The First Part Of King Henry The Fourth

1 Enter Hotspur, reading a letter.
2 HOTSPUR.
3 “But, for mine own part, my lord, I could be well contented to be
4 there, in respect of the love I bear your house.” He could be
5 contented; why is he not, then? In respect of the love he bears our
6 house—he shows in this, he loves his own barn better than he loves our
7 house. Let me see some more. “The purpose you undertake is
8 dangerous”—Why, that’s certain. ’Tis dangerous to take a cold, to
9 sleep, to drink; but I tell you, my lord fool, out of this nettle,
10 danger, we pluck this flower, safety. “The purpose you undertake is
11 dangerous, the friends you have named uncertain, the time itself
12 unsorted, and your whole plot too light for the counterpoise of so
13 great an opposition.” Say you so, say you so? I say unto you again, you
14 are a shallow, cowardly hind, and you lie. What a lack-brain is this!
15 By the Lord, our plot is a good plot as ever was laid, our friends true
16 and constant: a good plot, good friends, and full of expectation; an
17 excellent plot, very good friends. What a frosty-spirited rogue is
18 this! Why, my Lord of York commends the plot and the general course of
19 the action. Zounds, an I were now by this rascal, I could brain him
20 with his lady’s fan. Is there not my father, my uncle, and myself? Lord
21 Edmund Mortimer, my Lord of York, and Owen Glendower? Is there not
22 besides the Douglas? Have I not all their letters to meet me in arms by
23 the ninth of the next month, and are they not some of them set forward
24 already? What a pagan rascal is this, an infidel! Ha! You shall see
25 now, in very sincerity of fear and cold heart, will he to the King, and
26 lay open all our proceedings. O, I could divide myself, and go to
27 buffets, for moving such a dish of skim milk with so honourable an
28 action! Hang him, let him tell the King, we are prepared. I will set
29 forward tonight.—
30 Enter Lady Percy.
31 How now, Kate! I must leave you within these two hours.
32 LADY PERCY.
33 O my good lord, why are you thus alone?
34 For what offence have I this fortnight been
35 A banish’d woman from my Harry’s bed?
36 Tell me, sweet lord, what is’t that takes from thee
37 Thy stomach, pleasure, and thy golden sleep?
38 Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth,
39 And start so often when thou sit’st alone?
40 Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks,
41 And given my treasures and my rights of thee
42 To thick-eyed musing and curst melancholy?
43 In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watch’d,
44 And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars,
45 Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed,
46 Cry “Courage! To the field!” And thou hast talk’d
47 Of sallies and retires, of trenches, tents,
48 Of palisadoes, frontiers, parapets,
49 Of basilisks, of cannon, culverin,
50 Of prisoners’ ransom, and of soldiers slain,
51 And all the currents of a heady fight.
52 Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war,
53 And thus hath so bestirr’d thee in thy sleep,
54 That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow
55 Like bubbles in a late-disturbed stream,
56 And in thy face strange motions have appear’d,
57 Such as we see when men restrain their breath
58 On some great sudden hest. O, what portents are these?
59 Some heavy business hath my lord in hand,
60 And I must know it, else he loves me not.
61 HOTSPUR.
62 What, ho!
63 Enter a Servant.
64 Is Gilliams with the packet gone?
65 SERVANT.
66 He is, my lord, an hour ago.
67 HOTSPUR.
68 Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff?
69 SERVANT.
70 One horse, my lord, he brought even now.
71 HOTSPUR.
72 What horse? A roan, a crop-ear, is it not?
73 SERVANT.
74 It is, my lord.
75 HOTSPUR.
76 That roan shall be my throne.
77 Well, I will back him straight. O Esperance!
78 Bid Butler lead him forth into the park.
79 [_Exit Servant._]
80 LADY PERCY.
81 But hear you, my lord.
82 HOTSPUR.
83 What say’st thou, my lady?
84 LADY PERCY.
85 What is it carries you away?
86 HOTSPUR.
87 Why, my horse, my love, my horse.
88 LADY PERCY.
89 Out, you mad-headed ape!
90 A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen
91 As you are toss’d with. In faith,
92 I’ll know your business, Harry, that I will.
93 I fear my brother Mortimer doth stir
94 About his title, and hath sent for you
95 To line his enterprise. But if you go—
96 HOTSPUR.
97 So far afoot, I shall be weary, love.
98 LADY PERCY.
99 Come, come, you paraquito, answer me
100 Directly unto this question that I ask.
101 In faith, I’ll break thy little finger, Harry,
102 If thou wilt not tell me all things true.
103 HOTSPUR.
104 Away,
105 Away, you trifler! Love, I love thee not,
106 I care not for thee, Kate. This is no world
107 To play with mammets and to tilt with lips.
108 We must have bloody noses and crack’d crowns,
109 And pass them current too.—Gods me, my horse!—
110 What say’st thou, Kate? What wouldst thou have with me?
111 LADY PERCY.
112 Do you not love me? Do you not indeed?
113 Well, do not, then, for since you love me not,
114 I will not love myself. Do you not love me?
115 Nay, tell me if you speak in jest or no.
116 HOTSPUR.
117 Come, wilt thou see me ride?
118 And when I am a-horseback I will swear
119 I love thee infinitely. But hark you, Kate,
120 I must not have you henceforth question me
121 Whither I go, nor reason whereabout.
122 Whither I must, I must; and, to conclude,
123 This evening must I leave you, gentle Kate.
124 I know you wise, but yet no farther wise
125 Than Harry Percy’s wife; constant you are,
126 But yet a woman; and for secrecy,
127 No lady closer, for I well believe
128 Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know;
129 And so far will I trust thee, gentle Kate.
130 LADY PERCY.
131 How? So far?
132 HOTSPUR.
133 Not an inch further. But hark you, Kate,
134 Whither I go, thither shall you go too.
135 Today will I set forth, tomorrow you.
136 Will this content you, Kate?
137 LADY PERCY.
138 It must, of force.
139 [_Exeunt._]