King Richard II

William Shakespeare

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9780486790060
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Shakespeare Drama
• Index: Literature

`Not all the water in the rough rude sea/Can wash the balm off from an anointed king,` declares the soon-to-be deposed ruler of this historical drama. Confident in his divine right, Richard II is an ineffective and unpopular king who abuses his power and sows the seeds of his own downfall. Toppled from the throne by Henry, his ambitious cousin, Richard only learns to value kingship after he loses it, achieving a tragic dignity only with his downfall.
The first play in Shakespeare's `Henriad` series — followed by Henry IV, Parts I and II, and Henry V  — Richard II portrays intense psychological struggles as well as a taut political drama. The only one of Shakespeare's plays written entirely in verse, it offers a grand, lyrical allegory and a poignant exploration of character.

ACT I.

SCENE I. London. King Richard’s Palace.

Enter KING RICHARD, JOHN OF GAUNT, with other Nobles and Attendants

KING RICHARD. Old John of Gaunt, time-honour’d Lancaster, [1]

Hast thou, according to thy oath and band,

Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold son,

Here to make good the boisterous late appeal,

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,

If he appeal the duke on ancient malice;

Or worthily, as a good subject should, 10

On some known ground of treachery in him?

GAUNT. As near as I could sift him on that argument, [12]

On some apparent danger seen in him

Aim’d at your highness, no inveterate malice.

K. RICH.Then call them to our presence; face to face,

And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear

The accuser and the accused freely speak:

High-stomach’d are they both, and full of ire

In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire.

Enter BOLINGBROKE and MOWBRAY

BOLING. Many years of happy days befal 20

My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege!

Mow. Each day still better other’s happiness; [22]

Until the heavens, envying earth’s good hap,

Add an immortal title to your crown!

K. RICH. We thank you both: yet one but flatters us,

As well appeareth by the cause you come; [26]

Namely, to appeal each other of high treason.

Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object

Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?

BOLING. First, heaven be the record to my speech! 30

In the devotion of a subject’s love,

Tendering the precious safety of my prince,

And free from other misbegotten hate,

Come I appellant to this princely presence.

Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee,

And mark my greeting well; for what I speak

My body shall make good upon this earth,

Or my divine soul answer it in heaven.

Thou art a traitor and a miscreant,

Too good to be so, and too bad to live, 40

Since the more fair and crystal is the sky,

The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly.

Once more, the more to aggravate the note, [43]

With a foul traitor’s name stuff I thy throat;

And wish, so please my sovereign, ere I move,

What my tongue speaks my right drawn sword may prove.

Mow. Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal:

’T is not the trial of a woman’s war,

The bitter clamour of two eager tongues,

Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain; 50

The blood is hot that must be cool’d for this:

Yet can I not of such tame patience boast

As to be hush’d and nought at all to say:

First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me

From giving reins and spurs to my free speech;

Which else would post until it had return’d

These terms of treason doubled down his throat.

Setting aside his high blood’s royalty,

And let him be no kinsman to my liege,

I do defy him, and I spit at him; 60

Call him a slanderous coward and a villain:

Which to maintain I would allow him odds,

And meet him, were I tied to run afoot [63]

Even to the frozen ridges of the Alps,

Or any other ground inhabitable, [65]

Where ever Englishman durst set his foot.

Mean time let this defend my loyalty,

By all my hopes, most falsely doth he lie.

BOLING. Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage,

Disclaiming here the kindred of the king; 70

And lay aside my high blood’s royalty,

Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except.

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,

What I have spoke, or thou canst worse devise.

Mow. I take it up;...