Synopsis:
On the news of Henry IV’s death, Falstaff and Shallow set off joyfully for London.
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 3⟩
Enter Sir John ⟨Falstaff,⟩ Shallow, Silence, Davy,Bardolph, ⌜and⌝ Page.
SHALLOW Nay, you shall see my orchard, where, in an
arbor, we will eat a last year’s pippin of mine own
graffing, with a dish of caraways, and so forth.—
Come, cousin Silence.—And then to bed.
FALSTAFF 5Fore God, you have here ⟨a⟩ goodly dwelling,
and ⟨a⟩ rich.
SHALLOW Barren, barren, barren, beggars all, beggars
all, Sir John. Marry, good air.—Spread, Davy,
spread, Davy. Well said, Davy.
FALSTAFF 10This Davy serves you for good uses. He is
your servingman and your husband.
SHALLOW A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good
varlet, Sir John. By the Mass, I have drunk too
much sack at supper. A good varlet. Now sit down,
15 now sit down.—Come, cousin.
SILENCE Ah, sirrah, quoth he, we shall
⌜Sings.⌝ Do nothing but eat and make good cheer,
And praise God for the merry year,
When flesh is cheap and females dear,
20 And lusty lads roam here and there
So merrily,
And ever among so merrily.
FALSTAFF There’s a merry heart!—Good Master Silence,
I’ll give you a health for that anon.
225
Henry IV, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 3
DAVY, ⌜to the guests⌝ Sweet sir, sit. I’ll be with you
anon. Most sweet sir, sit. Master page, good master
page, sit. Proface. What you want in meat, we’ll
have in drink, but you must bear. The heart’s all.
⌜He exits.⌝
SHALLOW 30Be merry, Master Bardolph.—And, my little
soldier there, be merry.
SILENCE ⌜sings⌝
Be merry, be merry, my wife has all,
For women are shrews, both short and tall.
’Tis merry in hall when beards wags all,
35 And welcome merry Shrovetide.
Be merry, be merry.
FALSTAFF I did not think Master Silence had been a
man of this mettle.
SILENCE Who, I? I have been merry twice and once ere
40 now.
Enter Davy.
DAVY, ⌜to the guests⌝ There’s a dish of leather-coats for
you.
SHALLOW Davy!
DAVY Your Worship, I’ll be with you straight.—A cup
45 of wine, sir.
SILENCE ⌜sings⌝
A cup of wine that’s brisk and fine,
And drink unto thee, leman mine,
And a merry heart lives long-a.
FALSTAFF Well said, Master Silence.
SILENCE 50And we shall be merry; now comes in the
sweet o’ th’ night.
FALSTAFF Health and long life to you, Master Silence.
SILENCE ⌜sings⌝
Fill the cup, and let it come,
I’ll pledge you a mile to th’ bottom.
227
Henry IV, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 3
anything and wilt not call, beshrew thy heart.—
Welcome, my little tiny thief, and welcome indeed
too. I’ll drink to Master Bardolph, and to all the
cabileros about London.
DAVY 60I hope to see London once ere I die.
BARDOLPH An I might see you there, Davy!
SHALLOW By the Mass, you’ll crack a quart together,
ha, will you not, Master Bardolph?
BARDOLPH Yea, sir, in a pottle-pot.
SHALLOW 65By God’s liggens, I thank thee. The knave
will stick by thee, I can assure thee that. He will not
out, he. ’Tis true bred!
BARDOLPH And I’ll stick by him, sir.
SHALLOW Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing, be
70 merry. (One knocks at door.) Look who’s at door
there, ho. Who knocks?⌜Davy exits.⌝
FALSTAFF Why, now you have done me right.
SILENCE ⌜sings⌝
Do me right,
And dub me knight,
75 Samingo.
Is ’t not so?
FALSTAFF ’Tis so.
SILENCE Is ’t so? Why then, say an old man can do
somewhat.
⌜Enter Davy.⌝
DAVY 80An ’t please your Worship, there’s one Pistol
come from the court with news.
FALSTAFF From the court? Let him come in.
Enter Pistol.
How now, Pistol?
PISTOL Sir John, God save you.
229
Henry IV, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 3
PISTOL Not the ill wind which blows no man to good.
Sweet knight, thou art now one of the greatest men
in this realm.
SILENCE By ’r Lady, I think he be, but Goodman Puff of
90 Barson.
PISTOL Puff?
Puff ⟨in⟩ thy teeth, most recreant coward base!—
Sir John, I am thy Pistol and thy friend,
And helter-skelter have I rode to thee,
95 And tidings do I bring, and lucky joys,
And golden times, and happy news of price.
FALSTAFF I pray thee now, deliver them like a man of
this world.
PISTOL
A foutre for the world and worldlings base!
100 I speak of Africa and golden joys.
FALSTAFF
O base Assyrian knight, what is thy news?
Let King Cophetua know the truth thereof.
SILENCE ⌜sings⌝
And Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John.
PISTOL
Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons,
105 And shall good news be baffled?
Then, Pistol, lay thy head in Furies’ lap.
SHALLOW Honest gentleman, I know not your
breeding.
PISTOL Why then, lament therefor.
SHALLOW 110Give me pardon, sir. If, sir, you come with
news from the court, I take it there’s but two ways,
either to utter them, or ⟨to⟩ conceal them. I am, sir,
under the King in some authority.
PISTOL
Under which king, besonian? Speak or die.
231
Henry IV, Part 2
ACT 5. SC. 3
115 Under King Harry.
PISTOL Harry the Fourth, or Fifth?
SHALLOW
Harry the Fourth.
PISTOL A foutre for thine office!—
Sir John, thy tender lambkin now is king.
120 Harry the Fifth’s the man. I speak the truth.
When Pistol lies, do this and fig me, like
The bragging Spaniard.⌜Pistol makes a fig.⌝
FALSTAFF What, is the old king dead?
PISTOL
As nail in door. The things I speak are just.
FALSTAFF 125Away, Bardolph.—Saddle my horse.—
Master Robert Shallow, choose what office thou
wilt in the land, ’tis thine.—Pistol, I will double-charge
thee with dignities.
BARDOLPH O joyful day! I would not take a ⟨knight-hood⟩
130 for my fortune.
PISTOL What, I do bring good news!
FALSTAFF Carry Master Silence to bed.—Master Shallow,
my Lord Shallow, be what thou wilt. I am
Fortune’s steward. Get on thy boots. We’ll ride all
135 night.—O sweet Pistol!—Away, Bardolph!—Come,
Pistol, utter more to me, and withal devise something
to do thyself good.—Boot, boot, Master Shallow.
I know the young king is sick for me. Let us
take any man’s horses. The laws of England are at
140 my commandment. Blessed are they that have been
my friends, and woe to my Lord Chief Justice!
PISTOL
Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also!
“Where is the life that late I led?” say they.
Why, here it is. Welcome these pleasant days.
⟨They exit.⟩
