of them that have bought out their services, that you would think that I had a hundred and fifty tattered prodigals, lately come from swine-keeping, from eating draff and husks. A mad fellow met me on the way, and told me, I had unloaded all the gibbets, and pressed the dead bodies. No eye hath seen such scarecrows. I'll not march through Coventry with them, that's flat-nay, and the villains march wide betwixt the legs, as if they had gyves on; for, indeed, I had the most of them out of prison. There's but a shirt and a half in all my company: and the half shirt is two napkins tacked together, and thrown over the shoulders like a herald's coat without sleeves; and the shirt, to say the truth, stolen from my host at Saint Albans, or the red-nose inn-keeper of Daintry. But that's all one; they'll find linen enough on every hedge. Enter PRINCE HENRY and WESTMORELAND. P. Hen. How now, blown Jack? how now, quilt? Fal. What, Hal? How now, mad wag? what a devil dost thou in Warwickshire? My good lord of Westmoreland, I cry you mercy; I thought your honour had already been at Shrewsbury. West. 'Faith, Sir John, 'tis more than time that I were there, and you too; but my powers are there already. The king, I can tell you, looks for us all; we must away all night. Fal. Tut, never fear me; I am as vigilant as a cat to steal cream. P. Hen. I think, to steal cream indeed; for thy theft hath already made thee butter. But tell me, Jack, whose fellows are these that come after? Fal. Mine, Hal, mine. P. Hen. I did never see such pitiful rascals. Fal. Tut, tut; good enough to toss; food for powder, food for powder; they'll fill a pit as well as better: tush, man, mortal men, mortal men. West. Ay, but, Sir John, methinks they are exceeding poor and bare; too beggarly. Fal. Faith, for their poverty, I know not where they had that; and for their bareness, I am sure they never learned that of me. P. Hen. No, I'll be sworn; unless you call three fingers on the ribs bare. But, sirrah, make haste; Percy is already in the field. Fal. What is the king encamped? West. He is, Sir John; I fear we shall stay too long. Fal. Well, To the latter end of a fray, and the beginning of a feast, Fits a dull fighter, and a keen guest. [Exeunt. SCENE III-The Rebel Camp near SHREWSBURY. Enter HOTSPUR, WORCESTER, DOUGLAS, and VERNON. Hot. We'll fight with him to-night. Wor. It may not be. Doug. You give him, then, advantage. Ver. Not a whit. Hot. Why say you so? looks he not for supply? Ver. So do we. Hot. His is certain, ours is doubtful. Wor. Good cousin, be advised; stir not to-night. Ver. Do not, my lord. Doug. You do not counsel well; You speak it out of fear, and cold heart. Ver. Do me no slander, Douglas: by my life, (And I dare well maintain it with my life,) If well-respected honour bid me on, I hold as little counsel with weak fear As you, my lord, or any Scot that lives: Let it be seen to-morrow in the battle Hot. To-night, say I. Ver. Come, come, it may not be. I wonder much, being men of such great leading, That you foresee not what impediments Wor. The number of the king exceedeth ours: If you vouchsafe me hearing and respect. Some of us love you well: and even those some But stand against us like an enemy. Blunt. And God defend but still I should stand so, He bids you name your griefs, and with all speed Hot. The king is kind; and well we know, the king In short time after, he deposed the king; Rated my uncle from the council-board; In rage dismiss'd my father from the court; Broke oath on oath, committed wrong on wrong; Too indirect for long continuance. Blunt. Shall I return this answer to the king? Blunt. I would you would accept of grace and love. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-YORK. A Room in the ARCHBISHOP'S House. Enter the ARCHBISHOP OF YORK and a Gentleman. Arch. Hie, good Sir Michael; bear this sealed brief With winged haste, to the lord marshal; How much they do import, you would make haste. I guess their tenor. Arch. Like enough, you do. To-morrow, good Sir Michael, is a day The king, with mighty and quick-raised power, And what with Owen Glendower's absence thence, And comes not in, o'er-ruled by prophecies,) I fear the power of Percy is too weak To wage an instant trial with the king. Gent. Why, good my lord, you need not fear; there's And Mortimer. Arch. No, Mortimer's not there. [Douglas, Gent. But there is Mordake, Vernon, lord Harry Percy, And there's my lord of Worcester; and a head Of gallant warriors, noble gentlemen. Arch. And so there is: but yet the king hath drawn The special head of all the land together;The prince of Wales, lord John of Lancaster, The noble Westmoreland, and warlike Blunt; And many more corrivals, and dear men Of estimation and command in arms. Gent. Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well opposed. And 'tis but wisdom to make strong against him; ACT V. SCENE I.-The KING's Camp near SHREWSBURY. Enter KING HENRY, PRINCE HENRY, PRINCE JOHN OF LANCASTER, Sir WALTER BLUNT, and Sir JOHN FAL STAFF. K. Hen. How bloodily the sun begins to peer P. Hen. The southern wind Doth play the trumpet to his purposes; K. Hen. Then with the losers let it sympathise, Trumpet. Enter WORCESTER and VERNON. A prodigy of fear, and a portent Of broached mischief to the unborn times? Wor. Hear me, my liege. For mine own part, I could be well content With quiet hours; for, I do protest, I have not sought the day of this dislike. K. Hen. You have not sought for it! how comes it, Fal. Rebellion lay in his way, and he found it. [then? P. Hen. Peace, chewet, peace. Wor. It pleased your majesty to turn your looks Of favour from myself and all our house; And yet I must remember you, my lord, In Richard's time; and posted day and night Nothing so strong and fortunate as I. That all in England did repute him dead, - Sworn to us in your younger enterprise. K. Hen. These things, indeed, you have articulated, Proclaim'd at market-crosses, read in churches, To face the garment of rebellion With some fine colour, that may please the eye And never yet did insurrection want P. Hen. In both our armies there is many a soul If once they join in trial. Tell your nephew, I am content that he shall take the odds Of his great name and estimation, K. Hen. And, prince of Wales, so dare we venture Albeit considerations infinite [thee, Do make against it.-No, good Worcester, no, [Exeunt WORCESTER and VERNON. P. Hen. It will not be accepted, on my life: The Douglas and the Hotspur both together Are confident against the world in arms. K. Hen. Hence, therefore, every leader to his charge; For, on their answer, will we set on them: And God befriend us, as our cause is just! [Exeunt KING, BLUNT, and PRINCE JOHN. Fal. Hal, if thou see me down in the battle, and bestride me, so; 'tis a point of friendship. P. Hen. Nothing but a colossus can do thee that friendship. Say thy prayers, and farewell. Fal. I would it were bed-time, Hal, and all well. P. Hen. Why, thou owest God a death. [Exit. Fal. 'Tis not due yet; I would be loath to pay him before his day. What need I be so forward with him that calls not on me? Well, 'tis no matter; honour pricks me on. Yea, but how if honour prick me off when I come on? how then? Can honour set to a leg? No. Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound? No. Honour hath no skill in surgery, then? No. What is honour? A word. What is in that word honour?! Air. A trim reckoning!-Who hath it? He that died o' Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No. Is it insensible then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why? Detraction will not suffer it:-therefore I'll none of it: honour is a mere scutcheon; and so ends my catechism. [Exit. SCENE II.-The Rebel Camp. Enter WORCESTER and VERNON. Wor. O no, my nephew must not know, Sir Richard, The liberal kind offer of the king. Ver. 'Twere best he did. Wor. Then are we all undone. It is not possible, it cannot be, The king should keep his word in loving us; Who, ne'er so tame, so cherish'd, and lock'd up, A hair-brain'd Hotspur, govern'd by a spleen: And on his father's;--we did train him on; Fer. Deliver what you will, I'll say 'tis so. Enter HOTSPUR and DorGLAS; and Officers and Soldiers, behind. Hot. My uncle is return'd:- deliver up My lord of Westmoreland.--Uncle, what news? Wor. The king will bid you battle presently, Doug. Defy him by the lord of Westmoreland. Hot. Lord Douglas, go you and tell him so. Doug. Marry, and shall, and very willingly. Wor. There is no seeming mercy in the king. Hot. Did you beg any? God forbid! Wor. I told him gently of our grievances, Of his oath-breaking; which he mended thus,-By now forswearing that he is forsworn: He calls us rebels, traitors; and will scourge With haughty arms this hateful name in us. Re-enter DOUGLAS. [Exit. Doug. Arm, gentlemen! to arms! for I have thrown Hot. O, would the quarrel lay upon our heads; Trimm'd up your praises with a princely tongue; And chid his truant youth with such a grace, (king, Hot. Cousin, I think thou art enamoured Mess. My lord, here are letters for you. O gentlemen, the time of life is short; Still ending at the arrival of an hour. If die, brave death, when princes die with us! Enter another Messenger. Mess. My lord, prepare; the king comes on apace. Hot. I thank him, that he cuts me from my tale, For I profess not talking; only this Let each man do his best; and here draw I [The trumpets sound. They embrace, and exeunt SCENE III.-Plain near SHREWSBURY. Excursions, and Parties fighting. Alarum to the Battle Then enter DOUGLAS and BLUNT, meeting. Blunt. What is thy name, that in the battle thus Thou crossest me? what honour dost thou seck Upon my head? Doug. Know, then, my name is Douglas; And I do haunt thee in the battle thus, Because some tell me that thou art a king. Blunt. They tell thee true. Doug. The lord of Stafford dear to-day hath bought Thy likeness; for, instead of thee, king Harry, This sword hath ended him: so shall it thee, Unless thou yield thee as my prisoner. Blunt. I was not born a yielder, thou proud Scot; And thou shalt find a king that will revenge Lord Stafford's death. [They fight, and BLUNT is slain Enter HOTSPUR. Hot. O Douglas, hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus, I never had triumph'd upon a Scot. Doug. All's done, all's won; here breathless lies the Hot. Where? Doug. Here. [hing. Hot. This, Douglas? no, I know this face full well: A gallant knight he was, his name was Blunt; Semblably furnish'd like the king himself. Doug. A fool go with thy soul, whither it goes! A borrow'd title hast thou bought too dear. Why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king? Hot. The king hath many marching in his coats. Doug. Now, by my sword, I will kill all his coats; I'll murder all his wardrobe, piece by piece, Until I meet the king. Hot. Up, and away! Our soldiers stand full fairly for the day. Other Alarums. Enter FALSTAFF. [Exeunt. Fal. Though I could 'scape shot-free at London, I fear the shot here; here's no scoring, but upon the pate.--Soft! who art thou? Sir Walter Blunt!there's honour for you! here's no vanity!-I am as hot as molten lead, and as heavy too: God keep lead out I need no more weight than mine own bowels. -I have led my ragamuffins where they are peppered: there's but three of my hundred and fifty left alive and they are for the town's end, to beg during life.--But who comes here? of me! Enter PRINCE Hänry. P. Hen. What, stand'st thou idle here? lend me thy Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff [sword: Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies, Whose deaths are unrevenged; pr'ythee, lend thy sword, Fal. O Hal! I pr'ythee, give me leave to breathe a while.-Turk Gregory never did such deeds in arms, as I have done this day. I have paid Percy, I have made him sure. P. Hen. He is, indeed, and living to kill thee. Lend me thy sword, I pr'ythee. Fal. Nay, before God, Hal, if Percy be alive, thou gett'st not my sword; but take my pistol, if thou wilt. P. Hen. Give it me: what, is it in the case? Fal. Ay, Hal; 'tis hot, 'tis hot; there's that will sack a city. [The PRINCE draws out a bottle of sack. P. Hen. What, is 't a time to jest and dally now? [Throws it at him, and exit. Fal. Well, if Percy be alive, I'll pierce him. If he do come in my way, so; if he do not, if I come in his, willingly, let him make a carbonado of me. I like not such grinning honour as Sir Walter hath: give me life: which if I can save, so; if not, honour comes unlooked for, and there's an end. SCENE IV.-Another part of the Field. [Exit. Alarums. Excursions. Enter the KING, PRINCE HENRY, PRINCE JOHN, and WESTMORELAND. K. Hen. I pr'ythee, Harry, withdraw thyself; thou bleed'st too much:- P. John. Not I, my lord, unless I did bleed too. My lord of Westmoreland, lead him to his tent. West. Come, my lord, I will lead you to your tent. P. Hen. Lead me, my lord? I do not need your help: And heaven forbid, a shallow scratch should drive The prince of Wales from such a field as this: Where stain'd nobility lies trodden on, And rebels' arms triumph in massacres! P. John. We breathe too long:-come, cousin Westmoreland, Our duty this way lies: for God's sake, come. [Exeunt PRINCE JOHN and WESTMORELAND. [caster; P. Hen. By heaven, thou hast deceived me, Lan- K. Hen. I saw him hold lord Percy at the point, P. Hen. O, this boy Lends mettle to us all! Alarums. Enter DOUGLAS. [Ezit. Doug. Another king! they grow like Hydra's heads: I am the Douglas, fatal to all those That wear those colours on them.-What art thou, [heart, K. Hen. The king himself; who, Douglas, grieves at So many of his shadows thou hast met, And not the very king. I have two boys Seek Percy, and thyself, about the field: But, seeing thou fall'st on me so luckily, I will essay thee; so defend thyself. Doug. I fear thou art another counterfeit; And yet, in faith, thou bear'st thee like a king: But mine I am sure thou art, whoe'er thou be, And thus I win thee. [They fight; the KING being in danger, enter PRINCE HENRY. P. Hen. Hold up thy head, vile Scot, or thou art like Never to hold it up again! the spirits Of Shirley, Stafford. Blunt, are in my arms: It is the prince of Wales that threatens thee; Who never promiseth, but he means to pay. [They fight; DOUGLAS flies. Thou hast redeem'd thy lost opinion, In this fair rescue thou hast brought to me. P. Hen. O heaven! they did me too muc. injury, That ever said I hearken'd for your death. If it were so, I might have let alone The insulting hand of Douglas over you; Which would have been as speedy in your end As all the poisonous potions in the world, Enter Hotspur. Hot. If I mistake not, thou art Harry Monmouth. P. Hen. Thou speak'st as if I would deny my name. Hot. My name is Harry Percy. P. Hen. Why, then I see A very valiant rebel of the name. I am the prince of Wales; and think not, Percy, Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere; Hot. Nor shall it, Harry; for the hour is come Fal. Well said, Hal! to it, Hal!-Nay, you shall find no boy's play here, I can tell you. Нот Re-enter DOUGLAS; he fights with FALSTAFF, who falls down as if he were dead, and exit DOUGLAS. SPUR is wounded, and falls. Hot. O, Harry, thou hast robb'd me of my youth! I better brook the loss of brittle life, Than those proud titles thou hast won of me; [flesh:-- But that the earthy and cold hand of death [Dies. P. Hen. For worms, brave Percy. Fare thee well, great heart! Ill-weaved ambition, how much art thou shrunk! A kingdom for it was too small a bound; Is room enough:-this earth, that bears thee dead, If thou wert sensible of courtesy, I should not make so dear a show of zeal : But let my favours hide thy mangled face; [He sees FALSTAFF on the ground. [Brit. Fal. [Rising slowly. Embowelled! if thou embowel me to-day, I'll give you leave to powder me and cat me too to-morrow. 'Sblood, 'twas time to counterfeit, or that hot termagant Scot had paid me scot and lot too. Counterfeit? I lie, I am no counterfeit: to die, is to be a counterfeit; for he is but the counterfeit of a man, who hath not the life of a man: but to counterfeit dying, when a man thereby liveth, is to be no counterfeit, but the true and perfect image of life indeed. The better part of valour is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life. 'Zounds, I am afraid of this gunpowder Percy, though he be dead: how, if he should counterfeit too, and rise? I am afraid he would prove the better counterfeit. Therefore I'll make him sure: yea, and I'll swear I killed him. Why may not he rise as well as I? Nothing confutes me but eyes, and nobody wees me. Therefore, sirrah, [stabbing him,] with a new wound in your thigh, come you along with me. [Takes HOTSPUR on his back. Re-enter PRINCE HENRY and PRINCE JOHN. P. Hen, Come, brother John, full bravely hast thou Thy maiden sword. [flesh'd P. John. But, soft! whom have we here? Did you not tell me this fat man was dead? P. Hen. I did; I saw him dead, breathless, and Upon the ground.- Art thou alive? or is it fantasy [bleeding That plays upon our eyesight? I pr'ythee, speak; S We will not trust our eyes, without our ears:- Fal. No, that's certain; I am not a double man: but if I be not Jack Falstaff, then am I a Jack. There is Percy: [throwing the body down.] if your father will do me any honour, so: if not, let him kill the next Percy himself. I look to be either carl or duke, I can assure you. P. Hen. Why, Percy I killed myself, and saw thee dead. Fal. Didst thou?-Lord, lord, how this world is given to lying!-I grant you I was down, and out of breath; and so was he: but we rose both at an instant, and fought a long hour by Shrewsbury clock. If I may be believed, so; if not, let them that should reward valour, bear the sin upon their own heads. I'll take it upon my death, I gave him this wound in the thigh: if the man were alive and would deny it, I would make him eat a piece of my sword. P. John. This is the strangest tale that e'er I heard. P. Hen. This is the strangest fellow, brother John.Come, bring your luggage nobly on your back: For my part, if a lie may do thee grace, I'll gild it with the happiest terms I have. [A retreat is sounded. The trumpet sounds retreat the day is ours, Come, brother, let's to the highest of the field, To see what friends are living, who are dead. [Exeunt PRINCE HENRY and PRINCE JOHN. Fal. I'll follow, as they say, for reward. He that rewards me, God reward him! If I do grow great, I'll grow less; for I'll purge, and leave sack, and live cleanly, as a nobleman should do. [Exit, bearing off the body. SCENE V.-Another part of the Field. The trumpets sound. Enter KING HENRY, PRINCE Pardon, and terms of love to all of you? If, like a Christian, thou hadst truly borne Wor. What I have done, my safety urged me to; And I embrace this fortune patiently, Since not to be avoided it falls on me. K. Hen. Bear Worcester to the death, and Vernen Other offenders we will pause upon. [Exeunt WORCESTER and VERNON, guardat. How goes the field? P. Hen. The noble Scot, lord Douglas, when he saw The fortune of the day quite turn'd from him, The noble Percy slain, and all his men Upon the foot of fear,-fled with the rest: And, falling from a hill, he was so bru sed, That the pursuers took him. At my tent The Douglas is; and I beseech your grace, I may dispose of him. K. Hen. With all my heart. P. Hen. Then, brother John of Lancaster, to you This honourable bounty shall belong: Go to the Douglas, and deliver him Up to his pleasure, ransomless, and free: K. Hen. Then this remains,-that we divide our [Exeunt. |