Act I
Scene I
London. King Richard’s palace.
Enter King Richard, John of Gaunt, with other Nobles and Attendants. | |
King Richard |
Old John of Gaunt, time-honour’d Lancaster,
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Gaunt | I have, my liege. |
King Richard |
Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him,
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Gaunt |
As near as I could sift him on that argument,
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King Richard |
Then call them to our presence; face to face,
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Enter Bolingbroke and Mowbray. | |
Bolingbroke |
Many years of happy days befall
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Mowbray |
Each day still better other’s happiness;
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King Richard |
We thank you both: yet one but flatters us,
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Bolingbroke |
First, heaven be the record to my speech!
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Mowbray |
Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal:
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Bolingbroke |
Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage,
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Mowbray |
I take it up; and by that sword I swear,
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King Richard |
What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray’s charge?
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Bolingbroke |
Look, what I speak, my life shall prove it true;
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King Richard |
How high a pitch his resolution soars!
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Mowbray |
O, let my sovereign turn away his face
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King Richard |
Mowbray, impartial are our eyes and ears:
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Mowbray |
Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart,
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King Richard |
Wrath-kindled gentlemen, be ruled by me;
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Gaunt |
To be a make-peace shall become my age:
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King Richard | And, Norfolk, throw down his. |
Gaunt |
When, Harry, when?
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King Richard | Norfolk, throw down, we bid; there is no boot. |
Mowbray |
Myself I throw, dread sovereign, at thy foot.
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King Richard |
Rage must be withstood:
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Mowbray |
Yea, but not change his spots: take but my shame,
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King Richard | Cousin, throw up your gage; do you begin. |
Bolingbroke |
O, God defend my soul from such deep sin!
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King Richard |
We were not born to sue, but to command;
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Scene II
The Duke of Lancaster’s palace.
Enter John of Gaunt with the Duchess of Gloucester. | |
Gaunt |
Alas, the part I had in Woodstock’s blood
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Duchess |
Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur?
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Gaunt |
God’s is the quarrel; for God’s substitute,
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Duchess | Where then, alas, may I complain myself? |
Gaunt | To God, the widow’s champion and defence. |
Duchess |
Why, then, I will. Farewell, old Gaunt.
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Gaunt |
Sister, farewell; I must to Coventry:
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Duchess |
Yet one word more: grief boundeth where it falls,
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Scene III
The lists at Coventry.
Enter the Lord Marshal and the Duke of Aumerle. | |
Marshal | My Lord Aumerle, is Harry Hereford arm’d? |
Aumerle | Yea, at all points; and longs to enter in. |
Marshal |
The Duke of Norfolk, sprightfully and bold,
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Aumerle |
Why, then, the champions are prepared, and stay
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The trumpets sound, and the King enters with his nobles, Gaunt, Bushy, Bagot, Green, and others. When they are set, enter Mowbray in arms, defendant, with a Herald. | |
King Richard |
Marshal, demand of yonder champion
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Marshal |
In God’s name and the king’s, say who thou art
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Mowbray |
My name is Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk;
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The trumpets sound. Enter Bolingbroke, appellant, in armour, with a Herald. | |
King Richard |
Marshal, ask yonder knight in arms,
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Marshal |
What is thy name? and wherefore comest thou hither,
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Bolingbroke |
Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby
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Marshal |
On pain of death, no person be so bold
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Bolingbroke |
Lord marshal, let me kiss my sovereign’s hand,
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Marshal |
The appellant in all duty greets your highness,
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King Richard |
We will descend and fold him in our arms.
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Bolingbroke |
O, let no noble eye profane a tear
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Gaunt |
God in thy good cause make thee prosperous!
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Bolingbroke | Mine innocency and Saint George to thrive! |
Mowbray |
However God or fortune cast my lot,
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King Richard |
Farewell, my lord: securely I espy
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Marshal |
Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby,
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Bolingbroke | Strong as a tower in hope, I cry amen. |
Marshal | Go bear this lance to Thomas, Duke of Norfolk. |
First Herald |
Harry of Hereford, Lancaster and Derby,
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Second Herald |
Here standeth Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk,
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Marshal |
Sound, trumpets; and set forward, combatants. A charge sounded.
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King Richard |
Let them lay by their helmets and their spears,
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Bolingbroke |
Your will be done: this must my comfort be,
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King Richard |
Norfolk, for thee remains a heavier doom,
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Mowbray |
A heavy sentence, my most sovereign liege,
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King Richard |
It boots thee not to be compassionate:
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Mowbray |
Then thus I turn me from my country’s light,
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King Richard |
Return again, and take an oath with thee.
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Bolingbroke | I swear. |
Mowbray | And I, to keep all this. |
Bolingbroke |
Norfolk, so far as to mine enemy:—
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Mowbray |
No, Bolingbroke: if ever I were traitor,
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King Richard |
Uncle, even in the glasses of thine eyes
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Bolingbroke |
How long a time lies in one little word!
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Gaunt |
I thank my liege, that in regard of me
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King Richard | Why uncle, thou hast many years to live. |
Gaunt |
But not a minute, king, that thou canst give:
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King Richard |
Thy son is banish’d upon good advice,
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Gaunt |
Things sweet to taste prove in digestion sour.
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King Richard |
Cousin, farewell; and, uncle, bid him so:
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Aumerle |
Cousin, farewell: what presence must not know,
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Marshal |
My lord, no leave take I; for I will ride,
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Gaunt |
O, to what purpose dost thou hoard thy words,
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Bolingbroke |
I have too few to take my leave of you,
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Gaunt | Thy grief is but thy absence for a time. |
Bolingbroke | Joy absent, grief is present for that time. |
Gaunt | What is six winters? they are quickly gone. |
Bolingbroke | To men in joy; but grief makes one hour ten. |
Gaunt | Call it a travel that thou takest for pleasure. |
Bolingbroke |
My heart will sigh when I miscall it so,
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Gaunt |
The sullen passage of thy weary steps
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Bolingbroke |
Nay, rather, every tedious stride I make
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Gaunt |
All places that the eye of heaven visits
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Bolingbroke |
O, who can hold a fire in his hand
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Gaunt |
Come, come, my son, I’ll bring thee on thy way:
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Bolingbroke |
Then, England’s ground, farewell; sweet soil, adieu;
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Scene IV
The court.
Enter the King, with Bagot and Green at one door; and the Duke of Aumerle at another. | |
King Richard |
We did observe. Cousin Aumerle,
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Aumerle |
I brought high Hereford, if you call him so,
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King Richard | And say, what store of parting tears were shed? |
Aumerle |
Faith, none for me; except the north-east wind,
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King Richard | What said our cousin when you parted with him? |
Aumerle |
“Farewell:”
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King Richard |
He is our cousin, cousin; but ’tis doubt,
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Green |
Well, he is gone; and with him go these thoughts.
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King Richard |
We will ourself in person to this war:
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Enter Bushy. | |
Bushy, what news? | |
Bushy |
Old John of Gaunt is grievous sick, my lord,
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King Richard | Where lies he? |
Bushy | At Ely House. |
King Richard |
Now put it, God, in the physician’s mind
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All | Amen. Exeunt. |