Act I, Scene II — London. A street.…

Act I, Scene II — London. A street.

Enter FALSTAFF, with his Page bearing his sword and buckler.[3329]

Fal. Sirrah, you giant, what says the doctor to my water?

Page. He said, sir, the water itself was a good healthy[3330] water; but, for the party that owed it, he might have more[3331] diseases than he knew for.[3332] 5

Fal. Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at me: the brain of this foolish-compounded clay, man, is not able to[3333] invent any thing that tends to laughter, more than I invent[3334] or is invented on me: I am not only witty in myself, but the cause that wit is in other men. I do here walk before 10 thee like a sow that hath overwhelmed all her litter but one.[3335] If the prince put thee into my service for any other reason than to set me off, why then I have no judgement. Thou whoreson mandrake, thou art fitter to be worn in my cap than to wait at my heels. I was never manned with an[3336] 15 agate till now: but I will inset you neither in gold nor silver,[3337] but in vile apparel, and send you back again to your master,[3338] for a jewel,--the juvenal, the prince your master, whose chin[3338] is not yet fledged. I will sooner have a beard grow in the[3339] palm of my hand than he shall get one on his cheek; and[3340] 20 yet he will not stick to say his face is a face-royal: God[3341] may finish it when he will, 'tis not a hair amiss yet: he may[3342] keep it still at a face-royal, for a barber shall never earn[3343] sixpence out of it; and yet he'll be crowing as if he had[3344] writ man ever since his father was a bachelor. He may 25 keep his own grace, but he's almost out of mine, I can[3345] assure him. What said Master Dombledon about the satin[3346] for my short cloak and my slops?[3347]

Page. He said, sir, you should procure him better assurance than Bardolph: he would not take his band[3348] 30 and yours; he liked not the security.

Fal. Let him be damned, like the glutton! pray God[3349] his tongue be hotter! A whoreson Achitophel! a rascally[3350] yea-forsooth knave! to bear a gentleman in hand, and then stand upon security! The whoreson smooth-pates do now[3351] 35 wear nothing but high shoes, and bunches of keys at their girdles; and if a man is through with them in honest taking[3352] up, then they must stand upon security. I had as lief they[3353] would put ratsbane in my mouth as offer to stop it with security. I looked a' should have sent me two and twenty[3354] 40 yards of satin, as I am a true knight, and he sends me[3355] security. Well, he may sleep in security; for he hath the horn of abundance, and the lightness of his wife shines through it: and yet cannot he see, though he have his own lanthorn to light him. Where's Bardolph?[3356] 45

Page. He's gone into Smithfield to buy your worship[3357] a horse.

Fal. I bought him in Paul's, and he'll buy me a horse in Smithfield: an I could get me but a wife in the stews, I[3358] were manned, horsed, and wived. 50

Enter the Lord Chief Justice and Servant.[3359]

Page. Sir, here comes the nobleman that committed[3360] the prince for striking him about Bardolph.

Fal. Wait close; I will not see him.[3361]

Ch. Just. What's he that goes there?

Serv. Falstaff, an't please your lordship.[3362] 55

Ch. Just. He that was in question for the robbery?

Serv. He, my lord: but he hath since done good service at Shrewsbury; and, as I hear, is now going with some charge to the Lord John of Lancaster.

Ch. Just. What, to York? Call him back again. 60

Serv. Sir John Falstaff!

Fal. Boy, tell him I am deaf.

Page. You must speak louder; my master is deaf.

Ch. Just. I am sure he is, to the hearing of any thing good. Go, pluck him by the elbow; I must speak with him. 65

Serv. Sir John!

Fal. What! a young knave, and begging! Is there not[3363] wars? is there not employment? doth not the king lack[3364] subjects? do not the rebels need soldiers? Though it be a[3365] shame to be on any side but one, it is worse shame to beg 70 than to be on the worst side, were it worse than the name of rebellion can tell how to make it.

Serv. You mistake me, sir.

Fal. Why, sir, did I say you were an honest man?[3366] setting my knighthood and my soldiership aside, I had lied in 75 my throat, if I had said so.[3367]

Serv. I pray you, sir, then set your knighthood and your soldiership aside; and give me leave to tell you, you lie in your throat, if you say I am any other than an[3368] honest man. 80

Fal. I give thee leave to tell me so! I lay aside that which grows to me! If thou gettest any leave of me, hang me; if thou takest leave, thou wert better be hanged. You hunt counter: hence! avaunt![3369]

Serv. Sir, my lord would speak with you. 85

Ch. Just. Sir John Falstaff, a word with you.

Fal. My good lord! God give your lordship good time[3370] of day. I am glad to see your lordship abroad: I heard say[3371] your lordship was sick: I hope your lordship goes abroad by advice. Your lordship, though not clean past your 90 youth, hath yet some smack of age in you, some relish of[3372] the saltness of time; and I most humbly beseech your[3373] lordship to have a reverend care of your health.

Ch. Just. Sir John, I sent for you before your expedition[3374] to Shrewsbury. 95

Fal. An't please your lordship, I hear his majesty is[3375] returned with some discomfort from Wales.[3376]

Ch. Just. I talk not of his majesty: you would not come when I sent for you.

Fal. And I hear, moreover, his highness is fallen into 100 this same whoreson apoplexy.

Ch. Just. Well, God mend him! I pray you, let me[3377] speak with you.

Fal. This apoplexy is, as I take it, a kind of lethargy, an't please your lordship; a kind of sleeping in the blood,[3378] 105 a whoreson tingling.

Ch. Just. What tell you me of it? be it as it is.

Fal. It hath its original from much grief, from study[3379] and perturbation of the brain: I have read the cause of his[3380] effects in Galen: it is a kind of deafness.[3380] 110

Ch. Just. I think you are fallen into the disease; for you hear not what I say to you.

Fal. Very well, my lord, very well: rather, an't please[3381] you, it is the disease of not listening, the malady of not marking, that I am troubled withal. 115

Ch. Just. To punish you by the heels would amend the attention of your ears; and I care not if I do become your[3382] physician.

Fal. I am as poor as Job, my lord, but not so patient: your lordship may minister the potion of imprisonment to 120 me in respect of poverty; but how I should be your patient to follow your prescriptions, the wise may make some dram of a scruple, or indeed a scruple itself.

Ch. Just. I sent for you, when there were matters against you for your life, to come speak with me.[3383] 125

Fal. As I was then advised by my learned counsel in[3384] the laws of this land-service, I did not come.

Ch. Just. Well, the truth is, Sir John, you live in great infamy.

Fal. He that buckles him in my belt cannot live in less.[3385] 130

Ch. Just. Your means are very slender, and your waste[3386] is great.[3387]

Fal. I would it were otherwise; I would my means were greater, and my waist slenderer.[3388]

Ch. Just. You have misled the youthful prince. 135

Fal. The young prince hath misled me: I am the fellow[3389] with the great belly, and he my dog.

Ch. Just. Well, I am loath to gall a new-healed wound: your day's service at Shrewsbury hath a little gilded over your night's exploit on Gads-hill: you may thank the unquiet 140 time for your quiet o'er-posting that action.

Fal. My lord?[3390]

Ch. Just. But since all is well, keep it so: wake not a sleeping wolf.

Fal. To wake a wolf is as bad as to smell a fox.[3391] 145

Ch. Just. What! you are as a candle, the better part burnt out.

Fal. A wassail candle, my lord, all tallow: if I did say[3392] of wax, my growth would approve the truth.

Ch. Just. There is not a white hair on your face but 150 should have his effect of gravity.

Fal. His effect of gravy, gravy, gravy.

Ch. Just. You follow the young prince up and down, like his ill angel.[3393]

Fal. Not so, my lord; your ill angel is light; but I[3394] 155 hope he that looks upon me will take me without[3395] weighing: and yet, in some respects, I grant, I cannot go: I[3396] cannot tell. Virtue is of so little regard in these[3396][3397] costermonger times that true valour is turned bear-herd: pregnancy[3397][3398] is made a tapster, and hath his quick wit wasted in giving[3399] 160 reckonings: all the other gifts appertinent to man, as the malice of this age shapes them, are not worth a gooseberry.[3400] You that are old consider not the capacities of us that are young; you do measure the heat of our livers with the[3401] bitterness of your galls: and we that are in the vaward of our 165 youth, I must confess, are wags too.

Ch. Just. Do you set down your name in the scroll of youth, that are written down old with all the characters of age? Have you not a moist eye? a dry hand? a yellow cheek? a white beard? a decreasing leg? an increasing 170 belly? is not your voice broken? your wind short? your[3402] chin double? your wit single? and every part about you[3402] blasted with antiquity? and will you yet call yourself[3403] young? Fie, fie, fie, Sir John!

Fal. My lord, I was born about three of the clock in the[3404] 175 afternoon, with a white head and something a round belly.[3404] For my voice, I have lost it with halloing and singing of[3405] anthems. To approve my youth further, I will not: the[3406] truth is, I am only old in judgement and understanding; and he that will caper with me for a thousand marks, let 180 him lend me the money, and have at him. For the box of[3407] the ear that the prince gave you, he gave it like a rude[3407][3408] prince, and you took it like a sensible lord. I have checked him for it; and the young lion repents; marry, not in ashes and sackcloth, but in new silk and old sack. 185

Ch. Just. Well, God send the prince a better[3409] companion!

Fal. God send the companion a better prince! I cannot[3409] rid my hands of him.

Ch. Just. Well, the king hath severed you and Prince[3410] 190 Harry: I hear you are going with Lord John of Lancaster[3410] against the Archbishop and the Earl of Northumberland.

Fal. Yea; I thank your pretty sweet wit for it. But[3411] look you pray, all you that kiss my lady Peace at home, that our armies join not in a hot day; for, by the Lord, I[3412] 195 take but two shirts out with me, and I mean not to sweat[3413] extraordinarily: if it be a hot day, and I brandish any[3414] thing but a bottle, I would I might never spit white again.[3415] There is not a dangerous action can peep out his head, but I am thrust upon it: well, I cannot last ever: but it was[3416][3417] 200 alway yet the trick of our English nation, if they have a[3417][3418] good thing, to make it too common. If ye will needs say[3417][3419] I am an old man, you should give me rest. I would to[3417] God my name were not so terrible to the enemy as it is:[3417] I were better to be eaten to death with a rust than to be[3417][3420] 205 scoured to nothing with perpetual motion.[3417]

Ch. Just. Well, be honest, be honest; and God bless[3421] your expedition!

Fal. Will your lordship lend me a thousand pound to furnish me forth? 210

Ch. Just. Not a penny, not a penny; you are too impatient to bear crosses. Fare you well: commend me to my cousin Westmoreland.

[Exeunt Chief-Justice and Servant.[3422]

Fal. If I do, fillip me with a three-man beetle. A man can no more separate age and covetousness than a' can[3423] 215 part young limbs and lechery: but the gout galls the one, and the pox pinches the other; and so both the degrees[3424] prevent my curses. Boy!

Page. Sir?

Fal. What money is in my purse? 220

Page. Seven groats and two pence.

Fal. I can get no remedy against this consumption of the purse: borrowing only lingers and lingers it out, but the disease is incurable. Go bear this letter to my Lord of Lancaster; this to the prince; this to the Earl of 225 Westmoreland; and this to old Mistress Ursula, whom I have weekly sworn to marry since I perceived the first white hair on my chin. About it: you know where to find me.[3425] [Exit Page.] A pox of this gout! or, a gout of this pox![3426] for the one or the other plays the rogue with my great toe.[3427] 230 'Tis no matter if I do halt; I have the wars for my colour,[3428] and my pension shall seem the more reasonable. A good wit will make use of any thing: I will turn diseases to commodity. [Exit.[3429]

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Act I, Scene III — York. The ARCHBISHOP'S Palace

Enter the ARCHBISHOP, the LORDS HASTINGS, MOWBRAY, and BARDOLPH.[3430]

Arch. Thus have you heard our cause and known our means;[3431] And, my most noble friends, I pray you all,[3432] Speak plainly your opinions of our hopes: And first, lord marshal, what say you to it?

Mowb. I well allow the occasion of our arms;[3433] 5 But gladly would be better satisfied How in our means we should advance ourselves To look with forehead bold and big enough Upon the power and puissance of the king.

Hast. Our present musters grow upon the file 10 To five and twenty thousand men of choice; And our supplies live largely in the hope[3434] Of great Northumberland, whose bosom burns With an incensed fire of injuries.

L. Bard. The question then. Lord Hastings, standeth thus; 15 Whether our present five and twenty thousand May hold up head without Northumberland?

Hast. With him, we may.

L. Bard. Yea, marry, there's the point:[3435] But if without him we be thought too feeble, My judgement is, we should not step too far 20 Till we had his assistance by the hand;[3436] For in a theme so bloody-faced as this[3436] Conjecture, expectation, and surmise[3436] Of aids incertain should not be admitted.[3436][3437]

Arch. 'Tis very true, Lord Bardolph; for indeed 25 It was young Hotspur's case at Shrewsbury.

L. Bard. It was, my lord; who lined himself with hope, Eating the air on promise of supply,[3438] Flattering himself in project of a power[3439] Much smaller than the smallest of his thoughts: 30 And so, with great imagination Proper to madmen, led his powers to death And winking leap'd into destruction.

Hast. But, by your leave, it never yet did hurt To lay down likelihoods and forms of hope. 35

L. Bard. Yes, if this present quality of war,[3440][3441] Indeed the instant action: a cause on foot,[3440][3441] Lives so in hope, as in an early spring[3440][3441] We see the appearing buds; which to prove fruit,[3440] Hope gives not so much warrant as despair[3440] 40 That frosts will bite them. When we mean to build,[3440] We first survey the plot, then draw the model;[3440] And when we see the figure of the house,[3440] Then must we rate the cost of the erection;[3440] Which if we find outweighs ability,[3440] 45 What do we then but draw anew the model;[3440] In fewer offices, or at least desist[3440][3442] To build at all? Much more, in this great work,[3440] Which is almost to pluck a kingdom down[3440] And set another up, should we survey[3440] 50 The plot of situation and the model,[3440][3443] Consent upon a sure foundation,[3440][3444] Question surveyors, know our own estate,[3440] How able such a work to undergo,[3440][3445] To weigh against his opposite; or else[3440][3446] 55 We fortify in paper and in figures,[3447] Using the names of men instead of men: Like one that draws the model of a house[3448] Beyond his power to build it; who, half through,[3449] Gives o'er and leaves his part-created cost[3450] 60 A naked subject to the weeping clouds, And waste for churlish winter's tyranny.

Hast. Grant that our hopes, yet likely of fair birth, Should be still-born, and that we now possess'd[3451] The utmost man of expectation, 65 I think we are a body strong enough,[3452] Even as we are, to equal with the king.

L. Bard. What, is the king but five and twenty thousand?

Hast. To us no more; nay, not so much, Lord Bardolph. For his divisions, as the times do brawl, 70 Are in three heads: one power against the French,[3453] And one against Glendower; perforce a third Must take up us: so is the unfirm king In three divided; and his coffers sound With hollow poverty and emptiness. 75

Arch. That he should draw his several strengths together And come against us in full puissance, Need not be dreaded.[3454]

Hast. If he should do so,[3455] He leaves his back unarm'd, the French and Welsh[3455][3456] Baying him at the heels: never fear that.[3455][3456] 80

L. Bard. Who is it like should lead his forces hither?

Hast. The Duke of Lancaster and Westmoreland; Against the Welsh, himself and Harry Monmouth: But who is substituted 'gainst the French,[3457] I have no certain notice.

Arch. Let us[3458] 85 And publish the occasion of our arms.[3458] The commonwealth is sick of their own choice;[3458][3459] Their over-greedy love hath surfeited:[3458][3459] An habitation giddy and unsure[3458] Hath he that buildeth on the vulgar heart.[3458] 90 O thou fond many, with what loud applause[3458][3460] Didst thou beat heaven with blessing Bolingbroke,[3458] Before he was what thou wouldst have him be![3458] And being now trimm'd in thine own desires,[3458][3461] Thou, beastly feeder, art so full of him,[3458] 95 That thou provokest thyself to cast him up.[3458] So, so, thou common dog, didst thou disgorge[3458] Thy glutton bosom of the royal Richard;[3458] And now thou wouldst eat thy dead vomit up,[3458] And howl'st to find it. What trust is in these times?[3458] 100 They that, when Richard lived, would have him die,[3458][3462] Are now become enamour'd on his grave:[3458][3462] Thou, that threw'st dust upon his goodly head[3458] When through proud London he came sighing on[3458] After the admired heels of Bolingbroke,[3458] 105 Criest now 'O earth, yield us that king again,[3458] And take thou this!' O thoughts of men accursed![3458] Past and to come seems best; things present, worst.[3458][3463]

Mowb. Shall we go draw our numbers, and set on?[3464]

Hast. We are time's subjects, and time bids be gone. 110

[Exeunt.[3465]

FOOTNOTES:

[3267] SCENE I.] Pope. Scena Secunda. Ff. See note (II).

Enter....] Enter the Lord Bardolfe at one doore. Q. Enter Lord Bardolfe, and the Porter. Ff (Bardolf, F₄). Enter Lord Bardolph; the Porter at the door. Theobald. The Porter above the Gate. Enter Lord Bardolph. Singer (Collier MS.).

[3268] here] om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3269] Enter N.] Ff. Enter the Earle Northumberland. Q.

Here comes] Here's Pope.

[Exit Porter.] Dyce.

[3270] an God] and God Q. and heaven Ff. if heav'n Pope. an heaven Capell.

[3271] my lord,] Q. (my L.) Ff.

[3272] whom] Ff. who Q.

[3273] Enter Travers.] Ff. Enter Travers. Q in margin, opposite lines 25, 26. Pope after line 32.

[3274] retail] retain Johnson (1770).

[3275] SCENE II. Pope.

comes with] Q. comes from Ff. come with Pope.

[3276] Sir] om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3277] hard] head F₁.

[3278] bad] Q. ill Ff.

[3279] forward] Q F₃ F₄. forwards F₁ F₂.

armed] Q. able Ff. agile Pope.

[3280] Of Hotspur ... luck?] Rebellion had ill luck? Pope.

[3281] what] om. Pope.

[3282] never] ne'er Pope.

[3283] that gentleman] Q. the gentleman Ff.

[3284] hilding] Q. hielding Ff.

[3285] Spoke] Q. Speake F₁. Spake F₂ F₃ F₄.

at a venture] at a venter Q. at adventure Ff.

[3286] SCENE III. Pope.

[3287] strond] Maine Dering MS.

whereon] Q. when Ff.

[3288] so woe-begone,] Ucalegon Bentley conj.

[3289] Priam] Priams F₂.

[3290] my] Q F₃ F₄. mine F₁ F₂.

[3291] brother, yet] Ff. brother yet Q.

[3292] dead.] Ff. dead? Q.

[3293] others'] other Rowe (ed. 2).

[3294] chanced] Q. chanc'd Ff.

speak, Morton] Morton, speak Pope, speak, speak S. Walker conj.

[3295] an] Q. thy Ff.

[3296] North. Yet, for ... friend.] Bard. Yet, for ... dead. North. I see ... alive. Morton. Yet the first ... friend. Johnson conj.

[3297] say so] Ff. om. Q. indeed Seymour conj.

[3298] tolling] Q. knelling Ff.

[3299] I am] I'm Pope.

[3300] God] Q. heaven Ff.

[3301] Harry] Q. Henrie F₁. Henry F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3302] metal] F₄. mettal Q. mettle F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3303] abated] rebated Warburton.

[3304] fled] fly S. Walker conj.

[3305] that] the Hanmer.

[3306] Too] Ff. So Q.

[3307] these] Q. this Ff.

[3308] Having ... have] That would, had I been well, have Pope.

[3309] have] hath F₃ F₄.

[3310] buckle] knuckle Bailey conj.

[3311] Weaken'd with grief] Weaken'd with age or Weaken'd with pain Malone conj.

[3312] [throwing it from him. Capell.

[3313] flesh'd] flush'd Capell.

[3314] ragged'st] rugged'st Theobald.

[3315] this world] Q. the world Ff.

[3316] Tra. This ... my lord.] Capell. Umfr. This ... my lord. Q. Omitted in Ff. Pope gives this and the next line to Bardolph.

[3317] Lean] Leane Q.

your] you Q.

[3318] You cast ... to be? Omitted in Q.

[3319] brought] F₂ F₃ F₄. bring F₁.

[3320] 'twas] twas Q. was Ff.

[3321] ventured, ... proposed] Capell. venturd ... proposde, Q. ventur'd ... propos'd, Ff.

[3322] forth,] forth; Ff. forth Q.

[3323] do] Ff. dare Q.

truth,] truth: Ff. truth. Q.

[3324] The gentle ... follow him. Omitted in Q.

[3325] corpse] corpes F₁ F₂. corps F₃ F₄. corpse' Dyce.

[3326] bishop] archbishop Collier (Collier MS.).

[3327] enlarge] enlard Warburton conj.

[3328] and never] Q. nor never Ff.

[3329] SCENE II.] Steevens. Scena Tertia. Ff. SCENE IV. Pope. Enter Falstaff, with....] Enter Sir John alone, with.... Q. Enter Falstaffe and Page. Ff.

[3330] healthy] healing Rowe.

[3331] owed] own'd F₄.

[3332] for] cure for Capell.

[3333] foolish-compounded clay, man] foolish-compounded-clay, man Pope. foolish compounded clay-man Q Ff.

[3334] invent] vent Reed (1803).

tends] Ff. intends Q.

[3335] overwhelmed] ouerwhelmd Q. o'rewhelm'd Ff.

[3336] manned] maim'd F₃ F₄.

[3337] agate] Johnson. agot Q Ff. aglet Hanmer.

inset] in-set Q. selte Ff. e'en set Anon. conj.

[3338] to your master, for a jewel,] for a jewel to your master Nicholson conj.

jewel,--] iewell, Q. Iewell. Ff.

juvenal] juvenil Rowe (ed. 2).

[3339] fledged] fledg'd Ff. fledge Q.

[3340] on] off Q of Collier conj.

[3341] God] Q. Heaven Ff.

[3342] he will] it will Pope.

'tis] tis Q. it is Ff.

[3343] at] Q F₁. as F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3344] he'll] heele Q. he will Ff.

[3345] he's] hees Q. he is Ff.

[3346] Master Dombledon] M. Dombledon Ff. master Dommelton Q. Master Double-done Steevens conj. Master Double-down Mason conj. Master Dumbleton Malone (Steevens conj.)

[3347] my short] short F₂.

my slops] Q. slops Ff.

[3348] band] Q. bond Ff.

[3349] pray God] Q. may Ff.

[3350] Achitophel] Architophel F₂.

rascally] rascall: Q.

[3351] smooth-pates] Ff. smoothy-pates Q.

[3352] through] thorough Pope.

[3353] lief] liue Q.

[3354] a'] a Q. he Ff.

[3355] a true] Q. true Ff.

[3356] Where's Bardolph] Put by Q in line 44, after through it.

[3357] into] Ff. in Q.

[3358] an] Malone. and Q. if Ff.

but] Q. om. Ff.

[3359] Enter the Lord....] Enter Chiefe Justice, and Servant. Ff. Enter Lord chiefe Justice. Q. Enter ... servants. Rowe (ed. 2). Enter ... his Gentleman following. Capell.

[3360] SCENE V. Pope.

[3361] [going. Capell.

[3362] an't] Hanmer. and't Q Ff.

[3363] begging] Q. beg Ff.

Is] Are Rowe.

[3364] king] Q F₄. K. F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3365] need] Q. want Ff.

[3366] sir, ... man?] sir, ... man, Q. sir?... man? Ff.

[3367] I had] had F₂.

[3368] lie] do lie Capell.

[3369] hunt counter:] hunt conter, Q. Hunt-counter, Ff.

[3370] God] Q. om. Ff. I Capell.

[3371] of day] Q. of the day Ff.

[3372] hath] Ff. have Q.

age] Ff. an ague Q. antique Anon. conj.

[3373] time] Ff. time in you Q.

[3374] for you] Q F₂ F₃. you F₁. for your F₄.

[3375] An't] Capell. Andt Q. If it Ff.

[3376] discomfort] discomfit Capell conj.

[3377] God] Q. heaven Ff.

pray you] Q. pray Ff.

[3378] an't please your lordship] Pope. and't please your lordship Q. Omitted in Ff.

kind of] Q. om. Ff.

in] Q. of Ff.

[3379] its] F₃ F₄. it Q F₁ F₂.

[3380] his effects] its effects F₄. it Pope.

[3381] Fal.] Ff. Old. Q. See note (III).

an't Ff. and't Q.

[3382] attention] inattention Capell.

do become] Q. be Ff.

[3383] come speak] Q F₁. speak F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3384] learned counsel] counsel learned Pope.

[3385] him] Ff. himselfe Q.

[3386] are] Q. is Ff.

[3387] is great] Q. great Ff.

[3388] slenderer] Ff. slender Q.

[3389] young] youthful Capell.

[3390] My lord?] Ff. My lord. Q. My lord-- Singer.

[3391] to smell] Ff. smell Q.

[3392] if] but if Pope.

[3393] ill] Q. evill Ff.

[3394] ill] om. Warburton.

[3395] without weighing] without, weighing F₁ F₂.

[3396] go: I ... tell.] Ff. go. I ... tell, Q.

[3397] costermonger times] Capell. costar-mongers times Q. Costormongers F₁ F₂. costermongers dayes F₃ F₄ (days F₄).

[3398] bear-herd] F₄. berod Q. beare-heard F₁ F₂. bear-heard F₃.

[3399] hath his] Ff. his Q.

[3400] this] Ff. his Q.

them, are] the one Q.

[3401] do] om. Ff.

[3402] your chin double] Q. Omitted in Ff.

[3403] yet] Q. om. Ff.

[3404] about ... afternoon] Q. Omitted in Ff. about three of the afternoon Collier MS.

[3405] halloing] hallowing Q F₁ F₂. hollowing F₃ F₄.

[3406] further] Q F₃ F₄. farther F₁ F₂.

[3407] of the] Q. of th' F₁ F₂. oth' F₃. o'th' F₄.

[3408] ear] yeere Q.

[3409] God] Q. Heaven Ff.

[3410] and Prince Harry] Omitted in Q.

[3411] Yea] Q. Yes Ff.

[3412] by the Lord, I] Q. if I F₁ F₂ F₃. I F₄.

[3413] and] an S. Walker conj.

[3414] and] & Q. if Ff. an Capell.

[3415] a bottle,] a bottle. Q. my bottle, Ff.

I would] Q. would Ff.

[3416] ever] for ever Collier MS.

[3417] but it was ... motion] Omitted in Ff.

[3418] alway yet] always Pope, always yet Capell.

[3419] ye] you Hanmer.

[3420] a rust] rust Reed (Mason conj.). the rust Anon. conj.

[3421] God] Q. heaven Ff.

[3422] Exeunt....] Exeunt ... Gentleman. Capell. Exit. Ff. om. Q.

[3423] a'] a Q. he Ff.

[3424] degrees] Q Ff. diseases Dyce (Collier MS.).

[3425] on] Ff. of Q.

[3426] [Exit Page.] Capell. om. Q Ff.

[3427] the other] Q. th' other Ff.

[3428] 'Tis Tis Q. It is Ff.

[3429] [Exit.] Capell. Exeunt. Ff. om. Q.

[3430] SCENE III.] Steevens. Scena Quarta Ff. SCENE VI. Pope. om. Q.

York.] Pope.

The Archbishop's palace.] Theobald.

Enter....] Enter th' Archbishop, Thomas Mowbray (Earle Marshall) the Lord Hastings, Fauconbridge, and Bardolfe. Q. Enter Archbishop, Hastings, Mowbray, and Lord Bardolfe. Ff.

[3431] Arch.] Bishop. Q (afterwards Bish.).]

cause] Q. causes Ff.

known] knowne Q kno F₁. know F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3432] And] Now Pope.

[3433] Mowb.] Marsh. Q. Mow. F₁ F₃ F₄. Mor. F₂.

[3434] live] lie S. Walker conj.

[3435] Yea] Q. I Ff.

[3436] Till ... admitted] Omitted in Q.

[3437] incertain] F₁ F₂. uncertain F₃ F₄.

[3438] on] Ff. and Q.

[3439] in] Q. with Ff.

[3440] Yes, if ... or else] Omitted in Q.

[3441] Yes ... Lives] Ff. See note (IV).

[3442] or at least] at least Pope. or else Hanmer. or, at last Capell.

[3443] of situation] the situation Collier (Collier MS.). and] draw or and draw Keightley conj.

[3444] Consent] Consult Collier MS.

[3445] After this line Mr Collier, following the MS. corrector, inserts A careful leader sums what force he brings.

[3446] To weigh] How weigh Capell. And weigh Staunton conj.

his] this Singer conj.

[3447] We....] Bard. We.... Q.

in paper] on paper Collier MS.

[3448] one] on Q.

a house] Ff. an house Q.

[3449] through] thorough Q.

[3450] cost] house Keightley conj.

[3451] possess'd] possess Collier MS.

[3452] a body] Ff. so, body Q.

[3453] Are] Ff. And Q.

[3454] be] Ff. to be Q.

[3455] If he ... that.] Printed as prose in Q.

[3456] He leaves ... Baying] Ff. French and Welch he leaves his back vnarmde, they baying Q. To French and Welsh he leaves his back unarmed, They baying Capell.

[3457] 'gainst] Ff. against Q.

[3458] Arch. Let us ... worst.] Omitted in Q.

[3459] their ... Their] her ... Her Capell.

[3460] many] meyny (from mesnie) Douce conj.

[3461] being now] now being Pope.

trimm'd] F₁. trimm'd up F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3462] They ... Are] Thou Art Keightley conj.

[3463] Past ... worst] Printed in italics in Ff.

seems] seem Pope.

[3464] Mowb.] Bish. Q.

[3465] [Exeunt.] ex. Q.

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Act II, Scene I — London. A street.

Enter Hostess, FANG and his Boy with her, and SNARE following.[3466]

Host. Master Fang, have you entered the action?[3467]

Fang. It is entered.[3468]

Host. Where's your yeoman? Is't a lusty yeoman?[3469] will a' stand to't?[3470]

Fang. Sirrah, where's Snare? 5

Host. O Lord, ay! good Master Snare.[3471]

Snare. Here, here.

Fang. Snare, we must arrest Sir John Falstaff.

Host. Yea, good Master Snare; I have entered him[3472] and all. 10

Snare. It may chance cost some of us our lives, for he[3473] will stab.

Host. Alas the day! take heed of him; he stabbed me in mine own house, and that most beastly: in good faith,[3474] he cares not what mischief he does, if his weapon be out:[3475] 15 he will foin like any devil; he will spare neither man, woman, nor child.

Fang. If I can close with him, I care not for his thrust.

Host. No, nor I neither: I'll be at your elbow.

Fang. An I but fist him once; an a' come but within[3476] 20 my vice,--[3477]

Host. I am undone by his going; I warrant you, he's[3478] an infinitive thing upon my score. Good Master Fang, hold him sure: good Master Snare, let him not 'scape. A' comes[3479] continuantly to Pie-corner--saving your manhoods--to buy[3480] 25 a saddle; and he is indited to dinner to the Lubber's-head in Lumbert street, to Master Smooth's the silkman: I pray[3481] ye, since my exion is entered and my case so openly[3482] known to the world, let him be brought in to his answer. A hundred mark is a long one for a poor lone woman to[3483] 30 bear: and I have borne, and borne, and borne; and have been fubbed off, and fubbed off, and fubbed off, from this[3484] day to that day, that it is a shame to be thought on. There is no honesty in such dealing; unless a woman should be made an ass and a beast, to bear every knave's wrong. 35 Yonder he comes; and that arrant malmsey-nose knave,[3485] Bardolph, with him. Do your offices, do your offices: Master Fang and Master Snare, do me, do me, do me your offices.[3486]

Enter FALSTAFF, Page, and BARDOLPH.[3487]

Fal. How now! whose mare's dead? what's the matter?

Fang. Sir John, I arrest you at the suit of Mistress[3488][3489] 40 Quickly.[3489]

Fal. Away, varlets! Draw, Bardolph: cut me off the villain's head: throw the quean in the channel.[3490]

Host. Throw me in the channel! I'll throw thee in the[3490][3491] channel. Wilt thou? wilt thou? thou bastardly rogue![3491][3492] 45 Murder, murder! Ah, thou honey-suckle villain! wilt thou[3493] kill God's officers and the king's? Ah, thou honey-seed[3493] rogue! thou art a honey-seed, a man-queller, and a woman-queller.

Fal. Keep them off, Bardolph. 50

Fang. A rescue! a rescue!

Host. Good people, bring a rescue or two. Thou wo't,[3494][3495] wo't thou? thou wo't, wo't ta? do, do, thou rogue! do,[3495][3496] thou hemp-seed!

Fal. Away, you scullion! you rampallian! you fustilarian![3497][3498] 55 I'll tickle your catastrophe.

Enter the LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE, and his men.[3499]

Ch. Just. What is the matter? keep the peace here, ho![3500]

Host. Good my lord, be good to me. I beseech you, stand to me.

Ch. Just. How now, Sir John! what are you brawling here?[3501][3502] 60 Doth this become your place, your time and business?[3502] You should have been well on your way to York.[3502] Stand from him, fellow: wherefore hang'st upon him?[3502][3503]

Host. O my most worshipful lord, an't please your grace, I am a poor widow of Eastcheap, and he is arrested 65 at my suit.

Ch. Just. For what sum?

Host. It is more than for some, my lord; it is for all,[3504] all I have. He hath eaten me out of house and home; he[3504] hath put all my substance into that fat belly of his: but I 70 will have some of it out again, or I will ride thee o'nights like the mare.

Fal. I think I am as like to ride the mare, if I have any vantage of ground to get up.

Ch. Just. How comes this, Sir John? Fie! what man[3505] 75 of good temper would endure this tempest of exclamation? Are you not ashamed to enforce a poor widow to so rough a course to come by her own?

Fal. What is the gross sum that I owe thee?

Host. Marry, if thou wert an honest man, thyself and the 80 money too. Thou didst swear to me upon a parcel-gilt[3506] goblet, sitting in my Dolphin-chamber, at the round table, by a sea-coal fire, upon Wednesday in Wheeson week, when[3507] the prince broke thy head for liking his father to a singing-man[3508] of Windsor, thou didst swear to me then, as I was 85 washing thy wound, to marry me and make me my lady thy wife. Canst thou deny it? Did not goodwife Keech, the butcher's wife, come in then and call me gossip Quickly? coming in to borrow a mess of vinegar; telling us she had a good dish of prawns; whereby thou didst desire to eat 90 some; whereby I told thee they were ill for a green wound? And didst thou not, when she was gone down stairs, desire[3509] me to be no more so familiarity with such poor people;[3510] saying that ere long they should call me madam? And didst thou not kiss me and bid me fetch thee thirty shillings? I[3511] 95 put thee now to thy book-oath: deny it, if thou canst.

Fal. My lord, this is a poor mad soul; and she says[3512] up and down the town that her eldest son is like you: she hath been in good case, and the truth is, poverty hath distracted her. But for these foolish officers, I beseech you I 100 may have redress against them.

Ch. Just. Sir John, Sir John, I am well acquainted with your manner of wrenching the true cause the false way. It is not a confident brow, nor the throng of words that come with such more than impudent sauciness from 105 you, can thrust me from a level consideration: you have,[3513] as it appears to me, practised upon the easy-yielding spirit[3513] of this woman, and made her serve your uses both in purse[3513] and in person.[3513]

Host. Yea, in truth, my lord.[3514] 110

Ch. Just. Pray thee, peace. Pay her the debt you owe[3515] her, and unpay the villany you have done her: the one[3516] you may do with sterling money, and the other with current repentance.

Fal. My lord, I will not undergo this sneap without 115 reply. You call honourable boldness impudent sauciness: if a man will make courtesy and say nothing, he is virtuous:[3517] no, my lord, my humble duty remembered, I will[3518] not be your suitor. I say to you, I do desire deliverance[3519] from these officers, being upon hasty employment in the[3520] 120 king's affairs.

Ch. Just. You speak as having power to do wrong: but answer in the effect of your reputation, and satisfy the[3521] poor woman.

Fal. Come hither, hostess. 125

Enter GOWER.[3522]

Ch. Just. Now, Master Gower, what news?[3523]

Gow. The king, my lord, and Harry Prince of Wales[3524] Are near at hand: the rest the paper tells.[3525]

Fal. As I am a gentleman.

Host. Faith, you said so before.[3526] 130

Fal. As I am a gentleman. Come, no more words of it.

Host. By this heavenly ground I tread on, I must be fain to pawn both my plate and the tapestry of my dining-chambers. 135

Fal. Glasses, glasses, is the only drinking: and for thy walls, a pretty slight drollery, or the story of the Prodigal, or the German hunting in water-work, is worth a thousand[3527] of these bed-hangings and these fly-bitten tapestries. Let[3528] it be ten pound, if thou canst. Come, an 'twere not for[3529] 140 thy humours, there's not a better wench in England. Go,[3530] wash thy face, and draw the action. Come, thou must not[3531] be in this humour with me; dost not know me? come,[3532] come, I know thou wast set on to this.

Host. Pray thee, Sir John, let it be but twenty nobles:[3533] 145 i' faith, I am loath to pawn my plate, so God save me, la![3534]

Fal. Let it alone; I'll make other shift: you'll be a[3535] fool still.

Host. Well, you shall have it, though I pawn my[3536] gown. I hope you'll come to supper. You'll pay me 150 all together?[3537]

Fal. Will I live? [To Bardolph] Go, with her, with[3538] her; hook on, hook on.

Host. Will you have Doll Tearsheet meet you at supper? 155

Fal. No more words; let's have her.

[Exeunt Hostess, Bardolph, Officers, and Boy.[3539]

Ch. Just. I have heard better news.[3540]

Fal. What's the news, my lord?[3541]

Ch. Just. Where lay the king last night?[3542]

Gow. At Basingstoke, my lord.[3543][3544] 160

Fal. I hope, my lord, all's well: what is the news, my lord?

Ch. Just. Come all his forces back?

Gow. No; fifteen hundred foot, five hundred horse,[3543][3545] Are march'd up to my lord of Lancaster,[3545] 165 Against Northumberland and the Archbishop.[3545]

Fal. Comes the king back from Wales, my noble lord?

Ch. Just. You shall have letters of me presently: Come, go along with me, good Master Gower.

Fal. My lord![3546] 170

Ch. Just. What's the matter?

Fal. Master Gower, shall I entreat you with me to[3547] dinner?

Gow. I must wait upon my good lord here; I thank you, good Sir John. 175

Ch. Just. Sir John, you loiter here too long, being you[3548] are to take soldiers up in counties as you go.[3548][3549]

Fal. Will you sup with me, Master Gower?

Ch. Just. What foolish master taught you these manners, Sir John? 180

Fal. Master Gower, if they become me not, he was a fool that taught them me. This is the right fencing grace, my lord; tap for tap, and so part fair.

Ch. Just. Now the Lord lighten thee! thou art a great fool. [Exeunt.[3550] 185

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Act II, Scene II — London. Another street.

Enter PRINCE HENRY and POINS.[3551]

Prince. Before God, I am exceeding weary.[3552]

Poins. Is't come to that? I had thought weariness[3553] durst not have attached one of so high blood.

Prince. Faith, it does me; though it discolours the[3554] complexion of my greatness to acknowledge it. Doth it 5 not show vilely in me to desire small beer?

Poins. Why, a prince should not be so loosely studied as to remember so weak a composition.

Prince. Belike then my appetite was not princely got; for, by my troth, I do now remember the poor creature,[3555] 10 small beer. But, indeed, these humble considerations make me out of love with my greatness. What a disgrace is it to me to remember thy name! or to know thy face tomorrow! or to take note how many pair of silk stockings[3556] thou hast, viz. these, and those that were thy peach-coloured[3557] 15 ones! or to bear the inventory of thy shirts, as, one for[3558] superfluity, and another for use! But that the[3559] tennis-court-keeper knows better than I; for it is a low ebb of linen with thee when thou keepest not racket there; as thou hast not[3560] done a great while, because the rest of thy low countries[3561] 20 have made a shift to eat up thy holland: and God knows[3562][3563] whether those that bawl out the ruins of thy linen shall[3563][3564] inherit his kingdom: but the midwives say the children[3563] are not in the fault; whereupon the world increases, and[3563] kindreds are mightily strengthened.[3563] 25

Poins. How ill it follows, after you have laboured so hard, you should talk so idly! Tell me, how many good young princes would do so, their fathers being so sick as[3565] yours at this time is?[3566]

Prince. Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins? 30

Poins. Yes, faith; and let it be an excellent good thing.[3567]

Prince. It shall serve among wits of no higher breeding than thine.

Poins. Go to; I stand the push of your one thing that you will tell.[3568] 35

Prince. Marry, I tell thee, it is not meet that I should[3569] be sad, now my father is sick: albeit I could tell to thee, as to one it pleases me, for fault of a better, to call my friend, I could be sad, and sad indeed too.

Poins. Very hardly upon such a subject. 40

Prince. By this hand, thou thinkest me as far in the[3570] devil's book as thou and Falstaff for obduracy and persistency: let the end try the man. But I tell thee, my heart bleeds inwardly that my father is so sick: and keeping such[3571] vile company as thou art hath in reason taken from me all 45 ostentation of sorrow.

Poins. The reason?[3572]

Prince. What wouldst thou think of me, if I should weep?

Poins. I would think thee a most princely hypocrite. 50

Prince. It would be every man's thought; and thou art a blessed fellow to think as every man thinks: never a man's thought in the world keeps the road-way better than thine: every man would think me an hypocrite indeed. And what accites your most worshipful thought to think so?[3573] 55

Poins. Why, because you have been so lewd, and so[3574] much engraffed to Falstaff.

Prince. And to thee.

Poins. By this light, I am well spoke on; I can hear it[3575] with mine own ears: the worst that they can say of me is[3576] 60 that I am a second brother, and that I am a proper fellow of my hands; and those two things, I confess, I cannot help. By the mass, here comes Bardolph.[3577]

Enter BARDOLPH and Page.[3578]

Prince. And the boy that I gave Falstaff: a' had him[3579] from me Christian; and look, if the fat villain have not[3580] 65 transformed him ape.

Bard. God save your grace![3581]

Prince. And yours, most noble Bardolph!

Bard. Come, you virtuous ass, you bashful fool, must[3582] you be blushing? wherefore blush you now? What a 70 maidenly man-at-arms are you become! Is't such a[3583] matter to get a pottle-pot's maidenhead?

Page. A' calls me e'en now, my lord, through a red[3584] lattice, and I could discern no part of his face from the window: at last I spied his eyes; and methought he had 75 made two holes in the ale-wife's new petticoat and so[3585] peeped through.

Prince. Has not the boy profited?[3586][3587]

Bard. Away, you whoreson upright rabbit, away![3586][3588]

Page. Away, you rascally Althæa's dream, away! 80

Prince. Instruct us, boy; what dream, boy?

Page. Marry, my lord, Althæa dreamed she was[3589] delivered of a fire-brand; and therefore I call him her dream.

Prince. A crown's worth of good interpretation: there 'tis, boy.[3590] 85

Poins. O, that this good blossom could be kept from[3591] cankers! Well, there is sixpence to preserve thee.

Bard. An you do not make him hanged among you,[3592] the gallows shall have wrong.[3593]

Prince. And how doth thy master, Bardolph? 90

Bard. Well, my lord. He heard of your grace's coming[3594] to town: there's a letter for you.

Poins. Delivered with good respect. And how doth[3595] the martlemas, your master?

Bard. In bodily health, sir. 95

Poins. Marry, the immortal part needs a physician; but that moves not him: though that be sick, it dies not.

Prince. I do allow this wen to be as familiar with me as my dog; and he holds his place; for look you how he[3596] writes. 100

Poins. [Reads] '+John Falstaff, knight+,'--every man must[3597] know that, as oft as he has occasion to name himself: even[3598] like those that are kin to the king; for they never prick their finger but they say, 'There's some of the king's blood[3599] spilt.' 'How comes that?' says he, that takes upon him 105 not to conceive. The answer is as ready as a borrower's[3600] cap, 'I am the king's poor cousin, sir.'[3600]

Prince. Nay, they will be kin to us, or they will fetch[3601] it from Japhet. But to the letter:[3602]

Poins. [Reads] '+Sir John Falstaff, knight, to the son of the[3603]+ 110 +king, nearest his father, Harry Prince of Wales, greeting.+' Why,[3604] this is a certificate.

Prince. Peace!

Poins. [Reads] '+I will imitate the honourable Romans in[3605]+ +brevity:+' he sure means brevity in breath, short-winded. '+I[3606]+ 115 +commend me to thee, I commend thee, and I leave thee. Be not[3607]+ +too familiar with Poins; for he misuses thy favours so much, that he+ +swears thou art to marry his sister Nell. Repent at idle times as thou+ +mayest; and so, farewell.+

+'Thine, by yea and no, which is as much as to say, as+ 120 +thou usest him, JACK FALSTAFF with my+[3608] +familiars, JOHN with my brothers and sisters, and SIR+[3609] +JOHN with all Europe.'+

My lord, I'll steep this letter in sack, and make him eat it.[3610]

Prince. That's to make him eat twenty of his words.[3611] 125 But do you use me thus, Ned? must I marry your sister?

Poins. God send the wench no worse fortune! But I[3612] never said so.

Prince. Well, thus we play the fools with the time;[3613] and the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock us. 130 Is your master here in London?

Bard. Yea, my lord.[3614]

Prince. Where sups he? doth the old boar feed in the[3615] old frank?

Bard. At the old place, my lord, in Eastcheap. 135

Prince. What company?

Page. Ephesians, my lord, of the old church.

Prince. Sup any women with him?

Page. None, my lord, but old Mistress Quickly and Mistress Doll Tearsheet. 140

Prince. What pagan may that be?

Page. A proper gentlewoman, sir, and a kinswoman of my master's.

Prince. Even such kin as the parish heifers are to the[3616] town bull. Shall we steal upon them, Ned, at supper? 145

Poins. I am your shadow, my lord; I'll follow you.

Prince. Sirrah, you boy, and Bardolph, no word to your master that I am yet come to town: there's for your[3617] silence.

Bard. I have no tongue, sir. 150

Page. And for mine, sir, I will govern it.

Prince. Fare you well; go. [Exeunt Bardolph and Page.][3618] This Doll Tearsheet should be some road.[3619]

Poins. I warrant you, as common as the way between Saint Alban's and London. 155

Prince. How might we see Falstaff bestow himself to-night in his true colours, and not ourselves be seen?[3620]

Poins. Put on two leathern jerkins and aprons, and[3621] wait upon him at his table as drawers.[3622]

Prince. From a God to a bull? a heavy descension! it[3623][3624] 160 was Jove's case. From a prince to a prentice? a low[3624][3625] transformation! that shall be mine; for in every thing the[3624] purpose must weigh with the folly. Follow me, Ned.

[Exeunt.

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Act II, Scene III — Warkworth. Before the castle.

Enter NORTHUMBERLAND, LADY NORTHUMBERLAND, and LADY PERCY.[3626]

North. I pray thee, loving wife, and gentle daughter,[3627] Give even way unto my rough affairs:[3628] Put not you on the visage of the times, And be like them to Percy troublesome.

Lady N. I have given over, I will speak no more:[3629] 5 Do what you will; your wisdom be your guide.

North. Alas, sweet wife, my honour is at pawn; And, but my going, nothing can redeem it.

Lady P. O yet, for God's sake, go not to these wars![3630] The time was, father, that you broke your word,[3631] 10 When you were more endear'd to it than now;[3632] When your own Percy, when my heart's dear Harry,[3633] Threw many a northward look to see his father Bring up his powers; but he did long in vain.[3634] Who then persuaded you to stay at home? 15 There were two honours lost, yours and your son's. For yours, the God of heaven brighten it![3635] For his, it stuck upon him as the sun In the grey vault of heaven, and by his light Did all the chivalry of England move 20 To do brave acts: he was indeed the glass Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves: He had no legs that practised not his gait;[3636] And speaking thick, which nature made his blemish,[3636] Became the accents of the valiant;[3636] 25 For those that could speak low and tardily[3636][3637] Would turn their own perfection to abuse,[3636] To seem like him: so that in speech, in gait,[3636] In diet, in affections of delight,[3636] In military rules, humours of blood,[3636] 30 He was the mark and glass, copy and book,[3636] That fashion'd others. And him, O wondrous him![3636][3638] O miracle of men! him did you leave,[3636] Second to none, unseconded by you,[3636][3639] To look upon the hideous god of war[3636] 35 In disadvantage; to abide a field[3636][3640] Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur's name[3636] Did seem defensible: so you left him.[3636][3641] Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong[3636] To hold your honour more precise and nice[3636] 40 With others than with him! let them alone:[3636] The marshal and the archbishop are strong:[3636] Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,[3636][3642] To-day might I, hanging on Hotspur's neck,[3636] Have talk'd of Monmouth's grave.[3636]

North. Beshrew your heart, 45 Fair daughter, you do draw my spirits from me With new lamenting ancient oversights. But I must go and meet with danger there, Or it will seek me in another place And find me worse provided.

Lady N. O, fly to Scotland,[3629][3643] 50 Till that the nobles and the armed commons Have of their puissance made a little taste.

Lady P. If they get ground and vantage of the king,[3644] Then join you with them, like a rib of steel, To make strength stronger; but, for all our loves, 55 First let them try themselves. So did your son; He was so suffer'd: so came I a widow; And never shall have length of life enough To rain upon remembrance with mine eyes, That it may grow and sprout as high as heaven, 60 For recordation to my noble husband.

North. Come, come, go in with me. 'Tis with my mind As with the tide swell'd up unto his height, That makes a still-stand, running neither way:[3645] Fain would I go to meet the archbishop, 65 But many thousand reasons hold me back.[3646] I will resolve for Scotland: there am I, Till time and vantage crave my company. [Exeunt.

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Act II, Scene IV — London. The Boar's-head Tavern in Eastcheap.

Enter two Drawers.[3647]

First Draw. What the devil hast thou brought there?[3648] apple-johns? thou knowest Sir John cannot endure an apple-john.

Sec. Draw. Mass, thou sayest true. The prince once[3649] set a dish of apple-johns before him, and told him there 5 were five more Sir Johns; and, putting off his hat, said 'I will now take my leave of these six dry, round, old, withered[3650] knights.' It angered him to the heart: but he hath forgot that.

First Draw. Why, then, cover, and set them down: and 10 see if thou canst find out Sneak's noise; Mistress Tearsheet would fain hear some music. Dispatch: the room where[3651][3652] they supped is too hot; they'll come in straight.[3652]

Sec. Draw. Sirrah, here will be the prince and Master[3652] Poins anon; and they will put on two of our jerkins and 15 aprons; and Sir John must not know of it: Bardolph hath brought word.[3653]

First Draw. By the mass, here will be old utis: it will[3654] be an excellent stratagem.

Sec. Draw. I'll see if I can find out Sneak. [Exit. 20

Enter HOSTESS and DOLL TEARSHEET.[3655]

Host. I'faith, sweetheart, methinks now you are in an[3656] excellent good temperality: your pulsidge beats as extraordinarily as heart would desire; and your colour, I warrant you, is as red as any rose, in good truth, la! But, i'[3657] faith, you have drunk too much canaries; and that's a[3658] 25 marvellous searching wine, and it perfumes the blood ere one can say 'What's this?' How do you now?[3659]

Dol. Better than I was: hem!

Host. Why, that's well said; a good heart's worth[3660] gold. Lo, here comes Sir John. 30

Enter FALSTAFF.[3661]

Fal. [Singing] '+When Arthur first in court+'--Empty[3662] the jordan. [Exit First Drawer].--[Singing] '+And was a[3662][3663]+ +worthy king.+' How now, Mistress Doll!

Host. Sick of a calm; yea, good faith.[3664]

Fal. So is all her sect; an they be once in a calm, they[3665] 35 are sick.

Dol. You muddy rascal, is that all the comfort you[3666] give me?

Fal. You make fat rascals, Mistress Doll.

Dol. I make them! gluttony and diseases make them;[3667] 40 I make them not.

Fal. If the cook help to make the gluttony, you help[3668] to make the diseases, Doll: we catch of you, Doll, we catch of you; grant that, my poor virtue, grant that.[3669]

Dol. Yea, joy, our chains and our jewels.[3670] 45

Fal. 'Your brooches, pearls, and ouches:' for to serve[3671] bravely is to come halting off, you know: to come off the breach with his pike bent bravely, and to surgery bravely; to venture upon the charged chambers bravely,--

Dol. Hang yourself, you muddy conger, hang yourself![3672] 50

Host. By my troth, this is the old fashion; you two[3673] never meet but you fall to some discord: you are both, i' good truth, as rheumatic as two dry toasts; you cannot[3674] one bear with another's confirmities. What the good-year![3675] one must bear, and that must be you: you are the weaker 55 vessel, as they say, the emptier vessel.

Dol. Can a weak empty vessel bear such a huge full hogshead? there's a whole merchant's venture of Bourdeaux stuff in him; you have not seen a hulk better stuffed in the hold. Come, I'll be friends with thee, Jack: thou art going 60 to the wars; and whether I shall ever see thee again or no, there is nobody cares.

Re-enter First Drawer.[3676]

First Draw. Sir, Ancient Pistol's below, and would[3677] speak with you.

Dol. Hang him, swaggering rascal! let him not come 65 hither: it is the foul-mouthedst rogue in England.

Host. If he swagger, let him not come here: no, by my[3678] faith; I must live among my neighbours; I'll no swaggerers:[3678][3679] I am in good name and fame with the very best: shut the door; there comes no swaggerers here: I have 70 not lived all this while, to have swaggering now: shut the door, I pray you.

Fal. Dost thou hear, hostess?

Host. Pray ye, pacify yourself, Sir John: there comes[3680] no swaggerers here. 75

Fal. Dost thou hear? it is mine ancient.

Host. Tilly-fally, Sir John, ne'er tell me: your ancient[3681] swaggerer comes not in my doors. I was before Master Tisick, the debuty, t'other day; and, as he said to me, 'twas[3682] no longer ago than Wednesday last, 'I' good faith,[3683] 80 neighbour Quickly,' says he; Master Dumbe, our minister, was[3684] by then; 'neighbour Quickly,' says he, 'receive those that are civil; for,' said he, 'you are in an ill name:' now a' said[3685] so, I can tell whereupon; 'for,' says he, 'you are an honest woman, and well thought on; therefore take heed what 85 guests you receive: receive,' says he, 'no swaggering companions.' There comes none here: you would bless you to[3686] hear what he said: no, I'll no swaggerers.

Fal. He's no swaggerer, hostess; a tame cheater, i'[3687][3688] faith; you may stroke him as gently as a puppy greyhound:[3688] 90 he'll not swagger with a Barbary hen, if her[3689] feathers turn back in any show of resistance. Call him up, drawer. [Exit First Drawer.

Host. Cheater, call you him? I will bar no honest man my house, nor no cheater: but I do not love swaggering, 95 by my troth; I am the worse, when one says swagger: feel,[3690] masters, how I shake; look you, I warrant you.[3691]

Dol. So you do, hostess.

Host. Do I? yea, in very truth, do I, an 'twere an[3692] aspen leaf: I cannot abide swaggerers. 100

Enter PISTOL, BARDOLPH, and Page.[3693]

Pist. God save you, Sir John![3694]

Fal. Welcome, Ancient Pistol. Here, Pistol, I charge you with a cup of sack: do you discharge upon mine hostess.

Pist. I will discharge upon her, Sir John, with two 105 bullets.

Fal. She is pistol-proof, sir; you shall hardly offend her.[3695]

Host. Come, I'll drink no proofs nor no bullets: I'll[3696] drink no more than will do me good, for no man's pleasure, I. 110

Pist. Then to you, Mistress Dorothy; I will charge you.

Dol. Charge me! I scorn you, scurvy companion. What! you poor, base, rascally, cheating, lack-linen mate! Away, you mouldy rogue, away! I am meat for your master.

Pist. I know you, Mistress Dorothy. 115

Dol. Away, you cut-purse rascal! you filthy bung, away! by this wine, I'll thrust my knife in your mouldy chaps, an you play the saucy cuttle with me. Away, you[3697] bottle-ale rascal! you basket-hilt stale juggler, you! Since when, I pray you, sir? God's light, with two points on[3698] 120 your shoulder? much![3699]

Pist. God let me not live, but I will murder your ruff[3700] for this.

Fal. No more, Pistol; I would not have you go off[3701] here: discharge yourself of our company, Pistol.[3701] 125

Host. No, good Captain Pistol; not here, sweet captain.

Dol. Captain! thou abominable damned cheater, art thou not ashamed to be called captain? An captains were[3702] of my mind, they would truncheon you out, for taking[3703] their names upon you before you have earned them. You 130 a captain! you slave, for what? for tearing a poor whore's ruff in a bawdy-house? He a captain! hang him, rogue! he lives upon mouldy stewed prunes and dried cakes. A captain! God's light, these villains will make the word as[3704][3705] odious as the word 'occupy;' which was an excellent good[3705] 135 word before it was ill sorted: therefore captains had need[3705] look to't.[3706]

Bard. Pray thee, go down, good ancient.

Fal. Hark thee hither, Mistress Doll.

Pist. Not I: I tell thee what, Corporal Bardolph, I 140 could tear her: I'll be revenged of her.[3707]

Page. Pray thee, go down.

Pist. I'll see her damned first; to Pluto's damned[3708] lake, by this hand, to the infernal deep, with Erebus and[3708][3709] tortures vile also. Hold hook and line, say I. Down,[3708] 145 down, dogs! down, faitors! Have we not Hiren here?[3708][3710]

Host. Good Captain Peesel, be quiet; 'tis very late,[3711] i' faith: I beseek you now, aggravate your choler.[3712]

Pist. These be good humours, indeed! Shall pack-horses,[3713] And hollow pamper'd jades of Asia,[3713][3714] 150 Which cannot go but thirty mile a-day,[3713][3715] Compare with Cæsars, and with Cannibals,[3713][3716] And Trojan Greeks? nay, rather damn them with[3713][3717] King Cerberus; and let the welkin roar.[3713] Shall we fall foul for toys?[3713] 155

Host. By my troth, captain, these are very bitter words.

Bard. Be gone, good ancient: this will grow to a brawl anon.

Pist. Die men like dogs! give crowns like pins! Have[3718] we not Hiren here? 160

Host. O' my word, captain, there's none such here.[3719] What the good-year! do you think I would deny her? For[3720][3721] God's sake, be quiet.[3721]

Pist. Then feed, and be fat, my fair Calipolis. Come, give's some sack.[3722] 165 'Si fortune me tormente, sperato me contento.'[3723] Fear we broadsides? no, let the fiend give fire:[3724] Give me some sack: and, sweetheart, lie thou there.[3724]

[Laying down his sword.[3724][3725]

Come we to full points here; and are etceteras nothing?[3724][3726]

Fal. Pistol, I would be quiet. 170

Pist. Sweet knight, I kiss thy neif: what! we have[3727] seen the seven stars.

Dol. For God's sake, thrust him down stairs: I cannot[3728] endure such a fustian rascal.

Pist. Thrust him down stairs! know we not Galloway 175 nags?

Fal. Quoit him down, Bardolph, like a shove-groat[3729] shilling: nay, an a' do nothing but speak nothing, a' shall[3730] be nothing here.

Bard. Come, get you down stairs. 180

Pist. What! shall we have incision? shall we imbrue?[3731]

[Snatching up his sword.[3731]

Then death rock me asleep, abridge my doleful days![3731] Why, then, let grievous, ghastly, gaping wounds[3731] Untwine the Sisters Three! Come, Atropos, I say![3731][3732]

Host. Here's goodly stuff toward![3733] 185

Fal. Give me my rapier, boy.

Dol. I pray thee, Jack, I pray thee, do not draw.[3734]

Fal. Get you down stairs.

[Drawing, and driving Pistol out.[3735]

Host. Here's a goodly tumult! I'll forswear keeping house, afore I'll be in these tirrits and frights. So; murder, 190 I warrant now. Alas, alas! put up your naked weapons, put up your naked weapons. [Exeunt Pistol and Bardolph.[3736]

Dol. I pray thee, Jack, be quiet; the rascal's gone.[3737] Ah, you whoreson little valiant villain, you!

Host. Are you not hurt i' the groin? methought a'[3738] 195 made a shrewd thrust at your belly.

Re-enter BARDOLPH.[3739]

Fal. Have you turned him out o' doors?[3740]

Bard. Yea, sir. The rascal's drunk: you have hurt[3741] him, sir, i' the shoulder.[3742]

Fal. A rascal! to brave me! 200

Dol. Ah, you sweet little rogue, you! Alas, poor ape, how thou sweatest! come, let me wipe thy face; come on, you whoreson chops: ah, rogue! i' faith, I love thee:[3743] thou art as valorous as Hector of Troy, worth five of Agamemnon, and ten times better than the Nine Worthies: ah,[3744] 205 villain![3744]

Fal. A rascally slave! I will toss the rogue in a blanket.[3745]

Dol. Do, an thou darest for thy heart: an thou dost, I'll[3746][3747] canvass thee between a pair of sheets.[3746]

Enter Music.

Page. The music is come, sir. 210

Fal. Let them play. Play, sirs. Sit on my knee, Doll. A rascal bragging slave! the rogue fled from me like quicksilver.

Dol. I' faith, and thou followedst him like a church.[3748] Thou whoreson little tidy Bartholomew boar-pig, when[3749] 215 wilt thou leave fighting o' days and foining o' nights, and[3750] begin to patch up thine old body for heaven?

Enter, behind, PRINCE HENRY and POINS, disguised.[3751]

Fal. Peace, good Doll! do not speak like a death's-head;[3752] do not bid me remember mine end.

Dol. Sirrah, what humour's the prince of?[3753] 220

Fal. A good shallow young fellow: a' would have[3754] made a good pantler, a' would ha' chipped bread well.[3754][3755]

Dol. They say Poins has a good wit.[3756]

Fal. He a good wit? hang him, baboon! his wit's as[3753] thick as Tewksbury mustard; there's no more conceit in[3753] 225 him than is in a mallet.

Dol. Why does the prince love him so, then?[3757]

Fal. Because their legs are both of a bigness; and a' plays at quoits well; and eats conger and fennel; and drinks off candles' ends for flap-dragons; and rides the 230 wild-mare with the boys; and jumps upon joined-stools; and swears with a good grace; and wears his boots very[3758] smooth, like unto the sign of the leg; and breeds no bate with telling of discreet stories; and such other gambol[3759] faculties a' has, that show a weak mind and an able body,[3760] 235 for the which the prince admits him: for the prince himself is such another; the weight of a hair will turn the scales[3761] between their avoirdupois.[3762]

Prince. Would not this nave of a wheel have his ears cut off? 240

Poins. Let's beat him before his whore.[3763]

Prince. Look, whether the withered elder hath not[3764] his poll clawed like a parrot.

Poins. Is it not strange that desire should so many years outlive performance? 245

Fal. Kiss me, Doll.

Prince. Saturn and Venus this year in conjunction! what says the almanac to that?

Poins. And, look, whether the fiery Trigon, his man,[3765] be not lisping to his master's old tables, his note-book,[3766] 250 his counsel-keeper.

Fal. Thou dost give me flattering busses.

Dol. By my troth, I kiss thee with a most constant heart.[3767]

Fal. I am old, I am old.

Dol. I love thee better than I love e'er a scurvy young 255 boy of them all.

Fal. What stuff wilt have a kirtle of? I shall receive[3768] money o' Thursday: shalt have a cap to-morrow. A[3769] merry song, come: it grows late; we'll to bed. Thou'lt[3770][3771] forget me when I am gone. 260

Dol. By my troth, thou'lt set me a-weeping, an thou[3771][3772] sayest so: prove that ever I dress myself handsome till thy return: well, hearken at the end.[3773]

Fal. Some sack, Francis.

Prince. } Poins. } Anon, anon, sir. [Coming forward.[3774] 265

Fal. Ha! a bastard son of the king's? And art not thou Poins his brother?[3775]

Prince. Why, thou globe of sinful continents, what a life dost thou lead!

Fal. A better than thou: I am a gentleman; thou 270 art a drawer.

Prince. Very true, sir; and I come to draw you out by the ears.

Host. O, the Lord preserve thy good grace! by my[3776][3777] troth, welcome to London. Now, the Lord bless that[3777][3778] 275 sweet face of thine! O Jesu, are you come from Wales?[3779]

Fal. Thou whoreson mad compound of majesty, by[3780] this light flesh and corrupt blood, thou art welcome.[3781]

Dol. How, you fat fool! I scorn you.

Poins. My lord, he will drive you out of your revenge 280 and turn all to a merriment, if you take not the heat.

Prince. You whoreson candle-mine, you, how vilely did you speak of me even now before this honest, virtuous,[3782] civil gentlewoman!

Host. God's blessing of your good heart! and so she[3783] 285 is, by my troth.[3784]

Fal. Didst thou hear me?

Prince. Yea, and you knew me, as you did when you[3785] ran away by Gad's-hill: you knew I was at your back, and spoke it on purpose to try my patience. 290

Fal. No, no, no; not so; I did not think thou wast within hearing.

Prince. I shall drive you then to confess the wilful abuse; and then I know how to handle you.

Fal. No abuse, Hal, o' mine honour; no abuse.[3786] 295

Prince. Not to dispraise me, and call me pantler and[3787] bread-chipper and I know not what?[3788]

Fal. No abuse, Hal.

Poins. No abuse?

Fal. No abuse, Ned, i' the world; honest Ned, none. 300 I dispraised him before the wicked, that the wicked might not fall in love with him; in which doing, I have done the[3789] part of a careful friend and a true subject, and thy father is[3790] to give me thanks for it. No abuse, Hal: none, Ned, none: no, faith, boys, none.[3791] 305

Prince. See now, whether pure fear and entire cowardice doth not make thee wrong this virtuous gentlewoman to close[3792] with us? is she of the wicked? is thine hostess here of the wicked? or is thy boy of the wicked? or honest Bardolph,[3793] whose zeal burns in his nose, of the wicked? 310

Poins. Answer, thou dead elm, answer.

Fal. The fiend hath pricked down Bardolph irrecoverable; and his face is Lucifer's privy-kitchen, where he doth nothing but roast malt-worms. For the boy, there is a good angel about him; but the devil outbids him too.[3794] 315

Prince. For the women?

Fal. For one of them, she is in hell already, and burns[3795][3796] poor souls. For the other, I owe her money; and whether[3796] she be damned for that, I know not.

Host. No, I warrant you. 320

Fal. No, I think thou art not; I think thou art quit for that. Marry, there is another indictment upon thee, for suffering flesh to be eaten in thy house, contrary to the law; for the which I think thou wilt howl.

Host. All victuallers do so: what's a joint of mutton[3797] 325 or two in a whole Lent?

Prince. You, gentlewoman,--

Dol. What says your grace?

Fal. His grace says that which his flesh rebels against.

[Knocking within.[3798]

Host. Who knocks so loud at door? Look to the 330 door there, Francis.

Enter PETO.[3799]

Prince. Peto, how now! what news?[3800]

Peto. The king your father is at Westminster; And there are twenty weak and wearied posts Come from the north: and, as I came along, 335 I met and overtook a dozen captains, Bare-headed, sweating, knocking at the taverns, And asking every one for Sir John Falstaff.

Prince. By heaven, Poins, I feel me much to blame,[3801] So idly to profane the precious time; 340 When tempest of commotion, like the south[3802] Borne with black vapour, doth begin to melt, And drop upon our bare unarmed heads. Give me my sword and cloak. Falstaff, good night.

[Exeunt Prince Henry, Poins, Peto, and Bardolph.[3803]

Fal. Now comes in the sweetest morsel of the night, and 345 we must hence, and leave it unpicked. [Knocking within.][3804] More knocking at the door!

Re-enter BARDOLPH.[3805]

How now! what's the matter?

Bard. You must away to court, sir, presently;[3806] A dozen captains stay at door for you.[3806] 350

Fal. [To the Page] Pay the musicians, sirrah. Farewell,[3807] hostess; farewell, Doll. You see, my good wenches, how men of merit are sought after: the undeserver may sleep, when the man of action is called on. Farewell, good wenches: if I be not sent away post, I will see you again ere I go. 355

Dol. I cannot speak; if my heart be not ready to burst,--well, sweet Jack, have a care of thyself.

Fal. Farewell, farewell. [Exeunt Falstaff and Bardolph.[3808]

Host. Well, fare thee well: I have known thee these twenty nine years, come peascod-time; but an honester and 360 truer-hearted man,--well, fare thee well.

Bard. [Within] Mistress Tearsheet![3809]

Host. What's the matter?

Bard. [Within] Bid Mistress Tearsheet come to my[3809] master. 365

Host. O, run, Doll, run; run, good Doll: come. [She[3810] comes blubbered.] Yea, will you come, Doll?[3810] [Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[3466] SCENE. London.] Pope.

A street.] Theobald.

Enter....] Capell. Enter Hostesse of the Taverne, and an officer or two. Q. Enter Hostesse, with two officers, Fang, and Snare. Ff.

[3467] Master] Q. Mr. Ff.

[3468] Fang.] Ff. Phang. Q (and throughout the scene).

[3469] Is't] Ist Q. Is it Ff. Is he Pope.

lusty] lustly F₂.

[3470] a'] a Q. he Ff.

to't] too't Q. to it Ff.

[3471] O Lord ... Master Snare] Q. I, I, good M. Snare Ff.

ay! good] ay, good! Capell.

[3472] Yea] Q. I Ff.

[3473] for] om. Ff.

[3474] and that ... faith,] Steevens. and that most beastly in good faith: Malone. most beastly in good faith, Q. and that most beastly: Ff.

[3475] does] Q. doth Ff.

[3476] An I] Capell. And I Q. If I Ff.

an a'] Malone. And a Q. if he Ff. an he Capell.

[3477] vice,--] vice. Ff. view. Q.

[3478] by] Q. with Ff.

you] Q. om. Ff.

he's] hees Q. he is Ff.

[3479] A'] A Q. He Ff.

[3480] continuantly] Ff. continually Q.

[3481] Lumbert] Q. Lombard Ff.

[3482] exion] action F₃ F₄.

[3483] A hundred] Q. A 100. Ff.

one] loan Theobald. owe Jackson conj. score Collier (Collier MS.). ow'n Grant White.

[3484] and fubbed off] Twice in Q, once in Ff.

[3485] knave] om. Ff.

[3486] [Officers and Hostess make up to him. Capell.

[3487] Enter....] Enter Sir John, and Bardolfe, and the boy. Q. Enter Falstaffe and Bardolfe. Ff (after line 35).

[3488] Sir John,] om. Q.

[3489] Mistress Quickly] mistris, quickly Q.

[3490] channel ... channel] kennel ... kennel Rowe (ed. 2).

[3491] thee in the channel.] Q. thee there Ff. thee in the kennel Pope.

[3492] bastardly] dastardly Anon. conj.

[3493] Ah, ... Ah,] a ... a Q. O ... O Ff.

[3494] rescue or two.] reskew or two. Q. rescu. F₁ F₂. rescue. F₃ F₄.

[3495] Thou wo't, wo't thou? thou wo't, wo't ta?] Thou wot, wot thou, thou wot, wot ta, Q. Thou wilt not? thou wilt not? Ff.

[3496] ta?] thou? Capell.

do, do, thou] om. Pope.

[3497] Fal.] F₃ F₄. Boy. Q. Page. F₁. Pag. F₂. Page [trying to take her off. Capell.

[3498] fustilarian] Q. fustillirian Ff.

[3499] tickle] Q. tucke Ff (tuck F₃ F₄).

Enter ... and his men.] Q. Enter Ch. Justice. Ff.

[3500] SCENE II. Pope.

What is] Q. What's Ff.

[3501] what are] Q Ff. what, are Pope.

[3502] How now, ... upon him?] Printed as prose by Rowe.

[3503] hang'st upon] Ff. hang'st thou upon Q. hang'st thou on Pope.

[3504] for all, all I have.] for all: all I have, Ff. for al I have, Q.

[3505] Fie!] om. Q.

what man] Q. what a man Ff.

[3506] upon] on Rowe (ed. 2).

[3507] upon] Q. on Ff.

Wheeson] Q. Whitson Ff.

[3508] liking his father] Q. lik'ning him Ff.

[3509] thou not] Q. not thou Ff.

[3510] so familiarity] Q. familiar Ff.

[3511] thirty shillings?] Q F₃ F₄. 30.s.? F₁ F₂.

[3512] mad] Ff. made Q.

[3513] you have ... person.] Q. I know you ha' practis'd upon the easie-yeelding spirit of this woman. Ff.

[3514] Yea, in truth] Q. Yes in troth Ff.

[3515] Pray thee] Q. Prethee Ff.

[3516] done her] Ff. done with her Q.

[3517] if] I F₂.

make] om. Ff.

[3518] my humble] Q. your humble Ff.

[3519] do desire] Q. desire Ff.

[3520] hasty] hastly F₂.

[3521] of] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

[3522] [Aside. Pope.

Enter Gower.] Enter M. Gower. Ff. enter a messenger. Q (after line 126).

[3523] SCENE III. Pope.

Now] om. Pope (ed. 2).

[3524] Harry] Q. Henrie F₁. Henry F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3525] the paper] this paper Collier MS.

[Delivering a Packet. Capell.

[3526] Faith] Q. Nay Ff.

[3527] German] F₄. Iarman Q. Germane F₁ F₂ F₃.

[3528] bed-hangings] Ff. bed-hangers Q. dead-hangings Warburton.

tapestries] tapistries Ff. tapistrie Q.

[3529] ten pound] Ff. x.l Q.

an 'twere] and twere Q. if it were Ff.

[3530] there's] Q. there is Ff.

[3531] the action] Q. thy action Ff.

[3532] dost not know me? come.] Omitted in Ff.

[3533] Pray thee] Q. Prethee Ff.

[3534] i' faith] om. Ff.

am] om. F₁.

so ... la!] so God save me law. Q. in good earnest la. Ff.

[3535] I'll make] and make F₂.

[3536] though] Q. although Ff.

[3537] all together] al together Q. altogether Ff.

[3538] [To Bardolph] Capell, marking as 'Aside.' [to the officers. Johnson.

[3539] [Exeunt....] Capell. Exit hostesse, and sergeant. Q (after line 153). om. Ff.

[3540] better] Q. bitter Ff.

[3541] lord] Q. good lord Ff.

[3542] last night] Ff. to night Q.

[3543] Gow.] Mess. Q. Mes. Ff.

[3544] Basingstoke] Ff. Billingsgate Q.

[3545] No ... Archbishop] As prose in F₃ F₄.

[3546] [staying him. Capell.

[3547] [turning short from the Ch. Just. Capell.

[3548] Sir John ... go] As three lines in Q, ending long ... up ... go.

[3549] counties] Q. countries Ff. the countreys Rowe (ed. 2).

[3550] [Exeunt.] Rowe. om. Q Ff.

[3551] SCENE II.] Scena Secunda. F₁ F₂ F₃. Scena Tertia. F₄. SCENE IV. Pope.

London....] Continues in London. Pope.

Enter Prince H....] Rowe. Enter the Prince, Poynes, sir John Russel, with other. Q. Enter Prince Henry, Pointz, Bardolfe, and Page. Ff (Poyns, Bardolf, F₃ F₄).

[3552] Before God] Q. Trust me Ff.

[3553] Is't] Ist Q. Is it Ff.

[3554] Faith, it does] Q. It doth Ff.

[3555] by my] Q. in Ff.

[3556] note] notice F₃ F₄.

[3557] viz. these] Ff. with these Q.

thy] the F₃ F₄.

[3558] ones] Ff. once Q.

[3559] another] Q. one other Ff.

[3560] keepest] kept'st F₁.

[3561] thy] Ff. the Q.

[3562] made a shift to] Omitted in Q.

[3563] and God ... strengthend] Q. Omitted in Ff.

[3564] bawl out] bal out Q. bawl out of Pope. bawl out from Capell.

[3565] would] should Pope.

being] Q. lying Ff.

[3566] at this time] Q. Omitted in Ff.

[3567] faith] Q. om. Ff.

[3568] you will] Q. you'l F₁ F₂. you'll F₃ F₄.

[3569] Marry] Mary Q. Why Ff.

[3570] By this hand] Q. Omitted in Ff.

[3571] so sick] sick F₃ F₄.

[3572] reason?] Ff. reason. Q.

[3573] accites] excites F₃ F₄.

[3574] been] seem Rowe (ed. 2). seem'd Pope.

[3575] By this light] Q. Nay Ff. Nay, by this light Pope.

spoke on] Q. spoken of Ff.

[3576] worst that] worst Pope.

[3577] By the mass] Q. Looke, looke Ff.

[3578] Enter....] Enter Bardolfe and boy. Q. Enter Bardolfe. Ff (after line 66).

[3579] a'] a Q. he Ff.

[3580] look] Q. see Ff.

[3581] SCENE V. Pope.

God save] Q. Save Ff.

[3582] Bard.] Theobald. Poynes. Q. Poin. F₁ F₂. Poyn. F₃ F₄.

virtuous] vertuous Q. pernitious F₁ F₂. pernicious F₃ F₄. precious Capell conj.

[to the Boy. Johnson.

[3583] Is't] ist Q. Is it Ff.

[3584] A' calls me e'en now] A calls me enow Q. He call'd me even now Ff.

[3585] new] Ff. om. Q. new red Collier MS.

so] Q. om. Ff.

[3586] Prince. Has ... profited? Bard. Away] Bard. Hath ... profited? Away Hanmer.

[3587] Has] Q. Hath Ff.

[3588] rabbit] rabbet Ff. rabble Q.

[3589] Althæa] Althear Q.

[3590] 'tis] tis Q. it is Ff.

[Gives him money. Pope.

[3591] good] Ff. om. Q.

[3592] An] Capell. And Q. If Ff.

hanged] hangd Q. be hang'd Ff.

[3593] have wrong] Q. be wrong'd Ff.

[3594] my lord] Q. my good lord Ff.

[3595] Poins.] Poynes. Q. Poin. F₁. Prin. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3596] how] Q. om. Ff.

[3597] Poins. [Reads] Poynes. Q. Poin. Letter. Ff. See note (V).

John] Sir John Anon. conj.

[3598] oft] often Theobald.

has] Q. hath Ff.

[3599] There's] theres Q. there is Ff.

[3600] borrower's cap] Theobald (Warburton). borowed cap Q. borrowed cap Ff. borrow'd cant or beggar's cap Jackson conj.

[3601] or] Q. but Ff.

[3602] to] Ff. om. Q.

[3603] Poins. [Reads] Hanmer. om. QFf.

[3604] Why] Hanmer. Poynes. Why Q. Poin. Why Ff.

[3605] Romans in] F₃ F₄. Romanes in Q. Romaines in F₁ F₂. Roman in Warburton. Roman's or Roman in's Anon. conj.

[3606] he sure] Q. sure he Ff.

[3607] leave] love Hanmer.

[3608] familiars] Ff. family Q.

[3609] sisters] Q. sister Ff.

[3610] My lord, I'll] Poynes. My Lord, Ile Q. My Lord, I will Ff.

[3611] That's] That's but Collier MS.

twenty] plenty Hanmer (Warburton).

[3612] God send the wench] Q. May the wench have Ff.

[3613] fools] fooles QF₁. foole F₂. fool F₃ F₄.

[3614] Yea] Q. Yes Ff.

[3615] boar] boare Q. bore F₁ F₂ F₃. boor F₄.

[3616] heifers] Heyfers F₄. Heyfors F₁ F₂ F₃. Heicfors Q.

[3617] come to] Q. in Ff.

[3618] you] Q. ye Ff.

[Exeunt ...] Capell. om. QFf.

[3619] Tearsheet] Tearstreet Coleridge conj. See note (1).

[3620] [after pausing a little. Capell.

[3621] leathern] Q. Leather Ff.

[3622] as] Q. like Ff.

[3623] heavy] heavenly Davies conj.

descension] Q. declension Ff.

[3624] heavy descension ... low transformation] low transformation ... heavy declension Upton conj.

[3625] prince] pince Q.

[3626] SCENE III.] SCENE VI. Pope.

Warkworth. Before ...] Capell. Northumberland. Pope. Northumberland's castle. Theobald.

Enter ...] Enter Northumberland his wife, and the wife to Harry Percie. Q. Enter Northumberland his Ladie, and Harrie Percies Ladie. Ff.

[3627] pray thee] Q. prethee Ff.

[3628] even] Q. an even Ff.

[3629] Lady N.] Wife. QFf.

[3630] Lady P.] Kate. Q. La. Ff.

God's] Q. heavens Ff.

[3631] that] Q. when Ff.

[3632] endear'd] F₃ F₄. endeer'd F₁ F₂. endeere Q.

[3633] heart's dear Harry] hearts deere Harry Q. heart-deere-Harry Ff.

[3634] long] look Theobald.

[3635] the God of heaven] Q. may heavenly glory Ff.

[3636] He had ... grave] Ff. Omitted in Q.

[3637] low] slow Seymour conj.

[3638] O wondrous him!] Rowe (ed. 2). O wondrous! him, Ff. wondrous him! Pope.

[3639] Second ... you] Omitted by Pope.

[3640] a field] F₁ F₂. the field F₃ F₄.

[3641] defensible] sensible F₄.

[3642] numbers] number F₄.

[3643] O, fly] Fly Warburton.

[3644] Lady P.] Kate. Q. Lady. Ff.

[3645] still-stand] Ff. stil stand Q.

[3646] thousand] a thousand F₃ F₄.

[3647] SCENE IV.] SCENE VII. Pope.

London....] Tavern in Eastcheap. Pope. Room in Quickly's house. Capell.

Enter two Drawers.] Ff. Enter a Drawer or two. Q.

[3648] First Draw.] 1 Draw. Ff. Francis. Q.

the devil] Q. om. Ff.

[3649] Sec. Draw.] 2 Draw. Ff. Draw. Q.

Mass] Mas Q. om. Ff.

[3650] old, withered] Q. old-wither'd Ff.

[3651] hear] heare Q. have Ff.

[3652] Dispatch ... straight. Sec. Draw. Sirrah] Pope. Dra. Dispatch ... straight. Francis. Sirra. Q. 2 Draw. Sirrha. Ff (omitting Dispatch ... straight).

[3653] [Enter Will. Q.

[3654] First Draw.] 1 Draw. Ff. Dra. Q.

By the mass] Q. Then Ff.

utis] vtis Q. Vtis Ff (in italics).

[3655] Sec. Draw.] 2 Draw. Ff. Francis. Q.

Enter....] Enter mistris Quickly, and Doll Tere-sheet. Q. Enter Hostesse, and Dol. Ff.

[3656] SCENE VIII. Pope.

I' faith] Yfaith Q. om. Ff.

[3657] in good truth, la! But, i' faith] Q. But Ff. but i' faith Theobald.

[3658] canaries] canary F₄.

[3659] one] Q. wee F₁. we F₂ F₃ F₄.

this?] Capell. this, Q. this. Ff.

[3660] that's] thats Q. that was Ff.

[3661] Lo] loe Q. Looke F₁ F₂. Look F₃ F₄.

Enter....] Ff. enter sir John. Q.

[3662] [Singing] Capell.

[3663] [Exit....] pointing to the other room. Exit Drawer. Capell. om. Q Ff.

[3664] good faith] Q. good-sooth Ff.

[3665] sect] sex Johnson conj.

an] and Q. if Ff.

[3666] You] Ff. A pox damne you, you Q.

[3667] make them] Ff. make Q.

[3668] help to make] Q. make Ff.

[3669] poor] pure Collier (Collier MS.).

[3670] Yea, joy] Q. I marry Ff.

[3671] 'Your ... ouches'] Marked as a quotation first by Capell.

[3672] Dol. Hang ... yourself] Q. Omitted in Ff.

conger] cunger Q.

[3673] By my troth] Q. Why Ff.

[3674] i' good truth] ygood truth Q. in good troth Ff.

[3675] good-year] good-jer Theobald. goujeres Hanmer.

[3676] cares] Fares F₂.

Re-enter First Drawer.] Enter Drawer. Ff.

[3677] SCENE IX. Pope.

First Draw.] Dra. Q. Draw. Ff.

's] Q. is Ff.

[3678] no, by my faith] Q. Omitted in Ff.

[3679] among] Q. amongst Ff.

[3680] ye] Q. you Ff.

[3681] ne'er] nere Q. never Ff.

your] Ff. & your Q.

[3682] debuty] Q. deputy Ff.

t'other] tother Q. the other Ff.

'twas] twas Q. it was Ff.

[3683] Wednesday] Ff. Wedsday Q.

I'good faith] I good faith Q. Omitted in Ff.

[3684] Dumbe] Q. Dombe F₁ F₂. Domb F₃ F₄.

[3685] said] saide Q. sayth F₁ F₂. saith F₃ F₄.

a'] a Q. he Ff.

[3686] comes] come F₄.

[3687] cheater] Ff. cheter Q. chetah Edd. conj.

[3688] i' faith] yfaith Q. hee or he Ff.

[3689] he'll] heele Q. he will Ff.

[3690] by my troth] Q. om. Ff.

[3691] masters] mistress Keightley conj.

[3692] an 'twere] Capell. and twere Q. if it were Ff. as if it were Pope.

[3693] Enter ...] Enter antient Pistol, and Bardolfe's boy. Q. Enter Pistol, and Bardolph and his boy. Ff.

[3694] SCENE X. Pope.

God save] Q. 'Save Ff.

[3695] shall] Ff. shall not Q.

[3696] I'll ... I'll] Ile ... Ile Q. Ile ... I will Ff. (I'le F₃ F₄).

[3697] an] Capell. and Q. if Ff.

[3698] God's light] Q. what Ff.

[3699] much!] Warburton. much. Q Ff. march! Hanmer.

[3700] God ... but] Q. Omitted in Ff.

[3701] Fal. No ... company, Pistol] Q. Omitted in Ff.

[3702] An] Collier. and Q. If Ff.

[3703] out, for taking] out of taking Pope.

[3704] God's light] Q. om. Ff.

[3705] the word as ... sorted] Q. the word captaine odious Ff. the word captain as odious ... sorted Pope.

[3706] to't] too't Q. to it] Ff.

[3707] of] Q. on Ff.

[3708] I'll see ... here?] Printed as verse by Capell.

[3709] by this hand] Omitted in Ff.

with] Q. where Ff. to Hanmer.

[3710] faitors] Capell. faters Q. Fates Ff.

[clapping his Hand to his Sword. Capell.

[3711] 'tis] tis Q. it is Ff.

[3712] i'faith] om. Ff.

beseek] beseech Rowe (ed. 2).

[3713] These ... toys?] Printed as verse first by Pope. As prose in Q Ff.

[3714] hollow pamper'd] Q. hollow-pamper'd Ff.

[3715] mile] Q. miles Ff.

[3716] Cæsars] Q. Cæsar Ff.

Cannibals] Q. Canniballs F₁ F₂. Canniball F₃. Cannibal F₄.

[3717] Trojan] troiant Q.

[3718] Die] Ff. om. Q.

crowns] crowns away Capell (reading as verse).

[3719] O'] A Q. On Ff.

[3720] good-year] good jer Theobald. goujeres Hanmer.

[3721] For God’s sake]Q. I pray Ff.

[3722] give's] gives Q. give me Ff.

[3723] 'Si fortune ... contento.'] Q. Si ... contente. Ff. Si fortuna me tormenta, il sperare me contenta. Hanmer. See note (vi).

[3724] Fear we ... nothing?] As verse first by Pope. As prose in Q Ff.

[3725] sweetheart, lie] sweet harthe Q (Capell's copy).

[Laying ... sword.] Johnson.

[3726] here:] here; [seizing upon a Bottle. Capell.

nothing]Ff. no things Q.

[3727] I kiss] kiss F₂ F₃ F₄.

neif] neaffe Q Ff.

[3728] For God's sake] Omitted in Ff.

[3729] Quoit] Quaite Q.

[3730] an a'] and a Q. if he Ff.

a' shall] a shall Q. he shall Ff.

[3731] What!... I say!] As prose in Q Ff. First as verse, from Rock me asleep, by Johnson.

[Snatching ...] Johnson (after line 184). Snatching ... and drawing. Capell.

[3732] Untwine] untwine F₃ F₄. untwinde Q. untwin’d F₁. untwind'd F₂.

Atropos] Ff. Atropose Q.

[3733] goodly] Q. good Ff.

[3734] pray thee ... pray thee] Q. prethee ... prethee Ff.

[3735] [Drawing ... out.] Rowe. om. Q Ff.

[3736] [Exeunt ...] Capell. om. Q Ff.

[3737] pray thee] Q. prethee Ff.

[3738] a'] a Q. he Ff.

[3739] Re-enter B.] Capell. om. Q Ff.

[3740] o'] a Q. of Ff.

[3741] Yea] Q. Yes Ff.

[3742] i' the] i'th Q. in the Ff.

[3743] ah, rogue] Ah rogue Ff. a rogue Q.

i' faith] om. Ff.

[3744] ah, villain!] ah Villaine. Ff. a villaine Q. Fal. A villain! Anon. conj.

[3745] A] Ff. Ah Q.

[3746] Do ... sheets] As prose in Q. As two lines, ending doo'st, ... sheets. in Ff.

[3747] an ... an] and ... and Q. if ... if Ff.

[3748] I' faith] om. Ff.

[3749] tidy Bartholomew] tiny Bartholomew Hanmer. Bartholomew tide S. Walker conj.

[3750] o' ... o'] a ... a Q. on ... on Ff.

[3751] Enter, behind ...] Steevens. Enter Prince and Poynes. Q. Enter Prince Henry ... disguis'd. Ff. Enter, at a distance.... Capell.

[3752] SCENE X. Pope (ed. 1). SCENE XI Pope (ed. 2).

[3753] 's] Q. is Ff. See note (VII).

[3754] a' ... a'] a ... a Q. he ... he Ff. See note (VII).

[3755] ha'] a Q. have Ff.

[3756] has] Q. hath Ff.

[3757] does] Q. doth Ff.

[3758] boots] Q. boot Ff.

[3759] discreet] indiscreet Warburton.

[3760] a' has] a has Q. he hath Ff.

[3761] a] Q. an Ff.

the scales] Ff. scales Q.

[3762] avoirdupois] haber de poiz Q. Haber-de-pois Ff.

[3763] 's] Q. us Ff.

[3764] whether] Collier. where Q. if Ff.

[3765] [seeing Bardolph sweet upon the Hostess. Capell.

[3766] lisping to] clasping too Hanmer (Warburton). licking too Farmer conj. clasping to Collier MS. clipping to Collier conj.

lisping to ... tables] list'ning to ... tales Long MS.

master's] master, Q.

[3767] By my troth] Q. Nay truely Ff.

[3768] wilt] Q. wilt thou Ff.

[3769] o'] a Q. on Ff.

shalt] Q. thou shalt Ff.

[3770] come:] Ff. come Q.

we'll] weele Q. we will Ff.

to] to to F₂.

[3771] Thou'lt] Steevens. thou't Q. Thou wilt Ff.

[3772] By my troth] Q. om. Ff.

[3773] at the end] a'th end Q. the end Ff.

[3774] [Coming forward.] Capell.

[3775] Poins his] Poynes his Q. Poines, his Ff (Poins, F₃ F₄). Poins's Rann (Ritson conj.).

[3776] good] Ff. om. Q.

[3777] by my troth] Q. om. Ff.

[3778] the Lord] Q. Heaven Ff.

[3779] O Jesu] Q. what Ff.

[3780] whoreson mad] whoreson made Rowe (ed. 2). whorson-made Pope.

[3781] [Leaning his hand upon Doll. Rowe.

[3782] even] Ff. om. Q.

[3783] God's blessing of] Q. 'Blessing on Ff. 'Blessing o' Capell.

[3784] by my troth] Q. om. Ff.

[3785] Yea] Q. Yes Ff.

[3786] o' mine] a mine Q. on mine Ff. on my Rowe.

[3787] Not to dispraise] No! to dispraise Capell. Not! to dispraise Malone.

[3788] bread-chipper] Q. bread-chopper Ff.

[3789] with him] Ff. with thee Q.

[3790] a true] Q F₁ F₂. true F₃ F₄.

[3791] faith] Q. om. Ff.

[3792] close] glose Grant White.

[3793] thy boy] Q. the boy Ff.

[3794] outbids] Ff. blinds Q.

[3795] in hell] a hell Collier conj.

[3796] burns poor souls] burns, poor soul! Hanmer.

[3797] victuallers] Ff. vitlars Qq. See note (VIII).

[3798] [Knocking within.] Knocking heard. Capell. Peyto knockes at doore. Qq. om. Ff.

[3799] Enter Peto.] Ff. om. Qq. Enter Peto, hastily. Capell.

[3800] SCENE XI. Pope (ed. 1). SCENE XII. Pope (ed. 2).

[3801] to blame] Ff. too blame Qq.

[3802] south] south wind Keightley conj.

[3803] Give ... night] As in Qq; as two lines in Ff.

[Exeunt....] Capell. Exeunt Prince and Poynes. Qq. Exit. Ff.

[3804] [Knocking within.] Knock. Capell. om. Qq. Ff.

[3805] Re-enter B.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[3806] As prose in Pope.

[3807] [To the Page] Capell.

[3808] [Exeunt....] Capell. Exit Ff. om. Qq.

[3809] [Within] Capell.

[3810] come. [She comes blubbered.] Yea ... Doll?] come [Doll comes blubbered;] yea, ... Doll? Dyce. come, shee comes blubberd, yea? wil you come Doll? Qq (she ... yea! will.... Q₂). Omitted in Ff.

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Act III, Scene I — Westminster. The palace.

Enter the KING in his nightgown, with a Page.[3811]

King. Go call the Earls of Surrey and of Warwick; But, ere they come, bid them o'er-read these letters, And well consider of them: make good speed. [Exit Page.[3812] How many thousand of my poorest subjects[3813] Are at this hour asleep! O sleep, O gentle sleep,[3814] 5 Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee, That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down, And steep my senses in forgetfulness? Why rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee,[3815] 10 And hush'd with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber,[3816] Than in the perfumed chambers of the great, Under the canopies of costly state,[3817] And lull'd with sound of sweetest melody?[3818] O thou dull god, why liest thou with the vile 15 In loathsome beds, and leavest the kingly couch A watch-case or a common 'larum-bell?[3819] Wilt thou upon the high and giddy mast[3820] Seal up the ship-boy's eyes, and rock his brains In cradle of the rude imperious surge, 20 And in the visitation of the winds, Who take the ruffian billows by the top,[3821] Curling their monstrous heads and hanging them With deafening clamour in the slippery clouds,[3822] That, with the hurly, death itself awakes? 25 Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy repose[3823] To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude;[3824] And in the calmest and most stillest night,[3825] With all appliances and means to boot, Deny it to a king? Then happy low, lie down![3826] 30 Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.

Enter WARWICK and SURREY.[3827]

War. Many good morrows to your majesty![3828]

King. Is it good morrow, lords?[3829]

War. 'Tis one o'clock, and past.

King. Why, then, good morrow to you all, my lords.[3830] 35 Have you read o'er the letters that I sent you?[3831]

War. We have, my liege.

King. Then you perceive the body of our kingdom How foul it is; what rank diseases grow, And with what danger, near the heart of it. 40

War. It is but as a body yet distemper'd;[3832] Which to his former strength may be restored With good advice and little medicine: My Lord Northumberland will soon be cool'd.[3833]

King. O God! that one might read the book of fate,[3834] 45 And see the revolution of the times Make mountains level, and the continent, Weary of solid firmness, melt itself Into the sea! and, other times, to see The beachy girdle of the ocean 50 Too wide for Neptune's hips; how chances mock,[3835] And changes fill the cup of alteration With divers liquors! O, if this were seen,[3836] The happiest youth, viewing his progress through,[3836][3837] What perils past, what crosses to ensue,[3836] 55 Would shut the book, and sit him down and die.[3836][3838] 'Tis not ten years gone[3839] Since Richard and Northumberland, great friends,[3840] Did feast together, and in two years after[3841] Were they at wars: it is but eight years since 60 This Percy was the man nearest my soul; Who like a brother toil'd in my affairs, And laid his love and life under my foot; Yea, for my sake, even to the eyes of Richard Gave him defiance. But which of you was by--[3842] 65 You, cousin Nevil, as I may remember-- [To Warwick. When Richard, with his eye brimful of tears,[3843] Then check'd and rated by Northumberland, Did speak these words, now proved a prophecy? 'Northumberland, thou ladder by the which 70 My cousin Bolingbroke ascends my throne;' Though then, God knows, I had no such intent,[3844] But that necessity so bow'd the state, That I and greatness were compell'd to kiss: 'The time shall come,' thus did he follow it,[3845] 75 'The time will come, that foul sin, gathering head,[3845] Shall break into corruption:' so went on,[3846] Foretelling this same time's condition, And the division of our amity.

War. There is a history in all men's lives, 80 Figuring the nature of the times deceased;[3847] The which observed, a man may prophesy, With a near aim, of the main chance of things As yet not come to life, which in their seeds[3848] And weak beginnings lie intreasured.[3849] 85 Such things become the hatch and brood of time; And by the necessary form of this[3850] King Richard might create a perfect guess That great Northumberland, then false to him, Would of that seed grow to a greater falseness; 90 Which should not find a ground to root upon, Unless on you.

King. Are these things then necessities?[3851] Then let us meet them like necessities:[3852] And that same word even now cries out on us: They say the bishop and Northumberland 95 Are fifty thousand strong.

War. It cannot be, my lord;[3853] Rumour doth double, like the voice and echo, The numbers of the fear'd. Please it your grace To go to bed. Upon my soul, my lord,[3854] The powers that you already have sent forth 100 Shall bring this prize in very easily.[3855] To comfort you the more, I have received A certain instance that Glendower is dead. Your majesty hath been this fortnight ill; And these unseason'd hours perforce must add 105 Unto your sickness.

K. Hen. I will take your counsel: And were these inward wars once out of hand, We would, dear lords, unto the Holy Land. [Exeunt.[3856]

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Act III, Scene II — Gloucestershire. Before JUSTICE SHALLOW'S house

Enter SHALLOW and SILENCE, meeting; MOULDY, SHADOW, WART, FEEBLE, BULLCALF, a Servant or two with them.[3857]

Shal. Come on, come on, come on, sir; give me your[3858] hand, sir, give me your hand, sir: an early stirrer, by the[3859] rood! And how doth my good cousin Silence?[3859][3860]

Sil. Good morrow, good cousin Shallow.

Shal. And how doth my cousin, your bedfellow? and 5 your fairest daughter and mine, my god-daughter Ellen?

Sil. Alas, a black ousel, cousin Shallow![3861]

Shal. By yea and nay, sir, I dare say my cousin William[3862] is become a good scholar: he is at Oxford still, is he not?

Sil. Indeed, sir, to my cost. 10

Shal. A' must, then, to the inns o'court shortly: I was[3863] once of Clement's Inn, where I think they will talk of mad Shallow yet.

Sil. You were called 'lusty Shallow' then, cousin.

Shal. By the mass, I was called any thing; and I would[3864] 15 have done any thing indeed too, and roundly too. There[3865] was I, and little John Doit of Staffordshire, and black George Barnes, and Francis Pickbone, and Will Squele, a Cotswold[3866][3867] man; you had not four such swinge-bucklers in all the inns[3867][3868] o'court again: and I may say to you, we knew where the[3869] 20 bona-robas were and had the best of them all at[3870] commandment. Then was Jack Falstaff, now Sir John, a boy, and[3871] page to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk.

Sil. This Sir John, cousin, that comes hither anon about[3872] soldiers? 25

Shal. The same Sir John, the very same. I see him[3873] break Skogan's head at the court-gate, when a' was a crack[3874] not thus high: and the very same day did I fight with one[3875] Sampson Stockfish, a fruiterer, behind Gray's Inn. Jesu,[3876] Jesu, the mad days that I have spent! and to see how many[3876] 30 of my old acquaintance are dead![3877]

Sil. We shall all follow, cousin.

Shal. Certain, 'tis certain; very sure, very sure: death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all; all shall die. How[3878] a good yoke of bullocks at Stamford fair?[3879] 35

Sil. By my troth, I was not there.[3880]

Shal. Death is certain. Is old Double of your town living yet?

Sil. Dead, sir.

Shal. Jesu, Jesu, dead! a' drew a good bow; and[3881] 40 dead! a' shot a fine shoot: John a Gaunt loved him well,[3882] and betted much money on his head. Dead! a' would have clapped i' the clout at twelve score; and carried you a fore-hand shaft a fourteen and fourteen and a half, that it would[3883] have done a man's heart good to see. How a score of ewes 45 now?

Sil. Thereafter as they be: a score of good ewes may be worth ten pounds.

Shal. And is old Double dead?

Sil. Here come two of Sir John Falstaff's men, as I think. 50

Enter BARDOLPH and one with him.[3884]

Bard. Good morrow, honest gentlemen: I beseech you,[3885] which is Justice Shallow?

Shal. I am Robert Shallow, sir; a poor esquire of this county, and one of the king's justices of the peace: what is[3886] your good pleasure with me?[3887] 55

Bard. My captain, sir, commends him to you; my captain, Sir John Falstaff, a tall gentleman, by heaven, and a[3888] most gallant leader.

Shal. He greets me well, sir. I knew him a good backsword[3889] man. How doth the good knight? may I ask how 60 my lady his wife doth?

Bard. Sir, pardon; a soldier is better accommodated[3890] than with a wife.

Shal. It is well said, in faith, sir; and it is well said[3891] indeed too. Better accommodated! it is good; yea, indeed,[3892] 65 is it: good phrases are surely, and ever were, very commendable.[3893] Accommodated! it comes of 'accommodo:'[3892] very good; a good phrase.

Bard. Pardon me, sir; I have heard the word. Phrase[3894] call you it? by this good day, I know not the phrase; but[3895] 70 I will maintain the word with my sword to be a soldier-like word, and a word of exceeding good command, by heaven.[3896] Accommodated; that is, when a man is, as they say, accommodated;[3892] or when a man is, being, whereby a' may be[3892][3897] thought to be accommodated; which is an excellent thing.[3892][3897] 75

Shal. It is very just.

Enter FALSTAFF.[3898]

Look, here comes good Sir John. Give me your good hand,[3899] give me your worship's good hand: by my troth, you like[3900] well and bear your years very well: welcome, good Sir John. 80

Fal. I am glad to see you well, good Master Robert Shallow: Master Surecard, as I think?[3901]

Shal. No, Sir John; it is my cousin Silence, in commission[3902] with me.

Fal. Good Master Silence, it well befits you should be[3902] 85 of the peace.

Sil. Your good worship is welcome.

Fal. Fie! this is hot weather, gentlemen. Have you[3903] provided me here half a dozen sufficient men?[3904]

Shal. Marry, have we, sir. Will you sit? 90

Fal. Let me see them, I beseech you.

Shal. Where's the roll? where's the roll? where's the roll? Let me see, let me see, let me see. So, so, so, so, so,[3905] so, so: yea, marry, sir: Ralph Mouldy! Let them appear as[3906] I call; let them do so, let them do so. Let me see; where 95 is Mouldy?

Moul. Here, an't please you.[3907]

Shal. What think you, Sir John? a good-limbed fellow; young, strong, and of good friends.

Fal. Is thy name Mouldy? 100

Moul. Yea, an't please you.[3908]

Fal. 'Tis the more time thou wert used.

Shal. Ha, ha, ha! most excellent, i' faith! things that[3909] are mouldy lack use: very singular good! in faith, well[3910] said, Sir John; very well said. 105

Fal. Prick him.[3911]

Moul. I was pricked well enough before, an you could[3912] have let me alone: my old dame will be undone now, for one to do her husbandry and her drudgery: you need not to have pricked me; there are other men fitter to go out 110 than I.

Fal. Go to: peace, Mouldy; you shall go. Mouldy, it is time you were spent.

Moul. Spent!

Shal. Peace, fellow, peace; stand aside: know you 115 where you are? For the other, Sir John: let me see:[3913][3914] Simon Shadow![3914]

Fal. Yea, marry, let me have him to sit under: he's[3915] like to be a cold soldier.

Shal. Where's Shadow? 120

Shad. Here, sir.

Fal. Shadow, whose son art thou?

Shad. My mother's son, sir.

Fal. Thy mother's son! like enough, and thy father's shadow: so the son of the female is the shadow of the male: 125 it is often so, indeed; but much of the father's substance![3916]

Shal. Do you like him, Sir John?

Fal. Shadow will serve for summer; prick him, for we[3917] have a number of shadows to fill up the muster-book.[3918]

Shal. Thomas Wart! 130

Fal. Where's he?

Wart. Here, sir.

Fal. Is thy name Wart?

Wart. Yea, sir.

Fal. Thou art a very ragged wart. 135

Shal. Shall I prick him down, Sir John?[3919]

Fal. It were superfluous; for his apparel is built upon[3920] his back, and the whole frame stands upon pins: prick him no more.

Shal. Ha, ha, ha! you can do it, sir; you can do it: I 140 commend you well. Francis Feeble!

Fee. Here, sir.

Fal. What trade art thou, Feeble?

Fee. A woman's tailor, sir.

Shal. Shall I prick him, sir? 145

Fal. You may: but if he had been a man's tailor, he'ld ha' pricked you. Wilt thou make as many holes in an[3921] enemy's battle as thou hast done in a woman's petticoat?

Fee. I will do my good will, sir: you can have no more.

Fal. Well said, good woman's tailor! well said, 150 courageous Feeble! thou wilt be as valiant as the wrathful dove or most magnanimous mouse. Prick the woman's tailor: well, Master Shallow; deep, Master Shallow.[3922]

Fee. I would Wart might have gone, sir.

Fal. I would thou wert a man's tailor, that thou mightst 155 mend him and make him fit to go. I cannot put him to a[3923] private soldier, that is the leader of so many thousands: let that suffice, most forcible Feeble.

Fee. It shall suffice, sir.[3924]

Fal. I am bound to thee, reverend Feeble. Who is 160 next?[3925]

Shal. Peter Bullcalf o' the green!

Fal. Yea, marry, let's see Bullcalf.

Bull. Here, sir.

Fal. 'Fore God, a likely fellow! Come, prick me[3926] 165 Bullcalf till he roar again.

Bull. O Lord! good my lord captain,--[3927]

Fal. What, dost thou roar before thou art pricked?[3928]

Bull. O Lord, sir! I am a diseased man.[3927]

Fal. What disease hast thou? 170

Bull. A whoreson cold, sir, a cough, sir, which I caught with ringing in the king's affairs upon his coronation-day, sir.

Fal. Come, thou shalt go to the wars in a gown; we will have away thy cold; and I will take such order that 175 thy friends shall ring for thee. Is here all?

Shal. Here is two more called than your number; you[3929] must have but four here, sir: and so, I pray you, go in with me to dinner.

Fal. Come, I will go drink with you, but I cannot 180 tarry dinner. I am glad to see you, by my troth, Master[3930] Shallow.

Shal. O, Sir John, do you remember since we lay all night in the windmill in Saint George's field?[3931]

Fal. No more of that, good Master Shallow, no more[3932] 185 of that.[3932]

Shal. Ha! 'twas a merry night. And is Jane Nightwork alive?

Fal. She lives, Master Shallow.

Shal. She never could away with me.[3933] 190

Fal. Never, never; she would always say she could not abide Master Shallow.

Shal. By the mass, I could anger her to the heart. She[3934] was then a bona-roba. Doth she hold her own well?

Fal. Old, old, Master Shallow. 195

Shal. Nay, she must be old; she cannot choose but be old; certain she's old; and had Robin Nightwork by old Nightwork before I came to Clement's Inn.[3935]

Sil. That's fifty five year ago.[3936]

Shal. Ha, cousin Silence, that thou hadst seen that 200 that this knight and I have seen! Ha, Sir John, said I well?

Fal. We have heard the chimes at midnight, Master Shallow.

Shal. That we have, that we have, that we have; in[3937] 205 faith, Sir John, we have: our watch-word was 'Hem boys!'[3938] Come, let's to dinner; come, let's to dinner: Jesus, the[3939] days that we have seen! Come, come.

[Exeunt Falstaff and the Justices.[3940]

Bull. Good Master Corporate Bardolph, stand my friend; and here's four Harry ten shillings in French 210 crowns for you. In very truth, sir, I had as lief be hanged, sir, as go: and yet, for mine own part, sir, I do not care; but rather, because I am unwilling, and, for mine own part, have a desire to stay with my friends; else, sir, I did not care, for mine own part, so much. 215

Bard. Go to; stand aside.

Moul. And, good master corporal captain, for my old[3941] dame's sake, stand my friend: she has nobody to do any[3942] thing about her when I am gone; and she is old, and cannot help herself: you shall have forty, sir.[3943] 220

Bard. Go to; stand aside.

Fee. By my troth, I care not; a man can die but once:[3944] we owe God a death: I'll ne'er bear a base mind: an't[3945][3946] be my destiny, so; an't be not, so: no man is too good to[3946] serve's prince; and let it go which way it will, he that dies[3947] 225 this year is quit for the next.

Bard. Well said; thou'rt a good fellow.[3948]

Fee. Faith, I'll bear no base mind.

Re-enter FALSTAFF and the Justices.[3949]

Fal. Come, sir, which men shall I have?

Shal. Four of which you please. 230

Bard. Sir, a word with you: I have three pound to free Mouldy and Bullcalf.

Fal. Go to; well.

Shal. Come, Sir John, which four will you have?

Fal. Do you choose for me. 235

Shal. Marry, then, Mouldy, Bullcalf, Feeble and Shadow.[3950]

Fal. Mouldy and Bullcalf: for you, Mouldy, stay at[3951] home till you are past service: and for your part, Bullcalf,[3952] grow till you come unto it: I will none of you. 240

Shal. Sir John, Sir John, do not yourself wrong: they are your likeliest men, and I would have you served with the best.

Fal. Will you tell me, Master Shallow, how to choose a man? Care I for the limb, the thewes, the stature, bulk, 245 and big assemblance of a man! Give me the spirit, Master[3953] Shallow. Here's Wart; you see what a ragged appearance[3954] it is: a' shall charge you and discharge you with the motion of a pewterer's hammer, come off and on swifter than he that gibbets on the brewer's bucket. And this same 250 half-faced fellow, Shadow; give me this man: he presents no mark to the enemy; the foeman may with as great aim level at the edge of a penknife. And for a retreat; how[3955] swiftly will this Feeble the woman's tailor run off! O, give me the spare men, and spare me the great ones. Put me a 255 caliver into Wart's hand, Bardolph.

Bard. Hold, Wart, traverse; thus, thus, thus.[3956]

Fal. Come, manage me your caliver. So: very well: go to: very good, exceeding good. O, give me always a little, lean, old, chapt, bald shot. Well said, i' faith, Wart;[3957] 260 thou'rt a good scab: hold, there's a tester for thee.[3957]

Shal. He is not his craft's-master; he doth not do it[3958] right. I remember at Mile-end Green, when I lay at Clement's Inn,--I was then Sir Dagonet in Arthur's show,--there was a little quiver fellow, and a' would manage you[3959] 265 his piece thus; and a' would about and about, and come[3959] you in and come you in: 'rah, tah, tah,' would a' say;[3959] 'bounce' would a' say; and away again would a' go, and[3959] again would a' come: I shall ne'er see such a fellow.[3959][3960]

Fal. These fellows will do well, Master Shallow. God[3961][3962] 270 keep you, Master Silence: I will not use many words with[3961][3962][3963] you. Fare you well, gentlemen both: I thank you: I must[3962] a dozen mile to-night. Bardolph, give the soldiers coats.

Shal. Sir John, the Lord bless you! God prosper your[3964] affairs! God send us peace! At your return visit our[3965][3966] 275 house; let our old acquaintance be renewed: peradventure[3966] I will with ye to the court.[3967]

Fal. 'Fore God, I would you would, Master Shallow.[3968]

Shal. Go to; I have spoke at a word. God keep you.[3969]

Fal. Fare you well, gentle gentlemen. [Exeunt[3970] 280 Justices.] On, Bardolph; lead the men away. [Exeunt[3971] Bardolph, Recruits, &c.] As I return, I will fetch off these justices: I do see the bottom of Justice Shallow. Lord,[3972] Lord, how subject we old men are to this vice of lying![3972] This same starved justice hath done nothing but prate to[3973] 285 me of the wildness of his youth, and the feats he hath done about Turnbull Street; and every third word a lie, duer[3974] paid to the hearer than the Turk's tribute. I do remember him at Clement's Inn like a man made after supper of a cheese-paring: when a' was naked, he was, for all the 290 world, like a forked radish, with a head fantastically carved upon it with a knife: a' was so forlorn, that his dimensions to any thick sight were invincible: a' was the very genius[3975] of famine; yet lecherous as a monkey, and the whores[3976] called him mandrake: a' came ever in the rearward of the[3976][3977] 295 fashion, and sung those tunes to the overscutched huswives[3978][3979] that he heard the carmen whistle, and sware they were his[3978] fancies or his good-nights. And now is this Vice's dagger[3978][3980] become a squire, and talks as familiarly of John a Gaunt[3981] as if he had been sworn brother to him; and I'll be sworn 300 a' ne'er saw him but once in the Tilt-yard; and then he[3982] burst his head for crowding among the marshal's men.[3983] I saw it, and told John a Gaunt he beat his own name; for you might have thrust him and all his apparel into an[3984] eel-skin; the case of a treble hautboy was a mansion for 305 him, a court: and now has he land and beefs. Well, I'll[3985] be acquainted with him, if I return; and it shall go hard[3986] but I will make him a philosopher's two stones to me:[3987] if the young dace be a bait for the old pike, I see no reason in the law of nature but I may snap at him. Let[3988] 310 time shape, and there an end. [Exit.[3989]

FOOTNOTES:

[3811] SCENE I. Westminster.] Dyce. London. Pope.

The whole scene omitted in Q₁. See note (VIII). Enter....] Enter the King in his night-gowne alone. Q₂. Enter the King, with a Page Ff.

[3812] [Exit Page.] Exit. Ff.

[3813] thousand] thousands Rowe.

[3814] O sleep, O gentle sleep] O gentle sleep Pope. Sleep, gentle sleep Steevens.

[3815] pallets] Q₂. pallads Ff.

[3816] hush'd] huisht F₁ F₂.

night-flies] Q₂. Night, flyes Ff.

[3817] the] high Collier (Collier MS.).

state] pride Seymour conj.

[3818] sound] Q₂. sounds Ff.

[3819] or] to Hanmer. by or for Knight conj.

[3820] mast] Ff. masse Q₂.

[3821] billows] pillowes Q₂.

[3822] deafening] deaff'ning F₁ F₂ F₃. deaf'ning F₄. deaffing Q₂.

clamour] Q₂. clamors Ff.

clouds] shrouds Pope.

[3823] thy] Ff. them Q₂.

[3824] sea-boy] Ff. season Q₂.

[3825] most stillest] the stillest Pope.

[3826] Deny it to a] Deny 't a Steevens conj.

Then happy low, lie down!] Then happy Lowe, lye downe, F₁ F₂. Then happy Low, lye down, F₃ F₄. then (happy) low lie downe, Q₂. then (happie) low ly downe Dering MS. Then happy lowly clown, Johnson (Warburton conj.). Then, happy low-lie-down! Knight (Coleridge conj.). Then happy lowt, lie down! Dent MS. Then happy boy, lie down! Keightley conj. Then happy the low lie down: Brae conj. (Notes and Queries).

[3827] Enter....] Ff. Enter Warwike, Surry, and Sir Iohn Blunt. Q₂.

[3828] SCENE II. Pope.

[3829] good] om. Seymour conj.

[3830] you all,] you. Well, Theobald.

[3831] letters] Ff. letter Q₂.

[3832] yet] slight Warburton.

[3833] cool'd] school'd Warburton conj.

[3834] O God] Q₂. O Heaven Ff.

[3835] mock] Rowe. mocks Q₂ Ff.

[3836] O, if this ... and die.] Q₂. Omitted in Ff.

[3837] through] thorough Capell.

[3838] sit him] set him Capell.

[3839] Tis ... gone] In one line with With divers liquors (53) in Ff.

gone] om. Pope.

[3840] great friends] om. Pope, reading 'Tis not ... Northumberland as one line.

[3841] years] F₃ F₄. yeare Q₂. yeeres F₁ F₂.

[3842] But] om. Pope.

[3843] eye brimful] eye-brimme full Q₂. eye-brim-full F₁. eye, brimfull F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3844] God] Q₂. Heaven Ff.

[3845] shall ... will] will ... will Johnson.

[3846] corruption] convulsion or eruption Collier conj.

[3847] nature] Ff. natures Q₂.

[3848] which] Ff. who Q₂.

[3849] beginnings] Ff. beginning Q₂.

[3850] this] things Johnson conj. these Capell. his Jackson conj.

[3851] things then] things then, my lord, Hanmer. om. Steevens conj.

[3852] like necessities] like necessity Johnson conj.

[3853] my lord] om. Pope.

[3854] soul] soule Q₂. life Ff.

[3855] bring] brings F₂.

[3856] [Exeunt.] Ff. om. Q₂.

[3857] SCENE II.] SCENE III. Pope.

Gloucestershire....] The Country. Pope. Justice Shallow's seat in Gloucestershire. Theobald.

Enter....] Capell. Enter ... Bullcalfe. Ff. Enter Iustice Shallow, and Iustice Silence. Qq (Silens. Q₁).

[3858] sir] Q₂. om. Q₁ Ff.

[3859] give me your hand, sir] Once only in Pope.

[3860] Silence] Silens Q₂.

[3861] ousel] woosel Qq. ouzell F₁ F₂ F₃. ouzel F₄.

[3862] nay] Ff. no Qq.

[3863] A' ... o'] A ... a Qq. He ... of Ff.

[3864] By the mass] Omitted in Ff.

[3865] indeed too] indeed Capell.

[3866] Barnes] Qq. Bare Ff.

[3867] Cotswold man] Pope. Cotsole man Qq. Cot-sal-man Ff.

[3868] four] five Farmer conj. MS.

[3869] o'] a Qq. of Ff.

[3870] bona-robas] bona robes Qq.

[3871] a boy] boy, Rowe (ed. 2).

[3872] This ... cousin] Coosin, this Sir John Q₂.

[3873] see] Qq. saw Ff.

[3874] Skogan's] Skoggins Qq. Scoggans F₁. Schoggans F₂. Schoggan's F₃ F₄.

[3875] did I] I did Rowe (ed. 2).

[3876] Jesu, Jesu] Qq. Oh Ff.

[3877] my] Qq. mine Ff.

[3878] as the Psalmist saith] Qq.] Omitted in Ff.

[3879] Stamford] Samforth Qq.

[3880] By my troth] Qq. Truly cousin Ff.

[3881] Jesu, Jesu, dead!] Qq. Dead? see, see Ff.

[3882] a Gaunt] Qq. of Gaunt Ff.

[3883] a fourteen] Qq. at fourteen Ff.

[3884] SCENE IV. Pope.

Enter....] Qq. Enter Bardolph and his Boy. Ff (after line 49).

[3885] Bard. Good ... gentlemen: I beseech] Bardolfe. Good ... gentlemen. Bardolfe. I beseech Q₁. Good ... gentlemen. Bard. I beseech Q₂. Shal. Good ... gentlemen. Bard. I beseech Ff.

[3886] county] country Warburton.

and one] one F₃ F₄.

[3887] good] om. Q₂.

[3888] by heaven] Qq. om. Ff.

[3889] well, sir.] wel, sir, Qq. well: (sir) Ff.

[3890] accommodated] Ff. accommodate Qq.

[3891] in faith] Qq. om. Ff.

[3892] accomodated] Qq Ff.

[3893] are surely] surely are Pope.

ever were, very] Qq. every where very Ff.

[3894] me] Q₂. om. Q₁ Ff.

[3895] good] Q₂. om. Q₁ Ff.

[3896] by heaven] Qq. om. Ff.

[3897] a' may be thought] a may be thought Qq. he thought Ff.

[3898] SCENE V. Pope.

Enter Falstaff.] Enter Sir John Falstaffe. Q₂.

[3899] your good] Qq. your Ff.

[3900] by my troh] Qq. Trust me Ff.

like] Qq. looke F₁ F₂. look F₃ F₄.

[3901] Surecard] Ff. Soccard Qq.

[3902] Silence] Ff. Scilens Q₁. Silens Q₂.

[3903] weather, gentlemen. Have] weather gentlemen, have Q₁. weather (gentlemen) have Q₂. weather (Gentlemen) have Ff.

[3904] dozen] Qq. dozen of Ff.

[3905] Let me see] Twice only in Q₂.

So] Four times only in Ff.

[3906] Ralph] F₃ F₄. Rafe Qq. Raphe F₁ F₂. to Ralph Rowe.

[3907] an't] Capell. and't Q₁. and it Q₂. if it Ff.

[3908] an't] Capell. and't Qq. if it Ff.

[3909] i' faith] om. Ff.

[3910] in faith om. Ff.

[3911] Fal. Prick him] Ff. Iohn prickes him. Q (as a stage direction). See note (VIII).

[3912] an] Capell. and Q. if Ff.

[3913] the other] Ff. th' other Q. the others Anon. conj.

[3914] see: Simon] Ff. see Simon Q.

[3915] Yea] Q. I Ff.

[3916] but much ... substance!] Edd. but much ... substance. Q. but not ... substance. Ff. but not much ... substance. Capell. not much ... substance. Dyce conj. See note (IX).

[3917] summer] a summer Pope.

[3918] to fill] Ff. fill Q. do fill Theobald.

[3919] down] om. Q.

[3920] his] om. Q.

[3921] he'ld ha'] hee'd a Q. he would have Ff.

[3922] tailor: well] tailer: wel Q. taylour well Ff.

[3923] to a] to be a Rowe.

[3924] sir] om. Ff.

[3925] next] Q. the next Ff.

[3926] 'Fore God] Q. Trust me Ff.

me] om. Q.

[3927] O Lord] Q. Oh Ff.

[3928] thou art] Q. th' art Ff.

[3929] Here] Q. There Ff.

two] om. Capell. one Jervis conj.

[3930] by my] Q. in good Ff.

[3931] field] fields F₄.

[3932] good ... that.] Ff. master Shallow. Q.

[3933] never could] could never Capell.

[3934] By the mass] Q. om. Ff.

[3935] came to] came from Capell.

Clement's Inn] Ff. Clemham Q.

[3936] year] yeare Q. yeeres F₁ F₂. yeares F₃ F₄.

[3937] That we have] Thrice in Q; twice in Ff.

[3938] watch-word] watch-world F₂.

[3939] Come, let's to dinner] Once in Pope.

Jesus] Q. Oh Ff.

[3940] [Exeunt....] Exeunt. Q. om. Ff.

[3941] old] Ff. om. Q.

[3942] has] Q. hath Ff.

[3943] forty, sir] four too, sir Capell conj. forty shillings Id. conj. (withdrawn).

[3944] By my troth] Q. om. Ff.

[3945] owe God] Q. owe Ff.

I'll ne'er] Ile nere Q. I will never Ff.

[3946] an't] Capell. and't Q. if it Ff.

[3947] serve's] Q. serve his Ff.

[3948] thou'rt] th' art Q. thou art Ff.

[3949] Faith, I'll] Nay, I will Ff.

Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Q. om. Ff.

[3950] Shadow] Q F₁. Shallow F₂ F₃ F₄.

[3951] stay] you have stayed Farmer conj.

[3952] till you] still; you Rann (Tyrwhitt conj.).

[3953] assemblance] semblance Pope. assemblage Capell.

[3954] Here's Wart;] Heres Wart, Q. Where's Wart? Ff.

[3955] retreat] F₃ F₄. retraite Q. retrait F₁ F₂.

[3956] thus, thus, thus] Ff. thas, thas, thas Q.

[3957] chapt] chopt Q Ff.

bald shot] Ballde, Shot Q.

i' faith] om. Ff.

[3958] craft's-master] crafts-master Q F₁ F₂. craft-master F₃ F₄.

[3959] a'] a Q. hee or he Ff (and elsewhere).

[3960] ne'er] nere Q. never Ff.

[3961] well ... Silence] _well M. Shallow, God keep you M. Scilens,_ Q. well, Master Shallow. Farewell Master Silence, Ff. well. Master Shallow, God keep you; farewel, master Silence. Pope.

[3962] well, Master ... with you.] well. Master Shallow, God keep you: Master Silence, I will ... you; Farmer conj. MS.

[3963] will] Ff. wooll Q.

[3964] the Lord] Q. heaven Ff.

God prosper] Q. and prosper Ff.

[3965] God send] Q. and send Ff.

peace! At your return] peace at your returne, Q. peace. As you returne, Ff.

[3966] our house] Q. my house Ff.

[3967] ye] Q. you Ff.

[3968] 'Fore God, I ... Shallow.] Fore God would you would. Q. I would ... Shallow. Ff. 'Fore God, I would you would Collier.

[3969] God keep you.] Q. Fare you well. Ff.

[3970] gentle] om. F₄.

[Exeunt....] Exit. Q. Exit. Ff (after line 281).

[3971] On,] Shal. On, Q.

[Exeunt B., ...] Capell. om. Q Ff.

[3972] Lord, Lord] Q. om. Ff.

[3973] prate] prated Pope.

[3974] Turnbull] Q. Turnball Ff.

duer] more duly Pope.

[3975] invincible] invisible Rowe.

genius] gemies Q. See note (X).

[3976] yet ... mandrake] Omitted in Ff.

[3977] ever] Ff. over Q.

[3978] and sung ... good-nights.] Omitted in Ff.

[3979] overscutched] overswitched Grant White.

[3980] this] Q F₁ F₂. the F₃ F₄.

[3981] John a Gaunt] Q. John of Gaunt Ff.

[3982] a' ne'er] a nere Q. he never Ff.

[3983] burst] broke Pope.

[3984] thrust] Q. truss'd Ff.

[3985] has] Q. hath Ff.

beefs] beefes Q. beeves Ff.

I'll] ile Q. I will Ff.

[3986] and it] Ff. and t' Q.

[3987] two stones] true stone Jackson conj.

[3988] Let]See note (X).

[3989] there] there's Rowe.

[Exit.] Exeunt. Ff. om. Q.

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Act IV, Scene I — Yorkshire. Gaultree Forest.

Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF YORK, MOWBRAY, HASTINGS, and others.[3990]

Arch. What is this forest call'd?[3991]

Hast. 'Tis Gaultree Forest, an't shall please your grace.[3992]

Arch. Here stand, my lords; and send discoverers forth To know the numbers of our enemies.[3993]

Hast. We have sent forth already.

Arch. 'Tis well done. 5 My friends and brethren in these great affairs, I must acquaint you that I have received New-dated letters from Northumberland; Their cold intent, tenour and substance, thus:[3994] Here doth he wish his person, with such powers[3995] 10 As might hold sortance with his quality, The which he could not levy; whereupon He is retired, to ripe his growing fortunes, To Scotland: and concludes in hearty prayers That your attempts may overlive the hazard 15 And fearful meeting of their opposite.

Mowb. Thus do the hopes we have in him touch ground And dash themselves to pieces.

Enter a Messenger.[3996]

Hast. Now, what news?

Mess. West of this forest, scarcely off a mile, In goodly form comes on the enemy; 20 And, by the ground they hide, I judge their number Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand.

Mowb. The just proportion that we gave them out. Let us sway on and face them in the field.[3997]

Arch. What well-appointed leader fronts us here? 25

Enter WESTMORELAND.[3998]

Mowb. I think it is my Lord of Westmoreland.

West. Health and fair greeting from our general, The prince, Lord John and Duke of Lancaster.

Arch. Say on, my Lord of Westmoreland, in peace:[3999] What doth concern your coming?[3999]

West. Then, my[4000] 30 Unto your grace do I in chief address The substance of my speech. If that rebellion Came like itself, in base and abject routs, Led on by bloody youth, guarded with rags,[4001] And countenanced by boys and beggary, 35 I say, if damn'd commotion so appear'd,[4002] In his true, native and most proper shape, You, reverend father, and these noble lords Had not been here, to dress the ugly form[4003] Of base and bloody insurrection 40 With your fair honours. You, lord archbishop,[4004] Whose see is by a civil peace maintain'd,[4005] Whose beard the silver hand of peace hath touch'd, Whose learning and good letters peace hath tutor'd, Whose white investments figure innocence,[4006] 45 The dove and very blessed spirit of peace, Wherefore do you so ill translate yourself Out of the speech of peace that bears such grace, Into the harsh and boisterous tongue of war; Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood,[4007] 50 Your pens to lances and your tongue divine To a loud trumpet and a point of war?[4008]

Arch. Wherefore do I this? so the question stands. Briefly to this end: we are all diseased, And with our surfeiting and wanton hours[4009] 55 Have brought ourselves into a burning fever,[4009] And we must bleed for it; of which disease[4009] Our late king, Richard, being infected, died.[4009] But, my most noble Lord of Westmoreland,[4009] I take not on me here as a physician,[4009] 60 Nor do I as an enemy to peace[4009] Troop in the throngs of military men;[4009] But rather show awhile like fearful war,[4009] To diet rank minds sick of happiness[4009] And purge the obstructions which begin to stop[4009] 65 Our very veins of life. Hear me more plainly.[4009] I have in equal balance justly weigh'd[4009] What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer.[4009] And find our griefs heavier than our offences.[4009] We see which way the stream of time doth run,[4009] 70 And are enforced from our most quiet there[4009][4010] By the rough torrent of occasion;[4009] And have the summary of all our griefs,[4009] When time shall serve, to show in articles;[4009] Which long ere this we offer'd to the king,[4009] 75 And might by no suit gain our audience:[4009][4011] When we are wrong'd and would unfold our griefs,[4009] We are denied access unto his person[4009] Even by those men that most have done us wrong.[4009] The dangers of the days but newly gone,[4012] 80 Whose memory is written on the earth With yet appearing blood, and the examples Of every minute's instance, present now,[4013] Hath put us in these ill-beseeming arms,[4014] Not to break peace or any branch of it, 85 But to establish here a peace indeed, Concurring both in name and quality.

West. When ever yet was your appeal denied? Wherein have you been galled by the king? What peer hath been suborn'd to grate on you, 90 That you should seal this lawless bloody book Of forged rebellion with a seal divine And consecrate commotion's bitter edge?[4015]

Arch. My brother general, the commonwealth,[4016] To brother born an household cruelty;[4017] 95 I make my quarrel in particular.

West. There is no need of any such redress; Or if there were, it not belongs to you.

Mowb. Why not to him in part, and to us all That feel the bruises of the days before, 100 And suffer the condition of these times To lay a heavy and unequal hand[4018][4019] Upon our honours?[4018]

West. O, my good Lord Mowbray,[4020] Construe the times to their necessities,[4020] And you shall say indeed, it is the time,[4020] 105 And not the king, that doth you injuries.[4020] Yet for your part, it not appears to me[4020] Either from the king or in the present time[4020][4021] That you should have an inch of any ground[4020] To build a grief on: were you not restored[4020] 110 To all the Duke of Norfolk's signories,[4020] Your noble and right well remember'd father's?[4020]

Mowb. What thing, in honour, had my father lost,[4020] That need to be revived and breathed in me?[4020] The king that loved him, as the state stood then,[4020] 115 Was force perforce compell'd to banish him:[4020][4022] And then that Henry Bolingbroke and he,[4020][4023][4024] Being mounted and both roused in their seats,[4020][4024] Their neighing coursers daring of the spur,[4020][4024][4025] Their armed staves in charge, their beavers down,[4020][4024] 120 Their eyes of fire sparkling through sights of steel[4020][4024][4026] And the loud trumpet blowing them together,[4020][4024] Then, then, when there was nothing could have stay'd[4020][4024] My father from the breast of Bolingbroke,[4020][4024] O, when the king did throw his warder down,[4020][4024][4027] 125 His own life hung upon the staff he threw;[4020] Then threw he down himself and all their lives[4020] That by indictment and by dint of sword[4020][4028] Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke.[4020]

West. You speak, Lord Mowbray, now you know not what.[4020] 130 The Earl of Hereford was reputed then[4020][4029] In England the most valiant gentleman:[4020] Who knows on whom fortune would then have smiled?[4020] But if your father had been victor there,[4020] He ne'er had borne it out of Coventry:[4020] 135 For all the country in a general voice[4020] Cried hate upon him; and all their prayers and love[4020][4030] Were set on Hereford, whom they doted on[4020][4031] And bless'd and graced indeed, more than the king.[4020][4032] But this is mere digression from my purpose.[4033] 140 Here come I from our princely general To know your griefs; to tell you from his grace That he will give you audience; and wherein It shall appear that your demands are just,[4034] You shall enjoy them, every thing set off[4034] 145 That might so much as think you enemies.[4035]

Mowb. But he hath forced us to compel this offer; And it proceeds from policy, not love.

West. Mowbray, you overween to take it so; This offer comes from mercy, not from fear: 150 For, lo! within a ken our army lies, Upon mine honour, all too confident To give admittance to a thought of fear. Our battle is more full of names than yours, Our men more perfect in the use of arms, 155 Our armour all as strong, our cause the best; Then reason will our hearts should be as good:[4036] Say you not then our offer is compell'd.

Mowb. Well, by my will we shall admit no parley.[4037]

West. That argues but the shame of your offence: 160 A rotten case abides no handling.[4038]

Hast. Hath the Prince John a full commission, In very ample virtue of his father, To hear and absolutely to determine Of what conditions we shall stand upon? 165

West. That is intended in the general's name:[4039] I muse you make so slight a question.

Arch. Then take, my Lord of Westmoreland, this schedule, For this contains our general grievances: Each several article herein redress'd, 170 All members of our cause, both here and hence,[4040] That are insinewed to this action,[4040][4041] Acquitted by a true substantial form,[4040] And present execution of our wills[4040][4042] To us and to our purposes confined,[4043] 175 We come within our awful banks again,[4044] And knit our powers to the arm of peace.[4045]

West. This will I show the general. Please you, lords, In sight of both our battles we may meet;[4046] And either end in peace, which God so frame![4046][4047] 180 Or to the place of difference call the swords Which must decide it. Which must decide it.

Arch. My lord, we will do so. [Exit West.

Mowb. There is a thing within my bosom tells me[4048] That no conditions of our peace can stand.[4049]

Hast. Fear you not that: if we can make our peace[4050] 185 Upon such large terms and so absolute As our conditions shall consist upon,[4051] Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains.

Mowb. Yea, but our valuation shall be such[4052] That every slight and false-derived cause, 190 Yea, every idle, nice and wanton reason Shall to the king taste of this action; That, were our royal faiths martyrs in love,[4053] We shall be winnow'd with so rough a wind That even our corn shall seem as light as chaff 195 And good from bad find no partition.

Arch. No, no, my lord. Note this; the king is weary[4054] Of dainty and such picking grievances:[4054][4055] For he hath found to end one doubt by death Revives two greater in the heirs of life, 200 And therefore will he wipe his tables clean And keep no tell-tale to his memory That may repeat and history his loss To new remembrance; for full well he knows He cannot so precisely weed this land 205 As his misdoubts present occasion: His foes are so enrooted with his friends That, plucking to unfix an enemy, He doth unfasten so and shake a friend.[4056] So that this land, like an offensive wife 210 That hath enraged him on to offer strokes,[4057] As he is striking, holds his infant up And hangs resolved correction in the arm That was uprear'd to execution.

Hast. Besides, the king hath wasted all his rods 215 On late offenders, that he now doth lack The very instruments of chastisement: So that his power, like to a fangless lion, May offer, but not hold.

Arch. 'Tis very true: And therefore be assured, my good lord marshal, 220 If we do now make our atonement well, Our peace will, like a broken limb united, Grow stronger for the breaking.

Mowb. Be it so.[4058] Here is return'd my Lord of Westmoreland.[4058]

Re-enter WESTMORELAND.[4059]

West. The prince is here at hand: pleaseth your lordship 225 To meet his grace just distance 'tween our armies.

Mowb. Your grace of York, in God's name, then, set forward.[4060]

Arch. Before, and greet his grace: my lord, we come. [Exeunt.[4061]

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Act IV, Scene II — Another part of the forest.

Enter, from one side, MOWBRAY, attended; afterwards the ARCHBISHOP, HASTINGS, and others: from the other side, PRINCE JOHN of LANCASTER, and WESTMORELAND; Officers, _and others with them_.[4062]

Lan. You are well encounter'd here, my cousin Mowbray:[4063] Good day to you, gentle lord archbishop;[4064] And so to you, Lord Hastings, and to all. My Lord of York, it better show'd with you When that your flock, assembled by the bell, 5 Encircled you to hear with reverence Your exposition on the holy text Than now to see you here an iron man,[4065] Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum, Turning the word to sword and life to death. 10 That man that sits within a monarch's heart, And ripens in the sunshine of his favour, Would he abuse the countenance of the king, Alack, what mischiefs might he set abroach In shadow of such greatness! With you, lord bishop, 15 It is even so. Who hath not heard it spoken How deep you were within the books of God?[4066] To us the speaker in his parliament; To us the imagined voice of God himself;[4067] The very opener and intelligencer 20 Between the grace, the sanctities of heaven And our dull workings. O, who shall believe But you misuse the reverence of your place, Employ the countenance and grace of heaven,[4068] As a false favourite doth his prince's name, 25 In deeds dishonourable? You have ta'en up,[4069] Under the counterfeited zeal of God,[4070] The subjects of his substitute, my father,[4071] And both against the peace of heaven and him Have here up-swarm'd them.

Arch. Good my Lord of Lancaster, 30 I am not here against your father's peace; But, as I told my Lord of Westmoreland, The time misorder'd doth, in common sense,[4072] Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form, To hold our safety up. I sent your grace 35 The parcels and particulars of our grief, The which hath been with scorn shoved from the court,[4073] Whereon this Hydra son of war is born;[4074] Whose dangerous eyes may well be charm'd asleep With grant of our most just and right desires,[4075] 40 And true obedience, of this madness cured, Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty.

Mowb. If not, we ready are to try our fortunes To the last man.

Hast. And though we here fall down, We have supplies to second our attempt: 45 If they miscarry, theirs shall second them; And so success of mischief shall be born[4076] And heir from heir shall hold this quarrel up[4077] Whiles England shall have generation.[4078]

Lan. You are too shallow, Hastings, much too shallow,[4079] 50 To sound the bottom of the after-times.

West. Pleaseth your grace to answer them directly How far forth you do like their articles.

Lan. I like them all, and do allow them well; And swear here, by the honour of my blood, 55 My father's purposes have been mistook; And some about him have too lavishly Wrested his meaning and authority. My lord, these griefs shall be with speed redress'd; Upon my soul, they shall. If this may please you,[4080] 60 Discharge your powers unto their several counties, As we will ours: and here between the armies Let's drink together friendly and embrace, That all their eyes may bear those tokens home Of our restored love and amity. 65

Arch. I take your princely word for these redresses.[4081][4082]

Lan. I give it you, and will maintain my word:[4081] And thereupon I drink unto your grace.[4083]

Hast. Go, captain, and deliver to the army[4084] This news of peace: let them have pay, and part: 70 I know it will well please them. Hie thee, captain.

[Exit Officer.[4085]

Arch. To you, my noble Lord of Westmoreland.[4086]

West. I pledge your grace; and, if you knew what pains[4087] I have bestow'd to breed this present peace,[4087] You would drink freely: but my love to ye[4088] 75 Shall show itself more openly hereafter.

Arch. I do not doubt you.

West. I am glad of it. Health to my lord and gentle cousin, Mowbray.

Mowb. You wish me health in very happy season; For I am, on the sudden, something ill. 80

Arch. Against ill chances men are ever merry; But heaviness foreruns the good event.

West. Therefore be merry, coz; since sudden sorrow Serves to say thus, 'some good thing comes to-morrow.'[4089]

Arch. Believe me, I am passing light in spirit. 85

Mowb. So much the worse, if your own rule be true.

[Shouts within.[4090]

Lan. The word of peace is render'd: hark, how they shout![4091]

Mowb. This had been cheerful after victory.

Arch. A peace is of the nature of a conquest; For then both parties nobly are subdued, 90 And neither party loser.

Lan. Go, my lord, And let our army be discharged too. [Exit Westmoreland.[4092] And, good my lord, so please you, let our trains[4093] March by us, that we may peruse the men We should have coped withal.

Arch. Go, good Lord Hastings, 95 And, ere they be dismiss'd, let them march by. [Exit Hastings.[4094]

Lan. I trust, lords, we shall lie to-night together.

Re-enter WESTMORELAND.[4095]

Now, cousin, wherefore stands our army still?[4096]

West. The leaders, having charge from you to stand, Will not go off until they hear you speak. 100

Lan. They know their duties.

Re-enter HASTINGS.[4097]

Hast. My lord, our army is dispersed already:[4098] Like youthful steers unyoked, they take their courses[4099] East, west, north, south; or, like a school broke up, Each hurries toward his home and sporting-place.[4100] 105

West. Good tidings, my Lord Hastings; for the which I do arrest thee, traitor, of high treason: And you, lord archbishop, and you, lord Mowbray, Of capital treason I attach you both.

Mowb. Is this proceeding just and honourable? 110

West. Is your assembly so?

Arch. Will you thus break your faith?

Lan. I pawn'd thee none:[4101] I promised you redress of these same grievances[4102] Whereof you did complain; which, by mine honour, I will perform with a most Christian care. 115 But for you, rebels, look to taste the due Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours.[4103] Most shallowly did you these arms commence, Fondly brought here and foolishly sent hence. Strike up our drums, pursue the scatter'd stray: 120 God, and not we, hath safely fought to-day.[4104] Some guard these traitors to the block of death,[4105] Treason's true bed and yielder up of breath. [Exeunt.

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Act IV, Scene III — Another part of the forest.

Alarum. Excursions. Enter FALSTAFF and COLEVILE, meeting.[4106]

Fal. What's your name, sir? of what condition are you, and of what place, I pray?[4107]

Cole. I am a knight, sir; and my name is Colevile of[4108] the dale.[4108]

Fal. Well, then, Colevile is your name, a knight is your 5 degree, and your place the dale: Colevile shall be still your name, a traitor your degree, and the dungeon your place,[4109] a place deep enough; so shall you be still Colevile of the[4110] dale.

Cole. Are not you Sir John Falstaff? 10

Fal. As good a man as he, sir, whoe'er I am. Do ye yield, sir? or shall I sweat for you? If I do sweat, they are the drops of thy lovers, and they weep for thy death: therefore rouse up fear and trembling, and do observance to my mercy. 15

Cole. I think you are Sir John Falstaff, and in that thought yield me.

Fal. I have a whole school of tongues in this belly of mine, and not a tongue of them all speaks any other word but my name. An I had but a belly of any indifferency, I 20 were simply the most active fellow in Europe: my womb, my womb, my womb, undoes me. Here comes our general.

Enter PRINCE JOHN of LANCASTER, WESTMORELAND, BLUNT, and others.[4111]

Lan. The heat is past; follow no further now:[4112] Call in the powers, good cousin Westmoreland. [Exit Westmoreland.

Now, Falstaff, where have you been all this while? 25 When every thing is ended, then you come:[4113] These tardy tricks of yours will, on my life, One time or other break some gallows' back.

Fal. I would be sorry, my lord, but it should be thus: I never knew yet but rebuke and check was the reward of 30 valour. Do you think me a swallow, an arrow, or a bullet? have I, in my poor and old motion, the expedition of thought? I have speeded hither with the very extremest[4114] inch of possibility; I have foundered nine score and odd[4115] posts: and here, travel-tainted as I am, have, in my pure 35 and immaculate valour, taken Sir John Colevile of the dale, a most furious knight and valorous enemy. But what of that? he saw me, and yielded; that I may justly say, with the hook-nosed fellow of Rome, 'I came, saw, and[4116] overcame.' 40

Lan. It was more of his courtesy than your deserving.

Fal. I know not: here he is, and here I yield him: and I beseech your grace, let it be booked with the rest of this day's deeds; or, by the Lord, I will have it in a particular[4117] 45 ballad else, with mine own picture on the top on't, Colevile[4118] kissing my foot: to the which course if I be enforced, if you do not all show like gilt two-pences to me, and I in the clear sky of fame o'ershine you as much as the full moon doth the cinders of the element, which show like pins' heads 50 to her, believe not the word of the noble: therefore let me have right, and let desert mount.

Lan. Thine's too heavy to mount.

Fal. Let it shine, then.

Lan. Thine's too thick to shine. 55

Fal. Let it do something, my good lord, that may do me good, and call it what you will.

Lan. Is thy name Colevile?

Cole. It is, my lord.

Lan. A famous rebel art thou, Colevile. 60

Fal. And a famous true subject took him.

Cole. I am, my lord, but as my betters are That led me hither: had they been ruled by me, You should have won them dearer than you have.[4119]

Fal. I know not how they sold themselves: but thou, 65 like a kind fellow, gavest thyself away gratis; and I thank[4120] thee for thee.

Re-enter WESTMORELAND.[4121]

Lan. Now, have you left pursuit?[4122]

West. Retreat is made and execution stay'd.

Lan. Send Colevile with his confederates[4123] 70 To York, to present execution: Blunt, lead him hence; and see you guard him sure.

[Exeunt Blunt and others with Colevile.[4124]

And now dispatch we toward the court, my lords: I hear the king my father is sore sick: Our news shall go before us to his majesty, 75 Which, cousin, you shall bear to comfort him; And we with sober speed will follow you.

Fal. My lord, I beseech you, give me leave to go[4125][4126] Through Gloucestershire: and, when you come to court,[4125] Stand my good lord, pray, in your good report.[4125][4127] 80

Lan. Fare you well, Falstaff: I, in my condition,[4128] Shall better speak of you than you deserve.[4128]

[Exeunt all except Falstaff.[4129]

Fal. I would you had but the wit: 'twere better than[4130] your dukedom. Good faith, this same young sober-blooded boy doth not love me; nor a man cannot make him laugh;[4131] 85 but that's no marvel, he drinks no wine. There's never none[4132] of these demure boys come to any proof; for thin drink doth[4133] so over-cool their blood, and making many fish-meals, that[4133] they fall into a kind of male green-sickness; and then, when they marry, they get wenches: they are generally fools and 90 cowards; which some of us should be too, but for inflammation. A good sherris-sack hath a two-fold operation in it. It ascends me into the brain; dries me there all the foolish and[4134] dull and crudy vapours which environ it; makes it apprehensive,[4134][4135] quick, forgetive, full of nimble fiery and delectable 95 shapes; which, delivered o'er to the voice, the tongue, which[4136] is the birth, becomes excellent wit. The second property of[4137] your excellent sherris is, the warming of the blood; which, before cold and settled, left the liver white and pale, which is the badge of pusillanimity and cowardice; but the sherris 100 warms it and makes it course from the inwards to the parts extreme: it illumineth the face, which as a beacon gives[4138] warning to all the rest of this little kingdom, man, to arm; and then the vital commoners and inland petty spirits muster me all to their captain, the heart, who, great and puffed 105 up with this retinue, doth any deed of courage; and this[4139] valour comes of sherris. So that skill in the weapon is nothing without sack, for that sets it a-work; and learning a mere hoard of gold kept by a devil, till sack commences[4140] it and sets it in act and use. Hereof comes it that Prince 110 Harry is valiant; for the cold blood he did naturally inherit of his father, he hath, like lean sterile and bare land, manured, husbanded and tilled with excellent endeavour of drinking good and good store of fertile sherris, that he is become very hot and valiant. If I had a thousand sons, 115 the first humane principle I would teach them should be, to[4141] forswear thin potations, and to addict themselves to sack.

Enter BARDOLPH.[4142]

How now, Bardolph?

Bard. The army is discharged all and gone.

Fal. Let them go. I'll through Gloucestershire; and 120 there will I visit Master Robert Shallow, esquire: I have him already tempering between my finger and my thumb, and shortly will I seal with him. Come away. [Exeunt.[4143]

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Act IV, Scene IV — Westminster. The Jerusalem Chamber.

Enter the KING, the PRINCES THOMAS of CLARENCE and HUMPHREY of GLOUCESTER, WARWICK, and others.[4144]

King. Now, lords, if God doth give successful end[4145] To this debate that bleedeth at our doors,[4146] We will our youth lead on to higher fields And draw no swords but what are sanctified. Our navy is address'd, our power collected, 5 Our substitutes in absence well invested, And every thing lies level to our wish: Only, we want a little personal strength; And pause us, till these rebels, now afoot, Come underneath the yoke of government. 10

War. Both which we doubt not but your majesty Shall soon enjoy.

King. Humphrey, my son of Gloucester,[4147] Where is the prince your brother?[4147]

Glou. I think he's gone to hunt, my lord, at Windsor.

King. And how accompanied?

Glou. I do not know, my lord. 15

King. Is not his brother, Thomas of Clarence, with him?

Glou. No, my good lord; he is in presence here.

Clar. What would my lord and father?

King. Nothing but well to thee, Thomas of Clarence. How chance thou art not with the prince thy brother? 20 He loves thee, and thou dost neglect him, Thomas; Thou hast a better place in his affection Than all thy brothers: cherish it, my boy, And noble offices thou mayst effect Of mediation, after I am dead, 25 Between his greatness and thy other brethren: Therefore omit him not; blunt not his love, Nor lose the good advantage of his grace By seeming cold or careless of his will; For he is gracious, if he be observed: 30 He hath a tear for pity and a hand Open as day for melting charity:[4148] Yet notwithstanding, being incensed, he's flint, As humorous as winter and as sudden[4149] As flaws congealed in the spring of day.[4150] 35 His temper, therefore, must be well observed: Chide him for faults, and do it reverently, When you perceive his blood inclined to mirth; But, being moody, give him line and scope,[4151] Till that his passions, like a whale on ground, 40 Confound themselves with working. Learn this, Thomas, And thou shalt prove a shelter to thy friends, A hoop of gold to bind thy brothers in, That the united vessel of their blood, Mingled with venom of suggestion-- 45 As, force perforce, the age will pour it in-- Shall never leak, though it do work as strong[4152] As aconitum or rash gunpowder.

Clar. I shall observe him with all care and love.

King. Why art thou not at Windsor with him, Thomas? 50

Clar. He is not there to-day; he dines in London.[4153]

King. And how accompanied? canst thou tell that?[4154]

Clar. With Poins, and other his continual followers.[4153]

King. Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds; And he, the noble image of my youth, 55 Is overspread with them: therefore my grief Stretches itself beyond the hour of death: The blood weeps from my heart when I do shape In forms imaginary the unguided days And rotten times that you shall look upon 60 When I am sleeping with my ancestors. For when his headstrong riot hath no curb, When rage and hot blood are his counsellors, When means and lavish manners meet together, O, with what wings shall his affections fly 65 Towards fronting peril and opposed decay!

War. My gracious lord, you look beyond him quite: The prince but studies his companions Like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the language, 'Tis needful that the most immodest word 70 Be look'd upon and learn'd; which once attain'd, Your highness knows, comes to no further use[4155] But to be known and hated. So, like gross terms, The prince will in the perfectness of time Cast off his followers; and their memory 75 Shall as a pattern or a measure live, By which his grace must mete the lives of others,[4156] Turning past evils to advantages.

King. 'Tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb[4157] In the dead carrion.

Enter WESTMORELAND.[4158]

Who's here? Westmoreland? 80

West. Health to my sovereign, and new happiness[4159] Added to that that I am to deliver![4160] Prince John your son doth kiss your grace's hand: Mowbray, the Bishop Scroop, Hastings and all[4161] Are brought to the correction of your law; 85 There is not now a rebel's sword unsheath'd, But Peace puts forth her olive every where. The manner how this action hath been borne Here at more leisure may your highness read, With every course in his particular.[4162] 90

King. O Westmoreland, thou art a summer bird, Which ever in the haunch of winter sings The lifting up of day.

Enter HARCOURT.[4163]

Look, here's more news.

Har. From enemies heaven keep your majesty;[4164] And, when they stand against you, may they fall 95 As those that I am come to tell you of! The Earl Northumberland and the Lord Bardolph, With a great power of English and of Scots, Are by the sheriff of Yorkshire overthrown:[4165] The manner and true order of the fight, 100 This packet, please it you, contains at large.[4166]

King. And wherefore should these good news make me sick?[4167] Will Fortune never come with both hands full, But write her fair words still in foulest letters?[4168] She either gives a stomach and no food; 105 Such are the poor, in health; or else a feast And takes away the stomach; such are the rich,[4169] That have abundance and enjoy it not. I should rejoice now at this happy news; And now my sight fails, and my brain is giddy: 110 O me! come near me; now I am much ill.[4170]

Glou. Comfort, your majesty![4171]

Clar. O my royal father!

West. My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself, look up.

War. Be patient, princes; you do know, these fits Are with his highness very ordinary. 115 Stand from him, give him air; he'll straight be well.[4172]

Clar. No, no, he cannot long hold out these pangs:[4173] The incessant care and labour of his mind Hath wrought the mure, that should confine it in, So thin that life looks through and will break out.[4174] 120

Glou. The people fear me; for they do observe[4175] Unfather'd heirs and loathly births of nature:[4176] The seasons change their manners, as the year Had found some months asleep and leap'd them over.[4177]

Clar. The river hath thrice flow'd, no ebb between; 125 And the old folk, time's doting chronicles, Say it did so a little time before That our great-grandsire, Edward, sick'd and died.[4178]

War. Speak lower, princes, for the king recovers.

Glou. This apoplexy will ceitain be his end.[4179] 130

King. I pray you, take me up, and bear me hence Into some other chamber: softly, pray.[4180]

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