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liveth, is to be no counterfeit, but the true and perfect image

of life indeed. The better part of valour is discretion; in the

which better part I have saved my life. Zounds, I am afraid of

this gunpowder Percy, though he be dead. How if he should

counterfeit too, and rise? By my faith, I am afraid he would

prove the better counterfeit. Therefore I'll make him sure;

yea,

and I'll swear I kill'd him. Why may not he rise as well as I?

Nothing confutes me but eyes, and nobody sees me. Therefore,

sirrah [stabs him], with a new wound in your thigh, come you along with me.

He takes up Hotspur on his hack. [Enter Prince, and John of Lancaster.

Prince. Come, brother John; full bravely hast thou flesh'd

Thy maiden sword.

John. But, soft! whom have we here?

Did you not tell me this fat man was dead?

Prince. I did; I saw him dead,

Breathless and bleeding on the ground. Art thou alive,

Or is it fantasy that plays upon our eyesight?

I prithee speak. We will not trust our eyes

Without our ears. Thou art not what thou seem'st.

Fal. No, that's certain! I am not a double man; but if I be not

Jack Falstaff, then am I a Jack. There 's Percy. If your father

will do me any honour, so; if not, let him kill the next Percy

himself. I look to be either earl or duke, I can assure you.

Prince. Why, Percy I kill'd myself, and saw thee dead!

Fal. Didst thou? Lord, Lord, how this world is given to lying!

I grant you I was down, and out of breath, and so was he; but we

rose both at an instant and fought a long hour by Shrewsbury

clock. If I may be believ'd, so; if not, let them that should

reward valour bear the sin upon their own heads. I'll take it

upon my death, I gave him this wound in the thigh. If the man

were alive and would deny it, zounds! I would make him eat a piece of my sword.

John. This is the strangest tale that ever I beard.

Prince. This is the strangest fellow, brother John.

Come, bring your luggage nobly on your back.

For my part, if a lie may do thee grace,

I'll gild it with the happiest terms I have.

A retreat is sounded.

The trumpet sounds retreat; the day is ours.

Come, brother, let's to the highest of the field,

To see what friends are living, who are dead.

Exeunt [Prince Henry and Prince John].

Fal. I'll follow, as they say, for reward. He that rewards me,

God

reward him! If I do grow great, I'll grow less; for I'll purge,

and leave sack, and live cleanly, as a nobleman should do.

Exit [bearing off the body].

Scene V. Another part of the field.

The trumpets sound. [Enter the King, Prince of Wales, Lord John

of Lancaster,

Earl of Westmoreland, with Worcester and Vernon prisoners.

King. Thus ever did rebellion find rebuke.

Ill-spirited Worcester! did not we send grace,

Pardon, and terms of love to all of you?

And wouldst thou turn our offers contrary?

Misuse the tenour of thy kinsman's trust?

Three knights upon our party slain to-day,

A noble earl, and many a creature else

Had been alive this hour,

If like a Christian thou hadst truly borne

Betwixt our armies true intelligence.

Wor. What I have done my safety urg'd me to;

And I embrace this fortune patiently,

Since not to be avoided it fails on me.

King. Bear Worcester to the death, and Vernon too;

Other offenders we will pause upon.

Exeunt Worcester and Vernon, [guarded].

How goes the field?

Prince. The noble Scot, Lord Douglas, when he saw

The fortune of the day quite turn'd from him,

The Noble Percy slain and all his men

Upon the foot of fear, fled with the rest;

And falling from a hill,he was so bruis'd

That the pursuers took him. At my tent

The Douglas is, and I beseech Your Grace

I may dispose of him.

King. With all my heart.

Prince. Then brother John of Lancaster, to you

This honourable bounty shall belong.

Go to the Douglas and deliver him

Up to his pleasure, ransomless and free.

His valour shown upon our crests today

Hath taught us how to cherish such high deeds,

Even in the bosom of our adversaries.

John. I thank your Grace for this high