The First Part of King Henry the Fourth

So shaken as we are, so wan with care,

Find we a time for frighted peace to pant,

And breathe short-winded accents of new broils

To be commenced in strands afar remote?

No, no;—where fear is, struggle is;—there never

True resolution;—arms, if arms be needful,

Are peace the nurse of broils; for want of tears

As I have seen, in coward Creteans' acts,

Their froward hearts forget their native courage,

And in their fears they make their virtues faint.

Therefore, my liege, be in readiness;

For, as I hear, a coming nigher day

Shall bring new matter to our affairs.

The king now summons counsel: Worcester, Northumberland, and other lords enter.

My Lord Northumberland, you did take such pains,

With such respect, with such unfaltering zeal,

As even your native loyalty might move,

And I confess it came unsought and free.

How is the state of our affairs? speak, Worcester.

Thy grace hath better than we could desire;

For there is now a copy of a letter

Directly from the Lord Douglas to Lord Percy,

Which shows a traitor's triumph in his words,

And in the substance of the letter too.

It is full of hot blood and empty boast.

The Prince of Wales — your son, my lord — is in disorder:

He takes his pastime in the taverns, and he keeps

Company with scheds and the common rout.

He hears the night-bird's song, and he keeps a pace

With shadows; he doth wrong his father's name.

My liege, I will make bold to say no more,

But that his course is dangerous to the state.

The King: I am heartily glad of your advice,

And for the present, let this be our counsel:

To watch and to be ready; and meanwhile

We will go to York, and there abide the news.