TPTT The First Part of Henry the Fourth: ACT II
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
SCENE I. Rochester. An inn yard.
SCENE II. The highway, near Gadshill.
SCENE III. Warkworth castle
SCENE IV. The Boar's-Head Tavern, Eastcheap.
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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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:
5     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
10    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
15    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,
20    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
25    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
30    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!
35    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
40    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?
45    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;
50    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,
55    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
60    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,
65    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
70    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!
75    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
80    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
85    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:
90    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
95    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
100   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?
105   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,
110   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
115   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;
120   To-day will I set forth, to-morrow you.
      Will this content you, Kate?
LADY PERCY
      It must of force.
Exeunt
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