Retaining but a quantity of life, 32 37 Why should I then be false, since it is true 48 Sal. We do believe thee: and beshrew my soul But I do love the favour and the form Of this most fair occasion, by the which We will untread the steps of damned flight, 52 And like a bated and retired flood, Leaving our rankness and irregular course, Enter a Messenger. Mess. Where is my prince, the Dauphin? Here: what news? Mess. The Count Melun is slain; the English lords, By his persuasion, are again fall'n off; I did not think to be so sad to-night The stumbling night did part our weary powers? 20 The day shall not be up so soon as I, 56 Stoop low within those bounds we have o'erlook'd, Even to our ocean, to our great King John. I will upon all hazards well believe Thou art my friend, that know'st my tongue so well. Who art thou? 8 Bast. Who thou wilt: and if thou please, Thou mayst befriend me so much as to think I come one way of the Plantagenets. But stay'd and made the western welkin blush, ear. My liege! my lord! But now a king, now thus. P. Hen. Even so must I run on, and even so stop. What surety of the world, what hope, what stay, When this was now a king, and now is clay? 69 Bast. Art thou gone so? I do but stay behind To do the office for thee of revenge, And then my soul shall wait on thee to heaven, As it on earth hath been thy servant still. Now, now, you stars, that move in your right spheres, 73 Where be your powers? Show now your mended faiths, 92 Bast Let it be so. And you, my noble prince, With other princes that may best be spar'd, 97 Shall wait upon your father's funeral. P. Hen. At Worcester must his body be interr'd; For so he will'd it. Bast. Thither shall it then. And happily may your sweet self put on The lineal state and glory of the land! To whom, with all submission, on my knee, I do bequeath my faithful services And true subjection everlastingly. 100 104 Sal. And the like tender of our love we make, To rest without a spot for evermore. P. Hen. I have a kind soul that would give you thanks, 108 112 And knows not how to do it but with tears. us rue, 80 | If England to itself do rest but true. [Exeunt.] SCENE I.-London. A Room in the Palace. Enter KING RICHARD, attended; JOHN OF GAUNT, and other Nobles. K. Rich. Old John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancaster, Hast thou, according to thy oath and band, Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold son, Here to make good the boisterous late appeal, 4 Which then our leisure would not let us hear, Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? Gaunt. I have, my liege. K. Rich. Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him, 8 If he appeal the duke on ancient malice, 12 On some apparent danger seen in him And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear The accuser and the accused freely speak: 17 [Exeunt some Attendants. High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire, In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire. Re-enter Attendants, with BOLINGBROKE and MOWBRAY. And mark my greeting well; for what I speak 36 It must be great that can inherit us So much as of a thought of ill in him. 40 That Mowbray hath receiv'd eight thousand 88 In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers, ments, What my tongue speaks, my right drawn sword Like a false traitor and injurious villain. 92 96 spring. Further I say and further will maintain ΙΟΙ of blood: From giving reins and spurs to my free speech; 104 Which blood, like sacrificing Abel's, cries, Even from the tongueless caverns of the earth, To me for justice and rough chastisement; 60 And, by the glorious worth of my descent, This arm shall do it, or this life be spent. K. Rich. How high a pitch his resolution soars! 108 64 Thomas of Norfolk, what sayst thou to this? Mow. O! let my sovereign turn away his face Call him a slanderous coward and a villain: 68 Disclaiming here the kindred of the king; cept: 72 If guilty dread have left thee so much strength As to take up mine honour's pawn, then stoop: By that, and all the rites of knighthood else, Will I make good against thee, arm to arm, 76 What I have spoke, or thou canst worse devise. Mow. I take it up; and by that sword I Were he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir, - 124 Through the false passage of thy throat, thou liest. |