Act 1 — Scene I. London. The palace.

King. So shaken as we are, so wan with care,[1972] Find we a time for frighted peace to pant, And breathe short-winded accents of new broils To be commenced in stronds afar remote.[1973] No more the thirsty entrance of this soil[1974]5 Shall daub her lips with her own children's blood;[1975] No more shall trenching war channel her fields, Nor bruise her flowerets with the armed hoofs[1976][1977] Of hostile paces: those opposed eyes,[1977][1978] Which, like the meteors of a troubled heaven,10 All of one nature, of one substance bred, Did lately meet in the intestine shock And furious close of civil butchery Shall now, in mutual well-beseeming ranks,[1979] March all one way and be no more opposed15 Against acquaintance, kindred and allies:[1980] The edge of war, like an ill-sheathed knife, No more shall cut his master. Therefore, friends, As far as to the sepulchre of Christ, Whose soldier now, under whose blessed cross[1981]20 We are impressed and engaged to fight, Forthwith a power of English shall we levy;[1982] Whose arms were moulded in their mothers' womb[1983] To chase these pagans in those holy fields[1984] Over whose acres walk'd those blessed feet25 Which fourteen hundred years ago were nail'd For our advantage on the bitter cross. But this our purpose now is twelve month old,[1985] And bootless 'tis to tell you we will go: Therefore we meet not now. Then let me hear30 Of you, my gentle cousin Westmoreland, What yesternight our council did decree In forwarding this dear expedience.[1986] West. My liege, this haste was hot in question, And many limits of the charge set down35 But yesternight: when all athwart there came A post from Wales loaden with heavy news; Whose worst was, that the noble Mortimer, Leading the men of Herefordshire to fight[1987] Against the irregular and wild Glendower,40 Was by the rude hands of that Welshman taken,[1988] A thousand of his people butchered;[1989] Upon whose dead corpse there was such misuse,[1990] Such beastly shameless transformation,[1991] By those Welshwomen done, as may not be45 Without much shame retold or spoken of.[1992] King. It seems then that the tidings of this broil Brake off our business for the Holy Land. West. This match'd with other did, my gracious lord;[1993] For more uneven and unwelcome news[1994]50 Came from the north and thus it did import:[1995] On Holy-rood day, the gallant Hotspur there, Young Harry Percy, and brave Archibald, That ever-valiant and approved Scot, At Holmedon met,[1996][1997]55 Where they did spend a sad and bloody hour;[1996] As by discharge of their artillery, And shape of likelihood, the news was told;[1998] For he that brought them, in the very heat[1999] And pride of their contention did take horse,60 Uncertain of the issue any way. King. Here is a dear, a true industrious friend,[2000] Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse, Stain'd with the variation of each soil[2001] Betwixt that Holmedon and this seat of ours;[2002]65 And he hath brought us smooth and welcome news.[2003] The Earl of Douglas is discomfited: Ten thousand bold Scots, two and twenty knights,[2004] Balk'd in their own blood did Sir Walter see[2005] On Holmedon's plains. Of prisoners, Hotspur took[2006]70 Mordake the Earl of Fife, and eldest son[2007] To beaten Douglas; and the Earl of Athol,[2008][2009] Of Murray, Angus, and Menteith:[2009][2010] And is not this an honourable spoil? A gallant prize? ha, cousin, is it not?[2011]75 West. In faith,[2011] It is a conquest for a prince to boast of.[2011] King. Yea, there thou makest me sad and makest me sin In envy that my Lord Northumberland Should be the father to so blest a son,[2012]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 brow85 Of my young Harry. O that it could be proved[2013] That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged In cradle-clothes our children where they lay,[2014] And call'd mine Percy, his Plantagenet![2015] Then would I have his Harry, and he mine.90 But let him from my thoughts. What think you, coz,[2016] Of this young Percy's pride? the prisoners, Which he in this adventure hath surprised, To his own use he keeps; and sends me word, I shall have none but Mordake Earl of Fife.95 West. This is his uncle's teaching: this is Worcester, Malevolent to you in all aspects; Which makes him prune himself, and bristle up[2017] The crest of youth against your dignity. King. But I have sent for him to answer this;100 And for this cause awhile we must neglect Our holy purpose to Jerusalem. Cousin, on Wednesday next our council we[2018] Will hold at Windsor; so inform the lords:[2018][2019] But come yourself with speed to us again;105 For more is to be said and to be done[2020] Than out of anger can be uttered. West. I will, my liege. [Exeunt.