1    'But for mine own part, my lord, I could be well
2    contented to be there, in respect of the love I bear
3    your house.' He could be contented: why is he not,
4    then? In respect of the love he bears our house:
5    he shows in this, he loves his own barn better than
6    he loves our house. Let me see some more. 'The
7    purpose you undertake is dangerous;'--why, that's
8    certain: 'tis dangerous to take a cold, to sleep, to
9    drink; but I tell you, my lord fool, out of this
10   nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety. 'The
11   purpose you undertake is dangerous; the friends you
12   have named uncertain; the time itself unsorted; and
13   your whole plot too light for the counterpoise of so
14   great an opposition.' Say you so, say you so? I say
15   unto you again, you are a shallow cowardly hind, and
16   you lie. What a lack-brain is this! By the Lord,
17   our plot is a good plot as ever was laid; our
18   friends true and constant: a good plot, good
19   friends, and full of expectation; an excellent plot,
20   very good friends. What a frosty-spirited rogue is
21   this! Why, my lord of York commends the plot and the
22   general course of action. 'Zounds, an I were now by
23   this rascal, I could brain him with his lady's fan.
24   Is there not my father, my uncle and myself? lord
25   Edmund Mortimer, My lord of York and Owen Glendower?
26   is there not besides the Douglas? have I not all
27   their letters to meet me in arms by the ninth of the
28   next month? and are they not some of them set
29   forward already? What a pagan rascal is this! an
30   infidel! Ha! you shall see now in very sincerity
31   of fear and cold heart, will he to the king and lay
32   open all our proceedings. O, I could divide myself
33   and go to buffets, for moving such a dish of
34   skim milk with so honourable an action! Hang him!
35   let him tell the king: we are prepared. I will set
36   forward to-night.
Enter LADY PERCY
37   How now, Kate! I must leave you within these two hours.

38   O, my good lord, why are you thus alone?
39   For what offence have I this fortnight been
40   A banish'd woman from my Harry's bed?
41   Tell me, sweet lord, what is't that takes from thee
42   Thy stomach, pleasure and thy golden sleep?
43   Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth,
44   And start so often when thou sit'st alone?
45   Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks;
46   And given my treasures and my rights of thee
47   To thick-eyed musing and cursed melancholy?
48   In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watch'd,
49   And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars;
50   Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed;
51   Cry 'Courage! to the field!' And thou hast talk'd
52   Of sallies and retires, of trenches, tents,
53   Of palisadoes, frontiers, parapets,
54   Of basilisks, of cannon, culverin,
55   Of prisoners' ransom and of soldiers slain,
56   And all the currents of a heady fight.
57   Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war
58   And thus hath so bestirr'd thee in thy sleep,
59   That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow
60   Like bubbles in a late-disturbed stream;
61   And in thy face strange motions have appear'd,
62   Such as we see when men restrain their breath
63   On some great sudden hest. O, what portents are these?
64   Some heavy business hath my lord in hand,
65   And I must know it, else he loves me not.

66   What, ho!
Enter Servant
67   Is Gilliams with the packet gone?

68   He is, my lord, an hour ago.

69   Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff?

70   One horse, my lord, he brought even now.

71   What horse? a roan, a crop-ear, is it not?

72   It is, my lord.

73   That roan shall by my throne.
74   Well, I will back him straight: O esperance!
75   Bid Butler lead him forth into the park.

76   But hear you, my lord.

77   What say'st thou, my lady?

78   What is it carries you away?

79   Why, my horse, my love, my horse.

80   Out, you mad-headed ape!
81   A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen
82   As you are toss'd with. In faith,
83   I'll know your business, Harry, that I will.
84   I fear my brother Mortimer doth stir
85   About his title, and hath sent for you
86   To line his enterprise: but if you go,--

87   So far afoot, I shall be weary, love.

88   Come, come, you paraquito, answer me
89   Directly unto this question that I ask:
90   In faith, I'll break thy little finger, Harry,
91   An if thou wilt not tell me all things true.

92   Away,
93   Away, you trifler! Love! I love thee not,
94   I care not for thee, Kate: this is no world
95   To play with mammets and to tilt with lips:
96   We must have bloody noses and crack'd crowns,
97   And pass them current too. God's me, my horse!
98   What say'st thou, Kate? what would'st thou
99   have with me?

100  Do you not love me? do you not, indeed?
101  Well, do not then; for since you love me not,
102  I will not love myself. Do you not love me?
103  Nay, tell me if you speak in jest or no.

104  Come, wilt thou see me ride?
105  And when I am on horseback, I will swear
106  I love thee infinitely. But hark you, Kate;
107  I must not have you henceforth question me
108  Whither I go, nor reason whereabout:
109  Whither I must, I must; and, to conclude,
110  This evening must I leave you, gentle Kate.
111  I know you wise, but yet no farther wise
112  Than Harry Percy's wife: constant you are,
113  But yet a woman: and for secrecy,
114  No lady closer; for I well believe
115  Thou wilt not utter what thou dost not know;
116  And so far will I trust thee, gentle Kate.

117  How! so far?

118  Not an inch further. But hark you, Kate:
119  Whither I go, thither shall you go too;
120  To-day will I set forth, to-morrow you.
121  Will this content you, Kate?

122  It must of force.