Page:Henry IV Part 2 (1921) Yale.djvu/50

38

Give even way unto my rough affairs:

Put not you on the visage of the times,

And be like them to Percy troublesome.

Lady N. I have given over, I will speak no more:

Do what you will; your wisdom be your guide.

North. Alas! sweet wife, my honour is at pawn;

And, but my going, nothing can redeem it.

Lady P. O! yet for God's sake, go not to these wars.

The time was, father, that you broke your word

When you were more endear'd to it than now;

When your own Percy, when my heart's dear Harry,

Threw many a northward look to see his father

Bring up his powers; but he did long in vain.

Who then persuaded you to stay at home?

There were two honours lost, yours and your son's:

For yours, the God of heaven brighten it!

For his, it stuck upon him as the sun

In the grey vault of heaven; and by his light

Did all the chivalry of England move

To do brave acts: he was indeed the glass

Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves:

He had no legs, that practis'd not his gait;

And speaking thick, which nature made his blemish,

Became the accents of the valiant;

For those that could speak low and tardily,

Would turn their own perfection to abuse,

To seem like him: so that, in speech, in gait,

In diet, in affections of delight,

In military rules, humours of blood,

He was the mark and glass, copy and book,

That fashion'd others. And him, O wondrous him!

 11 endear'd: bound

24 thick: fast

29 affections of delight: favorite pastimes

30 blood: disposition 