Henry IV, Pt. 2
Act IV, Scene 4
Jerusalem Chamber in Westminster .
Byam Shaw, 1901
- Enter the King , carried in a chair , Warwick , Thomas Duke of
- Clarence , Humphrey of Gloucester , and others .
King Henry the Fourth
1 - 10- Now , lords , if God doth give successful end
- To this debate that bleedeth at our doors ,
- We will our youth lead on to higher fields ,
- And draw no swords but what are sanctified .
- Our navy is address’d , our power collected ,
- Our substitutes in absence well invested ,
- And every thing lies level to our wish .
- Only , we want a little personal strength ;
- And pause us till these rebels , now afoot ,
- Come underneath the yoke of government .
Earl of Warwick
11 - 12- Both which we doubt not but your Majesty
- Shall soon enjoy .
King Henry the Fourth
13 - 14- Humphrey , my son of Gloucester ,
- Where is the Prince your brother ?
Duke of Gloucester
15- I think he’s gone to hunt , my lord , at Windsor .
King Henry the Fourth
16- And how accompanied ?
Duke of Gloucester
17- I do not know , my lord .
King Henry the Fourth
18- Is not his brother Thomas of Clarence with him ?
Duke of Gloucester
19- No , my good lord , he is in presence here .
Duke of Clarence
20- What would my lord and father ?
King Henry the Fourth
21 - 50- Nothing but well to thee , Thomas of Clarence .
- How chance thou art not with the Prince thy brother ?
- He loves thee , and thou dost neglect him , Thomas .
- Thou hast a better place in his affection
- Than all thy brothers . Cherish it , my boy ;
- And noble offices thou mayst effect
- Of mediation , after I am dead ,
- Between his greatness and thy other brethren .
- Therefore omit him not , blunt not his love ,
- Nor lose the good advantage of his grace
- By seeming cold or careless of his will ,
- For he is gracious if he be observ’d ,
- He hath a tear for pity , and a hand
- Open as day for meting charity ;
- Yet notwithstanding , being incens’d , he is flint ,
- As humorous as winter , and as sudden
- As flaws congealed in the spring of day .
- His temper therefore must be well observ’d .
- Chide him for faults , and do it reverently ,
- When you perceive his blood inclin’d to mirth ;
- But , being moody , give him time and scope ,
- Till that his passions , like a whale on ground ,
- Confound themselves with working . Learn this , Thomas ,
- And thou shalt prove a shelter to thy friends ,
- A hoop of gold to bind thy brothers in ,
- That the united vessel of their blood ,
- Mingled with venom of suggestion
- ( As , force perforce , the age will pour it in ),
- Shall never leak , though it do work as strong
- As aconitum or rash gunpowder .
Duke of Clarence
51- I shall observe him with all care and love .
King Henry the Fourth
52- Why art thou not at Windsor with him , Thomas ?
Duke of Clarence
53- He is not there today , he dines in London .
King Henry the Fourth
54- And how accompanied ? Canst thou tell that ?
Duke of Clarence
55- With Poins , and other his continual followers .
King Henry the Fourth
56 - 68- Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds ,
- And he , the noble image of my youth ,
- Is overspread with them ; therefore my grief
- Stretches itself beyond the hour of death .
- The blood weeps from my heart when I do shape ,
- In forms imaginary , th’ unguided days
- And rotten times that you shall look upon ,
- When I am sleeping with my ancestors .
- For when his headstrong riot hath no curb ,
- When rage and hot blood are his counsellors ,
- When means and lavish manners meet together ,
- O , with what wings shall his affections fly
- Towards fronting peril and oppos’d decay !
Earl of Warwick
69 - 80- My gracious lord , you look beyond him quite :
- The Prince but studies his companions
- Like a strange tongue , wherein , to gain the language ,
- ’Tis needful that the most immodest word
- Be look’d upon and learnt , which once attain’d ,
- Your Highness knows , comes to no further use
- But to be known and hated . So , like gross terms ,
- The Prince will in the perfectness of time
- Cast off his followers , and their memory
- Shall as a pattern or a measure live ,
- By which his Grace must mete the lives of other ,
- Turning past evils to advantages .
Costume design for Earl of Westmorland
John Miller, George Scharf, 1824
King Henry the Fourth
81 - 83- ’Tis seldom when the bee doth leave her comb
- In the dead carrion .
- Enter Westmorland .
- Who’s here ? Westmorland ?
Earl of Westmorland
84 - 93- Health to my sovereign , and new happiness
- Added to that that I am to deliver !
- Prince John your son doth kiss your Grace’s hand .
- Mowbray , the Bishop Scroop , Hastings , and all ,
- Are brought to the correction of your law .
- There is not now a rebel’s sword unsheath’d ,
- But Peace puts forth her olive every where .
- The manner how this action hath been borne
- Here at more leisure may your Highness read ,
- With every course in his particular .
King Henry the Fourth
94 - 97- O Westmorland , thou art a summer bird ,
- Which ever in the haunch of winter sings
- The lifting up of day .
- Enter Harcourt .
- Look here’s more news .
Harcourt
98 - 105- From enemies heavens keep your Majesty ,
- And , when they stand against you , may they fall
- As those that I am come to tell you of !
- The Earl Northumberland and the Lord Bardolph ,
- With a great power of English and of Scots ,
- Are by the shrieve of Yorkshire overthrown .
- The manner and true order of the fight
- This packet , please it you , contains at large .
King Henry the Fourth
106 - 115- And wherefore should these good news make me sick ?
- Will Fortune never come with both hands full ,
- But write her fair words still in foulest terms ?
- She either gives a stomach and no food —
- Such are the poor , in health ; or else a feast
- And takes away the stomach — such are the rich ,
- That have abundance and enjoy it not .
- I should rejoice now at this happy news ,
- And now my sight fails , and my brain is giddy .
- O me ! Come near me , now I am much ill .
Duke of Gloucester
116- Comfort , your Majesty !
Duke of Clarence
117- O my royal father !
Earl of Westmorland
118- My sovereign lord , cheer up yourself , look up .
Earl of Warwick
119 - 121- Be patient , Princes , you do know these fits
- Are with his Highness very ordinary .
- Stand from him , give him air , he’ll straight be well .
Duke of Clarence
122 - 125- No , no , he cannot long hold out these pangs .
- Th’ incessant care and labor of his mind
- Hath wrought the mure that should confine it in
- So thin that life looks through and will break out .
Duke of Gloucester
126 - 129- The people fear me , for they do observe
- Unfather’d heirs and loathly births of nature .
- The seasons change their manners , as the year
- Had found some months asleep and leapt them over .
Duke of Clarence
130 - 133- The river hath thrice flowed , no ebb between ,
- And the old folk ( time’s doting chronicles )
- Say it did so a little time before
- That our great - grandsire , Edward , sick’d and died .
Earl of Warwick
134- Speak lower , Princes , for the King recovers .
Duke of Gloucester
135- This apoplexy will certain be his end .
King Henry the Fourth
136 - 137- I pray you take me up , and bear me hence
- Into some other chamber . Softly , pray .
- The King is carried to one side of the stage and placed on a
- bed .
Though it do work as strong as aconitum or rash gunpowder
From: The plant-lore and garden-craft of Shakespeare
Henry Nicholson Ellacombe, University College Library Services, 1896