Henry IV, Part II, William Shakespeare [love letters to the dead txt] 📗

than a penny in purse. Use his men well, Davy; for they are arrant knaves, and will backbite. Davy No worse than they are backbitten, sir; for they have marvellous foul linen. Shallow Well conceited, Davy: about thy business, Davy. Davy I beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor of Woncot against Clement Perkes of the hill. Shallow There is many complaints, Davy, against that Visor: that Visor is an arrant knave, on my knowledge. Davy I grant your worship that he is a knave, sir; but yet, God forbid, sir, but a knave should have some countenance 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 or twice in a quarter bear out a knave against an honest man, I have but a very little credit with your worship. The knave is mine honest friend, sir; therefore, I beseech your worship, let him be countenanced. Shallow Go to; I say he shall have no wrong. Look about, Davy. Exit Davy. Where are you, Sir John? Come, come, come, off with your boots. Give me your hand, Master Bardolph. Bardolph I am glad to see your worship. Shallow I thank thee with all my heart, kind Master Bardolph: and welcome, my tall fellow to the Page. Come, Sir John. Falstaff I’ll follow you, good Master Robert Shallow. Exit Shallow. Bardolph, look to our horses. Exeunt Bardolph and Page. If I were sawed into quantities, I should make four dozen of such bearded hermits’ staves as Master Shallow. It is a wonderful thing to see the semblable coherence of his men’s spirits and his: they, by observing of him, do bear themselves like foolish justices; he, by conversing with them, is turned into a justice-like serving-man: their spirits are so married in conjunction with the participation of society that they flock together in consent, like so many wild-geese. If I 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 better 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, which is four terms, or two actions, and a’ shall laugh without intervallums. O, it is much that a lie with a slight 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! Shallow Within. Sir John! Falstaff I come, Master Shallow; I come, Master Shallow. Exit. Scene II

Westminster. The palace.

Enter Warwick and the Lord Chief-Justice, meeting. Warwick How now, my lord chief-justice! whither away? Chief-Justice How doth the king? Warwick Exceeding well; his cares are now all ended. Chief-Justice I hope, not dead. Warwick

He’s walk’d the way of nature;
And to our purposes he lives no more.

Chief-Justice

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.

Warwick Indeed I think the young king loves you not. Chief-Justice

I know he doth not, and do arm myself
To welcome the condition of the time,
Which cannot look more hideously upon me
Than I have drawn it in my fantasy.

Enter Lancaster, Clarence, Gloucester, Westmoreland, and others. Warwick

Here come the heavy issue of dead Harry:
O that the living Harry had the temper
Of him, the worst of these three gentlemen!
How many nobles then should hold their places,
That must strike sail to spirits of vile sort!

Chief-Justice O God, I fear all will be overturn’d! Lancaster Good morrow, cousin Warwick, good morrow. Gloucester
Clarence Good morrow, cousin. Lancaster We meet like men that had forgot to speak. Warwick

We do remember; but our argument
Is all too heavy to admit much talk.

Lancaster Well, peace be with him that hath made us heavy! Chief-Justice Peace be with us, lest we be heavier! Gloucester

O, good my lord, you have lost a friend indeed;
And I dare swear you borrow not that face
Of seeming sorrow, it is sure your own.

Lancaster

Though no man be assured what grace to find,
You stand in coldest expectation:
I am the sorrier; would ’twere otherwise.

Clarence

Well, you must now speak Sir John Falstaff fair;
Which swims against your stream of quality.

Chief-Justice

Sweet princes, what I did, I did in honour,
Led by the impartial conduct of my soul;
And never shall you see that I will beg
A ragged and forestall’d remission.
If truth and upright innocency fail me,
I’ll to the king my master that is dead,
And tell him who hath sent me after him.

Warwick Here comes the prince. Enter King Henry the Fifth, attended. Chief-Justice Good morrow; and God save your majesty! King

This new and gorgeous garment, majesty,
Sits not so easy on me as you think.
Brothers, you mix your sadness with some fear:
This is the English, not the Turkish court;
Not Amurath an Amurath succeeds,
But Harry Harry. Yet be sad, good brothers,
For, by my faith, it very well becomes you:
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.
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;
But Harry lives, that shall convert those tears
By number into hours of happiness.

Princes We hope no other from your majesty. King

You all look strangely on me: and you most;
You are, I think, assured I love you