He never did fall off, my fovereign Liege (9), In fingle oppofition, hand to hand, He did confound the best part of an hour Three times they breath'd, and three times did they drink, Colour her working with fuch deadly wounds; (9) He never did fall off my fou'reign Liege, But by the chance of war.] The fenfe here is very carelefly exprefs'd, if this be the genuine reading: for, in that case, the poet muft mean; he never did fall off, tho' we by the chance of war have loft his fervice. Mr. Warburton has suspected the text; and therefore I'll fubjcin his reasons and emendation."A very pretty "way of apologizing for Mortimer! The King calls him revolted "Mortimer; and well he might, if he had indeed revolted, tho' by the chance of war. Can the chance of war excufe a foldier for "forfeiting his honour? Our military men will scarce allow it. "But in cafe Hot-spur had a mind to infinuate, that the chance of war was an alievation to the revolt, he would not, fure, in "common sense have resented the epithet in fuch a manner as to "repeat the King's words with great disdain ;—revolted Mortimer! "This would be execrable stuff, indeed, in the mouth of a foldier, ❝or a reafoner. I am perfuaded therefore the poet wrote; He never did fall off, my fou'reign Liege, But 'bides the chance of war. “i. e. abides by it, endures it. And that, indeed, was a fufficient "proof that he had not fall'n off, if he yet endured the rigours of "imprisonment. And that this was truly Hot-fpur's fentiment, that is, that he had at leaft a mind to make the King believe fo, hear his own words afterwards; -fuffer'd bis kinfman March, (Who is, if ev'ry owner were right plac'd Indeed, bis King ;) to be encag'd in Wales, &c. Receive Receive fo many, and all willingly. Then let him not be flander'd with revolt. K. Henry. Thou doft belie him, Percy, thou belieft him;; He never did encounter with Glendower: He durft as well have met the devil alone, Art not afham'd? but, firrah, from this hour Send me your prifoners with the speedieft means,, [Exit K. Henry.. Hot. And if the devil come and roar for them,, I will not fend them. I will after strait, And tell him fo; for I will eafe my heart,. Although it be with hazard of my head. North.What, drunk with choler? stay, and pause a while;; Here comes your uncle. Enter Worcesters. Hot. Speak of Mortimer? Yes, I will fpeak of him; and let my foul! North. Brother, the King hath made your nephew madi. [To Worcester.. Wor. Who ftrook this heat up, after I was gone?: Hot. He will, forfooth, have all my prifoners :: And when I urg'd the ranfom once again Of my wife's brother, then his cheek look'd pale,, By Wor. I cannot blame him; was he not proclaim'd;, North.. North. He was: I heard the proclamation; From whence he, intercepted, did return To be depos'd, and shortly murdered. Wor. And for whofe death, we in the world's wide mouth Live fcandaliz'd, and foully spoken of. Hot. But foft, I pray you Proclaim my brother Mortimer Heir to the crown ? did King Richard then North. He did; myself did hear it, Hot. Nay, then I cannot blame his cousin King, Ev❜n with the bloody payments of your deaths: Wor. Peace, coufin, fay no more. Hot. If he fall in, good night, or fink or fwim: So honour cross it from the north to fouth; And let them grapple.O! the blood more firs North. Imagination of fome great exploit Hot. By heav'n, methinks, it were an eafy leap (10), Where fadom-line could never touch the ground, But out upon this half-fac'd fellowship! Wer. He apprehends a world of figures here, Wor. Thofe fame noble Scots, (10) By beav'n, methinks, it were an easy leap To pluck bright bonour, &c.] This bold Rbodomontado of Hot fpur, however, by the mouthing of an after, it may be always crown'd with applause; I find, and not without fome juftice, was carp'd at and ridicul'd in our author's time. In Beaumont and Fleteber's Knight of the burning Peftle, (the Rebearfal of those days,) a grocer's wife brings her 'prentice Ralph to the Play-boufe to act a part; and encouraging him to exert, fays, Hold up thy bead, Ralph ; Shew the gentlemen what thou can't do: Speak a huffing part: warrant you the gentlemen will accept of it. And then Ralph repeats this whole fpeech of Hot-Spur.~ Hot. Hot. I'll keep them all. By heav'n, he thall not have a Scot of them: Wor. You ftart away, And lend no ear unto my purposes Hot. I will; that's flat: He faid, he would not ranfom Mortimer : Wor, Hear you, coufin a word. Hot. All ftudies here I folemnly defy, Wor. Farewel, my kinfman; I will talk to you,. North. Why, what a wafp tongu'd and impatient-fool: Art thou, to break into this woman's mood, Tying thine ear to no tongue but thine own? Hot. Why, look you, I am whipt and scourg'd with rods,. In Richard's time- what do ye call the place ? Hot. You fay true :: Why, what a deal of candied courtesy This fawning greyhound then did proffer me!: Look, |