swear arms. The virtue of this jest will be, the incomprehensible lies that this same fat rogue will tell us, when we meet at supper: how thirty, at least, he fought with; what wards, what blows, what extremities he endured; and, in the reproof of this, lies the jest. P. Hen. Well, I'll go with thee; provide us all things necessary, and meet me in Eastcheap. Fare well. Poins. Farewell, my lord. [Erit. P. Hen. I know you all, and will awhile uphold The unyok'd humour of your idleness: Yet herein will I imitate the sun; Pjx' Who doth permit the base contagious clouds To smother up his beauty from the world, That, when he please again to be himself, Being wanted, he may be more wonder'd at, By breaking through the foul and ugly mists Of vapours, that did seem to strangle him. So, when this loose behaviour I throw off, And pay the debt I never promised, By how much better than my word I am, By so much shall I falsify men's hopes; And, like bright metal on a sullen ground, My reformation, glittering o'er my fault, Shall show more goodly, and attract more eyes, Than that which hath no foil to set it off. I'll so offend, to make offence a skill; Redeeming time, when men think least I will. [Exit. SCENE III. The Council Chamber. Flourish of Trumpets and Drums. King Henry, PRINCE JOHN, EARL OF WESTMORE LAND, EARL OF WORCESTER, EARL OF NORTH- rate, Wor. Our house, my sovereign liege, little deserves The scourge of greatness to be us'd on it; And that same greatness too, which our own hands Have holp to make so portly. North. My lord, K. Hen. Worcester, get thee gone; for I do see Your use and counsel, we shall send for you.“ [Exit WORCESTER. You were about to speak. North. Yea, my good lord. Those prisoners, in your highness' name demanded, Which Harry Percy here at Holmedon took, Were, as he says, not with such strength deny'd, As is deliver'd to your majesty. Hot. My liege, I did deny no prisoners. But, I remember, when the fight was done, When I was dry with rage, and extreme toil, Breathless and faint, leaning upon my sword, Came there a certain lord, neat, trimly dress’d, Fresh as a bridegroom: and his chin, new reap'd, Show'd like a stubble land at harvest home: He was perfumed like a milliner; And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he held A pouncet-box, which, ever and anon, He gave his nose, and took’t away again; And still he smil'd, and talk'd ; And, as the soldiers bore dead bodies by, He call’d them-untaught knaves, unmannerly, To bring a slovenly, unhandsome, corse, Betwixt the wind and his nobility. With many holiday and lady terms, He question'd me; among the rest demanded My prisoners, in your majesty's behalf. I then, all smarting, with my wounds being cold, To be so pester'd with a popinjay, Out of my grief and my impatience, Answer’d, neglectingly, I know not what; He should, or he should not; for he made me mad, To see him shine so brisk, and smell so sweet, And talk so like a waiting gentlewoman, Of guns, and drums, and wounds,-(Heaven save the mark!)And telling me, the sovereign'st thing on earth Was parmacity, for an inward bruise ; And that it was great pity, so it was, Blunt. The circumstance consider’d, good my lord, K. Hen. Why, yet he doth deny his prisoners; Hot. Revolted Mortimer! Those mouthed wounds, which, valiantly, he took, drink, dost belie him; He never did encounter with Glendower; I tell thee, He durst as well have met the devil alone, As Owen Glendower for an enemy. Art not ashamed ? But, sirrah, henceforth Let me not hear you speak of Mortimer: Send me your prisoners with the speediest means, Or you shall hear in such a kind from me As will displease you.- My Lord Northumberland, We license your departure with your son : Send us your prisoners, or you'll hear of it. [Flourish of Trumpets and Drums.-Exeunt all but NORTHUMBERLAND and HotSPUR. Hot. And if the devil come and roar for them, I will not send them :- I will after straight, And tell him so; for I will ease my heart, Although I make a hazard of my head. North. What, drunk with choler ? stay, and pause awhile. Here comes your uncle. |