PROLOGUE. Enter RUMOUR, painted full of Tongues. PEN your ears: for which of you will stop The Vent of Hearing, when loud Rumour speaks? I from the Orient to the drooping West, Making the wind my poft-horse, ftill unfold The Acts commenced on this Ball of Earth. Upon my tongues continual flanders ride, The which in every language I pronounce; Stuffing the ears of men with false reports. "I fpeak of Peace, while covert enmity, "Under the smile of fafety, wounds the world: "And who but Rumour, who but only I, "Make fearful mufters and prepar'd defence, "Whilft the big year, fwoll'n with some other griefs, "Is thought with child by the ftern tyrant War, "And no fuch matter? Rumour is a pipe Blown by furmises, jealoufies, conjectures; And, of so easie and so plain a stop, That the blunt monster with uncounted heads, Can play upon it. But what need I thus Among my houfhold? Why is Rumour here? 1 painted full of Tongues.] This direction, which is only to be found in the first Edition in Quarto of 1600, explains a paffage in what follows, otherwife obfcure. Mr. Pope. Hath Hath beaten down young Hot-fpur and his troops; And this worm-eaten (a) Hold of ragged ftone ; Than they have learn'd of me. From Rumour's tongues, wrongs, [(a) Hold. Mr. Theobald.-Vulg. Hole.] [Exit Dramatis Dramatis Perfonæ. KING Henry the Fourth. Prince Henry, afterwards crowned King Henry the Fifth. Prince John of Lancaster, The Archbishop of York, Mowbray, Haftings, Lord Bardolph, Travers, Morton, Colevile, Warwick, Weftmorland, Surrey, of the King's Party, Gower, The SECOND PART of Η Ε Ν RY IV. ACT I. SCENE I. Northumberland's Caftle. Enter Lord Bardolph; the Porter at the door. W BARDOLPH. HO keeps the gate here, hoa? where is the Earl? Port. What fhall I say you are? That the lord Bardolph doth attend him Port. His lordship is walk'd forth into the Orchard; Please it your Honour, knock but at the gate, And he himself will answer. Enter Northumberland. Bard. Here's the Earl. North. What news, lord Bardolph ? " ev'ry minute now "Should "Should be the father of fome stratagem. Bard. Noble Earl, I bring you certain news from Shrewsbury. Bard. As good as heart can wish: The King is almost wounded to the death: Prince Harry flain outright; and both the Blunts North. How is this deriv'd? Saw you the field? came you from Shrewsbury? Bard. I fpake with one, my lord, that came from thence, A gentleman well bred, and of good name; That freely render'd me these news for true. [fent North. Here comes my fervant Travers, whom I On Tuesday laft to liften after news. Bard. My lord, I over-rode him on the way. And he is furnifh'd with no certainties, More than he, haply, may retail from me. North. Now, Travers, what good tidings come with you? 1 father of fome stratagem.] Stratagem, for vigorous action. Tra. |