scene closes with the breaking up of the party to make preparations for war. "Prince Henry passes to and fro between the history and the comedy, serving as the bond which unites the two."-Dowden.

Act IV, Scene i. Northumberland intimates that he is ill and cannot aid his son in the fight. From now on Hotspur's chances for success are constantly decreased. He receives news that the opposing forces, thirty thousand strong, are approaching and again that Glendower cannot come for fourteen days. Glorying in the greater danger, Hotspur rouses his men to die merrily.

Act IV, Scene . In humorous contrast to the true valor of the last scene is this picture of Falstaff with his band of scarecrows being urged on to Shrewsbury by Prince Henry and Westmoreland.

Act IV, Scene iii. Hotspur is impatient for the battle, while Worcester and Vernon try to persuade him to wait until morning. The dispute is interrupted by the entrance of Blunt bearing a message from the king. Hotspur explains his cause but withholds his answer till morning.

Act IV, Scene iv. The dramatic Dénouement or Catastrophe is foreshadowed in York's fears for Hotspur.

Act V, Scene i. Worcester and Vernon are sent by Percy to the king. Prince Henry magnanimously expresses his admiration for Hotspur and, to save blood on either side, challenges him to decide the matter in single fight. Here we have the fine distinction between his conception of honor and that which ruled Hotspur. Throughout the play Hotspur has sacrificed the country's good to personal honor. At the crisis Prince Henry shows that a larger spirit and a nobler principle rule his life—to save the blood of his countrymen he is willing to enter in single contest against this "king of honor." King Henry's policy intervenes and terms of reconciliation are offered. At the close of the scene is revealed the secret of Falstaff's attitude toward life.

Act V, Scene ii. Worcester and Vernon bring back a false report of the terms offered to Hotspur by the king and so sacrifice the common good to their own selfish interests. This is significant in the justification of the laws of the drama. The nemesis is brought about by the application of the same principle that Hotspur had used to attain his end. "As you mete it out, so shall it be meted out unto you." Too late does Hotspur wish that the

quarrel might rest on his head and Henry Monmouth's alone. Dauntless to the end he leads his men unto the field to the cry "Esperance, Percy" against his country.

Act V, Scene iii. The battle is on. That the king is not made of the finest stuff is apparent from the fact that he sends likenesses of himself into the field. Hotspur and Douglas show their wonted valor, while Falstaff stands idly by in shelter, for to him honor is nothing but air.

V. THE DÉNOUEMENT. CATASTROPHE, OR CONCLUSION (THE KNOT UNTIED)

Act V, Scene iv. King Henry and Douglas fight. The king is in danger, Prince Henry enters and fights with Douglas, who in a moment flies. The king has evidence of his son's love. Hotspur and Prince Henry fight, and Hotspur is killed. Douglas and Falstaff fight, and Falstaff pretends to be killed. This seeming cowardice is relieved by the humor of the situation when Henry leaves him lying in the blood of Hotspur, and he dismisses his fear lest the "king of honor" might be pretending too, by stabbing the dead body. A final assurance of Prince Henry's magnanimous conception of honor is shown when he suffers Falstaff to seem the slayer of Hotspur. To him the deed was sufficient; he did not need the praise.

Act V, Scene v. Vernon and Worcester are put to death. Prince Henry secures the ransom of Douglas, whom he respects for his valor. The scene ends in a forward march to meet the other conspiring foes of the king.

VI. DURATION OF ACTION

1. Historic Time. The period of time covered by this play dates from June 22, 1402, when Glendower defeated Mortimer, to the battle of Shrewsbury, July 21, 1403.

2. Dramatic Time. According to P. A. Daniel1 the dramatic time of King Henry the Fourth, Part I, is made

1 Transactions of New Shakspere Society, pp. 477–479.

up of ten 'historic' days, with three extra Falstaffian days, and intervals, the total dramatic time being three months at the outside. The following is Daniel's formal analysis:

of the insurgents is received. This Day 5 is also a continuation of Day 3a, which commences in Act II, Scene iv. Day 6. Act III, Scene iii. Eastcheap. Prince Hal informs Falstaff of his appointment to a charge of foot for the wars. The morrow of Day 5. Interval: a week.

Day 7. Act IV, Scene i. Rebel

camp near Shrewsbury.

Interval: a few days.

Day 8. Act IV, Scene i. Near Coventry. Falstaff with his ragged regiment.

Day 9. Act IV, Scene iii. The rebel camp. Blunt comes with offers of peace from the king. Act IV, Scene iv. York. The Archbishop prepares for the good or ill fortune of the

morrow.

Day 10. Act V, Scenes i-v. The battle of Shrewsbury.

VII. HISTORICAL CONNECTIONS

The following table, pages xl and xli, gives the more important historical characters of King Henry the Fourth and shows in what other plays of Shakespeare they, their ancestors, or their descendants are either mentioned or appear as dramatis personæ. A study of this table will show the significant way in which the ten historical plays, dealing with the formative period of England's political development, are interrelated.