Henry IV, Pt. 1
Act II, Scene 3
Warkworth castle .
Costume design for Lady Percy (also known as Lady Hotspur)
circa 1900
- Enter Hotspur solus , reading a letter .
Hotspur
1 - 34- “ But , for mine own part , my lord , I could be well contented
- to be there , in respect of the love I bear your house .”
- He could be contented : why is he not then ? In the respect of
- the love he bears our house : he shows in this , he loves his
- own barn better than he loves our house . Let me see some
- more .
- “ The purpose you undertake is dangerous ”
- — why , that’s certain . ’Tis dangerous to take a cold , to
- sleep , to drink , but I tell you , my lord fool , out of this
- nettle , danger , we pluck this flower , safety .
- “ The purpose you undertake is dangerous , the friends you
- have nam’d uncertain , the time itself unsorted , and your
- whole plot too light for the counterpoise of so great an
- opposition .”
- Say you so , say you so ? I say unto you again , you are a
- shallow , cowardly hind , and you lie . What a lack - brain is
- this ! By the Lord , our plot is a good plot as ever was laid ,
- our friends true and constant : a good plot , good friends ,
- and full of expectation ; an excellent plot , very good
- friends . What a frosty - spirited rogue is this ! Why , my Lord
- of York commends the plot and the general course of the
- action . ’Zounds , and I were now by this rascal , I could
- brain him with his lady’s fan . Is there not my father , my
- uncle , and myself ? Lord Edmund Mortimer , my Lord of York ,
- and Owen Glendower ? Is there not besides the Douglas ? Have I
- not all their letters to meet me in arms by the ninth of the
- next month ? And are they not some of them set forward
- already ? What a pagan rascal is this ! An infidel ! Ha , you
- shall see now in very sincerity of fear and cold heart will
- he to the King , and lay open all our proceedings . O , I could
- divide myself and go to buffets , for moving such a dish of
- skim - milk with so honorable an action ! Hang him ! Let him
- tell the King : we are prepar’d . I will set forward tonight .
- Enter his Lady .
- How now , Kate ? I must leave you within these two hours .
Lady Percy
35 - 62- O my good lord , why are you thus alone ?
- For what offense have I this fortnight been
- A banish’d woman from my Harry’s bed ?
- Tell me , sweet lord , what is’t that takes from thee
- Thy stomach , pleasure , and thy golden sleep ?
- Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth ,
- And start so often when thou sit’st alone ?
- Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks ,
- And given my treasures and my rights of thee
- To thick - ey’d musing and curst melancholy ?
- In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watch’d ,
- And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars ,
- Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed ,
- Cry “ Courage ! To the field !” And thou hast talk’d
- Of sallies and retires , of trenches , tents ,
- Of palisadoes , frontiers , parapets ,
- Of basilisks , of cannon , culverin ,
- Of prisoners’ ransom , and of soldiers slain ,
- And all the currents of a heady fight ;
- Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war ,
- And thus hath so bestirr’d thee in thy sleep ,
- That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow ,
- Like bubbles in a late - disturbed stream ,
- And in thy face strange motions have appear’d ,
- Such as we see when men restrain their breath
- On some great sudden hest . O , what portents are these ?
- Some heavy business hath my lord in hand ,
- And I must know it , else he loves me not .
In faith, I’ll break thy little finger, Harry
Johann Heinrich Ramberg, 1829
Hotspur
63 - 64- What ho !
- Enter Servant .
- Is Gilliams with the packet gone ?
Servant
65- He is , my lord , an hour ago .
Hotspur
66- Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff ?
Servant
67- One horse , my lord , he brought even now .
Hotspur
68- What horse ? Roan ? A crop - ear , is it not ?
Servant
69- It is , my lord .
Hotspur
70 - 72- That roan shall be my throne .
- Well , I will back him straight . O Esperance !
- Bid Butler lead him forth into the park .
- Exit Servant .
Lady Percy
73- But hear you , my lord .
Hotspur
74- What say’st thou , my lady ?
Lady Percy
75- What is it carries you away ?
Hotspur
76- Why , my horse , my love , my horse .
Lady Percy
77 - 83- Out , you mad - headed ape !
- A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen
- As you are toss’d with . In faith ,
- I’ll know your business , Harry , that I will .
- I fear my brother Mortimer doth stir
- About his title , and hath sent for you
- To line his enterprise , but if you go —
Hotspur and Lady Hotspur
C. B. Young, circa 1840
Hotspur
84- So far afoot , I shall be weary , love .
Lady Percy
85 - 88- Come , come , you paraquito , answer me
- Directly unto this question that I ask .
- In faith , I’ll break thy little finger , Harry ,
- And if thou wilt not tell me all things true .
Hotspur
89 - 95- Away ,
- Away , you trifler ! Love , I love thee not ,
- I care not for thee , Kate . This is no world
- To play with mammets and to tilt with lips .
- We must have bloody noses and crack’d crowns ,
- And pass them current too . God’s me , my horse !
- What say’st thou , Kate ? What wouldst thou have with me ?
Lady Percy
96 - 99- Do you not love me ? Do you not indeed ?
- Well , do not then , for since you love me not ,
- I will not love myself . Do you not love me ?
- Nay , tell me if you speak in jest or no .
Hotspur
100 - 112- Come , wilt thou see me ride ?
- And when I am a’ horseback , I will swear
- I love thee infinitely . But hark you , Kate ,
- I must not have you henceforth question me
- Whither I go , nor reason whereabout .
- Whither I must , I must , and to conclude ,
- This evening must I leave you , gentle Kate .
- I know you wise , but yet no farther wise
- Than Harry Percy’s wife ; constant you are ,
- But yet a woman , and for secrecy ,
- No lady closer , for I well believe
- Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know ,
- And so far will I trust thee , gentle Kate .
Lady Percy
113- How ! So far ?
Hotspur
114 - 117- Not an inch further . But hark you , Kate ,
- Whither I go , thither shall you go too ;
- Today will I set forth , tomorrow you .
- Will this content you , Kate ?
Lady Percy
118- It must of force .
- Exeunt .
I will swear I love thee infinitely.
circa 1825