He hath a tear for pity, and a hand Yet notwithstanding, being incens'd, he's flint; 4 Mingled with venom of suggestion, * 2 Cla. I shall observe him with all care and love. K. Hen. Why art thou not at Windsor with him, Cla. He is not there to-day; he dines in London. humorous as winter,] That is, changeable as the weather of a winter's day. congealed in the spring of day.] Alluding to the opinion of some philosophers, that the vapours being congealed in the air by cold, (which is most intense towards the morning,) and being afterwards rarified and let loose by the warmth of the sun, occasion those sudden and impetuous gusts of wind which are called flaws. WARBURTON. 4 Mingled with venom of suggestion,] Though their blood be inflamed by the temptations to which youth is peculiarly subject. 5 rash gunpowder,] Rash is quick, violent, sudden. This representation of the prince is a natural picture of a young man, whose passions are yet too strong for his virtues. JOHNSON. And he, the noble image of my youth, Is overspread with them: Therefore my grief The blood weeps from my heart, when I do shape, And rotten times, that you shall look upon War. My gracious lord, you look beyond him quite: The prince but studies his companions, Like a strange tongue: wherein, to gain the language, 'Tis needful, that the most immodest word Be look'd upon, and learn'd: which once attain'd, Your highness knows, comes to no further use, By which his grace must mete the lives of others; K. Hen. 'Tis seldom, when the bee doth leave her comb In the dead carrion.7- Who's here? Westmoreland? Enter WESTMORELAND. West. Health to my sovereign! and new happiness Added to that that I am to deliver! Prince John, your son, doth kiss your grace's hand: 6 his affections] His passions; his inordinate desires. 7 'Tis seldom, when the bee, &c.] As the bee having once placed her comb in a carcase, stays by her honey, so he that has once taken pleasure in bad company, will continue to associate with those. that have the art of pleasing him. JOHNSON. Mowbray, the bishop Scroop, Hastings, and all, K. Hen. O Westmoreland, thou art a summer bird, Which ever in the haunch of winter sings The lifting up of day. Look! here's more news. Enter HARCOURT. Har. From enemies heaven keep your majesty; The earl Northumberland, and the lord Bardolph, K. Hen. And wherefore should these good news make me sick? Will fortune never come with both hands full, I should rejoice now at this happy news; And now my sight fails, and my brain is giddy 8 P. Humph. Comfort, your majesty! Cla. [Swoons. O my royal father! West. My sovereign lord, cheer up yourself, look up! in his particular.] His is used for its, very frequently in the old plays. War. Be patient, princes; you do know these fits Are with his highness very ordinary. Stand from him, give him air; he'll straight be well. Cla. No, no; he cannot long hold out these pangs; The incessant care and labour of his mind 3 Hath wrought the mure, that should confine it in, That our great grandsire, Edward, sick'd and died. [They convey the King into an inner part of the room, and place him on a bed. Let there be no noise made, my gentle friends; Will whisper musick to my weary spirit. War. Call for the musick in the other room. 9 Hath wrought the mure, &c.] i. e. the wall. 1 The people fear me;] i. e. make me afraid. 2 Unfather'd heirs,] That is, equivocal births; animals that had no animal progenitors; productions not brought forth according to the stated laws of generation. JOHNSON. 3 as the year-] i. e. as if the year, &c. The river hath thrice flow'd,] This is historically true. It happened on the 12th of October, 1411. 5 Unless some dull-] Dull signifies melancholy, gentle, soothing, or, producing dullness or heaviness; and consequently sleep. 6 Set me the crown upon my pillow here.] It is still the custom in France to place the crown on the king's pillow when he is dying. Cla. His eye is hollow, and he changes much. P. Hen. Enter Prince HENRY. Who saw the duke of Clarence? Cla. I am here, brother, full of heaviness. P. Hen. How now! rain within doors, and none abroad! How doth the king? P. Humph. Exceeding ill. P. Hen. Tell it him. Heard he the good news yet? P. Humph. He alter'd much upon the hearing it. With joy, he will recover without physick. War. Not so much noise, my lords: - sweet prince, speak low; The king your father is dispos'd to sleep. Cla. Let us withdraw into the other room. War. Will't please your grace to go along with us? O polish'd perturbation! golden care! 7— 8 the ports-] Are the gates of slumber. Ports is the ancient military term for gates; and is yet used in this sense in Scotland. 8 homely biggin,] A kind of cap, at present worn only by children; but so called from the cap worn by the Beguines, an order of nuns. |