The30MinuteShakespeare

CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY

The following is a list of the characters that appear in this cutting of Henry IV, Part 1.

Twenty-five actors performed in the original production. This number can be increased to about thirty or decreased to abouttwelve by having actors share or double roles.

For the full breakdown of characters, see Sample Program.

FALSTAFF: Sir John Falstaff, a debauched and witty aristocrat

PRINCE HENRY: Also called Harry or Hal; oldest son to King Henry IV

POINS: Companion to Falstaff; gentleman-in-waiting to Prince Henry

GADSHILL: Companion to Falstaff BARDOLPH: Companion to Falstaff PETO: Companion to Falstaff TRAVELER ONE

TRAVELER TWO

HOSTESS: Mistress Quickly, hostess of the Boar’s Head Tavern in Eastcheap

MORTIMER: Edmund Mortimer, Earl of March; brother to Lady Percy, husband to Lady Mortimer

GLENDOWER: Owen Glendower, a Welsh rebel; father to Lady Mortimer

HOTSPUR: Henry Percy, nicknamed Hotspur; son to Earl of Northumberland

LADY MORTIMER: Daughter to Glendower, wife to Mortimer

 

CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY ✴ IX

 

 

 

 

 

 

LADY PERCY: Wife to Hotspur, sister to Mortimer

KING HENRY IV: Father to Prince Henry; formerly Henry of Bollingbroke

EARL OF DOUGLAS: Archibald, Earl of Douglas; a Scottish noble

LANCASTER: Prince John of Lancaster, also called the Duke of Lancaster; third son to King Henry IV

 

From King Henry IV, Part 2 (final scene in this cutting):

PISTOL: An irregular humorist; Falstaff ’s henchman SHALLOW: Robert Shallow, a country justice of the peace KINGHENRY V: Formerly Prince Henry; newly crowned king LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE: Attendant to King Henry V; nemesis

of Falstaff

ATTENDANT

 

 

NARRATOR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

✴ SCENE 1. (ACT I, SCENE II)

Eastcheap. The Boar’s-Head Tavern.

SOUND OPERATOR plays Sound Cue #1 (“Merry tavern music”). STAGEHANDS move bench to center stage, downstage of pillars. Enter NARRATOR from stage right, coming downstage center.

NARRATOR

Young Prince Henry—called “Harry” or “Hal” by his friends—carouses in the tavern in Eastcheap with the fat knight Jack Falstaff and other friends, including Poins, Hal’s gentleman-in-waiting. Hal and Poins devise a plan torob Falstaff and company of their stolen money, just for fun and mockery.

Enter FALSTAFF from stage right.

FALSTAFF lies down on bench on his back, falls asleep, and starts snoring loudly. PRINCE HENRY enters, looks at FALSTAFF amusedly, and tickles the sleeping man’s nose with his hat.

FALSTAFF sputters and wakes up, a bit disoriented.

 

FALSTAFF

Now, Hal, what time of day is it, lad?

 

PRINCE HENRY (slaps FALSTAFF on the belly with his hat; moves behind him)

Thou art so fat-witted, with drinking of old sack that thou hast forgotten todemand that truly which thou

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 3

 

wouldst truly know. What a devil hast thou to do with the time of the day; unless hourswere cups of sack and minutes capons?

FALSTAFF roll up to a sitting position, stands, and moves a few steps stage left. PRINCE HENRY lies down on bench on his side, facing FALSTAFF.

 

FALSTAFF

Marry, then, sweet wag, when thou art king, let not us that are squires of the night’s bodybe called

thieves of the day’s beauty: let us be Diana’s foresters, gentlemen of the shade, minions of the moon.

 

FALSTAFF moons PRINCE HENRY.

 

PRINCE HENRY (covers his face in fright)

Thou sayest well, and it holds well too; for the fortune of us that are the moon’s men dothebb and flow like the sea, being governed, as the sea is, by the moon.

 

FALSTAFF (joins PRINCE HENRY on bench; slaps him on the back) Thou hast the most unsavory similes and artindeed the most comparative, rascalliest, sweet young prince, and art indeed able to corrupt a saint. Thou hast done much harm upon me, Hal; God forgive thee for it!

 

PRINCE HENRY

Where shall we take a purse tomorrow, Jack?

 

FALSTAFF

’Zounds, where thou wilt, lad.

 

Enter POINS from stage right.

Poins!

 

4 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

PRINCE HENRY

Good morrow, Ned!

 

POINS

Good morrow, sweet Hal. What says Monsieur Remorse?

 

POINS squeezes in between PRINCE HENRY and FALSTAFF on bench.

What says Sir John Sack and Sugar?

POINS gives FALSTAFF a friendly shove and FALSTAFF nearly falls over. POINS then puts his arms around PRINCE HENRY and FALSTAFF conspiratorially.

My lads, my lads, to-morrow morning, by four o’clock, early at Gadshill! Thereare pilgrims going to Canterbury with rich offerings, and traders riding to London with fat purses: If you will go, I will stuff your purses full of crowns; if you will not, tarry

at home and be hanged. (to FALSTAFF) Sir John, I prithee, leave the prince and me alone: I will lay him down such reasons for this adventure that he shall go.

 

FALSTAFF (stands)

Farewell; you shall find me in Eastcheap.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Farewell, thou latter spring! Farewell, All-hallown summer!

Exit FALSTAFF stage right.

 

POINS

Now, my good sweet honey lord, ride with us to- morrow: I have a jest to executethat I cannot manage alone. Falstaff, Bardolph, Peto, and Gadshill shall

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 5

 

rob those men that we have already waylaid: yourself and I will not be there; and whenthey have the booty, if you and I do not rob them, cut this head off from my shoulders. Iknow them to be as true-bred cowards as ever turned back; the virtue of this jest will be,the incomprehensible lies that this same fat rogue will tell us when we meet at supper: how thirty, at least, he fought with; and in the reproof of this lies the jest.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Well, I’ll go with thee.

 

POINS

Farewell, my lord.

 

Exit POINS stage right.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Herein will I imitate the sun,

Who doth permit the base contagious clouds To smother up his beauty from the world, That, when he please again to be himself, Being wanted, he may be more wonder’d at,

So, when this loose behavior I throw off (stands)

And pay the debt I never promised,

By how much better than my word I am, By so much shall I falsify men’s hopes; And likebright metal on a sullen ground, My reformation, glittering o’er my fault,

Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes Than that which hath no foil to set it off.

I’ll so offend, to make offense a skill; Redeeming time when men think least I will.

Exit PRINCE HENRY stage right.

STAGEHANDS remove bench.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

✴ SCENE 2. (ACT II, SCENE II)

The highway, near Gadshill.

Enter NARRATOR from stage right, coming downstage center.

 

NARRATOR

Falstaff and his band of rogues rob the travelers, but their plan backfires.

Exit NARRATOR stage left.

Enter PRINCE HENRY and POINS from stage right; they stand near stage right pillar.

 

POINS

Come, shelter, shelter: I have removed Falstaff ’s horse, and he frets like a gummed velvet.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Stand close.

Enter FALSTAFF, looking for Poins, whom he does not see.

 

FALSTAFF

Poins! Poins, and be hanged! Poins!

 

PRINCE HENRY (comes up behind FALSTAFF)

Peace, ye fat-kidneyed rascal! What a brawling dost thou keep!

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 7

 

FALSTAFF jumps and squeals from fright; he then pretends not to have reacted that way.

 

FALSTAFF

Where’s Poins, Hal? The rascal hath removed my horse, and tied him I know not where. A plague upon it when thieves cannot be true one to another! (loudly) Give me my horse, you rogues.

 

Enter GADSHILL, PETO, and BARDOLPH from stage right, walking in a line with GADSHILL leading. They all bump into each

other and slap the person behind them with their hats. Since BARDOLPH is last, he can’tslap anybody; this frustrates him, so he slaps his bottle instead.

 

GADSHILL

Stand.

FALSTAFF

So I do, against my will.

 

BARDOLPH

There’s money of the king’s coming down the hill.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Sirs, you four shall front them in the narrow lane; Ned Poins and I will walk lower: if they’scape from your encounter, then they light on us.

 

PETO

How many be there of them?

GADSHILL

Some eight or ten.

 

8 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

FALSTAFF

’Zounds, will they not rob us?

 

PRINCE HENRY

What, a coward, Sir John Paunch?

 

FALSTAFF

Indeed, I am not John of Gaunt, your grandfather; but yet no coward, Hal.

 

PRINCE HENRY (whispering to POINS)

Ned, where are our disguises?

 

POINS

Here, hard by: stand close.

 

Exit PRINCE HENRY and POINS stage right.

 

FALSTAFF

Now, every man to his business.

 

Enter TRAVELERS from stage left.

 

TRAVELER ONE

Come, neighbor: the boy shall lead our horses down the hill; we’ll walk afoot awhile, and ease our legs.

 

FALSTAFF

Stand!

 

TRAVELER TWO

Jesus bless us!

 

FALSTAFF

Strike; down with them; bacon-fed knaves! Fleece them.

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 9

 

TRAVELER TWO

O, we are undone, both we and ours for ever!

 

FALSTAFF

Ye fat chuffs: on, bacons, on!

 

FALSTAFF, GADSHILL, and PETO rob and bind TRAVELERS.

BARDOLPH mistakenly is tied up as well and led out with them; he yells muffledprotestations through the scarf tied around his mouth. Exit ALL stage left.

Re-enter PRINCE HENRY and POINS from stage right.

 

PRINCE HENRY

The thieves have bound the true men. Now could thou and I rob the thieves and go merrily to London, it would be argument for a week, laughter for a month and a good jest for ever.

 

POINS

Stand close; I hear them coming.

 

PRINCE HENRY and POINS hide behind stage left pillar.

Re-enter FALSTAFF, GADSHILL, PETO, and BARDOLPH from stage left.

 

FALSTAFF

Come, my masters, let us share.

 

PRINCE HENRY and POINS leap out from behind stage left pillars, brandishing swords.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Your money!

 

POINS

Villains!

 

10 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

FALSTAFF, GADSHILL, PETO, and BARDOLPH drop the money and run screaming, with FALSTAFF screaming theloudest. HAL and POINS laugh hysterically, nearly falling down from the effort.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Got with much ease. Now merrily to horse: Falstaff lards the lean earth ashe walks along: Were’t not for laughing, I should pity him.

 

POINS

How the rogue roar’d!

 

Exit POINS and PRINCE HENRY stage right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

✴ SCENE 3. (ACT II, SCENE IV)

Eastcheap. The Boar’s-Head Tavern.

STAGEHANDS move table stage center, placing one stool stage right of table and one stool stage left.

Enter NARRATOR from stage right, coming downstage center.

 

NARRATOR

Prince Hal teases Falstaff about his cowardice. Falstaff and Hal take turns role-playingthe king, with revealing results.

Exit NARRATOR stage left.

Enter PRINCE HENRY and POINS from stage right. PRINCE HENRY

sits in stool stage left and POINS stands behind table.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Falstaff and the rest of the thieves are at the door: shall we be merry?

 

POINS

As merry as crickets, my lad.

 

Enter FALSTAFF, GADSHILL, PETO, and BARDOLPH from stage right, carrying wine. BARDOLPH pours a small cup for PRINCE HENRY, swigs from the bottle, and then pulls a flask out of his pocket and swigs from that. He then pulls a smaller bottle from another pocket, swigs from it, and burps.

 

12 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

FALSTAFF sits on a stool and the others stand around table behind him.

 

FALSTAFF

A plague of all cowards! There be four of us here have ta’en a thousand pound this day morning.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Where is it, Jack? Where is it? (pretends to look for the money)

 

FALSTAFF

Where is it! Taken from us it is: a hundred upon poor four of us. I have ’scaped by miracle.

 

FALSTAFF stands and mimes getting stabbed eight times in the chest, then four times in the legs.

I am eight times thrust through the doublet, four through the hose; my sword hacked like a hand- saw—ecce signum! (shows his mangled sword) A plague of all cowards!

FALSTAFF toasts, drinks, then refills his cup. BARDOLPH does so as well, three times in a row,until PETO shoots him a look and grabs the bottle from him.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Why, thou clay-brained guts, thou knotty-pated fool. We two saw you four set on four and bound them, and were masters of their wealth. Then did we twoset on you four; and, with a word, out-faced you from your prize, and have it;(holds up bag of money) and, Falstaff, you carried your guts away with quick dexterity, and roared for mercy. What device canst thou now find out to hide thee from this shame?

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 13

 

POINS

Come, let’s hear, Jack; what trick hast thou now?

 

FALSTAFF (pauses; thinks)

Why, hear you, my masters: was it for me to kill the true prince? I am as valiantas Hercules, but beware instinct. I was now a coward on instinct. I am glad you have the money.

 

PRINCE HENRY (to FALSTAFF)

You fought fair; so did you, Peto; so did you, Bardolph:

GADSHILL feels left out and points to himself.

You are lions too, you ran away upon instinct, you will not touch the true prince.

 

BARDOLPH

’Faith, I ran when I saw others run. (burps)

 

FALSTAFF

Tell me, Hal, art thou not horribly afraid?

 

PRINCE HENRY

Not a whit, i’ faith; I lack some of thy (pauses)

instinct.

 

FALSTAFF

Well, thou wert be horribly chid tomorrow when thou comest to thy father: if thou love me,practice an answer.

 

PRINCE HENRY (playfully) Do thou stand for my father, and examine me upon the particulars of my life.

 

14 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

FALSTAFF

Shall I? Content: this chair shall be my state, this dagger my scepter, and this cushion my crown. (puts cushion on head) Here is my speech. Stand aside, nobility.

HOSTESS

O Jesu, this is excellent sport, i’ faith! O, the father, how he holds his countenance! Hedoth it as like one of these harlotry players as ever I see!

 

HOSTESS laughs until people look at her in irritation; she stops.

 

FALSTAFF (addresses PETO, then BARDOLPH)

Peace, good pint-pot; peace, good tickle-brain.

FALSTAFF composes himself, breathes deeply, and gets into character.

 

FALSTAFF

Harry, I do not only marvel where thou spendest thy time, but also the company thou keepest:

 

FALSTAFF looks at the group before him, who protest vocally.

and yet there is a virtuous man whom I have often noted in thy company, but I know not his name.

 

PRINCE HENRY

What manner of man, your majesty?

 

FALSTAFF (looks at his belly)

A goodly portly man, i’ faith, and of a cheerful look, and, as I think, his age some fifty,

HOSTESS and others interrupt by yelling, “Sixty!”

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 15

 

or, by’r lady, inclining to three score; His name is Falstaff: Harry, I see virtue in his looks.Falstaff: him keep with, the rest banish.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Do thou stand for me, and I’ll play my father.

 

FALSTAFF

Depose me?

 

FALSTAFF and PRINCE HENRY switch places. PRINCE HENRY sits in the stool and takes the dagger and cushion fromFALSTAFF while FALSTAFF stands.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Well, here I am set.

 

FALSTAFF

And here I stand: judge, my masters.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Now, Harry, whence come you?

 

FALSTAFF (kneels)

My noble lord, from Eastcheap.

 

PRINCE HENRY

The complaints I hear of thee are grievous.

 

FALSTAFF

’Sblood, my lord, they are false.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Swearest thou, ungracious boy? Thou art violently carried away from grace: there is adevil haunts thee in the likeness of an old (pauses) fat (pauses) man.

 

16 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

(stares at FALSTAFF) Why dost thou converse with that trunk of humors,

With each insult, the crowd at the tavern responds verbally.

that bolting-hutch of beastliness, that stuffed cloak- bag of guts, with the pudding in his belly. Wherein is he good, but to taste sack and drink it? Wherein villanous, but in all things?

The cheering dies down, as it seems PRINCE HENRY is being unnecessarily mean.

Wherein worthy, but in nothing?

The cheering fades away completely. The crowd is a little uncomfortable.

 

FALSTAFF

Whom means your grace?

 

PRINCE HENRY

That villanous abominable misleader of youth, Falstaff, that old white-bearded Satan.

 

FALSTAFF (less jolly, more timid)

My lord, the man I know.

 

PRINCE HENRY

I know thou dost.

 

FALSTAFF

If to be old and merry be a sin, then many an old host that I know is damned: No, my good lord; banish Peto, banish Bardolph, banish Poins: but for sweet Jack Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff, being, as he is, old Jack Falstaff, banish not

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 17

 

him thy Harry’s company, banish plump Jack, and banish all the world.

 

PRINCE HENRY

I do, I will.

PRINCE HENRY stands and begins to leave, looking and acting more like a king than whenhe came in. Exit PRINCE HENRY stage rear as all look on.

Exit POINS, GADSHILL, and PETO stage right. HOSTESS wakes BARDOLPH, who has fallen asleep, and leads him offstage right. FALSTAFF looks out over the audience, sighs, and lumbers off stage right.

STAGEHANDS remove table.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

✴ SCENE 4. (ACT III, SCENE I)

The Archdeacon’s house.

Enter NARRATOR from stage right, coming downstage center.

 

NARRATOR

Hot-headed Harry Percy—known as Hotspur— tangles with the Welsh LordGlendower as they plan to divide up the kingdom they intend to conquer.

Exit NARRATOR stage right.

Enter HOTSPUR, MORTIMER, and GLENDOWER from stage left.

 

MORTIMER

These promises are fair, the parties sure, And our induction full ofprosperous hope.

 

HOTSPUR

Lord Mortimer, and cousin Glendower, Will you sit down?

 

GLENDOWER sits on stage right stool and MORTIMER sits in stool stage left. HOTSPUR remains standing.

A plague upon it! I have forgot the map.

 

GLENDOWER

No, here it is. (pulls out map)

Sit, cousin Percy; sit, good cousin Hotspur,

At my birth the frame and huge foundation of the earth Shaked like a coward.

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 19

 

HOTSPUR

O, then the earth shook to see the heavens on fire, And not in fear of your nativity.

 

MORTIMER stands between PERCY and GLENDOWER and separates them with his hands.

 

MORTIMER

Peace, cousin Percy; you will make him mad.

 

GLENDOWER

Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made head Against my power; thrice have I sent him Bootless home and weather-beaten back.

 

HOTSPUR

Home without boots, and in foul weather too!

 

GLENDOWER

Come, here’s the map: shall we divide our right According to our threefold order ta’en?

GLENDOWER sets the map on the ground. ALL examine it.

 

MORTIMER

The archdeacon hath divided it Into three limits very equally:

 

HOTSPUR (points at map with a stick)

Methinks my moiety, north from Burton here, In quantity equals not one of yours:

See how this river cuts me from the best of all my land.

It shall not wind with such a deep indent, To rob me of so rich a bottom here.

 

20 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

GLENDOWER

Not wind? It shall, it must; you see it doth.

 

HOTSPUR (stands)

Who shall say me nay?

 

GLENDOWER

Why, that will I.

GLENDOWER and HOTSPUR take a step closer to each other and stare at each other for a moment. GLENDOWER looks away first.

Come, you shall have Trent turn’d.

 

HOTSPUR.

Are the indentures drawn? Shall we be gone?

 

GLENDOWER

The moon shines fair; you may away by night.

Exit GLENDOWER stage right.

 

MORTIMER

Fie, cousin Percy! How you cross my father!

 

HOTSPUR

I cannot choose: sometime he angers me. O, he is as tedious as a railing wife.

 

MORTIMER sits HOTSPUR in the stool to calm him down.

 

MORTIMER

In faith, my lord, you are too wilful-blame.

 

HOTSPUR

Well, I am school’d: Here come our wives, and let us take our leave.

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 21

 

Re-enter GLENDOWER with LADY MORTIMER and LADY PERCY

from stage right.

MORTIMER and PERCY gaze lovingly at their respective wives as they enter.

 

HOTSPUR

Come, Kate, thou art perfect in lying down:

come, quick, quick, that I may lay my head in thy lap.

 

LADY PERCY

Go, ye giddy goose.

LADY PERCY sits and HOTSPUR lays his head in her lap.

SOUND OPERATOR plays Sound Cue #2 (“Welsh music”).

GLENDOWER conducts the music, as if summoning it from thin air; ALL listen, enraptured.

 

HOTSPUR

Now I perceive the devil is a good musician.

 

LADY PERCY

Then should you be nothing but musical for you are altogether governed byhumors. Lie still, ye thief,

Now God help thee!

 

HOTSPUR

To the Welsh lady’s bed.

 

LADY PERCY

What’s that?

 

22 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

HOTSPUR

Peace. Come, Kate, I’ll have your song too.

 

LADY PERCY

Not mine, in good sooth.

Exit HOTSPUR and LADY PERCY stage left, giggling.

 

GLENDOWER

Come, come, Lord Mortimer; you are as slow As hot Lord Percy is on fire to go.

MORTIMER stands and helps LADY MORTIMER to her feet.

Exit MORTIMER and LADY MORTIMER stage right, arm in arm. GLENDOWER watches them leave for a few moments,then exits stage right.

STAGEHANDS remove stools, then place throne center.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

✴ SCENE 5 (ACT III, SCENE II)

London. The palace.

Enter NARRATOR from stage right, coming downstage center.

 

NARRATOR

Prince Hal reconciles with his father, King Henry IV, by swearing to fight the rebels and todefeat Hotspur.

Exit NARRATOR stage right.

Enter KING HENRY IV and PRINCE HENRY from stage left.

KING HENRY IV sits on the throne.

 

KING HENRY IV

I know not whether God will have it so, For some displeasing service I have done, But thou dost in thy passages of life

Make me believe that thou art only mark’d For the hot vengeance and the rod of heaven To punish my mistreadings. Tell me else, Could such inordinate and low desires,

Such barren pleasures, rude society,

As thou art match’d withal and grafted to, Accompany the greatness of thy blood

And hold their level with thy princely heart?

 

PRINCE HENRY

So please your majesty

Find pardon on my true submission. (kneels)

 

24 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

KING HENRY IV

God pardon thee! Yet let me wonder, Harry, At thy affections, which do hold a wing Quite from the flight of all thy ancestors.

The hope and expectation of thy time

Is ruin’d. Harry, thou has lost thy princely privilege With vile participation: not an eye

But is a-weary of thy common sight,

Save mine, which hath desired to see thee more.

 

PRINCE HENRY (touched and surprised)

I shall hereafter be more myself.

 

KING HENRY IV

For all the world

Percy now leads ancient lords and reverend bishops on To bloody battles and to bruising arms.

Thrice hath this Hotspur, Mars in swathling clothes, Discomfited great Douglas, ta’en him once,

And what say you to this? Percy, Northumberland, The Archbishop’s grace of York, Douglas, Mortimer,Capitulate against us and are up.

 

PRINCE HENRY (stands; walks slowly downstage center)

I will redeem all this on Percy’s head And in the closing of someglorious day

Be bold to tell you that (turns to KING HENRY IV)

I am your son; For the time will come,

That I shall make this northern youth exchange

His glorious deeds for my indignities. (kneels again)

This, in the name of God, I promise here: And I will die a hundredthousand deaths Ere break the smallest parcel of this vow.

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 25

 

KING HENRY IV stands and helps PRINCE HENRY to his feet. They hold a long handshake and eye contact.

 

KING HENRY IV

A hundred thousand rebels die in this:

Thou shalt have charge and sovereign trust herein.

Exit KING HENRY IV stage right. PRINCE HENRY follows.

STAGEHANDS remove throne.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

✴ SCENE 6. (ACT V, SCENE IV)

A field between the camps.

Enter NARRATOR from stage right, coming downstage center.

 

NARRATOR

We are on the battlefield. True colors are revealed, with Hal showing braveryand loyalty, and Falstaff showing that he is, well, still a coward and a liar. (But, somehow, a loveable one!)

Exit NARRATOR stage left.

Enter KING HENRY IV and EARL OF DOUGLAS from stage right, bearing swords.

 

EARL OF DOUGLAS

Another king! They grow like Hydra’s heads: I am the Douglas, fatal to all those

That wear those colors on them: what art thou, That counterfeit’st the person of a king?

 

KING HENRY IV

The king himself; I will assay thee: so, defend thyself.

 

EARL OF DOUGLAS (examines KING HENRY IV)

I fear thou art another counterfeit;

And yet, in faith, thou bear’st thee like a king: But mine I am sure thou art, whoe’er thou be, And thus I win thee.

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 27

 

KING HENRY IV and EARL OF DOUGLAS fight. With KING HENRY IV

in danger, PRINCE HENRY enters from stage left.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Hold up thy head, vile Scot, it is the Prince of Wales that threatens thee.

PRINCE HENRY joins the fight. KING HENRY IV is fatigued, but fights EARL OF DOUGLAS valiantly. EARL OF DOUGLAS escapes offstage right. PRINCE HENRY runs to check on his father.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Cheerly, my lord how fares your grace?

 

KING HENRY IV

Stay, and breathe awhile:

Thou hast redeem’d thy lost opinion,

And show’d thou makest some tender of my life, In this fair rescue thou hast brought to me.

 

PRINCE HENRY

O God! They did me too much injury That ever said I hearken’d for your death.

KING HENRY IV and PRINCE HENRY meet each other’s gaze for a brief emotional moment.

Exit KING HENRY IV stage left. Enter HOTSPUR from stage right.

HOTSPUR

If I mistake not, thou art Harry Monmouth. My name is Harry Percy.

 

28 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

PRINCE HENRY

I am the Prince of Wales.

 

HOTSPUR

The hour is come

To end the one of us;

I can no longer brook thy vanities.

 

PRINCE HENRY IV and HOTSPUR fight.

Enter FALSTAFF from stage left.

 

FALSTAFF

Well said, Hal! To it Hal! Nay, you shall find no boy’s play here, I can tell you.

 

Re-enter EARL OF DOUGLAS; he fights with FALSTAFF, who falls down as if he were dead.

Exit EARL OF DOUGLAS stage right.

HOTSPUR is wounded; he falls.

 

HOTSPUR

O, Harry, thou hast robb’d me of my youth! Percy, thou art dust

And food for—

 

HOTSPUR dies.

 

PRINCE HENRY

For worms, brave Percy: fare thee well, great heart!

PRINCE HENRY sees FALSTAFF on the ground.

What, old acquaintance! Could not all this flesh Keep in a little life? Poor Jack, farewell!

 

 

Exit PRINCE HENRY stage right.

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 29

 

FALSTAFF continues to appear dead; after a few moments, he rises up suddenly.

 

FALSTAFF

The better part of valor is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life. ’Zounds,I am afraid of this gunpowder Percy, though he be dead: how, if he should counterfeit tooand rise? Therefore, sirrah,

 

FALSTAFF stabs HOTSPUR in the thigh.

with a new wound in your thigh, come you along with me.

FALSTAFF begins to drag HOTSPUR offstage.

Enter PRINCE HENRY and LANCASTER from stage right. FALSTAFF

stops.

 

LANCASTER

But, soft! Whom have we here?

Did you not tell me this fat man was dead?

 

PRINCE HENRY

I did; I saw him dead. Art thou alive?

Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight?

 

FALSTAFF

No, that’s certain; I am not a double man: (glances at his belly) but if I be notJack Falstaff, then am I a Jack. There is Percy:

 

FALSTAFF gestures to HOTSPUR’S body.

 

30 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

if your father will do me any honor, so; if not, let him kill the next Percyhimself. I look to be either earl or duke, I can assure you.

 

PRINCE HENRY

Why, Percy I killed myself and saw thee dead.

 

FALSTAFF

Didst thou? Lord, Lord, how this world is given

to lying! I grant you I was down and out of breath; and so was he: but we rose both at an instant and fought a longhour by Shrewsbury clock. I gave him this wound in the thigh: if the man were alive and would deny it, ’zounds, I would make him eat a piece of my sword.

 

LANCASTER

This is the strangest tale that ever I heard.

 

PRINCE HENRY

This is the strangest fellow, brother John.

SOUND OPERATOR plays Sound Cue #3 (“Trumpet retreat”).

The trumpet sounds retreat; the day is ours.

Exit PRINCE HENRY and LANCASTER stage right.

 

FALSTAFF

If I do grow great, I’ll grow less; for I’ll purge, and leave sack, and live cleanly as anobleman should do.

 

Exit FALSTAFF stage right, dragging HOTSPUR’S body by the legs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

✴ SCENE 7. (FALSTAFF’S SPEECH:

ACT V, SCENE I. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL FROM HENRY IV, PART 2: ACT V, SCENE V)

Enter NARRATOR from stage right, coming downstage center.

 

NARRATOR

Time has passed, and Hal is now King Henry V. He rejects Falstaff as part of the formerlife that he now renounces.

Exit NARRATOR stage left.

Enter FALSTAFF, SHALLOW, PISTOL, and BARDOLPH from stage right. As usual, BARDOLPH bumps into the man infront of him. ALL stand in a line, side by side, watching for the royal parade.

 

FALSTAFF

Stand here by me, Master Robert Shallow; I will make the king do you grace:I will leer upon him as a’ comes by; and do but mark the countenance that he will give me.

 

PISTOL

God bless thy lungs, good knight.

FALSTAFF

Come here, Pistol; stand behind me. This doth show my earnestness of affection.

 

32 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

FALSTAFF puts his arm around PISTOL’S shoulders. PISTOL in turn puts his arm around BARDOLPH. BARDOLPH goes to puts his arm around someone’s shoulders, but there is nobody there, so he puts his arm around a wine bottle instead.

 

SHALLOW

It doth so.

FALSTAFF

My devotion,—

SHALLOW

It doth, it doth, it doth.

FALSTAFF

As it were, to ride day and night; and not to deliberate, but to stand stained with travel,and sweating with desire to see him; as if there were nothing else to be done but to see him.

 

Shouts come from within.

SOUND OPERATOR plays Sound Cue #4 (“Royal fanfare”).

 

PISTOL

There roar’d the sea, and trumpet-clangor sounds.

 

Enter KING HENRY V from stage left accompanied by the LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE and ATTENDANT holding KING HENRY V’S robe.

 

FALSTAFF

God save thy grace, King Hal! My royal Hal!

PISTOL

The heavens thee guard and keep, most royal imp of fame!

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 33

 

FALSTAFF

God save thee, my sweet boy!

 

KING HENRY V

My lord chief-justice, speak to that vain man.

The CHIEF-JUSTICE tries to think of something to say but can’t think of anything; he fumbles over his words,starting and stopping.

Lord Chief-Justice have you your wits? Know you what ’tis to speak?

 

FALSTAFF

My king! My Jove! I speak to thee, my heart!

 

KING HENRY V

I know thee not, old man: fall to thy prayers.

FALSTAFF is visibly shaken and upset; he kneels, as do PISTOL and BARDOLPH. BARDOLPH offers a swig from thebottle to KING HENRY V, who ignores him. SHALLOW gives a small bow.

How ill white hairs become a fool and jester! I have long dream’d of such a kind of man, So surfeit-swell’d, so old and so profane; But, being awaked, I do despise my dream. Reply not to me with a fool-born jest: Presume not that I am the thing I was;

For God doth know, so shall the world perceive, That I have turn’d away my former self;

So will I those that kept me company. When thou dost hear I am as I have been,

Approach me, and thou shalt be as thou wast, The tutor and the feeder of my riots:

Till then, I banish thee, on pain of death,

 

34 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

Not to come near our person by ten mile. Set on.

Exit KING HENRY V and ATTENDANT.

 

FALSTAFF (to SHALLOW)

Master Shallow, do not you grieve at this; I shall be sent for in private to him: look you, he must

seem thus to the world: this that you heard was but a color.

 

SHALLOW

A color that I fear you will die in, Sir John.

FALSTAFF

Fear no colors: go with me to dinner: come, Lieutenant Pistol; come, Bardolph: I shall besent for soon at night.

 

Exit SHALLOW and BARDOLPH stage right.

 

FALSTAFF

I would ’twere bed-time, Hal, and all well.

 

PRINCE HENRY’S voice rings out from offstage, an echo from the past.

Why, thou owest God a death.

ALL begin to enter and surround FALSTAFF as he speaks.

 

FALSTAFF

’Tis not due yet; I would be loath to pay him before his day. What need I be so forward with him that calls not on me? Well, ’tis no matter; honor pricks me on. Yea, but how if honor prick me off when I come on? How then? Can honor set to a leg?

 

HENRY IV, PART 1 ✴ 35

 

ALL

No.

FALSTAFF

Or an arm?

ALL

No.

FALSTAFF

Or take away the grief of a wound?

ALL

No.

FALSTAFF

What is honor? A word. What is in that word honor?

ALL

Air.

FALSTAFF

Who hath it? He that died o’ Wednesday. Doth he feel it?

ALL

No.

FALSTAFF

’Tis insensible, then. Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living?

ALL

No.

 

36 ✴ HENRY IV, PART 1

 

FALSTAFF

 

Why? Detraction will not suffer it. Therefore I’ll none of it.

 

ALL

Honor is a mere scutcheon.

FALSTAFF

And so ends my catechism.