Home
This site uses cookies
log out

Henry IV, Pt. 1: Act III, Scene 1

Sign in with Google to add your annotations.

Henry IV, Pt. 1
Act III, Scene 1

Scene 1

Wales . Glendower’s castle .

  1. Enter Hotspur , Worcester , Lord Mortimer , Owen Glendower .

Mortimer

1 - 2
  1. These promises are fair , the parties sure ,
  2. And our induction full of prosperous hope .

Hotspur

3 - 6
  1. Lord Mortimer , and cousin Glendower ,
  2. Will you sit down ?
  3. And uncle Worcester — a plague upon it !
  4. I have forgot the map .

Glendower

7 - 11
  1.                        No , here it is .
  2. Sit , cousin Percy , sit , good cousin Hotspur ,
  3. For by that name as oft as Lancaster
  4. Doth speak of you , his cheek looks pale , and with
  5. A rising sigh he wisheth you in heaven .

Hotspur

12 - 13
  1. And you in hell , as oft as he hears
  2. Owen Glendower spoke of .

Glendower

14 - 18
  1. I cannot blame him . At my nativity
  2. The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes
  3. Of burning cressets , and at my birth
  4. The frame and huge foundation of the earth
  5. Shak’d like a coward .

Hotspur

19 - 21
  1.                       Why , so it would have done
  2. At the same season if your mother’s cat had
  3. But kitten’d , though yourself had never been born .

Glendower

22
  1. I say the earth did shake when I was born .

Hotspur

23 - 24
  1. And I say the earth was not of my mind ,
  2. If you suppose as fearing you it shook .

Glendower

25
  1. The heavens were all on fire , the earth did tremble .

Hotspur

26 - 36
  1. O then the earth shook to see the heavens on fire ,
  2. And not in fear of your nativity .
  3. Diseased nature oftentimes breaks forth
  4. In strange eruptions ; oft the teeming earth
  5. Is with a kind of colic pinch’d and vex’d
  6. By the imprisoning of unruly wind
  7. Within her womb , which , for enlargement striving ,
  8. Shakes the old beldame earth , and topples down
  9. Steeples and moss - grown towers . At your birth
  10. Our grandam earth , having this distemp’rature ,
  11. In passion shook .

Glendower

37 - 51
  1.                   Cousin , of many men
  2. I do not bear these crossings . Give me leave
  3. To tell you once again that at my birth
  4. The front of heaven was full of fiery shapes ,
  5. The goats ran from the mountains , and the herds
  6. Were strangely clamorous to the frighted fields .
  7. These signs have mark’d me extraordinary ,
  8. And all the courses of my life do show
  9. I am not in the roll of common men .
  10. Where is he living , clipt in with the sea
  11. That chides the banks of England , Scotland , Wales ,
  12. Which calls me pupil or hath read to me ?
  13. And bring him out that is but woman’s son
  14. Can trace me in the tedious ways of art ,
  15. And hold me pace in deep experiments .

Hotspur

52 - 53
  1. I think there’s no man speaks better Welsh .
  2. I’ll to dinner .

Mortimer

54
  1. Peace , cousin Percy , you will make him mad .

Glendower

55
  1. I can call spirits from the vasty deep .

Hotspur

56 - 57
  1. Why , so can I , or so can any man ,
  2. But will they come when you do call for them ?

Glendower

58 - 59
  1. Why , I can teach you , cousin , to command
  2. The devil .

Hotspur

60 - 64
  1. And I can teach thee , coz , to shame the devil
  2. By telling truth : tell truth and shame the devil .
  3. If thou have power to raise him , bring him hither ,
  4. And I’ll be sworn I have power to shame him hence .
  5. O , while you live , tell truth and shame the devil !

Mortimer

65
  1. Come , come , no more of this unprofitable chat .

Glendower

66 - 69
  1. Three times hath Henry Bullingbrook made head
  2. Against my power ; thrice from the banks of Wye
  3. And sandy - bottom’d Severn have I sent him
  4. Bootless home and weather - beaten back .

Hotspur

70 - 71
  1. Home without boots , and in foul weather too !
  2. How scapes he agues , in the devil’s name ?

Byam Shaw, 1901

Glendower

72 - 73
  1. Come , here is the map . Shall we divide our right
  2. According to our threefold order ta’en ?

Mortimer

74 - 92
  1. The Archdeacon hath divided it
  2. Into three limits very equally :
  3. England , from Trent and Severn hitherto ,
  4. By south and east is to my part assign’d ;
  5. All westward , Wales beyond the Severn shore ,
  6. And all the fertile land within that bound ,
  7. To Owen Glendower ; and , dear coz , to you
  8. The remnant northward lying off from Trent .
  9. And our indentures tripartite are drawn ,
  10. Which being sealed interchangeably
  11. ( A business that this night may execute ),
  12. Tomorrow , cousin Percy , you and I
  13. And my good Lord of Worcester will set forth
  14. To meet your father and the Scottish power ,
  15. As is appointed us , at Shrewsbury .
  16. My father Glendower is not ready yet ,
  17. Nor shall we need his help these fourteen days .
  18. Within that space you may have drawn together
  19. Your tenants , friends , and neighboring gentlemen .

Glendower

93 - 97
  1. A shorter time shall send me to you , lords ,
  2. And in my conduct shall your ladies come ,
  3. From whom you now must steal and take no leave ,
  4. For there will be a world of water shed
  5. Upon the parting of your wives and you .

Hotspur

98 - 107
  1. Methinks my moi’ty , north from Burton here ,
  2. In quantity equals not one of yours .
  3. See how this river comes me cranking in ,
  4. And cuts me from the best of all my land
  5. A huge half - moon , a monstrous cantle out .
  6. I’ll have the current in this place damm’d up ,
  7. And here the smug and silver Trent shall run
  8. In a new channel fair and evenly .
  9. It shall not wind with such a deep indent ,
  10. To rob me of so rich a bottom here .

Glendower

108
  1. Not wind ? It shall , it must , you see it doth .

Mortimer

109 - 113
  1. Yea , but
  2. Mark how he bears his course , and runs me up
  3. With like advantage on the other side ,
  4. Gelding the opposed continent as much
  5. As on the other side it takes from you .

Earl of Worcester

114 - 116
  1. Yea , but a little charge will trench him here ,
  2. And on this north side win this cape of land ,
  3. And then he runs straight and even .

Hotspur

117
  1. I’ll have it so , a little charge will do it .

Glendower

118
  1. I’ll not have it alt’red .

Hotspur

119
  1.                           Will not you ?

Glendower

120
  1. No , nor you shall not .

Hotspur

121
  1.                        Who shall say me nay ?

Glendower

122
  1. Why , that will I .

Hotspur

123 - 124
  1.                   Let me not understand you then ,
  2. Speak it in Welsh .

Glendower

125 - 130
  1. I can speak English , lord , as well as you ,
  2. For I was train’d up in the English court ,
  3. Where being but young I framed to the harp
  4. Many an English ditty lovely well ,
  5. And gave the tongue a helpful ornament ,
  6. A virtue that was never seen in you .

Hotspur

131 - 139
  1. Marry ,
  2. And I am glad of it with all my heart .
  3. I had rather be a kitten and cry mew
  4. Than one of these same meter ballet - mongers .
  5. I had rather hear a brazen canstick turn’d ,
  6. Or a dry wheel grate on the axle - tree ,
  7. And that would set my teeth nothing an edge ,
  8. Nothing so much as mincing poetry .
  9. ’Tis like the forc’d gait of a shuffling nag .

Glendower

140
  1. Come , you shall have Trent turn’d .

Hotspur

141 - 145
  1. I do not care . I’ll give thrice so much land
  2. To any well - deserving friend ;
  3. But in the way of bargain , mark ye me ,
  4. I’ll cavil on the ninth part of a hair .
  5. Are the indentures drawn ? Shall we be gone ?
Seal of Owain Glyndŵr (Owen Glendower)

Seal of Owain Glyndŵr (Owen Glendower)

Benutzer, circa 1400

Glendower

146 - 150
  1. The moon shines fair , you may away by night .
  2. I’ll haste the writer , and withal
  3. Break with your wives of your departure hence .
  4. I am afraid my daughter will run mad ,
  5. So much she doteth on her Mortimer .
  1. Exit .

Mortimer

151
  1. Fie , cousin Percy , how you cross my father !

Hotspur

152 - 168
  1. I cannot choose . Sometime he angers me
  2. With telling me of the moldwarp and the ant ,
  3. Of the dreamer Merlin and his prophecies ,
  4. And of a dragon and a finless fish ,
  5. A clip - wing’d griffin and a moulten raven ,
  6. A couching lion and a ramping cat ,
  7. And such a deal of skimble - skamble stuff
  8. As puts me from my faith . I tell you what :
  9. He held me last night at least nine hours
  10. In reckoning up the several devils’ names
  11. That were his lackeys . I cried “ hum ,” and “ well , go to ,”
  12. But mark’d him not a word . O , he is as tedious
  13. As a tired horse , a railing wife ,
  14. Worse than a smoky house . I had rather live
  15. With cheese and garlic in a windmill , far ,
  16. Than feed on cates and have him talk to me
  17. In any summer house in Christendom .

Mortimer

169 - 180
  1. In faith , he is a worthy gentleman ,
  2. Exceedingly well read , and profited
  3. In strange concealments , valiant as a lion ,
  4. And wondrous affable , and as bountiful
  5. As mines of India . Shall I tell you , cousin ?
  6. He holds your temper in a high respect ,
  7. And curbs himself even of his natural scope
  8. When you come ’cross his humor , faith , he does .
  9. I warrant you , that man is not alive
  10. Might so have tempted him as you have done ,
  11. Without the taste of danger and reproof .
  12. But do not use it oft , let me entreat you .

Earl of Worcester

181 - 193
  1. In faith , my lord , you are too willful - blame ,
  2. And since your coming hither have done enough
  3. To put him quite besides his patience .
  4. You must needs learn , lord , to amend this fault ;
  5. Though sometimes it show greatness , courage , blood —
  6. And that’s the dearest grace it renders you —
  7. Yet oftentimes it doth present harsh rage ,
  8. Defect of manners , want of government ,
  9. Pride , haughtiness , opinion , and disdain ,
  10. The least of which haunting a nobleman
  11. Loseth men’s hearts and leaves behind a stain
  12. Upon the beauty of all parts besides ,
  13. Beguiling them of commendation .

Hotspur

194 - 195
  1. Well , I am school’d : good manners be your speed !
  2. Here come our wives , and let us take our leave .
  1. Enter Glendower with the Ladies .

Mortimer

196 - 197
  1. This is the deadly spite that angers me :
  2. My wife can speak no English , I no Welsh .

Glendower

198 - 199
  1. My daughter weeps , she’ll not part with you ,
  2. She’ll be a soldier too , she’ll to the wars .

Mortimer

200 - 201
  1. Good father , tell her that she and my aunt Percy
  2. Shall follow in your conduct speedily .
  1. Glendower speaks to her in Welsh , and she answers him in the
  2. same .

Glendower

202 - 203
  1. She is desperate here , a peevish self - will’d harlotry ,
  2. One that no persuasion can do good upon .
  1. The lady speaks in Welsh .

Mortimer

204 - 214
  1. I understand thy looks . That pretty Welsh
  2. Which thou pourest down from these swelling heavens
  3. I am too perfect in , and but for shame ,
  4. In such a parley should I answer thee .
  5. The lady again in Welsh .
  6. I understand thy kisses , and thou mine ,
  7. And that’s a feeling disputation ,
  8. But I will never be a truant , love ,
  9. Till I have learn’d thy language , for thy tongue
  10. Makes Welsh as sweet as ditties highly penn’d ,
  11. Sung by a fair queen in a summer’s bow’r ,
  12. With ravishing division , to her lute .

These promises are fair, the parties sure, and our induction full of prosperous hope.

John Augustus Atkinson, circa 1800

Glendower

215
  1. Nay , if you melt , then will she run mad .
  1. The lady speaks again in Welsh .

Mortimer

216
  1. O , I am ignorance itself in this !

Glendower

217 - 225
  1. She bids you on the wanton rushes lay you down ,
  2. And rest your gentle head upon her lap ,
  3. And she will sing the song that pleaseth you ,
  4. And on your eyelids crown the god of sleep ,
  5. Charming your blood with pleasing heaviness ,
  6. Making such difference ’twixt wake and sleep
  7. As is the difference betwixt day and night
  8. The hour before the heavenly - harness’d team
  9. Begins his golden progress in the east .

Mortimer

226 - 227
  1. With all my heart I’ll sit and hear her sing .
  2. By that time will our book , I think , be drawn .

Glendower

228 - 231
  1. Do so ,
  2. And those musicians that shall play to you
  3. Hang in the air a thousand leagues from hence ,
  4. And straight they shall be here . Sit and attend .

Hotspur

232 - 233
  1. Come , Kate , thou art perfect in lying down .
  2. Come , quick , quick , that I may lay my head in thy lap .

Lady Percy

234
  1. Go , ye giddy goose .
  1. The music plays .

Hotspur

235 - 237
  1. Now I perceive the devil understands Welsh ,
  2. And ’tis no marvel he is so humorous .
  3. By’r lady , he is a good musician .

Lady Percy

238 - 240
  1. Then should you be nothing but musical , for you are
  2. altogether govern’d by humors . Lie still , ye thief , and hear
  3. the lady sing in Welsh .

Hotspur

241
  1. I had rather hear Lady , my brach , howl in Irish .

Lady Percy

242
  1. Wouldst thou have thy head broken ?

Hotspur

243
  1. No .

Lady Percy

244
  1. Then be still .

Hotspur

245
  1. Neither , ’tis a woman’s fault .

Lady Percy

246
  1. Now God help thee !

Hotspur

247
  1. To the Welsh lady’s bed .

Lady Percy

248
  1. What’s that ?

Hotspur

249
  1. Peace , she sings .
  1. Here the lady sings a Welsh song .

Hotspur

250
  1. Come , Kate , I’ll have your song too .

Lady Percy

251
  1. Not mine , in good sooth .

Hotspur

252 - 262
  1. Not yours , in good sooth ! Heart , you swear like a
  2. comfit - maker’s wife : “ Not you , in good sooth ,” and “ as true
  3. as I live ,” and “ as God shall mend me ,” and “ as sure as
  4. day ”;
  5. And givest such sarcenet surety for thy oaths
  6. As if thou never walk’st further than Finsbury .
  7. Swear me , Kate , like a lady as thou art ,
  8. A good mouth - filling oath , and leave “ in sooth ,”
  9. And such protest of pepper - gingerbread ,
  10. To velvet - guards and Sunday - citizens .
  11. Come sing .

Lady Percy

263
  1. I will not sing .

Hotspur

264 - 266
  1. ’Tis the next way to turn tailor , or be redbreast teacher .
  2. And the indentures be drawn , I’ll away within these two
  3. hours , and so come in when ye will .
  1. Exit .

Glendower

267 - 270
  1. Come , come , Lord Mortimer , you are as slow
  2. As hot Lord Percy is on fire to go .
  3. By this our book is drawn , we’ll but seal ,
  4. And then to horse immediately .

Mortimer

271
  1.                                With all my heart .
  1. Exeunt .
Shield design for Edmund Mortimer

Shield design for Edmund Mortimer

Charles Hamilton Smith, Emma Hamilton Smith, 19th century

© 2021 Unotate.com • contact • privacy policy • Creative Commons text from PlayShakespeare.com • All illustrations are public domain or Creative Commons • Header illustration by Byam Shaw