Are the indentures drawn? shall we be gone? GLENDOWER The moon shines fair; you may away by night:
I'll haste the writer and withal Break with your wives of your departure hence:
I am afraid my daughter will run mad, So much she doteth on her Mortimer.
Exit GLENDOWER MORTIMER Fie, cousin Percy! how you cross my father! HOTSPUR I cannot choose: sometime he angers me With telling me of the mouldwarp and the ant, Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies, And of a dragon and a finless fish, A clip-wing'd griffin and a moulten raven, A couching lion and a ramping cat, And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff As puts me from my faith. I tell you what;He held me last night at least nine hours In reckoning up the several devils' names That were his lackeys: I cried 'hum,' and 'well, go to,'
But mark'd him not a word. O, he is as tedious As a tired horse, a railing wife;Worse than a smoky house: I had rather live With cheese and garlic in a windmill, far, Than feed on cates and have him talk to me In any summer-house in Christendom. MORTIMER In faith, he is a worthy gentleman, Exceedingly well read, and profited In strange concealments, valiant as a lion And as wondrous affable and as bountiful As mines of India. Shall I tell you, cousin?
He holds your temper in a high respect And curbs himself even of his natural scope When you come 'cross his humour; faith, he does:
I warrant you, that man is not alive Might so have tempted him as you have done, Without the taste of danger and reproof:
But do not use it oft, let me entreat you. EARL OF WORCESTER In faith, my lord, you are too wilful-blame;And since your coming hither have done enough To put him quite beside his patience.
You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault:
Though sometimes it show greatness, courage, blood,--And that's the dearest grace it renders you,--Yet oftentimes it doth present harsh rage, Defect of manners, want of government, Pride, haughtiness, opinion and disdain:
The least of which haunting a nobleman Loseth men's hearts and leaves behind a stain Upon the beauty of all parts besides, Beguiling them of commendation. HOTSPUR Well, I am school'd: good manners be your speed!
Here come our wives, and let us take our leave.
Re-enter GLENDOWER with the ladies MORTIMER This is the deadly spite that angers me;My wife can speak no English, I no Welsh. GLENDOWER My daughter weeps: she will not part with you;She'll be a soldier too, she'll to the wars. MORTIMER Good father, tell her that she and my aunt Percy Shall follow in your conduct speedily.
Glendower speaks to her in Welsh, and she answers him in the same GLENDOWER She is desperate here; a peevish self-wind harlotry, one that no persuasion can do good upon.
The lady speaks in Welsh MORTIMER I understand thy looks: that pretty Welsh Which thou pour'st down from these swelling heavens I am too perfect in; and, but for shame, In such a parley should I answer thee.
The lady speaks again in Welsh I understand thy kisses and thou mine, And that's a feeling disputation:
But I will never be a truant, love, Till I have learned thy language; for thy tongue Makes Welsh as sweet as ditties highly penn'd, Sung by a fair queen in a summer's bower, With ravishing division, to her lute. GLENDOWER Nay, if you melt, then will she run mad.
The lady speaks again in Welsh MORTIMER O, I am ignorance itself in this! GLENDOWER She bids you on the wanton rushes lay you down And rest your gentle head upon her lap, And she will sing the song that pleaseth you And on your eyelids crown the god of sleep.
Charming your blood with pleasing heaviness, Making such difference 'twixt wake and sleep As is the difference betwixt day and night The hour before the heavenly-harness'd team Begins his golden progress in the east. MORTIMER With all my heart I'll sit and hear her sing:
By that time will our book, I think, be drawn GLENDOWER Do so;And those musicians that shall play to you Hang in the air a thousand leagues from hence, And straight they shall be here: sit, and attend. HOTSPUR Come, Kate, thou art perfect in lying down: come, quick, quick, that I may lay my head in thy lap. LADY PERCY Go, ye giddy goose.
The music plays HOTSPUR Now I perceive the devil understands Welsh;And 'tis no marvel he is so humorous.
By'r lady, he is a good musician. LADY PERCY Then should you be nothing but musical for you are altogether governed by humours. Lie still, ye thief, and hear the lady sing in Welsh. HOTSPUR I had rather hear Lady, my brach, howl in Irish. LADY PERCY Wouldst thou have thy head broken? HOTSPUR No. LADY PERCY Then be still. HOTSPUR Neither;'tis a woman's fault. LADY PERCY Now God help thee! HOTSPUR To the Welsh lady's bed. LADY PERCY What's that? HOTSPUR Peace! she sings.
Here the lady sings a Welsh song HOTSPUR Come, Kate, I'll have your song too. LADY PERCY Not mine, in good sooth. HOTSPUR Not yours, in good sooth! Heart! you swear like a comfit-maker's wife. 'Not you, in good sooth,'
and 'as true as I live,' and 'as God shall mend me,'
and 'as sure as day,'
And givest such sarcenet surety for thy oaths, As if thou never walk'st further than Finsbury.
Swear me, Kate, like a lady as thou art, A good mouth-filling oath, and leave 'in sooth,'
And such protest of pepper-gingerbread, To velvet-guards and Sunday-citizens.
Come, sing. LADY PERCY I will not sing. HOTSPUR 'Tis the next way to turn tailor, or be red-breast teacher. An the indentures be drawn, I'll away within these two hours; and so, come in when ye will.
Exit GLENDOWER Come, come, Lord Mortimer; you are as slow As hot Lord Percy is on fire to go.
By this our book is drawn; we'll but seal, And then to horse immediately. MORTIMER With all my heart.
Exeunt SCENE II. London. The palace. Enter KING HENRY IV, PRINCE HENRY, and others KING HENRY IV Lords, give us leave; the Prince of Wales and IMust have some private conference; but be near at hand, For we shall presently have need of you.