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hold their level with thy princely heart？ Prince。 So please your Majesty； I
would I could Quit all offences with as clear excuse As well as I am
doubtless I can purge Myself of many I am charged withal。 Yet such
extenuation let me beg As； in reproof of many tales devis'd； Which oft the
ear of greatness needs must bear By； smiling pickthanks and base
newsmongers； I may； for some things true wherein my youth Hath faulty
wand'red and irregular； And pardon on lily true submission。 King。 God
pardon thee！ Yet let me wonder； Harry； At thy affections； which do hold a
wing； Quite from the flight of all thy ancestors。 Thy place in Council thou
hast rudely lost； Which by thy younger brother is supplied； And art almost
an alien to the hearts Of all the court and princes of my blood。 The hope
and expectation of thy time Is ruin'd； and the soul of every man
Prophetically do forethink thy fall。 Had I so lavish of my presence been；
So common…hackney'd in the eyes of men； So stale and cheap to vulgar
company； Opinion； that did help me to the crown； Had still kept loyal to
possession And left me in reputeless banishment； A fellow of no mark nor
likelihood。 By being seldom seen； I could not stir But； like a comet； I Was
wond'red at； That men would tell their children； 'This is he！' Others would
say； 'Where？ Which is Bolingbroke？' And then I stole all courtesy from
heaven； And dress'd myself in such humility That I did pluck allegiance
from men's hearts； Loud shouts and salutations from their mouths Even in
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the presence of the crowned King。 Thus did I keep my person fresh and
new； My presence； like a robe pontifical； Ne'er seen but wond'red at； and
so my state； Seldom but sumptuous； show'd like a feast And won by
rareness such solemnity。 The skipping King； he ambled up and down With
shallow jesters and rash bavin wits； Soon kindled and soon burnt； carded
his state； Mingled his royalty with cap'ring fools； Had his great name
profaned with their scorns And gave his countenance； against his name； To
laugh at gibing boys and stand the push Of every beardless vain
comparative； Grew a companion to the common streets； Enfeoff'd himself
to popularity； That； being dally swallowed by men's eyes； They surfeited
with honey and began To loathe the taste of sweetness； whereof a little
More than a little is by much too much。 So； when he had occasion to be
seen； He was but as the cuckoo is in June； Heard； not regarded… seen； but
with such eyes As； sick and blunted with community； Afford no
extraordinary gaze； Such as is bent on unlike majesty When it shines
seldom in admiring eyes； But rather drows'd and hung their eyelids down；
Slept in his face； and rend'red such aspect As cloudy men use to their
adversaries； Being with his presence glutted； gorg'd； and full。 And in that
very line； Harry； standest thou； For thou hast lost thy princely privilege
With vile participation。 Not an eye But is aweary of thy common sight；
Save mine； which hath desir'd to see thee more； Which now doth that I
would not have it do… Make blind itself with foolish tenderness。 Prince。 I
shall hereafter； my thrice…gracious lord； Be more myself。 King。 For all the
world； As thou art to this hour； was Richard then When I from France set
foot at Ravenspurgh； And even as I was then is Percy now。 Now； by my
sceptre； and my soul to boot； He hath more worthy interest to the state
Than thou； the shadow of succession； For of no right； nor colour like to
right； He doth fill fields with harness in the realm； Turns head against the
lion's armed jaws； And； Being no more in debt to years than thou； Leads
ancient lords and reverend Bishops on To bloody battles and to bruising
arms。 What never…dying honour hath he got Against renowmed Douglas！
whose high deeds； Whose hot incursions and great name in arms Holds
from all soldiers chief majority And military title capital Through all the
kingdoms that acknowledge Christ。 Thrice hath this Hotspur； Mars in
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swathling clothes； This infant warrior； in his enterprises Discomfited great
Douglas； ta'en him once； Enlarged him； and made a friend of him； To fill
the mouth of deep defiance up And shake the peace and safety of our
throne。 And what say you to this？ Percy； Northumberland； The
Archbishop's Grace of York； Douglas； Mortimer Capitulate against us and
are up。 But wherefore do I tell these news to thee Why； Harry； do I tell
thee of my foes； Which art my nearest and dearest enemy' Thou that art
like enough； through vassal fear； Base inclination； and the start of spleen；
To fight against me under Percy's pay； To dog his heels and curtsy at his
frowns； To show how much thou art degenerate。 Prince。 Do not think so。
You shall not find it so。 And God forgive them that so much have sway'd
Your Majesty's good thoughts away from me！ I will redeem all this on
Percy's head And； in the closing of some glorious day； Be bold to tell you
that I am your son； When I will wear a garment all of blood； And stain my
favours in a bloody mask； Which； wash'd away； shall scour my shame with
it。 And that shall be the day； whene'er it lights； That this same child of
honour and renown； This gallant Hotspur； this all…praised knight； And your
unthought of Harry chance to meet。 For every honour sitting on his helm；
Would they were multitudes； and on my head My shames redoubled！ For
the time will come That I shall make this Northern youth exchange His
glorious deeds for my indignities。 Percy is but my factor； good my lord； To
engross up glorious deeds on my behalf； And I will call hall to so strict
account That he shall render every glory up； Yea； even the slightest
worship of his time； Or I will tear the reckoning from his heart。 This in the
name of God I promise here； The which if he be pleas'd I shall perform； I
do beseech your Majesty may salve The long…grown wounds of my
intemperance。 If not； the end of life cancels all bands； And I will die a
hundred thousand deaths Ere break the smallest parcel of this vow。 King。
A hundred thousand rebels die in this！ Thou shalt have charge and
sovereign trust herein。
Enter Blunt。
How now； good Blunt？ Thy looks are full of speed。 Blunt。 So hath the
business that I come to speak of。 Lord Mortimer of Scotland hath sent
word That Douglas and the English rebels met The eleventh of this month
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at Shrewsbury。 A mighty and a fearful head they are； If promises be kept
oil every hand； As ever off'red foul play in a state。 King。 The Earl of
Westmoreland set forth to…day； With him my son； Lord John of Lancaster；
For this advertisement is five days old。 On Wednesday next； Harry； you
shall set forward； On Thursday we ourselves will march。 Our meeting Is
Bridgenorth； and； Harry； you shall march Through Gloucestershire； by
which account； Our business valued； some twelve days hence Our general
forces at Bridgenorth shall meet。 Our hands are full of business。 Let's
away。 Advantage feeds him fat while men delay。 Exeunt。
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SCENE III。 Eastcheap。 The Boar's Head Tavern。
Enter Falstaff and Bardolph。
Fal。 Bardolph； am I not fall'n away vilely since this last action？ Do I
not bate？ Do I not dwindle？ Why； my skin hangs about me like an old
lady's loose gown！ I am withered like an old apple John。 Well； I'll repent；
and that suddenly； while I am in some liking。 I shall be out of heart shortly；
and then I shall have no strength to repent。 An I have not forgot