scene, the king enters with attendants: previously to this, the dialogue is between John of Gaunt and the duke of York. [Gaunt.] Will the king come, that I may breathe my last In wholesome counsel to his unstay'd youth? [York.] Brother, vex not yourself, nor spend your breath; For all in vain comes counsel to his ear. [Gaunt.] O, but they say the words of dying men Enforce attention, like deep harmony. Though Richard my life's counsel would not hear, My death's sad tale perchance shall reach his ear. [York.] No, it is stopp'd with sounds to him more sweet, With praises of his state; lascivious metres; Report of fashions in proud Italy, - Whose manners, still, our tardy apish nation Limps after awkwardly. Is there a vanity, (So it be new, there's no respect how vile,) That is not quickly buzz'd into his ears? Then all too late comes counsel to be heard.But see he's here: deal mildly with his youth. [a pause.] [Richard.] How fares our noble cousin, Lancaster ? What comfort, man? How is 't with aged Gaunt? [Gaunt.] O how that name befits my composition! Old Gaunt, indeed, and gaunt in being old; Gaunt am I for the grave, gaunt as a grave. [Richard.] Dying, and play so nicely with your name? [Gaunt.] No; misery makes sport to mock itself: And, king, though I the sicker be, 'tis thou Art dying; and thy death-bed is this land, Whereon thou liest in reputation sick; And thou, too careless patient as thou art, Committest thy disease unto the cure Of those physicians that first wounded thee. O, had thy grand-sire, with a prophet's eye, Seen how his son's son should destroy his sons, From forth thy reach he would have laid thy shame, [Richard.] Lunatic, lean-witted fool! Dar'st thou with frozen admonition, Make pale our cheek, and chase the royal blood [Gaunt.] O, spare me not, my brother Edward's son. Old Gaunt is borne out by his attendants :—the earl of Northumberland follows: the dialogue is continued by the King, the Duke of York, and by Northumberland, who afterwards re-enters. [Richard] Well, let them die that age and sullens have; For he has both; and both become the grave. [York.] 'Beseech your majesty, impute his words To wayward sickliness, and dreaming age: He loves you on my life; and Hereford too. [Richard.] Right; you say true: as Hereford's love, so his ; As theirs, so mine.-How now, Northumberland? [North.] My liege, old Gaunt commends him to your majesty. [Richard.] What says he now? [Northumberland.] Nay, nothing; all is said. Words, life, and all, old Lancaster hath spent. [York.] How long shall York be silent? ah! how long Not Gloster's death, nor Hereford's banishment, [Richard.] Why, uncle, what's the matter? [York.] My liege, pardon me if you please; if not, I am content you shall not pardon me. ; Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands Is not the heir a well-deserving son? Now before heaven,—though heaven forbid it be so,— [Richard.] Think what you will: we seize into our hands His plate, his goods, his money, and his lands. [York.] I'll not be by the while; my liege, farewell. [a pause.] [Richard.] In this we do not need him: let him go. Now, Bushey, to the earl of Wiltshire straight, And bid him quick repair to Ely house To see this business :-to-morrow next We shall to Ireland: and we will create Our uncle York lord governor of England In absence of ourself. Come on, my lords. Three of the noblemen remain behind, the earl of Northumberland, lord Ross, (Roos,) and lord Willoughby. [North.] Well, lords, the duke of Lancaster is dead. [Ross.] And living too; for now his son is duke. [Willoughby.] Barely in title, not at all in revenue. [North.] Richly in both, if justice had her right. [Ross.] My heart doth swell; but it must break with silence. [Will.] Nay, speak thy mind, and let him ne'er speak more That speaks thy words again to do thee harm. [Nor.] If what thou 'dst speak, tends to the duke of Hereford, Out with it boldly, man. [Ross.] Then this I say, 'Tis shame such wrongs are borne by him, and more, Of royal blood in this declining land." The king is not himself, but basely led By flatterers: the earl of Wiltshire holds The land in pawn: the king is grown a bankrupt, But by the robbing of the banish'd duke. [Willoughby.] It is too true. Oh, most degenerate king! After a pause Northumberland, with some caution, resumes the dialogue. [North.] But, lords, we hear a fearful tempest sing, We see the very wreck that we must suffer, And yet even through the hollow eyes of death, How near the tidings of our comfort are. [Ross.] Nay, let us share thy thoughts as thou dost ours. [Willoughby.] Be confident to speak, Northumberland : We three are but thyself; and speaking so, Thy words are but as thoughts; therefore be bold. [North.] Then thus, I have receiv'd intelligence But if [Ross.] To horse! urge doubts to them that fear. [Willoughby.] Ay, lords, to horse! no rest till we are there. We may now imagine ourselves at the palace, after the departure of Richard: the queen, surrounded by the king's favourites Bushy, Bagot, and Green, has just heard of the landing of Bolingbroke, the disaffection of the nobles, and the threatening aspect of the whole country. In the midst of their consternation, she sees the duke of York approaching, and the moment he enters, she addresses him: [Queen.] Uncle, how full of busi'ness are your looks! For heaven's sake, speak comfortable news. |