The better cherished still the nearer death.

My nephew’s trespass may be well forgot;

It hath the excuse of youth and heat of blood,

And an adopted name of privilege—

A hare-brained Hotspur, governed by a spleen.

All his offences live upon my head,

And on his father’s. We did train him on,

And, his corruption being ta’en from us,

We as the spring of all shall pay for all.

Therefore, good cousin, let not Harry know

In any case the offer of the King.

VERNON

Deliver what you will; I’ll say ’tis so.

Enter Hotspur and the Earl of Douglas

Here comes your cousin.

HOTSPUR My uncle is returned.

Deliver up my lord of Westmorland.

Uncle, what news?

WORCESTER

The King will bid you battle presently.

DOUGLAS

Defy him by the Lord of Westmorland.

HOTSPUR

Lord Douglas, go you and tell him so.

DOUGLAS

Marry, and shall, and very willingly. Exit

WORCESTER

There is no seeming mercy in the King.

HOTSPUR

Did you beg any? God forbid!

WORCESTER

I told him gently of our grievances,

Of his oath-breaking, which he mended thus:

By now forswearing that he is forsworn.

He calls us ‘rebels’, ‘traitors’, and will scourge

With haughty arms this hateful name in us.

Enter the Earl of Douglas

DOUGLAS

Arm, gentlemen, to arms, for I have thrown

A brave defiance in King Henry’s teeth-

And Westmorland that was engaged did bear it—

Which cannot choose but bring him quickly on.

WORCESTER (to Hotspur)

The Prince of Wales stepped forth before the King

And, nephew, challenged you to single fight.

HOTSPUR

O, would the quarrel lay upon our heads,

And that no man might draw short breath today

But I and Harry Monmouth ! Tell me, tell me,

How showed his tasking? Seemed it in contempt?

VERNON

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

By still dispraising praise valued with you;

And, which became him like a prince indeed,

He made a blushing cital of himself,

And chid his truant youth with such a grace

As if he mastered there a double spirit

Of teaching and of learning instantly.

There did he pause; but let me tell the world,

If he outlive the envy of this day,

England did never owe so sweet a hope,

So much misconstrued in his wantonness.

HOTSPUR

Cousin, I think thou art enamoured

On his follies. Never did I hear

Of any prince so wild a liberty.

But be he as he will, yet once ere night

I will embrace him with a soldier’s arm,

That he shall shrink under my courtesy.

Arm, arm, with speed! And fellows, soldiers, friends,

Better consider what you have to do

Than I, that have not well the gift of tongue,

Can lift your blood up with persuasion.

Enter a Messenger

MESSENGER My lord, here are letters for you.

HOTSPUR I cannot read them now. [Exit Messenger]

O gentlemen, the time of life is short.

To spend that shortness basely were too long

If life did ride upon a dial’s point,

Still ending at the arrival of an hour.

An if we live, we live to tread on kings;

If die, brave death when princes die with us!

Now for our consciences: the arms are fair

When the intent of bearing them is just.

Enter another Messenger

MESSENGER

My lord, prepare; the King comes on apace. [Exit]

HOTSPUR

I thank him that he cuts me from my tale,

For I profess not talking, only this:

Let each man do his best. And here draw I

A sword whose temper I intend to stain

With the best blood that I can meet withal

In the adventure of this perilous day.

Now Esperance! Percy! And set on!

Sound all the lofty instruments of war,

And by that music let us all embrace,

For, heaven to earth, some of us never shall

A second time do such a courtesy.

The trumpets sound. Here they embrace. Exeunt

5.3 King Henry enters with his power. Alarum, and exeunt to the battle. Then enter the Earl of Douglas, and Sir Walter Blunt, disguised as the King

BLUNT

What is thy name, that in the battle thus

Thou crossest me? What honour dost thou seek

Upon my head?

DOUGLAS Know then my name is Douglas,

And I do haunt thee in the battle thus

Because some tell me that thou art a king.

BLUNT They tell thee true.

DOUGLAS

The Lord of Stafford dear today hath bought

Thy likeness, for instead of thee, King Harry,

This sword hath ended him. So shall it thee,

Unless thou yield thee as my prisoner.

BLUNT

I was not born a yielder, thou proud Scot,

And thou shalt find a king that will revenge

Lord Stafford’s death.

They fight. Douglas kills Blunt. Then enter Hotspur

HOTSPUR

O Douglas, hadst thou fought at Holmedon thus,