Page:Henry IV Part 2 (1921) Yale.djvu/99

King Henry the Fourth, IV. iii

when they marry, they get wenches. They

are generally fools and cowards, which some of

us should be too but for inflammation. A good

sherris-sack hath a two-fold operation in it.

It ascends me into the brain; dries me there all

the foolish and dull and crudy vapours which

environ it; makes it apprehensive, quick, forget-

ive, full of nimble, fiery and delectable shapes;

which, deliver'd o'er to the voice, the tongue,

which is the birth, becomes excellent wit. The

second property of your excellent sherris is, the

warming of the blood; which, before cold and

settled, left the liver white and pale, which is

the badge of pusillanimity and cowardice: but

the sherris warms it and makes it course from

the inwards to the parts extreme. It illumineth

the face, which, as a beacon, gives warning to

all the rest of this little kingdom, man, to arm;

and then the vital commoners and inland petty

spirits muster me all to their captain, the heart,

who, great and puffed up with this retinue, doth

any deed of courage; and this valour comes of sherris. So that skill in the weapon is nothing

without sack, for that sets it a-work; and learn-

ing, a mere hoard of gold kept by a devil till

sack commences it and sets it in act and use.

Hereof comes it that Prince Harry is valiant;

for the cold blood he did naturally inherit of

his father, he hath, like lean, sterile, and bare

land, manured, husbanded, and tilled, with ex-

cellent endeavour of drinking good and good

store of fertile sherris, that he is become very

hot and valiant. If I had a thousand sons, the

 101 get wenches: beget girls

104 sherris-sack: sherry

106 crudy: crude, raw

107 forgetive: inventive

125 Cf. n. 