Act 1 Scene 1
186 Mor ton ’Tis more than time; and, my most noble lord, 187 I hear for certain, and dare speak the truth, 188 The gentle Archbishop of York is up 189 With well-appointed powers. He is a man 190 Who with a double surety binds his followers.
191 My lord, your son had only but the corpse, 192 But shadows and the shows of men, to fight;
193 For that same word “rebellion” did divide 194 The action of their bodies from their souls, 195 And they did fight with queasiness, constrained, 196 As men drink potions, that their weapons only 197 Seemed on our side; but, for their spirits and souls, 198 This word “rebellion”, it had froze them up,
199 As fish are in a pond. But now the Bishop 200 Turns insurrection to religion.
201 Supposed sincere and holy in his thoughts, 202 He’s followed both with body and with mind, 203 And doth enlarge his rising with the blood
204 Of fair King Richard, scraped from Pomfret stones;
205 Derives from heaven his quarrel and his cause;
206 Tells them he doth bestride a bleeding land 207 Gasping for life under great Bolingbroke;
208 And more and less do flock to follow him.
209 Nor thumber land I knew of this before, but, to speak truth, 210 This present grief had wiped it from my mind.
211 Go in with me, and counsel every man 212 The aptest way for safety and revenge.
213 Get posts and letter s, and make friends with speed.
214 Never so few, and never yet more need.
Act 1 Scene 2
236 Sir J ohn What money is in my purse?
237 Page Seven groats and two pence.
238 Sir J ohn I can get no remedy against this consumption
239 of the purse. Borrowing only lingers and lingers it out, 240 but the disease is incurable. (Giving letter s) Go bear this 241 letter to my lord of Lancaster; this to the Prince; this 242 to the Earl of Westmorland; and this to old Mistress 243 Ursula, whom I have weekly sworn to marry since I 244 perceived the first white hair of my chin. About it. You
245 know where to find me.
(Exit Page)
246 A pox of this gout!— or a gout of this pox!— for the 247 one or the other plays the rogue with my great toe.
248 ’Tis no matter if I do halt; I have the wars for my
249 colour, and my pension shall seem the more reasonable.
250 A good wit will make use of anything. I will turn 251 diseases to commodity.
Act 2 Scene 1
(Enter Master Gower, a messenger)
135 Lor d Chief J ustice Now, Master Gower, what news?
136 Gower The King, my lord, and Harry Prince of Wales 137 Are near at hand; the rest the paper tells.
(Lord Chief Justice reads the paper , and converses apart with Gower)
138 Sir J ohn As I am a gentleman!
139 Mistr ess Quickly Faith, you said so before.
140 Sir J ohn As I am a gentleman! Come, no more words of
141 it.
142 Mistr ess Quickly By this heavenly ground I tread on, I
143 must be fain to pawn both my plate and the tapestry
144 of my dining-chambers.
145 Sir J ohn Glasses, glasses, is the only drinking; and for 146 thy walls, a pretty slight drollery, or the story of the 147 Prodigal, or the German hunting in waterwork, is 148 worth a thousand of these bed-hangers and these fly-149 bitten tapestries. Let it be ten pound if thou canst.
150 Come, an ’twere not for thy humours, there’s not a
151 better wench in England. Go, wash thy face, and draw 152 the action. Come, thou must not be in this humour 153 with me. Dost not know me? Come, I know thou wast
154 set on to this.
155 Mistr ess Quickly Pray thee, Sir John, let it be but twenty
156 nobles. I’ faith, I am loath to pawn my plate, so God
157 save me, la!
158 Sir J ohn Let it alone; I’ll make other shift. You’ll be a
159 fool still.
160 Mistr ess Quickly Well, you shall have it, though I pawn
161 my gown. I hope you’ll come to supper. You’ll pay me
162 altogether?
163 Sir J ohn Will I live? (To Bardolph and the Page) Go with 164 her, with her. Hook on, hook on!
165 Mistr ess Quickly Will you have Doll Tearsheet meet you
166 at supper?
167 Sir J ohn No more words; let’s have her.
(Exeunt Mistress Quickly, Bardolph, the Page, Fang and Snare)
168 Lor d Chief J ustice (to Gower) I have heard better news.
169 Sir J ohn What’s the news, my good lord?
170 Lor d Chief J ustice (to Gower) Where lay the King tonight?
171 Gower At Basingstoke, my lord.
172 Sir J ohn (to Lord Chief Justice) I hope, my lord, all’s well.
173 What is the news, my lord?
174 Lor d Chief J ustice (to Gower) Come all his forces back?
175 Gower No; fifteen hundred foot, five hundred horse, 176 Are marched up to my lord of Lancaster 177 Against Northumberland and the Archbishop.
Sir J ohn (to Lord Chief Justice)
178 Comes the King back from Wales, my noble lord?
179 Lor d Chief J ustice (to Gower) You shall have letter s of me presently.
180 Come, go along with me, good Master Gower.
(They are going) 181 Sir J ohn My lord!
182 Lor d Chief J ustice What’s the matter?
183 Sir J ohn Master Gower, shall I entreat you with me to
184 dinner?
185 Gower I must wait upon my good lord here, I thank you,
186 good Sir John.
187 Lor d Chief J ustice Sir John, you loiter here too long,
188 being you are to take soldiers up in counties as you
189 go.
190 Sir J ohn Will you sup with me, Master Gower?
191 Lor d Chief J ustice What foolish master taught you these
192 manners, Sir John?
193 Sir J ohn Master Gower, if they become me not, he was
194 a fool that taught them me. (To Lord Chief Justice) This 195 is the right fencing grace, my lord— tap for tap, and so
196 part fair.
197 Lor d Chief J ustice Now the Lord lighten thee; thou art
198 a great fool.
Act 2 Scene 2
91 Pr ince Har r y And how doth thy master, Bardolph?
92 Bar dolph Well, my good lord. He heard of your grace’s 93 coming to town. There’s a letter for you.
94 Poins Delivered with good respect. And how doth the
95 Martlemas your master?
96 Bar dolph In bodily health, sir.
(Prince Harry reads the letter )
97 Poins Marry, the immortal part needs a physician, but 98 that moves not him. Though that be sick, it dies not.
99 Pr ince Har r y I do allow this wen to be as familiar with 100 me as my dog; and he holds his place, for look you
101 how he writes.
(He gives Poins the letter )
102 Poins “John Falstaff, knight”.— Every man must know 103 that, as oft as he has occasion to name himself; even 104 like those that are kin to the King, for they never prick 105 their finger but they say “There’s some of the King’s 106 blood spilt.” “How comes that?” says he that takes upon 107 him not to conceive. The answer is as ready as a
108 borrower’s cap: “I am the King’s poor cousin, sir.”
109 Pr ince Har r y Nay, they will be kin to us, or they will
110 fetch it from Japhet. (Taking the letter ) But the letter . 111 “Sir John Falstaff, knight, to the son of the King nearest 112 his father, Harry Prince of Wales, greeting.”
113 Poins Why, this is a certificate!
114 Pr ince Har r y Peace!— “I will imitate the honourable
115 Romans in brevity.”
116 Poins (taking the letter ) Sure he means brevity in breath, 117 short winded. (Reads) “I commend me to thee, I 118 commend thee, and I leave thee. Be not too familiar 119 with Poins, for he misuses thy favours so much that 120 he swears thou art to marry his sister Nell. Repent at 121 idle times as thou mayst. And so, farewell.
122 Thine by yea and no— which is as much as to 123 say, as thou usest him— Jack Falstaff with my 124 familiars, John with my brothers and sisters, 125 and Sir John with all Europe.”
126 My lord, I’ll steep this letter in sack and make him eat
127 it.
128 Pr ince Har r y That’s to make him eat twenty of his
129 words. But do you use me thus, Ned? Must I marry
130 your sister?
131 Poins God send the wench no worse fortune, but I never
132 said so.
133 Pr ince Har r y Well, thus we play the fools with the time, 134 and the spirits of the wise sit in the clouds and mock 135 us. (To Bardolph) Is your master here in London?
136 Bar dolph Yea, my lord.
137 Pr ince Har r y Where sups he? Doth the old boar feed in
138 the old frank?
139 Bar dolph At the old place, my lord, in Eastcheap.
140 Pr ince Har r y What company?
141 Page Ephesians, my lord, of the old church.
142 Pr ince Har r y Sup any women with him?
143 Page None, my lord, but old Mistress Quickly and 144 Mistress Doll Tearsheet.
145 Pr ince Har r y What pagan may that be?
146 Page A proper gentlewoman, sir, and a kinswoman of
147 my master’s.
148 Pr ince Har r y Even such kin as the parish heifers are to 149 the town bull. Shall we steal upon them, Ned, at
150 supper?
151 Poins I am your shadow, my lord; I’ll follow you.
152 Pr ince Har r y Sirrah, you, boy, and Bardolph, no word 153 to your master that I am yet come to town. (Giving 154 money) There’s for your silence.
155 Bar dolph I have no tongue, sir.
156 Page And for mine, sir, I will govern it.
157 Pr ince Har r y Fare you well; go.
(Exeunt Bardolph and the Page)
158 This Doll Tearsheet should be some road.
159 Poins I warrant you, as common as the way between 160 Saint Albans and London.
161 Pr ince Har r y How might we see Falstaff bestow himself 162 tonight in his true colours, and not ourselves be seen?
163 Poins Put on two leathern jerkins and aprons, and wait 164 upon him at his table like drawers.
165 Pr ince Har r y From a god to a bull— a heavy declension—
166 it was Jove’s case. From a prince to a prentice— a low 167 transformation— that shall be mine; for in everything 168 the purpose must weigh with the folly. Follow me, Ned.
Act 3 Scene 1
(Enter King Henry in his nightgown, with a page)
1 King Henr y (giving letter s) Go call the Earls of Surrey and of Warwick.
2 But ere they come, bid them o’er-read these letter s 3 And well consider of them. Make good speed.
(Exit page)
4 How many thousand of my poorest subjects 5 Are at this hour asleep? O sleep, O gentle sleep, 6 Nature’s soft nurse, how have I frighted thee, 7 That thou no more wilt weigh my eyelids down 8 And steep my senses in forgetfulness?
9 Why rather, sleep, liest thou in smoky cribs, 10 Upon uneasy pallets stretching thee,
11 And hushed with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber,
12 Than in the perfumed chambers of the great, 13 Under the canopies of costly state,
14 And lulled with sound of sweetest melody?
15 O thou dull god, why li’st thou with the vile 16 In loathsome beds, and leav’st the kingly couch 17 A watch-case, or a common ’larum-bell?
18 Wilt thou upon the high and giddy mast
19 Seal up the ship-boy’s eyes, and rock his brains 20 In cradle of the rude imperious surge,
21 And in the visitation of the winds, 22 Who take the ruffian billows by the top,
23 Curling their monstrous heads, and hanging them 24 With deafing clamour in the slippery clouds, 25 That, with the hurly, death itself awakes?
26 Canst thou, O partial sleep, give thy repose 27 To the wet sea-boy in an hour so rude, 28 And in the calmest and most stillest night, 29 With all appliances and means to boot, 30 Deny it to a king? Then happy low, lie down.
31 Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.
(Enter the Earls of Warwick and Surrey) 32 War wick Many good morrows to your majesty!
33 King Henr y Is it good morrow, lords?
War wick ’Tis one o’clock, and past.
34 King Henr y Why then, good morrow to you all, my lords.
35 Have you read o’er the letter that I sent you?
36 War wick We have, my liege.
37 King Henr y Then you perceive the body of our kingdom, 38 How foul it is, what rank diseases grow, 39 And with what danger near the heart of it.
40 War wick It is but as a body yet distempered,
41 Which to his former strength may be restored 42 With good advice and little medicine.
43 My lord Northumberland will soon be cooled.
Act 4 Scene 1
3 Ar chbishop Of Yor k Here stand, my lords, and send discoverers forth
4 To know the numbers of our enemies.
5 Hastings We have sent forth already.
Ar chbishop Of Yor k ’Tis well done.
6 My friends and brethren in these great affairs, 7 I must acquaint you that I have received 8 New-dated letter s from Northumberland, 9 Their cold intent, tenor, and substance, thus:
10 Here doth he wish his person, with such powers 11 As might hold sortance with his quality,
12 The which he could not levy; whereupon 13 He is retired to ripe his growing fortunes 14 To Scotland, and concludes in hearty prayers 15 That your attempts may overlive the hazard 16 And fearful meeting of their opposite.
17 Mowbr ay Thus do the hopes we have in him touch ground 18 And dash themselves to pieces.
(Enter a Messenger)
Hastings Now, what news?
19 Messenger West of this forest, scarcely off a mile, 20 In goodly form comes on the enemy;
21 And, by the ground they hide, I judge their number 22 Upon or near the rate of thirty thousand.
23 Mowbr ay The just proportion that we gave them out.
24 Let us sway on, and face them in the field.
Act 4 Scene 3
81 Westmor land Health to my sovereign, and new happiness 82 Added to that that I am to deliver!
83 Pr ince J ohn your son doth kiss your grace’s hand.
84 Mowbray, the Bishop Scrope, Hastings, and all 85 Are brought to the correction of your law.
86 There is not now a rebel’s sword unsheathed, 87 But peace puts forth her olive everywhere.
88 The manner how this action hath been borne 89 Here at more leisure may your highness read, 90 With every course in his particular.
(He gives the King paper s)
91 King Henr y O Westmorland, thou art a summer bird 92 Which ever in the haunch of winter sings 93 The lifting up of day.
(Enter Harcourt)
Look, here’s more news.
94 Har cour t From enemies heaven keep your majesty;
95 And when they stand against you, may they fall 96 As those that I am come to tell you of!
97 The Earl Northumberland and the Lord Bardolph, 98 With a great power of English and of Scots, 99 Are by the sheriff of Yorkshire overthrown.
100 The manner and true order of the fight 101 This packet, please it you, contains at large.
(He gives the King paper s)
102 King Henr y And wherefore should these good news make me sick?
103 Will fortune never come with both hands full, 104 But write her fair words still in foulest letters?
105 She either gives a stomach and no food—
106 Such are the poor in health— or else a feast, 107 And takes away the stomach— such are the rich, 108 That have abundance and enjoy it not.
109 I should rejoice now at this happy news,
110 And now my sight fails, and my brain is giddy.
111 O me! Come near me now; I am much ill.
(He swoons)