. 3(46). Whole no. 46.
Lfostess : ii. 1(89), 4(90); v. 4(10). Whole no. 189.
Doll Tearsheet : ii. 4(79); v. 4(14). Whole no. 93.
Surrey is on the stage in iii. i, and Blunt in iv. 3, but they do
not speak.
In the above enumeration, parts of lines are counted as whole
lines, making the total in the play greater than it is. The actual
number of lines in each scene (Globe edition numbering) is as fol-
lows: ind. (40); i. 1(215), 2(278), 3(110); ji. 1(209), 2(196),
3(68), 4(421); iii. 1(108), 2(358); iv. 1(228), 2(123), 3(142)
4(132), 5(241); V. 1(98), 2(145), 3(147). 4(35)» 5("5); epil.
(37). Whole no. in the play, 3446.
INDEX OF WORDS AND PHRASES
EXPLAINED
abated, 175
abide, 197
accents (plural), 197
accites, 194, 248
accommodated, 213
Achitophel, 180
aconitum, 233
action (trisyllable), 223
addressed (= ready), 231
advised, 178
affect (= desire), 239
affections, 233
after my seeming, 248
after-supper, 198, 249
agate, 178
Alecto, 253
all (= two), 209
allow (= approve), 225
Althaea's dream, 195
Amurath, 244
ancient (= ensign), 199
ancient (= former), 197
and there an end, 219
angel (coin), 183
anon, anon, sir! 207
antiquity (= old age), 184
apple-johns, 198
approve (= prove), 184
apter, 174
aptest, 178
Arthur's Show, 217
as (= as iO, 235
as nail in door, 251
assemblance, 216
assistances, 239
at a word, 217
at door, 208
at full, 176
at least 1 = at worst?), 187
at twelve-score, 212
atomy, 252
atonement, 225
Atropos, 204
attach (= arrest), 226
attached (= seized), 193
awful (= full of awe) , 223,
245
a-work, 230
backsword man, 213
balm (= anointing-oil),
237
band (= bond), 180
Barbary hen, 200
Barson, 250
Bartholomew boar-pig,
204
basket-hilt stale juggler,
200 i
bate (= contention), 205
bate (= remit), 256
battle (=army), 214, 222
baying him, 188
bear a mind, 215
bear in hand, 180
bear-herd, 184
became, 197
bed-hangings, 192
beefs, 218
belike. 193
beseek, 201
beshrew, 197, 249
bestow (= behave), 196
bestride, 178
Bezonian, 251
big (= pregnant), 172
biggen, 236
births of nature, 235
bleed (= be bled), 220
bloody (= sanguine', 219
blubbered, 208
blue-bottle rogue, 252
blunt (= dullt, 172
borne (= laden), 208
borrower's cap, 195
bought (= hired), 182
bounce, 217
brawn, 173
break (= become bank-
rupt), 256
breeds no bate, 205
bruited, 175
buckle (=bend), 176
bung (= sharpen, 200
burns (with disease), 207
burst (= broke), 218
busses, 206
but I = except), 250
by, 237
by cock and pie, 241
by God's liggens, 250
Cain, 177
caliver, 216
calm (= qualml, 199
canaries, ig8
candle-mine, 207
cankers (= worms), 195
Cannibals, 202
cannot choose but, 215
capable, 178
carat, 239
caraways, 248
cast (= calculated), 178,
242
cavaleros, 249
channel (= gutter), 190
cheater, 200
check (= reproof), 228
check (= reprove), 184,
210
choked the respect of, 178
chops. 204
chopt, 216
churlish, 188
civil, 220
clapped i' the clout, 212
Clement's Inn, 211
close with, 207
cock and pie, 241
cold considerance, 245
coldest, 244
267
268
Index of Words and Phrases
Colevile (a trisyllable),
229
colour (= pretext), 185,
254
come to any proof, 229
commences and sets in
act, 231
commodity, 185
commotion, 221
companion, 200
complices, 177
condition, 229
confound (= exhaust),
232
conger, 205
consent (= agree), 187
consent (,= agreement),
243
consider of, 209
consigning to, 248
consist, 223
continents, 207
conversations, 256
Corporate (= Corporal),
215
corpse (plural), 179
correctioner, 252
cost (= costly thing), 187
costermonger times, 184
Cotswold man, 211
could away with me, 215
courtesy, 191, 256
Coventry, 222
cover (=lay the table),
198
crack (=pert boy), 212
crafty-sick, 172
crosses (play upon), 185
crudy, 230
current (= genuine), 191
curry with, 243
cuttle, 200
dace and pike, 218
day (= day of battle),
173
dead elm, 207
dear (= earnest), 239
declension, 196
defensible, 197
depart (transitive), 237
determine of, 222
determined (= ended),
237
devil's book, 193
devour the way, 173
discolours the complex-
ion, 193
discover (= disclose), 160
discoverers, 219
distempered, 209
do me right, 250
dole, 178
Dolphin-chamber, 191
doubt (= fear) , 256
draw (= assemble'!, 189
draw (= withdraw), 192
draw a curtain, 174
drollery, 192
drooping, 172
dub me knight, 250
dull (= soothing), 236
earl (= duke), 222
easy, 244
eating the air, 186
edge (= sword), 221
element (= sky), 228
enamoured on, 189
endeared (= bound), 196
enforcement, 175
engaged to this loss, 178
engraffed to, 194
engrossed, 237
engrossments, 237
enlarge his rising, 179
Ephesians, 196
equal with, 188
ever among, 249
exceeding (adverb), 243
exclamation, 190
exion, 189
face-royal, 180
faiths, 223
faitors, 201
fancies, 218
fantasy, 244
fear (= cause to fear), 234
fear (= fearful thing), 175,
239
fear no colours, 254
fearful (full of fear), 172
fennel, 205
fertile (= fertilizing), 231
fetch off, 217
fiery trigon, 206
fig me, 281
fillip, 185
flap-dragons, 205
flaws congealed, 232
Fleet, the, 254
fleshed, 176
flint, 232
foeman, 216
foin, 189, 204
followed, 173
fond (= foolish), 188
fondly, 226
for (= as for) , 196
for recordation to, 197
force perforce, 221, 233
forehand shaft, 212
forestalled remission, 244
forgetive, 230
formal (= grave), 248
forspent, 173
foutra, 251
frank (= sty), 196
fiibbed off', 189
fustian, 202
fustilarian, 190
Galloway nags, 202
gan, 176
garland (= crown), 240,
245
Gaultree Forest, 219
gave out (= declared) , 219
German hunting, 192
giant (of boy), 179
gibbets on the brewer's
bucket, 216
giddy, 240
gird (= gibe), 179
go (play upon), 183
good (= favourable), 190
good morrow, 209
good-nights, 218
good-year, 199
grace (play upon), 208
graff, 194, 248
grate on (= vex), 221
gravy (pronunciation) ,
183
Gray's Inn, 212
greaves, 220
grief (= pain), 176
griefs (= grievances), 220,
225, 240
grows to me, 182
guarded (= trimmed), 220
guilt (play upon), 238
had as lief, 180, 215
haled, 253
half-faced, 216
half kirtles, 206, 252
Index of Words and Phrases 269
handling (trisyllable), 222
hangs, 224
happy low, lie down, 209
Harry ten shillings, 215
hatch (noun), 211
haunch, 234
have at him, 184
head (= army), 178
hearken the end, 207
heat, 207, 228
hem, boys! 215
hemp-seed, 190
hence (= henceforth), 253
hilding, 174
Hinckley, 242
Hiren. 201
his (=its), 234
his tongue be hotter, 180
history (verb), 224
hold sortance, 219
Holland (play upon), 193
honey-seed, 190
honey-suckle, 190
horn (play upon), 181
how a (= how go a) , 212
how chance, 231
humane, 230
humorous, 232
humours (=caprices) 192
humours of blood, 197
hunt counter, 1S2
hurly, 209
husband (= farmer), 248
I heard a bird so sing, 256
ill (=evil), 183
ill-beseeming, 221
imagination (metre), 186
imbrue, 203
immediate, 237
imp (= youngling), 253
in a particular ballad, 228
in charge, 222
in few, 175
in fewer offices. 187
in happy season, 226
in his particular, 234
in my condition, 229
in our means, 185
in paper, 187
in poison there is physic,
176
in project of, 186
in the effect of, 192
incensed, 186, 232
incertain, 186
indifferency, 228
infer (= suggest), 253
infinitive, 189
insinewed, 223
instance (= proof), 174,
211, 220
instinct (accent), 174
intelligencer, 225
intended, 223
intervallums, 243
intreasured, 211
invincible, 218
iron man, 225
it (possessive), 182
it is (contemptuous), 199
jade, 173
Jerusalem Chamber, 240
joined-stools, 205
Juvenal, 180
keech, 191
kept by a devil, 231
kickshaws, 242
kindly (= natural), 237
King Cophetua, 251
kirtle, 206
kiss (figurative), 210
knolling, 175
larum, 209
lavish (= loose), 233
lay (= resided), 217
lay by the heels, 183
leather-coats, 249
leather jerkins, 196
leman, 249
Lethe, 244
lewd, 194
libbard, 189
lie (= lodge), 226
lie in the throat, 182
light (= wanton), 207
lighten (= enlighten), 193
lightness (play upon), 181
like (= likely), 188
like (= liken), 191
like as, 244
lined (= strengthened),
186
lisping to his master's old
tables, 206
little (= a little), 209
liver, 184, 230, 253
loathly, 234
look beyond (= misjudge) ,
233
look big, 186
looked (= expected), 181
Lubber's-head, 189
Lumbert Street, 189
mad (= merry), 211
make courtesy, 191
make head, 178
malmsey-nose, 190
malt-worms, 207
mandrake, 179
man-queller, 190
many (noun), 188
mare (= nightmare), 190
marry, 193
Martlemas, 195
me (expletive), 229
medicine potable, 239
mess (= portion), 191
met (= got), 239
mile (plural), 254
mile to the bottom, a, 249
Mile-End Green, 217
minion, 169
miscarried, 222
misdoubts, 224
misordered, 225
mistook, 226
mode, 239
model (= plan), 187
moody, 232
more and less, 179
more fairer, 240
Morton (accent), 174
most stillest, 209
mouldy stewed prunes,
200
much (ironical), 214
mure, 234
muse (= wonder), 223
nail in door, 251
names (= great names),
222
near, 243
neif, 202
Nevil, 210
new-dated, 219
news (number), 176
nice, 223, 176
Nine Worthies, 204
no other, 244
no such matter, 172
noble (coin), 192, 194
ayo Index of Words and Phrases
noise (= musicians), 198
not (transposed), 221
nut-hook, 252
obedience, 239
observance, 228
observed, 232
occasion (metre), 220, 224
occupy, 201
ocean (trisyllable), 209
o'er-reail, 20S
offer (= menace), 225
offices, 1S7
old (intensive), ig8
Oldcastle, 257
omit (= neglect), 232
once (= some time), 250
on an edge, 178
opposite (noun), 187, 219
orchard (= garden), 248
ostentation, 194
other (= others), 214
other his, 233
our valuation, 223
ousel, 211
out (= out from), 193
out-breathed, 175
overlive, 219
over-rode, 173
overween, 222
ovv-ed (= owned), 179
pantler, 205
parcel-gilt, 191
part (= action), 237
part (= depart), 226
partition, 224
passing (adverb), 226
Paul's, 181
pause us, 231
pawned, 226
peasant (= rural), 172
peascod-time, 208
perfectness, 233
perforce, 176, 188, 211, 236
persistency, 194
peruse (= survey), 226
philosopher's two stones,
218
picked (= refined), 224
picking (= petty), 224
please it, [73, 211, 234
pleaseth, 225
Poins his brother, 207
point (= lace), 174
point (= signal), 202
points (play upon), 202
Pomfret, 179
ports (= portals), 236
posts (= horses), 228
pottle-pot, 250
pound (plural), 185, 216
power(= army), 176, 186,
231
powers (= forces), 178,
219, 226
pray for the queen, 257
precepts (=warrants),242
pregnancy, 184
present (= immediate),
223, 229
presented, 244
presurmise, 178
prick (= mark), 214
pricked down, 207
preface, 249
profited, 195
proper (=own), 245
proper fellow of my
hands, 194
proper to, 186
propose (= suppose), 245
puissance (metre), 186,
188, 197
punish by the heels, 183
purchased, 239
quantities, 243
queasiness, 179
quicksilver, 204
quiet o'er-posting, 183
quit (= exempt), 215
quittance, 175
quiver (= nimble), 217
quoif, 176
quoit, 203
racket, 193
ragged (= beggarly), 244
ragged'st, 177
rampalliam, 190
rascal, 199, 252
rash, 233
rebellion (metre), 172
recordation, 197
red lattice, 194
red wheat, 242
religion (metre), 179
remember (= mention),
248
remembrance, 247
rere-supper, 198 |
resolved correction, 224
respect (= regard), 178
rheumatic, 199
rides the wild mare, 205
rigol, 237
ripe (verb), 219
rood (= cross), 211
rotten (= false), 248
royal (coin), 180
royal faiths, 223
Rumour, full of tongues,
171
rushes, 252
sack (play upon), 184
sad (= sober), 243
sadly (= soberly), 247
said I well? 215
Samingo, 250
Saturn and Venus in con-
junction, 206
saving your manhoods,
189
scab (personal), 217
sealed up, 237
sect (= sex?), 199
seldom when, 233
semblable, 243
semper idem, etc., 253
set abroach, 225
set off, 222
set on, 189, 254
seven stars, 202
sherris-sack, 229
ship-boy, 209
shot (= shooter), 216
should (= shall), 256
shove-groat, 203
shrewd, 204
Shrove-tide, 249
si fortune, etc., 202, 255
sicked, 235
sights (of helmet), 222
since (=when), 215
since when? 200
Sincklo, 251
single (play upon), 184
Sir Dagonet, 217
Sisjers Three, 204
Skogan's head, 212
slippery clouds, 209
slops (= breeches), 180
smooth-pates, 180
sneap, 191
so (omitted), 179, 209, 223,
224
Index of Words and Phrases 271
so (= so be it), 215
soft silencing, 245
something a, 184
son (play upon), 214
soon at night, 254
south (= south wind) , 208
speak fair, 244
speak in your state, 245
speaking thick, 197
spit white, 1S5
stained with travel, 253
stand my good lord, 229
stand the push, 193
state of floods, 248
staying question, 174
stiff-borne, 178
still-stand, 197
stomach, 176, 234
stop (of pipe), 172
strained (= excessive),
strange-achieved, 237
sfatagem, 173
strengthless, 176
strengths (concrete), 188
studied, 193
.success (= succession) ,
225
successively, 240
sufferance, 252
sullen (of sounds), 175
supplies (= reinforce-
ments), 186, 225
supposed, 239
Surecard 214
suspire, 236
swaggerers, 199
sway, 219
sweet o' the night, the,
249
swinge-bucklers, 211
sworn brother, 218
'tis merry in hall, etc.,
249
tables (= note-book) , 206,
224
take not the heat, 207
take on me as, 220
take order, 214
take up (= encounter),
188
take up (= get on trust),
180
take up (=!evy), 225
taking your part, 245
tall (= stout), 213, 243
tame cheater, 200
tap for tap, 193
teach (= prompt), 239
tell (play upon), 183
tempering, 231
terms (legal), 243
tester, 217
Tewksbury mustard, 205
the heart 's all, 249
theme (= matter), i85
thereafter as they be, 213
thews, 216
thin man in a censer,
252
this little kingdom, man,
230
thou wert better, 182
three-man beetle, 185
tidy, 204
tilly-fally, 200
tirrits. 204
title-leaf, 174
to (= according to), 221
to (= for), 214
to the eyes, 210
toward (= at hand), 204
toys (= trifles), 202
trade (= activity), 178
transformed him ape, 194
traverse (= march), 216
trigon, 206
trimmed in thine own de-
sires, 188
trip the course of law, 245
TurnbuU Street, 217
twenty, 196
two points, 200
unfathered heirs, 235
unfirm. 188
united vessel of their
blood, 232
unseasoned, 211
usurpation (metre), 174
utis, 198
vail his stomach, 176
valiant (trisyllable), 197
vaward, 184
venom of suggestion, 232
vice (= grasp), 189
Vice's dagger, 218
virtuous, 237
wanton (= luxurious),
176
warder (= truncheon),
222
wassail candle, 183
watch-case, 209
well conceited, 242
well encountered, 225
well invested, 231
wen, 195
what (= who), 173
what (=why), 172, 173,
182, 190
Wheeson, 191
whiles, 225
whipping-cheer, 252
who (= which), 248
whoreson, 182
will not out, 250
William cook, 242
winking, 186
with (=by), 179
with safety, 236
within a ken, 222
witnessed usurpation, 174
woe-begone, 174
woman's tailor, 214
womb (= belly), 228
Woncot, 242
woo't, 190
wrought (form), 234
yeaforsooth knave, 180
year (plural), 215
yeoman, 189
yet (transposed), 209
you (expletive), 216
zeal of God, 225
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