The First Part of Henry IV:
Act 2, Scene 3
*
Enter HOTSPUR, solus, reading a letter.
HOTSPUR
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'But for mine own part, my lord, I could be
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well contented to be there, in respect of the love I bear
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your house.' He could be contented: why is he not,
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then? In respect of the love he bears our house:
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he shows in this, he loves his own barn better than
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he loves our house. Let me see some more. 'The
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purpose you undertake is dangerous;'why, that's
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certain: 'tis dangerous to take a cold, to sleep, to
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drink; but I tell you, my lord fool, out of this nettle,
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danger, we pluck this flower, safety. 'The
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purpose you undertake is dangerous; the friends you have
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named uncertain; the time itself unsorted; and your
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whole plot too light for the counterpoise of so great an
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opposition.' Say you so, say you so? I say unto you
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again, you are a shallow cowardly hind, and
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you lie. What a lack-brain is this! By the Lord, our
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plot is a good plot as ever was laid; our friends true
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and constant: a good plot, good friends, and full of
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expectation; an excellent plot, very good friends.
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What a frosty-spirited rogue is this! Why, my
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lord of York commends the plot and the general
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course of action. 'Zounds, an I were now by this
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rascal, I could brain him with his lady's fan. Is there
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not my father, my uncle and myself? lord Edmund
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Mortimer, My lord of York and Owen Glendower?
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is there not besides the Douglas? have I not
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all their letters to meet me in arms by the ninth of the
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next month? and are they not some of them set forward
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already? What a pagan rascal is this! an infidel! Ha!
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you shall see now in very sincerity of fear and cold
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heart, will he to the king and lay open all our proceedings.
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O, I could divide myself and go to buffets, for
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moving such a dish of skim milk with so honorable an
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action! Hang him! let him tell the king: we are
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prepared. I will set forward Tonight.
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How now, Kate! I must leave you within these two hours.
LADY PERCY
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O, my good lord, why are you thus alone?
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For what offence have I this fortnight been
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A banish'd woman from my Harry's bed?
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Tell me, sweet lord, what is't that takes from thee
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Thy stomach, pleasure and thy golden sleep?
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Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth,
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And start so often when thou sit'st alone?
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Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks;
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And given my treasures and my rights of thee
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To thick-eyed musing and cursed melancholy?
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In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watch'd,
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And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars;
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Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed;
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Cry 'Courage! to the field!' And thou hast talk'd
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Of sallies and retires, of trenches, tents,
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Of palisadoes, frontiers, parapets,
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Of basilisks, of cannon, culverin,
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Of prisoners' ransom and of soldiers slain,
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And all the currents of a heady fight.
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Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war
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And thus hath so bestirr'd thee in thy sleep,
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That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow
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Like bubbles in a late-disturbed stream;
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And in thy face strange motions have appear'd,
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Such as we see when men restrain their breath
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On some great sudden hest. O, what portents are these?
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Some heavy business hath my lord in hand,
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And I must know it, else he loves me not.
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Is Gilliams with the packet gone?
Servant
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He is, my lord, an hour ago.
HOTSPUR
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Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff?
Servant
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One horse, my lord, he brought even now.
HOTSPUR
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What horse? a roan, a crop-ear, is it not?
HOTSPUR
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That roan shall by my throne.
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Well, I will back him straight: O esperance!
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Bid Butler lead him forth into the park.
LADY PERCY
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But hear you, my lord.
HOTSPUR
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What say'st thou, my lady?
LADY PERCY
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What is it carries you away?
HOTSPUR
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Why, my horse, my love, my horse.
LADY PERCY
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Out, you mad-headed ape!
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A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen
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As you are toss'd with. In faith,
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I'll know your business, Harry, that I will.
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I fear my brother Mortimer doth stir
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About his title, and hath sent for you
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To line his enterprise: but if you go,
HOTSPUR
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So far afoot, I shall be weary, love.
LADY PERCY
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Come, come, you paraquito, answer me
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Directly unto this question that I ask:
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In faith, I'll break thy little finger, Harry,
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An if thou wilt not tell me all things true.
HOTSPUR
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Away,
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Away, you trifler! Love! I love thee not,
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I care not for thee, Kate: this is no world
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To play with mammets and to tilt with lips:
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We must have bloody noses and crack'd crowns,
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And pass them current too. God's me, my horse!
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What say'st thou, Kate? what would'st thou have with me?
LADY PERCY
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Do you not love me? do you not, indeed?
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Well, do not then; for since you love me not,
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I will not love myself. Do you not love me?
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Nay, tell me if you speak in jest or no.
HOTSPUR
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Come, wilt thou see me ride?
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And when I am a' horseback, I will swear
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I love thee infinitely. But hark you, Kate;
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I must not have you henceforth question me
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Whither I go, nor reason whereabout:
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Whither I must, I must; and, to conclude,
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This evening must I leave you, gentle Kate.
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I know you wise, but yet no farther wise
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Than Harry Percy's wife: constant you are,
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But yet a woman: and for secrecy,
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No lady closer; for I well believe
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Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know;
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And so far will I trust thee, gentle Kate.
LADY PERCY
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How! so far?
HOTSPUR
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Not an inch further. But hark you, Kate:
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Whither I go, thither shall you go too;
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To-day will I set forth, tomorrow you.
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Will this content you, Kate?
LADY PERCY
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It must of force.