The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 4 of 9]Shakespeare, William
General
The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 4 of 9]
Shakespeare, William
English drama
_Boling._ Noble lords,[1421][1422]
Go to the rude ribs of that ancient castle;
Through brazen trumpet send the breath of parley[1423]
Into his ruin'd ears, and thus deliver:[1424]
Henry Bolingbroke[1424][1425][1426] 35
On both his knees doth kiss King Richard's hand[1426][1427]
And sends allegiance and true faith of heart[1428]
To his most royal person; hither come[1429]
Even at his feet to lay my arms and power,[1430]
Provided that my banishment repeal'd 40
And lands restored again be freely granted:
If not, I'll use the advantage of my power
And lay the summer's dust with showers of blood
Rain'd from the wounds of slaughter'd Englishmen:[1431]
The which, how far off from the mind of Bolingbroke[1432] 45
It is, such crimson tempest should bedrench[1433]
The fresh green lap of fair King Richard's land,
My stooping duty tenderly shall show.
Go, signify as much, while here we march
Upon the grassy carpet of this plain. 50
Let's march without the noise of threatening drum,[1434]
That from this castle's tatter'd battlements[1435]
Our fair appointments may be well perused.
Methinks King Richard and myself should meet
With no less terror than the elements 55
Of fire and water, when their thundering shock[1436]
At meeting tears the cloudy cheeks of heaven.
Be he the fire, I'll be the yielding water:[1437]
The rage be his, whilst on the earth I rain[1437][1438]
My waters; on the earth, and not on him.[1437][1439] 60
March on, and mark King Richard how he looks.
_Parle without, and answer within. Then a flourish. Enter on the
walls_, KING RICHARD, _the_ BISHOP of CARLISLE, AUMERLE,
SCROOP, _and_ SALISBURY.[1440]
See, see, King Richard doth himself appear,[1441]
As doth the blushing discontented sun
From out the fiery portal of the east,
When he perceives the envious clouds are bent 65
To dim his glory and to stain the track[1442]
Of his bright passage to the occident.
_York._ Yet looks he like a king: behold, his eye,
As bright as is the eagle's, lightens forth
Controlling majesty: alack, alack, for woe,[1443] 70
That any harm should stain so fair a show![1444]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account