Fal. No abufe, Ned, in the world; honeft Ned, none. I difprais'd him before the wicked, that the wicked might not fall in love with him; in which doing, I have done the part of a careful friend, and true fubject, and thy father is to give me thanks for it. No abuse, Hal, none, Ned, none; no, boys, none. P. Henry. See now whether pure fear and entire cowardife doth not make thee wrong this virtuous gentlewoman, to close with us? Is the of the wicked? is thine hoftefs here of the wicked? or is the boy of the wicked? or honeft Bardolph, whose zeal burns in his nofe, of the wicked? Poins. Anfwer, thou dead Elm, answer. Fal. The fiend hath prickt down Bardolph irrecoverable, and his face is Lucifer's privy-kitchen, where he doth nothing but roaft mault-worms: for the boy, there is a good angel about him, but the devil out-bids him too. P. Henry. For the women? Fal. For one of them, fhe is in hell already, and burns, poor foul! for the other, I owe her mony; and whether the be damn'd for that, I know not. Hal. No, I warrant you. Fal. No, I think thou art not: I think thou art quit for that. Marry, there is another indictment upon thee, for fuffering flesh to be eaten in thy house, contrary to the law, for the which I think thou wilt howl. Hoft. All victuallers do fo: what is a joint of mutton or two in a whole Lent? P. Henry. You, gentlewoman. Dol. What fays your Grace? Fal. His grace fays that which his flesh rebels against. Hoft. Who knocks fo loud at door? look to the door there, Francis. SCENE XII. Enter Peto. P. Henry. Peto, how now? what news? And And afking every one for Sir John Falstaff. P. Henry. By heaven, Poins, I feel me much to blame, So idly to profane the precious time; When tempeft of commotion, like the South Born with black vapour, doth begin to melt Give me my fword, and cloak: Falstaff, good night. [Exeunt Prince and Poins. Fal. Now comes in the fweeteft morfel of the night, and we must hence, and leave it unpickt. More knocking at the door? how now? what's the matter? Bard. You must away to court, Sir, presently: a dozen captains stay at door for you. Fal. Pay the muficians, Sirrah: farewel, hoftefs, farewel, Dol. You fee, my good wenches, how men of merit are fought after; the undeferver may fleep, when the man of action is call'd on. Farewel, good wenches; if I be not fent away poft, I will fee you again, ere I go. Dol. I cannot fpeak; if my heart be not ready to burst - well, fweet Jack, have a care of thy self. Fal. Farewel, farewel! [Exit. Hoft. Well, fare thee well: I have known thee these twenty nine years, come pefcod-time; but an honefter and truer-hearted man well, fare thee well! Bard. Mrs. Tear-fbeet! Hoft. What's the matter? Bard. Bid Miftrefs Tear-fheet come to my mafter. ACT III. [Exeunt. SCENE I. The Palace in London. Enter King Henry in bis Night-gown, with a Page. K. Henry G O, call the Earls of Surrey and of War wick: But ere they come, bid them o'er-read these letters, And well confider of them: make good speed. [Exit Page. Are at this hour afleep! O gentle Sleep, L 2 And And fteep my fenfes in forgetfulness? Why rather, Sleep, ly'ft thou in fmoaky cribs, And husht with buzzing night-flies to thy flumber; And lull'd with founds of fweeteft melody ? ́ ́~ Who take the ruffian billows by the top, SCENE II. Enter Warwick and Surrey. K. Henry. Is it good-morrow, Lords? War. 'Tis one o'clock, and past. K. Henry. Why then good-morrow to you. Well, my Lords: Have you read o'er the letters that I sent you? War. We have, my Liege. K, Henry. Then you perceive the body of our kingdom, How foul it is; what rank difeafes grow, And with what danger, near the heart of it. This alludes to the Watchman fet in Garrifon-towns upon fome Eminence attending upon an Alarum-bell, which he was to ring out in cafe of fire or any approaching danger. He had a Cafe or Box to fhelter him from Weather, but at his utmoft peril he was not to fleep whilft he was upon duty. Thefe Alarum-bells are mentioned in feveral other places in Shakespear. War. War. It is but as a body yet diftemper'd, Which to his former ftrength may be reftor'd, With good advice and little medicine; My Lord Northumberland will foon be cool'd. K. Henry. Oh heav'n, that one might read the book of fate, And fee the revolution of the times Make mountains level, and the continent, Into the fea; and, other times, to see The beachy girdle of the ocean Too wide for Neptune's hips; how chances mock With divers liquors: O, if this were seen, Wou'd shut the book, and fit him down and die. (You coufin Nevil, as I may remember,) [To Warwick. When Richard with his eye brim-full of tears, Then check'd and rated by Northumberland, My coufin Bolingbroke afcends my throne; (Though then, heav'n knows, I had no fuch intent, But that neceffity so bow'd the state, L 3 War War. There is a history in all men's lives, Such things become the hatch and brood of time; King Richard might create a perfect guess, K. Henry. Are these things then, my Lord, neceffities ? Then let us meet them like neceffities; And that fame word even now cries out on us: They fay the Bishop and Northumberland Are fifty thousand strong. War. It cannot be : Rumour doth double, like the voice and echo, To comfort you the more, I have receiv'd K. Henry. I will take your counfel: And were thefe inward wars once out of hand, Juftice Shallow's Seat in Gloucestershire. [Exeunt, Enter Shallow and Silence, with Mouldy, Shadow, Wart, Feeble, and Bull-calf. Shal. Come on, come on, come on; give me your hand, Sir; an early firrer, by the rood. And how doth my good coufin Silence? Sil. Good morrow, good coufin Shallow. Sbal. |