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  • Title: Richard II (Quarto 1, 1597)
  • 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 (Quarto 1, 1597)

    King Richard the second.
    Since thou created to be awed by man,
    2760Wast borne to beare; I was not made a horse,
    And yet I beare a burthen like an asse,
    Spurrde, galld, and tirde by iauncing Bullingbrooke.

    Enter one to Richard with meate.
    Keeper Fellow, giue place, heere is no longer stay.
    2765Rich. If thou loue me, tis time thou wert away.
    Groome What my tong dares not, that my heart shal say.
    Exit Groome.
    Keeper My Lord, wilt please you to fall to?
    Rich. Taste of it first as thou art wont to do.
    2770Keeper My Lord I dare not, sir Pierce of Exton,
    Who lately came from the King commaunds the contrary.
    Rich. The diuell take Henry of Lancaster, and thee,
    Patience is stale, and I am wearie of it.
    Keeper Help, help, help.
    2775The murderers rush in.
    Rich. How now, what meanes Death in this rude assault?
    Villaine, thy owne hand yeelds thy deaths instrument,
    Go thou and fill another roome in hell.
    Here Exton strikes him downe.
    2780Rich. That hand shall burne in neuer quenching fire,
    That staggers thus my person: Exton, thy fierce hand
    Hath with the kings bloud staind the kings owne land.
    Mount mount my soule, thy seate is vp on high,
    Whilst my grosse flesh sinckes downeward here to die,
    2785Exton As full of valure as of royall bloud:
    Both haue I spilld, Oh would the deede were good!
    For now the diuell that told me I did well,
    Saies that this deede is chronicled in hell:
    This dead king to the liuing king Ile beare.
    2790Take hence the rest, and giue them buriall here.

    Enter Bullingbrooke with the duke of Yorke.
    King Kind vncle Yorke, the latest newes we heare,
    2795Is, that the rebels haue consumed with fire
    Our
    K