Shakespeare Portal

Act 1, Scene 4

London. A Room in the King's Castle

  1. [Enter KING RICHARD, BAGOT, and GREEN, at one door; AUMERLE at another.]
  2. King Richard II
  3. 594 We did observe. Cousin Aumerle,
  4. 595 How far brought you high Hereford on his way?
  5. Duke of Aumerle
  6. 596 I brought high Hereford, if you call him so,
  7. 597 But to the next highway, and there I left him.
  8. King Richard II
  9. 598 And say, what store of parting tears were shed?
  10. Duke of Aumerle
  11. 599 Faith, none for me; except the north-east wind,
  12. 600 Which then blew bitterly against our faces,
  13. 601 Awak'd the sleeping rheum, and so by chance
  14. 602 Did grace our hollow parting with a tear.
  15. King Richard II
  16. 603 What said our cousin when you parted with him?
  17. Duke of Aumerle
  18. 604 'Farewell:'
  19. 605 And, for my heart disdained that my tongue
  20. 606 Should so profane the word, that taught me craft
  21. 607 To counterfeit oppression of such grief
  22. 608 That words seem'd buried in my sorrow's grave.
  23. 609 Marry, would the word 'farewell' have lengthen'd hours
  24. 610 And added years to his short banishment,
  25. 611 He should have had a volume of farewells;
  26. 612 But since it would not, he had none of me.
  27. King Richard II
  28. 613 He is our cousin, cousin; but 'tis doubt,
  29. 614 When time shall call him home from banishment,
  30. 615 Whether our kinsman come to see his friends.
  31. 616 Ourself, and Bushy, Bagot here and Green,
  32. 617 Observ'd his courtship to the common people,
  33. 618 How he did seem to dive into their hearts
  34. 619 With humble and familiar courtesy,
  35. 620 What reverence he did throw away on slaves,
  36. 621 Wooing poor craftsmen with the craft of smiles
  37. 622 And patient underbearing of his fortune,
  38. 623 As 'twere to banish their affects with him.
  39. 624 Off goes his bonnet to an oyster-wench;
  40. 625 A brace of draymen bid God speed him well,
  41. 626 And had the tribute of his supple knee,
  42. 627 With 'Thanks, my countrymen, my loving friends';
  43. 628 As were our England in reversion his,
  44. 629 And he our subjects' next degree in hope.
  45. Green
  46. 630 Well, he is gone; and with him go these thoughts.
  47. 631 Now for the rebels which stand out in Ireland;
  48. 632 Expedient manage must be made, my liege,
  49. 633 Ere further leisure yield them further means
  50. 634 For their advantage and your highness' loss.
  51. King Richard II
  52. 635 We will ourself in person to this war.
  53. 636 And, for our coffers, with too great a court
  54. 637 And liberal largess, are grown somewhat light,
  55. 638 We are enforc'd to farm our royal realm;
  56. 639 The revenue whereof shall furnish us
  57. 640 For our affairs in hand. If that come short,
  58. 641 Our substitutes at home shall have blank charters;
  59. 642 Whereto, when they shall know what men are rich,
  60. 643 They shall subscribe them for large sums of gold,
  61. 644 And send them after to supply our wants;
  62. 645 For we will make for Ireland presently.
  63. [Enter BUSHY.]
  64. King Richard II
  65. 646 Bushy, what news?
  66. Bushy
  67. 647 Old John of Gaunt is grievous sick, my lord,
  68. 648 Suddenly taken, and hath sent poste-haste
  69. 649 To entreat your Majesty to visit him.
  70. King Richard II
  71. 650 Where lies he?
  72. Bushy
  73. 651 At Ely House.
  74. King Richard II
  75. 652 Now put it, God, in his physician's mind
  76. 653 To help him to his grave immediately!
  77. 654 The lining of his coffers shall make coats
  78. 655 To deck our soldiers for these Irish wars.
  79. 656 Come, gentlemen, let's all go visit him:
  80. 657 Pray God we may make haste, and come too late!
  81. [Exeunt.]