Page 1090 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

KING

Why art thou not at Windsor with him, Thomas? [50]

CLARENCE
He is not there to-day; he dines in London.

KING
And how accompanied? [Can’st thou tell that?]

CLARENCE
With Poins and other his continual followers.

KING
Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds,

And he, the noble image of my youth, [55]
Is overspread with them. Therefore my grief
Stretches itself beyond the hour of death.
The blood weeps from my heart when I do shape
In forms imaginary the unguided days

And rotten times that you shall look upon [60]
When I am sleeping with my ancestors.
For when his headstrong riot hath no curb,

When rage and hot blood are his counsellors,
When means and lavish manners meet together,
O, with what wings shall his affections fly [65]
Towards fronting peril and opposed decay!

WARWICK
My gracious lord, you look beyond him quite.

The prince but studies his companions
Like a strange tongue, wherein, to gain the language,
’Tis needful that the most immodest word [70]
Be looked upon and learned, which once attained,

Your highness knows, comes to no further use
But to be known and hated. So, like gross terms,
The prince will in the perfectness of time
Cast off his followers, and their memory [75]

Shall as a pattern or a measure live,