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Speeches (Lines) for Hotspur (Henry Percy)
in "Henry IV, Part I"

Total: 102

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# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

I,3,354

Earl of Northumberland. Yea, my good lord.
Those prisoners in your highness' name demanded,
Which Harry Percy here at Holmedon took,
Were, as he says, not with such strength denied
As is deliver'd to your majesty:
Either envy, therefore, or misprison
Is guilty of this fault and not my son.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). My liege, I did deny no prisoners.
But I remember, when the fight was done,
When I was dry with rage and extreme toil,
Breathless and faint, leaning upon my sword,
Came there a certain lord, neat, and trimly dress'd,
Fresh as a bridegroom; and his chin new reap'd
Show'd like a stubble-land at harvest-home;
He was perfumed like a milliner;
And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he held
A pouncet-box, which ever and anon
He gave his nose and took't away again;
Who therewith angry, when it next came there,
Took it in snuff; and still he smiled and talk'd,
And as the soldiers bore dead bodies by,
He call'd them untaught knaves, unmannerly,
To bring a slovenly unhandsome corse
Betwixt the wind and his nobility.
With many holiday and lady terms
He question'd me; amongst the rest, demanded
My prisoners in your majesty's behalf.
I then, all smarting with my wounds being cold,
To be so pester'd with a popinjay,
Out of my grief and my impatience,
Answer'd neglectingly I know not what,
He should or he should not; for he made me mad
To see him shine so brisk and smell so sweet
And talk so like a waiting-gentlewoman
Of guns and drums and wounds,—God save the mark!—
And telling me the sovereign'st thing on earth
Was parmaceti for an inward bruise;
And that it was great pity, so it was,
This villanous salt-petre should be digg'd
Out of the bowels of the harmless earth,
Which many a good tall fellow had destroy'd
So cowardly; and but for these vile guns,
He would himself have been a soldier.
This bald unjointed chat of his, my lord,
I answer'd indirectly, as I said;
And I beseech you, let not his report
Come current for an accusation
Betwixt my love and your high majesty.


2

I,3,418

Henry IV. Why, yet he doth deny his prisoners,
But with proviso and exception,
That we at our own charge shall ransom straight
His brother-in-law, the foolish Mortimer;
Who, on my soul, hath wilfully betray'd
The lives of those that he did lead to fight
Against that great magician, damn'd Glendower,
Whose daughter, as we hear, the Earl of March
Hath lately married. Shall our coffers, then,
Be emptied to redeem a traitor home?
Shall we but treason? and indent with fears,
When they have lost and forfeited themselves?
No, on the barren mountains let him starve;
For I shall never hold that man my friend
Whose tongue shall ask me for one penny cost
To ransom home revolted Mortimer.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Revolted Mortimer!
He never did fall off, my sovereign liege,
But by the chance of war; to prove that true
Needs no more but one tongue for all those wounds,
Those mouthed wounds, which valiantly he took
When on the gentle Severn's sedgy bank,
In single opposition, hand to hand,
He did confound the best part of an hour
In changing hardiment with great Glendower:
Three times they breathed and three times did
they drink,
Upon agreement, of swift Severn's flood;
Who then, affrighted with their bloody looks,
Ran fearfully among the trembling reeds,
And hid his crisp head in the hollow bank,
Bloodstained with these valiant combatants.
Never did base and rotten policy
Colour her working with such deadly wounds;
Nor could the noble Mortimer
Receive so many, and all willingly:
Then let not him be slander'd with revolt.


3

I,3,452

(stage directions). [Exeunt King Henry, Blunt, and train]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). An if the devil come and roar for them,
I will not send them: I will after straight
And tell him so; for I will ease my heart,
Albeit I make a hazard of my head.


4

I,3,459

(stage directions). [Re-enter WORCESTER]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Speak of Mortimer!
'Zounds, I will speak of him; and let my soul
Want mercy, if I do not join with him:
Yea, on his part I'll empty all these veins,
And shed my dear blood drop by drop in the dust,
But I will lift the down-trod Mortimer
As high in the air as this unthankful king,
As this ingrate and canker'd Bolingbroke.


5

I,3,469

Earl of Worcester. Who struck this heat up after I was gone?

Hotspur (Henry Percy). He will, forsooth, have all my prisoners;
And when I urged the ransom once again
Of my wife's brother, then his cheek look'd pale,
And on my face he turn'd an eye of death,
Trembling even at the name of Mortimer.


6

I,3,484

Earl of Worcester. And for whose death we in the world's wide mouth
Live scandalized and foully spoken of.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). But soft, I pray you; did King Richard then
Proclaim my brother Edmund Mortimer
Heir to the crown?


7

I,3,488

Earl of Northumberland. He did; myself did hear it.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Nay, then I cannot blame his cousin king,
That wished him on the barren mountains starve.
But shall it be that you, that set the crown
Upon the head of this forgetful man
And for his sake wear the detested blot
Of murderous subornation, shall it be,
That you a world of curses undergo,
Being the agents, or base second means,
The cords, the ladder, or the hangman rather?
O, pardon me that I descend so low,
To show the line and the predicament
Wherein you range under this subtle king;
Shall it for shame be spoken in these days,
Or fill up chronicles in time to come,
That men of your nobility and power
Did gage them both in an unjust behalf,
As both of you—God pardon it!—have done,
To put down Richard, that sweet lovely rose,
An plant this thorn, this canker, Bolingbroke?
And shall it in more shame be further spoken,
That you are fool'd, discarded and shook off
By him for whom these shames ye underwent?
No; yet time serves wherein you may redeem
Your banish'd honours and restore yourselves
Into the good thoughts of the world again,
Revenge the jeering and disdain'd contempt
Of this proud king, who studies day and night
To answer all the debt he owes to you
Even with the bloody payment of your deaths:
Therefore, I say—


8

I,3,525

Earl of Worcester. Peace, cousin, say no more:
And now I will unclasp a secret book,
And to your quick-conceiving discontents
I'll read you matter deep and dangerous,
As full of peril and adventurous spirit
As to o'er-walk a current roaring loud
On the unsteadfast footing of a spear.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). If he fall in, good night! or sink or swim:
Send danger from the east unto the west,
So honour cross it from the north to south,
And let them grapple: O, the blood more stirs
To rouse a lion than to start a hare!


9

I,3,532

Earl of Northumberland. Imagination of some great exploit
Drives him beyond the bounds of patience.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). By heaven, methinks it were an easy leap,
To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon,
Or dive into the bottom of the deep,
Where fathom-line could never touch the ground,
And pluck up drowned honour by the locks;
So he that doth redeem her thence might wear
Without corrival, all her dignities:
But out upon this half-faced fellowship!


10

I,3,543

Earl of Worcester. He apprehends a world of figures here,
But not the form of what he should attend.
Good cousin, give me audience for a while.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I cry you mercy.


11

I,3,546

Earl of Worcester. Those same noble Scots
That are your prisoners,—

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I'll keep them all;
By God, he shall not have a Scot of them;
No, if a Scot would save his soul, he shall not:
I'll keep them, by this hand.


12

I,3,553

Earl of Worcester. You start away
And lend no ear unto my purposes.
Those prisoners you shall keep.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Nay, I will; that's flat:
He said he would not ransom Mortimer;
Forbad my tongue to speak of Mortimer;
But I will find him when he lies asleep,
And in his ear I'll holla 'Mortimer!'
Nay,
I'll have a starling shall be taught to speak
Nothing but 'Mortimer,' and give it him
To keep his anger still in motion.


13

I,3,563

Earl of Worcester. Hear you, cousin; a word.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). All studies here I solemnly defy,
Save how to gall and pinch this Bolingbroke:
And that same sword-and-buckler Prince of Wales,
But that I think his father loves him not
And would be glad he met with some mischance,
I would have him poison'd with a pot of ale.


14

I,3,574

Earl of Northumberland. Why, what a wasp-stung and impatient fool
Art thou to break into this woman's mood,
Tying thine ear to no tongue but thine own!

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Why, look you, I am whipp'd and scourged with rods,
Nettled and stung with pismires, when I hear
Of this vile politician, Bolingbroke.
In Richard's time,—what do you call the place?—
A plague upon it, it is in Gloucestershire;
'Twas where the madcap duke his uncle kept,
His uncle York; where I first bow'd my knee
Unto this king of smiles, this Bolingbroke,—
'Sblood!—
When you and he came back from Ravenspurgh.


15

I,3,585

Earl of Northumberland. At Berkley castle.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). You say true:
Why, what a candy deal of courtesy
This fawning greyhound then did proffer me!
Look,'when his infant fortune came to age,'
And 'gentle Harry Percy,' and 'kind cousin;'
O, the devil take such cozeners! God forgive me!
Good uncle, tell your tale; I have done.


16

I,3,594

Earl of Worcester. Nay, if you have not, to it again;
We will stay your leisure.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I have done, i' faith.


17

I,3,606

Earl of Worcester. Then once more to your Scottish prisoners.
Deliver them up without their ransom straight,
And make the Douglas' son your only mean
For powers in Scotland; which, for divers reasons
Which I shall send you written, be assured,
Will easily be granted. You, my lord,
[To Northumberland]
Your son in Scotland being thus employ'd,
Shall secretly into the bosom creep
Of that same noble prelate, well beloved,
The archbishop.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Of York, is it not?


18

I,3,614

Earl of Worcester. True; who bears hard
His brother's death at Bristol, the Lord Scroop.
I speak not this in estimation,
As what I think might be, but what I know
Is ruminated, plotted and set down,
And only stays but to behold the face
Of that occasion that shall bring it on.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I smell it: upon my life, it will do well.


19

I,3,616

Earl of Northumberland. Before the game is afoot, thou still let'st slip.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Why, it cannot choose but be a noble plot;
And then the power of Scotland and of York,
To join with Mortimer, ha?


20

I,3,620

Earl of Worcester. And so they shall.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). In faith, it is exceedingly well aim'd.


21

I,3,629

Earl of Worcester. And 'tis no little reason bids us speed,
To save our heads by raising of a head;
For, bear ourselves as even as we can,
The king will always think him in our debt,
And think we think ourselves unsatisfied,
Till he hath found a time to pay us home:
And see already how he doth begin
To make us strangers to his looks of love.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). He does, he does: we'll be revenged on him.


22

I,3,639

Earl of Northumberland. Farewell, good brother: we shall thrive, I trust.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Uncle, Adieu: O, let the hours be short
Till fields and blows and groans applaud our sport!


23

II,3,858

(stage directions). [Enter HOTSPUR, solus, reading a letter]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). '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.


24

II,3,924

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 (Henry Percy). What, ho!
[Enter Servant]
Is Gilliams with the packet gone?


25

II,3,928

Servant. He is, my lord, an hour ago.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff?


26

II,3,930

Servant. One horse, my lord, he brought even now.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). What horse? a roan, a crop-ear, is it not?


27

II,3,932

Servant. It is, my lord.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). That roan shall by my throne.
Well, I will back him straight: O esperance!
Bid Butler lead him forth into the park.


28

II,3,937

Lady Percy. But hear you, my lord.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). What say'st thou, my lady?


29

II,3,939

Lady Percy. What is it carries you away?

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Why, my horse, my love, my horse.


30

II,3,947

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 (Henry Percy). So far afoot, I shall be weary, love.


31

II,3,952

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 (Henry Percy). 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?


32

II,3,964

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 (Henry Percy). 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.


33

II,3,978

Lady Percy. How! so far?

Hotspur (Henry Percy). 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?


34

III,1,1545

Mortimer. These promises are fair, the parties sure,
And our induction full of prosperous hope.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Lord Mortimer, and cousin Glendower,
Will you sit down?
And uncle Worcester: a plague upon it!
I have forgot the map.


35

III,1,1554

Glendower. No, here it is.
Sit, cousin Percy; sit, good cousin Hotspur,
For by that name as oft as Lancaster
Doth speak of you, his cheek looks pale and with
A rising sigh he wisheth you in heaven.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). And you in hell, as oft as he hears Owen Glendower spoke of.


36

III,1,1560

Glendower. I cannot blame him: at my nativity
The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes,
Of burning cressets; and at my birth
The frame and huge foundation of the earth
Shaked like a coward.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Why, so it would have done at the same season, if
your mother's cat had but kittened, though yourself
had never been born.


37

III,1,1564

Glendower. I say the earth did shake when I was born.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). And I say the earth was not of my mind,
If you suppose as fearing you it shook.


38

III,1,1567

Glendower. The heavens were all on fire, the earth did tremble.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). O, then the earth shook to see the heavens on fire,
And not in fear of your nativity.
Diseased nature oftentimes breaks forth
In strange eruptions; oft the teeming earth
Is with a kind of colic pinch'd and vex'd
By the imprisoning of unruly wind
Within her womb; which, for enlargement striving,
Shakes the old beldam earth and topples down
Steeples and moss-grown towers. At your birth
Our grandam earth, having this distemperature,
In passion shook.


39

III,1,1593

Glendower. Cousin, of many men
I do not bear these crossings. Give me leave
To tell you once again that at my birth
The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes,
The goats ran from the mountains, and the herds
Were strangely clamorous to the frighted fields.
These signs have mark'd me extraordinary;
And all the courses of my life do show
I am not in the roll of common men.
Where is he living, clipp'd in with the sea
That chides the banks of England, Scotland, Wales,
Which calls me pupil, or hath read to me?
And bring him out that is but woman's son
Can trace me in the tedious ways of art
And hold me pace in deep experiments.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I think there's no man speaks better Welsh.
I'll to dinner.


40

III,1,1597

Glendower. I can call spirits from the vasty deep.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Why, so can I, or so can any man;
But will they come when you do call for them?


41

III,1,1601

Glendower. Why, I can teach you, cousin, to command
The devil.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). And I can teach thee, coz, to shame the devil
By telling truth: tell truth and shame the devil.
If thou have power to raise him, bring him hither,
And I'll be sworn I have power to shame him hence.
O, while you live, tell truth and shame the devil!


42

III,1,1611

Glendower. Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made head
Against my power; thrice from the banks of Wye
And sandy-bottom'd Severn have I sent him
Bootless home and weather-beaten back.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Home without boots, and in foul weather too!
How 'scapes he agues, in the devil's name?


43

III,1,1639

Glendower. A shorter time shall send me to you, lords:
And in my conduct shall your ladies come;
From whom you now must steal and take no leave,
For there will be a world of water shed
Upon the parting of your wives and you.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Methinks my moiety, north from Burton here,
In quantity equals not one of yours:
See how this river comes me cranking in,
And cuts me from the best of all my land
A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out.
I'll have the current in this place damm'd up;
And here the smug and silver Trent shall run
In a new channel, fair and evenly;
It shall not wind with such a deep indent,
To rob me of so rich a bottom here.


44

III,1,1658

Earl of Worcester. Yea, but a little charge will trench him here
And on this north side win this cape of land;
And then he runs straight and even.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I'll have it so: a little charge will do it.


45

III,1,1660

Glendower. I'll not have it alter'd.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Will not you?


46

III,1,1662

Glendower. No, nor you shall not.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Who shall say me nay?


47

III,1,1664

Glendower. Why, that will I.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Let me not understand you, then; speak it in Welsh.


48

III,1,1671

Glendower. I can speak English, lord, as well as you;
For I was train'd up in the English court;
Where, being but young, I framed to the harp
Many an English ditty lovely well
And gave the tongue a helpful ornament,
A virtue that was never seen in you.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Marry,
And I am glad of it with all my heart:
I had rather be a kitten and cry mew
Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers;
I had rather hear a brazen canstick turn'd,
Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree;
And that would set my teeth nothing on edge,
Nothing so much as mincing poetry:
'Tis like the forced gait of a shuffling nag.


49

III,1,1681

Glendower. Come, you shall have Trent turn'd.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I do not care: I'll give thrice so much land
To any well-deserving friend;
But in the way of bargain, mark ye me,
I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair.
Are the indentures drawn? shall we be gone?


50

III,1,1693

Mortimer. Fie, cousin Percy! how you cross my father!

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I cannot choose: sometime he angers me
With telling me of the mouldwarp and the ant,
Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies,
And of a dragon and a finless fish,
A clip-wing'd griffin and a moulten raven,
A couching lion and a ramping cat,
And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff
As puts me from my faith. I tell you what;
He held me last night at least nine hours
In reckoning up the several devils' names
That were his lackeys: I cried 'hum,' and 'well, go to,'
But mark'd him not a word. O, he is as tedious
As a tired horse, a railing wife;
Worse than a smoky house: I had rather live
With cheese and garlic in a windmill, far,
Than feed on cates and have him talk to me
In any summer-house in Christendom.


51

III,1,1735

Earl of Worcester. In faith, my lord, you are too wilful-blame;
And since your coming hither have done enough
To put him quite beside his patience.
You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault:
Though sometimes it show greatness, courage, blood,—
And that's the dearest grace it renders you,—
Yet oftentimes it doth present harsh rage,
Defect of manners, want of government,
Pride, haughtiness, opinion and disdain:
The least of which haunting a nobleman
Loseth men's hearts and leaves behind a stain
Upon the beauty of all parts besides,
Beguiling them of commendation.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Well, I am school'd: good manners be your speed!
Here come our wives, and let us take our leave.


52

III,1,1778

Glendower. Do so;
And those musicians that shall play to you
Hang in the air a thousand leagues from hence,
And straight they shall be here: sit, and attend.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Come, Kate, thou art perfect in lying down: come,
quick, quick, that I may lay my head in thy lap.


53

III,1,1782

(stage directions). [The music plays]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Now I perceive the devil understands Welsh;
And 'tis no marvel he is so humorous.
By'r lady, he is a good musician.


54

III,1,1788

Lady Percy. Then should you be nothing but musical for you are
altogether governed by humours. Lie still, ye thief,
and hear the lady sing in Welsh.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I had rather hear Lady, my brach, howl in Irish.


55

III,1,1790

Lady Percy. Wouldst thou have thy head broken?

Hotspur (Henry Percy). No.


56

III,1,1792

Lady Percy. Then be still.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Neither;'tis a woman's fault.


57

III,1,1794

Lady Percy. Now God help thee!

Hotspur (Henry Percy). To the Welsh lady's bed.


58

III,1,1796

Lady Percy. What's that?

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Peace! she sings.


59

III,1,1798

(stage directions). [Here the lady sings a Welsh song]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Come, Kate, I'll have your song too.


60

III,1,1800

Lady Percy. Not mine, in good sooth.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Not yours, in good sooth! Heart! you swear like a
comfit-maker's wife. 'Not you, in good sooth,' and
'as true as I live,' and 'as God shall mend me,' and
'as sure as day,'
And givest such sarcenet surety for thy oaths,
As if thou never walk'st further than Finsbury.
Swear me, Kate, like a lady as thou art,
A good mouth-filling oath, and leave 'in sooth,'
And such protest of pepper-gingerbread,
To velvet-guards and Sunday-citizens.
Come, sing.


61

III,1,1812

Lady Percy. I will not sing.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). 'Tis the next way to turn tailor, or be red-breast
teacher. An the indentures be drawn, I'll away
within these two hours; and so, come in when ye will.


62

IV,1,2220

(stage directions). [Enter HOTSPUR, WORCESTER, and DOUGLAS]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Well said, my noble Scot: if speaking truth
In this fine age were not thought flattery,
Such attribution should the Douglas have,
As not a soldier of this season's stamp
Should go so general current through the world.
By God, I cannot flatter; I do defy
The tongues of soothers; but a braver place
In my heart's love hath no man than yourself:
Nay, task me to my word; approve me, lord.


63

IV,1,2232

Earl of Douglas. Thou art the king of honour:
No man so potent breathes upon the ground
But I will beard him.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Do so, and 'tis well.
[Enter a Messenger with letters]
What letters hast thou there?—I can but thank you.


64

IV,1,2236

Messenger. These letters come from your father.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Letters from him! why comes he not himself?


65

IV,1,2238

Messenger. He cannot come, my lord; he is grievous sick.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). 'Zounds! how has he the leisure to be sick
In such a rustling time? Who leads his power?
Under whose government come they along?


66

IV,1,2249

Earl of Worcester. I would the state of time had first been whole
Ere he by sickness had been visited:
His health was never better worth than now.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Sick now! droop now! this sickness doth infect
The very life-blood of our enterprise;
'Tis catching hither, even to our camp.
He writes me here, that inward sickness—
And that his friends by deputation could not
So soon be drawn, nor did he think it meet
To lay so dangerous and dear a trust
On any soul removed but on his own.
Yet doth he give us bold advertisement,
That with our small conjunction we should on,
To see how fortune is disposed to us;
For, as he writes, there is no quailing now.
Because the king is certainly possess'd
Of all our purposes. What say you to it?


67

IV,1,2264

Earl of Worcester. Your father's sickness is a maim to us.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). A perilous gash, a very limb lopp'd off:
And yet, in faith, it is not; his present want
Seems more than we shall find it: were it good
To set the exact wealth of all our states
All at one cast? to set so rich a main
On the nice hazard of one doubtful hour?
It were not good; for therein should we read
The very bottom and the soul of hope,
The very list, the very utmost bound
Of all our fortunes.


68

IV,1,2279

Earl of Douglas. 'Faith, and so we should;
Where now remains a sweet reversion:
We may boldly spend upon the hope of what
Is to come in:
A comfort of retirement lives in this.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). A rendezvous, a home to fly unto.
If that the devil and mischance look big
Upon the maidenhead of our affairs.


69

IV,1,2298

Earl of Worcester. But yet I would your father had been here.
The quality and hair of our attempt
Brooks no division: it will be thought
By some, that know not why he is away,
That wisdom, loyalty and mere dislike
Of our proceedings kept the earl from hence:
And think how such an apprehension
May turn the tide of fearful faction
And breed a kind of question in our cause;
For well you know we of the offering side
Must keep aloof from strict arbitrement,
And stop all sight-holes, every loop from whence
The eye of reason may pry in upon us:
This absence of your father's draws a curtain,
That shows the ignorant a kind of fear
Before not dreamt of.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). You strain too far.
I rather of his absence make this use:
It lends a lustre and more great opinion,
A larger dare to our great enterprise,
Than if the earl were here; for men must think,
If we without his help can make a head
To push against a kingdom, with his help
We shall o'erturn it topsy-turvy down.
Yet all goes well, yet all our joints are whole.


70

IV,1,2310

(stage directions). [Enter SIR RICHARD VERNON]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). My cousin Vernon, welcome, by my soul.


71

IV,1,2314

Vernon. Pray God my news be worth a welcome, lord.
The Earl of Westmoreland, seven thousand strong,
Is marching hitherwards; with him Prince John.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). No harm: what more?


72

IV,1,2319

Vernon. And further, I have learn'd,
The king himself in person is set forth,
Or hitherwards intended speedily,
With strong and mighty preparation.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). He shall be welcome too. Where is his son,
The nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales,
And his comrades, that daff'd the world aside,
And bid it pass?


73

IV,1,2337

Vernon. All furnish'd, all in arms;
All plumed like estridges that with the wind
Baited like eagles having lately bathed;
Glittering in golden coats, like images;
As full of spirit as the month of May,
And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer;
Wanton as youthful goats, wild as young bulls.
I saw young Harry, with his beaver on,
His cuisses on his thighs, gallantly arm'd
Rise from the ground like feather'd Mercury,
And vaulted with such ease into his seat,
As if an angel dropp'd down from the clouds,
To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus
And witch the world with noble horsemanship.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). No more, no more: worse than the sun in March,
This praise doth nourish agues. Let them come:
They come like sacrifices in their trim,
And to the fire-eyed maid of smoky war
All hot and bleeding will we offer them:
The mailed Mars shall on his altar sit
Up to the ears in blood. I am on fire
To hear this rich reprisal is so nigh
And yet not ours. Come, let me taste my horse,
Who is to bear me like a thunderbolt
Against the bosom of the Prince of Wales:
Harry to Harry shall, hot horse to horse,
Meet and ne'er part till one drop down a corse.
O that Glendower were come!


74

IV,1,2356

Earl of Worcester. Ay, by my faith, that bears a frosty sound.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). What may the king's whole battle reach unto?


75

IV,1,2358

Vernon. To thirty thousand.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Forty let it be:
My father and Glendower being both away,
The powers of us may serve so great a day
Come, let us take a muster speedily:
Doomsday is near; die all, die merrily.


76

IV,3,2452

(stage directions). [Enter HOTSPUR, WORCESTER, DOUGLAS, and VERNON]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). We'll fight with him to-night.


77

IV,3,2456

Vernon. Not a whit.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Why say you so? looks he not for supply?


78

IV,3,2458

Vernon. So do we.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). His is certain, ours is doubtful.


79

IV,3,2472

Vernon. Content.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). To-night, say I.


80

IV,3,2482

Vernon. Come, come it nay not be. I wonder much,
Being men of such great leading as you are,
That you foresee not what impediments
Drag back our expedition: certain horse
Of my cousin Vernon's are not yet come up:
Your uncle Worcester's horse came but today;
And now their pride and mettle is asleep,
Their courage with hard labour tame and dull,
That not a horse is half the half of himself.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). So are the horses of the enemy
In general, journey-bated and brought low:
The better part of ours are full of rest.


81

IV,3,2491

Blunt. I come with gracious offers from the king,
if you vouchsafe me hearing and respect.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Welcome, Sir Walter Blunt; and would to God
You were of our determination!
Some of us love you well; and even those some
Envy your great deservings and good name,
Because you are not of our quality,
But stand against us like an enemy.


82

IV,3,2511

Blunt. And God defend but still I should stand so,
So long as out of limit and true rule
You stand against anointed majesty.
But to my charge. The king hath sent to know
The nature of your griefs, and whereupon
You conjure from the breast of civil peace
Such bold hostility, teaching his duteous land
Audacious cruelty. If that the king
Have any way your good deserts forgot,
Which he confesseth to be manifold,
He bids you name your griefs; and with all speed
You shall have your desires with interest
And pardon absolute for yourself and these
Herein misled by your suggestion.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). The king is kind; and well we know the king
Knows at what time to promise, when to pay.
My father and my uncle and myself
Did give him that same royalty he wears;
And when he was not six and twenty strong,
Sick in the world's regard, wretched and low,
A poor unminded outlaw sneaking home,
My father gave him welcome to the shore;
And when he heard him swear and vow to God
He came but to be Duke of Lancaster,
To sue his livery and beg his peace,
With tears of innocency and terms of zeal,
My father, in kind heart and pity moved,
Swore him assistance and perform'd it too.
Now when the lords and barons of the realm
Perceived Northumberland did lean to him,
The more and less came in with cap and knee;
Met him in boroughs, cities, villages,
Attended him on bridges, stood in lanes,
Laid gifts before him, proffer'd him their oaths,
Gave him their heirs, as pages follow'd him
Even at the heels in golden multitudes.
He presently, as greatness knows itself,
Steps me a little higher than his vow
Made to my father, while his blood was poor,
Upon the naked shore at Ravenspurgh;
And now, forsooth, takes on him to reform
Some certain edicts and some strait decrees
That lie too heavy on the commonwealth,
Cries out upon abuses, seems to weep
Over his country's wrongs; and by this face,
This seeming brow of justice, did he win
The hearts of all that he did angle for;
Proceeded further; cut me off the heads
Of all the favourites that the absent king
In deputation left behind him here,
When he was personal in the Irish war.


83

IV,3,2549

Blunt. Tut, I came not to hear this.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Then to the point.
In short time after, he deposed the king;
Soon after that, deprived him of his life;
And in the neck of that, task'd the whole state:
To make that worse, suffer'd his kinsman March,
Who is, if every owner were well placed,
Indeed his king, to be engaged in Wales,
There without ransom to lie forfeited;
Disgraced me in my happy victories,
Sought to entrap me by intelligence;
Rated mine uncle from the council-board;
In rage dismiss'd my father from the court;
Broke oath on oath, committed wrong on wrong,
And in conclusion drove us to seek out
This head of safety; and withal to pry
Into his title, the which we find
Too indirect for long continuance.


84

IV,3,2567

Blunt. Shall I return this answer to the king?

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Not so, Sir Walter: we'll withdraw awhile.
Go to the king; and let there be impawn'd
Some surety for a safe return again,
And in the morning early shall my uncle
Bring him our purposes: and so farewell.


85

IV,3,2573

Blunt. I would you would accept of grace and love.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). And may be so we shall.


86

V,2,2799

(stage directions). [Enter HOTSPUR and DOUGLAS]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). My uncle is return'd:
Deliver up my Lord of Westmoreland.
Uncle, what news?


87

V,2,2804

Earl of Douglas. Defy him by the Lord of Westmoreland.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Lord Douglas, go you and tell him so.


88

V,2,2808

Earl of Worcester. There is no seeming mercy in the king.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Did you beg any? God forbid!


89

V,2,2821

Earl of Worcester. The Prince of Wales stepp'd forth before the king,
And, nephew, challenged you to single fight.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). O, would the quarrel lay upon our heads,
And that no man might draw short breath today
But I and Harry Monmouth! Tell me, tell me,
How show'd his tasking? seem'd it in contempt?


90

V,2,2843

Vernon. No, by my soul; I never in my life
Did hear a challenge urged more modestly,
Unless a brother should a brother dare
To gentle exercise and proof of arms.
He gave you all the duties of a man;
Trimm'd up your praises with a princely tongue,
Spoke to your deservings like a chronicle,
Making you ever better than his praise
By still dispraising praise valued in you;
And, which became him like a prince indeed,
He made a blushing cital of himself;
And chid his truant youth with such a grace
As if he master'd there a double spirit.
Of teaching and of learning instantly.
There did he pause: but let me tell the world,
If he outlive the envy of this day,
England did never owe so sweet a hope,
So much misconstrued in his wantonness.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Cousin, I think thou art enamoured
On his follies: never did I hear
Of any prince so wild a libertine.
But be he as he will, yet once ere night
I will embrace him with a soldier's arm,
That he shall shrink under my courtesy.
Arm, arm with speed: and, fellows, soldiers, friends,
Better consider what you have to do
Than I, that have not well the gift of tongue,
Can lift your blood up with persuasion.


91

V,2,2855

Messenger. My lord, here are letters for you.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I cannot read them now.
O gentlemen, the time of life is short!
To spend that shortness basely were too long,
If life did ride upon a dial's point,
Still ending at the arrival of an hour.
An if we live, we live to tread on kings;
If die, brave death, when princes die with us!
Now, for our consciences, the arms are fair,
When the intent of bearing them is just.


92

V,2,2866

Messenger. My lord, prepare; the king comes on apace.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I thank him, that he cuts me from my tale,
For I profess not talking; only this—
Let each man do his best: and here draw I
A sword, whose temper I intend to stain
With the best blood that I can meet withal
In the adventure of this perilous day.
Now, Esperance! Percy! and set on.
Sound all the lofty instruments of war,
And by that music let us all embrace;
For, heaven to earth, some of us never shall
A second time do such a courtesy.


93

V,3,2895

(stage directions). Enter HOTSPUR]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). O Douglas, hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus,
never had triumph'd upon a Scot.


94

V,3,2898

Earl of Douglas. All's done, all's won; here breathless lies the king.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Where?


95

V,3,2900

Earl of Douglas. Here.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). This, Douglas? no: I know this face full well:
A gallant knight he was, his name was Blunt;
Semblably furnish'd like the king himself.


96

V,3,2906

Earl of Douglas. A fool go with thy soul, whither it goes!
A borrow'd title hast thou bought too dear:
Why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king?

Hotspur (Henry Percy). The king hath many marching in his coats.


97

V,3,2910

Earl of Douglas. Now, by my sword, I will kill all his coats;
I'll murder all his wardrobe, piece by piece,
Until I meet the king.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Up, and away!
Our soldiers stand full fairly for the day.


98

V,4,3016

(stage directions). [Enter HOTSPUR]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). If I mistake not, thou art Harry Monmouth.


99

V,4,3018

Henry V. Thou speak'st as if I would deny my name.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). My name is Harry Percy.


100

V,4,3026

Henry V. Why, then I see
A very valiant rebel of the name.
I am the Prince of Wales; and think not, Percy,
To share with me in glory any more:
Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere;
Nor can one England brook a double reign,
Of Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). Nor shall it, Harry; for the hour is come
To end the one of us; and would to God
Thy name in arms were now as great as mine!


101

V,4,3032

Henry V. I'll make it greater ere I part from thee;
And all the budding honours on thy crest
I'll crop, to make a garland for my head.

Hotspur (Henry Percy). I can no longer brook thy vanities.


102

V,4,3040

Falstaff. Well said, Hal! to it Hal! Nay, you shall find no
boy's play here, I can tell you.
[Re-enter DOUGLAS; he fights with FALSTAFF,]
who falls down as if he were dead, and exit
DOUGLAS. HOTSPUR is wounded, and falls]

Hotspur (Henry Percy). O, Harry, thou hast robb'd me of my youth!
I better brook the loss of brittle life
Than those proud titles thou hast won of me;
They wound my thoughts worse than sword my flesh:
But thought's the slave of life, and life time's fool;
And time, that takes survey of all the world,
Must have a stop. O, I could prophesy,
But that the earthy and cold hand of death
Lies on my tongue: no, Percy, thou art dust
And food for—


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