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  • William Shakespeare: Richard II, Act II, Scene III

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Scene IIIWilds in GloucestershireEnter Henry Bolingbroke and Northumberland, with ForcesHenry BolingbrokeHow far is it, my lord, to Berkeley now?NorthumberlandBelieve me, noble lord, I am a stranger here in Gloucestershire: These high wild hills and rough uneven ways Draws out our miles, and makes them wearisome, And yet your fair discourse hath been as sugar, Making the hard way sweet and delectable. But I bethink me what a weary way From Ravenspurgh to Cotswold will be found In Ross and Willoughby, wanting your company, Which, I protest, hath very much beguiled The tediousness and process of my travel: But theirs is sweetened with the hope to have The present benefit which I possess; And hope to joy is little less in joy Than hope enjoy’d: by this the weary lords Shall make their way seem short, as mine hath done By sight of what I have, your noble company.Henry BolingbrokeOf much less value is my company Than your good words. But who comes here?Enter Henry PercyNorthumberlandIt is my son, young Harry Percy, Sent from my brother Worcester, whencesoever. Harry, how fares your uncle?Henry PercyI had thought, my lord, to have learn’d his health of you.NorthumberlandWhy, is he not with the queen?Henry PercyNo, my good Lord; he hath forsook the court, Broken his staff of office and dispersed The household of the king.NorthumberlandWhat was his reason? He was not so resolved when last we spake together.Henry PercyBecause your lordship was proclaimed traitor. But he, my lord, is gone to Ravenspurgh, To offer service to the Duke of Hereford, And sent me over by Berkeley, to discover What power the Duke of York had levied there; Then with directions to repair to Ravenspurgh.NorthumberlandHave you forgot the Duke of Hereford, boy?Henry PercyNo, my good lord, for that is not forgot Which ne’er I did remember: to my knowledge, I never in my life did look on him.NorthumberlandThen learn to know him now; this is the duke.Henry PercyMy gracious lord, I tender you my service, Such as it is, being tender, raw and young: Which elder days shall ripen and confirm To more approved service and desert.Henry BolingbrokeI thank thee, gentle Percy; and be sure I count myself in nothing else so happy As in a soul remembering my good friends; And, as my fortune ripens with thy love, It shall be still thy true love’s recompense: My heart this covenant makes, my hand thus seals it.NorthumberlandHow far is it to Berkeley? and what stir Keeps good old York there with his men of war?Henry PercyThere stands the castle, by yon tuft of trees, Mann’d with three hundred men, as I have heard; And in it are the Lords of York, Berkeley, and Seymour; None else of name and noble estimate.Enter Lord Ross and Lord WilloughbyNorthumberlandHere come the Lords of Ross and Willoughby, Bloody with spurring, fiery-red with haste.Henry BolingbrokeWelcome, my lords. I wot your love pursues A banish’d traitor: all my treasury Is yet but unfelt thanks, which more enrich’d Shall be your love and labour’s recompense.Lord RossYour presence makes us rich, most noble lord.Lord WilloughbyAnd far surmounts our labour to attain it.Henry BolingbrokeEvermore thanks, the exchequer of the poor; Which, till my infant fortune comes to years, Stands for my bounty. But who comes here?Enter Lord BerkeleyNorthumberlandIt is my Lord of Berkeley, as I guess.Lord BerkeleyMy Lord of Hereford, my message is to you.Henry BolingbrokeMy lord, my answer is—to Lancaster; And I am come to seek that name in England; And I must find that title in your tongue, Before I make reply to aught you say.Lord BerkeleyMistake me not, my lord; ’tis not my meaning To raze one title of your honour out: To you, my lord, I come, what lord you will, From the most gracious regent of this land, The Duke of York, to know what pricks you on To take advantage of the absent time And fright our native peace with self-born arms.Enter Duke of York attendedHenry BolingbrokeI shall not need transport my words by you; Here comes his grace in person. My noble uncle!KneelsDuke of YorkShow me thy humble heart, and not thy knee, Whose duty is deceiveable and false.Henry BolingbrokeMy gracious uncle—Duke of YorkTut, tut! Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle: I am no traitor’s uncle; and that word ‘grace.’ In an ungracious mouth is but profane. Why have those banish’d and forbidden legs Dared once to touch a dust of England’s ground? But then more ‘why?’ why have they dared to march So many miles upon her peaceful bosom, Frighting her pale-faced villages with war And ostentation of despised arms? Comest thou because the anointed king is hence? Why, foolish boy, the king is left behind, And in my loyal bosom lies his power. Were I but now the lord of such hot youth As when brave Gaunt, thy father, and myself Rescued the Black Prince, that young Mars of men, From forth the ranks of many thousand French, O, then how quickly should this arm of mine. Now prisoner to the palsy, chastise thee And minister correction to thy fault!Henry BolingbrokeMy gracious uncle, let me know my fault: On what condition stands it and wherein?Duke of YorkEven in condition of the worst degree, In gross rebellion and detested treason: Thou art a banish’d man, and here art come Before the expiration of thy time, In braving arms against thy sovereign.Henry BolingbrokeAs I was banish’d, I was banish’d Hereford; But as I come, I come for Lancaster. And, noble uncle, I beseech your grace Look on my wrongs with an indifferent eye: You are my father, for methinks in you I see old Gaunt alive; O, then, my father, Will you permit that I shall stand condemn’d A wandering vagabond; my rights and royalties Pluck’d from my arms perforce and given away To upstart unthrifts? Wherefore was I born? If that my cousin king be King of England, It must be granted I am Duke of Lancaster. You have a son, Aumerle, my noble cousin; Had you first died, and he been thus trod down, He should have found his uncle Gaunt a father, To rouse his wrongs and chase them to the bay. I am denied to sue my livery here, And yet my letters-patents give me leave: My father’s goods are all distrain’d and sold, And these and all are all amiss employ’d. What would you have me do? I am a subject, And I challenge law: attorneys are denied me; And therefore, personally I lay my claim To my inheritance of free descent.NorthumberlandThe noble duke hath been too much abused.Lord RossIt stands your grace upon to do him right.Lord WilloughbyBase men by his endowments are made great.Duke of YorkMy lords of England, let me tell you this: I have had feeling of my cousin’s wrongs And laboured all I could to do him right; But in this kind to come, in braving arms, Be his own carver and cut out his way, To find out right with wrong, it may not be; And you that do abet him in this kind Cherish rebellion and are rebels all.NorthumberlandThe noble duke hath sworn his coming is But for his own; and for the right of that We all have strongly sworn to give him aid; And let him ne’er see joy that breaks that oath!Duke of YorkWell, well, I see the issue of these arms: I cannot mend it, I must needs confess, Because my power is weak and all ill left: But if I could, by Him that gave me life, I would attach you all and make you stoop Unto the sovereign mercy of the king; But since I cannot, be it known to you I do remain as neuter. So, fare you well; Unless you please to enter in the castle And there repose you for this night.Henry BolingbrokeAn offer, uncle, that we will accept: But we must win your grace to go with us To Bristol castle, which they say is held By Bushy, Bagot and their complices, The caterpillars of the commonwealth, Which I have sworn to weed and pluck away.Duke of YorkIt may be I will go with you: but yet I’ll pause; For I am loath to break our country’s laws. Nor friends nor foes, to me welcome you are: Things past redress are now with me past care.Exeunt

William Shakespeare: Richard II, Act II

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William Shakespeare: Richard II, Act II

  • William Shakespeare: Richard II, Act II

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  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
  • The Twelve Dancing Princesses
  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
  • African Americans by the Numbers
  • Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents
  • The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales