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Act 3, Scene 4
Richard II Translation Act 4, Scene 1
Enter, as to the Parliament, HENRY BOLINGBROKE, DUKE OF AUMERLE, NORTHUMBERLAND, HENRY PERCY, LORD FITZWATER, DUKE OF SURREY, the BISHOP OF CARLISLE, the Abbot Of Westminster, and another Lord, Herald, Officers, and BAGOT
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Call forth Bagot. Now, Bagot, freely speak thy mind; What thou dost know of noble Gloucester's death, Who wrought it with the king, and who perform'd The bloody office of his timeless end.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Tell Bagot to come in. [Bagot enters.] Now, Bagot tell me honestly: what do you know about noble Gloucester’s death—who conspired with the king? Who committed the murder?
BAGOT
Then set before my face the Lord Aumerle.
BAGOT
Then tell the Lord Aumerle to look me in the face.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Cousin, stand forth, and look upon that man.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Cousin, come forward and look at this man.
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BAGOT
My Lord Aumerle, I know your daring tongue Scorns to unsay what once it hath deliver'd. In that dead time when Gloucester's death was plotted, I heard you say, 'Is not my arm of length, That reacheth from the restful English court As far as Calais, to mine uncle's head?' Amongst much other talk, that very time, I heard you say that you had rather refuse The offer of an hundred thousand crowns Than Bolingbroke's return to England; Adding withal how blest this land would be In this your cousin's death.
BAGOT
My Lord Aumerle, I know you’ll be ashamed to take back what you said before. When we were plotting the Duke of Gloucester’s death, I heard you say: “Isn’t my arm long enough to reach my uncle’s head in Calais?” And among other things, that time, I heard you say that you would rather refuse a hundred thousand pounds than see Bolingbroke ever come back to England, adding what a blessing you thought it would be if your cousin died.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
Princes and noble lords, What answer shall I make to this base man? Shall I so much dishonour my fair stars, On equal terms to give him chastisement? Either I must, or have mine honour soil'd With the attainder of his slanderous lips. There is my gage, the manual seal of death, That marks thee out for hell: I say, thou liest, And will maintain what thou hast said is false In thy heart-blood, though being all too base To stain the temper of my knightly sword.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
Princes and noble lords, how can I respond to this villain? Will I dishonor myself by getting angry at him, descending to his level? But I must do that, or have my honor soiled by his lies. [Throws down his gage] This is my gage, which will seal your death sentence and send you to hell: I call you a liar, and will prove it by defeating you in battle, although your blood isn’t noble enough to stain my sword.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Bagot, forbear; thou shalt not take it up.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Bagot, wait; don’t pick it up.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
Excepting one, I would he were the bestIn all this presence that hath moved me so.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
I wish Bagot had a higher rank—except yours, of course—so that he'd be worth fighting.
LORD FITZWATER
If that thy valour stand on sympathy, There is my gage, Aumerle, in gage to thine: By that fair sun which shows me where thou stand'st, I heard thee say, and vauntingly thou spakest it That thou wert cause of noble Gloucester's death. If thou deny'st it twenty times, thou liest; And I will turn thy falsehood to thy heart, Where it was forged, with my rapier's point.
LORD FITZWATER
If you’re braver with a man of your own rank, here’s my gage, Aumerle: by the sun that shines on us, I hear you say—and you said it boastingly—that you were responsible for noble Gloucester's death. Even if you deny it twenty times, you’re still a liar; and I’ll stab you in your lying heart.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
Thou darest not, coward, live to see that day.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
You wouldn’t dare, coward.
LORD FITZWATER
Now by my soul, I would it were this hour.
LORD FITZWATER
I wish we could fight this very hour.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
Fitzwater, thou art damn'd to hell for this.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
Fitzwater, you are damned to hell for this.
HENRY PERCY
Aumerle, thou liest; his honour is as true In this appeal as thou art all unjust; And that thou art so, there I throw my gage, To prove it on thee to the extremest point Of mortal breathing: seize it, if thou darest.
HENRY PERCY
Aumerle, you lie; he is as honest and honorable as you are unjust. And to prove it, here I throw my gage [throws down gage] to prove it in battle: pick it up, if you dare.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
An if I do not, may my hands rot offAnd never brandish more revengeful steelOver the glittering helmet of my foe!
DUKE OF AUMERLE
And if I don’t, may my hands rot off and never wield a sword again!
LORD
I task the earth to the like, forsworn Aumerle; And spur thee on with full as many lies As may be holloa'd in thy treacherous ear From sun to sun: there is my honour's pawn; Engage it to the trial, if thou darest.
LORD
[Throws gage] I throw my gage down too, damn you, Aumerle, and will fight you from sun-up to sun-down: there is the sign of my honor, so accept the challenge, if you dare.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
Who sets me else? by heaven, I'll throw at all: I have a thousand spirits in one breast, To answer twenty thousand such as you.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
Who else comes after me? By God, I’ll beat you all; I have a thousand spirits in my heart and could answer twenty thousand challenges.
DUKE OF SURREY
My Lord Fitzwater, I do remember wellThe very time Aumerle and you did talk.
DUKE OF SURREY
My Lord Fitzwater, I remember the time you and Aumerle talked of these matters.
LORD FITZWATER
'Tis very true: you were in presence then;And you can witness with me this is true.
LORD FITZWATER
That’s true; you were there, and can testify that what I say is true.
DUKE OF SURREY
As false, by heaven, as heaven itself is true.
DUKE OF SURREY
It’s as false, by heaven, as heaven is true.
LORD FITZWATER
Surrey, thou liest.
LORD FITZWATER
Surrey, you lie.
DUKE OF SURREY
Dishonourable boy! That lie shall lie so heavy on my sword, That it shall render vengeance and revenge Till thou the lie-giver and that lie do lie In earth as quiet as thy father's skull: In proof whereof, there is my honour's pawn; Engage it to the trial, if thou darest.
DUKE OF SURREY
Dishonorable boy! Your lie weighs my sword to take vengeance, and so the liar and the lie will soon lie dead in the earth. To prove it, there’s the sign of my honor [throws down gage]: take the challenge, if you dare.
LORD FITZWATER
How fondly dost thou spur a forward horse! If I dare eat, or drink, or breathe, or live, I dare meet Surrey in a wilderness, And spit upon him, whilst I say he lies, And lies, and lies: there is my bond of faith, To tie thee to my strong correction. As I intend to thrive in this new world, Aumerle is guilty of my true appeal: Besides, I heard the banish'd Norfolk say That thou, Aumerle, didst send two of thy men To execute the noble duke at Calais.
LORD FITZWATER
You’re foolishly spurring on, I see! As long as I live, if I meet Surrey I’ll spit on him, while I say he lies, and lies, and lies: I promise to have my revenge. By my immortal soul, Aumerle is guilty of what I accuse him of; besides, I heard the banished Norfolk say that you, Aumerle, sent two of your servants to execute the noble duke at Calais.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
Some honest Christian trust me with a gage That Norfolk lies: here do I throw down this, If he may be repeal'd, to try his honour.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
Some honest Christian give me another gage, so that I can throw it down and show that Norfolk lies:[throws down gage] I throw this down, so that if he comes back I can challenge him in battle.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
These differences shall all rest under gage Till Norfolk be repeal'd: repeal'd he shall be, And, though mine enemy, restored again To all his lands and signories: when he's return'd, Against Aumerle we will enforce his trial.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
These challenges will stand until Norfolk comes back: although he’s my enemy, I’ll repeal his banishment and restore his lands and dukedom to him again. When he’s returned, he’ll fight with Aumerle.
BISHOP OF CARLISLE
That honourable day shall ne'er be seen. Many a time hath banish'd Norfolk fought For Jesu Christ in glorious Christian field, Streaming the ensign of the Christian cross Against black pagans, Turks, and Saracens: And toil'd 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 he had fought so long.
BISHOP OF CARLISLE
That honorable day will never be seen. Since his banishment, Norfolk has been fighting for Jesus Christ in the Holy Land; afterwards, he retired to Italy and died in Venice, surrendering his pure soul to his captain Christ, under whose flag he had fought for so long.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Why, bishop, is Norfolk dead?
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
What, bishop, is Norfolk dead?
BISHOP OF CARLISLE
As surely as I live, my lord.
BISHOP OF CARLISLE
He is as dead as I am alive, my lord.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Sweet peace conduct his sweet soul to the bosom Of good old Abraham! Lords appellants, Your differences shall all rest under gage Till we assign you to your days of trial.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
May his soul rest in peace with good old Abraham in heaven! Lords, your challenges will wait until we assign a day for the duel.
Enter DUKE OF YORK, attended
DUKE OF YORK
Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to thee From plume-pluck'd Richard; who with willing soul Adopts thee heir, and his high sceptre yields To the possession of thy royal hand: Ascend his throne, descending now from him; And long live Henry, fourth of that name!
DUKE OF YORK
Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to you from humbled Richard, who voluntarily names you his heir and turns over his kingdom to you. Ascend his throne, and long live Henry, fourth of that name!
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
In God's name, I'll ascend the regal throne.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
In God's name, I'll ascend the royal throne.
BISHOP OF CARLISLE
Marry. God forbid! Worst in this royal presence may I speak, Yet best beseeming 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 would Learn 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 to hear, Although apparent guilt be seen in them; And shall the figure of God's majesty, His captain, steward, deputy-elect, Anointed, crowned, planted many years, Be judged by subject and inferior breath, And he himself not present? O, forfend it, God, That in a Christian climate souls refined Should show so heinous, black, obscene a deed! I speak to subjects, and a subject speaks, Stirr'd up by God, 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 the ground, And future ages groan for this foul act; Peace shall go sleep with Turks and infidels, And in this seat of peace tumultuous wars Shall kin with kin and kind with kind confound; Disorder, horror, fear and mutiny Shall here inhabit, and this land be call'd The field of Golgotha and dead men's skulls. O, if you raise this house against this house, It will the woefullest division prove That ever fell upon this cursed earth. Prevent it, resist it, let it not be so, Lest child, child's children, cry against you woe!
BISHOP OF CARLISLE
Indeed. God forbid! I know my words may not be welcome, but I must speak the truth. Who among us is noble enough to judge our king? If there were such a person, he would know not to commit such a foul crime. What subject can pass sentence on his king? And who sits here that is not Richard’s subject? We don’t judge thieves without hearing what they have to say, even if they look guilty: so will the symbol of God's majesty, His captain, steward, and deputy-elect, who was anointed and crowned by Him and reigned over us many years—will he be judged by subjects, and without his even being present? Oh, God forbid that in a Christian climate refined souls should be guilty of such a terrible deed! I speak to subjects, and I speak as a subject, inspired by God to advocate for what’s right: my Lord of Hereford here, whom you call king, is a foul traitor to the true king. And if you crown him, let me warn you: the blood of the English will water the ground, and our future children will suffer: we’ll have nothing but war, never peace, as families turn against each other; horror and civil war will come to live in this land, which will be called the field of Golgotha and dead men's skulls. Oh, if you pit families against each other, it will be the saddest war that ever struck this earth. Prevent it, resist it, let this not happen—or your children and your children’s children will blame you for their suffering.
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.
NORTHUMBERLAND
You’ve argued well, sir—and in return, we arrest you here for capital treason. My Lord of Westminster, keep him under guard until his trial. My lords, may it please you to grant the request from the House of Commons.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Fetch hither Richard, that in common view He may surrender; so we shall proceed Without suspicion.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Bring Richard here, so that he may surrender the crown in front of everyone—thus, we can proceed without anyone suspecting us of double-dealing.
DUKE OF YORK
I will be his conduct.
DUKE OF YORK
I'll bring him.
Exit
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Lords, you that here are under our arrest, Procure your sureties for your days of answer. Little are we beholding to your love, And little look'd for at your helping hands.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Lords, you who are here under arrest, put up your bail for your trial days. I owe nothing to your love, and will hardly turn to you for help when I need it.
Re-enter DUKE OF YORK, with KING RICHARD II, and Officers bearing the regalia
KING RICHARD II
Alack, why am I sent for to a king, Before I have shook off the regal thoughts Wherewith I reign'd? I hardly yet have learn'd To insinuate, flatter, bow, and bend my limbs: Give sorrow leave awhile to tutor me To this submission. Yet I well remember The favours of these men: were they not mine? Did they not sometime cry, 'all hail!' to me? So Judas did to Christ: but he, in twelve, Found truth in all but one: I, in twelve thousand, none. God save the king! Will no man say amen? Am I both priest and clerk? well then, amen. God save the king! although I be not he; And yet, amen, if heaven do think him me. To do what service am I sent for hither?
KING RICHARD II
Oh, why does the new king bring me here before I have shook off my own regal thoughts? I haven’t yet learned to flatter, bow, and bend my limbs: give me some time to learn how to submit. And yet I remember the tokens of respect from these men: were they not my subjects? Did they not sometimes shout “all hail” to me? So Judas did to Christ: but he, in twelve disciples, found that they were all truthful except for one: I, in twelve thousand, don’t have one true friend. God save the king! Why doesn’t anyone say amen? Do I have to be the priest and the clerk? Well then, amen. God save the king! Although I’m not him: and yet amen, if heaven thinks it’s me. What can I do for you?
DUKE OF YORK
To do that office of thine own good willWhich tired majesty did make thee offer,The resignation of thy state and crownTo Henry Bolingbroke.
DUKE OF YORK
To give your kingdom to Henry Bolingbroke, as you promised, because you're tired and can't properly execute your duties.
KING RICHARD II
Give me the crown. Here, cousin, seize the crown; Here cousin: On this side my hand, and on that side yours. Now is this golden crown like a deep well That owes two buckets, filling one another, The emptier ever dancing in the air, The other down, unseen and full of water: That bucket down and full of tears am I, Drinking my griefs, whilst you mount up on high.
KING RICHARD II
Give me the crown. Here, cousin, take the crown; here, cousin. [Bolingbroke steps forward to take the crown, but Richard won't let go.] My hand is on one side, and yours is on the other: this golden crown is like a deep well with two buckets; when one goes up, the other goes down. I’m the bucket at the bottom, full of tears, while you go up even higher.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
I thought you had been willing to resign.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
I thought you were willing to resign.
KING RICHARD II
My crown I am; but still my griefs are mine: You may my glories and my state depose, But not my griefs; still am I king of those.
KING RICHARD II
I’m willing to resign my crown, but my sadness is still mine: you may take my crown and my kingdom from me, but not my sadness: I’m still king of that.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Part of your cares you give me with your crown.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
But you give me part of your cares with your crown.
KING RICHARD II
Your cares set up do not pluck my cares down. My care is loss of care, by old care done; Your care is gain of care, by new care won: The cares I give I have, though given away; They tend the crown, yet still with me they stay.
KING RICHARD II
Just because you have more cares doesn’t mean I have fewer. I’m sad because I’ve lost my cares; you’re sad because you’ve gained cares. I still have my cares, although I’ve given them away; they go along with the crown, but still they stay with me.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Are you contented to resign the crown?
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Will you freely give me the crown?
KING RICHARD II
Ay, no; no, ay; for I must nothing be; Therefore no no, for I resign to thee. Now mark me, how I will undo myself; I give this heavy weight from off my head And this unwieldy sceptre from my hand, The pride of kingly sway from out my heart; With mine own tears I wash away my balm, With mine own hands I give away my crown, With mine own tongue deny my sacred state, With mine own breath release all duty's rites: All pomp and majesty I do forswear; My manors, rents, revenues I forego; My acts, decrees, and statutes I deny: God pardon all oaths that are broke to me! God keep all vows unbroke that swear to thee! Make me, that nothing have, with nothing grieved, And thou with all pleased, that hast all achieved! Long mayst thou live in Richard's seat to sit, And soon lie Richard in an earthly pit! God save King Harry, unking'd Richard says, And send him many years of sunshine days! What more remains?
KING RICHARD II
Yes—no—no—yes: for I must be nothing, therefore no “no,” and I must surrender to you. Now watch how I will undo myself. I give this heavy weight from my head, this unwieldy scepter from my hand, and the pride of a king’s power from my heart; with my own tears I wash away my balm, with my own hands I give away my crown, with my own tongue say that I’m not king, with my own breath release everyone from allegiance to me. I give up all pomp and majesty and all the revenue from my lands; I take back all my acts, decrees, and statutes: God pardon all the oaths everyone breaks to me! God keep all the vows they swear to you! Make me, that has nothing, not be sad about anything; and you be happy all the time, since you have everything you wanted! Long may you live to sit in Richard’s seat; and may Richard soon lie in a pit in the ground! God save King Harry, unkinged Richard says, and send him many years of sunshine days! What else do I have to do?
NORTHUMBERLAND
No more, but that you read These accusations and these grievous crimes Committed by your person and your followers Against the state and profit of this land; That, by confessing them, the souls of men May deem that you are worthily deposed.
NORTHUMBERLAND
Nothing else, except read these accusations and admit that you and your followers committed crimes against the state: by confessing them, everyone here will see that you have been rightfully deposed.
KING RICHARD II
Must I do so? and must I ravel out My weaved-up folly? Gentle Northumberland, If thy offences were upon record, Would it not shame thee in so fair a troop To read a lecture of them? If thou wouldst, There shouldst thou find one heinous article, Containing the deposing of a king And cracking the strong warrant of an oath, Mark'd with a blot, damn'd in the book of heaven: Nay, all of you that stand and look upon, Whilst that my wretchedness doth bait myself, Though some of you with Pilate wash your hands Showing an outward pity; yet you Pilates Have here deliver'd me to my sour cross, And water cannot wash away your sin .
KING RICHARD II
Do I have to? Do I have to read out everything I’ve done wrong? Kind Northumberland, if your offences were on the record, wouldn’t you feel ashamed to read them all out? If you did, you’d find one crime there—the deposing of a king, marked with a blot, damned in the eyes of heaven. And all of you that stand here and watch me suffer are guilty too: though some of you wash your hands with Pilate and look sorry for me, you have delivered me to my cross, and water won’t wash away your sin.
NORTHUMBERLAND
My lord, dispatch; read o'er these articles.
NORTHUMBERLAND
My lord, come on; read the list.
KING RICHARD II
Mine eyes are full of tears, I cannot see: And yet salt water blinds them not so much But they can see a sort of traitors here. Nay, if I turn mine eyes upon myself, I find myself a traitor with the rest; For I have given here my soul's consent To undeck the pompous body of a king; Made glory base and sovereignty a slave, Proud majesty a subject, state a peasant.
KING RICHARD II
My eyes are full of tears, I can’t see. And yet—they’re not so blinded by salt water that they can’t see the traitors in front of them. But if I look at myself, I see that I’m a traitor too, for allowing myself to be deposed, making a glorious sovereign a slave, proud majesty a subject, a king a peasant.
NORTHUMBERLAND
My lord,—
NORTHUMBERLAND
My lord—
KING RICHARD II
No lord of thine, thou haught insulting man, Nor no man's lord; I have no name, no title, No, not that name was given me at the font, But 'tis usurp'd: alack the heavy day, That I have worn so many winters out, And know not now what name to call myself! O that I were a mockery king of snow, Standing before the sun of Bolingbroke, To melt myself away in water-drops! Good king, great king, and yet not greatly good, An if my word be sterling yet in England, Let it command a mirror hither straight, That it may show me what a face I have, Since it is bankrupt of his majesty.
KING RICHARD II
I’m no lord of yours, you haughty insulting man, nor no man’s lord; I have no name, no title—no, not even the name that was given to me when I was baptized—that isn’t usurped. How can I have lived so many winters and don’t know now what name to call myself? Oh, that I were a mockery, a king of snow, that would melt away in water-drops, standing before the sun of Bolingbroke! [To Bolingbroke] Good king, great king—and yet not greatly good—if my word still counts for something in England, ask that someone bring a mirror here, so that I can see what I look like now that I’m no longer king.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Go some of you and fetch a looking-glass.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Go, some of you, and get a mirror.
Exit an attendant
NORTHUMBERLAND
Read o'er this paper while the glass doth come.
NORTHUMBERLAND
Read this list while we wait for the mirror.
KING RICHARD II
Fiend, thou torment'st me ere I come to hell!
KING RICHARD II
Devil, torturing me even before I've come to hell!
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Urge it no more, my Lord Northumberland.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Don't ask him anymore, my lord Northumberland.
NORTHUMBERLAND
The commons will not then be satisfied.
NORTHUMBERLAND
The commons won't be satisfied, then.
KING RICHARD II
They shall be satisfied: I'll read enough,When I do see the very book indeedWhere all my sins are writ, and that's myself.
KING RICHARD II
They will be satisfied: I’ll read from the book where all my sins are written—myself.
Re-enter Attendant, with a glass
KING RICHARD II
Give me the glass, and therein will I read. No deeper wrinkles yet? hath sorrow struck So many blows upon this face of mine, And made no deeper wounds? O flattering glass, Like to my followers in prosperity, Thou dost beguile me! Was this face the face That every day under his household roof Did keep ten thousand men? was this the face That, like the sun, did make beholders wink? Was this the face that faced so many follies, And was at last out-faced by Bolingbroke? A brittle glory shineth in this face: As brittle as the glory is the face;
KING RICHARD II
Give me the mirror, and I’ll read from that. No deeper wrinkles yet? Has sorrow struck so many blows against my face and not left any deeper wounds? Oh, the mirror flatters me, like my old courtiers, lying to me! Was this the face that every day under his household roof kept ten thousand servants? Was this the face that, like the sun, blinded people who looked at it? Was this the face that faced so many follies, and was at last out-faced by Bolingbroke? I see a fragile glory shining in this face, and the face is fragile too.
Dashes the glass against the ground
KING RICHARD II
For there it is, crack'd in a hundred shivers. Mark, silent king, the moral of this sport, How soon my sorrow hath destroy'd my face.
KING RICHARD II
For there it is, cracked in a hundred pieces. See, silent king, what I mean by this: my sorrow has destroyed my face.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
The shadow of your sorrow hath destroy'dThe shadow of your face.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
The shadow of your sorrow has destroyed the shadow of your face.
KING RICHARD II
Say that again. The shadow of my sorrow! ha! let's see: 'Tis very true, my grief lies all within; And these external manners of laments Are merely shadows to the unseen grief That swells with silence in the tortured soul; There lies the substance: and I thank thee, king, For thy great bounty, that not only givest Me cause to wail but teachest me the way How to lament the cause. I'll beg one boon, And then be gone and trouble you no more. Shall I obtain it?
KING RICHARD II
Say that again? The shadow of my sorrow… hmm, let’s see: that’s very true, since my grief is inward, and these outward signs of sadness are just shadows of the unseen grief that lies within. Thanks, king, for your great generosity, that not only makes me sad but teaches me how to lament the cause of my sadness. I’ll ask one favor, and then leave and trouble you no more: shall I have it?
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Name it, fair cousin.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Name it, fair cousin.
KING RICHARD II
'Fair cousin'? I am greater than a king: For when I was a king, my flatterers Were then but subjects; being now a subject, I have a king here to my flatterer. Being so great, I have no need to beg.
KING RICHARD II
“Fair cousin?” I must be greater than a king—for when I was a king, my flatterers were only subjects, but now as a subject, I have a king to flatter me. Since I’m so great, I suppose there’s no need to beg.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Yet ask.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Yet ask.
KING RICHARD II
And shall I have?
KING RICHARD II
And shall I have what I ask?
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
You shall.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
You shall.
KING RICHARD II
Then give me leave to go.
KING RICHARD II
Then give me permission to go.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Whither?
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Where?
KING RICHARD II
Whither you will, so I were from your sights.
KING RICHARD II
Wherever you want, as long as I'm out of your sight.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Go, some of you convey him to the Tower.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Go, some of you, and convey him to the Tower.
KING RICHARD II
O, good! convey? conveyers are you all,That rise thus nimbly by a true king's fall.
KING RICHARD II
Oh, good! Convey? You’re all conveyers, taking advantage of a true king’s fall to raise yourselves up.
Exeunt KING RICHARD II, some Lords, and a Guard
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
On Wednesday next we solemnly set downOur coronation: lords, prepare yourselves.
HENRY BOLINGBROKE
Next Wednesday will be our coronation; lords, prepare yourselves.
Exeunt all except the BISHOP OF CARLISLE, the Abbot of Westminster, and DUKE OF AUMERLE
ABBOT
A woeful pageant have we here beheld.
ABBOT
We’ve seen a sad scene here.
BISHOP OF CARLISLE
The woe's to come; the children yet unborn.Shall feel this day as sharp to them as thorn.
BISHOP OF CARLISLE
But the worst is yet to come—children who aren’t even born yet will remember this day as sharp as a thorn to them.
DUKE OF AUMERLE
You holy clergymen, is there no plotTo rid the realm of this pernicious blot?
DUKE OF AUMERLE
You holy clergymen, can’t we do something to rid the kingdom of him?
ABBOT
My lord, Before I freely speak my mind herein, You shall not only take the sacrament To bury mine intents, but also to effect Whatever I shall happen to devise. I see your brows are full of discontent, Your hearts of sorrow and your eyes of tears: Come home with me to supper; and I'll lay A plot shall show us all a merry day.
ABBOT
My lord, before I tell you what I know, you must swear not only to keep my secret, but also to help me. I see your faces look distressed, your hearts are sad, and your eyes are full of tears: come home with me to dinner, and I’ll tell you about a plot that will make everything better again.
Exeunt
