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！
our miles； and makes them wearisome； And yet your fair discourse hath
been as sugar； Making the hard way sweet and delectable。 But I bethink
me what a weary way From Ravenspurgh to Cotswold will be found In
Ross and Willoughby； wanting your company； Which； I protest； hath very
much beguil'd The tediousness and process of my travel。 But theirs is
sweet'ned with the hope to have The present benefit which I possess； And
hope to joy is little less in joy Than hope enjoy'd。 By this the weary lords
Shall make their way seem short； as mine hath done By sight of what I
have； your noble company。 BOLINGBROKE。 Of much less value is my
company Than your good words。 But who comes here？
Enter HARRY PERCY
NORTHUMBERLAND。 It is my son； young Harry Percy； Sent from
my brother Worcester； whencesoever。 Harry； how fares your uncle？
PERCY。 I had thought； my lord； to have learn'd his health of you。
NORTHUMBERLAND。 Why； is he not with the Queen？ PERCY。 No； my
good lord； he hath forsook the court； Broken his staff of office； and
dispers'd The household of the King。 NORTHUMBERLAND。 What was
his reason？ He was not so resolv'd when last we spake together。 PERCY。
Because your lordship was proclaimed traitor。 But he； my lord； is gone to
Ravenspurgh； To offer service to the Duke of Hereford； And sent me over
by Berkeley； to discover What power the Duke of York had levied there；
Then with directions to repair to Ravenspurgh。 NORTHUMBERLAND。
Have you forgot the Duke of Hereford； boy？ PERCY。 No； my good lord；
for that is not forgot Which ne'er I did remember； to my knowledge； I
never in my life did look on him。 NORTHUMBERLAND。 Then learn to
know him now； this is the Duke。 PERCY。 My gracious lord； I tender you
my service； Such as it is； being tender； raw； and young； Which elder days
shall ripen； and confirm To more approved service and desert。
28
… Page 29…
KING RICHARD THE SECOND
BOLINGBROKE。 I thank thee； gentle Percy； and be sure I count myself in
nothing else so happy As in a soul rememb'ring my good friends； And as
my fortune ripens with thy love； It shall be still thy true love's recompense。
My heart this covenant makes； my hand thus seals it。
NORTHUMBERLAND。 How far is it to Berkeley？ And what stir Keeps
good old York there with his men of war？ PERCY。 There stands the castle；
by yon tuft of trees； Mann'd with three hundred men； as I have heard； And
in it are the Lords of York； Berkeley； and Seymour… None else of name and
noble estimate。
Enter Ross and WILLOUGHBY
NORTHUMBERLAND。 Here come the Lords of Ross and
Willoughby； Bloody with spurring； fiery…red with haste。 BOLINGBROKE。
Welcome； my lords。 I wot your love pursues A banish'd traitor。 All my
treasury Is yet but unfelt thanks； which； more enrich'd； Shall be your love
and labour's recompense。 ROSS。 Your presence makes us rich； most noble
lord。 WILLOUGHBY。 And far surmounts our labour to attain it。
BOLINGBROKE。 Evermore thanks； the exchequer of the poor； Which； till
my infant fortune comes to years； Stands for my bounty。 But who comes
here？
Enter BERKELEY NORTHUMBERLAND。 It is my Lord of
Berkeley； as I guess。 BERKELEY。 My Lord of Hereford； my message is to
you。 BOLINGBROKE。 My lord； my answer is…'to Lancaster'； And I am
come to seek that name in England； And I must find that title in your
tongue Before I make reply to aught you say。 BERKELEY。 Mistake me
not； my lord； 'tis not my meaning To raze one title of your honour out。 To
you； my lord； I come…what lord you will… From the most gracious regent of
this land； The Duke of York； to know what pricks you on To take
advantage of the absent time； And fright our native peace with self…borne
arms。
Enter YORK； attended
BOLINGBROKE。 I shall not need transport my words by you； Here
comes his Grace in person。 My noble uncle！ ＇Kneels＇ YORK。 Show me
thy humble heart； and not thy knee； Whose duty is deceivable and false。
BOLINGBROKE。 My gracious uncle！… YORK。 Tut； tut！ Grace me no
29
… Page 30…
KING RICHARD THE SECOND
grace； nor uncle me no uncle。 I am no traitor's uncle； and that word 'grace'
In an ungracious mouth is but profane。 Why have those banish'd and
forbidden legs Dar'd once to touch a dust of England's ground？ But then
more 'why？'…why have they dar'd to march So many miles upon her
peaceful bosom； Frighting her pale…fac'd villages with war And ostentation
of despised arms？ Com'st thou because the anointed King is hence？ Why；
foolish boy； the King is left behind； And in my loyal bosom lies his power。
Were I but now lord of such hot youth As when brave Gaunt； thy father；
and myself Rescued the Black Prince； that young Mars of men； From forth
the ranks of many thousand French； O； then how quickly should this arm
of mine； Now prisoner to the palsy； chastise the And minister correction to
thy fault！ BOLINGBROKE My gracious uncle； let me know my fault； On
what condition stands it and wherein？ YORK。 Even in condition of the
worst degree… In gross rebellion and detested treason。 Thou art a banish'd
man； and here art come Before the expiration of thy time； In braving arms
against thy sovereign。 BOLINGBROKE。 As I was banish'd； I was banish'd
Hereford； But as I come； I come for Lancaster。 And； noble uncle； I beseech
your Grace Look on my wrongs with an indifferent eye。 You are my father；
for methinks in you I see old Gaunt alive。 O； then； my father； Will you
permit that I shall stand condemn'd A wandering vagabond； my rights and
royalties Pluck'd from my arms perforce； and given away To upstart
unthrifts？ Wherefore was I born？ If that my cousin king be King in
England； It must be granted I am Duke of Lancaster。 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。 I am denied to sue my livery here； And yet my
letters patents give me leave。 My father's goods are all distrain'd and sold；
And these and all are all amiss employ'd。 What would you have me do？ I
am a subject； And I challenge law…attorneys are denied me； And therefore
personally I lay my claim To my inheritance of free descent。
NORTHUMBERLAND。 The noble Duke hath been too much abused。
ROSS。 It stands your Grace upon to do him right。 WILLOUGHBY。 Base
men by his endowments are made great。 YORK。 My lords of England； let
me tell you this： I have had feeling of my cousin's wrongs； And labour'd
30
… Page 31…
KING RICHARD THE SECOND
all I could to do him right； But in this kind to come； in braving arms； Be
his own carver and cut out his way； To find out right with wrong…it may
not be； And you that do abet him in this kind Cherish rebellion； and are
rebels all。 NORTHUMBERLAND。 The noble Duke hath sworn his
coming is But for his own； and for the right of that We all have strongly
sworn to give him aid； And let him never see joy that breaks that oath！
YORK。 Well； well； I see the issue of these arms。 I cannot mend it； I must
needs confess； Because my power is weak and all ill left； But if I could； by
Him that gave me life； I would attach you all and make you stoop Unto the
sovereign mercy of the King； But since I cannot； be it known unto you I
do remain as neuter。 So； fare you well； Unless you please to enter in the
castle； And there repose you for this night。 BOLINGBROKE。 An offer；
uncle； that we will accept。 But we must win your Grace to go with us To
Bristow Castle； which they say is held By Bushy； Bagot； and their
complices； The caterpillars of the commonwealth； Which I have sworn to
weed and pluck away。 YORK。 It may be I will go with you； but yet I'll
pause； For I am loath to break our country's laws。 Nor friends nor foes； to
me welcome you are。 Things past redress are now with me past care。
Exeunt