More daring or more bold, is now alive And so, I hear, he doth account me too; I am content that he shall take the odds And will, to save the blood on either side, K. Hen. And, Prince of Wales, so dare we venture thee, Albeit considerations infinite Do make against it.-No, good Worcester, no, [Exeunt WORCESTER and VERNON. P. Hen. It will not be accepted, on my life. The Douglas and the Hotspur both together Are confident against the world in arms. K. Hen. Hence, therefore, every leader to his charge; For on their answer, will we set on them: [Exeunt KING, BLUNT, and Prince JOHN. Fal. Hal, if thou see me down in the battle, and bestride me, so; 't is a point of friendship. P. Hen. Nothing but a colossus can do thee that friendship. Say thy prayers, and farewell. Fal. I would it were bed-time, Hal, and all well. P. Hen. Why, thou owest God a death. Fal. "Tis not due [Exit. yet; I would be loath to pay him before his day. What need I be so forward with him that calls not on me. Well, 't is no matter; honour pricks me on. Yea, but how if honour prick me off when I come on? how then? Can honour set to a leg? No: or an arm? No: or take away the grief of a wound? No. Honour hath no skill in surgery then? No. What is honour? A word. What is that word honour f Air. A trim reckoning!--Who hath it? He that died o' Wednesday. Doth he feel it? No. Doth he hear it? No. Is it insensible then? Yea, to the dead. But will it not live with the living No. Why? Detraction will not suffer it.—Therefore, I'll none of it: honour is a mere scutcheon ; and so ends my catechism. [Exit. SCENE II. The Rebel Camp. Enter WORCESTER and VERNON. Wor. O, no! my nephew must not know, Sir Richard, The liberal kind offer of the king. Ver. "T were best he did. Wor. Then are we all undone. It is not possible, it cannot be, The king should keep his word in loving us; The better cherished, still the nearer death. A hare-brained Hotspur governed by a spleen. And on his father's: we did train him on ; Ver. Deliver what you will, I'll say 't is so. Enter HOTSPUR and DOUGLAS; Officers and Soldiers behind. Hot. My uncle is returned: deliver up My Lord of Westmoreland.—Uncle, what news? Wor. The king will bid you battle presently. Doug. Defy him by the Lord of Westmoreland. Hot. Lord Douglas, go you and tell him so. Doug. Marry, and shall, and very willingly. [Exit. Wor. There is no seeming mercy in the king. Hot. Did you beg any? God forbid ! Of his oath-breaking; which he mended thus, Re-enter DOUGLAS. Doug. Arm, gentlemen! to arms! for I have thrown A brave defiance in King Henry's teeth, And Westmoreland, that was engaged, did bear it; Which cannot choose but bring him quickly on. Wor. The Prince of Wales stepped forth before the king, And, nephew, challenged you to single fight. Hot. O, 'would the quarrel lay upon our heads, And that no man might draw short breath to-day, But I and Harry Monmouth! Tell me, tell me, How showed his tasking? seemed it in contempt ? Ver. No, by my soul; I never in my life Did hear a challenge urged more modestly, Unless a brother should a brother dare To gentle exercise and proof of arms. He gave you all the duties of a man, Trimmed up your praises with a princely tongue, Spoke your deservings like a chronicle, Making you ever better than his praise, |