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- Edition: Richard II
Richard II (Folio 1, 1623)
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- Facsimiles
2666Scaena Quarta.
2667Enter Richard.
2669This Prison where I liue, vnto the World:
2670And for because the world is populous,
2671And heere is not a Creature, but my selfe,
2672I cannot do it: yet Ile hammer't out.
2673My Braine, Ile proue the Female to my Soule,
2674My Soule, the Father: and these two beget
2675A generation of still breeding Thoughts;
2677In humors, like the people of this world,
2678For no thought is contented. The better sort,
2679As thoughts of things Diuine, are intermixt
2681Against the Faith: as thus: Come litle ones: & then again,
2682It is as hard to come, as for a Camell
2683To thred the posterne of a Needles eye.
2684Thoughts tending to Ambition, they do plot
2685Vnlikely wonders; how these vaine weake nailes
2686May teare a passage through the Flinty ribbes
2687Of this hard world, my ragged prison walles:
2688And for they cannot, dye in their owne pride.
2695Bearing their owne misfortune on the backe
2696Of such as haue before indur'd the like.
2697Thus play I in one Prison, many people,
2698And none contented. Sometimes am I King;
2701Perswades me, I was better when a King:
2702Then am I king'd againe: and by and by,
2703Thinke that I am vn-king'd by Bullingbrooke,
2705Nor I, nor any man, that but man is,
2706With nothing shall be pleas'd, till he be eas'd
2707With being nothing. Musicke do I heare?
2709When Time is broke, and no Proportion kept?
2710So is it in the Musicke of mens liues:
2711And heere haue I the daintinesse of eare,
2713But for the Concord of my State and Time,
2714Had not an eare to heare my true Time broke.
2716For now hath Time made me his numbring clocke;
2717My Thoughts, are minutes; and with Sighes they iarre,
2718Their watches on vnto mine eyes, the outward Watch,
2719Whereto my finger, like a Dialls point,
2722Are clamorous groanes, that strike vpon my heart,
2723Which is the bell: so Sighes, and Teares, and Grones,
2724Shew Minutes, Houres, and Times: but my Time
2725Runs poasting on, in Bullingbrookes proud ioy,
2726While I stand fooling heere, his iacke o'th' Clocke.
2728For though it haue holpe madmen to their wits,
2730Yet blessing on his heart that giues it me;
2731For 'tis a signe of loue, and loue to Richard,
2732Is a strange Brooch, in this all-hating world.
2733 Enter Groome.
2734Groo. Haile Royall Prince.
2735Rich. Thankes Noble Peere,
2736The cheapest of vs, is ten groates too deere.
2737What art thou? And how com'st thou hither?
2738Where no man euer comes, but that sad dogge
2739That brings me food, to make misfortune liue?
2740Groo. I was a poore Groome of thy Stable (King)
2741When thou wer't King: who trauelling towards Yorke,
2742With much adoo, at length haue gotten leaue
2744O how it yern'd my heart, when I beheld
2745In London streets, that Coronation day,
2746When Bullingbrooke rode on Roane Barbary,
2749Rich. Rode he on Barbary? Tell me gentle Friend,
2750How went he vnder him?
2752Rich. So proud, that Bullingbrooke was on his backe;
2753That Iade hath eate bread from my Royall hand.
2754This hand hath made him proud with clapping him.
2755Would he not stumble? Would he not fall downe
2756(Since Pride must haue a fall) and breake the necke
2757Of that proud man, that did vsurpe his backe?
2759Since thou created to be aw'd by man
2760Was't borne to beare? I was not made a horse,
And
The Life and Death of Richard the Second. 45
2761And yet I beare a burthen like an Asse,
2762Spur-gall'd, and tyrd by iauncing Bullingbrooke.
2763Enter Keeper with a Dish.
2765Rich. If thou loue me, 'tis time thou wer't away.
2770Keep. My Lord I dare not: Sir Pierce of Exton,
2771Who lately came from th' King, commands the contrary.
2773Patience is stale, and I am weary of it.
2774Keep. Helpe, helpe, helpe.
2775Enter Exton and Seruants.
2777Villaine, thine owne hand yeelds thy deaths instrument,
2778Go thou and fill another roome in hell.
2779 Exton strikes him downe.
2782Hath with the Kings blood, stain'd the Kings own land.
2785Exton. As full of Valor, as of Royall blood,
2786Both haue I spilt: Oh would the deed were good.
2787For now the diuell, that told me I did well,
2788Sayes, that this deede is chronicled in hell.
2789This dead King to the liuing King Ile beare,