Page:Henry IV Part 2 (1921) Yale.djvu/14

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I run before King Harry's victory;

Who in a bloody field by Shrewsbury

Hath beaten down young Hotspur and his troops,

Quenching the flame of bold rebellion

Even with the rebels' blood. But what mean I

To speak so true at first? my office is

To noise abroad that Harry Monmouth fell

Under the wrath of noble Hotspur's sword,

And that the king before the Douglas' rage

Stoop'd his anointed head as low as death.

This have I rumour'd through the peasant towns

Between the royal field of Shrewsbury

And this worm-eaten hole of ragged stone,

Where Hotspur's father, old Northumberland,

Lies crafty-sick. The posts come tiring on,

And not a man of them brings other news

Than they have learn'd of me: from Rumour's tongues

They bring smooth comforts false, worse than true wrongs.

 

L. Bard. Who keeps the gate here? ho!

Where is the earl?

Port. What shall I say you are?

 24 Shrewsbury; cf. n.

29 Harry Monmouth; cf. n.

33 peasant: provincial

35 hole; cf. n.

37 crafty-sick: feigning sickness

tiring: riding until they are tired

 2 What: who 