P. Hen. From a god to a bull? a heavy descension! it was Jove's case. From a prince to a prentice? a low transformation! that shall be mine: for, in every thing, the purpose must weigh with the folly. Enter PETO. Peto, how now? what news? Peto. The king, your father is at Westminster; And there are twenty weak and wearied posts, Come from the north: and, as I came along, I met, and overtook, a dozen captains, Bare-headed, sweating, knocking at the taverns, And asking every one for sir John Falstaff. P. Hen. By heaven, Poins, I feel me much to blame, So idly to profane the precious time; When tempest of commotion, like the south, Give me my sword and cloak :—and, Poins, good night. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Warkworth. Before the Castle. Enter NORTHUMBERLAND, Lady NORTHUMBERLAND, and Lady PERCY. North. I pray thee, loving wife, and gentle Give even way unto my rough affairs: Lady N. I have given over, I will speak no more: Do what you will; your wisdom be your guide. North. Alas, sweet wife, my honour is at pawn; And, but my going, nothing can redeem it. Lady P. O, yet, for heaven's sake, go not to these wars! The time was, father, that you broke your word, son's. To do brave acts; he was, indeed, the glass For those that could speak low, and tardily, In military rules, humours of blood, He was the mark and glass, copy and book, O miracle of men! -him did you leave, Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur's name To-day might I, hanging on Hotspur's neck, Beshrew your heart, North. But I must go, and meet with danger there; And find me worse provided. Lady N. O, fly to Scotland, Till that the nobles, and the armed commons, Have of their puissance made a little taste. Lady P. If they get ground and vantage of the king, Then join you with them, like a rib of steel, North. Come, come, go in with me: 'tis with my mind, As with the tide swell'd up unto its height, [Exeunt. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. A Room in the Palace. Enter King HENRY in his Night-gown, with a Page. K. Hen. Go, call the earls of Surrey and of War wick; But, ere they come, bid them o'er-read these letters, And well consider of them: Make good speed. And hush'd with buzzing night-flies to thy slumber; And lull'd with sounds of sweetest melody? Who take the ruffian billows by the top, Curling their monstrous heads, and hanging them With deaf'ning clamours in the slippery clouds, That, with the hurly, death itself awakes? Enter WARWICK and SURREY. War. Many good morrows to your majesty ! War. 'Tis one o'clock, and past. K. Hen. Why then, good morrow to you all, my lords. Have you read o'er the letters that I sent you? K. Hen. Then you perceive, the body of our How foul it is; what rank diseases grow, And see the revolution of the times Make mountains level, and the continent (Weary of solid firmness,) melt itself Into the sea! and, other times, to see The beachy girdle of the ocean Too wide for Neptune's hips; how chances mock, And changes fill the cup of alteration With divers liquors! O, if this were seen, The happiest youth,-viewing his progress through, What perils past, what crosses to ensue, 9 Noise. I Those in lowly situations. |