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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)

    The Tragedie of
    Till time lend friends, and friends their helpfull swords.
    1720King Oh God oh God that ere this tong of mine
    That laid the sentence of dread banishment
    On yon prowde man should take it off againe
    With words of sooth! Oh that I were as great
    As is my griefe, or lesser than my name!
    1725Or that I could forget what I haue beene!
    Or not remember what I must be now!
    Swellst thou (prowd heart) Ile giue thee scope to beate,
    Since foes haue scope to beate both thee and me.
    Aum. Northumberland comes backe from Bullingbrooke
    King What must the King do now? must he submit?
    The King shall do it: must he be deposde?
    The king shall be contented: must he loose
    The name of King? a Gods name let it go:
    1735Ile giue my iewels for a set of Beades:
    My gorgeous pallace for a hermitage:
    My gay apparel for an almesmans gowne:
    My figurde goblets for a dish of wood:
    My scepter for a Palmers walking staffe:
    1740My subiects for a paire of carued Saintes,
    And my large kingdome for a little graue,
    A little little graue, an obscure graue,
    Or Ile be buried in the Kings hie way,
    Some way of common trade, where subiects feete
    1745May hourely trample on their soueraignes head;
    For on my heart they treade now whilst I liue:
    And buried once, why not vpon my head?
    Aumerle thou weepst (my tender-hearted coosin)
    Weele make fowle weather with despised teares;
    1750Our sighs and they shall lodge the summer corne,
    And make a dearth in this reuolting land:
    Or shall we play the wantons with our woes,
    And make some prety match with sheading teares,
    As thus to drop them still vpon one place,
    1755Till they haue fretted vs a paire of graues
    Within the earth, and therein laide; there lies
    Two