I run before King Harry's victory;
Who in a bloody field by Shrewsbury 24
Hath beaten down young Hotspur and his troops,
Quenching the flame of bold rebellion
Even with the rebels' blood. But what mean I
To speak so true at first? my office is 28
To noise abroad that Harry Monmouth fell
Under the wrath of noble Hotspur's sword,
And that the king before the Douglas' rage
Stoop'd his anointed head as low as death. 32
This have I rumour'd through the peasant towns
Between the royal field of Shrewsbury
And this worm-eaten hole of ragged stone,
Where Hotspur's father, old Northumberland, 36
Lies crafty-sick. The posts come tiring on,
And not a man of them brings other news
Than they have learn'd of me: from Rumour's tongues
They bring smooth comforts false, worse than true wrongs. 40 Exit.
ACT FIRST
Scene One
[The Same]
Enter Lord Bardolph, at one door.
L. Bard. Who keeps the gate here? ho!
[Enter the Porter above.]
Where is the earl?
Port. What shall I say you are?
24 Shrewsbury; cf. n.
29 Harry Monmouth; cf. n.
33 peasant: provincial
35 hole; cf. n.
37 crafty-sick: feigning sickness
tiring: riding until they are tired
2 What: who
