Enter Hotspur alone, reading a letter. HOTSPUR 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 5
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. 10
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 15
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 20
rogue is this! Why, my Lord of York commends
the plot and the general course of the action.
Zounds, 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 25
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 30
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 35
King. We are prepared. I will set forward tonight. Enter his Lady. How now, Kate? I must leave you within these two
hours. | Meanwhile, at Warkworth Castle in Northumberland, Hotspur reads a letter from someone who refuses to take part in the rebellion because it's too dangerous and the parties involved are untrustworthy. (Note: the play never reveals who wrote the letter.) Hotspur, ticked off about the letter, rants and raves to himself before his wife, Kate, enters the room. |
LADY PERCY
O my good lord, why are you thus alone?
For what offense have I this fortnight been 40
A banished 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? 45
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 watched,
And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars, 50
Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed,
Cry “Courage! To the field!” And thou hast talked
Of sallies and retires, of trenches, tents,
Of palisadoes, frontiers, parapets,
Of basilisks, of cannon, culverin, 55
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 bestirred thee in thy sleep,
That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow 60
Like bubbles in a late-disturbèd stream,
And in thy face strange motions have appeared,
Such as we see when men restrain their breath
On some great sudden hest. O, what portents are
these? 65
Some heavy business hath my lord in hand,
And I must know it, else he loves me not. | Hotspur announces he's leaving in two hours and Lady Percy complains about being neglected by her husband. He hasn't been fulfilling his duties in bed. She asks what's bothering him and wants to know why he thrashes around and talks in his sleep about combat. Kate says if Hotspur doesn't tell her what's up, then it means he doesn't love her. |
HOTSPUR
What, ho! Enter a Servant. Is Gilliams with the packet gone? SERVANT He is, my lord, an hour ago. 70 HOTSPUR
Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff? SERVANT
One horse, my lord, he brought even now. HOTSPUR
What horse? A roan, a crop-ear, is it not? SERVANT
It is, my lord. HOTSPUR That roan shall be my throne. 75
Well, I will back him straight. O, Esperance!
Bid Butler lead him forth into the park.
Servant exits. | Hotspur ignores Kate and talks to his servant about his horse. (We guess he doesn't love her.) |
LADY PERCY But hear you, my lord. HOTSPUR What say’st thou, my lady? LADY PERCY What is it carries you away? 80 HOTSPUR Why, my horse, my love, my horse. LADY PERCY Out, you mad-headed ape!
A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen
As you are tossed with. In faith,
I’ll know your business, Harry, that I will. 85
I fear my brother Mortimer doth stir
About his title, and hath sent for you
To line his enterprise; but if you go— HOTSPUR
So far afoot, I shall be weary, love. LADY PERCY
Come, come, you paraquito, answer me 90
Directly unto this question that I ask.
In faith, I’ll break thy little finger, Harry,
An if thou wilt not tell me all things true. HOTSPUR Away!
Away, you trifler. Love, I love thee not. 95
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 cracked crowns,
And pass them current too.—Gods me, my horse!—
What say’st thou, Kate? What wouldst thou have 100
with me? LADY PERCY
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. 105 HOTSPUR 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. 110
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 115
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 How? So far? HOTSPUR
Not an inch further. But hark you, Kate, 120
Whither I go, thither shall you go too.
Today will I set forth, tomorrow you.
Will this content you, Kate? LADY PERCY It must, of force. They exit. | Kate asks again why Percy's leaving and says she suspects her brother, Mortimer, is somehow involved. Kate and Hotspur banter back and forth a bit. Kate is witty and indulgent and Hotspur's kind of a jerk. He claims not to love his wife and says now's not the time for hanky-panky – he's planning a bloody rebellion here. Hotspur says he's leaving soon and he can't tell Kate what's going on because she's a woman, which means she can't keep a secret. But, he promises that Kate will follow him tomorrow. |