Scene I. [Footnote:
The same.
Enter note Lord Bardolph.
L. Bard.
Who keeps the gate here note, ho?
The Porter opens the gate.
Where is the earl?
Port.
What shall I say you are?
L. Bard.
Tell thou the earl
That the Lord Bardolph doth attend him here.
Port.
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. note
L. Bard.
Here comes note the earl.
[Exit Porter. note
North.
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
And bears down all before him.
L. Bard.
Noble earl,
I bring you certain news from Shrewsbury.
North.
Good, an God note will!
-- 364 --
L. Bard.
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,
So fought, so follow'd and so fairly won,
Came not till now to dignify the times,
Since Cæsar's fortunes!
North.
How is this derived?
Saw you the field? came you from Shrewsbury?
L. Bard.
I spake with one, my lord, note that came from thence,
A gentleman well bred and of good name,
That freely render'd me these news for true.
North.
Here comes my servant Travers, whom note I sent
On Tuesday last to listen after news.
Enter Travers. note
L. Bard.
My lord, I over-rode him on the way;
And he is furnish'd with no certainties
More than he haply may retail note from me.
note
North.
Now, Travers, what good tidings comes with note you?
Tra.
My lord, Sir note John Umfrevile turn'd me back
With joyful tidings; and, being better horsed,
Out-rode me. After him came spurring hard note
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
-- 365 --
I did demand what news from Shrewsbury:
He told me that rebellion had bad note luck
And that young Harry Percy's spur was cold.
With that, he gave his able horse the head,
And bending forward note struck his armed note 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.
North.
Ha! Again:
Said he young Harry Percy's spur was cold?
Of Hotspur Coldspur? that rebellion
Had met ill luck? note
L. Bard.
My lord, I'll tell you what note;
If my young lord your son have not the day,
Upon mine honour, for a silken point
I'll give my barony: never note talk of it.
North.
Why should that gentleman note that rode by Travers
Give then such instances of loss?
L. Bard.
Who, he?
He was some hilding note fellow that had stolen
The horse he rode on, and, upon my life,
Spoke note at a venture note. Look, here comes more news.
noteEnter Morton.
North.
Yea, this man's brow, like to a title-leaf,
Foretells the nature of a tragic volume:
So looks the strond note whereon note the imperious flood
-- 366 --
Hath left a witness'd usurpation.
Say, Morton, didst thou come from Shrewsbury?
Mor.
I ran from Shrewsbury, my noble lord;
Where hateful death put on his ugliest mask
To fright our party.
North.
How doth my son and brother?
Thou tremblest; and the whiteness in thy cheek
Is apter than thy tongue to tell thy errand.
Even such a man, so faint, so spiritless,
So dull, so dead in look, so woe-begone, note
Drew Priam's curtain in the dead of night,
And would have told him half his Troy was burnt;
But Priam note 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 my note ear indeed,
Thou hast a sigh to blow away this praise,
Ending with ‘Brother, son, and all are dead.’
Mor.
Douglas is living, and your brother, yet note;
But, for my lord your son,—
North.
Why, he is dead. note
See what a ready tongue suspicion hath!
He that but fears the thing he would not know
Hath by instinct knowledge from others' note eyes
That what he fear'd is chanced note. Yet speak, Morton note;
Tell thou an note earl his divination lies,
And I will take it as a sweet disgrace,
And make thee rich for doing me such wrong.
Mor.
You are too great to be by me gainsaid:
Your spirit is too true, your fears too certain.
-- 367 --
North.
Yet, for all this, say not that Percy's dead.
I see a strange confession in thine eye:
Thou shakest thy head, and hold'st it fear or sin
To speak a truth. If he be slain, say so note;
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
Hath but a losing office, and his tongue
Sounds ever after as a sullen bell,
Remember'd tolling note a departing friend. note
L. Bard.
I cannot think, my lord, your son is dead.
Mor.
I am note sorry I should force you to believe
That which I would to God note I had not seen;
But these mine eyes saw him in bloody state,
Rendering faint quittance, wearied and outbreathed,
To Harry note Monmouth; whose swift wrath beat down
The never-daunted Percy to the earth,
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
From the best-temper'd courage in his troops;
For from his metal note was his party steel'd;
Which once in him abated note, all the rest
Turn'd on themselves, like dull and heavy lead:
And as the thing that's heavy in itself,
Upon enforcement flies with greatest speed,
So did our men, heavy in Hotspur's loss,
Lend to this weight such lightness with their fear
That arrows fled note not swifter toward their aim
-- 368 --
Than did our soldiers, aiming at their safety,
Fly from the field. Then was that note noble Worcester
Too note 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,
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.
North.
For this I shall have time enough to mourn.
In poison there is physic; and these note news,
Having been well, that would have note made me sick,
Being sick, have note in some measure made me well:
And as the wretch, whose fever-weaken'd joints,
Like strengthless hinges, buckle note under life,
Impatient of his fit, breaks like a fire
Out of his keeper's arms, even so my limbs,
Weaken'd with grief note, being now enraged with grief,
note
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 note with conquest, aim to hit.
Now bind my brows with iron; and approach
The ragged'st note hour that time and spite dare bring
To frown upon the enraged Northumberland!
Let heaven kiss earth! now let not Nature's hand
Keep the wild flood confined! let order die!
And let this world note no longer be a stage
-- 369 --
To feed contention in a lingering 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!
Tra.
This strained passion doth you wrong, my lord. note
L. Bard.
Sweet earl, divorce not wisdom from your honour.
Mor.
The lives of all your loving complices
Lean note on your note health; the which, if you give o'er
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,
More likely to fall in than to get o'er;
You were advised his flesh was capable
Of wounds and scars and that his forward spirit
Would lift him where most trade of danger ranged:
Yet did you say ‘Go forth;’ and none of this,
Though strongly apprehended, could restrain
The stiff-borne action: what hath then befallen,
Or what hath this bold enterprise brought note forth,
More than that being which was like to be? note
L. Bard.
We all that are engaged to this loss
Knew that we ventured on such dangerous seas
That if we wrought out life 'twas note ten to one;
And yet we ventured, for the gain proposed note
Choked the respect of likely peril fear'd;
And since we are o'erset, venture again.
Come, we will all put forth, note body and goods.
-- 370 --
Mor.
'Tis more than time: and, my most noble lord,
I hear for certain, and do note speak the truth, note
The gentle Archbishop of York is up
With well-appointed powers: he is a man
Who with a double surety binds his followers.
My lord your son had only but the corpse note,
But shadows and the shows of men, to fight;
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 note
Turns insurrection to religion:
Supposed sincere and holy in his thoughts,
He's followed both with body and with mind;
And doth enlarge note his rising with the blood
Of fair King Richard, scraped from Pomfret stones;
Derives from heaven his quarrel and his cause;
Tells them he doth bestride a bleeding land,
Gasping for life under great Bolingbroke;
And more and less do flock to follow him. note
North.
I knew of this before; but, to speak truth,
This present grief had wiped 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 note yet more need.
[Exeunt.
-- 371 --
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
London. A street.
Enter Falstaff, with note his Page bearing his sword and buckler.
Fal.
Sirrah, you giant, what says the doctor to my
water?
Page.
He said, sir, the water itself was a good healthy note
water; but, for the party that owed note it, he might have more
diseases than he knew for note.
Fal.
Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at me: the
brain of this foolish-compounded clay, man note, is not able to
invent note any thing that tends note to laughter, more than I invent
or is invented on me: I am not only witty in myself, but
the cause that wit is in other men. I do here walk before
thee like a sow that hath overwhelmed note 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 judgement. Thou
whoreson mandrake, thou art fitter to be worn in my cap
than to wait at my heels. I was never manned note with an
agate note till now: but I will inset note you neither in gold nor silver,
but in vile apparel, and send you back again to your master,
for a jewel, note— notethe juvenal note, the prince your master, whose chin
is not yet fledged note. I will sooner have a beard grow in the
palm of my hand than he shall get one on note his cheek; and
yet he will not stick to say his face is a face-royal: God note
may finish it when he will note, 'tis note not a hair amiss yet: he may
-- 372 --
keep it still at note a face-royal, for a barber shall never earn
sixpence out of it; and yet he'll note be crowing as if he had
writ man ever since his father was a bachelor. He may
keep his own grace, but he's note almost out of mine, I can
assure him. What said Master Dombledon note about the satin
for my short note cloak and my slops note?
Page.
He said, sir, you should procure him better
assurance than Bardolph: he would not take his band note
and yours; he liked not the security.
Fal.
Let him be damned, like the glutton! pray God note
his tongue be hotter! A whoreson Achitophel note! a rascally note
yea-forsooth knave! to bear a gentleman in hand, and then
stand upon security! The whoreson smooth-pates note do now
wear nothing but high shoes, and bunches of keys at their
girdles; and if a man is through note with them in honest taking
up, then they must stand upon security. I had as lief note they
would put ratsbane in my mouth as offer to stop it with
security. I looked a' note should have sent me two and twenty
yards of satin, as I am a true note 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 note?
Page.
He's gone into note Smithfield to buy your worship
a horse.
Fal.
I bought him in Paul's, and he'll buy me a horse
in Smithfield: an note I could get me but note a wife in the stews, I
were manned, horsed, and wived.
-- 373 --
Enter the Lord note Chief Justice and Servant.
notePage.
Sir, here comes the nobleman that committed
the prince for striking him about Bardolph.
note
Fal.
Wait close; I will not see him.
Ch. Just.
What's he that goes there?
Serv.
Falstaff, an't note please your lordship.
Ch. Just.
He that was in question for the robbery?
Serv.
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.
Ch. Just.
What, to York? Call him back again.
Serv.
Sir John Falstaff!
Fal.
Boy, tell him I am deaf.
Page.
You must speak louder; my master is deaf.
Ch. Just.
I am sure he is, to the hearing of any thing
good. Go, pluck him by the elbow; I must speak with him.
Serv.
Sir John!
Fal.
What! a young knave, and begging note! Is note there not
wars? is there not employment? doth not the king note lack
subjects? do not the rebels need note soldiers? 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.
Serv.
You mistake me, sir.
Fal.
Why, sir, did I say you were an honest man? note setting
my knighthood and my soldiership aside, I had lied in
my throat, if I had note said so.
Serv.
I pray you, sir, then set your knighthood and
your soldiership aside; and give me leave to tell you, you
lie note in your throat, if you say I am any other than an
honest man.
-- 374 --
Fal.
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: note hence! avaunt!
Serv.
Sir, my lord would speak with you.
Ch. Just.
Sir John Falstaff, a word with you.
Fal.
My good lord! God note give your lordship good time
of day note. 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 your
youth, hath note yet some smack of age note in you, some relish of
the saltness of time note; and I most humbly beseech your lordship
to have a reverend care of your health.
Ch. Just.
Sir John, I sent for you note before your expedition
to Shrewsbury.
Fal.
An't note please your lordship, I hear his majesty is
returned with some discomfort note from Wales.
Ch. Just.
I talk not of his majesty: you would not
come when I sent for you.
Fal.
And I hear, moreover, his highness is fallen into
this same whoreson apoplexy.
Ch. Just.
Well, God note mend him! I pray you note, let me
speak with you.
Fal.
This apoplexy is, as I take it, a kind of lethargy,
an't please your lordship note; a kind of note sleeping in note the blood,
a whoreson tingling.
Ch. Just.
What tell you me of it? be it as it is.
Fal.
It hath its note original from much grief, from study
and perturbation of the brain: I have read the cause of his
effects note in Galen: it is a kind of deafness.
-- 375 --
Ch. Just.
I think you are fallen into the disease; for
you hear not what I say to you.
Fal. note
Very well, my lord, very well: rather, an't note please
you, it is the disease of not listening, the malady of not
marking, that I am troubled withal.
Ch. Just.
To punish you by the heels would amend the
attention note of your ears; and I care not if I do become note your
physician.
Fal.
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.
Ch. Just.
I sent for you, when there were matters
against you for your life, to come speak note with me.
Fal.
As I was then advised by my learned counsel note in
the laws of this land-service, I did not come.
Ch. Just.
Well, the truth is, Sir John, you live in great
infamy.
Fal.
He that buckles him note in my belt cannot live in less.
Ch. Just.
Your means are note very slender, and your waste
is great note.
Fal.
I would it were otherwise; I would my means
were greater, and my waist slenderer note.
Ch. Just.
You have misled the youthful prince.
Fal.
The young note prince hath misled me: I am the fellow
with the great belly, and he my dog.
Ch. Just.
Well, I am loath to gall a new-healed wound:
your day's service at Shrewsbury hath a little gilded over
your night's exploit on Gads-hill: you may thank the unquiet
time for your quiet o'er-posting that action.
Fal.
My lord? note
-- 376 --
Ch. Just.
But since all is well, keep it so: wake not a
sleeping wolf.
Fal.
To wake a wolf is as bad as to smell note a fox.
Ch. Just.
What! you are as a candle, the better part
burnt out.
Fal.
A wassail candle, my lord, all tallow: if note I did say
of wax, my growth would approve the truth.
Ch. Just.
There is not a white hair on your face but
should have his effect of gravity.
Fal.
His effect of gravy, gravy, gravy.
Ch. Just.
You follow the young prince up and down,
like his ill note angel.
Fal.
Not so, my lord; your ill note angel is light; but I
hope he that looks upon me will take me without weighing note:
and yet, in some respects, I grant, I cannot go: I
cannot tell. note Virtue is of so little regard in these costermonger
times note that true valour is turned bear-herd note: pregnancy
is made a tapster, and hath his note quick wit wasted in giving
reckonings: all the other gifts appertinent to man, as the
malice of this note age shapes them, are note not worth a gooseberry.
You that are old consider not the capacities of us that are
young; you do note measure the heat of our livers with the bitterness
of your galls: and we that are in the vaward of our
youth, I must confess, are wags too.
Ch. Just.
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 decreasing leg? an increasing
belly? is not your voice broken? your wind short? your
-- 377 --
chin double note? your wit single? and every part about you
blasted with antiquity? and will you yet note call yourself
young? Fie, fie, fie, Sir John!
Fal.
My lord, I was born about three of the clock in the
afternoon note, with a white head and something a round belly.
For my voice, I have lost it with halloing note and singing of
anthems. To approve my youth further note, I will not: the
truth is, I am only old in judgement 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 note ear note 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.
Ch. Just.
Well, God note send the prince a better companion!
Fal.
God note send the companion a better prince! I cannot
rid my hands of him.
Ch. Just.
Well, the king hath severed you and Prince
Harry note: I hear you are going with Lord John of Lancaster
against the Archbishop and the Earl of Northumberland.
Fal.
Yea note; I thank your pretty sweet wit for it. But
look you pray, all you that kiss my lady Peace at home,
that our armies join not in a hot day; for, by the Lord, I note
take but two shirts out with me, and note I mean not to sweat
extraordinarily: if it be a hot day, and note I brandish any
thing but a bottle, note I would note I might never spit white again.
There is not a dangerous action can peep out his head, but
I am thrust upon it: well, I cannot last ever note: but it was
-- 378 --
alway yet note the trick of our English nation, if they have a
good thing, to make it too common. If ye note will needs say
I am an old man, you should give me rest. I 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 note than to be
scoured to nothing with perpetual motion note.
Ch. Just.
Well, be honest, be honest; and God note bless
your expedition!
Fal.
Will your lordship lend me a thousand pound to
furnish me forth?
Ch. Just.
Not a penny, not a penny; you are too impatient
to bear crosses. Fare you well: commend me to
my cousin Westmoreland.
[Exeunt note Chief-Justice and Servant.
Fal.
If I do, fillip me with a three-man beetle. A man
can no more separate age and covetousness than a' note can
part young limbs and lechery: but the gout galls the one,
and the pox pinches the other; and so both the degrees note
prevent my curses. Boy!
Page.
Sir?
Fal.
What money is in my purse?
Page.
Seven groats and two pence.
Fal.
I can get no remedy against this consumption of
the purse: borrowing only lingers and lingers it out, but
the disease is incurable. Go bear this letter 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 note my chin. About it: you know where to find me.
[Exit Page. note] A pox of this gout! or, a gout of this pox!
for the one or the other note plays the rogue with my great toe.
'Tis note no matter if I do halt; I have the wars for my colour,
-- 379 --
and my pension shall seem the more reasonable. A good
wit will make use of any thing: I will turn diseases to
commodity.
[Exit. note
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
York. note The Archbishop's Palace. note
Enter note the Archbishop, the Lords Hastings, Mowbray, and Bardolph.
Arch. note
Thus have you heard our cause note and known note our means;
And note, my most noble friends, I pray you all,
Speak plainly your opinions of our hopes:
And first, lord marshal, what say you to it?
Mowb. note
I well allow the occasion of our arms;
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.
Hast.
Our present musters grow upon the file
To five and twenty thousand men of choice;
And our supplies live note largely in the hope
Of great Northumberland, whose bosom burns
With an incensed fire of injuries.
L. Bard.
The question then, Lord Hastings, standeth thus;
Whether our present five and twenty thousand
-- 380 --
May hold up head without Northumberland?
Hast.
With him, we may.
L. Bard.
Yea note, marry, there's the point:
But if without him we be thought too feeble,
My judgement is, we should not step too far
Till we had his assistance by the hand;
For in a theme so bloody-faced as this
Conjecture, expectation, and surmise
Of aids incertain note should not be admitted note.
Arch.
'Tis very true, Lord Bardolph; for indeed
It was young Hotspur's case at Shrewsbury.
L. Bard.
It was, my lord; who lined himself with hope,
Eating the air on note promise of supply,
Flattering himself in note project of a power
Much smaller than the smallest of his thoughts:
And so, with great imagination
Proper to madmen, led his powers to death
And winking leap'd into destruction.
Hast.
But, by your leave, it never yet did hurt
To lay down likelihoods and forms of hope.
L. Bard.
Yes, if this present quality of war,
Indeed the instant action: a cause on foot,
Lives note so in hope, as in an early spring
We see the appearing buds; which to prove fruit,
Hope gives not so much warrant as despair
That 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,
What do we then but draw anew the model
In fewer offices, or at least note desist
-- 381 --
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
The plot of situation note and note the model,
Consent note upon a sure foundation,
Question surveyors, know our own estate,
note
How able such a work to undergo,
To weigh note against his note opposite; or else note
We note fortify in paper note and in figures,
Using the names of men instead of men:
Like one note that draws the model of a house note
Beyond his power to build it; who, half through note,
Gives o'er and leaves his part-created cost note
A naked subject to the weeping clouds,
And waste for churlish winter's tyranny.
Hast.
Grant that our hopes, yet likely of fair birth,
Should be still-born, and that we now possess'd note
The utmost man of expectation,
I think we are a body note strong enough,
Even as we are, to equal with the king.
L. Bard.
What, is the king but five and twenty thousand?
Hast.
To us no more; nay, not so much, Lord Bardolph.
For his divisions, as the times do brawl,
Are note 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.
-- 382 --
Arch.
That he should draw his several strengths together
And come against us in full puissance,
Need not be note dreaded.
Hast.
If he should do so,
He leaves his back unarm'd, the French and Welsh
Baying note him at the heels: never fear that. note
L. Bard.
Who is it like should lead his forces hither?
Hast.
The Duke of Lancaster and Westmoreland;
Against the Welsh, himself and Harry Monmouth:
But who is substituted 'gainst note the French,
I have no certain notice.
Arch.
Let us on,
And publish the occasion of our arms.
The commonwealth is sick of their own choice;
Their note over-greedy love hath surfeited:
An habitation giddy and unsure
Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart.
O thou fond many note, with what loud applause
Didst thou beat heaven with blessing Bolingbroke,
Before he was what thou wouldst have him be!
And being now note trimm'd note in thine own desires,
Thou, beastly feeder, art so full of him,
That thou provokest 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?
They that, when Richard lived, would have him die,
Are note now become enamour'd on his grave:
Thou, that threw'st dust upon his goodly head
-- 383 --
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 accursed!
Past and to come seems note best; things present, worst note. note
Mowb. note
Shall we go draw our numbers, and set on?
Hast.
We are time's subjects, and time bids be gone.
[Exeunt. note
ACT II.
Scene I.
London. note A street. note
Enter note Hostess, Fang and his Boy with her, and Snare following.
Host.
Master note Fang, have you entered the action?
Fang. note
It is entered.
Host.
Where's your yeoman? Is't note a lusty note yeoman?
will a' note stand to't note?
Fang.
Sirrah, where's Snare?
Host.
O Lord, ay! good note Master Snare note.
Snare.
Here, here.
Fang.
Snare, we must arrest Sir John Falstaff.
Host.
Yea note, good Master Snare; I have entered him
and all.
Snare.
It may chance cost some of us our lives, for note he
will stab.
-- 384 --
Host.
Alas the day! take heed of him; he stabbed me
in mine own house, and that most beastly: in good faith, note
he cares not what mischief he does note, 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.
Host.
No, nor I neither: I'll be at your elbow.
Fang.
An I note but fist him once; an a' note come but within
my vice,— note
Host.
I am undone by note his going; I warrant you note, he's note
an infinitive thing upon my score. Good Master Fang, hold
him sure: good Master Snare, let him not 'scape. A' note comes
continuantly note to Pie-corner—saving your manhoods—to buy
a saddle; and he is indited to dinner to the Lubber's-head
in Lumbert note street, to Master Smooth's the silkman: I pray
ye, since my exion note is entered and my case so openly
known to the world, let him be brought in to his answer.
A hundred note mark is a long one note for a poor lone woman to
bear: and I have borne, and borne, and borne; and have
been fubbed off, and fubbed off, and fubbed off note, from this
day to that day, that it is a shame to be thought on. There
is no honesty in such dealing; 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 note,
Bardolph, with him. Do your offices, do your offices: Master
noteFang and Master Snare, do me, do me, do me your offices.
-- 385 --
Enter note Falstaff, Page, and Bardolph.
Fal.
How now! whose mare's dead? what's the matter?
Fang.
Sir John, note I arrest you at the suit of Mistress
Quickly note.
Fal.
Away, varlets! Draw, Bardolph: cut me off the
villain's head: throw the quean in the channel.
Host.
Throw me in the channel note! I'll throw thee in the
channel. note Wilt thou? wilt thou? thou bastardly note rogue!
Murder, murder! Ah, thou honey-suckle villain! wilt thou
kill God's officers and the king's? Ah, note thou honey-seed
rogue! thou art a honey-seed, a man-queller, and a woman-queller.
Fal.
Keep them off, Bardolph.
Fang.
A rescue! a rescue!
Host.
Good people, bring a rescue or two. note Thou wo't,
wo't thou? thou wo't, wo't ta? note note do, do, thou note rogue! do,
thou hemp-seed!
Fal. note
Away, you scullion! you rampallian! you fustilarian note!
I'll tickle note your catastrophe.
Enter the Lord Chief-Justice, and his men. note
note
Ch. Just.
What is note the matter? keep the peace here, ho!
Host.
Good my lord, be good to me. I beseech you,
stand to me.
-- 386 --
Ch. Just.
How now, Sir John! what are note 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 note him? note
Host.
O my most worshipful lord, an't please your
grace, I am a poor widow of Eastcheap, and he is arrested
at my suit.
Ch. Just.
For what sum?
Host.
It is more than for some, my lord; it is for all,
all I have. note 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.
Fal.
I think I am as like to ride the mare, if I have
any vantage of ground to get up.
Ch. Just.
How comes this, Sir John? Fie! note what man note
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?
Fal.
What is the gross sum that I owe thee?
Host.
Marry, if thou wert an honest man, thyself and the
money too. Thou didst swear to me upon note a parcel-gilt goblet,
sitting in my Dolphin-chamber, at the round table, by
a sea-coal fire, upon note Wednesday in Wheeson note week, when
the prince broke thy head for liking his father note 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 wife, come in then and call me gossip Quickly?
coming in to borrow a mess of vinegar; telling us she had
-- 387 --
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 note, when she was gone down stairs, desire
me to be no more so familiarity note 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? note I
put thee now to thy book-oath: deny it, if thou canst.
Fal.
My lord, this is a poor mad note 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.
Ch. Just.
Sir John, Sir John, I am well acquainted
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 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. note
Host.
Yea, in truth note, my lord.
Ch. Just.
Pray thee note, peace. Pay her the debt you owe
her, and unpay the villany you have done her note: the one
you may do with sterling money, and the other with current
repentance.
Fal.
My lord, I will not undergo this sneap without
reply. You call honourable boldness impudent sauciness:
if note a man will make note courtesy and say nothing, he is virtuous:
no, my lord, my humble note duty remembered, I will
not be your suitor. I say to you, I do desire note deliverance
-- 388 --
from these officers, being upon hasty note employment in the
king's affairs.
Ch. Just.
You speak as having power to do wrong:
but answer in the effect of note your reputation, and satisfy the
poor woman.
note
Fal.
Come hither, hostess.
Enter Gower. note
note
Ch. Just.
Now note, Master Gower, what news?
Gow.
The king, my lord, and Harry note Prince of Wales
note
Are near at hand: the rest the paper note tells.
Fal.
As I am a gentleman.
Host.
Faith note, you said so before.
Fal.
As I am a gentleman. Come, no more words
of it.
Host.
By this heavenly ground I tread on, I must be
fain to pawn both my plate and the tapestry of my dining-chambers.
Fal.
Glasses, glasses, is the only drinking: and for thy
walls, a pretty slight drollery, or the story of the Prodigal,
or the German note hunting in water-work, is worth a thousand
of these bed-hangings note and these fly-bitten tapestries note. Let
it be ten pound note, if thou canst. Come, an 'twere note not for
thy humours, there's note not a better wench in England. Go,
wash thy face, and draw the action note. Come, thou must not
be in this humour with me; dost not know me? come, note
come, I know thou wast set on to this.
-- 389 --
Host.
Pray thee note, Sir John, let it be but twenty nobles:
i' faith note, I am note loath to pawn my plate, so God save me, la! note
Fal.
Let it alone; I'll make note other shift: you'll be a
fool still.
Host.
Well, you shall have it, though note I pawn my
gown. I hope you'll come to supper. You'll pay me
all together note?
Fal.
Will I live? [To Bardolph note] Go, with her, with
her; hook on, hook on.
Host.
Will you have Doll Tearsheet meet you at
supper?
Fal.
No more words; let's have her.
[Exeunt note Hostess, Bardolph, Officers, and Boy.
Ch. Just.
I have heard better note news.
Fal.
What's the news, my lord note?
Ch. Just.
Where lay the king last night note?
Gow. note
At Basingstoke note, my lord.
Fal.
I hope, my lord, all's well: what is the news, my
lord?
Ch. Just.
Come all his forces back?
Gow. note
No; fifteen hundred foot, five hundred horse,
Are march'd up to my lord of Lancaster,
Against Northumberland and the Archbishop note.
Fal.
Comes the king back from Wales, my noble lord?
Ch. Just.
You shall have letters of me presently:
Come, go along with me, good Master Gower.
note
Fal.
My lord!
-- 390 --
Ch. Just.
What's the matter?
note
Fal.
Master Gower, shall I entreat you with me to
dinner?
Gow.
I must wait upon my good lord here; I thank
you, good Sir John.
Ch. Just.
Sir John, you loiter here too long, being you
are to take soldiers up in counties note as you go note.
Fal.
Will you sup with me, Master Gower?
Ch. Just.
What foolish master taught you these manners,
Sir John?
Fal.
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.
Ch. Just.
Now the Lord lighten thee! thou art a great
fool.
[Exeunt. note
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
London note. Another street.
Enter Prince Henry note and Poins.
Prince.
Before God note, I am exceeding weary.
Poins.
Is't note come to that? I had thought weariness
durst not have attached one of so high blood.
Prince.
Faith, it does note 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;
-- 391 --
for, by my note troth, I do now remember the poor creature,
small beer. But, indeed, these humble considerations make
me out of love with my greatness. What a disgrace is it
to me to remember thy name! or to know thy face tomorrow!
or to take note note how many pair of silk stockings
thou hast, viz. these note, and those that were thy note peach-coloured
ones note! or to bear the inventory of thy shirts, as, one for
superfluity, and another note 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 note not racket there; as thou hast not
done a great while, because the rest of thy note low countries
have made a shift to note eat up thy holland: and God knows,
whether those that bawl out note the ruins of thy linen shall
inherit his kingdom: but the midwives say the children
are not in the fault; whereupon the world increases, and
kindreds are mightily strengthened note.
Poins.
How ill it follows, after you have laboured so
hard, you should talk so idly! Tell me, how many good
young princes would note do so, their fathers being note so sick as
yours at this time note is?
Prince.
Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?
Poins.
Yes, faith note; and let it be an excellent good thing.
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 note tell.
Prince.
Marry note, I tell thee, it is not meet that I should
be sad, now my father is sick: albeit I could tell to thee, as
-- 392 --
to one it pleases me, for fault of a better, to call my friend,
I could be sad, and sad indeed too.
Poins.
Very hardly upon such a subject.
Prince.
By this hand note, 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 note: and keeping such
vile company as thou art hath in reason taken from me all
ostentation of sorrow.
Poins.
The reason? note
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 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 hypocrite indeed. And what
accites note your most worshipful thought to think so?
Poins.
Why, because you have been note so lewd, and so
much engraffed to Falstaff.
Prince.
And to thee.
Poins.
By this light note, I am well spoke on note; I can hear it
with mine own ears: the worst that note they can 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 note, here comes Bardolph.
Enter note Bardolph and Page.
Prince.
And the boy that I gave Falstaff: a' note had him
-- 393 --
from me Christian; and look note, if the fat villain have not
transformed him ape.
note
Bard.
God save note your grace!
Prince.
And yours, most noble Bardolph!
Bard. note
note
Come, you virtuous note ass, you bashful fool, must
you be blushing? wherefore blush you now? What a
maidenly man-at-arms are you become! Is't note such a matter
to get a pottle-pot's maidenhead?
Page.
A' calls me e'en now note, 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 note petticoat and so note
peeped through.
Prince.
Has note not the boy profited?
Bard.
Away note, you whoreson upright rabbit note, away!
Page.
Away, you rascally Althæa's dream, away!
Prince.
Instruct us, boy; what dream, boy?
Page.
Marry, my lord, Althæa note dreamed she was delivered
of a fire-brand; and therefore I call him her dream.
Prince.
A crown's worth of good interpretation: there
note'tis note, boy.
Poins.
O, that this good note blossom could be kept from
cankers! Well, there is sixpence to preserve thee.
Bard.
An note you do not make him hanged note among you,
the gallows shall have wrong note.
Prince.
And how doth thy master, Bardolph?
-- 394 --
Bard.
Well, my lord note. He heard of your grace's coming
to town: there's a letter for you.
Poins. note
Delivered with good respect. And how doth
the martlemas, your master?
Bard.
In bodily health, sir.
Poins.
Marry, the immortal part needs a physician; but
that moves not him: though that be sick, it dies not.
Prince.
I do allow this wen to be as familiar with me
as my dog; and he holds his place; for look you how note he
writes.
Poins. [Reads note]
‘John note Falstaff, knight,’—every man must
know that, as oft note as he has note occasion to name himself: even
like those that are kin to the king; for they never prick
their finger but they say, ‘There's note some of the king's blood
spilt.’ ‘How comes that?’ says he, that takes upon him
not to conceive. The answer is as ready as a borrower's
cap note, ‘I am the king's poor cousin, sir.’
Prince.
Nay, they will be kin to us, or note they will fetch
it from Japhet. But to note the letter:
Poins. [Reads note]
‘Sir John Falstaff, knight, to the son of the
king, nearest his father, Harry Prince of Wales, greeting.’ Why note,
this is a certificate.
Prince.
Peace!
Poins. [Reads]
‘I will imitate the honourable Romans in note brevity:’
he sure note means brevity in breath, short-winded. ‘I
commend me to thee, I commend thee, and I leave note thee. Be not
too familiar with Poins; for he misuses thy favours so much, that he
-- 395 --
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 usest him, Jack Falstaff with my familiars note,
John with my brothers and sisters note, and Sir
John with all Europe.’
My lord, I'll note steep this letter in sack, and make him eat it.
Prince.
That's note to make him eat twenty note of his words.
But do you use me thus, Ned? must I marry your sister?
Poins.
God send the wench note no worse fortune! But I
never said so.
Prince.
Well, thus we play the fools note with the time;
and the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us.
Is your master here in London?
Bard.
Yea note, my lord.
Prince.
Where sups he? doth the old boar note feed in the
old frank?
Bard.
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.
Prince.
Even such kin as the parish heifers note are to the
town bull. Shall we steal upon them, Ned, at supper?
Poins.
I am your shadow, my lord; I'll follow you.
Prince.
Sirrah, you boy, and Bardolph, no word to
-- 396 --
your master that I am yet come to note town: there's for your
silence.
Bard.
I have no tongue, sir.
Page.
And for mine, sir, I will govern it.
Prince.
Fare you note well; go. [Exeunt note Bardolph and Page.]
This Doll Tearsheet note should be some road.
Poins.
I warrant you, as common as the way between
Saint Alban's and London.
Prince.
How might we see Falstaff bestow himself to-night
notein his true colours, and not ourselves be seen?
Poins.
Put on two leathern note jerkins and aprons, and
wait upon him at his table as note drawers.
Prince.
From a God to a bull? a heavy note descension note! it
was Jove's case. From a prince note to a prentice? a low
transformation note! that shall be mine; for in every thing the
purpose must weigh with the folly. Follow me, Ned.
[Exeunt.
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
Warkworth. Before note the castle.
Enter note Northumberland, Lady Northumberland, and Lady Percy.
North.
I pray thee note, loving wife, and gentle daughter,
Give even note way unto my rough affairs:
Put not you on the visage of the times,
And be like them to Percy troublesome.
-- 397 --
Lady N. note
I have given over, I will speak no more:
Do what you will; your wisdom be your guide.
North.
Alas, sweet wife, my honour is at pawn;
And, but my going, nothing can redeem it.
Lady P. note
O yet, for God's note sake, go not to these wars!
The time was, father, that note you broke your word,
When you were more endear'd note to it than now;
When your own Percy, when my heart's dear Harry note,
Threw many a northward look to see his father
Bring up his powers; but he did long note 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 note 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
To do brave acts: he was indeed the glass
Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves:
He had no legs that practised not his gait;
And speaking thick, which nature made his blemish,
Became the accents of the valiant;
For those that could speak low note 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,
He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashion'd others. And him, O wondrous him! note
O miracle of men! him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you note,
To look upon the hideous god of war
-- 398 --
In disadvantage; to abide a field note
Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur's name
Did seem defensible note: 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! let them alone:
The marshal and the archbishop are strong:
Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers note,
To-day might I, hanging on Hotspur's neck,
Have talk'd of Monmouth's grave note.
North.
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,
Or it will seek me in another place
And find me worse provided.
Lady N. note
O, fly note to Scotland,
Till that the nobles and the armed commons
Have of their puissance made a little taste.
Lady P. note
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,
For recordation to my noble husband.
North.
Come, come, go in with me. 'Tis with my mind
As with the tide swell'd up unto his height,
That makes a still-stand note, running neither way:
Fain would I go to meet the archbishop,
But many thousand note reasons hold me back.
-- 399 --
I will resolve for Scotland: there am I,
Till time and vantage crave my company.
[Exeunt.
note
Scene IV. [Footnote:
London note. The Boar's-head Tavern in Eastcheap.
Enter two Drawers. note
First Draw. note
What the devil note hast thou brought there?
apple-johns? thou knowest Sir John cannot endure an
apple-john.
Sec. Draw. note
Mass note, 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 note
knights.’ It angered him to the heart: but he hath forgot
that.
First Draw.
Why, then, cover, and set them down: and
see if thou canst find out Sneak's noise; Mistress Tearsheet
would fain hear note some music. Dispatch: the room where
they supped is too hot; they'll come in straight.
Sec. Draw.
Sirrah note, here will be the prince and Master
Poins anon; and they will put on two of our jerkins and
aprons; and Sir John must not know of it: Bardolph hath
notebrought word.
First Draw. note
By the mass note, here will be old utis note: it will
be an excellent stratagem.
-- 400 --
Sec. Draw. note
I'll see if I can find out Sneak.
[Exit.
Enter note Hostess and Doll Tearsheet.
note
Host.
I'faith note, sweetheart, methinks now you are in an
excellent good temperality: your pulsidge beats as extra-ordinarily
as heart would desire; and your colour, I warrant
you, is as red as any rose, in good truth, la! But, i'
faith note, you have drunk too much canaries note; and that's a
marvellous searching wine, and it perfumes the blood ere
one note can say ‘What's this? note’ How do you now?
Dol.
Better than I was: hem!
Host.
Why, that's note well said; a good heart's worth
gold. Lo note, here comes Sir John.
Enter Falstaff.
Fal. [Singing note]
‘When Arthur first in court’—Empty
the jordan. [Exit note First Drawer].—[Singing note] ‘And was a
worthy king.’ How now, Mistress Doll!
Host.
Sick of a calm; yea, good faith note.
Fal.
So is all her sect note; an note they be once in a calm, they
are sick.
Dol.
You note muddy rascal, is that all the comfort you
give me?
Fal.
You make fat rascals, Mistress Doll.
Dol.
I make them! gluttony and diseases make them note;
I make them not.
Fal.
If the cook help to make note the gluttony, you help
-- 401 --
to make the diseases, Doll: we catch of you, Doll, we catch
of you; grant that, my poor note virtue, grant that.
Dol.
Yea, joy note, our chains and our jewels.
Fal.
‘Your brooches, pearls, and ouches:’ note for to serve
bravely is to come halting off, you know: to come off the
breach with his pike bent bravely, and to surgery bravely;
to venture upon the charged chambers bravely,—
Dol.
Hang yourself, you muddy conger note, hang yourself note!
Host.
By my troth note, this is the old fashion; you two
never meet but you fall to some discord: you are both,
i' good truth note, as rheumatic as two dry toasts; you cannot
one bear with another's confirmities. What the good-year note!
one must bear, and that must be you: you are the weaker
vessel, as they say, the emptier vessel.
Dol.
Can a weak empty vessel bear such a huge full
hogshead? there's a whole merchant's venture of Bourdeaux
stuff in him; you have not seen a hulk better stuffed in the
hold. Come, I'll 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 note.
Re-enter First Drawer. note
note
First Draw. note
Sir, Ancient Pistol's note below, and would
speak with you.
Dol.
Hang him, swaggering rascal! let him not come
hither: it is the foul-mouthedst rogue in England.
Host.
If he swagger, let him not come here: no, by my
faith note; I must live among note my neighbours; I'll no swaggerers:
-- 402 --
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, to have swaggering now: shut the
door, I pray you.
Fal.
Dost thou hear, hostess?
Host.
Pray ye note, pacify yourself, Sir John: there comes
no swaggerers here.
Fal.
Dost thou hear? it is mine ancient.
Host.
Tilly-fally, Sir John, ne'er note tell me: your note ancient
swaggerer comes not in my doors. I was before Master
Tisick, the debuty note, t'other note day; and, as he said to me, 'twas note
no longer ago than Wednesday note last, ‘I’ good faith note, neighbour
Quickly,’ says he; Master Dumbe note, our minister, was
by then; ‘neighbour Quickly,’ says he, ‘receive those that
are civil; for,’ said note he, ‘you are in an ill name:’ now a' note 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 note none here: you would bless you to
hear what he said: no, I'll no swaggerers.
Fal.
He's no swaggerer, hostess; a tame cheater note, i'
faith note; you may stroke him as gently as a puppy grey-hound:
he'll note not swagger with a Barbary hen, if her
feathers turn back in any show of resistance. Call him
up, drawer.
[Exit First Drawer.
Host.
Cheater, call you him? I will bar no honest man
my house, nor no cheater: but I do not love swaggering,
by my troth note; I am the worse, when one says swagger: feel,
masters note, how I shake; look you, I warrant you.
Dol.
So you do, hostess.
-- 403 --
Host.
Do I? yea, in very truth, do I, an 'twere note an
aspen leaf: I cannot abide swaggerers.
Enter note Pistol, Bardolph, and Page.
note
Pist.
God save note you, Sir John!
Fal.
Welcome, Ancient Pistol. Here, Pistol, I charge
you with a cup of sack: do you discharge upon mine
hostess.
Pist.
I will discharge upon her, Sir John, with two
bullets.
Fal.
She is pistol-proof, sir; you shall note hardly offend her.
Host.
Come, I'll drink no proofs nor no bullets: I'll note
drink no more than will do me good, for no man's pleasure,
I.
Pist.
Then to you, Mistress Dorothy; I will charge you.
Dol.
Charge me! I scorn you, scurvy companion. What!
you poor, base, rascally, cheating, lack-linen mate! Away,
you mouldy rogue, away! I am meat for your master.
Pist.
I know you, Mistress Dorothy.
Dol.
Away, you cut-purse rascal! you filthy bung,
away! by this wine, I'll thrust my knife in your mouldy
chaps, an note you play the saucy cuttle with me. Away, you
bottle-ale rascal! you basket-hilt stale juggler, you! Since
when, I pray you, sir? God's light note, with two points on
your shoulder? much! note
Pist.
God let me not live, but note I will murder your ruff
for this.
Fal.
No more, Pistol; I would not have you go off
here: discharge yourself of our company, Pistol note.
Host.
No, good Captain Pistol; not here, sweet captain.
Dol.
Captain! thou abominable damned cheater, art
-- 404 --
thou not ashamed to be called captain? An note captains were
of my mind, they would truncheon you out, for taking note
their names upon you before you have earned them. You
a captain! you slave, for what? for tearing a poor whore's
ruff in a bawdy-house? He a captain! hang him, rogue!
he lives upon mouldy stewed prunes and dried cakes. A
captain! God's light note, these villains will make the word as
odious as the word ‘occupy;’ which was an excellent good
word before it was ill sorted note: therefore captains had need
look to't note.
Bard.
Pray thee, go down, good ancient.
Fal.
Hark thee hither, Mistress Doll.
Pist.
Not I: I tell thee what, Corporal Bardolph, I
could tear her: I'll be revenged of note her.
Page.
Pray thee, go down.
Pist.
I'll see her damned first; to Pluto's damned
lake, by this hand note, to the infernal deep, with note Erebus and
tortures vile also. Hold hook and line, say I. Down,
notedown, dogs! down, faitors note! Have we not Hiren here? note
Host.
Good Captain Peesel, be quiet; 'tis note very late,
i' faith note: I beseek note you now, aggravate your choler.
Pist.
These be good humours, indeed! Shall pack-horses,
And hollow pamper'd note jades of Asia,
Which cannot go but thirty mile note a-day,
Compare with Cæsars note, and with Cannibals note,
And Trojan note Greeks? nay, rather damn them with
-- 405 --
King Cerberus; and let the welkin roar.
Shall we fall foul for toys? note
Host.
By my troth, captain, these are very bitter words.
Bard.
Be gone, good ancient: this will grow to a brawl
anon.
Pist.
Die note men like dogs! give crowns note like pins! Have
we not Hiren here?
Host.
O' note my word, captain, there's none such here.
What the good-year note! do you think I would deny her? For
God's sake note, be quiet.
Pist.
Then feed, and be fat, my fair Calipolis. Come,
give's note some sack.
‘Si fortune me tormente, sperato me contento.’ note
Fear we broadsides? no, let the fiend give fire:
Give me some sack: and, sweetheart, lie note thou there.
[Laying down his sword. note
Come we to full points here; note and are etceteras nothing note? note
Fal.
Pistol, I would be quiet.
Pist.
Sweet knight, I kiss note thy neif note: what! we have
seen the seven stars.
Dol.
For God's sake note, thrust him down stairs: I cannot
endure such a fustian rascal.
Pist.
Thrust him down stairs! know we not Galloway
nags?
Fal.
Quoit note him down, Bardolph, like a shove-groat
shilling: nay, an a' note do nothing but speak nothing, a' shall note
be nothing here.
-- 406 --
Bard.
Come, get you down stairs.
Pist.
What! shall we have incision? shall we imbrue?
[Snatching note up his sword.
Then death rock me asleep, abridge my doleful days!
Why, then, let grievous, ghastly, gaping wounds
Untwine note the Sisters Three! Come, Atropos note, I say! note
Host.
Here's goodly note stuff toward!
Fal.
Give me my rapier, boy.
Dol.
I pray thee, Jack, I pray thee note, do not draw.
Fal.
Get you down stairs.
[Drawing, and driving Pistol out. note
Host.
Here's a goodly tumult! I'll forswear keeping
house, afore I'll be in these tirrits and frights. So; murder,
I warrant now. Alas, alas! put up your naked weapons, put
up your naked weapons.
[Exeunt note Pistol and Bardolph.
Dol.
I pray thee note, Jack, be quiet; the rascal 's gone.
Ah, you whoreson little valiant villain, you!
Host.
Are you not hurt i' the groin? methought a' note
made a shrewd thrust at your belly.
Re-enter Bardolph. note
Fal.
Have you turned him out o' note doors?
Bard.
Yea note, sir. The rascal's drunk: you have hurt
him, sir, i' the note shoulder.
Fal.
A rascal! to brave me!
Dol.
Ah, you sweet little rogue, you! Alas, poor ape,
how thou sweatest! come, let me wipe thy face; come on,
you whoreson chops: ah, rogue note! i' faith note, I love thee:
-- 407 --
thou art as valorous as Hector of Troy, worth five of Agamemnon,
and ten times better than the Nine Worthies: ah,
villain! note
Fal.
A note rascally slave! I will toss the rogue in a blanket.
Dol.
Do, an thou darest for thy heart: an note thou dost, I'll
canvass thee between a pair of sheets note.
Enter Music.
Page.
The music is come, sir.
Fal.
Let them play. Play, sirs. Sit on my knee,
Doll. A rascal bragging slave! the rogue fled from me
like quicksilver.
Dol.
I' faith note, and thou followedst him like a church.
Thou whoreson little tidy Bartholomew note boar-pig, when
wilt thou leave fighting o' days and foining o' note nights, and
begin to patch up thine old body for heaven?
Enter, behind note, Prince Henry and Poins, disguised.
note
Fal.
Peace, good Doll! do not speak like a death's-head;
do not bid me remember mine end.
Dol.
Sirrah, what humour's note the prince of?
Fal.
A good shallow young fellow: a' would have
made a good pantler, a' note would ha' note chipped bread well.
Dol.
They say Poins has note a good wit.
Fal.
He a good wit? hang him, baboon! his wit's note as
-- 408 --
thick as Tewksbury mustard; there's note no more conceit in
him than is in a mallet.
Dol.
Why does note the prince love him so, then?
Fal.
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 note very
smooth, like unto the sign of the leg; and breeds no bate
with telling of discreet note stories; and such other gambol
faculties a' has note, that show a weak mind and an able body,
for the which the prince admits him: for the prince himself
is such another; the weight of a note hair will turn the scales note
between their avoirdupois note.
Prince.
Would not this nave of a wheel have his ears
cut off?
Poins.
Let's note beat him before his whore.
Prince.
Look, whether note the withered elder hath not
his poll clawed like a parrot.
Poins.
Is it not strange that desire should so many
years outlive performance?
Fal.
Kiss me, Doll.
Prince.
Saturn and Venus this year in conjunction!
what says the almanac to that?
note
Poins.
And, look, whether the fiery Trigon, his man,
be not lisping to note his master's note old tables note, his note-book,
his counsel-keeper.
Fal.
Thou dost give me flattering busses.
Dol.
By my troth note, I kiss thee with a most constant heart.
Fal.
I am old, I am old.
-- 409 --
Dol.
I love thee better than I love e'er a scurvy young
boy of them all.
Fal.
What stuff wilt note have a kirtle of? I shall receive
money o' note Thursday: shalt note have a cap to-morrow. A
merry song, come: note it grows late; we'll note to note bed. Thou'lt note
forget me when I am gone.
Dol.
By my troth note, thou'lt note set me a-weeping, an thou
sayest so: prove that ever I dress myself handsome till thy
return: well, hearken at the end note.
Fal.
Some sack, Francis.
Prince. Poins.
Anon, anon, sir.
[Coming forward. note
Fal.
Ha! a bastard son of the king's? And art not
thou Poins his note brother?
Prince.
Why, thou globe of sinful continents, what
a life dost thou lead!
Fal.
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.
Host.
O, the Lord preserve thy good note grace! by my
troth note, welcome to London. Now, the Lord note bless that
sweet face of thine! O Jesu note, are you come from Wales?
Fal.
Thou whoreson mad note compound of majesty, by
notethis light flesh and corrupt blood, thou art welcome.
Dol.
How, you fat fool! I scorn you.
Poins.
My lord, he will drive you out of your revenge
and turn all to a merriment, if you take not the heat.
-- 410 --
Prince.
You whoreson candle-mine, you, how vilely
did you speak of me even note now before this honest, virtuous,
civil gentlewoman!
Host.
God's blessing of note your good heart! and so she
is, by my troth note.
Fal.
Didst thou hear me?
Prince.
Yea note, and you knew me, as you did when you
ran away by Gad's-hill: you knew I was at your back, and
spoke it on purpose to try my patience.
Fal.
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.
Fal.
No abuse, Hal, o' mine note honour; no abuse.
Prince.
Not to dispraise note me, and call me pantler and
bread-chipper note and I know not what?
Fal.
No abuse, Hal.
Poins.
No abuse?
Fal.
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 note; in which doing, I have done the
part of a careful friend and a true note subject, and thy father is
to give me thanks for it. No abuse, Hal: none, Ned, none:
no, faith note, boys, none.
Prince.
See now, whether pure fear and entire cowardice
doth not make thee wrong this virtuous gentlewoman to close note
with us? is she of the wicked? is thine hostess here of the
wicked? or is thy boy note of the wicked? or honest Bardolph,
whose zeal burns in his nose, of the wicked?
Poins.
Answer, thou dead elm, answer.
Fal.
The fiend hath pricked down Bardolph irrecoverable;
-- 411 --
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 note him too.
Prince.
For the women?
Fal.
For one of them, she is in hell note already, and burns
poor souls note. For the other, I owe her money; and whether
she be damned for that, I know not.
Host.
No, I warrant you.
Fal.
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.
Host.
All victuallers note do so: what's a joint of mutton
or two in a whole Lent?
Prince.
You, gentlewoman,—
Dol.
What says your grace?
Fal.
His grace says that which his flesh rebels against.
[Knocking within. note
Host.
Who knocks so loud at door? Look to the
door there, Francis.
Enter Peto. note
note
Prince.
Peto, how now! what news?
Peto.
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 note,
So idly to profane the precious time;
When tempest of commotion, like the south note
-- 412 --
Borne with black vapour, doth begin to melt,
And drop upon our bare unarmed heads.
Give me my sword and cloak. Falstaff, good night note.
[Exeunt note Prince Henry, Poins, Peto, and Bardolph.
Fal.
Now comes in the sweetest morsel of the night, and
we must hence, and leave it unpicked.
[Knocking within. note]
More knocking at the door!
Re-enter Bardolph. note
How now! what's the matter?
note
Bard.
You must away to court, sir, presently;
A dozen captains stay at door for you.
Fal. [To the Page note]
Pay the musicians, sirrah. Farewell,
hostess; farewell, Doll. You see, my good wenches, how
men of merit are sought after: the undeserver may sleep,
when the man of action is called on. Farewell, good wenches:
if I be not sent away post, I will see you again ere I go.
Dol.
I cannot speak; if my heart be not ready to burst,
—well, sweet Jack, have a care of thyself.
Fal.
Farewell, farewell.
[Exeunt note Falstaff and Bardolph.
Host.
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.
Bard. [Within note]
Mistress Tearsheet!
Host.
What's the matter?
Bard. [Within note]
Bid Mistress Tearsheet come to my
master.
Host.
O, run, Doll, run; run, good Doll: come. [She
comes blubbered.] Yea, will you come, Doll? note
[Exeunt.
-- 413 --
ACT III.
note
Scene I.
Westminster. note The palace.
Enter note 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. note
How many thousand note of my poorest subjects
Are at this hour asleep! O sleep, O gentle sleep note,
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,
Upon uneasy pallets note stretching thee,
And hush'd note with buzzing night-flies note to thy slumber,
Than in the perfumed chambers of the great,
Under the note canopies of costly state note,
And lull'd with sound note of sweetest melody?
O thou dull god, why liest thou with the vile
In loathsome beds, and leavest the kingly couch
A watch-case or note a common 'larum-bell?
Wilt thou upon the high and giddy mast note
Seal up the ship-boy's eyes, and rock his brains
In cradle of the rude imperious surge,
And in the visitation of the winds,
Who take the ruffian billows note by the top,
Curling their monstrous heads and hanging them
-- 414 --
With deafening note clamour note in the slippery clouds note,
That, with the hurly, death itself awakes?
Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy note repose
To the wet sea-boy note in an hour so rude;
And in the calmest and most stillest note night,
With all appliances and means to boot,
Deny it to a note king? Then happy low, lie down! note
Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
Enter note Warwick and Surrey.
note
War.
Many good morrows to your majesty!
King.
Is it good note morrow, lords?
War.
'Tis one o'clock, and past.
King.
Why, then, good morrow to you all, note my lords.
Have you read o'er the letters note that I sent you?
War.
We 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.
War.
It is but as a body yet note distemper'd;
Which to his former strength may be restored
With good advice and little medicine:
My Lord Northumberland will soon be cool'd note.
King.
O God note! that one might read the book of fate,
And see the revolution of the times
-- 415 --
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
Too wide for Neptune's hips; how chances mock note,
And changes fill the cup of alteration
With divers liquors! O, if this were seen,
The happiest youth, viewing his progress through note,
What perils past, what crosses to ensue,
Would shut the book, and sit him note down and die. note
'Tis not ten years gone note note
Since Richard and Northumberland, great friends note,
Did feast together, and in two years note after
Were they at wars: it is but eight years since
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 note which of you was by—
You, cousin Nevil, as I may remember—
[To Warwick.
When Richard, with his eye brimful note of tears,
Then check'd and rated by Northumberland,
Did speak these words, now proved a prophecy?
‘Northumberland, thou ladder by the which
My cousin Bolingbroke ascends my throne;’
Though then, God note 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 note come, that foul sin, gathering head,
-- 416 --
Shall break into corruption note:’ so went on,
Foretelling this same time's condition,
And the division of our amity.
War.
There is a history in all men's lives,
Figuring the nature note of the times deceased;
The which observed, a man may prophesy,
With a near aim, of the main chance of things
As yet not come to life, which note in their seeds
And weak beginnings note lie intreasured.
Such things become the hatch and brood of time;
And by the necessary form of this note
King Richard might create a perfect guess
That great Northumberland, then false to him,
Would of that seed grow to a greater falseness;
Which should not find a ground to root upon,
Unless on you.
King.
Are these things then note necessities?
Then let us meet them like necessities note:
And that same word even now cries out on us:
They say the bishop and Northumberland
Are fifty thousand strong.
War.
It cannot be, my lord note;
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 note, my lord,
The powers that you already have sent forth
Shall bring note this prize in very easily.
To comfort you the more, I have received
A certain instance that Glendower is dead.
Your majesty hath been this fortnight ill;
And these unseason'd hours perforce must add
Unto your sickness.
-- 417 --
K. Hen.
I will take your counsel:
And were these inward wars once out of hand,
We would, dear lords, unto the Holy Land.
[Exeunt. note
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
Gloucestershire note. Before Justice Shallow's house.
Enter note Shallow and Silence, meeting; Mouldy, Shadow, Wart, Feeble, Bullcalf, a Servant or two with them.
Shal.
Come on, come on, come on, sir note; give me your
hand, sir, give me your hand, sir note: an early stirrer, by the
rood! And how doth my good cousin Silence note?
Sil.
Good morrow, good cousin Shallow.
Shal.
And how doth my cousin, your bedfellow? and
your fairest daughter and mine, my god-daughter Ellen?
Sil.
Alas, a black ousel note, cousin Shallow!
Shal.
By yea and nay note, sir, I dare say my cousin William
is become a good scholar: he is at Oxford still, is he not?
Sil.
Indeed, sir, to my cost.
Shal.
A' must, then, to the inns o' note court shortly: I was
once of Clement's Inn, where I think they will talk of mad
Shallow yet.
Sil.
You were called ‘lusty Shallow’ then, cousin.
Shal.
By the mass note, I was called any thing; and I would
have done any thing indeed too note, and roundly too. There
was I, and little John Doit of Staffordshire, and black George
Barnes note, and Francis Pickbone, and Will Squele, a Cotswold
man note; you had not four note such swinge-bucklers in all the inns
-- 418 --
o' notecourt again: and I may say to you, we knew where the
bona-robas note were and had the best of them all at commandment.
Then was Jack Falstaff, now Sir John, a boy note, and
page to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk.
Sil.
This Sir John, cousin note, that comes hither anon about
soldiers?
Shal.
The same Sir John, the very same. I see note him
break Skogan's note head at the court-gate, when a'was was a crack
not thus high: and the very same day did I note fight with one
Sampson Stockfish, a fruiterer, behind Gray's Inn. Jesu,
Jesu note, the mad days that I have spent! and to see how many
of my note old acquaintance are dead!
Sil.
We shall all follow, cousin.
Shal.
Certain, 'tis certain; very sure, very sure: death,
as the Psalmist saith note, is certain to all; all shall die. How
a good yoke of bullocks at Stamford note fair?
Sil.
By my troth note, I was not there.
Shal.
Death is certain. Is old Double of your town
living yet?
Sil.
Dead, sir.
Shal.
Jesu, Jesu, dead! note a' drew a good bow; and
dead! a' shot a fine shoot: John a Gaunt note loved him well,
and betted much money on his head. Dead! a' would have
clapped i' the clout at twelve score; and carried you a forehand
shaft a fourteen note and fourteen and a half, that it would
have done a man's heart good to see. How a score of ewes
now?
Sil.
Thereafter as they be: a score of good ewes may
be worth ten pounds.
-- 419 --
Shal.
And is old Double dead?
note
Sil.
Here come two of Sir John Falstaff's men, as I think.
Enter note Bardolph and one with him.
Bard.
Good morrow, honest gentlemen: I beseech note you,
which is Justice Shallow?
Shal.
I am Robert Shallow, sir; a poor esquire of this
county note, and one note of the king's justices of the peace: what is
your good note pleasure with me?
Bard.
My captain, sir, commends him to you; my captain,
Sir John Falstaff, a tall gentleman, by heaven note, and a
most gallant leader.
Shal.
He greets me well, sir. note I knew him a good backsword
man. How doth the good knight? may I ask how
my lady his wife doth?
Bard.
Sir, pardon; a soldier is better accommodated note
than with a wife.
Shal.
It is well said, in faith note, sir; and it is well said indeed
too. Better accommodated note! it is good; yea, indeed,
is it: good phrases are surely note, and ever were, very note commendable.
Accommodated note! it comes of ‘accommodo:’
very good; a good phrase.
Bard.
Pardon me note, sir; I have heard the word. Phrase
call you it? by this good note 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 note.
Accommodated note; that is, when a man is, as they say,
-- 420 --
accommodated note; or when a man is, being, whereby a' may be
thought note to be accommodated note; which is an excellent thing.
note
Shal.
It is very just.
Enter Falstaff. note
Look, here comes good Sir John. Give me your good note hand,
give me your worship's good hand: by my troth note, you like note
well and bear your years very well: welcome, good Sir
John.
Fal.
I am glad to see you well, good Master Robert
Shallow: Master Surecard note, as I think?
Shal.
No, Sir John; it is my cousin Silence note, in commission
with me.
Fal.
Good Master Silence note, it well befits you should be
of the peace.
Sil.
Your good worship is welcome.
Fal.
Fie! this is hot weather, gentlemen. Have note you
provided me here half a dozen note sufficient men?
Shal.
Marry, have we, sir. Will you sit?
Fal.
Let me see them, I beseech you.
Shal.
Where's the roll? where's the roll? where's the
roll? Let me see note, let me see, let me see. So note, so, so, so, so,
so, so: yea, marry, sir: Ralph note Mouldy! Let them appear as
I call; let them do so, let them do so. Let me see; where
is Mouldy?
Moul.
Here, an't note please you.
Shal.
What think you, Sir John? a good-limbed fellow;
young, strong, and of good friends.
Fal.
Is thy name Mouldy?
-- 421 --
Moul.
Yea, an't note please you.
Fal.
'Tis the more time thou wert used.
Shal.
Ha, ha, ha! most excellent, i' faith note! things that
are mouldy lack use: very singular good! in faith note, well
said, Sir John; very well said.
Fal.
Prick him note.
Moul.
I was pricked well enough before, an note 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.
Fal.
Go to: peace, Mouldy; you shall go. Mouldy, it
is time you were spent.
Moul.
Spent!
Shal.
Peace, fellow, peace; stand aside: know you
where you are? For the other note, Sir John: let me see:
Simon note Shadow!
Fal.
Yea note, marry, let me have him to sit under: he's
like to be a cold soldier.
Shal.
Where's Shadow?
Shad.
Here, sir.
Fal.
Shadow, whose son art thou?
Shad.
My mother's son, sir.
Fal.
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 father's substance! note
Shal.
Do you like him, Sir John?
Fal.
Shadow will serve for summer note; prick him, for we
have a number of shadows to fill note up the muster-book.
Shal.
Thomas Wart!
-- 422 --
Fal.
Where's he?
Wart.
Here, sir.
Fal.
Is thy name Wart?
Wart.
Yea, sir.
Fal.
Thou art a very ragged wart.
Shal.
Shall I prick him down note, Sir John?
Fal.
It were superfluous; for his note apparel is built upon
his back, and the whole frame stands upon pins: prick him
no more.
Shal.
Ha, ha, ha! you can do it, sir; you can do it: I
commend you well. Francis Feeble!
Fee.
Here, sir.
Fal.
What trade art thou, Feeble?
Fee.
A woman's tailor, sir.
Shal.
Shall I prick him, sir?
Fal.
You may: but if he had been a man's tailor,
he'ld ha' note pricked you. Wilt thou make as many holes in an
enemy's battle as thou hast done in a woman's petticoat?
Fee.
I will do my good will, sir: you can have no more.
Fal.
Well said, good woman's tailor! well said, courageous
Feeble! thou wilt be as valiant as the wrathful
dove or most magnanimous mouse. Prick the woman's
tailor: well note, Master Shallow; deep, Master Shallow.
Fee.
I would Wart might have gone, sir.
Fal.
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 note
private soldier, that is the leader of so many thousands: let
that suffice, most forcible Feeble.
Fee.
It shall suffice, sir note.
Fal.
I am bound to thee, reverend Feeble. Who is
next note?
Shal.
Peter Bullcalf o' the green!
Fal.
Yea, marry, let's see Bullcalf.
Bull.
Here, sir.
-- 423 --
Fal.
'Fore God note, a likely fellow! Come, prick me note Bullcalf
till he roar again.
Bull.
O Lord note! good my lord captain,—
Fal.
What, dost thou roar before thou art note pricked?
Bull.
O Lord note, sir! I am a diseased man.
Fal.
What disease hast thou?
Bull.
A whoreson cold, sir, a cough, sir, which I caught
with ringing in the king's affairs upon his coronation-day,
sir.
Fal.
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?
Shal.
Here note is two note more called than your number; you
must have but four here, sir: and so, I pray you, go in with
me to dinner.
Fal.
Come, I will go drink with you, but I cannot
tarry dinner. I am glad to see you, by my note troth, Master
Shallow.
Shal.
O, Sir John, do you remember since we lay all
night in the windmill in Saint George's field note?
Fal.
No more of that, good Master Shallow, no more
of that. note
Shal.
Ha! 'twas a merry night. And is Jane Nightwork
alive?
Fal.
She lives, Master Shallow.
Shal.
She never could note away with me.
Fal.
Never, never; she would always say she could not
abide Master Shallow.
Shal.
By the mass note, I could anger her to the heart. She
was then a bona-roba. Doth she hold her own well?
Fal.
Old, old, Master Shallow.
Shal.
Nay, she must be old; she cannot choose but be
-- 424 --
old; certain she's old; and had Robin Nightwork by old
Nightwork before I came to note Clement's Inn note.
Sil.
That's fifty five year note ago.
Shal.
Ha, cousin Silence, that thou hadst seen that
that this knight and I have seen! Ha, Sir John, said I
well?
Fal.
We have heard the chimes at midnight, Master
Shallow.
Shal.
That we have note, that we have, that we have; in
faith, Sir John, we have: our watch-word note was ‘Hem boys!’
Come, let's to dinner note; come, let's to dinner: Jesus note, the
days that we have seen! Come, come.
[Exeunt note Falstaff and the Justices.
Bull.
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 friends; else, sir, I did not
care, for mine own part, so much.
Bard.
Go to; stand aside.
Moul.
And, good master corporal captain, for my old note
dame's sake, stand my friend: she has note nobody to do any
thing about her when I am gone; and she is old, and cannot
help herself: you shall have forty, sir note.
Bard.
Go to; stand aside.
Fee.
By my troth note, I care not; a man can die but once:
we owe God note a death: I'll ne'er note bear a base mind: an't note
-- 425 --
be my destiny, so; an't note be not, so: no man is too good to
serve's note prince; and let it go which way it will, he that dies
this year is quit for the next.
Bard.
Well said; thou'rt note a good fellow.
Fee.
Faith, I'll note bear no base mind.
Re-enter note Falstaff and the Justices.
Fal.
Come, sir, which men shall I have?
Shal.
Four of which you please.
Bard.
Sir, a word with you: I have three pound to
free Mouldy and Bullcalf.
Fal.
Go to; well.
Shal.
Come, Sir John, which four will you have?
Fal.
Do you choose for me.
Shal.
Marry, then, Mouldy, Bullcalf, Feeble and
Shadow note.
Fal.
Mouldy and Bullcalf: for you, Mouldy, stay note at
home till you note are past service: and for your part, Bullcalf,
grow till you come unto it: I will none of you.
Shal.
Sir John, Sir John, do not yourself wrong: they
are your likeliest men, and I would have you served with
the best.
Fal.
Will you tell me, Master Shallow, how to choose
a man? Care I for the limb, the thewes, the stature, bulk,
and big assemblance note of a man! Give me the spirit, Master
Shallow. Here's Wart; note you see what a ragged appearance
it is: a' shall charge you and discharge you with the motion
of a pewterer's 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
-- 426 --
level at the edge of a penknife. And for a retreat note; 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.
Bard.
Hold, Wart, traverse; thus, thus, thus note.
Fal.
Come, manage me your caliver. So: very well:
go to: very good, exceeding good. O, give me always a
little, lean, old, chapt note, bald shot note. Well said, i' faith note, Wart;
thou'rt note a good scab: hold, there's a tester for thee.
Shal.
He is not his craft's-master note; 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' note would manage you
his piece thus; and a' note would about and about, and come
you in and come you in: ‘rah, tah, tah,’ would a' note say;
‘bounce’ would a' note say; and away again would a' go, and
again would a' note come: I shall ne'er note see such a fellow.
Fal.
These fellows will do well, Master Shallow. God
keep you, Master Silence note: I will note not use many words with
you. note Fare you well, gentlemen both: I thank you: I must
a dozen mile to-night. Bardolph, give the soldiers coats.
Shal.
Sir John, the Lord note bless you! God prosper note your
affairs! God send note us peace! At your return note visit our
house note; let our old acquaintance be renewed: peradventure
I will with ye note to the court.
-- 427 --
Fal.
'Fore God, I would you would, Master Shallow. note
Shal.
Go to; I have spoke at a word. God keep you. note
Fal.
Fare you well, gentle note gentlemen. [Exeunt note Justices.]
On, note Bardolph; lead the men away. [Exeunt Bardolph, note
Recruits, &c.] As I return, I will fetch off these
justices: I do see the bottom of Justice Shallow. Lord,
Lord note, how subject we old men are to this vice of lying!
This same starved justice hath done nothing but prate note to
me of the wildness of his youth, and the feats he hath done
about Turnbull note Street; and every third word a lie, duer note
paid to the hearer than the Turk's tribute. I do remember
him at Clement's Inn 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 carved
upon it with a knife: a' was so forlorn, that his dimensions
to any thick sight were invincible note: a' was the very genius note
of famine; yet lecherous as a monkey, and the whores
called him mandrake note: a' came ever note in the rearward of the
fashion, and sung those tunes to the overscutched note huswives
that he heard the carmen whistle, and sware they were his
fancies or his good-nights. note And now is this note Vice's dagger
become a squire, and talks as familiarly of John a Gaunt note
as if he had been sworn brother to him; and I'll be sworn
a' ne'er note saw him but once in the Tilt-yard; and then he
burst note his head for crowding among the marshal's men.
I saw it, and told John a Gaunt he beat his own name;
-- 428 --
for you might have thrust note 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 note he land and beefs note. Well, I'll note
be acquainted with him, if I return; and it note shall go hard
but I will make him a philosopher's two stones note 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 note
time shape, and there note an end.
[Exit. note
ACT IV.
Scene I.
Yorkshire. Gaultree Forest. note
Enter note the Archbishop of York, Mowbray, Hastings, and others.
Arch. note
What is this forest call'd?
Hast.
'Tis Gaultree note Forest, an't shall please your grace note.
Arch.
Here stand, my lords; and send discoverers forth
To know the numbers note of our enemies.
Hast.
We have sent forth already.
Arch.
'Tis well done.
My friends and brethren in these great affairs,
I must acquaint you that I have received
New-dated letters from Northumberland;
Their cold intent, tenour note and substance, thus:
Here doth he note wish his person, with such powers
-- 429 --
As might hold sortance with his quality,
The which he could not levy; whereupon
He is retired, 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.
Mowb.
Thus do the hopes we have in him touch ground
And dash themselves to pieces.
Enter a Messenger. note
Hast.
Now, what news?
Mess.
West of this forest, scarcely off a mile,
In goodly form comes on the enemy;
And, by the ground they hide, I judge their number
Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand.
Mowb.
The just proportion that we gave them out.
Let us sway note on and face them in the field.
note
Arch.
What well-appointed leader fronts us here?
Enter Westmoreland. note
Mowb.
I think it is my Lord of Westmoreland.
West.
Health and fair greeting from our general,
The prince, Lord John and Duke of Lancaster.
Arch.
Say on, my Lord of Westmoreland, in peace:
What doth concern your coming? note
West.
Then, my lord note,
Unto your grace do I in chief address
The substance of my speech. If that rebellion
Came like itself, in base and abject routs,
Led on by bloody note youth, guarded note with rags note,
-- 430 --
And countenanced by boys and beggary,
I say, if damn'd commotion so appear'd note,
In his true, native and most proper shape,
You, reverend father, and these noble lords
Had not been here, to dress the ugly note form
Of base and bloody insurrection
With your fair honours. You, lord note archbishop,
Whose see note 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 note 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 graves note, your ink to blood,
Your pens to lances and your tongue divine
To a loud note trumpet and a point note of war?
Arch.
Wherefore do I this? so the question stands.
Briefly to this end: we are all diseased,
And with our surfeiting and wanton hours
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 Lord of Westmoreland,
I take not on me here as a physician,
Nor do I as an enemy to peace
Troop in the throngs of military 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.
-- 431 --
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,
And are enforced from our most quiet there note
By the rough torrent of occasion;
And have the summary of all our griefs,
When time shall serve, to show in articles;
Which long ere this we offer'd to the king,
And might by no suit gain our note 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 note.
The dangers of the days note but newly gone,
Whose memory is written on the earth
With yet appearing blood, and the examples
Of every minute's instance note, present now,
Hath note put us in these ill-beseeming arms,
Not to break peace or any branch of it,
But to establish here a peace indeed,
Concurring both in name and quality.
West.
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,
That you should seal this lawless bloody book
Of forged rebellion with a seal divine
And consecrate commotion's bitter edge note?
Arch.
My brother general, the note commonwealth note,
To brother born an household cruelty note,
-- 432 --
I make my quarrel in particular.
West.
There is no need of any such redress;
Or if there were, it not belongs to you.
Mowb.
Why not to him in part, and to us all
That feel the bruises of the days before,
And suffer the condition of these times
To lay a heavy note and unequal hand
Upon our honours note?
West.
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 note 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 restored
To all the Duke of Norfolk's signories,
Your noble and right well remember'd father's?
Mowb.
What thing, in honour, had my father lost,
That need to be revived and breathed in me?
The king that loved him, as the state stood then,
Was force perforce note compell'd to banish him:
And then that note Henry note Bolingbroke and he,
Being mounted and both roused in their seats,
Their neighing coursers note daring of the spur,
Their armed staves in charge, their beavers down,
Their eyes of fire sparkling note 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 note the king did throw his warder down, note
-- 433 --
His own life hung upon the staff he threw;
Then threw he down himself and all their lives
That by indictment and note by dint of sword
Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke.
West.
You speak, Lord Mowbray, now you know not what.
The Earl note of Hereford was reputed then
In England the most valiant gentleman:
Who knows on whom fortune would then have smiled?
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 note their prayers and love
Were set on Hereford note, whom they doted on
And bless'd and graced indeed, more than the king note. note
But this note is mere digression from my purpose.
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 note
That might so much as think note you enemies.
Mowb.
But he hath forced us to compel this offer;
And it proceeds from policy, not love.
West.
Mowbray, you overween to take it so;
This offer comes from mercy, not from fear:
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;
-- 434 --
Then reason will note our hearts should be as good:
Say you not then our offer is compell'd.
Mowb.
Well, by my will we shall admit no parley note.
West.
That argues but the shame of your offence:
A rotten case abides no handling note.
Hast.
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?
West.
That is intended note in the general's name:
I muse you make so slight a question.
Arch.
Then take, my Lord of Westmoreland, this schedule,
For this contains our general grievances:
Each several article herein redress'd,
All members of our cause, both here and hence,
That are insinewed note to this action,
Acquitted by a true substantial form,
And present execution note of our wills note
To us and to our purposes confined note,
We come within our awful note banks again,
And knit our powers to note the arm of peace.
West.
This will I show the general. Please you, lords,
In sight of both our battles we may meet;
And either note end in peace, which God note so frame!
Or to the place of difference call the swords
Which must decide it.
-- 435 --
Arch.
My lord, we will do so.
[Exit West.
note
Mowb.
There is a thing within my bosom tells me
That no conditions note of our peace can stand.
Hast.
Fear you not that: if note we can make our peace
Upon such large terms and so absolute
As our conditions shall consist note upon,
Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.
Mowb.
Yea, note but our valuation shall be such
That every slight and false-derived cause,
Yea, every idle, nice and wanton reason
Shall to the king taste of this action;
That, were our royal note faiths martyrs in love,
We shall be winnow'd with so rough a wind
That even our corn shall seem as light as chaff
And good from bad find no partition.
Arch.
No, no, my lord. Note this; the king is weary
Of dainty note and such picking grievances note:
For he hath found to end one doubt by death
Revives two greater in the heirs of life,
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 note and shake a friend.
So that this land, like an offensive wife
That hath enraged him on note to offer strokes,
As he is striking, holds his infant up
And hangs resolved correction in the arm
-- 436 --
That was uprear'd to execution.
Hast.
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.
Arch.
'Tis very true:
And therefore be assured, my good lord marshal,
If we do now make our atonement well,
Our peace will, like a broken limb united,
Grow stronger for the breaking.
Mowb.
Be it so.
Here is return'd my Lord of Westmoreland note.
Re-enter note Westmoreland.
West.
The prince is here at hand: pleaseth your lordship
To meet his grace just distance 'tween our armies.
Mowb.
Your grace note of York, in God's note name, then, set note forward.
Arch.
Before, and greet his grace: my lord, we come.
[Exeunt. note
-- 437 --
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
Another part of the forest. note
Enter note, from one side, Mowbray, attended; afterwards the Archbishop,
Hastings, and others: from the other side, Prince
John of Lancaster, and Westmoreland; Officers, and others
with them.
Lan.
You are note well encounter'd here, my cousin Mowbray:
Good day to you, gentle note lord archbishop;
And so to you, Lord Hastings, and to 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
Than now to see you here an iron man note,
Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum,
Turning the word to sword and life to death.
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 note?
To us the speaker in his parliament;
To us the imagined note voice of God himself note;
The very opener and intelligencer
Between the grace, the sanctities of heaven
And our dull workings. O, who shall believe
-- 438 --
But you misuse the reverence of your place,
Employ note the countenance and grace of heaven,
As a false favourite doth his prince's name,
In deeds dishonourable? You note have note ta'en note up,
Under the counterfeited zeal note of God note,
The subjects of his note substitute, my father,
And both against the peace of heaven and him
Have here up-swarm'd them.
Arch.
Good my Lord of Lancaster,
I am not here against your father's peace;
But, as I told my Lord of Westmoreland,
The time misorder'd doth, in common sense note,
Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form,
To hold our safety up. I sent your grace
The parcels and particulars of our grief,
The which hath note been with scorn shoved from the court,
Whereon this Hydra son note of war is born;
Whose dangerous eyes may well be charm'd asleep
With grant of our most just and right desires note,
And true obedience, of this madness cured,
Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty.
Mowb.
If not, we ready are to try our fortunes
To the last man.
Hast.
And though we here fall down,
We have supplies to second our attempt:
If they miscarry, theirs shall second them;
And so success of note mischief shall be born
And heir from heir shall hold this note quarrel up
Whiles note England shall have generation.
Lan.
You are too shallow, Hastings, much too shallow note,
-- 439 --
To sound the bottom of the after-times.
West.
Pleaseth your grace to answer them directly
How far forth you do like their articles.
Lan.
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 note, they shall. If this may please you,
Discharge your powers unto their several counties,
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.
note
Arch.
I take your princely word for these redresses.
Lan.
I give note it you, and will maintain my word:
note
And thereupon I drink unto your grace.
note
Hast. note
Go, captain, and deliver to the army
This news of peace: let them have pay, and part:
I know it will well please them. Hie thee, captain note.
[Exit Officer. note
note
Arch.
To you, my noble Lord of Westmoreland.
West.
I pledge your grace; and, if you knew what pains
I have bestow'd to breed this present peace note,
You would drink freely: but my love to ye note
Shall show itself more openly hereafter.
Arch.
I do not doubt you.
West.
I am glad of it.
-- 440 --
Health to my lord and gentle cousin, Mowbray.
Mowb.
You wish me health in very happy season;
For I am, on the sudden, something ill.
Arch.
Against ill chances men are ever merry;
But heaviness foreruns the good event.
West.
Therefore be merry, coz; since sudden sorrow
Serves to say thus note, ‘some good thing comes to-morrow.’
Arch.
Believe me, I am passing light in spirit.
Mowb.
So much the worse, if your own rule be true.
[Shouts within. note
Lan.
The word of peace is render'd: hark, how note they shout!
Mowb.
This had been cheerful after victory.
Arch.
A peace is of the nature of a conquest;
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
And neither party loser.
Lan.
Go, my lord,
And let our army be discharged too.
[Exit Westmoreland. note
And, good my lord, so please you, let our note trains
March by us, that we may peruse the men
We should have coped withal.
Arch.
Go, good Lord Hastings,
And, ere they be dismiss'd, let them march by.
[Exit Hastings. note
Lan.
I trust, lords, we shall note lie to-night together.
Re-enter note Westmoreland.
note
Now, cousin, wherefore stands our army still?
West.
The leaders, having charge from you to stand,
Will not go off until they hear you speak.
Lan.
They know their duties.
-- 441 --
Re-enter Hastings. note
Hast.
My lord, our army is dispersed already note:
Like youthful steers unyoked, they take their courses note
East, west, north, south; or, like a school broke up,
Each hurries toward note his home and sporting-place.
West.
Good tidings, 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.
Mowb.
Is this proceeding just and honourable?
West.
Is your assembly so?
Arch.
Will you thus break your faith?
Lan.
I pawn'd thee note none:
I promised you redress of these same note 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 rebellion and such acts as yours note.
Most shallowly did you these arms commence,
Fondly brought here and foolishly sent hence.
Strike up our drums, pursue the scatter'd stray:
God, and not we, hath note safely fought to-day.
Some guard these traitors note to the block of death,
Treason's true bed and yielder up of breath.
[Exeunt.
-- 442 --
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
Another note part of the forest.
Alarum note. Excursions. Enter Falstaff and Colevile, meeting note.
Fal.
What's your name, sir? of what condition are you,
and of what place, I pray note?
Cole.
I am a knight, sir; and my name is Colevile of
the dale. note
Fal.
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 note,
a place note deep enough; so shall you be still note Colevile of the
dale.
Cole.
Are not you Sir John Falstaff?
Fal.
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.
Cole.
I think you are Sir John Falstaff, and in that
thought yield me.
Fal.
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 any indifferency, I
were simply the most active fellow in Europe: my womb,
my womb, my womb, undoes me. Here comes our general.
Enter note Prince John of Lancaster, Westmoreland, Blunt, and others.
Lan.
The heat is past; follow no further note now:
-- 443 --
Call in the powers, good cousin Westmoreland.
[Exit Westmoreland.
Now, Falstaff, where have you been all this while?
When every thing is ended, then note you come:
These tardy tricks of yours will, on my life,
One time or other break some gallows' back.
Fal.
I would be sorry, my lord, but it should be 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 note speeded hither with note the very extremest
inch note 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-nosed fellow of Rome, ‘I came note, saw, and
overcame.’
Lan.
It was more of his courtesy than your deserving.
Fal.
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, note I will have it in a particular
ballad else note, with mine own picture on the top on't note, Colevile
kissing my foot: to the which course if I be enforced, if you
do not all show like gilt two-pences to me, and I in the
clear sky of fame o'ershine you as much as the full moon
doth the cinders of the element, which show like pins' heads
to her, believe not the word of the noble: therefore let me
have right, and let desert mount.
Lan.
Thine's too heavy to mount.
Fal.
Let it shine, then.
-- 444 --
Lan.
Thine's too thick to shine.
Fal.
Let it do something, my good lord, that may do
me good, and call it what you will.
Lan.
Is thy name Colevile?
Cole.
It is, my lord.
Lan.
A famous rebel art thou, Colevile.
Fal.
And a famous true subject took him.
Cole.
I am, my lord, but as my betters are
That led me hither: had they been ruled by me,
You should have won note them dearer than you have.
Fal.
I know not how they sold themselves: but thou,
like a kind fellow, gavest thyself away gratis note; and I thank
thee for thee.
Re-enter note Westmoreland.
note
Lan.
Now note, have you left pursuit?
West.
Retreat is made and execution stay'd.
Lan.
Send Colevile note with his confederates
To York, to present execution:
Blunt, lead him hence; and see you guard him sure.
[Exeunt note 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.
Fal.
My lord, I beseech note you, give me leave to go
Through Gloucestershire: and, when you come to court,
Stand my good lord, pray note, in your good report note. note
Lan.
Fare you well, Falstaff: I, in my condition,
-- 445 --
Shall better speak of you than you deserve. note
[Exeunt note all except Falstaff.
Fal.
I would you had but note the wit: 'twere better than
your dukedom. Good faith, this same young sober-blooded
boy doth not love me; nor note a man cannot make him laugh;
but that's no marvel, he drinks no wine. There's never none note
of these demure boys come to any proof; for thin drink doth
so over-cool their blood, and making many fish-meals note, that
they fall into a kind of male green-sickness; and then, when
they marry, they get wenches: 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 note and crudy note 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 note, which
is the birth, becomes note excellent wit. The second property of
your excellent 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 note: it illumineth note 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 note, doth any deed of courage; and this
valour comes of sherris. So that skill in the weapon is
nothing without sack, for that sets it a-work; and learning
a mere hoard note of gold kept by a devil, till sack commences note
it and sets it in act and use. Hereof comes it that Prince
-- 446 --
Harry is valiant; for the cold blood he did naturally inherit
of his father, he hath, like lean sterile and bare land,
manured, husbanded and tilled with excellent endeavour
of drinking good and good store of fertile sherris, that he
is become very hot and valiant. If I had a thousand sons,
the first humane note principle I would teach them should be, to
forswear thin potations, and to addict themselves to sack.
Enter Bardolph. note
How now, Bardolph?
Bard.
The army is discharged all and gone.
Fal.
Let them go. I'll through Gloucestershire; 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. note
note
Scene IV. [Footnote:
Westminster note. The Jerusalem Chamber.
Enter note the King, the Princes Thomas of Clarence and Humphrey of Gloucester, Warwick, and others note.
King.
Now, lords, if God note doth give successful end
To this debate that bleedeth note at our doors,
We will our youth lead on to higher fields
And draw no swords but what are sanctified.
Our navy is address'd, our power collected,
Our substitutes in absence well invested,
And every thing lies level to our wish:
-- 447 --
Only, we want a little personal strength;
And pause us, till these rebels, now afoot,
Come underneath the yoke of government.
War.
Both which we doubt not but your majesty
Shall soon enjoy.
King.
Humphrey, my son of Gloucester,
Where is the prince your brother? note
Glou.
I think he's gone to hunt, my lord, at Windsor.
King.
And how accompanied?
Glou.
I do not know, my lord.
King.
Is not his brother, Thomas of Clarence, with him?
Glou.
No, my good lord; he is in presence here.
Clar.
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?
He loves thee, and thou dost neglect him, Thomas;
Thou hast a better place in his affection
Than 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 observed:
He hath a tear for pity and a hand
Open as day for melting note charity:
Yet notwithstanding, being incensed, he's flint,
As humorous note as winter and as sudden
As flaws congealed note in the spring of day.
His temper, therefore, must be well observed:
Chide him for faults, and do it reverently,
-- 448 --
When you perceive his blood inclined to mirth;
But, being moody, give him line note and scope,
Till that his passions, like a whale on ground,
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 note
As aconitum or rash gunpowder.
Clar.
I shall observe him with all care and love.
King.
Why art thou not at Windsor with him, Thomas?
Clar. note
He is not there to-day; he dines in London.
King.
And how accompanied? canst thou tell that? note
Clar. note
With Poins, and other his continual followers.
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
In forms imaginary the unguided days
And rotten times that you shall look upon
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 opposed decay!
War.
My gracious lord, you look beyond him quite:
The prince but studies his companions
Like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the language,
'Tis needful that the most immodest word
Be look'd upon and learn'd; which once attain'd,
-- 449 --
Your highness knows, comes to no further note 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 note,
Turning past evils to advantages.
King.
'Tis seldom when note the bee doth leave her comb
In the dead carrion.
Enter Westmoreland. note
Who's here? Westmoreland?
note
West.
Health to my sovereign, and new happiness
Added to that that note I am to deliver!
Prince John your son doth kiss your grace's hand:
Mowbray, the Bishop Scroop note, 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 every where.
The manner how this action hath been borne
Here at more leisure may your highness read,
With every course in his note particular.
King.
O Westmoreland, thou art a summer bird,
Which ever in the haunch of winter sings
The lifting up of day.
Enter Harcourt. note
Look, here's more news.
Har.
From enemies heaven note 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,
-- 450 --
With a great power of English and of Scots,
Are by the sheriff note of Yorkshire overthrown:
The manner and true order of the fight,
note
This packet, please it you, contains at large.
King.
And wherefore should these good news make me sick? note
Will Fortune never come with both hands full,
But write note her fair words still in foulest letters note?
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 note the rich,
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:
note
O me! come near me; now I am much ill.
Glou. note
Comfort, your majesty!
Clar.
O my royal father!
West.
My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself, look up.
War.
Be patient, princes; you do know, these fits
Are with his highness very ordinary.
Stand from him, give him air; he'll straight be well. note
Clar.
No, no, he cannot long hold out these note 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 note.
Glou.
The people fear me note; for they do observe
Unfather'd note heirs and loathly births note of nature:
The seasons change their manners, as the year
-- 451 --
Had found some months note asleep and leap'd them over.
Clar.
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 note, Edward, sick'd and died.
War.
Speak lower, princes, for the king recovers.
Glou.
This apoplexy note will certain be his end.
King.
I pray you, take me up, and bear me hence
Into some other chamber: softly, pray note.
note
Scene V. [Footnote:
Another Chamber.
The King lying on a bed: Clarence, Gloucester, Warwick, and others in attendance. note
King.
Let there be no noise made, my gentle friends;
Unless some dull and note favourable hand
Will whisper music to my weary spirit.
War.
Call for the music in the other room.
King.
Set me the crown upon my pillow here.
Clar.
His eye is hollow, and he changes much.
War.
Less noise, less noise!
noteEnter note Prince Henry.
Prince.
Who saw the Duke of Clarence?
Clar.
I am here, brother, full of heaviness.
Prince.
How now! rain within doors, and none abroad!
How doth the king? note
-- 452 --
Glou.
Exceeding ill.
Prince.
Heard he the good news yet?
Tell it him. note
Glou.
He note alter'd note much upon the note hearing it.
Prince.
If he be sick with joy, he'll note recover without
physic. note
War.
Not so much noise, my lords: sweet prince, speak low note;
The king your father is disposed to sleep.
Clar.
Let us withdraw into the other room.
War.
Will't please your grace to go along with us?
Prince.
No; I will sit and watch here by the king.
[Exeunt note all except the Prince.
Why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow,
Being so troublesome a bedfellow?
O polish'd perturbation! golden care!
That keep'st the ports of slumber open wide
To many note a watchful night! sleep with it note now!
Yet not so sound and note half so deeply sweet
As he whose note 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,
That scalds note with safety. By his gates of breath
There lies a downy note feather which stirs not:
Did he suspire, that light and weightless down note
-- 453 --
note
Perforce must move. My note gracious lord! my father!
This sleep is sound indeed; this is a sleep,
That from this golden rigol note hath divorced
So many English kings. Thy due note from me
Is tears and heavy sorrows of the blood,
Which nature, love, and filial tenderness,
Shall, O dear father, pay thee plenteously:
note
My due from thee is this imperial crown,
Which, as immediate from thy place and blood,
Derives itself to me. Lo, here note it sits,
Which God note shall guard: and put the world's whole strength
Into one giant arm, it shall not force
This lineal honour from me: this from thee
Will I to mine leave, as 'tis left to me note.
[Exit.
note note
King.
Warwick! Gloucester! Clarence!
Re-enter note Warwick, Gloucester, Clarence, and the rest.
Clar.
Doth the king call?
War.
What would your majesty? How fares your grace note?
King.
Why did you leave me here alone, my lords?
Clar.
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 note note.
War.
This note door is open; he is gone this way.
Glou.
He came not through the chamber where we stay'd.
-- 454 --
King.
Where is the crown? who took it from my pillow?
War.
When we withdrew, my liege, we left it here.
King.
The prince hath ta'en it hence: go, seek him out.
Is he so hasty that he doth suppose
My sleep my death?
Find him, my Lord of Warwick; chide him hither.
[Exit Warwick.
This part of his conjoins with my disease,
And helps to end me. See, sons, what things you are! note
How quickly nature falls into revolt
When gold becomes her object! note
For this the foolish over-careful fathers
Have broke their sleep with thoughts note note, their brains with care,
Their bones with industry note;
For this they have engrossed and piled note 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 note, culling note from every flower
The virtuous sweets note,
Our thighs pack'd note with wax, our mouths with honey note note,
-- 455 --
We bring it to the hive; and note, like the bees,
Are murdered for our pains. This bitter taste
Yield note his engrossments to the ending note father note.
Re-enter note Warwick.
Now, where is he that will not stay so long
Till his friend sickness hath note determined me?
War.
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?
Re-enter Prince Henry. note
Lo, where he comes. Come hither to me, Harry.
Depart the chamber, leave us here alone.
[Exeunt note Warwick and the rest.
Prince.
I never thought to hear you speak again.
King.
Thy wish was father, Harry, to that thought:
I stay too long by thee, I weary thee.
Dost thou so hunger for mine note empty chair
That thou wilt needs invest thee with my note 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
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:
-- 456 --
Thy life did manifest thou lovedst me not,
And thou wilt have me die assured of it.
Thou hidest note a thousand daggers in thy thoughts,
Which note thou hast whetted on thy stony heart,
To stab at half an hour of my life note.
What! canst thou not forbear me half an hour?
Then get thee gone and dig my grave thyself,
And bid the merry bells ring to thine note 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:
Only compound me with forgotten dust;
Give that which gave thee life unto the worms.
Pluck down my officers, break my decrees;
For now a time is come to mock at form:
Harry note the fifth is crown'd: up, vanity!
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 note that will swear, drink, dance note,
Revel the night, rob, murder, and commit
The oldest sins the newest kind of ways note?
Be happy, he will trouble you no more;
England shall double gild note his treble guilt note note,
England shall give him office, honour, might;
For the fifth Harry from curb'd note license plucks
The muzzle of restraint, and the wild dog
Shall flesh his tooth on note every innocent.
O my poor kingdom, sick with civil blows!
When that my care could not withhold thy riots,
-- 457 --
What wilt thou do when riot is thy care?
O, thou wilt be a wilderness again,
Peopled with wolves, thy old inhabitants!
note
Prince.
O, pardon me, my liege! but for my tears note,
The moist note impediments unto my speech,
I had forestall'd this dear and deep rebuke
Ere you with grief had spoke and I had heard
note
The course of it so far. There is your crown;
And He that wears the crown immortally
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 note duteous spirit
Teacheth, this note prostrate and exterior bending.
God witness with me, note when I here came in,
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 note crown as having sense,
And thus upbraided it: ‘The care on thee depending
Hath fed upon the body of my father;
Therefore, thou best of gold art worst of note gold:
Other, less fine in carat, is more note precious,
Preserving life in medicine potable;
But thou, most fine, most honour'd, most renown'd,
-- 458 --
Hast eat thy bearer note up.’ Thus, my most note royal liege note,
Accusing it, I put it on my head,
To try with it, as with an enemy
That had before my face murder'd my father,
The quarrel of a true inheritor.
But if it did infect my blood with joy,
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
Give entertainment to the might note of it,
Let God note 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 note,
God note put it note in thy mind to take it hence,
That thou mightst win note the more thy father's love,
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 note knows, my son,
By what by-paths and indirect crook'd ways note
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
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 note bloodshed,
-- 459 --
Wounding supposed peace: all these bold fears note note
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 note; for what in me was purchased note,
Falls upon thee in a more note fairer sort;
So note thou the garland wear'st successively.
Yet, though thou stand'st more sure than I could do,
Thou art not firm enough, since griefs are green;
And all my friends note, which thou must make thy friends,
Have but their stings and teeth newly ta'en note out;
By whose fell working I was first advanced
And by whose power I well might lodge a fear
To be again displaced: which to avoid,
I cut them note off; and note had a purpose now
To lead out note many to the Holy Land,
Lest rest and lying still might make them look
Too near unto note my state. Therefore, my Harry note,
Be it thy course to busy giddy minds
With foreign quarrels note; that action, hence borne out,
May waste the memory of the former note 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 note forgive;
And grant it may with thee in true peace live! note
Prince.
My gracious liege note,
-- 460 --
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 note Lord John of Lancaster.
King.
Look, look, here comes my John of Lancaster note.
Lan.
Health, peace, and happiness to my royal father note!
King.
Thou bring'st me happiness and peace note, son John;
But health, alack, with youthful wings is flown
From this bare wither'd trunk: upon thy sight
My worldly business makes a period.
Where is my Lord of Warwick?
Prince.
My Lord of Warwick!
Enter note Warwick, and others.
King.
Doth any name particular belong
Unto the lodging where I first did swoon?
War.
'Tis call'd Jerusalem, my noble lord.
King.
Laud be to God note! even there my life must end note.
It hath been prophesied to me many years,
I should not die but in Jerusalem;
Which vainly I supposed the Holy Land:
But bear me to that chamber; there I'll lie;
In that Jerusalem shall Harry die.
[Exeunt. note
-- 461 --
ACT V.
Scene I.
Gloucestershire. Shallow's house. note
Enter note Shallow, Falstaff, Bardolph, and Page.
Shal.
By cock and pie, sir note, you shall not away to-night.
What, Davy, I say!
Fal.
You must excuse me, Master Robert Shallow.
Shal.
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!
Enter Davy.
Davy.
Here, sir.
Shal.
Davy, Davy, Davy, Davy, let me see, Davy note; let
me see, Davy; let me see: yea, marry note, William cook, bid
him come hither. Sir John, you shall not be excused.
Davy.
Marry, sir, thus; those precepts cannot be served:
and, again, sir, shall we sow the headland note with wheat?
Shal.
With red wheat, Davy. But for William cook:
are there no young pigeons?
note
Davy.
Yes note, sir. Here is now the smith's note for shoeing
and plough-irons.
Shal.
Let it be cast and paid. Sir John, you shall not
be excused.
Davy.
Now note, 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 note at Hinckley note fair?
-- 462 --
Shal.
A' shall answer it. Some pigeons, Davy, a couple
of short-legged hens, a joint of mutton, and any pretty little
tiny note kickshaws, tell William cook.
Davy.
Doth the man of war stay all night, sir?
Shal.
Yea note, Davy. I will use him well: a friend i' the
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 note, sir; for they
have marvellous note foul linen.
Shal.
Well conceited, Davy: about thy business, Davy.
Davy.
I beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor
of Woncot note against Clement Perkes of the hill.
Shal.
There is note 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 note 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 note eight years; and if note I cannot once
or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against an honest
man, I have but a very little note credit with your worship.
The knave is mine honest friend, sir; therefore, I beseech
your worship note, let him be countenanced.
Shal.
Go to; I say he shall have no wrong. Look
about, Davy. [Exit Davy. note] Where are you, Sir John?
Come, come, come, note off with your boots. Give me your
hand, Master Bardolph note.
Bard.
I am glad to see your worship.
Shal.
I thank thee with all note my heart, kind Master
-- 463 --
Bardolph: and welcome, my tall fellow [to the Page note].
Come, Sir John.
Fal.
I'll follow you, good Master Robert Shallow. [Exit
Shallow. note] Bardolph, look to our horses. [Exeunt Bardolph note
and Page.] If I were sawed into quantities, I should make
four dozen of such bearded hermits' staves note as Master Shallow.
It is a wonderful thing to see the sembable coherence of
his men's spirits and his: they, by observing of him note, do bear
themselves like foolish justices; he, by conversing with them,
is turned into a justice-like serving-man: their spirits are so
married in conjunction with the participation of society that
they flock together in consent note, like so many wild-geese. If I
had a suit to Master Shallow, I would humour his men with
the imputation 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 heed of their company. I
will devise matter enough out of this Shallow to keep Prince
Harry note in continual laughter the wearing out of six fashions,
which is four terms, or two actions, and a' note shall laugh
without note intervallums. O, it is much that a lie 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!
Shal. [Within note]
Sir John!
Fal.
I come, Master Shallow; I come, Master Shallow.
[Exit. note
-- 464 --
note
Scene II. [Footnote:
Westminster. The palace.
Enter note Warwick and the Lord Chief Justice, meeting.
War.
How now, my lord chief justice! whither note away?
Ch. Just.
How doth the king?
War.
Exceeding well; his cares are now all ended note.
Ch. Just.
I hope, not dead.
War.
He's walk'd the way of nature;
And to our purposes he lives no more.
Ch. Just.
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.
War.
Indeed I think the young king loves you not.
Ch. Just.
I know he doth not, and do arm myself
To welcome the condition of the time,
Which cannot look more hideously upon note me
Than I have drawn it in my fantasy.
Enter note Lancaster, Clarence, Gloucester, Westmoreland, and others note.
War.
Here come the heavy issue of dead Harry:
O that the living Harry had the temper
Of him note, the worst of these three gentlemen!
How many nobles then should hold their places,
That must strike sail to spirits of vile sort!
-- 465 --
Ch. Just.
O God note, I fear all will be overturn'd!
Lan.
Good morrow, cousin Warwick, good morrow note.
Glou. Clar. note
Good morrow, cousin.
Lan.
We meet like men that had forgot to speak.
War.
We do remember; but our argument
Is all too heavy to admit much talk.
Lan.
Well, peace be with him that hath made us heavy!
Ch. Just.
Peace be with us, lest we be heavier!
Glou.
O, good my lord, you have note lost a friend indeed;
And I dare swear you borrow not that face
Of seeming sorrow, it is sure your own.
Lan.
Though no man be assured what grace to find,
You stand in coldest expectation:
I am the sorrier; would 'twere otherwise.
Clar.
Well, you must now speak Sir John Falstaff fair;
Which swims against your stream of quality.
Ch. Just.
Sweet princes, what I did, I did in honour,
Led by the impartial note conduct of my soul;
And never shall you see that I will beg
A ragged note and forestall'd note remission.
If truth note and upright innocency fail me, note
I'll to the king my master that is dead,
And tell him who hath sent me after him.
War.
Here comes the prince.
Enter note King Henry the fifth, attended.
note
Ch. Just.
Good morrow; and God note save your majesty!
-- 466 --
King. note
This new and gorgeous garment, majesty,
Sits not so easy on me as you think.
Brothers, you mix note your sadness with some fear:
This is the English, not the Turkish court;
Not Amurath an Amurath note succeeds,
But Harry Harry. Yet be sad, good brothers,
For, by my faith note, it very well becomes you:
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 assured,
I'll be your father and your brother too;
Let me but bear your love, I'll bear your cares:
Yet note weep that Harry's dead; and so will I;
But Harry lives, that shall convert those tears
By number into hours of happiness.
Princes. note
We hope no other note from your majesty.
note
King.
You all look strangely on me: and you most;
You are, I think, assured I love you not.
Ch. Just.
I am assured, if I be measured rightly,
Your majesty hath no just cause to hate me.
King.
No!
How might note a prince of my great hopes forget
So great note indignities you laid upon me?
What! rate, rebuke, and roughly send to prison
The immediate heir of England! Was this easy?
May this be wash'd in Lethe note, and forgotten?
Ch. Just.
I then did use the person of your father;
-- 467 --
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 judgement;
Whereon, as an offender to your father,
I gave bold way to my authority,
And did commit you. If the deed were ill,
Be note you contented, wearing now the garland,
To have a son set your decrees 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. note
Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours;
Be now the father and propose a son,
Hear your own dignity so much profaned,
See your most dreadful laws so loosely slighted,
Behold yourself so by a son disdain'd;
And then imagine me taking your note part
And in your power soft note 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,
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.
-- 468 --
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 note less happy, having such a son,
That would deliver up his greatness so
Into the hands of justice.’ You note did commit note me:
For which, I do commit into your hand
The unstained sword that you have used 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
To your well-practised wise directions.
And, princes all, believe me, I beseech you;
My father is gone wild note into his grave,
For in his tomb lie my affections note;
And note with his spirit sadly I survive,
To mock the expectation of the world,
To frustrate prophecies and to raze out
Rotten opinion, who note hath writ me down
After my seeming. The tide of blood in me note
Hath proudly flow'd in vanity till now:
Now doth it turn and ebb back to the sea,
Where it shall mingle with the state of floods note
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;
-- 469 --
In which you note, father, shall have foremost hand.
Our coronation done, we will accite,
As I before remember'd, all our state:
And, God consigning note to my good intents,
No prince nor peer shall have just cause to say,
God note shorten Harry's happy life one day!
[Exeunt.
note
Scene III. [Footnote:
Gloucestershire. Shallow's orchard. note
Enter Falstaff, Shallow, Silence, Davy, Bardolph, and the Page. note
Shal.
Nay, you shall see my note orchard, where, in an
arbour, we will eat a last year's pippin of my note own graffing,
with a dish of caraways, and so forth: come, cousin Silence:
and then to bed.
Fal.
'Fore God note, you have here a goodly note dwelling and
a rich.
Shal.
Barren, barren, barren; beggars all, beggars all,
Sir John: marry, good air. Spread, Davy; spread, Davy:
well said note, Davy.
Fal.
This Davy serves you for good uses; he is your
serving-man and your husband note.
Shal.
A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good varlet,
Sir John: by the mass note, I have drunk note too much sack at
supper: a good varlet. Now sit down, now sit down:
come, cousin.
Sil.
Ah note, sirrah! quoth-a, we shall
-- 470 --
Do note nothing but eat, and make good cheer,
[Singing. note
And praise God note for the merry year;
When flesh is cheap and females dear, note
And note lusty lads roam note here and there
So merrily note,
And ever among so merrily. note
Fal.
There's a merry heart! Good Master Silence, note
I'll give you a health note for that anon.
Shal.
Give Master Bardolph some note wine, Davy.
Davy.
Sweet sir, sit; I'll be with you anon; most
sweet sir, sit. Master page note, good master page, sit. Proface! note
noteWhat you want in meat, we'll have in drink: but
you must note bear; the heart's all.
[Exit. note
Shal.
Be merry, Master Bardolph; and, my little
soldier there, be merry.
Sil.
Be merry, be merry, my wife has all note;
[Singing. note
For women are shrews, both short and tall:
'Tis merry in hall when beards wag note all,
And welcome merry Shrove-tide.
Be merry, be merry. note note
Fal.
I did not think Master Silence had been a man of
this mettle note.
Sil.
Who, I? I have been merry twice and once ere
now.
-- 471 --
Re-enter Davy. note
Davy.
There's note a dish of leather-coats for you.
[To Bardolph. note
Shal.
Davy!
Davy.
Your worship! I'll be with you straight [to
Bardolph note]. A cup of wine, sir?
Sil.
A cup of wine that's brisk and fine,
[Singing. note
And drink unto the leman mine;
And a merry heart lives long-a note.
Fal.
Well said, Master Silence.
Sil.
An we shall be merry, note now comes in the sweet
o' the note night note.
Fal.
Health and long life to you, Master Silence.
Sil.
Fill the cup, and let it come;
[Singing. note
I'll pledge you a mile note to the bottom. note
Shal.
Honest Bardolph, welcome: if thou wantest any
thing, and wilt not call, beshrew thy heart. Welcome, my
little tiny note thief [to the Page note], and welcome indeed too. I'll
drink to Master Bardolph, and to all the cavaleros note about
London.
Davy.
I hope to see London once note ere I die.
Bard.
An note I might see you there, Davy,—
Shal.
By the mass note, you'll crack a quart together, ha!
will you not, Master Bardolph?
Bard.
Yea note, sir, in a pottle-pot.
Shal.
By God's liggens note, I thank thee: the knave will
-- 472 --
stick by thee, I can assure thee that. A' note will not out; he
is note true bred.
Bard.
And I'll stick by him, sir.
Shal.
Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing: be
merry. [Knocking within. note] Look who's at door there, ho! note
who knocks?
[Exit Davy. note
Fal.
Why, now you have done me right.
[To Silence, seeing him take off a bumper. note
Sil.
Do me right,
[Singing. note
And dub me knight:
Samingo. note
Is't not so?
Fal.
'Tis so.
Sil.
Is't so? note Why then, say an old man can do somewhat.
Re-enter Davy. note
Davy.
An't note please your worship, there's one Pistol
come from the court with news.
note
Fal.
From the court! let him come in.
Enter Pistol. note
note
How now, Pistol!
Pist.
Sir John, God save you note!
Fal.
What wind blew you hither, Pistol?
Pist.
Not the ill wind which blows no man to good note.
Sweet knight, thou art now one of the greatest men in
this note realm.
-- 473 --
Sil.
By'r lady note, I think a' note be, but goodman Puff of
Barson note.
Pist.
Puff!
Puff in thy teeth, most recreant coward base!
Sir John, I am thy Pistol and thy friend,
And note helter-skelter have I rode to thee,
And tidings do I bring and lucky joys
And golden times and happy news of price. note
Fal.
I pray thee note now, deliver them like a man of this
world.
Pist.
A foutre note for the world and worldlings note base!
I speak of Africa and golden joys.
Fal.
O base Assyrian knight, what is thy news?
Let King Cophetua note know the truth thereof.
Sil.
And Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John note.
[Singing. note
Pist.
Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons?
And shall good news be baffled?
Then, Pistol, lay thy head in Furies' note lap. note
note
Shal.
Honest gentleman, I know not your breeding.
Pist.
Why then, lament therefore.
Shal.
Give me pardon, sir: if, sir, note you come with news
from the court, I take it there's note but two ways, either to
utter them, or to conceal note them. I am, sir, under the king,
in some authority.
note
Pist.
Under which king, Besonian note? speak, or die.
Shal.
Under King Harry.
Pist.
Harry the fourth? or fifth?
Shal.
Harry the fourth.
-- 474 --
Pist.
A foutre note 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, like
The bragging Spaniard. note
Fal.
What, is the old king dead?
note
Pist.
As nail in door: the things I speak are just.
Fal.
Away, Bardolph! saddle my horse. Master
Robert Shallow, choose what office thou wilt in the land,
'tis thine. Pistol, I will double-charge thee with dignities. note
Bard.
O joyful day!
I would not take a knighthood note for my fortune.
Pist.
What! I do bring good news. note
Fal.
Carry Master Silence to bed. Master Shallow,
my Lord Shallow,—be what thou wilt; I am fortune's
steward—get note on thy boots: we'll ride all night. O sweet
Pistol! Away, Bardolph! [Exit Bard. note] Come, Pistol, utter
more to me; and withal devise something to do thyself
good. Boot, boot note, Master Shallow: I know the young
king is sick for me. Let us take any man's horses; the
laws of England are at my commandment. Blessed are
they that note have been my friends; and woe to note my lord chief-justice!
Pist.
Let vultures vile note seize on his lungs also!
‘Where is the life that late I led?’ say they:
Why, here it is; welcome these pleasant days note! note
[Exeunt. note
-- 475 --
note
Scene IV. [Footnote:
London. A street. note
Enter note Beadles, dragging in Hostess Quickly and Doll Tearsheet.
Host.
No, thou arrant knave; I would to God that note I
might die, that I might have thee hanged: thou hast drawn
my shoulder out of joint.
First Bead. note
The constables have delivered her over to
me; and she shall have whipping-cheer enough note, I warrant
her: there hath been a man or two lately note killed about her.
Dol. note
Nut-hook, nut-hook, you lie. Come on; I'll tell
thee what, thou damned tripe-visaged rascal, an note the child
I now note go with do miscarry, thou wert note better thou hadst
struck thy mother, thou paper-faced villain.
Host.
O the Lord note, that Sir John were come! he note would
make this a bloody day to somebody. But I pray God note the
fruit of her womb miscarry note!
First Bead.
If it do, you shall have a dozen of cushions
again; you have but eleven now. Come, I charge you both
go with me; for the man is dead that you and Pistol beat
amongst note you.
Dol.
I'll tell you what, you note thin man in a censer, I
will have you as soundly swinged for this,—you blue-bottle note
-- 476 --
rogue, you filthy famished correctioner, if you be not
swinged, I'll forswear half-kirtles.
First Bead.
Come, come, you she knight-errant note, come.
Host.
O God note, that right should thus overcome note might!
Well, of sufferance comes ease.
Dol.
Come, you rogue, come; bring me to a justice.
Host.
Ay, come note, you starved blood-hound.
Dol.
Goodman death, goodman bones!
Host.
Thou atomy note, thou!
Dol.
Come, you thin thing; come, you rascal.
First Bead.
Very well.
[Exeunt.
note
Scene V. [Footnote:
A public note place near Westminster Abbey.
Enter note two Grooms, strewing rushes.
First Groom. note
More rushes, more rushes.
Sec. Groom.
The trumpets have sounded twice.
First Groom.
'Twill be two o'clock note ere note they come from
the coronation: dispatch, dispatch note.
[Exeunt. note
Enter note Falstaff, Shallow, Pistol, Bardolph, and Page.
Fal.
Stand here by me, Master Robert note Shallow; I will
make the king do you grace: I will leer upon him as a'
-- 477 --
comes by; and do but mark the countenance that he will
give me.
Pist.
God note bless thy lungs, good knight.
Fal.
Come here, Pistol; stand behind me. O, if I had
had time to have made new liveries, I would have bestowed
the thousand pound I borrowed of you. But 'tis note no matter;
this poor show doth better: this doth infer the zeal I had
to see him.
Shal. note
It doth so.
Fal.
It shows my earnestness of note affection,—
Shal. note
It doth so.
Fal.
My devotion,—
Shal. note
It doth, it doth, it doth.
Fal.
As it were, to ride day and night; and not to
deliberate, not to remember, not to have patience to shift
me,—
Shal.
It is best, certain note.
Fal.
But to stand stained with travel, and sweating
with desire to see him; thinking of nothing else, putting
all affairs else note in oblivion, as if there were nothing else to
be done but to see him note.
Pist.
'Tis ‘semper idem,’ for ‘obsque note hoc nihil est:’
'tis all in every part note.
Shal.
'Tis so, indeed.
Pist.
My knight, I will inflame thy noble liver,
And make thee rage.
Thy Doll, and Helen of thy noble thoughts,
Is in base durance and contagious prison;
Haled note thither
-- 478 --
By most mechanical and note dirty hand note:
Rouse up revenge from ebon den with fell Alecto's snake,
For Doll is in. Pistol speaks nought but truth note note.
Fal.
I will deliver her.
[Shouts note within, and the trumpets sound.
Pist.
There roar'd the sea, and trumpet-clangor sounds.
Enter note the King and his train, the Lord Chief-Justice among them.
note
Fal.
God note save thy grace, King Hal! my royal Hal!
Pist.
The heavens thee guard and keep, most royal
imp of fame!
Fal.
God note save thee, my sweet boy!
King.
My lord chief-justice, speak to that vain man.
Ch. Just.
Have you your wits? know you what 'tis you speak? note
Fal.
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 note become note a fool and jester!
I have long dream'd note of such a kind of man,
So surfeit-swell'd, so old, and so profane;
But, being awaked note, 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 note 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,
-- 479 --
Approach me, and thou shalt be as thou wast,
The tutor and the feeder of my riots:
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 note.
For competence of life I will allow you,
That lack of means enforce you not to evil note:
And, as we hear you do reform note yourselves,
We will, according to your strengths note and qualities,
Give you advancement. Be it note your charge, my lord,
To see perform'd the tenour of our note word.
Set on note.
[Exeunt note King, &c.
note
Fal.
Master Shallow, I owe you a thousand pound.
Shal.
Yea note, marry, Sir John; which I beseech you to
let me have home with me.
Fal.
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 note; I will be the man yet that shall make you
great.
Shal.
I cannot well note perceive how, unless you should note
give me your doublet, and stuff me out with straw. I beseech
you, good Sir John, let me have five hundred of my
thousand.
Fal.
Sir, I will be as good as my word: this that you
heard was but a colour.
Shal.
A colour that I fear note you will die in, Sir John.
Fal.
Fear no colours: go with me to dinner: come,
Lieutenant Pistol; come, Bardolph: I shall be sent for soon
at night note.
-- 480 --
Re-enter note Prince John, the Lord Chief-Justice; Officers with them.
Ch. Just.
Go, carry Sir John Falstaff to the Fleet:
Take all his company along with him.
Fal.
My lord, my lord,—
Ch. Just.
I cannot now speak: I will hear you soon.
Take them away.
Pist.
Si fortuna me tormenta, spero contenta note.
[Exeunt note all but Prince John and the Chief-Justice.
Lan.
I like this fair proceeding of the king's:
He hath intent his wonted followers
Shall all note be very well provided for;
But all note are banish'd till their conversations
Appear more wise and modest to note the world.
Ch. Just.
And so they are.
Lan.
The king hath call'd his parliament, my lord.
Ch. Just.
He hath.
Lan.
I will lay odds that, ere this year expire,
We bear our civil swords and native fire
As far as France: I heard note a bird so sing,
Whose music, to my thinking, pleased the king.
Come, will you hence?
[Exeunt.
-- 481 --
EPILOGUE.
Spoken by a Dancer. note
First my fear; then my courtesy note; 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 note 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, I was
lately here in the end of a displeasing play, to pray your
patience for it and to promise you a better. I meant note
indeed to pay you with this; which, if like an ill venture
it come unluckily 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. note
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, and so would note I. All
the gentlewomen here have forgiven note me: if the gentlemen note
will not, then the gentlemen do not agree with the gentlewomen,
which was never seen before note in such an assembly.
One word more, I beseech you. If you be not too
much cloyed with fat meat, our humble author will continue
-- 482 --
the story, with Sir John in it, and make you merry
with fair Katharine of France: where, for any thing I know,
Falstaff shall die of a sweat, unless already a' note be killed
with your hard opinions; for Oldcastle died a martyr note, 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 note.
