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Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Catherine Lisak
Peer Reviewed
King Richard the second.
Comes at the last, and with a little pin
1530Boares thorough his Castle wall, and farewell King;
Couer your heades, and mocke not flesh and bloud,
With solemne reuerence, throw away respect,
Tradition, forme, and ceremonious duetie,
For you haue but mistooke me al this while:
1535I liue with bread like you, feele want,
Taste griefe, neede friends, subiected thus,
How can you say to me, I am a King?
Carleil My lord, wisemen nere sit and waile theyr woes,
But presently preuent the wayes to waile,
1540To feare the foe, since feare oppresseth strength,
Giues in your weakenes strength vnto your foe,
1541.1And so your follies fight against your selfe:
Feare and be slaine, no worse can come to fight,
And fight and die, is death destroying death,
Where fearing dying, paies death seruile breath.
1545Aum. My father hath a power, inquire of him,
And learne to make a body of a limme.
King Thou chidst me well, prowd Bullingbrooke, I come
To change blowes with thee for our day of doome:
This agew fit of feare is ouerblowne,
1550And easie taske it is to winne our owne.
Say Scroope, where lies our vncle with his power?
Speake sweetely manalthough thy lookes be sower.
Scroope Men iudge by the complexion of the skie,
The state and inclination of the day;
1555So may you by my dull and heauy eie:
My tongue hath but a heauier tale to say,
I play the torturer by small and small
To lengthen out the worst that must be spoken:
Your vncle Yorke is ioynd with Bullingbrooke,
1560And all your Northerne castles yeelded vp,
And all your Southerne Gentlemen in armes
Vpon his partie.
King Thou hast said enough:
Beshrew thee cousin which didst leade me foorth
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