Henry IV, Part 1 and Henry IV, Part 2
Arden 3 | David Scott Kastan | London: Bloomsbury, 2002
and Arden 2 | A.R. Humphries | London: Bloomsbury, 1967
Henry IV, Part 2, Act 2, Scene 3, 9-45
Arden 2 | 1967
Speech
Arden 2 | 1967
LADY PERCY
O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars!
The time was, father, that you broke your word 10
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? 15
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 20
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; 25
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, 30
He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashion’d others. And him—O wondrous him!
O miracle of men!—him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war 35
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 40
With others than with him! Let them alone.
The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong:
Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck,
Have talk’d of Monmouth’s grave. 45
Words and Pronunciation +
Arden 2 | 1967
Words
that: when (Humphries)
endear’d: bound by honourable attachment. (Humphries)
stuck: Used for ‘the fixity and lustre of a heavenly body in its sphere’ (Shaaber, quoting Ham., V. ii. 268-9— ‘Your skill shall, like a star i’th’ darkest night, / Stick fiery off indeed’; and Ant., V. ii. 79-80—‘His face was as the heav’ns, and therein stuck / A sun and moon’). (Humphries)
grey: Often used for ‘blue’, as in Tit., II. ii. 1—‘The hunt is up, the morn is bright and grey’, and Peele, Old Wives’ Tale (Bullen, i. 318)—‘The day is clear, the welkin bright and grey’. (Humphries)
vault: sky (SW); roof, covering, ceiling (SW); vault, cavern, chamber (SW); wine cellar, liquor store-room (SW)
chivalry: knights, men at arms (SW); knightly qualities (SW); knightly prowess, warlike distinction (SW)
glass: Like ‘mirror’ (e.g. Myrroure for Magistrates), frequently used for ‘example’, ‘model’; cf. Sir Thomas More (Mal. Soc., II. 752-3)—‘Ile be thy glasse, dresse thy behauiour according to my cariage’; and Ham., III. i. 161—‘the glass of fashion’. (Humphries)
practise: put to use, employ (SW); copy, emulate, carry out (SW); engage in, carry on, take up (SW)
gait: manner of walking, bearing, movement (SW): proceedings, course, doings, steps (SW)
speaking thick: i.e. speaking impetuously. Cf. Cymb., III. ii. 58-60— ‘Say and speak thick— / Love’s counsellor should fill the bores of hearing / To the smothering of the sense’. ‘The phrase has been interpreted … as meaning either “having a defect of speech” … or “having a guttural accent”…. [It] in fact means simply “rapid, or hurried, speech”, a frequent Elizabethan sense…. Over-haste in speaking, of course, might lead to want of clarity in enunciation [“which nature made his blemish”]. … The origin of the stage tradition of stuttering this part was Schlegel’s translation of the word thick by stottern, after which German actors stuttered the part and set a fashion’ (Sisson, New Readings). Shakespeare is recalling the impulsive, crowded utterance he had given Hotspur, appropriate to his name (or perhaps the Northumbrian burr?). No such characteristic appears in the chronicles. (Humphries)
accents: ……………..(SW)
tardily: ………… (SW)
perfection: …..(SW)
abuse: ……..(SW)
diet: ……(SW)
affections of delight: inclinations to pleasure. (Humphries)
humours of blood: caprices of temperament.(Humphries)
mark: guiding sign.(Humphries)
copy: example, model, pattern (SW); original, master-copy (SW)
fashion’d: ………………(SW)
unseconded: unsupported, unsustained (SW)
abide a field: face a battle. (Humphries)
defensible: furnishing the means of defence’ (Humphries)
precise: puritanical, strictly moral, scrupulously correct (SW); scrupulously pure, strictly observed, unstained (SW)
nice: fastidious, particular, fussy, overscrupulous (SW); fine, precise, particular, subtle (SW)
Pronunciation +
powers: (line 14) Q; Powres-F; pow’rs Pope. (Humphries)
heaven: (line 19) possibly heav’n (Leung)
Monmouth: (line 45) Mon-muth
Translation
No Fear Shakespeare
LADY PERCY
For God’s sake, don’t go to these wars! Father-in-law, you once broke your word when you had better reason to keep it than you do now. Your own son Percy—my heart’s beloved Harry—looked northward again and again, hoping to see his father coming with an army. But he hoped in vain. Who persuaded you to stay home that time? Two honors were lost in that battle: yours, and your son’s. As for yours, I hope God will make it shine again. As for Harry’s honor, it clung to him like the sun in a pale blue sky, and by its light every knight in England was moved to act bravely. He was the mirror in which noble youths dressed themselves. All men copied his way of walking, except those who had no legs.
And talking loudly and quickly—the one flaw nature had given him—became the speech pattern for all brave men. Those who spoke softly and slowly would corrupt their proper speech, just to seem more like Harry. In speech, bearing, and diet; in inclinations toward pleasure, in military actions, and in moods, he was the target, mirror, example, and rulebook that other men followed. And him—Oh wondrous him! Oh miracle of men!—you left him! The best man in the world, unsupported by you, faced the hideous god of war from a position of weakness. His only defense was the sound of his own name, and that is how you left him.
Never insult his memory by letting your honor count more with strangers than with him. Leave them alone: Marshal Mowbray and the Archbishop are strong. If my darling Harry had had half their army, I might be hanging on his neck today, talking about Prince Hal’s grave.
Assonance
Arden 3 | 2012
LADY PERCY
O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars!
The time was, father, that you broke your word 10
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? 15
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 20
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; 25
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, 30
He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashion’d others. And him—O wondrous him!
O miracle of men!—him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war 35
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 40
With others than with him! Let them alone.
The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong:
Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck,
Have talk’d of Monmouth’s grave. 45
Alliteration
Arden 3 | 2012
LADY PERCY
O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars!
The time was, father, that you broke your word 10
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? 15
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 20
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; 25
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, 30
He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashion’d others. And him—O wondrous him!
O miracle of men!—him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war 35
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 40
With others than with him! Let them alone.
The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong:
Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck,
Have talk’d of Monmouth’s grave. 45
Consonance
Arden 3 | 2012
LADY PERCY
O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars!
The time was, father, that you broke your word 10
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? 15
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 20
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; 25
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, 30
He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashion’d others. And him—O wondrous him!
O miracle of men!—him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war 35
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 40
With others than with him! Let them alone.
The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong:
Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck,
Have talk’d of Monmouth’s grave. 45
Thoughts
Arden 3 | 2012
LADY PERCY
1. O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars!
2. The time was, father, that you broke your word 10
When you were more endear’d to it than now;
(b) When your own Percy, when my heart’s dear Harry,
Threw many a northward look to see his father
Bring up his powers; (c) but he did long in vain.
3. Who then persuaded you to stay at home? 15
4. There were two honours lost, yours and your son’s.
5. For yours, the God of heaven brighten it!
6. 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 20
To do brave acts. 7. He was indeed the glass
Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves.
8. He had no legs that practis’d not his gait;
(b) And speaking thick, which nature made his blemish,
Became the accents of the valiant; 25
For those that could speak low and tardily
Would turn their own perfection to abuse,
To seem like him. 9. So that in speech, in gait,
In diet, in affections of delight,
In military rules, humours of blood, 30
He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashion’d others. 10. And him— (b) O wondrous him!
(c) O miracle of men!—him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war 35
In disadvantage, to abide a field
Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur’s name
Did seem defensible: (d) so you left him.
11. Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong
To hold your honour more precise and nice 40
With others than with him! 12. Let them alone.
13. The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong:
(b) Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck,
Have talk’d of Monmouth’s grave. 45
THOUGHTS
Long: 4
Medium: 3
Short: 6
Complex:
End stopped: 8
Midline: 5
Period: 9
Exclamation: 3
Question: 1
Dash: 0
Total: 13
Rhythm
Arden 3 | 2012
LADY PERCY
O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars! 10|10R
The time was, father, that you broke your word 10R 10
When you were more endear’d to it than now; 10R
When your own Percy, when my heart’s dear Harry, 11W
Threw many a northward look to see his father 10W
Bring up his powers; but he did long in vain. 11W
Who then persuaded you to stay at home? 10R 15
There were two honours lost, yours and your son’s. 10
For yours, the God of heaven brighten it! 10R
For his, it stuck upon him as the sun 10R
In the grey vault of heaven, and by his light 10|11W|11ec
Did all the chivalry of England move 10R 20
To do brave acts. He was indeed the glass 10|10R
Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves. 10R
He had no legs that practis’d not his gait; 10|10R
And speaking thick, which nature made his blemish, 11W
Became the accents of the valiant; 10R 25
For those that could speak low and tardily 10R
Would turn their own perfection to abuse, 10R
To seem like him. So that in speech, in gait, 10|10R
In diet, in affections of delight, 10R
In military rules, humours of blood, 10 30
He was the mark and glass, copy and book, 10
That fashion’d others. And him—O wondrous him! 11ec
O miracle of men!—him did you leave, 10|10R
Second to none, unseconded by you, 10
To look upon the hideous god of war 10R 35
In disadvantage, to abide a field 10R
Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur’s name 10R
Did seem defensible: so you left him. 10W
Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong 10
To hold your honour more precise and nice 10R 40
With others than with him! Let them alone. 10
The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong: 10
Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers, 11W
Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck, 10
Have talk’d of Monmouth’s grave. 6 45
Pacing
Arden 3 | 2012
LADY PERCY
O yet, <c> for God’s sake, <c> go not to these wars! PAUSE?
The time was, <c> father, <c> that you broke your word 10
When you were more endear’d to it than now; PAUSE?
When your own Percy, <c> when my heart’s dear Harry,
Threw many a northward look to see his father
Bring up his powers; <c> but he did long in vain. PAUSE?
Who then persuaded you to stay at home? PAUSE? 15
There were two honours lost, <c> yours and your son’s. PAUSE?
For yours, <c> the God of heaven brighten it! PAUSE?
For his, <c> it stuck upon him as the sun
In the grey vault of heaven, and by his light
Did all the chivalry of England move 20
To do brave acts. <c> He was indeed the glass
Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves. PAUSE
He had no legs that practis’d not his gait;
And speaking thick, which nature made his blemish,
Became the accents of the valiant; 25
For those that could speak low and tardily
Would turn their own perfection to abuse,
To seem like him. <c> So that in speech, in gait,
In diet, <c> in affections of delight,
In military rules, <c> humours of blood, 30
He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashion’d others. <EC> And him—O wondrous him!
O miracle of men!— <c> him did you leave,
Second to none, <c> unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war 35
In disadvantage, <c> to abide a field
Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur’s name
Did seem defensible: <c> so you left him.
Never, <c> O never, do his ghost the wrong
To hold your honour more precise and nice 40
With others than with him! <c> Let them alone. PAUSE?
The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong:
Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
Today might I, <c> hanging on Hotspur’s neck,
Have talk’d of Monmouth’s grave. 45
Beats
Arden 3 | 2012
LADY PERCY
Beat 1:
O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars!
The time was, father, that you broke your word 10
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? 15
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 20
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; 25
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, 30
He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashion’d others.
Beat
———————-And him—O wondrous him!
O miracle of men!—him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war 35
In disadvantage, to abide a field
Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur’s name
Did seem defensible: so you left him.
Beat
Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong
To hold your honour more precise and nice 40
With others than with him! Let them alone.
The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong:
Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck,
Have talk’d of Monmouth’s grave. 45
Notes
Scene
Arden 3 | 2012
[Warkworth. Northumberland’s castle.]
Enter Northumberland, Lady Northumberland, and Lady Percy.
NORTHUMBERLAND
I pray thee, loving wife and gentle daughter,
Give even way unto my rough affairs;
Put not you on the visage of the times
And be like them to Percy troublesome.
LADY NORTHUMBERLAND
I have given over, I will speak no more. 5
Do what you will, your wisdom be your guide.
NORTHUMBERLAND
Alas, sweet wife, my honour is at pawn,
And, but my going, nothing can redeem it.
LADY PERCY
O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars!
The time was, father, that you broke your word 10
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? 15
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 20
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; 25
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, 30
He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashion’d others. And him—O wondrous him!
O miracle of men!—him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war 35
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 40
With others than with him! Let them alone.
The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong:
Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck,
Have talk’d of Monmouth’s grave.
NORTHUMBERLAND
———————————-Beshrew your heart, 45
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 NORTHUMBERLAND
——————————-O, fly to Scotland, 50
Till that the nobles and the armed commons
Have of their puissance made a little taste.
LADY PERCY
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, 55
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 60
For recordation to my noble husband.
NORTHUMBERLAND
Come, come, go in with me. ’Tis with my mind
As with the tide swell’d up unto his height,
That makes a still-stand, running neither way.
Fain would I go to meet the Archbishop, 65
But many thousand reasons hold me back.
I will resolve for Scotland. There am I,
Till time and vantage crave my company.
(Exeunt).
TBD
Arden 3 | 2012