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  • Title: Henry IV, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1598)
  • Editor: Rosemary Gaby
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-371-7

    Copyright Rosemary Gaby. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Rosemary Gaby
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Henry IV, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1598)

    of Henrie the fourth.
    And I beseech you, let not his report
    390Come currant for an accusation
    Betwixt my loue and your high maiestie.
    Blunt. The circumstance considered, good my lord,
    What ere Lord Harry Percie then had said
    To such a person, and in such a place,
    395At such a time, with all the rest retold,
    May reasonably die, and neuer rise
    To do him wrong, or any way impeach
    What then he said, so he vnsay it now.
    King. Why yet he doth denie his prisoners,
    400But with prouiso and exception,
    That we at our owne charge shall ransome straight
    His brother in law, the foolish Mortimer,
    Who on my soule, hath wilfully betraid
    The liues of those, that he did lead to fight
    405Against that great Magitian, damnd Glendower,
    Whose daughter as we heare, that Earle of March
    Hath lately married: shall our coffers then
    Be emptied, to redeeme a traitor home?
    Shall we buy treason? and indent with feares
    410When they haue lost and forfeited themselues?
    No, on the barren mountaines let him starue:
    For I shall neuer hold that man my friend,
    Whose tongue shall aske me for one penny cost
    To ransome home reuolted Mortimer,
    415Hot. Reuolted Mortimer:
    He neuer did fall off, my soueraigne liege
    But by the chance of war, to proue that true
    Needs no more but one tongue: for all those wounds,
    Those mouthed wounds which valiantly he tooke,
    420When on the gentle Seuerns siedgie banke,
    In single opposition hand to hand,
    He did confound the best part of an houre,
    In changing hardiment with great Glendower,
    Three times they breathd, & three times did they drinke
    425Vpon agreement of swift Seuerns floud,
    Who then affrighted with their bloudie lookes,
    B.iii Ran