Richard II

“DUCHESS.”

“Pardon me, if you please; if not, I, pleas'd Not to be pardon'd, am content withal.”

“Thou art a traitor and a miscreant; Too good to be so and too bad to live, Since the more fair and crystal is the sky, The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly.”

“Grief boundeth where it falls, Not with the empty hollowness, but weight: I take my leave before I have begun, For sorrow ends not when it seemeth done.”

“We thank you both; yet one but flatters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come; Namely, to appeal each other of high treason.”

“Madam, your Majesty is too much sad.”

“Many years of happy days befall My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege!”

“Thy friends are fled, to wait upon thy foes, And crossly to thy good all fortune goes.”

“First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me From giving reins and spurs to my free speech; Which else would post until it had return'd These terms of treason doubled down his throat.”

“Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands The royalties and rights of banish'd Hereford?”

“I will despair, and be at enmity With cozening hope: he is a flatterer, A parasite, a keeper-back of death, Who gently would dissolve the bands of life, Which false hope lingers in extremity.”

“The sullen passage of thy weary steps Esteem as foil wherein thou art to set The precious jewel of thy home return.”

“Vex not yourself, nor strive not with your breath; For all in vain comes counsel to his ear.”

“Go, bind thou up yon dangling apricocks, Which, like unruly children, make their sire Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight: Give some supportance to the bending twigs.”

“And for these great affairs do ask some charge, Towards our assistance we do seize to us The plate, coin, revenues, and moveables, Whereof our uncle Gaunt did stand possess'd.”

“Thou darest not, coward, live to see that day.”

“The Duke of Norfolk, sprightfully and bold, Stays but the summons of the appelant's trumpet.”

“Sirrah, get thee to Plashy, to my sister Gloucester; Bid her send me presently a thousand pound.”

“The King of Heaven forbid our lord the King Should so with civil and uncivil arms Be rush'd upon!”

“Take not, good cousin, further than you should, Lest you mistake.”

“forfend it, God, That in a Christian climate souls refin'd Should show so heinous, black, obscene a deed!”

“GROOM.”

“In proof whereof, there is my honour's pawn; Engage it to the trial if thou dar'st.”

“Fetch hither Richard, that in common view He may surrender; so we shall proceed Without suspicion.”

“I am disgrac'd, impeach'd, and baffled here; Pierc'd to the soul with slander's venom'd spear, The which no balm can cure but his heart-blood Which breath'd this poison.”

“A jewel in a ten-times barr'd-up chest Is a bold spirit in a loyal breast.”

“Alas, the part I had in Woodstock's blood Doth more solicit me than your exclaims, To stir against the butchers of his life.”

“Gaunt am I for the grave, gaunt as a grave, Whose hollow womb inherits nought but bones.”

“Fear and be slain; no worse can come to fight; And fight and die is death destroying death; Where fearing dying pays death servile breath.”

“Thou go'st to Coventry, there to behold Our cousin Hereford and fell Mowbray fight: O!”

“My heart will sigh when I miscall it so, Which finds it an enforced pilgrimage.”

“Mine innocency and Saint George to thrive!”

“Proud Bolingbroke, I come To change blows with thee for our day of doom.”

“The sullen passage of thy weary steps Esteem as foil wherein thou art to set The precious jewel of thy home return.”

“Nay, rather, every tedious stride I make Will but remember me what a deal of world I wander from the jewels that I love.”

“Woe doth the heavier sit, Where it perceives it is but faintly borne.”

“We must supplant those rough rug-headed kerns, Which live like venom where no venom else But only they have privilege to live.”

“He is as like thee as a man may be Not like to me, or any of my kin, And yet I love him.”

“But, lords, we hear this fearful tempest sing, Yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm; We see the wind sit sore upon our sails, And yet we strike not, but securely perish.”

“Why have you not proclaim'd Northumberland And all the rest revolted faction traitors?”

“Then call them to our presence: face to face And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear The accuser and the accused freely speak.”

“Then call them to our presence: face to face And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear The accuser and the accused freely speak.”

“Each day still better other's happiness Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap, Add an immortal title to your crown!”

“Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee, And mark my greeting well; for what I speak My body shall make good upon this earth, Or my divine soul answer it in heaven.”

“Yet can I not of such tame patience boast As to be hush'd and nought at all to say.”

“Myself I throw, dread sovereign, at thy foot.”

“However God or fortune cast my lot, There lives or dies, true to King Richard's throne, A loyal, just, and upright gentleman.”

“For Gloucester's death, I slew him not; but to my own disgrace Neglected my sworn duty in that case.”

“Alas, the part I had in Woodstock's blood Doth more solicit me than your exclaims, To stir against the butchers of his life.”

“But what thou art, God, thou, and I, do know; And all too soon, I fear, the king shall rue.”

“Nay, rather, every tedious stride I make Will but remember me what a deal of world I wander from the jewels that I love.”

“Will the King come, that I may breathe my last In wholesome counsel to his unstaid youth?”

“Vex not yourself, nor strive not with your breath; For all in vain comes counsel to his ear.”

“Where doth the world thrust forth a vanity,-- So it be new there's no respect how vile,-- That is not quickly buzz'd into his ears?”

“Gaunt am I for the grave, gaunt as a grave, Whose hollow womb inherits nought but bones.”

“Convey me to my bed, then to my grave: Love they to live that love and honour have.”

“Be York the next that must be bankrupt so!”

“Richard not far from hence hath hid his head.”

“Snakes, in my heart-blood warm'd, that sting my heart!”

“Now is this golden crown like a deep well That owes two buckets, filling one another; The emptier ever dancing in the air, The other down, unseen, and full of water.”

“Discharge my followers; let them hence away, From Richard's night to Bolingbroke's fair day.”

“Yet he looks like a king: behold, his eye, As bright as is the eagle's, lightens forth Controlling majesty: alack, alack, for woe, That any harm should stain so fair a show!”

“Each day still better other's happiness Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap, Add an immortal title to your crown!”

“Yet can I not of such tame patience boast As to be hush'd and nought at all to say.”

“It must be great that can inherit us So much as of a thought of ill in him.”

“For Gloucester's death, I slew him not; but to my own disgrace Neglected my sworn duty in that case.”

“In haste whereof, most heartily I pray Your highness to assign our trial day.”

“But since correction lieth in those hands Which made the fault that we cannot correct, Put we our quarrel to the will of heaven; Who, when they see the hours ripe on earth, Will rain hot vengeance on offenders' heads.”

“That lie shall lie so heavy on my sword That it shall render vengeance and revenge Till thou the lie-giver and that lie do lie In earth as quiet as thy father's skull.”

“Therefore commend me; let him not come there, To seek out sorrow that dwells every where.”

“Bad men, ye violate A twofold marriage; 'twixt my crown and me, And then betwixt me and my married wife.”

“The appellant in all duty greets your highness, And craves to kiss your hand and take his leave.”

“Woe doth the heavier sit, Where it perceives it is but faintly borne.”

“As near as I could sift him on that argument, On some apparent danger seen in him Aim'd at your Highness, no inveterate malice.”

“this is all: nay, yet depart not so; Though this be all, do not so quickly go; I shall remember more.”

“We thank you both; yet one but flatters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come; Namely, to appeal each other of high treason.”

“Desolate, desolate, will I hence and die: The last leave of thee takes my weeping eye.”

“Then, thrice-gracious Queen, More than your lord's departure weep not: more's not seen; Or if it be, 'tis with false sorrow's eye, Which for things true weeps things imaginary.”

“In haste whereof, most heartily I pray Your highness to assign our trial day.”

“My lord, I had forgot to tell your lordship: To-day, as I came by, I called there; But I shall grieve you to report the rest.”

“In God's name and the king's, say who thou art, And why thou comest thus knightly clad in arms, Against what man thou comest, and what thy quarrel.”

“If it be so, out with it boldly, man; Quick is mine ear to hear of good towards him.”

“Thou, old Adam's likeness, set to dress this garden, How dares thy harsh rude tongue sound this unpleasing news?”

“ABBOT.”

“Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him If he appeal the Duke on ancient malice, Or worthily, as a good subject should, On some known ground of treachery in him?”

“let my sovereign turn away his face And bid his ears a little while be deaf, Till I have told this slander of his blood How God and good men hate so foul a liar.”

“and how comest thou hither, man, Where no man never comes but that sad dog That brings me food to make misfortune live?”

“And nothing can we can our own but death, And that small model of the barren earth Which serves as paste and cover to our bones.”

“Then thus I turn me from my country's light, To dwell in solemn shades of endless night.”

“The pleasure that some fathers feed upon Is my strict fast, I mean my children's looks; And therein fasting, hast thou made me gaunt.”

“But, lords, we hear this fearful tempest sing, Yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm; We see the wind sit sore upon our sails, And yet we strike not, but securely perish.”

“The time hath been, Would you have been so brief with him, he would Have been so brief with you to shorten you, For taking so the head, your whole head's length.”

“The woe's to come; the children yet unborn Shall feel this day as sharp to them as thorn.”

“Gentlemen, will you go muster men?”

“To fear the foe, since fear oppresseth strength, Gives, in your weakness, strength unto your foe, And so your follies fight against yourself.”

“Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal: 'Tis not the trial of a woman's war, The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain; The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this.”

“Yet am I sick for fear: speak it again; Twice saying 'pardon' doth not pardon twain, DUCHESS.”

“I take it up; and by that sword I swear Which gently laid my knighthood on my shoulder, I'll answer thee in any fair degree, Or chivalrous design of knightly trial: And when I mount, alive may I not light If I be traitor or unjustly fight!”

“God's is the quarrel; for God's substitute, His deputy anointed in his sight, Hath caus'd his death; the which if wrongfully, Let heaven revenge, for I may never lift An angry arm against his minister.”

“The appellant in all duty greets your highness, And craves to kiss your hand and take his leave.”

“You have a son, Aumerle, my noble cousin; Had you first died, and he been thus trod down, He should have found his uncle Gaunt a father To rouse his wrongs and chase them to the bay.”

“For 'tis a sign of love; and love to Richard Is a strange brooch in this all-hating world.”

“More health and happiness betide my liege Than can my care-tun'd tongue deliver him!”

“It was, villain, ere thy hand did set it down.”

“would he not fall down,-- Since pride must have a fall,--and break the neck Of that proud man that did usurp his back?”

“Lords appellants, Your differences shall all rest under gage Till we assign you to your days of trial YORK.”

“I tore it from the traitor's bosom, king; Fear, and not love, begets his penitence.”

“that e'er this tongue of mine That laid the sentence of dread banishment On yond proud man should take it off again With words of sooth!”

“His answer was: he would unto the stews, And from the common'st creature pluck a glove And wear it as a favour; and with that He would unhorse the lustiest challenger.”

“No lord of thine, thou haught insulting man, Nor no man's lord; I have no name, no title, No, not that name was given me at the font, But 'tis usurp'd: alack the heavy day!”

“Think not the king did banish thee, But thou the king.”

“I do beseech your majesty, To have some conference with your Grace alone.”

“First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me From giving reins and spurs to my free speech; Which else would post until it had return'd These terms of treason doubled down his throat.”

“In proof whereof, there is my honour's pawn; Engage it to the trial if thou dar'st.”

“Not all the water in the rough rude sea Can wash the balm off from an anointed king; The breath of worldly men cannot depose The deputy elected by the Lord.”

“As full of valour as of royal blood: Both have I spilt; O!”

“To-day, to-day, unhappy day, too late, O'erthrows thy joys, friends, fortune, and thy state; For all the Welshmen, hearing thou wert dead, Are gone to Bolingbroke, dispers'd, and fled.”

“Hie thee to France, And cloister thee in some religious house: Our holy lives must win a new world's crown, Which our profane hours here have thrown down.”

“Methinks King Richard and myself should meet With no less terror than the elements Of fire and water, when their thund'ring shock At meeting tears the cloudy cheeks of heaven.”

“Say, where, when, and how, Cam'st thou by this ill tidings?”

“Both are my kinsmen: T'one is my sovereign, whom both my oath And duty bids defend; the other again Is my kinsman, whom the king hath wrong'd, Whom conscience and my kindred bids to right.”

“Be confident to speak, Northumberland: We three are but thyself: and, speaking so, Thy words are but as thoughts; therefore be bold.”

“Go, count thy way with sighs; I mine with groans.”

“You may my glories and my state depose, But not my griefs; still am I king of those.”

“'Tis nothing but some bond that he is ent'red into For gay apparel 'gainst the triumph day.”

“have we stood To watch the fearful bending of thy knee, Because we thought ourself thy lawful king; And if we be, how dare thy joints forget To pay their awful duty to our presence?”

“Thy pains, Fitzwater, shall not be forgot; Right noble is thy merit, well I wot.”

“There lies the substance: and I thank thee, king, For thy great bounty, that not only givest Me cause to wail, but teachest me the way How to lament the cause.”

“'Have I no friend?' quoth he: he spake it twice And urg'd it twice together, did he not?”

“Thy overflow of good converts to bad; And thy abundant goodness shall excuse This deadly blot in thy digressing son.”

“Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to the From plume-pluck'd Richard; who with willing soul Adopts thee heir, and his high sceptre yields To the possession of thy royal hand.”

“If on the first, how heinous e'er it be, To win thy after-love I pardon thee.”

“Bad men, ye violate A twofold marriage; 'twixt my crown and me, And then betwixt me and my married wife.”

“Gaunt am I for the grave, gaunt as a grave, Whose hollow womb inherits nought but bones.”

“Go, bind thou up yon dangling apricocks, Which, like unruly children, make their sire Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight: Give some supportance to the bending twigs.”

“Speak truly, on thy knighthood and thy oath; As so defend thee heaven and thy valour!”

“My lord, Before I freely speak my mind herein, You shall not only take the sacrament To bury mine intents, but also to effect Whatever I shall happen to devise.”

“Vex not yourself, nor strive not with your breath; For all in vain comes counsel to his ear.”

“A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament, And interchangeably set down their hands To kill the King at Oxford.”

“Not all the water in the rough rude sea Can wash the balm off from an anointed king; The breath of worldly men cannot depose The deputy elected by the Lord.”

“Snakes, in my heart-blood warm'd, that sting my heart!”

“Therefore commend me; let him not come there, To seek out sorrow that dwells every where.”

“'Tis better hope he is, For his designs crave haste, his haste good hope: Then wherefore dost thou hope he is not shipp'd?”

“Lords, I protest my soul is full of woe, That blood should sprinkle me to make me grow: Come, mourn with me for what I do lament, And put on sullen black incontinent.”

“Be swift like lightning in the execution; And let thy blows, doubly redoubled, Fall like amazing thunder on the casque Of thy adverse pernicious enemy: Rouse up thy youthful blood, be valiant, and live.”

“You holy clergymen, is there no plot To rid the realm of this pernicious blot?”

“I am too old to fawn upon a nurse, Too far in years to be a pupil now: What is thy sentence, then, but speechless death, Which robs my tongue from breathing native breath?”

“We make woe wanton with this fond delay: Once more, adieu; the rest let sorrow say.”

“Lords, I protest my soul is full of woe, That blood should sprinkle me to make me grow: Come, mourn with me for what I do lament, And put on sullen black incontinent.”

“Uncle, farewell: and, cousin, adieu: Your mother well hath pray'd, and prove you true.”

“The commons hath he pill'd with grievous taxes, And quite lost their hearts: the nobles hath he fin'd For ancient quarrels and quite lost their hearts.”

“I am greater than a king; For when I was a king, my flatterers Were then but subjects; being now a subject, I have a king here to my flatterer.”

“If thou wouldst, There shouldst thou find one heinous article, Containing the deposing of a king And cracking the strong warrant of an oath, Mark'd with a blot, damn'd in the book of heaven.”

“With all the gracious utterance thou hast Speak to his gentle hearing kind commends.”

“Come on, our queen: to-morrow must we part; Be merry, for our time of stay is short.”

“'Tis nothing but conceit, my gracious lady.”

“what a tide of woes Comes rushing on this woeful land at once!”

“Go, bind thou up yon dangling apricocks, Which, like unruly children, make their sire Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight: Give some supportance to the bending twigs.”

“A king of beasts, indeed; if aught but beasts, I had been still a happy king of men.”

“Go, bind thou up yon dangling apricocks, Which, like unruly children, make their sire Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight: Give some supportance to the bending twigs.”

“This fester'd joint cut off, the rest rest sound; This let alone will all the rest confound.”

“Mine honour lives when his dishonour dies, Or my sham'd life in his dishonour lies: Thou kill'st me in his life; giving him breath, The traitor lives, the true man's put to death.”

“Twice for one step I'll groan, the way being short, And piece the way out with a heavy heart.”

“Our scene is alter'd from a serious thing, And now chang'd to 'The Beggar and the King.' My dangerous cousin, let your mother in: I know she's come to pray for your foul sin.”

“Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him If he appeal the Duke on ancient malice, Or worthily, as a good subject should, On some known ground of treachery in him?”

“Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him If he appeal the Duke on ancient malice, Or worthily, as a good subject should, On some known ground of treachery in him?”

“Many years of happy days befall My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege!”

“The appellant in all duty greets your highness, And craves to kiss your hand and take his leave.”

“Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal: 'Tis not the trial of a woman's war, The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain; The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this.”

“Either I must, or have mine honour soil'd With the attainder of his slanderous lips.”

“Both are my kinsmen: T'one is my sovereign, whom both my oath And duty bids defend; the other again Is my kinsman, whom the king hath wrong'd, Whom conscience and my kindred bids to right.”

“Shall I so much dishonour my fair stars On equal terms to give him chastisement?”

“Besides, our nearness to the king in love Is near the hate of those love not the king.”

“Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own?”

“A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament, And interchangeably set down their hands To kill the King at Oxford.”

“Ere my tongue Shall wound my honour with such feeble wrong Or sound so base a parle, my teeth shall tear The slavish motive of recanting fear, And spit it bleeding in his high disgrace, Where shame doth harbour, even in Mowbray's face.”

“As full of valour as of royal blood: Both have I spilt; O!”

“Or, if misfortune miss the first career, Be Mowbray's sins so heavy in his bosom That they may break his foaming courser's back, And throw the rider headlong in the lists, A caitiff recreant to my cousin Hereford!”

“Desolate, desolate, will I hence and die: The last leave of thee takes my weeping eye.”

“Marshal, ask yonder knight in arms, Both who he is and why he cometh hither Thus plated in habiliments of war; And formally, according to our law, Depose him in the justice of his cause.”

“Lord Marshal, let me kiss my sovereign's hand, And bow my knee before his Majesty: For Mowbray and myself are like two men That vow a long and weary pilgrimage; Then let us take a ceremonious leave And loving farewell of our several friends.”