The second Part of King Henry the Fourth.
Harry, from curb'd License pluckes
Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.
Left Column
Right Column
They know their duties.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="2" rend="notPresent">
<head type="supplied">[Act 4, Scene 2]</head>
<note type="editorial" resp="#PW">From this point in the act onwards, conventional scene numbering diverges from the First Folio.</note>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Prince Iohn.</stage>
<sp who="#F-2h4-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2050">You are wel encountred here (my cosin<hi rend="italic">Mowbray</hi>)</l>
<l n="2051">Good day to you, gentle Lord Archbishop,</l>
<l n="2052">And so to you Lord<hi rend="italic">Hastings</hi>, and to all.</l>
<l n="2053">My Lord of Yorke, it better shew'd with you,</l>
<l n="2054">When that your Flocke (assembled by the Bell)</l>
<l n="2055">Encircled you, to heare with reuerence</l>
<l n="2056">Your exposition on the holy Text,</l>
<l n="2057">Then now to see you heere an Iron man</l>
<l n="2058">Chearing a rowt of Rebels with your Drumme,</l>
<l n="2059">Turning the Word, to Sword; and Life to death:</l>
<l n="2060">That man that sits within a Monarches heart,</l>
<l n="2061">And ripens in the Sunne‑shine of his fauor,</l>
<l n="2062">Would hee abuse the Countenance of the King,</l>
<l n="2063">Alack, what Mischiefes might hee set abroach,</l>
<l n="2064">In shadow of such Greatnesse? With you, Lord Bishop,</l>
<l n="2065">It is euen so. Who hath not heard it spoken,</l>
<l n="2066">How deepe you were within the Bookes of Heauen?</l>
<l n="2067">To vs, the Speaker in his Parliament;</l>
<l n="2068">To vs, th'imagine Voyce of Heauen it selfe:</l>
<l n="2069">The very Opener, and Intelligencer,</l>
<l n="2070">Betweene the Grace, the Sanctities of Heauen;</l>
<l n="2071">And our dull workings. O, who shall beleeue,</l>
<l n="2072">But you mis‑vse the reuerence of your Place,</l>
<l n="2073">Employ the Countenance, and Grace of Heauen,</l>
<l n="2074">As a false Fauorite doth his Princes Name,</l>
<l n="2075">In deedes dis‑honorable<c rend="italic">?</c>You haue taken vp,</l>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0413-0.jpg" n="91"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<l n="2076">Vnder the counterfeited Zeale of Heauen,</l>
<l n="2077">The Subiects of Heauens Substitute, my Father,</l>
<l n="2078">And both against the Peace of Heauen, and him,</l>
<l n="2079">Haue here vp‑swarmed them.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-scr">
<speaker rend="italic">Bish.</speaker>
<l n="2080">Good my Lord of Lancaster,</l>
<l n="2081">I am not here against your Fathers Peace:</l>
<l n="2082">But (as I told my Lord of Westmerland)</l>
<l n="2083">The Time (mis‑order'd) doth in common sence</l>
<l n="2084">Crowd vs, and crush vs, to this monstrous Forme,</l>
<l n="2085">To hold our safetie vp. I sent your Grace</l>
<l n="2086">The parcels, and particulars of our Griefe,</l>
<l n="2087">The which hath been with scorne shou'd from the Court:</l>
<l n="2088">Whereon this<hi rend="italic">Hydra</hi>‑Sonne of Warre is borne,</l>
<l n="2089">Whose dangerous eyes may well be charm'd asleepe,</l>
<l n="2090">With graunt of our most iust and right desires;</l>
<l n="2091">And true Obedience, of this Madnesse cur'd,</l>
<l n="2092">Stoope tamely to the foot of Maiestie.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-mow">
<speaker rend="italic">Mow.</speaker>
<l n="2093">If not, wee readie are to trye our fortunes,</l>
<l n="2094">To the last man.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-has">
<speaker rend="italic">Hast.</speaker>
<l n="2095">And though wee here fall downe,</l>
<l n="2096">Wee haue Supplyes, to second our Attempt:</l>
<l n="2097">If they mis‑carry, theirs shall second them.</l>
<l n="2098">And so, successe of Mischiefe shall be borne,</l>
<l n="2099">And Heire from Heire shall hold this Quarrell vp,</l>
<l n="2100">Whiles England shall haue generation.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2101">You are too shallow (<hi rend="italic">Hastings</hi>)</l>
<l n="2102">Much too shallow,</l>
<l n="2103">To sound the bottome of the after‑Times.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-wes">
<speaker rend="italic">West.</speaker>
<l n="2104">Pleaseth your Grace, to answere them directly,</l>
<l n="2105">How farre‑forth you doe like their Articles.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2106">I like them all, and doe allow them well:</l>
<l n="2107">And sweare here, by the honor of my blood,</l>
<l n="2108">My Fathers purposes haue beene mistooke,</l>
<l n="2109">And some, about him, haue too lauishly</l>
<l n="2110">Wrested his meaning, and Authoritie.</l>
<l n="2111">My Lord, these Griefes shall be with speed redrest:</l>
<l n="2112">Vpon my Life, they shall. If this may please you,</l>
<l n="2113">Discharge your Powers vnto their seuerall Counties,</l>
<l n="2114">As wee will ours: and here, betweene the Armies,</l>
<l n="2115">Let's drinke together friendly, and embrace,</l>
<l n="2116">That all their eyes may beare those Tokens home,</l>
<l n="2117">Of our restored Loue, and Amitie.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-scr">
<speaker rend="italic">Bish.</speaker>
<l n="2118">I take your Princely word, for these redresses.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2119">I giue it you, and will maintaine my word:</l>
<l n="2120">And thereupon I drinke vnto your Grace.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-has">
<speaker rend="italic">Hast.</speaker>
<l n="2121">Goe Captaine, and deliuer to the Armie</l>
<l n="2122">This newes of Peace: let them haue pay, and part:</l>
<l n="2123">I know, it will well please them.</l>
<l n="2124">High thee Captaine.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-2h4-scr">
<speaker rend="italic">Bish.</speaker>
<l n="2125">To you, my Noble Lord of Westmerland.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-wes">
<speaker rend="italic">West.</speaker>
<l n="2126">I pledge your Grace:</l>
<l n="2127">And if you knew what paines I haue bestow'd,</l>
<l n="2128">To breede this present Peace,</l>
<l n="2129">You would drinke freely: but my loue to ye,</l>
<l n="2130">Shall shew it selfe more openly hereafter.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-scr">
<speaker rend="italic">Bish.</speaker>
<l n="2131">I doe not doubt you.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-wes">
<speaker rend="italic">West.</speaker>
<l n="2132">I am glad of it.</l>
<l n="2133">Health to my Lord, and gentle Cousin<hi rend="italic">Mowbray</hi>.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-mow">
<speaker rend="italic">Mow.</speaker>
<l n="2134">You wish me health in very happy season,</l>
<l n="2135">For I am, on the sodaine, something ill.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-scr">
<speaker rend="italic">Bish.</speaker>
<l n="2136">Against ill Chances, men are euer merry,</l>
<l n="2137">But heauinesse fore‑runnes the good euent.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-wes">
<speaker rend="italic">West.</speaker>
<l n="2138">Therefore be merry (Cooze) since sodaine sorrow</l>
<l n="2139">Serues to say thus: some good thing comes to morrow.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-scr">
<speaker rend="italic">Bish.</speaker>
<l n="2140">Beleeue me, I am passing light in spirit.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-mow">
<speaker rend="italic">Mow.</speaker>
<l n="2141">So much the worse, if your owne Rule be true.</l>
</sp>
<cb n="2"/>
<sp who="#F-2h4-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2142">The word of Peace is render'd: hearke how
<lb/>they showt.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-mow">
<speaker rend="italic">Mow.</speaker>
<l n="2143">This had been chearefull, after Victorie.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-scr">
<speaker rend="italic">Bish.</speaker>
<l n="2144">A Peace is of the nature of a Conquest:</l>
<l n="2145">For then both parties nobly are subdu'd,</l>
<l n="2146">And neither partie looser.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2147">Goe (my Lord)</l>
<l n="2148">And let our Army be discharged too:</l>
<l n="2149">And good my Lord (so please you) let our Traines</l>
<l n="2150">March by vs, that wee may peruse the men</l>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<l n="2151">Wee should haue coap'd withall.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-scr">
<speaker rend="italic">Bish.</speaker>
<l n="2152">Goe, good Lord<hi rend="italic">Hastings:</hi>
</l>
<l n="2153">And ere they be dismiss'd, let them march by.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
<sp who="#F-2h4-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2154">I trust (Lords) wee shall lye to night together.</l>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Westmerland.</stage>
<l n="2155">Now Cousin, wherefore stands our Army still?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-wes">
<speaker rend="italic">West.</speaker>
<l n="2156">The Leaders hauing charge from you to stand,</l>
<l n="2157">Will not goe off, vntill they heare you speake.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<p n="2158">They know their duties.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="entrance">Enter Hastings.</stage>
<sp who="#F-2h4-has">
<speaker rend="italic">Hast.</speaker>
<l n="2159">Our Army is dispers'd:</l>
<l n="2160">Like youthfull steeres, vnyoak'd, they tooke their course</l>
<l n="2161">East, West, North, South: or like a Schoole, broke vp,</l>
<l n="2162">Each hurryes towards his home, and sporting place.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-wes">
<speaker rend="italic">West.</speaker>
<l n="2163">Good tidings (my Lord<hi rend="italic">Hastings)</hi>for the which,</l>
<l n="2164">I doe arrest thee (Traytor) of high Treason:</l>
<l n="2165">And you Lord Arch‑bishop, and you Lord<hi rend="italic">Mowbray</hi>,</l>
<l n="2166">Of Capitall Treason, I attach you both.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-mow">
<speaker rend="italic">Mow.</speaker>
<l n="2167">Is this proceeding iust, and honorable?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-wes">
<speaker rend="italic">West.</speaker>
<l n="2168">Is your Assembly so?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-scr">
<speaker rend="italic">Bish.</speaker>
<l n="2169">Will you thus breake your faith?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-2h4-joh">
<speaker rend="italic">Iohn.</speaker>
<l n="2170">I pawn'd thee none:</l>
<l n="2171">I promis'd you redresse of these same Grieuances</l>
<l n="2172">Whereof you did complaine; which, by mine Honor,</l>
<l n="2173">I will performe, with a most Christian care.</l>
<l n="2174">But for you (Rebels) looke to taste the due</l>
<l n="2175">Meet for Rebellion, and such Acts as yours.</l>
<l n="2176">Most shallowly did you these Armes commence,</l>
<l n="2177">Fondly brought here, and foolishly sent hence.</l>
<l n="2178">Strike vp our Drummes, pursue the scattder'd stray,</l>
<l n="2179">Heauen, and not wee, haue safely fought to day.</l>
<l n="2180">Some guard these Traitors to the Block of Death,</l>
<l n="2181">Treasons true Bed, and yeelder vp of breath.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>