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  • Title: Richard II (Folio 1, 1623)
  • 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 (Folio 1, 1623)

    The Life and Death of Richard the Second. 39
    Fitzw. How fondly do'st thou spurre a forward Horse?
    If I dare eate, or drinke, or breathe, or liue,
    I dare meete Surrey in a Wildernesse,
    And spit vpon him, whilest I say he Lyes,
    1995And Lyes, and Lyes: there is my Bond of Faith,
    To tye thee to my strong Correction.
    As I intend to thriue in this new World,
    Aumerle is guiltie of my true Appeale.
    Besides, I heard the banish'd Norfolke say,
    2000That thou Aumerle didst send two of thy men,
    To execute the Noble Duke at Callis.
    Aum. Some honest Christian trust me with a Gage,
    That Norfolke lyes: here doe I throw downe this,
    If he may be repeal'd, to trie his Honor.
    2005Bull. These differences shall all rest vnder Gage,
    Till Norfolke be repeal'd: repeal'd he shall be;
    And (though mine Enemie) restor'd againe
    To all his Lands and Seignories: when hee's return'd,
    Against Aumerle we will enforce his Tryall.
    2010Carl. That honorable day shall ne're be seene.
    Many a time hath banish'd Norfolke fought
    For Iesu Christ, in glorious Christian field
    Streaming the Ensigne of the Christian Crosse,
    Against black Pagans, Turkes, and Saracens:
    2015And toyl'd with workes of Warre, retyr'd himselfe
    To Italy, and there at Venice gaue
    His Body to that pleasant Countries Earth,
    And his pure Soule vnto his Captaine Christ,
    Vnder whose Colours he had fought so long.
    2020Bull. Why Bishop, is Norfolke dead?
    Carl. As sure as I liue, my Lord.
    Bull. Sweet peace conduct his sweet Soule
    To the Bosome of good old Abraham.
    Lords Appealants, your differẽces shal all rest vnder gage,
    2025Till we assigne you to your dayes of Tryall.
    Enter Yorke.
    Yorke. Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to thee
    From plume-pluckt Richard, who with willing Soule
    Adopts thee Heire, and his high Scepter yeelds
    2030To the possession of thy Royall Hand.
    Ascend his Throne, descending now from him,
    And long liue Henry, of that Name the Fourth.
    Bull. In Gods Name, Ile ascend the Regall Throne.
    Carl. Mary, Heauen forbid.
    2035Worst in this Royall Presence may I speake,
    Yet best beseeming me to speake the truth.
    Would God, that any in this Noble Presence
    Were enough Noble, to be vpright Iudge
    Of Noble Richard: then true Noblenesse would
    2040Learne him forbearance from so foule a Wrong.
    What Subiect can giue Sentence on his King?
    And who sits here, that is not Richards Subiect?
    Theeues are not iudg'd, but they are by to heare,
    Although apparant guilt be seene in them:
    2045And shall the figure of Gods Maiestie,
    His Captaine, Steward, Deputie elect,
    Anoynted, Crown'd, planted many yeeres,
    Be iudg'd by subiect, and inferior breathe,
    And he himselfe not present? Oh, forbid it, God,
    2050That in a Christian Climate, Soules refin'de
    Should shew so heynous, black, obscene a deed.
    I speake to Subiects, and a Subiect speakes,
    Stirr'd vp by Heauen, thus boldly for his King.
    My Lord of Hereford here, whom you call King,
    2055Is a foule Traytor to prowd Herefords King.
    And if you Crowne him, let me prophecie,

    The blood of English shall manure the ground,
    And future Ages groane for his foule Act.
    Peace shall goe sleepe with Turkes and Infidels,
    2060And in this Seat of Peace, tumultuous Warres
    Shall Kinne with Kinne, and Kinde with Kinde confound.
    Disorder, Horror, Feare, and Mutinie
    Shall here inhabite, and this Land be call'd
    The field of Golgotha, and dead mens Sculls.
    2065Oh, if you reare this House, against this House
    It will the wofullest Diuision proue,
    That euer fell vpon this cursed Earth.
    Preuent it, resist it, and let it not be so,
    Least Child, Childs Children cry against you, Woe.
    2070North. Well haue you argu'd Sir: and for your paines,
    Of Capitall Treason we arrest you here.
    My Lord of Westminster, be it your charge,
    To keepe him safely, till his day of Tryall.
    May it please you, Lords, to grant the Commons Suit?
    2075Bull. Fetch hither Richard, that in common view
    He may surrender: so we shall proceede
    Without suspition.
    Yorke. I will be his Conduct. Exit.
    Bull. Lords, you that here are vnder our Arrest,
    2080Procure your Sureties for your Dayes of Answer:
    Little are we beholding to your Loue,
    And little look'd for at your helping Hands.

    Enter Richard and Yorke.
    Rich. Alack, why am I sent for to a King,
    2085Before I haue shooke off the Regall thoughts
    Wherewith I reign'd? I hardly yet haue learn'd
    To insinuate, flatter, bowe, and bend my Knee.
    Giue Sorrow leaue a while, to tuture me
    To this submission. Yet I well remember
    2090The fauors of these men: were they not mine?
    Did they not sometime cry, All hayle to me?
    So Iudas did to Christ: but he in twelue,
    Found truth in all, but one; I, in twelue thousand, none.
    God saue the King: will no man say, Amen?
    2095Am I both Priest, and Clarke? well then, Amen.
    God saue the King, although I be not hee:
    And yet Amen, if Heauen doe thinke him mee.
    To doe what seruice, am I sent for hither?
    Yorke. To doe that office of thine owne good will,
    2100Which tyred Maiestie did make thee offer:
    The Resignation of thy State and Crowne
    To Henry Bullingbrooke.
    Rich. Giue me the Crown. Here Cousin, seize ye Crown:
    Here Cousin, on this side my Hand, on that side thine.
    2105Now is this Golden Crowne like a deepe Well,
    That owes two Buckets, filling one another,
    The emptier euer dancing in the ayre,
    The other downe, vnseene, and full of Water:
    That Bucket downe, and full of Teares am I,
    2110Drinking my Griefes, whil'st you mount vp on high.
    Bull. I thought you had been willing to resigne.
    Rich. My Crowne I am, but still my Griefes are mine:
    You may my Glories and my State depose,
    But not my Griefes; still am I King of those.
    2115Bull. Part of your Cares you giue me with your Crowne.
    Rich. Your Cares set vp, do not pluck my Cares downe.
    My Care, is losse of Care, by old Care done,
    Your Care, is gaine of Care, by new Care wonne:
    The Cares I giue, I haue, though giuen away,
    2120They 'tend the Crowne, yet still with me they stay:
    Bull. Are you contented to resigne the Crowne?
    d 2 Rich. I,
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