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of sighing and grief! it blows a man up like a bladder. There's villainous news abroad: here was sir John Bracy from your father: you must to the court in the morning. That same mad fellow of the north, Percy; and he of Wales, that gave Amaimon the bastinado, and made Lucifer cuckold, and swore the devil his true liegeman upon the cross of a Welsh hook,-what, a plague, call you him?-Poins. O! Glendower.

Fal. Owen, Owen; the same; and his son-inlaw, Mortimer; and old Northumberland; and that sprightly Scot of Scots, Douglas, that runs o' horseback up a hill perpendicular.

P. Hen. He that rides at high speed, and with his pistol kills a sparrow flying.

Fal. You have hit it.

P. Hen. So did he never the sparrow.

Fal. Well, that rascal hath good mettle in him; he will not run.

P. Hen. Why, what a rascal art thou, then, to praise him so for running?

Fal. O' horseback, ye cuckoo! but, afoot, he will not budge a foot.

P. Hen. Yes, Jack, upon instinct.

Fal. I grant ye, upon instinct. Well, he is there too, and one Mordake, and a thousand blue-caps more. Worcester is stolen away to-night; thy father's beard is turned white with the news: you may buy land now as cheap as stinking mackarel.

P. Hen. Why then, it is like, if there come a hot June, and this civil buffeting hold, we shall buy maidenheads as they buy hob-nails, by the hundred. Fal. By the mass, lad, thou sayest true; it is like, we shall have good trading that way.-But, tell me, Hal, art thou not horribly afeard? thou being heir apparent, could the world pick thee out three such enemies again, as that fiend Douglass, that spirit Percy, and that devil Glendower? Art thou not horribly afraid? doth not thy blood thrill at it?

P. Hen. Not a whit, i'faith: I lack some of thy instinct.

Fal. Well, thou wilt be horribly chid to-morrow, when thou comest to thy father if thou love me, practise an answer.

P. Hen. Do thou stand for my father, and examine me upon the particulars of my life.

Fal. Shall I? content.- -This chair shall be my d state, this dagger my sceptre, and this cushion my

crown.

1

Fal. Peace, good pint-pot! peace, good ticklebrain!-Harry, I do not only marvel where thon spendest thy time, but also how thou art accompanied: for though the camomile, the more it is trodden on, the faster it grows, so youth, the more it is wasted, the sooner it wears. That thou art my son, I have partly thy mother's word, partly my own opinion; but chiefly, a villainous trick of thine eye, and a foolish hanging of thy nether lip, that doth warrant me. If, then, thou be son to me, here lies the point-why, being son to me, art thou so pointed at? Shall the blessed sun of heaven prove a imicher, and eat blackberries? a question not to be asked. Shall the sun of England prove a thief, and take purses? a question to be asked. There is a thing, Harry, which thou hast often heard of, and it is known to many in our land by the name of pitch: this pitch, as ancient writers do report, doth defile: so doth the company thou keepest; for, Harry, now I do not speak to thee in drink, but in tears; not in pleasure, but in passion; not in words only, but in woes also. And yet there is a virtuous man, whom I have often noted in thy company, but I know not his name.

P. Hen. What manner of man, an it like your majesty?

Fal. A goodly portly man, i' faith, and a corpulent; of a cheerful look, a pleasing eye, and a most noble carriage; and, as I think, his age some fifty, or, by'r lady, inclining to threescore, and now I remember me, his name is Falstaff: if that man should be lewdly given, he deceiveth me; for, Harry, I see virtue in his looks. If then the tree may be known by the fruit, as the fruit by the tree, then peremptorily I speak it, there is virtue in that Falstaff: him keep with, the rest banish. And tell me, now, thou naughty varlet, tell me, where hast thou been this month?

P. Hen. Dost thou speak like a king? Do thou stand for me, and I'll play my father.

Fal. Depose me? if thou dost it half so gravely, so majestically, both in word and matter, hang me up by the heels for a rabbit-sucker, or a poulterer's hare.

P. Hen. Well, here I am set.

Fal. And here I stand.-Judge, my masters.
P. Hen. Now, Harry! whence come you?
Fal. My noble lord, from Eastcheap.

P. Hen. The complaints I hear of thee are griev

P. Hen. Thy state is taken for a joint-stool, thyous. golden sceptre for a leaden dagger, and thy precious rich crown for a pitiful bald crown!

Fal. Well, an the fire of grace be not quite out of thee, now shalt thou be moved.-Give me a cup of sack, to make mine eyes look red, that it may be thought I have wept; for I must speak in passion, and I will do it in king Cambyses' vein. P. Hen. Well, here is my fleg.

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Fal. And here is my speech.-Stand aside, nobility. Host. O, Jesu! This is excellent sport, i'faith. Fal. Weep not, sweet queen, for trickling tears are vain.

Host. O, the father! how he holds his countenance. Fal. For God's sake, lords, convey my tristful queen,

For tears do stop the flood-gates of her eyes. Host. O, Jesu! he doth it as like one of these harlotry players as ever I see.

Fal. 'Sblood, my lord, they are false.-Nay, I'll tickle thee for a young prince, i' faith.

P. Hen. Swearest thou, ungracious boy henceforth ne'er look on me. Thou art violently carried away from grace: there is a devil haunts thee, in the likeness of a fat old man: a tun of a man is thy companion. Why dost thou converse with that 2 hulk of humors, that 'bolting-hutch of beastliness, that swoln parcel of dropsies, that huge bombard of sack, that stuffed cloak-bag of guts, that roasted "Manningtree-ox with the pudding in his belly, that reverend vice, that grey iniquity, that father ruffian, that vanity in years? Wherein is he good, but to taste sack and drink it? wherein neat and cleanly, but to carve a capon and eat it? wherein cunning, but in craft? wherein crafty, but in villainy? wherein villainous, but in all things? wherein worthy, but in nothing?

• Amaimon is a demon, described as one of the four kings "Tickle-brain" was the name of a strong liquor.-i “A who rule over all the demons in the world.- The Welsh micher," i. e., a truant boy.-"A rabbit-sucker," ie., a hook was a hedging bill with a hook at the end." Blue-young rabbit. The "bolting-hutch" is a machine that sepcaps," i. e., Scotsmen in blue bonnets. Chair of state.- arates flour from bran- The "bombard" was a large Cambyses was a character in an old tragedy." My leg," leathern vessel to hold beer. At "Manningtree," in Essex, i. e., my obeisance.- Sorrowful, on the occasion of fairs, a large or was roasted whole.

Fal. I would your grace would take me with | Have in this robbery lost three hundred marks. "you: whom means your grace?

P. Hen. It may be so: if he have robb'd these P. Hen. That villainous abominable misleader of He shall be answerable; and so, farewell. [men, youth, Falstaff, that old white-bearded Satan. Fal. My lord, the man I know.

P. Hen. I know thou dost.

Sher. Good night, my noble lord.

P. Hen. I think it is good morrow, is it not?
Sher. Indeed, my lord, I think it be two o'clock.
[Exeunt Sheriff and Carrier.
P. Hen. This oily rascal is known as well as
Go, call him forth.

Peto. Falstaff!-fast asleep behind the arras, and snorting like a horse.

P. Hen. Hark, how hard he fetches breath. Search his pockets. [PETO searches.] What hast thou found?

Fal. But to say, I know more harm in him than in myself, were to say more than I know. That he is old, the more the pity, his white hairs do witnessPaul's. it: but that he is, saving your reverence, a whoremaster, that I utterly deny. If sack and sugar be a fault, God help the wicked! If to be old and merry be a sin, then many an old host that I know, is damned: if to be fat be to be hated, then Pharaoh's lean kine are to be loved. No, my good lord: banish Peto, banish Bardolph, banish Poins; but for sweet Jack Falstaff, kind Jack Falstaff, true Jack Falstaff, valiant Jack Falstaff, and, therefore more valiant, being, as he is, old Jack Falstaff, banish not him thy Harry's company, banish not him thy Harry's company: banish plump Jack, and banish all the world.

P. Hen. I do, I will.

[A knocking heard. [Exeunt Hostess, FRANCIS, and BARDOLPH. Re-enter BARDOLPH, running. Bard. O! my lord, my lord! the sheriff, with a most monstrous watch, is at the door.

Fal. Out, you rogue! play out the play: I have much to say in the behalf of that Falstaff. Re-enter Hostess.

Host. O Jesu! my lord, my lord!

P. Hen. Heigh, heigh! the devil rides upon a fiddlestick. What's the matter?

Host. The sheriff and all the watch are at the door: they are come to search the house. Shall I let them in ?

Peto. Nothing but papers, my lord.

P. Hen. Let's see what they be read them.
Peto. [Reads.] Item, A capon,
Item, Sauce,
Item, Sack, two gallons,

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2s. 2d. 4d.

58. 8d.

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2s. 6d. ob.

Item, Anchovies, and sack after supper
Item, Bread,

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P. Hen. O monstrous! but one half-pennyworth of bread to this intolerable deal of sack!-What there is else, keep close: we'll read it at more advantage. There let him sleep till day. I'll to the court in the morning: we must all to the wars, and thy place shall be honorable. I'll procure this fat rogue a charge of foot; and, I know, his death will be a march of twelve-score. The money shall be paid back again with advantage. Be with me betimes in the morning; and so good morrow, Peto. Peto. Good morrow, good my lord. [Exeunt.

ACT III.

Fal. Dost thou hear, Hal? never call a true piece SCENE I.-Bangor. A Room in the Archdeacon's of gold a counterfeit: thou art essentially mad, with

out seeming so.

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P. Hen. Go, hide thee behind the barras :-the rest walk up above. Now, my masters, for a true face, and a good conscience.

Fal. Both which I have had; but their date is out, and therefore I'll hide me.

[Exeunt all but the Prince and PETO.

P. Hen. Call in the sheriff.

Enter Sheriff and Carrier.

Now, master sheriff, what's your will with me?
Sher. First, pardon me, my lord. A hue and cry
Hath follow'd certain men unto this house.

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P. Hen. The man, I do assure you, is not here,
For I myself at this time have employ'd him.
And, sheriff, I will engage my word to thee,
That I will, by to-morrow dinner-time,
Send him to answer thee, or any man,
For any thing he shall be charg'd withal:
And so, let me entreat you, leave the house.

Sher. I will, my lord. There are two gentlemen

"Would take me with you," i. e., would go no faster than I can follow. Tapestry.

House.

Enter HOTSPUR, WORCESTER, MORTIMER, and
GLENDOWER.

Mort. These promises are fair, the parties sure,
And our induction full of prosperous hope.
Hot. Lord Mortimer, and cousin Glendower, will
you sit down?-And, uncle Worcester.-A plague
upon it! I have forgot the map.
No, here it is.

Glend.

Sit, cousin Percy; sit, good cousin Hotspur;
For by that name as oft as Lancaster
Doth speak of you,

His cheek looks pale, and with a rising sigh
He wisheth you in heaven.

Hot. And you in hell, as oft as he hears Owen
Glendower spoke of.

Glen. I cannot blame him: at my nativity,
The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes,
Of burning cressets; and at my birth,
The frame and huge foundation of the earth
Shak'd like a coward.

Hot. Why, so it would have done at the same season, if your mother's cat had but kitten'd, though yourself had never been born.

Glend. I say, the earth did shake when I was born.
Hot. And I say the earth was not of my mind,
If you suppose as fearing you it shook. [tremble.

Glend. The heavens were all on fire; the earth did
Hot. O! then the earth shook to see the heavens
And not in fear of your nativity.
[on fire,
Diseased nature oftentimes breaks forth

St. Paul's Cathedral. Beginning; commencement.Cressets were lights set upon beacons, and also upon poles, which were carried in processions.

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I do not bear these crossings. Give me leave
To tell you once again,-that at my birth,
The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes;
The goats ran from the mountains, and the herds
Were strangely clamorous in the frighted fields.
These signs have mark'd me extraordinary,
And all the courses of my life do show,
I am not in the roll of common men.
Where is he living,-clipp'd in with the sea

That chides the banks of England, Scotland, Wales,--
Which calls me pupil, or hath read to me?
And bring him out, that is but woman's son,
Can trace me in the tedious ways of art,
And hold me pace in deep experiments.
Hot. I think, there is no man speaks better Welsh.
I'll to dinner.

[mad.

Mort. Peace, cousin Percy! you will make him Glend. I can call spirits from the vasty deep. Hot. Why, so can I, or so can any man; But will they come, when you do call for them? Glend. Why, I can teach you, cousin, to command the devil.

Hot. And I can teach thee, coz, to shame the devil, By telling truth tell truth, and shame the devil. If thou have power to raise him, bring him hither, And I'll be sworn, I have power to shame him hence. O! while you live, tell truth, and shame the devil. Mort. Come, come;

No more of this unprofitable chat.

[head Glend. Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made Against my power: thrice from the banks of Wye, And sandy-bottom'd Severn, have I sent him b Bootless home, and weather-beaten back.

Hot. Home without boots and in foul weather too! How 'scap'd he agues, in the devil's name?

2

Glend. Come, here's the map: shall we divide
According to our three-fold order ta'en? [our right,
Mort. The archdeacon hath divided it
Into three limits, very equally.
England, from Trent and Severn, hitherto,
By south and east is to my part assign'd:
All westward, Wales, beyond the Severn shore,
And all the fertile land within that bound,
To Owen Glendower:-and, dear coz, to you
The remnant northward, lying off from Trent.
And our indentures tripartite are drawn
Which being sealed interchangeably,
(A business that this night may execute)
To-morrow, cousin Percy, you, and I,

And my good lord of Worcester, will set forth,
To meet your father, and the Scottish * power,
As is appointed us, at Shrewsbury.
My father Glendower is not ready yet,
Nor shall we need his help these fourteen days.-
Within that space you may have drawn together
[To Glendower.
Your tenants, friends, and neighboring gentlemen.
Glend. A shorter time shall send me to you, lords;
And in my conduct shall your ladies come:
From whom you now must steal, and take no leave;
For there will be a world of water shed,

Tumbles. Unsuccessful.-"Hitherto," i. e., to this spot (pointing to the map).-Tripartite," i. e., in three copies. -Force.

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With like advantage 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 will trench him
And on this north side win this cape of land;
And then he runs all straight and evenly.
Hot. I'll have it so: a little charge will do it.
Glend. I will not have it alter'd.
Hot.

Glend. No, nor you shall not.
Hot.

Glend. Why, that will I.
Hot.
Speak it in Welsh.

Will not you?

Who shall say me nay?

Let me not understand you then:

Glend. I can speak English, lord, as well as you, For I was train'd up in the English court; Where, being but young, I framed to the harp Many an English ditty, lovely well, And gave the tongue a helpful ornament; A virtue that was never seen in you.

Hot. Marry, and I'm glad of it with all my heart. I had rather be a kitten, and cry mew, Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers: I had rather hear a brazen "can'stick turn'd, Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree; And that would set my teeth nothing on edge, Nothing so much as mincing poetry. 'Tis like the forc'd gait of a shuffling nag. Glend. Come, you shall have Trent turn'd. Hot. I do not care. [friend; I'll give thrice so much land to any well-deserving But, in the way of bargain, mark ye me, I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair.

Are the indentures drawn? shall we be gone? Glend. The moon shines fair, you may away by night:

5

[Erit.

I'll haste the writer, and withal, I'll break
With your young wives of your departure hence.
I am afraid my daughter will run mad,
So much she doteth on her Mortimer.
Mort. Fie, cousin Percy! how you cross my father.
Hot. I cannot choose: sometime he angers me
With telling me of the moldwarp and the ant,
Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies;
And of a dragon, and a finless fish,
A clip-wing'd griffin, and a moulten raven,
A couching lion, and a ramping cat,

And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff
As puts me from my faith. I tell you what,—
He held me, last night, at the least nine hours,
In reckoning up the several devils' names,
That were his lackeys: I cried, "humph," and
"well,"
19 66 go to,"

But mark'd him not a word. O! he's as tedious

Part.- Bending; winding.- Corner- Fine; spruce. -Cutting."A helpful ornament," i. e., the ornament of verse Candlestick turned, (i. e., in a lathe). The riter of the articles.- The moldwarp (German, maulwurf) is the mole.

As a tired horse, a railing wife;
Worse than a smoky house: I had rather live
With cheese and garlick in a windmill, far,
Than feed on cates, and have him talk to me,
In any summer-house in Christendom.

Mort. In faith, he is a worthy gentleman;
Exceedingly well read, and profited

In strange concealments; valiant as a lion,
And wondrous affable, and as bountiful
As mines of India. Shall I tell you, cousin?
He holds your temper in a high respect,
And curbs himself even of his natural scope,
When you do cross his humor; 'faith, he does.
I warrant you, that man is not alive,
Might so have tempted him as you have done,
Without the taste of danger and reproof:
But do not use it oft, let me entreat you.

Wor. In faith, my wilful lord, you are to blame.
And since your coming hither have done enough
To put him quite beside his patience.

As is the difference betwixt day and night, The hour before the heavenly-harness'd team Begins his golden progress in the east.

Mort. With all my heart I'll sit, and hear her sing: By that time will our book, I think, be drawn. Glend. Do so;

And those musicians that shall play to you Hang in the air a thousand leagues from hence; And straight they shall be here. Sit, and attend. Hot. Come, Kate, thou art perfect in lying down: come, quick, quick; that I may lay my head in thy lap.

Lady P. Go, ye giddy goose. [The Music plays. Hot. Now I perceive, the devil understands Welsh; And 'tis no marvel, he is so humorous. By'r lady, he's a good musician.

Lady P. Then, should you be nothing but musical, For you are altogether governed by humors. Lie still ye thief, and hear the lady sing In Welsh.

Hot. I had rather hear, lady, my k brach, howl in

Lady P. Would'st thou have thy head broken? Hot. No.

Lady P. Then be still.

You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault:
Though sometimes it show greatness, courage, blood, | Irish.
And that's the dearest grace it renders you,
Yet oftentimes it doth present harsh rage,
Defect of manners, want of government,
Pride, haughtiness, opinion, and disdain:
The least of which, haunting a nobleman,
Loseth men's hearts, and leaves behind a stain
Upon the beauty of all parts besides,
Beguiling them of commendation.

[speed.

Hot. Well, I am school'd: good manners be your Here come our wives, and let us take our leave.

Re-enter GLENDOWER, with the Ladies. Mort. This is the deadly spite that angers me; My wife can speak no English, I no Welsh. Glend. My daughter weeps: she will not part with She'll be a soldier too; she'll to the wars. [you; Mort. Good father, tell her, that she, and my aunt Shall follow in your conduct speedily. [Percy, [GLENDOWER speaks to her in Welsh, and she

answers him in the same.

Glend. She's desperate here; A peevish self-will'd harlotry, and one That no persuasion can do good upon.

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[She speaks to MORTIMER in Welsh. Mort. I understand thy looks: that pretty Welsh Which thou pour'st down from these 3 welling heav I am too perfect in; and, but for shame, [ens, In such a parley would I answer thee.

[She speaks again.

I understand thy kisses, and thou mine,
And that's a feeling disputation:
But I will never be a truant, love,
Till I have learn'd thy language; for thy tongue
Makes Welsh as sweet as ditties highly penn'd,
Sung by a fair queen in a summer's bower,
With ravishing division, to her & lute.
Glend. Nay, if thou melt, then will she e'en run
[She speaks again.
Mort. O! I am ignorance itself in this.
Glend. She bids you on the wanton brushes lay
you down,

And rest your gentle head upon her lap,

[mad.

And she will sing the song that pleaseth you,
And on your eye-lids crown the god of sleep,
Charming your blood with pleasing heaviness;
Making such difference 'twixt wake and sleep,

Dainties.-"Profited in strange concealments," i. e., skilled in wonderful secrets. Self-opinion; conceit. Guard; escort.-"Welling heavens," i. e., tearful eyes. "Division," i. e., variation.- A compliment to Queen Elizabeth is probably here intended.-h Floors were formerly strewed with rushes, in place of carpeting.

Hot. Neither; 'tis a woman's 'fault.
Lady P. Now, God help thee!
Hot. To the Welsh lady's bed.
Lady P. What's that?

Hot. Peace? she sings.

[A Welsh Song by Lady M. Hot. Come, Kate, I'll have your song too. Lady P. Not mine, in good sooth. Hot. Not yours, in good sooth! 'Heart! You swear like to a comfit-maker's wife.

Not yours, in good sooth; and, as true as I live;
7As God shall mend me; and, as sure as day:
And giv'st such sarcenet surety for thy oaths,
As if thou never walk'dst farther than Finsbury.
wear me, Kate, like a lady as thou art,

A good-mouth-filling oath; and leave in sooth,
And such protests of pepper-ginger-bread,
To velvet-guards, and Sunday-citizens.
Come, sing.

Lady P. I will not sing.

Hot. 'Tis the next way to turn tailor, or be redbreast teacher. An the indentures be drawn, I'll away within these two hours; and so come in when ye will. [Exit. As hot lord Percy is on fire to go. Glend. Come on, lord Mortimer; you are as slow, By this our book is drawn: 10 we'll seal, and part To horse immediately. Mort.

With all my heart. [Exeunt.

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That, in his secret doom, out of my blood
He'll breed revengement and a scourge for me;
But thou dost, in thy passages of life,
Make me believe, that thou art only mark'd
For the hot vengeance and the rod of heaven,
To punish my mistreadings. Tell me else,
Could such inordinate, and low desires,
Such poor, such bare, such lewd, such mean
Such barren pleasures, rude society,
As thou art match'd withal, and grafted to,
Accompany the greatness of thy blood,
And hold their level with thy princely heart?

[tempts,

at

P. Hen. So please your majesty, I would, I could Quit all offences with as clear excuse, As well as, I am doubtless, I can purge Myself of many I am charg'd withal: Yet such extenuation let me beg, As, in reproof of many tales devis'd,

b

Which oft the ear of greatness needs must hear
By smiling pick-thanks and base newsmongers,
I may, for some things true, wherein my youth
Hath faulty wander'd, and irregular,
Find pardon on my true submission.

[Harry,

K. Hen. God pardon thee!-yet let me wonder, At thy affections, which do hold a wing Quite from the flight of all thy ancestors. Thy place in council thou hast rudely lost, Which by thy younger brother is supplied; And art almost an alien to the hearts Of all the court, and princes of my blood: The hope and expectation of thy time Is ruin'd; and the soul of every man Prophetically doth fore-think thy fall. Had I so lavish of my presence been, So common-hackney'd in the eyes So stale and cheap to vulgar company, Opinion, that did help me to the crown, Had still kept loyal to possession, And left me in reputeless banishment, A fellow of no mark, nor likelihood. By being seldom seen, I could not stir, But like a comet I was wonder'd at;

of men,

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And then I stole all courtesy from heaven,
And dress'd myself in such humility,
That I did pluck allegiance from men's hearts,
Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths,
Even in the presence of the crowned king.
Thus did I keep my person fresh, and new;
My presence, like a robe pontifical,

Ne'er seen but wonder'd at: and so my state,
Seldom, but sumptuous, showed like a feast,
And won by rareness such solemnity.
The skipping king, he ambled up and down
With shallow jesters, and rash bavin wits,
Soon kindled, and soon burn'd; 'discarded state;
Mingled his royalty with carping fools;
Had his great name profaned with their scorns;
And gave his countenance, against his name,
To laugh at gibing boys, and stand the push
Of every beardless vain e comparative:
Grew a companion to the common streets,
Enfeoff'd himself to popularity:
That, being daily swallow'd by men's eyes,
They surfeited with honey; and began
To loathe the taste of sweetness, whereof a little
More than a little is by much too much.

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So, when he had occasion to be seen,
He was but as the cuckoo is in June,
Heard, not regarded; seen, but with such eyes,
As, sick and blunted with community,
Afford no extraordinary gaze,

Such as is bent on sun-like majesty,

When it shines seldom in admiring eyes;
But rather drowz'd, and hung their eye-lids down,
Slept in his face, and render'd such aspect

As cloudy men use to their adversaries,
Being with his presence glutted, gorg'd, and full.
And in that very line, Harry, stand'st thou;
For thou hast lost thy princely privilege,
With vile participation: not an eye
But is a-weary of thy common sight,

Save mine, which hath desir'd to see thee more;
Which now doth that I would not have it do,
Make blind itself with foolish tenderness.

P. Hen. I shall hereafter, my thrice-gracious lord, Be more myself.

K. Hen.

For all the world,

As thou art to this hour, was Richard then,
When I from France set foot at Ravenspurg;
And even as I was then is Percy now.
Now by my scepter, and my soul to boot,
He hath more worthy interest to the state,
Than thou the shadow of succession:
For of no right, nor color like to right,
He doth fill fields with harness in the realm,
Turns head against the lion's armed jaws,
And, being no more in debt to years than thou,
Leads ancient lords and reverend bishops on
To bloody battles, and to bruising arms.
What never-dying honor hath he got
Against renowned Douglas; whose high deeds,
Whose hot incursions, and great name in armis,
Holds from all soldiers chief majority,

And military title capital,

Through all the kingdoms that acknowledge Christ.
Thrice hath this Hotspur, Mars in swathing clothes,
This infant warrior, in his enterprizes
Discomfited great Douglas; ta'en him once,
Enlarged him, and made a friend of him,
To fill the mouth of deep defiance up,
And shake the peace and safety of our throne.
And what say you to this? Percy, Northumberland,
The archbishop's grace of York, Douglas, Mortimer,
Capitulate against us, and are up.

But wherefore do I tell these news to thee?
Why, Harry, do I tell thee of my foes,
Which art my near'st and dearest enemy?
Thou that art like enough, through vassal fear,
Base inclination, and the start of spleen,
To fight against me under Percy's pay,
To dog his heels, and court'sy at his frowns,
To show how much thou art degenerate.

P. Hen. Do not think so; you shall not find it so:
And God forgive them, that so much have sway'd
Your majesty's good thoughts away from me!
I will redeem all this on Percy's head,
And in the closing of some glorious day,
Be bold to tell you that I am your son;
When I will wear a garment all of blood,
And stain my favor in a bloody mask,
Which, wash'd away, shall scour my shame with it.
And that shall be the day, whene'er it lights,
That this same child of honor and renown,
This gallant Hotspur, this all-praised knight,
And your unthought-of Harry chance to meet.
For every honor sitting on his helm,
'Would they were multitudes; and on my head

In.- Armor.- Confederate; combine. Most fatal.

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