Toolbox



Textual Analysis

[ Go ]

Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 16, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, The Duchess of Malfi. To Jun. 15, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Return to the Forbidden Planet. To Dec. 1, 2013.
Folger Shakespeare Library, Twelfth Night. To Jun. 9, 2013.
American Shakespeare Center, Love's Labour's Lost. To Jun. 15, 2013.
More Performances…
‌

Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Catherine Lisak
Peer Reviewed
1310
Enter Duke of Hereford, Yorke, Northumberland,
Bushie and Greene prisoners.
Bull. Bring forth these men.
Bushie and Greene, I will not vex your soules,
1315Since presently your soules must part your bodies
With too much vrging your pernitious liues,
For twere no charitie; yet to wash your bloud
From off my hands, heere in the view of men
I will vnfold some causes of your deaths:
1320You haue misled a Prince, a royall King,
A happy Gentleman in bloud and lineaments,
By you vnhappied, and disfigured cleane,
You haue in manner with your sinfull houres
Made a diuorce betwixt his Queene and him,
1325Broke the possession of a royall bed,
And stainde the beutie of a faire Queenes cheekes
With teares, drawen from her eies by your fowle wrongs,
My selfe a Prince, by fortune of my birth,
Neere to the King in bloud, and neere in loue,
1330Till you did make him misinterpret me,
Haue stoopt my necke vnder your iniuries,
And sigh't my English breath in forren cloudes,
Eating the bitter bread of banishment,
Whilst you haue fed vpon my segniories,
1335Disparkt my parkes, and felld my forrest woods,
From my owne windowes torne my houshold coate,
Rac't out my impreese, leauing me no signe,
Saue mensopinions, and my liuing bloud,
To shew the world I am a gentleman.
1340This and much more, much more then twice all this
Condemns you to the death: see them deliuered ouer
To execution and the hand of death.
Bush. More welcome is the stroke of death to me,
Than Bullingbrooke to England, Lords farewell.
1345Greene My comfort is, that heauen will take our soules,
And plague iniustice with the paines of hell.
Bul. My Lord Northumberland, see them dispatcht:
Vncle, you say the Queene is at your house,
For Gods sake fairely let her be intreated,
1350Tel her I send to her my kinde commends;
Take special care my greetings be deliuered.
Yorke A gentleman of mine I haue dispatcht,
With letters of your loue to her at large.
Bul. Thankes (gentle vncle:) Come Lords, away,
1355To fight with Glendor and his complices,
A while to worke, and after holiday.
Exeunt.