Thetragedyof

KingRichardtheSecond

TomakehisbleakwindskissmyparchedlipsAndcomfortmewithcold.ldonotaskyoumuch:Ibegcoldcomfort;andYouaresostraitAndsoingratefulyoudenymethat.P.Hen.0!thatthereweresomevirtueInmytears,Thatmightrelieveyou.K.John.Thesaltinthemishot.Withinmeisahell;andtherethepoisonIsasafiendconfin’dtotyrannizeOnunreprievablecondemnedblood.Enter the Basterd.

Bast.0!1amscaldedwithmyviolentmotionAndspleenofspeedtoseeyourmajesty.K.John.0cousin!thouartcometosetmineeye:Thetackleofmyheartiscrack’dandburn’d,AndalltheshroudswherewithmylifeshouldsailAreturnedtoonethread,onelittlehair;Myhearthathonepoorstringtostayitby,Whichholdsbuttillthynewsbeuttered;AndthenallthisthouseestisbutaclodAndmoduleofconfoundedroyalty.Bast.TheDauphinIspreparinghitherwardWhereheavenheknowshowweshallanswerhim:Forinanightthebestpartofmypower,AsIuponadvantagedidremove,WereintheWashesallunwarilyDevouredbytheunexpectedflood.

The King dies.

Sal.Youbreathethesedeadnewsinasdeadanear.Myliege!mylord!Butnowaking,nowthusP.Hen.EvensomustIrunon,andevensostop.Whatsuretyoftheworld,whathope,whatstay,Whenthiswasnowaking,andnowisclay?Bast.Artthougoneso?IdobutstaybehindTodotheofficefortheeofrevenge,Andthenmysoulshallwaitontheetoheaven,Asitonearthhathbeenthyservantstill.Now,now,youStars,thatmoveinyourrightspheresWherebeyourpowers?Shownowyourmendedfaiths,Andinstantlyreturnwithmeagain,Topushdestructionandperpetualshame

Outoftheweakdoorofourfaintingland.Straightletusseek,orstraightweshallbesought:TheDauphinragesatourveryheels.Sal.Itseemsvouknownotthensomuchaswe.TheCardinalPandulphiswithinatrest,WhohalfanhoursincecamefromtheDauphin.AndbringsfromhimsuchoffersofourpeaceAswewithhonourandrespectmaytake,Withpurposepresentlytoleavethiswar.Bast.HewilltheratherdoitwhenheseesOurselveswellsinewedtoourdefence.Sal.Nay,itisinamannerdonealready;Formanycarriageshehathdispatch’dTotheseaside,andputhiscauseandquarrelTothedisposingofthecardinal:Withwhomyourself,myself,andotherlords,Ifyouthinkmeet,thisafternoonwillpostToconsummatethisbusinesshappily.Bast.LetItbeso.Andyou,mynobleprince,Withotherprincesthatmaybestbespar’d,Shallwaituponyourfather’sfuneral.P. Hen.AtWorcestermusthisbodybeinterr’d:Forsohewill’dit.Bast.Thithershallitthen.AndhappilymayyoursweetselfputonThelinealstateandgloryoftheland!Towhom,withallsubmission,onmyknee,IdobequeathmyfaithfulservicesAndtruesubjectioneverlastingly.Sal.AndtheliketenderofourlovewemakeTorestwithoutaspotforevermore.P. Hen.Ihaveakindsoulthatwouldgiveyouthanks,AndknowsnothowtodoItbutwithtears.Bast.0!letuspaythetimebutneedfulwoeSinceithathbeenbeforehandwithourgriefs,ThisEnglandneverdid,nornevershallLieattheproudfootofaconqueror,Butwhenittirstdidhelptowounditself.Nowtheseherprincesarecomehomeagain,Comethethreecornersoftheworldinar:Andweshallshockthem.Noughtshallmakeusrue,IfEnglandtoitselfdorestbuttrue.

KingJohn

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SceneI.London.Aroominthepalace.Enter King richard, attended; John of Gaunt, and other nobles.

K.Rich.OldJohnofGant,timehonour’dLancaster,Hastthou,accordingtothyoathandband,BroughthitherHenryHerefordthyholdson,Heretomakegoodtheboisterouslateappeal,Whichthenourleisurewouldnotletushear,AgainsttheDukeofNorfolk,ThomasMowbray?Gaunt. Ihave,myliege. K. Rich.Tellme,moreover,hastthousoundedhim,Ifheappealthedukeonancientmalice,Orworthly,asagoodsubjectshould,Onsomeknowngroundoftreacheryinhim? Gaunt.Asnearasicouldsifthimonthatargument,OnsomeapparentdangerseeninhimAim’datyourhighness,noinveteratemalice

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K. Rich. Thencallthemtoourpresence:facetoface,Andfrowningbrowtobrow,ourselveswillhearTheaccuserandtheaccusedfreelyspeak:

Exeunt some attendants

Highstomach’daretheyboth,andfullofire,Inragedeafasthesea,hastyasfire.

Re-enter Attendants, with Bolingbroke and Mowbray.

Boling.ManyyearsofhappydaysbefallMygracioussovereign,mymostlovingliege!Mow.Eachdaystillbetterother’shappiness;Untiltheheavens,envyingearth’sgoodhap,Addanimmortaltitletoyourcrown!K.Rich.Wethankyouboth:yetonebutflattersus,Aswellappearethbythecauseyoucome;Namely,toappealeachotherofhightreason.CousinofHereford,whatdosttrouobjectAgainsttheDukeofNorfolk,ThomasMowbray?Boling. First,heavenbetherecordtomyspeech!Inthedevotionofasubject’slove,

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DramatisPersonae

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actV.sceneVII.

ActI

King Richard the second.

John of Gaunt,dukeofLancaster,Edmunt of Langley,dukeofYork,

UnclestotheKing

Henry,surnamedBolingbroke,dukeofHereford,SontoJohnofGaunt:afterwardsKingHenryIV.Duke of Aumerle,SontotheDukeofYork.Thomas Mowbray,DukeofNorfolkDuke of SurreyEarl of SalisburyLord Berkeley

Bushy,Bagot, ServantstotheKingGreen,

Earl of Northumberland.Henry Percy,surnamedHotspur,hisSon.

Lord RossLord WilloughbyLord FitzwaterBishop of CarlisleAbbot of WestminsterLord MarshalSir Pierce of ExtonSir Stephen ScroopCaptain of a Band of Welshmen

Queen to King RichardDuchess of GloucesterDuchess of YorkLadyattendingontheQueen

Lords,Heralds,Officers,Soldiers,Gardeners,Keeper,Messenger,Groom,andotherAttendants.

Scene.DispersedlyinEnglandandWales

Exeunt

KingRichardtheSecond

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K. Rich. Thencallthemtoourpresence:facetoface,Andfrowningbrowtobrow,ourselveswillhearTheaccuserandtheaccusedfreelyspeak:

Exeunt some attendants

Highstomach’daretheyboth,andfullofire,Inragedeafasthesea,hastyasfire.

Re-enter Attendants, with Bolingbroke and Mowbray.

Boling.ManyyearsofhappydaysbefallMygracioussovereign,mymostlovingliege!Mow.Eachdaystillbetterother’shappiness;Untiltheheavens,envyingearth’sgoodhap,Addanimmortaltitletoyourcrown!K.Rich.Wethankyouboth:yetonebutflattersus,Aswellappearethbythecauseyoucome;Namely,toappealeachotherofhightreason.CousinofHereford,whatdosttrouobjectAgainsttheDukeofNorfolk,ThomasMowbray?Boling. First,heavenbetherecordtomyspeech!Inthedevotionofasubject’slove,

Lord RossLord WilloughbyLord FitzwaterBishop of CarlisleAbbot of WestminsterLord MarshalSir Pierce of ExtonSir Stephen ScroopCaptain of a Band of Welshmen

Queen to King RichardDuchess of GloucesterDuchess of YorkLadyattendingontheQueen

Lords,Heralds,Officers,Soldiers,Gardeners,Keeper,Messenger,Groom,andotherAttendants.

Scene.DispersedlyinEnglandandWales

Tenderingtheprecioussafetyofmyprince,Andfreefromothermisbegottenhatehate,ComeIappellanttothisprincelypresence.Now,ThomasMowbray,doIturntothee,Andmarkmygreetingwell4forwhatIspeakMybodyshallmakegooduponthisearth,Ormydivinesoulansweritinheaven.Thouartatraitorandamiscreant;Toogoodtobesoandtoobadtolive,SincethemorefairandcrystalIstheTheuglierseemthecloudsthatinItfly.Oncemore,themoretoaggravatethenote,Withafoultrtitor’snamestuffIthythroat;Andwish,sopleasemysovereign,ereImove,Whatmytonguespeaks,myrightdrawnswordmayprove.Mow.Letnotmycoldwordshereacctiwmyzeal:‘Tisnotthetrialofawoman’swar,Thebitterclamouroftwoeagertongues,CanarbitratethiscausebetwixtustwainThebloodIshotthatmustbecool’dforthis:YetcanInotofsuchtamepatienceboastAstobehush’dandnoughtatalltosay.First,thefairreverenceofyourhighnesscurbsmeFromgivingreinsandspurstomyfreespeech;Whichelsewouldpostuntilithadreturn’dThesetermsoftreasondoubleddownhisthroatSettingasidehishighblood’sroyalty,Andlethimbenokinsmantomyliege,Idodefyhim,andIspitathim;Callhimaslanderouscowardandavillain:WhichtomaintainIwouldallowhimodds,Andmeethim,wereItiedtorunafootEventothefrozenridgesoftheAlps,Oranyothergroundinhabitable,WhereverEnglishmandurstsethisfoot.Meantimeletthisdefendmyloyalty:Byallmyhopes,mostfalselydothhelie.Boling.Paletremblingcoward,thereIthrowmygage,Disclaimingherethekindredoftheking;AndI.tyasidemyhighblood’sroyalty,Whichfear,notreverence,makestheetoexcept:IfguiltydreadhavelefttheesomuchstrengthAstotakeupminehonour’spawn,thenstoop:Bythat,andalltheritesofknighthoodelse,WillImakegood%gainstthee,armtoarm,WhatIhavespoke,orthoucanstworsedevise.Mow.Itakeitup;andbythatswordIswear,Whichgentlylaidmyknighthoodonmyshoulder,I‘llanswertheeInanyfairdegree,Orchivalrousdesimofknightlytrial:AndwhenImount,avemayInotlight,IfIbetraitororunjustlyfight!.

K. Rich.Whatdothourcousinlayto‘.Nfowbray’scharge?ItmustbegreatthatcanInheritusBoling.Look,whatIspeak,mylifeshalproveIttrue;Somuchasofathoughtofillinhim.ThatMowbrayhathrecetv’deightthousandnoblesThewhichhehathdetain’dforlewdemployments,Innameoflendingsforyourhighness’soldiers,Likeafalsetraitorandinjuriousvillain.BesidesIsayandwillinbattleprove,OrhereorelsewheretothefurthestvergeThateverwassurvey’dbyEnglisheye,ThatallthetreasonsfortheseeigliteenyearsComplottedandcontrivedinthisland, FetchfromfaloeMowbraytheirfirstheadandspring.FurtherIsayandfurtherwillmaintainUponhisbadlifetomakeallthisgood,ThathedidplottheDukeofGloucester’sdeath,Suggesthissoonbelievingadversaries,Andconse4uentkv,likeatraitorcoward,Slute’douthisInnocentsoulthroughstreamsofblood:Whichblood,likesacrificingAbells,cries,Evenfromthetonguelesscavernsoftheearth,Tomeforjusticeandroughchastisement;And,bythegloriousworthofmydescent,Thisarmshalldoit,orthislifebespent.looK. Rich.HowhighapitchhisresolutioiisoarsIThomasofNorfolk,whatsaystthoutothis?Mow.0!letmysovereignturnawayhisfaceAndbidhisearsalittlewhilebedeaf,TillIhavetoldthisslanderofhisbloodHowGodandgoodmenhatesofoulaliar.K.Rich. Mowbray,impartialareoureyesandems:Werehemybrother,nay,mykingdom’sheir,AsheIsbutmyfather’sbrother’sson,Now,bymyseeptre’saweImakeavow,SuchneighbournearnesstooursacredbloodShouldnothingprivilegehim,norpartializeTheunftoopingfirmnessofmyuprightsoulHeIsoursubject,Mowbray;soartthou:FreespeechandfearlessItotheeallow.Mow. Then,Bolingbroke,aslowastotheheart,Throughthefalsepassageofthythroat,thoiliest.ThreepartsofthatreceiptIhadforCalaisDisburs’dIdulytohishighness’soldiers;Theotherpartreserv’dIbyconsent, ForthatmysovereignliegewasinmydebtUponremainderofadearaccount,SincelastIwenttoFrancetofetchhisqueen.Nowswallowdownthatlie.For(,Ioticesterdeath,Islewhimnot;buttomineowndisgraceNeglectedmysworndutyInthatcase.Foryou,mynobleLordofLancaster,

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Thehonourablefathertomyfoe,OncedidIlayanambushforyourlife,Atrespassthatdothvexmygrievedsoul;ButereIlastreceivedthesacramentdidconfessit,andexactlybegg’dYourGrace’spardon,andIhopeIhadit.ThisIsmyfault:asfortherestappeal’d,Itissuesfromtherancourofavillain,Arecreantandmostdegeneratetraitor;WhichinmyselfIboldlywilldefend,AndInterchangeablyhurldownmygageUponthisoverweeningtraitor’sfoot,ToprovemyselfaloyalgentlemanEveninthebestbloodchamber’dinhisbosom.Inhastewhereof,mostheartilyIprayYourhighnesstoassignourtrialday.K. Rich.Wrath-kindledgentlemen,berul’dbyme;Let’spurgethischolerwithoutlettingblood:Thisweprescribe,thoughnophysician;DeepmalicemakestoodeepincisionForget,forgive;concludeandbeagreed,Ourdoctorssaythisisnomonthtobleed.Gooduncle,letthisendwhereitbegun;We‘llcalmtheDukeofNorfolk,youyourson.Gaunt.Tobeamakepeaceshallbecomemyage:Throwdown,myson,theDukeofNorfolk’sgage.K. Rich.And,Norfolk,throwdownhis.Gaunt.When,Harry,when?ObediencebidsIshouldnotbidagain. K. Rich.Norfolk,throwdown,webid;thereisnoboot.Mow.MyselfIthrow,dreadsovereign,atthyfoot.Mylifethoushaltcommand,butnotmyshame:Theonemydutyowes;butmyfairname,Despiteofdeaththatlivesuponmygrave,Todarkdishonour’susethoushaltnothave.Iamdisgrac’d,lmpeach’d,andbaffledhere,Pierc’dtothesoulwithslander’svenom’dspear,ThewhichnobalmcancurebuthisheartbloodWhichbreath’dthispoison.K. Rich.Ragemustbewithstood:Givemehisgage:lionsmakeleopardstame. Mow.Yes,butnotchangehisspots:takebutmysbame,AndIresignmygage.Mydeardearlord,ThepuresttreasuremortaltimesaffordIsspotlessreputation;thataway,Menarebutgildedloamorpaintedclay.Ajewelinatentimesbarr’dupchestIsaboldspiritinaloyalbreast,MinehonourIsmylife;bothgrowinone;Takehonourfromme,andmylifeisdone:Then,dearmyliege,minehonoilrletinetry;InthatIliveandforthatwilldlie.

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K. Rich. CousinthrowdownYourgagedoyoubegin. Boling.0!Goddefendmysoulfromsuchdeepsin.ShallIseemcrestfall’ninmyfather’ssight,OrwithpalebeggarfearimpeachmyheightBeforethisoutdar’ddastard?EremytongueShallwoundminehonourwithsuchfeeblewrong,Orsoundsobaseaparle,myteethshalltearTheslavishmotiveofrecantingfear,Andspititbleedinginhishighdisgrace,Whereshamedothharbour,eveninMowbray’sface.

Exit Gaunt.

K. Rich.Wewerenotborntosue,buttocommand:Whichsincewecannotdotomakeyoufriends,Beready,asyourlivesshillanswerit,AtCoventry,uponSaintLambert’sday:ThereshallyourswordsandlancesarbitrateTheswellingdifferenceofyoursettledliate:Sincewecannotatoneyou,weshallseeJusticedesignthevictor’schivalry.Marshal,commandourofficersatarmsBereadytodirectthesehomealarms.

SceneII,TheSame.ARoomintheDukeofLancaster’sPalace.

Enter Gaunt and Duchess of Gloucester.

Gaunt.Alas!thepart1hadinWoodstock’sbloodDothmoresolicitmethanyourexclaims,Tostiragainstthebutchersofhislife.ButsincecorrectionliethinthosehandsWhichmadethefaultthatwecannotcorrect,Putweourquarreltothewillofheaven;Who,whentheyseethehoursripeonearth,Willrainhotvengeanceonoffenders’heads.6Duch.Findsbrotherhoodintheenosharperspar?Hathloveinthyoldbloodnolivingfire?Edward’ssevensons,whereofthyselfartone,Wereassevenvialsofhissacredblood,Orsevenfairbranchesspringingfromoneroot:Someofthosesevenaredriedbynature’scourse,SomeofthosebranchesbytheDestiniescut;ButThomas,mydearlord,mylife,uxyGloucester,OnevialfullofEdward’ssacredblood,Oneflourishingbranchofhismostroyalroot,Iscrack’d,andallthepreciousliquorspilt;Ishack’ddown,andhissummerleavesallvaded,Byenvy’shandandmurder’sbloodyaxe.Ah,Gaunt!hisbloodwasthine:thatbed,thatwomb,Thatmetal,thatself-mould,thatfashion’dtheeMadehimaman;andthoughthouliv’standbreath’st,Yetartthouslaininhim:thoudostconsentInsomelargemeasuretothyfather’sdeath

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KingRichardtheSecond

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actI.sceneI.