Page 738 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

For thou hast lost thy princely privilege
With vile participation. Not an eye
But is aweary of thy common sight,
Save mine, which hath desired to see thee more;

Which now doth that I would not have it do − [90]
Make blind itself with foolish tenderness.

PRINCE
I shall hereafter, my thrice-gracious lord,
Be more myself.

KING
For all the world,

As thou art to this hour was Richard then
When I from France set foot at Ravenspurgh; [95]
And even as I was then is Percy now.
Now, by my sceptre, and my soul to boot,

He hath more worthy interest to the state
Than thou, the shadow of succession;
For of no right, nor colour like to right, [100]
He doth fill fields with harness in the realm,

Turns head against the lion’s armèd jaws,
And, being no more in debt to years than thou,
Leads ancient lords and reverend bishops on
To bloody battles and to bruising arms. [105]

What never-dying honour hath he got
Against renownèd Douglas! whose high deeds,
Whose hot incursions and great name in arms
Holds from all soldiers chief majority

And military title capital [110]
Through all the kingdoms that acknowledge Christ.
Thrice hath this Hotspur, Mars in swathling clothes,
This infant warrior, in his enterprises

Discomfited great Douglas; ta’en him once,
Enlargèd him, and made a friend of him, [115]
To fill the mouth of deep defiance up
And shake the peace and safety of our throne.

And what say you to this? Percy, Northumberland,