In Act 2, Scene 3 of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 2, Lady Percy passionately implores her father-in-law, Northumberland, to reconsider his decision to join the rebellion against King Henry IV.

Title of Monologue:

Lady Percy's Monologue from Act 2, Scene 3 of Henry IV, Part 2

Synopsis:

Lady Percy recalls a previous instance when Northumberland failed to support his son, Hotspur, in battle, leading to Hotspur's death. She emphasizes Hotspur's valor and the admiration he commanded, suggesting that had Northumberland joined him then, the outcome might have been different. She urges Northumberland not to repeat past mistakes by engaging in the current conflict without adequate support, implying that doing so would dishonor Hotspur's memory.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

Northumberland is preparing to join the Archbishop of York and other rebels in a new uprising against King Henry IV. Lady Percy, still mourning her husband Hotspur's death from the previous rebellion, confronts Northumberland, expressing her fears and concerns about the impending conflict.

Original Text:

LADY PERCY

O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars!

The time was, father, that you broke your word,

When you were more endeared to it than now;

When your own Percy, when my heart’s dear Harry,

Threw many a northward look to see his father

Bring up his powers; but he did long in vain.

Who then persuaded you to stay at home?

There were two honors lost, yours and your son’s.

For yours, the God of heaven brighten it.

For his, it stuck upon him as the sun

In the gray vault of heaven, and by his light

Did all the chivalry of England move

To do brave acts. He was indeed the glass

Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves.

He had no legs that practiced not his gait;

And speaking thick, which nature made his blemish,

Became the accents of the valiant;

For those that could speak low and tardily

Would turn their own perfection to abuse

To seem like him. So that in speech, in gait,

In diet, in affections of delight,

In military rules, humors of blood,

He was the mark and glass, copy and book,

That fashioned others. And him—O wondrous him!

O miracle of men!—him did you leave,

Second to none, unseconded by you,

To look upon the hideous god of war

In disadvantage, to abide a field

Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur’s name

Did seem defensible. So you left him.

Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong

To hold your honor more precise and nice

With others than with him. Let them alone.

The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong.

Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,

Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck,

Have talked of Monmouth’s grave.

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language:

LADY PERCY

Oh, for God's sake, don't go to these wars!

There was a time, father, when you broke your promise,

When you were more obligated to keep it than now;

When your own Percy, my dear Harry,

Looked north many times to see his father

Bringing his forces; but he waited in vain.

Who persuaded you to stay home then?

Two honors were lost, yours and your son's.

May God restore yours.

His honor shone on him like the sun

In the gray sky, and by his light

All the knights of England were inspired

To perform brave deeds. He was indeed the mirror

In which the noble youth saw themselves.

There was no one who didn't imitate his walk;

And his rapid speech, which was naturally his flaw,

Became the speech of the brave;

For those who could speak slowly and clearly

Would distort their own perfection

To seem like him. So, in speech, in walk,

In diet, in pleasures,

In military rules, in moods,

He was the model and example,

The one others copied. And him—oh, wonderful him!

A miracle among men!—him you left,

Second to none, unsupported by you,

To face the horrors of war

At a disadvantage, to endure a battlefield

Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur's name

Seemed defensible. That's how you left him.

Never, oh never, wrong his ghost

By holding your honor more delicately

With others than with him. Leave them alone.

The Marshal and the Archbishop are strong.

If my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,

Today I might, hanging on Hotspur's neck,

Have talked of Monmouth's grave.*

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words:

Endeared: Obligated or bound.
Powers: Military forces.
Glass: Mirror or model.
Speaking thick: Speaking rapidly or unclearly.
Accents: Speech patterns.
Humors of blood: Moods or temperaments.
Mark and glass, copy and book: Model and example.
Unseconded: Unsupported.
Hideous god of war: A reference to the brutal nature of war.
Monmouth's grave: Refers to the Battle of Shrewsbury, near Monmouth, where Hotspur died.

Breakdown of Text into ‘New Thought’ Paragraphs:

Plea to Avoid War: O yet, for God’s sake, go not to these wars!
Lady Percy implores Northumberland to abstain from participating in the impending conflict.
Recalling Broken Promises: The time was, father, that you broke your word,
When you were more endeared to it than now;
When your own Percy, when my heart’s dear Harry,
Threw many a northward look to see his father
Bring up his powers; but he did long in vain.
She reminds him of a past instance when he failed to support his son, Hotspur, who anxiously awaited his father's reinforcements that never arrived.
Questioning Past Decisions: Who then persuaded you to stay at home?
There were two honors lost, yours and your son’s.
For yours, the God of heaven brighten it.
Lady Percy questions what influenced Northumberland's decision to remain at home, noting that both his and Hotspur's honors suffered as a consequence.
Hotspur's Radiant Honor: For his, it stuck upon him as the sun
In the gray vault of heaven, and by his light
Did all the chivalry of England move
To do brave acts.
She describes Hotspur's honor as radiant as the sun, inspiring the knights of England to perform courageous deeds.
Hotspur as a Model: He was indeed the glass
Wherein the noble youth did dress themselves.
He had no legs that practiced not his gait;
And speaking thick, which nature made his blemish,
Became the accents of the valiant;
For those that could speak low and tardily
Would turn their own perfection to abuse
To seem like him.
Lady Percy portrays Hotspur as a model for noble youth, who imitated his walk and speech, even adopting his natural imperfections as marks of valor.
Emulation of Hotspur: So that in speech, in gait,
In diet, in affections of delight,
In military rules, humors of blood,
He was the mark and glass, copy and book,
That fashioned others.
She emphasizes that in every aspect—speech, behavior, preferences, military conduct, and temperament—Hotspur was the standard that others aspired to emulate.
Lamenting His Abandonment: And him—O wondrous him!
O miracle of men!—him did you leave,
Second to none, unseconded by you,
To look upon the hideous god of war
In disadvantage, to abide a field
Where nothing but the sound of Hotspur’s name
Did seem defensible.
Lady Percy laments that Northumberland abandoned the exceptional Hotspur, leaving him unsupported to face the horrors of war under unfavorable conditions, where only his name offered any defense.
Appeal to Honor Hotspur's Memory: So you left him.
Never, O never, do his ghost the wrong
To hold your honor more precise and nice
With others than with him. Let them alone.
She urges Northumberland not to dishonor Hotspur's memory by being more concerned with his honor in dealings with others than he was with his own son, advising him to refrain from further conflict.
Reflection on Missed Opportunity: Had my sweet Harry had but half their numbers,
Today might I, hanging on Hotspur’s neck,
Have talked of Monmouth’s grave.
Lady Percy reflects that if Hotspur had even half the forces that the Marshal and the Archbishop currently possess, she might still have her husband alive, and they could have discussed the grave at Monmouth together.

Journey Keypoints:

Hook: Lady Percy urgently pleads with Northumberland to avoid engaging in the wars.
Turning Point: She recalls his previous failure to support Hotspur, leading to dual losses of honor.
Climax: She extols Hotspur's exemplary influence and laments his abandonment in battle.
Resolution: She appeals to Northumberland to honor Hotspur's memory by not repeating past mistakes and avoiding unnecessary conflict.

Famous or Notable Actresses Who Have Played the Role:

Michelle Dockery: Portrayed Lady Percy in the 2012 BBC adaptation The Hollow Crown, delivering a performance noted for its emotional depth and nuance.
Joanne Pearce: Played Lady Percy in the 1989 Henry IV productions by the English Shakespeare Company, offering a compelling interpretation of the character's grief and determination.
Lisa Harrow: Assumed the role in the 1979 Royal Shakespeare Company production, bringing a poignant portrayal of Lady Percy's inner turmoil and strength.

This monologue delves into themes of honor, loyalty, and the personal costs of war, providing rich material for performance and analysis.