Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Catherine Lisak
Peer Reviewed

Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)

The Tragedie of
Though you are old enough to be my heire,
What you will haue, Ile giue, and willing to,
1800For doe we must, what force will haue vs doe:
Set on towards London, Cosen is it so?
Bul. Yea my good Lord:
King. Then I must not say no.

Enter the Queene with her attendants
Quee. What sport shall we deuise here in this garden,
To driue away the heauy thought of care?
1810Lady Madame weele play at bowles.
Quee. Twil make me thinke the world is full of rubs,
And that my fortune runs against the bias.
Lady Madame weele daunce.
Quee. My legs can keepe no measure in delight,
1815When my poore hart no measure keepes in griefe:
Therfore no dauncing girle, some other sport.
Lady Madame weele tell tales.
Quee. Of sorrow or of griefe.
Lady Of either Madame.
1820Quee. Of neither girle:
For if of ioy, being altogither wanting,
It doth remember me the more of sorrow:
Or if of griefe, being altogither had,
It adds more sorrow to my want of ioy:
1825For what I haue I need not to repeate,
And what I want it bootes not to complaine.
Lady Madame Ile sing.
Quee. Tis well that thou hast cause,
But thou shouldst please me better, wouldst thou weepe.
1830Lady I could weepe; Madame would it doe you good?
Quee. And I could sing would weeping doe me good,
And neuer borrow any teare of thee.
Enter Gardeners.
But stay, here come the gardeners,
1835Lets step into the shadow of these trees,
My wretchednes vnto a row of pines,
They