'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 5 To welcome the condition of the time; Enter Lord John of Lancaster, Gloster, and Cla-10 War. Here come the heavy issue of dead Q, that the living Harry had the temper Ch. Just. Alas, I fear, all will be overturn'd. Lan. We meet like men that had forgot to speak. Lun. Well, peace be with him that hath made Ch. Just. Peace be with us, lest we be heavier! Glo. O, good my lord, you have lost a friend indeed: War. Here comes the prince. Enter King Henry. Ch. Just. Good morrow; and heaven save your inajesty! K. Henry. This new and gorgeous garment, Sits not so easy on me as you think.-—-- But Harry, Harry:-Yet be sad, good brothers, That I will deeply put the fashion on, 20 Let me but bear your love, I'll bear your cares. 25 And I dare swear, you borrow not that face I am the sorrier; 'would, 'twere otherwise. Which swims against your stream of quality. Led by the impartial conduct of my soul; you most; Lan. &c. We hope no other from your majesty. K. Henry. No! How might a prince of my So great indignities you laid upon me? Ch. Just. I then did use the person of your father; The image of his power lay then in me: Whereon, Meaning, a base, ignominious pardon, begged by a voluntary concession of offence, and anticipation of the charge. The chief justice, in this play, was Sir William Gascoigne, of whom the following memoir is given by Sir John Hawkins: While at the bar, Henry of Bolingbroke had been Is client; and upon the decease of John of Gaunt, by the above Henry, his heir, then in banishpent, he was appointed his attorney, to sue in the court of Wards the livery of the estates descended to him. Richard II. revoked the letters patent for this purpose, and defeated the intent of them, And thereby furnished a ground for the invasion of his kingdom by the heir of Gaunt; who becoming terwards Henry IV. appointed Gascoigne chief justice of the King's Bench in the first year of his reign. In that Station Gascoigne acquired the character of a learned, an upright, a wise, and an inpid judge. The story so frequently alluded to of his committing the prince for an insult on his rson, and the court wherein he presided, is thus related by Sir Thomas Elyot, in his book entitled, The Governour: "The moste renomed prince king Henry the fyfte, late kynge of Englande, durynge the lyfe of his father, was noted to be fiers and of wanton courage: it hapned, that one of his erantes, whom he well fauoured, was for felony by him committed, arrained at the kynges benche: whereof the prince being aduertised, and incensed by lyghte persones aboute him, in furious ge came hastily to the barre, where his seruant stode as a prisoner, and commaunded hym to be gyued and set at libertie: wherat all men were abashed, reserued the chiefe justice, who humbly norted the prince, to be contented, that its seruaunt mought be ordred, accordynge to the augiunte lawes of this realme; or if he wolde haue hym saued from the rigour of the lawes, that he Whereon, as an offender to your father, K.Henry. You are right, justice, and you weigh Therefore still bear the balance, and the sword: Into the hands of justice.-You did commit me: Now call we our high court of parliament: And let us chuse such limbs of noble counsel, 25 That the great body of our state may go 30 In equal rank with the best-govern'd nation; he shulde opteyne, if he moughte, of the kynge his father, his gratious pardon, wherby no lawe or justyce shulde be derogate. With whiche answere the prince nothynge appeased, but rather more inflamed, endeuored him selfe to take away his seruant. The iudge considering the perilous example, and inconuenience that mought therby insue, with a valvant spirite and courage, commanded the prince upon his alegeance, to leaue the prisoner, and depart his way. With which commandment the prince being set all in a fury, all chafed and in a terrible maner, came vp to the place of iugement, men thynking that he wold haue slayne the iuge, or haue done to hym some damage: but the iuge sittynge styll without mouing, declaring the maiestie of the kynges place of iugement, and with an assured and bolde countenat nce, had to the prince, these wordes foliowyng, Syr, remembre your selfe, I kepe here the place of the kyng your soueraine lorde and father, to whom ye owe double obedience, wherfore eftesoones in his name, I charge you desyste of your wylfulnes and vnlaufull enterprise, & from hensforth giue good example to those, whiyche hereafter shall be your propre subiectes. And nowe, for your contempte and disobedience, goo you to the prysone of the kynges benche, wherevnto I commyttee you, and remayne ye there prisoner vntyll the pleasure of the kynge your father be further knowen.' With whiche wordes beinge abashed, and also wondrynge at the meruaylous grauitie of that worshypfulle justyce, the noble prince layinge his weapon aparte, doynge reuerence, departed, and wente to the Kynges benche, as he was commanded. Whereat his seruauntes disdaynynge, came and shewed to the kynge all the hole affaire. Whereat he awhyles studyenge, after as a man all rauyshed with gladnesse, holdynge his eien and handes vp towarde heuen, abraided, saying with a loude voice, O mercyfull God, howe moche am I, aboue all other men, bounde to your infinite goodnes, specially for that ye haue gyuen me a iuge, who feareth nat to minister iustyce, and also a soune, who can suffre semblably, and obeye iustyce?" And here it may be noted, that Shakspeare has deviated from history in bringing the chief justice and Henry V. together; for it is expressly said by Fuller, in his Worthies in Yorkshire, and that on the best authority, that Gascoigne died in the life-time of his father, viz. on the first day of November, 14 Henry IV. See Dugd. Origines Juridic. in the Chronica Series, fol. 54. 56. Mr. Malone adds, that in the foregoing account of this transaction, there is no mention of the prince's having struck Gascoigne, the chief justice.-Speed, however, who quotes Elyot, says, on I know not what authority, that the prince gave the judge a blow on the face. To defeat the process of justice. 2i. e. to treat with con tempt your acts executed by a representative. i. e. image to yourself a son. i. e. admonition. The meaning seems to be-My wild dispositions having ceased on my father's death, and being now as it were buried in his tomb, he and wildness are interred in the same grave. i. e. seriously, gravely. Sad is opposed to wild. i. e. the assembly, or general meeting of the floods: for all rivers, running into the sea, are there represented as holding their sessions. And And (heaven consigning to my good intents) Shallow's Seat in Glostershire. 5 Shal. Nay, you shall see mine orchard: where, in ay arbour, we will eat a last year's pippin of 10 my own graffing, with a dish of carraways', and so forth;-come, cousin Silence;-and then to bed. Fal. You have here a goodly dwelling, and a rich. Shal. Barren, barren, barren; beggars all, beg-15 gars all, Sir John:-marry, good air.- -Spread, Davy, spread, Davy: well said, Davy. Fal. This Davy serves you for good uses: he is your serving-man, and your husband-man. Shal. A good variet, a good varlet, a very good 20 varlet, Sir John.-By the mass, I have drank too much sack at supper:a good varlet. Now sit down, now sit down:-come, cousin. Sil. Ah, sirrah! quoth-a,- We shal do nothing but eat, and make good chear, 25 [Singing. And praise heaven for the merry year; So merrily, and ever among so merrily, &c. 30 Fal. There's a merry heart!-Good master Silence, I'll give you a health for that anon. Shal. Give master Bardolph some wine, Davy. Davy. Sweet sir, sit:-I'll be with you anon; -most sweet sir, sit.-Master page, good master 35 page, sit: Proface! What you want in meat, we'll have in drink. But you must bear; The heart's' all. 3 [Exit. Shal. Be merry, master Bardolph;-and my little soldier there, be merry. -Sil. [Singing] Be merry, be merry, mywife has all; Bemerry, be merry, &c. Fal. I did not think, master Silence had been a man of this mettle. Sil. Who, f? I have been merry twice and once, ere now. 3 5 40 45 Re-enter Davy. Davy. There is a dish of leather-coats for you. [Setting them before Bardolph. Shal. Davy, Sil. [Singing] A cup of wine, that's brisk and fine, And a merry heart lives long-a. Sil. An we shall be merry, now comes in the sweet of the night. Fal. Health and long life to you, master Silence! Shal. Honest Bardolph, welcome: If thou want'st any thing, and wilt not cal!, beshrew thy heart.-Welcome, my little tiny thief; [to the page] and welcome, indeed, too.---I'll drink to master Bardolph, and to all the cavaleroes about London. Davy. I hope to see London once ere I die. Bard. Yes, sir, in a pottle pot. Shal. I thank thee:-The knave will stick by thee, I can assure thee that: he will not out; he is true bred. Bard. And I'll stick by him, sir. [One knocks at the door. Shal. Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing: be merry. Look who's at door there: Ho! who knocks? Fal. Why, now you have done me right. [To Silence, who drinks a bumper. Sil. Is't so? Why, then say, an old man can do Fal. From the court? let him come in.- How now, Pistol? sir! Fal. What wind blew you hither, Pistol? A comfit or confection so called in our author's time, according to Dr. Warburton; but a dish of apples of that name, according to Dr. Goldsmith; and Mr. Steevens says, there is a pear called a carraway, which may be corrupted from caillouel, Fr. 2 Here the double sense of the word dear must be remembered. Italian, from profaccia; that is, much good may it do you. That is, the inten tion with which the entertainment is given. This was the term by which an airy, splendid, irregular fellow was distinguished. To do a man right and to do him reason, were formerly the usual expressions in pledging healths. He who drank a bumper expected a bumper should be drank to his toast. It was the custom of the good fellows in Shakspeare's days to drink a very large draught of wine, and sometimes a less palatable potation, on their knees, to the health of their mistress. He who performed this exploit was dubb'd a knight for the evening. Samingo, that is, San Domingo, as Sir T. Hanmer has rightly observed. But what is the meaning and propriety of the name here, has not been shewn. Justice Silence is here introduced as in the midst of his cups: and Mr. Warton says, he remembers a black letter balad, in which either a San Domingo or a signior Domingo, is celebrated for his miraculous fe ts in drinking. Silence, in the abundance of his festivity, touches upon some old song, in which this convivial saint or signior was the burden. Perhaps too the pronunciation is here suited to the character. 7 good. good. Sweet knight, thou art now one of the greatest men in the realm. Sil. Indeed I think 'abe; but goodman Puff of Barson. Pist. Puff? Puff in thy teeth, most recreant coward base! Pist. A foutra for the world, and worldlings ride all night:-Oh, 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 5 king is sick for me. Let us take any man's horses; the laws of England are at my commandment. Happy are they which have been my friends; and woe to my lord chief justice! Pist. Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also! 10Where is the life that late I led', say they : Why, here it is; Welcome these pleasant days. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. A street in London. Fal. O base Assyrian knight, what is thy news: 15 Enter Hostess Quickly, DollTear-sheet, & Beadles 'Let king Cophetua know the truth thereof. Sil. And Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John.[Sings. [ing. 20 And shall good news be baffled? Shal. Give me pardon, sir.--If, sir, you come with news from the court, I take it, there is but two ways; either to utter them, or to conceal 25 them. I am, sir, under the king, in some authority. Pist. Under which king, 'Bezonian? speak, or die. Shal. Under king Harry. Pist. Harry the fourth? or fifth? Shal. Harry the fourth. Pist. A foutra for thine office! Sir Johr, thy tender lambkin now is king; Fal. What is the old king dead? 30 35 Pist. As nail in door: the things I speak, arejust. Fal. Away, Bardolph; saddle my horse.-Mas-40 ter Robert Shallow, chuse what office thou wilt in the land, 'tis thine.-Pistol, I will double-charge thee with dignities. Bard. O joyful day!--I would not take a knighthood for my fortune. Pist. What? I do bring good news? 1451 Host. No, thou arraut knave; I would I might die, that I might have thee hang'd: thou hast drawn my shoulder out of joint. Bead. The constables have deliver'd her over to me; and she shall have whipping-cheer enough, I warrant her: There hath been a man or two, lately, kill'd about her. Dol. Nut-hook, nut-hooks, you lie. Come on; I'll tell thee what, thou damn'd tripe-visag'd rascal; if the child I now go with, do miscarry, thou hadst better thou hadst struck thy mother, thou paper-fac'd villain. Host. O the Lord, that Sir John were come! he would make this a bloody day to somebody. But pray God, the fruit of her womb miscarry! Bead. If it do, you shall have a dozen of cushions again; you have but eleven now. Come, I charge you both go with me; for the man is dead, that you and Pistol beat among you. Dol. Pll tell thee what, thou thin man in a censer! I will have you as soundly swing'd for this, you blue-bottle rogue! you filthy famish'd correctioner if you be not swing'd, I'll forswear half-kirtles'. Bead.Come,come, you she knight-errant; come. Host. O, that right should thus overcome might! Well; of sufferance comes ease. Dol. Come, you rogue, come; bring me to a justice. Host. Ay; come, you starv'd blood-hound. Dol. Come, you thin thing; come, you rascal111! 2 [Exeunt 'Lines taken from an old bombast play of King Cophetua; of whom, we learn from Shakspeare, there were ballads too. See Love's Labour's Lost. This is a term of reproach, frequent in the writers contemporary with our poet. Bisognoso, a needy person; thence, metaphorically, a base scoundrel. To fig, in Spanish higas dar, is to insult by putting the thumb between the fore and middle finger. From this Spanish custom we yet say in contempt, "a fig for you." 4 Words of an old ballad. It has been already observed on the Merry Wives of Windsor, that nut-kook seems to have been in those times a name of reproach for a catchpole; or mut-hook might probably have been as common a term of reproach as rogue is at present. That is, to stuff her out that she might counterfeit pregnancy. 'These old censers of thin metal had generally at the bottom the figure of some saint raised up with a hammer, in a barbarous kind of imbossed or chased work. The hungerstarved beadle is compared, in substance, to one of these thin raised figures, by the same kind of humour that Pistol, in the Merry Wives, calls Slender a laten bilboe. A name probably given to the beadle, from the colour of his livery; or perhaps the allusion may be to the great flesh-fly, commonly called a blue-bottle. A half-kirtle was the same kind of thing as we call at present a short-gown, or a bed-gown: and was the dress of the courtezans of the time. 10 Atomy for anatomy. were called rascal deer. 9 11 Lean deer SCENE SCENE V. A public place near Westminster Abbey. Enter two Grooms, strewing rushes.' 1 Groom. More rushes, more rushes. 2 Groom. The trumpets have sounded twice. 1 Groom. It will be two o'clock ere they come from the coronation: Dispatch, dispatch. [Exeunt Grooms. Enter Fal. Shallow, Pistol, Bardolph, and the Boy. Fal. Stand here by me, master Robert Shallow; I will make the king do you grace: I will leer upon him as a' comes by; and do but mark the countenance that he will give me. Pist. Bless thy lungs, good knight! I have long dream'd of such a kind of man, So surfeit-swell'd, so old, and so profane'; But, being awake, I do despise my dream. Make less thy body, hence, and more thy grace; 5 Leave gormandizing; know, the grave doth gape For thee thrice wider than for other men:— Reply not to me with a fool-born jest ; Presume not, that I am the thing I was: 10 For heaven doth know,so shall the world perceive, That I have turn'd away my former self; So will I those that kept me company. When thou dost hear I am as I have been, Approach me; and thou shalt he as thou wast, The tutor and the feeder of my riots: 15Till then, I banish thee on pain of death,— As I have done the rest of my misleaders,Not to come near our person by ten miles. For competence of life, I will allow you; That lack of means enforce you not to evil: And, as we hear you do reform yourselves, [ties, We will, according to your strength and quali Give you advancement.-Be it your charge, my lord, Ful. Come here, Pistol; stand behind me.O, if I had time to have made new liveries, I would have bestow'd the thousand pound I borrow'd of you. [To Shallow.] But 'tis no matter; this poor show doth better: this doth infer the 20 zeal I had to see him. To see perform'd the tenor of our word.— 25 Set on. 30 Jut. But to stand stained with travel, and sweating with desire to see him: thinking of nothing eke; putting all affairs else in oblivion; as it there were nothing else to be done, but to see him. Pist. 'Tis semper idem, for absque hoc nihil est: 35 Tis all in every part. Shal. 'Tis so, indeed. Pist. My knight, I will enflame thy noble liver, And make thee rage. Thy Doll, and Helen of thy noble thoughts, By most mechanical and dirty hand: [snake, [sounds. [Exit King, &c. Ful. Master Shallow, I owe you a thousand pound. Shal. Ay, marry, Sir John; which I beseech you to let me have home with me. Fal. That can hardly be, master Shallow. Do not you grieve at this; I shall be sent for in private to him: look you, he must seem thus to the world. Fear not your advancement; I will be the man yet, that shall make you great.. Shal. I cannot perceive how: unless you give me your doublet, and stuff me out with straw. I beseech you, good Sir John, let me have five hundred of my thousand. Fal. Sir, I will be as good as my word: this 40 that you heard, was but a colour. Shal. A colour, I fear, that you will die in, Sir John. Fal. Fear no colours; go with me to dinner. Come, lieutenant Pistol; come, Bardolph:-I 45 shall be sent for soon at night. 50 Fal God save thee, my sweet boy! [heart! Fal. My king! my Jove! I speak to thee, my King. I know thee not, old man; Fall to thy At ceremonial entertainments, it was the custom to strew the floor with rushes. 2 Imp means progeny; and is probably derived from img-un, a Welch word, which primitively signifies a sprout, a 3 Protune, in our author, often signifies love of talk, without the particular idea now given it. sucker. Ch. Just. |