And with this face, this mask of righteousness, he won everyone’s hearts. Then he went even further, and cut off the heads of all of Richard’s deputies, who stayed behind to run the country while Richard was waging war in Ireland.

  BLUNT

  I didn’t come here to listen to this.

  HOTSPUR

  Then I’ll get to the point. A little while later, he overthrew King Richard. Soon after that, he killed him. And right after that, he raised taxes on everyone. To make matters worse, he allowed his kinsman Mortimer—who by rights ought to be the king—to be imprisoned in Wales, and remain there without ransom. He tried to use my victories to disgrace me, and tried to trap me with spies. He dismissed my uncle from his royal Council, threw my father out of the royal court, broke promise after promise, and committed crime after crime. In conclusion, he forced us to raise this army for our own safety, and to question his claim on the crown, which we believe is too flimsy to stand.

  BLUNT

  Should I bring this answer to the King?

  HOTSPUR

  No, Sir Walter. We’ll stand down for a while. Go to the King. My uncle will bring him our demands early in the morning, provided that you arrange for a guarantee that he’ll be allowed to return safely. And so, farewell.

  BLUNT

  I wish you would accept the King’s offer of kindness and love.

  HOTSPUR

  Perhaps we will.

  BLUNT

  I pray to God you do.

  They exit.

  ACT 4, SCENE 4

  Original Text

  Enter the ARCHBISHOP of York and SIR MICHAEL

  ARCHBISHOP

  Hie, good Sir Michael, bear this sealèd brief

  With winged haste to the Lord Marshal,

  This to my cousin Scroop, and all the rest

  To whom they are directed. If you knew

  5

  How much they do import, you would make haste.

  SIR MICHAEL

  My good lord, I guess their tenor.

  ARCHBISHOP

  Like enough you do.

  Tomorrow, good Sir Michael, is a day

  Wherein the fortune of ten thousand men

  10

  Must bide the touch. For, sir, at Shrewsbury,

  As I am truly given to understand,

  The King with mighty and quick-raisèd power

  Meets with Lord Harry. And I fear, Sir Michael,

  What with the sickness of Northumberland,

  15

  Whose power was in the first proportion,

  And what with Owen Glendower’s absence thence,

  Who with them was a rated sinew too

  And comes not in, o’er-ruled by prophecies,

  I fear the power of Percy is too weak

  20

  To wage an instant trial with the King.

  SIR MICHAEL

  Why, my good lord, you need not fear.

  There is Douglas and Lord Mortimer.

  ARCHBISHOP

  No, Mortimer is not there.

  SIR MICHAEL

  But there is Mordake, Vernon, Lord Harry Percy,

  25

  And there is my Lord of Worcester and a head

  Of gallant warriors, noble gentlemen.

  ARCHBISHOP

  And so there is. But yet the King hath drawn

  The special head of all the land together:

  The Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster,

  30

  The noble Westmoreland, and warlike Blunt,

  And many more corrivals and dear men

  Of estimation and command in arms.

  SIR MICHAEL

  Doubt not, my lord, they shall be well opposed.

  ARCHBISHOP

  I hope no less, yet needful ’tis to fear;

  35

  And to prevent the worst, Sir Michael, speed.

  For if Lord Percy thrive not, ere the King

  Dismiss his power, he means to visit us,

  For he hath heard of our confederacy,

  And ’tis but wisdom to make strong against him:

  40

  Therefore make haste. I must go write again

  To other friends. And so farewell, Sir Michael.

  Exeunt

  ACT 4, SCENE 4

  Modern Text

  The ARCHBISHOP of York and SIR MICHAEL enter.

  ARCHBISHOP

  Hurry, Sir Michael, bring this sealed letter as fast as you can to the Lord Marshal. Bring this one to Scroop, and all the rest to whom they are addressed. If you knew how important they were, you would hurry.

  SIR MICHAEL

  My good lord, I can guess what they say.

  ARCHBISHOP

  I’m sure you can. Tomorrow, Sir Michael, ten thousand men will try their luck. I’m told that at Shrewsbury, the King—with a huge and quickly assembled army—will fight Harry Percy. I’m afraid, Michael, that without Northumberland, whose army was the largest of all, and without Owen Glendower, who was also being counted on but is absent because his horoscope told him to stay away, I’m afraid that Percy’s army will be too weak to fight the King right now.

  SIR MICHAEL

  Don’t worry, sir. Douglas and Mortimer are there.

  ARCHBISHOP

  No, Mortimer isn’t there.

  SIR MICHAEL

  But Mordake is there, and Vernon, and Harry Percy, and Worcester and a slew of brave warriors and excellent men.

  ARCHBISHOP

  That’s correct. But the King has pulled together the best men in the country: the Prince of Wales, Lord John of Lancaster, the noble Westmoreland, warlike Blunt, and many other acquaintances and valuable men of good reputation, with great skill in battle.

  SIR MICHAEL

  No doubt they will face great opposition.

  ARCHBISHOP

  I hope so, but still I’m afraid. Now hurry, Sir Michael, to prevent an absolute disaster. For if Percy doesn’t prevail, the King will come after us before he disbands his army. He’s heard that we’re part of the rebellion, so we’d be wise to prepare against him. Now hurry. I have to go write to more friends. Farewell, Sir Michael.

  They exit.

  Pegasus = a winged horse, from Greek mythology

  an angel = several shillings; Bardolph claims he has spent an angel on Falstaffs wine.

  In the Bible, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.

  A “jack” was also a quilted jacket.

  ACT FIVE

  SCENE 1

  Original Text

  Enter the KING, PRINCE HENRY of Wales, Lord John of LANCASTER, Earl of WESTMORELAND, BLUNT, and FALSTAFF

  KING

  How bloodily the sun begins to peer

  Above yon busky hill. The day looks pale

  At his distemp’rature.

  PRINCE HENRY

  The southern wind

  Doth play the trumpet to his purposes,

  5

  And by his hollow whistling in the leaves

  Foretells a tempest and a blust’ring day.

  KING

  Then with the losers let it sympathize,

  For nothing can seem foul to those that win.

  The trumpet sounds. Enter WORCESTER and VERNON

  How now, my Lord of Worcester? ’Tis not well

  10

  That you and I should meet upon such terms

  As now we meet. You have deceived our trust

  And made us doff our easy robes of peace

  To crush our old limbs in ungentle steel.

  This is not well, my lord; this is not well.

  15

  What say you to it? Will you again unknit

  This curlish knot of all-abhorrèd war

  And move in that obedient orb again

  Where you did give a fair and natural light,

  And be no more an exhaled meteor,

  20

  A prodigy of fear and a portent

  Of broachèd mischief to the unborn times?

  WORCESTER

  Hear me, my liege:

  For mine own part I could be well content

  To entertain the lag end of my life

  25

  With quiet hours. For I do protest

  I have not sought the day of this dislike.

  KING

  You have not sought it. How comes it then?

  FALSTAFF

  Rebellion lay in his way, and he found it.

  PRINCE HENRY

  Peace, chewet, peace.

  WORCESTER

  30

  (to the KING) It pleased your Majesty to turn your looks

  Of favour from myself and all our house;

  And yet I must remember you, my lord,

  We were the first and dearest of your friends.

  For you my staff of office did I break

  35

  In Richard’s time, and posted day and night

  To meet you on the way, and kiss your hand

  When yet you were in place and in account

  Nothing so strong and fortunate as I.

  It was myself, my brother, and his son

  40

  That brought you home and boldly did outdare

  The dangers of the time. You swore to us,

  And you did swear that oath at Doncaster,

  That you did nothing purpose ’gainst the state,

  Nor claim no further than your new-fall’n right,

  45

  The seat of Gaunt, dukedom of Lancaster.

  To this we swore our aid. But in short space

  It rained down fortune show’ring on your head,

  And such a flood of greatness fell on you—

  What with our help, what with the absent King,

  50

  What with the injuries of a wanton time,

  The seeming sufferances that you had borne,

  And the contrarious winds that held the King

  So long in his unlucky Irish wars

  That all in England did repute him dead—

  55

  And from this swarm of fair advantages

  You took occasion to be quickly wooed

  To gripe the general sway into your hand,

  Forget your oath to us at Doncaster;

  And being fed by us, you used us so

  60

  As that ungentle gull, the cuckoo’s bird,

  Useth the sparrow—did oppress our nest,

  Grew by our feeding to so great a bulk

  That even our love durst not come near your sight

  For fear of swallowing; but with nimble wing

  65

  We were enforced for safety sake to fly

  Out of sight and raise this present head,

  Whereby we stand opposèd by such means

  As you yourself have forged against yourself

  By unkind usage, dangerous countenance,

  70

  And violation of all faith and troth

  Sworn to us in your younger enterprise.

  KING

  These things indeed you have articulate,

  Proclaimed at market crosses, read in churches,

  To face the garment of rebellion

  75

  With some fine color that may please the eye

  Of fickle changelings and poor discontents,

  Which gape and rub the elbow at the news

  Of hurlyburly innovation.

  And never yet did insurrection want

  80

  Such water colors to impaint his cause,

  Nor moody beggars starving for a time

  Of pellmell havoc and confusion.

  PRINCE HENRY

  In both your armies there is many a soul

  Shall pay full dearly for this encounter

  85

  If once they join in trial. Tell your nephew,

  The Prince of Wales doth join with all the world

  In praise of Henry Percy. By my hopes,

  This present enterprise set off his head,

  I do not think a braver gentleman,

  90

  More active-valiant, or more valiant-young,

  More daring or more bold, is now alive

  To grace this latter age with noble deeds.

  For my part, I may speak it to my shame,

  I have a truant been to chivalry,

  95

  And so I hear he doth account me too.

  Yet this before my father’s majesty:

  I am content that he shall take the odds

  Of his great name and estimation,

  And will, to save the blood on either side,

  100

  Try fortune with him in a single fight.

  KING

  And, Prince of Wales, so dare we venture thee,

  Albeit considerations infinite

  Do make against it.—No, good Worcester, no,

  We love our people well, even those we love

  105

  That are misled upon your cousin’s part.

  And, will they take the offer of our grace,

  Both he and they and you, yea, every man

  Shall be my friend again, and I’ll be his.

  So tell your cousin, and bring me word

  110

  What he will do. But if he will not yield,

  Rebuke and dread correction wait on us,

  And they shall do their office. So begone.

  We will not now be troubled with reply.

  We offer fair. Take it advisedly.

  Exeunt WORCESTER and VERNON

  PRINCE HENRY

  115

  It will not be accepted, on my life.

  The Douglas and the Hotspur both together

  Are confident against the world in arms.

  KING

  Hence, therefore, every leader to his charge,

  For on their answer will we set on them,

  120

  And God befriend us as our cause is just.

  Exeunt all but PRINCE HENRY and FALSTAFF

  FALSTAFF

  Hal, if thou see me down in the battle and bestride me, so; ’tis a point of friendship.

  PRINCE HENRY

  Nothing but a colossus can do thee that friendship. Say thy prayers, and farewell.

  FALSTAFF

  125

  I would ’twere bedtime, Hal, and all well.

  PRINCE HENRY

  Why, thou owest God a death.

  Exit PRINCE HENRY

  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. Honour pricks me on. Yea, but

  130

  how if honor prick me off when I come on? How then? Can honor set to a leg? no. Or an arm? no. Or take away the grief of a wound? No. Honor hath no skill in surgery, then? No. What is honor? A word. What is in that word “honor”? What is that “honor”? Air. A trim reckoning. Who hath it?

  135

  He that died o’ Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No. ’Tis insensible, then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why? Detraction will not suffer it. Therefore, I’ll none of it. Honor is a mere scutcheon. And so ends my catechism.

  Exit

  ACT FIVE

  SCENE 1

  Modern Text

  The KING, PRINCE HENRY of Wales, Lord John of LANCASTER, Earl of WESTMORELAND, Sir Walter BLUNT, and FALSTAFF enter.

  KING

  How bloody the sun looks as it peers over that massive hill. The day looks pale—it must be sick to see the sun in such a mood.

  PRINCE HENRY

  The southern wind is playing its trumpet, to announce to the world what the sun means. And judging by the whistling leaves, it’s going to be a stormy, windy day.

  KING

  Then let it take the losers’ side. To winners, nothing seems unpleasant.

  A trumpet sounds. WORCESTER and VERNON enter.

  Hello there, my lord of Worcester! It isn’t right that you and I are meeting under these circumstances. You have betrayed my trust. You forced me to put aside my comfortable peacetime clothing and instead have made me crush my old body into hard, military armor. That isn’t right, sir, that isn’t right. What do you have to say about it? Will you untie this ill-tempered knot of hateful war? Will you return to my loyalty? When you circled me, your King, in your obedient orbit, you shone beautifully and naturally. Now you blaze like a comet: a fearful omen, and a signal that evil will be released into the future.

  WORCESTER

  Listen, my lord. For me, I would love nothing more than to spend my old age in peace and quiet. I protest: I did not seek out this day of aggression.

  KING

  You did not seek it? Then how did it come here?

  FALSTAFF

  Rebellion was standing in front of him, and he bumped into it.

  PRINCE HENRY

  Quiet, you chatterer, quiet!

  WORCESTER

  (to the KING) Your Highness chose to turn your back on me and my family. I must remind you, sir, that we were your first and dearest friends. For you, I quit my position under Richard, and ran day and night to meet you on the road and kiss your hand. At that time, you were far less powerful than I was. But my brother, his son, and I brought you home and ignored the danger. At Doncaster you swore an oath to us that you were not going to challenge the King; all you wanted was your late father’s estate, the dukedom of Lancaster, and in this we promised to help you.

  But soon, good luck began to pour on you like rain, and a flood of greatness fell upon you. You had a swarm of advantages: you had our assistance; and the King had been away so long; and the country was suffering under violence; and you seemed to have been so grievously wronged; and difficult winds were keeping Richard so long in those unlucky Irish wars, people thought he was dead. You seized the opportunity, and used the general feeling to your advantage. You forgot the oath you swore to us at Doncaster.

  We nourished you, but you used us, like the cuckoo bird uses the sparrow: you settled in our nest, ate our food, and as you grew, you crowded us out. We loved you, but we couldn’t even come near you, for fear that you’d swallow us up. For our own safety, we were forced to run away and secretly raise this army. And now we stand with it, armed with powers that you yourself have caused to stand against you. You treated us poorly, you looked at us with anger, and you broke the faith and trust you swore to us when you were younger.