FAL. [Rising up] Embowelled! if thou embowel me to-day, I'll give you leave to powder me and eat me too to-morrow. 'Sblood, 't was time to counterfeit, or that hot termagant Scot had paid me scot and lot too. Counterfeit? I lie, I am no counterfeit: to die, is to be a counterfeit; for he is but the counterfeit of a man who hath not the life of a man: but to counterfeit dying, when a man thereby liveth, is to be no counterfeit, but the true and perfect image of life indeed. The better part of valour is discretion; in the which better part I have saved my life. 'Zounds, I am afraid of this gunpowder Percy, though he be dead: how, if he should counterfeit too, and rise? by my faith, I am afraid he would prove the better counterfeit. Therefore I'll make him sure; yea, and I'll swear I killed him. Why may he not rise as well as I? Nothing confutes me but eyes, and nobody sees me. Therefore, sirrah [stabbing him], with a new wound in your thigh, come you along with me. [Takes up Hotspur on his back. Re-enter the PRINCE OF WALES and LORD JOHN OF LANCASTER PRINCE. Come, brother John; full bravely hast thou flesh'd Thy maiden sword. 112 powder] pickle or salt. 114 scot and lot] a weak pun: to "pay scot and lot" was a familiar phrase meaning to "pay one's taxes." 121 gunpowder Percy] explosive Percy. LAN. Did But, soft! whom have we here? 130 you not tell me this fat man was dead? PRINCE. I did; I saw him dead, Breathless and bleeding on the ground. Art thou alive? Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight? FAL. No, that's certain; I am not a double man: but if I be not Jack Falstaff, then am I a Jack. There is Percy [throwing the body down]: if your father will do me any honour, so; if not, let him kill the next Percy himself. I look to be either earl or duke, I can assure you. PRINCE. Why, Percy I killed myself, and saw thee dead. FAL. Didst thou? Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying! I grant you I was down and out of breath; and so was he: but we rose both at an instant, and fought a long hour by Shrewsbury clock. If I may be believed, so; if not, let them that should reward valour bear the sin upon their own heads. I'll take it upon my death, I gave him this wound in the thigh: if the man were alive, and would deny it, 'zounds, I would make him eat a piece of my sword. LAN. This is the strangest tale that ever I heard. PRINCE. This is the strangest fellow, brother John. Come, bring your luggage nobly on your back: 138 a Jack] a Jackanapes. 149 I'll take it upon my death] I'll stake my life on it. 141 152 For my part, if a lie [A retreat is sounded. The trumpet sounds retreat; the day is ours. [Exeunt Prince of Wales and Lancaster. FAL. I'll follow, as they say, for reward. He that rewards me, God reward him! If I do grow great, I'll grow less; for I'll purge, and leave sack, and live cleanly as a nobleman should do. [Exit. 160 SCENE V ANOTHER PART OF THE FIELD The trumpets sound. Enter the KING, Prince of Wales, LORD JOHN OF LANCASTER, EARL OF WESTMORELAND, with WORCESTER and VERNON prisoners KING. Thus ever did rebellion find rebuke. If like a Christian thou hadst truly borne Betwixt our armies true intelligence. WOR. What I have done my safety urged me to; 2 Ill-spirited] Of evil disposition. 10 And I embrace this fortune patiently, Since not to be avoided it falls on me. KING. Bear Worcester to the death, and Vernon too: Other offenders we will pause upon. How goes the field? [Exeunt Worcester and Vernon, guarded. PRINCE. The noble Scot, Lord Douglas, when he saw The fortune of the day quite turn'd from him, The noble Percy slain, and all his men KING. With all my heart. PRINCE. Then, brother John of Lancaster, to you This honourable bounty shall belong: Go to the Douglas, and deliver him 20 Up to his pleasure, ransomless and free: Hath taught us how to cherish such high deeds LAN. I thank your grace for this high courtesy, Which I shall give away immediately. KING. Then this remains, that we divide our power. You, son John, and my cousin Westmoreland 15 pause upon] postpone sentence on. 20 Upon the foot of fear] Rushing off in fear. 29 shown... crests] attested by the marks of his blows on our helmets. 32-33 I thank . . . immediately] These two lines appear only in the first four Quartos. They are omitted by the Folios. 30 Towards York shall bend you with your dearest speed, Myself and you, son Harry, will towards Wales, 36 dearest speed] utmost haste. [Exeunt. 40 |