Glend. Three times hath Henry Bolingbroke made. head Against my power: thrice from the banks of Wye, Hot. Home without boots, and in foul weather too! How 'scapes he agues, in the devil's name? Glend. Come, here's the map; Shall we divide our right, According to our three-fold order ta'en? Mort. The archdeacon hath divided it England, from Trent and Severn hitherto, My father Glendower is not ready yet, Nor shall we need his help these fourteen days: Within that space, [to GLEND.] you may have drawn together Your tenants, friends, and neighbouring gentlemen. Upon the parting of your wives and you. Hot. Methinks, my moiety3, north from Burton here, 3 Methinks, my moiety,] The division is here into three parts, — 4 In quantity equals not one of yours: It shall not wind with such a deep indent, To rob me of so rich a bottom here. Glend. Not wind? it shall, it must; you see, it doth. But mark, how he bears his course, and runs me up Wor. Yea, but a little charge will trench him here, Hot. I'll have it so; a little charge will do it. Glend. I can speak English, lord, as well as you; For I was train'd up in the English court:5 Where, being but young, I framed to the harp Many an English ditty, lovely well, A moiety was frequently used by the writers of Shakspeare's age, as a portion of any thing, though not divided into two equal parts. 4 cantle out.] A cantle is a corner, or piece of any thing. 5 For I was train'd up in the English court:] The real name of Owen Glendower was Vaughan, and he was originally a barrister of the Middle Temple. And gave the tongue a helpful ornament; A virtue that was never seen in you. Hot. Marry, and I'm glad of 't with all my heart; I had rather be a kitten, and cry - mew, Than one of these same metre ballad-mongers : And that would set my teeth nothing on edge, 'Tis like the forc'd gait of a shuffling nag. Glend. Come, you shall have Trent turn'd. Hot. I do not care: I'll give thrice so much land To any well-deserving friend; But, in the way of bargain, mark ye me, I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair. Are the indentures drawn? shall we be gone? Glend. The moon shines fair, you may away by night: I'll haste the writers, and, withal, Break with your wives of your departure hence: So much she doteth on her Mortimer. [Exit. Mort. Fye, cousin Percy! how you cross my father! With telling me of the moldwarp and the ant,9 A clip-wing'd griffin, and a moulten raven, 7 6 the tongue-] The English language. a brazen canstick turn'd,] The word candlestick, which destroys the harmony of the line, is written canstick in the quartos, 1598, 1599, and 1608; and so it was pronounced. Heywood and several of the old writers, constantly spell it in this manner. 8 I'll haste the writer,] He means the writer of the articles. Mr. Malone reads "I'll in and haste," &c. 9 of the moldwarp and the ant,] This alludes to an old prophecy, which is said to have induced Owen Glendower to take arms against king Henry. The moldwarp is the mole, so called because it renders the surface of the earth unlevel by the hillocks which it raises. A couching lion, and a ramping cat, And such a deal of skimble-skamble stuff As puts me from my faith. I tell you what, That were his lackeys: I cried, humph, and well, go to, But mark'd him not a word. O, he's as tedious Worse than a smoky house: - I had rather live Mort. In faith, he is a worthy gentleman: Might so have tempted him as you have done, Wor. In faith, my lord, you are too wilful-blame; You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault: +"He held me, last night," &c. MALONE. 2 3 profited In strange concealments;] Skilled in wonderful secrets. opinion,] Means here self-opinion, or conceit. The least of which, haunting a nobleman, Loseth men's hearts; and leaves behind a stain Beguiling them of commendation. Hot. Well, I am school'd; good manners be your speed! Here come our wives, and let us take our leave. Re-enter GLENDOWER, with the Ladies. Mort. This is the deadly spite that angers me, My wife can speak no English, I no Welsh. Glend. My daughter weeps: she will not part with you, She'll be a soldier too, she'll to the wars. : Mort. Good father, tell her, that she, and my aunt Percy, Shall follow in your conduct speedily. [GLENDOWER speaks to his Daughter in Welsh, and she answers him in the same. Glend. She's desperate here; a peevish self-will'd harlotry, One no persuasion + can do good upon. [Lady M. speaks to MORTIMER in Welsh. Mort. I understand thy looks: that pretty Welsh Which thou pourest down from these swelling heavens, I am too perfect in; and, but for shame, In such a parley would I answer thee. [Lady M. speaks. I understand thy kisses, and thou mine, And that's a feeling disputation: 4 But I will never be a truant, love, Till I have learn'd thy language; for thy tongue + "One that no persuasion". MALONE. a feeling disputation:] i. e. a contest of sensibility, a reciprocation in which we engage on equal terms. 5 With ravishing division, to her lute.] Divisions were very uncommon in vocal musick during the time of Shakspeare. BURNEY. |