Henry IV; With Introd., and Notes [Explanatory and Critical, for Use in Schools and Families, ] Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1887 edition. Excerpt: ...me upon the particulars of my life. Fal. Shall I? content: this chair shall be my state, this dagger my sceptre, and this cushion my crown. Prince. Thy state is taken for a joint-stool,45 thy golden sceptre for a leaden dagger, and thy precious rich crown for a pitiful bald crown Fat. Well, an the fire of grace be not quite out of thee, n-w shalt thou be moved.--Give me a cup of sack, to make mine eyes look red, that it may be thought I have wept; for I must speak in passion, and I will do it in King Cambyses' vein.46--Drinks. 44 Blue-caps being of old the national head-dress of Scottish soldiers, the Scotsmen themselves are here appropriately called blue-caps. 45 An old form of speech, which we should invert: "a joint-stool is taken for thy state," &c.--Stale is often used by old writers for the official seat of Majesty, the throne.--Stool was in common use for what we call a chair; and a joint-stool was a chair with a joint in it; a folding-oha.ix, 4- The banter is here upon the play called "A Lamentable Tragedie mixed full of pleasant Mirthe, containing the Life of Cambises, King of Persia," by Thomas Preston, 1570.--Passion is here used, not for anger, but in the classical sense of suffering, grief. Prince. Well, here is my leg.47 Fal. And here is my speech.---Stand aside, nobility. Host. O Jesu, this is excellent sport, i'faith Fal. Weep not, sweet Queen; for trickling tears are vain. Host. O, the Father, how he holds his countenance Fal. For God's sake, lords, convey my tristful Queen; For tears do stop the flood-gates of her eyes. Host. O Jesu, he doth it as like one of these harlotry players48 as ever I see Fal. Peace, good pint-pot; peace, good tickle-brain.49--Harry, I do not only marvel where thou spendest thy time, but...