THE

SHAKSPERE READING BOOK:

BEING A SELECTION OF

SHAKSPERE'S PLAYS ABRIDGED FOR THE USE
OF SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC READINGS.

CASSELL & COMPANY, LIMITED:

LONDON, PARIS & NEW YORK.

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]

468.

Enter KING HENRY, LORD JOHN OF LANCASTER, the EARL OF WESTMORELAND, SIR WALTER BLUNT, and others.

King. The edge of war, like an ill-sheathéd knife, No more shall cut his master. Therefore, friends,

As far as to the sepulchre of Christ,

Whose soldier now, under whose blesséd cross

We are impresséd and engag'd to fight,

Forthwith a power of English shall we levy.
But let me hear, my gentle Westmoreland,

What yesternight our council did decree.

West. But yesternight, my liege, in haste there came

A post from Wales loaden with heavy news;
Whose worst was, that the noble Mortimer,
Leading the men of Herefordshire to fight
Against the irregular and wild Glendower,

Was by the rude hands of that Welshman ta'en.

10

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;
For more uneven and unwelcome news
Came from the north.

King. Here is a dear, a true industrious friend,
Sir Walter Blunt, new lighted from his horse;

And he hath brought us smooth and welcome news.
The Earl of Douglas is discomfited

On Holmedon's plains. Of prisoners, Hotspur took
Mordake the Earl of Fife, and eldest son

To beaten Douglas; and the Earls

Of Athol, Murray, Angus, and Monteith:
And is not this an honourable spoil?

A gallant prize? ha, cousin, is it not?

West. In faith, a conquest for a prince to boast of.

20

30

King. Yea, there thou makʼst me sad, and makʼst me sin,

In envy that my Lord Northumberland

Should be the father to so blest a son;

Whilst I, by looking on the praise of him,
See riot and dishonour stain the brow

Of my young Harry. But what think you, coz,
Of this young Percy's pride? The prisoners,
Which he in this adventure hath surpris'd,
To his own use he keeps; and sends me word,
I shall have none but Mordake Earl of Fife.

West. This is his uncle's teaching: this is Worcester,
Malevolent to you in all aspects.

King. But I have sent for him to answer this. Cousin, on Wednesday next our council we

Will hold at Windsor; so inform the lords:

But come yourself with speed to us again;
For more is to be said and to be done,
Than out of anger can be utteréd.

West. I will, my liege.

London. An apartment of the Prince's.

40

[Exeunt.

Enter the PRINCE OF WALES and FALSTAFF.

Fal. Now, Hal, what time of day is it, lad ?

50

Prince. What hast thou to do with the time of the day? Unless hours were cups of sack and minutes capons, I see no reason why thou shouldst be so superfluous to demand the time of the day.

Fal. Indeed, you come near me now, Hal; for we that take purses go by the moon and the seven stars, and not by Phoebus,