97 After the foregoing quotation, my readers will not be surprised, if the name of the last mentioned person is not to be found in the following plays. I hope that all obscenity is equally banished from them. I wish it were in my power in like manner to exclude every expression which approaches to vulgarity or indelicacy; but this, I fear, cannot be done, unless the whole of those scenes are omitted, in which any of the comic characters appear. The present publication may possibly be censured by two classes of readers, of very different sentiments. Those persons who are unwilling to be deprived of any part of the wit of Falstaff (whatever may be the expense of retaining it) will perhaps be displeased at the omission of the evening scene between him and Doll Tearsheet, and their followers. To them I reply, that consistently with the design of the present edition of Shakspeare, the omission was unavoidable; but I regret it the less, because, as was suggested in my preface, those readers can gratify their taste by having recourse to former editions of the Second Part of Henry the IVth. Other persons may possibly complain that there still remain in this work, some expressions which are not consistent with that perfect delicacy of sentiment, with which it were desirable that every publication should be conducted. To this objection I fear that I can give no answer that will be quite satisfactory. I can only say, that I have endeavoured to render the speeches of Falstaff and his companions as correct as they could be rendered, without losing sight of their characters and dispositions. Those persons who still object to their language, cannot I believe dò better, than confine their reading to the serious parts of the three following plays, which possess such merit, as can hardly be equalled in any other dramatic poet, and is seldom exceeded by our own immortal bard. THOMAS Bowdler. PERSONS REPRESENTED. KING HENRY THE FOURTH. HENRY, Prince of Wales, PRINCE JOHN of Lancaster, S sons to the King. friends to the King. THOMAS PERCY, Earl of Worcester. HENRY PERCY, Earl of Northumberland: ARCHIBALD, Earl of Douglas. OWEN GLEndower. SIR RICHARD VERNON. SIR JOHN FALSTAFF. GADSHILL. PETO. BARDOLPH. LADY PERCY, wife to Hotspur, and sister to Mor timer. LADY MORTIMER, daughter to Glendower, and wife to Mortimer. MRS. QUICKLY, Hostess of a Tavern in Eastcheap. Lords, Officers, Sheriff, Vintner, Chamberlain, Drawers, two Carriers, Travellers, and Attendants. SCENE, England. FIRST PART OF KING HENRY IV. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. London. A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY, WESTMORELAND, Sir K.Hen. So shaken as we are, so wan with care, 2 Shall daub her lips with her own children's blood; Which, like the meteors of a troubled heaven, I Strands, banks of the sea. 2 The fury of discord. No more shall cut his master. Therefore, friends, (Whose soldier now, under whose blessed cross West. My liege, this haste was hot in question, K. Hen. It seems then, that the tidings of this broil Brake off our business for the Holy Land. West. This, match'd with other, did, my gracious lord; For more uneven and unwelcome news Came from the north, and thus it did import. Where they did spend a sad and bloody hour; 3 Expedition. 4 Estimates. 5 September 14. As by discharge of their artillery, And shape of likelihood, the news was told; K. Hen. Here is a dear and true industrious Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse, Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours; Ten thousand bold Scots, two-and-twenty knights, Balk'd in their own blood, did sir Walter see On Holmedon's plains: Of prisoners, Hotspur took To beaten Douglas; and the earls of Athol, And is not this an honourable spoil? A gallant prize? ha, cousin, is it not? West. It is a conquest for a prince to boast of. In envy that my lord Northumberland 6 Piled up in a heap. |