caps' more: Worcester is stolen away by night;| thy father's beard is turn'd white with the news; you may buy land now as cheap as stinking mackerel.

P. Hen. Then, 'tis like, if there come a hot June, and this civil buffeting hold, we shall buy maidenheads as they buy hob nails, by the hundreds.

5

be son to me, here lies the point;-Why, being son to me, art thou so pointed at? Sbail the blessed sun of heaven prove a micher, and eat blackberries? a question not to be asked. Shall the son of England prove a thief, and take purses? a question to be ask'd. There is a thing, Harry, which thou hast often heard of, and it is known to many in our land by the name of pitch; this pitch, as ancient writers do report, doth defile; so doth the company thou keepest: for, Harry, now I do not speak to thee in drink, but in tears; not in pleasure, but in passion; not in words only, but in woes also:And yet there is a virtuous man, whom I have often noted in thy company, but I know not his name.

P. Henry. What manner of man, an it like your majesty?

Fal. A goodly portly man, i̇'faith, and a corpulent; of a cheerful look, a pleasing eye, and a 20nost noble carriage; and, as I think, his age some

Fal. By the mass, lad, thou say'st true; it is like we shall have good trading that way.-But, tell 10 me, Hal, art thou not horribly afeard? Thou being heir apparent, could the world pick thee out three such enemies again, as that fiend Douglas, that spirit Percy, and that devil Glendower? Att thou not horribly afraid? doth not thy blood thrill at it

15

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

Fal. Well, thou wi't be horribly chid to morrow, when thou comest to thy father: if thou love me, practise an answer.

P. Hen. Do thou stand for my father, and examine me on the particulars of my life.

Fal. Shall I content:-This chair shall be my state, this dagger my sceptre, and this cushion my

23

crown.

P. Hen. Thy state is taken for a joint-stool, thy golden sceptre for a leaden dagger, and thy precious rich crown for a pitiful baid crown!

Fal. Well, an the fire of grace be not quite out of thee, now shait thou be moved.-Give me a cup 30 of sack, to make mine eyes look red, that it may be thought I have wept; for I must speak in passion, and I will do it in king Cambyses' vein. P. Hen. Well, here is my leg',

2

Fal. And here is my speech:-Stand aside, no-35 bility.

Host. This is excellent sport, i'faith.

Fal. Weep not, sweet queen, for trickling tears

are vam.

Host. O the father, how he holds his counte-40

nance!

Fal. For God's sake, lords, convey my tristful

fifty, or, by'r-Lady, inclining to threescore; and now I remember me, his name is Falstaff: if that man should be lewdly given, he decliveth me; for, Harry, I see virtue in his looks. If then the fruit may be known by the tree, as the tree by the fruit, then, peremptorily I speak it, there is virtue in that Falstaff: him keep with, the rest banish. And tell me now, thou naughty varlet, tell me, where hast thou been this month?

P. HER. Dost thou speak like a king? Do thou stand for me, and I'll play my father.

Fa'. Depose me? if thou dost it half so gravely, so majestically, both in word and matter, hang me up by the heels for a' rabbet-sucker, or a poulterer's hare.

P. Hen. Well, here I am set.

Ful. And here I stand:--judge, my masters.
P. Hen. Now, Harry? whence come you?
Fal. My noble lord, from East-cheap.

P. Henry. The complaints I hear of thee are grievous.

Fal. 'Sblood, my lord, they are false:-nay, I'll tickle ye for a young prince, i'faith.

queen,

P. Hen. Swearest thou, ungracious boy? hence

For tears do stop the flood-gates of her eyes. Host. O rare! he doth it as like one of these 45 forth ne'er look on me. Thou art violently carharlotry players, as I ever see.

Fal. Peace, good pint-pot; peace, good ticklebrain-Harry', I do not only marvel where thou spendest thy time, but also how thou art accompanied: for though the camomile, the more 50 it is trodden on, the faster it grows, yet youth, the more it is wasted, the sooner it wears. That thou art my son, I have partly thy mother's word. partly my own opinion; but chiefly, a villainous trick of thine eye, and a foolish hanging of thy nether lip, that doth warrant me. If then tho

ried away from grace: there is a devil haunts thee, in the likeness of a fat old man; a tun of man is thy companion. Why dost thou converse with that trunk of humours, that bolting-hutch of beastliness, that swoln parcel of dropsies, that huge bombard of sack, that stuft cloak-bag of guts, that roasted Manningtree ox with the pud ding in his belly, that reverend Vice, that grey iniquity, that father ruffian, that vanity in years? Wherein is he good, but to taste sack and drink it? Wherein neat and cleanly, but to carve a capon

55

1 Meaning Scots, who wore blue bonnets. 2 Alluding to the tragedy of Cambyses king of Persia, written by Thomas Preston. That is, my obeisance to my father. Probably the nick-name of some strong liquor. This speech was perhaps intended by our author as a ridicule on the public oratory of that time. 6. e. truant. To mich (pronounced mike,) is to lurk out of sight, a hedgeCreeper. 7i. e. a sucking rabbet. A poulterer's hare means, a hare hung up by the hind legs without a skin, and which is long and slender. * A bolting-hutch is the wooden receptacle into which the

8

meal is bolted.

and

and eat it? Wherein cunning', but in craft? Wherein crafty, but in villainy? Wherein villainous, but in all things? Wherein worthy, but in nothing?

Fal. I would your grace would take me with 5 you; whom means your grace?

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

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

[Exeunt Falstaff, Bardolph, Gadshill, and
Peto: manent Prince and Poins.
P. Henry. Call in the sheriff-
Enter Sheriff, and Carrier.

Fal. My lord, the man I know.
P. Henry. I know thou dost.

Ful. But to say, I know more harm in him than
in myself, were to say more than I know. That
he is old, (the more the pity) his white hairs do
witness it: but that he is (saving your reverence)
a whoremaster, that I utterly deny. If sack and
sugar' be a fault, God help the wicked! If to be
old and merry be a sin, then many an old host that
I know is damn'd: if to be fat be to be hated, then
Pharaoh's lean kine are to be loved: No, my good 20
lord; banish Peto, banish Bardolph, banish Poins:
but for sweet Jack Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true
Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff, and therefore
more valiant, being as he is, old Jack Falstaff,
banish not him thy Harry's company, banish not 25
him thy Harry's company; banish plump Jack,
and banish all the world.

P. Henry. I do, I will.

Now, master sheriff; what's your will with me?
Sher. First, pardon me, my lord. A hue and
Hath follow'd certain men unto this house. [cry
P. Henry. What men?
[lord;

10

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

Car. As fat as butter.

15

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

Sher. I will, my lord: There are two gentlemen
Have in this robbery lost three hundred marks.
P. Henry. It may be so; if he have robb'd these

[Knocking; and Hostess and Bardolph go out. Re-enter Bardolph, running.

30

Re-enter Hostess.

Host. O, my lord, my lord!—

Fal. Heigh, heigh! the devil rides upon a fiddlestick: what's the matter?

40

Host. The sheriff and all the watch are at the door: they are come to search the house; shall I let them in?

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

Bar. O, my lord, my lord; the sheriff, with a most monstrous watch, is at the door.

Poins. Falstaff!-fast asleep behind the arras, and snorting like a horse.

Fal. Out, you rogue! play out the play: I have much to say in the behalf of that Falstaff.

35

P. Henry. Hark how hard he fetches breath:Search his pockets.

He searches his pockets, and finds certain papers. What hast thou found?

Fal. Dost thou hear, Hal? never call a true piece of gold, a counterfeit: thou art essentially 45 mad, without seeming so.

P. Henry. And thou a natural coward, without instinct.

Fal. I deny your major: if you will deny the sheriff, so; if not, let him enter: if I become no a cart as well as another man, a plague on my bringing up! I hope I shall as soon be strangled with a halter, as another.

1

Cunning here means knowing, or skilful. was a favourite liquor in Shakspeare's time. always large spaces left between the arras and twelvescore yards.

men,

He shall be answerable; and so, farewell.
Sher. Good night, my noble lord.

I think, it is
Is it not?
Sher. Indeed, my lord, I think it be two o'clock.
[Exit.

-

Poins. Nothing but papers, my lord.

P. Henry. Let's see what they be: read them.
Poins. Item, a capon, 2s. 2d.

Item, Sauce, 4d.

Item. Sack, two gallons, 5s. 8d.

Item, Anchovies and sack after supper, 2s. 6d.
Item, Bread, a halfpenny.

P. Henry. Go, hide thee behind the arras';the rest walk up above. Now, my masters, for 55 morrow, Poins, a true face, and a good conscience.

P. Henry. O monstrous! but one halfpenny worth of bread to this intolerable deal of sack!— What there is else, keep close; we'll read it at more advantage; there let him sleep till day. I'll to the court in the morning: we must all to the 50 wars, and thy place shall be honourable. I'll procure this fat rogue a charge of foot; and, I know, his death will be a march of twelve scores. The money shall be paid back again, with advantage. Be with me betimes in the morning; and so good

Poins. Good morrow, good my lord. [Exeunt.

i. e. let me know your meaning. 3 Sack and sugar A proverbial phrase. In old houses there were the walls. ì. e. it will kill him to march as far as

ACT

ACT

SCENE

I.

The Archdeacon of Bangor's house in Wales. Enter Hotspur, Worcester, Lord Mortimer, and Owen Glendower.

Mor. THESE promises are fair, the parties

sure,

And our induction' full of prosperous hope.
Hot.Lord Mortimer,—and cousin Glendower,-
Will you sit down ?-
And, uncle Worcester:-A
I have forgot the map.
Glend. No, here it is.

plague upon it!

Sit, cousin Percy; sit, good cousin Hotspur:
For by that name as oft as Lancaster
Doth speak of you, his cheek looks pale; and, with
A rising sigh, he wisheth you in heaven.

Hot. And you in hell, as often as he hears
Owen Glendower spoke of.

Glend. I cannot blame him: at my nativity,
The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes,
Of burning cressets; and, at my birth,
The frame and the foundation of the earth
Shak'd like a coward.

III.

Can trace me in the tedious ways of art,
Or hold me pace in deep experiments. [Welsh:-
Hot. I think there is no man speaks better
I will to dinner.
[mad.

5

Hot. Why, so it would have done,

At the same season, if your mother's cat [born.
Had but kitten'd, though yourself had ne'er been
Glend. I say, the earth did shake when I was
born.

Mort. Peace, cousin Percy; you will make him Glend. I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hot. Why, so can 1; or so can any man: But will they come, when you do call for them? Glend. Why, I can teach thee, cousin, to com10 The devil. [mand Hot. And I can teach thee, cousin, to shame the devil,

By telling truth; Tell truth, and shame the devil.if thou have power to raise him, bring him hither, 15 And I'll be sworn, I have power to shame him hence.

Hot. And I say the earth was not of my mind,
If you suppose, as fearing you it shook.

Glend. The heavens were all on fire, the earth
did tremble.
[on fire,
Hot. O, then the earth shook to see the heavens
And not in fear of your nativity.
Diseased nature oftentimes breaks forth
In strange eruptions: oft the teeming earth
Is with a kind of colic pinch'd and vex'd
By the imprisoning unruly wind
Within her womb; which, for enlargement striv-40
Shakes the old beldame' earth, and topples down
Steeples, and moss-grown towers. At your birth,
Our grandam earth, having this distemperature,
In passion shook.

[ing,

Glend. Cousin, of many men

20

No more of this unprofitable chat. [made head
Glend. Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke
Against my power: thrice, from the banks of Wye,
And sandy-bottom'd Severn, have I sent him,
Booteless home, and weather-beaten back. [too!

25

Hot. Home without boots, and in foul weather How 'scapes he agues, in the devil's name? Glend. Come, here's the map; Shall we divide our right,

30

According to our three-fold order taken?
Mort. The archdeacon hath divided it
Into three limits, very equally:
England, from Trent and Severn hitherto,
By south and east, is to my part assign'd:
All westward, Wales beyond the Severn shore,
And all the fertile land within that bound,
35 To Owen Glendower:-and, dear coz, to you
The remnant northward, lying off from Trent.
And our indentures tripartite are drawn:
Which being sealed interchangeably,
(A business that this night may execute)
To-morrow, cousin Percy, you, and I,
And my good lord of Worcester, will set forth,
To meet your father, and the Scottish power,
As is appointed us, at Shrewsbury.
My father Glendower is not ready yet,
45 Nor shall we need his help these fourteen days:-
Within that space you may have drawn together
Your tenants,friends, and neighbouring gentlemen.
[To Glendower.
Glend. A shorter time shall send me to your lords,
50 And in my conduct shall your ladies come,
From whom you now must steal, and takeno leave;
For there will be a world of water shed,
Upon the parting of your wives and you. [here,
Hot. Methinks, my moiety, north from Burton
In quantity equals not one of yours:
See, how this river comes me cranking in,
And cuts me, from the best of all my land,

I do not bear these crossings. Give me leave
To tell you once again,-that, at my birth,
The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes;
The goats ran from the mountains, and the herds]
Were strangely clamorous to the frighted fields.
These signs have mark'd me extraordinary;
And all the courses of my life do shew,
I am not in the roll of common inen.
Where is he living,-clipp'd in with the sea,
Thatchidesthebanks of England, Scotland, Wales,--55
Which calls me pupil, or hath read to me?
And bring him out, that is but woman's son,

O, while you live, tell truth, and shame the devil.
Mort. Come, come,

That is, entrance, beginning. An induction, however, was anciently something introductory to a play. The cresset-lights were lights fixed on a moveable frame, or cross like a turnstile, and were carried on poles, in processions. 'Beldame is used here simply in the sense of ancient mother. Pergaps we should read crankling.

A huge

Glend. Why, that will I.

Hot. Let me not understand you then, Speak it in Welsh.

Worse than a smoaky house :-I had rather live
With cheese and garlick, in a windmill, far;
10 Than feed on cates, and have him talk to me,
In any summer-house in Christendom.

Mort. In faith, he is a very worthy gentleman;
Exceeding well read, and profited

In strange concealments'; valiant as a lion,
15 And wondrous affable; and as bountiful
As mines of India. Shall I tell you, cousin?
He holds your temper in a high respect,
And curbs himself even of his natural scope,
When you do cross his humour; 'faith, he does:
201 warrant you, that man is not alive,

Might so have tempted him, as you have done,
Without the taste of danger and reproof;
But do not use it oft, let me intreat you.

;

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

Hot. Marry, and I'm glad on't with all my heart;
I had rather be a kitten and cry-mew,
Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers:
I had rather hear a brazen candlestick' turn'd,
Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree;
And that would nothing set my teeth on edge,
Nothing so much as mincing poetry;
'Tis like the forc'd gait of a shuffling nag.

Glend. Conie, you shall have Trent turn'd.
Hot. I do not care: I'll give thrice so much land
To any well-deserving friend;
But, in the way of bargain, mark ye me,
I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair.

40

Are the indentures drawn? shall we be gone?
Glend. The moon shines fair, you may away
by night;

(I'll haste the writer') and, withal,
Break with your wives of your departure hence:
I am afraid, my daughter will run mad,
So much she doteth on her Mortimer.
Mort. Fie, cousin Percy! how you cross my 50
father!

· [Exit.

Hot. I cannot chuse: sometimes he angers me
With telling me of the moldwarp and the ant',
Of the dreamer Merlin, and his prophecies;
And of a dragon, and a finless fish,
A clip-wing'd griffin, and a moulten raven,
A couching lion, and a ramping cat,
And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff

Wor. In faith, my lord, you aretoɑwilful-blame; And, since your coming hither, have done enough To put him quite beside his patience.

30

You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault;
Tho' sometimes it shew greatness, courage, blood,
(And that's the dearest grace it renders you,)
Yet oftentimes it doth present harsh rage,
Defect of manners, want of government,,
Pride, haughtiness, opinion, and disdain :
The least of which, haunting a nobleman,
Loseth men's hearts; and leaves behind a stain
35 Upon the beauty of all parts besides,
Beguiling them of commendation.

Hot. Well, I am school'd; Good manners be
your speed!

Here come our wives, and let us take our leave.
Re-enter Glendower, with the Ladies.
Mort. This is the deadly spight that angers me,
My wife can speak no English, I no Weish.
Glend. My daughter weeps; she will not part
with you,

25

45 She'll be a soldier too, she'll to the wars.
Mort. Good father, tell her,-she, and my aunt
Percy,

Shall follow in your conduct speedily.

[Glendower speaks to her in Welsh, and she answers him in the same. Glend. She's desperate here; a peevish selfwill'd harlotry, one

That no persuasion can do good upon.

[Lady speaks to Mortimer in Welsh. Mort. I understand thy looks: that pretty Welsh Which thou pourest down from these swelling

heavens,

I am too perfect in; and, but for shame,

4

6

A cantle is a corner or piece of any thing. 2 Mr. Steerens says that the real name of Owen Glendower was Vaughan, and that he was originally a barrister of the Middle Temple. i.e. the English language. The word is written-canstick in the quartos 1598, 1599, and 1608; and so it might have been pronounced. He means the writer of the articles. This alludes to an old prophecy, which is said to have induced Owen Glendower to take up arms against king Henry. The mould-warp is the mol, so called because it renders the surface of the earth unlevel by the hillocks which it raises. "'i. e. skilled in wonderful secrets.

In

In such a parley should I answer thee.
[The lady again in Welsh.
I understand thy kisses, and thou mine,
And that's a feeling disputation:
But I will never be a truant, love, -
'Till I have learn'd thy language; for thy tongue
Makes Welsh as sweet as ditties highly penn'd,
Sung by a fair queen in a summer's bow
With ravishing division, to her lute.

Glend. Nay, if you melt, then will she run mad.
[The lady speaks again in Welsh.
Mort. O, I am ignorance itself in this.
Glend. She bids you,

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

[sing

Mort. With all my heart I'll sit, and hear her By that time will our book, I think, be drawn. Glend. Do so;

Lady. Would'st have thy head broken?
Hot. No.

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

Hot. Come, Kate, thou art perfect in lying down: Come, quick, quick; that I may lay my 30 head in thy lap.

Lady. Go, ye giddy goose. [The music plays. Hot. Now, I perceive, the devil understa ds And 'tis no marvel, he's so humorous. [Welsh; By'r-Lady, he's a good musician.

Lady. Then should you be nothing but musical; for you are altogether govern'd by humours. Lie still, ye thief, and hear the lady sing in Welsh. Hot. I had rather hear Lady, my brach, howl in Irish.

Lady. Then be still.

Hot. Neither; 'tis a woman's fault'.
Lady. Now God help thee!

Hot. To the Welsh lady's bed.

11

Lady. What's that?
Hot. Peace! she sings.

[Here the lady sings a Welsh song. Come, Kate, I'll have your song too.

Lady. Not mine, in good sooth.

Hot. Not yours, in good sooth! 'Heart, you swear like a comit-maker's wife! Not you, in good sooth; and, As true as i live; ad, As God shall mend me; and, As sure as day: and givest 10 such sarcenet surety for thy oaths, as if thou never walk'dst further than Finsbury'.

Swear me, Kate, like a lady, as thou art,

A good mouth-filling oath! and leave In sooth,
And such protests of pepper ginger-bread',
15 To velvet guards, and sunday-citizens.
Come, sing.

Lady. I will not sing.

Hot. 'Tis the next" way to turn tailor1o, or be Red-breast teacher". An the indentures be 20drawn, I'll away within these two hours; and so come in when you will. [Exit.

Glend. Come, come, lord Mortimer; you are as slow,

As hot lord Percy is on fire to go.

25

By this, our book is drawn; we will but seal,
And then to horse immediately.
Mort. With all my heart.

[Exeunt.

SCENE

II.

The presence-chamber in Windsor. Enter King Henry, Prince of Wales, Lords, and others.

K. Inry. Lords, give us leave; the Prince of
Wales and I

35 Must have some private conference: But be near
At hand, for we shall presently have need of you.-
[Exeunt Lords.

I know not whether God will have it so,
For s me displeasing service" I have done,
49 That, in his secret doom, out of my blood
He'll breed revengement and a scourge for me :
But thou dost, in thy passages of life,
Make me believe, that thou art only mark'd
For the hot vengeance and the rod of heaven,
45To punish my mis-treadings. Tell me else,
Could such inordinate, and low desires,

4

"A

6

7

It was long the custom in this country, to strew the floors with rushes, as we now cover them with carpets. The expression is beautiful; intimating, that the god of sleep should not only sit on his eye-lids, but that he should sit crown d, that is, pleased and delighted. 1i. e. our papers of conditions, our articles. Every composition, whether play, ballad, or history, was anciently called a book. And for an, which often signifies in our author if or tho', is frequently used by old writers. proverbial expression; meaning, that it is the usual fault of women never to do what they are bid or desired to do. Open walks and fields near Chiswell-street, London-Wall, by Moorgate; and at that time the common resort of the citizens. i. e. protestations as common as the letters which children learn from an alphabet of ginger-bread. What we now call spice, was then denominated pepper, gingerbread. * i. e. to such as have their cloaths adorned with shreds of velvet, which appear then to have been a city fashion. The next way-is the nearest way. 10 Tailors seem to have been as remarkable for singing as weavers, of whose musical turn Shakspeare has before made mention in this play. The honourable Daines Barrington observes, that “ a gold-finch still continues to be called a proud tailor, in some parts of England," which renders this passage intelligible, that otherwise seems to have no meaning whatsoever. Perhaps this bird is called proud tailor, because his plumage is varied like a suit of cloaths made out of remnants of different colours, such as a tailor might be supposed to wear. The sense then will be this :---The next thing to singing oneself, is to teach birds to sing, the gold-finch and the Robm. See note above. Service for action, simply. 1i. e. in the passages of thy life.

13

Such