a man thereby liveth, is to be no counterfeit, but
the true and perfect image of life indeed. The 120
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 130
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.

Lan.

But, soft! whom have we here? Did 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?
I prithee, speak; we will not trust our eyes

Without our ears: thou art not what thou seem'st. Fal. No, that's certain; I am not a double man: but 141 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 150
at an instant, and fought a long hour by Shrews-
bury 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: 160
For my part, if a lie may do thee grace,
I'll gild it with the happiest terms I have.

[A retreat is sounded.
The trumpet sounds retreat; the day is ours.
Come, brother, let us to the highest of the field,
To see what friends are living, who are dead.

[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.

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.

Ill-spirited Worcester! did not we send grace,
Pardon and terms of love to all of you?
And wouldst thou turn our offers contrary?
Misuse the tenour of thy kinsman's trust?
Three knights upon our party slain to-day,
A noble earl and many a creature else
Had been alive this hour,

If like a Christian thou hadst truly borne
Betwixt our armies true intelligence.

Wor. What I have done my safety urged me to;
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.

ΙΟ

[Exeunt Worcester and Vernon, guarded.

How goes the field?

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.

Upon the foot of fear, fled with the rest;
And falling from a hill, he was so bruised
That the pursuers took him. At my tent
The Douglas is; and I beseech your grace
I may dispose of him.

With all my heart.

20

Prince. Then, brother John of Lancaster, to you
This honourable bounty shall belong:
Go to the Douglas, and deliver him.
Up to his pleasure, ransomless and free:
His valour shown upon our crests to-day

Hath taught us how to cherish such high deeds
Even in the bosom of our adversaries.

Lan. I thank your grace for this high courtesy,
Which I shall give away immediately.

30

King. Then this remains, that we divide our power.
You, son John, and my cousin Westmoreland
Towards York shall bend you with your dearest speed,
To meet Northumberland and the prelate Scroop,
Who, as we hear, are busily in arms:

Myself and you, son Harry, will towards Wales,
To fight with Glendower and the Earl of March. 40
Rebellion in this land shall lose his sway,
Meeting the check of such another day:
And since this business so fair is done,
Let us not leave till all our own be won.

[Exeunt.

Glossary.