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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)

    1310Enter Duke of Hereford, Yorke, Northumberland,
    Bushie and Greene prisoners.
    Bull. Bring forth these men.
    Bushie and Greene, I will not vex your soules,
    1315Since presently your soules must part your bodies
    With too much vrging your pernitious liues,
    For twere no charitie; yet to wash your bloud
    From off my hands, heere in the view of men
    I will vnfold some causes of your deaths:
    1320You haue misled a Prince, a royall King,
    A happy Gentleman in bloud and lineaments,
    By you vnhappied, and disfigured cleane,
    You haue in manner with your sinfull houres
    Made a diuorce betwixt his Queene and him,
    1325Broke the possession of a royall bed,
    And stainde the beutie of a faire Queenes cheekes
    With teares, drawen from her eies by your fowle wrongs,
    My selfe a Prince, by fortune of my birth,
    Neere to the King in bloud, and neere in loue,
    1330Till you did make him misinterpret me,
    Haue stoopt my necke vnder your iniuries,
    And sigh't my English breath in forren cloudes,
    Eating the bitter bread of banishment,
    Whilst you haue fed vpon my segniories,
    1335Disparkt my parkes, and felld my forrest woods,
    From my owne windowes torne my houshold coate,
    Rac't out my impreese, leauing me no signe,
    Saue mens opinions, and my liuing bloud,
    To shew the world I am a gentleman.
    1340This and much more, much more then twice all this
    Condemns you to the death: see them deliuered ouer
    To execution and the hand of death.
    Bush. More welcome is the stroke of death to me,
    Than Bullingbrooke to England, Lords farewell.
    1345Greene My comfort is, that heauen will take our soules,
    And plague iniustice with the paines of hell.
    Bul. My Lord Northumberland, see them dispatcht:
    Vncle, you say the Queene is at your house,
    For Gods sake fairely let her be intreated,
    1350Tel her I send to her my kinde commends;
    Take special care my greetings be deliuered.
    Yorke A gentleman of mine I haue dispatcht,
    With letters of your loue to her at large.
    Bul. Thankes (gentle vncle:) Come Lords, away,
    1355To fight with Glendor and his complices,
    A while to worke, and after holiday. Exeunt.