Act VScene III
Plain between the Camps
The King enters with his power. Alarum to the battle. Then enter Douglas and Sir Walter Blunt.
Blunt
What is thy name that in the battle thusThou crossest me? What honour dost thou seekUpon my head?
Douglas
Know then my name is Douglas,And I do haunt thee in the battle thusBecause some tell me that thou art a king.
Blunt
They tell thee true.
Douglas
The Lord of Stafford dear today hath boughtThy likeness, for instead of thee, King Harry,This sword hath ended him. So shall it thee,Unless thou yield thee as my prisoner.
Blunt
I was not born a yielder, thou proud Scot,And thou shalt find a king that will revengeLord Stafford’s death.
They fight, and Blunt is slain.
Enter Hotspur.
Hotspur
O Douglas, hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus,I never had triumphed upon a Scot.
Douglas
All’s done, all’s won; here breathless lies the King.
Hotspur
Where?
Douglas
Here.
Hotspur
This, Douglas? No, I know this face full well.A gallant knight he was, his name was Blunt,Semblably furnish’d like the King himself.
Douglas
A fool go with thy soul, whither it goes!A borrow’d title hast thou bought too dear.Why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king?
Hotspur
The King hath many marching in his coats.
Douglas
Now, by my sword, I will kill all his coats;I’ll murder all his wardrobe, piece by piece,Until I meet the King.
Hotspur
Up, and away!Our soldiers stand full fairly for the day.
Exeunt.
Alarums. Enter Falstaff solus.
Falstaff
Though I could scape shot-free at London, I fear the shot here. Here’s no scoring but upon the pate.—Soft! who are you? Sir Walter Blunt. There’s honour for you. Here’s no vanity. I am as hot as molten lead, and as heavy too. God keep lead out of me, I need no more weight than mine own bowels. I have led my ragamuffins where they are peppered. There’s not three of my hundred and fifty left alive, and they are for the town’s end, to beg during life. But who comes here?
Enter Prince Henry.
Prince
What, stand’st thou idle here? Lend me thy sword.Many a nobleman lies stark and stiffUnder the hoofs of vaunting enemies,Whose deaths are yet unrevenged. I pritheeLend me thy sword.
Falstaff
O Hal, I prithee give me leave to breathe awhile. Turk Gregory never did such deeds in arms as I have done this day. I have paid Percy, I have made him sure.
Prince
He is indeed, and living to kill thee.I prithee, lend me thy sword.
Falstaff
Nay, before God, Hal, if Percy be alive, thou gett’st not my sword; but take my pistol, if thou wilt.
Prince
Give it me. What, is it in the case?
Falstaff
Ay, Hal, ’tis hot, ’tis hot. There’s that will sack a city.
The Prince draws out a bottle of sack.
Prince
What, is it a time to jest and dally now?
Throws it at him, and exit.
Falstaff
Well, if Percy be alive, I’ll pierce him. If he do come in my way, so; if he do not, if I come in his willingly, let him make a carbonado of me. I like not such grinning honour as Sir Walter hath. Give me life, which if I can save, so: if not, honour comes unlooked for, and there’s an end.
Exit.