Page 739 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

The Archbishop’s grace of York, Douglas, Mortimer
Capitulate against us and are up. [120]
But wherefore do I tell these news to thee?
Why, Harry, do I tell thee of my foes,

Which art my nearest and dearest enemy?
Thou that art like enough, through vassal fear,
Base inclination, and the start of spleen, [125]
To fight against me under Percy’s pay,

To dog his heels and curtsy at his frowns,
To show how much thou art degenerate.

PRINCE
Do not think so. You shall not find it so.
And God forgive them that so much have swayed [130]
Your majesty’s good thoughts away from me.

I will redeem all this on Percy’s head
And, in the closing of some glorious day,
Be bold to tell you that I am your son,

When I will wear a garment all of blood, [135]
And stain my favours in a bloody mask,
Which, washed away, shall scour my shame with it.
And that shall be the day, whene’er it lights,
That this same child of honour and renown,

This gallant Hotspur, this all-praisèd knight, [140]
And your unthought-of Harry chance to meet.
For every honour sitting on his helm,

Would they were multitudes, and on my head
My shames redoubled! For the time will come
That I shall make this northern youth exchange [145]
His glorious deeds for my indignities.
Percy is but my factor, good my lord,

To engross up glorious deeds on my behalf;
And I will call him to so strict account
That he shall render every glory up, [150]

Yea, even the slightest worship of his time,
Or I will tear the reckoning from his heart.
This in the name of God I promise here;
The which if he be pleased I shall perform,