Henry IV, Part 2 (Folger Shakespeare Library)

by William Shakespeare

Presume not that I am the thing I was, 56 For God doth know—so shall the world perceive— 57 That I have turned away my former self.

KING I know thee not, old man. Fall to thy prayers. 47 How ill white hairs becomes a fool and jester. 48 I have long dreamt of such a kind of man, 49 So surfeit-swelled, so old, and so profane; 50 But being awaked, I do despise my dream. 51 Make less thy body hence, and more thy grace; 52 Leave gormandizing. Know the grave doth gape 53 For thee thrice wider than for other men. 54 Reply not to me with a fool-born jest. 55 Presume not that I am the thing I was, 56 For God doth know—so shall the world perceive—57 That I have turned away my former self. 58 So will I those that kept me company. 59 When thou dost hear I am as I have been, 60 Approach me, and thou shalt be as thou wast, 61 The tutor and the feeder of my riots. 62 Till then I banish thee, on pain of death, 63 As I have done the rest of my misleaders, 64 Not to come near our person by ten mile. 65 For competence of life I will allow you, 66 That lack of means enforce you not to evils. 67 And, as we hear you do reform yourselves, 68 We will, according to your strengths and qualities, 69 Give you advancement. < To the Lord Chief Justice. > 70 Be it your charge, my lord, 71 To see performed the tenor of my word.—72 Set on. 73 ⟨King < and his train > exit.⟩

So will I those that kept me company.

KING . . . Presume not that I am the thing I was, 56 For God doth know—so shall the world perceive—57 That I have turned away my former self. 58 So will I those that kept me company. 59

Sir, I will be as good as my word. This that 86 you heard was but a color.

Go, carry Sir John Falstaff to the Fleet. 92 Take all his company along with him.

I like this fair proceeding of the King’s. 98 He hath intent his wonted followers 99 Shall all be very well provided for, 100 But all are banished till their conversations 101 Appear more wise and modest to the world.

< All but John of > ⟨Lancaster and Chief Justice⟩ exit. JOHN OF LANCASTER I like this fair proceeding of the King’s. 98 He hath intent his wonted followers 99 Shall all be very well provided for, 100 But all are banished till their conversations 101 Appear more wise and modest to the world. 102

First my fear, then my curtsy, last my speech.

EPILOGUE First my fear, then my curtsy, last my speech. My 1 fear is your displeasure, my curtsy my duty, and my 2 speech, to beg your pardons. If you look for a good 3 speech now, you undo me, for what I have to say is 4 of mine own making, and what indeed I should say 5 will, I doubt, prove mine own marring. 6 But to the purpose, and so to the venture. Be it 7 known to you, as it is very well, I was lately here in 8 the end of a displeasing play to pray your patience 9 for it and to promise you a better. I meant indeed to 10 pay you with this, which, if like an ill venture it 11 come unluckily home, I break, and you, my gentle 12 creditors, lose. Here I promised you I would be, 13 and here I commit my body to your mercies. Bate 14 me some, and I will pay you some, and, as most 15 debtors do, promise you infinitely. And so I kneel 16 down before you, but, indeed, to pray for the 17 Queen. 18 If my tongue cannot entreat you to acquit me, 19 will you command me to use my legs? And yet that 20 were but light payment, to dance out of your debt. 21 But a good conscience will make any possible 22 satisfaction, and so would I. All the gentlewomen 23 here have forgiven me; if the gentlemen will not, 24 then the gentlemen do not agree with the gentle- 25 women, which was never seen ⟨before⟩ in such an 26 assembly. 27 One word more, I beseech you: if you be not too 28 much cloyed with fat meat, our humble author will 29 continue the story, with Sir John in it, and make 30 you merry with fair Katherine of France, where, for 31 anything I know, Falstaff shall die of a sweat, unless 32 already he be killed with your hard opinions; for 33 Oldcastle died ⟨a⟩ martyr, and this is not the man. 34 My tongue is weary; when my legs are too, I will bid 35 you good night. 36