Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Rosemary Gaby
Not Peer Reviewed

Henry IV, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1598)

The Historie
And our indentures tripartite are drawn,
Which being sealed enterchangeably,
1610(A businesse that this night may execute:)
To morrow coosen Percy you and I
And my good Lord of Worcester wil set forth
To meet your father and the Scottish power,
As is appointed vs at Shrewsbury.
1615My father Glendower is not ready yet,
Nor shal we need his helpe these fourteen daies,
Within that space you may haue drawne together
Your tenants, friends, and neighbouring gentlemen.
Glen. A shorter time shall send me to you Lords,
1620And in my conduct shall your Ladies come,
From whom you now must steale and take no leaue,
For there wil be a world of water shed,
Vpon the parting of your wiues and you.
Hot. Me thinks my moity North from Burton here,
1625In quantity equals not one of yours,
See how this riuer comes me cranking in,
And cuts me from the best of all my land,
A huge halfe moone, a monstrous scantle out,
Ile haue the currant in this place damnd vp,
1630And here the smug and siluer Trent shall run
In a new channell faire and euenly,
It shall not wind with such a deepe indent,
To rob me of so rich a bottome here.
Glen. Not wind it shal, it must, you see it doth.
1635Mor. Yea, but marke howe he beares his course, and runs mee
vp with like aduauntage on the other side, gelding the opposed
continent as much as on the other side it takes from you.
Wor. Yea but a little charge wil trench him here,
1640And on this Northside win this cape of land,
And then he runs straight and euen.
Hot. Ile haue it so, a little charge will do it.
Glen. Ile not haue it altred.
Hot. Will not you?
1645Glen. No, nor you shall not.
Hot. Who shall say me nay?
Glen.