It will be vain to endeavour to prevent many tender-hearted readers, who sigh over the horrors of a battle, from wishing, that the prince's challenge to Hotspur, had produced the single combat he desired; and, that the victory of the day had been so decided. Such tender, and compassionate persons, should not suffer their estimation of honour thus to sink into an equality with the cowardly Falstaff's; but they should call to mind-that, though it was, in ancient times, considered as a token of valour, for a prince at the head of an army, to challenge to single contest the chief warrior on the opposite side; yet, in modern days, when a powerful monarch threw his gauntlet down, to save the effusion of blood, this act of self-sacrifice was considered as a token of mere mad ness. DRAMATIS PERSONE. HENRY IV. KING OF ENGLAND EARL OF NORTHUMBERLAND SIR WALTER BLUNT SIR JOHN FALSTAFF POINS RABY TRAVELLERS GADSHILL BARDOLPH PETO Mr. Murray. Mr. Waddy. Mr. Klanert. Mr. Abbot. Mr. Lewiss. Mr. Reeves. Mr. Powers. Mr. Wilde. Mr. Davenport. Mr. Atkins. KING HENRY IV. THE FIRST PART. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. The Palace in London. Flourish of Trumpets and Drums. KING HENRY, PRINCE JOHN OF LANCASTER, EARL OF WESTMORELAND, SIR RICHARD VERNON, SIR WALTER BLUNT, and other GENTLEMEN discovered. K. Hen. So shaken as we are, so wan with care, Shall daub her lips with her own children's blood; Therefore, friends, As far as to the sepulchre of Christ Forthwith a power of English shall we levy, West. My liege, this haste was hot in question, K. Hen. It seems, then, that the tidings of this Brake off our business for the Holy Land. West. This, match'd with other, did, my gracious lord; For more uneven, and unwelcome news, Came from the north, and thus it did import. At Holmedon met, Where they did spend a sad and bloody hour; And shape of likelihood, the news was told; K. Hen. Here is a dear, a true-industrious friend, Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse, On Holmedon's plains: of prisoners, Hotspur took A gallant prize? ha, cousin, is it not? West. It is a conquest for a prince to boast of. In envy that my Lord Northumberland Of my young Harry. Oh, that it could be prov'd, Of this young Percy's pride? the prisoners, Malevolent to you, in all aspects. K. Hen. But I have sent for him to answer this; Cousin, on Wednesday next, our council we [Rises. |