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Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Catherine Lisak
Peer Reviewed
King Richard the second.
The worst is worldly losse thou canst vnfold,
Say, is my kingdome lost? why twas my care,
And what losse is it to be rid of care?
1455Striues Bullingbrooke to be as great as we,
Greater he shall not be, if he serue God,
Weele serue him to, and be his fellow so:
Reuolt our subiects, that we cannot mende,
They breake their faith to God as well as vs:
1460Crie woe, destruction, ruine, and decay,
The worst is death, and death will haue his day.
Scro. Glad am I, that your highnes is so armde,
To beare the tidings of calamity,
Like an vnseasonable stormie day,
1465Which makes the siluer riuers drowne their shores,
As if the world were all dissolude to teares:
So high aboue his limits swels the rage
Of Bullingbrooke couering your fearefull land,
With hard bright steele, and harts harder then steele,
1470White beards haue armd their thin and haireles scalpes
Against thy maiesty: boies with womens voices,
Striue to speake big and clap their femal ioints,
In stiffe vnweildy armes against thy crowne,
Thy very beadsmen learne to bend their bowes,
1475Of double fatall ewe against thy state.
Yea distaffe women mannage rustie bils
Against thy seate, both young and old rebell,
And all goes worse then I haue power to tell.
King Too well too well thou telst a tale so ill,
1480Where is the Earle of Wiltshire? where is Bagot?
What is become of Bushie? where is Greene?
That they haue let the dangerous enemy,
Measure our confines with such peacefull steps,
If we preuaile, their heads shall pay for it:
1485I warrant they haue made peace with Bulling.
Scro. Peace haue they made with him indeed my Lord.
King Oh villaines, vipers, damnd without redemption,
Dogs easily woon to fawne on any man.
F 2
Snakes