Page 665 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

For he that brought them, in the very heat
And pride of their contention did take horse, [60]
Uncertain of the issue any way.

KING
Here is a dear, a true-industrious friend,
Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse,

Stained with the variation of each soil
Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours, [65]
And he hath brought us smooth and welcome news.

The Earl of Douglas is discomfited;
Ten thousand bold Scots, two-and-twenty knights,
Balked in their own blood did Sir Walter see
On Holmedon’s plains. Of prisoners, Hotspur took [70]
Mordake Earl of Fife and eldest son

To beaten Douglas, and the Earl of Athol,
Of Murray, Angus, and Menteith.
And is not this an honourable spoil?

A gallant prize? Ha, cousin, is it not? [75]

WESTMORELAND

In faith,
It is a conquest for a prince to boast of.

KING
Yea, there thou mak’st me sad, and mak’st me sin
In envy that my Lord Northumberland
Should be the father to so blest a son − [80]

A son who is the theme of honour’s tongue,
Amongst a grove the very straightest plant;
Who is sweet fortune’s minion and her pride;

Whilst I, by looking on the praise of him,
See riot and dishonour stain the brow [85]
Of my young Harry. O that it could be proved
That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged
In cradle-clothes our children where they lay,

And called mine Percy, his Plantagenet!
Then would I have his Harry, and he mine. [90]