The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works

by William Shakespeare

In praise of Henry Percy. By my hopes,

  This present enterprise set off his head,

  I do not think a braver gentleman,

  More active-valiant or more valiant-young,

  More daring, or more bold, is now alive

  To grace this latter age with noble deeds.

  For my part, I may speak it to my shame,

  I have a truant been to chivalry;

  And so I hear he doth account me too.

  Yet this, before my father’s majesty:

  I am content that he shall take the odds

  Of his great name and estimation,

  And will, to save the blood on either side,

  Try fortune with him in a single fight.

  KING HENRY

  And, Prince of Wales, so dare we venture thee,

  Albeit considerations infinite

  Do make against it. No, good Worcester, no.

  We love our people well; even those we love

  That are misled upon your cousin’s part; 105

  And will they take the offer of our grace,

  Both he and they and you, yea, every man

  Shall be my friend again, and I’ll be his.

  So tell your cousin, and bring me word

  What he will do. But if he will not yield,

  Rebuke and dread correction wait on us,

  And they shall do their office. So be gone.

  We will not now be troubled with reply.

  We offer fair; take it advisedly.

  Exeunt Worcester [and Vernon]

  PRINCE HARRY

  It will not be accepted, on my life.

  The Douglas and the Hotspur both together

  Are confident against the world in arms.

  KING HENRY

  Hence, therefore, every leader to his charge,

  For on their answer will we set on them,

  And God befriend us as our cause is just!

  Exeunt all but Prince Harry and Oldcastle

  SIR JOHN Hal, if thou see me down in the battle, and bestride me, so. ’Tis a point of friendship.

  PRINCE HARRY Nothing but a colossus can do thee that friendship. Say thy prayers, and farewell.

  SIR JOHN I would ’twere bed-time, Hal, and all well.

  PRINCE HARRY Why, thou owest God a death. Exit

  SIR JOHN ‘Tis not due yet. I would be loath to pay him before his day. What need I be so forward with him that calls not on me? Well, ’tis no matter; honour pricks me on. Yea, but how if honour prick me off when I come on? How then? Can honour set-to a leg? No. Or an arm? No. Or take away the grief of a wound? No. Honour hath no skill in surgery, then? No. What is honour? A word. What is in that word ‘honour’? What is that ‘honour’ ? Air. A trim reckoning! Who hath it? He that died o’ Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No. ’Tis insensible then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why? Detraction will not suffer it. Therefore I’ll none of it. Honour is a mere scutcheon. And so ends my catechism.

  Exit

  5.2 Enter the Earl of Worcester and Sir Richard Vernon

  WORCESTER

  O no, my nephew must not know, Sir Richard,

  The liberal and kind offer of the King.

  VERNON

  ’Twere best he did.

  WORCESTER Then are we all undone.

  It is not possible, it cannot be,

  The King should keep his word in loving us.

  He will suspect us still, and find a time

  To punish this offence in other faults.

  Supposition all our lives shall be stuck full of eyes,

  For treason is but trusted like the fox,

  Who, ne‘er so tame, so cherished, and locked up,

  Will have a wild trick of his ancestors.

  Look how we can, or sad or merrily,

  Interpretation will misquote our looks,

  And we shall feed like oxen at a stall,

  The better cherished still the nearer death.

  My nephew’s trespass may be well forgot;

  It hath the excuse of youth and heat of blood,

  And an adopted name of privilege—

  A hare-brained Hotspur, governed by a spleen.

  All his offences live upon my head,

  And on his father’s. We did train him on,

  And, his corruption being ta’en from us,

  We as the spring of all shall pay for all.

  Therefore, good cousin, let not Harry know

  In any case the offer of the King.

  VERNON

  Deliver what you will; I’ll say ’tis so.

  Enter Hotspur and the Earl of Douglas

  Here comes your cousin.

  HOTSPUR My uncle is returned.

  Deliver up my lord of Westmorland.

  Uncle, what news?

  WORCESTER

  The King will bid you battle presently.

  DOUGLAS

  Defy him by the Lord of Westmorland.

  HOTSPUR

  Lord Douglas, go you and tell him so.

  DOUGLAS

  Marry, and shall, and very willingly. Exit

  WORCESTER

  There is no seeming mercy in the King.

  HOTSPUR

  Did you beg any? God forbid!

  WORCESTER

  I told him gently of our grievances,

  Of his oath-breaking, which he mended thus:

  By now forswearing that he is forsworn.

  He calls us ‘rebels’, ‘traitors’, and will scourge

  With haughty arms this hateful name in us.

  Enter the Earl of Douglas

  DOUGLAS

  Arm, gentlemen, to arms, for I have thrown

  A brave defiance in King Henry’s teeth-

  And Westmorland that was engaged did bear it—

  Which cannot choose but bring him quickly on.

  WORCESTER (to Hotspur)

  The Prince of Wales stepped forth before the King

  And, nephew, challenged you to single fight.

  HOTSPUR

  O, would the quarrel lay upon our heads,

  And that no man might draw short breath today

  But I and Harry Monmouth ! Tell me, tell me,

  How showed his tasking? Seemed it in contempt?

  VERNON

  No, by my soul, I never in my life

  Did hear a challenge urged more modestly,

  Unless a brother should a brother dare

  To gentle exercise and proof of arms.

  He gave you all the duties of a man,

  Trimmed up your praises with a princely tongue,

  Spoke your deservings like a chronicle,

  Making you ever better than his praise

  By still dispraising praise valued with you;

  And, which became him like a prince indeed,

  He made a blushing cital of himself,

  And chid his truant youth with such a grace

  As if he mastered there a double spirit

  Of teaching and of learning instantly.

  There did he pause; but let me tell the world,

  If he outlive the envy of this day,

  England did never owe so sweet a hope,

  So much misconstrued in his wantonness.

  HOTSPUR

  Cousin, I think thou art enamoured

  On his follies. Never did I hear

  Of any prince so wild a liberty.

  But be he as he will, yet once ere night

  I will embrace him with a soldier’s arm,

  That he shall shrink under my courtesy.

  Arm, arm, with speed! And fellows, soldiers, friends,

  Better consider what you have to do

  Than I, that have not well the gift of tongue,

  Can lift your blood up with persuasion.

  Enter a Messenger

  MESSENGER My lord, here are letters for you.

  HOTSPUR I cannot read them now. [Exit Messenger]

  O gentlemen, the time of life is short.

>   To spend that shortness basely were too long

  If life did ride upon a dial’s point,

  Still ending at the arrival of an hour.

  An if we live, we live to tread on kings;

  If die, brave death when princes die with us!

  Now for our consciences: the arms are fair

  When the intent of bearing them is just.

  Enter another Messenger

  MESSENGER

  My lord, prepare; the King comes on apace. [Exit]

  HOTSPUR

  I thank him that he cuts me from my tale,

  For I profess not talking, only this:

  Let each man do his best. And here draw I

  A sword whose temper I intend to stain

  With the best blood that I can meet withal

  In the adventure of this perilous day.

  Now Esperance! Percy! And set on!

  Sound all the lofty instruments of war,

  And by that music let us all embrace,

  For, heaven to earth, some of us never shall

  A second time do such a courtesy.

  The trumpets sound. Here they embrace. Exeunt

  5.3 King Henry enters with his power. Alarum, and exeunt to the battle. Then enter the Earl of Douglas, and Sir Walter Blunt, disguised as the King

  BLUNT

  What is thy name, that in the battle thus

  Thou crossest me? What honour dost thou seek

  Upon my head?

  DOUGLAS Know then my name is Douglas,

  And I do haunt thee in the battle thus

  Because some tell me that thou art a king.

  BLUNT They tell thee true.

  DOUGLAS

  The Lord of Stafford dear today hath bought

  Thy likeness, for instead of thee, King Harry,

  This sword hath ended him. So shall it thee,

  Unless thou yield thee as my prisoner.

  BLUNT

  I was not born a yielder, thou proud Scot,

  And thou shalt find a king that will revenge

  Lord Stafford’s death.

  They fight. Douglas kills Blunt. Then enter Hotspur

  HOTSPUR

  O Douglas, hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus,

  I never had triumphed upon a Scot.

  DOUGLAS

  All’s done, all’s won: here breathless lies the King.

  HOTSPUR Where?

  DOUGLAS Here.

  HOTSPUR

  This, Douglas? No, I know this face full well.

  A gallant knight he was; his name was Blunt—

  Semblably furnished like the King himself.

  DOUGLAS (to Blunt’s body)

  A fool go with thy soul, whither it goes !

  A borrowed title hast thou bought too dear.

  Why didst thou tell me that thou wert a king?

  HOTSPUR

  The king hath many marching in his coats.

  DOUGLAS

  Now by my sword, I will kill all his coats.

  I’ll murder all his wardrobe, piece by piece,

  Until I meet the King.

  HOTSPUR Up and away!

  Our soldiers stand full fairly for the day.

  Exeunt, leaving Blunt’s body

  Alarum. Enter Sir John Oldcastle

  SIR JOHN Though I could scape shot-free at London, I fear the shot here. Here’s no scoring but upon the pate.—Soft, who are you?—Sir Walter Blunt. There’s honour for you. Here’s no vanity. I am as hot as molten lead, and as heavy too. God keep lead out of me; I need no more weight than mine own bowels. I have led my ragamuffins where they are peppered; there’s not three of my hundred and fifty left alive, and they are for the town’s end, to beg during life.

  Enter Prince Harry

  But who comes here?

  PRINCE HARRY

  What, stand’st thou idle here? Lend me thy sword.

  Many a noble man lies stark and stiff

  Under the hoofs of vaunting enemies,

  Whose deaths as yet are unrevenged. I prithee

  Lend me thy sword.

  SIR JOHN

  O Hal, I prithee give me leave to breathe awhile.

  Turk Gregory never did such deeds in arms

  As I have done this day. I have paid Percy,

  I have made him sure.

  PRINCE HARRY He is indeed,

  And living to kill thee. I prithee

  Lend me thy sword.

  SIR JOHN Nay, before God, Hal,

  If Percy be alive thou gett’st not my sword;

  But take my pistol if thou wilt.

  PRINCE HARRY

  Give it me. What, is it in the case?

  SIR JOHN Ay, Hal;

  ’Tis hot, ’tis hot. There’s that will sack a city.

  The Prince draws it out, and finds it to be a bottle of sack

  PRINCE HARRY

  What, is it a time to jest and dally now?

  He throws the bottle at him. Exit

  SIR JOHN Well, if Percy be alive, I’ll pierce him. If he do come in my way, so; if he do not, if I come in his willingly, let him make a carbonado of me. I like not such grinning honour as Sir Walter hath. Give me life, which if I can save, so; if not, honour comes unlocked for, and there’s an end. Exit [with Blunt’s body]

  5.4 Alarum. Excursions. Enter King Henry, Prince Harry, wounded, Lord John of Lancaster, and the Earl of Westmorland

  KING HENRY

  I prithee, Harry, withdraw thyself, thou bleed’st too

  much.

  Lord John of Lancaster, go you with him.

  JOHN OF LANCASTER

  Not I, my lord, unless I did bleed too.

  PRINCE HARRY (to the King)

  I beseech your majesty, make up,

  Lest your retirement do amaze your friends.

  KING HENRY

  I will do so. My lord of Westmorland,

  Lead him to his tent.

  WESTMORLAND (to the Prince)

  Come, my lord, I’ll lead you to your tent.

  PRINCE HARRY

  Lead me, my lord? I do not need your help,

  And God forbid a shallow scratch should drive

  The Prince of Wales from such a field as this,

  Where stained nobility lies trodden on,

  And rebels’ arms triumph in massacres.

  JOHN OF LANCASTER

  We breathe too long. Come, cousin Westmorland,

  Our duty this way lies. For God’s sake, come.

  Exeunt Lancaster and Westmorland

  PRINCE HARRY

  By God, thou hast deceived me, Lancaster;

  I did not think thee lord of such a spirit.

  Before I loved thee as a brother, John,

  But now I do respect thee as my soul.

  KING HENRY

  I saw him hold Lord Percy at the point

  With lustier maintenance than I did look for

  Of such an ungrown warrior.

  PRINCE HARRY

  O, this boy lends mettle to us all! Exit

  Enter the Earl of Douglas

  DOUGLAS

  Another king! They grow like Hydra’s heads.

  I am the Douglas, fatal to all those

  That wear those colours on them. What art thou

  That counterfeit’st the person of a king?

  KING HENRY

  The King himself, who, Douglas, grieves at heart

  So many of his shadows thou hast met

  And not the very King. I have two boys

  Seek Percy and thyself about the field;

  But seeing thou fall’st on me so luckily,

  I will assay thee; and defend thyself.

  DOUGLAS

  I fear thou art another counterfeit;

  And yet, in faith, thou bear’st thee like a king.

  But mine I am sure thou art, whoe’er thou be,

  And thus I win thee.

  They fight. The King being in danger, enter Prince Harry

  PRINCE HARRY

  Hold up thy head, vile Scot, o
r thou art like

  Never to hold it up again. The spirits

  Of valiant Shirley, Stafford, Blunt, are in my arms.

  It is the Prince of Wales that threatens thee,

  Who never promiseth but he means to pay.

  They fight. Douglas flieth

  Cheerly, my lord! How fares your grace?

  Sir Nicholas Gawsey hath for succour sent,

  And so hath Clifton. I’ll to Clifton straight.

  KING HENRY Stay and breathe awhile.

  Thou hast redeemed thy lost opinion,

  And showed thou mak’st some tender of my life,

  In this fair rescue thou hast brought to me.

  PRINCE HARRY

  O God, they did me too much injury

  That ever said I hearkened for your death.

  If it were so, I might have let alone

  The insulting hand of Douglas over you,

  Which would have been as speedy in your end

  As all the poisonous potions in the world,

  And saved the treacherous labour of your son.

  KING HENRY

  Make up to Clifton; I’ll to Sir Nicholas Gawsey. Exit

  Enter Hotspur

  HOTSPUR

  If I mistake not, thou art Harry Monmouth.

  PRINCE HARRY

  Thou speak’st as if I would deny my name.

  HOTSPUR

  My name is Harry Percy.

  PRINCE HARRY Why then, I see

  A very valiant rebel of the name.

  I am the Prince of Wales; and think not, Percy,

  To share with me in glory any more.

  Two stars keep not their motion in one sphere,

  Nor can one England brook a double reign

  Of Harry Percy and the Prince of Wales.

  HOTSPUR

  Nor shall it, Harry, for the hour is come

  To end the one of us, and would to God

  Thy name in arms were now as great as mine.

  PRINCE HARRY

  I’ll make it greater ere I part from thee,

  And all the budding honours on thy crest

  I’ll crop to make a garland for my head.

  HOTSPUR

  I can no longer brook thy vanities.

  They fight.

  Enter Sir John Oldcastle

  SIR JOHN Well said, Hal! To it, Hal! Nay, you shall find no boy’s play here, I can tell you.

  Enter Douglas. He fighteth with Sir John, who falls down as if he were dead. Exit Douglas. The Prince killeth Hotspur