Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Catherine Lisak
Peer Reviewed

Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)

King Richard the second.
To more approued seruice and desert.
Bull. I thanke thee gentle Persy, and be sure,
1155I count my selfe in nothing else so happy,
As in a soule remembring my good friends,
And as my fortune ripens with thy loue,
It shalbe still thy true loues recompence,
My heart this couenant makes, my hand thus seales it.
1160North. How farre is it to Barckly, and what slur
Keepes good old Yorke there with his men of war?
H.Per. There stands the Castle by yon tuft of trees,
Mand with 300. men as I haue heard,
And in it are the Lords of Yorke Barkly and Seymer,
1165None else of name and noble estimate.
North. Here come the Lords of Rosse and Willoughby,
Bloudy with spurring, fiery red with haste.
Bull. Welcome my Lords, I wot your loue pursues,
1170A banisht traitor: all my treasury
Is yet but vnfelt thanks, which more inricht,
Shalbe your loue and labours recompence.
Rosse Your presence makes vs rich, most noble Lord.
Wil. And far surmounts our labour to attaine it.
1175Bul. Euermore thanke's the exchequer of the poore,
Which till my infant fortune comes to yeares,
Stands for my bounty: but who comes here?
North. It is my Lord of Barkly as I guesse.
1180Barkly My Lord of Hereford my message is to you.
Bul. My Lord my answere is to Lancaster,
And I am come to seeke that name in England,
And I must find that title in your tongue,
Before I make reply to ought you say.
1185Bar. Mistake me not my Lord, tis not my meaning,
To race one title of your honor out:
To you my Lo: I come, what Lo: you will,
From the most gratious regent of this land
The Duke of Yorke: to know what prickes you on,
1190To take aduantage of the absent time,
And fright our natiue peace with selfe borne armes?
Bul. I
E 2