Warkworth. A Room in the Castle.
 Enter HOTSPUR solus, reading a letter.

Hotspur	[Reads.]	"But for mine own part, my lord, I could be well 
	contented to be there, in respect of the love I bear your 
	house."

	He could be contented - why is he not then? In respect of 
	the love he bears our house! He shows in this he loves his 
	own barn better than he loves our house. Let me see some 
	more.

	[Reads.]	"The purpose you undertake is dangerous"-

	Why, that's certain! 'Tis dangerous to take a cold, to 
	sleep, to drink; but I tell you, my lord fool, out of this 
	nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.

	[Reads.]	"The purpose you undertake is dangerous, the 
	friends you have named uncertain, the time itself 
	unsorted, and your whole plot too light for the 
	counterpoise of so great an opposition."

	Say you so, say you so? I say unto you again, you are a 
	shallow cowardly hind, and you lie. What a lack-brain is 
	this! By the Lord, our plot is a good plot as ever was 
	laid, our friends true and constant - a good plot, good 
	friends, and full of expectation; an excellent plot, very 
	good friends. What a frosty-spirited rogue is this! Why, 
	my Lord of York commends the plot and the general course 
	of the action. Zounds, and I were now by this rascal I 
	could brain him with his lady's fan. Is there not my 
	father, my uncle, and myself? Lord Edmund Mortimer, my 
	Lord of York, and Owen Glendower? Is there not, besides, 
	the Douglas? Have I not all their letters to meet me in 
	arms by the ninth of the next month, and are they not some 
	of them set forward already? What a pagan rascal is this, 
	an infidel! Ha, you shall see now, in very sincerity of 
	fear and cold heart will he to the king and lay open all 
	our proceedings! O, I could divide myself and go to 
	buffets for moving such a dish of skim milk with so 
	honourable an action! Hang him, let him tell the king - we 
	are prepared. I will set forward tonight.

                            Enter LADY PERCY.

	How now, Kate! I must leave you within these two hours.

Lady Percy	O my good lord, why are you thus alone?
	For what offence have I this fortnight been
	A banished woman from my Harry's bed?
	Tell me, sweet lord, what is't that takes from thee
	Thy stomach, pleasure, and thy golden sleep?
	Why dost thou bend thine eyes upon the earth,
	And start so often when thou sitt'st alone?
	Why hast thou lost the fresh blood in thy cheeks,
	And given my treasures and my rights of thee
	To thick-eyed musing and curst melancholy?
	In thy faint slumbers I by thee have watched,
	And heard thee murmur tales of iron wars,
	Speak terms of manage to thy bounding steed,
	Cry "Courage! To the field!" And thou hast talked
	Of sallies and retires, of trenches, tents,
	Of palisadoes, frontiers, parapets,
	Of basilisks, of cannon, culverin,
	Of prisoners' ransom, and of soldiers slain,
	And all the currents of a heady fight.
	Thy spirit within thee hath been so at war,
	And thus hath so bestirred thee in thy sleep,
	That beads of sweat have stood upon thy brow
	Like bubbles in a late-disturbd stream;
	And in thy face strange motions have appeared,
	Such as we see when men restrain their breath
	On some great sudden hest. O, what portents are these?
	Some heavy business hath my lord in hand,
	And I must know it, else he loves me not.

Hotspur	What ho!

                             Enter a SERVANT.

					Is Gilliams with the packet gone?

Servant	He is, my lord, an hour ago.

Hotspur	Hath Butler brought those horses from the sheriff?

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

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

Servant	It is, my lord.

Hotspur						That roan shall be my throne.
	Well, I will back him straight. O Esperance!
	Bid Butler lead him forth into the park.
												[Exit SERVANT.

Lady Percy	But hear you, my lord.

Hotspur							What sayst thou, my lady?

Lady Percy	What is it carries you away?

Hotspur	Why, my horse, my love, my horse.

Lady Percy	Out, you mad-headed ape!
	A weasel hath not such a deal of spleen
	As you are tossed with. In faith,
	I'll know your business, Harry, that I will.
	I fear my brother Mortimer doth stir
	About his title, and hath sent for you
	To line his enterprise; but if you go-

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

Lady Percy	Come, come, you paraquito, answer me
	Directly unto this question that I ask.
	In faith, I'll break thy little finger, Harry,
	And if thou wilt not tell me all things true.

Hotspur	Away, away, you trifler! Love? I love thee not;
	I care not for thee, Kate. This is no world
	To play with mammets and to tilt with lips.
	We must have bloody noses and cracked crowns,
	And pass them current too. Gods-me, my horse!
	What sayst thou, Kate? What wouldst thou have with me?

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

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

Lady Percy	How? So far?

Hotspur	Not an inch further. But hark you, Kate,
	Whither I go, thither shall you go too.
	Today will I set forth, tomorrow you.
	Will this content you, Kate?

Lady Percy										It must of force.
												[Exeunt.
