Monologue

Falstaff Monologue from Henry IV, Part 1

From Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare

male · sarcastic · 1:35 min

You rogue, here’s lime in this sack too: there is nothing but roguery to be found in villainous man, yet a coward is worse than a cup of sack with lime in it. A villanous coward! Go thy ways, old Jack. Die when thou wilt, if manhood, good manhood, be not forgot upon the face of the Earth, then am I a shotten herring. There lives not three good men unhanged in England, and one of them is fat, and grows old, God help the while, a bad world, I say. I would I were a weaver; I could sing psalms or anything. A plague of all cowards, I say still. (PRINCE: How now, wool-sack, what mutter you?) A king’s son! If I do not beat thee out of thy kingdom with a dagger of lath, and drive all thy subjects afore thee like a flock of wild-geese, I’ll never wear hair on my face more. You, Prince of Wales! (PRINCE: Why, you whoreson round man, what’s the matter?) Are not you a coward? Answer me to that—and Poins there?

About this piece

30s · disgust · cowardice · identity · power · disillusionment

Rehearse Falstaff's monologue

Run it out loud with a spotlight that follows your voice, line by line, until it's off the page. Free to start, no credit card.

More from Henry IV, Part 1

  • Kinginspirational · 2:03 min
  • Kingjoyful · 2:13 min
  • Kinganguished · 1:13 min
  • Falstaffsarcastic · 1:13 min
  • Poinscomedic · 1:05 min
  • Princephilosophical · 1:45 min

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