Henry IV, Part I

William Shakespeare

• Publisher: Read & Co. Classics
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781528705240
• eBook ISBN: 9781528785662
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: British Drama
• Index: Literature

Read & Co. Classics presents this new beautiful edition of William Shakespeare's play, "Henry IV, Part 1", featuring a specially commissioned new biography of William Shakespeare. It is the second in Shakespeare's tetralogy of plays chronicling the successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V. Following civil disputes, the crown is in jeopardy. As King Henry IV prepares to defend it, Prince Hal, his heir, revels with his friend Sir Falstaff in a local tavern. Matters of the high court fall to the Prince, who is summoned into action. William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is considered to be the greatest writer in the English language and is celebrated as the world's most famous dramatist.

ACT II.

SCENE I. Rochester. An Inn-Yard.

[Enter a Carrier with a lantern in his hand.]

1. CARRIER.
Heigh-ho! an't be not four by the day, I'll be hang'd:
Charles' wain is over the new chimney, and yet our horse' not
pack'd.—What, ostler!

OSTLER.
[within.] Anon, anon.

1. CARRIER.
I pr'ythee, Tom, beat Cut's saddle, put a few flocks in the point; the poor jade is wrung in the withers out of all cess.

[Enter another Carrier.]

2. CARRIER.
Peas and beans are as dank here as a dog, and that is the next way to give poor jades the bots; this house is turned upside down since Robin ostler died.

1. CARRIER.
Poor fellow! never joyed since the price of oats rose; it was the death of him.

2. CARRIER.
I think this be the most villainous house in all London road for fleas: I am stung like a tench.

1. CARRIER.
Like a tench! by the Mass, there is ne'er a king in Christendom could be better bit than I have been since the first cock.—What,

ostler! come away and be hang'd; come away.

2. CARRIER.
I have a gammon of bacon and two razes of ginger, to be delivered as far as Charing-cross.

1. CARRIER.
'Odsbody! the turkeys in my pannier are quite starved.—What, ostler! A plague on thee! hast thou never an eye in thy head? canst not hear? An 'twere not as good a deed as drink to break the pate of thee, I am a very villain. Come, and be hang'd: hast no faith in thee?

[Enter Gadshill.]

GADSHILL.
Good morrow, carriers. What's o'clock?

1. CARRIER.
I think it be two o'clock.

GADSHILL.
I pr'ythee, lend me thy lantern, to see my gelding in the stable.

1. CARRIER.
Nay, soft, I pray ye; I know a trick worth two of that, i'faith.

GADSHILL.
I pr'ythee, lend me thine.

2. CARRIER.
Ay, when? canst tell? Lend me thy lantern, quoth a? marry, I'll see thee hang'd first.

GADSHILL.
Sirrah carrier, what time do you mean to come to London?

2. CARRIER.
Time enough to go to bed with a candle, I warrant thee.—
Come, neighbour Muggs, we'll call up the gentlemen: they will along with company, for they have great charge.

[Exeunt Carriers.]

GADSHILL.
What, ho! chamberlain!

CHAMBERLAIN.
[Within.] At hand, quoth pick-purse.

GADSHILL.
That's even as fair as—at hand, quoth the chamberlain; for thou variest no more from picking of purses than giving direction doth from labour...

Table of contents

• William Shakespeare
• DRAMATIS PERSONÆ
• ACT I.
• ACT II.
• ACT III.
• ACT IV.
• ACT V.
• TO THE MEMORY OF MY BELOVED THE AUTHOR, MR. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE