Internet Shakespeare Editions

About this text

  • 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)

    Actus Tertius. Scena Prima.
    1310Enter Bullingbrooke, Yorke, Northumberland,
    Rosse, Percie, Willoughby, with Bushie
    and Greene Prisoners.
    Bull. Bring forth these men:
    Bushie and Greene, I will not vex your soules,
    1315(Since presently your soules must part your bodies)
    With too much vrging your pernitious liues,
    For 'twere no Charitie: yet to wash your blood
    From off my hands, here in the view of men,
    I will vnfold some causes of your deaths.
    1320You haue mis-led a Prince, a Royall King,
    A happie Gentleman in Blood, and Lineaments,
    By you vnhappied, and disfigur'd cleane:
    You haue in manner with your sinfull houres
    Made a Diuorce betwixt his Queene and him,
    1325Broke the possession of a Royall Bed,
    And stayn'd the beautie of a faire Queenes Cheekes,
    With teares drawn frõ her eyes, with your foule wrongs.
    My selfe a Prince, by fortune of my birth,
    Neere to the King in blood, and neere in loue,
    1330Till you did make him mis-interprete me,
    Haue stoopt my neck vnder your iniuries,
    And sigh'd my English breath in forraine Clouds,
    Eating the bitter bread of banishment;
    While you haue fed vpon my Seignories,
    1335Dis-park'd my Parkes, and fell'd my Forrest Woods;
    From mine owne Windowes torne my Household Coat,
    Raz'd out my Impresse, leauing me no signe,
    Saue mens opinions, and my liuing blood,915
    To shew the World I am a Gentleman.
    1340This, and much more, much more then twice all this,
    Condemnes you to the death: see them deliuered ouer
    To execution, and the hand of death.
    Bushie. More welcome is the stroake of death to me,
    Then Bullingbrooke to England.
    1345Greene. My comfort is, that Heauen will take our soules,
    And plague Iniustice with the paines of Hell.
    Bull. My Lord Northumberland, see them dispatch'd:
    Vnckle, you say the Queene is at your House,
    For Heauens sake fairely let her be entreated,
    1350Tell her I send to her my kind commends;
    Take speciall care my Greetings be deliuer'd.
    York. A Gentleman of mine I haue dispatch'd
    With Letters of your loue, to her at large.
    Bull. Thankes gentle Vnckle: come Lords away,
    1355To fight with Glendoure, and his Complices;
    A while to worke, and after holliday.
    Exeunt.
    Scoena
    34The life and death of Richard the second.