What with the injuries of a wanton time;7 That all in England did repute him dead, That even our love durst not come near your sight, Sworn to us in your younger enterprize. K. Hen. These things, indeed, you have articulated,' Proclaim'd at market-crosses, read in churches; To face the garment of rebellion With some fine colour, that may please the eye And never yet did insurrection want 7 the injuries of a wanton time ;] i. e. the injuries done by king Richard in the wantonness of prosperity. • As that ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird,] The cuckoo's chicken who, being hatched and fed by the sparrow, in whose nest the cuckoo's egg was laid, grows in time able to devour her nurse. we stand opposed, &c.] We stand in opposition to you. articulated,] i. e. exhibited in articles. 9 Nor moody beggars, starving for a time 2 P. Hen. In both our armies, there is many a soul If once they join in trial. Tell your nephew, And So, I hear, he doth account me too: I am content, that he shall take the odds And will, to save the blood on either side, Try fortune with him in a single fight. K. Hen. And, prince of Wales, so dare we venture thee, Albeit, considerations infinite Do make against it:- No, good Worcester, no, That are misled upon your cousin's part: 2 &c. C starving for a time-] i. e. impatiently expecting a time, set off his head,] i. e. taken from his account. We will not now be troubled with reply: [Exeunt WORCESTER and VERNON P. Hen. It will not be accepted, on my life: The Douglas and the Hotspur both together Are confident against the world in arms. K. Hen. 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 King, BLUNT, and Prince JOHN. Fal. Hal, if thou see me down in the battle, and bestride me, so; 'tis a point of friendship. P. Hen. Nothing but a colossus can do thee that friendship. Say thy prayers, and farewell. Fal. I would it were bed-time, Hal, and all well. [Exit. Fal. '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. Is it insensible then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living? No. Why? Detraction will not suffer therefore I'll none of it: Honour is a mere scutcheon*, and so ends my catechism. it: [Exit. Honour is a mere scutcheon,] The reward of brave actions formerly was only some honourable bearing in the shields of arms bestowed upon deservers. But Falstaff having said that honour often came not till after death, he calls it very wittily a scutcheon, which is the painted heraldry borne in funeral processions; and by mere scutcheon is insinuated that whether alive or dead, honour was but a name. SCENE II. The Rebel Camp. Enter WORCESTER and VERNON. Wor. O, no, my nephew must not know, sir Richard, The liberal kind offer of the king. Ver. 'Twere best, he did. It is not possible, it cannot be, Then are we all undone. The king should keep his word in loving us ; It hath the excuse of youth, and heat of blood; A hare-brain'd Hotspur, govern'd by a spleen: And on his father's; -we did train him on : We, as the spring of all, shall pay for all. Ver. Deliver what you will, I'll say, 'tis so. 66 + Suspicion all our lives shall be stuck full of eyes." MALONE. Enter HOTSPUR and DOUGLAS; and Officers and Soldiers, behind. Hot. My uncle is return'd: - Deliver up My lord of Westmoreland. 5- Uncle, what news? Wor. The king will bid you battle presently. Doug. Defy him by the lord of Westmoreland. Hot. Lord Douglas, go you and tell him so. Doug. Marry, and shall, and very willingly. [Exit. Wor. There is no seeming mercy in the king. Hot. Did you beg any? God forbid ! Wor. 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. Re-enter Douglas. Doug. Arm, gentlemen; to arms! for I have thrown A brave defiance in king Henry's teeth, And Westmoreland, that was engag'd, did bear it; Wor. The prince of Wales stepp'd forth before the king, And, nephew, challeng'd you to single fight. Hot. O, 'would the quarrel lay upon our heads; And that no man might draw short breath to-day, But I, and Harry Monmouth! Tell me, tell me, How show'd his tasking? seem'd it in contempt? Ver. No, by my soul; I never in my life, Did hear a challenge urg'd more modestly, Unless a brother should a brother dare To gentle exercise and proof of arms. My lord of Westmoreland.] He was " impawned as a surety for the safe return" of Worcester. |