Page 681 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2
P. 681
Therefore I say −
WORCESTER
Peace, cousin, say no more;
And now I will unclasp a secret book,
And to your quick-conceiving discontents
I’ll read you matter deep and dangerous, [190]
As full of peril and adventurous spirit
As to o’erwalk a current roaring loud
On the unsteadfast footing of a spear.
HOTSPUR
If he fall in, good night, or sink or swim!
Send danger from the east unto the west, [195]
So honour cross it from the north to south,
And let them grapple. O, the blood more stirs
To rouse a lion than to start a hare!
NORTHUMBERLAND
Imagination of some great exploit
Drives him beyond the bounds of patience. [200]
HOTSPUR
By heaven, methinks it were an easy leap
To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon,
Or dive into the bottom of the deep,
Where fathom line could never touch the ground,
And pluck up drownèd honour by the locks, [205]
So he that doth redeem her thence might wear
Without corrival all her dignities;
But out upon this half-faced fellowship!
WORCESTER
He apprehends a world of figures here,
But not the form of what he should attend. [210]
Good cousin, give me audience for a while.
