0.1The History of Henry the Fourth, Part One

5So shaken as we are, so wan with care,

1.1.26Find we a time for frighted peace to pant

1.1.37And breathe short-winded accents of new broils

1.1.48To be commenced in strands afar remote.

1.1.59No more the thirsty entrance of this soil

1.1.610Shall daub her lips with her own children's blood,

1.1.711No more shall trenching war channel her fields,

1.1.812Nor bruise her flow'rets with the armèd hoofs

1.1.913Of hostile paces. Those opposèd eyes,

1.1.1014Which, like the meteors of a troubled heaven,

1.1.1115All of one nature, of one substance bred,

1.1.1216Did lately meet in the intestine shock

1.1.1317And furious close of civil butchery,

1.1.1418Shall now in mutual well-beseeming ranks

1.1.1519March all one way, and be no more opposed

1.1.1620Against acquaintance, kindred, and allies.

1.1.1721The edge of war, like an ill-sheathèd knife,

1.1.1822No more shall cut his master. Therefore, friends,

1.1.1923As far as to the sepulcher of Christ --

1.1.2024Whose soldier now, under whose blessèd cross

1.1.2125We are impressèd and engaged to fight --

1.1.2226Forthwith a power of English shall we levy,

1.1.2327Whose arms were molded in their mother's womb

1.1.2428To chase these pagans in those holy fields

1.1.2529Over whose acres walked those blessèd feet

1.1.2630Which fourteen hundred years ago were nailed,

1.1.2731For our advantage, on the bitter cross.

1.1.2832But this our purpose now is twelve month old,

1.1.2933And bootless 'tis to tell you we will go.

1.1.3034Therefor we meet not now. Then let me hear

1.1.3135Of you, my gentle cousin Westmorland,

1.1.3236What yesternight our Council did decree

1.1.3337In forwarding this dear expedience.

My liege, this haste was hot in question,

1.1.3539And many limits of the charge set down

1.1.3640But yesternight, when all athwart there came

1.1.3741A post from Wales, loaden with heavy news,

1.1.3842Whose worst was that the noble Mortimer,

1.1.3943Leading the men of Herefordshire to fight

1.1.4044Against the irregular and wild Glendower,

1.1.4145Was by the rude hands of that Welshman taken,

1.1.4246A thousand of his people butcherèd,

1.1.4347Upon whose dead corpse there was such misuse,

1.1.4448Such beastly shameless transformation

1.1.4549By those Welshwomen done as may not be

1.1.4650Without much shame retold or spoken of.

It seems then that the tidings of this broil

1.1.4852Brake off our business for the holy land.

This matched with other did, my gracious lord,

1.1.5054For more uneven and unwelcome news

1.1.5155Came from the north, and thus it did import:

1.1.5256On Holy-rood day the gallant Hotspur there --

1.1.5357Young Harry Percy -- and brave Archibald,

1.1.5458That ever valiant and approvèd Scot,

1.1.5559At Holmedon met, where they did spend

1.1.5660A sad and bloody hour,

1.1.5761As by discharge of their artillery,

1.1.5862And shape of likelihood the news was told;

1.1.5963For he that brought them in the very heat

1.1.6064And pride of their contention did take horse

1.1.6165Uncertain of the issue any way.

Here is a dear, a true industrious friend,

1.1.6367Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse,

1.1.6468Stained with the variation of each soil

1.1.6569Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours,

1.1.6670And he hath brought us smooth and welcome news:

1.1.6771The Earl of Douglas is discomfited;

1.1.6872Ten thousand bold Scots, two-and-twenty knights,

1.1.6973Balked in their own blood did Sir Walter see

1.1.7074On Holmedon's plains. Of prisoners Hotspur took

1.1.7175Mordake, Earl of Fife and eldest son

1.1.7276To beaten Douglas, and the Earl of Athol,

1.1.7377Of Murray, Angus, and Menteith.

1.1.7478And is not this an honorable spoil?

1.1.7579A gallant prize? Ha, cousin, is it not?

In faith it is -- a conquest for a prince to boast of.

Yea, there thou mak'st me sad, and mak'st me sin

1.1.7882In envy, that my lord Northumberland

1.1.7983Should be the father to so blest a son --

1.1.8084A son who is the theme of honor's tongue,

1.1.8185Amongst a grove the very straightest plant,

1.1.8286Who is sweet fortune's minion and her pride --

1.1.8387Whilst I by looking on the praise of him

1.1.8488See riot and dishonor stain the brow

1.1.8589Of my young Harry. Oh, that it could be proved

1.1.8690That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged

1.1.8791In cradle clothes our children where they lay,

1.1.8892And called mine Percy, his Plantagenet!

1.1.8993Then would I have his Harry, and he mine.

1.1.9094But let him from my thoughts. What think you, coz,

1.1.9195Of this young Percy's pride? The prisoners

1.1.9296Which he in this adventure hath surprised

1.1.9397To his own use he keeps, and sends me word

1.1.9498I shall have none but Mordake Earl of Fife.

This is his uncle's teaching. This is Worcester,

1.1.96100Malevolent to you in all aspects,

1.1.97101Which makes him prune himself, and bristle up

1.1.98102The crest of youth against your dignity.

But I have sent for him to answer this;

1.1.100104And for this cause awhile we must neglect

1.1.101105Our holy purpose to Jerusalem.

1.1.102106Cousin, on Wednesday next our council we

1.1.103107Will hold at Windsor. So inform the lords.

1.1.104108But come yourself with speed to us again,

1.1.105109For more is to be said and to be done,

1.1.106110Than out of anger can be utterèd.

I will my liege.