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  • Title: Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)
  • Editor: Catherine Lisak
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-436-3

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Catherine Lisak
    Peer Reviewed

    Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)

    King Richard the second.
    Throwe death vpon thy soueraignes enemies,
    Mocke not my senceles coniuration Lords,
    This earth shall haue a feeling, and these stones,
    1385Proue armed souldiers ere her natiue King,
    Shall faulter vnder foule rebellions armes.
    Carl. Feare not my Lord, that power that made you king,
    Hath power to keepe you king in spight of all,
    1388.1The meanes that heauens yeeld must be imbrac't
    And not neglected. Else heauen would,
    And we will not, heauens offer, we refuse,
    The profered meanes of succors and redresse.
    Aum. He meanes my Lo: that we are too remisse,
    1390Whilst Bullingbrooke through our security,
    Growes strong and great in substance and in power.
    King Discomfortable Coosen knowst thou not,
    That when the searching eie of heauen is hid,
    Behinde the globe that lights the lower world,
    1395Then theeues and robbers range abroad vnseene,
    In murthers and in outrage bouldy here,
    But when from vnder this terrestriall ball,
    He fires the proud tops of the easterne pines,
    And dartes his light through euery guilty hole,
    1400Then murthers, treasons and detested sinnes,
    The cloake of night being pluckt from off their backs,
    Stand bare and naked trembling at themselues?
    So when this thiefe, this traitor Bullingbrooke,
    Who all this while hath reueld in the night,
    1404.1Whilst we were wandring with the Antipodes,
    1405Shall see vs rising in our throne the east,
    His treasons will sit blushing in his face,
    Not able to endure the sight of day,
    But selfe affrighted tremble at his sinne,
    Not all the water in the rough rude sea,
    1410Can wash the balme offfrom an annointed King,
    The breath of worldly men cannot depose,
    The deputy elected by the Lord,
    For euery man that Bullingbrooke hath prest,
    To
    F