Poins. Well, for two of them, I know them to be as[2088][2089]175
true-bred cowards as ever turned back; and for the third,[2089]
if he fight longer than he sees reason, I'll forswear arms.
The virtue of this jest will be, the incomprehensible lies
that this same fat rogue will tell us when we meet at supper:[2090]
how thirty, at least, he fought with; what wards, what[2091]180
blows, what extremities he endured; and in the reproof of[2092]
this lies the jest.[2093]
Prince. Well, I'll go with thee: provide us all things
necessary and meet me to-morrow night in Eastcheap;[2094]
there I'll sup. Farewell.185
Poins. Farewell, my lord. [Exit.
Prince. I know you all, and will awhile uphold
The unyoked humour of your idleness:
Yet herein will I imitate the sun,
Who doth permit the base contagious clouds190
To smother up his beauty from the world,
That, when he please again to be himself,
Being wanted, he may be more wonder'd at,
By breaking through the foul and ugly mists
Of vapours that did seem to strangle him.195
If all the year were playing holidays,
To sport would be as tedious as to work;
But when they seldom come, they wish'd for come,
And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents.
So, when this loose behaviour I throw off200
And pay the debt I never promised,
By how much better than my word I am,
By so much shall I falsify men's hopes;[2095]
And like bright metal on a sullen ground,
My reformation, glittering o'er my fault,205
Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes
Than that which hath no foil to set it off.[2096]
I'll so offend, to make offence a skill;
Redeeming time when men think least I will. [Exit.[2097]
Scene III. London. The palace.[2098]
Enter the King, Northumberland, Worcester, Hotspur, Sir Walter Blunt, with others.
King. My blood hath been too cold and temperate,
Unapt to stir at these indignities,
And you have found me; for accordingly[2099]
You tread upon my patience: but be sure[2100]
I will from henceforth rather be myself,5
Mighty and to be fear'd, than my condition;[2101]
Which hath been smooth as oil, soft as young down,[2102]
And therefore lost that title of respect[2103]
Which the proud soul ne'er pays but to the proud.[2104]
Wor. Our house, my sovereign liege, little deserves10
The scourge of greatness to be used on it;
And that same greatness too which our own hands
Have holp to make so portly.[2105]
North. My lord,—[2106]