Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Catherine Lisak
Not Peer Reviewed

Richard II (Modern)

[5.6]
[Flourish.] Enter [King Henry] with the Duke of York[, other lords, and attendants].
King Henry
Kind uncle York, the latest news we hear
2795Is that the rebels have consumed with fire
Our town of Ciceter in Gloucestershire,
But whether they be ta'en or slain we hear not.
Enter [the Earl of] Northumberland.
Welcome, my lord. What is the news?
2800Northumberland
First, to thy sacred state wish I all happiness.
The next news is, I have to London sent
The heads of Oxford, Salisbury, Blunt, and Kent.
The manner of their taking may appear
At large discoursèd in this paper here.
[He gives King Henry a paper.]
2805King Henry
We thank thee, gentle Percy, for thy pains,
And to thy worth will add right worthy gains.
Enter lord Fitzwater.
Fitzwater
My lord, I have from Oxford sent to London
The heads of Brocas and sir Bennet Seely,
2810Two of the dangerous consorted traitors
That sought at Oxford thy dire overthrow.
King Henry
Thy pains, Fitzwater, shall not be forgot.
Right noble is thy merit, well I wot.
Enter Harry Percy [with the Bishop of Carlisle, guarded].
The grand conspirator, Abbot of Westminster,
With clog of conscience and sour melancholy
Hath yielded up his body to the grave.
But here is Carlisle living, to abide
Thy kingly doom and sentence of his pride.
2820King Henry
Carlisle, this is your doom:
Choose out some secret place, some reverend room,
More than thou hast, and with it joy thy life.
So, as thou liv'st in peace, die free from strife;
For, though mine enemy thou hast ever been,
2825High sparks of honor in thee have I seen.
Enter Exton, with [attendants bearing] the coffin.
Great King, within this coffin I present
Thy buried fear. Herein all breathless lies
The mightiest of thy greatest enemies,
2830Richard of Bordeaux, by me hither brought.
King Henry
Exton, I thank thee not, for thou hast wrought
A deed of slander with thy fatal hand
Upon my head and all this famous land.
From your own mouth, my lord, did I this deed.
2835King Henry
They love not poison that do poison need,
Nor do I thee. Though I did wish him dead,
I hate the murderer, love him murderèd.
The guilt of conscience take thou for thy labor,
But neither my good word, nor princely favor.
2840With Cain go wander through shades of night,
And never show thy head by day nor light.
[Exit Exton.]
Lords, I protest my soul is full of woe
That blood should sprinkle me to make me grow.
Come mourn with me for what I do lament,
2845And put on sullen black incontinent.
I'll make a voyage to the Holy Land
To wash this blood off from my guilty hand.
[Attendants lift the coffin to carry it out.]
March sadly after. Grace my mournings here
In weeping after this untimely bier.
[Exeunt with the coffin.]