Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Catherine Lisak
Peer Reviewed

Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)

King Richard the second.
His prayers are full of false hypocrisie,
Ours of true zeale and deepe integritie,
2610Our prayers do outpray his, then let them haue
That mercy which true prayer ought to haue.
yorke Good aunt stand vp.
Du. Nay, do not say, stand vp;
Say Pardon first, and afterwards, stand vp,
2615And if I were thy nurse thy tong to teach,
Pardon should be the first word of thy speach:
I neuer longd to heare a word till now,
Say pardon King, let pitie teach thee how,
The word is short, but not so short as sweete,
2620No word like pardon for Kings mouthes so meete.
yorke Speake it in French, King say, Pardonne moy.
Du. Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy?
Ah my sower husband, my hard-hearted Lord!
That sets the word it selfe against the word:
2625Speake pardon as tis currant in our land,
The chopping French we do not vnderstand,
Thine eie begins to speake, set thy tongue there:
Or in thy piteous heart plant thou thine eare,
That hearing how our plaints and prayers do pierce,
2630Pitie may mooue thee pardon to rehearse.
King H. Good aunt stand vp.
Du. I do not sue to stand.
Pardon is all the sute I haue in hand.
King I pardon him as God shall pardon me.
2635Du. Oh happy vantage of a kneeling knee,
Yet am I sicke for feare, speake it againe,
Twice saying pardon doth not pardon twaine,
But makes one pardon strong.
King H. I pardon him with al my heart.
2640Du. A god on earth thou art.
King H. But for our trusty brother in law and the Abbot,
With all the rest of that consorted crew,
Destruction strait shal dog them at the heeles,
Good vncle, help to order seuerall powers,
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