Henry IV, Part II by William Shakespeare
Act 1 - Scene 2
London. A street
Page : He said, sir, the water itself was a good healthy water;
[p]for the
party that owed it, he might have moe diseases than
[p]knew for.
Page : He said, sir, you should procure him better assurance
[p]Bardolph. He
would not take his band and yours; he liked not
[p]security.
Page : He's gone into Smithfield to buy your worship horse.
Page : Sir, here comes the nobleman that committed the
[p]Prince for striking
him about Bardolph.
Lord Chief Justice : What's he that goes there?
Servant : Falstaff, an't please your lordship.
Lord Chief Justice : He that was in question for the robb'ry?
Servant : He, my lord; but he hath since done good service at
[p]Shrewsbury,
and, as I hear, is now going with some charge to
[p]Lord John of
Lancaster.
Lord Chief Justice : What, to York? Call him back again.
Servant : Sir John Falstaff!
Page : You must speak louder; my master is deaf.
Lord Chief Justice : I am sure he is, to the hearing of anything
[p]Go, pluck him by the
elbow; I must speak with him.
Servant : Sir John!
Servant : You mistake me, sir.
Servant : I pray you, sir, then set your knighthood and your
[p]soldiership
aside; and give me leave to tell you you in your
[p]throat, if you say
I am any other than an honest man.
Servant : Sir, my lord would speak with you.
Lord Chief Justice : Sir John Falstaff, a word with you.
Lord Chief Justice : Sir John, I sent for you before your expedition
[p]Shrewsbury.
Lord Chief Justice : I talk not of his Majesty. You would not come
[p]sent for you.
Lord Chief Justice : Well God mend him! I pray you let me speak with
Lord Chief Justice : What tell you me of it? Be it as it is.
Lord Chief Justice : I think you are fall'n into the disease, for you
[p]hear not what I
say to you.
Lord Chief Justice : To punish you by the heels would amend the
[p]of your ears; and I care
not if I do become your physician.
Lord Chief Justice : I sent for you, when there were matters against
[p]for your life, to
come speak with me.
Lord Chief Justice : Well, the truth is, Sir John, you live in great
[p]infamy.
Lord Chief Justice : Your means are very slender, and your waste is
[p]great.
Lord Chief Justice : You have misled the youthful Prince.
Lord Chief Justice : Well, I am loath to gall a new-heal'd wound.
[p]day's service at
Shrewsbury hath a little gilded over your
[p]night's exploit on
Gadshill. You may thank th' unquiet time
[p]your quiet o'erposting
that action.
Lord Chief Justice : But since all is well, keep it so: wake not a
[p]sleeping wolf.
Lord Chief Justice : What! you are as a candle, the better part burnt
[p]out.
Lord Chief Justice : There is not a white hair in your face but
[p]have his effect of
gravity.
Lord Chief Justice : You follow the young Prince up and down, like
[p]ill angel.
Lord Chief Justice : Do you set down your name in the scroll of
[p]that are written down
old with all the characters of age?
[p]you not a moist eye, a dry
hand, a yellow cheek, a white
[p]decreasing leg, an increasing belly?
Is not your voice
[p]your wind short, your chin double, your wit
single, and every
[p]part about you blasted with antiquity? And will
you yet call
[p]yourself young? Fie, fie, fie, Sir John!
Lord Chief Justice : Well, God send the Prince a better companion!
Lord Chief Justice : Well, the King hath sever'd you. I hear you are
[p]going with Lord
John of Lancaster against the Archbishop and
[p]Earl of
Northumberland.
Lord Chief Justice : Well, be honest, be honest; and God bless your
[p]expedition!
Lord Chief Justice : Not a penny, not a penny; you are too impatient
[p]bear crosses. Fare
you well. Commend me to my cousin
[p]Westmoreland.
Page : Sir?
Page : Seven groats and two pence.
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Next: Act 1 - Scene 3
