Richard II

Read Richard II for Free Online

Book: Read Richard II for Free Online
Authors: William Shakespeare
pagans, Turks and Saracens,
    And toiled 90 with works of war, retired himself
    To Italy, and there at Venice gave
    His body to that pleasant country’s earth,
    And his pure soul unto his captain Christ,
    Under whose colours 94 he had fought so long.
    BULLINGBROOK     Why, bishop, is Norfolk dead?
    CARLISLE     As sure as I live, my lord.
    BULLINGBROOK     Sweet peace conduct his sweet soul to the bosom
    Of good old Abraham 97 ! Lords appellants 98 ,
    Your differences shall all rest under gage
    Till we assign you to your days of trial.
    Enter York
    YORK     Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to thee
    From plume-plucked 102 Richard, who with willing soul
    Adopts thee heir, and his high sceptre yields
    To the possession of thy royal hand.
    Ascend his throne, descending 105 now from him,
    And long live Henry, of that name the fourth!
    BULLINGBROOK     In God’s name, I’ll ascend the regal throne.
    CARLISLE      Marry 108 , heaven forbid!
     Worst 109 in this royal presence may I speak,
    Yet best beseeming 110 me to speak the truth.
    Would God that any in this noble presence
    Were enough noble to be upright judge
    Of noble Richard! Then true noblesse 113 would
     Learn 114 him forbearance from so foul a wrong.
    What subject can give sentence on his king?
    And who sits here that is not Richard’s subject?
    Thieves are not judged but they are by 117 to hear,
    Although apparent 118 guilt be seen in them.
    And shall the figure 119 of God’s majesty,
    His captain, steward, deputy-elect,
    Anointed, crownèd, planted many years,
    Be judged by subject 122 and inferior breath,
    And he himself not present? O, forbid it, God,
    That in a Christian climate souls refined
    Should show so heinous 125 , black, obscene a deed.
    I speak to subjects, and a subject speaks,
    Stirred up by heaven, thus boldly for his king.
    My lord of Hereford here, whom you call king,
    Is a foul traitor to proud Hereford’s king.
    And if you crown him, let me prophesy
    The blood of English shall manure 131 the ground,
    And future ages groan for his foul act.
    Peace shall go sleep with Turks and infidels,
    And in this seat of peace tumultuous wars
    Shall kin with kin and kind 135 with kind confound.
    Disorder, horror, fear and mutiny
    Shall here inhabit, and this land be called
    The field 138 of Golgotha and dead men’s skulls.
    O, if you rear this house 139 against this house,
    It will the woefullest division prove
    That ever fell upon this cursèd earth.
    Prevent it, resist it, and let it not be so,
    Lest child, child’s children, cry against you ‘Woe!’
    NORTHUMBERLAND     Well have you argued, sir. And for your pains,
    Of capital treason we arrest you here.
    My lord of Westminster, be it your charge
    To keep him safely till his day of trial.
    May it please you, lords, to grant the commons’ suit 148 ?
    BULLINGBROOK     Fetch hither Richard, that in common view
    He may surrender 150 , so we shall proceed
    Without suspicion.
    YORK     I will be his conduct 152 .
    Exit
    BULLINGBROOK     Lords, you that here are under our arrest,
    Procure your sureties 154 for your days of answer.
    Little are we beholding 155 to your love,
    And little looked for 156 at your helping hands.
    Enter Richard and York
[
with Officers bearing the regalia
]
    KING RICHARD     Alack, why am I sent for to a king,
    Before I have shook off the regal thoughts
    Wherewith I reigned? I hardly yet have learned
    To insinuate 160 , flatter, bow, and bend my knee.
    Give sorrow leave awhile to tutor me
    To this submission. Yet I

Similar Books

Brax

Jayne Blue

The Bridge That Broke

Maurice Leblanc

Inside Out

Lauren Dane

Crossing the Line

J. R. Roberts

A Fine Dark Line

Joe R. Lansdale

White Narcissus

Raymond Knister

The Englisher

Beverly Lewis