Henry IV Part 2: Act 2, Scene 2 Summary & Analysis

In London, Prince Hal complains about being tired to Ned Poins, who replies that he thought princes were too well bred to get tired. Prince Hal reflects that it does indeed reflect poorly on his stature that he gets tired, as it does that he craves cheap beer. In fact, Hal goes on, his stature is diminished simply by knowing such a poor, badly dressed, whore-addicted lowlife as Poins. When Poins chides Hal for chattering on so light-heartedly while King Henry IV lies sick, Hal replies that it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to air his grief while hanging out in such “vile company,” but that his “heart bleeds inwardly.” Besides, Hal points out, everyone would think Hal was a hypocrite if he showed his grief, since he’s spent his life so publicly at odds with his father the king.

Bardolph enters with Falstaff’s page, who has a letter for Prince Hal from Falstaff. In the letter, Falstaff pretentiously affects the language of a noble, calling himself a knight and warning Hal against Poins, whom Falstaff claims is trying to trick the prince into marrying his sister. Poins is infuriated. Hal contrives a plot for him and Poins to spy on Falstaff’s dinner with Doll Tearsheet that night by disguising themselves as drawers (waiters). The two of them make fun of Doll Tearsheet’s promiscuousness, and Prince Hal observes that his disguising himself like a waiter is just like Jove disguising himself as a bull.