K. Hen. Then this remains,—that we divide our power.— You, son John, and my cousin Westmoreland Towards York shall bend you, with your dearest speed, Myself, and you, son Harry, will towards Wales, [Exeunt. Nothing can be more natural than that Prince John should make some acknowledgment to his brother, and whether it was that we have above quoted, or that placed in our text, we do not pretend to decide. Mr. Singer tells us that "this speech of Lancaster is omitted in the folio:" this is true, but he seems not to have known that it is wanting also in the 4to. from which the folio was printed. 5 Rebellion in this land shall lose HIS SWAY,] Nobody seems to have remarked upon a singular variation in the old copies in this line: it is "lose his sway" in the earlier 4tos, and lose his way" in the 4to, 1613, and in the folios. The error is the opposite of that pointed out, and corrected, in the second part of this play, A. iv. sc. 1, where "Let's away on" has been corrupted to "Let us sway on," from mishearing. In the case before us, "lose his sway" has been corrupted to "lose his way," no doubt from a similar cause. In neither instance can we hesitate as to the true language of Shakespeare. The same remark will apply to the line in "Henry VIII.," A. i. sc. 3, where Lord Sands ought to say of Wolsey, "Men of his sway should be most liberal;" but where it is misprinted, and has always been reprinted, "Men of his way should be most liberal." The scribe, or the compositor, misheard "his sway," and wrote, or printed, his way. Shakespeare, of course, meant men of Wolsey's power and influence. With the humours of Sir John "The Second part of Henrie the fourth, continuing to his death, and coronation of Henrie the fift. Falstaffe, and swaggering Pistoll. publikely acted by the right honourable, the Lord Chamberlaine his seruants. Written by William Shakespeare. London Printed by V. S. for Andrew Wise, and William Aspley. 1600." 4to. 43 leaves. Other copies of the same edition, in 4to, not containing Sign. E 5 and E 6, have only 41 leaves. In the folio, 1623, "The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, containing his Death: and the Coronation of King Henry the Fift," occupies twenty-nine pages in the division of “Histories,” viz. from p. 74 to p. 102 inclusive, the last two not being numbered. Pages 89 and 90, by an error of the press, are numbered 91 and 92. In the reprint of the folio, 1632, this mistake is repeated. In the two later folios the pagination is continued from the beginning to the end of what may be called the authentic plays. INTRODUCTION. We may state, with more certainty than usual, that "Henry IV." Part ii. was written before the 25th Feb. 1598. In the preliminary notice of "Henry IV." Part i. it is mentioned, that A. ii. sc. 2, of the "history" before us contains a piece of evidence that Falstaff was still called Oldcastle when it was written; viz. that the prefix of Old. is retained in the 4to, 1600, before a speech which belongs to Falstaff, and which is assigned to him in the folio of 1623. Now, we know that the name of Oldcastle was changed to that of Falstaff anterior to the entry of " Henry IV." Part i. in the books of the Stationers' Company on the 25th Feb. 1597-8. This little circumstance overturns Malone's theory, that "Henry IV." Part ii. was not written until 1599. It requires no proof that it was produced after "Richard II.,” because that play is quoted in it. The memorandum in the Stationers' Registers, prior to the publication of the following play, is inserted literatim in Vol. ii. p. 3: it bears date on 23d Aug. 1600, and it was made by Andrew Wise and William Aspley, who brought out "The Seconde Parte of the History of Kinge Henry the iiiith," 4to, in that year. There was only one edition of "Henry IV." Part ii. in 1600, 4to, but some copies vary importantly. The play was evidently produced from the press in haste; and besides other large omissions, a whole scene, forming the commencement of Act iii. was left out. Most of the copies are without these pages, but they are found in those of the Duke of Devonshire and Malone. The stationer must have discovered the error after the publication, and sheet E was accordingly reprinted, in order to supply the defect. The folio, 1623, was taken from a complete copy of the edition of 1600; and, moreover, the actor-editors, perhaps from a playhouse manuscript in their hands, furnished many other lines wanting in the 4to. On the other hand, the 4to, 1600, contains several passages not found in the folio, 1623. Our text includes both, (properly distinguished in the notes) in order that no syllable which came from the pen of Shakespeare may be lost. Even if we suppose our great dramatist to have himself rejected certain portions, preserved in the 4to, the exclusion of them by a modern. editor would be unpardonable, as they form part of the history of the poet's mind. KING HENRY THE FOURTH. HENRY, Prince of Wales; THOMAS, Duke of Clarence; PRINCE JOHN OF LANCASTER; PRINCE HUMPHREY OF GLOSTER; EARL OF WARWICK; EARL OF WESTMORELAND; GOWER; HARCOURT; His Sons. Of the King's Party. Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. A Gentleman attending on the Chief Justice. SCROOP, Archbishop of York; LORD MOWBRAY; LORD HASTINGS; Opposites to the King. LORD BARDOLPH; SIR JOHN COLEVILE; TRAVERS and MORTON, Retainers of Northumberland. POINS and PETO. SHALLOW and SILENCE, Country Justices. DAVY, Servant to Shallow. MOULDY, SHADOW, WART, FEEBLE, and BULCALF, Recruits. FANG and SNARE, Sheriff's Officers. RUMOUR, the Presenter. A Warder. A Dancer, Speaker of the Epilogue. LADY NORTHUMBERLAND. LADY PERCY. Hostess QUICKLY. DOLL TEAR-SHEET. Lords, and Attendants; Officers, Soldiers, Messenger, Drawers, Beadles, Grooms, &c. SCENE, England. 1 A list of "the Actors' names" fills the last leaf of the play in the folio, 1623. |