Henry IV, Part 1

Hotspur meets with Worcester, Mortimer, and Glendower. Glendower boasts that when he was born, the earth shook and the sky was full of fire. He claims he can raise spirits and control the devil. Hotspur scoffs at these boasts. They sit around a map and argue about dividing the country after the war.

Glendower leaves to bring Lady Mortimer and Lady Percy so they can say goodbye to their husbands. Mortimer scolds Hotspur for crossing Glendower. Hotspur retorts that he cannot stand the tedious way Glendower speaks. Mortimer cautions him that Glendower has actually toned down his bold personality for Hotspur’s sake and warns him not to test Glendower’s patience.

Glendower returns with Lady Mortimer and Lady Percy. Lady Mortimer, Glendower’s daughter, only speaks Welsh, while Mortimer only speaks English. Glendower translates his daughter’s emotional words to Mortimer. Lady Mortimer also sings a song to her husband. Hotspur asks his wife to sing to him, and when she does not, they exchange insults.

Back at court, Prince Hal meets with his father. The king lays bare the prince’s faults, wondering if Hal was born as punishment for the king’s misdeeds. He notes that if he had behaved like his son, nobody would have accepted his authority after he deposed Richard.