Henry IV, Part I

Act 5, Scene 3

The KING enters with his power and they cross the stage. Alarum to the battle.

The KING crosses the stage with his army. The trumpets sound the call to battle.

Then enter DOUGLAS and Sir Walter BLUNT, disguised as the KING

DOUGLAS and Sir Walter BLUNT enter. BLUNT is disguised as the KING

BLUNT

What is thy name that in the battle thus

Thou crossest me? What honor dost thou seek

Upon my head?

BLUNT

What is your name—you, who are attacking me like this? What honor do you think you’ll get by fighting me?

DOUGLAS

Know then, my name is Douglas,

And I do haunt thee in the battle thus

Because some tell me that thou art a king.

DOUGLAS

My name is Douglas, and I’m haunting you in this battle because they tell me you are a king.

BLUNT

They tell thee true.

BLUNT

They tell you the truth.

DOUGLAS

The Lord of Stafford dear today hath bought

Thy likeness, for instead of thee, King Harry,

This sword hath ended him. So shall it thee,

Unless thou yield thee as my prisoner.

DOUGLAS

Today, Lord Stafford paid for resembling you so well, for instead of you, King Harry, my sword killed him. Now it will kill you, unless you surrender as my prisoner.

BLUNT

I was not born a yielder, thou proud Scot,

And thou shalt find a king that will revenge

Lord Stafford’s death.

BLUNT

I was not born to surrender, you arrogant Scotsman. You’re about to see a king take revenge for Stafford’s death.

They fight. DOUGLAS kills BLUNT. Enter HOTSPUR

They fight. DOUGLAS kills BLUNT. HOTSPUR enters.

HOTSPUR

O Douglas, hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus,

I never had triumphed upon a Scot.

HOTSPUR

Oh, Douglas! If you’d fought like this at Holmedon, I would never have been able to beat you.

DOUGLAS

All’s done, all’s won; here breathless lies the King.

DOUGLAS

It’s over, we’ve won: here’s the King, dead.

HOTSPUR

Where?

HOTSPUR

Where?

DOUGLAS

Here.

DOUGLAS

Here.

HOTSPUR

This, Douglas? No, I know this face full well.

A gallant knight he was; his name was Blunt,

Semblably furnished like the King himself.

HOTSPUR

This, Douglas? No. I know this man: he was a brave knight, by the name of Blunt; he is disguised as the King.

DOUGLAS

(to BLUNT) A fool go with thy soul whither it goes!

A borrowed title hast thou bought too dear.

Why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king?

DOUGLAS

(to BLUNT) Wherever your soul is off to now, let it carry the name of fool! You paid too much for that borrowed title. Why did you tell me you were a king?

HOTSPUR

The King hath many marching in his coats.

HOTSPUR

The King has many men on the battlefield disguised in his uniform.

DOUGLAS

Now, by my sword, I will kill all his coats.

I’ll murder all his wardrobe, piece by piece,

Until I meet the King.

DOUGLAS

Now, I swear on my sword, I’ll kill all his uniforms! I’ll murder every item of his clothing, one piece at a time, until I find the King himself.

HOTSPUR

Up and away!

Our soldiers stand full fairly for the day.

HOTSPUR

Get going! Our side looks like it will win today.

Exeunt

They exit.

Alarum. Enter FALSTAFF alone.

The trumpets play a call to arms.FALSTAFF enters, alone.

FALSTAFF

Though I could ’scape shot-free at London, I fear the shot here. Here’s no scoring but upon the pate.—Soft, who are you? Sir Walter Blunt. There’s honor for you. Here’s no vanity. I am as hot as molten lead, and as heavy too. God keep lead out of me; I need no more weight than mine own bowels. I have led my ragamuffins where they are peppered. There’s not three of my hundred and fifty left alive, and they are for the town’s end, to beg during life. But who comes here?

FALSTAFF

I could always escape shot-free in London, but I’m scared of getting shot out here. Here, you take it on the head. Wait a minute—who’s this? Sir Walter Blunt! There’s honor for you, but no vanity! I’m as hot as molten lead, and as heavy, too; so God keep the lead out of me. I don’t need any lead bullets in my belly—my own guts are heavy enough. My army of ragged bums has been massacred. Not even three of my hundred-fifty troops are still alive, and the ones who are have run away, to panhandle in the streets. Who’s coming?

Enter PRINCE HENRY

PRINCE HENRY enters.

PRINCE HENRY

What, stand’st thou idle here? Lend me thy sword.

Many a nobleman lies stark and stiff

Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies,

Whose deaths are yet unrevenged. I prithee,

Lend me thy sword.

PRINCE HENRY

What, are you standing here doing nothing? Give me your sword. Many good men are lying cold and dead on the ground, with the enemy’s horses galloping over them. Their deaths have not been revenged. Come, give me your sword.

FALSTAFF

O Hal, I prithee, give me leave to breathe awhile. Turk Gregory never did such deeds in arms as I have done this day. I have paid Percy; I have made him sure.

FALSTAFF

Oh, Hal, please, give me a moment to catch my breath. No one has ever fought as heroically as I did today. I’ve killed Percy, I’ve made him safe.

PRINCE HENRY

He is indeed, and living to kill thee.

I prithee, lend me thy sword.

PRINCE HENRY

You’re right; he’s safe, and now he’s coming to kill you. Now please, give me your sword.

FALSTAFF

Nay, before God, Hal, if Percy be alive, thou gett’st not my sword; but take my pistol, if thou wilt.

FALSTAFF

No, Hal, I swear to God! If Percy’s alive, you’re not taking my sword. But you can have my gun, if you want.

PRINCE HENRY

Give it to me. What, is it in the case?

PRINCE HENRY

Give it to me. Is it in its holster?

FALSTAFF

Ay, Hal, ’tis hot, ’tis hot. There’s that will sack a city.(PRINCE HENRYdraws it out and finds it to be a bottle of sack)

FALSTAFF

Yup. It’s hot, hot; it could sack a city.(PRINCE HENRY opens the holster and finds a bottle of white wine)

PRINCE HENRY

What, is it a time to jest and dally now?

PRINCE HENRY

Is this a time to joke and fool around?

He throws the bottle at him.

He throws the bottle atFALSTAFF.

Exit PRINCE HENRY

PRINCE HENRY exits.

FALSTAFF

Well, if Percy be alive, I’ll pierce him. If he do come in my way, so; if he do not, if I come in his willingly, let him make a carbonado of me. I like not such grinning honor as Sir Walter hath. Give me life, which if I can save, so: if not, honor comes unlooked for, and there’s an end.

FALSTAFF

If Percy’s alive, I’ll pierce him. If he runs into me, fine. If he doesn’t run into me, but I run into him, let him slice me like a butcher. I don’t want the kind of honor Sir Walter has: give me life. If I manage to save my life, fine. If not, I’ll have honor that I never looked for, and that’ll be that.

Exit

He exits.