Fal. No,I thinke chou art not: I thinke thou art quic for ther. Marry, there is another Indictment vpon thee, for fuffering Beta to bee eaten in thy houfe, contrary to the Law, or the which I thinke thou wild howle. Hast. All ViЯuallers doe fo What is a loyat of Multon,or two,in a whole Lent?

Prince. You, Gentlewoman, Dol. What fayes your Grace? Payt. His Grace fayes that, which his flesh rebells againft,

Hoft. Who knocks fo lowd at doors? Looke to the doose there, Francis ?

Ester Peto.

Prince. Pete, how now? what newes?

Pete. The King, your Father,is at Weftminster,
And there are twentie weake and wearied Postes,
Come from the North and as I came along,
Imet,and ouer-tooke a dozen Captaines,
Bare-headed,fweating, knocking at the Tauernes,
And asking euery one for Sir Iohn Falstaffe.

Prince. By Heauen (Paines) I feele me much to blame, so idly to prophane the precious time, When Tempelt of Commotion,like the South, home with black Vapour, doth begin to melt, And drop vpon our bare vnarmed heads. Gine me my Sword,and Cloake : Falstaffe.good night.

Exit.

Falt. Now comes in the fweetest Morfell of the aight, and wee muft hence, and leaue icvnpickt. More Okocking at the doore? How now ?. what's the mat. ter?

Bard. You muft away to Court, Sir,prefently,
A dozen Captaines ftay at doore for you.

Est. Pay the Mufitians, Sirrha: farewell Hofteffe, farewell Do You fee (my good Wenches) how men of Merit are fought after: the vndeferuet may fleepe, when So the man of Action is call'd on. Farewell good Wenches: if I be not fent away pofte, I will fee you againe, ere I goe. Dol. I cannot (peake: if my heart bee not readie e) to burf Well (fweete Jacke) haue a care of thy

felfe

How many thouland of my pooreft Subie&s
Are at this howre asleepe? O Sleepe,O gentle Sleepe,
Natures loft Nurfe,how haue 1 frighted thee,
That thou no more wit weigh my eye-lids downe,
And fteepe my Sences in Forgetfulneffe?
Why rather (Sleepe) ly est thou in smoakie Cribs,
Vpon vncafie Pallads stretching thee,
And huifht with buffing Night, flyes to thy flumber,
Then in the perfum'd Chambers of the Great?
Vader the Canopies of coftly Sce,
And lull'd with founds of fweetelt Melodie?
O thou dull God, why lyeft thou with the vilde,
In loathfome Beds,and leau'ft the Kingly Couch,
A Watch-cafe,or a common Larum-Bell?
Wilt thou,vpon the high and giddie Maft,
Seale vp the Ship-boyes Eyes and rock his Braines,
In Cradle of the rude imperious Surge,
And in the vification of the Windes,
Who take the Ruffian Billowes by the top,
Curling their monftrous heads and hanging them
With deaffning Clamors in the lipp'ry Clouds,
That with the hurley, Death it felfe awakes?
Canft thou (O partiall Sleepe) gine thy Repofe.
To the wet Sea-Boy,in an houre fo rude:
And in the calmeft,and moft stillett Night,
With all appliances, and meanes to boote,
Deny it to a King? Then happy Lowe.lye downe,
Vncafie lyes the Head, that weares a Crowne.

Enter Warwicke and Surrey.

War. Many good-morrowes to your Maieftic. King. Is it good-morrow, Lords? War. 'Tis One a Clock, and past. King. Why then good-morrow to you all(my Lords:) Haue you read o're the Letters that I fent you? War. We haue (my Liege.)

King. Then you perceive the Body of our Kingdome, 250
How foule it is: what ranke Diseases grow,
And with what danger, neere the Heart of it?

War. It is but as a Body, yet diftemper’o,
Which to his former ftrength may be reflor'd.
With good aduice, and little Medicine:
My Lord Northumberland will foone be cool'd.
King.Oh Heauen,that one might read the Book of Fate,
And lee the reuolution of the Times

300

Make Mountaines leuell and the Continent
(Wearie of folide firmeneffe) melt it felfe
Into the Sea; and other Times, to lea
The beachie Girdle of the Ocean

(4)

Too wide for Neptunes hippes; how Chances mocks And Changes fill the Cuppe of Alteration

850

With diuers Liquors. 'Tis not tenne yeeres gone,
Since Richard, and Northumberland, great friends,
Did feaft together; and in two yeeres after,
Were they at Warres. It is but eight yeeres fince,
This Cerce was the man, neereft my Soule,
Who, like a Brother, toyl'd in my Affaires,
And layd his Loue and Life vnder my foot:
Yea,for my fake,cuen to the eyes of Richard
Gaue him defiance. But which of you was by
(You Coulin Newl, as I may remember)
When Richard, with his Eye,brim-full of Teares,
(Then check'd, and rated by Northumberland)
Did fpeake thefe words (now prou'd a Prophecie:)
Northumberland,thou Ladder, by the which

My Coufin Bullingbrooke ascends my Throne: (Though then,Heauen knowes, I had no fuch intent, But that neceffitie fo bow'd the State, (21) That Iand Greatnefle were compell'd to kiffe:) The Time fhail come (thus did hee follow it) (5) The Time will come that foule Sinne gathering head, Shall breake into Corruption: fo went on, Fore-telling this fame Times Condition, And the diuifion of our Amitie.

War. There is'a Hiftorie in all mers Liues, 50 Figuring the nature of the Times deceas'd: The which obferu d, a man may prophecie With a neere ayme,of the maine chance of things, As yet not come to Life,which in their Seedes And weake beginnings lye entreasured: Such things become the Hatch and Brood of Time; And by the neceffarie forme of this,

100

King Richard might create a perfect gueffe,
That great Northumberland, then false to him,
Would of that Seed,grow to a greater falsenesse,
Which should not finde a ground to roote vpon,
Vnleffe on you.

King. Are thefe things then Neceffities?
Then let vs meete them like Neceflities;
150 And that fame word,euen now cryes out on ys
They fay, the Bishop and Northumberland
Are fifue thoufand trong.

(2)

War. It cannot be (my Lord:)

Rumor doth double,like the Voice,and Eccho, The numbers of the feared. Please it your Grace (2) To goe to bed, vpon my Life (my Lord) 250 The Pow'rs that you alreadie haue fent forth, Shall bring this Prize in very cafily.

To comfort you the more, I haue receiu'à A certaine inftance,that Glendour is dead. 1/ Your Maiefie hath beene this fort-night ill, And thefe vnfeafon'd howres perforce must adde Vato your Sicknesse.

King. I will take your counfaile:

250 And were thefe inward Warres once out of hand, 1 (2) Wee would (deare Lords) vnto the Holy-Land.

Exeunt.

Scena Secunda.

Enter Shallow and Silence: with Mouldie,Shadow, Wart, Feebie, Bull-calfe.

Shal. Come-on,come-on.come-on: giue mee your Hand,Sir; giue mee your Hand, Sir: an early ftirrer,by the Rood. And how doth my good Coufin Silence? Sil. Good-morrow,good Coufin Shallow.

Shal. And how doth my Coufin, your Bed-fellow? and your fairest Daughter, and mine, my God-Daughter

Ellen?

Sil. Alas,a blacke Ouzell (Coufin Shallow.) Shal. By yea and nay,Sir, I dare fay my Coufin William is become a good Scholler? hee is at Oxford ftill, is hee

not?

Sil. Indeede Sir,to my coft.

Shal. Hee must then to the lanes of Court shortly: I was once of Clements Inne; where (I thinke) they will talke of mad Shallow yet.

352 - (59) - Sh

Sil. You were call'd luftie Shallow then(Coufin.) Shal. I was call'd any thing: and I would haue done any thing indeede too.and roundly too. There was I,and little Lohn Doit of Staffordshire, and blacke George Bare, and Francis Pick-bone,and Will Squele a Cot-fal-man, you had not foure fuch Swindge-bucklers in all the Innes of Court againe: Aud I may fay to you, wee knew where the Bona-Roba's were, and had the best of them all a commandement. Then was lacke Falstaffe(now Sir Iebn) a Boy, and Page to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Nor. folke.

Sil. This Sir John (Coufiny that comes hither anon a- | ||

bout Souldiers?

Shal. The fame Sir John, the very fame: I faw him breake Scoggan's Head at the Court-Gate, when hee was a Crack,not thus high: and the very fame day did I fight with one Sampfon Stock-fish, a Fruiterer, behinde Greyes-25 Inne. Oh the mad dayes that I haue fpent! and to fee how many of mine olde Acquaintance are dead ? Sil. Wee fhall all follow (Coufin.)

Shal. Certaine: 'tis certaine: very fure, very fure: Death is certaine to all, all shall dye. How a good Yoke of Bullocks at Stamford Fayre?

Sil. Truly Coufin,I was not there.

Shal. Death is certaine. Is old Double of your Towne liuing yet?

Sil. Dead,Sir.

Shal. Dead? See, fee: hee drew a good Bow: and dead? hee fhor a fine fhoote. Iohn of Gaunt loued him well, and betted much Money on his head. Dead? hee would haue clapt in the Clowt at Twelue-fcore,and carryed you a fore-hand Shaft at foureteene, and foure. scene and a halfe, that it would haule done a mans hear good to fee. How a fcore of Ewes now?

Sil. Thereafter as they be: a fcore of good Ewa may be worth tenne pounds.

Shal. And is olde Double dead 2994- (6)—– 10 h

Enter Bardolph and bus Boy.

Sil. Heere come two of Sir Iohn Falfstaffes Men (as 18). thinke.)

Shal. Good-morrow,hone:t Gentlemen.

Bard, I befeech you,which is Iuftice Shallow ? Shal. I am Robert Shallow(Sir)a poore Esquire of this Countie, and one of the Kings Iuftices of the Peace: What is your good pleasure with me?

Bard. My Captaine (Sir) commends him to you: my Captaine,Sir John Falstaffe: a call Gentleman, and s moft gallant Leader.

Shal. Hee greetes me well. (Sir) I knew him a good Back-Sword-man. How doth the good Knight? may I aske,how my Lady his Wife doth?

Bard. Sir,pardon: a Souldier is better accommoda ted,then with a Wife.

Shal. It is well faid Sir; and it is well faid, indeede, too: Better accommodated? it is good, yea indeede is it: good phrafes are furely, and euery where very com mendable. Accommodated, it comes of Accommede: very good, a good Phrase.

Bard. Pardon, Sir, I haue heard the word. Phrafe call you it by this Day, 1 know not the Phrafe: bur I will maintaine the Word with my Sword, to bet a Souldier-like Word, and a Word of exceeding good Command. Accommodated: that is, when a man is (as they fay) accommodated: or, when a man is, being

486-(15) - 1th

whereby

whereby he thought to be accommodated, which is an excellent thing.

Enter Falstaffe.

Shal. It is very uit: Looke, heere comes good Sir Tab. Giue me your hand, giue me your Worships good hand: Truft me.you looke well: and beare your yeares very well. Welcome,good Sir Iohu,

Fal. I am glad to fee you well, good M. Robert ShalLow: Mafter Sure-card as I thinke

Shal. No finlabs, it is my Colin Silence: in Commiffion with mee.

Fal. Good M. Silence, it well befits you should be of the peace.

Sil. Your good Worship is welcome.

Fal Fye, this is hot weather (Gentlemen) haue you prouided me heere halfe a dozen of fufficient men?, Shal. Marry haue we fir: Will you fic d Fal. Let me fee them, I beseech you.

Shal. Where's the Roll? Where s the Roll? Where's the Roll? Let me fee, let me fee, let me fee: fo,fo,fo.fo: yea marry Sir Raphe Mollie: let them appeare as I call: et them do fo, let them do fo: Let mee fee, Where is Mouldie?

Moul. Heere fit please you.

low.

low: yong,ftrong, and of good friends,

Fal. Is thy name Mouldie?

Moul. Yea if it please you.

Fal. Tis the more time thou wert vs'd.

Shal. Ha ha ha, moft excellent.Things that are mouldie,lackevle:very fingular good. Well faide Sir Tobu wery well faid.

Fal. Pricke him.

Moul...I was prickt well enough before, if you could haue let me alone: my old Dame will be vndone now, for oneto doe her Husbandry, and her Drudgery; you need not to haue prickt me, there are other men fitter to goe out,then I.

Fal. Go too: peace Mouldie, you shall it is time you were spent. Moul. Spent?

goe Mouldic

Shallow. Peace,fellow,peace; ftand afide: Know you where you are? For the other fir John: Let me fee:Simon Shadow

Fal. I marry, let me haue him to sit vnder: he's like to bea cold fouldier.

Shal. Where s Shadow?

Sbad. Heere fir.

fands. Let that fuffice,moft Forcible Feeble,

Feeble. It fhall fuffice..

Falft. I am bound to thee, reuerend Feeble. Who is

the next?

Shal. Peter Bulcalfe of the Greene.

Falft. Yeamarry, let vs fee Bulcalfe,
Bul. Heere fit

Fal. Truft me,a likely.Fellow. Come,prickeme Bicalfe till he roare againe.

Bul. Oh,good my Lord Capraine.

Fal. What? do it thou roare before th art prickt
Bul. Oh fir, I am a diseased man.
Fal. What difease haft thou?

Bul. A whorfon cold fir, a cough fir, which I caught with Ringing in the Kings affayres, vpon his Coronation day,fir.

Fal. Come thou shalt go to the Warres in a Gowne: we will haue away thy Cold, and I will take such order, that thy friends fhall ring for thee. Is heere all?

Shal. There is two more called then your number: you must haue but foure heere fir,and fo I pray you go in with me to dinner.

250

30

Fal. Come, I will goe drinke with you, but fcannot tarry dinner. I am glad to fee you in good troth, Mafter 30

Shallow

416-(0)-8h

old: certaine fhee's qld: and had Robin Night-worke, by old Night-worke, before I came to Clements noe.

Sil. That's fiftie fiue yeeres agoe.

Shad. Hah, Coufin Silence, that thou hadst feene that, that this Knight and I baue feene: hah, Sir John, said I well?

Falft. Wee haue heard the Chymes at mid-night,Ma fter Shallow,

Shal. That wee haue.that wee haue; in faith, Sir Zahn, wee haue: our watch-word was, Hem-Boyes. Come, let's to Dinner; come,let's to Dinner: Oh the dayes that wee haue feene. Come,come.

Bal. Good Mafter Corporate Bardolph, fland my friend, and heere is foure Harry tenne fhillings in French Grownes for you: in very truth,fit,I had as lief be hang'd fir,as goe: and yet,for mine owne part,fir, I do not care; but rather, becaufe 1 am vnwilling, and for mine owne part,haue a defire to flay with my friends: else,fir. 1 did for care,for nine owne part,fo much.

Bard. Go-too: stand afide..

Mould. And good Mafter Corporall Captaine, for my ald Dames fake, fstand my friend: thee hath no body to doc any thing about her, when I am gone: and he is old, and cannot helpe her felfe: you shall haue fortio,fir. Bard, Go-too: ftand aside.

Feeble. I care not, a man can die bur once: wee owe a death. I will neuer beare a base miode: if it be my deftime,fo: if it be not,fo: no man is too good to ferue his Prince: and let it goe which way it will, he that dies this yecre,is quit for the next..

Bard. Well faid, thou art a good fellow.
Feeble. Nay,I will beare no bafe minde,
Faift. Come fir,which men shall I bauc?
Shal. Foure of which you please.

Shal. Hee is not his Crafts-master, hee doth not dag itright. I remember at Mile-end-Greene, when 1 Ly at Clements Inne. I was then Sir Dagener in th Show: there was à little quiuer fellow, and heeworld, manage you his Peece thus: and hee would about, and about, and come you in, and come you in: Rh tah, tab, would hee fay, Bownce would hee fay, and away againe would hee goe, and againe would he come: 1 fhall neuer fee fuch a fellow.

Falt. Thele fellowes will doe well, Mafter Shelly. Farewell Mafier Silence, I will not vse many wordes with you: fare you well, Gentlemen both: I thanks you. I muft a dozen mile to night, Bardolph, giue the Souldiers Coates.

Shal. Sir John, Heauen blesse you, and profper your Affaires, and fend vs Peace. As you returne, Pifit my house. Let our old acquaintance be renewed: 1: peraduenture I will with you to the Court

Falst. I would you would,Master Shallow. Shal. Go-toot I haue spoke at a word. Fare you well.

Falf. Fare you well, gentle Gentlemen. On T dolph, leade the men away. As I returne, I will fetch of thefe Iuftices: 1 doe fee the bottome of luffice Shal low. How fubiect wee old men are to this vice of D ing? This fame ftaru'd Iuftice hath done nothing but prate to nie of the wildeneffe of his Youth, and the Feates hee hath done about Turnball-ftreer, and every third word a Lye, duer pay'd to the hearer, then the Turkes Tribute. I doe remember him at Clements Inne, like a man made after Supper,of a Chéefe.paring, Whes hee was naked, hee was, for all the world, like a forked Radifh, with a Head fantaftically caru'd vpon it with Knife. Hee was fo forlorne, that his Dimenfions (to

Falft. Go-too: well,

Shal. Come, fir Iohn, which foure will you haue?
Falft. Doe you chufe for me.

Shal. Marry then, Mouldie, Bull-calfe, Feeble, and shadow.

Falft. Mouldie,and 'Bull-calfe: for you Mouldie,tay ar home,till you are paft feruice; and for your part,Bullcalfe, grow till you come vnto it: I will none of you.

Shal. Sir Iobn,Sir lobe, doe not your felfe wrong,they are your likelyeftamen,and I would haue feru'd with

the best.

you

Falft. Will you tell me (Mafter Shallow) how to chufe aman? Care I for the Limbe, the Thewes, the ftature, butke, and bigge affemblance of a man? giue mee the fpicic (Mafter Shallow.) Where's Wart? you fee what a ragged appearance it is: hee fhall charge you, and difcharge you, with the motion of a Pewterers Ham. mer: come off, andon, fwitter then hee that gibbers on the Brewers Bucker. And this fame halfe-fac'd fellow, Shadow; gine me this man: hee prefenta no marke to the Enemic, the for.man may with as great ayme levell at the edge of a Pen-knife; and for a Retrait, how swiftly will this reeble, the Womans Taylor, runne off. O, giue me the spare nien, and fpare me the great ones. Put me a Calyuer into Warts hand,Bardolph.

Bard. Hold Wart, Trauerfe: thus, chus, chus. Falft. Come,manage me your Calyuer: fo.very well, go-too,very good,exceeding good. O,giue me alwayes alittle,leane,old,chopt,bald Shot. Well faid warr,thou art a good Scab: hold, there is a Tefter for thee.

Genius of Famine: hee came euer in the rere-ward of the Fashion: And now is this Vices Dagger become a Squire, and talkes as familiarly of fah of Gaunt,at if hee had beene fworne Brother to him: and Ile be fworde hee neuer faw him but once in the Tilt-yard, and then he burft his Head, for crowding among the Marshals men. I saw it, and told John of Gaunt, hee bear his own Name, for you might have trufs'd him and all his Ap parrell into an Eele-skinne: the Cafe of a Treble Bocboy was a Manfion for him: a Court: and now hath hee Land,and Becues. Well, 1 will be acquainted with him,if I returne: and it fhall go hard, but I will make him a Philofophers two Stones to me. If the young Dace be a Bayc forthe old Pike, I fee no reason,in the Law of Nature, but I may fnap at him. Let time hape and there an end. Excuent