Keep. My lord, I dare not: Sir Pierce of Exton, who lately came from the king, commands the contrary. K. Rich. The devil take Henry of Lancaster and thee! Patience is stale, and I am weary of it. Keep. Help, help, help! [Beats the keeper, Enter EXTON and Servants, armed. K. Rich. How now! what means death in this rude assault? Villain, thy own hand yields thy death's instru ment. [Snatching an axe from a Servant and killing him. Go thou, and fill another room in hell. [He kills another. Then Exton strikes him down. That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire That staggers thus my person. Exton, thy fierce hand 110 Hath with the king's blood stain'd the king's own land. Mount, mount, my soul! thy seat is up on high; Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die. [Dies. Exton. As full of valour as of royal blood: Both have I spill'd; O would the deed were good! For now the devil, that told me I did well, Says that this deed is chronicled in hell. This dead king to the living king I'll bear: Take hence the rest, and give them burial here. SCENE VI. Windsor castle. [Exeunt. Flourish. Enter BOLINGBROKE, YORK, with other Lords, and Attendants. Boling. Kind uncle York, the latest news we hear Is that the rebels have consumed with fire Our town of Cicester in Gloucestershire; But whether they be ta'en or slain we hear not. Enter NORTHUMBERLAND. Welcome, my lord: what is the news? North. First, to thy sacred state wish I all happiness. The next news is, I have to London sent The heads of Oxford, Salisbury, Blunt, and Kent: ΙΟ Boling. We thank thee, gentle Percy, for thy pains; And to thy worth will add right worthy gains. Fitz. My lord, I have from Oxford sent to The heads of Brocas and Sir Bennet Seely, Boling. Thy pains, Fitzwater, shall not be forgot; Right noble is thy merit, well I wot. * Enter PERCY, and the BISHOP of Carlisle. Percy. The grand conspirator, Abbot of Westminster, With clog of conscience and sour melancholy 20 Hath yielded up his body to the grave; But here is Carlisle living, to abide Thy kingly doom and sentence of his pride. Choose out some secret place, some reverend room, More than thou hast, and with it joy thy life; Enter EXTON, with persons bearing a coffin. Exton. Great king, within this coffin I present Thy buried fear: herein all breathless lies The mightiest of thy greatest enemies, 30 Boling. Exton, I thank thee not; for thou hast wrought A deed of slander with thy fatal hand Upon my head and all this famous land. Exton. From your own mouth, my lord, did I this deed. Boling. They love not poison that do poison need, Nor do I thee: though I did wish him dead, 40 I hate the murderer, love him murdered. 50 [Exeunt. DRAMATIS PERSONE. KING HENRY the Fourth. HENRY, Prince of Wales, } JOHN of Lancaster, EARL OF WestmorelAND. SIR WALTER BLUNT. sons to the King. THOMAS PERCY, Earl of Worcester. HENRY PERCY, Earl of Northumberland. HENRY PERCY, surnamed HOTSPUR, his son. EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March. RICHARD SCROOP, Archbishop of York. OWEN GLENDOWER. SIR RICHARD VERNON, SIR JOHN FALSTAFF. SIR MICHAEL, a friend to the Archbishop of York. POINS. GADSHILL. PETO. BARDOLPH. LADY PERCY, wife to Hotspur, and sister to Mortimer. LADY MORTIMER, daughter to Glendower, and wife to Mortimer. MISTRESS QUICKLY, hostess of a tavern in Eastcheap. Lords, Officers, Sheriff, Vintner, Chamberlain, Drawers, two Carriers, Travellers, and Attendants. SCENE: England. |