To ransom home revolted Mortimer. Hot. Revolted Mortimer! He never did fall off, my sovereign liege, Needs no more but one tongue for all those wounds, Those mouthéd wounds, which valiantly he took, He did confound the best part of an hour In changing hardiment with great Glendower. Three times they breathed, and three times did they drink, Upon agreement, of swift Severn's flood ; Colour her working with such deadly wounds; Receive so many, and all willingly : Then let him not be slandered with revolt. K. Hen. Thou dost belie him, Percy, thou lost I tell thee, He durst as well have met the devil alone As Owen Glendower for an enemy. Art thou not ashamed? But, sirrah, henceforth Let me not hear you speak of Mortimer. Send me your prisoners with the speediest means, Or you shall hear in such a kind from me As will displease you.-My Lord Northumber land, We license your departure with your son.- [Exeunt King HENRY, BLUNT, and Train Although it be with hazard of my head. North. What, drunk with choler? stay, and pause awhile: Here comes your uncle. Re-enter WORCESTER. Hot. Speak of Mortimer! 'Zounds! I will speak of him; and let my soul Want mercy, if I do not join with him : Yea, on his part, I'll empty all these veins, And shed my dear blood drop by drop i' the dust, But I will lift the down-trod Mortimer As high i' the air as this unthankful king, North. [To WORCESTER.] Brother, the king hath made your nephew mad. Wor. Who struck this heat up after I was gone? Hot. He will, forsooth, have all my prisoners; And when I urged the ransom once again Of my wife's brother, then his cheek looked pale, And on my face he turned an eye of death, · Trembling even at the name of Mortimer. Wor. I cannot blame him. Was he not pro claimed, By Richard that is dead, the next of blood? North. He was; I heard the proclamation: And then it was when the unhappy kingWhose wrongs in us God pardon !—did set forth Upon his Irish expedition; From whence he, intercepted, did return To be deposed and shortly murderéd. Wor. And for whose death we in the world's wide mouth Live scandalised and foully spoken of. Hot. But, soft, I pray you, did King Richard then Proclaim my brother Edmund Mortimer Heir to the crown? North. He did; myself did hear it. Hot. Nay, then I cannot blame his cousin king And for his sake wear the detested blot To show the line and the predicament, Wherein you range under this subtle king :— Your banished honours, and restore yourselves Wor. Peace, cousin, say no more. And now I will unclasp a secret book, Hot. If he fall in, good-night!—or sink or swim : Send danger from the east unto the west, North. Imagination of some great exploit Hot. By Heaven, methinks, it were an easy leap To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon; Or dive into the bottom of the deep, |