The Second Part of King Henry the Fourth

Act V

Scene IV

William Shakespeare


London. A street.

Enter BEADLES, dragging in HOSTESS QUICKLY and DOLL TEARSHEET

    MISTRESS QUICKLY
No, thou arrant knave; I would to God that I might die, that I might have thee hanged: thou hast drawn my shoulder out of joint.

    FIRST BEADLE
The constables have delivered her over to me; and she shall have whipping-cheer enough, I warrant her: there hath been a man or two lately killed about her.

    DOLL TEARSHEET
Nut-hook, nut-hook, you lie. Come on; I ’ll tell thee what, thou damned tripe-visaged rascal, an the child I now go with do miscarry, thou wert better thou hadst struck thy mother, thou paper-faced villain.

    MISTRESS QUICKLY
O the Lord, that Sir John were come! he would make this a bloody day to somebody. But I pray God the fruit of her womb miscarry!

    FIRST BEADLE
If it do, you shall have a dozen of cushions again; you have but eleven now. Come, I charge you both go with me; for the man is dead that you and Pistol beat amongst you.

    DOLL TEARSHEET
I’ll tell you what, you thin man in a censer, I will have you as soundly swinged for this,—you blue-bottle rogue, you filthy famished correctioner, if you be not swinged, I’ll forswear half-kirtles.

    FIRST BEADLE
Come, come, you she knight-errant, come.

    MISTRESS QUICKLY
O God, that right should thus overcome might!
Well, of sufferance comes ease.

    DOLL TEARSHEET
Come, you rogue, come; bring me to a justice.

    MISTRESS QUICKLY
Ay, come, you starved blood-hound.

    DOLL TEARSHEET
Goodman death, goodman bones!

    MISTRESS QUICKLY
Thou atomy, thou!

    DOLL TEARSHEET
Come, you thin thing; come you rascal.

    FIRST BEADLE
Very well.

[Exeunt


The second part of King Henry the Fourth - Contents    |     Act V - Scene V


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