ACTISCENEI。London。Thepalace。EnterKINGHENRY,LORDJOHNOFLANCASTER,theEARLofWESTMORELAND,SIRWALTERBLUNT,andothersKINGHENRYIVSoshakenasweare,sowanwithcare,Findweatimeforfrightedpeacetopant,Andbreatheshort—windedaccentsofnewbroilsTobecommencedinstrandsafarremote。
NomorethethirstyentranceofthissoilShalldaubherlipswithherownchildren’sblood;
Normoreshalltrenchingwarchannelherfields,NorbruiseherfloweretswiththearmedhoofsOfhostilepaces:thoseopposedeyes,Which,likethemeteorsofatroubledheaven,Allofonenature,ofonesubstancebred,DidlatelymeetintheintestineshockAndfuriouscloseofcivilbutcheryShallnow,inmutualwell—beseemingranks,MarchallonewayandbenomoreopposedAgainstacquaintance,kindredandallies:
Theedgeofwar,likeanill—sheathedknife,Nomoreshallcuthismaster。Therefore,friends,AsfarastothesepulchreofChrist,Whosesoldiernow,underwhoseblessedcrossWeareimpressedandengagedtofight,ForthwithapowerofEnglishshallwelevy;
Whosearmsweremouldedintheirmothers’wombTochasethesepagansinthoseholyfieldsOverwhoseacreswalk’dthoseblessedfeetWhichfourteenhundredyearsagowerenail’dForouradvantageonthebittercross。
Butthisourpurposenowistwelvemonthold,Andbootless’tistotellyouwewillgo:
Thereforewemeetnotnow。ThenletmehearOfyou,mygentlecousinWestmoreland,WhatyesternightourcouncildiddecreeInforwardingthisdearexpedience。WESTMORELANDMyliege,thishastewashotinquestion,AndmanylimitsofthechargesetdownButyesternight:whenallathwarttherecameApostfromWalesloadenwithheavynews;
Whoseworstwas,thatthenobleMortimer,LeadingthemenofHerefordshiretofightAgainsttheirregularandwildGlendower,WasbytherudehandsofthatWelshmantaken,Athousandofhispeoplebutchered;
Uponwhosedeadcorpsetherewassuchmisuse,Suchbeastlyshamelesstransformation,BythoseWelshwomendoneasmaynotbeWithoutmuchshameretoldorspokenof。KINGHENRYIVItseemsthenthatthetidingsofthisbroilBrakeoffourbusinessfortheHolyLand。WESTMORELANDThismatch’dwithotherdid,mygraciouslord;
FormoreunevenandunwelcomenewsCamefromthenorthandthusitdidimport:
OnHoly—roodday,thegallantHotspurthere,YoungHarryPercyandbraveArchibald,Thatever—valiantandapprovedScot,AtHolmedonmet,Wheretheydidspendasadandbloodyhour,Asbydischargeoftheirartillery,Andshapeoflikelihood,thenewswastold;
Forhethatbroughtthem,intheveryheatAndprideoftheircontentiondidtakehorse,Uncertainoftheissueanyway。KINGHENRYIVHereisadear,atrueindustriousfriend,SirWalterBlunt,newlightedfromhishorse。
Stain’dwiththevariationofeachsoilBetwixtthatHolmedonandthisseatofours;
Andhehathbroughtussmoothandwelcomenews。
TheEarlofDouglasisdiscomfited:
TenthousandboldScots,twoandtwentyknights,Balk’dintheirownblooddidSirWalterseeOnHolmedon’splains。Ofprisoners,HotspurtookMordaketheEarlofFife,andeldestsonTobeatenDouglas;andtheEarlofAthol,OfMurray,Angus,andMenteith:
Andisnotthisanhonourablespoil?
Agallantprize?ha,cousin,isitnot?WESTMORELANDInfaith,Itisaconquestforaprincetoboastof。KINGHENRYIVYea,therethoumakestmesadandmakestmesinInenvythatmyLordNorthumberlandShouldbethefathertosoblestason,Asonwhoisthethemeofhonour’stongue;
Amongstagrove,theverystraightestplant;
WhoissweetFortune’sminionandherpride:
WhilstI,bylookingonthepraiseofhim,SeeriotanddishonourstainthebrowOfmyyoungHarry。OthatitcouldbeprovedThatsomenight—trippingfairyhadexchangedIncradle—clothesourchildrenwheretheylay,Andcall’dminePercy,hisPlantagenet!
ThenwouldIhavehisHarry,andhemine。
Butlethimfrommythoughts。Whatthinkyou,coz,OfthisyoungPercy’spride?theprisoners,Whichheinthisadventurehathsurprised,Tohisownusehekeeps;andsendsmeword,IshallhavenonebutMordakeEarlofFife。WESTMORELANDThisishisuncle’steaching;thisisWorcester,Malevolenttoyouinallaspects;
Whichmakeshimprunehimself,andbristleupThecrestofyouthagainstyourdignity。KINGHENRYIVButIhavesentforhimtoanswerthis;
AndforthiscauseawhilewemustneglectOurholypurposetoJerusalem。
Cousin,onWednesdaynextourcouncilweWillholdatWindsor;soinformthelords:
Butcomeyourselfwithspeedtousagain;
FormoreistobesaidandtobedoneThanoutofangercanbeuttered。WESTMORELANDIwill,myliege。
ExeuntSCENEII。London。AnapartmentofthePrince’s。EnterthePRINCEOFWALESandFALSTAFFFALSTAFFNow,Hal,whattimeofdayisit,lad?PRINCEHENRYThouartsofat—witted,withdrinkingofoldsackandunbuttoningtheeaftersupperandsleepinguponbenchesafternoon,thatthouhastforgottentodemandthattrulywhichthouwouldsttrulyknow。
Whatadevilhastthoutodowiththetimeoftheday?Unlesshourswerecupsofsackandminutescaponsandclocksthetonguesofbawdsanddialsthesignsofleaping—housesandtheblessedsunhimselfafairhotwenchinflame—colouredtaffeta,I
seenoreasonwhythoushouldstbesosuperfluoustodemandthetimeoftheday。FALSTAFFIndeed,youcomenearmenow,Hal;forwethattakepursesgobythemoonandthesevenstars,andnotbyPhoebus,he,’thatwanderingknightsofair。’
And,Iprithee,sweetwag,whenthouartking,as,Godsavethygrace,——majestyIshouldsay,forgracethouwilthavenone,——PRINCEHENRYWhat,none?FALSTAFFNo,bymytroth,notsomuchaswillservetoprologuetoaneggandbutter。PRINCEHENRYWell,howthen?come,roundly,roundly。FALSTAFFMarry,then,sweetwag,whenthouartking,letnotusthataresquiresofthenight’sbodybecalledthievesoftheday’sbeauty:letusbeDiana’sforesters,gentlemenoftheshade,minionsofthemoon;andletmensaywebemenofgoodgovernment,beinggoverned,astheseais,byournobleandchastemistressthemoon,underwhosecountenancewesteal。PRINCEHENRYThousayestwell,anditholdswelltoo;
forthefortuneofusthatarethemoon’smendothebbandflowlikethesea,beinggoverned,astheseais,bythemoon。As,forproof,now:apurseofgoldmostresolutelysnatchedonMondaynightandmostdissolutelyspentonTuesdaymorning;gotwithswearing’Layby’andspentwithcrying’Bringin;’
nowinaslowanebbasthefootoftheladderandbyandbyinashighaflowastheridgeofthegallows。FALSTAFFBytheLord,thousayesttrue,lad。Andisnotmyhostessofthetavernamostsweetwench?PRINCEHENRYAsthehoneyofHybla,myoldladofthecastle。Andisnotabuffjerkinamostsweetrobeofdurance?FALSTAFFHownow,hownow,madwag!what,inthyquipsandthyquiddities?whataplaguehaveItodowithabuffjerkin?PRINCEHENRYWhy,whatapoxhaveItodowithmyhostessofthetavern?FALSTAFFWell,thouhastcalledhertoareckoningmanyatimeandoft。PRINCEHENRYDidIevercallfortheetopaythypart?FALSTAFFNo;I’llgivetheethydue,thouhastpaidallthere。PRINCEHENRYYea,andelsewhere,sofarasmycoinwouldstretch;
andwhereitwouldnot,Ihaveusedmycredit。FALSTAFFYea,andsouseditthatwereitnothereapparentthatthouartheirapparent——But,Iprithee,sweetwag,shalltherebegallowsstandinginEnglandwhenthouartking?andresolutionthusfobbedasitiswiththerustycurbofoldfatheranticthelaw?
Donotthou,whenthouartking,hangathief。PRINCEHENRYNo;thoushalt。FALSTAFFShallI?Orare!BytheLord,I’llbeabravejudge。PRINCEHENRYThoujudgestfalsealready:Imean,thoushalthavethehangingofthethievesandsobecomeararehangman。FALSTAFFWell,Hal,well;andinsomesortitjumpswithmyhumouraswellaswaitinginthecourt,Icantellyou。PRINCEHENRYForobtainingofsuits?FALSTAFFYea,forobtainingofsuits,whereofthehangmanhathnoleanwardrobe。’Sblood,Iamasmelancholyasagibcatoraluggedbear。PRINCEHENRYOranoldlion,oralover’slute。FALSTAFFYea,orthedroneofaLincolnshirebagpipe。PRINCEHENRYWhatsayestthoutoahare,orthemelancholyofMoor—ditch?FALSTAFFThouhastthemostunsavourysimilesandartindeedthemostcomparative,rascalliest,sweetyoungprince。But,Hal,Iprithee,troublemenomorewithvanity。IwouldtoGodthouandIknewwhereacommodityofgoodnamesweretobebought。Anoldlordofthecouncilratedmetheotherdayinthestreetaboutyou,sir,butImarkedhimnot;andyethetalkedverywisely,butIregardedhimnot;
andyethetalkedwisely,andinthestreettoo。PRINCEHENRYThoudidstwell;forwisdomcriesoutinthestreets,andnomanregardsit。FALSTAFFO,thouhastdamnableiterationandartindeedabletocorruptasaint。Thouhastdonemuchharmuponme,Hal;Godforgivetheeforit!BeforeIknewthee,Hal,Iknewnothing;andnowamI,ifamanshouldspeaktruly,littlebetterthanoneofthewicked。Imustgiveoverthislife,andIwillgiveitover:bytheLord,andIdonot,Iamavillain:
I’llbedamnedforneveraking’ssoninChristendom。PRINCEHENRYWhereshallwetakeapursetomorrow,Jack?FALSTAFF’Zounds,wherethouwilt,lad;I’llmakeone;anI
donot,callmevillainandbaffleme。PRINCEHENRYIseeagoodamendmentoflifeinthee;
fromprayingtopurse—taking。FALSTAFFWhy,Hal,’tismyvocation,Hal;’tisnosinforamantolabourinhisvocation。
EnterPOINS
Poins!NowshallweknowifGadshillhavesetamatch。O,ifmenweretobesavedbymerit,whatholeinhellwerehotenoughforhim?Thisisthemostomnipotentvillainthatevercried’Stand’
toatrueman。PRINCEHENRYGoodmorrow,Ned。POINSGoodmorrow,sweetHal。WhatsaysMonsieurRemorse?
whatsaysSirJohnSackandSugar?Jack!howagreesthedevilandtheeaboutthysoul,thatthousoldesthimonGood—FridaylastforacupofMadeiraandacoldcapon’sleg?PRINCEHENRYSirJohnstandstohisword,thedevilshallhavehisbargain;forhewasneveryetabreakerofproverbs:hewillgivethedevilhisdue。POINSThenartthoudamnedforkeepingthywordwiththedevil。PRINCEHENRYElsehehadbeendamnedforcozeningthedevil。POINSBut,mylads,mylads,to—morrowmorning,byfouro’clock,earlyatGadshill!therearepilgrimsgoingtoCanterburywithrichofferings,andtradersridingtoLondonwithfatpurses:Ihavevizardsforyouall;youhavehorsesforyourselves:
Gadshillliesto—nightinRochester:Ihavebespokesupperto—morrownightinEastcheap:wemaydoitassecureassleep。Ifyouwillgo,Iwillstuffyourpursesfullofcrowns;ifyouwillnot,tarryathomeandbehanged。FALSTAFFHearye,Yedward;ifItarryathomeandgonot,I’llhangyouforgoing。POINSYouwill,chops?FALSTAFFHal,wiltthoumakeone?PRINCEHENRYWho,Irob?Iathief?notI,bymyfaith。FALSTAFFThere’sneitherhonesty,manhood,norgoodfellowshipinthee,northoucamestnotofthebloodroyal,ifthoudarestnotstandfortenshillings。PRINCEHENRYWellthen,onceinmydaysI’llbeamadcap。FALSTAFFWhy,that’swellsaid。PRINCEHENRYWell,comewhatwill,I’lltarryathome。FALSTAFFBytheLord,I’llbeatraitorthen,whenthouartking。PRINCEHENRYIcarenot。POINSSirJohn,Iprithee,leavetheprinceandmealone:
Iwilllayhimdownsuchreasonsforthisadventurethatheshallgo。FALSTAFFWell,Godgivetheethespiritofpersuasionandhimtheearsofprofiting,thatwhatthouspeakestmaymoveandwhathehearsmaybebelieved,thatthetrueprincemay,forrecreationsake,proveafalsethief;forthepoorabusesofthetimewantcountenance。Farewell:youshallfindmeinEastcheap。PRINCEHENRYFarewell,thoulatterspring!farewell,All—hallownsummer!
ExitFalstaffPOINSNow,mygoodsweethoneylord,ridewithusto—morrow:IhaveajesttoexecutethatIcannotmanagealone。Falstaff,Bardolph,PetoandGadshillshallrobthosementhatwehavealreadywaylaid:
yourselfandIwillnotbethere;andwhentheyhavethebooty,ifyouandIdonotrobthem,cutthisheadofffrommyshoulders。PRINCEHENRYHowshallwepartwiththeminsettingforth?POINSWhy,wewillsetforthbeforeorafterthem,andappointthemaplaceofmeeting,whereinitisatourpleasuretofail,andthenwilltheyadventureupontheexploitthemselves;whichtheyshallhavenosoonerachieved,butwe’llsetuponthem。PRINCEHENRYYea,but’tislikethattheywillknowusbyourhorses,byourhabitsandbyeveryotherappointment,tobeourselves。POINSTut!ourhorsestheyshallnotsee:I’lltietheminthewood;ourvizardswewillchangeafterweleavethem:and,sirrah,Ihavecasesofbuckramforthenonce,toimmaskournotedoutwardgarments。PRINCEHENRYYea,butIdoubttheywillbetoohardforus。POINSWell,fortwoofthem,Iknowthemtobeastrue—bredcowardsaseverturnedback;andforthethird,ifhefightlongerthanheseesreason,I’llforsweararms。Thevirtueofthisjestwillbe,theincomprehensibleliesthatthissamefatroguewilltelluswhenwemeetatsupper:howthirty,atleast,hefoughtwith;whatwards,whatblows,whatextremitiesheendured;andinthereproofofthisliesthejest。PRINCEHENRYWell,I’llgowiththee:provideusallthingsnecessaryandmeetmeto—morrownightinEastcheap;
thereI’llsup。Farewell。POINSFarewell,mylord。
ExitPoinsPRINCEHENRYIknowyouall,andwillawhileupholdTheunyokedhumourofyouridleness:
YethereinwillIimitatethesun,WhodothpermitthebasecontagiouscloudsTosmotheruphisbeautyfromtheworld,That,whenhepleaseagaintobehimself,Beingwanted,hemaybemorewonder’dat,BybreakingthroughthefoulanduglymistsOfvapoursthatdidseemtostranglehim。
Ifalltheyearwereplayingholidays,Tosportwouldbeastediousastowork;
Butwhentheyseldomcome,theywish’dforcome,Andnothingpleasethbutrareaccidents。
So,whenthisloosebehaviorIthrowoffAndpaythedebtIneverpromised,ByhowmuchbetterthanmywordIam,BysomuchshallIfalsifymen’shopes;
Andlikebrightmetalonasullenground,Myreformation,glitteringo’ermyfault,ShallshowmoregoodlyandattractmoreeyesThanthatwhichhathnofoiltosetitoff。
I’llsooffend,tomakeoffenceaskill;
RedeemingtimewhenmenthinkleastIwill。
ExitSCENEIII。London。Thepalace。EntertheKING,NORTHUMBERLAND,WORCESTER,HOTSPUR,SIR
WALTERBLUNT,withothersKINGHENRYIVMybloodhathbeentoocoldandtemperate,Unapttostirattheseindignities,Andyouhavefoundme;foraccordinglyYoutreaduponmypatience:butbesureIwillfromhenceforthratherbemyself,Mightyandtobefear’d,thanmycondition;
Whichhathbeensmoothasoil,softasyoungdown,AndthereforelostthattitleofrespectWhichtheproudsoulne’erpaysbuttotheproud。EARLOFWORCESTEROurhouse,mysovereignliege,littledeservesThescourgeofgreatnesstobeusedonit;
AndthatsamegreatnesstoowhichourownhandsHaveholptomakesoportly。NORTHUMBERLANDMylord。——KINGHENRYIVWorcester,gettheegone;forIdoseeDangeranddisobedienceinthineeye:
O,sir,yourpresenceistooboldandperemptory,AndmajestymightneveryetendureThemoodyfrontierofaservantbrow。
Youhavegoodleavetoleaveus:whenweneedYouruseandcounsel,weshallsendforyou。
ExitWorcesterYouwereabouttospeak。
ToNorthNORTHUMBERLANDYea,mygoodlord。
Thoseprisonersinyourhighness’namedemanded,WhichHarryPercyhereatHolmedontook,Were,ashesays,notwithsuchstrengthdeniedAsisdeliver’dtoyourmajesty:
Eitherenvy,therefore,ormisprisonIsguiltyofthisfaultandnotmyson。HOTSPURMyliege,Ididdenynoprisoners。
ButIremember,whenthefightwasdone,WhenIwasdrywithrageandextremetoil,Breathlessandfaint,leaninguponmysword,Camethereacertainlord,neat,andtrimlydress’d,Freshasabridegroom;andhischinnewreap’dShow’dlikeastubble—landatharvest—home;
Hewasperfumedlikeamilliner;
And’twixthisfingerandhisthumbheheldApouncet—box,whicheverandanonHegavehisnoseandtook’tawayagain;
Whotherewithangry,whenitnextcamethere,Tookitinsnuff;andstillhesmiledandtalk’d,Andasthesoldiersboredeadbodiesby,Hecall’dthemuntaughtknaves,unmannerly,TobringaslovenlyunhandsomecorseBetwixtthewindandhisnobility。
WithmanyholidayandladytermsHequestion’dme;amongsttherest,demandedMyprisonersinyourmajesty’sbehalf。
Ithen,allsmartingwithmywoundsbeingcold,Tobesopester’dwithapopinjay,Outofmygriefandmyimpatience,Answer’dneglectinglyIknownotwhat,Heshouldorheshouldnot;forhemadememadToseehimshinesobriskandsmellsosweetAndtalksolikeawaiting—gentlewomanOfgunsanddrumsandwounds,——Godsavethemark!——
Andtellingmethesovereign’stthingonearthWasparmacetiforaninwardbruise;
Andthatitwasgreatpity,soitwas,Thisvillanoussalt—petreshouldbedigg’dOutofthebowelsoftheharmlessearth,Whichmanyagoodtallfellowhaddestroy’dSocowardly;andbutforthesevileguns,Hewouldhimselfhavebeenasoldier。
Thisbaldunjointedchatofhis,mylord,Ianswer’dindirectly,asIsaid;
AndIbeseechyou,letnothisreportComecurrentforanaccusationBetwixtmyloveandyourhighmajesty。SIRWALTERBLUNTThecircumstanceconsider’d,goodmylord,Whate’erLordHarryPercythenhadsaidTosuchapersonandinsuchaplace,Atsuchatime,withalltherestretold,MayreasonablydieandneverriseTodohimwrongoranywayimpeachWhatthenhesaid,soheunsayitnow。KINGHENRYIVWhy,yethedothdenyhisprisoners,Butwithprovisoandexception,ThatweatourownchargeshallransomstraightHisbrother—in—law,thefoolishMortimer;
Who,onmysoul,hathwilfullybetray’dThelivesofthosethathedidleadtofightAgainstthatgreatmagician,damn’dGlendower,Whosedaughter,aswehear,theEarlofMarchHathlatelymarried。Shallourcoffers,then,Beemptiedtoredeematraitorhome?
Shallwebuttreason?andindentwithfears,Whentheyhavelostandforfeitedthemselves?
No,onthebarrenmountainslethimstarve;
ForIshallneverholdthatmanmyfriendWhosetongueshallaskmeforonepennycostToransomhomerevoltedMortimer。HOTSPURRevoltedMortimer!
Heneverdidfalloff,mysovereignliege,Butbythechanceofwar;toprovethattrueNeedsnomorebutonetongueforallthosewounds,Thosemouthedwounds,whichvaliantlyhetookWhenonthegentleSevern’ssedgybank,Insingleopposition,handtohand,HedidconfoundthebestpartofanhourInchanginghardimentwithgreatGlendower:
Threetimestheybreathedandthreetimesdidtheydrink,Uponagreement,ofswiftSevern’sflood;
Whothen,affrightedwiththeirbloodylooks,Ranfearfullyamongthetremblingreeds,Andhidhiscrispheadinthehollowbank,Bloodstainedwiththesevaliantcombatants。
NeverdidbaseandrottenpolicyColourherworkingwithsuchdeadlywounds;
NorcouldthenobleMortimerReceivesomany,andallwillingly:
Thenletnothimbeslander’dwithrevolt。KINGHENRYIVThoudostbeliehim,Percy,thoudostbeliehim;
HeneverdidencounterwithGlendower:
Itellthee,HedurstaswellhavemetthedevilaloneAsOwenGlendowerforanenemy。
Artthounotashamed?But,sirrah,henceforthLetmenothearyouspeakofMortimer:
Sendmeyourprisonerswiththespeediestmeans,OryoushallhearinsuchakindfrommeAswilldispleaseyou。MyLordNorthumberland,Welicenceyourdeparturewithyourson。
Sendusyourprisoners,oryouwillhearofit。
ExeuntKingHenry,Blunt,andtrainHOTSPURAnifthedevilcomeandroarforthem,Iwillnotsendthem:IwillafterstraightAndtellhimso;forIwilleasemyheart,AlbeitImakeahazardofmyhead。NORTHUMBERLANDWhat,drunkwithcholer?stayandpauseawhile:
Herecomesyouruncle。
Re—enterWORCESTERHOTSPURSpeakofMortimer!
’Zounds,Iwillspeakofhim;andletmysoulWantmercy,ifIdonotjoinwithhim:
Yea,onhispartI’llemptyalltheseveins,Andshedmydearblooddropbydropinthedust,ButIwillliftthedown—trodMortimerAshighintheairasthisunthankfulking,Asthisingrateandcanker’dBolingbroke。NORTHUMBERLANDBrother,thekinghathmadeyournephewmad。EARLOFWORCESTERWhostruckthisheatupafterIwasgone?HOTSPURHewill,forsooth,haveallmyprisoners;
AndwhenIurgedtheransomonceagainOfmywife’sbrother,thenhischeeklook’dpale,Andonmyfaceheturn’daneyeofdeath,TremblingevenatthenameofMortimer。EARLOFWORCESTERIcannotblamehim:wasnotheproclaim’dByRichardthatdeadisthenextofblood?NORTHUMBERLANDHewas;Iheardtheproclamation:
Andthenitwaswhentheunhappyking,——WhosewrongsinusGodpardon!——didsetforthUponhisIrishexpedition;
FromwhenceheintercepteddidreturnTobedeposedandshortlymurdered。EARLOFWORCESTERAndforwhosedeathweintheworld’swidemouthLivescandalizedandfoullyspokenof。HOTSPURButsoft,Iprayyou;didKingRichardthenProclaimmybrotherEdmundMortimerHeirtothecrown?NORTHUMBERLANDHedid;myselfdidhearit。HOTSPURNay,thenIcannotblamehiscousinking,Thatwishedhimonthebarrenmountainsstarve。
Butshallitbethatyou,thatsetthecrownUpontheheadofthisforgetfulmanAndforhissakewearthedetestedblotOfmurderoussubornation,shallitbe,Thatyouaworldofcursesundergo,Beingtheagents,orbasesecondmeans,Thecords,theladder,orthehangmanrather?
O,pardonmethatIdescendsolow,ToshowthelineandthepredicamentWhereinyourangeunderthissubtleking;
Shallitforshamebespokeninthesedays,Orfillupchroniclesintimetocome,ThatmenofyournobilityandpowerDidgagethembothinanunjustbehalf,Asbothofyou——Godpardonit!——havedone,ToputdownRichard,thatsweetlovelyrose,Anplantthisthorn,thiscanker,Bolingbroke?
Andshallitinmoreshamebefurtherspoken,Thatyouarefool’d,discardedandshookoffByhimforwhomtheseshamesyeunderwent?
No;yettimeserveswhereinyoumayredeemYourbanish’dhonoursandrestoreyourselvesIntothegoodthoughtsoftheworldagain,Revengethejeeringanddisdain’dcontemptOfthisproudking,whostudiesdayandnightToanswerallthedebtheowestoyouEvenwiththebloodypaymentofyourdeaths:
Therefore,Isay——EARLOFWORCESTERPeace,cousin,saynomore:
AndnowIwillunclaspasecretbook,Andtoyourquick—conceivingdiscontentsI’llreadyoumatterdeepanddangerous,AsfullofperilandadventurousspiritAstoo’er—walkacurrentroaringloudOntheunsteadfastfootingofaspear。HOTSPURIfhefallin,goodnight!orsinkorswim:
Senddangerfromtheeastuntothewest,Sohonourcrossitfromthenorthtosouth,Andletthemgrapple:O,thebloodmorestirsTorousealionthantostartahare!NORTHUMBERLANDImaginationofsomegreatexploitDriveshimbeyondtheboundsofpatience。HOTSPURByheaven,methinksitwereaneasyleap,Topluckbrighthonourfromthepale—facedmoon,Ordiveintothebottomofthedeep,Wherefathom—linecouldnevertouchtheground,Andpluckupdrownedhonourbythelocks;
SohethatdothredeemherthencemightwearWithoutcorrival,allherdignities:
Butoutuponthishalf—facedfellowship!EARLOFWORCESTERHeapprehendsaworldoffigureshere,Butnottheformofwhatheshouldattend。
Goodcousin,givemeaudienceforawhile。HOTSPURIcryyoumercy。EARLOFWORCESTERThosesamenobleScotsThatareyourprisoners,——HOTSPURI’llkeepthemall;
ByGod,heshallnothaveaScotofthem;
No,ifaScotwouldsavehissoul,heshallnot:
I’llkeepthem,bythishand。EARLOFWORCESTERYoustartawayAndlendnoearuntomypurposes。
Thoseprisonersyoushallkeep。HOTSPURNay,Iwill;that’sflat:
HesaidhewouldnotransomMortimer;
ForbadmytonguetospeakofMortimer;
ButIwillfindhimwhenheliesasleep,AndinhisearI’llholla’Mortimer!’
Nay,I’llhaveastarlingshallbetaughttospeakNothingbut’Mortimer,’andgiveithimTokeephisangerstillinmotion。EARLOFWORCESTERHearyou,cousin;aword。HOTSPURAllstudieshereIsolemnlydefy,SavehowtogallandpinchthisBolingbroke:
Andthatsamesword—and—bucklerPrinceofWales,ButthatIthinkhisfatherloveshimnotAndwouldbegladhemetwithsomemischance,Iwouldhavehimpoison’dwithapotofale。EARLOFWORCESTERFarewell,kinsman:I’lltalktoyouWhenyouarebettertemper’dtoattend。NORTHUMBERLANDWhy,whatawasp—stungandimpatientfoolArtthoutobreakintothiswoman’smood,Tyingthineeartonotonguebutthineown!HOTSPURWhy,lookyou,Iamwhipp’dandscourgedwithrods,Nettledandstungwithpismires,whenIhearOfthisvilepolitician,Bolingbroke。
InRichard’stime,——whatdoyoucalltheplace?——
Aplagueuponit,itisinGloucestershire;
’Twaswherethemadcapdukehisunclekept,HisuncleYork;whereIfirstbow’dmykneeUntothiskingofsmiles,thisBolingbroke,——
’Sblood!——
WhenyouandhecamebackfromRavenspurgh。NORTHUMBERLANDAtBerkleycastle。HOTSPURYousaytrue:
Why,whatacandydealofcourtesyThisfawninggreyhoundthendidprofferme!
Look,’whenhisinfantfortunecametoage,’
And’gentleHarryPercy,’and’kindcousin;’
O,thedeviltakesuchcozeners!Godforgiveme!
Gooduncle,tellyourtale;Ihavedone。EARLOFWORCESTERNay,ifyouhavenot,toitagain;
Wewillstayyourleisure。HOTSPURIhavedone,i’faith。EARLOFWORCESTERThenoncemoretoyourScottishprisoners。
Deliverthemupwithouttheirransomstraight,AndmaketheDouglas’sonyouronlymeanForpowersinScotland;which,fordiversreasonsWhichIshallsendyouwritten,beassured,Willeasilybegranted。You,mylord,ToNorthumberlandYoursoninScotlandbeingthusemploy’d,ShallsecretlyintothebosomcreepOfthatsamenobleprelate,wellbeloved,Thearchbishop。HOTSPUROfYork,isitnot?EARLOFWORCESTERTrue;whobearshardHisbrother’sdeathatBristol,theLordScroop。
Ispeaknotthisinestimation,AswhatIthinkmightbe,butwhatIknowIsruminated,plottedandsetdown,AndonlystaysbuttobeholdthefaceOfthatoccasionthatshallbringiton。HOTSPURIsmellit:uponmylife,itwilldowell。NORTHUMBERLANDBeforethegameisafoot,thoustilllet’stslip。HOTSPURWhy,itcannotchoosebutbeanobleplot;
AndthenthepowerofScotlandandofYork,TojoinwithMortimer,ha?EARLOFWORCESTERAndsotheyshall。HOTSPURInfaith,itisexceedinglywellaim’d。EARLOFWORCESTERAnd’tisnolittlereasonbidsusspeed,Tosaveourheadsbyraisingofahead;
For,bearourselvesasevenaswecan,Thekingwillalwaysthinkhiminourdebt,Andthinkwethinkourselvesunsatisfied,Tillhehathfoundatimetopayushome:
AndseealreadyhowhedothbeginTomakeusstrangerstohislooksoflove。HOTSPURHedoes,hedoes:we’llberevengedonhim。EARLOFWORCESTERCousin,farewell:nofurthergointhisThanIbylettersshalldirectyourcourse。
Whentimeisripe,whichwillbesuddenly,I’llstealtoGlendowerandLordMortimer;
WhereyouandDouglasandourpowersatonce,AsIwillfashionit,shallhappilymeet,Tobearourfortunesinourownstrongarms,Whichnowweholdatmuchuncertainty。NORTHUMBERLANDFarewell,goodbrother:weshallthrive,Itrust。HOTSPURUncle,Adieu:O,letthehoursbeshortTillfieldsandblowsandgroansapplaudoursport!
ExeuntACTIISCENEI。Rochester。Aninnyard。EnteraCarrierwithalanterninhishandFirstCarrierHeigh—ho!anitbenotfourbytheday,I’llbehanged:Charles’wainisoverthenewchimney,andyetourhorsenotpacked。What,ostler!Ostler[Within]Anon,anon。FirstCarrierIprithee,Tom,beatCut’ssaddle,putafewflocksinthepoint;poorjade,iswrunginthewithersoutofallcess。
EnteranotherCarrierSecondCarrierPeasandbeansareasdankhereasadog,andthatisthenextwaytogivepoorjadesthebots:thishouseisturnedupsidedownsinceRobinOstlerdied。FirstCarrierPoorfellow,neverjoyedsincethepriceofoatsrose;itwasthedeathofhim。SecondCarrierIthinkthisbethemostvillanoushouseinallLondonroadforfleas:Iamstunglikeatench。FirstCarrierLikeatench!bythemass,thereisne’erakingchristencouldbebetterbitthanIhavebeensincethefirstcock。SecondCarrierWhy,theywillallowusne’erajordan,andthenweleakinyourchimney;andyourchamber—liebreedsfleaslikealoach。FirstCarrierWhat,ostler!comeawayandbehanged!SecondCarrierIhaveagammonofbaconandtworazorsofginger,tobedeliveredasfarasCharing—cross。FirstCarrierGod’sbody!theturkeysinmypannierarequitestarved。What,ostler!Aplagueonthee!hastthouneveraneyeinthyhead?canstnothear?An’twerenotasgooddeedasdrink,tobreakthepateonthee,Iamaveryvillain。Come,andbehanged!
hastthounofaithinthee?
EnterGADSHILLGADSHILLGoodmorrow,carriers。What’so’clock?FirstCarrierIthinkitbetwoo’clock。GADSHILLIpraytheelendmethylantern,toseemygeldinginthestable。FirstCarrierNay,byGod,soft;Iknowatrickworthtwoofthat,i’faith。GADSHILLIpraythee,lendmethine。SecondCarrierAy,when?can’sttell?Lendmethylantern,quothhe?marry,I’llseetheehangedfirst。GADSHILLSirrahcarrier,whattimedoyoumeantocometoLondon?SecondCarrierTimeenoughtogotobedwithacandle,Iwarrantthee。Come,neighbourMugs,we’llcallupthegentleman:theywillalongwithcompany,fortheyhavegreatcharge。
ExeuntcarriersGADSHILLWhat,ho!chamberlain!Chamberlain[Within]Athand,quothpick—purse。GADSHILLThat’sevenasfairas——athand,quoththechamberlain;forthouvariestnomorefrompickingofpursesthangivingdirectiondothfromlabouring;
thoulayesttheplothow。
EnterChamberlainChamberlainGoodmorrow,MasterGadshill。ItholdscurrentthatItoldyouyesternight:there’safranklininthewildofKenthathbroughtthreehundredmarkswithhimingold:Iheardhimtellittooneofhiscompanylastnightatsupper;akindofauditor;
onethathathabundanceofchargetoo,Godknowswhat。
Theyareupalready,andcallforeggsandbutter;
theywillawaypresently。GADSHILLSirrah,iftheymeetnotwithSaintNicholas’
clerks,I’llgivetheethisneck。ChamberlainNo,I’llnoneofit:Ipraytheekeepthatforthehangman;forIknowthouworshippestSt。Nicholasastrulyasamanoffalsehoodmay。GADSHILLWhattalkestthoutomeofthehangman?
ifIhang,I’llmakeafatpairofgallows;forifIhang,oldSirJohnhangswithme,andthouknowestheisnostarveling。Tut!thereareotherTrojansthatthoudreamestnotof,thewhichforsportsakearecontenttodotheprofessionsomegrace;thatwould,ifmattersshouldbelookedinto,fortheirowncreditsake,makeallwhole。Iamjoinedwithnofoot—landrakers,nolong—staffsixpennystrikers,noneofthesemadmustachiopurple—huedmalt—worms;
butwithnobilityandtranquillity,burgomastersandgreatoneyers,suchascanholdin,suchaswillstrikesoonerthanspeak,andspeaksoonerthandrink,anddrinksoonerthanpray:andyet,zounds,Ilie;fortheypraycontinuallytotheirsaint,thecommonwealth;orrather,notpraytoher,butpreyonher,fortheyrideupanddownonherandmakehertheirboots。ChamberlainWhat,thecommonwealththeirboots?willsheholdoutwaterinfoulway?GADSHILLShewill,shewill;justicehathliquoredher。Westealasinacastle,cocksure;wehavethereceiptoffern—seed,wewalkinvisible。ChamberlainNay,bymyfaith,Ithinkyouaremorebeholdingtothenightthantofern—seedforyourwalkinginvisible。GADSHILLGivemethyhand:thoushalthaveashareinourpurchase,asIamatrueman。ChamberlainNay,ratherletmehaveit,asyouareafalsethief。GADSHILLGoto;’homo’isacommonnametoallmen。Bidtheostlerbringmygeldingoutofthestable。Farewell,youmuddyknave。
ExeuntSCENEII。Thehighway,nearGadshill。EnterPRINCEHENRYandPOINSPOINSCome,shelter,shelter:IhaveremovedFalstaff’shorse,andhefretslikeagummedvelvet。PRINCEHENRYStandclose。
EnterFALSTAFFFALSTAFFPoins!Poins,andbehanged!Poins!PRINCEHENRYPeace,yefat—kidneyedrascal!whatabrawlingdostthoukeep!FALSTAFFWhere’sPoins,Hal?PRINCEHENRYHeiswalkeduptothetopofthehill:
I’llgoseekhim。FALSTAFFIamaccursedtorobinthatthief’scompany:
therascalhathremovedmyhorse,andtiedhimIknownotwhere。IfItravelbutfourfootbythesquierfurtherafoot,Ishallbreakmywind。Well,I
doubtnotbuttodieafairdeathforallthis,ifI
’scapehangingforkillingthatrogue。Ihaveforswornhiscompanyhourlyanytimethistwoandtwentyyears,andyetIambewitchedwiththerogue’scompany。Iftherascalhathnotgivenmemedicinestomakemelovehim,I’llbehanged;
itcouldnotbeelse:Ihavedrunkmedicines。Poins!
Hal!aplagueuponyouboth!Bardolph!Peto!
I’llstarveereI’llrobafootfurther。An’twerenotasgoodadeedasdrink,toturntruemanandtoleavetheserogues,Iamtheveriestvarletthateverchewedwithatooth。Eightyardsofunevengroundisthreescoreandtenmilesafootwithme;
andthestony—heartedvillainsknowitwellenough:
aplagueuponitwhenthievescannotbetrueonetoanother!
TheywhistleWhew!Aplagueuponyouall!Givememyhorse,yourogues;givememyhorse,andbehanged!PRINCEHENRYPeace,yefat—guts!liedown;laythineearclosetothegroundandlistifthoucansthearthetreadoftravellers。FALSTAFFHaveyouanyleverstoliftmeupagain,beingdown?
’Sblood,I’llnotbearmineownfleshsofarafootagainforallthecoininthyfather’sexchequer。
Whataplaguemeanyetocoltmethus?PRINCEHENRYThouliest;thouartnotcolted,thouartuncolted。FALSTAFFIprithee,goodPrinceHal,helpmetomyhorse,goodking’sson。PRINCEHENRYOut,yerogue!shallIbeyourostler?FALSTAFFGo,hangthyselfinthineownheir—apparentgarters!IfIbeta’en,I’llpeachforthis。AnI
havenotballadsmadeonyouallandsungtofilthytunes,letacupofsackbemypoison:whenajestissoforward,andafoottoo!Ihateit。
EnterGADSHILL,BARDOLPHandPETOGADSHILLStand。FALSTAFFSoIdo,againstmywill。POINSO,’tisoursetter:Iknowhisvoice。
Bardolph,whatnews?BARDOLPHCaseye,caseye;onwithyourvizards:
there’smoneyoftheking’scomingdownthehill;’tisgoingtotheking’sexchequer。FALSTAFFYoulie,yerogue;’tisgoingtotheking’stavern。GADSHILLThere’senoughtomakeusall。FALSTAFFTobehanged。PRINCEHENRYSirs,youfourshallfronttheminthenarrowlane;
NedPoinsandIwillwalklower:ifthey’scapefromyourencounter,thentheylightonus。PETOHowmanybethereofthem?GADSHILLSomeeightorten。FALSTAFF’Zounds,willtheynotrobus?PRINCEHENRYWhat,acoward,SirJohnPaunch?FALSTAFFIndeed,IamnotJohnofGaunt,yourgrandfather;
butyetnocoward,Hal。PRINCEHENRYWell,weleavethattotheproof。POINSSirrahJack,thyhorsestandsbehindthehedge:
whenthouneedesthim,therethoushaltfindhim。
Farewell,andstandfast。FALSTAFFNowcannotIstrikehim,ifIshouldbehanged。PRINCEHENRYNed,whereareourdisguises?POINSHere,hardby:standclose。
ExeuntPRINCEHENRYandPOINSFALSTAFFNow,mymasters,happymanbehisdole,sayI:
everymantohisbusiness。
EntertheTravellersFirstTravellerCome,neighbour:theboyshallleadourhorsesdownthehill;we’llwalkafootawhile,andeaseourlegs。ThievesStand!TravellersJesusblessus!FALSTAFFStrike;downwiththem;cutthevillains’
throats:
ah!whoresoncaterpillars!bacon—fedknaves!theyhateusyouth:downwiththem:fleecethem。TravellersO,weareundone,bothweandoursforever!FALSTAFFHangye,gorbelliedknaves,areyeundone?
No,yefatchuffs:Iwouldyourstorewerehere!On,bacons,on!What,yeknaves!youngmenmustlive。
YouareGrand—jurors,areye?we’lljureye,’faith。
Heretheyrobthemandbindthem。ExeuntRe—enterPRINCEHENRYandPOINSPRINCEHENRYThethieveshaveboundthetruemen。NowcouldthouandIrobthethievesandgomerrilytoLondon,itwouldbeargumentforaweek,laughterforamonthandagoodjestforever。POINSStandclose;Ihearthemcoming。
EntertheThievesagainFALSTAFFCome,mymasters,letusshare,andthentohorsebeforeday。AnthePrinceandPoinsbenottwoarrantcowards,there’snoequitystirring:there’snomorevalourinthatPoinsthaninawild—duck。PRINCEHENRYYourmoney!POINSVillains!
Astheyaresharing,thePrinceandPoinssetuponthem;theyallrunaway;andFalstaff,afterablowortwo,runsawaytoo,leavingthebootybehindthemPRINCEHENRYGotwithmuchease。Nowmerrilytohorse:
Thethievesareallscatter’dandpossess’dwithfearSostronglythattheydarenotmeeteachother;
Eachtakeshisfellowforanofficer。
Away,goodNed。Falstaffsweatstodeath,Andlardstheleanearthashewalksalong:
Were’tnotforlaughing,Ishouldpityhim。POINSHowtherogueroar’d!
ExeuntSCENEIII。WarkworthcastleEnterHOTSPUR,solus,readingaletterHOTSPUR’Butformineownpart,mylord,Icouldbewellcontentedtobethere,inrespectoftheloveI
bearyourhouse。’Hecouldbecontented:whyishenot,then?Inrespectofthelovehebearsourhouse:
heshowsinthis,heloveshisownbarnbetterthanhelovesourhouse。Letmeseesomemore。’Thepurposeyouundertakeisdangerous;’——why,that’scertain:’tisdangeroustotakeacold,tosleep,todrink;butItellyou,mylordfool,outofthisnettle,danger,wepluckthisflower,safety。
’Thepurposeyouundertakeisdangerous;thefriendsyouhavenameduncertain;thetimeitselfunsorted;
andyourwholeplottoolightforthecounterpoiseofsogreatanopposition。’Sayyouso,sayyouso?
Isayuntoyouagain,youareashallowcowardlyhind,andyoulie。Whatalack—brainisthis!BytheLord,ourplotisagoodplotaseverwaslaid;ourfriendstrueandconstant:agoodplot,goodfriends,andfullofexpectation;anexcellentplot,verygoodfriends。Whatafrosty—spiritedrogueisthis!Why,mylordofYorkcommendstheplotandthegeneralcourseofaction。’Zounds,anIwerenowbythisrascal,Icouldbrainhimwithhislady’sfan。
Istherenotmyfather,myuncleandmyself?lordEdmundMortimer,MylordofYorkandOwenGlendower?
istherenotbesidestheDouglas?haveInotalltheirletterstomeetmeinarmsbytheninthofthenextmonth?andaretheynotsomeofthemsetforwardalready?Whatapaganrascalisthis!
aninfidel!Ha!youshallseenowinverysincerityoffearandcoldheart,willhetothekingandlayopenallourproceedings。O,Icoulddividemyselfandgotobuffets,formovingsuchadishofskimmilkwithsohonourableanaction!Hanghim!
lethimtelltheking:weareprepared。Iwillsetforwardto—night。
EnterLADYPERCY
Hownow,Kate!Imustleaveyouwithinthesetwohours。LADYPERCYO,mygoodlord,whyareyouthusalone?
ForwhatoffencehaveIthisfortnightbeenAbanish’dwomanfrommyHarry’sbed?
Tellme,sweetlord,whatis’tthattakesfromtheeThystomach,pleasureandthygoldensleep?
Whydostthoubendthineeyesupontheearth,Andstartsooftenwhenthousit’stalone?
Whyhastthoulostthefreshbloodinthycheeks;
AndgivenmytreasuresandmyrightsoftheeTothick—eyedmusingandcursedmelancholy?
InthyfaintslumbersIbytheehavewatch’d,Andheardtheemurmurtalesofironwars;
Speaktermsofmanagetothyboundingsteed;
Cry’Courage!tothefield!’Andthouhasttalk’dOfsalliesandretires,oftrenches,tents,Ofpalisadoes,frontiers,parapets,Ofbasilisks,ofcannon,culverin,Ofprisoners’ransomandofsoldiersslain,Andallthecurrentsofaheadyfight。
ThyspiritwithintheehathbeensoatwarAndthushathsobestirr’dtheeinthysleep,ThatbeadsofsweathavestooduponthybrowLikebubblesinalate—disturbedstream;
Andinthyfacestrangemotionshaveappear’d,SuchasweseewhenmenrestraintheirbreathOnsomegreatsuddenhest。O,whatportentsarethese?
Someheavybusinesshathmylordinhand,AndImustknowit,elsehelovesmenot。HOTSPURWhat,ho!
EnterServantIsGilliamswiththepacketgone?ServantHeis,mylord,anhourago。HOTSPURHathButlerbroughtthosehorsesfromthesheriff?ServantOnehorse,mylord,hebroughtevennow。HOTSPURWhathorse?aroan,acrop—ear,isitnot?ServantItis,mylord。HOTSPURThatroanshallbymythrone。
Well,Iwillbackhimstraight:Oesperance!
BidButlerleadhimforthintothepark。
ExitServantLADYPERCYButhearyou,mylord。HOTSPURWhatsay’stthou,mylady?LADYPERCYWhatisitcarriesyouaway?HOTSPURWhy,myhorse,mylove,myhorse。LADYPERCYOut,youmad—headedape!
AweaselhathnotsuchadealofspleenAsyouaretoss’dwith。Infaith,I’llknowyourbusiness,Harry,thatIwill。
IfearmybrotherMortimerdothstirAbouthistitle,andhathsentforyouTolinehisenterprise:butifyougo,——HOTSPURSofarafoot,Ishallbeweary,love。LADYPERCYCome,come,youparaquito,answermeDirectlyuntothisquestionthatIask:
Infaith,I’llbreakthylittlefinger,Harry,Anifthouwiltnottellmeallthingstrue。HOTSPURAway,Away,youtrifler!Love!Ilovetheenot,Icarenotforthee,Kate:thisisnoworldToplaywithmammetsandtotiltwithlips:
Wemusthavebloodynosesandcrack’dcrowns,Andpassthemcurrenttoo。God’sme,myhorse!
Whatsay’stthou,Kate?whatwould’stthouhavewithme?LADYPERCYDoyounotloveme?doyounot,indeed?
Well,donotthen;forsinceyoulovemenot,Iwillnotlovemyself。Doyounotloveme?
Nay,tellmeifyouspeakinjestorno。HOTSPURCome,wiltthouseemeride?
AndwhenIamonhorseback,IwillswearIlovetheeinfinitely。Butharkyou,Kate;
ImustnothaveyouhenceforthquestionmeWhitherIgo,norreasonwhereabout:
WhitherImust,Imust;and,toconclude,ThiseveningmustIleaveyou,gentleKate。
Iknowyouwise,butyetnofartherwiseThanHarryPercy’swife:constantyouare,Butyetawoman:andforsecrecy,Noladycloser;forIwellbelieveThouwiltnotutterwhatthoudostnotknow;
AndsofarwillItrustthee,gentleKate。LADYPERCYHow!sofar?HOTSPURNotaninchfurther。Butharkyou,Kate:
WhitherIgo,thithershallyougotoo;
To—daywillIsetforth,to—morrowyou。
Willthiscontentyou,Kate?LADYPERCYItmustofforce。
ExeuntSCENEIV。TheBoar’s—HeadTavern,Eastcheap。EnterPRINCEHENRYandPOINSPRINCEHENRYNed,prithee,comeoutofthatfatroom,andlendmethyhandtolaughalittle。POINSWherehastbeen,Hal?PRINCEHENRYWiththreeorfourloggerheadsamongstthreeorfourscorehogsheads。Ihavesoundedtheverybase—stringofhumility。Sirrah,Iamswornbrothertoaleashofdrawers;andcancallthemallbytheirchristennames,asTom,Dick,andFrancis。
Theytakeitalreadyupontheirsalvation,thatthoughIbebuttheprinceofWales,yetIamkingofcourtesy;andtellmeflatlyIamnoproudJack,likeFalstaff,butaCorinthian,aladofmettle,agoodboy,bytheLord,sotheycallme,andwhenI
amkingofEngland,IshallcommandallthegoodladsinEastcheap。Theycalldrinkingdeep,dyeingscarlet;andwhenyoubreatheinyourwatering,theycry’hem!’andbidyouplayitoff。Toconclude,I
amsogoodaproficientinonequarterofanhour,thatIcandrinkwithanytinkerinhisownlanguageduringmylife。Itellthee,Ned,thouhastlostmuchhonour,thatthouwertnotwithmeinthissweetaction。But,sweetNed,——tosweetenwhichnameofNed,Igivetheethispennyworthofsugar,clappedevennowintomyhandbyanunder—skinker,onethatneverspakeotherEnglishinhislifethan’Eightshillingsandsixpence’and’Youarewelcome,’
withthisshrilladdition,’Anon,anon,sir!ScoreapintofbastardintheHalf—Moon,’orso。But,Ned,todriveawaythetimetillFalstaffcome,Iprithee,dothoustandinsomeby—room,whileIquestionmypunydrawertowhatendhegavemethesugar;
anddothouneverleavecalling’Francis,’thathistaletomemaybenothingbut’Anon。’Stepaside,andI’llshowtheeaprecedent。POINSFrancis!PRINCEHENRYThouartperfect。POINSFrancis!
ExitPOINS
EnterFRANCISFRANCISAnon,anon,sir。LookdownintothePomgarnet,Ralph。PRINCEHENRYComehither,Francis。FRANCISMylord?PRINCEHENRYHowlonghastthoutoserve,Francis?FRANCISForsooth,fiveyears,andasmuchasto——POINS[Within]Francis!FRANCISAnon,anon,sir。PRINCEHENRYFiveyear!by’rlady,alongleasefortheclinkingofpewter。But,Francis,darestthoubesovaliantastoplaythecowardwiththyindentureandshowitafairpairofheelsandrunfromit?FRANCISOLord,sir,I’llbeswornuponallthebooksinEngland,Icouldfindinmyheart。POINS[Within]Francis!FRANCISAnon,sir。PRINCEHENRYHowoldartthou,Francis?FRANCISLetmesee——aboutMichaelmasnextIshallbe——POINS[Within]Francis!FRANCISAnon,sir。Praystayalittle,mylord。PRINCEHENRYNay,butharkyou,Francis:forthesugarthougavestme,’twasapennyworth,wast’tnot?FRANCISOLord,Iwouldithadbeentwo!PRINCEHENRYIwillgivetheeforitathousandpound:
askmewhenthouwilt,andthoushalthaveit。POINS[Within]Francis!FRANCISAnon,anon。PRINCEHENRYAnon,Francis?No,Francis;butto—morrow,Francis;
or,Francis,o’Thursday;orindeed,Francis,whenthouwilt。But,Francis!FRANCISMylord?PRINCEHENRYWiltthourobthisleathernjerkin,crystal—button,not—pated,agate—ring,puke—stocking,caddis—garter,smooth—tongue,Spanish—pouch,——FRANCISOLord,sir,whodoyoumean?PRINCEHENRYWhy,then,yourbrownbastardisyouronlydrink;
forlookyou,Francis,yourwhitecanvasdoubletwillsully:inBarbary,sir,itcannotcometosomuch。FRANCISWhat,sir?POINS[Within]Francis!PRINCEHENRYAway,yourogue!dostthounothearthemcall?
Heretheybothcallhim;thedrawerstandsamazed,notknowingwhichwaytogoEnterVintnerVintnerWhat,standestthoustill,andhearestsuchacalling?Looktotheguestswithin。
ExitFrancisMylord,oldSirJohn,withhalf—a—dozenmore,areatthedoor:shallIletthemin?PRINCEHENRYLetthemaloneawhile,andthenopenthedoor。
ExitVintnerPoins!
Re—enterPOINSPOINSAnon,anon,sir。PRINCEHENRYSirrah,Falstaffandtherestofthethievesareatthedoor:shallwebemerry?POINSAsmerryascrickets,mylad。Butharkye;whatcunningmatchhaveyoumadewiththisjestofthedrawer?come,what’stheissue?PRINCEHENRYIamnowofallhumoursthathaveshowedthemselveshumourssincetheolddaysofgoodmanAdamtothepupilageofthispresenttwelveo’clockatmidnight。
Re—enterFRANCIS
What’so’clock,Francis?FRANCISAnon,anon,sir。
ExitPRINCEHENRYThateverthisfellowshouldhavefewerwordsthanaparrot,andyetthesonofawoman!Hisindustryisupstairsanddownstairs;hiseloquencetheparcelofareckoning。IamnotyetofPercy’smind,theHotspurofthenorth;hethatkillsmesomesixorsevendozenofScotsatabreakfast,washeshishands,andsaystohiswife’Fieuponthisquietlife!Iwantwork。’’OmysweetHarry,’saysshe,’howmanyhastthoukilledto—day?’’Givemyroanhorseadrench,’sayshe;andanswers’Somefourteen,’anhourafter;’atrifle,atrifle。’
I
prithee,callinFalstaff:I’llplayPercy,andthatdamnedbrawnshallplayDameMortimerhiswife。’Rivo!’saysthedrunkard。Callinribs,callintallow。
EnterFALSTAFF,GADSHILL,BARDOLPH,andPETO;FRANCISfollowingwithwinePOINSWelcome,Jack:wherehastthoubeen?FALSTAFFAplagueofallcowards,Isay,andavengeancetoo!
marry,andamen!Givemeacupofsack,boy。
EreI
leadthislifelong,I’llsewnetherstocksandmendthemandfootthemtoo。Aplagueofallcowards!
Givemeacupofsack,rogue。Istherenovirtueextant?
HedrinksPRINCEHENRYDidstthouneverseeTitankissadishofbutter?
pitiful—heartedTitan,thatmeltedatthesweettaleofthesun’s!ifthoudidst,thenbeholdthatcompound。FALSTAFFYourogue,here’slimeinthissacktoo:
thereisnothingbutroguerytobefoundinvillanousman:
yetacowardisworsethanacupofsackwithlimeinit。Avillanouscoward!Gothyways,oldJack;
diewhenthouwilt,ifmanhood,goodmanhood,benotforgotuponthefaceoftheearth,thenamIashottenherring。TherelivenotthreegoodmenunhangedinEngland;andoneofthemisfatandgrowsold:Godhelpthewhile!abadworld,I
say。
IwouldIwereaweaver;Icouldsingpsalmsoranything。Aplagueofallcowards,Isaystill。PRINCEHENRYHownow,wool—sack!whatmutteryou?FALSTAFFAking’sson!IfIdonotbeattheeoutofthykingdomwithadaggeroflath,anddriveallthysubjectsaforetheelikeaflockofwild—geese,I’llneverwearhaironmyfacemore。YouPrinceofWales!PRINCEHENRYWhy,youwhoresonroundman,what’sthematter?FALSTAFFArenotyouacoward?answermetothat:
andPoinsthere?POINS’Zounds,yefatpaunch,anyecallmecoward,bytheLord,I’llstabthee。FALSTAFFIcalltheecoward!I’llseetheedamnedereIcalltheecoward:butIwouldgiveathousandpoundI
couldrunasfastasthoucanst。Youarestraightenoughintheshoulders,youcarenotwhoseesyourback:callyouthatbackingofyourfriends?
A
plagueuponsuchbacking!givemethemthatwillfaceme。Givemeacupofsack:Iamarogue,ifI
drunkto—day。PRINCEHENRYOvillain!thylipsarescarcewipedsincethoudrunkestlast。FALSTAFFAll’soneforthat。
HedrinksAplagueofallcowards,stillsayI。PRINCEHENRYWhat’sthematter?FALSTAFFWhat’sthematter!therebefourofusherehaveta’enathousandpoundthisdaymorning。PRINCEHENRYWhereisit,Jack?whereisit?FALSTAFFWhereisit!takenfromusitis:ahundreduponpoorfourofus。PRINCEHENRYWhat,ahundred,man?FALSTAFFIamarogue,ifIwerenotathalf—swordwithadozenofthemtwohourstogether。Ihave’scapedbymiracle。Iameighttimesthrustthroughthedoublet,fourthroughthehose;mybucklercutthroughandthrough;myswordhackedlikeahand—saw——eccesignum!IneverdealtbettersinceIwasaman:allwouldnotdo。Aplagueofallcowards!Letthemspeak:iftheyspeakmoreorlessthantruth,theyarevillainsandthesonsofdarkness。PRINCEHENRYSpeak,sirs;howwasit?GADSHILLWefoursetuponsomedozen——FALSTAFFSixteenatleast,mylord。GADSHILLAndboundthem。PETONo,no,theywerenotbound。FALSTAFFYourogue,theywerebound,everymanofthem;orI
amaJewelse,anEbrewJew。GADSHILLAsweweresharing,somesixorsevenfreshmensetuponus——FALSTAFFAndunboundtherest,andthencomeintheother。PRINCEHENRYWhat,foughtyouwiththemall?FALSTAFFAll!Iknownotwhatyoucallall;butifIfoughtnotwithfiftyofthem,Iamabunchofradish:
iftherewerenottwoorthreeandfiftyuponpooroldJack,thenamInotwo—leggedcreature。PRINCEHENRYPrayGodyouhavenotmurderedsomeofthem。FALSTAFFNay,that’spastprayingfor:Ihavepepperedtwoofthem;twoIamsureIhavepaid,tworoguesinbuckramsuits。Itelltheewhat,Hal,ifI
telltheealie,spitinmyface,callmehorse。Thouknowestmyoldward;hereIlayandthusIboremypoint。Fourroguesinbuckramletdriveatme——PRINCEHENRYWhat,four?thousaidstbuttwoevennow。FALSTAFFFour,Hal;Itoldtheefour。POINSAy,ay,hesaidfour。FALSTAFFThesefourcamealla—front,andmainlythrustatme。Imademenomoreadobuttookalltheirsevenpointsinmytarget,thus。PRINCEHENRYSeven?why,therewerebutfourevennow。FALSTAFFInbuckram?POINSAy,four,inbuckramsuits。FALSTAFFSeven,bythesehilts,orIamavillainelse。PRINCEHENRYPrithee,lethimalone;weshallhavemoreanon。FALSTAFFDostthouhearme,Hal?PRINCEHENRYAy,andmarktheetoo,Jack。FALSTAFFDoso,foritisworththelisteningto。ThesenineinbuckramthatItoldtheeof——PRINCEHENRYSo,twomorealready。FALSTAFFTheirpointsbeingbroken,——POINSDownfelltheirhose。FALSTAFFBegantogivemeground:butIfollowedmeclose,cameinfootandhand;andwithathoughtsevenoftheelevenIpaid。PRINCEHENRYOmonstrous!elevenbuckrammengrownoutoftwo!FALSTAFFBut,asthedevilwouldhaveit,threemisbegottenknavesinKendalgreencameatmybackandletdriveatme;foritwassodark,Hal,thatthoucouldstnotseethyhand。PRINCEHENRYTheseliesareliketheirfatherthatbegetsthem;