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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    The Historie.
    Ran fearefully among the trembling reedes,
    And hid his crispe-head in the hollow banke,
    Bloud-stained with these valiant combatants,
    430Neuer did bare and rotten pollicy
    Colour her working with such deadly wounds,
    Nor neuer could the noble Mortimer
    Receiue so many, and all willingly,
    Then let not him be slandered with reuolt.
    435King. Thou dost bely him Percy, thou dost bely him,
    He neuer did encounter with Glendower:
    I tel thee, he durst as well haue met the diuell alone,
    As Owen Glendower for an enemy.
    Art thou not asham'd? but sirrha, henceforth
    440Let me not heare you speake of Mortimer:
    Send me your prisoners with the speediest meanes,
    Or you shal heare in such a kind from me
    As will displease you. My Lord Northumberland:
    We licence your departure with your sonne,
    445Send vs your prisoners, or you wil heare of it.
    Exit King
    Hot. And if the diuel come and rore for them
    I wil not send them: I will after straight
    And tel him so, for I will ease my hart,
    Albeit I make a hazard of my head.
    450Nor. What? dronk with choler, stay, & pause a while,
    Here comes your vncle. Enter Wor.
    Hot. Speake of Mortimer?
    Zounds I will speake of him, and let my soule
    Want mercy if I do not ioine with him:
    455Yea on his part, ile empty all these vaines,
    And shed my deere bloud, drop by drop in the dust,
    But I will lift the down-trod Mortimer
    As high in the aire as this vnthankefull king,
    As this ingrate and cankred Bullingbrooke.
    460Nor. Brother, the king hath made your nephew mad.
    Wor. Who strooke this heat vp after I was gone?
    Hot. He wil forsooth haue all my prisoners,
    And when I vrg'd the ransome once againe
    Of my wiues brother, then his cheeke lookt pale,
    And