Page:Henry IV Part 2 (1921) Yale.djvu/87

King Henry the Fourth, IV. i

Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke.

West. You speak, Lord Mowbray, now you know not what.

The Earl of Hereford was reputed then

In England the most valiant gentleman:

Who knows on whom Fortune would then have smil'd?

But if your father had been victor there,

He ne'er had borne it out of Coventry;

For all the country in a general voice

Cried hate upon him; and all their prayers and love

Were set on Hereford, whom they doted on

And bless'd and grac'd indeed, more than the king.

But this is mere digression from my purpose.

Here come I from our princely general

To know your griefs; to tell you from his Grace

That he will give you audience; and wherein

It shall appear that your demands are just,

You shall enjoy them; everything set off

That might so much as think you enemies.

Mowb. But he hath forc'd us to compel this offer,

And it proceeds from policy, not love.

West. Mowbray, you overween to take it so.

This offer comes from mercy, not from fear:

For, lo! within a ken our army lies

Upon mine honour, all too confident

To give admittance to a thought of fear.

Our battle is more full of names than yours,

Our men more perfect in the use of arms,

Our armour all as strong, our cause the best;

Then reason will our hearts should be as good:

 129 miscarried: perished

131 Earl of Hereford: King Henry, actually Duke of Hereford at the time of his banishment (cf. Richard II, I. iii. 21)

145 set off: ignored

149 overween: are arrogant

151 within a ken: within seeing distance

154 names: noble and soldierly names 