TPTT The Second Part of Henry the Fourth: ACT V
Introduction
INDUCTION
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
SCENE I. Gloucestershire. SHALLOW'S house.
SCENE II. Westminster. The palace.
SCENE III. Gloucestershire. SHALLOW'S orchard.
SCENE IV. London. A street.
SCENE V. A public place near Westminster Abbey.
EPILOGUE
About the Play
Feedback
  Search:   
for:

Amazon Honor System Click Here to Pay Learn More
SCENE I. Gloucestershire. SHALLOW'S house.
Enter SHALLOW, FALSTAFF, BARDOLPH, and Page
SHALLOW
      By cock and pie, sir, you shall not away to-night.
      What, Davy, I say!
FALSTAFF
      You must excuse me, Master Robert Shallow.
SHALLOW
      I will not excuse you; you shall not be excused;
5     excuses shall not be admitted; there is no excuse
      shall serve; you shall not be excused. Why, Davy!
Enter DAVY
DAVY
      Here, sir.
SHALLOW
      Davy, Davy, Davy, Davy, let me see, Davy; let me
      see, Davy; let me see: yea, marry, William cook,
10    bid him come hither. Sir John, you shall not be excused.
DAVY
      Marry, sir, thus; those precepts cannot be served:
      and, again, sir, shall we sow the headland with wheat?
SHALLOW
      With red wheat, Davy. But for William cook: are
      there no young pigeons?
DAVY
15    Yes, sir. Here is now the smith's note for shoeing
      and plough-irons.
SHALLOW
      Let it be cast and paid. Sir John, you shall not be excused.
DAVY
      Now, sir, a new link to the bucket must need be
      had: and, sir, do you mean to stop any of William's
20    wages, about the sack he lost the other day at
      Hinckley fair?
SHALLOW
      A' shall answer it. Some pigeons, Davy, a couple
      of short-legged hens, a joint of mutton, and any
      pretty little tiny kickshaws, tell William cook.
DAVY
25    Doth the man of war stay all night, sir?
SHALLOW
      Yea, Davy. I will use him well: a friend i' the
      court is better than a penny in purse. Use his men
      well, Davy; for they are arrant knaves, and will backbite.
DAVY
      No worse than they are backbitten, sir; for they
30    have marvellous foul linen.
SHALLOW
      Well conceited, Davy: about thy business, Davy.
DAVY
      I beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor of
      Woncot against Clement Perkes of the hill.
SHALLOW
      There is many complaints, Davy, against that Visor:
35    that Visor is an arrant knave, on my knowledge.
DAVY
      I grant your worship that he is a knave, sir; but
      yet, God forbid, sir, but a knave should have some
      countenance at his friend's request. An honest
      man, sir, is able to speak for himself, when a knave
40    is not. I have served your worship truly, sir,
      this eight years; and if I cannot once or twice in
      a quarter bear out a knave against an honest man, I
      have but a very little credit with your worship. The
      knave is mine honest friend, sir; therefore, I
45    beseech your worship, let him be countenanced.
SHALLOW
      Go to; I say he shall have no wrong. Look about, Davy.

Exit DAVY

      Where are you, Sir John? Come, come, come, off
      with your boots. Give me your hand, Master Bardolph.
BARDOLPH
      I am glad to see your worship.
SHALLOW
50    I thank thee with all my heart, kind
      Master Bardolph: and welcome, my tall fellow.

To the Page

      Come, Sir John.
FALSTAFF
      I'll follow you, good Master Robert Shallow.

Exit SHALLOW

      Bardolph, look to our horses.

Exeunt BARDOLPH and Page

55    If I were sawed into quantities, I should make four
      dozen of such bearded hermits' staves as Master
      Shallow. It is a wonderful thing to see the
      semblable coherence of his men's spirits and his:
      they, by observing of him, do bear themselves like
60    foolish justices; he, by conversing with them, is
      turned into a justice-like serving-man: their
      spirits are so married in conjunction with the
      participation of society that they flock together in
      consent, like so many wild-geese. If I had a suit
65    to Master Shallow, I would humour his men with the
      imputation of being near their master: if to his
      men, I would curry with Master Shallow that no man
      could better command his servants. It is certain
      that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is
70    caught, as men take diseases, one of another:
      therefore let men take heed of their company. I
      will devise matter enough out of this Shallow to
      keep Prince Harry in continual laughter the wearing
      out of six fashions, which is four terms, or two
75    actions, and a' shall laugh without intervallums. O,
      it is much that a lie with a slight oath and a jest
      with a sad brow will do with a fellow that never
      had the ache in his shoulders! O, you shall see him
      laugh till his face be like a wet cloak ill laid up!
SHALLOW
80    (Within) Sir John!
FALSTAFF
      I come, Master Shallow; I come, Master Shallow.
Exit
Return to top of page ... or ... Go to next scene