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ACT V.
Scene I. Gloucestershire. Shallow's house.
Enter Shallow, Falstaff, Bardolph, and Page.[4274]
Shal. By cock and pie, sir, you shall not away to-night.[4275]
What, Davy, I say!
What, Davy, I say!
Fal. You must excuse me, Master Robert Shallow.
Shal. I will not excuse you; you shall not be excused;
excuses shall not be admitted; there is no excuse shall serve;5
you shall not be excused. Why, Davy!
excuses shall not be admitted; there is no excuse shall serve;5
you shall not be excused. Why, Davy!
Enter Davy.
Davy. Here, sir.
Shal. Davy, Davy, Davy, Davy, let me see, Davy; let[4276]
me see, Davy; let me see: yea, marry, William cook, bid[4277]
him come hither. Sir John, you shall not be excused.10
me see, Davy; let me see: yea, marry, William cook, bid[4277]
him come hither. Sir John, you shall not be excused.10
Davy. Marry, sir, thus; those precepts cannot be served:
and, again, sir, shall we sow the headland with wheat?[4278]
and, again, sir, shall we sow the headland with wheat?[4278]
Shal. With red wheat, Davy. But for William cook:
are there no young pigeons?
are there no young pigeons?
Shal. Let it be cast and paid. Sir John, you shall not
be excused.
be excused.
Davy. Now, sir, a new link to the bucket must needs be[4281]
had: and, sir, do you mean to stop any of William's wages,20
about the sack he lost the other day at Hinckley fair?[4282]
had: and, sir, do you mean to stop any of William's wages,20
about the sack he lost the other day at Hinckley fair?[4282]
Shal. A' shall answer it. Some pigeons, Davy, a couple
of short-legged hens, a joint of mutton, and any pretty little
tiny kickshaws, tell William cook.[4283]
of short-legged hens, a joint of mutton, and any pretty little
tiny kickshaws, tell William cook.[4283]
Davy. Doth the man of war stay all night, sir?25
Shal. Yea, Davy. I will use him well: a friend i' the[4284]
court is better than a penny in purse. Use his men well,
Davy; for they are arrant knaves, and will backbite.
court is better than a penny in purse. Use his men well,
Davy; for they are arrant knaves, and will backbite.
Shal. Well conceited, Davy: about thy business, Davy.
Davy. I beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor
of Woncot against Clement Perkes of the hill.[4287]
of Woncot against Clement Perkes of the hill.[4287]
Shal. There is many complaints, Davy, against that[4288]
Visor: that Visor is an arrant knave, on my knowledge.35
Visor: that Visor is an arrant knave, on my knowledge.35
Davy. I grant your worship that he is a knave, sir; but
yet, God forbid, sir, but a knave should have some countenance[4289]
at his friend's request. An honest man, sir, is able to
speak for himself, when a knave is not. I have served your
worship truly, sir, this eight years; and if I cannot once[4290]40
or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against an honest
man, I have but a very little credit with your worship.[4291]
The knave is mine honest friend, sir; therefore, I beseech
your worship, let him be countenanced.[4292]
yet, God forbid, sir, but a knave should have some countenance[4289]
at his friend's request. An honest man, sir, is able to
speak for himself, when a knave is not. I have served your
worship truly, sir, this eight years; and if I cannot once[4290]40
or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against an honest
man, I have but a very little credit with your worship.[4291]
The knave is mine honest friend, sir; therefore, I beseech
your worship, let him be countenanced.[4292]
Shal. Go to; I say he shall have no wrong. Look[4293]45
about, Davy. [Exit Davy] Where are you, Sir John?[4293][4294]
Come, come, come, off with your boots. Give me your[4293][4295]
hand, Master Bardolph.[4293]
about, Davy. [Exit Davy] Where are you, Sir John?[4293][4294]
Come, come, come, off with your boots. Give me your[4293][4295]
hand, Master Bardolph.[4293]
Bard. I am glad to see your worship.
Shal. I thank thee with all my heart, kind Master[4296]50
Bardolph: and welcome, my tall fellow [to the Page.][4297]
Come, Sir John.
Bardolph: and welcome, my tall fellow [to the Page.][4297]
Come, Sir John.
Fal. I'll follow you, good Master Robert Shallow. [Exit[4298]
Shallow.] Bardolph, look to our horses. [Exeunt Bardolph[4298][4299]
and Page.] If I were sawed into quantities, I should make[4299]55
four dozen of such bearded hermits' staves as Master Shallow.[4300]
It is a wonderful thing to see the sembable coherence of
his men's spirits and his: they, by observing of him, do bear[4301]
themselves like foolish justices; he, by conversing with them,
is turned into a justice-like serving-man: their spirits are so60
married in conjunction with the participation of society that
they flock together in consent, like so many wild-geese. If I[4302]
had a suit to Master Shallow, I would humour his men with
the imputation of being near their master: if to his men, I
would curry with Master Shallow that no man could better65
command his servants. It is certain that either wise bearing
or ignorant carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of
another: therefore let men take heed of their company. I
will devise matter enough out of this Shallow to keep Prince
Harry in continual laughter the wearing out of six fashions,[4303]70
which is four terms, or two actions, and a' shall laugh[4304]
without intervallums. O, it is much that a lie with a slight[4305]
oath and a jest with a sad brow will do with a fellow that
never had the ache in his shoulders! O, you shall see
him laugh till his face be like a wet cloak ill laid up!75
Shallow.] Bardolph, look to our horses. [Exeunt Bardolph[4298][4299]
and Page.] If I were sawed into quantities, I should make[4299]55
four dozen of such bearded hermits' staves as Master Shallow.[4300]
It is a wonderful thing to see the sembable coherence of
his men's spirits and his: they, by observing of him, do bear[4301]
themselves like foolish justices; he, by conversing with them,
is turned into a justice-like serving-man: their spirits are so60
married in conjunction with the participation of society that
they flock together in consent, like so many wild-geese. If I[4302]
had a suit to Master Shallow, I would humour his men with
the imputation of being near their master: if to his men, I
would curry with Master Shallow that no man could better65
command his servants. It is certain that either wise bearing
or ignorant carriage is caught, as men take diseases, one of
another: therefore let men take heed of their company. I
will devise matter enough out of this Shallow to keep Prince
Harry in continual laughter the wearing out of six fashions,[4303]70
which is four terms, or two actions, and a' shall laugh[4304]
without intervallums. O, it is much that a lie with a slight[4305]
oath and a jest with a sad brow will do with a fellow that
never had the ache in his shoulders! O, you shall see
him laugh till his face be like a wet cloak ill laid up!75
Shal. [Within] Sir John![4306]
Fal. I come, Master Shallow; I come, Master Shallow.
[Exit.[4307]
Scene II. Westminster. The palace.
Enter Warwick and the Lord Chief Justice, meeting.[4308]
War. How now, my lord chief justice! whither away?[4309]
Ch. Just. How doth the king?
War. Exceeding well; his cares are now all ended.[4310]
Ch. Just. I hope, not dead.
War. He's walk'd the way of nature;
And to our purposes he lives no more.5
And to our purposes he lives no more.5
Ch. Just. I would his majesty had call'd me with him:
The service that I truly did his life
Hath left me open to all injuries.
The service that I truly did his life
Hath left me open to all injuries.
War. Indeed I think the young king loves you not.
Ch. Just. I know he doth not, and do arm myself10
To welcome the condition of the time,
Which cannot look more hideously upon me[4311]
Than I have drawn it in my fantasy.
To welcome the condition of the time,
Which cannot look more hideously upon me[4311]
Than I have drawn it in my fantasy.
Enter Lancaster, Clarence, Gloucester, Westmoreland, and others.[4312]
War. Here come the heavy issue of dead Harry:
O that the living Harry had the temper15
Of him, the worst of these three gentlemen![4313]
How many nobles then should hold their places,
That must strike sail to spirits of vile sort!
O that the living Harry had the temper15
Of him, the worst of these three gentlemen![4313]
How many nobles then should hold their places,
That must strike sail to spirits of vile sort!
Ch. Just. O God, I fear all will be overturn'd![4314]
Lan. Good morrow, cousin Warwick, good morrow.[4315]20
Glou. } Good morrow, cousin.[4316]
Clar. }
Clar. }
Lan. We meet like men that had forgot to speak.
War. We do remember; but our argument
Is all too heavy to admit much talk.
Is all too heavy to admit much talk.
Lan. Well, peace be with him that hath made us heavy!25
Ch. Just. Peace be with us, lest we be heavier!
Glou. O, good my lord, you have lost a friend indeed;[4317]
And I dare swear you borrow not that face
Of sceming sorrow, it is sure your own.
And I dare swear you borrow not that face
Of sceming sorrow, it is sure your own.
Lan. Though no man be assured what grace to find,30
You stand in coldest expectation:
I am the sorrier; would 'twere otherwise.
You stand in coldest expectation:
I am the sorrier; would 'twere otherwise.
Clar. Well, you must now speak Sir John Falstaff fair;
Which swims against your stream of quality.
Which swims against your stream of quality.
Ch. Just. Sweet princes, what I did, I did in honour,35
Led by the impartial conduct of my soul;[4318]
And never shall you see that I will beg
A ragged and forestall'd remission.[4319][4320]
If truth and upright innocency fail me,[4320][4321]
I'll to the king my master that is dead,40
And tell him who hath sent me after him.
Led by the impartial conduct of my soul;[4318]
And never shall you see that I will beg
A ragged and forestall'd remission.[4319][4320]
If truth and upright innocency fail me,[4320][4321]
I'll to the king my master that is dead,40
And tell him who hath sent me after him.
War. Here comes the prince.
Enter King Henry the fifth, attended.[4322]
Ch. Just. Good morrow; and God save your majesty![4323]
King. This new and gorgeous garment, majesty,[4324]
Sits not so easy on me as you think.45
Brothers, you mix your sadness with some fear:[4325]
This is the English, not the Turkish court;
Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds,[4326]
But Harry Harry. Yet be sad, good brothers,
For, by my faith, it very well becomes you:[4327]50
Sorrow so royally in you appears
That I will deeply put the fashion on
And wear it in my heart: why then, be sad;
But entertain no more of it, good brothers,
Than a joint burden laid upon us all.55
For me, by heaven, I bid you be assured,
I'll be your father and your brother too;
Let me but bear your love. I'll bear your cares:
Yet weep that Harry's dead; and so will I;[4328]
But Harry lives, that shall convert those tears60
By number into hours of happiness.
Sits not so easy on me as you think.45
Brothers, you mix your sadness with some fear:[4325]
This is the English, not the Turkish court;
Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds,[4326]
But Harry Harry. Yet be sad, good brothers,
For, by my faith, it very well becomes you:[4327]50
Sorrow so royally in you appears
That I will deeply put the fashion on
And wear it in my heart: why then, be sad;
But entertain no more of it, good brothers,
Than a joint burden laid upon us all.55
For me, by heaven, I bid you be assured,
I'll be your father and your brother too;
Let me but bear your love. I'll bear your cares:
Yet weep that Harry's dead; and so will I;[4328]
But Harry lives, that shall convert those tears60
By number into hours of happiness.
Princes. We hope no other from your majesty.[4329]
King. You all look strangely on me: and you most;[4330]
You are, I think, assured I love you not.
You are, I think, assured I love you not.
Ch. Just. I am assured, if I be measured rightly,65
Your majesty hath no just cause to hate me.
Your majesty hath no just cause to hate me.
King. No![4331]
How might a prince of my great hopes forget[4331]
So great indignities you laid upon me?[4332]
What! rate, rebuke, and roughly send to prison70
The immediate heir of England! Was this easy?
May this be wash'd in Lethe, and forgotten?[4333]
How might a prince of my great hopes forget[4331]
So great indignities you laid upon me?[4332]
What! rate, rebuke, and roughly send to prison70
The immediate heir of England! Was this easy?
May this be wash'd in Lethe, and forgotten?[4333]
Ch. Just. I then did use the person of your father;
The image of his power lay then in me:
And, in the administration of his law,75
Whiles I was busy for the commonwealth,
Your highness pleased to forget my place,
The majesty and power of law and justice,
The image of the king whom I presented,
And struck me in my very seat of judgement;80
Whereon, as an offender to your father,
I gave bold way to my authority,
And did commit you. If the deed were ill,[4334]
Be you contented, wearing now the garland,[4334]
To have a son set your decrees at nought,[4335]85
To pluck down justice from your awful bench.[4335]
To trip the course of law and blunt the sword
That guards the peace and safety of your person;[4335]
Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image
And mock your workings in a second body.[4335]90
Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours;
Be now the father and propose a son,
Hear your own dignity so much profaned,
See your most dreadful laws so loosely slighted,
Behold yourself so by a son disdain'd;95
And then imagine me taking your part[4336]
And in your power soft silencing your son:[4337]
After this cold considerance, sentence me;
And, as you are a king, speak in your state
What I have done that misbecame my place,100
My person, or my liege's sovereignty.
The image of his power lay then in me:
And, in the administration of his law,75
Whiles I was busy for the commonwealth,
Your highness pleased to forget my place,
The majesty and power of law and justice,
The image of the king whom I presented,
And struck me in my very seat of judgement;80
Whereon, as an offender to your father,
I gave bold way to my authority,
And did commit you. If the deed were ill,[4334]
Be you contented, wearing now the garland,[4334]
To have a son set your decrees at nought,[4335]85
To pluck down justice from your awful bench.[4335]
To trip the course of law and blunt the sword
That guards the peace and safety of your person;[4335]
Nay, more, to spurn at your most royal image
And mock your workings in a second body.[4335]90
Question your royal thoughts, make the case yours;
Be now the father and propose a son,
Hear your own dignity so much profaned,
See your most dreadful laws so loosely slighted,
Behold yourself so by a son disdain'd;95
And then imagine me taking your part[4336]
And in your power soft silencing your son:[4337]
After this cold considerance, sentence me;
And, as you are a king, speak in your state
What I have done that misbecame my place,100
My person, or my liege's sovereignty.
King. You are right, justice, and you weigh this well;
Therefore still bear the balance and the sword:
And I do wish your honours may increase,
Till you do live to see a son of mine105
Offend you, and obey you, as I did.
So shall I live to speak my father's words:
'Happy am I, that have a man so bold,
That dares do justice on my proper son;
And not less happy, having such a son,[4338]110
That would deliver up his greatness so
Into the hands of justice.' You did commit me:[4339]
For which, I do commit into your hand
The unstained sword that you have used to bear;
With this remembrance, that you use the same115
With the like bold, just, and impartial spirit
As you have done 'gainst me. There is my hand.
You shall be as a father to my youth:
My voice shall sound as you do prompt mine ear,
And I will stoop and humble my intents120
To your well-practised wise directions.
And, princes all, believe me, I beseech you;
My father is gone wild into his grave,[4340][4341]
For in his tomb lie my affections;[4340]
And with his spirit sadly I survive,[4342]125
To mock the expectation of the world,
To frustrate prophecies and to raze out
Rotten opinion, who hath writ me down[4343]
After my seeming. The tide of blood in me[4344]
Hath proudly flow'd in vanity till now:130
Now doth it turn and ebb back to the sea,
Where it shall mingle with the state of floods[4345]
And flow henceforth in formal majesty.
Now call we our high court of parliament:
And let us choose such limbs of noble counsel,135
That the great body of our state may go
In equal rank with the best govern'd nation;
That war, or peace, or both at once, may be
As things acquainted and familiar to us;
In which you, father, shall have foremost hand.[4346]140
Our coronation done, we will accite,
As I before remember'd, all our state:
And, God consigning to my good intents,[4347]
No prince nor peer shall have just cause to say,
God shorten Harry's happy life one day! [Exeunt.[4348]145
Therefore still bear the balance and the sword:
And I do wish your honours may increase,
Till you do live to see a son of mine105
Offend you, and obey you, as I did.
So shall I live to speak my father's words:
'Happy am I, that have a man so bold,
That dares do justice on my proper son;
And not less happy, having such a son,[4338]110
That would deliver up his greatness so
Into the hands of justice.' You did commit me:[4339]
For which, I do commit into your hand
The unstained sword that you have used to bear;
With this remembrance, that you use the same115
With the like bold, just, and impartial spirit
As you have done 'gainst me. There is my hand.
You shall be as a father to my youth:
My voice shall sound as you do prompt mine ear,
And I will stoop and humble my intents120
To your well-practised wise directions.
And, princes all, believe me, I beseech you;
My father is gone wild into his grave,[4340][4341]
For in his tomb lie my affections;[4340]
And with his spirit sadly I survive,[4342]125
To mock the expectation of the world,
To frustrate prophecies and to raze out
Rotten opinion, who hath writ me down[4343]
After my seeming. The tide of blood in me[4344]
Hath proudly flow'd in vanity till now:130
Now doth it turn and ebb back to the sea,
Where it shall mingle with the state of floods[4345]
And flow henceforth in formal majesty.
Now call we our high court of parliament:
And let us choose such limbs of noble counsel,135
That the great body of our state may go
In equal rank with the best govern'd nation;
That war, or peace, or both at once, may be
As things acquainted and familiar to us;
In which you, father, shall have foremost hand.[4346]140
Our coronation done, we will accite,
As I before remember'd, all our state:
And, God consigning to my good intents,[4347]
No prince nor peer shall have just cause to say,
God shorten Harry's happy life one day! [Exeunt.[4348]145
Scene III. Gloucestershire. Shallow's orchard.
Enter Falstaff, Shallow, Silence, Davy, Bardolph, and the Page.[4349]
Shal. Nay, you shall see my orchard, where, in an[4350]
arbour, we will eat a last year's pippin of my own graffing,[4351]
with a dish of caraways, and so forth: come, cousin Silence:
and then to bed.
arbour, we will eat a last year's pippin of my own graffing,[4351]
with a dish of caraways, and so forth: come, cousin Silence:
and then to bed.
Fal. 'Fore God, you have here a goodly dwelling and[4352]5
a rich.
a rich.
Shal. Barren, barren, barren; beggars all, beggars all,
Sir John: marry, good air. Spread, Davy; spread, Davy:
well said, Davy.[4353]
Sir John: marry, good air. Spread, Davy; spread, Davy:
well said, Davy.[4353]
Fal. This Davy serves you for good uses; he is your10
serving-man and your husband.[4354]
serving-man and your husband.[4354]
Shal. A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good varlet,
Sir John: by the mass, I have drunk too much sack at[4355]
supper: a good varlet. Now sit down, now sit down:
come, cousin.15
Sir John: by the mass, I have drunk too much sack at[4355]
supper: a good varlet. Now sit down, now sit down:
come, cousin.15
Sil. Ah, sirrah! quoth-a, we shall[4356][4357]
Do nothing but eat, and make good cheer,[4357][4358][4359] [Singing.
And praise God for the merry year;[4358][4360]
When flesh is cheap and females dear,[4358][4361]
And lusty lads roam here and there[4358][4362]20
So merrily,[4358][4363]
And ever among so merrily.[4358]
Do nothing but eat, and make good cheer,[4357][4358][4359] [Singing.
And praise God for the merry year;[4358][4360]
When flesh is cheap and females dear,[4358][4361]
And lusty lads roam here and there[4358][4362]20
So merrily,[4358][4363]
And ever among so merrily.[4358]
Shal. Give Master Bardolph some wine, Davy.[4366]25
Davy. Sweet sir, sit; I'll be with you anon; most
sweet sir, sit. Master page, good master page, sit. Proface![4367]
What you want in meat, we'll have in drink: but[4368]
you must bear; the heart's all. [Exit.[4369]
sweet sir, sit. Master page, good master page, sit. Proface![4367]
What you want in meat, we'll have in drink: but[4368]
you must bear; the heart's all. [Exit.[4369]
Shal. Be merry, Master Bardolph; and, my little30
soldier there, be merry.
soldier there, be merry.
Sil. Be merry, be merry, my wife has all;[4359][4370][4371] [Singing.
For women are shrews, both short and tall:[4370]
'Tis merry in hall when beards wag all,[4370][4372]
And welcome merry Shrove-tide.[4370]35
Be merry, be merry.[4370][4373]
For women are shrews, both short and tall:[4370]
'Tis merry in hall when beards wag all,[4370][4372]
And welcome merry Shrove-tide.[4370]35
Be merry, be merry.[4370][4373]
Fal. I did not think Master Silence had been a man of
this mettle.[4374]
this mettle.[4374]
Sil. Who, I? I have been merry twice and once ere
now.40
now.40
Re-enter Davy.[4375]
Davy. There's a dish of leather-coats for you.
[To Bardolph.[4376]
Shal. Davy!
Sil. A cup of wine that's brisk and fine,[4359][4378] [Singing.45
And drink unto the leman mine;[4378]
And a merry heart lives long-a.[4378]
And drink unto the leman mine;[4378]
And a merry heart lives long-a.[4378]
Fal. Well said, Master Silence.
Fal. Health and long life to you, Master Silence.
Sil. Fill the cup, and let it come;[4382][4383] [Singing.
I'll pledge you a mile to the bottom.[4382][4384]
I'll pledge you a mile to the bottom.[4382][4384]
Shal. Honest Bardolph, welcome: if thou wantest any
thing, and wilt not call, beshrew thy heart. Welcome, my55
little tiny thief [to the Page], and welcome indeed too. I'll[4385]
drink to Master Bardolph, and to all the cavaleros about[4386]
London.
thing, and wilt not call, beshrew thy heart. Welcome, my55
little tiny thief [to the Page], and welcome indeed too. I'll[4385]
drink to Master Bardolph, and to all the cavaleros about[4386]
London.
Davy. I hope to see London once ere I die.[4387]
Bard. An I might see you there, Davy,—[4388]60
Shal. By the mass, you'll crack a quart together, ha![4389]
will you not, Master Bardolph?
will you not, Master Bardolph?
Bard. Yea, sir, in a pottle-pot.[4390]
Shal. By God's liggens, I thank thee: the knave will[4391]
stick by thee, I can assure thee that. A' will not out; he[4392][4393]65
is true bred.[4393]
stick by thee, I can assure thee that. A' will not out; he[4392][4393]65
is true bred.[4393]
Bard. And I'll stick by him, sir.
Shal. Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing: be
merry. [Knocking within.] Look who's at door there, ho![4394]
who knocks? [Exit Davy.[4395]70
merry. [Knocking within.] Look who's at door there, ho![4394]
who knocks? [Exit Davy.[4395]70
Fal. Why, now you have done me right.[4396]
[To Silence, seeing him take off a bumper.