Ver. And further, I have90
The king himself in person is set forth,[2912]
Or hitherwards intended speedily,[2913]
With strong and mighty preparation.
Hot. He shall be welcome too. Where is his son,[2914]
The nimble-footed madcap Prince of Wales,[2915]95
And his comrades, that daff'd the world aside,[2916]
And bid it pass?
Ver. All furnish'd, all in arms;[2917]
All plumed like estridges that with the wind[2918][2919]
Baited like eagles having lately bathed;[2919][2920]
Glittering in golden coats, like images;100
As full of spirit as the month of May,
And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer;
Wanton as youthful goats, wild as young bulls.[2921]
I saw young Harry, with his beaver on,[2922]
His cuisses on his thighs, gallantly arm'd,[2923]105
Rise from the ground like feather'd Mercury,
And vaulted with such ease into his seat,[2924]
As if an angel dropp'd down from the clouds,[2925]
To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus
And witch the world with noble horsemanship.110
Hot. No more, no more: worse than the sun in March,[2926]
This praise doth nourish agues. Let them come;
They come like sacrifices in their trim,
And to the fire-eyed maid of smoky war
All hot and bleeding will we offer them:115
The mailed Mars shall on his altar sit[2927]
Up to the ears in blood. I am on fire
To hear this rich reprisal is so nigh
And yet not ours. Come, let me taste my horse,[2928]
Who is to bear me like a thunderbolt120
Against the bosom of the Prince of Wales:
Harry to Harry shall, hot horse to horse,[2929]
Meet and ne'er part till one drop down a corse.
O that Glendower were come!
Ver. There is more news:
I learn'd in Worcester, as I rode along,125
He cannot draw his power this fourteen days.[2930]
Doug. That's the worst tidings that I hear of yet.[2931]
Wor. Ay, by my faith, that bears a frosty sound.
Hot. What may the king's whole battle reach unto?
Hot. Forty let it be:130
My father and Glendower being both away,
The powers of us may serve so great a day.[2932]
Come, let us take a muster speedily:[2933]
Doomsday is near; die all, die merrily.