'For now fits Expectation in the air;

And hides a fword, from hilts unto the point,
With crowns imperial, crowns, and coronets,
Promis'd to Harry, and his followers.
The French, advis'd by good intelligence
Of this most dreadful preparation,
Shake in their fear; and with pale policy
Seek to divert the English purposes.

O England!— model to thy inward greatness,
Like little body with a mighty heart,—

What might'ft thou do, that honour would thee do,
Were all thy children kind and natural!

But fee thy fault! France hath in thee found out
A neft of hollow bofoms, which fhe fills

With treacherous crowns: and three corrupted men,-
One, Richard earl of Cambridge; and the second,
Henry lord Scroop of Masham; and the third,
Sir Thomas Grey knight of Northumberland,-
Have for the gilt of France, (O guilt, indeed!)
'Confirm'd confpiracy with fearful France;
And by their hands this grace of kings muft die,
If hell and treafon hold their promises.

The fum is paid, the traitors are agreed,
The king is fet from London, and the scene

For now fits Expectation in the air;

And bides a fword, from bilts unto the point,

With crowns imperial, &c.]-The imagery is wonderfully fine, and the thought exquifite. Expectation fitting in the air, defigns the height of their ambition; and the fword bid from the hilt to the point with crowns and coronets, that all fentiments of danger were loft in the thoughts of glory.

model to thy inward greatness,]-thou fmall Island, exhibiting, as in a model, thine inward greatness.

h gilt]-gold, money.

"double gild," &c.

HENRY IV. Part 2, Vol. 3. p. 666. K. Henry. iConfirmed confpiracy]-Entered into a firm confpiracy-confpir'd grace of kings]-ornament, flower of royalty.

firmly.

k

Is now transported, gentles, to Southampton,
Ere he take ship for France. And in Southampton,
Linger your patience on, and well digeft

The abuse of distance, while we 'force a play.
There is the play-house now, there must you fit:
And thence to France fhall we convey you safe,
And bring you back, charming the narrow feas
To give you gentle pafs; for, if we may,
We'll not "offend one ftomach with our play.
But when the king comes forth, and not 'till then,
Unto Southampton do we shift our scene.

'S CENE I.

Before Quickley's house in Eaftcheap.

Enter corporal Nym, and lieutenant Bardolph.

Bard. Well met, corporal.

Nym. Good morrow, lieutenant Bardolph.

[Exit.

Bard. What, are ancient Pistol and you friends yet? Nym. For my part, I care not: I fay little; but when time shall serve, there shall be Pfmiles ;-but that shall be as it may. I dare not fight; but I will wink, and hold out mine iron: It is a fimple one; but what though? it will toaft cheese; and it will endure cold as another man's fword will: and there's the humour of it.

Bard. I will beftow a breakfast, to make you friends;

force a play.]-drefs up an irregular play, wherein the unities muft

be fomewhat infringed.

m

offend one ftomach]-with fea fick nefs.

when-till the king come forth, and but 'till then.

SCENE 1.1-Here the connection between this play and the latter part of Henry IV. begins: without referring to the foregoing plays, the characters and incidents in this will be obscure.

fmiles ;]-when a fit opportunity fhall present itself, I shall smile at the execution of my revenge.

and

and we'll be all three fworn brothers to France: let it be fo, good corporal Nym.

Nym. Faith, I will live fo long as I may, that's the certain of it; and, when I cannot live any longer, I will 'do as I may: 'that is my reft, that is the rendezvous of it.

Bard. It is certain, corporal, that he is married to Nell Quickly: and, certainly, fhe did you wrong; for you were 'troth-plight to her.

Nym. I cannot tell; things must be as they may: Men may fleep, and they may have their throats about them at that time; and, fome fay, knives have edges. It must be as it may though patience be a tir'd mare, yet she will plod. There must be conclufions. Well, I cannot tell. Enter Pistol, and Quickly.

Bard. Here comes ancient Pistol, and his wife :-good corporal, be patient here.-How now, mine hoft Pistol? Pist. Bafe 'tyke, call' ft thou me-host?

Now, by this hand I fwear, I fcorn the term;

Nor fhall my Nell keep lodgers.

Quick. No, by my troth, not long: for we cannot lodge and board a dozen or fourteen gentlewomen, that live honestly by the prick of their needles, but it will be thought we keep a bawdy-houfe ftraight.-O well-a-day, "if he be not drawn now! We fhall fee wilful adultery and murder committed.

Bard. Good lieutenant, good corporal, offer nothing here.

fworn brothers to France:]-in this expedition to France, we'll, in imitation of the old advent'rous chiefs, act in concert, under a vow to fhare equally all our acquifitions.

• die.

that is my reft, that is the rendezvous of it.]—the fum and substance of my fentiments upon this business. troth-plight]-betrothed, affianced. well-a-day, lady.

" tyke,]-cur.

* lieutenant,]-ancient
x

C 4

Nym.

Nym. Pish!

Pift. Pifh for thee, 'Iceland dog! thou prick ear'd cur of Iceland!

Quick. Good corporal Nym, fhew the valour of a man, and put up thy fword.

Nym. Will you 'fhog off? I would have you folus.
Pift. Solus, egregious dog? O viper vile!
The folus in thy most marvellous face;

The folus in thy teeth, and in thy throat,
And in thy hateful lungs, yea, in thy maw, perdy;
And, which is worse, within thy nasty mouth!

I do retort the folus in thy bowels:

For I can take; and Pistol's cock is

a

And flashing fire will follow.

b

up,

Nym. I am not Barbafon; you cannot conjure me. I have an humour to knock you indifferently well: If you grow foul with me, Piftol, I will fcour you with my rapier, as I may, in fair terms: If you would walk off, I would prick your guts a little, in good terms, as I may; and

that's the humour of it.

Pift. O braggard vile, and damned furious wight! The grave doth gape, and 'doating death is near; Therefore, exhale.

Bard. Hear me, hear me what I fay he that strikes the firft ftroke, I'll run him up to the hilts, as I am a foldier.

Pift. An oath of mickle might; and fury shall abate. Give me thy fift, thy fore-foot to me give;

Thy fpirits are most tall.

y Iceland-land-in the north was faid to be a nation, with human bodies and dogs' heads. zog]-walk.

a take;]-take fire; am not to be offended with impunity.—talk. Barbafon ;]-a dæmon mentioned in MERRY WIVES OF WIND SOR, Vol. I. p. 204. Ford.

exbale.]-haul out, draw; die,

groaning.

Nym

Nym. I will cut thy throat, one time or other, in fair terms; that is the humour of it.

Pift. Coupe le gorge, is that the word?-Thee I defy again.

O hound of Crete, think'st thou my spouse to get?
No; to the spital go,

And from the powdering tub of infamy

Fetch forth the lazar kite of Creffid's kind,
Doll Tear-sheet she by name, and her espouse :
I have, and I will hold, the quondam Quickly
For the only fhe; and-Pauca, there's enough to go to.

Enter the Boy.

Boy. Mine hoft Pistol, you must come to my master,and you hoftefs;-he is very fick, and would to bed.Good Bardolph, put thy nose between his fheets, and do the office of a warming-pan: faith, he's very ill.

Bard. Away, you rogue.

Quick. By my troth, he'll yield the crow a pudding one of these days: the king has kill'd his heart.-Good hufband, come home presently. [Exit Quickly.

Bard. Come, fhall I make you two friends? We must to France together; Why, the devil, fhould we keep knives to cut one another's throats?

Pift. Let floods o'erfwell, and fiends for food howl on! Nym. You'll pay me the eight fhillings I won of you at betting?

Pift. Base is the flave that pays.

Nym. That now I will have; that's the humour of it. Pist. As manhood shall compound; Push home.

lazar kite of Creffid's kind,]-difeafed ftrumpet. I compound;]-adjuft, fettle it.

[Draw.

Bard.