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Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Catherine Lisak
Peer Reviewed
King Richard the second.
But ere the crowne he lookes for, liue in peace,
Ten thousand bloudy crownes of mothers sonnes,
Shall ill become the flower of Englands face,
1685Change the complexion of her maid-pale peace,
To scarlet indignation and bedew
Her pastors grasse with faithfull English bloud.
North. The King of heauen forbid: our Lo: the king
Should so with ciuill and vnciuill armes,
1690Be rusht vpon. Thy thrise noble Cosen,
Harry Bullingbrooke doth humbly kisse thy hand,
And by the honorable tombe he sweares,
That stands vpon your roiall grandsires bones,
And by the roialties of both your blouds,
1695Currents that spring from one most gratious head,
And by the buried hand of warlike Gaunt,
And by the worth and honor of himselfe,
Comprising all that may be sworne or said,
Hiscomming hither hath no further scope,
1700Then for his lineall roialties, and to beg
Infranchisement immediate on his knees,
Which on thy roiall partie granted once,
His glittering armes he will commend to rust,
His barbed steeds to stables, and his hart
1705To faithfull seruice ofyour Maiesty.
This sweares he, as he is princesse iust,
And as I am a gentleman I credit him.
King Northumberland, say thus, the King returnes,
His noble Cosen is right welcome hither,
1710And all the number of his faire demaunds,
Shall be accomplisht without contradiction,
With all the gratious vtterance thou hast,
Speake to his gentle hearing kind commends.
King We do debase our selues, Cosen do we not,
1715To looke so poorely, and to speake so faire?
Shall we call backe Northumberland and send
Defiance to the traitor and so die?
Aum. No good my Lo:lets fight with gentle words,
G
Till