Gaunt. I have, my liege.

If guilty dread bath left thee so much strength, K. Rich. Tell me moreover, bast thou sounded As to take up mine bonour's pawn, then stoop! him,

By that, and all the rights of kighthood else, If he appeal the Duke on ancient malice; Will I make good against thee, arm to arm, Of worthily as a good subject should,

What I have spoke, or thou can'st worst deOn some known ground of treachery in bim

vise. Gaunt. As near as I could sift him on that Nor. I take it up; and, by that sword I swear, argument,

Which gently laid my kuighthood on my On some apparent danger seen in him,

shoulder, Aim'd at your highness, no inveterate malice. I'll answer thee in any fair degree, K. Rich. Then call them to our presence ; or chivalrous design of knightly trial : face to face,

And, when I mount, alive may 1 not light, And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear If I be traitor, or unjustly fight! The accuser, and the accused, freely speak :- K. Rich. What doth our cousin lay to Mow.

[Exeunt some Attendants. bray's charge ? High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire, It must be great, that can inherit us In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire.

So much as of a thought of ill in him.

Boling. Look, what I speak my life shall Re-enter Attendants, with BOLINO BROKB

prove it true ;and NOR FOLK.

That Mowbray hath receiv'd eight thousand Boling. May many years of happy days be.

nobles, fall

In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege ! The which he hath detaiu'd for lewd | employ. Nor. Each day still better other's happiness ;

ments, Until the heavens, envying earth's good bap, Like a false traitor and injurious villain. Add an immortal title to your crown!

Besides I say, and will in battle prove, K. Rich. We thank you both : yet one but Or here, or elsewhere, to the furthest verge flatters us,

That ever was survey'd by English eye, As well appeareth by the cause you come ; That all the treasons, for these eighteen years Namely, to appeal * each other of high trea-Complotted and contrived in this land, son.

Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object

spring. Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mow. Further I say,-and further will maintain bray!

Upon his bad life, to make all this good,Boling. First, (heaven be the record of my That he did plot the Duke of Gloster's death ; speech )

Suggest this soon-believing adversaries ; In the devotion of a subject's love,

And, consequently, like a traitor coward, Tendering the precious safety of my prince, Sluic'd out his innocent soul through streams of And free from other misbegotten bate,

blood : Come I appellant to this princely presence.- Which blood, like sacrificing Abel's, cries Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee, Even from the tongueless caverus of the earth, And mark my greeting well ; for what I speak, To me, for justice and rough chastisement ; My body sball make good upon this earth, And, by the glorious worth of my descent, Or my divine soul answer it in heaven.

This arm shall do it, or this life be spent. Thou art a traitor, and a miscreant;

K. Rich. How high a pitch his resolution Too good to be so, and too bad to live ;

soars ! Since, the more fair and crystal is the sky, Thomas of Norfolk, what say'st thou to this? The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly.

Nor. Oh! let my sovereign turn away his Once more, the more to aggravate the note,

face, With a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat ; And bid his ears a little while be deaf, And wish, (so please my sovereign,) ere I move, Till I have told this slander of bis blood, What my tongue speaks, my right-drawn sword How God and good men hate so foul a liar. may prove.

K. Rich, Mowbray, impartial are our eyes and Nor. Let not my cold words here accuse my

ears: zeal ;

Were he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir, 'Tis not the trial of a woman's war

(As he is but my father's brother's son,) (The bitter clamour of two eager tongnes) Now by my sceptre's awe I make a vow, Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain : Such neighbour nearness to our sacred blood The blood is hot, that must be cool'd for this, Should vothing privilege him, nor partialize Yet can I not of such tame patience boast, The upstooping firmness of my upright soul; As to be bush'd, and naught at all to say: He is our subject, Mowbray, so art thon ; First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs Free speech, and fearless, I to thee allow. me

Nor. Then, Boliugbroke, as low as to thy From giving reins and spurs to my free speech ;

heart, Which else would post until it had returu'd Through the false passage of thy throat, thou These terms of treason doubled down his throat.

liest ! Setting aside bis high blood's royalty,

The parts of that receipt I had for Calais, And let him be no kinsinan to my liege. Disburs'd I duly to his bighness' soldiers : I do defy him, and I spit at him;

The other part reserv'd i by consent ; Call him-a slanderous coward, and a villain ; For that my sovereign liege was in my debt, Which to maintain, I would allow him odds ; Upon remainder of a dear aceount, And meet him, were i tied to run a foot

Since last I went to France to fetch his queen : Even to the frozen ridges of the Alps,

Now swallow down that lie.For Gloster's Or any other gronnd inhabitable

death, Where ever Englishman durst set his foot. I slew him not ; but to my own disgrace, Mean time, let this defend my loyalty,-- Neglected my sworn duty in that case, By all my hopes, most falsely doth le lie. For you, my noble lord of Lancaster, Boling. Pale trembling coward, there I throw The honourable father to my foe, my gage,

Once did I lay in ambush for your life, Disclaiming here the kindred of a king; A trespass that doth vex my grieved soul : And lay aside my high blood's royalty,

But, ere I last receiv'd the sacrament, Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to ex. I did confess it, and exactly begg'd cept :

Your grace's pardon, and, Ibope, I had it. • Charge.

• Possess,

Wicked. • Prompt.

This is my fault: As for the rest appeal'd, SCENE II.- The same.- A Room in the Duke It issues from the rancour of a villain,

of LANCASTER's Palace. A recreant and most degenerate traitor : Which in myself I boldly will defend

Enter GAUNT, and Duchess of Gloster.

; Aud interchangeably huri down my gage

Gaunt. Alas! the part. I bad iu Gloster's Upon this overweening traitor's foot,

blood To prove myself a loyal gentleman

Doth more solicit me, than your exclaims, Even in the best blood chamber'd in his bo- To stir against the butchers of his life. som :

But since correction lieth in those bands, In haste whereof, most beartily I pray

Which made tbe fault that we cannot currect, Your highness to assign our trial day.

Put we our quarrel to the will of heaven ; K. Rich. Wrath-kivdled gentlemen, be rul'a Who when he sees the hours ripe on earth, by me;

Will rain hot vengeance on offenders' heads. Let's purge this choler without letting blood : Duch. Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper This we prescribe though no physician ;

spur ? Deep malice makes too deep incision :

Hath love in thy old blood no living fire ? Forget, forgive ; conclude, and be agreed ; Edward's seven sons, whereof thyself art one, Our doctors say, this is no time to bleed.- Were as seven phials of his sacred blood, Good uncle, let this end where it begun ; Or seven fair brauches springiug from one root : We'll calm the duke of Norfolk, you your son. Sone of those seven are dried by nature's Gaunt. To be a make-peace shall become my

course, age :

Some of those branches by the destinies out : Throw down, my son, the duke of Norfolk's But Thomas, my dear lord, my life, my Glosgage.

ter,K. Rich. And, Norfolk, tbrow down his. One phial full of Edward's sacred blood, Gaunt. When, Harry, when

One Nourishing brauch of his most royal root, — Obedience bids, I should not bid again.

Is crack'd, and all the precious liquor spilt ; K. Rich. Norfolk, throw down ; we bid ; there is hack'd down, and bis summer leaves all is no boot.

faded, Nor. Myself I throw, dread sovereign, at thy By enry's band, and murder's bloody axe. foot ;

Ah! Gaunt, his blood was thine ; that bed, that My life thou shalt command, but not my

womb, shame ;

That mettle, that self-mould, tbat' fashioa'd The one my duty owes : bnt my fair name,

thee, (Despite of death, that lives upon iny grave,) Made him a man ; and though thou liv'st, and To dark dishonour's use thou shalt not have.

breath'st, I am disgrac'd, impeach'd, and baffled bere ; Yet art thou slain in him : Thou dost consent Pierc'd to the soul with slander's venom'd in some large measure to thy father's death, spear;

In that thou seest thy wretched brother die, The which no balm can cure, but his heart. Who was the model of thy father's life. blood

Call it not patience, Gaunt, it is despair : Which breath'd this poison.

lu suffering thus thy brother to be slaughter'd, K. Rich. Rage must be withstood :

Thou show'st tbe naked pathway to thy life, Give me his gage : Lions make leopards tame. Teaching stern murder how to butcher thee : Nor. Yea, but not change their spots : take That wbich in mean men we entitle--patieuce, but my shame,

Is pale cold cowardice in poble breasts.
And I resign my gage.' My dear dear lord, What shall I say? to safeguard thine owu life,
The purest treasure mortal times afford,

The
best
way ismlo 'venge

my Gloster's Is-spotless reputation ; that away,

death. Men are but gilded loam, or painted clay. Gaunt. Heaven's is the quarrel; for beaveu's A jewel in a ten-times-barr'd-up chest

substitute, 18--a bold spirit iu a loyal breast.

His deputy anointed in his sight, Mine honour is my life; both grow in one; Hath caus'd bis death : the which, if wrong. Take honour from me and my life is done :

fully, Then, dear my liege, mine honour let me try; Let heaven revenge ; for I may never lin lu that I live, and for that will I die.

An angry arm against his minister. K. Rich. Cousin, throw down your gage ; do Duch. Where then, alas ! may I complain you begin.

myself! Boling. o God, defend my soul from such Gaunt. To heaven, the widow's champion foul sin !

and defence. Shall I seem crest-fallen in my father's sight? Duch. Why then, I will. Farewell, old Or with pale beggar-lear impeach my height

Gaunt. Before this out dar'd dastard ! Ere my tongue Thou go'st to Coventry, there to behold Shall wound mine honour with such feeble Our cousin Hereford, and fell Mowbray fight: wrong,

0 sit my husband's wrongs on Hereford's Or sound so base a parle, my teeth shall tear

spear, The slavish motive of recanting fear;

That it may enter butcher Mowbray's breast ! Aud spit it bleeding in his bigh disgrace, Or, if misfortune miss the first career, Where shame doth hai bour, even in Mowbray's Be Mowbray's sins so heavy in his bosom, face.

(Erit GAUNT. That they may break his foaining courser's K. Rich. We were not born to sue, but to

back, command:

And throw the rider headlong in the lists, Which since we cannot do to make you A caitiff recreant to iny cousin Hereford ! friends,

Farewell, old Gaunt ; thy sometime brother's Be ready, as your lives shall answer it,

wife, At Coventry, upon Saint Lambert's day;

With her companion grief must end her life. There shall your swords and lances arbitrate Gaunt. Sister, farewell ; I must to Coventry : Tbe swelling differeuce of your settled hate ; As much good stay with thee, as go with me! Since we cannot atone you, we shall see

Duch. Yet one word core ;-Grief boundeth Justice design the victor's chivalry.-

where it falls, Marsbal, command our officers at arms

Not with the empty hollowness, but weight: Be ready to direct these home-alarıns.

I take my leave before I have begun ;

(Exeunt. For sorrow ends not when it seemeth done. • Charged against mic.

• Relationship.

our arins.

Commend me to my brother, Edmund York. Boling. Harry of Hereford, Lancaster, and Lo, this is all :-Nay, yet depart not so;

Derby, Though this be all, do not so quickly go ;

Am 1; who ready here do stand in arıns, I shall remember more. Bid hin-Oh I what ?- To prove, by beaven's grace, and my body's With all good speed at Plasby • visit me.

valour, Alack, and what shall good old York there see, In lists, on Thomas Mowbray duke of Norfolk, But empty lodgings and unfurnish'd walls, That he's a traitor, foul and dangerous, Unpeopled offices, untrodden stones ?

To God of heaven, king Richard, and to me; And what cheer there for welcome, but my And as I truly fight, defend me, heaven! groans ?

Mar. On pain of death, no person be so bold, Therefore commend me; let him not come or daring. hardy, as to touch the lists; there,

Except the marshal, and such officers
To seek out sorrow that dwells every where : Appointed to direct these fair designs.
Desolate, desolate, will I heuce, and die ; Boling. Lord Marsbal, let me kiss my sove-
The last leave of thee takes my weeping eye.

reign's hand,
Exeunt. And bow my knee before his majesty :

For Mowbray and myself are like two men
SCENE III.-Gosford Green, near Coventry. That vow a long and weary pilgrimage ;

Then let us take a cereinopious leave, Lists set out, and a Throne. HERALDS, &c. And loving farewell of our several friends. attending.

Mar. The appellant in all duty greets your

highness, Enter the Lord MARSHAL, and AUMERLE. And craves to kiss your band, and take his

leave. Mar. My lord Aumerle, is Harry Hereford

K. Rich. We will descend, and fold him in arm'd 1 Aum. Yea, at all points ; and longs to enter Cousin of Hereford, as thy cause is right,

in. Mar. The duke of Norfolk, sprightfully and So be thy fortune in this roya! fight i bold,

Farewell, my blood ; which if to-day thou shed, Stays but the summons of the appellant's trum

Lament we may, but not revenge thee dead.

Boling. 0 let no noble eye profane a tear pet. Aum. Why then, the champions are prepar'd, As contident, as is the falcou's flight

For me,

if I be gored with Mowbray's spear ; and stay, For nothing but his majesty's approach.

Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight.--

My loving lord, (To Lord MARSHAL.) I take Flourish of Trumpets.--Enter King RICHARD,

my leave of you ;who takes his seat on his throne ; GAUNT,Iof you, my noble cousin, lord Aumerle :and severul Noblemen, who take their Not, sick, although I bave to do with death; places. A Trumpet is sounded, and an- But lusty, young, and cheerly drawing breath.-swered by another Trumpet within. Then Lo, as at English feasts, so I regreet enter NORFOLK in armour preceded by a The dainties last, to make the end most sweet : Herald.

O thou, the earthly author of my blood,

(TO GAUNT. K. Rich. Marshal, demand of yonder cham- Whose youthful spirit, in me regenerate, pion

Doth with a two-fold vigour lift me up The cause of his arrival here in arms :

To reach at victory above my head,Ask him his name ; and orderly proceed Add proof unto mine arınour with thy prayers ; To swear him in the justice of his cause. And with thy blessings steel my lance's point, Yur. In God's name, and the king's, say who That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat, thou art,

And furbish new the pame of John of Gaunt, And why thou com'st, thus knightly clad in Even in the lusty 'haviour of his son. arms :

Gaunt. Heaven in thy good cause make thee Against what man thou com'st, and what thy

prosperons ! quarrel ;

Be swift like lightning in the execution ; Speak truly, on thy knighthood, and thy oath ; And let thy blows, doubly redoubled, And so defend thee, heaven and thy valour! Fall like amazing thunder on the casque Nor. My name is Thomas Mowbray, duke of of thy adverse pernicious enemy : Norfolk ;

Rouse up thy youthful blood, be valiant and Who hither come engaged by my oath,

live. (Which, heaven defend, a knight should violate !)

Boling. Mine innocency, and Saint George to Both to defend my loyalty and truth,

thrive!

(He takes his seat. To God, my king, and my succeeding issue, Nor. (Rising.] However heaven, or fortune, Against the duke of Hereford that appeals me;

cast my lot, And, by the grace of God, and this mine arm, There lives or dies, true to king Richard's To prove bim, in defending of himself,

throne, A traitor to my God, my king, and me :

A loyal, just, and upright gentleman : And, as I truly fight, defend me, heaven !

Never did captive with a freer heart

(He takes his seut. Cast off bis chains of bondage, and embrace Trumpet sounds.- Enter BOLINGBROKE, in

His golden uncontroll'd enfranchisement, armour ; preceded by a Herald.

More than my dancing soul doth celebrate

This feast of battle with mine adversary.K. Rich. Marshal, ask yonder knight in Most mighty liege, and my companion peers, arms,

Take froin my mouth the wish of happy years : Both who he is, and why he cometh hitber, As gentle and as jocund, as to jest, Thus plated in habiliments of war ;

Go I to fight; Truth hath a quiet breast. And formally, according to our law,

K. Rich. Farewell, my lord : securely I espy

I Depose him in the justice of his cause.

Virtue with valour couched in thine eye, Mar. What is thy naine? and wherefore Order the trial, marshal, and begin. com'st thou hither,

[The King and the lords return to their Before King Richard in his royal lists ?

seats. Against whom comest thou ; and what's thy Mar. Harry of Hereford, Lancaster, and quarrel?

Derby, Speak like a true knight, so defend thee beaven! Receive thy lance; and God defend the right!

Boling. (Rising.) Strong as a tower in hope. . Her house in Essex.

I cry- Amen.

know;

Mar. Go bear this lance (To an Officer.) to What is thy sentence then, but speechless death, Thomas duke of Norfolk.

Which robs my tongue from breathing Dative 1 Her. Harry of Hereford, Lancaster, and

breath? Derby,

K. Rich. It boots thee not to be compas. Stands here for God, his sovereign, and himself,

sionate ; On pain to be found false and recreant,

After our sentence plaining comes too late. To prove the duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray, Nor. Then thus i turn me froin my country's A traitor to his God, his king, and bim,

light, And dares bij set forward to the fight. To dwell in solemn shades of endless pight. 2 Her. Here standeth Thomas Mowbray, duke

(Retiring. of Norfolk,

K. Rich. Return again, and take an oath with On pain to be found false and recreant,

thee, Both to defend himself, and to approve

Lay on our royal sword your banisb'd bands ; Henry of Hereford, Lancaster, and Derby, Swear by the duty that you owe to heaven, To God, bis sovereign, and to him disloyal ; (Our part therein we banish with yourselves,) Courageously, and with a free desire,

To keep the oath that we administer : Attending but the signal to begin.

You never shall (so help you truth and heaven!) Mar. Sound, trumpets ; and set forward, Embrace each other's love in banishment;

combatants. (A Charge sounded. Nor never look upon each other's face ; Stay, the king hath thrown his warder down. Nor never write, regreet, uor reconcile K. Rich. Let them lay by their helmets and This lowering tempest of your home-bred hate, their spears,

Nor never by advised purpose meet,
And both return back to their chairs again :- To plot, contrive, or complot any ill,
Withdraw with us :-and let the trumpets 'Gainst us, our state, our subjects, or our land.
sound,

Boling. I swear.
While we return these dukes what we decree.- Nor. And I, to keep all this.

(A long flourish. Boling. Norfolk, so far as to mine enemy;Draw near,

(To the Combatants. By this time, bad the king permitted us, And list, what with our council we bave doue. One of our souls bad wander'd in the air, For that our kingdom's earth should not be Banish'd this frail sepulchre of our fesh, soil'd

As now our flesh is banish'd froin this land: With that dear blood which it bath fostered Confess thy treasons, ere thou fly the realm ; And for our eyes do bate the dire aspéct Since thou hast far to go, bear not along of civil wounds plough'd up with neighbour's The clogging burden of a guilty soul. swords ;

Nor. No, Bolingbroke ; if ever I were traitor, (And for we think the eagle-winged pride My name be blotted from the book of life, of sky aspiring and ambitious thoughts,

Aud I from heaven banish'd, as from hence! With rival-hating envy, set you on

But what thou art, heaven, thou, and I do To wake our peace, which in our country's cradle

And all too soon, I fear, the king shall rue.Draws the sweet infant breath of gentle sleep ;). Farewell, my liege :--Now no way can I stray ; Which so rous'd up with boisterous untun'd Save back to England, all the world's my way. drums,

(Eril. With harsh resounding trumpets' dreadful bray, K. Rich. Uncle, even in the glasses of the And grating shock of wrathful iron arms,

eyes Might from our quiet confines fright fair peace, I see thy grieved heart : thy sad aspect And make us wade even in our kindred's Hath from the number of his banish'd years blood ;

Pluck'd four away ;--Six frozen winters spent, Therefore, we banish you our territories : Return (To BOLING.) with welcome home froin You, cousin Hereford, upon pain of death,

banisbnient. Till twice five summers have enrich'd our fields, Boling. How long a time lies in one liule Shall not regreet our fair dominions,

word ! But tread the stranger paths of banishment. Four lagging winters, and four wanton springs, Boling. Your will be done : This must my End in a word : Such is the breath of kings. comfort be,-

Gaunt. I thank my liege, that, in regard of That sun, that warms you here, shall shine on

me, me ;

He shortens four years of my son's exile : And those bis golden beams, to you here lent, But little vantage shall I reap thereby ; Shall point on me, and gild my banishment.

ere the six years that he hath to spend, K. Rich. Norfolk, for thee remains a heavier Can change their moons, and bring their times doom,

about, Which I with some unwillingness pronounce : My oil-dried lamp, and time-bewasted light, The fly-slow hours shall not determinate

Shall be extinct with age, and endless night; The dateless limit of thy dear exile ;

My inch of taper will be burnt and done, The hopeless word of-never to return

And blindfold death not let me see my son. Breathe I against thee, upon pain of life.

K. Rich. Why, uncle, thou hast many years Nor. A beavy sentence, my most sovereign

to live. liege,

Gaunt. But not a minute, king, that thou And all unlook'd for from your highness' mouth :

canst give : A dearer merit, not so deep a maim

Shorten my days thou canst with sullen sorrow, As to be cast forth in the common air,

Aud pluck nights from me, but not leud a Hlave I deserved at your highness' hand.

morrow; The language I have learu'd these forty years, Thou caust help time to furrow me with age, My native English, now I must forego :

But stop po wrinkle in his pilgrimage ; And now my tongue's use is to me no more, Thy word is current with him for ny death ; Than ap unstringed viol or a harp ;

But, dead, thy kingdom cannot buy my breath. Or like a cunning instrument cas'd up,

K. Rich. Thy son is banish'd upon good Or, being open, put into his hands

advice, That knows no touch to tuve the harmony. Whereto thy tongue a party + verdict gave; Within my mouth you have enjail'd my tongue, Why at our justice seemi'st thou then to lower ? Doubly portcullis'd, with my teeth and lips; Gaunt. Things sweet to taste, prove in diges. And duli, unfeeling, barren ignorance

tion soir. Is made my jailer to attend on me. I am too old to fawn upon a nurse,

• To move compassion. Too far in years to be a pupil now;

+ Had a part ur chare.