Hal's voice in this play is more melancholy than in Part 1 — his jokes have an edge of exhaustion. Watch for moments when the wit suddenly gives way to something genuine and then gets covered over again. The gap between what he says and what he means is where the character lives.
Before God, I am exceeding weary.
I swear to God, I am extremely tired.
God, I'm so tired.
i'm tired exceeding weary so tired
Poins is Hal's second-best companion — clever enough to keep up, perceptive enough to challenge, but never quite equal. Watch for how he correctly reads Hal's behavior while still being named in the list of people Hal is about to leave behind.
Is ’t come to that? I had thought weariness durst not have attached one
of so high blood.
Has it come to this? I thought weariness wouldn't dare touch someone of your noble blood.
Really? I thought tiredness wouldn't dare touch a prince.
weariness high blood attach a prince surprise
Faith, it does me, though it discolours the complexion of my greatness
to acknowledge it. Doth it not show vilely in me to desire small beer?
Yes, it does affect me, though admitting it lowers my royal dignity. Doesn't it seem wrong to you?
Yeah, it does, even though I hate admitting it. Doesn't that seem weird?
it affects me discolours my greatness weakness wrong to admit
Why, a prince should not be so loosely studied as to remember so weak a
composition.
A prince shouldn't be so careless about his own character as to remember something as trivial as this.
A real prince shouldn't pay attention to something so weak.
prince loosely studied weak composition ignore
Belike then my appetite was not princely got, for, by my troth, I do
now remember the poor creature small beer. But indeed, these humble
considerations make me out of love with my greatness. What a disgrace
is it to me to remember thy name! or to know thy face tomorrow! or to
take note how many pair of silk stockings thou hast—viz. these, and
those that were thy peach-coloured ones! or to bear the inventory of
thy shirts, as, one for superfluity, and another for use! But that the
tennis-court keeper knows better than I, for it is a low ebb of linen
with thee when thou keepest not racket there; as thou hast not done a
great while, because the rest of thy low countries have made a shift to
eat up thy holland. And God knows whether those that bawl out of the
ruins of thy linen shall inherit his kingdom: but the midwives say the
children are not in the fault; whereupon the world increases, and
kindreds are mightily strengthened.
I must have inherited this appetite for low things by accident. But honestly, remembering that name makes me lose respect for being great. What a disgrace that I'd remember your name! Or know your face tomorrow! Or keep track of your silk stockings—those peach-colored ones! Or inventory your shirts as one for show and one for use! The tennis court keeper knows more about your linen than I do, because when you're not there, your linen disappears from lack of use since everyone else wears it out. And God knows if the children born from scraps of your linen will enter heaven, but the midwives say the children aren't at fault, so the world multiplies and families grow strong.
I must have gotten that taste by accident. Honest to God, thinking about these petty details makes me lose respect for my status as prince. It's embarrassing that I'd remember your name or your face tomorrow. And your wardrobe—especially those silk stockings you love, the peach-colored ones. Your shirts, one for show and one for actual wear. The tennis court keeper knows more about your linen supply than I do. When you're not playing, your linen just wears out because everyone borrows it. As for the children who wear bits of your old linen, the midwives say the children aren't responsible for the population boom, but here we are with the world multiplying.
these thoughts make me lose respect for being prince what a disgrace i'd remember your name or your face those silk stockings the peach-colored ones your shirts show vs everyday tennis court knows your linen better everyone wears it out children from old linen midwives: not their fault world keeps multiplying
How ill it follows, after you have laboured so hard, you should talk so
idly! Tell me, how many good young princes would do so, their fathers
being so sick as yours at this time is?
It's strange that after you've worked so hard, you would talk so foolishly. Tell me, how many good young princes would do this when their fathers are as ill as yours is right now?
That's weird—you work so hard and then you just talk like an idiot. How many really good young princes would act like this when their dad is as sick as yours is?
u work hard then talk like an idiot. what good prince acts like this w/ his dad so sick?
Shall I tell thee one thing, Poins?
Can I tell you something, Poins?
Want to hear something, Poins?
can i tell u something
Yes, faith, and let it be an excellent good thing.
Yes, and it better be worth hearing.
Yeah, and it better be good.
yes faith excellent thing
It shall serve among wits of no higher breeding than thine.
It will serve among wits of breeding no higher than your own.
It should work for someone like you.
u wont get it anyway
Go to, I stand the push of your one thing that you will tell.
Go ahead. I'm ready to hear whatever you're going to say.
Go ahead. I'm listening.
i stand the push your thing
Marry, I tell thee it is not meet that I should be sad, now my father
is sick; albeit I could tell to thee, as to one it pleases me, for
fault of a better, to call my friend, I could be sad, and sad indeed
too.
Listen, I tell you it's not right for me to be sad now that my father is sick, even though I could have good reason to be. But I shouldn't show it.
Look, it's not right for me to be sad while my father's sick, even if I have reasons to be. But I can't let it show.
not meet sad father sick should not show reason
Very hardly upon such a subject.
That's a hard thing to manage with this subject.
That's hard to pull off.
hardly upon subject difficult
By this hand, thou thinkest me as far in the devil’s book as thou and
Falstaff for obduracy and persistency. Let the end try the man. But I
tell thee, my heart bleeds inwardly that my father is so sick; and
keeping such vile company as thou art hath in reason taken from me all
ostentation of sorrow.
You think I'm as wicked as you and Falstaff are stubborn. Time will judge the man. But I tell you, I'm genuinely grieving inside that my father is so sick. Being around such bad company as you has kept me from showing my real sorrow.
You think I'm just as bad as you and Falstaff—always stubborn. But here's the truth: I'm truly sad inside that my father is sick. Hanging around with trash like you is why I can't show how much I care.
im actually sad about my dad but hanging w u keeps me from showing it
The reason?
Why do you say that?
Why?
reason why
What wouldst thou think of me if I should weep?
What would you think of me if I started to cry?
What would you think if I cried?
what think if i weep crying
I would think thee a most princely hypocrite.
I'd think you were a hypocrite pretending to be a good prince.
I'd think you were a total faker.
most princely hypocrite
It would be every man’s thought; and thou art a blessed fellow to think
as every man thinks. Never a man’s thought in the world keeps the
roadway better than thine: every man would think me an hypocrite
indeed. And what accites your most worshipful thought to think so?
That's what every man would think. You're fortunate to think like everyone else does. No man's thoughts follow the path as well as yours do—every man in the world would call me a hypocrite. So what makes your most respected judgment reach that conclusion?
Of course every man would think that. You're lucky for thinking exactly what everyone else thinks. Nobody follows the mainstream road of thought better than you do—any man would call me a hypocrite. So what makes your supposedly wise thinking come to that conclusion?
everyone thinks that you're lucky thinking like them your thoughts follow the mainstream road everyone calls me hypocrite so why think that
Why, because you have been so lewd and so much engraffed to Falstaff.
Because you've been so wicked and so close to Falstaff.
Because you've been such a bad guy and you're always with Falstaff.
lewd engraffed to falstaff wicked
And to thee.
And to you as well.
Same with you.
same w u
By this light, I am well spoke on; I can hear it with mine own ears.
The worst that they can say of me is that I am a second brother, and
that I am a proper fellow of my hands; and those two things, I confess,
I cannot help. By the mass, here comes Bardolph.
By God, I get credit for it myself; I can hear people say it with my own ears. The worst thing anyone can say about me is that I'm a second son, and that I'm a capable fighter, and those two things, I'll admit, I can't help. By God, here comes Bardolph.
By God, I hear people say good things about me; I can hear it myself. The worst anybody calls me is a second son and a good hand with a fight. Those two things, I can't deny, but what can I do? Here comes Bardolph.
ppl actually say good stuff abt me. worst theyll say is im a second son & good in a fight. cant help either of those lol. here's bardolph
And the boy that I gave Falstaff. He had him from me Christian, and
look if the fat villain have not transformed him ape.
And here's the boy I gave to Falstaff. He was a normal young man when I gave him to Falstaff, but look what that fat villain has made him into!
And there's the kid I gave Falstaff. He was normal when I gave him to him, but look what that fat bastard's done to him!
boy that i gave falstaff christian look fat villain made him
God save your Grace!
God protect you, your Grace!
God bless you, sir!
bless u
The exchange between Hal and Poins about his father's illness is one of the most psychologically astute moments in either Henry IV play. Hal can't publicly mourn because his reputation as a dissolute prince makes any grief look calculated. He diagnoses the problem himself: keeping Poins's company has 'taken from me all ostentation of sorrow.' He's trapped. He built the trap deliberately — Part 1's famous 'I'll so offend to make offence a skill' — but the trap now hurts. He genuinely loves his father. He genuinely feels grief. But there is no credible way to show it while he is still Prince Hal of the taverns. The only way out is the transformation: to become Henry V. But until he does, he's stuck being misread. This scene is where the cost of the Eastcheap education first becomes visible as a genuine personal loss.
And yours, most noble Bardolph!
And may God protect you too, most noble Bardolph!
And you as well, noble Bardolph!
u too
Come, you virtuous ass, you bashful fool, must you be blushing?
Wherefore blush you now? What a maidenly man-at-arms are you become! Is
’t such a matter to get a pottle-pot’s maidenhead?
Come now, you virtuous ass, you bashful fool—must you be blushing? Why are you blushing now? What a delicate soldier you've become! Is it really such a big deal to lose your virginity with a drinking cup?
Come on, you virtuous idiot, you bashful fool—why are you blushing? What kind of delicate little soldier are you now? Is it really that big a deal to get drunk for the first time?
ur blushing? y? ur acting so delicate. getting drunk isnt that serious
He calls me e’en now, my lord, through a red lattice, and I could
discern no part of his face from the window. At last I spied his eyes,
and methought he had made two holes in the ale-wife’s new petticoat and
so peeped through.
He was just calling me a moment ago, my lord, through a red lattice, and I couldn't make out any part of his face from the window. At last I spotted his eyes, and I thought he had poked two holes in the ale-wife's new petticoat and was peeking through them.
He was just calling me a minute ago, my lord, through a red window, and I couldn't see any of his face from where I was looking. Then I finally saw his eyes, and it looked like he'd punched two holes through the bartender's new dress and was staring through them.
he was calling me thru a red window. couldnt c his face. then i saw his eyes—looked like 2 holes in the barmaid's dress lol
Has not the boy profited?
Has the boy shown any improvement?
Has he learned anything good?
boy profited improved learned
Away, you whoreson upright rabbit, away!
Get away, you diseased rabbit, get away!
Get lost, you diseased jerk! Go!
away whoreson rabbit away
Away, you rascally Althaea’s dream, away!
Get away, you rascal, you evil creature, get away!
You too, you rotten thug! Get away!
away rascally althaeas dream insult back
Instruct us, boy; what dream, boy?
Teach us, boy. What does that insult mean?
Hey, explain it. What's an Althaea dream?
instruct us what dream explain
Marry, my lord, Althaea dreamt she was delivered of a firebrand; and
therefore I call him her dream.
Well, my lord, Althaea dreamed she gave birth to a burning torch, so I call him her dream because he's burning with rage.
Well, my lord, Althaea dreamed she had a firebrand baby, so I call him her dream because he burns with anger.
althaea firebrand burning torch rage call him dream
A crown’s worth of good interpretation. There ’tis, boy.
That's worth gold for interpretation! Here, take this, boy.
That's brilliant thinking! Here's a reward, boy.
brilliant take this
O, that this blossom could be kept from cankers! Well, there is
sixpence to preserve thee.
Oh, if only this flower could be protected from decay! Well, here's sixpence to preserve you.
I wish this kid could stay pure! Here, take sixpence to keep you safe.
stay innocent heres money
An you do not make him be hanged among you, the gallows shall have
wrong.
And if you don't make sure he gets hanged among your crew, the gallows will be cheated of justice.
And if you don't get him hanged eventually, the gallows is missing out.
do not make hanged among gallows wrong
And how doth thy master, Bardolph?
And how is your master doing, Bardolph?
How's your master doing, Bardolph?
hows ur master
Well, my lord. He heard of your Grace’s coming to town. There’s a
letter for you.
Well, my lord. He heard that you had come to town. He sent a letter for you.
Good, my lord. He heard you were in town. He sent you a letter.
well my lord heard grace's coming letter
Delivered with good respect. And how doth the martlemas, your master?
Delivered with proper respect. And how is old fatty, your master?
Delivered real respectfully. So how's the old fat man?
delivered good respect martlemas master old
In bodily health, sir.
In good physical health, sir.
His body's fine, sir.
bodily health physical fine
Marry, the immortal part needs a physician, but that moves not him.
Though that be sick, it dies not.
Well, the immortal part of him, his soul, does need a doctor, but that doesn't trouble him. Though the soul be sick, it does not die.
Sure, his soul could use a doctor, but he doesn't care about that. A sick soul doesn't actually die, after all.
his soul needs a doctor he doesnt care souls dont die anyway
I do allow this wen to be as familiar with me as my dog, and he holds
his place, for look you how he writes.
I let this swollen lump be as chummy with me as my own dog, and he certainly keeps up that position; just look at the way he writes to me.
I let this big lump act as friendly with me as my dog does, and he sure makes the most of it. Look how he writes to me!
i let this guy treat me like his buddy and wow he milks it look at this letter lol
[_Reads_.] “John Falstaff, knight,” Every man must know that, as oft as
he has occasion to name himself: even like those that are kin to the
King, for they never prick their finger but they say, “There’s some of
the King’s blood spilt.” “How comes that?” says he that takes upon him
not to conceive. The answer is as ready as a borrower’s cap, “I am the
King’s poor cousin, sir.”
John Falstaff, knight. Everyone knows that whenever he introduces himself, he does it the same way those actually related to the King do. They prick their finger and claim some of the King's blood was spilled. When someone asks how that's possible, the answer comes ready and quick as an excuse from a poor man: 'I'm the King's poor cousin, sir.'
Look—'John Falstaff, knight.' Everyone knows he introduces himself just like actual royal relations do. They nick themselves and say 'Oh, I've spilled the King's blood!' When you ask how that works, they've got their answer ready in a flash: 'I'm the King's poor cousin.'
falstaff claims he's the king's cousin pricks himself and screams 'that's royal blood!' always has a quick excuse
Nay, they will be kin to us, or they will fetch it from Japhet. But to
the letter: “Sir John Falstaff, knight, to the son of the King, nearest
his father, Harry Prince of Wales, greeting.”
They'll be related to us or they'll claim they come from Japhet. But let's get to the point of the letter: 'Sir John Falstaff...'
They'll relate to anyone or make up a story. But anyway, the letter says 'Sir John Falstaff...'
be kin to us fetch japhet get to letter falstaff
Why, this is a certificate.
This is just a document listing his complaints.
This is just a list of grievances.
certificate grievances list
Peace! “I will imitate the honourable Romans in brevity.”
Be quiet! 'I will copy the honorable Romans by being brief.'
Shut up! 'I'll be like the Romans and keep it short.'
peace imitate honourable romans brevity
He sure means brevity in breath, short-winded.
He means brief in breath, short of wind.
He means he'll run out of breath soon.
brevity in breath short-winded no stamina
“I commend me to thee, I commend thee, and I leave thee. Be not too
familiar with Poins, for he misuses thy favours so much that he swears
thou art to marry his sister Nell. Repent at idle times as thou mayst,
and so, farewell.
Thine by yea and no, which is as much as to say, as thou usest him—Jack
Falstaff with my familiars, John with my brothers and sisters, and Sir
John with all Europe.”
I greet you, I praise you, and I leave you now. Don't be too friendly with Poins, because he takes advantage of your kindness so much that he claims you're going to marry his sister Nell. Repent when you have the time, and goodbye. Yours truly, which is to say, depending on how you treat me—Jack with my buddies, John with my family, and Sir John with everyone else.
I salute you, I like you, and now I'm leaving. Don't get too close to Poins—he ruins everyone he meets, and he keeps saying you're going to marry his sister Nell. Get right with God when you have time. Goodbye. I'm yours sincerely—Jack when I'm with my friends, John with my brothers, and Sir John with everyone else.
dont hang w poins hes bad says ur marrying his sister bye
My lord, I’ll steep this letter in sack and make him eat it.
My lord, I'll soak this letter in wine and make him eat it.
My lord, I'll soak this letter in wine and shove it down his throat.
steep this letter sack make him eat revenge
Falstaff's letter is a miniature self-portrait. He addresses himself with three different names — Jack Falstaff with intimates, John with family, Sir John with 'all Europe' — which tells you everything about how he performs identity. He spreads gossip about Poins to create a wedge. He tells Hal to repent 'at idle times' — a beautifully economical dismissal of repentance as something you do when you have nothing better to do. He claims he'll be 'brief' and immediately writes a long address. Every line is a manipulation, even the funny ones. And crucially, Hal reads it aloud to Poins — which means it's functioning as entertainment, not as personal communication. The letter is designed for an audience, which means Falstaff knows Poins will hear it, which means the gossip about Poins marrying the Prince to his sister is a calculated move. Falstaff is always playing three moves ahead.
That’s to make him eat twenty of his words. But do you use me thus,
Ned? Must I marry your sister?
That's only good for making him swallow twenty of his words. But do you actually do this to me? Must I marry your sister?
That'll just make him choke on his words. But wait, do you really do this to me? You want me to marry your sister?
eat twenty words use me thus marry sister sarcastic
God send the wench no worse fortune! But I never said so.
God bless the girl with good fortune. But I never said that.
I hope your sister does well. But I never said that.
god send wench no worse fortune never said
Well, thus we play the fools with the time, and the spirits of the wise
sit in the clouds and mock us. Is your master here in London?
Well, this is how we waste time playing the fool, and the wise people's spirits sit up in the clouds and laugh at us. Is your master here in London?
So this is what we do—waste time being stupid, while smart people up in heaven look down and mock us. Is your boss in London?
we're wasting time being idiots while the smart ppl laugh at us from heaven. ur boss in london?
Yea, my lord.
Yes, my lord.
Yeah, my lord.
yea my lord yes
Where sups he? Doth the old boar feed in the old frank?
Where is he having supper? Is the old boar eating in his usual place?
Where's he eating dinner? Is he at his usual spot?
where sups he old boar feed old frank
At the old place, my lord, in Eastcheap.
At the usual place, my lord, in Eastcheap.
Same place, my lord, Eastcheap.
old place mylord eastcheap
What company?
Who's with him?
Who's there?
what company with him
Ephesians, my lord, of the old church.
His usual crowd of disreputable friends, my lord, the same old church of drunkards.
His usual trashy crowd, my lord, the same old drinking buddies.
ephesians old church drinking buddies usual crowd
Sup any women with him?
Are there any women having supper with him?
Is he having supper with any women?
any women there
None, my lord, but old Mistress Quickly and Mistress Doll Tearsheet.
No, my lord, except for old Mistress Quickly and Mistress Doll Tearsheet.
Just the old woman Mistress Quickly and Mistress Doll Tearsheet, sir.
mistress quickly and doll
What pagan may that be?
Who might this pagan woman be?
Who is this woman Doll?
whos that girl
A proper gentlewoman, sir, and a kinswoman of my master’s.
A respectable lady, sir, and a relative of my master's.
A nice lady, sir, and she's related to my boss.
proper gentlewoman kinswoman master's relative
Even such kin as the parish heifers are to the town bull. Shall we
steal upon them, Ned, at supper?
Like the village heifers are related to the town bull. Should we surprise them, Ned, at supper?
Like the heifers are related to the town bull. Want to sneak up on them at dinner?
parish heifers town bull kin steal upon them
I am your shadow, my lord, I’ll follow you.
I'm your shadow, my lord. I'll follow wherever you go.
I'm your shadow. I'm with you.
your shadow follow where you go
Sirrah, you boy, and Bardolph, no word to your master that I am yet
come to town. There’s for your silence.
Boy and Bardolph, don't tell your master that I've arrived in town yet. This is payment for your silence.
Hey, both of you—don't tell Falstaff I'm in town yet. This money is for keeping quiet.
dont tell falstaff im here this pays for ur silence
I have no tongue, sir.
I will not speak about it, sir.
I won't say a word, sir.
wont say nothing
And for mine, sir, I will govern it.
And I will control mine, sir.
And I'll keep mine shut, sir.
for mine sir govern it control kill
Fare you well; go.
Goodbye; now go.
Take care; get out of here.
bye go
This Doll Tearsheet should be some road.
This Doll Tearsheet must be quite the loose woman.
Doll Tearsheet must be a real easy girl.
doll tearsheet should be easy to get
I warrant you, as common as the way between Saint Albans and London.
I guarantee you, she's as common as the road between Saint Albans and London.
Yeah, she's as common as the highway between Saint Albans and London.
common way between saint albans london highway whore
How might we see Falstaff bestow himself tonight in his true colours,
and not ourselves be seen?
How can we watch Falstaff tonight in his natural behavior without being noticed ourselves?
How can we watch Falstaff tonight without him knowing?
see falstaff bestow himself night true colours not seen
Put on two leathern jerkins and aprons, and wait upon him at his table
as drawers.
Put on leather aprons and work clothes, and serve him at his table as waiters.
Put on aprons and work clothes and wait tables for him.
leathern jerkins aprons wait upon drawers servants
From a god to a bull? A heavy descension! It was Jove’s case. From a
prince to a ’prentice? A low transformation that shall be mine, for in
everything the purpose must weigh with the folly. Follow me, Ned.
From a god to a bull? That's a huge fall! Jupiter did that. From a prince to an apprentice? A shameful descent!
From a god to a bull? That's brutal. Jupiter did that. From a prince to a waiter? That sucks!
god to bull heavy descension jove's case prince 'prentice low transformation
The Reckoning
This is Prince Hal at his most unguarded — and most interesting. He can't mourn his dying father openly because, given the company he keeps, it would look like hypocrisy. He can't act princely because he's in the company of Poins. He's caught between worlds, which is exactly where the play needs him to be. The plan to spy on Falstaff is another Eastcheap prank — but it carries a darker charge than the games of Part 1. Hal is now watching a friend he's preparing to discard.
If this happened today…
A billionaire's son who spent his twenties partying with a crew of freeloaders is now back in the city, his father terminally ill. He can't post a grief-stricken Instagram because everyone would think it was performative — the party reputation is too thick. He reads a group-chat message from the oldest freeloader, who addresses him like a peer and spreads gossip about his friends. He and his remaining buddy decide to show up disguised as bartenders at the freeloader's dinner party — just to watch him operate.