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