Nay, you shall see my orchard, where, in an arbour, we will eat a last
year’s pippin of mine own graffing, with a dish of caraways, and so
forth. Come, cousin Silence. And then to bed.
No, you shall see my orchard, where, in an arbour, we will eat a last year’s pippin of mine own graffing, with a dish of caraways, and so forth. Come, cousin Silence. And then to bed.
No, you shall see my orchard, where, in an arbour, we will eat a last year’s pippin of mine own graffing, with a dish of caraways, and so fo...
nay, you shall see
Fore God, you have here a goodly dwelling, and a rich.
Fore God, you have here a goodly dwelling, and a rich.
Fore God, you have here a goodly dwelling, and a rich.
fore god, you have here
Barren, barren, barren; beggars all, beggars all, Sir John. Marry, good
air. Spread, Davy, spread, Davy. Well said, Davy.
Barren, barren, barren; beggars all, beggars all, Sir John. Marry, good air. Spread, Davy, spread, Davy. Well said, Davy.
Barren, barren, barren; beggars all, beggars all, Sir John. Marry, good air. Spread, Davy, spread, Davy. Well said, Davy.
barren, barren, barren; beggars all,
This Davy serves you for good uses; he is your serving-man and your
husband.
This Davy serves you for good uses; he is your serving-man and your husband.
This Davy serves you for good uses; he is your serving-man and your husband.
this davy serves you for
A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good varlet, Sir John. By the
mass, I have drunk too much sack at supper. A good varlet. Now sit
down, now sit down. Come, cousin.
A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good varlet, Sir John. By the mass, I have drunk too much sack at supper. A good varlet. Now sit down, now sit down. Come, cousin.
A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good varlet, Sir John. By the mass, I have drunk too much sack at supper. A good varlet. Now sit down, ...
good varlet, good
Ah, sirrah! quoth-a, we shall [_Singing._]
_Do nothing but eat, and make good cheer,
And praise God for the merry year,
When flesh is cheap and females dear,
And lusty lads roam here and there
So merrily,
And ever among so merrily._
Ah, sirrah! quoth-a, we shall [_Singing._] _Do nothing but eat, and make good cheer, And praise God for the merry year, When flesh is cheap and females dear, And lusty lads roam here and there So merrily, And ever among so merrily._
Ah, sirrah! quoth-a, we shall [_Singing._] _Do nothing but eat, and make good cheer, And praise God for the merry year, When flesh is cheap ...
ah, sirrah! quoth-a, shall
There’s a merry heart! Good Master Silence, I’ll give you a health for
that anon.
There’s a merry heart! Good Master Silence, I’ll give you a health for that anon.
There’s a merry heart! Good Master Silence, I’ll give you a health for that anon.
there’s merry heart! good
Give Master Bardolph some wine, Davy.
Give Master Bardolph some wine, Davy.
Give Master Bardolph some wine, Davy.
give master bardolph some wine,
Sweet sir, sit. I’ll be with you anon. Most sweet sir, sit. Master
page, good master page, sit. Proface! What you want in meat, we’ll have
in drink, but you must bear; the heart’s all.
Sweet sir, sit. I’ll be with you anon. Most sweet sir, sit. Master page, good master page, sit. Proface! What you want in meat, we’ll have in drink, but you must bear; the heart’s all.
Sweet sir, sit. I’ll be with you anon. Most sweet sir, sit. Master page, good master page, sit. Proface! What you want in meat, we’ll have i...
sweet sir, sit. i’ll
Be merry, Master Bardolph, and, my little soldier there, be merry.
Be merry, Master Bardolph, and, my little soldier there, be merry.
Be merry, Master Bardolph, and, my little soldier there, be merry.
merry, master bardolph, and,
_Be merry, be merry, my wife has all,
For women are shrews, both short and tall.
’Tis merry in hall when beards wag all,
And welcome merry Shrove-tide.
Be merry, be merry._
_Be merry, be merry, my wife has all, For women are shrews, both short and tall. ’Tis merry in hall when beards wag all, And welcome merry Shrove-tide. Be merry, be merry._
_Be merry, be merry, my wife has all, For women are shrews, both short and tall. ’Tis merry in hall when beards wag all, And welcome merry S...
_be merry, merry,
I did not think Master Silence had been a man of this mettle.
I did not think Master Silence had been a man of this mettle.
I did not think Master Silence had been a man of this mettle.
did not think master
Who, I? I have been merry twice and once ere now.
Who, I? I have been merry twice and once ere now.
Who, I? I have been merry twice and once ere now.
who, have been
Throughout 3-2 and 5-1, Silence is a barely-there figure — politely agreeing, offering half-sentences, living up to his name. In 5-3, drunk in Shallow's orchard at night, he sings. Four separate songs. Shakespeare gives him the most purely lyrical language in Act 5. 'A merry heart lives long-a.' 'Fill the cup and let it come, I'll pledge you a mile to the bottom.' There's no calculation in Silence — unlike Falstaff (planning), Shallow (performing), and Pistol (bombasting), Silence is just present, enjoying the night, singing because he feels like it. He is the only character in this scene with no angle. Which is why his songs feel so precarious: this pure happiness is about to end.
Davy!
Davy!
Davy!
davy!
Your worship? I’ll be with you straight.
Your worship? I’ll be with you straight.
Your worship? I’ll be with you straight.
your worship? i’ll with
_A cup of wine that’s brisk and fine,
And drink unto thee, leman mine,
And a merry heart lives long-a._
_A cup of wine that’s brisk and fine, And drink unto you, leman mine, And a merry heart lives long-a._
_A cup of wine that’s brisk and fine, And drink unto you, leman mine, And a merry heart lives long-a._
cup wine that’s
Well said, Master Silence.
Well said, Master Silence.
Well said, Master Silence.
well said, master silence.
An we shall be merry, now comes in the sweet o’ th’ night.
An we shall be merry, now comes in the sweet o’ th’ night.
An we shall be merry, now comes in the sweet o’ th’ night.
shall merry,
Health and long life to you, Master Silence.
Health and long life to you, Master Silence.
Health and long life to you, Master Silence.
health and long life
_Fill the cup, and let it come,
I’ll pledge you a mile to th’ bottom._
_Fill the cup, and let it come, I’ll pledge you a mile to th’ bottom._
_Fill the cup, and let it come, I’ll pledge you a mile to th’ bottom._
_fill the cup, and let
Honest Bardolph, welcome! If thou want’st anything and wilt not call,
beshrew thy heart. Welcome, my little tiny thief, [_to the Page_] and
welcome indeed too. I’ll drink to Master Bardolph, and to all the
cabileros about London.
Honest Bardolph, welcome! If you want’st anything and will not call, beshrew your heart. Welcome, my little tiny thief, [_to the Page_] and welcome indeed too. I’ll drink to Master Bardolph, and to all the cabileros about London.
Honest Bardolph, welcome! If you want’st anything and will not call, beshrew your heart. Welcome, my little tiny thief, [_to the Page_] and ...
honest bardolph, welcome! thou
I hope to see London once ere I die.
I hope to see London once ere I die.
I hope to see London once ere I die.
hope see london
An I might see you there, Davy,—
An I might see you there, Davy,—
An I might see you there, Davy,—
might see you
By the mass, you’ll crack a quart together, ha! will you not, Master
Bardolph?
By the mass, you’ll crack a quart together, ha! will you not, Master Bardolph?
By the mass, you’ll crack a quart together, ha! will you not, Master Bardolph?
the mass, you’ll crack
A steward manages another's estate — he doesn't own it, he administers it on behalf of the owner. Falstaff calling himself 'Fortune's steward' reveals what he thinks his relationship with Hal has been: he is the manager of royal favour, the dispenser of the king's generosity. But this is exactly the fantasy that Hal's 4-2 soliloquy in Part 1 already foreclosed: Hal was never Falstaff's instrument. He was using Falstaff's world as a school. Fortune has a different steward in mind — one who wears a sword and carries scales.
Yea, sir, in a pottle-pot.
Yea, sir, in a pottle-pot.
Yea, sir, in a pottle-pot.
yea, sir, pottle-pot.
By God’s liggens, I thank thee. The knave will stick by thee, I can
assure thee that. He will not out, he. ’Tis true bred.
By God’s liggens, I thank you. The knave will stick by you, I can assure you that. He will not out, he. ’Tis true bred.
By God’s liggens, I thank you. The knave will stick by you, I can assure you that. He will not out, he. ’Tis true bred.
god’s liggens, thank
And I’ll stick by him, sir.
And I’ll stick by him, sir.
And I’ll stick by him, sir.
and i’ll stick him,
Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing! Be merry.
Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing! Be merry.
Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing! Be merry.
why, there spoke king.
right.
right.
right.
right.
_Do me right,
And dub me knight:
Samingo._
Is’t not so?
_Do me right, And dub me knight: Samingo._ Is’t not so?
_Do me right, And dub me knight: Samingo._ Is’t not so?
_do right, and dub
’Tis so.
’Tis so.
’Tis so.
’tis so.
Is’t so? Why then, say an old man can do somewhat.
Is’t so? Why then, say an old man can do somewhat.
Is’t so? Why then, say an old man can do somewhat.
is’t so? why then, say
An’t please your worship, there’s one Pistol come from the court with
news.
An’t please your worship, there’s one Pistol come from the court with news.
An’t please your worship, there’s one Pistol come from the court with news.
an’t please your worship, there’s
From the court? Let him come in.
From the court? Let him come in.
From the court? Let him come in.
from the court? let him
Pistol speaks almost entirely in theatrical quotation — fragments of old plays, inflated heroic diction, classical allusions scrambled together into a kind of collage. This is his comic register throughout the play. But in 5-3-064 ('Under which king, Besonian? Speak, or die') the bombast conceals a real, devastating question. When Shallow answers 'Harry the Fourth,' the theatrical frame breaks for a moment: the wrong king is named, the world has changed, and Pistol holds the truth. His subsequent announcement — 'thy tender lambkin now is King' — is the most real thing he says in the play.
Sir John, God save you!
Sir John, God save you!
Sir John, God save you!
sir john, god save you!
What wind blew you hither, Pistol?
What wind blew you hither, Pistol?
What wind blew you hither, Pistol?
what wind blew you hither,
Not the ill wind which blows no man to good. Sweet knight, thou art now
one of the greatest men in this realm.
Not the ill wind which blows no man to good. Sweet knight, you Are now one of the greatest men in this realm.
Not the ill wind which blows no man to good. Sweet knight, you Are now one of the greatest men in this realm.
not the ill wind which
By’r lady, I think he be, but goodman Puff of Barson.
By’r lady, I think he be, but goodman Puff of Barson.
By’r lady, I think he be, but goodman Puff of Barson.
by’r lady, think
Puff!
Puff in thy teeth, most recreant coward base!
Sir John, I am thy Pistol and thy friend,
And helter-skelter have I rode to thee,
And tidings do I bring and lucky joys,
And golden times, and happy news of price.
Puff! Puff in your teeth, most recreant coward base! Sir John, I am your Pistol and your friend, And helter-skelter have I rode to you, And tidings do I bring and lucky joys, And golden times, and happy news of price.
Puff! Puff in your teeth, most recreant coward base! Sir John, I am your Pistol and your friend, And helter-skelter have I rode to you, And ...
puff! puff thy teeth,
I pray thee now, deliver them like a man of this world.
I pray you now, deliver them like a man of this world.
I pray you now, deliver them like a man of this world.
pray thee now, deliver
A foutre for the world and worldlings base!
I speak of Africa and golden joys.
A foutre for the world and worldlings base! I speak of Africa and golden joys.
A foutre for the world and worldlings base! I speak of Africa and golden joys.
foutre for the world
O base Assyrian knight, what is thy news?
Let King Cophetua know the truth thereof.
O base Assyrian knight, what is your news? Let King Cophetua know the truth thereof.
O base Assyrian knight, what is your news? Let King Cophetua know the truth thereof.
base assyrian knight, what
Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons?
And shall good news be baffled?
Then, Pistol, lay thy head in Furies’ lap.
Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons? And shall good news be baffled? Then, Pistol, lay your head in Furies’ lap.
Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons? And shall good news be baffled? Then, Pistol, lay your head in Furies’ lap.
shall dunghill curs confront the
Honest gentleman, I know not your breeding.
Honest gentleman, I know not your breeding.
Honest gentleman, I know not your breeding.
honest gentleman, know not
Why then, lament therefor.
Why then, lament therefor.
Why then, lament therefor.
why then, lament therefor.
Give me pardon, sir. If, sir, you come with news from the court, I take
it there’s but two ways, either to utter them, or conceal them. I am,
sir, under the King, in some authority.
Give me pardon, sir. If, sir, you come with news from the court, I take it there’s but two ways, either to utter them, or conceal them. I am, sir, under the King, in some authority.
Give me pardon, sir. If, sir, you come with news from the court, I take it there’s but two ways, either to utter them, or conceal them. I am...
give pardon, sir. if,
Under which king, Besonian? Speak, or die.
Under which king, Besonian? Speak, or die.
Under which king, Besonian? Speak, or die.
under which king, besonian? speak,
The Gloucestershire scenes in Henry IV Part 2 are among the warmest spaces in all of Shakespeare — they glow with food, wine, firelight, old memory, and genuine (if comic) human affection. Shallow's orchard at night, with Silence singing and Davy hosting and Bardolph welcomed, is a Shakespearean idyll. It makes what comes next in 5-5 more brutal by contrast. The warm lamp of the orchard scene throws the cold of the coronation street into sharper relief.
Under King Harry.
Under King Harry.
Under King Harry.
under king harry.
Harry the Fourth, or Fifth?
Harry the Fourth, or Fifth?
Harry the Fourth, or Fifth?
harry the fourth, fifth?
Harry the Fourth.
Harry the Fourth.
Harry the Fourth.
harry the fourth.
A foutre for thine office!
Sir John, thy tender lambkin now is King;
Harry the Fifth’s the man. I speak the truth.
When Pistol lies, do this, and fig me, like
The bragging Spaniard.
A foutre for yours office! Sir John, your tender lambkin now is King; Harry the Fifth’s the man. I speak the truth. When Pistol lies, do this, and fig me, like The bragging Spaniard.
A foutre for yours office! Sir John, your tender lambkin now is King; Harry the Fifth’s the man. I speak the truth. When Pistol lies, do thi...
foutre for thine office!
What, is the old King dead?
What, is the old King dead?
What, is the old King dead?
what, the old king
As nail in door. The things I speak are just.
As nail in door. The things I speak are just.
As nail in door. The things I speak are just.
nail door. the
Away, Bardolph, saddle my horse. Master Robert Shallow, choose what
office thou wilt in the land, ’tis thine. Pistol, I will double-charge
thee with dignities.
Away, Bardolph, saddle my horse. Master Robert Shallow, choose what office you will in the land, ’tis yours. Pistol, I will double-charge you with dignities.
Away, Bardolph, saddle my horse. Master Robert Shallow, choose what office you will in the land, ’tis yours. Pistol, I will double-charge yo...
away, bardolph, saddle horse.
O joyful day!
I would not take a knighthood for my fortune.
O joyful day! I would not take a knighthood for my fortune.
O joyful day! I would not take a knighthood for my fortune.
joyful day! would
What! I do bring good news.
What! I do bring good news.
What! I do bring good news.
what! bring good
Carry Master Silence to bed. Master Shallow, my Lord Shallow, be what
thou wilt; I am Fortune’s steward! Get on thy boots, we’ll ride all
night. O sweet Pistol! Away, Bardolph!
Carry Master Silence to bed. Master Shallow, my Lord Shallow, be what you will; I am Fortune’s steward! Get on your boots, we’ll ride all night. O sweet Pistol! Away, Bardolph!
Carry Master Silence to bed. Master Shallow, my Lord Shallow, be what you will; I am Fortune’s steward! Get on your boots, we’ll ride all ni...
carry master silence bed.
Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also!
“Where is the life that late I led?” say they:
Why, here it is; welcome these pleasant days!
Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also! “Where is the life that late I led?” say they: Why, here it is; welcome these pleasant days!
Let vultures vile seize on his lungs also! “Where is the life that late I led?” say they: Why, here it is; welcome these pleasant days!
let vultures vile seize
The Reckoning
The dramatic contrast is everything here. In scene 5-2 we have just watched Hal become king and declare the tide of blood turned. In scene 5-3, in a country orchard, Falstaff hears the same news and his response is to see himself as the power behind the throne — 'I am Fortune's steward.' He is completely wrong about what kind of king Harry will be. The drinking songs of Silence make this scene both comic and ominous: even the quietest man in England is singing, and the loudest is about to be silenced forever.
If this happened today…
A man who spent years cultivating a friendship with someone he assumed would become a powerful executive has been waiting at a country dinner for word. His phone buzzes. The CEO died. His friend is now running the company. He leaps up: 'Pack your bags, we're driving to the city tonight. I've been waiting for this. I'm going to make you all rich.' He doesn't know his friend has spent the evening formally committing to a culture of impartial justice.