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Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Catherine Lisak
Peer Reviewed
The Tragedie of
2645To Oxford, or where ere these traitors are,
They shall not liue within this world I sweare,
But I will haue them if I once know where.
Vncle farewell, and cousin adue,
Your mother well hath prayed, and prooue you true.
2650Du. Come my olde sonne, I pray God make thee new.
Exeunt.
Manet sir Pierce Exton, &c.
Exton Didst thou not marke the K. what words he spake?
2655Haue I no friend will rid me of this liuing feare?
Was it not so?
Man These were his very words.
Exton Haue I no friend quoth he? he spake it twice.
And vrgde it twice togither, did he not?
2660Man He did.
Exton And speaking it, he wishtly lookt on me,
As who should say, I would thou wert the man,
That would diuorce this terrour from my heart,
Meaning the king at Pomfret. Come lets go,
2665I am the kings friend, and will rid his foe.
Enter Richard alone.
Rich. I haue beene studying how I may compare
This prison where I liue, vnto the world:
2670And forbecause the world is populous,
And here is not a creature but my selfe,
I cannot do it: yet Ile hammer it out,
My braine Ile prooue, the female to my soule,
My soule the father, and these two beget
2675A generation of still-breeding thoughts:
And these same thoughts people this little world,
In humors like the people of this world:
For no thought is contented: the better sort,
As thoughts of things diuine are intermixt
2680With scruples, and do set the word it selfe
Against the word, as thus: Come little ones, & then againe
It is as hard to come, as for a Cammell
To threed the posterne of a small needles eie:
Thoughts tending to ambition they do plot,
Vn-