ACT III
SCENE i
Hotspur, Worcester, Owen Glendower, and Mortimer meet and consult a
map of England, Hotspur all the while debating with Owen Glendower
over the meaning or meaninglessness of "signs." Hotspur demythologizes
Glendower's attempts to connect natural omens to his own birth. For
example, regarding the earth quaking on the day of his birth, Hotspur
remarks, "so it would have done / at the same season if your mother's
cat had / But kitten'd, though yourself had never been born"
(III.i.17-19). Glendower persists in listing the supernatural wonders
as indications that "I am not in the roll of common men" (III.i.42).
The rebels divide up England: the north to the Percy family, the west
to Glendower, the south to Mortimer. Mortimer, Hotspur, and Worcester
will meet up with Northumberland at Shrewsbury and Glendower will join
later. Hotspur vows to divert a river in order to acquire more land.
Contention breaks out again between Hotspur and Glendower over the
latter's ability to speak English as well as Welsh. Glendower defends
himself:
Worcester tries to reason with his nephew, cataloguing the effects
his wildness has. He shows too much willfulness:
"Mortimer is on the stage in only one scene. But he is the play's
mainspring as certainly as is the Ghost in Hamlet. Shakespeare
grew more and more fond of quietly suggesting the immense dramatic
importance of figures partly or wholly behind the action, of making
the absent present" (Goddard, I 165).
Features of this scene make some sense as displaced depictions of
anti-Elizabeth treasons of the early 1580s, with Worcester speaking
to his nephew more as a father would, paralleling Henry Howard speaking
to his nephew the Earl of Arundel while actually being a father-figure
to him (Clark 686). And "No point within the British Isles could be
spoken of as 'a thousand leagues' from any other point there; but
from Spain by a roundabout journey to the coast of Lancashire..."
(Clark 688).
SCENE ii
Henry chides Hal for his behavior but takes it as his own punishment
from God to have such a jackass for a son. Clark is certain that the
scene between Hal and his father resembled the scene between Oxford
and Elizabeth when the former was taken back into favor (Clark 680,
688). The statement "And God forgive them that hath so much sway'd /
Your majesty's good thoughts away from me" (III.ii.130-131) is
particularly applicable (Ogburn and Ogburn 716), as are the appeals
to noble "ancestors" (III.ii.31) and the dismay concerning Hal's
being "So common-hackney'd in the eyes of men, / So stale and cheap
to the vulgar company" (III.ii.40-41).
"The language that pursues him [Henry] throughout the play is the
language of costume and counterfeiting" (Garber 320), represented
here by Henry's references to having "dress'd myself in such humility"
(III.ii.51) and "My presence, like a robe pontifical" (III.ii.56).
He tells Hal, "thou hast lost thy princely privilege / With vile
participation" (III.ii.86-87). Hal says reports have been
exaggerated but that he will henceforth "Be more myself" (III.ii.93).
Henry fears another Richard II character emerging in Hal, whereas what
we want is more Hotspurs. Hal will prove himself in fighting against
the rebels, he vows, and will earn the honor of being Henry's son
"When I will wear a garment all of blood, / And stain my favors in
a bloody mask" (III.ii.135-136). Henry is happy to hear this and
gives him an army which will join the one led by himself, Westmoreland,
and Prince John (Hal's more responsible brother). Sir Walter Blunt
brings news that the rebel forces have amassed at Shrewsbury.
"'Factor,' 'engross,' 'account,' 'render,' and 'reckoning.' This is the
language of economic reality, the language of calculation" (Garber 338).
SCENE iii
Falstaff and Bardolph exchange insults, including some about Bardolph's
complexion, flushed red with alcohol. That Falstaff is called an
apple-john (III.iii.4) -- a.k.a. medlar --> meddler -- may hint that
the original depiction was to have been of Burghley (Ogburn and Ogburn
716). When the Boar's Head Tavern Hostess enters, Falstaff calls her
"Dame Partlet the hen" (III.iii.52) -- another Chaucer and Canterbury
Tales reference, since although footnoters can insist it's a
traditional name for a hen, it's not traditional on any Warwickshire
farm; it's traditional from mock heroic literature, and in particular,
Chaucer's Nun's Priest's Tale in which the most anonymous and
receding of storytellers dishes up what many think should have been
declared the winning story of the Canterbury pilgrimage if that plan
had been seen through to its originally intended conclusion.
Falstaff soon is accusing Mistress Quickly of picking his pockets, so he
refuses to pay his bill. Amid Falstaff's blustering, he calls Prince Hal
a knave and says he'd whoop him if he were present. Hal does arrive, the
Hostess tattles, and after some disagreement about the ostensible value
of a ring Falstaff had from his grandfather and some military irreverence,
Falstaff learns that Hal was responsible for picking his pockets and he
forgives Quickly. The robbery trouble has been resolved but Falstaff now
must lead a troop of foot soldiers. Hal gives orders to Falstaff, and to
Bardolph and Peto, as battle with the rebels is anticipated.
I can speak English, lord, as well as you,
Hotspur says he is glad of not having such an accomplishment:
For I was train'd up in the English court,
Where being but 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.
(III.i.119-124)
I had rather be a kitten and cry mew
So that's Hotspur's take on the arts, I guess. Glendower agrees
to the river diverting, perhaps thinking Hotspur is simply being
contrary over that issue, but Hotspur says,
Than one of these same metre ballet-mongers.
I had rather hear a brazen canstick turn'd,
Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree,
And that would set my teeth nothing on edge,
Nothing so much as mincing poetry.
(III.i.127-132)
I do not care. I'll give thrice so much land
Glendower leaves to announce their coming departure to their wives.
To any well-deserving friend;
But in the way of bargain, mark ye me,
I'll cavil on the ninth part of a hair.
(III.i.135-138)
You must needs learn, lord, to amend this fault;
The rebels' wives enter. Mortimer and his wife don't share a common
language, but Mortimer finds her Welsh "as sweet as ditties highly
penn'd, / Sung by a fair queen in a summer's bow'r, / With ravishing
division, to her lute" (III.i.206-208). Glendower explains to Mortimer
that she wishes for him to lay his head in her lap as she sings.
Hotspur wants to hurry up and relax faster with his head in his
wife's lap too. Lady Percy refuses his request that she sing. He's
leaving in a couple hours.
Though sometimes it show greatness, 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, haughtiness, opinion, and disdain,
The least of which haunting a nobleman
Loseth men's hearts and leaves behind a stain
Upon the beauty of all parts besides,
Beguiling them of commendation.
(III.i.178-187)