Page:Henry IV Part 2 (1921) Yale.djvu/51

King Henry the Fourth, II. iii

O miracle of men! him did you leave,—

Second to none, unseconded by you,—

To look upon the hideous god of war

In disadvantage; to abide a field

Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur's name

Did seem defensible: so you left him.

Never, O! never, do his ghost the wrong

To hold your honour more precise and nice

With others than with him: let them alone.

The marshal and the archbishop are strong:

Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,

To-day might I, hanging on Hotspur's neck,

Have talk'd of Monmouth's grave.

North.Beshrew your heart,

Fair daughter! you do draw my spirits from me

With new lamenting ancient oversights.

But I must go and meet with danger there,

Or it will seek me in another place,

And find me worse provided.

Lady N.O! fly to Scotland,

Till that the nobles and the armed commons

Have of their puissance made a little taste.

Lady P. If they get ground and vantage of the king,

Then join you with them, like a rib of steel,

To make strength stronger; but, for all our loves,

First let them try themselves. So did your son;

He was so suffer'd: so came I a widow;

And never shall have length of life enough

To rain upon remembrance with mine eyes,

That it may grow and sprout as high as heaven,

For recordation to my noble husband.

 38 defensible: able to furnish defense

40 nice: scrupulous

61 For recordation to: in memory of 