10 Fal. By the mass, lad, thou say'st true; it is like we shall have good trading that way. But,tell 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? Art 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 crown. P. Hon. 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! 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 delile; 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 majesty? your Fal. A goodly portly man, i'faith, and a corpulent; of a cheerful look, a pleasing eye, and a 20nost noble carriage; and, as I think, his age some 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, larry, I see virtue in his looks. If then the fruit 25may 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? Fal. Well, an the fire of grace be not quite out of thee, now shalt 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'. Fal. And here is my speech:-Stand aside, no-35 bility. Host. This is excellent sport, i'faith. are vain. Host. O the father, how he holds his counte-40 nance! Fal. For God's sake, lords, convey my tristful queen, For tears do stop the flood-gates of her eyes. Host. O rare! he doth it as like one of these harlotry players, as I ever see. P. Hen. 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. Fal. And here I stand:-judge, my masters. 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. P. Hen. Swearest thou, ungracious boy? hence45 forth ne'er look on me. Thou art violently carried 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 pudding 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 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 2 55 4 Meaning Scots, who wore blue bonnets. 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. i. e. truant. To mich (pronounced mike,) is to lurk out of sight, a hedgecreeper. i. 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 meal is bolted. 6 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. My lord, the man I know. 10 15 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. [Knocking; and Hostess and Bardolph go out. Re-enter Bardolph, running. Bar. O, my lord, my lord; the sheriff, with a most monstrous watch, is at the door. Fal. Out, you rogue! play out the play: I have much to say in the behalf of that Falstaff. Re-enter Hostess. Host. O, my lord, my 30 Fal. Both which I have had: but their date is out, and therefore I'll hide me. [Exeunt Falstaff, Bardolph, Gadshill, and Enter Sheriff, and Carrier. Car. As fat as butter. P.Henry.The man, I do assure you, is not here; Sher. I will, my lord: There are two gentlemen He shall be answerable; and so, farewell. P. Henry. I think, it is good-morrow: Is it not? Poins. Falstaff! -fast asleep behind the arras, and snorting like a horse. P. Henry. Hark how hard he fetches breath:35 Search his pockets. lord! Fal. Heigh, heigh! the devil rides upon a fid 40 dlestick: what's the matter? Host. The sheriff and all the watch are at the door: they are come to search the house; shall I let them in? 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 thef 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. 50 [He searches his pockets,and finds certain papers. What hast thou found? Poins. Nothing but papers, my lord. P. Henry. Let's see what they be: read them. Item, Sauce, 4d. Item. Sack, two gallons, 5s. 8d. P. Henry. O monstrous! but one halfpennyworth 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 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 score. The money shall be paid back again, with advantage. Be with me betimes in the morning; and so good 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. 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. Poins. Good morrow, good my lord. [Exeunt. A CT. III. Sit, cousin Percy; sit, good cousin Hotspur: Doth speak of you, his cheek looks pale; and, with Hot. And you in hell, as often as he hears Glend. I cannot blame him: at my nativity, Hot. Why, so it would have done, born. 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. 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. 20 25 30 O, while you live, tell truth, and shame the devil. No more of this unprofitable chat. [made head According to our three-fold order taken? Mort. The archdeacon hath divided it England, from Trent and Severn hitherto, Hot. And I say the earth was not of my mind, Glend. Cousin, of many men [ing, 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. I do not bear these crossings. Give meieave Glend. A shorter time shall send me to your lords, '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 carred on poles, in processions. 3 Beldame is used here simply in the sense of ancient mother. Pergaps we should read crankling. A huge A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle' out. It shall not wind with such a deep indent, and runs me up With like advantage on the other side; Hot. I'll have it so; a little charge will do it. Glend. I can speak English, lord, as well as you ;| 5 As puts me from my faith. I tell you what,— But mark'd him not a word. O, he's as tedious Worse than a smoaky house :-I had rather live Mort. In faith, he is a very worthy gentleman; In strange concealments'; valiant as a lion, 25 But do not use it oft, let me intreat you. Wor. In faith, my lord, you are too wilful-blame; You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault; Hot. Marry, and I'm glad on't with all my heart; 30 Glend. Come, you shall have Trent turn'd. To any well-deserving friend; But, in the way of bargain, mark ye me, Are the indentures drawn? shall we be gone? (I'll haste the writer') and, withal, Break with your wives of your departure hence: [Evit. 40 Hot. Well, I am school'd; Good manners be Here come our wives, and let us take our leave. 45 She'll be a soldier too, she'll to the wars. Mort. Fie, cousin Percy! how you cross my 50| Hot. I cannot chuse: sometimes he angers me】 A clip-wing'd griffin, and a moulten raven, A couching lion, and a ramping cat, And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff 4 Mort. Good father, tell her,-she, and my aunt 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, A cantle is a corner or piece of any thing. 2 Mr. Steevens says that the real name of Owen Glendower was Faughan, 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-wearp 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. Glend. Nay, if you melt, then will she run mad. Upon the wanton rushes' lay you down, [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; 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. 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 comfit-maker's wife! Not you, in good sooth; and, As true as I live; and, 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, Lady. I will not sing. 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. Would'st have thy head broken? Lady. Then be still. Hot. Neither; 'tis a woman's fault". Hot. To the Welsh lady's bed. 8 7 SCENE [Exeunt. II. The presence-chamber in Windsor. K. Inry. Lords, give us leave; the Prince of 35 Must have some private conference: But be near I know not whether God will have it so, A 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. i. 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. 6 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 Robin. See note above. Service for action, simply. 14 i. e. in the passages of thy life. 12 Such |