the badge of pusillanimity aad cowardice: but the sherris warms it, and makes it course from the inwards to the parts extreme. It illumineth the face; which, as a beacon, gives warning to all the rest of this little kingdom, man, to arm: and then the vital commoners, and inland petty spirits, muster me all to their captain, the heart; who, great, and puffed up with this retinue, doth any deed of courage; and this valour comes of sherris So that skill in the weapon is nothing, without sack; for that sets it a-work and learning, a mere hoard of gold kept by a devil ;9 till sack commences it,' and sets it in act and use. Hereof comes it, that prince Harry is valiant: for the cold blood he did naturally inherit of his father, he hath, like lean, teril, and bare land, manured, husbanded, and tilled, with excellent endeavour of drinking good, and good store of fértile sherris; that he is become very hot, and valiant. If I had a thousand sons, the first human principle I would teach them, should be,-to forswear thin potations, and addict themselves to sack. Enter BARDOLPH. How now, Bardolph ? Bard. The army is discharged all, and gone. Fal. Let them go. I'll through Glostershire; and there will I visit master Robert Shallow, esquire: I have him already tempering between my finger and my thumb,2 and shortly will I seal with him, Come away. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. Westminster. A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, CLARENCE, Prince HUMPHREY, WARWICK, and others. K. Hen. Now, lords, if heaven doth give successful end To this debate that bleedeth at our doors, We will our youth lead on to higher fields, [9] It was anciently supposed that all the mines of gold, &c. were guarded by evil spirits. STEEV [1] I believe, till sack gives it a beginning, brings it into action. STEEV. [2] A very pleasing llusion to the old use of sealing with soft wax. WAR. [3] i. e. our navy is ready, prepared. STEEV. And pause us, 'till these rebels, now afoot, War. Both which, we doubt not but your majesty K. Hen. Humphrey, my son of Gloster, Where is the prince your brother? P. Hum. I think, he's gone to hunt, my lord, at Windsor. K. Hen. And how accompanied ? P. Humph. I do not know, my lord. K.Hen. Is not his brother, Thomas of Clarence, with him? P. Humph. No, my good lord; he is in presence here. Cla. What would my lord and father? K. Hen. Nothing but well to thee, Thomas of Clarence. How chance, thou art not with the prince thy brother? He loves thee, and thou dost neglect him, Thomas; Thou hast a better place in his affection, Than all thy brothers: cherish it, my boy; Of mediation, after I am dead, Between his greatness and thy other brethren :- By seeming cold, or careless of his will. For he is gracious, if he be observ'd ;4 6 Yet notwithstanding, being incens'd, he's flint; (4) i.e if he has respectful attention shown to him. STEEV. (5) i. e. changeable as the weather of a winter's day. Dryden says of Almanzor, that he is humorous as wind. JOHNS. (6) Alluding to the opinion of some philosophers, that the vapours being congealed in the air by cold, (which is most intense towards the morning and being afterwards rarified and let loose by the warmth of the sun, occa sion those sudden and impetuous gusts of wind which are called flaws. WARB. (As, force perforce, the age will pour it in,) Shall never leak, though it do work as strong As aconitum, or rash gunpowder.? Cla. I shall observe him with all care and love. Is overspread with them: Therefore my grief The blood weeps from my heart, when I do shape, War. My gracious lord, you look beyond him quite : The prince but studies his companions, Like a strange tongue: wherein, to gain the language, 'Tis needful, that the most immodest word Be look'd upon, and learn'd: which once attain'd, Your highness knows, comes to no further use, But to be known, and hated.9 So, like gross terms, Shall as a pattern or a measure live, By which his grace must mete the lives of others; K. Hen. 'Tis seldom, when the bee doth leave her comb In the dead carrion.'-Who's here? Westmoreland? Enter WESTMORELAND. West. Health to my sovereign and new happiness Added to that that I am to deliver! (7) Rash is quick, violent, sudden. This representation of the prince is a natural picture of a young man, whose passions are yet too strong for his vir(8) His passions; his inordinate desires. tues. (9) A parallel pasage occurs in Terence: quo modo adolescentulus "Meretricum ingenia et mores posset noscere, JOHN'S. "Mature ut cum cognorit, perpetuo oderit." ANON. (1) As the bee having once placed her comb in a carcase, stays by her honey, so he that has once taken pleasure in bad company, will continue to associate with those that have the art of pleasing him- JOHNS. Prince John, your son, doth kiss your grace's hand : K. Hen. O Westmoreland, thou art a summer bird, Which ever in the haunch of winter sings The lifting up of day. Look! here's more news. Enter HARCOURT. Har. From enemies heaven keep your majesty ; The earl Northumberland, and the lord Bardolph, K. Hen. And wherefore should these good news make me sick? Will fortune never come with both hands full, I should rejoice now at this happy news; [Swoons. And now my sight fails, and my brain is giddy :— West. My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself, look up ! War. Be patient, princes; you do know, these fits Are with his highness very ordinary. Stand from him, give him air; he'll straight be well. Cla. No, no; he cannot long hold out these pangs; The incessant care and labour of his mind Hath wrought the mure, 3 that should confine it in, P. Humph. The people fear me ; for they do observe [2] His is used for its very frequently in the old plays. [3] i e. the wall. POPE. [4] That is, make me afraid. WARB. STEEV. Unfatherd heirs,5 and loathly birds of nature: The seasons change their manners, as the years Say, it did so, a little time before That our great grandsire, Edward, sick'd and dy'd. [They convey the king into an inner part of the Let there be no noise made, my gentle friends; Will whisper musick to my weary spirit. War. Call for the musick in the other room. Enter Prince HENRY. P. Hen. Who saw the duke of Clarence ? Cla. I am here, brother, full of heaviness. P. Hen. How now! rain within doors, and none abroad! How doth the king? P. Humph. Exceeding ill. P. Hen. Heard he the good news yet? Tell it him. P. Humph. He alter'd much upon the hearing it. P. Hen. If he be sick With joy, he will recover without physick. War. Not so much noise, my lords:-sweet prince, speak low; The king your father is dispos'd to sleep. Cla. Let us withdraw into the other room. War. Will't please your grace to go along with us? P. Hen. No; I will sit and watch here by the king. [Exeunt all but Prince HENRY. Why doth the crown lie there upon his pillow, Being so troublesome a bedfellow ? O polish'd perturbation! golden care! [5] That is, equivocal births; animals that had no animal progenitors productions no: brought forth according to the stated laws of generation. JOH. [6] i.e as if the year, &c. MAL. [7] This is historically true. STEEV. |