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when he please again to lie himself； Being wanted； he may be more
wond'red at By breaking through the foul and ugly mists Of vapours that
did seem to strangle him。 If all the year were playing holidays； To sport
would be as tedious as to work； But when they seldom come； they wish'd…
for come； And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents。 So； when this loose
behaviour I throw off And pay the debt I never promised； By how much
better than my word I am； By so much shall I falsify men's hopes； And；
like bright metal on a sullen ground； My reformation； glitt'ring o'er my
fault； Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes Than that which hath
no foil to set it off。 I'll so offend to make offence a skill； Redeeming time
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KING HENRY THE FOURTH Part 1
when men think least I will。 Exit。
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KING HENRY THE FOURTH Part 1
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KING HENRY THE FOURTH Part 1
SCENE III。 London。 The Palace。
Enter the King； Northumberland； Worcester； Hotspur； Sir Walter Blunt；
with others。
King。 My blood hath been too cold and temperate； Unapt to stir at
these indignities； And you have found me； for accordingly You tread upon
my patience； but be sure I will from henceforth rather be myself； Mighty
and to be fear'd； than my condition； Which hath been smooth as oil； soft as
young down； And therefore lost that title of respect Which the proud soul
ne'er pays but to the proud。 Wor。 Our house； my sovereign liege； little
deserves The scourge of greatness to be us'd on it… And that same greatness
too which our own hands Have holp to make so portly。 North。 My lord…
King。 Worcester； get thee gone； for I do see Danger and disobedience in
thine eye。 O； sir； your presence is too bold and peremptory； And majesty
might never yet endure The moody frontier of a servant brow。 Tou have
good leave to leave us。 When we need 'Your use and counsel； we shall
send for you。 Exit Worcester。 You were about to speak。 North。 Yea； my
good lord。 Those prisoners in your Highness' name demanded Which
Harry Percy here at Holmedon took； Were； as he says； not with such
strength denied As is delivered to your Majesty。 Either envy； therefore； or
misprision Is guilty of this fault； and not my son。 Hot。 My liege； I did deny
no prisoners。 But I remember； when the fight was done； When I was dry
with rage and extreme toll； Breathless and faint； leaning upon my sword；
Came there a certain lord； neat and trimly dress'd； Fresh as a bridegroom；
and his chin new reap'd Show'd like a stubble land at harvest home。 He
was perfumed like a milliner； And 'twixt his finger and his thumb he held
A pouncet box； which ever and anon He gave his nose； and took't away
again； Who therewith angry； when it next came there； Took it in snuff； and
still he smil'd and talk'd； And as the soldiers bore dead bodies by； He call'd
them untaught knaves； unmannerly； To bring a slovenly unhandsome corse
Betwixt the wind and his nobility。 With many holiday and lady terms He
questioned me； amongst the rest demanded My prisoners in your Majesty's
behalf。 I then； all smarting with my wounds being cold； To be so pest'red
with a popingay； Out of my grief and my impatience Answer'd
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neglectingly； I know not what… He should； or he should not； for he made
me mad To see him shine so brisk； and smell so sweet； And talk so like a
waiting gentlewoman Of guns and drums and wounds… God save the
mark！… And telling me the sovereignest thing on earth Was parmacity for
an inward bruise； And that it was great pity； so it was； This villanous
saltpetre should be digg'd Out of the bowels of the harmless earth； Which
many a good tall fellow had destroy'd So cowardly； and but for these vile
'guns； He would himself have been a soldier。 This bald unjointed chat of
his； my lord； I answered indirectly； as I said； And I beseech you； let not his
report Come current for an accusation Betwixt my love and your high
majesty。 Blunt。 The circumstance considered； good my lord； Whate'er
Lord Harry Percy then had said To such a person； and in such a place； At
such a time； with all the rest retold； May reasonably die； and never rise To
do him wrong； or any way impeach What then he said； so he unsay it now。
King。 Why； yet he doth deny his prisoners； But with proviso and exception；
That we at our own charge shall ransom straight His brother…in…law； the
foolish Mortimer； Who； on my soul； hath wilfully betray'd The lives of
those that he did lead to fight Against that great magician； damn'd
Glendower； Whose daughter； as we hear； the Earl of March Hath lately
married。 Shall our coffers； then； Be emptied to redeem a traitor home？
Shall we buy treason？ and indent with fears When they have lost and
forfeited themselves？ No； on the barren mountains let him starve！ For I
shall never hold that man my friend Whose tongue shall ask me for one
penny cost To ransom home revolted Mortimer。 Hot。 Revolted Mortimer？
He never did fall off； my sovereign liege； But by the chance of war。 To
prove that true Needs no more but one tongue for all those wounds； Those
mouthed wounds； which valiantly he took When on the gentle Severn's
sedgy bank； In single opposition hand to hand； He did confound the best
part of an hour In changing hardiment with great Glendower。 Three times
they breath'd； and three times did they drink； Upon agreement； of swift
Severn's flood； Who then； affrighted with their bloody looks； Ran fearfully
among the trembling reeds And hid his crisp head in the hollow bank；
Bloodstained with these valiant cohabitants。 Never did base and rotten
policy Colour her working with such deadly wounds； Nor never could the
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noble Mortimer Receive so many； and all willingly。 Then let not him be
slandered with revolt。 King。 Thou dost belie him； Percy； thou dost belie
him！ He never did encounter with Glendower。 I tell thee He durst as well
have met the devil alone As Owen Glendower for an enemy。 Art thou not
asham'd？ But； sirrah； henceforth Let me not hear you speak of Mortimer。
Send me your prisoners with the speediest means； Or you shall hear in
such a kind from me As will displease you。 My Lord Northumberland； We
license your departure with your son。… Send us your prisoners； or you will
hear of it。 Exeunt King； ＇Blunt； and Train＇ Hot。 An if the devil come and
roar for them； I will not send them。 I will after straight And tell him so； for
I will else my heart； Albeit I make a hazard of my head。 North。 What；
drunk with choler？ Stay； and pause awhile。 Here comes your uncle。
Enter Worcester。 Hot。 Speak of Mortimer？ Zounds； I will speak of
him； and let my soul Want mercy if I do not join with him！ Yea； on his part
I'll empty all these veins； And shed my dear blood drop by drop in the dust；
But I will lift the downtrod Mortimer As high in the air as this unthankful
king； As this ingrate and cank'red Bolingbroke。 North。 Brother； the King
hath made your nephew mad。 Wor。 Who struck this heat up after I was
gone？ Hot。 He will （forsooth） have all my prisoners； And when I urg'd the
ransom once again Of my wive's brother； then his cheek look'd pale； And
on my face he turn'd an eye of death； Trembling even at the name of
Mortimer。 Wor。 I cannot blame him。 Was not he proclaim'd By Richard
that dead is； the next of blood？ North。 He was； I heard the proclamation。
And then it was when the unhappy King （Whose wrongs in us God
pardon！） did set forth Upon his Irish expedition； From whence he
intercepted did return To be depos'd； and shortly murdered。 Wor。 And for
whose death we in the world's wide mouth Live scand