Speeches (Lines) for Robert Shallow in "History of Henry IV, Part II"

Henry IV. I will take your counsel.
And, were these inward wars once out of hand,
We would, dear lords, unto the Holy Land. Exeunt

Robert Shallow. Come on, come on, come on; give me your hand, sir;
your hand, sir. An early stirrer, by the rood! And how doth
good cousin Silence?

Silence. Good morrow, good cousin Shallow.

Robert Shallow. And how doth my cousin, your bed-fellow? and your
daughter and mine, my god-daughter Ellen?

Silence. Alas, a black ousel, cousin Shallow!

Robert Shallow. By yea and no, sir. I dare say my cousin William is
a good scholar; he is at Oxford still, is he not?

Silence. Indeed, sir, to my cost.

Robert Shallow. 'A must, then, to the Inns o' Court shortly. I was
Clement's Inn; where I think they will talk of mad Shallow

Silence. You were call'd 'lusty Shallow' then, cousin.

Robert Shallow. By the mass, I was call'd anything; and I would have
anything indeed too, and roundly too. There was I, and little
John Doit of Staffordshire, and black George Barnes, and
Pickbone, and Will Squele a Cotsole man--you had not four
swinge-bucklers in all the Inns of Court again. And I may say
you we knew where the bona-robas were, and had the best of
all at commandment. Then was Jack Falstaff, now Sir John,
and page to Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk.

Silence. This Sir John, cousin, that comes hither anon about
soldiers?

Robert Shallow. The same Sir John, the very same. I see him break
Scoggin's head at the court gate, when 'a was a crack not
high; and the very same day did I fight with one Sampson
Stockfish, a fruiterer, behind Gray's Inn. Jesu, Jesu, the
days that I have spent! and to see how many of my old
acquaintance are dead!

Silence. We shall all follow, cousin.

Robert Shallow. Certain, 'tis certain; very sure, very sure. Death, as
Psalmist saith, is certain to all; all shall die. How a good
of bullocks at Stamford fair?

Silence. By my troth, I was not there.

Robert Shallow. Death is certain. Is old Double of your town living

Silence. Dead, sir.

Robert Shallow. Jesu, Jesu, dead! drew a good bow; and dead! 'A shot a
fine shoot. John a Gaunt loved him well, and betted much
his head. Dead! 'A would have clapp'd i' th' clout at twelve
score, and carried you a forehand shaft a fourteen and
and a half, that it would have done a man's heart good to
How a score of ewes now?

Silence. Thereafter as they be--a score of good ewes may be
ten pounds.

Robert Shallow. And is old Double dead?

Silence. Here come two of Sir John Falstaffs men, as I think.

Robert Shallow. Good morrow, honest gentlemen.

Bardolph. I beseech you, which is Justice Shallow?

Robert Shallow. I am Robert Shallow, sir, a poor esquire of this
and one of the King's justices of the peace. What is your
pleasure with me?

Bardolph. My captain, sir, commends him to you; my captain, Sir
John Falstaff--a tall gentleman, by heaven, and a most
leader.

Robert Shallow. He greets me well, sir; I knew him a good back-sword
How doth the good knight? May I ask how my lady his wife

Bardolph. Sir, pardon; a soldier is better accommodated than
wife.

Robert Shallow. It is well said, in faith, sir; and it is well said
too. 'Better accommodated!' It is good; yea, indeed, is it.
phrases are surely, and ever were, very commendable.
'Accommodated!' It comes of accommodo. Very good; a good

Bardolph. Pardon, sir; I have heard the word. 'Phrase' call you
By this day, I know not the phrase; but I will maintain the
with my sword to be a soldier-like word, and a word of
good command, by heaven. Accommodated: that is, when a man
they say, accommodated; or, when a man is being-whereby 'a
thought to be accommodated; which is an excellent thing.

Robert Shallow. It is very just. Look, here comes good Sir John. Give
your good hand, give me your worship's good hand. By my
you like well and bear your years very well. Welcome, good
John.

Falstaff. I am glad to see you well, good Master Robert
Master Surecard, as I think?

Robert Shallow. No, Sir John; it is my cousin Silence, in commission with me.

Falstaff. Fie! this is hot weather. Gentlemen, have you
here half a dozen sufficient men?

Robert Shallow. Marry, have we, sir. Will you sit?

Falstaff. Let me see them, I beseech you.

Robert Shallow. Where's the roll? Where's the roll? Where's the roll?
me see, let me see, let me see. So, so, so, so,--so, so--yea,
marry, sir. Rafe Mouldy! Let them appear as I call; let them
so, let them do so. Let me see; where is Mouldy?

Ralph Mouldy. Here, an't please you.

Robert Shallow. What think you, Sir John? A good-limb'd fellow; young,
strong, and of good friends.

Falstaff. 'Tis the more time thou wert us'd.

Robert Shallow. Ha, ha, ha! most excellent, i' faith! Things that are
mouldy lack use. Very singular good! In faith, well said, Sir
John; very well said.

Ralph Mouldy. Spent!

Robert Shallow. Peace, fellow, peace; stand aside; know you where you
For th' other, Sir John--let me see. Simon Shadow!

Falstaff. Yea, marry, let me have him to sit under. He's like
a cold soldier.

Robert Shallow. Where's Shadow?

Falstaff. Thy mother's son! Like enough; and thy father's
So the son of the female is the shadow of the male. It is
so indeed; but much of the father's substance!

Robert Shallow. Do you like him, Sir John?

Falstaff. Shadow will serve for summer. Prick him; for we have
number of shadows fill up the muster-book.

Robert Shallow. Thomas Wart!

Falstaff. Thou art a very ragged wart.

Robert Shallow. Shall I prick him, Sir John?

Falstaff. It were superfluous; for his apparel is built upon
back, and the whole frame stands upon pins. Prick him no

Robert Shallow. Ha, ha, ha! You can do it, sir; you can do it. I
you well. Francis Feeble!

Francis Feeble. A woman's tailor, sir.

Robert Shallow. Shall I prick him, sir?

Falstaff. I am bound to thee, reverend Feeble. Who is next?

Robert Shallow. Peter Bullcalf o' th' green!

Falstaff. Come, thou shalt go to the wars in a gown. We will
away thy cold; and I will take such order that thy friends
ring for thee. Is here all?

Robert Shallow. Here is two more call'd than your number. You must
but four here, sir; and so, I pray you, go in with me to

Falstaff. Come, I will go drink with you, but I cannot tarry
dinner. I am glad to see you, by my troth, Master Shallow.

Robert Shallow. O, Sir John, do you remember since we lay all night in
windmill in Saint George's Field?

Falstaff. No more of that, Master Shallow, no more of that.

Robert Shallow. Ha, 'twas a merry night. And is Jane Nightwork alive?

Falstaff. She lives, Master Shallow.

Robert Shallow. She never could away with me.

Falstaff. Never, never; she would always say she could not
Master Shallow.

Robert Shallow. By the mass, I could anger her to th' heart. She was
a bona-roba. Doth she hold her own well?

Falstaff. Old, old, Master Shallow.

Robert Shallow. Nay, she must be old; she cannot choose but be old;
certain she's old; and had Robin Nightwork, by old Nightwork,
before I came to Clement's Inn.

Silence. That's fifty-five year ago.

Robert Shallow. Ha, cousin Silence, that thou hadst seen that that
knight and I have seen! Ha, Sir John, said I well?

Falstaff. We have heard the chimes at midnight, Master Shallow.

Robert Shallow. That we have, that we have, that we have; in faith,
John, we have. Our watchword was 'Hem, boys!' Come, let's to
dinner; come, let's to dinner. Jesus, the days that we have
Come, come.

Falstaff. Come, sir, which men shall I have?

Robert Shallow. Four of which you please.

Falstaff. Go to; well.

Robert Shallow. Come, Sir John, which four will you have?

Falstaff. Do you choose for me.

Robert Shallow. Marry, then--Mouldy, Bullcalf, Feeble, and Shadow.

Falstaff. Mouldy and Bullcalf: for you, Mouldy, stay at home
you are past service; and for your part, Bullcalf, grow you
unto it. I will none of you.

Robert Shallow. Sir John, Sir John, do not yourself wrong. They are
likeliest men, and I would have you serv'd with the best.

Falstaff. Come, manage me your caliver. So--very well. Go to;
good; exceeding good. O, give me always a little, lean, old,
chopt, bald shot. Well said, i' faith, Wart; th'art a good
Hold, there's a tester for thee.

Robert Shallow. He is not his craft's master, he doth not do it right.
remember at Mile-end Green, when I lay at Clement's Inn--I
then Sir Dagonet in Arthur's show--there was a little quiver
fellow, and 'a would manage you his piece thus; and 'a would
about and about, and come you in and come you in. 'Rah, tah,
tah!' would 'a say; 'Bounce!' would 'a say; and away again
'a go, and again would 'a come. I shall ne'er see such a

Falstaff. These fellows will do well. Master Shallow, God keep
Master Silence, I will not use many words with you: Fare you
well! Gentlemen both, I thank you. I must a dozen mile
Bardolph, give the soldiers coats.

Robert Shallow. Sir John, the Lord bless you; God prosper your
God send us peace! At your return, visit our house; let our
acquaintance be renewed. Peradventure I will with ye to the
court.

Falstaff. Fore God, would you would.

Robert Shallow. Go to; I have spoke at a word. God keep you.

Henry IV. Laud be to God! Even there my life must end.
It hath been prophesied to me many years,
I should not die but in Jerusalem;
Which vainly I suppos'd the Holy Land.
But bear me to that chamber; there I'll lie;
In that Jerusalem shall Harry die. Exeunt

Robert Shallow. By cock and pie, sir, you shall not away to-night.
What, Davy, I say!

Falstaff. You must excuse me, Master Robert Shallow.

Robert Shallow. I will not excuse you; you shall not be excus'd;
shall not be admitted; there is no excuse shall serve; you
not be excus'd. Why, Davy!

Davy. Here, sir.

Robert Shallow. Davy, Davy, Davy, Davy; let me see, Davy; let me see,
Davy; let me see--yea, marry, William cook, bid him come
Sir John, you shall not be excus'd.

Davy. Marry, sir, thus: those precepts cannot be served; and,
again, sir--shall we sow the headland with wheat?

Robert Shallow. With red wheat, Davy. But for William cook--are there
young pigeons?

Davy. Yes, sir. Here is now the smith's note for shoeing and
plough-irons.

Robert Shallow. Let it be cast, and paid. Sir John, you shall not be
excused.

Davy. Now, sir, a new link to the bucket must needs be had;
sir, do you mean to stop any of William's wages about the
lost the other day at Hinckley fair?

Robert Shallow. 'A shall answer it. Some pigeons, Davy, a couple of
short-legg'd hens, a joint of mutton, and any pretty little
kickshaws, tell William cook.

Davy. Doth the man of war stay all night, sir?

Robert Shallow. Yea, Davy; I will use him well. A friend i' th' court
better than a penny in purse. Use his men well, Davy; for
are arrant knaves and will backbite.

Davy. No worse than they are backbitten, sir; for they have
marvellous foul linen.

Robert Shallow. Well conceited, Davy--about thy business, Davy.

Davy. I beseech you, sir, to countenance William Visor of
against Clement Perkes o' th' hill.

Robert Shallow. There, is many complaints, Davy, against that Visor.
Visor is an arrant knave, on my knowledge.

Davy. I grant your worship that he is a knave, sir; but yet God
forbid, sir, but a knave should have some countenance at his
friend's request. An honest man, sir, is able to speak for
himself, when a knave is not. I have serv'd your worship
sir, this eight years; an I cannot once or twice in a quarter
bear out a knave against an honest man, I have but a very
credit with your worship. The knave is mine honest friend,
therefore, I beseech you, let him be countenanc'd.

Robert Shallow. Go to; I say he shall have no wrong. Look about,

Bardolph. I am glad to see your worship.

Robert Shallow. I thank thee with all my heart, kind Master Bardolph.
[To the PAGE] And welcome, my tall fellow. Come, Sir John.

Falstaff. I'll follow you, good Master Robert Shallow.
[Exit SHALLOW] Bardolph, look to our horses. [Exeunt
and PAGE] If I were sawed into quantities, I should make
dozen of such bearded hermits' staves as Master Shallow. It
wonderful thing to see the semblable coherence of his men's
spirits and his. They, by observing of him, do bear
like foolish justices: he, by conversing with them, is turned
into a justice-like serving-man. Their spirits are so married
conjunction with the participation of society that they flock
together in consent, like so many wild geese. If I had a suit
Master Shallow, I would humour his men with the imputation of
being near their master; if to his men, I would curry with
Shallow that no man could better command his servants. It is
certain that either wise bearing or ignorant carriage is
as men take diseases, one of another; therefore let men take
of their company. I will devise matter enough out of this
to keep Prince Harry in continual laughter the wearing out of
fashions, which is four terms, or two actions; and 'a shall
without intervallums. O, it is much that a lie with a slight
oath, and a jest with a sad brow will do with a fellow that
had the ache in his shoulders! O, you shall see him laugh
his face be like a wet cloak ill laid up!

Robert Shallow. [Within] Sir John!

Henry V. You are right, Justice, and you weigh this well;
Therefore still bear the balance and the sword;
And I do wish your honours may increase
Till you do live to see a son of mine
Offend you, and obey you, as I did.
So shall I live to speak my father's words:
'Happy am I that have a man so bold
That dares do justice on my proper son;
And not less happy, having such a son
That would deliver up his greatness so
Into the hands of justice.' You did commit me;
For which I do commit into your hand
Th' unstained sword that you have us'd to bear;
With this remembrance--that you use the same
With the like bold, just, and impartial spirit
As you have done 'gainst me. There is my hand.
You shall be as a father to my youth;
My voice shall sound as you do prompt mine ear;
And I will stoop and humble my intents
To your well-practis'd wise directions.
And, Princes all, believe me, I beseech you,
My father is gone wild into his grave,
For in his tomb lie my affections;
And with his spirits sadly I survive,
To mock the expectation of the world,
To frustrate prophecies, and to raze out
Rotten opinion, who hath writ me down
After my seeming. The tide of blood in me
Hath proudly flow'd in vanity till now.
Now doth it turn and ebb back to the sea,
Where it shall mingle with the state of floods,
And flow henceforth in formal majesty.
Now call we our high court of parliament;
And let us choose such limbs of noble counsel,
That the great body of our state may go
In equal rank with the best govern'd nation;
That war, or peace, or both at once, may be
As things acquainted and familiar to us;
In which you, father, shall have foremost hand.
Our coronation done, we will accite,
As I before rememb'red, all our state;
And--God consigning to my good intents-
No prince nor peer shall have just cause to say,
God shorten Harry's happy life one day. Exeunt

Robert Shallow. Nay, you shall see my orchard, where, in an arbour, we
will eat a last year's pippin of mine own graffing, with a
of caraways, and so forth. Come, cousin Silence. And then to

Falstaff. Fore God, you have here a goodly dwelling and rich.

Robert Shallow. Barren, barren, barren; beggars all, beggars all, Sir
-marry, good air. Spread, Davy, spread, Davy; well said,

Falstaff. This Davy serves you for good uses; he is your
serving-man and your husband.

Robert Shallow. A good varlet, a good varlet, a very good varlet, Sir
John. By the mass, I have drunk too much sack at supper. A
varlet. Now sit down, now sit down; come, cousin.

Falstaff. There's a merry heart! Good Master Silence, I'll give
a health for that anon.

Robert Shallow. Give Master Bardolph some wine, Davy.

Davy. Sweet sir, sit; I'll be with you anon; most sweet sir,
Master Page, good Master Page, sit. Proface! What you want in
meat, we'll have in drink. But you must bear; the heart's

Robert Shallow. Be merry, Master Bardolph; and, my little soldier
be merry.

Davy. [To BARDOLPH] There's a dish of leather-coats for you.

Robert Shallow. Davy!

Silence. [Singing]
Fill the cup, and let it come,
I'll pledge you a mile to th' bottom.

Robert Shallow. Honest Bardolph, welcome; if thou want'st anything and
wilt not call, beshrew thy heart. Welcome, my little tiny
and welcome indeed too. I'll drink to Master Bardolph, and to
the cabileros about London.

Bardolph. An I might see you there, Davy!

Robert Shallow. By the mass, you'll crack a quart together--ha! will
not, Master Bardolph?

Bardolph. Yea, sir, in a pottle-pot.

Robert Shallow. By God's liggens, I thank thee. The knave will stick
thee, I can assure thee that. 'A will not out, 'a; 'tis true
bred.

Bardolph. And I'll stick by him, sir.

Robert Shallow. Why, there spoke a king. Lack nothing; be merry.
[One knocks at door] Look who's at door there, ho! Who

Pistol. Shall dunghill curs confront the Helicons?
And shall good news be baffled?
Then, Pistol, lay thy head in Furies' lap.

Robert Shallow. Honest gentleman, I know not your breeding.

Pistol. Why, then, lament therefore.

Robert Shallow. Give me pardon, sir. If, sir, you come with news from
court, I take it there's but two ways--either to utter them
conceal them. I am, sir, under the King, in some authority.

Pistol. Under which king, Bezonian? Speak, or die.

Robert Shallow. Under King Harry.

Pistol. Harry the Fourth--or Fifth?

Robert Shallow. Harry the Fourth.

Falstaff. Come here, Pistol; stand behind me. [To SHALLOW] O, if
I had had to have made new liveries, I would have bestowed the
thousand pound I borrowed of you. But 'tis no matter; this poor
show doth better; this doth infer the zeal I had to see him.

Robert Shallow. It doth so.

Falstaff. It shows my earnestness of affection-

Robert Shallow. It doth so.

Falstaff. My devotion--

Robert Shallow. It doth, it doth, it doth.

Falstaff. As it were, to ride day and night; and not to
not to remember, not to have patience to shift me--

Robert Shallow. It is best, certain.

Pistol. 'Tis 'semper idem' for 'obsque hoc nihil est.' 'Tis all
every part.

Robert Shallow. 'Tis so, indeed.

Falstaff. Master Shallow, I owe you a thousand pounds.

Robert Shallow. Yea, marry, Sir John; which I beseech you to let me
home with me.

Falstaff. That can hardly be, Master Shallow. Do not you grieve
this; I shall be sent for in private to him. Look you, he
seem thus to the world. Fear not your advancements; I will be
man yet that shall make you great.

Robert Shallow. I cannot perceive how, unless you give me your
and stuff me out with straw. I beseech you, good Sir John,
have five hundred of my thousand.

Falstaff. Sir, I will be as good as my word. This that you
was but a colour.

Robert Shallow. A colour that I fear you will die in, Sir John.