Descend unto the daughter. Gracious lord,
Stand for your own; unwind your bloody flag
Look back unto your mighty ancestors:
Go, my dread lord, to your great grandsire's tomb,
From whom you claim; invoke his warlike spirit,
And your great uncle's, Edward the black prince;
Who on the French ground play'd a tragedy,
Making defeat on the full power of France;
Whiles his most mighty father on a hill
Stood smiling, to behold his lion's whelp
Forage in blood of French nobility.-
O noble English, that could entertain
With half their forces the full pride of France;
And let another half stand laughing by,
All out of work, and cold for action!

Ely. Awake remembrance of these valiant dead,
And with your puissant arm renew their feats:
You are their heir, you sit upon their throne;
The blood and courage that renowned them,
Runs in your veins; and my thrice-puissant liege
Is in the very May-morn of his youth,
Ripe for exploits and mighty enterprizes.

Exe. Your brother kings and monarchs of the
earth

Do all expect that you should rouse yourself,
As did the former lions of your blood.
West. They know, your grace hath cause, and
means and might;

So hath your highness; never king of England
Had nobles richer, and more loyal subjects;
Whose hearts have left their bodies here in England,
And lie pavilion'd in the fields of France.

Cant. O, let their bodies follow, my dear liege,
With blood, and sword, and tire, to win your right:
In aid whereof, we of the spiritualty
Will raise your highness such a mighty sum,
As never did the clergy at one time
Bring in to any of your ancestors.

[French

K. Henry. We must not only arm to invade the
But lay down our proportions to defend
Against the Scot, who will make road upon us
With all advantages.
freign,

5

10

When all her chivalry hath been in France,
And she a mourning widow of her nobles,
She hath herself not only well defended,
But taken, and impounded as a stray,

The king of Scots; whom she did send to France,
To fill king Edward's fame with prisoner kings;
And make your chronicle as rich with praise,
As is the ouze and bottom of the sea

With sunken wreck and sunless treasuries.
Exe. But there's a saying very old and true,-
If that you will France win,

Then with Scotland first begin :

For once the eagle England being in prey,
To her unguarded nest the weasel Scot

15 Comes sneaking, and so sucks her princely eggs;
Playing the mouse, in absence of the cat,
To taint and havock more than she can eat.

Ely. It follows then, the cat must stay at home:
Yet that is but a curs'd' necessity;

20 Since we have locks to safeguard necessaries,
And pretty traps to catch the petty thieves.
While that the armed hand doth fight abroad,
The advised head defends itself at home:
For government, though high, and low, and lower,
Put into parts, doth keep in one consent*;
Congruing in a full and natural close,
Like musick.

25

Cant. True: therefore doth heaven divide
The state of man in divers functions,
30 Setting endeavour in continual motion;
To which is fixed, as an aim or butt,
Obedience: for so work the honey bees;
Creatures, that, by a rule in nature, teach
The art of order to a peopled kingdom.
35 They have a king, and officers of sorts:
Where some, like magistrates, correct at home;
Others, like merchants, venture trade abroad;
Others, like soldiers, armed in their stings,
Make boot upon the summer's velvet buds;
Which pillage they with merry march bring home.
To the tent royal of their emperor:
Who, busy'd in his majesty, surveys
The singing masons building roofs of gold;
The civil citizens kneading up the honey;
The poor mehanick porters crowding in
Their heavy burdens at his narrow gate;
The sad-ey'd justice, with his surly hum,
Delivering o'er to executors pale

40

The lazy yawning drone. I this infer,—
50 That many things, having full reference
To one consent, may work contrariously;
As many arrows, loosed several ways,
Fly to one mark;

Cant. They of those marches', gracious sove-
Shall be a wall sufficient to defend
Our inland from the pilfering borderers. [only, 45
K.Henry.We do not mean thecoursing snatchers
But fear the main intendment of the Scot,
Who hath been still a' giddy neighbour to us:
For you shall read that my great grandfather
Never went with his forces into France,
But that the Scot on his unfurnish'd kingdom
Came pouring, like the tide into a breach,
With ample and brim fulness of his force;
Galling the gleaned land with hot assays;
Girding with grievous siege castles and towns;
That England, being empty of defence,
Hath shook, and trembled at the ill neighbourhood.
Cant. She hath been then more fear'd than
harm'd, my liege:

For hear her but exampled by herself,

As many several ways meet in one town; 55 As many fresh streams run in one self sea; As many lines close in the dial's centre;

So

may a thousand actious, once afoot, End in one purpose, and be all well borne Without defeat. Therefore to France, my lege. 60 Divide your happy England into four;

The marches are the borders, the limits, the confines. Hence the Lords Marchers, i. e. the lords presidents of the marches, &c. 1i. e. inconstant, changeable. 1i. e, an unfortunate necessity, or a necessity to be execrated. * Consent is unison. The sense is, that all endeavour is to terminate in obedience, to be subordinate to the public good and general design of government.

Whereof

Whereof take you one quarter into France,
And you withal shall make all Gallia shake.
If we, with thrice that power left at home,
Cannot defend our own door from the dog,
Let us be worried; and our nation lose
The name of hardiness, and policy.

[Dauphin.
K. Henry. Call in the messengers sent from the
Now are we well resolv'd: and,-by God's help;
And yours, the noble sinews of our power,-
France being ours, we'll bend it to our awe,
Or break it all to pieces: Or there we'll sit,
Ruling, in large and ample empery',
O'er France, and all her almost kingly dukedoms;
Or lay these bones in an unworthy urn,
Tombless, with no remembrance over them:
Either our history shall, with full mouth,
Speak freely of our acts; or else our grave,
Like Turkish mute, shall have a tongueless mouth,
Not worshipp'd with a waxen epitaph.

Enter Ambassadors of France.
Now we are well prepar'd to know the pleasure
Of our fair cousin Dauphin; for, we hear,
Your greeting is from him, not from the king.
Amb. May't please your majesty, to give us leave
Freely to render what we have in charge;
Or shall we sparingly shew you far off
The Dauphin's meaning, and our embassy?
K. Henry. We are notyrant, but a Christianking;
Unto whose grace our passion is as subject,
As are our wretches fetter'd in our prisons:
Therefore, with frank and with uncurbed plainness,
Tell us the Dauphin's mind.

Amb. Thus then, in few.

Your highness, lately sending into France,

Did claim some certain dukedoms, in the right
Of your great predecessor, king Edward the third.
In answer of which claim, the prince our master
Says, that you savour too much of your youth;
And bids you be advis'd, there's nought in France,
Than can be with a nimble-galliard won;
You cannot revel into dukedoms there:
He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit,
This tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this,
Desires you, let the dukedoms, that you claim,
Hear no more of you. This the Dauphin speaks.
K. Henry. What treasure, uncle?
Exe. Tennis-balls, my liege.

[with us;

K.Henry. We are glad the Dauphinis so pleasant His present, and your pains, we thank you for:

Tell him, he hath made a match with such a

wrangler,

That all the courts of France will be disturb'd
With' chaces. And we understand him well,
5 How he comes o'er us with our wilder days,
Not measuring what use we made of them.
We never valu'd this poor seat of England;
And therefore, living hence, did give ourself
To barbarous licence; as 'tis ever common,
10 That men are merriest when they are from home.
But tell the Dauphin,-I will keep my state;
Be like a king, and shew my sail of greatness,
When I do rouse me in my throne of France;
For that I have laid by my majesty,

15 And plodded like a man for working-days;
But I will rise there with so full a glory,
That I will dazzle all the eyes of France,
Yea, strike the Dauphin blind to look on us.
And tell the pleasant prince,this mock of his
20 Hath turn'd his balls to gun-stones'; and his soul
Shall stand sore charged for the wasteful vengeance
That shall fly with them: for many a thousand
widows

Shall thishis mock mock out of their dear husbands; 25 Mock mothers from their sons, mock castles down; And some are yet ungotten, and unborn,

That shall have cause to curse the Dauphin's scorn. But this lies all within the will of God, To whom I do appeal; and in whose name, 30 Tell you the Dauphin, I am coming on, To venge me as I may, and to put forth My rightful hand in a well-hallow'd cause. So, get you hence in peace; and tell the Dauphin, His jest will savour but of shallow wit, 35 When thousands weep, more than did laugh at Convey them with safe conduct.-Fare you well. [Exeunt Ambu, & idors.

[it.

Exe. This was a merry message.
K. Henry. We hope to make the senderblush at it.
40 Therefore, my lords, omit no happy hour,
That may give furtherance to our expedition:
For we have now no thought in us, but France;
Save those to God, that run before our business.
Therefore, let our proportions for these wars
Be soon collected; and all things thought upon,
That may, with reasonable swiftness, add
More feathers to our wings: for, God before,
We'l chide this Dauphin at his father's door.
Therefore, let every man now task his thought,

45

[Exeunt.

When we have match'd our rackets to these balls, 50 That this fair action may on foot be brought.
We will, in France, by God's grace, play a set,
Shall strike his father's crown into the hazard:

2 A

'Empery signifies dominion, but it is now an obsolete word, though formerly in general use. galliard was an ancient dance, now obsolete. Chace is a term at tennis. So is the hazard; a place in the tennis court into which the ball is sometimes struck. * i. e. not in the court, the place in which he is now speaking. ⚫ When ordnance was first used, they discharged balls, not of iron, but

of stone.

Bard. What, are ancient Pistol and you friends vet?

Nym. For my part, I care not: I say little but when time sbali serve, there shall be siniles;-but

Now thrive the armourers, and honour's thought! 5 that shall be as it may. I dare not fight; but I

Reigns solely in the breast of every man:
They sell the pasture now, to buy the horse;
Following the mirror of all Christian kings,
With winged heels, as English Mercuries.
'For now sits Expectation in the air;
And hides a sword, from hilts unto the point,
With crowns, imperial crowns, and coronets,
Promis'd to Harry, and his followers.
The French, advis'd by good intelligence
Of this most dreadful preparation,
Shake in their fear; and with pale policy
Seek to divert the English purposes.

10

will wink, and hold out mine iron: It is a simple one; but what though? it will toast cheese; and it will endure cold as another man's sword will : and there's the humour of it.

Bard. I will bestow a breakfast, to make you friends; and we'll be all three sworn brothers to France: let it be so, good corporal Nym.

Nym. Faith, I will live so long as I may, that's the certain of it; and, when I cannot live any 13longer, I will do as I may: that is my rest, that is the rendezvous of it.

20

O England!--model to thy inward greatness,
Like little body with a mighty heart,-
What might'st thou do, that honour would thee do,
Were all thy children kind and natural !
But see thy fault! France hath in thee found out
A nest of hollow bosoms, which she fills [men,-
With treacherous crowns: and three corrupted
One, Richard earl of Cambridge; and the second, 25
Henry lord Scroop of Masham; and the third,
Sir Thomas Grey, knight of Northumberland,
Have for the gilt of France (O guilt, indeed!)
Confirm'd conspiracy with fearful France;
And by their hands this' grace of kings must die, 30
(If hell and treason hold their promises)
Ere he take ship for France, and in Southampton.
Linger your patience on; and well digest
The abuse of distance, while we force a play.
The sum is paid; the traitors are agreed;
The king is set from London; and the scene
Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton :
There is the play-house now, there must you sit:
And thence to France shall we convey you safe,
And bring you back, charming the narrow seas
To give you gentle pass; for, if we may,
* We'll not offend one stomach with our play.
But 'till the king come forth, and not 'till then,
Unto Southampton do we shift our scene. [Exit.
SCENE I.

Before Quickly's house in East-cheap.
Enter Corporal Nym, and Lieutenant Bardolph.
Bard. Well met, corporal.

Nym. Good morrow', lieutenant Bardolph.

Bard. It is certain, corporal, that he is married to Nell Quickly: and, certainly, she did you wrong; for you were troth-plight to her.

Nym. I cannot tell; things must be as they may: Men may sleep, and they may have their throats about them at that time; and, some say, knives have edges. It must be as it may: though patience be a tir'd mare, yet she will plod. There must be conclusions. Well, I cannot tell.

Enter Pistol and Quickly.

Bard. Here comes ancient Pistol, and his wife: ---good corporal, be patient here.-How now, mine host Pistol?

Pist. Base tyke", call'st thou me-host? Now, by this hand I swear, I scorn the term; Nor shall my Nell keep lodgers.

Quick. No, by my troth, not long: for we cannot lodge and board a dozen or fourteen gentle35 women, that live honestly by the prick of their needles, but it will be thought we keep a bawdyhouse straight.-O well-a-day, lady, if he be not drawn now! We shall see wilful adultery and murder committed.

40

451

Burd. Good lieutenant', good corporal, offer nothing here.

Nym. Pish!

Pist. Pish for thee, Iceland dog! thou prickear'd cur of Iceland!

Quick. Good corporal Nym, shew the valour of a man, and put up thy sword.

Nym. Will you shop off? I would have you solus.

Pist. Solus, egregious dog! O viper vile! [50]The solus in thy most marvellous face;

Mr. Tollet says, that in the horse armoury in the Tower of London, Edward III. is repre sented with two crowns on his sword, alluding to the two kingdoms, France and England, of both which he was crowned heir. Perhaps the poet took the thought from this representation. 2 Gilt, which in our author generally signifies a display of gold, in the present instance means golden money. i. e. he who does great honour to the title...By the same kind of phraseology the usurper in Hamlet is called the Vice of kings, i. e. the opprobrium of them. To force a play, is to produce a play by compelling many circumstances into a narrow compass. That is, you shall pass the sea without the qualms of sea-sickness. "At this scene begins the connection of this play with the latter part of King Henry IV. Dr. John on thinks we should read, We'll all go sworn brothers to France, or, we'll all be sworn brothers in France. Tike is a small kind of dog. We should read Good ancient, for it is Pistol to whom he addresses himself. 10 Meaning, will you march, or go off" ?

2

The

Pist. Obraggard vile, and damned furious wight! The grave doth gape, and doating death is near;15 Therefore exhale.

Bard. Hear me, hear me what Lsay:-he tha strikes the first stroke, I'll run him up to the hilts, as I am a soldier.

Pist. An oath of mickle might; and fury shall 20

35 Boy. Mine host Pistol, you must come to my master, and you hostess ;-he is very sick, and would to bed.-Good Bardolph, put thy nose between his sheets, and do the office of a warmingpan: faith, he's very ill.

Bard. Away, you rogue. Quick. By my troth, he'll yield the crow a pudding one of these days: the king has killed his heart.-Good husband, come home presently.

[Exit Quickly 45 Bard. Come, shall I make you two friends? We must to France together; Why, the devil, should we keep knives to cut one another's throats?

That he should, for a foreign purse, so sell His sovereign's life to death and treachery! [Trumpets sound. Pist. Let floods o'erswell, and fiends for food 50 Enter the King, Scroop, Cambridge, Grey, and

Nym. You'll pay me the eight shillings I won of you at betting?

Pist. Base is the slave that pays.

Nym. That now I will have: that's the hu-55 mour of it.

Pist. As manhood shall compound; Push home.

[Draw. Bard. By this sword, he that makes the first thrust, I'll kill him; by this sword, I will.

1 Barbason is the name of a dæmon mentioned in the Merry Wives of Windsor. 2 The familiar appellation of bedfellow, which appears strange to us, was conunon among the ancient nobility. A head means an army formed.

Scroop. No doubt, my liege, if each man do his best.

K. Henry. I doubt not that: since we are well
persuaded,

We carry not a heart with us from hence,
That grows not in a fair consent with ours;
Nor leave not one behind, that doth not wish
Success and conquest to attend on us.

[lov'd,

[Read them; and know, I know your worthiness.—
My lord of Westmoreland,-and uncle Exeter,—
We will aboard to-night.-Why, how now, gen
tlemen?

5 What see you in those papers, that you lose
So much complexion?-Look ye, how they change!
Their cheeks are paper.-Why, what read you
there,

Cam. Never was monarch better fear'd and Than is your majesty; there's not, I think, a 10 subject,

That sits in heart-grief and uneasiness
Under the sweet shade of your government.

Grey. Even those, that were your father's ene-
mies,

Have steep'd their galls in honey; and doserve you
With hearts create of duty and of zeal.

K. Henry. We therefore have great cause of
thankfulness;

And shall forget the office of our hand,
Sooner than quittance of desert and merit,
According to the weight and worthiness.

Scroop. So service shall with steeled sinews toil;
And labour shall refresh itself with hope,
To do your grace incessant services.

K. Henry. We judge no less.--Uncle of Exeter,
Enlarge the man committed yesterday,
That rail'd against our person: we consider,
It was excess of wine that set him on;
And, on his more advice2, we pardon him.
Scroop. That's mercy, but too much security :
Let him be punish'd, sovereign; lest example
Breed, by his sufferance, more of such a kind.
K. Henry. O, let us yet be merciful.

15

20

That hath so cowarded and chas'd your blood
Out of appearance?

Cam. I'do confess my fault;

And do submit me to your highness' mercy.
Grey. Scroop. To which we all appeal.

K. Henry. The mercy, that was quick in us
but late,

By your own counsel is suppress'd and kill'd:
You must not dare, for shame, to talk of mercy;
For your own reasons turn into your bosoms,
As dogs upon their masters, worrying them.---
See you, my princes, and my noble peers,
These English monsters! MylordCambridge here,
You know, how apt our love was, to accord
Tofurnish him with all appertinents
Belonging to his honour; and this man

25 Hath, for a few light crowns, lightly conspir'd,
And sworn unto the practices of France,
To kill us here in Hampton: to the which,
This knight,-no less for bounty bound to us
Than Cambridge is,-hath likewise sworn.-
But O!

30

Cam. So may your highness, and yet punish too. 35 Grey. Sir, you shew great merey, if you give him life,

After the taste of much correction.

K. Henry. Alas, your too much love and care

of me

And tender preservation of our person,—

What shall I say to thee, lord Scroop; thou cruel,
Ingrateful, savage, and inhuman creature!
Thou, that didst bear the key of all my counsels,
That knew'st the very bottom of my soul,
That almost might'st have coin'd me into gold,
Would'st thou have practis'd on me for thy use,
May it be possible, that foreign hire

Could out of thee extract one spark of evil,
That might annoy my finger? "Tis so strange,
40 That, though the truth of it stands off as gross
As black from white, my eye will scarcely see it.
Treason, and murder, ever kept together,
As two yoke-devils sworn to either's purpose,
Working so grossly in a natural cause,
That admiration did not whoop at them:
But thou, 'gainst all proportion, elidst bring in
Wonder, to wait on treason, and on murder:
And whatsoever cunning fiend it was,
That wrought upon thee so preposterously,

45

Would have him punish'd. And now to our 50 He hath got the voice in hell for excellence:

French causes;

Who are the late commissioners?

Cam. I one, my lord;

Your highness bade me ask for it to-day.
Scroop. So did you me, my liege.
Grey. And me, my royal sovereign.

K. Henry. Then, Richard, earl of Cambridge,
there is yours ;-

There yours, lord Scroop of Masham;-and, sir knight,

Grey of Northumberland, this same is yours :

And other devils, that suggest by treasons,
Do botch and bungle up damnation [fetch'd
With patches, colours, and with forms being
From glistering semblances of piety;

55 But he, that temper'd thee, bade thee stand up,
Gavethee noinstance why thou shouldst do treason,
Unless to dub thee with the name of traitor.
If that same dæmon, that hath gull'd thee thus,
Should with his lion gait walk the whole world,
60 He might return to vasty Tartar' back,
And tell the legions,-I can never win

1i. e. made up of duty and zeal. 2 On his return to more coolness of mind.

3 i. e. from intoxica

tion. * i. e. living. "To stand off is étre relevé, to be prominent to the eye, as the strong parts of a picture. i. e. palpably. i. e. Tartarus, the fabled place of future punishment.

A soul