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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
For our affairs in hand。 If that come short； Our substitutes at home shall
have blank charters； Whereto； when they shall know what men are rich；
They shall subscribe them for large sums of gold； And send them after to
supply our wants； For we will make for Ireland presently。
Enter BUSHY
Bushy； what news？ BUSHY。 Old John of Gaunt is grievous sick； my
lord； Suddenly taken； and hath sent poste…haste To entreat your Majesty to
visit him。 KING RICHARD。 Where lies he？ BUSHY。 At Ely House。
KING RICHARD。 Now put it； God； in the physician's mind To help him
to his grave immediately！ The lining of his coffers shall make coats To
deck our soldiers for these Irish wars。 Come； gentlemen； let's all go visit
him。 Pray God we may make haste； and come too late！ ALL。 Amen。
Exeunt
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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
ACT II。
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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
SCENE I。 London。 Ely House
Enter JOHN OF GAUNT； sick； with the DUKE OF YORK； etc。
GAUNT。 Will the King come； that I may breathe my last In
wholesome counsel to his unstaid youth？ YORK。 Vex not yourself； nor
strive not with your breath； For all in vain comes counsel to his ear。
GAUNT。 O； but they say the tongues of dying men Enforce attention like
deep harmony。 Where words are scarce； they are seldom spent in vain； For
they breathe truth that breathe their words …in pain。 He that no more must
say is listen'd more Than they whom youth and ease have taught to glose；
More are men's ends mark'd than their lives before。 The setting sun； and
music at the close； As the last taste of sweets； is sweetest last； Writ in
remembrance more than things long past。 Though Richard my life's
counsel would not hear； My death's sad tale may yet undeaf his ear。 YORK。
No； it is stopp'd with other flattering sounds； As praises； of whose taste the
wise are fond； Lascivious metres； to whose venom sound The open ear of
youth doth always listen； Report of fashions in proud Italy； Whose
manners still our tardy apish nation Limps after in base imitation。 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？ Then all too late comes
counsel to be heard Where will doth mutiny with wit's regard。 Direct not
him whose way himself will choose。 'Tis breath thou lack'st； and that
breath wilt thou lose。 GAUNT。 Methinks I am a prophet new inspir'd； And
thus expiring do foretell of him： His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last；
For violent fires soon burn out themselves； Small showers last long； but
sudden storms are short； He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes； With
eager feeding food doth choke the feeder； Light vanity； insatiate cormorant；
Consuming means； soon preys upon itself。 This royal throne of kings； this
scept'red isle； This earth of majesty； this seat of Mars； This other Eden；
demi…paradise； This fortress built by Nature for herself Against infection
and the hand of war； This happy breed of men； this little world； This
precious stone set in the silver sea； Which serves it in the office of a wall；
Or as a moat defensive to a house； Against the envy of less happier lands；
This blessed plot； this earth； this realm； this England； This nurse； this
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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
teeming womb of royal kings； Fear'd by their breed； and famous by their
birth； Renowned for their deeds as far from home； For Christian service
and true chivalry； As is the sepulchre in stubborn Jewry Of the world's
ransom； blessed Mary's Son； This land of such dear souls； this dear dear
land； Dear for her reputation through the world； Is now leas'd out…I die
pronouncing it… Like to a tenement or pelting farm。 England； bound in
with the triumphant sea； Whose rocky shore beats back the envious siege
Of wat'ry Neptune； is now bound in with shame； With inky blots and
rotten parchment bonds； That England； that was wont to conquer others；
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself。 Ah； would the scandal vanish
with my life； How happy then were my ensuing death！
Enter KING and QUEEN； AUMERLE； BUSHY； GREEN； BAGOT；
Ross； and WILLOUGHBY
YORK。 The King is come； deal mildly with his youth； For young hot
colts being rag'd do rage the more。 QUEEN。 How fares our noble uncle
Lancaster？ KING RICHARD。 What comfort； man？ How is't with aged
Gaunt？ GAUNT。 O； how that name befits my composition！ Old Gaunt；
indeed； and gaunt in being old。 Within me grief hath kept a tedious fast；
And who abstains from meat that is not gaunt？ For sleeping England long
time have I watch'd； Watching breeds leanness； leanness is an gaunt。 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。 Gaunt am I for the
grave； gaunt as a grave； Whose hollow womb inherits nought but bones。
KING RICHARD。 Can sick men play so nicely with their names？
GAUNT。 No； misery makes sport to mock itself： Since thou dost seek to
kill my name in me； I mock my name； great king； to flatter thee。 KING
RICHARD。 Should dying men flatter with those that live？ GAUNT。 No；
no； men living flatter those that die。 KING RICHARD。 Thou； now a…dying；
sayest thou flatterest me。 GAUNT。 O； no！ thou diest； though I the sicker
be。 KING RICHARD。 I am in health； I breathe； and see thee ill。 GAUNT。
Now He that made me knows I see thee ill； Ill in myself to see； and in thee
seeing ill。 Thy death…bed is no lesser than thy land Wherein thou liest in
reputation sick； And thou； too careless patient as thou art； Commit'st thy
anointed body to the cure Of those physicians that first wounded thee： A
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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
thousand flatterers sit within thy crown； Whose compass is no bigger than
thy head； And yet； incaged in so small a verge； The waste is no whit lesser
than thy land。 O； had thy grandsire with a prophet's eye Seen how his son's
son should destroy his sons； From forth thy reach he would have laid thy
shame； Deposing thee before thou wert possess'd； Which art possess'd now
to depose thyself。 Why； cousin； wert thou regent of the world； It were a
shame to let this land by lease； But for thy world enjoying but this land； Is
it not more than shame to shame it so？ Landlord of England art thou now；
not King。 Thy state of law is bondslave to the law； And thou… KING
RICHARD。 A lunatic lean…witted fool； Presuming on an ague's privilege；
Darest with thy frozen admonition Make pale our cheek； chasing the royal
blood With fury from his native residence。 Now by my seat's right royal
majesty； Wert thou not brother to great Edward's son； This tongue that runs
so roundly in thy head Should run thy head from thy unreverent shoulders。
GAUNT。 O； Spare me not； my brother Edward's son； For that I was his
father Edward's son； That blood already； like the pelican； Hast thou tapp'd
out； and drunkenly carous'd。 My brother Gloucester； plain well…meaning
soul… Whom fair befall in heaven 'mongst happy souls！… May be a
precedent and witness good That thou respect'st not spilling Edward's
blood。 Join with the present sickness that I have； And thy unkindness be
l