‘Riot and dishonor stain the brow/Of my young Harry.’: Joe Biden and Henry IV contemplate their sons
President Biden in contemplating his son Hunter may have thoughts similar to those of Henry IV contemplating his own son, the perceived wastrel Prince Harry. Here’s the King, chatting at the start of the play with Westmoreland, father of the celebrated soldier Hotspur: Henry IV: “Yea, there thou mak’st me sad, and mak’st me sin In envy that my Lord Northumberland Should be the father to so blest a son, A son who is the theme of Honor’s tongue, Amongst a grove the very straightest plant, Who is sweet Fortune’s …