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Henry IV, Part 2 - Epilogue
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Henry IV, Part 2 - EpilogueEpilogue
EPILOGUE
Synopsis:
The speaker apologizes for the play and promises another play with Falstaff in it.
3398 First my fear, then my curtsy, last my speech. My
3399 fear is your displeasure, my curtsy my duty, and my
3400 speech, to beg your pardons. If you look for a good
3401 speech now, you undo me, for what I have to say is
3402 5 of mine own making, and what indeed I should say
3403 will, I doubt, prove mine own marring.
3404 But to the purpose, and so to the venture. Be it
3405 known to you, as it is very well, I was lately here in
3406 the end of a displeasing play to pray your patience
3407 10 for it and to promise you a better. I meant indeed to
3408 pay you with this, which, if like an ill venture it
3409 come unluckily home, I break, and you, my gentle
3410 creditors, lose. Here I promised you I would be,
3411 and here I commit my body to your mercies. Bate
3412 15 me some, and I will pay you some, and, as most
3413 debtors do, promise you infinitely. And so I kneel
3414 down before you, but, indeed, to pray for the
3415 Queen.
3416 If my tongue cannot entreat you to acquit me,
3417 20 will you command me to use my legs? And yet that
3418 were but light payment, to dance out of your debt.
3419 But a good conscience will make any possible
3420 satisfaction, and so would I. All the gentlewomen
3421 here have forgiven me; if the gentlemen will not,
3422 25 then the gentlemen do not agree with the gentlewomen,
p.
245
3423
which was never seen ⟨before⟩ in such an3424 assembly.
3425 One word more, I beseech you: if you be not too
3426 much cloyed with fat meat, our humble author will
3427 30 continue the story, with Sir John in it, and make
3428 you merry with fair Katherine of France, where, for
3429 anything I know, Falstaff shall die of a sweat, unless
3430 already he be killed with your hard opinions; for
3431 Oldcastle died ⟨a⟩ martyr, and this is not the man.
3432 35 My tongue is weary; when my legs are too, I will bid
3433 you good night.