defile; fo doth the company thou keepeft: for, Harry', now I do not speak to thee in drink, but in tears; not in pleafure, but in paffion; not in words only, but in woes alfo:-And yet there is a virtuous man, whom I have often noted in thy company, but I know not his name.

P. Henry. What manner of man, an it like your majesty? Fal. A goodly portly man, i'faith, and a corpulent; of a cheerful look, a pleafing eye, and a most noble carriage; and, as I think, his age fome fifty, or, by'r-lady, inclining to threefcore; and now I remember me, his name is Falftaff: if that man fhould be lewdly given, he deceiveth me; for, Harry, I fee virtue in his looks. then the tree may be known by the fruit, as the fruit by the tree, then, peremptorily I fpeak it, there is virtue in that Falstaff: him keep with, the rest banish. And tell me now, thou naughty varlet, tell me, where haft thou been this month?

If

P. Henry. Doft thou speak like a king? Do thou ftand for me, and I'll play my father.

Fal. Depofe me? if thou doft it half fo gravely, fo majestically, both in word and matter, hang me up by the heels for a rabbet-fucker, or a poulter's hare.

P. Henry. Well, here I am fet.

Fal. And here I ftand:-judge, my mafters.
P. Henry. Now, Harry? whence come you?
Fal. My noble lord, from Eaft-cheap.

P. Henry. The complaints I hear of thee are grievous. Fal. 'Sblood, my lord, they are falfe:-nay, I'll tickle ye for a young prince, i'faith.

P. Henry. Sweareit thou, ungracious boy? henceforth ne'er look on me. Thou art violently carried away from

If then the, &c.]—If I can judge of the man by his goodly looks, he must be virtuous.

¿ rabbet-fucker, or a poulter's bare.]—a fucking rabbet, or hare cased and hung up in a poulterer's fhop.

VOL. III.

LI

grace

с

b

2

grace: there is a devil haunts thee, in the likeness of a fat old man; a tun of man is thy companion. Why dost thou converse with that trunk of humours, that boltinghutch of beastliness, that fwoln parcel of dropfies, that huge bombard of fack, that ftuft cloak-bag of guts, that roasted Manning-tree ox with the pudding in his belly, that reverend vice, that grey iniquity, that father ruffian, that vanity in years? Wherein is he good, but to tafte fack and drink it? wherein neat and cleanly, but to carve a capon and eat it? wherein cunning, but in craft? wherein crafty, but in villainy? wherein villainous, but in all things? wherein worthy, but in nothing?

Fal. I would, your grace would take me with you; Whom means your grace?

P. Henry. That villainous abominable misf-leader of youth, Falstaff, that old white-bearded Satan.

Fal. My lord, the man I know.

P. Henry. I know, thou doft.

Fal. But to fay, I know more harm in him than in myself, were to fay more than I know. That he is old, (the more the pity) his white hairs do witness it: but that he is (faving your reverence) a whoremaster, that I utterly deny. If fack and fugar be a fault, God help the wicked! if to be old and merry be a fin, then many an old hoft that I know is damn'd: if to be fat be to be hated, then Pharaoh's lean kine are to be loved. No, my good lord; banish Peto, banish Bardolph, banish Poins: but for sweet Jack Falftaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff, and therefore more valiant, bbombard]-butt.

bolting-butch]-meal tub, or bag. croafted Manning-tree ox]-in Effex; at fome feltivities there it was customary to roast an ox whole.

dvice,-iniquity,]-buffoon characters.

take me with you ;]-let me understand you.

e cunning,]-kilful.

being as he is, old Jack Falstaff, banish not him thy Harry's company, banish not him thy Harry's company; banish plump Jack, and banish all the world.

P. Henry. I do, I will.

[Knocking; and Hostess and Bardolph go out.

Re-enter Bardolph, running.

Bar. O, my lord, my lord; the fheriff, with a most monftrous watch, is at the door.

Fal. Out, you rogue! play out the play: I have much to fay in the behalf of that Falstaff.

Re-enter Hoftefs.

Hoft. O, my lord, my lord!

Fal. Heigh, heigh! the devil rides upon a fiddle-stick: What's the matter?

Hoft. The sheriff and all the watch are at the door: they are come to fearch the house; Shall I let them in ? Fal. Doft thou hear, Hal? never call a true piece of gold, a counterfeit thou art effentially mad, without feeming fo.

P. Henry. And thou a natural coward, without instinct. Fal. I deny your major: if you will deny the sheriff, 1 fo; if not, let him enter: if I become not a cart as well as another man, a plague on my bringing up! I hope, I fhall as foon be strangled with a halter, as another.

P. Henry. Go, hide thee behind the arras;-the reft walk up above. Now, my mafters, for a true face, and a good confcience.

Fal. Both which I have had: but their date is out, and therefore I'll hide me.

[Exeunt Falstaff, Bardolph, Gads-bill, and Peto; manent Prince and Poins.

thou art effentially mad,]-if thou lightly giv'ft me up.

b (Pun) mayor.

P. Henry. Call in the fheriff.

Enter Sheriff, and Carrier.

Now, master sheriff; what's your will with me?
Sher. First, pardon me, my lord. A hue and cry
Hath follow'd certain men unto this house.

P. Henry. What men?

Sher. One of them is well known, my gracious lord; A grofs fat man.

Car. As fat as butter.,

P.Henry. The man, I do affure you, is not here;
For I myself at this time have employ'd him.
And, fheriff, I engage my word to thee,
That I will, by to-morrow dinner-time,
Send him to answer thee, or any man,
For any thing he shall be charg'd withal:
And fo let me intreat you leave the house.

Sher. I will, my lord: There are two gentlemen
Have in this robbery loft three hundred marks.

· P. Henry. It may be fo: if he have robb'd these men, He shall be answerable; and fo, farewell.

Sher. Good night, my noble lord.

P. Henry. I think, it is good morrow; Is it not?

Sher. Indeed, my lord, I think it be two o'clock.

[Exit. P. Henry. This oily rafcal is known as well as Paul's: Go, call him forth.

Poins. Falstaff!-fast asleep behind the arras, and snorting like a horse.

P. Henry. Hark how hard he fetches breath: Search his pockets.

[He fearches his pockets, and finds certain papers. What haft thou found?

Poins. Nothing but papers, my lord.

P. Henry.

P. Henry. Let's fee what they be read them,

Poins. Item, a capon, 2s. 2d.

Item, Sauce, 4d.

Item, Sack, two gallons, 5s. 8d.

Item, Anchovies and sack after supper, 2s. 6d.
Item, Bread, a halfpenny.

P. Henry. O monftrous! but one half-pennyworth of bread to this intolerable deal of fack!-What there is else, keep close; we'll read it at more advantage: there let him fleep 'till day. I'll to the court in the morning: we must all to the wars, and thy place fhall be honourable. I'll procure this fat rogue a charge of foot; and, I know, his death will be a march of 'twelve-fcore. The money shall be paid back again, with advantage. Be with me betimes in the morning; and fo good morrow, Poins. Poins. Good morrow, good my lord.

[Exeunt.

ACT III.

SCENE. I.

The Archdeacon of Bangor's Houfe in Wales.

Enter Hotspur, Worcester, Lord Mortimer, and Owen Glendower.

Mor. Thefe promises are fair, the parties fure, And our induction full of profperous hope.

k

Hot. Lord Mortimer,-and coufin Glendower,-
Will you fit down?-

And, uncle Worcester :-A plague upon it!
I have forgot the map.

Glend. No, here it is.

Sit, coufin Percy; fit, good cousin Hotspur:

twelve-fcore.]-feet.

L13

* induction]-commencement.

For