READ STUDY GUIDE: Act II, scenes i–iii |
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Act II, Scene iii:
Warkworth. A Room in the Castle.
Warkworth. A Room in the Castle.
| [Enter Hotspur, reading a letter.] |
| HOT.: |
| —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 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 named 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. Zwounds! an 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 |
| skimm'd milk with so honourable an action! |
| Hang him! let him tell the King: we are prepared. I will set |
| forward to-night.— |
| [Enter Lady Percy.] |
| How now, Kate! I must leave you within these two hours. |
| LADY.: |
| O, my good lord, why are you thus alone? |
| For what offence 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 sitt'st alone? |
| Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks; |
| And given my treasures and my rights of thee |
| To thick-eyed 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 ransomed, 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. |
| HOT.: |
| What, ho! |
| [Enter a Servant.] |
| Is Gilliams with the packet gone? |
| SERV.: |
| He is, my lord, an hour ago. |
| HOT.: |
| Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff? |
| SERV.: |
| One horse, my lord, he brought even now. |
| HOT.: |
| What horse? a roan, a crop-ear, is it not? |
| SERV.: |
| It is, my lord. |
| HOT.: |
| 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.: |
| But hear you, my lord. |
| HOT.: |
| What say'st thou, my lady? |
| LADY.: |
| What is it carries you away? |
| HOT.: |
| Why, my horse, my love, my horse. |
| LADY.: |
| 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,— |
| HOT.: |
| So far a-foot, I shall be weary, love. |
| LADY.: |
| Come, come, you paraquito, answer me |
| Directly to this question that I ask: |
| In faith, I'll break thy little finger, Harry, |
| An if thou wilt not tell me true. |
| HOT.: |
| 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.—Gods me, my horse!— |
| What say'st thou, Kate? what wouldst thou have with me? |
| LADY.: |
| 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. |
| HOT.: |
| Come, wilt thou see me ride? |
| And when I am o' 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 further 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.: |
| How! so far? |
| HOT.: |
| Not an inch further. But hark you, Kate: |
| Whither I go, thither shall you go too; |
| To-day will I set forth, to-morrow you. |
| Will this content you, Kate? |
| LADY.: |
| It must of force. |
| [Exeunt.] |
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