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The First Part of King Henry the Fourth (unsourced)

For other versions of this work, see Henry IV, Part 1 (Shakespeare).

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DRAMATIS PERSONAE (Persons Represented):

      King Henry the Fourth.
      Henry, Prince of Wales, son to the King.
      Prince John of Lancaster, son to the King.
      Earl of Westmoreland.
      Sir Walter Blunt.
      Thomas Percy, Earl of Worcester.
      Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland.
      Henry Percy, his son.
      Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March.
      Scroop, Archbishop of York.
      Sir Michael, his Friend.
      Archibald, Earl of Douglas.
      Owen Glendower.
      Sir Richard Vernon.
      Sir John Falstaff.

      Lady Percy, Wife to Hotspur.
      Lady Mortimer, Daughter to Glendower.
      Mrs. Quickly, Hostess in Eastcheap.

      Lords, Officers, Sheriff, Vintner, Chamberlain, Drawers,
      Carriers, Travellers, and Attendants.

SCENE : England.

ACT I.Edit

SCENE I. London. A Room in the Palace.Edit

[Enter the King Henry, Westmoreland, Sir Walter Blunt, and others.]

      So shaken as we are, so wan with care,
      Find we a time for frighted peace to pant,
      And breathe short-winded accents of new broils
      To be commenced in strands afar remote.
      No more the thirsty entrance of this soil
      Shall daub her lips with her own children's blood;
      No more shall trenching war channel her fields,
      Nor bruise her flowerets with the armed hoofs
      Of hostile paces: those opposed eyes,
      Which, like the meteors of a troubled heaven,
      All of one nature, of one substance bred,
      Did lately meet in the intestine shock
      And furious close of civil butchery,
      Shall now, in mutual well-beseeming ranks,
      March all one way, and be no more opposed
      Against acquaintance, kindred, and allies:
      The edge of war, like an ill-sheathed knife,
      No more shall cut his master. Therefore, friends,
      As far as to the sepulchre of Christ—
      Whose soldier now, under whose blessed cross
      We are impressed and engaged to fight—
      Forthwith a power of English shall we levy,
      To chase these pagans in those holy fields
      Over whose acres walk'd those blessed feet
      Which fourteen hundred years ago were nail'd
      For our advantage on the bitter cross.
      But this our purpose now is twelvemonth old,
      And bootless 'tis to tell you we will go:
      Therefore we meet not now.—Then let me hear
      Of you, my gentle cousin Westmoreland,
      What yesternight our Council did decree
      In forwarding this dear expedience.

      My liege, this haste was hot in question,
      And many limits of the charge set down
      But yesternight; when, all athwart, there came
      A post from Wales loaden with heavy news;
      Whose worst was, that the noble Mortimer,
      Leading the men of Herefordshire to fight
      Against th' irregular and wild Glendower,
      Was by the rude hands of that Welshman taken;
      A thousand of his people butchered,
      Upon whose dead corpse' there was such misuse,
      Such beastly, shameless transformation,
      By those Welshwomen done, as may not be
      Without much shame re-told or spoken of.

      It seems, then, that the tidings of this broil
      Brake off our business for the Holy Land.

      This, match'd with other, did, my gracious lord;
      For more uneven and unwelcome news
      Came from the North, and thus it did import:
      On Holy-rood day the gallant Hotspur there,
      Young Harry Percy, and brave Archibald,
      That ever-valiant and approved Scot,
      At Holmedon met;
      Where they did spend a sad and bloody hour,
      As by discharge of their artillery,
      And shape of likelihood, the news was told;
      For he that brought them, in the very heat
      And pride of their contention did take horse,
      Uncertain of the issue any way.

      Here is a dear and true-industrious friend,
      Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse,
      Stain'd with the variation of each soil
      Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours;
      And he hath brought us smooth and welcome news.
      The Earl of Douglas is discomfited:
      Ten thousand bold Scots, two-and-twenty knights,
      Balk'd in their own blood, did Sir Walter see
      On Holmedon's plains: of prisoners, Hotspur took
      Mordake the Earl of Fife and eldest son
      To beaten Douglas; and the Earls of Athol,
      Of Murray, Angus, and Menteith.
      And is not this an honourable spoil,
      A gallant prize? ha, cousin, is it not?

      Faith, 'tis a conquest for a prince to boast of.

      Yea, there thou makest me sad, and makest me sin
      In envy that my Lord Northumberland
      Should be the father to so blest a son,—
      A son who is the theme of honour's tongue;
      Amongst a grove, the very straightest plant;
      Who is sweet Fortune's minion and her pride:
      Whilst I, by looking on the praise of him,
      See riot and dishonour stain the brow
      Of my young Harry. O, that it could be proved
      That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged
      In cradle-clothes our children where they lay,
      And call'd mine Percy, his Plantagenet!
      Then would I have his Harry, and he mine:
      Of this young Percy's pride? the prisoners,
      Which he in this adventure hath surprised,
      To his own use he keeps; and sends me word,
      I shall have none but Mordake Earl of Fife.

      This is his uncle's teaching, this is Worcester,
      Malevolent to you in all aspects;
      Which makes him prune himself, and bristle up
      The crest of youth against your dignity.

      But I have sent for him to answer this;
      And for this cause awhile we must neglect
      Our holy purpose to Jerusalem.
      Cousin, on Wednesday next our Council we
      Will hold at Windsor; so inform the lords:
      But come yourself with speed to us again;
      For more is to be said and to be done
      Than out of anger can be uttered.

      I will, my liege.


Scene II. The same. An Apartment of Prince Henry's.Edit

[Enter Prince Henry and Falstaff.]


      unbuttoning thee after supper, and sleeping upon benches
      after noon, that thou hast forgotten to demand that truly which
      capons, and the blessed Sun himself a fair hot wench in
      so superfluous to demand the time of the day.

      thou wilt have none,—

      What, none?

      to an egg and butter.

      Well, how then? come, roundly, roundly.

      are squires of the night's body be called thieves of the day's
      chaste mistress the Moon, under whose countenance we steal.

      purse of gold most resolutely snatch'd on Monday night, and most
      dissolutely spent on Tuesday morning; got with swearing Lay by,

      tavern a most sweet wench?

      buff jerkin a most sweet robe of durance?




      Did I ever call for thee to pay thy part?


      and where it would not, I have used my credit.

      gallows standing in England when thou art king? and

      No; thou shalt.


      Thou judgest false already: I mean, thou shalt have the
      hanging of the thieves, and so become a rare hangman.


      For obtaining of suits?

      Yea, for obtaining of suits, whereof the hangman hath no
      lugg'd bear.

      Or an old lion, or a lover's lute.

      Yea, or the drone of a Lincolnshire bagpipe.



      regards it.

      a saint.

      Where shall we take a purse to-morrow, Jack?

      Zounds, where thou wilt, lad; I'll make one: an I do not, call
      me villain, and baffle me.

      I see a good amendment of life in thee,—from praying to

      Why, Hal, 'tis my vocation, Hal; 'tis no sin for a man to labour
      in his vocation.

[Enter Pointz.]

—Pointz!—Now shall we know if Gadshill have set a match. O, if
      men were to be saved by merit, what hole in Hell were hot enough
      for him? This is the most omnipotent villain that ever cried
      Stand! to a true man.

      Good morrow, Ned.

      Good morrow, sweet Hal.—What says Monsieur Remorse? what
      says Sir John Sack-and-sugar? Jack, how agrees the Devil and
      for a cup of Madeira and a cold capon's leg?

      Sir John stands to his word,—the Devil shall have his bargain;
      for he was never yet a breaker of proverbs,—he will give the
      Devil his due.

      Then art thou damn'd for keeping thy word with the Devil.

      Else he had been damn'd for cozening the Devil.

      But, my lads, my lads, to-morrow morning, by four o'clock,
      early at Gads-hill! there are pilgrims gong to Canterbury
      with rich offerings, and traders riding to London with fat
      purses: I have visards for you all; you have horses for
      if you will not, tarry at home and be hang'd.

      Hear ye, Yedward; if I tarry at home and go not, I'll hang you
      for going.

      You will, chops?

      Hal, wilt thou make one?


      There's neither honesty, manhood, nor good fellowship in thee,
      for ten shillings.

      Well, then, once in my days I'll be a madcap.

      Why, that's well said.

      Well, come what will, I'll tarry at home.

      By the Lord, I'll be a traitor, then, when thou art king.

      I care not.


Sir John, I pr'ythee, leave the Prince and me alone: I will

      hears may be believed, that the true Prince may, for recreation-
      countenance. Farewell; you shall find me in Eastcheap.

      Farewell, thou latter Spring! farewell, All-hallown Summer!

[Exit Falstaff.]

      Now, my good sweet honey-lord, ride with us to-morrow: I
      Bardolph, Peto, and Gadshill, shall rob those men that we have
      from my shoulders.

      But how shall we part with them in setting forth?

      then will they adventure upon the exploit themselves; which they
      shall have no sooner achieved but we'll set upon them.

      Ay, but 'tis like that they will know us by our horses, by our
      habits, and by every other appointment, to be ourselves.

      Tut! our horses they shall not see,—I'll tie them in the wood;
      our visards we will change, after we leave them; and, sirrah, I
      have cases of buckram for the nonce, to immask our noted
      outward garments.

      But I doubt they will be too hard for us.

      this jest will be, the incomprehensible lies that this same fat
      endured; and in the reproof of this lies the jest.

      Well, I'll go with thee: provide us all things necessary and
      meet me to-night in Eastcheap; there I'll sup. Farewell.

      Farewell, my lord.


      I know you all, and will awhile uphold
      The unyok'd humour of your idleness:
      Yet herein will I imitate the Sun,
      Who doth permit the base contagious clouds
      To smother-up his beauty from the world,
      That, when he please again to be himself,
      Being wanted, he may be more wonder'd at,
      By breaking through the foul and ugly mists
      Of vapours that did seem to strangle him.
      If all the year were playing holidays,
      To sport would be as tedious as to work;
      And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
      So, when this loose behaviour I throw off,
      And pay the debt I never promised,
      By how much better than my word I am,
      By so much shall I falsify men's hopes;
      And, like bright metal on a sullen ground,
      My reformation, glittering o'er my fault,
      Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes
      Than that which hath no foil to set it off.
      I'll so offend, to make offence a skill;
      Redeeming time, when men think least I will.


Scene III. The Same. A Room in the Palace.Edit

[Enter King Henry, Northumberland, Worcester, Hotspur, Sir Walter Blunt, and others.]

      My blood hath been too cold and temperate,
      Unapt to stir at these indignities,
      And you have found me; for, accordingly,
      You tread upon my patience: but be sure
      I will from henceforth rather be myself,
      Mighty and to be fear'd, than my condition,
      Which hath been smooth as oil, soft as young down,
      And therefore lost that title of respect
      Which the proud soul ne'er pays but to the proud.

      Our House, my sovereign liege, little deserves
      The scourge of greatness to be used on it;
      And that same greatness too which our own hands
      Have holp to make so portly.

      My good lord,—

      Worcester, get thee gone; for I do see
      Danger and disobedience in thine eye:
      O, sir, your presence is too bold and peremptory,
      And majesty might never yet endure
      The moody frontier of a servant brow.
      You have good leave to leave us: when we need
      Your use and counsel, we shall send for you.

[Exit Worcester.]

[To Northumberland.]

You were about to speak.

      Yea, my good lord.
      Those prisoners in your Highness' name demanded,
      Which Harry Percy here at Holmedon took,
      Were, as he says, not with such strength denied
      As is deliver'd to your Majesty:
      Either envy, therefore, or misprision
      Is guilty of this fault, and not my son.

      My liege, I did deny no prisoners.
      But, I remember, when the fight was done,
      When I was dry with rage and extreme toil,
      Breathless and faint, leaning upon my sword,
      Came there a certain lord, neat, trimly dress'd,
      Fresh as a bridegroom; and his chin new reap'd
      Show'd like a stubble-land at harvest-home:
      He was perfumed like a milliner;
      And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he held
      A pouncet-box, which ever and anon
      He gave his nose, and took't away again;
      Who therewith angry, when it next came there,
      Took it in snuff: and still he smiled and talk'd;
      And, as the soldiers bore dead bodies by,
      He call'd them untaught knaves, unmannerly,
      To bring a slovenly unhandsome corse
      Betwixt the wind and his nobility.
      With many holiday and lady terms
      He question'd me; amongst the rest, demanded
      My prisoners in your Majesty's behalf.
      I then, all smarting with my wounds being cold,
      Out of my grief and my impatience
      To be so pester'd with a popinjay,
      Answer'd neglectingly, I know not what,—
      He should, or he should not; for't made me mad
      To see him shine so brisk, and smell so sweet,
      And talk so like a waiting-gentlewoman
      And telling me the sovereign'st thing on Earth
      Was parmaceti for an inward bruise;
      And that it was great pity, so it was,
      This villainous salt-petre should be digg'd
      Out of the bowels of the harmless earth,
      Which many a good tall fellow had destroy'd
      So cowardly; and, but for these vile guns,
      He would himself have been a soldier.
      This bald unjointed chat of his, my lord,
      I answered indirectly, as I said;
      And I beseech you, let not his report
      Come current for an accusation
      Betwixt my love and your high Majesty.

      The circumstance consider'd, good my lord,
      Whatever Harry Percy then had said
      To such a person, and in such a place,
      May reasonably die, and never rise
      To do him wrong, or any way impeach
      What then he said, so he unsay it now.

      Why, yet he doth deny his prisoners,
      But with proviso and exception,
      That we at our own charge shall ransom straight
      His brother-in-law, the foolish Mortimer;
      Who, on my soul, hath wilfully betray'd
      The lives of those that he did lead to fight
      Against that great magician, damn'd Glendower,
      Whose daughter, as we hear, the Earl of March
      Hath lately married. Shall our coffers, then,
      Be emptied to redeem a traitor home?
      Shall we buy treason? and indent with fears
      When they have lost and forfeited themselves?
      No, on the barren mountains let him starve;
      For I shall never hold that man my friend
      Whose tongue shall ask me for one penny cost
      To ransom home revolted Mortimer.

      Revolted Mortimer!
      He never did fall off, my sovereign liege,
      But by the chance of war: to prove that true
      Needs no more but one tongue for all those wounds,
      Those mouthed wounds, which valiantly he took,
      When on the gentle Severn's sedgy bank,
      In single opposition, hand to hand,
      He did confound the best part of an hour
      In changing hardiment with great Glendower.
      Three times they breathed, and three times did they drink,
      Upon agreement, of swift Severn's flood;
      Who then, affrighted with their bloody looks,
      Ran fearfully among the trembling reeds,
      And hid his crisp head in the hollow bank
      Blood-stained with these valiant combatants.
      Never did base and rotten policy
      Colour her working with such deadly wounds;
      Nor never could the noble Mortimer
      Receive so many, and all willingly:
      Then let not him be slander'd with revolt.

      Thou dost belie him, Percy, thou dost belie him;
      He never did encounter with Glendower:
      I tell thee,
      He durst as well have met the Devil alone
      As Owen Glendower for an enemy.
      Art not ashamed? But, sirrah, henceforth
      Let me not hear you speak of Mortimer:
      Send me your prisoners with the speediest means,
      Or you shall hear in such a kind from me
      As will displease you.—My Lord Northumberland,
      We license your departure with your son.—
      Send us your prisoners, or you'll hear of it.

[Exeunt King Henry, Blunt, and train.]

      An if the Devil come and roar for them,
      I will not send them: I will after straight,
      And tell him so; for I will else my heart,
      Although it be with hazard of my head.

      What, drunk with choler? stay, and pause awhile:
      Here comes your uncle.

[Re-enter Worcester.]

      Speak of Mortimer!
      Zounds, I will speak of him; and let my soul
      Want mercy, if I do not join with him:
      Yea, on his part I'll empty all these veins,
      And shed my dear blood drop by drop i' the dust,
      But I will lift the down-trod Mortimer
      As high i' the air as this unthankful King,
      As this ingrate and canker'd Bolingbroke.


[To Worcester.]

Brother, the King hath made your nephew mad.

      Who struck this heat up after I was gone?

      He will, forsooth, have all my prisoners;
      And when I urged the ransom once again
      Of my wife's brother, then his cheek look'd pale,
      And on my face he turn'd an eye of death,
      Trembling even at the name of Mortimer.

      I cannot blame him: was not he proclaim'd
      By Richard that dead is the next of blood?

      He was; I heard the proclamation:
      And then it was when the unhappy King—
      Whose wrongs in us God pardon!—did set forth
      Upon his Irish expedition;
      From whence he intercepted did return
      To be deposed, and shortly murdered.

      And for whose death we in the world's wide mouth
      Live scandalized and foully spoken of.

      But, soft! I pray you; did King Richard then
      Proclaim my brother Edmund Mortimer
      Heir to the crown?

      He did; myself did hear it.

      Nay, then I cannot blame his cousin King,
      That wish'd him on the barren mountains starve.
      But shall it be, that you, that set the crown
      Upon the head of this forgetful man,
      And for his sake wear the detested blot
      Of murderous subornation,—shall it be,
      That you a world of curses undergo,
      Being the agents, or base second means,
      The cords, the ladder, or the hangman rather?—
      O, pardon me, that I descend so low,
      To show the line and the predicament
      Wherein you range under this subtle King;—
      Shall it, for shame, be spoken in these days,
      Or fill up chronicles in time to come,
      That men of your nobility and power
      Did gage them both in an unjust behalf,—
      As both of you, God pardon it! have done,—
      To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose,
      And plant this thorn, this canker, Bolingbroke?
      And shall it, in more shame, be further spoken,
      That you are fool'd, discarded, and shook off
      By him for whom these shames ye underwent?
      No! yet time serves, wherein you may redeem
      Your banish'd honours, and restore yourselves
      Into the good thoughts of the world again;
      Revenge the jeering and disdain'd contempt
      Of this proud King, who studies day and night
      To answer all the debt he owes to you
      Even with the bloody payment of your deaths:
      Therefore, I say,—

      Peace, cousin, say no more:
      And now I will unclasp a secret book,
      And to your quick-conceiving discontent
      I'll read you matter deep and dangerous;
      As full of peril and adventurous spirit
      As to o'er-walk a current roaring loud
      On the unsteadfast footing of a spear.

      Send danger from the east unto the west,
      So honour cross it from the north to south,
      And let them grapple. O, the blood more stirs
      To rouse a lion than to start a hare!

      Imagination of some great exploit
      Drives him beyond the bounds of patience.

      By Heaven, methinks it were an easy leap,
      To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced Moon;
      Or dive into the bottom of the deep,
      Where fathom-line could never touch the ground,
      And pluck up drowned honour by the locks;
      So he that doth redeem her thence might wear
      Without corrival all her dignities:
      But out upon this half-faced fellowship!

      He apprehends a world of figures here,
      But not the form of what he should attend.—
      Good cousin, give me audience for a while.

      I cry you mercy.

      Those same noble Scots
      That are your prisoners,—

      I'll keep them all;
      By God, he shall not have a Scot of them;
      I'll keep them, by this hand.

      You start away,
      And lend no ear unto my purposes.
      Those prisoners you shall keep;—

      Nay, I will; that's flat.
      He said he would not ransom Mortimer;
      Forbade my tongue to speak of Mortimer;
      But I will find him when he lies asleep,
      And in his ear I'll holla Mortimer!
      I'll have a starling shall be taught to speak
      Nothing but Mortimer, and give it him,
      To keep his anger still in motion.

      Hear you, cousin; a word.

      All studies here I solemnly defy,
      Save how to gall and pinch this Bolingbroke:
      And that same sword-and-buckler Prince of Wales,
      But that I think his father loves him not,
      And would be glad he met with some mischance,
      I'd have him poison'd with a pot of ale.

      Farewell, kinsman: I will talk to you
      When you are better temper'd to attend.

      Why, what a wasp-stung and impatient fool
      Art thou, to break into this woman's mood,
      Tying thine ear to no tongue but thine own!

      Nettled, and stung with pismires, when I hear
      Of this vile politician, Bolingbroke.
      A plague upon't!—it is in Gioucestershire;—
      'Twas where the madcap Duke his uncle kept,
      His uncle York;—where I first bow'd my knee
      Unto this king of smiles, this Bolingbroke;—
      When you and he came back from Ravenspurg.

      At Berkeley-castle.

      You say true:—
      Why, what a candy deal of courtesy
      This fawning greyhound then did proffer me!
      Look, when his infant fortune came to age,
      And, Gentle Harry Percy, and kind cousin,—
      O, the Devil take such cozeners!—God forgive me!—
      Good uncle, tell your tale; for I have done.

      Nay, if you have not, to't again;
      We'll stay your leisure.

      I have done, i'faith.

      Then once more to your Scottish prisoners.
      Deliver them up without their ransom straight,
      And make the Douglas' son your only mean
      For powers in Scotland; which, for divers reasons
      Which I shall send you written, be assured,
      Will easily be granted.—
      [To Northumberland.] You, my lord,
      Your son in Scotland being thus employ'd,
      Shall secretly into the bosom creep
      Of that same noble prelate, well beloved,
      Th' Archbishop.

      Of York, is't not?

      True; who bears hard
      His brother's death at Bristol, the Lord Scroop.
      I speak not this in estimation,
      As what I think might be, but what I know
      Is ruminated, plotted, and set down,
      And only stays but to behold the face
      Of that occasion that shall bring it on.

      I smell't: upon my life, it will do well.

      Before the game's a-foot, thou still lett'st slip.

      Why, it cannot choose but be a noble plot:—
      And then the power of Scotland and of York
      To join with Mortimer, ha?

      And so they shall.


In faith, it is exceedingly well aim'd.

      And 'tis no little reason bids us speed,
      To save our heads by raising of a head;
      For, bear ourselves as even as we can,
      The King will always think him in our debt,
      And think we think ourselves unsatisfied,
      Till he hath found a time to pay us home:
      And see already how he doth begin
      To make us strangers to his looks of love.

      He does, he does: we'll be revenged on him.

      Cousin, farewell: no further go in this
      Than I by letters shall direct your course.
      When time is ripe,— which will be suddenly,—
      I'll steal to Glendower and Lord Mortimer;
      Where you and Douglas, and our powers at once,
      As I will fashion it, shall happily meet,
      To bear our fortunes in our own strong arms,
      Which now we hold at much uncertainty.

      Farewell, good brother: we shall thrive, I trust.

      Uncle, adieu: O, let the hours be short,
      Till fields and blows and groans applaud our sport!



Scene I. Rochester. An Inn-Yard.Edit

[Enter a Carrier with a lantern in his hand.]

1. CAR.
      Heigh-ho! an't be not four by the day, I'll be hang'd:
      Charles' wain is over the new chimney, and yet our horse' not
      pack'd.—What, ostler!

      [within.] Anon, anon.

1. CAR.
      I pr'ythee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle, put a few flocks in the

[Enter another Carrier.]

2. CAR.
      upside down since Robin ostler died.

1. CAR.
      the death of him.

2. CAR.
      I think this be the most villainous house in all London road
      for fleas: I am stung like a tench.

1. CAR.
      Like a tench! by the Mass, there is ne'er a king in Christendom
      could be better bit than I have been since the first cock.—What,

ostler! come away and be hang'd; come away.

2. CAR.
      delivered as far as Charing-cross.

1. CAR.
      'Odsbody! the turkeys in my pannier are quite starved.—What,
      canst not hear? An 'twere not as good a deed as drink to break
      the pate of thee, I am a very villain. Come, and be hang'd:
      hast no faith in thee?

[Enter Gadshill.]

      Good morrow, carriers. What's o'clock?

1. CAR.
      I think it be two o'clock.

      I pr'ythee, lend me thy lantern, to see my gelding in the

1. CAR.
      Nay, soft, I pray ye; I know a trick worth two of that, i'faith.

      I pr'ythee, lend me thine.

2. CAR.
      Ay, when? canst tell? Lend me thy lantern, quoth a? marry, I'll
      see thee hang'd first.


2. CAR.
      Time enough to go to bed with a candle, I warrant thee.—
      Come, neighbour Muggs, we'll call up the gentlemen: they will
      along with company, for they have great charge.

[Exeunt Carriers.]

      What, ho! chamberlain!

      [Within.] At hand, quoth pick-purse.

      That's even as fair as—at hand, quoth the chamberlain; for
      thou variest no more from picking of purses than giving
      direction doth from labouring; thou lay'st the plot how.

[Enter Chamberlain.]

      Good morrow, Master Gadshill. It holds current that I told
      you yesternight: there's a franklin in the wild of Kent hath
      brought three hundred marks with him in gold: I heard him
      They are up already, and call for eggs and butter; they will away

      thee this neck.

      No, I'll none of it: I pr'ythee, keep that for the hangman; for
      I know thou worshippest Saint Nicholas as truly as a man of
      falsehood may.

      What talkest thou to me of the hangman? if I hang, I'll make
      me, and thou know'st he is no starveling. Tut! there are other
      Trojans that thou dreamest not of, the which, for sport-sake,
      matters should be look'd into, for their own credit-sake, make
      all whole. I am joined with no foot land-rakers, no long-staff
      sixpenny strikers, none of these mad mustachio purple-hued
      malt-worms; but with nobility and tranquillity, burgomasters and
      pray: and yet, zwounds, I lie; for they pray continually to their
      saint, the Commonwealth; or, rather, not pray to her, but prey on

      What, the Commonwealth their boots? will she hold out water
      in foul way?

      She will, she will; justice hath liquor'd her. We steal as in a
      castle, cock-sure; we have the receipt of fernseed,—we walk

      than to fern-seed for your walking invisible.

      I am a true man.




Scene II. The Road by Gads-hill.Edit

[Enter Prince Henry and Pointz; Bardolph and Peto at some distance.]

      Come, shelter, shelter: I have remov'd Falstaff's horse,
      and he frets like a gumm'd velvet.

      Stand close.

[They retire.]

[Enter Falstaff.]

      Pointz! Pointz, and be hang'd! Pointz!


[Coming forward.]

Peace, ye fat-kidney'd rascal! what a brawling dost thou keep!

      Where's Pointz, Hal?

      He is walk'd up to the top of the hill: I'll go seek him.


      four foot by the squire further a-foot, I shall break my wind.
      hanging for killing that rogue. I have forsworn his company hourly
      any time this two-and-twenty year, and yet I am bewitch'd with the
      me love him, I'll be hang'd; it could not be else: I have drunk
      Pointz!—Hal!—a plague upon you both!—Bardolph!—Peto!—I'll
      starve, ere I'll rob a foot further. An 'twere not as good a deed as
      is threescore and ten miles a-foot with me; and the stony-hearted
      villains know it well enough: a plague upon't, when thieves cannot
      be true one to another!
      [They whistle.] Whew!—A plague upon you all! Give me
      my horse, you rogues; give me my horse, and be hang'd!

      [Coming forward.] Peace! lie down; lay thine ear close to the

      Have you any levers to lift me up again, being down? 'Sblood, I'll
      not bear mine own flesh so far a-foot again for all the coin in thy

      Thou liest; thou art not colted, thou art uncolted.

      I pr'ythee, good Prince Hal, help me to my horse, good king's

      Out, ye rogue! shall I be your ostler?

      Go, hang thyself in thine own heir-apparent garters! If I be
      When a jest is so forward, and a-foot too, I hate it.

[Enter Gadshill.]


      So I do, against my will.

      O, 'tis our setter: I know his voice.

[Comes forward with Bardolph and Peto.]

      What news?

      Case ye, case ye; on with your visards: there's money of
      the King's coming down the hill; 'tis going to the King's

      You lie, ye rogue; 'tis going to the King's tavern.

      There's enough to make us all.

      To be hang'd.

      Pointz and I will walk lower; if they 'scape from your
      encounter, then they light on us.

      How many be there of them?

      Some eight or ten.

      Zwounds, will they not rob us?

      What, a coward, Sir John Paunch?

      no coward, Hal.

      Well, we leave that to the proof.

      Sirrah Jack, thy horse stands behind the hedge: when thou

      Now cannot I strike him, if I should be hang'd.

      [aside to POINTZ.] Ned, where are our disguises?

      [aside to PRINCE HENRY.] Here, hard by: stand close.

[Exeunt Prince and Pointz.]

      to his business.

[Enter Travellers.]

      Come, neighbour:
      The boy shall lead our horses down the hill;
      We'll walk a-foot awhile and ease our legs.


      Jesu bless us!

      Strike; down with them; cut the villains' throats. Ah,
      down with them; fleece them.

      O, we're undone, both we and ours for ever!

      young men must live. You are grand-jurors, are ye? we'll jure
      ye, i'faith.

[Exeunt Fals., Gads., &c., driving the Travellers out.]

[Re-enter Prince Henry and Pointz, in buckram suits.]

      The thieves have bound the true men. Now, could thou and I rob

      Stand close: I hear them coming.

[They retire.]

[Re-enter Falstaff, Gadshill, Bardolph, and Peto.]

      An the Prince and Pointz be not two arrant cowards, there's no
      equity stirring: there's no more valour in that Pointz than in a

wild duck.


      Your money!


[Falstaff, after a blow or two, and the others run away, leaving
      the booty behind them.]

      Got with much ease. Now merrily to horse:
      The thieves are scatter'd, and possess'd with fear
      So strongly that they dare not meet each other;
      Each takes his fellow for an officer.
      Away, good Ned. Fat Falstaff sweats to death,
      And lards the lean earth as he walks along:
      Were't not for laughing, I should pity him.

      How the rogue roar'd!


Scene III. Warkworth. A Room in the Castle.Edit

[Enter Hotspur, reading a letter.]

      —But, for mine own part, my lord, I could be well contented to
      be there, in respect of the love I bear your House.—He could be
      our House!—he shows in this, he loves his own barn better than he
      loves our house. Let me see some more. The purpose you undertake
      is dangerous;—Why, that's certain: 'tis dangerous to take a cold,
      danger, we pluck this flower, safety. The purpose you undertake is
      dangerous; the friends you have named uncertain; the time itself
      great an opposition.—
      of the action. Zwounds! an I were now by this rascal, I could brain
      him with his lady's fan. Is there not my father, my uncle, and
      is there not, besides, the Douglas? have I not all their letters to
      skimm'd milk with so honourable an action!
      Hang him! let him tell the King: we are prepared. I will set
      forward to-night.—

[Enter Lady Percy.]


      O, my good lord, why are you thus alone?
      For what offence have I this fortnight been
      A banish'd woman from my Harry's bed?
      Tell me, sweet lord, what is't that takes from thee
      Thy stomach, pleasure, and thy golden sleep?
      Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth,
      And start so often when thou sitt'st alone?
      Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks;
      And given my treasures and my rights of thee
      To thick-eyed musing and curst melancholy?
      In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watch'd,
      And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars;
      Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed;
      Cry Courage! to the field! And thou hast talk'd
      Of sallies and retires, of trenches, tents,
      Of palisadoes, frontiers, parapets,
      Of basilisks, of cannon, culverin,
      Of prisoners ransomed, and of soldiers slain,
      And all the 'currents of a heady fight.
      Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war,
      And thus hath so bestirr'd thee in thy sleep,
      That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow,
      Like bubbles in a late-disturbed stream;
      And in thy face strange motions have appear'd,
      Such as we see when men restrain their breath
      Some heavy business hath my lord in hand,
      And I must know it, else he loves me not.

      What, ho!

[Enter a Servant.]

Is Gilliams with the packet gone?

      He is, my lord, an hour ago.

      Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff?

      One horse, my lord, he brought even now.


      It is, my lord.

      That roan shall be my throne.
      Well, I will back him straight: O esperance!—
      Bid Butler lead him forth into the park.

[Exit Servant.]

      But hear you, my lord.

      What say'st thou, my lady?

      What is it carries you away?

      Why, my horse, my love, my horse.

      Out, you mad-headed ape!
      A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen
      As you are toss'd with. In faith,
      I'll know your business, Harry, that I will.
      I fear my brother Mortimer doth stir
      About his title, and hath sent for you
      To line his enterprise: but if you go,—

      So far a-foot, I shall be weary, love.

      Come, come, you paraquito, answer me
      Directly to this question that I ask:
      In faith, I'll break thy little finger, Harry,
      An if thou wilt not tell me true.

      Away, you trifler! Love? I love thee not,
      I care not for thee, Kate: this is no world
      To play with mammets and to tilt with lips:
      We must have bloody noses and crack'd crowns,
      What say'st thou, Kate? what wouldst thou have with me?

      Do you not love me? do you not indeed?
      Well, do not, then; for, since you love me not,
      I will not love myself. Do you not love me?
      Nay, tell me if you speak in jest or no.

      Come, wilt thou see me ride?
      And when I am o' horseback, I will swear
      I love thee infinitely. But hark you, Kate;
      I must not have you henceforth question me
      Whither I go, nor reason whereabout:
      Whither I must, I must; and, to conclude,
      This evening must I leave you, gentle Kate.
      I know you wise; but yet no further wise
      Than Harry Percy's wife; constant you are;
      But yet a woman: and, for secrecy,
      No lady closer; for I well believe
      Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know;
      And so far will I trust thee, gentle Kate.

      How! so far?

      Not an inch further. But hark you, Kate:
      Whither I go, thither shall you go too;
      Will this content you, Kate?

      It must of force.


Scene IV. Eastcheap. A Room in the Boar's-Head Tavern.Edit

[Enter Prince Henry.]

      Ned, pr'ythee, come out of that fat room, and lend me thy
      hand to laugh a little.

[Enter Pointz.]

      Where hast been, Hal?

      With three or four loggerheads amongst three or fourscore
      them all by their Christian names, as, Tom, Dick, and Francis.
      a good boy,—by the Lord, so they call me;—and, when I am King
      call drinking deep, dying scarlet; and, when you breathe in your
      watering, they cry hem! and bid you play it off. To conclude, I am
      hast lost much honour, that thou wert not with me in this action. But,
      of sugar, clapp'd even now into my hand by an under-skinker; one that
      never spake other English in his life than Eight shillings and sixpence,
      and You are welcome; with this shrill addition, Anon, anon, sir! Score
      a pint of bastard in the Half-moon,—or so. But, Ned, to drive away
      the time till Falstaff come, I pr'ythee, do thou stand in some by-room,
      and do thou never leave calling Francis! that his tale to me may be
      nothing but Anon. Step aside, and I'll show thee a precedent.

[Exit Pointz.]

      [Within.] Francis!


Thou art perfect.

      [Within.] Francis!

[Enter Francis.]

      Anon, anon, sir.—Look down into the Pomegranate, Ralph.

      Come hither, Francis.

      My lord?

      How long hast thou to serve, Francis?

      Forsooth, five years, and as much as to—

      [within.] Francis!

      Anon, anon, sir.

      and run from it?

      I could find in my heart—

      [within.] Francis!

      Anon, anon, sir.

      How old art thou, Francis?

      Let me see,—about Michaelmas next I shall be—

      [within.] Francis!

      Anon, sir.—Pray you, stay a little, my lord.

      me, 'twas a pennyworth, was't not?

      O Lord, sir, I would it had been two!

      thou wilt, and thou shalt have it.

      [within.] Francis!

      Anon, anon.

      Francis, a Thursday; or, indeed, Francis, when thou wilt. But,

      My lord?

      —wilt thou rob this leathern-jerkin, crystal-button,
      nott-pated, agate-ring, puke-stocking, caddis-garter,
      smooth-tongue, Spanish-pouch,—

      O Lord, sir, who do you mean?


Why, then, your brown bastard is your only drink; for,
      Barbary, sir, it cannot come to so much.

      What, sir?

      [within.] Francis!

      Away, you rogue! dost thou not hear them call?

[Here they both call him; Francis stands amazed, not knowing
      which way to go.]

[Enter Vintner.]

      to the guests within. [Exit Francis.]—My lord, old Sir John,

      Let them alone awhile, and then open the door.

[Exit Vintner.]


[Re-enter Pointz.]

      Anon, anon, sir.

      Sirrah, Falstaff and the rest of the thieves are at the
      door: shall we be merry?

      what's the issue?

      I am now of all humours that have showed themselves humours
      present twelve o'clock at midnight.—What's o'clock, Francis?

      [Within.] Anon, anon, sir.

      Fie upon this quiet life! I want work. O my sweet Harry, says she,
      how many hast thou kill'd to-day? Give my roan horse a drench,
      says he; and answers, Some fourteen, an hour after,—a trifle, a
      I pr'ythee, call in Falstaff: I'll play Percy, and that damn'd
      Call in ribs, call in tallow.

[Enter Falstaff, Gadshill, Bardolph, and Peto; followed by
      Francis with wine.]

      Welcome, Jack: where hast thou been?

      Give me a cup of sack, boy.—Ere I lead this life long, I'll sew


      butter, that melted at the sweet tale of the Sun! if thou didst,
      then behold that compound.

      You rogue, here's lime in this sack too: there is nothing but roguery
      to be found in villainous man: yet a coward is worse than a cup of
      sack with lime in it, a villanous coward.—Go thy ways, old Jack: die
      of the Earth, then am I a shotten herring. There live not three good
      men unhang'd in England; and one of them is fat, and grows old: God
      help the while! a bad world, I say.
      all cowards! I say still.

      How now, wool-sack? what mutter you?

      wild-geese, I'll never wear hair on my face more. You Prince of Wales!

      Why, you whoreson round man, what's the matter?

      Are not you a coward? answer me to that:—and Pointz there?

      Zwounds, ye fat paunch, an ye call me coward, by the Lord, I'll
      stab thee.

      I call thee coward! I'll see thee damn'd ere I call thee coward:
      but I would give a thousand pound, I could run as fast as thou canst.
      backing! give me them that will face me.—Give me a cup of sack:
      I am a rogue, if I drunk to-day.

      O villain! thy lips are scarce wiped since thou drunk'st last.

      All is one for that. A plague of all cowards! still say I.


      What's the matter?

      What's the matter? there be four of us here have ta'en a thousand
      pound this day morning.

      Where is it, Jack? where is it?


      What, a hundred, man?

      hours together. I have 'scaped by miracle. I am eight times thrust
      and through; my sword hack'd like a hand-saw,—ecce signum! I never
      they are villains and the sons of darkness.

      Speak, sirs; how was it?

      We four set upon some dozen,—

      Sixteen at least, my lord.

      —and bound them.

      No, no; they were not bound.

      else, an Ebrew Jew.

      As we were sharing, some six or seven fresh men sea upon us,—

      And unbound the rest, and then come in the other.

      What, fought you with them all?

      All? I know not what you call all; but if I fought not with fifty

      Pray God you have not murdered some of them.

      Nay, that's past praying for: I have pepper'd two of them; two I
      Thou knowest my old ward: here I lay, and thus I bore my point.
      Four rogues in buckram let drive at me,—

      What, four? thou saidst but two even now.

      Four, Hal; I told thee four.

      Ay, ay, he said four.


      Seven? why, there were but four even now.

      In buckram?

      Ay, four, in buckram suits.


      [aside to Pointz.] Pr'ythee let him alone; we shall have more

      Dost thou hear me, Hal?

      Ay, and mark thee too, Jack.

      that I told thee of,—

      So, two more already.

      —their points being broken,—

      Down fell their hose.

      —began to give me ground: but I followed me close, came in foot

      O monstrous! eleven buckram men grown out of two!

      But, as the Devil would have it, three misbegotten knaves in Kendal
      that thou couldst not see thy hand.

      open, palpable. Why, thou nott-pated fool, thou whoreson, obscene
      greasy tallow-keech,—


      what sayest thou to this?

      Come, your reason, Jack, your reason.

      compulsion! if reasons were as plentiful as blackberries, I would
      give no man a reason upon compulsion, I.

      I'll be no longer guilty of this sin; this sanguine coward, this
      bed-presser, this horse-back-breaker, this huge hill of flesh,—

      Away, you starveling, you eel-skin, you dried neat's-tongue, you
      O, for breath to utter what is like thee!—you tailor's-yard, you
      sheath, you bow-case, you vile standing tuck,—

      Well, breathe awhile, and then to it again: and, when thou hast
      tired thyself in base comparisons, hear me speak but this:—

      Mark, Jack.

      —We two saw you four set on four; you bound them, and were masters of
      their wealth.—Mark now, how a plain tale shall put you down.—
      Then did we two set on you four; and, with a word, outfaced you from
      and, Falstaff, you carried yourself away as nimbly, with as quick
      dexterity, and roared for mercy, and still ran and roar'd, as ever I
      hast done, and then say it was in fight!
      out to hide thee from this open and apparent shame?


      my masters:
      Was it for me to kill the heir-apparent? should I turn upon the
      true Prince? why, thou knowest I am as valiant as Hercules: but
      beware instinct; the lion will not touch the true Prince.
      I am glad you have the money.—
      [To Hostess within.] Hostess, clap-to the doors: watch
      to-night, pray to-morrow.—Gallants, lads, boys, hearts of gold,
      all the titles of good fellowship come to you!

      Content; and the argument shall be thy running away.


[Enter the Hostess.]

      O Jesu, my lord the Prince,—

      How now, my lady the hostess! What say'st thou to me?

      Marry, my lord, there is a nobleman of the Court at door would
      speak with you: he says he comes from your father.

      again to my mother.

      What manner of man is he?

      An old man.

      his answer?

      Pr'ythee, do, Jack.

      Faith, and I'll send him packing.


      Now, sirs:—by'r Lady, you fought fair;—so did you, Peto;—so did you,
      Bardolph: you are lions, too, you ran away upon instinct, you will not
      touch the true Prince; no,—fie!

      Faith, I ran when I saw others run.

      Tell me now in earnest, how came Falstaff's sword so hack'd?

      Why, he hack'd it with his dagger; and said he would swear truth out of
      persuaded us to do the like.

      Yea, and to tickle our noses with spear-grass to make them bleed;
      I blush'd to hear his monstrous devices.

      taken with the manner, and ever since thou hast blush'd extempore.
      Thou hadst fire and sword on thy side, and yet thou rann'st away:
      what instinct hadst thou for it?


      I do.

      What think you they portend?

      Hot livers and cold purses.

      Choler, my lord, if rightly taken.

      No, if rightly taken, halter.—Here comes lean Jack, here comes

[Enter Falstaff.]

      since thou saw'st thine own knee?

      There's villanous news abroad: here was Sir John Bracy from your
      father; you must to the Court in the morning.
      That same mad fellow of the North, Percy; and he of Wales, that gave
      Amaimon the bastinado, and swore the Devil his true liegeman upon the
      cross of a Welsh hook,—what a plague call you him?

      O, Glendower.

      Owen, Owen,—the same; and his son-in-law Mortimer; and old
      Northumberland; and that sprightly Scot of Scots, Douglas, that
      runs o' horseback up a hill perpendicular,—


      You have hit it.

      So did he never the sparrow.



      O' horseback, ye cuckoo! but a-foot he will not budge a foot.

      Yes, Jack, upon instinct.

      and a thousand blue-caps more:
      Worcester is stolen away to-night; thy father's beard is turn'd
      But, tell me, Hal, art not thou horrible afeard? thou being
      art thou not horribly afraid? doth not thy blood thrill at it?

      Not a whit, i'faith; I lack some of thy instinct.

      thy father. If thou love life, practise an answer.

      Do thou stand for my father and examine me upon the particulars
      of my life.

      sceptre, and this cushion my crown.


      thou be moved.—
      Give me a cup of sack, to make my eyes look red, that it may be
      in King Cambyses' vein.

      Well, here is my leg.

      And here is my speech.—Stand aside, nobility.

      O Jesu, this is excellent sport, i faith!

      Weep not, sweet Queen; for trickling tears are vain.

      O, the Father, how he holds his countenance!

      For God's sake, lords, convey my tristful Queen;
      For tears do stop the floodgates of her eyes.

      O Jesu, he doth it as like one of these harlotry players as ever
      I see!

      Peace, good pint-pot; peace, good tickle-brain.—Harry, I do not
      partly my own opinion; but chiefly a villainous trick of thine eye,
      then, thou be son to me, here lies the point: Why, being son to me,
      art thou so pointed at?
      Shall the blessed Sun of heaven prove a micher, and eat blackberries?
      a question not to be ask'd. Shall the son of England prove a thief,
      and take purses? a question to be ask'd.

      What manner of man, an it like your Majesty?

      A goodly portly man, i'faith, and a corpulent; of a cheerful look,
      some fifty, or, by'r Lady, inclining to threescore; and now I
      me where hast thou been this month?

      my father.

      Depose me! if thou dost it half so gravely, so majestically, both
      poulter's hare.

      Well, here I am set.

      And here I stand.—Judge, my masters.

      Now, Harry, whence come you?

      My noble lord, from Eastcheap.

      The complaints I hear of thee are grievous.

      'Sblood, my lord, they are false.—Nay, I'll tickle ye for a
      young prince, i'faith.

      Swearest thou, ungracious boy? henceforth ne'er look on me. Thou art
      violently carried away from grace: there is a devil haunts thee, in
      the likeness of an old fat man,—a tun of man is thy companion. Why
      beastliness, that swollen parcel of dropsies, that huge bombard of
      sack, that roasted Manningtree ox with the pudding in his belly, that
      reverend Vice, that grey Iniquity, that father ruffian, that vanity
      in craft? wherein crafty, but in villany? wherein villainous, but in
      all things? wherein worthy, but in nothing?


      That villainous abominable misleader of youth, Falstaff, that old
      white-bearded Satan.

      My lord, the man I know.

      I know thou dost.

      than I know. That he is old,—(the more the pity,—his white hairs do
      witness it. If sack and sugar be a fault, God help the wicked! if to
      No, my good lord: banish Peto, banish Bardolph, banish Pointz; but,
      Harry's company: banish plump Jack, and banish all the world.

      I do, I will.

[A knocking heard.]

[Exeunt Hostess, Francis, and Bardolph.]

[Enter Bardolph, running.]

      at the door.

      Out, ye rogue!—Play out the play: I have much to say in the
      behalf of that Falstaff.

[Re-enter the Hostess, hastily.]

      O Jesu, my lord, my lord,—

      Heigh, heigh! the Devil rides upon a fiddlestick: what's the matter?

      search the house. Shall I let them in?

      thou art essentially mad without seeming so.

      And thou a natural coward, without instinct.

      I deny your major: if you will deny the sheriff, so; if not, let him

      Go, hide thee behind the arras:—the rest walk, up above. Now,
      my masters, for a true face and good conscience.

      Both which I have had; but their date is out, and therefore I'll
      hide me.

      Call in the sheriff.—

[Exeunt all but the Prince and Pointz.]

[Enter Sheriff and Carrier.]

Now, master sheriff, what's your will with me?

      First, pardon me, my lord. A hue-and-cry
      Hath followed certain men unto this house.

      What men?

      One of them is well known, my gracious lord,—
      A gross fat man.

      As fat as butter.

      The man, I do assure you, is not here;
      For I myself at this time have employ'd him.
      And, sheriff, I will engage my word to thee,
      That I will, by to-morrow dinner-time,
      Send him to answer thee, or any man,
      For any thing he shall be charged withal:
      And so, let me entreat you leave the house.

      I will, my lord. There are two gentlemen
      Have in this robbery lost three hundred marks.

      It may be so: if he have robb'd these men,
      He shall be answerable; and so, farewell.

      Good night, my noble lord.

      I think it is good morrow, is it not?

      Indeed, my lord, I think't be two o'clock.

[Exit Sheriff and Carrier.]

      This oily rascal is known as well as Paul's. Go, call him forth.


      Hark, how hard he fetches breath. Search his pockets.

[Pointz searches.]

What hast thou found?

      Nothing but papers, my lord.

      Let's see what they be: read them.

POINTZ. [reads]
      Item, A capon, . . . . . . . . . 2s. 2d.
      Item, Sauce, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4d.
      Item, Sack two gallons ,. . . 5s. 8d.
      Item, Anchovies and sack after supper, 2s. 6d.
      Item, Bread, . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ob.

      advantage: there let him sleep till day.
      I'll to the Court in the morning. We must all to the wars, and thy
      morning; and so, good morrow, Pointz.

      Good morrow, good my lord.



Scene I. Bangor. A Room in the Archdeacon's House.Edit

[Enter Hotspur, Worcester, Mortimer, and Glendower.]

      These promises are fair, the parties sure,
      And our induction full of prosperous hope.

      Lord Mortimer,—and cousin Glendower,—Will you sit down?—
      And uncle Worcester,—A plague upon it! I have forgot the map.

      No, here it is.
      Sit, cousin Percy; sit, good cousin Hotspur;
      For by that name as oft as Lancaster
      Doth speak of you, his cheek looks pale, and with
      A rising sigh he wisheth you in Heaven.

      And you in Hell, as oft as he hears Owen Glendower spoke of.

      I cannot blame him: at my nativity
      The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes,
      Of burning cressets; ay, and at my birth
      The frame and huge foundation of the Earth
      Shaked like a coward.

      cat had but kitten'd, though yourself had never been born.

      I say the Earth did shake when I was born.

      And I say the Earth was not of my mind, if you suppose as
      fearing you it shook.

      The Heavens were all on fire, the Earth did tremble.

      O, then th' Earth shook to see the Heavens on fire,
      And not in fear of your nativity.
      Diseased Nature oftentimes breaks forth
      In strange eruptions; oft the teeming Earth
      Is with a kind of colic pinch'd and vex'd
      By the imprisoning of unruly wind
      Within her womb; which, for enlargement striving,
      Shakes the old beldam Earth, and topples down
      Steeples and moss-grown towers. At your birth,
      Our grandam Earth, having this distemperature,
      In passion shook.

      Cousin, of many men
      I do not bear these crossings. Give me leave
      To tell you once again, that at my birth
      The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes;
      The goats ran from the mountains, and the herds
      Were strangely clamorous to the frighted fields.
      These signs have mark'd me extraordinary;
      And all the courses of my life do show
      I am not in the roll of common men.
      Where is he living,—clipp'd in with the sea
      That chides the banks of England, Scotland, Wales,—
      Which calls me pupil, or hath read to me?
      And bring him out that is but woman's son
      Can trace me in the tedious ways of art,
      And hold me pace in deep experiments.

      I think there is no man speaks better Welsh.—I'll to dinner.

      Peace, cousin Percy; you will make him mad.

      I can call spirits from the vasty deep.

      Why, so can I, or so can any man;
      But will they come when you do call for them?

      Why, I can teach you, cousin, to command the Devil.

      And I can teach thee, coz, to shame the Devil
      By telling truth: tell truth, and shame the Devil.
      If thou have power to raise him, bring him hither,
      And I'll be sworn I've power to shame him hence.
      O, while you live, tell truth, and shame the Devil!

      Come, come, no more of this unprofitable chat.

      Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made head
      Against my power; thrice from the banks of Wye
      And sandy-bottom'd Severn have I sent
      Him bootless home and weather-beaten back.

      Home without boots, and in foul weather too!
      How 'scaped he agues, in the Devil's name!

      Come, here's the map: shall we divide our right
      According to our threefold order ta'en?

      Th' archdeacon hath divided it
      Into three limits very equally.
      England, from Trent and Severn hitherto,
      By south and east is to my part assign'd:
      All westward, Wales beyond the Severn shore,
      And all the fertile land within that bound,
      To Owen Glendower:—and, dear coz, to you
      The remnant northward, lying off from Trent.
      And our indentures tripartite are drawn;
      Which being sealed interchangeably,—
      A business that this night may execute,—
      To-morrow, cousin Percy, you, and I,
      And my good Lord of Worcester, will set forth
      To meet your father and the Scottish power,
      As is appointed us, at Shrewsbury.
      My father Glendower is not ready yet,
      Nor shall we need his help these fourteen days:—
      Your tenants, friends, and neighbouring gentlemen.

      A shorter time shall send me to you, lords:
      And in my conduct shall your ladies come;
      From whom you now must steal, and take no leave,
      For there will be a world of water shed
      Upon the parting of your wives and you.

      Methinks my moiety, north from Burton here,
      In quantity equals not one of yours.
      See how this river comes me cranking in,
      And cuts me from the best of all my land
      A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out.
      I'll have the current in this place damn'd up;
      And here the smug and sliver Trent shall run
      In a new channel, fair and evenly:
      It shall not wind with such a deep indent,
      To rob me of so rich a bottom here.


      Yea, but
      Mark how he bears his course, and runs me up
      With like advantage on the other side;
      Gelding th' opposed continent as much
      As on the other side it takes from you.

      Yea, but a little charge will trench him here,
      And on this north side win this cape of land;
      And then he runneth straight and evenly.

      I'll have it so: a little charge will do it.

      I will not have it alter'd.

      Will not you?

      No, nor you shall not.

      Who shall say me nay?

      Why, that will I.


      I can speak English, lord, as well as you;
      For I was train'd up in the English Court;
      Where, being but young, I framed to the harp
      Many an English ditty lovely well,
      And gave the tongue a helpful ornament,
      A virtue that was never seen in you.

      Marry, and I am glad of it with all my heart:
      I had rather be a kitten, and cry mew,
      Than one of these same metre ballet-mongers;
      I had rather hear a brazen canstick turn'd,
      Or a dry wheel grate on the axletree;
      And that would set my teeth nothing on edge,
      Nothing so much as mincing poetry:
      'Tis like the forced gait of a shuffling nag.

      Come, you shall have Trent turn'd.

      I do not care: I'll give thrice so much land
      To any well-deserving friend;
      But in the way of bargain, mark ye me,
      I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair.
      Are the indentures drawn? shall we be gone?

The Moon shines fair; you may away by night:
      I'll in and haste the writer, and withal
      Break with your wives of your departure hence:
      I am afraid my daughter will run mad,
      So much she doteth on her Mortimer.


      Fie, cousin Percy! how you cross my father!

      I cannot choose: sometimes he angers me
      With telling me of the moldwarp and the ant,
      Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies,
      And of a dragon and a finless fish,
      A clip-wing'd griffin and a moulten raven,
      A couching lion and a ramping cat,
      And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff
      As puts me from my faith. I tell you what,
      He held me last night at the least nine hours
      In reckoning up the several devils' names
      That were his lacqueys: I cried hum, and well,
      But mark'd him not a word. O, he's as tedious
      As a tired horse, a railing wife;
      Worse than a smoky house: I had rather live
      With cheese and garlic in a windmill, far,
      Than feed on cates and have him talk to me
      In any summer-house in Christendom.

      In faith, he is a worthy gentleman;
      Exceedingly well-read, and profited
      In strange concealments; valiant as a lion,
      And wondrous affable, and as bountiful
      As mines of India. Shall I tell you, cousin?
      He holds your temper in a high respect,
      And curbs himself even of his natural scope
      When you do cross his humour; faith, he does:
      I warrant you, that man is not alive
      Might so have tempted him as you have done,
      Without the taste of danger and reproof:
      But do not use it oft, let me entreat you.

      In faith, my lord, you are too wilful-blunt;
      And since your coming hither have done enough
      To put him quite beside his patience.
      You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault:
      Though sometimes it show greatness, courage, blood—
      And that's the dearest grace it renders you,—
      Yet oftentimes it doth present harsh rage,
      Defect of manners, want of government,
      Pride, haughtiness, opinion, and disdain;
      The least of which haunting a nobleman
      Loseth men's hearts, and leaves behind a stain
      Upon the beauty of all parts besides,
      Beguiling them of commendation.

      Well, I am school'd: good manners be your speed!
      Here come our wives, and let us take our leave.

[Re-enter Glendower, with Lady Mortimer and Lady Percy.]

      This is the deadly spite that angers me,
      My wife can speak no English, I no Welsh.

      My daughter weeps: she will not part with you;
      She'll be a soldier too, she'll to the wars.

      Good father, tell her that she and my aunt Percy
      Shall follow in your conduct speedily.

[Glendower speaks to Lady Mortimer in Welsh, and she answers
      him in the same.]

      She's desperate here; a peevish self-will'd harlotry,
      One that no persuasion can do good upon.

[Lady Mortimer speaks to Mortimer in Welsh.]

      I understand thy looks: that pretty Welsh
      Which thou pour'st down from these swelling heavens
      I am too perfect in; and, but for shame,
      In such a parley should I answer thee.

[Lady Mortimer speaks to him again in Welsh.]

I understand thy kisses, and thou mine,
      And that's a feeling disputation:
      But I will never be a truant, love,
      Till I have learn'd thy language; for thy tongue
      Makes Welsh as sweet as ditties highly penn'd,
      Sung by a fair queen in a Summer's bower,
      With ravishing division, to her lute.

      Nay, if you melt, then will she run mad.

[Lady Mortimer speaks to Mortimer again in Welsh.]

      O, I am ignorance itself in this!

      She bids you on the wanton rushes lay you down,
      And rest your gentle head upon her lap,
      And she will sing the song that pleaseth you,
      And on your eyelids crown the god of sleep,
      Charming your blood with pleasing heaviness;
      Making such difference betwixt wake and sleep,
      As is the difference betwixt day and night,
      The hour before the heavenly-harness'd team
      Begins his golden progress in the East.

      With all my heart I'll sit and hear her sing:

      Do so:
      An those musicians that shall play to you
      Hang in the air a thousand leagues from hence,
      And straight they shall be here: sit, and attend.

      quick, that I may lay my head in thy lap.

      Go, ye giddy goose.

[The music plays.]

      Now I perceive the Devil understands Welsh;
      And 'tis no marvel he's so humorous.
      By'r Lady, he's a good musician.

      Then should you be nothing but musical; for you are
      the lady sing in Welsh.


      Wouldst thou have thy head broken?


      Then be still.

      Neither; 'tis a woman's fault.

      Now God help thee!

      Peace! she sings.

[A Welsh song by Lady Mortimer.]

Come, Kate, I'll have your song too.

      Not mine, in good sooth.

      Not yours, in good sooth! 'Heart! you swear like a
      comfit-maker's wife. Not mine, in good sooth; and, As true
      as I live; and, As God shall mend me; and, As sure as day;
      And givest such sarcenet surety for thy oaths,
      As if thou ne'er walk'dst further than Finsbury.
      Swear me, Kate, like a lady as thou art,
      A good mouth-filling oath; and leave in sooth,
      And such protest of pepper-gingerbread,
      To velvet-guards and Sunday-citizens. Come, sing.

      I will not sing.

      'Tis the next way to turn tailor, or be redbreast-teacher.
      and so, come in when ye will.


      Come, come, Lord Mortimer; you are as slow
      As hot Lord Percy is on fire to go.
      By this our book's drawn; we'll but seal, and then
      To horse immediately.

      With all my heart.


Scene II. London. A Room in the Palace.Edit

[Enter King Henry, Prince Henry, and Lords.]

      Lords, give us leave; the Prince of Wales and I
      Must have some private conference: but be near at hand,
      For we shall presently have need of you.

[Exeunt Lords.]

I know not whether God will have it so,
      For some displeasing service I have done,
      That, in His secret doom, out of my blood
      He'll breed revengement and a scourge for me;
      But thou dost, in thy passages of life,
      Make me believe that thou art only mark'd
      For the hot vengeance and the rod of Heaven
      To punish my mistreadings. Tell me else,
      Could such inordinate and low desires,
      Such barren pleasures, rude society,
      As thou art match'd withal and grafted to,
      Accompany the greatness of thy blood,
      And hold their level with thy princely heart?

      So please your Majesty, I would I could
      Quit all offences with as clear excuse
      As well as I am doubtless I can purge
      Myself of many I am charged withal:
      Yet such extenuation let me beg,
      As, in reproof of many tales devised
      By smiling pick-thanks and base news-mongers,—
      Which oft the ear of greatness needs must hear,—
      I may, for some things true, wherein my youth
      Hath faulty wander'd and irregular,
      Find pardon on my true submission.

      God pardon thee! Yet let me wonder, Harry,
      At thy affections, which do hold a wing
      Quite from the flight of all thy ancestors.
      Thy place in Council thou hast rudely lost,
      Which by thy younger brother is supplied;
      And art almost an alien to the hearts
      Of all the Court and princes of my blood:
      The hope and expectation of thy time
      Is ruin'd; and the soul of every man
      Prophetically does forethink thy fall.
      Had I so lavish of my presence been,
      So common-hackney'd in the eyes of men,
      So stale and cheap to vulgar company,
      Opinion, that did help me to the crown,
      Had still kept loyal to possession,
      And left me in reputeless banishment,

A fellow of no mark nor likelihood.
      By being seldom seen, I could not stir
      But, like a comet, I was wonder'd at;
      That men would tell their children, This is he;
      Others would say, Where, which is Bolingbroke?
      And then I stole all courtesy from Heaven,
      And dress'd myself in such humility,
      That I did pluck allegiance from men's hearts,
      Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths,
      Even in the presence of the crowned King.
      Thus did I keep my person fresh and new;
      My presence, like a robe pontifical,
      Ne'er seen but wonder'd at: and so my state,
      Seldom but sumptuous, showed like a feast,
      And won by rareness such solemnity.
      The skipping King, he ambled up and down
      With shallow jesters and rash bavin wits,
      Soon kindled and soon burnt; carded his state,
      Mingled his royalty, with capering fools;
      Had his great name profaned with their scorns;
      And gave his countenance, against his name,
      To laugh at gibing boys, and stand the push
      Of every beardless vain comparative;
      Grew a companion to the common streets,
      Enfeoff'd himself to popularity;
      That, being dally swallow'd by men's eyes,
      They surfeited with honey, and began
      To loathe the taste of sweetness, whereof a little
      More than a little is by much too much.
      So, when he had occasion to be seen,
      He was but as the cuckoo is in June,
      Heard, not regarded; seen, but with such eyes
      As, sick and blunted with community,
      Afford no extraordinary gaze,
      Such as is bent on sun-like majesty
      When it shines seldom in admiring eyes;
      But rather drowsed, and hung their eyelids down,
      Slept in his face, and render'd such aspect
      As cloudy men use to their adversaries,
      Being with his presence glutted, gorged, and full.
      And in that very line, Harry, stand'st thou;
      For thou hast lost thy princely privilege
      With vile participation: not an eye
      But is a-weary of thy common sight,
      Save mine, which hath desired to see thee more;
      Which now doth that I would not have it do,
      Make blind itself with foolish tenderness.

      I shall hereafter, my thrice-gracious lord,
      Be more myself.

      For all the world,
      As thou art to this hour, was Richard then
      When I from France set foot at Ravenspurg;
      And even as I was then is Percy now.
      Now, by my sceptre, and my soul to boot,
      He hath more worthy interest to the state
      Than thou, the shadow of succession;
      For, of no right, nor colour like to right,
      He doth fill fields with harness in the realm,
      Turns head against the lion's armed jaws;
      And, being no more in debt to years than thou,
      Leads ancient lords and reverend bishops on
      To bloody battles and to bruising arms.
      What never-dying honour hath he got
      Against renowned Douglas! whose high deeds,
      Whose hot incursions, and great name in arms,
      Holds from all soldiers chief majority
      And military title capital
      Through all the kingdoms that acknowledge Christ:
      Thrice hath this Hotspur, Mars in swathing-clothes,
      This infant warrior, in his enterprises
      Discomfited great Douglas; ta'en him once,
      Enlarged him, and made a friend of him,
      To fill the mouth of deep defiance up,
      And shake the peace and safety of our throne.
      And what say you to this? Percy, Northumberland,
      Th' Archbishop's Grace of York, Douglas, and Mortimer
      Capitulate against us, and are up.
      But wherefore do I tell these news to thee?
      Why, Harry, do I tell thee of my foes,
      Which art my near'st and dearest enemy?
      Thou that art like enough,—through vassal fear,
      Base inclination, and the start of spleen,—
      To fight against me under Percy's pay,
      To dog his heels, and curtsy at his frowns,
      To show how much thou art degenerate.

      Do not think so; you shall not find it so:
      And God forgive them that so much have sway'd
      Your Majesty's good thoughts away from me!
      I will redeem all this on Percy's head,
      And, in the closing of some glorious day,
      Be bold to tell you that I am your son;
      When I will wear a garment all of blood,
      And stain my favour in a bloody mask,
      Which, wash'd away, shall scour my shame with it:
      And that shall be the day, whene'er it lights,
      That this same child of honour and renown,
      This gallant Hotspur, this all-praised knight,
      And your unthought-of Harry, chance to meet.
      For every honour sitting on his helm,
      Would they were multitudes, and on my head
      My shames redoubled! for the time will come,
      That I shall make this northern youth exchange
      His glorious deeds for my indignities.
      Percy is but my factor, good my lord,
      T' engross up glorious deeds on my behalf;
      And I will call hall to so strict account,
      That he shall render every glory up,
      Yea, even the slightest worship of his time,
      Or I will tear the reckoning from his heart.
      This, in the name of God, I promise here:
      The which if I perform, and do survive,
      I do beseech your Majesty, may salve
      The long-grown wounds of my intemperance:
      If not, the end of life cancels all bands;
      And I will die a hundred thousand deaths
      Ere break the smallest parcel of this vow.

      A hundred thousand rebels die in this.
      Thou shalt have charge and sovereign trust herein.—

[Enter Sir Walter Blunt.]


      So is the business that I come to speak of.
      Lord Mortimer of Scotland hath sent word
      That Douglas and the English rebels met

Th' eleventh of this month at Shrewsbury:
      A mighty and a fearful head they are,
      If promises be kept on every hand,
      As ever offer'd foul play in a State.

      The Earl of Westmoreland set forth to-day;
      With him my son, Lord John of Lancaster;
      For this advertisement is five days old.
      On Wednesday next you, Harry, shall set forward;
      On Thursday we ourselves will march:
      Our meeting is Bridgenorth: and, Harry, you
      Shall march through Glostershire; by which account,
      Our business valued, some twelve days hence
      Our general forces at Bridgenorth shall meet.
      Our hands are full of business: let's away;
      Advantage feeds him fat, while men delay.


Scene III. Eastcheap. A Room in the Boar's-Head Tavern.Edit

[Enter Falstaff and Bardolph.]

      Company, villainous company, hath been the spoil of me.


      out of all order, out of all compass.

      compass, —out of all reasonable compass, Sir John.

      thou art the Knight of the Burning Lamp.

      Why, Sir John, my face does you no harm.

      I have maintain'd that salamander of yours with fire any time this

      'Sblood, I would my face were in your stomach!


[Enter the Hostess.]

      pick'd my pocket?



      mine own house before.

      Go to, I know you well enough.


      and they have made bolters of them.

      and money lent you, four-and-twenty pound.

      He had his part of it; let him pay.

      He? alas, he is poor; he hath nothing.

      lost a seal-ring of my grandfather's worth forty mark.

      that that ring was copper!


      playing on his truncheon like a fife.]


      Yea, two-and-two, Newgate-fashion.

      My lord, I pray you, hear me.

      What say'st thou, Mistress Quickly? How doth thy husband? I love
      him well; he is an honest man.

      Good my lord, hear me.

      Pr'ythee, let her alone, and list to me.

      What say'st thou, Jack?

      pocket pick'd: this house is turn'd bawdy-house; they pick pockets.

      What didst thou lose, Jack?

      a-piece and a seal-ring of my grandfather's.

      A trifle, some eight-penny matter.

      man as he is; and said he would cudgel you.

      What! he did not?

      There's neither faith, truth, nor womanhood in me else.

      There's no more faith in thee than in a stew'd prune; nor no more

      Say, what thing? what thing? I am an honest man's wife: and,


      Say, what beast, thou knave, thou?

      What beast! why, an otter.

      An otter, Sir John, why an otter?


      Thou art an unjust man in saying so; thou or any man knows where
      to have me, thou knave, thou!

      Thou say'st true, hostess; and he slanders thee most grossly.

      thousand pound.

      Sirrah, do I owe you a thousand pound?


      thou owest me thy love.

      Nay, my lord, he call'd you Jack, and said he would cudgel you.

      Did I, Bardolph?

      Indeed, Sir John, you said so.

      Yea, if he said my ring was copper.


      Why, Hal, thou know'st, as thou art but man, I dare; but as thou

      And why not as the lion?

      The King himself is to be feared as the lion: dost thou think I'll

      Sirrah, there's no room for faith, truth, nor honesty in this
      bosom of thine; it is all fill'd up with midriff.
      impudent, emboss'd rascal, if there were anything in thy pocket but
      tavern-reckonings, and one poor pennyworth of sugar-candy to make thee
      long-winded,—if thy pocket were enrich'd with any other injuries but
      these, I am a villain: and yet you will stand to it; you will not
      pocket-up wrong. Art thou not ashamed!

      Dost thou hear, Hal? thou know'st, in the state of innocency Adam fell;
      Thou see'st I have more flesh than another man; and therefore more
      frailty. You confess, then, you pick'd my pocket?


It appears so by the story.

      to any honest reason; thou see'st I am pacified.—Still? Nay, pr'ythee,
      be gone.

[Exit Hostess.]

Now, Hal, to the news at Court: for the robbery, lad, how is
      that answered?

      is paid back again.


      I am good friends with my father, and may do any thing.

      unwash'd hands too.

      Do, my lord.

      I have procured thee, Jack, a charge of Foot.

      I would it had been of Horse. Where shall I find one that can steal


      My lord?

      Go bear this letter to Lord John of Lancaster,

My brother John; this to my Lord of Westmoreland.—

[Exit Bardolph.]

Go, Pointz, to horse, to horse; for thou and I
      Have thirty miles to ride yet ere dinner-time.—

[Exit Pointz.]

      At two o'clock in th' afternoon:
      There shalt thou know thy charge; and there receive
      Money and order for their furniture.
      The land is burning; Percy stands on high;
      And either they or we must lower lie.


      Rare words! brave world!—Hostess, my breakfast; come:—
      O, I could wish this tavern were my drum!



Scene I. The Rebel Camp near Shrewsbury.Edit

[Enter Hotspur, Worcester, and Douglas.]

      Well said, my noble Scot: if speaking truth
      In this fine age were not thought flattery,
      Such attribution should the Douglas have,
      As not a soldier of this season's stamp
      Should go so general-current through the world.
      By God, I cannot flatter; I defy
      The tongues of soothers; but a braver place
      In my heart's love hath no man than yourself:

      Thou art the king of honour:
      No man so potent breathes upon the ground
      But I will beard him.

      Do so, and 'tis well.—

[Enter a Messenger with letters.]


      These letters come from your father.

      Letters from him! why comes he not himself?

      He cannot come, my lord; he's grievous sick.

      Zwounds! how has he the leisure to be sick
      In such a justling time? Who leads his power?
      Under whose government come they along?

      His letters bears his mind, not I, my lord.

      I pr'ythee, tell me, doth he keep his bed?

      And at the time of my departure thence
      He was much fear'd by his physicians.

      I would the state of time had first been whole
      Ere he by sickness had been visited:
      His health was never better worth than now.

      Sick now! droop now! this sickness doth infect
      The very life-blood of our enterprise;
      'Tis catching hither, even to our camp.

He writes me here, that inward sickness,—
      And that his friends by deputation could not
      So soon be drawn; no did he think it meet
      To lay so dangerous and dear a trust
      On any soul removed, but on his own.
      Yet doth he give us bold advertisement,
      That with our small conjunction we should on,
      To see how fortune is disposed to us;
      For, as he writes, there is no quailing now,
      Because the King is certainly possess'd
      Of all our purposes. What say you to it?

      Your father's sickness is a maim to us.

      A perilous gash, a very limb lopp'd off:—
      Seems more than we shall find it. Were it good
      To set the exact wealth of all our states
      All at one cast? to set so rich a main
      On the nice hazard of one doubtful hour?
      It were not good; for therein should we read
      The very bottom and the soul of hope,
      The very list, the very utmost bound
      Of all our fortunes.

      Faith, and so we should;
      Where now remains a sweet reversion;
      And we may boldly spend upon the hope
      Of what is to come in:
      A comfort of retirement lives in this.

      A rendezvous, a home to fly unto,
      If that the Devil and mischance look big
      Upon the maidenhead of our affairs.

      But yet I would your father had been here.
      The quality and hair of our attempt
      Brooks no division: it will be thought
      By some, that know not why he is away,
      That wisdom, loyalty, and mere dislike
      Of our proceedings, kept the earl from hence:
      And think how such an apprehension
      May turn the tide of fearful faction,
      And breed a kind of question in our cause;
      For well you know we of the offering side
      Must keep aloof from strict arbitrement,
      And stop all sight-holes, every loop from whence
      The eye of reason may pry in upon us.
      This absence of your father's draws a curtain,
      That shows the ignorant a kind of fear
      Before not dreamt of.

      Nay, you strain too far.
      I, rather, of his absence make this use:
      It lends a lustre and more great opinion,
      A larger dare to our great enterprise,
      Than if the earl were here; for men must think,
      If we, without his help, can make a head
      To push against the kingdom, with his help
      We shall o'erturn it topsy-turvy down.
      Yet all goes well, yet all our joints are whole.

      As heart can think: there is not such a word
      Spoke in Scotland as this term of fear.

[Enter Sir Richard Vernon.]

      My cousin Vernon! welcome, by my soul.

      Pray God my news be worth a welcome, lord.
      The Earl of Westmoreland, seven thousand strong,
      Is marching hitherwards; with him Prince John.

      No harm: what more?

      And further, I have learn'd
      The King himself in person is set forth,
      Or hitherwards intended speedily,
      With strong and mighty preparation.

      He shall be welcome too. Where is his son,
      The nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales,
      And his comrades, that daff the world aside,
      And bid it pass?

      All furnish'd, all in arms;
      All plumed like estridges that with the wind
      Bate it; like eagles having lately bathed;
      Glittering in golden coats, like images;
      As full of spirit as the month of May
      And gorgeous as the Sun at midsummer;
      Wanton as youthful goats, wild as young bulls.
      I saw young Harry—with his beaver on,
      His cuisses on his thighs, gallantly arm'd—
      Rise from the ground like feather'd Mercury,
      And vault it with such ease into his seat,
      As if an angel dropp'd down from the clouds,
      To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus,
      And witch the world with noble horsemanship.

      No more, no more: worse than the Sun in March,
      This praise doth nourish agues. Let them come;
      They come like sacrifices in their trim,
      And to the fire-eyed maid of smoky war,
      All hot and bleeding, will we offer them:
      The mailed Mars shall on his altar sit
      Up to the ears in blood. I am on fire
      To hear this rich reprisal is so nigh,
      And yet not ours.—Come, let me taste my horse,
      Who is to bear me, like a thunderbolt,
      Against the bosom of the Prince of Wales:
      Harry and Harry shall, hot horse to horse,
      Meet, and ne'er part till one drop down a corse.—
      O, that Glendower were come!

      There is more news:
      I learn'd in Worcester, as I rode along,
      He cannot draw his power this fourteen days.

      That's the worst tidings that I hear of yet.

      Ay, by my faith, that bears a frosty sound.

      What may the King's whole battle reach unto?

      To thirty thousand.

      Forty let it be:
      My father and Glendower being both away,
      The powers of us may serve so great a day.
      Come, let us take a muster speedily:
      Doomsday is near; die all, die merrily.

      Talk not of dying: I am out of fear
      Of death or death's hand for this one half-year.


Scene II. A public Road near Coventry.Edit

[Enter Falstaff and Bardolph.]

      sack: our soldiers shall march through; we'll to Sutton-Co'fil'

      Will you give me money, captain?

      Lay out, lay out.

      This bottle makes an angel.

      take them all; I'll answer the coinage. Bid my lieutenant
      Peto meet me at the town's end.

      I will, captain: farewell.


      press'd me none but good householders, yeomen's sons; inquired
      banns; such a commodity of warm slaves as had as lief hear the
      Devil as a drum; such as fear the report of a caliver worse than
      a struck fowl or a hurt wild-duck. I press'd me none but such
      toasts-and-butter, with hearts in their bodies no bigger than
      pins'-heads, and they have bought out their services; and now
      my whole charge consists of ancients, corporals, lieutenants,
      gentlemen of companies, slaves as ragged as Lazarus in the
      painted cloth, where the glutton's dogs licked his sores; and
      such as, indeed, were never soldiers, but discarded unjust
      peace; ten times more dishonourable ragged than an old faced
      hundred and fifty tattered Prodigals lately come from
      the way, and told me I had unloaded all the gibbets, and press'd
      the dead bodies.
      No eye hath seen such scarecrows. I'll not march through Coventry
      with them, that's flat: nay, and the villains march wide betwixt
      them out of prison. There's but a shirt and a half in all my company;
      and the half-shirt is two napkins tack'd together and thrown over the
      the truth, stolen from my host at Saint Alban's, or the red-nose
      innkeeper of Daventry.

[Enter Prince Henry and Westmoreland.]

      How now, blown Jack! how now, quilt!

      What, Hal! how now, mad wag! what a devil dost thou in
      Warwickshire?—My good Lord of Westmoreland, I cry you mercy:
      I thought your honour had already been at Shrewsbury.

      Faith, Sir John, 'tis more than time that I were there, and you too;
      us all: we must away all, to-night.


      I think, to steal cream, indeed; for thy theft hath already made thee

      Mine, Hal, mine.

      I did never see such pitiful rascals.

      they'll fill a pit as well as better: tush, man, mortal men,
      mortal men.

      Ay, but, Sir John, methinks they are exceeding poor and bare,—too

      Faith, for their poverty, I know not where they had that; and,
      for their bareness, I am sure they never learn'd that of me.

      No, I'll be sworn; unless you call three fingers on the ribs


      What, is the King encamp'd?



      Fits a dull fighter and a keen guest.


Scene III. The Rebel Camp near Shrewsbury.Edit

[Enter Hotspur, Worcester, Douglas, and Vernon.]

      We'll fight with him to-night.

      It may not be.

      You give him, then, advantage.

      Not a whit.

      Why say you so? looks he not for supply?

      So do we.

      His is certain, ours is doubtful.

      Good cousin, be advised; stir not to-night.

      Do not, my lord.

      You do not counsel well:
      You speak it out of fear and cold heart.

      Do me no slander, Douglas: by my life,—
      And I dare well maintain it with my life,—
      If well-respected honour bid me on,
      I hold as little counsel with weak fear
      Let it be seen to-morrow in the battle
      Which of us fears.

      Yea, or to-night.


      To-night, say I.

      Being men of such great leading as you are,
      That you foresee not what impediments
      Drag back our expedition: certain Horse
      Of my cousin Vernon's are not yet come up:
      Your uncle Worcester's Horse came but to-day;
      And now their pride and mettle is asleep,
      Their courage with hard labour tame and dull,
      That not a horse is half the half himself.

      So are the horses of the enemy
      In general, journey-bated and brought low:
      The better part of ours are full of rest.

      The number of the King exceedeth ours.
      For God's sake, cousin, stay till all come in.

[The Trumpet sounds a parley.]

[Enter Sir Walter Blunt.]

      I come with gracious offers from the King,
      If you vouchsafe me hearing and respect.

      Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt; and would to God
      You were of our determination!
      Some of us love you well; and even those some
      Envy your great deservings and good name,
      Because you are not of our quality,
      But stand against us like an enemy.

      And God defend but still I should stand so,
      So long as out of limit and true rule
      You stand against anointed majesty!
      But to my charge: the King hath sent to know
      The nature of your griefs; and whereupon
      You conjure from the breast of civil peace
      Such bold hostility, teaching his duteous land
      Audacious cruelty. If that the King
      Have any way your good deserts forgot,
      Which he confesseth to be manifold,
      He bids you name your griefs; and with all speed
      You shall have your desires with interest,
      And pardon absolute for yourself and these
      Herein misled by your suggestion.

      The King is kind; and well we know the King
      Knows at what time to promise, when to pay.
      My father and my uncle and myself
      Did give him that same royalty he wears;
      And—when he was not six-and-twenty strong,
      Sick in the world's regard, wretched and low,
      A poor unminded outlaw sneaking home—
      My father gave him welcome to the shore:
      And—when he heard him swear and vow to God,
      He came but to be Duke of Lancaster,
      To sue his livery and beg his peace,
      With tears of innocence and terms of zeal—
      My father, in kind heart and pity moved,
      Swore him assistance, and performed it too.
      Now, when the lords and barons of the realm
      Perceived Northumberland did lean to him,
      The more and less came in with cap and knee;
      Met him in boroughs, cities, villages,
      Attended him on bridges, stood in lanes,
      Laid gifts before him, proffer'd him their oaths,
      Give him their heirs as pages, follow'd him
      Even at the heels in golden multitudes.
      He presently—as greatness knows itself—
      Steps me a little higher than his vow
      Made to my father, while his blood was poor,
      Upon the naked shore at Ravenspurg;
      And now, forsooth, takes on him to reform
      Some certain edicts and some strait decrees
      That lie too heavy on the commonwealth;
      Cries out upon abuses, seems to weep
      Over his country's wrongs; and, by this face,
      This seeming brow of justice, did he win
      The hearts of all that he did angle for:
      Proceeded further; cut me off the heads
      Of all the favourites, that the absent King
      In deputation left behind him here
      When he was personal in the Irish war.

      Tut, I came not to hear this.

      Then to the point:
      In short time after, he deposed the King;
      Soon after that, deprived him of his life;
      And, in the neck of that, task'd the whole State:
      To make that worse, suffer'd his kinsman March
      (Who is, if every owner were well placed,
      Indeed his king) to be engaged in Wales,
      There without ransom to lie forfeited;
      Disgraced me in my happy victories,
      Sought to entrap me by intelligence;
      Rated my uncle from the Council-board;
      In rage dismiss'd my father from the Court;
      Broke oath on oath, committed wrong on wrong;
      And, in conclusion, drove us to seek out
      This head of safety; and withal to pry
      Into his title, the which now we find
      Too indirect for long continuance.

      Shall I return this answer to the King?

      Not so, Sir Walter: we'll withdraw awhile.
      Go to the King; and let there be impawn'd
      Some surety for a safe return again,
      And in the morning early shall my uncle
      Bring him our purposes: and so, farewell.

      I would you would accept of grace and love.

      And may be so we shall.

      Pray God you do.


Scene IV. York. A Room in the Archbishop's Palace.Edit

[Enter the Archbishop of York and Sir Michael.]

      Hie, good Sir Michael; bear this sealed brief
      With winged haste to the Lord Marshal;
      This to my cousin Scroop; and all the rest
      To whom they are directed. If you knew
      How much they do import, you would make haste.

      My good lord,
      I guess their tenour.

      Like enough you do.
      To-morrow, good Sir Michael, is a day
      Wherein the fortune of ten thousand men
      Must bide the touch; for, sir, at Shrewsbury,
      As I am truly given to understand,
      The King, with mighty and quick-raised power,
      What with the sickness of Northumberland,
      Whose power was in the first proportion,
      And what with Owen Glendower's absence thence,
      Who with them was a rated sinew too,
      And comes not in, o'er-rul'd by prophecies,—
      I fear the power of Percy is too weak
      To wage an instant trial with the King.

      Why, my good lord, you need not fear;
      There's Douglas and Lord Mortimer.

      No, Mortimer's not there.

      But there is Mordake, Vernon, Lord Harry Percy,
      And there's my Lord of Worcester; and a head
      Of gallant warriors, noble gentlemen.

      And so there is: but yet the King hath drawn
      The special head of all the land together;
      The Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster,
      The noble Westmoreland, and warlike Blunt;
      And many more corrivals and dear men
      Of estimation and command in arms.

      Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well opposed.

      I hope no less, yet needful 'tis to fear;
      And, to prevent the worst, Sir Michael, speed:
      For if Lord Percy thrive not, ere the King
      Dismiss his power, he means to visit us,
      For he hath heard of our confederacy;
      And 'tis but wisdom to make strong against him:
      Therefore make haste. I must go write again
      To other friends; and so, farewell, Sir Michael.


ACT V.Edit

Scene I. The King's Camp near Shrewsbury.Edit

[Enter King Henry, Prince Henry, Lancaster, Sir Walter Blunt, and Sir John Falstaff.]

      How bloodily the Sun begins to peer
      Above yon busky hill! the day looks pale
      At his distemperature.

      The southern wind
      Doth play the trumpet to his purposes;
      And by his hollow whistling in the leaves
      Foretells a tempest and a blustering day.

      Then with the losers let it sympathize,
      For nothing can seem foul to those that win.—

[The trumpet sounds. Enter Worcester and Vernon.]

How, now, my Lord of Worcester! 'tis not well
      That you and I should meet upon such terms
      As now we meet. You have deceived our trust;
      And made us doff our easy robes of peace,
      To crush our old limbs in ungentle steel:
      What say you to't? will you again unknit
      This churlish knot of all-abhorred war,
      And move in that obedient orb again
      Where you did give a fair and natural light;
      And be no more an exhaled meteor,
      A prodigy of fear, and a portent
      Of broached mischief to the unborn times?

      Hear me, my liege:
      For mine own part, I could be well content
      To entertain the lag-end of my life
      With quiet hours; for I do protest,
      I have not sought the day of this dislike.

      You have not sought it! why, how comes it, then?

      Rebellion lay in his way, and he found it.

      Peace, chewet, peace!

      It pleased your Majesty to turn your looks
      Of favour from myself and all our House;
      And yet I must remember you, my lord,
      We were the first and dearest of your friends.
      For you my staff of office did I break
      In Richard's time; and posted day and night
      To meet you on the way, and kiss your hand,
      When yet you were in place and in account
      Nothing so strong and fortunate as I.
      It was myself, my brother, and his son,
      That brought you home, and boldly did outdare
      The dangers of the time. You swore to us,—
      And you did swear that oath at Doncaster,—
      That you did nothing purpose 'gainst the state;
      Nor claim no further than your new-fall'n right,
      The seat of Gaunt, dukedom of Lancaster:
      To this we swore our aid. But in short space
      It rain'd down fortune showering on your head;
      And such a flood of greatness fell on you,—
      What with our help, what with the absent King,
      What with the injuries of a wanton time,
      The seeming sufferances that you had borne,
      And the contrarious winds that held the King
      So long in his unlucky Irish wars
      That all in England did repute him dead,—
      And, from this swarm of fair advantages,
      You took occasion to be quickly woo'd
      To gripe the general sway into your hand;
      Forgot your oath to us at Doncaster;
      And, being fed by us, you used us so
      As that ungentle gull, the cuckoo-bird,
      Useth the sparrow; did oppress our nest;
      Grew by our feeding to so great a bulk,
      That even our love thirst not come near your sight
      For fear of swallowing; but with nimble wing
      We were enforced, for safety-sake, to fly
      Out of your sight, and raise this present head:
      Whereby we stand opposed by such means
      As you yourself have forged against yourself,
      By unkind usage, dangerous countenance,
      And violation of all faith and troth
      Sworn to tis in your younger enterprise.

      These things, indeed, you have articulate,
      Proclaim'd at market-crosses, read in churches,
      To face the garment of rebellion
      With some fine colour that may please the eye
      Of fickle changelings and poor discontents,
      Which gape and rub the elbow at the news
      Of hurlyburly innovation:
      And never yet did insurrection want
      Such water-colours to impaint his cause;
      Nor moody beggars, starving for a time
      Of pellmell havoc and confusion.

      In both our armies there is many a soul
      Shall pay full dearly for this encounter,
      If once they join in trial. Tell your nephew,
      The Prince of Wales doth join with all the world
      In praise of Henry Percy: by my hopes,
      This present enterprise set off his head,
      I do not think a braver gentleman,
      More active-valiant or more valiant-young,
      More daring or more bold, is now alive
      To grace this latter age with noble deeds.
      For my part,—I may speak it to my shame,—
      I have a truant been to chivalry;
      And so I hear he doth account me too:
      Yet this before my father's Majesty,—
      I am content that he shall take the odds
      Of his great name and estimation,
      And will, to save the blood on either side,
      Try fortune with him in a single fight.

      And, Prince of Wales, so dare we venture thee,
      Albeit considerations infinite
      Do make against it.—No, good Worcester, no;
      We love our people well; even those we love
      That are misled upon your cousin's part;
      And, will they take the offer of our grace,
      Shall be my friend again, and I'll be his:
      So tell your cousin, and then bring me word
      What he will do: but, if he will not yield,
      Rebuke and dread correction wait on us,
      And they shall do their office. So, be gone;
      We will not now be troubled with reply:
      We offer fair; take it advisedly.

[Exit Worcester with Vernon.]

      It will not be accepted, on my life:
      The Douglas and the Hotspur both together
      Are confident against the world in arms.

      Hence, therefore, every leader to his charge;
      For, on their answer, will we set on them:
      And God befriend us, as our cause is just!

[Exeunt the King, Blunt, and Prince John.]

      so; 'tis a point of friendship.

      Nothing but a colossus can do thee that friendship.
      Say thy prayers, and farewell.

      I would it were bedtime, Hal, and all well.

      Why, thou owest God a death.


      'Tis not due yet; I would be loth to pay Him before His day.
      prick me off when I come on? how then? Can honor set-to a leg?
      hath no skill in surgery then? no. What is honour? a word. What
      of it: honour is a mere scutcheon:—and so ends my catechism.


Scene II. The Rebel Camp.Edit

[Enter Worcester and Vernon.]

      O no, my nephew must not know, Sir Richard,
      The liberal-kind offer of the King.

      'Twere best he did.

      Then are we all undone.
      It is not possible, it cannot be,
      The King should keep his word in loving us;
      He will suspect us still, and find a time
      To punish this offence in other faults:
      Suspicion all our lives shall be stuck full of eyes;
      For treason is but trusted like the fox,
      Will have a wild trick of his ancestors.
      Look how we can, or sad or merrily,
      Interpretation will misquote our looks;
      And we shall feed like oxen at a stall,
      The better cherish'd, still the nearer death.
      My nephew's trespass may be well forgot:
      It hath th' excuse of youth and heat of blood,
      And an adopted name of privilege,—
      A hare-brain'd Hotspur, govern'd by a spleen:
      All his offences live upon my head
      And on his father's: we did train him on;
      And, his corruption being ta'en from us,
      Therefore, good cousin, let not Harry know,
      In any case, the offer of the King.

      Deliver what you will, I'll say 'tis so.
      Here comes your cousin.

[Enter Hotspur and Douglas; Officers and Soldiers behind.]

      My uncle is return'd: deliver up
      My Lord of Westmoreland.—Uncle, what news?

      The King will bid you battle presently.

      Defy him by the Lord Of Westmoreland.

      Lord Douglas, go you and tell him so.

      Marry, I shall, and very willingly.


      There is no seeming mercy in the King.

      Did you beg any? God forbid!

      I told him gently of our grievances,
      Of his oath-breaking; which he mended thus,
      By new-forswearing that he is forsworn:
      He calls us rebels, traitors; and will scourge
      With haughty arms this hateful name in us.

[Re-enter Douglas.]

      Arm, gentlemen; to arms! for I have thrown
      A brave defiance in King Henry's teeth,
      And Westmoreland, that was engaged, did bear it;
      Which cannot choose but bring him quickly on.

      The Prince of Wales stepp'd forth before the King,
      And, nephew, challenged you to single fight.

      O, would the quarrel lay upon our heads;
      And that no man might draw short breath to-day
      But I and Harry Monmouth! Tell me, tell me,
      How show'd his tasking? seem'd it in contempt?

      No, by my soul: I never in my life
      Did hear a challenge urged more modestly,
      Unless a brother should a brother dare
      To gentle exercise and proof of arms.
      He gave you all the duties of a man;
      Trimm'd up your praises with a princely tongue;
      Spoke your deservings like a chronicle;
      Making you ever better than his praise,
      By still dispraising praise valued with you;
      And, which became him like a prince indeed,
      He made a blushing cital of himself;
      And chid his truant youth with such a grace,
      As if he master'd there a double spirit,
      Of teaching and of learning instantly.
      There did he pause: but let me tell the world,
      If he outlive the envy of this day,
      England did never owe so sweet a hope,
      So much misconstrued in his wantonness.

      Cousin, I think thou art enamoured
      Upon his follies: never did I hear
      Of any prince so wild o' liberty.
      But be he as he will, yet once ere night
      I will embrace him with a soldier's arm,
      That he shall shrink under my courtesy.—
      Better consider what you have to do
      Than I, that have not well the gift of tongue,
      Can lift your blood up with persuasion.

[Enter a Messenger.]

      My lord, here are letters for you.

      I cannot read them now.—
      O gentlemen, the time of life is short!
      To spend that shortness basely were too long,
      If life did ride upon a dial's point,
      Still ending at th' arrival of an hour.
      An if we live, we live to tread on kings;
      If die, brave death, when princes die with us!
      Now, for our consciences, the arms are fair,
      When the intent of bearing them is just.

[Enter another Messenger.]

      My lord, prepare: the King comes on apace.

      I thank him, that he cuts me from my tale,
      For I profess not talking; only this,
      Let each man do his best: and here draw I
      A sword, whose temper I intend to stain
      With the best blood that I can meet withal
      In the adventure of this perilous day.
      Now, Esperance! Percy! and set on.
      Sound all the lofty instruments of war,
      And by that music let us all embrace;
      For, Heaven to Earth, some of us never shall
      A second time do such a courtesy.

[The trumpets sound. They embrace, and exeunt.]

Scene III. Plain between the Camps.Edit

[Excursions, and Parties fighting. Alarum to the battle.
      Then enter Douglas and Sir Walter Blunt, meeting.]

      What is thy name, that in the battle thus
      Thou crossest me? what honour dost thou seek
      Upon my head?

      Know, then, my name is Douglas,
      And I do haunt thee in the battle thus
      Because some tell me that thou art a king.

      They tell thee true.

      The Lord of Stafford dear to-day hath bought
      Thy likeness; for, instead of thee, King Harry,
      This sword hath ended him: so shall it thee,
      Unless thou yield thee as my prisoner.

      I was not born a yielder, thou proud Scot;
      And thou shalt find a king that will revenge
      Lord Stafford's death.

[They fight, and Blunt is slain. Enter Hotspur.]

      O Douglas, hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus,
      I never had triumphed o'er a Scot.

      All's done, all's won; here breathless lies the King.



      This, Douglas? no; I know this face full well:
      A gallant knight he was, his name was Blunt;
      Semblably furnish'd like the King himself.

      A fool go with thy soul, where're it goes!
      A borrow'd title hast thou bought too dear:
      Why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king?

      The King hath many marching in his coats.

      I'll murder all his wardrobe piece by piece,
      Until I meet the King.

      Up, and away!
      Our soldiers stand full fairly for the day.


[Alarums. Enter Falstaff.]

      Though I could 'scape shot-free at London, I fear the shot
      here; here's no scoring but upon the pate.—Soft! who are you?
      Sir Walter Blunt: there's honour for you! here's no vanity! I am
      ragamuffins where they are peppered: there's not three of my
      beg during life. But who comes here?

[Enter Prince Henry.]

      What, stand'st thou idle here? lend me thy sword:
      Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff
      Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies,
      Whose deaths are yet unrevenged: I pr'ythee,
      Lend me thy sword.

      O Hal, I pr'ythee give me leave to breathe awhile. Turk
      Gregory never did such deeds in arms as I have done this

      He is indeed; and living to kill thee.
      I pr'ythee, lend me thy sword.

      Nay, before God, Hal, if Percy be alive, thou gett'st not
      my sword; but take my pistol, if thou wilt.

      Give it me: what, is it in the case?

      Ay, Hal. 'Tis hot, 'tis hot: there's that will sack a city.

[The Prince draws out a bottle of sack.]

What, is't a time to jest and dally now?

[Throws it at him, and exit.]

      honour comes unlooked for, and there's an end.


Scene IV. Another Part of the Field.Edit

[Alarums. Excursions. Enter King Henry, Prince Henry,
      Lancaster, and Westmoreland.]

      I pr'ythee,
      Harry, withdraw thyself; thou bleedest too much.—
      Lord John of Lancaster, go you unto him.

      Not I, my lord, unless I did bleed too.

      I do beseech your Majesty, make up,
      Lest your retirement do amaze your friends.

      I will do so.—
      My Lord of Westmoreland, lead him to his tent.

      Come, my lord, I'll lead you to your tent.

      And God forbid, a shallow scratch should drive
      The Prince of Wales from such a field as this,
      Where stain'd nobility lies trodden on,
      And rebels' arms triumph in massacres!

      We breathe too long:—come, cousin Westmoreland,
      Our duty this way lies; for God's sake, come.

[Exeunt Lancaster and Westmoreland.]

      By Heaven, thou hast deceived me, Lancaster;
      I did not think thee lord of such a spirit:
      Before, I loved thee as a brother, John;
      But now I do respect thee as my soul.

      I saw him hold Lord Percy at the point
      With lustier maintenance than I did look for
      Of such an ungrown warrior.

      O, this boy
      Lends mettle to us all!


[Alarums. Enter Douglas.]

      Another king! they grow like Hydra's heads:
      I am the Douglas, fatal to all those

That wear those colours on them.—What art thou,
      That counterfeit'st the person of a king?

      The King himself; who, Douglas, grieves at heart
      So many of his shadows thou hast met,
      And not the very King. I have two boys
      Seek Percy and thyself about the field:
      But, seeing thou fall'st on me so luckily,
      I will assay thee; so, defend thyself.

      I fear thou art another counterfeit;
      But mine I'm sure thou art, whoe'er thou be,
      And thus I win thee.

[They fight; the King being in danger, re-enter Prince Henry.]

      Hold up thy head, vile Scot, or thou art like
      Never to hold it up again! the spirits
      Of valiant Shirley, Stafford, Blunt are in my arms:
      It is the Prince of Wales that threatens thee;
      Who never promiseth but he means to pay.—

[They fight: Douglas flies.]

Cheerly, my lord: how fares your Grace?
      Sir Nicholas Gawsey hath for succour sent,
      And so hath Clifton: I'll to Clifton straight.

      Stay, and breathe awhile:
      Thou hast redeem'd thy lost opinion;
      And show'd thou makest some tender of my life,
      In this fair rescue thou hast brought to me.

      O God, they did me too much injury
      That ever said I hearken'd for your death!
      If it were so, I might have let alone
      Th' insulting hand of Douglas over you,
      Which would have been as speedy in your end
      As all the poisonous potions in the world,
      And saved the treacherous labour of your son.

      Make up to Clifton: I'll to Sir Nicholas Gawsey.


[Enter Hotspur.]

      If I mistake not, thou art Harry Monmouth.

      Thou speak'st as if I would deny my name.

      My name is Harry Percy.

      Why, then I see
      A very valiant rebel of the name.
      To share with me in glory any more:
      Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere;
      Nor can one England brook a double reign,
      Of Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales.

      Nor shall it, Harry; for the hour is come
      To end the one of us; and would to God
      Thy name in arms were now as great as mine!

      I'll make it greater ere I part from thee;
      And all the budding honours on thy crest
      I'll crop, to make a garland for my head.

      I can no longer brook thy vanities.

[They fight.]

[Enter Falstaff.]

      play here, I can tell you.

[Re-enter Douglas; he fights with Falstaff, who falls down as if
      he were dead, and exit Douglas. Hotspure is wounded, and falls.]

      O Harry, thou hast robb'd me of my youth!
      I better brook the loss of brittle life
      Than those proud titles thou hast won of me;
      They wound my thoughts worse than thy sword my flesh:
      But thoughts the slave of life, and life Time's fool,
      And Time, that takes survey of all the world,
      Must have a stop. O, I could prophesy,
      But that the earthy and cold hand of death
      Lies on my tongue: no, Percy, thou art dust,
      And food for—


      Ill-weaved ambition, how much art thou shrunk!
      When that this body did contain a spirit,
      A kingdom for it was too small a bound;
      But now two paces of the vilest earth
      Is room enough. This earth that bears thee dead
      Bears not alive so stout a gentleman.
      If thou wert sensible of courtesy,
      I should not make so dear a show of zeal:
      But let my favours hide thy mangled face;
      And, even in thy behalf, I'll thank myself
      For doing these fair rites of tenderness.
      Adieu, and take thy praise with thee to Heaven!
      Thy ignominy sleep with thee in the grave,
      But not remember'd in thy epitaph!—

[Sees Falstaff on the ground.]

What, old acquaintance? could not all this flesh
      Keep in a little life? Poor Jack, farewell!
      I could have better spared a better man:
      O, I should have a heavy miss of thee,
      If I were much in love with vanity!
      Death hath not struck so fat a deer to-day,
      Though many dearer, in this bloody fray.
      Embowell'd will I see thee by-and-by:
      Till then in blood by noble Percy lie.


      [Rising.] Embowell'd! if thou embowel me to-day, I'll give you leave
      Counterfeit! I lie; I am no counterfeit: to die, is to be a
      have saved my life.—
      Zwounds, I am afraid of this gunpowder Percy, though he be dead: how,
      if he should counterfeit too, and rise? by my faith, I am afraid he

[Takes Hotspur on his hack.]

[Re-enter Prince Henry and Lancaster.]

      Come, brother John; full bravely hast thou flesh'd
      Thy maiden sword.

      But, soft! whom have we here?
      Did you not tell me this fat man was dead?

      I did; I saw him dead, breathless and bleeding
      Upon the ground.—
      Art thou alive? or is it fantasy
      That plays upon our eyesight? I pr'ythee, speak;
      We will not trust our eyes without our ears.
      Thou art not what thou seem'st.

      body down.] if your father will do me any honour, so; if not, let
      duke, I can assure you.

      Why, Percy I kill'd myself, and saw thee dead.

      reward valour bear the sin upon their own heads. I'll take it upon
      alive, and would deny it, zwounds, I would make him eat a piece of
      my sword.

      This is the strangest tale that ever I heard.

      This is the strangest fellow, brother John.—
      Come, bring your luggage nobly on your back:
      For my part, if a lie may do thee grace,
      I'll gild it with the happiest terms I have.—

[A retreat is sounded.]

The trumpet sounds retreat; the day is ours.
      Come, brother, let's to th' highest of the field,
      To see what friends are living, who are dead.

[Exeunt Prince Henry and Lancaster.]


[Exit, bearing off the body.]

Scene V. Another Part of the Field.Edit

[The trumpets sound. Enter King Henry, Prince Henry, Lancaster, Westmoreland, and others, with Worcester and Vernon prisoners.]

      Thus ever did rebellion find rebuke.—
      Ill-spirited Worcester! did not we send grace,
      Pardon, and terms of love to all of you?
      And wouldst thou turn our offers contrary?
      Misuse the tenour of thy kinsman's trust?
      Three knights upon our party slain to-day,
      A noble earl, and many a creature else,
      Had been alive this hour,
      If, like a Christian, thou hadst truly borne
      Betwixt our armies true intelligence.

      What I have done my safety urged me to;
      And I embrace this fortune patiently,
      Since not to be avoided it fails on me.

      Bear Worcester to the death, and Vernon too:
      Other offenders we will pause upon.—

[Exeunt Worcester and Vernon, guarded.]

How goes the field?

      The noble Scot, Lord Douglas, when he saw
      The fortune of the day quite turn'd from him,
      The noble Percy slain, and all his men
      Upon the foot of fear, fled with the rest;
      And, falling from a hill, he was so bruised
      That the pursuers took him. At my tent
      The Douglas is: and I beseech your Grace
      I may dispose of him.

      With all my heart.

      Then, brother John of Lancaster, to you
      This honourable bounty shall belong:
      Go to the Douglas, and deliver him
      Up to his pleasure, ransomless and free:
      His valour, shown upon our crests to-day,
      Hath taught us how to cherish such high deeds
      Even in the bosom of our adversaries.

      Then this remains, that we divide our power.—
      You, son John, and my cousin Westmoreland,
      Towards York shall bend you with your dearest speed,
      To meet Northumberland and the prelate Scroop,
      Who, as we hear, are busily in arms:
      Myself,—and you, son Harry,—will towards Wales,
      To fight with Glendower and the Earl of March.
      Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway,
      Meeting the check of such another day;
      And since this business so fair is done,
      Let us not leave till all our own be won.


