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Enter PRINCE HENRY and POINS
Enter PRINCE HENRY and POINS

PRINCE HENRY

Before God, I am exceeding weary.

PRINCE HENRY

Before God, I am exceeding weary.

POINS

Is ’t come to that? I had thought weariness durst not have
attached one of so high blood.

POINS

Is ’t come to that? I had thought weariness durst not have
attached one of so high blood.

PRINCE HENRY

Faith, it does me; though it discolors the complexion of my
5 greatness to acknowledge it. Doth it not show vilely in me
to desire small beer?

PRINCE HENRY

Faith, it does me; though it discolors the complexion of my
greatness to acknowledge it. Doth it not show vilely in me
to desire small beer?

POINS

Why, a prince should not be so loosely studied as to
remember so weak a composition.

POINS

Why, a prince should not be so loosely studied as to
remember so weak a composition.

PRINCE HENRY

Belike then my appetite was not princely got, for, by my
10 troth, I do now remember the poor creature small beer. But
indeed these humble considerations make me out of love
with my greatness. What a disgrace is it to me to remember
thy name, or to know thy face tomorrow, or to take note how
many pair of silk stockings thou hast—with these, and those
15 that were thy peach-colored ones—or to bear the inventory
of thy shirts, as, one for superfluity and another for use. But
that the tennis-court keeper knows better than I, for it is a
low ebb of linen with thee when thou keepest not racket
there, as thou hast not done a great while, because the rest of
20 the low countries have made a shift to eat up thy holland; and
God knows whether those that bawl out the ruins of thy linen
shall inherit His kingdom; but the midwives say the children
are not in the fault, whereupon the world increases and
kindreds are mightily strengthened.

PRINCE HENRY

Belike then my appetite was not princely got, for, by my
troth, I do now remember the poor creature small beer. But
indeed these humble considerations make me out of love
with my greatness. What a disgrace is it to me to remember
thy name, or to know thy face tomorrow, or to take note how
many pair of silk stockings thou hast—with these, and those
that were thy peach-colored ones—or to bear the inventory
of thy shirts, as, one for superfluity and another for use. But
that the tennis-court keeper knows better than I, for it is a
low ebb of linen with thee when thou keepest not racket
there, as thou hast not done a great while, because the rest of
the low countries have made a shift to eat up thy holland; and
God knows whether those that bawl out the ruins of thy linen
shall inherit His kingdom; but the midwives say the children
are not in the fault, whereupon the world increases and
kindreds are mightily strengthened.

POINS

25 How ill it follows, after you have labored so hard, you should
talk so idly! Tell me, how many good young princes would
do so, their fathers being so sick as yours at this time is?

POINS

How ill it follows, after you have labored so hard, you should
talk so idly! Tell me, how many good young princes would
do so, their fathers being so sick as yours at this time is?

PRINCE HENRY

Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?

PRINCE HENRY

Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?

POINS

Yes, faith, and let it be an excellent good thing.

POINS

Yes, faith, and let it be an excellent good thing.

PRINCE HENRY

30 It shall serve among wits of no higher breeding than thine.

PRINCE HENRY

It shall serve among wits of no higher breeding than thine.

POINS

Go to. I stand the push of your one thing that you will tell.

POINS

Go to. I stand the push of your one thing that you will tell.

PRINCE HENRY

Marry, I tell thee it is not meet that I should be sad, now my
father is sick—albeit I could tell thee, as to one it pleases me,
for fault of a better, to call my friend, I could be sad, and sad
35 indeed too.

PRINCE HENRY

Marry, I tell thee it is not meet that I should be sad, now my
father is sick—albeit I could tell thee, as to one it pleases me,
for fault of a better, to call my friend, I could be sad, and sad
indeed too.

POINS

Very hardly, upon such a subject.

POINS

Very hardly, upon such a subject.

PRINCE HENRY

By this hand, thou thinkest me as far in the devil’s book as
thou and Falstaff for obduracy and persistency. Let the end
try the man. But I tell thee, my heart bleeds inwardly that my
40 father is so sick: and keeping such vile company as thou art
hath in reason taken from me all ostentation of sorrow.

PRINCE HENRY

By this hand, thou thinkest me as far in the devil’s book as
thou and Falstaff for obduracy and persistency. Let the end
try the man. But I tell thee, my heart bleeds inwardly that my
father is so sick: and keeping such vile company as thou art
hath in reason taken from me all ostentation of sorrow.

POINS

The reason?

POINS

The reason?

PRINCE HENRY

What wouldst thou think of me if I should weep?

PRINCE HENRY

What wouldst thou think of me if I should weep?

POINS

I would think thee a most princely hypocrite.

POINS

I would think thee a most princely hypocrite.

PRINCE HENRY

45 It would be every man’s thought, and thou art a blessed
fellow to think as every man thinks. Never a man’s thought
in the world keeps the roadway better than thine. Every man
would think me an hypocrite indeed. And what accites your
most worshipful thought to think so?

PRINCE HENRY

It would be every man’s thought, and thou art a blessed
fellow to think as every man thinks. Never a man’s thought
in the world keeps the roadway better than thine. Every man
would think me an hypocrite indeed. And what accites your
most worshipful thought to think so?

POINS

50 Why, because you have been so lewd and so much engraffed
to Falstaff.

POINS

Why, because you have been so lewd and so much engraffed
to Falstaff.

PRINCE HENRY

And to thee.

PRINCE HENRY

And to thee.

POINS

By this light, I am well spoke on. I can hear it with my own
ears. The worst that they can say of me is that I am a second
55 brother, and that I am a proper fellow of my hands; and those
two things, I confess, I cannot help. By the Mass, here comes
Bardolph.

POINS

By this light, I am well spoke on. I can hear it with my own
ears. The worst that they can say of me is that I am a second
brother, and that I am a proper fellow of my hands; and those
two things, I confess, I cannot help. By the Mass, here comes
Bardolph.
Enter BARDOLPH and the PAGE
Enter BARDOLPH and the PAGE

PRINCE HENRY

And the boy that I gave Falstaff. He had him from me
Christian, and look if the fat villain have not transformed
60 him ape.

PRINCE HENRY

And the boy that I gave Falstaff. He had him from me
Christian, and look if the fat villain have not transformed
him ape.

BARDOLPH

God save your Grace.

BARDOLPH

God save your Grace.

PRINCE HENRY

And yours, most noble Bardolph.

PRINCE HENRY

And yours, most noble Bardolph.

POINS

(to BARDOLPH) Come, you virtuous ass, you bashful fool,
must you be blushing? Wherefore blush you now? What a
65 maidenly man-at-arms are you become! Is ’t such a matter
to get a pottle-pot’s maidenhead?

POINS

(to BARDOLPH) Come, you virtuous ass, you bashful fool,
must you be blushing? Wherefore blush you now? What a
maidenly man-at-arms are you become! Is ’t such a matter
to get a pottle-pot’s maidenhead?

PAGE

He calls me e'en now, my lord, through a red lattice, and I
could discern no part of his face from the window. At last I
spied his eyes, and methought he had made two holes in the
70 ale-wife’s new petticoat and so peeped through.

PAGE

He calls me e'en now, my lord, through a red lattice, and I
could discern no part of his face from the window. At last I
spied his eyes, and methought he had made two holes in the
ale-wife’s new petticoat and so peeped through.

PRINCE HENRY

Has not the boy profited?

PRINCE HENRY

Has not the boy profited?

BARDOLPH

Away, you whoreson upright rabbit, away!

BARDOLPH

Away, you whoreson upright rabbit, away!

PAGE

Away, you rascally Althea’s dream, away!

PAGE

Away, you rascally Althea’s dream, away!

PRINCE HENRY

Instruct us, boy. What dream, boy?

PRINCE HENRY

Instruct us, boy. What dream, boy?

PAGE

75 Marry, my lord, Althea dreamt she was delivered of a
firebrand, and therefore I call him her dream.

PAGE

Marry, my lord, Althea dreamt she was delivered of a
firebrand, and therefore I call him her dream.

PRINCE HENRY

A crown’s worth of good interpretation. There ’tis, boy.

PRINCE HENRY

A crown’s worth of good interpretation. There ’tis, boy.

POINS

O, that this good blossom could be kept from cankers! Well,
there is sixpence to preserve thee.

POINS

O, that this good blossom could be kept from cankers! Well,
there is sixpence to preserve thee.

BARDOLPH

80 An you do not make him hanged among you, the gallows
shall have wrong.

BARDOLPH

An you do not make him hanged among you, the gallows
shall have wrong.

PRINCE HENRY

And how doth thy master, Bardolph?

PRINCE HENRY

And how doth thy master, Bardolph?

BARDOLPH

Well, my good lord. He heard of your Grace’s coming to
town. There’s a letter for you.

BARDOLPH

Well, my good lord. He heard of your Grace’s coming to
town. There’s a letter for you.

POINS

85 Delivered with good respect. And how doth the Martlemas
your master?

POINS

Delivered with good respect. And how doth the Martlemas
your master?

BARDOLPH

In bodily health, sir.

BARDOLPH

In bodily health, sir.

POINS

Marry, the immortal part needs a physician, but that moves
not him. Though that be sick, it dies not.

POINS

Marry, the immortal part needs a physician, but that moves
not him. Though that be sick, it dies not.

PRINCE HENRY

(reads to himself) I do allow this wen to be as familiar with
me as my dog, and he holds his place, for look you how be
writes. (he hands the letter to POINS)

PRINCE HENRY

(reads to himself) I do allow this wen to be as familiar with
me as my dog, and he holds his place, for look you how be
writes. (he hands the letter to POINS)

POINS

(reads) John Falstaff, knight. Every man must know that as
oft as he has occasion to name himself, even like those that
95 are kin to the King, for they never prick their finger but they
say, “There’s some of the King’s blood spilt.” “How comes
that?” says he that takes upon him not to conceive. The
answer is as ready as a borrower’s cap: “I am the King’s
poor cousin, sir.”

POINS

(reads) John Falstaff, knight. Every man must know that as
oft as he has occasion to name himself, even like those that
are kin to the King, for they never prick their finger but they
say, “There’s some of the King’s blood spilt.” “How comes
that?” says he that takes upon him not to conceive. The
answer is as ready as a borrower’s cap: “I am the King’s
poor cousin, sir.”

PRINCE HENRY

Nay, they will be kin to us, or they will fetch it from Japheth. But to the letter. (takes the letter and reads) Sir John alstaff, knight, to the son of the King nearest his father, Harry Prince of Wales, greeting.

PRINCE HENRY

Nay, they will be kin to us, or they will fetch it from Japheth. But to the letter. (takes the letter and reads) Sir John alstaff, knight, to the son of the King nearest his father, Harry Prince of Wales, greeting.

POINS

Why, this is a certificate.

POINS

Why, this is a certificate.

PRINCE HENRY

Peace! (reads) I will imitate the honorable Romans in brevity.

PRINCE HENRY

Peace! (reads) I will imitate the honorable Romans in brevity.

POINS

He sure means brevity in breath, short-winded.

POINS

He sure means brevity in breath, short-winded.

PRINCE HENRY

(reads) I commend me to thee, I commend thee, and I leave thee. Be not too familiar with Poins, for he misuses thy favors so much that he swears thou art to marry his sister

PRINCE HENRY

(reads) I commend me to thee, I commend thee, and I leave thee. Be not too familiar with Poins, for he misuses thy favors so much that he swears thou art to marry his sister
Nell. Repent at idle times as thou mayest, and so, farewell. Thine by yea and no, which is as much as to say, as thou usest him, Jack Falstaff with my familiars, John with my brothers and sisters, and Sir John with all Europe.
Nell. Repent at idle times as thou mayest, and so, farewell. Thine by yea and no, which is as much as to say, as thou usest him, Jack Falstaff with my familiars, John with my brothers and sisters, and Sir John with all Europe.

POINS

115 My lord, I’ll steep this letter in sack and make him eat it.

POINS

My lord, I’ll steep this letter in sack and make him eat it.

PRINCE HENRY

That’s to make him eat twenty of his words. But do you use
me thus, Ned? Must I marry your sister?

PRINCE HENRY

That’s to make him eat twenty of his words. But do you use
me thus, Ned? Must I marry your sister?

POINS

God send the wench no worse fortune! But I never said so.

POINS

God send the wench no worse fortune! But I never said so.

PRINCE HENRY

Well, thus we play the fools with the time, and the spirits of
120 the wise sit in the clouds and mock us. (to BARDOLPH) Is your
master here in London?

PRINCE HENRY

Well, thus we play the fools with the time, and the spirits of
the wise sit in the clouds and mock us. (to BARDOLPH) Is your
master here in London?

BARDOLPH

Yea, my lord.

BARDOLPH

Yea, my lord.

PRINCE HENRY

Where sups he? Doth the old boar feed in the old frank?

PRINCE HENRY

Where sups he? Doth the old boar feed in the old frank?

BARDOLPH

At the old place, my lord, in Eastcheap.

BARDOLPH

At the old place, my lord, in Eastcheap.

PRINCE HENRY

125 What company?

PRINCE HENRY

What company?

PAGE

Ephesians, my lord, of the old church.

PAGE

Ephesians, my lord, of the old church.

PRINCE HENRY

Sup any women with him?

PRINCE HENRY

Sup any women with him?

PAGE

None, my lord, but old Mistress Quickly and Mistress Doll
Tearsheet.

PAGE

None, my lord, but old Mistress Quickly and Mistress Doll
Tearsheet.

PRINCE HENRY

130 What pagan may that be?

PRINCE HENRY

What pagan may that be?

PAGE

A proper gentlewoman, sir, and a kinswoman of my
master’s.

PAGE

A proper gentlewoman, sir, and a kinswoman of my
master’s.

PRINCE HENRY

Even such kin as the parish heifers are to the town bull.—
Shall we steal upon them, Ned, at supper?

PRINCE HENRY

Even such kin as the parish heifers are to the town bull.—
Shall we steal upon them, Ned, at supper?

POINS

135 I am your shadow, my lord. I’ll follow you.

POINS

I am your shadow, my lord. I’ll follow you.

PRINCE HENRY

Sirrah—you, boy—and Bardolph, no word to your master
that I am yet come to town. (gives them money) There’s for
your silence.

PRINCE HENRY

Sirrah—you, boy—and Bardolph, no word to your master
that I am yet come to town. (gives them money) There’s for
your silence.

BARDOLPH

I have no tongue, sir.

BARDOLPH

I have no tongue, sir.

PAGE

140 And for mine, sir, I will govern it.

PAGE

And for mine, sir, I will govern it.

PRINCE HENRY

Fare you well. Go.

PRINCE HENRY

Fare you well. Go.
Exeunt BARDOLPH and PAGE
Exeunt BARDOLPH and PAGE
This Doll Tearsheet should be some road.
This Doll Tearsheet should be some road.

POINS

I warrant you, as common as the way between Saint Alban’s
and London.

POINS

I warrant you, as common as the way between Saint Alban’s
and London.

PRINCE HENRY

145 How might we see Falstaff bestow himself tonight in his true
colors, and not ourselves be seen?

PRINCE HENRY

How might we see Falstaff bestow himself tonight in his true
colors, and not ourselves be seen?

POINS

Put on two leathern jerkins and aprons, and wait upon him
at his table as drawers.

POINS

Put on two leathern jerkins and aprons, and wait upon him
at his table as drawers.

PRINCE HENRY

From a god to a bull: a heavy decension. It was Jove’s case.
150 From a prince to a 'prentice: a low transformation that shall
be mine, for in everything the purpose must weigh with the
folly. Follow me, Ned.

PRINCE HENRY

From a god to a bull: a heavy decension. It was Jove’s case.
From a prince to a 'prentice: a low transformation that shall
be mine, for in everything the purpose must weigh with the
folly. Follow me, Ned.
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter PRINCE HENRY and POINS
Enter PRINCE HENRY and POINS

PRINCE HENRY

Before God, I am exceeding weary.

PRINCE HENRY

Before God, I am exceeding weary.

POINS

Is ’t come to that? I had thought weariness durst not have
attached one of so high blood.

POINS

Is ’t come to that? I had thought weariness durst not have
attached one of so high blood.

PRINCE HENRY

Faith, it does me; though it discolors the complexion of my
5 greatness to acknowledge it. Doth it not show vilely in me
to desire small beer?

PRINCE HENRY

Faith, it does me; though it discolors the complexion of my
greatness to acknowledge it. Doth it not show vilely in me
to desire small beer?

POINS

Why, a prince should not be so loosely studied as to
remember so weak a composition.

POINS

Why, a prince should not be so loosely studied as to
remember so weak a composition.

PRINCE HENRY

Belike then my appetite was not princely got, for, by my
10 troth, I do now remember the poor creature small beer. But
indeed these humble considerations make me out of love
with my greatness. What a disgrace is it to me to remember
thy name, or to know thy face tomorrow, or to take note how
many pair of silk stockings thou hast—with these, and those
15 that were thy peach-colored ones—or to bear the inventory
of thy shirts, as, one for superfluity and another for use. But
that the tennis-court keeper knows better than I, for it is a
low ebb of linen with thee when thou keepest not racket
there, as thou hast not done a great while, because the rest of
20 the low countries have made a shift to eat up thy holland; and
God knows whether those that bawl out the ruins of thy linen
shall inherit His kingdom; but the midwives say the children
are not in the fault, whereupon the world increases and
kindreds are mightily strengthened.

PRINCE HENRY

Belike then my appetite was not princely got, for, by my
troth, I do now remember the poor creature small beer. But
indeed these humble considerations make me out of love
with my greatness. What a disgrace is it to me to remember
thy name, or to know thy face tomorrow, or to take note how
many pair of silk stockings thou hast—with these, and those
that were thy peach-colored ones—or to bear the inventory
of thy shirts, as, one for superfluity and another for use. But
that the tennis-court keeper knows better than I, for it is a
low ebb of linen with thee when thou keepest not racket
there, as thou hast not done a great while, because the rest of
the low countries have made a shift to eat up thy holland; and
God knows whether those that bawl out the ruins of thy linen
shall inherit His kingdom; but the midwives say the children
are not in the fault, whereupon the world increases and
kindreds are mightily strengthened.

POINS

25 How ill it follows, after you have labored so hard, you should
talk so idly! Tell me, how many good young princes would
do so, their fathers being so sick as yours at this time is?

POINS

How ill it follows, after you have labored so hard, you should
talk so idly! Tell me, how many good young princes would
do so, their fathers being so sick as yours at this time is?

PRINCE HENRY

Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?

PRINCE HENRY

Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?

POINS

Yes, faith, and let it be an excellent good thing.

POINS

Yes, faith, and let it be an excellent good thing.

PRINCE HENRY

30 It shall serve among wits of no higher breeding than thine.

PRINCE HENRY

It shall serve among wits of no higher breeding than thine.

POINS

Go to. I stand the push of your one thing that you will tell.

POINS

Go to. I stand the push of your one thing that you will tell.

PRINCE HENRY

Marry, I tell thee it is not meet that I should be sad, now my
father is sick—albeit I could tell thee, as to one it pleases me,
for fault of a better, to call my friend, I could be sad, and sad
35 indeed too.

PRINCE HENRY

Marry, I tell thee it is not meet that I should be sad, now my
father is sick—albeit I could tell thee, as to one it pleases me,
for fault of a better, to call my friend, I could be sad, and sad
indeed too.

POINS

Very hardly, upon such a subject.

POINS

Very hardly, upon such a subject.

PRINCE HENRY

By this hand, thou thinkest me as far in the devil’s book as
thou and Falstaff for obduracy and persistency. Let the end
try the man. But I tell thee, my heart bleeds inwardly that my
40 father is so sick: and keeping such vile company as thou art
hath in reason taken from me all ostentation of sorrow.

PRINCE HENRY

By this hand, thou thinkest me as far in the devil’s book as
thou and Falstaff for obduracy and persistency. Let the end
try the man. But I tell thee, my heart bleeds inwardly that my
father is so sick: and keeping such vile company as thou art
hath in reason taken from me all ostentation of sorrow.

POINS

The reason?

POINS

The reason?

PRINCE HENRY

What wouldst thou think of me if I should weep?

PRINCE HENRY

What wouldst thou think of me if I should weep?

POINS

I would think thee a most princely hypocrite.

POINS

I would think thee a most princely hypocrite.

PRINCE HENRY

45 It would be every man’s thought, and thou art a blessed
fellow to think as every man thinks. Never a man’s thought
in the world keeps the roadway better than thine. Every man
would think me an hypocrite indeed. And what accites your
most worshipful thought to think so?

PRINCE HENRY

It would be every man’s thought, and thou art a blessed
fellow to think as every man thinks. Never a man’s thought
in the world keeps the roadway better than thine. Every man
would think me an hypocrite indeed. And what accites your
most worshipful thought to think so?

POINS

50 Why, because you have been so lewd and so much engraffed
to Falstaff.

POINS

Why, because you have been so lewd and so much engraffed
to Falstaff.

PRINCE HENRY

And to thee.

PRINCE HENRY

And to thee.

POINS

By this light, I am well spoke on. I can hear it with my own
ears. The worst that they can say of me is that I am a second
55 brother, and that I am a proper fellow of my hands; and those
two things, I confess, I cannot help. By the Mass, here comes
Bardolph.

POINS

By this light, I am well spoke on. I can hear it with my own
ears. The worst that they can say of me is that I am a second
brother, and that I am a proper fellow of my hands; and those
two things, I confess, I cannot help. By the Mass, here comes
Bardolph.
Enter BARDOLPH and the PAGE
Enter BARDOLPH and the PAGE

PRINCE HENRY

And the boy that I gave Falstaff. He had him from me
Christian, and look if the fat villain have not transformed
60 him ape.

PRINCE HENRY

And the boy that I gave Falstaff. He had him from me
Christian, and look if the fat villain have not transformed
him ape.

BARDOLPH

God save your Grace.

BARDOLPH

God save your Grace.

PRINCE HENRY

And yours, most noble Bardolph.

PRINCE HENRY

And yours, most noble Bardolph.

POINS

(to BARDOLPH) Come, you virtuous ass, you bashful fool,
must you be blushing? Wherefore blush you now? What a
65 maidenly man-at-arms are you become! Is ’t such a matter
to get a pottle-pot’s maidenhead?

POINS

(to BARDOLPH) Come, you virtuous ass, you bashful fool,
must you be blushing? Wherefore blush you now? What a
maidenly man-at-arms are you become! Is ’t such a matter
to get a pottle-pot’s maidenhead?

PAGE

He calls me e'en now, my lord, through a red lattice, and I
could discern no part of his face from the window. At last I
spied his eyes, and methought he had made two holes in the
70 ale-wife’s new petticoat and so peeped through.

PAGE

He calls me e'en now, my lord, through a red lattice, and I
could discern no part of his face from the window. At last I
spied his eyes, and methought he had made two holes in the
ale-wife’s new petticoat and so peeped through.

PRINCE HENRY

Has not the boy profited?

PRINCE HENRY

Has not the boy profited?

BARDOLPH

Away, you whoreson upright rabbit, away!

BARDOLPH

Away, you whoreson upright rabbit, away!

PAGE

Away, you rascally Althea’s dream, away!

PAGE

Away, you rascally Althea’s dream, away!

PRINCE HENRY

Instruct us, boy. What dream, boy?

PRINCE HENRY

Instruct us, boy. What dream, boy?

PAGE

75 Marry, my lord, Althea dreamt she was delivered of a
firebrand, and therefore I call him her dream.

PAGE

Marry, my lord, Althea dreamt she was delivered of a
firebrand, and therefore I call him her dream.

PRINCE HENRY

A crown’s worth of good interpretation. There ’tis, boy.

PRINCE HENRY

A crown’s worth of good interpretation. There ’tis, boy.

POINS

O, that this good blossom could be kept from cankers! Well,
there is sixpence to preserve thee.

POINS

O, that this good blossom could be kept from cankers! Well,
there is sixpence to preserve thee.

BARDOLPH

80 An you do not make him hanged among you, the gallows
shall have wrong.

BARDOLPH

An you do not make him hanged among you, the gallows
shall have wrong.

PRINCE HENRY

And how doth thy master, Bardolph?

PRINCE HENRY

And how doth thy master, Bardolph?

BARDOLPH

Well, my good lord. He heard of your Grace’s coming to
town. There’s a letter for you.

BARDOLPH

Well, my good lord. He heard of your Grace’s coming to
town. There’s a letter for you.

POINS

85 Delivered with good respect. And how doth the Martlemas
your master?

POINS

Delivered with good respect. And how doth the Martlemas
your master?

BARDOLPH

In bodily health, sir.

BARDOLPH

In bodily health, sir.

POINS

Marry, the immortal part needs a physician, but that moves
not him. Though that be sick, it dies not.

POINS

Marry, the immortal part needs a physician, but that moves
not him. Though that be sick, it dies not.

PRINCE HENRY

(reads to himself) I do allow this wen to be as familiar with
me as my dog, and he holds his place, for look you how be
writes. (he hands the letter to POINS)

PRINCE HENRY

(reads to himself) I do allow this wen to be as familiar with
me as my dog, and he holds his place, for look you how be
writes. (he hands the letter to POINS)

POINS

(reads) John Falstaff, knight. Every man must know that as
oft as he has occasion to name himself, even like those that
95 are kin to the King, for they never prick their finger but they
say, “There’s some of the King’s blood spilt.” “How comes
that?” says he that takes upon him not to conceive. The
answer is as ready as a borrower’s cap: “I am the King’s
poor cousin, sir.”

POINS

(reads) John Falstaff, knight. Every man must know that as
oft as he has occasion to name himself, even like those that
are kin to the King, for they never prick their finger but they
say, “There’s some of the King’s blood spilt.” “How comes
that?” says he that takes upon him not to conceive. The
answer is as ready as a borrower’s cap: “I am the King’s
poor cousin, sir.”

PRINCE HENRY

Nay, they will be kin to us, or they will fetch it from Japheth. But to the letter. (takes the letter and reads) Sir John alstaff, knight, to the son of the King nearest his father, Harry Prince of Wales, greeting.

PRINCE HENRY

Nay, they will be kin to us, or they will fetch it from Japheth. But to the letter. (takes the letter and reads) Sir John alstaff, knight, to the son of the King nearest his father, Harry Prince of Wales, greeting.

POINS

Why, this is a certificate.

POINS

Why, this is a certificate.

PRINCE HENRY

Peace! (reads) I will imitate the honorable Romans in brevity.

PRINCE HENRY

Peace! (reads) I will imitate the honorable Romans in brevity.

POINS

He sure means brevity in breath, short-winded.

POINS

He sure means brevity in breath, short-winded.

PRINCE HENRY

(reads) I commend me to thee, I commend thee, and I leave thee. Be not too familiar with Poins, for he misuses thy favors so much that he swears thou art to marry his sister

PRINCE HENRY

(reads) I commend me to thee, I commend thee, and I leave thee. Be not too familiar with Poins, for he misuses thy favors so much that he swears thou art to marry his sister
Nell. Repent at idle times as thou mayest, and so, farewell. Thine by yea and no, which is as much as to say, as thou usest him, Jack Falstaff with my familiars, John with my brothers and sisters, and Sir John with all Europe.
Nell. Repent at idle times as thou mayest, and so, farewell. Thine by yea and no, which is as much as to say, as thou usest him, Jack Falstaff with my familiars, John with my brothers and sisters, and Sir John with all Europe.

POINS

115 My lord, I’ll steep this letter in sack and make him eat it.

POINS

My lord, I’ll steep this letter in sack and make him eat it.

PRINCE HENRY

That’s to make him eat twenty of his words. But do you use
me thus, Ned? Must I marry your sister?

PRINCE HENRY

That’s to make him eat twenty of his words. But do you use
me thus, Ned? Must I marry your sister?

POINS

God send the wench no worse fortune! But I never said so.

POINS

God send the wench no worse fortune! But I never said so.

PRINCE HENRY

Well, thus we play the fools with the time, and the spirits of
120 the wise sit in the clouds and mock us. (to BARDOLPH) Is your
master here in London?

PRINCE HENRY

Well, thus we play the fools with the time, and the spirits of
the wise sit in the clouds and mock us. (to BARDOLPH) Is your
master here in London?

BARDOLPH

Yea, my lord.

BARDOLPH

Yea, my lord.

PRINCE HENRY

Where sups he? Doth the old boar feed in the old frank?

PRINCE HENRY

Where sups he? Doth the old boar feed in the old frank?

BARDOLPH

At the old place, my lord, in Eastcheap.

BARDOLPH

At the old place, my lord, in Eastcheap.

PRINCE HENRY

125 What company?

PRINCE HENRY

What company?

PAGE

Ephesians, my lord, of the old church.

PAGE

Ephesians, my lord, of the old church.

PRINCE HENRY

Sup any women with him?

PRINCE HENRY

Sup any women with him?

PAGE

None, my lord, but old Mistress Quickly and Mistress Doll
Tearsheet.

PAGE

None, my lord, but old Mistress Quickly and Mistress Doll
Tearsheet.

PRINCE HENRY

130 What pagan may that be?

PRINCE HENRY

What pagan may that be?

PAGE

A proper gentlewoman, sir, and a kinswoman of my
master’s.

PAGE

A proper gentlewoman, sir, and a kinswoman of my
master’s.

PRINCE HENRY

Even such kin as the parish heifers are to the town bull.—
Shall we steal upon them, Ned, at supper?

PRINCE HENRY

Even such kin as the parish heifers are to the town bull.—
Shall we steal upon them, Ned, at supper?

POINS

135 I am your shadow, my lord. I’ll follow you.

POINS

I am your shadow, my lord. I’ll follow you.

PRINCE HENRY

Sirrah—you, boy—and Bardolph, no word to your master
that I am yet come to town. (gives them money) There’s for
your silence.

PRINCE HENRY

Sirrah—you, boy—and Bardolph, no word to your master
that I am yet come to town. (gives them money) There’s for
your silence.

BARDOLPH

I have no tongue, sir.

BARDOLPH

I have no tongue, sir.

PAGE

140 And for mine, sir, I will govern it.

PAGE

And for mine, sir, I will govern it.

PRINCE HENRY

Fare you well. Go.

PRINCE HENRY

Fare you well. Go.
Exeunt BARDOLPH and PAGE
Exeunt BARDOLPH and PAGE
This Doll Tearsheet should be some road.
This Doll Tearsheet should be some road.

POINS

I warrant you, as common as the way between Saint Alban’s
and London.

POINS

I warrant you, as common as the way between Saint Alban’s
and London.

PRINCE HENRY

145 How might we see Falstaff bestow himself tonight in his true
colors, and not ourselves be seen?

PRINCE HENRY

How might we see Falstaff bestow himself tonight in his true
colors, and not ourselves be seen?

POINS

Put on two leathern jerkins and aprons, and wait upon him
at his table as drawers.

POINS

Put on two leathern jerkins and aprons, and wait upon him
at his table as drawers.

PRINCE HENRY

From a god to a bull: a heavy decension. It was Jove’s case.
150 From a prince to a 'prentice: a low transformation that shall
be mine, for in everything the purpose must weigh with the
folly. Follow me, Ned.

PRINCE HENRY

From a god to a bull: a heavy decension. It was Jove’s case.
From a prince to a 'prentice: a low transformation that shall
be mine, for in everything the purpose must weigh with the
folly. Follow me, Ned.
Exeunt
Exeunt

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