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King Henry IV Part 1: Act 2 Scene 3

Scene III Warkworth castle

[Enter HOTSPUR, solus, reading a letter]

HOTSPUR

'But for mine own part, my lord, I could be well

contented to be there, in respect of the love I bear

your house.' He could be contented: why is he not,

then? In respect of the love he bears our house:

he shows in this, he loves his own barn better than

he loves our house. Let me see some more. 'The

purpose you undertake is dangerous;'--why, that's

certain: 'tis dangerous to take a cold, to sleep, to

drink; but I tell you, my lord fool, out of this

nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety. 'The

purpose you undertake is dangerous; the friends you

have named uncertain; the time itself unsorted; and

your whole plot too light for the counterpoise of so

great an opposition.' Say you so, say you so? I say

unto you again, you are a shallow cowardly hind, and

you lie. What a lack-brain is this! By the Lord,

our plot is a good plot as ever was laid; our

friends true and constant: a good plot, good

friends, and full of expectation; an excellent plot,

very good friends. What a frosty-spirited rogue is

this! Why, my lord of York commends the plot and the

general course of action. 'Zounds, an I were now by

this rascal, I could brain him with his lady's fan.

Is there not my father, my uncle and myself? lord

Edmund Mortimer, My lord of York and Owen Glendower?

is there not besides the Douglas? have I not all

their letters to meet me in arms by the ninth of the

next month? and are they not some of them set

forward already? What a pagan rascal is this! an

infidel! Ha! you shall see now in very sincerity

of fear and cold heart, will he to the king and lay

open all our proceedings. O, I could divide myself

and go to buffets, for moving such a dish of

skim milk with so honourable an action! Hang him!

let him tell the king: we are prepared. I will set

forward to-night.

[Enter LADY PERCY]

How now, Kate! I must leave you within these two hours.

LADY PERCY

O, my good lord, why are you thus alone?

For what offence have I this fortnight been

A banish'd woman from my Harry's bed?

Tell me, sweet lord, what is't that takes from thee

Thy stomach, pleasure and thy golden sleep?

Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth,

And start so often when thou sit'st alone?

Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks;

And given my treasures and my rights of thee

To thick-eyed musing and cursed melancholy?

In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watch'd,

And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars;

Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed;

Cry 'Courage! to the field!' And thou hast talk'd

Of sallies and retires, of trenches, tents,

Of palisadoes, frontiers, parapets,

Of basilisks, of cannon, culverin,

Of prisoners' ransom and of soldiers slain,

And all the currents of a heady fight.

Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war

And thus hath so bestirr'd thee in thy sleep,

That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow

Like bubbles in a late-disturbed stream;

And in thy face strange motions have appear'd,

Such as we see when men restrain their breath

On some great sudden hest. O, what portents are these?

Some heavy business hath my lord in hand,

And I must know it, else he loves me not.

HOTSPUR

What, ho!

[Enter Servant]

Is Gilliams with the packet gone?

SERVANT

He is, my lord, an hour ago.

HOTSPUR

Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff?

SERVANT

One horse, my lord, he brought even now.

HOTSPUR

What horse? a roan, a crop-ear, is it not?

SERVANT

It is, my lord.

HOTSPUR

That roan shall by my throne.

Well, I will back him straight: O esperance!

Bid Butler lead him forth into the park.

[Exit Servant]

LADY PERCY

But hear you, my lord.

HOTSPUR

What say'st thou, my lady?

LADY PERCY

What is it carries you away?

HOTSPUR

Why, my horse, my love, my horse.

LADY PERCY

Out, you mad-headed ape!

A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen

As you are toss'd with. In faith,

I'll know your business, Harry, that I will.

I fear my brother Mortimer doth stir

About his title, and hath sent for you

To line his enterprise: but if you go,--

HOTSPUR

So far afoot, I shall be weary, love.

LADY PERCY

Come, come, you paraquito, answer me

Directly unto this question that I ask:

In faith, I'll break thy little finger, Harry,

An if thou wilt not tell me all things true.

HOTSPUR

Away,

Away, you trifler! Love! I love thee not,

I care not for thee, Kate: this is no world

To play with mammets and to tilt with lips:

We must have bloody noses and crack'd crowns,

And pass them current too. God's me, my horse!

What say'st thou, Kate? what would'st thou

have with me?

LADY PERCY

Do you not love me? do you not, indeed?

Well, do not then; for since you love me not,

I will not love myself. Do you not love me?

Nay, tell me if you speak in jest or no.

HOTSPUR

Come, wilt thou see me ride?

And when I am on horseback, I will swear

I love thee infinitely. But hark you, Kate;

I must not have you henceforth question me

Whither I go, nor reason whereabout:

Whither I must, I must; and, to conclude,

This evening must I leave you, gentle Kate.

I know you wise, but yet no farther wise

Than Harry Percy's wife: constant you are,

But yet a woman: and for secrecy,

No lady closer; for I well believe

Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know;

And so far will I trust thee, gentle Kate.

LADY PERCY

How! so far?

HOTSPUR

Not an inch further. But hark you, Kate:

Whither I go, thither shall you go too;

To-day will I set forth, to-morrow you.

Will this content you, Kate?

LADY PERCY

It must of force.

[Exeunt]