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  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;

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