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Henry IV, Pt. 2: Act IV, Scene 2

Henry IV, Pt. 2
Act IV, Scene 2

Yorkshire . Another part of the Forest of Gaultree .

  1. Enter Prince John of Lancaster and his army .

Prince John of Lancaster

1 - 30
  1. You are well encount’red here , my cousin Mowbray ,
  2. Good day to you , gentle Lord Archbishop ,
  3. And so to you , Lord Hastings , and to all .
  4. My Lord of York , it better show’d with you
  5. When that your flock , assembled by the bell ,
  6. Encircled you to hear with reverence
  7. Your exposition on the holy text
  8. Than now to see you here an iron man , talking ,
  9. Cheering a rout of rebels with your drum ,
  10. Turning the word to sword and life to death .
  11. That man that sits within a monarch’s heart
  12. And ripens in the sunshine of his favor ,
  13. Would he abuse the countenance of the King ,
  14. Alack , what mischiefs might he set abroach
  15. In shadow of such greatness ? With you , Lord Bishop ,
  16. It is even so . Who hath not heard it spoken
  17. How deep you were within the books of God ?
  18. To us the speaker in his parliament ,
  19. To us th’ imagin’d voice of God himself ,
  20. The very opener and intelligencer
  21. Between the grace , the sanctities of heaven ,
  22. And our dull workings ? O , who shall believe
  23. But you misuse the reverence of your place ,
  24. Employ the countenance and grace of heav’n ,
  25. As a false favorite doth his prince’s name ,
  26. In deeds dishonorable ? You have ta’en up ,
  27. Under the counterfeited zeal of God ,
  28. The subjects of his substitute , my father ,
  29. And both against the peace of heaven and him
  30. Have here upswarm’d them .

Archbishop of York

31 - 43
  1.                           Good my Lord of Lancaster ,
  2. I am not here against your father’s peace ,
  3. But as I told my Lord of Westmorland ,
  4. The time misord’red doth , in common sense ,
  5. Crowd us and crush us to this monstrous form
  6. To hold our safety up . I sent your Grace
  7. The parcels and particulars of our grief ,
  8. The which hath been with scorn shov’d from the court ,
  9. Whereon this Hydra son of war is born ,
  10. Whose dangerous eyes may well be charm’d asleep
  11. With grant of our most just and right desires ,
  12. And true obedience , of this madness cured ,
  13. Stoop tamely to the foot of majesty .

Lord Mowbray

44 - 45
  1. If not , we ready are to try our fortunes
  2. To the last man .

Lord Hastings

46 - 51
  1.                  And though we here fall down ,
  2. We have supplies to second our attempt ;
  3. If they miscarry , theirs shall second them ,
  4. And so success of mischief shall be born ,
  5. And heir from heir shall hold his quarrel up
  6. Whiles England shall have generation .

Prince John of Lancaster

52 - 53
  1. You are too shallow , Hastings , much too shallow ,
  2. To sound the bottom of the after - times .

Earl of Westmorland

54 - 55
  1. Pleaseth your Grace to answer them directly
  2. How far forth you do like their articles .

Prince John of Lancaster

56 - 67
  1. I like them all , and do allow them well ,
  2. And swear here , by the honor of my blood ,
  3. My father’s purposes have been mistook ,
  4. And some about him have too lavishly
  5. Wrested his meaning and authority .
  6. My lord , these griefs shall be with speed redress’d ,
  7. Upon my soul they shall . If this may please you ,
  8. Discharge your powers unto their several counties ,
  9. As we will ours , and here between the armies
  10. Let’s drink together friendly and embrace ,
  11. That all their eyes may bear those tokens home
  12. Of our restored love and amity .

Archbishop of York

68
  1. I take your princely word for these redresses .

Prince John of Lancaster

69 - 70
  1. I give it you , and will maintain my word ,
  2. And thereupon I drink unto your Grace .

Lord Hastings

71 - 73
  1. Go , captain , and deliver to the army
  2. This news of peace . Let them have pay , and part .
  3. I know it will well please them . Hie thee , captain .
  1. Exit Officer .

Archbishop of York

74
  1. To you , my noble Lord of Westmorland .

Earl of Westmorland

75 - 78
  1. I pledge your Grace , and if you knew what pains
  2. I have bestowed to breed this present peace ,
  3. You would drink freely . But my love to ye
  4. Shall show itself more openly hereafter .

Archbishop of York

79
  1. I do not doubt you .

Earl of Westmorland

80 - 81
  1.                     I am glad of it .
  2. Health to my lord , and gentle cousin , Mowbray .

Lord Mowbray

82 - 83
  1. You wish me health in very happy season ,
  2. For I am on the sudden something ill .

Archbishop of York

84 - 85
  1. Against ill chances men are ever merry ,
  2. But heaviness foreruns the good event .

Earl of Westmorland

86 - 87
  1. Therefore be merry , coz , since sudden sorrow
  2. Serves to say thus , some good thing comes tomorrow .

Archbishop of York

88
  1. Believe me , I am passing light in spirit .

Lord Mowbray

89
  1. So much the worse , if your own rule be true .
  1. Shout within .

Prince John of Lancaster

90
  1. The word of peace is rend’red . Hark how they shout !

Lord Mowbray

91
  1. This had been cheerful after victory .

Archbishop of York

92 - 94
  1. A peace is of the nature of a conquest ,
  2. For then both parties nobly are subdued ,
  3. And neither party loser .

Prince John of Lancaster

95 - 99
  1.                          Go , my lord ,
  2. And let our army be discharged too .
  3. Exit Westmorland .
  4. And , good my lord , so please you , let our trains
  5. March by us , that we may peruse the men
  6. We should have cop’d withal .

Archbishop of York

100 - 101
  1.                              Go , good Lord Hastings ,
  2. And ere they be dismiss’d , let them march by .
  1. Exit Hastings .
  1. Enter Westmorland .

Prince John of Lancaster

102 - 103
  1. I trust , lords , we shall lie tonight together .
  2. Now , cousin , wherefore stands our army still ?

Earl of Westmorland

104 - 105
  1. The leaders , having charge from you to stand ,
  2. Will not go off until they hear you speak .

Prince John of Lancaster

106
  1. They know their duties .
  1. Enter Hastings .

Lord Hastings

107 - 110
  1. My lord , our army is dispers’d already :
  2. Like youthful steers unyok’d , they take their courses
  3. East , west , north , south , or , like a school broke up ,
  4. Each hurries toward his home and sporting - place .

Earl of Westmorland

111 - 114
  1. Good tidings , my Lord Hastings ! For the which
  2. I do arrest thee , traitor , of high treason ,
  3. And you , Lord Archbishop , and you , Lord Mowbray ,
  4. Of capital treason I attach you both .

Lord Mowbray

115
  1. Is this proceeding just and honorable ?

Earl of Westmorland

116
  1. Is your assembly so ?

Archbishop of York

117
  1. Will you thus break your faith ?

Prince John of Lancaster

118 - 129
  1.                                 I pawn’d thee none .
  2. I promis’d you redress of these same grievances
  3. Whereof you did complain , which , by mine honor ,
  4. I will perform with a most Christian care .
  5. But for you rebels , look to taste the due
  6. Meet for rebellion and such acts as yours .
  7. Most shallowly did you these arms commence ,
  8. Fondly brought here and foolishly sent hence .
  9. Strike up our drums , pursue the scatt’red stray ;
  10. God , and not we , hath safely fought today .
  11. Some guard these traitors to the block of death ,
  12. Treason’s true bed and yielder - up of breath .
  1. Exeunt .
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