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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.
    Two kinsmen digd their graues with weeping eies:
    Would not this ill do well? well well I see,
    I talke but idlely, and you laugh at me.
    1760Most mightie Prince my Lord Northumberland,
    What saies king Bullingbroke, will his maiestie
    Giue Richard leaue to liue till Richard dye,
    You make a leg and Bullingbroke saies I.
    North. My Lord, in the base court he doth attend,
    1765To speake with you, may it please you to come downe.
    King. Downe, downe I come, like glistring Phaeton:
    Wanting the manage of vnrulie Iades.
    In the base court, base court where Kinges growe base,
    To come at traitors calls, and do them grace,
    1770In the base court come downe: downe court, downe King,
    For night owles shreeke where mounting larkes should sing.
    Bull. What saies his maiestie?
    North. Sorrowe and greife of hart,
    Makes him speake fondly like a frantike man,
    1775Yet he is come.
    Bull. Stand all apart,
    And shew faire dutie to his Maiestie: ( he kneeles downe.
    My gratious Lord.
    King. faire coosen, you debase your princely knee,
    To make the base earth proud with kissing it:
    Me rather had my hart might feele your loue,
    Then my vnpleased eie see your curtesie:
    Vp coosen vp, your hart is vp I knowe,
    1785Thus high at least, although your knee be lowe.
    Bull. My gratious Lord, I come but for mine owne.
    King. Your owne is yours, and I am yours and all.
    1790Bull. So farre be mine my most redoubted Lord,
    As my true seruice shall deserue your loue.
    King. Well you deserue: they well deserue to haue,
    That know the strong'st and surest way to get,
    1795Vncle giue me your handes, nay drie your eies,
    Teares shew their loue, but want their remedies.
    Coosen I am to yong to be your Father,

    Though
    G 2