Mrs. Quickly dies at home of disease in a hospital. Only Pistol survives at the close of the play, and he then maps out a new course of crime with a frankness which leaves no doubt that it will ultimately land him on the gallows. But one saving grace may be laid to the credit of all these reckless swashbucklers. The name of their master, Falstaff, despite his decay and death, is dear to them; and one could almost wish, when Bardolf's "vital thread" was justly "cut with edge of heavy cord and vile reproach,” that his pious wish was fulfilled, and he rejoined Falstaff "wheresome'er he is, either in heaven or hell." There is always a savour of melancholy to sharpen the zest of the fullest manifestations of Shakespeare's humour. SIDNEY LEE. DUKE OF EXETER, uncle to the King. DUKE OF YORK, cousin to the King. EARLS OF SALISBURY, WESTMORELAND, and WARWICK. ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. BISHOP OF ELY. EARL OF CAMBRIDGE. LORD SCROOP. SIR THOMAS GREY. SIR THOMAS ERPINGHAM, GOWER, FLUELLEN, MACMORRIS, JAMY, officers in King Henry's army. BATES, COURT, WILLIAMS, soldiers in the same. PISTOL, NYM, Bardolph. Boy. A Herald. CHARLES the Sixth, King of France. LEWIS, the Dauphin. DUKES OF BURGUNDY, ORLEANS, and BOURBON. The Constable of France. RAMBURES and Grandpré, French Lords. Governor of Harfleur. MONTJOY, a French Herald. Ambassadors to the King of England. ISABEL, Queen of France. KATHARINE, daughter to Charles and Isabel. ALICE, a lady attending on her. Hostess of a tavern in Eastcheap, formerly Mistress Quickly, and now married to Pistol. Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Citizens, Messengers, and Attendants. Chorus. SCENE: England; afterwards France The full text of this play first appeared in the First Folio of 1623. An imperfect sketch was issued surreptitiously in 1600 in a Quarto volume, which was reissued in 1602 and 1608. The First Folio divides the piece into Acts only, although the opening heading runs 'Actus Primus Scoena Prima." Pope first supplied scenic subdivisions. 66 FOR A MUSE OF FIRE, that would ascend The brightest heaven of invention, A kingdom for a stage, princes to act And monarchs to behold the swelling scene! Then should the warlike Harry, like himself, Assume the port of Mars; and at his heels, Leash'd in like hounds, should Crouch for employment. But pardon, gentles all, 10 for a muse] The Chorus or Prologue was a characteristic of very early Elizabethan drama. Only in this play did Shakespeare introduce each of the five Acts in this manner. (The five choruses of On this unworthy scaffold to bring forth Pericles cannot be assigned to his pen.) He had already prefixed an Induction at the opening of 2 Hen. IV, and choruses prefaced, in the original Quarto editions, the first two Acts of Rom. and Jul. There is a prologue before the first Act of Henry VIII. 6 port] carriage. 7 famine, sword and fire] According to Holinshed, Henry V, when addressing the citizens of Rouen in 1419, warned them that "the goddess of battell, called Bellona, had three handmaidens, ever of necessitie attending upon hir, as blood, fire, and famine.” 9 unraised] unelevated, humble, lowly. 11 cockpit] place appointed for cock-fighting matches, a scornful reference to the confined area of the theatre. 13 this wooden O] A reference to the newly-erected Globe Theatre, which being of octagonal shape presented a circular interior. was one of the first pieces produced there. casques] helmets. 17 accompt] account. This play 18 imaginary forces] powers of imagination. Cf. Act III, Prol., 1, “im agined wing." 10 20 |