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ACT V.
Scene I. London. A street leading to the Tower.
Enter Queen and Ladies.[1705]
Enter Richard and Guard.[1706]
But soft, but see, or rather do not see,
My fair rose wither: yet look up, behold,
That you in pity may dissolve to dew,
And wash him fresh again with true-love tears.10
Ah, thou, the model where old Troy did stand,[1707]
Thou map of honour, thou King Richard's tomb,
And not King Richard; thou most beauteous inn,
Why should hard-favour'd grief be lodged in thee,
When triumph is become an alehouse guest?15
My fair rose wither: yet look up, behold,
That you in pity may dissolve to dew,
And wash him fresh again with true-love tears.10
Ah, thou, the model where old Troy did stand,[1707]
Thou map of honour, thou King Richard's tomb,
And not King Richard; thou most beauteous inn,
Why should hard-favour'd grief be lodged in thee,
When triumph is become an alehouse guest?15
K. Rich. Join not with grief, fair woman, do not so,
To make my end too sudden: learn, good soul,
To think our former state a happy dream;
From which awaked, the truth of what we are
Shows us but this: I am sworn brother, sweet,[1708]20
To grim Necessity, and he and I
Will keep a league till death. Hie thee to France[1709]
And cloister thee in some religious house:
Our holy lives must win a new world's crown,
Which our profane hours here have stricken down.[1710]25
To make my end too sudden: learn, good soul,
To think our former state a happy dream;
From which awaked, the truth of what we are
Shows us but this: I am sworn brother, sweet,[1708]20
To grim Necessity, and he and I
Will keep a league till death. Hie thee to France[1709]
And cloister thee in some religious house:
Our holy lives must win a new world's crown,
Which our profane hours here have stricken down.[1710]25
Queen. What, is my Richard both in shape and mind[1711]
Transform'd and weaken'd? hath Bolingbroke deposed[1712]
Thine intellect? hath he been in thy heart?
The lion dying thrusteth forth his paw,
And wounds the earth, if nothing else, with rage30
To be o'erpower'd; and wilt thou, pupil-like,
Take thy correction mildly, kiss the rod,[1713]
And fawn on rage with base humility,
Which art a lion and a king of beasts?[1714]
Transform'd and weaken'd? hath Bolingbroke deposed[1712]
Thine intellect? hath he been in thy heart?
The lion dying thrusteth forth his paw,
And wounds the earth, if nothing else, with rage30
To be o'erpower'd; and wilt thou, pupil-like,
Take thy correction mildly, kiss the rod,[1713]
And fawn on rage with base humility,
Which art a lion and a king of beasts?[1714]
K. Rich. A king of beasts, indeed; if aught but beasts.[1715]35
I had been still a happy king of men.
Good sometime queen, prepare thee hence for France:[1716]
Think I am dead, and that even here thou takest,
As from my death-bed, thy last living leave.[1717]
In winter's tedious nights sit by the fire40
With good old folks and let them tell thee tales[1718]
Of woeful ages long ago betid;[1719]
And ere thou bid good night, to quit their griefs,[1720]
Tell thou the lamentable tale of me[1721]
And send the hearers weeping to their beds:45
For why, the senseless brands will sympathize[1722][1723]
The heavy accent of thy moving tongue[1722][1724]
And in compassion weep the fire out;[1722]
And some will mourn in ashes, some coal-black,[1722]
For the deposing of a rightful king.[1722]50
I had been still a happy king of men.
Good sometime queen, prepare thee hence for France:[1716]
Think I am dead, and that even here thou takest,
As from my death-bed, thy last living leave.[1717]
In winter's tedious nights sit by the fire40
With good old folks and let them tell thee tales[1718]
Of woeful ages long ago betid;[1719]
And ere thou bid good night, to quit their griefs,[1720]
Tell thou the lamentable tale of me[1721]
And send the hearers weeping to their beds:45
For why, the senseless brands will sympathize[1722][1723]
The heavy accent of thy moving tongue[1722][1724]
And in compassion weep the fire out;[1722]
And some will mourn in ashes, some coal-black,[1722]
For the deposing of a rightful king.[1722]50
Enter Northumberland and others.[1725]
North. My lord, the mind of Bolingbroke is changed;[1726]
You must to Pomfret, not unto the Tower.
And, madam, there is order ta'en for you;
With all swift speed you must away to France.
You must to Pomfret, not unto the Tower.
And, madam, there is order ta'en for you;
With all swift speed you must away to France.
K. Rich. Northumberland, thou ladder wherewithal55
The mounting Bolingbroke ascends my throne,
The time shall not be many hours of age
More than it is, ere foul sin gathering head
Shall break into corruption: thou shalt think,[1727]
Though he divide the realm, and give thee half,60
It is too little, helping him to all;
And he shall think that thou, which know'st the way[1728]
To plant unrightful kings, wilt know again,[1729]
Being ne'er so little urged, another way[1730]
To pluck him headlong from the usurped throne.65
The love of wicked men converts to fear;[1731]
That fear to hate, and hate turns one or both
To worthy danger and deserved death.
The mounting Bolingbroke ascends my throne,
The time shall not be many hours of age
More than it is, ere foul sin gathering head
Shall break into corruption: thou shalt think,[1727]
Though he divide the realm, and give thee half,60
It is too little, helping him to all;
And he shall think that thou, which know'st the way[1728]
To plant unrightful kings, wilt know again,[1729]
Being ne'er so little urged, another way[1730]
To pluck him headlong from the usurped throne.65
The love of wicked men converts to fear;[1731]
That fear to hate, and hate turns one or both
To worthy danger and deserved death.
North. My guilt be on my head, and there an end.[1732]
Take leave and part; for you must part forthwith.70
Take leave and part; for you must part forthwith.70
K. Rich. Doubly divorced! Bad men, you violate[1733]
A twofold marriage; 'twixt my crown and me,[1734]
And then betwixt me and my married wife.
Let me unkiss the oath 'twixt thee and me;[1735]
And yet not so, for with a kiss 'twas made.75
Part us, Northumberland; I towards the north,
Where shivering cold and sickness pines the clime;
My wife to France: from whence, set forth in pomp,[1736]
She came adorned hither like sweet May,
Sent back like Hallowmas or short'st of day.[1737]80
A twofold marriage; 'twixt my crown and me,[1734]
And then betwixt me and my married wife.
Let me unkiss the oath 'twixt thee and me;[1735]
And yet not so, for with a kiss 'twas made.75
Part us, Northumberland; I towards the north,
Where shivering cold and sickness pines the clime;
My wife to France: from whence, set forth in pomp,[1736]
She came adorned hither like sweet May,
Sent back like Hallowmas or short'st of day.[1737]80
Queen. And must we be divided? must we part?
K. Rich. Ay, hand from hand, my love, and heart from heart.[1738]
Queen. Banish us both and send the king with me.
North. That were some love but little policy.[1739]
Queen. Then whither he goes, thither let me go.[1740]85
K. Rich. So two, together weeping, make one woe.[1740]
Weep thou for me in France, I for thee here;[1740][1741]
Better far off than near, be ne'er the near.[1740][1742]
Go, count thy way with sighs; I mine with groans.[1740]
Weep thou for me in France, I for thee here;[1740][1741]
Better far off than near, be ne'er the near.[1740][1742]
Go, count thy way with sighs; I mine with groans.[1740]
Queen. So longest way shall have the longest moans.[1740]90
K. Rich. Twice for one step I'll groan, the way being short,[1740]
And piece the way out with a heavy heart.[1740]
Come, come, in wooing sorrow let's be brief,[1740]
Since, wedding it, there is such length in grief:[1740]
One kiss shall stop our mouths, and dumbly part;[1740][1743]95
Thus give I mine, and thus take I thy heart.[1744]
And piece the way out with a heavy heart.[1740]
Come, come, in wooing sorrow let's be brief,[1740]
Since, wedding it, there is such length in grief:[1740]
One kiss shall stop our mouths, and dumbly part;[1740][1743]95
Thus give I mine, and thus take I thy heart.[1744]
Queen. Give me mine own again; 'twere no good part[1745]
To take on me to keep and kill thy heart.[1746]
So, now I have mine own again, be gone,
That I may strive to kill it with a groan.100
To take on me to keep and kill thy heart.[1746]
So, now I have mine own again, be gone,
That I may strive to kill it with a groan.100
K. Rich. We make woe wanton with this fond delay:
Once more, adieu; the rest let sorrow say. [Exeunt.
Once more, adieu; the rest let sorrow say. [Exeunt.
Scene II. The Duke of York's palace.
Enter York and his Duchess.[1747]
Duch. My lord, you told me you would tell the rest,
When weeping made you break the story off[1748]
Of our two cousins coming into London.
When weeping made you break the story off[1748]
Of our two cousins coming into London.
York. Where did I leave?
Duch. At that sad stop, my lord,
Where rude misgovern'd hands from windows' tops[1749]5
Threw dust and rubbish on King Richard's head.
Where rude misgovern'd hands from windows' tops[1749]5
Threw dust and rubbish on King Richard's head.
York. Then, as I said, the duke, great Bolingbroke,
Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed
Which his aspiring rider scem'd to know,
With slow but stately pace kept on his course,10
Whilst all tongues cried 'God save thee, Bolingbroke!'[1750]
You would have thought the very windows spake,
So many greedy looks of young and old
Through casements darted their desiring eyes
Upon his visage, and that all the walls15
With painted imagery had said at once
'Jesu preserve thee! welcome, Bolingbroke!'[1751]
Whilst he, from the one side to the other turning,[1752]
Bareheaded, lower than his proud steed's neck,
Bespake them thus; 'I thank you, countrymen:'[1753]20
And thus still doing, thus he pass'd along.
Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed
Which his aspiring rider scem'd to know,
With slow but stately pace kept on his course,10
Whilst all tongues cried 'God save thee, Bolingbroke!'[1750]
You would have thought the very windows spake,
So many greedy looks of young and old
Through casements darted their desiring eyes
Upon his visage, and that all the walls15
With painted imagery had said at once
'Jesu preserve thee! welcome, Bolingbroke!'[1751]
Whilst he, from the one side to the other turning,[1752]
Bareheaded, lower than his proud steed's neck,
Bespake them thus; 'I thank you, countrymen:'[1753]20
And thus still doing, thus he pass'd along.
Duch. Alack, poor Richard! where rode he the whilst?[1754]
York. As in a theatre, the eyes of men,
After a well-graced actor leaves the stage,
Are idly bent on him that enters next,25
Thinking his prattle to be tedious;
Even so, or with much more contempt, men's eyes
Did scowl on gentle Richard; no man cried 'God save him!'[1755]
No joyful tongue gave him his welcome home:
But dust was thrown upon his sacred head;30
Which with such gentle sorrow he shook off,
His face still combating with tears and smiles,
The badges of his grief and patience,
That had not God, for some strong purpose, steel'd
The hearts of men, they must perforce have melted35
And barbarism itself have pitied him.
But heaven hath a hand in these events,
To whose high will we bound our calm contents.[1756]
To Bolingbroke are we sworn subjects now,[1757]
Whose state and honour I for aye allow.[1758]40
After a well-graced actor leaves the stage,
Are idly bent on him that enters next,25
Thinking his prattle to be tedious;
Even so, or with much more contempt, men's eyes
Did scowl on gentle Richard; no man cried 'God save him!'[1755]
No joyful tongue gave him his welcome home:
But dust was thrown upon his sacred head;30
Which with such gentle sorrow he shook off,
His face still combating with tears and smiles,
The badges of his grief and patience,
That had not God, for some strong purpose, steel'd
The hearts of men, they must perforce have melted35
And barbarism itself have pitied him.
But heaven hath a hand in these events,
To whose high will we bound our calm contents.[1756]
To Bolingbroke are we sworn subjects now,[1757]
Whose state and honour I for aye allow.[1758]40
Duch. Here comes my son Aumerle.[1759]
York. Aumerle that was;
But that is lost for being Richard's friend,
And, madam, you must call him Rutland now:
I am in parliament pledge for his truth
And lasting fealty to the new made king.45
But that is lost for being Richard's friend,
And, madam, you must call him Rutland now:
I am in parliament pledge for his truth
And lasting fealty to the new made king.45
Enter Aumerle.[1760]
Duch. Welcome, my son: who are the violets now[1761]
That strew the green lap of the new come spring?[1762]
That strew the green lap of the new come spring?[1762]
Aum. Madam, I know not, nor I greatly care not:[1763]
God knows I had as lief be none as one.
God knows I had as lief be none as one.
York. Well, bear you well in this new spring of time,50
Lest you be cropp'd before you come to prime.
What news from Oxford? hold those justs and triumphs?[1764]
Lest you be cropp'd before you come to prime.
What news from Oxford? hold those justs and triumphs?[1764]
Aum. For aught I know, my lord, they do.[1765]
York. You will be there, I know.[1766]
Aum. If God prevent not, I purpose so.[1767]55
York. What seal is that, that hangs without thy bosom?
Yea, look'st thou pale? let me see the writing.[1768]
Yea, look'st thou pale? let me see the writing.[1768]
Aum. My lord, 'tis nothing.
York. No matter, then, who see it:[1769]
I will be satisfied; let me see the writing.
I will be satisfied; let me see the writing.
Aum. I do beseech your grace to pardon me:60
It is a matter of small consequence,
Which for some reasons I would not have seen.
It is a matter of small consequence,
Which for some reasons I would not have seen.
York. Which for some reasons, sir, I mean to see.
I fear, I fear,—
I fear, I fear,—
Duch. What should you fear?[1770]
'Tis nothing but some band, that he is enter'd into[1771]65
For gay apparel 'gainst the triumph day.[1772]
'Tis nothing but some band, that he is enter'd into[1771]65
For gay apparel 'gainst the triumph day.[1772]
York. Bound to himself! what doth he with a bond
That he is bound to? Wife, thou art a fool.[1773]
Boy, let me see the writing.
That he is bound to? Wife, thou art a fool.[1773]
Boy, let me see the writing.
Aum. I do beseech you, pardon me; I may not show it.[1774]70
York. I will be satisfied; let me see it, I say.[1775]
[He plucks it out of his bosom and reads it.
Treason! foul treason! Villain! traitor! slave!
Duch. What is the matter, my lord?[1776]
York. Ho! who is within there?
Enter a Servant.
Duch. Why, what is it, my lord?[1779]
York. Give me my boots, I say; saddle my horse.
[Exit Servant.[1780]
Now, by mine honour, by my life, by my troth,[1781]
I will appeach the villain.
I will appeach the villain.
Duch. What is the matter?[1782]
York. Peace, foolish woman.[1783]80
Duch. I will not peace. What is the matter, Aumerle?[1784]
Aum. Good mother, be content; it is no more
Than my poor life must answer.
Than my poor life must answer.
Duch. Thy life answer!
York. Bring me my boots: I will unto the king.
Re-enter Servant with boots.[1785]
Duch. Strike him, Aumerle. Poor boy, thou art amazed.85
Hence, villain! never more come in my sight.[1786]
Hence, villain! never more come in my sight.[1786]
York. Give me my boots, I say.[1787]
Duch. Why, York, what wilt thou do?
Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own?[1788]
Have we more sons? or are we like to have?90
Is not my teeming date drunk up with time?
And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age,
And rob me of a happy mother's name?
Is he not like thee? is he not thine own?
Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own?[1788]
Have we more sons? or are we like to have?90
Is not my teeming date drunk up with time?
And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age,
And rob me of a happy mother's name?
Is he not like thee? is he not thine own?
York. Thou fond mad woman,[1789]95
Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy?
A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament,
And interchangeably set down their hands,[1790]
To kill the king at Oxford.
Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy?
A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament,
And interchangeably set down their hands,[1790]
To kill the king at Oxford.
Duch. Hadst thou groan'd for him[1794]
As I have done, thou wouldst be more pitiful.[1794][1795]
But now I know thy mind; thou dost suspect
That I have been disloyal to thy bed,105
And that he is a bastard, not thy son:
Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind:
He is as like thee as a man may be,
Not like to me, or any of my kin,[1796]
And yet I love him.
As I have done, thou wouldst be more pitiful.[1794][1795]
But now I know thy mind; thou dost suspect
That I have been disloyal to thy bed,105
And that he is a bastard, not thy son:
Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind:
He is as like thee as a man may be,
Not like to me, or any of my kin,[1796]
And yet I love him.
York. Make way, unruly woman! [Exit.110
Duch. After, Aumerle! mount thee upon his horse;
Spur post, and get before him to the king,[1797]
And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee.
I'll not be long behind; though I be old,
I doubt not but to ride as fast as York:115
And never will I rise up from the ground
Till Bolingbroke have pardon'd thee. Away, be gone![1798]
Spur post, and get before him to the king,[1797]
And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee.
I'll not be long behind; though I be old,
I doubt not but to ride as fast as York:115
And never will I rise up from the ground
Till Bolingbroke have pardon'd thee. Away, be gone![1798]
[Exeunt.
Scene III. A royal Palace.
Enter Bolingbroke, Percy, and other Lords.[1799]
Boling. Can no man tell me of my unthrifty son?[1800]
'Tis full three months since I did see him last:
If any plague hang over us, 'tis he.
I would to God, my lords, he might be found:[1801]
Inquire at London, 'mongst the taverns there,5
For there, they say, he daily doth frequent,
With unrestrained loose companions,
Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes,
And beat our watch, and rob our passengers;[1802]
Which he, young wanton and effeminate boy,[1803]10
Takes on the point of honour to support[1804]
So dissolute a crew.[1804][1805]
'Tis full three months since I did see him last:
If any plague hang over us, 'tis he.
I would to God, my lords, he might be found:[1801]
Inquire at London, 'mongst the taverns there,5
For there, they say, he daily doth frequent,
With unrestrained loose companions,
Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes,
And beat our watch, and rob our passengers;[1802]
Which he, young wanton and effeminate boy,[1803]10
Takes on the point of honour to support[1804]
So dissolute a crew.[1804][1805]
Percy. My lord, some two days since I saw the prince,
And told him of those triumphs held at Oxford.[1806]
And told him of those triumphs held at Oxford.[1806]
Boling. And what said the gallant?15
Enter Aumerle.[1811]
Aum. Where is the king?
Aum. God save your grace! I do beseech your majesty,
To have some conference with your grace alone.
To have some conference with your grace alone.
Boling. Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone.
[Exeunt Percy and Lords.[1814]
What is the matter with our cousin now?
Aum. For ever may my knees grow to the earth,[1815]30
My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth,
Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak.
My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth,
Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak.
Boling. Intended or committed was this fault?
If on the first, how heinous e'er it be,[1816]
To win thy after-love I pardon thee.35
If on the first, how heinous e'er it be,[1816]
To win thy after-love I pardon thee.35
Aum. Then give me leave that I may turn the key,[1817]
That no man enter till my tale be done.[1818]
That no man enter till my tale be done.[1818]
Boling. Have thy desire.[1819]
York. [Within] My liege, beware; look to thyself;[1820]
Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there.[1821]40
Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there.[1821]40
Boling. Villain, I'll make thee safe.[1822] [Drawing.
York. [Within] Open the door, secure, foolhardy king:[1824]
Shall I for love speak treason to thy face?
Open the door, or I will break it open.45
Shall I for love speak treason to thy face?
Open the door, or I will break it open.45
Enter York.