P. Henry. I fhall hereafter, my thrice gracious lord, Be more myself.

K. Henry. For all the world,

As thou art at this hour was Richard then,
When I from France fet foot at Ravenfpurg;
And ev'n as I was then, is Percy now.
Now by my fcepter, and my foul to boot,
9 He hath more worthy intereft to the State,
Than thou, the fhadow of fucceffion!

For, of no Right, nor colour like to Right,
He doth fill fields with harnefs; in the Realm
Turns head againft the Lion's armed jaws;
And, being no more in debt to years than thou,
Leads ancient lords, and rev'rend bishops on,
To bloody battles, and to bruifing arms.
What never dying honour hath he got
Against renowned Douglas, whofe high deeds,
Whose hot incurfions, and great name in arms,
Holds from all foldiers chief majority,

And military Title capital,

Through all the Kingdoms that acknowledge Christ?
Thrice hath this Hot-fpur, Mars in fwathing cloaths,
This infant warrior, in his enterprises,
Discomfited great Dowglas, ta'en him once,
Enlarged him, and made a friend of him,
To fill the mouth of deep defiance up,

And shake the peace and fafety of our Throne.
And what fay you to this? Percy, Northumberland,,
Th' Archbishop's Grace of York, Dowglas, and Mor-
timer,

Capitulate against us, and are up.

But wherefore do I tell this news to thee?
Why, Harry, do I tell thee of my foes,

• He bath more worthy intereft to the flate, Than thou, the fhadow of fucceffion!] This is obfcure. I believe the meaning is,-Hot

fpur hath a right to the kingdom more worthy than thou, who haft only the Jhadowy right of lineal fucceffion, while he has real and folid power.

Which art my near'st and dearest enemy?
Thou that art like enough through vaffal fear,
Bafe inclination, and the start of spleen,
To fight againft me under Percy's pay,
To dog his heels, and curt'fie at his frowns,
To fhow how much thou art degenerate.

P. Henry. Do not think fo, you fhall not find it fo:
And heav'n forgive them, that fo much have fway'd
Your Majefty's good thoughts away from me!
I will redeem all this on Percy's head.
And in the closing of fome glorious day,
Be bold to tell you, that I am your fon.
When I will wear a garment all of blood,
And ftain my favours in a bloody mask,
Which, wafh'd away, fhall fcower my fhame with it.
And that shall be the day, when e'er it lights,
That this fame child of honour and renown,
This gallant Hot-fpur, this all-praised Knight,
And your unthought of Harry, chance to meet.
For every honour fitting on his helm,
"Would they were multitudes, and on my head
My fhames redoubled! for the time will come,
That I fhall make this northern youth exchange
His glorious deeds for my indignities.
Percy is but my factor, good my lord,
T'engross up glorious deeds on my behalf;
And I will call him to fo ftrict account,
That he fhall render every glory up,
Yea, even the flighteft worship of his time,
Or I will tear the reck'ning from his heart.
This in the name of heav'n I promise here;
The which, if I perform, and do furvive,
I do befeech your Majefty, may falve
The long-grown wounds of my intemperance.

Dearest is most fatal, moft enifchievous. And ftain my favours in a bloody mai, We should

read favour, i. e. countenance. WARBURTON,

Favours are features.

If

If not, the end of life cancels all bonds;
And I will die an hundred thousand deaths,
Ere break the fmalleft parcel of this vow.

K. Henry. A hundred thoufand Rebels die in this! Thou shalt have Charge, and foyereign Trust herein.

Enter Blunt.

How now, good Blunt? thy looks are full of speed.
Blunt. So is the bufinefs that I come to speak of.
Lord Mortimer of Scotland hath fent word,
That Dowglas and the English rebels met
Th' eleventh of this month, at Shrewsbury:
A mighty and a fearful head they are,
If promifes be kept on every hand,
As ever offer'd foul play in a State.

K. Henry. The Earl of Westmorland fet forth to day,
With him my fon, lord John of Lancaster;
For this advertisement is five days old.

On Wednesday next, Harry, thou shalt fet forward: On Thursday, we ourselves will march: our meeting Is at Bridgnorth; and, Harry, you shall march Through Gloftershire: by which fome twelve days

hence

Our general forces at Bridgnorth fhall meet,
Our hands are full of bufinefs: let's away,

Advantage feeds him fat, while men delay. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Changes to the Boar's-head Tavern in Eaft-cheap

Fal.

Enter Falstaff and Bardolph,

BARD

ARDOLPH, am not I fall'n away vilely, fince this laft action? Do I not bate? do I not dwindle? Why, my skin hangs about me like an old lady's loofe gown; I am wither'd, like an old apple

John.

John. Well, I'll repent, and that fuddenly, while I am in fome liking; I fhall be out of heart fhortly, and then I fhall have no ftrength to repent. An I have not forgotten what the infide of a church is made of, I am a pepper-corn, a brewer's horfe. The infide of a church! Company, villainous company hath been the fpoil of me.

Bard. Sir John, you are fo fretful, you cannot live long.

Fal. Why, there is it; come, fing me a bawdy fong, to make me merry. I was as virtuously given, as a gentleman need to be; virtuous enough; fwore little; diced not above feven times a week; went to a - bawdy-houfe not above once in a quarter of an hour; paid mony that I borrow'd, three or four times; liv'd well, and in good compafs; and now I live out of all order, out of all compafs.

Bard. Why, you are fo fat, Sir John, that you must needs be out of all compafs, out of all reasonable compafs, Sir John.

Fal. Do thou amend thy face, and I'll amend my life. Thou art our Admiral thou beareft the lanthorn in the poop, but 'tis in the nose of thee; thou art the knight of the burning lamp 3.

Bard. Why, Sir John, my face does you no harm. Fal. No, I'll be fworn; I make as good ufe of it, as many a man doth of a death's head, or a memento mori. I never fee thy face, but I think upon hell-fire, and Dives that liv'd in purple; for there he is in his robes, burning, burning. If thou wert any way given to virtue, I would fwear by thy face; my oath

2 A brewer's horfe.] I fuppofe a brewer's horfe was apt to be lean with hard work.

3 The knight of the burning lamp.] This is a natural picture. Every man who feels in himilf the pain of deformity,

fhould be, by this fire; but thou art altogether given over; and wert indeed, but for the light in thy face, the fon of utter darknefs. When thou rann'ft up Gadsbill in the night to catch my horse, if I did not think, thou had'ft been an ignis fatuus, or a ball of wild fire, there's no purchase in mony. O, thou art a perpetual triumph, an everlasting bonfire light; thou haft faved me a thousand marks in links and torches, walking with thee in the night betwixt tavern and tavern; but the fack, that thou haft drunk me, would have bought me lights. as good cheap, as the deareft chandler's in Europe. I have maintained that Salamander of yours with fire, any time this two and thirty years, heav'n reward me for it!

Bard. 'Sblood, I would, my face were in your belly. Fal. God-a-mercy! fo fhould I be fure to be heartburn'd.

Enter Hotefs.

How now, dame Partlet the hen, have you enquir'd yet who pick'd my pocket?

Hoft. Why, Sir John! what do you think, Sir John? do you think, I keep thieves in my houfe? I have fearch'd, I have enquired, fo has my hufband, man by man, boy by boy, fervant by fervant. The tithe of a hair was never loft in my house before.

Fal. Ye lie, hoftefs; Bardolph was shav'd, and loft many a hair; and I'll be fworn, my pocket was pick'd; go to, you are a woman, go.

Hoft. Who I? I defie thee; I was never call'd fo in mine own houfe before.

Fal. Go to, I know you well enough.

Hoft. No, Sir John: you do not know me, Sir John : I know you, Sir John; you owe me mony, Sir John,

Good cheap.] Cheap is market, and good cheap therefore is a len marchè.

and