cally one, is deservedly ranked among the very highest of Shakespeare's achievements. The characterization, whether for quantity, or quality, or variety, or, again, whether regarded in the individual development or in the dramatic combination, is above all praise. And yet, large and free as is the scope here given to invention, the parts are all strictly subordinated to the idea of the whole as an historical drama; insomuch that even Falstaff, richly ideal as is the character, every where helps on the history, a whole century of old English wit and sense and humour being crowded together and compacted in him. And one is surprised, withal, upon reflection, to see how many scraps and odd minutes of intelligence are here to be met with. The Poet seems indeed to have been almost every where, and brought away some tincture or relish of the place; as though his body were set full of eyes, and every eye took in natter of thought and memory: here we have the smell of eggs and butter; there we turn up a fragment of old John of Gaunt; elsewhere we chance upon a pot of Tewksbury mustard; again we hit a bit of popular superstition, how earl Douglas" runs o' horseback up a hill perpendicular:" on the march with Falstaff we contemplate "the cankers of a calm world and a long peace;" at Clement's-Inn we hear "the chimes at midnight;" at master Shallow's we" eat a last year's pippin of my own graffing, with a dish of carraways and so forth : we are amidst the poetries of chivalry and the felicities of victory; now amidst the obscure sufferings of war, where its inexorable iron hand enters the widow's cottage, and snatches away the land's humblest comforts. And so we might go on indefinitely, the particulars of this kind being so numerous as might well distract the mind, and yet so skilfully composed that the number seems not large, till by a special effort of thought one goes to view them severally. And these particulars, though so unnoticed, or so little noticed, in the detail, are nevertheless so ordered that they all tell in the result. How pervading and controlling is the principle of organic life and law, issuing in a perfect fitting of all the parts to each, and of each to all, so that in the farthest extremities we can detect the beatings of one common heart, may be specially instanced in Sir John whose sayings every where so fit and cleave to the circumstances, to all the oddities of connection and situation out of which they grow; have such a mixed smacking, such a various and composite relish, made up from all the peculiarities of the person by whom, the occasion wherein, and tho purpose for which they are spoken, that they cannot be detached and set out by themselves, without thwarting or greatly marring their force and flavour. On the whole, we may safely affirm with Johnson, that" perhaps no author has ever, in two plays, afforded so much delight." now PERSONS REPRESENTED KING HENRY THE FOURTH. HENRY OF MONMOUTH, Prince of Wales, THOMAS, Duke of Clarence, PRINCE JOHN of Lancaster, PRINCE HUMPHREY of Gloster, EARL OF WARWICK, his Sous. EARL OF WESTMORELAND, } of the King's Party. GOWER, HARCOURT, SIR WILLIAM GASCOIGNE, Lord Chief Justice. SCROOP, Archbishop of York, LORD MOWBRAY, LORD HASTINGS, against the King. LORD BARDOLPH, SIR JOHN COLEVILLE, TRAVERS and MORTON, Retainers of Northumberland. FALSTAFF, BARDOLPH, PISTOL, and a Page. POINS and PETO, Attendants on Prince Henry. SHALLOW and SILENCE, County Justices. DAVY, Servant to Justice Shallow. MOULDY, SHADOW, WART, FEEBLE, and BULLCALF, Recruits. FANG and SNARE, Sheriff's Officers. RUMOUR, the Presenter. A Porter. A Dancer, Speaker of the Epilogue. LADY NORTHUMBERLAND. LADY PERCY. Hostess QUICKLY. DOLL TEARSHEET Lords, and Attendants; Officers, Soldiers, Messenger Drawers, Beadles, Grooms, &c. SCENE, England. SECOND PART OF HENRY IV. INDUCTION. Warkworth. Before NORTHUMBERLAND'S Castle. Enter RUMOUR, painted full of Tongues.' Rum. OPEN your ears; for which of you will stop The vent of hearing, when loud Rumour speaks? I, from the orient to the drooping west, Making the wind my post-horse, still unfold The acts commenced on this ball of earth: Upon my tongues continual slanders ride, The which in every language I pronounce, Stuffing the ears of men with false reports. I speak of peace while covert enmity, Under the smile of safety, wounds the world . And who but Rumour, who but only I, Make fearful musters, and prepar'd defence; Whilst the big year, swol❜n with some other grief, Is thought with child by the stern tyrant war, And no such matter? Rumour is a pipe Blown by surmises, jealousies, conjectures; And of so easy and so plain a stop,2 That the blunt monster with uncounted heads, In a 1 This was the common way of representing this personage, no unfrequent character in the masques of the Poet's time. masque on St. Stephen's Night, 1614, by Thomas Campion, Ru mour comes on in a skir coat full of winged tongues. The stops are the holes in a flute or pipe. The still-discordant wavering multitude, Can play upon it. But what need I thus Why is Rumour here ? I run before King Harry's victory; Who, in a bloody field by Shrewsbury, Hath beaten down young Hotspur, and his troops, But what mean I They bring smooth comforts false, worse than true wrongs. [Exit 8 Northumberland's castle. ACT I. SCENE I. The same. The Porter before the Gate. Enter Lord BARDOLPH. Bard. Who keeps the gate here? ho! - Where is the earl? Port. What shall I say you are ? Tell thou the earl, Bard. Port. His lordship is walk'd forth into the orchard: Please it your honour, knock but at the gate, And he himself will answer. Bard. Enter NORTHUMBERLAND. Here comes the earl. North. What news, lord Bardolph ? every minute now Should be the father of some stratagem: Bard. Noble earl, I bring you certain news from Shrewsbury. North. Good, an God will! Bard. As good as heart can wish The king is almost wounded to the death; Prince Harry slain outright; and both the Blunts |