Henry IV, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1598)
Act 2, scene 3
Enter Hotspur solus reading a letter.
850
But for mine own part my Lord I could be well contented to bee
there, in respect of the loue I beare your house.
He could be contented, why is hee not then? in the respect of
the loue he beares our house: he shewes in this, he loues his own
barne better then he loues our house. Let me see some more.
855
The purpose you vndertake is dangerous,
Why thats certaine, tis daungerous to take a cold, to sleepe, to
drinke, but I tell you (my Lord foole) out of this nettle danger, we
plucke this flower safetie.
The purpose you vndertake is dangerous, the friends you haue na-
860med vncertaine, the time it selfe vnsorted, and your whole plot too
light, for the counterpoyse of so great an opposition.
Say you so, say you so, I say vnto you againe, you are a shal-
low cowardly hind, and you lie: what a lacke braine is this? by
the Lord our plot is a good plot, as euer was laid, our friends true
865and constant: a good plot, good friends, and ful of expectation: an
excellent plot, verie good friends; what a frosty spirited rogue is
this? why my Lord of York commends the plot, and the gene-
rall course of the Action. Zoundes and I were nowe by this ras-
870call I could braine him with his Ladies fanne. Is there not my
father, my vncle, and my selfe; Lord Edmond Mortimer, my
Lord of Yorke, and Owen Glendower: is there not besides the
Dowglas, haue I not all their letters to meete me in armes by the
ninth of the next month, and are they not some of them set for-
875ward alreadie? What a pagan rascall is this, an infidell? Ha, you
shall see now in very sinceritie of feare and cold heart, will hee to
the King, and lay open all our proceedings? O I could deuide
my
of Henrie the fourth.
my selfe, and go to buffets, for mouing such a dish of skim milke
880with so honorable an action. Hang him, let him tell the king, we
are prepared: I will set forward to night.
Enter his Lady.
How now Kate, I must leaue you within these two houres.
885Lady. O my good Lord, why are you thus alone?
For what offence haue I this fortnight bin
A banisht woman from my Harries bed?
Tel me sweet Lord, what ist that takes from thee
Thy stomacke, pleasure, and thy goulden sleepe?
890Why dost thou bend thine eies vpon the earth?
And start so often when thou sitst alone?
Why hast thou lost the fresh bloud in thy cheekes?
And giuen my treasures and my rights of thee
To thicke eyde musing, and curst melancholy?
895In thy faint slumbers I by thee haue watcht,
And heard the murmur, tales of yron wars,
Speake tearmes of mannage to thy bounding steed,
Cry courage to the field. And thou hast talkt
Of sallies, and retyres of trenches tents,
900Of pallizadoes, frontiers, parapets,
Of basilisks, of canon, culuerin,
Of prisoners ransome, and of soldiors slaine,
And all the currents of a heddy fight.
Thy spirit within thee hath bin so at war,
905And thus hath so bestird thee in thy sleepe,
That beads of sweat haue stood vpon thy brow
Like bubbles in a late disturbed streame
And in thy face strange motions haue appeard,
Such as we see when men restraine their breath,
910On some great suddain hest. O what portents are these?
Some heauy businesse hath my Lord in hand,
And I must know it else he loues me not.
Hot. What ho, is Gilliams with the packet gone?
Ser. He is my Lord, an houre ago.
915Hot. Hath Butler brought those horses from the Sheriffe?
Ser. One horse my Lord he brought euen now.
Hot. What horse, Roane? a cropeare is it not?
Ser. It is my Lord.
D1 Hot.
of Henrie the fourth.
Hot. That roane shall be my throne. Wel, I will backe him
920straight: O Esperance, bid Butler lead him forth into the parke.
La. But heare you my Lord.
Hot. What saist thou my Lady?
La. What is it carries you away?
925Hot. Why, my horse (my loue) my horse.
La. Out you madhedded ape, a weazel hath not such a deale
of spleene as you are tost with. In faith ile knowe your businesse
Harry that I will, I feare my brother Mortimer doth stir about
his title, and hath sent for you to line his enterprise, but if you go.
Hot. So far a foot I shal be weary loue.
La. Come, come you Paraquito, answere me directly vnto
this question that I aske, in faith ile breake thy little finger Har-
ry and if thou wilt not tel me all things true.
935Hot. Away, away you trifler, loue, I loue thee not,
I care not for thee Kate, this is no world
To play with mammets, and to tilt with lips,
We must haue bloudy noses, and crackt crownes,
And passe them currant too: gods me my horse:
940What saist thou Kate? what wouldst thou haue with me?
La. Do you not loue me? do you not indeed?
Wel, do not then, for since you loue me not
I will not loue my selfe. Do you not loue me?
Nay tel me if you speake in iest or no?
945Hot. Come, wilt thou see me ride?
And when I am a horsebacke I will sweare
I loue thee infinitely. But harke you Kate,
I must not haue you henceforth question me
Whither I go, nor reason where about,
950Whither I must, I must, and to conclude
This euening must I leaue you gentle Kate,
I know you wise, but yet no farther wise
Then Harry Percies wife, constant you are,
But yet a woman, and for secrecy
955No Lady closer, for I well beleeue
Thou wilt not vtter what thou dost not know,
And so far wil I trust thee gentle Kate.
La. How, so far.
Hot.
The Historie
Hot. Not an inch further, but harke you Kate,
960Whither I go, thither shal you go too:
To day will I set forth, to morrow you,
Will this content you Kate?
La. It must of force.
Exeunt

Henry IV, Part 1 (Quarto 1, 1598)