Synopsis:
On his journey through Gloucestershire, Falstaff selects recruits for the army and decides that, on his return, he will fleece his old friend, Justice Shallow.
Henry IV, Part 2Henry IV, Part 2
Contents
Characters in the Play
Entire Play
Henry IV, Part 2, continues the story of Henry IV, Part I. Northumberland learns that his son Hotspur is dead, and…
Induction
Following the battle of Shrewsbury (where King Henry and Prince Hal were victorious and Hotspur killed), Rumor spreads the false…
Act 1, scene 1
Northumberland, who had pleaded illness as an excuse for not appearing at the battle of Shrewsbury, learns that his son,…
Act 1, scene 2
Sir John Falstaff is confronted by the Lord Chief Justice. Since Falstaff has come away from Shrewsbury with the reputation…
Act 1, scene 3
At York, the Archbishop discusses with Mowbray, Hastings, and Lord Bardolph whether they can defeat the king’s forces if their…
Act 2, scene 1
Sir John is arrested for the debt he owes Mistress Quickly. He persuades her to drop the charges and to…
Act 2, scene 2
Learning that Falstaff will be dining that night in Eastcheap, Prince Hal and Poins decide to disguise themselves as waiters…
Act 2, scene 3
Northumberland is persuaded by his daughter-in-law, Hotspur’s widow, to abandon the other rebels.
Act 2, scene 4
At Mistress Quickly’s inn in Eastcheap, a fight erupts after Falstaff ’s ensign, Pistol, insults Doll Tearsheet. The disguised Prince Hal…
Act 3, scene 1
An ill and anxious King Henry IV consults with Warwick.
Act 3, scene 2
On his journey through Gloucestershire, Falstaff selects recruits for the army and decides that, on his return, he will fleece…
Act 4, scene 1
The leaders of the rebellion reach Gaultree Forest, where they present their grievances to Westmoreland. After Prince John promises redress…
Act 4, scene 2
Falstaff meets a rebel knight, who surrenders to him. When Prince John reproaches Falstaff for his late arrival, Falstaff turns…
Act 4, scene 3
Just after receiving the good news about the defeat of all the rebel forces, Henry IV falls into a swoon….
Act 5, scene 1
Falstaff observes Shallow and his servants in order to be ready to entertain Prince Hal with amusing stories.
Act 5, scene 2
Prince Hal reassures an anxious Lord Chief Justice.
Act 5, scene 3
On the news of Henry IV’s death, Falstaff and Shallow set off joyfully for London.
Act 5, scene 4
Doll Tearsheet is arrested.
Act 5, scene 5
The newly crowned King Henry V keeps his word to the Lord Chief Justice.
Epilogue
The speaker apologizes for the play and promises another play with Falstaff in it.
⟨Scene 2⟩
Enter Justice Shallow and Justice Silence.SHALLOW Come on, come on, come on. Give me your
hand, sir, give me your hand, sir. An early stirrer, by
the rood. And how doth my good cousin Silence?
SILENCE Good morrow, good cousin Shallow.
SHALLOW 5And how doth my cousin your bedfellow?
And your fairest daughter and mine, my goddaughter
Ellen?
SILENCE Alas, a black ousel, cousin Shallow.
SHALLOW By yea and no, sir. I dare say my cousin
10 William is become a good scholar. He is at Oxford
still, is he not?
SILENCE Indeed, sir, to my cost.
SHALLOW He must then to the Inns o’ Court shortly. I
was once of Clement’s Inn, where I think they will
15 talk of mad Shallow yet.
SILENCE You were called “Lusty Shallow” then,
cousin.
SHALLOW By the Mass, I was called anything, and I
would have done anything indeed too, and roundly
20 too. There was I, and little John Doit of Staffordshire,
and black George Barnes, and Francis Pickbone,
and Will Squele, a Cotswold man. You had
not four such swinge-bucklers in all the Inns o’
Court again. And I may say to you, we knew where
25 the bona robas were and had the best of them all at
commandment. Then was Jack Falstaff, now Sir
John, a boy, and page to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of
Norfolk.
SILENCE This Sir John, cousin, that comes hither anon
30 about soldiers?
SHALLOW The same Sir John, the very same. I see him
break Scoggin’s head at the court gate, when he
was a crack not thus high; and the very same day did
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ACT 3. SC. 2
35 behind Grey’s Inn. Jesu, Jesu, the mad days that I
have spent! And to see how many of my old acquaintance
are dead.
SILENCE We shall all follow, cousin.
SHALLOW Certain, ’tis certain, very sure, very sure.
40 Death, as the Psalmist saith, is certain to all. All
shall die. How a good yoke of bullocks at ⟨Stamford⟩
Fair?
SILENCE By my troth, ⟨cousin,⟩ I was not there.
SHALLOW Death is certain. Is old Dooble of your town
45 living yet?
SILENCE Dead, sir.
SHALLOW Jesu, Jesu, dead! He drew a good bow, and
dead? He shot a fine shoot. John o’ Gaunt loved him
well, and betted much money on his head. Dead! He
50 would have clapped i’ th’ clout at twelve score, and
carried you a forehand shaft a fourteen and fourteen
and a half, that it would have done a man’s
heart good to see. How a score of ewes now?
SILENCE Thereafter as they be, a score of good ewes
55 may be worth ten pounds.
SHALLOW And is old Dooble dead?
SILENCE Here come two of Sir John Falstaff’s men, as I
think.
Enter Bardolph and one with him.
⟨SHALLOW⟩ Good morrow, honest gentlemen.
BARDOLPH 60I beseech you, which is Justice Shallow?
SHALLOW I am Robert Shallow, sir, a poor esquire of
this county and one of the King’s justices of the
peace. What is your good pleasure with me?
BARDOLPH My captain, sir, commends him to you, my
65 captain, Sir John Falstaff, a tall gentleman, by
heaven, and a most gallant leader.
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ACT 3. SC. 2
backsword man. How doth the good knight? May I
ask how my lady his wife doth?
BARDOLPH 70Sir, pardon. A soldier is better ⟨accommodated⟩
than with a wife.
SHALLOW It is well said, in faith, sir, and it is well said
indeed too. “Better accommodated.” It is good,
yea, indeed is it. Good phrases are surely, and ever
75 were, very commendable. “Accommodated.” It
comes of accommodo. Very good, a good phrase.
BARDOLPH Pardon, sir, I have heard the word—
“phrase” call you it? By this day, I know not the
phrase, but I will maintain the word with my sword
80 to be a soldierlike word, and a word of exceeding
good command, by heaven. “Accommodated,” that
is when a man is, as they say, accommodated, or
when a man is being whereby he may be thought to
be accommodated, which is an excellent thing.
Enter Falstaff.
SHALLOW 85It is very just. Look, here comes good Sir
John.—Give me your good hand, give me your
Worship’s good hand. By my troth, you like well and
bear your years very well. Welcome, good Sir John.
FALSTAFF I am glad to see you well, good Master
90 Robert Shallow.—Master ⟨Sure-card,⟩ as I think?
SHALLOW No, Sir John. It is my cousin Silence, in
commission with me.
FALSTAFF Good Master Silence, it well befits you
should be of the peace.
SILENCE 95Your good Worship is welcome.
FALSTAFF Fie, this is hot weather, gentlemen. Have you
provided me here half a dozen sufficient men?
SHALLOW Marry, have we, sir. Will you sit?
⌜They sit at a table.⌝
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ACT 3. SC. 2
SHALLOW 100Where’s the roll? Where’s the roll? Where’s
the roll? Let me see, let me see, let me see. So, so,
so, so, so. So, so. Yea, marry, sir.—Rafe Mouldy!—
Let them appear as I call, let them do so, let them
do so.
⌜Enter Mouldy, followed by Shadow, Wart, Feeble,
and Bullcalf.⌝
105 Let me see, where is Mouldy?
MOULDY, ⌜coming forward⌝ Here, an it please you.
SHALLOW What think you, Sir John? A good-limbed
fellow, young, strong, and of good friends.
FALSTAFF Is thy name Mouldy?
MOULDY 110Yea, an ’t please you.
FALSTAFF ’Tis the more time thou wert used.
SHALLOW Ha, ha, ha, most excellent, i’ faith! Things
that are mouldy lack use. Very singular good, in
faith. Well said, Sir John, very well said.
⟨FALSTAFF 115Prick him.⟩
⌜Shallow marks the scroll.⌝
MOULDY I was pricked well enough before, an you
could have let me alone. My old dame will be
undone now for one to do her husbandry and her
drudgery. You need not to have pricked me. There
120 are other men fitter to go out than I.
FALSTAFF Go to. Peace, Mouldy. You shall go. Mouldy,
it is time you were spent.
MOULDY Spent?
SHALLOW Peace, fellow, peace. Stand aside. Know you
125 where you are?—For th’ other, Sir John. Let me
see.—Simon Shadow!
FALSTAFF Yea, marry, let me have him to sit under.
He’s like to be a cold soldier.
SHALLOW Where’s Shadow?
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ACT 3. SC. 2
FALSTAFF Shadow, whose son art thou?
SHADOW My mother’s son, sir.
FALSTAFF Thy mother’s son! Like enough, and thy
father’s shadow. So the son of the female is the
135 shadow of the male. It is often so, indeed, but much
of the father’s substance.
SHALLOW Do you like him, Sir John?
FALSTAFF Shadow will serve for summer. Prick him,
for we have a number of shadows ⟨to⟩ fill up the
140 muster book.
SHALLOW Thomas Wart!
FALSTAFF Where’s he?
WART, ⌜coming forward⌝ Here, sir.
FALSTAFF Is thy name Wart?
WART 145Yea, sir.
FALSTAFF Thou art a very ragged wart.
SHALLOW Shall I prick him ⟨down,⟩ Sir John?
FALSTAFF It were superfluous, for ⟨his⟩ apparel is built
upon his back, and the whole frame stands upon
150 pins. Prick him no more.
SHALLOW Ha, ha, ha. You can do it, sir, you can do it. I
commend you well.—Francis Feeble!
FEEBLE, ⌜coming forward⌝ Here, sir.
SHALLOW What trade art thou, Feeble?
FEEBLE 155A woman’s tailor, sir.
SHALLOW Shall I prick him, sir?
FALSTAFF You may, but if he had been a man’s tailor,
he’d ha’ pricked you.—Wilt thou make as many
holes in an enemy’s battle as thou hast done in a
160 woman’s petticoat?
FEEBLE I will do my good will, sir. You can have no
more.
FALSTAFF Well said, good woman’s tailor, well said,
courageous Feeble. Thou wilt be as valiant as the
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ACT 3. SC. 2
Prick the woman’s tailor well, Master Shallow,
deep, Master Shallow.
FEEBLE I would Wart might have gone, sir.
FALSTAFF I would thou wert a man’s tailor, that thou
170 mightst mend him and make him fit to go. I cannot
put him to a private soldier that is the leader of so
many thousands. Let that suffice, most forcible
Feeble.
FEEBLE It shall suffice, sir.
FALSTAFF 175I am bound to thee, reverend Feeble.—Who
is ⟨the⟩ next?
SHALLOW Peter Bullcalf o’ th’ green.
FALSTAFF Yea, marry, let’s see Bullcalf.
BULLCALF, ⌜coming forward⌝ Here, sir.
FALSTAFF 180Fore God, a likely fellow. Come, prick ⟨me⟩
Bullcalf till he roar again.
BULLCALF O Lord, good my lord captain—
FALSTAFF What, dost thou roar before thou art
pricked?
BULLCALF 185O Lord, sir, I am a diseased man.
FALSTAFF What disease hast thou?
BULLCALF A whoreson cold, sir, a cough, sir, which I
caught with ringing in the King’s affairs upon his
coronation day, sir.
FALSTAFF 190Come, thou shalt go to the wars in a gown.
We will have away thy cold, and I will take such
order that thy friends shall ring for thee.—Is here
all?
SHALLOW Here is two more called than your number.
195 You must have but four here, sir, and so I pray you
go in with me to dinner.
FALSTAFF Come, I will go drink with you, but I cannot
tarry dinner. I am glad to see you, by my troth,
Master Shallow.
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ACT 3. SC. 2
all night in the windmill in Saint George’s Field?
FALSTAFF No more of that, ⟨good⟩ Master Shallow, ⟨no
more of that.⟩
SHALLOW Ha, ’twas a merry night. And is Jane Nightwork
205 alive?
FALSTAFF She lives, Master Shallow.
SHALLOW She never could away with me.
FALSTAFF Never, never. She would always say she could
not abide Master Shallow.
SHALLOW 210By the Mass, I could anger her to th’ heart.
She was then a bona roba. Doth she hold her own
well?
FALSTAFF Old, old, Master Shallow.
SHALLOW Nay, she must be old. She cannot choose but
215 be old. Certain, she’s old, and had Robin Nightwork
by old Nightwork before I came to Clement’s Inn.
SILENCE That’s fifty-five year ago.
SHALLOW Ha, cousin Silence, that thou hadst seen that
that this knight and I have seen!—Ha, Sir John, said
220 I well?
FALSTAFF We have heard the chimes at midnight, Master
Shallow.
SHALLOW That we have, that we have, that we have. In
faith, Sir John, we have. Our watchword was “Hem,
225 boys.” Come, let’s to dinner, come, let’s to dinner.
Jesus, the days that we have seen! Come, come.
⌜Shallow, Silence, and Falstaff rise and⌝ exit.
BULLCALF Good Master Corporate Bardolph, stand my
friend, and here’s four Harry ten-shillings in
French crowns for you. ⌜He gives Bardolph money.⌝
230 In very truth, sir, I had as lief be hanged, sir, as go.
And yet, for mine own part, sir, I do not care, but
rather because I am unwilling, and, for mine own
part, have a desire to stay with my friends. Else, sir,
I did not care, for mine own part, so much.
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ACT 3. SC. 2
MOULDY And, good Master Corporal Captain, for my
old dame’s sake, stand my friend. She has nobody to
do anything about her when I am gone, and she is
old and cannot help herself. You shall have forty,
240 sir.⌜He gives money.⌝
BARDOLPH Go to. Stand aside.
FEEBLE By my troth, I care not. A man can die but
once. We owe God a death. I’ll ne’er bear a base
mind. An ’t be my destiny, so; an ’t be not, so. No
245 man’s too good to serve ’s prince, and let it go
which way it will, he that dies this year is quit for
the next.
BARDOLPH Well said. Th’ art a good fellow.
FEEBLE Faith, I’ll bear no base mind.
Enter Falstaff and the Justices.
FALSTAFF 250Come, sir, which men shall I have?
SHALLOW Four of which you please.
BARDOLPH, ⌜aside to Falstaff⌝ Sir, a word with you. I
have three pound to free Mouldy and Bullcalf.
FALSTAFF Go to, well.
SHALLOW 255Come, Sir John, which four will you have?
FALSTAFF Do you choose for me.
SHALLOW Marry, then, Mouldy, Bullcalf, Feeble, and
Shadow.
FALSTAFF Mouldy and Bullcalf! For you, Mouldy, stay
260 at home till you are past service.—And for your
part, Bullcalf, grow till you come unto it. I will
none of you.⌜Mouldy and Bullcalf exit.⌝
SHALLOW Sir John, Sir John, do not yourself wrong.
They are your likeliest men, and I would have you
265 served with the best.
FALSTAFF Will you tell me, Master Shallow, how to
choose a man? Care I for the limb, the thews, the
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ACT 3. SC. 2
me the spirit, Master Shallow. Here’s Wart. You see
270 what a ragged appearance it is. He shall charge you
and discharge you with the motion of a pewterer’s
hammer, come off and on swifter than he that
gibbets on the brewer’s bucket. And this same half-faced
fellow, Shadow, give me this man. He presents
275 no mark to the enemy. The foeman may with
as great aim level at the edge of a penknife. And for
a retreat, how swiftly will this Feeble, the woman’s
tailor, run off! O, give me the spare men, and spare
me the great ones.—Put me a caliver into Wart’s
280 hand, Bardolph.
BARDOLPH, ⌜giving Wart a musket⌝ Hold, Wart. Traverse.
Thas, thas, thas.
FALSTAFF, ⌜to Wart⌝ Come, manage me your caliver: so,
very well, go to, very good, exceeding good. O, give
285 me always a little, lean, old, chopped, bald shot.
Well said, i’ faith, Wart. Th’ art a good scab. Hold,
there’s a tester for thee.⌜He gives Wart money.⌝
SHALLOW He is not his craft’s master. He doth not do it
right. I remember at Mile End Green, when I lay at
290 Clement’s Inn—I was then Sir Dagonet in Arthur’s
show—there was a little quiver fellow, and he
would manage you his piece thus. ⌜Shallow performs
with the musket.⌝ And he would about and
about, and come you in, and come you in. “Rah,
295 tah, tah,” would he say. “Bounce,” would he say,
and away again would he go, and again would he
come. I shall ne’er see such a fellow.
FALSTAFF These fellows will do well, Master Shallow.
—God keep you, Master Silence. I will not use
300 many words with you. Fare you well, gentlemen
both. I thank you. I must a dozen mile tonight.—
Bardolph, give the soldiers coats.
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ACT 3. SC. 2
your affairs. God send us peace. At your return, visit
305 our house. Let our old acquaintance be renewed.
Peradventure I will with you to the court.
FALSTAFF Fore God, would you would, ⟨Master
Shallow.⟩
SHALLOW Go to. I have spoke at a word. God keep you.
FALSTAFF 310Fare you well, gentle gentlemen.
⌜Shallow and Silence⌝ exit.
On, Bardolph. Lead the men away.
⌜All but Falstaff exit.⌝
As I return, I will fetch off these justices. I do see
the bottom of Justice Shallow. Lord, Lord, how
subject we old men are to this vice of lying. This
315 same starved justice hath done nothing but prate to
me of the wildness of his youth and the feats he hath
done about Turnbull Street, and every third word a
lie, duer paid to the hearer than the Turk’s tribute. I
do remember him at Clement’s Inn, like a man
320 made after supper of a cheese paring. When he was
naked, he was, for all the world, like a forked radish
with a head fantastically carved upon it with a
knife. He was so forlorn that his dimensions to
any thick sight were invincible. He was the very
325 genius of famine, [yet lecherous as a monkey,
and the whores called him “mandrake.”] He came
⟨ever⟩ in the rearward of the fashion, [and sung
those tunes to the overscutched huswives that he
heard the carmen whistle, and swore they were his
330 fancies or his good-nights.] And now is this Vice’s
dagger become a squire, and talks as familiarly
of John o’ Gaunt as if he had been sworn brother
to him, and I’ll be sworn he ne’er saw him but
once in the tilt-yard, and then he burst his head
335 for crowding among the Marshal’s men. I saw it
and told John o’ Gaunt he beat his own name, for
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Henry IV, Part 2
ACT 3. SC. 2
an eel-skin; the case of a treble hautboy was a
mansion for him, a court. And now has he land and
340 beefs. Well, I’ll be acquainted with him if I return,
and ’t shall go hard but I’ll make him a philosopher’s
two stones to me. If the young dace be a
bait for the old pike, I see no reason in the law of
nature but I may snap at him. Let time shape, and
345 there an end.
⌜He exits.⌝
