'ACT V. SCENE I. The Camp of SHREWSBURY. Enter King Henry, Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster, Earl of Weftmorland, Sir Walter Blunt, and Falstaff. HOW K. HENRY. OW bloodily the Sun begins to peer Above yon busky hill! the day looks pale At his diftemperature. P. Henry. The fouthern wind Doth play the trumpet to his purposes, K. Henry. Then with the lofers let it fympathize, [The Trumpet founds. Enter Worcester, and Sir Richard Vernon. K. Henry. How now, my lord of Wor'fter? 'tis not well That you and I fhould meet upon fuch terms 7 A& V.] It seems proper to be remarked, that in the editions printed while the authour lived, this play is not broken into acts. The divifion which was made by the players in the first folio feems commodious enough; but, being without authority, may be changed by any editor who thinks himself able to make a better. To his purpofes.] That is, to the fun's, to that which the fun portends by his unusual appearance. This is not well, my lord, this is not well. A prodigy of fear, and a portent Of broached mifchief, to the unborn times? For mine own part, I could be well content I have not fought the day of this diflike. K. Henry. You have not fought it, Sir? how comes Fal. Rebellion lay in his way, and he found it. Wor. It pleas'd your Majefty, to turn your looks 9 Fal. Rebellion lay in his way, and he found it. Prince. Peace, Chevet, peace.] This, I take to be an arbitrary Refinement of Mr. Pope's nor can I eafily agree, that Chevet it Shakespeare's Word here. Why fhould Prince Henry call Falstaff Bolfter, for interpofing in the Difcourfe betwixt the King and Worcester? With Submiffion, he does not take him up here for his unreasonable Size, but for his illtim'd and unfeasonable Chattering. I therefore have preferv'd the Reading of the old Books. A Chewet, or Chuet, is a noify This chattering Bird, a Pie. carries a proper Reproach to Fal ftoff for his medling and impertinent Jeft. And befides, if the Poet had intended that the Prince fhould ficer at Falstaff, on Account of his Corpulency, I doubt not, but he would have called him Bolfter in plain English, and not have wrapp'd up the Abufe in the French Word Chevet. In another Paffage of this Play, the Prince honelly calls him Quilt? As to Prince Henry, his Stock in this Language was fo fmall, that when he comes to be King, he hammers out one fmall Sentence of it to Princess Catharine, and tells her, It is as eafy for him to conquer the Kingdom as to speak jo much more French. THEOBALD. For For you, my ftaff of office I did break It was myself, my brother, and his fon, That all in England did repute him dead; 2 And being fed by us, you us'd us fo, As that ungentle gull, the Cuckow's bird, Out of your fight, and raife this prefent head, 1 My foff of office.] See Richard the fecond. As that ungentle gull, the cuckow's bird.] The cuckow's chicken, who, being hatch ed and fed by the fparrow, in whofe neft the cuckow's egg was laid, grows in time able to devour her nurse. Whereby 3 Whereby we ftand oppofed by fuch means. Sworn to us in your younger enterprize. K. Henry. These things, indeed, you have articulated, With fome fine colour, that may please the eye And never yet did Infurrection want. P. Henry. In both our armies there is many a foul + More active-valiant, or more valiant-young, 3 We fand oppofed, &c.] We fland in oppofition to you. 4 More active-valiant, or more valiant-young.] Sir T. Han P 3 mer reads, more valued young. I think the prefent gingle has more of Shakespeare. K. Henry. K. Henry. And, Prince of Wales, fo dare we venture thee, Albeit, Confiderations infinite Do make against it. No, good Wor'fter, no, [Exit Worcester, with Vernon. K. Henry. Hence, therefore, every Leader to his Charge. For on their anfwer we will fet on them. And God befriend us, as our caufe is juft! [Exeunt. SCEN E II. Manent Prince Henry and Falstaff. Fal. Hal, if thou fee me down in the battle, and beftride me, fo; 'tis a point of friendship. P. Henry. Nothing but a Coloffus can do thee that Friendship. Say thy prayers, and farewel. Fal. I would it were bed-time, Hal, and all well. P. Henry. Why, thou oweft heav'n a death. [Exit P. Henry *. Fal. 'Tis not due yet: I would be loth to pay him before his day. What need I be fo forward with him that calls not on me? Well, 'tis no matter, honour * This exit is remarked by Mr. Upton. |