OBSERVATIONS. SECOND PART OF KING HENRY IV.] The transactions comprized in this history take up about nine years. The action commences with the account of Hotspur's being defeated and killed [1403;] and closes with the death of King Henry IV. and the coronation of King Henry V. [1412-13.] THEOBALD. This play was first entered at Stationers' Hall, August 23, 1600. STEEVENS. The Second Part of King Henry IV. I suppose to have been written in 1598. See An Attempt to ascertain the Order of Shakespeare's Plays, Vol. II. MALONE. Mr. Upton thinks these two plays improperly called The First and Second Parts of Henry the Fourth. The first play ends, he says, with the peaceful settlement of Henry in the kingdom by the defeat of the rebels. This is hardly true; for the rebels are not yet finally suppressed. The second, he tells us, shows Henry the Fifth in the va rious lights of a good-natured rake, till, on his father's death, he assumes a more manly character. This is true; but this representation gives us no idea of a dramatic action. These two plays will appear to every reader, who shall peruse them without ambition of critical discoveries, to be so connected, that the second is merely a sequel to the first; to be two only because they are too long to be one. JOHNSON INDUCTION. Warkworth. Before Northumberland's Castle. Enter RuMOUR, painted full of tongues. OPEN Rumour. your ears; For which of you will stop That the blunt monster with uncounted heads, Among my household? Why is Rumou. here?" Who, in a bloody field by Shrewsbury, Hath beaten down young Hotspur, and his troops, Even with the rebels' blood. But what mean I To speak so true at first? my office is Than they have learn'd of me; From Rumour's tongues [Exit. |