按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
blood。 Join with the present sickness that I have； And thy unkindness be
like crooked age； To crop at once a too long withered flower。 Live in thy
shame； but die not shame with thee！ These words hereafter thy tormentors
be！ Convey me to my bed； then to my grave。 Love they to live that love
and honour have。 Exit； borne out by his attendants KING RICHARD。 And
let them die that age and sullens have； For both hast thou； and both
become the grave。 YORK。 I do beseech your Majesty impute his words To
wayward sickliness and age in him。 He loves you； on my life； and holds
you dear As Harry Duke of Hereford； were he here。 KING RICHARD。
Right； you say true： as Hereford's love； so his； As theirs； so mine； and all
be as it is。
Enter NORTHUMBERLAND
NORTHUMBERLAND。 My liege； old Gaunt commends him to your
Majesty。 KING RICHARD。 What says he？ NORTHUMBERLAND。 Nay；
nothing； all is said。 His tongue is now a stringless instrument； Words； life；
21
… Page 22…
KING RICHARD THE SECOND
and all； old Lancaster hath spent。 YORK。 Be York the next that must be
bankrupt so！ Though death be poor； it ends a mortal woe。 KING
RICHARD。 The ripest fruit first falls； and so doth he； His time is spent；
our pilgrimage must be。 So much for that。 Now for our Irish wars。 We
must supplant those rough rug…headed kerns； Which live like venom
where no venom else But only they have privilege to live。 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。 YORK。 How long shall I be patient？ Ah； how long Shall
tender duty make me suffer wrong？ Not Gloucester's death； nor Hereford's
banishment； Nor Gaunt's rebukes； nor England's private wrongs； Nor the
prevention of poor Bolingbroke About his marriage； nor my own disgrace；
Have ever made me sour my patient cheek Or bend one wrinkle on my
sovereign's face。 I am the last of noble Edward's sons； Of whom thy father；
Prince of Wales； was first。 In war was never lion rag'd more fierce； In
peace was never gentle lamb more mild； Than was that young and princely
gentleman。 His face thou hast； for even so look'd he； Accomplish'd with
the number of thy hours； But when he frown'd； it was against the French
And not against his friends。 His noble hand Did win what he did spend；
and spent not that Which his triumphant father's hand had won。 His hands
were guilty of no kindred blood； But bloody with the enemies of his kin。 O
Richard！ York is too far gone with grief； Or else he never would compare
between… KING RICHARD。 Why； uncle； what's the matter？ YORK。 O my
liege； Pardon me； if you please； if not； I； pleas'd Not to be pardoned； am
content withal。 Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands The royalties
and rights of banish'd Hereford？ Is not Gaunt dead？ and doth not Hereford
live？ Was not Gaunt just？ and is not Harry true？ Did not the one deserve to
have an heir？ Is not his heir a well…deserving son？ Take Hereford's rights
away； and take from Time His charters and his customary rights； Let not
to…morrow then ensue to…day； Be not thyself…for how art thou a king But
by fair sequence and succession？ Now； afore God…God forbid I say true！…
If you do wrongfully seize Hereford's rights； Call in the letters patents that
he hath By his attorneys…general to sue His livery； and deny his off'red
homage； You pluck a thousand dangers on your head； You lose a thousand
22
… Page 23…
KING RICHARD THE SECOND
well…disposed hearts； And prick my tender patience to those thoughts
Which honour and allegiance cannot think。 KING RICHARD。 Think what
you will； we seize into our hands His plate； his goods； his money； and his
lands。 YORK。 I'll not be by the while。 My liege； farewell。 What will ensue
hereof there's none can tell； But by bad courses may be understood That
their events can never fall out good。 Exit KING RICHARD。 Go； Bushy； to
the Earl of Wiltshire straight； Bid him repair to us to Ely House To see this
business。 To…morrow next We will for Ireland； and 'tis time； I trow。 And
we create； in absence of ourself； Our Uncle York Lord Governor of
England； For he is just； and always lov'd us well。 Come on； our queen； to…
morrow must we part； Be merry； for our time of stay is short。 Flourish。
Exeunt KING； QUEEN； BUSHY； AUMERLE； GREEN； and BAGOT
NORTHUMBERLAND。 Well； lords； the Duke of Lancaster is dead。 Ross。
And living too； for now his son is Duke。 WILLOUGHBY。 Barely in title；
not in revenues。 NORTHUMBERLAND。 Richly in both； if justice had her
right。 ROSS。 My heart is great； but it must break with silence； Ere't be
disburdened with a liberal tongue。 NORTHUMBERLAND。 Nay； speak
thy mind； and let him ne'er speak more That speaks thy words again to do
thee harm！ WILLOUGHBY。 Tends that thou wouldst speak to the Duke of
Hereford？ If it be so； out with it boldly； man； Quick is mine ear to hear of
good towards him。 ROSS。 No good at all that I can do for him； Unless you
call it good to pity him； Bereft and gelded of his patrimony。
NORTHUMBERLAND。 Now； afore God； 'tis shame such wrongs are
borne In him； a royal prince； and many moe Of noble blood in this
declining land。 The King is not himself； but basely led By flatterers； and
what they will inform； Merely in hate； 'gainst any of us an； That will the
King severely prosecute 'Gainst us； our lives； our children； and our heirs。
ROSS。 The commons hath he pill'd with grievous taxes； And quite lost
their hearts； the nobles hath he find For ancient quarrels and quite lost
their hearts。 WILLOUGHBY。 And daily new exactions are devis'd； As
blanks； benevolences； and I wot not what； But what； a God's name； doth
become of this？ NORTHUMBERLAND。 Wars hath not wasted it； for
warr'd he hath not； But basely yielded upon compromise That which his
noble ancestors achiev'd with blows。 More hath he spent in peace than
23
… Page 24…
KING RICHARD THE SECOND
they in wars。 ROSS。 The Earl of Wiltshire hath the realm in farm。
WILLOUGHBY。 The King's grown bankrupt like a broken man。
NORTHUMBERLAND。 Reproach and dissolution hangeth over him。
ROSS。 He hath not money for these Irish wars； His burdenous taxations
notwithstanding； But by the robbing of the banish'd Duke。
NORTHUMBERLAND。 His noble kinsman…most degenerate king！ 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。 ROSS。 We see the very wreck that we must suffer； And
unavoided is the danger now For suffering so the causes of our wreck。
NORTHUMBERLAND。 Not so； even through the hollow eyes of death I
spy life peering； but I dare not say How near the tidings of our comfort is。
WILLOUGHBY。 Nay； let us share thy thoughts as thou dost ours。 ROSS。
Be confident to speak； Northumberland。 We three are but thyself； and；
speaking so； Thy words are but as thoughts； therefore be bold。
NORTHUMBERLAND。 Then thus： I have from Le Port Blanc； a bay In
Brittany； receiv'd intelligence That Harry Duke of Hereford； Rainold Lord
Cobham； That late broke from the Duke of Exeter； His brother；
Archbishop late of Canterbury； Sir Thomas Erpingham； Sir John Ramston；
Sir John Norbery； Sir Robert Waterton； and Francis Quoint… All these； well
furnish'd by the Duke of Britaine； With eight tall ships； three thousand
men of war； Are making hither with all due expedience； And shortly mean
to touch our northern shore。 Perhaps they had ere this； but that they stay
The first departing of the King for Ireland。 If then we shall shake off our
slavish yoke； Imp out our drooping country's broken wing； Redeem from
broking pawn the blemish'd crown； Wipe off the dust that hides our
sceptre's gilt； And make high majesty look like itself； Away with me i