Henry IV, Part 2

By William Shakespeare QUOTATION: The old folk, time’s doting chronicles.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Clarence, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 4, sc. 4, l. 126.

“Doting” implies they are extravagantly fond of recalling the past.

QUOTATION: Peace puts forth her olive everywhere.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Westmoreland, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 4, sc. 4, l. 87.

The olive-branch, a traditional symbol of peace.

QUOTATION: O miracle of men!
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Lady Percy, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 2, sc. 3, l. 33.

Acclaiming Hotspur as the ideal man.

QUOTATION: Then join you with them like a rib of steel,
To make strength stronger.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Lady Percy, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 2, sc. 3, l. 54-5.

QUOTATION: The hideous god of war.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Lady Percy, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 2, sc. 3, l. 35.

Mars seems hideous now that Lady Percy’s husband has been killed in battle.

QUOTATION: O yet for God’s sake, go not to these wars!
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Lady Percy, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 2, sc. 3, l. 9.

Hotspur’s widow begs her father-in-law not to fight.

QUOTATION: Speaking thick, which nature made his blemish,
Became the accents of the valiant;
For those that could speak low and tardily
Would turn their own perfection to abuse
To seem like him.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Lady Percy, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 2, sc. 3, l. 24-8.

Everyone tried to adopt Hotspur’s impetuous (”thick”) way of speaking.

QUOTATION: He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashioned others.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Lady Percy, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 2, sc. 3, l. 31-2.

On Hotspur as the ideal others sought to imitate; “mark” means target, aim; “glass” means mirror.

QUOTATION: Believe me, I am passing light in spirit.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Archbishop of York, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 4, sc. 2, l. 85.

“Passing” means exceedingly.

QUOTATION: Past and to come seems best; things present, worst.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Archbishop of York, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 1, sc. 3, l. 108.

Everything seems to be at its worst for the rebels.

QUOTATION: A peace is of the nature of a conquest,
For then both parties nobly are subdued,
And neither party loser.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Archbishop of York, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 4, sc. 2, l. 89-91.

QUOTATION: I have speeded hither with the very extremest inch of
possibility.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Falstaff, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 4, sc. 3, l. 34-5.

Excusing himself for being late.

QUOTATION: I am as poor as Job, my lord, but not so patient.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Falstaff, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 1, sc. 2, l. 126-7.

Various calamities reduce Job to poverty, but he does not complain (Job 1:13-22).

QUOTATION: It illumineth the face, which as a beacon gives warning to all the rest of this little kingdom, man, to arm ... this valor comes of sherris.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Falstaff, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 4, sc. 3, l. 107-9, 111.

On drinking wine or sherry as promoting courage.

QUOTATION: A good wit will make use of anything. I will turn diseases
to commodity.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Falstaff, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 1, sc. 2, l. 247-8.

Planning to claim he has been lamed in battle, not by gout brought on by drinking; “commodity” means profit.

QUOTATION: O, you shall see him laugh till his face be like a wet cloak
ill laid up.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Falstaff, in Henry IV, Part 2, act 5, sc. 1, l. 84-5.