Mort. Th' Archdeacon hath divided it
Into three limits, very equally:

England, from Trent, and Severn hitherto,
By fouth and east, is to my part affign'd:
All weftward, Wales, beyond the Severn fhore,
And all the fertile land within that bound,
To Owen Glendower; and, dear Coz, to you
The remnant northward, lying off from Trent.
And our Indentures tripartite are drawn:
Which being fealed interchangeably,
(A business, that this night may execute)
To morrow, coufin Percy, you and I,
And my good lord of Worcester, will fet forth,
To meet your father, and the Scottish Power,
As is appointed us, at Shrewsbury.

My father Glendower is not ready yet,

Nor fhall we need his help these fourteen days: Within that space, you may have drawn together Your tenants, friends, and neighbouring gentlemen. Glend. A fhorter time fhall fend me to you, lords: And in my conduct fhall your ladies come,

From whom you now must steal, and take no leave; For there will be a world of water shed,

Upon the parting of your wives and you.

2

There,

"Hot. Methinks, my portion, north from Burton In quantity equals not one of yours:

See, how this river comes me crankling in,
And cuts me, from the best of all my land,
A huge half-moon, a monstrous cantle out.
I'll have the Current in this place damm'd up:
And here the fmug and filver Trent shall run
In a new channel, fair and evenly:

2 Methinks, my moiety, Hot-fpur is here just such a divider as the Iriman who made three halves: Therefore, for the honour of Shakespear, I will fuppofe, with the Oxford Editor, that he wrote partion.

It shall not wind with fuch a deep indent,
To rob me of fo rich a bottom here,

Glend. Not wind? it shall, it must; you fee, it doth. Mort. But mark, he bears his course, and runs me up With like advantage on the other fide,

Gelding th' oppofed continent as much,
As on the other fide it takes from you.

War. Yes, but a little charge will trench him here, And on this north-fide win this cape of land,

And then he runs ftraight and even.

Hot. I'll have it fo, a little charge will do it.
Glend. I will not have it alter'd.

Hot. Will not you?

Glend. No, nor you shall not.

Hot. Who fhall fay me nay?

Glend. Why, that will I.

Hot. Let me not understand you then, Speak it in Welb.

Glend. I can fpeak English, lord, as well as you,
For I was train'd up in the English Court:

Where, being young, I framed to the harp
Many an English Ditty, lovely well,

And

gave the tongue a helpful ornament;

A virtue, that was never seen in you.

Hot. Marry, and I'm glad of it with all my heart, "I had rather be a kitten, and cry, mew! "Than one of these fame meeter-ballad-mongers; "I'd rather hear a brazen candlestick turn'd, "Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree,

"And that would nothing fet my teeth on edge,

Nothing fo much as mincing Poetry;

"Tis like the forc'd gate of a fhuffling nag.
Glend. Come, you fhall have Trent turn'd.
Hot. I do not care; I'll give thrice fo much land
To any well-deferving friend;

But in the way of bargain, mark ye me,

I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair.

Are

Are the indentures drawn? fhall we be gone?

Glend. The moon fhines fair, you may away by

night:

(3 I'll hafte the writer) and withal,

Break with your Wives of your departure hence:
I am afraid my daughter will run mad;

So much fhe doteth on her Mortimer.

[Exit.

II.

Mort. Fie, coufin Percy, how you cross my father? Hot. I cannot chufe; fometime he angers me, "With telling of the Moldwarp and the Ant, "Of dreamer Merlin, and his prophecies; "And of a dragon, and a finless fish,

"A clipt-wing Griffin, and a moulting Raven;
"A couching Lion, and a ramping Cat;
"And fuch a deal of skimble-skamble stuff,
"As puts me from my faith. I tell you what,
"He held me the last night at least nine hours,
"In reck'ning up the feveral devils names,

"That were his lackeys: I cry'd, hum,—and well,—
But mark'd him not a word. O, he's as tedious
As a tir'd horfe, or as a railing wife:
Worfe than a fmoaky house. I'd rather live
With cheese and garlick, in a windmil, far;
Than feed on cates, and have him talk to me,
In any fummer-house in chriftendom.

Mort. In faith, he is a worthy gentleman;
Exceedingly well read, and profited

In strange concealments; valiant as a Lion;

3 (Ill bafe the writer) He means the writer of the articles.

Mr. Pope. 4 of the Moldwerp and the Ant,] This alludes to an old prophecy which is faid to have induced Owen Glendower to take arms against King Henry. See Hall's Chronicle, folio 20.

Mr. Pope.

And

And wond'rous affable; as bountiful

As Mines of India: fhall I tell you, coufin?
He holds your temper in a high respect,
And curbs himself, even of his natural fcope,
When you do cross his humour; 'faith, he does.
I warrant you, that man is not alive

Might so have tempted him as you have done,
Without the taste of danger and reproof.
But do not use it oft, let me intreat you.

Wor. In faith, my lord, you are too wilful-blame,
And, fince your coming here, have done enough
Το put him quite befides his patience :

You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault;
Though fometimes it fhews greatnefs, courage, blood,
(And that's the dearest grace it renders you ;)
Yet oftentimes it doth present harsh rage,
Defect of manners, want of government,
Pride, haughtinefs, opinion, and difdain:
The least of which, haunting a Nobleman,
Lofeth men's hearts, and leaves behind a stain
Upon the beauty of all parts befides,
Beguiling them of commendation.

[Speed!

Hot. Well, I am fchool'd: good manners be your Here come our wives, and let us take our leave.

Enter Glendower, with the ladies.

Mort. This is the deadly fpight that angers me, My wife can speak no English, I no Welsh.

Glend. My daughter weeps, fhe will not part with

you,

She'll be a foldier too, fhe'll to the wars.

Mort. Good father, tell her, fhe and my aunt Percy Shall follow in your conduct fpeedily.

[Glendower fpeaks to her in Welsh, and she anfwers him in the fame.

Glend.

Glend. She's defp'rate here: a peevish self-will'd harlotry,

That no perfuafion can do good upon.

[Lady fpeaks in Welsh. Mort. I understand thy looks; that pretty Welsh, Which thou pour'ft down from those two fwelling heavens,

I am too perfect in: and, but for shame,

In fuch a parly should I answer thee.

[The Lady again in Welsh.

I understand thy kiffes, and thou mine
And that's a feeling difputation:

But I will never be a truant, love,

;

'Till I have learn'd thy language; for thy tongue Makes Welsh as fweet as ditties highly penn'd, Sung by a fair Queen in a fummer's bower,

With ravishing divifion to her lute.

Glend. Nay, if thou melt, then will she run mad.

[The Lady Speaks again in Welsh.

Mort. O, I am Ignorance itself in this.

Glend. She bids you,

"All on the wanton rushes lay you down,
"And reft your gentle head upon her lap,
"And she will fing the fong that pleaseth you,
"s And on your eye-lids crown the God of Sleep,
"Charming your blood with pleafing heaviness;

Making fuch diff'rence betwixt wake and sleep, "As is the diff'rence betwixt day and night, "The hour before the heav'nly-harness'd team "Begins his golden progrefs in the east.

Mort. With all my heart I'll fit, and hear her fing: By that time will our book, I think, be drawn.

5 And on your eye lids crown the God of Sleep,] The expreffion is fine; intimating, that the God of Sleep fhould not only fit on his eye-lids, but that he should fit crown'd, that is, pleased and delighted.

Glend.