Page:Henry IV Part 1 (1917) Yale.djvu/114

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Ver. Deliver what you will, I'll say 'tis so.

Here comes your cousin. Enter Hotspur [and Douglas].

Hot. My uncle is return'd: deliver up

My Lord of Westmoreland. Uncle, what news?

Wor. The king will bid you battle presently.

Doug. Defy him by the Lord of Westmoreland.

Hot. Lord Douglas, go you and tell him so.

Doug. Marry, and shall, and very willingly.

Exit Douglas.

Wor. There is no seeming mercy in the king.

Hot. Did you beg any? God forbid!

Wor. I told him gently of our grievances,

Of his oath-breaking; which he mended thus,

By now forswearing that he is forsworn:

He calls us rebels, traitors; and will scourge

With haughty arms this hateful name in us.

Doug. Arm, gentlemen! to arms! for I have thrown

A brave defiance in King Henry's teeth,

And Westmoreland, that was engag'd, did bear it;

Which cannot choose but bring him quickly on.

Wor. The Prince of Wales stepp'd forth before the king,

And, nephew, challeng'd you to single fight.

Hot. O! would the quarrel lay upon our heads,

And that no man might draw short breath to-day

But I and Harry Monmouth. Tell me, tell me,

How show'd his tasking? seem'd it in contempt?

Ver. No, by my soul; I never in my life

Did hear a challenge urg'd more modestly,

 50 tasking: challenge 