Chapter XII: Act V: SCENE I. London. A street leading to the Tower

_Enter_ QUEEN _and_ Ladies.[1705]

_Queen._ This way the king will come; this is the way
To Julius Cæsar's ill-erected tower,
To whose flint bosom my condemned lord
Is doom'd a prisoner by proud Bolingbroke:
Here let us rest, if this rebellious earth 5
Have any resting for her true king's queen.

_Enter_ RICHARD _and_ Guard.[1706]

But soft, but see, or rather do not see,
My fair rose wither: yet look up, behold,
That you in pity may dissolve to dew,
And wash him fresh again with true-love tears. 10
Ah, thou, the model where old Troy did stand,[1707]
Thou map of honour, thou King Richard's tomb,
And not King Richard; thou most beauteous inn,
Why should hard-favour'd grief be lodged in thee,
When triumph is become an alehouse guest? 15

_K. Rich._ Join not with grief, fair woman, do not so,
To make my end too sudden: learn, good soul,
To think our former state a happy dream;
From which awaked, the truth of what we are
Shows us but this: I am sworn brother, sweet,[1708] 20
To grim Necessity, and he and I
Will keep a league till death. Hie thee to France[1709]
And cloister thee in some religious house:
Our holy lives must win a new world's crown,
Which our profane hours here have stricken down.[1710] 25

_Queen._ What, is my Richard both in shape and mind[1711]
Transform'd and weaken'd? hath Bolingbroke deposed[1712]
Thine intellect? hath he been in thy heart?
The lion dying thrusteth forth his paw,
And wounds the earth, if nothing else, with rage 30
To be o'erpower'd; and wilt thou, pupil-like,
Take thy correction mildly, kiss the rod,[1713]
And fawn on rage with base humility,
Which art a lion and a king of beasts?[1714]

_K. Rich._ A king of beasts, indeed; if aught but beasts.[1715] 35
I had been still a happy king of men.
Good sometime queen, prepare thee hence for France:[1716]
Think I am dead, and that even here thou takest,
As from my death-bed, thy last living leave.[1717]
In winter's tedious nights sit by the fire 40
With good old folks and let them tell thee tales[1718]
Of woeful ages long ago betid;[1719]
And ere thou bid good night, to quit their griefs,[1720]
Tell thou the lamentable tale of me[1721]
And send the hearers weeping to their beds: 45
For why, the senseless brands will sympathize[1722][1723]
The heavy accent of thy moving tongue[1722][1724]
And in compassion weep the fire out;[1722]
And some will mourn in ashes, some coal-black,[1722]
For the deposing of a rightful king.[1722] 50

_Enter_ NORTHUMBERLAND _and_ others.[1725]

_North._ My lord, the mind of Bolingbroke is changed;[1726]
You must to Pomfret, not unto the Tower.
And, madam, there is order ta'en for you;
With all swift speed you must away to France.

_K. Rich._ Northumberland, thou ladder wherewithal 55
The mounting Bolingbroke ascends my throne,
The time shall not be many hours of age
More than it is, ere foul sin gathering head
Shall break into corruption: thou shalt think,[1727]
Though he divide the realm, and give thee half, 60
It is too little, helping him to all;
And he shall think that thou, which know'st the way[1728]
To plant unrightful kings, wilt know again,[1729]
Being ne'er so little urged, another way[1730]
To pluck him headlong from the usurped throne. 65
The love of wicked men converts to fear;[1731]
That fear to hate, and hate turns one or both
To worthy danger and deserved death.

_North._ My guilt be on my head, and there an end.[1732]
Take leave and part; for you must part forthwith. 70

_K. Rich._ Doubly divorced! Bad men, you violate[1733]
A twofold marriage; 'twixt my crown and me,[1734]
And then betwixt me and my married wife.
Let me unkiss the oath 'twixt thee and me;[1735]
And yet not so, for with a kiss 'twas made. 75
Part us, Northumberland; I towards the north,
Where shivering cold and sickness pines the clime;
My wife to France: from whence, set forth in pomp,[1736]
She came adorned hither like sweet May,
Sent back like Hallowmas or short'st of day.[1737] 80

_Queen._ And must we be divided? must we part?

_K. Rich._ Ay, hand from hand, my love, and heart from heart.[1738]

_Queen._ Banish us both and send the king with me.

_North._ That were some love but little policy.[1739]

_Queen._ Then whither he goes, thither let me go.[1740] 85

_K. Rich._ So two, together weeping, make one woe.[1740]
Weep thou for me in France, I for thee here;[1740][1741]
Better far off than near, be ne'er the near.[1740][1742]
Go, count thy way with sighs; I mine with groans.[1740]

_Queen._ So longest way shall have the longest moans.[1740] 90

_K. Rich._ Twice for one step I'll groan, the way being short,[1740]
And piece the way out with a heavy heart.[1740]
Come, come, in wooing sorrow let's be brief,[1740]
Since, wedding it, there is such length in grief:[1740]
One kiss shall stop our mouths, and dumbly part;[1740][1743] 95
Thus give I mine, and thus take I thy heart.[1744]

_Queen._ Give me mine own again; 'twere no good part[1745]
To take on me to keep and kill thy heart.[1746]
So, now I have mine own again, be gone,
That I may strive to kill it with a groan. 100

_K. Rich._ We make woe wanton with this fond delay:
Once more, adieu; the rest let sorrow say. [_Exeunt._

SCENE II. _The_ DUKE of YORK'S _palace_.

_Enter_ YORK _and his_ DUCHESS.[1747]

_Duch._ My lord, you told me you would tell the rest,
When weeping made you break the story off[1748]
Of our two cousins coming into London.

_York._ Where did I leave?

_Duch._ At that sad stop, my lord,
Where rude misgovern'd hands from windows' tops[1749] 5
Threw dust and rubbish on King Richard's head.

_York._ Then, as I said, the duke, great Bolingbroke,
Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed
Which his aspiring rider scem'd to know,
With slow but stately pace kept on his course, 10
Whilst all tongues cried 'God save thee, Bolingbroke!'[1750]
You would have thought the very windows spake,
So many greedy looks of young and old
Through casements darted their desiring eyes
Upon his visage, and that all the walls 15
With painted imagery had said at once
'Jesu preserve thee! welcome, Bolingbroke!'[1751]
Whilst he, from the one side to the other turning,[1752]
Bareheaded, lower than his proud steed's neck,
Bespake them thus; 'I thank you, countrymen:'[1753] 20
And thus still doing, thus he pass'd along.

_Duch._ Alack, poor Richard! where rode he the whilst?[1754]

_York._ As in a theatre, the eyes of men,
After a well-graced actor leaves the stage,
Are idly bent on him that enters next, 25
Thinking his prattle to be tedious;
Even so, or with much more contempt, men's eyes
Did scowl on gentle Richard; no man cried 'God save him!'[1755]
No joyful tongue gave him his welcome home:
But dust was thrown upon his sacred head; 30
Which with such gentle sorrow he shook off,
His face still combating with tears and smiles,
The badges of his grief and patience,
That had not God, for some strong purpose, steel'd
The hearts of men, they must perforce have melted 35
And barbarism itself have pitied him.
But heaven hath a hand in these events,
To whose high will we bound our calm contents.[1756]
To Bolingbroke are we sworn subjects now,[1757]
Whose state and honour I for aye allow.[1758] 40

_Duch._ Here comes my son Aumerle.[1759]

_York._ Aumerle that was;
But that is lost for being Richard's friend,
And, madam, you must call him Rutland now:
I am in parliament pledge for his truth
And lasting fealty to the new made king. 45

_Enter_ AUMERLE.[1760]

_Duch._ Welcome, my son: who are the violets now[1761]
That strew the green lap of the new come spring?[1762]

_Aum._ Madam, I know not, nor I greatly care not:[1763]
God knows I had as lief be none as one.

_York._ Well, bear you well in this new spring of time, 50
Lest you be cropp'd before you come to prime.
What news from Oxford? hold those justs and triumphs?[1764]

_Aum._ For aught I know, my lord, they do.[1765]

_York._ You will be there, I know.[1766]

_Aum._ If God prevent not, I purpose so.[1767] 55

_York._ What seal is that, that hangs without thy bosom?
Yea, look'st thou pale? let me see the writing.[1768]

_Aum._ My lord, 'tis nothing.

_York._ No matter, then, who see it:[1769]
I will be satisfied; let me see the writing.

_Aum._ I do beseech your grace to pardon me: 60
It is a matter of small consequence,
Which for some reasons I would not have seen.

_York._ Which for some reasons, sir, I mean to see.
I fear, I fear,--

_Duch._ What should you fear?[1770]
'Tis nothing but some band, that he is enter'd into[1771] 65
For gay apparel 'gainst the triumph day.[1772]

_York._ Bound to himself! what doth he with a bond
That he is bound to? Wife, thou art a fool.[1773]
Boy, let me see the writing.

_Aum._ I do beseech you, pardon me; I may not show it.[1774] 70

_York._ I will be satisfied; let me see it, I say.[1775]

[_He plucks it out of his bosom and reads it._

Treason! foul treason! Villain! traitor! slave!

_Duch._ What is the matter, my lord?[1776]

_York._ Ho! who is within there?

_Enter a_ Servant.

Saddle my horse.[1777]
God for his mercy, what treachery is here![1778] 75

_Duch._ Why, what is it, my lord?[1779]

_York._ Give me my boots, I say; saddle my horse.

[_Exit Servant._[1780]

Now, by mine honour, by my life, by my troth,[1781]
I will appeach the villain.

_Duch._ What is the matter?[1782]

_York._ Peace, foolish woman.[1783] 80

_Duch._ I will not peace. What is the matter, Aumerle?[1784]

_Aum._ Good mother, be content; it is no more
Than my poor life must answer.

_Duch._ Thy life answer!

_York._ Bring me my boots: I will unto the king.

_Re-enter_ Servant _with boots_.[1785]

_Duch._ Strike him, Aumerle. Poor boy, thou art amazed. 85
Hence, villain! never more come in my sight.[1786]

_York._ Give me my boots, I say.[1787]

_Duch._ Why, York, what wilt thou do?
Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own?[1788]
Have we more sons? or are we like to have? 90
Is not my teeming date drunk up with time?
And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age,
And rob me of a happy mother's name?
Is he not like thee? is he not thine own?

_York._ Thou fond mad woman,[1789] 95
Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy?
A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament,
And interchangeably set down their hands,[1790]
To kill the king at Oxford.

_Duch._ He shall be none;[1791]
We'll keep him here: then what is that to him?[1791] 100

_York._ Away, fond woman! were he twenty times my son,[1792][1793]
I would appeach him.[1792]

_Duch._ Hadst thou groan'd for him[1794]
As I have done, thou wouldst be more pitiful.[1794][1795]
But now I know thy mind; thou dost suspect
That I have been disloyal to thy bed, 105
And that he is a bastard, not thy son:
Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind:
He is as like thee as a man may be,
Not like to me, or any of my kin,[1796]
And yet I love him.

_York._ Make way, unruly woman! [_Exit._ 110

_Duch._ After, Aumerle! mount thee upon his horse;
Spur post, and get before him to the king,[1797]
And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee.
I'll not be long behind; though I be old,
I doubt not but to ride as fast as York: 115
And never will I rise up from the ground
Till Bolingbroke have pardon'd thee. Away, be gone![1798]

[_Exeunt._

SCENE III. _A royal Palace._

_Enter_ BOLINGBROKE, PERCY, _and other_ Lords.[1799]

_Boling._ Can no man tell me of my unthrifty son?[1800]
'Tis full three months since I did see him last:
If any plague hang over us, 'tis he.
I would to God, my lords, he might be found:[1801]
Inquire at London, 'mongst the taverns there, 5
For there, they say, he daily doth frequent,
With unrestrained loose companions,
Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes,
And beat our watch, and rob our passengers;[1802]
Which he, young wanton and effeminate boy,[1803] 10
Takes on the point of honour to support[1804]
So dissolute a crew.[1804][1805]

_Percy._ My lord, some two days since I saw the prince,
And told him of those triumphs held at Oxford.[1806]

_Boling._ And what said the gallant? 15

_Percy._ His answer was, he would unto the stews,[1807]
And from the common'st creature pluck a glove,[1808]
And wear it as a favour; and with that
He would unhorse the lustiest challenger.

_Boling._ As dissolute as desperate; yet through both[1809] 20
I see some sparks of better hope, which elder years[1809][1810]
May happily bring forth. But who comes here?[1809][22]

_Enter_ AUMERLE.[1811]

_Aum._ Where is the king?

_Boling._ What means our cousin, that he stares and looks[1812][1813]
So wildly?[1812] 25

_Aum._ God save your grace! I do beseech your majesty,
To have some conference with your grace alone.

_Boling._ Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone.

[_Exeunt Percy and Lords._[1814]

What is the matter with our cousin now?

_Aum._ For ever may my knees grow to the earth,[1815] 30
My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth,
Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak.

_Boling._ Intended or committed was this fault?
If on the first, how heinous e'er it be,[1816]
To win thy after-love I pardon thee. 35

_Aum._ Then give me leave that I may turn the key,[1817]
That no man enter till my tale be done.[1818]

_Boling._ Have thy desire.[1819]

_York._ [_Within_] My liege, beware; look to thyself;[1820]
Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there.[1821] 40

_Boling._ Villain, I'll make thee safe.[1822] [_Drawing._

_Aum._ Stay thy revengeful hand; thou hast no cause to
fear.[1822][1823]

_York._ [_Within_] Open the door, secure, foolhardy king:[1824]
Shall I for love speak treason to thy face?
Open the door, or I will break it open. 45

_Enter_ YORK.

_Boling._ What is the matter, uncle? speak;[1825][1826][1827]
Recover breath; tell us how near is danger,[1826]
That we may arm us to encounter it.

_York._ Peruse this writing here, and thou shalt know
The treason that my haste forbids me show.[1828] 50

_Aum._ Remember, as thou read'st, thy promise pass'd:
I do repent me; read not my name there;
My heart is not confederate with my hand.

_York._ It was, villain, ere thy hand did set it down.[1829]
I tore it from the traitor's bosom, king;[1830] 55
Fear, and not love, begets his penitence:[1831]
Forget to pity him, lest thy pity prove
A serpent that will sting thee to the heart.[1832]

_Boling._ O heinous, strong and bold conspiracy!
O loyal father of a treacherous son! 60
Thou sheer, immaculate and silver fountain,[1833]
From whence this stream through muddy passages
Hath held his current and denied himself![1834]
Thy overflow of good converts to bad,[1835]
And thy abundant goodness shall excuse[1836] 65
This deadly blot in thy digressing son.[1837]

_York._ So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd;
And he shall spend mine honour with his shame,
As thriftless sons their scraping fathers' gold.
Mine honour lives when his dishonour dies, 70
Or my shamed life in his dishonour lies:
Thou kill'st me in his life; giving him breath,
The traitor lives, the true man's put to death.

_Duch._ [_Within_] What ho, my liege! for God's sake, let me in.[1838]

_Boling._ What shrill-voiced suppliant makes this eager cry.[1839] 75

_Duch._ A woman, and thy aunt, great king; 'tis I.[1840]
Speak with me, pity me, open the door:
A beggar begs that never begg'd before.

_Boling._ Our scene is alter'd from a serious thing,[1841][1842]
And now changed to 'The Beggar and the King.'[1841][1842] 80
My dangerous cousin, let your mother in:
I know she is come to pray for your foul sin.[1843]

_York._ If thou do pardon, whosoever pray,
More sins for this forgiveness prosper may.[1844]
This fester'd joint cut off, the rest rest sound;[1845] 85
This let alone will all the rest confound.

_Enter_ DUCHESS.

_Duch._ O king, believe not this hard-hearted man![1846]
Love loving not itself none other can.

_York._ Thou frantic woman, what dost thou make here?[1847]
Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear? 90

_Duch._ Sweet York, be patient. Hear me, gentle liege. [_Kneels._

_Boling._ Rise up, good aunt.

_Duch._ Not yet, I thee beseech:
For ever will I walk upon my knees,[1848]
And never see day that the happy sees,
Till thou give joy; until thou bid me joy,[1849] 95
By pardoning Rutland, my transgressing boy.

_Aum._ Unto my mother's prayers I bend my knee.

_York._ Against them both my true joints bended be.
Ill mayst thou thrive, if thou grant any grace![1850]

_Duch._ Pleads he in earnest? look upon his face; 100
His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are in jest;[1851]
His words come from his mouth, ours from our breast:[1852]
He prays but faintly and would be denied;
We pray with heart and soul and all beside:
His weary joints would gladly rise, I know; 105
Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow:[1853]
His prayers are full of false hypocrisy;
Ours of true zeal and deep integrity.
Our prayers do out-pray his; then let them have[1854]
That mercy which true prayer ought to have.[1855] 110

_Boling._ Good aunt, stand up.[1856]

_Duch._ Nay, do not say, 'stand up;'
Say 'pardon' first, and afterwards 'stand up.'[1857]
An if I were thy nurse, thy tongue to teach,[1858]
'Pardon' should be the first word of thy speech.
I never long'd to hear a word till now; 115
Say 'pardon,' king; let pity teach thee how:[1859]
The word is short, but not so short as sweet;[1860]
No word like 'pardon' for kings' mouths so meet.[1860][1861]

_York._ Speak it in French, king; say, 'pardonne moi.'[1860][1862]

_Duch._ Dost thou teach pardon pardon to destroy?[1860][1863] 120
Ah, my sour husband, my hard-hearted lord,[1860]
That set'st the word itself against the word![1860][1864]
Speak 'pardon' as 'tis current in our land;[1860]
The chopping French we do not understand.[1860]
Thine eye begins to speak, set thy tongue there:[1860] 125
Or in thy piteous heart plant thou thine ear;[1860]
That hearing how our plaints and prayers do pierce,[1860]
Pity may move thee 'pardon' to rehearse.[1860][1865]

_Boling._ Good aunt, stand up.

_Duch._ I do not sue to stand;
Pardon is all the suit I have in hand. 130

_Boling._ I pardon him, as God shall pardon me.[1866]

_Duch._ O happy vantage of a kneeling knee!
Yet am I sick for fear: speak it again;
Twice saying 'pardon' doth not pardon twain,
But makes one pardon strong.

_Boling._ With all my heart[1867] 135
I pardon him.[1867]

_Duch._ A god on earth thou art.

_Boling._ But for our trusty brother-in-law, and the abbot,[1868]
With all the rest of that consorted crew,
Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels.
Good uncle, help to order several powers 140
To Oxford, or where'er these traitors are:[1869]
They shall not live within this world, I swear,[1870]
But I will have them, if I once know where.[1870][1871]
Uncle, farewell: and, cousin too, adieu:[1870][1872]
Your mother well hath pray'd, and prove you true.[1870] 145

_Duch._ Come, my old son: I pray God make thee new.[1866][1870]

[_Exeunt._[1873]

SCENE IV. _The same._

_Enter_ EXTON _and_ Servant.[1874]

_Exton._ Didst thou not mark the king, what words he spake,[1875]
'Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear?'
Was it not so?

_Ser._ These were his very words.[1876][1877]

_Exton._ 'Have I no friend?' quoth he: he spake it twice.[1878]
And urged it twice together, did he not? 5

_Ser._ He did.[1876]

_Exton._ And speaking it, he wistly look'd on me;[1879]
As who should say, 'I would thou wert the man[1880]
That would divorce this terror from my heart;'
Meaning the king at Pomfret. Come, let's go: 10
I am the king's friend, and will rid his foe. [_Exeunt._[1881]

SCENE V. _Pomfret castle._

_Enter_ KING RICHARD.[1882]

_K. Rich._ I have been studying how I may compare[1883]
This prison where I live unto the world:
And for because the world is populous
And here is not a creature but myself,
I cannot do it; yet I'll hammer it out.[1884] 5
My brain I'll prove the female to my soul,[1885]
My soul the father; and these two beget
A generation of still-breeding thoughts,
And these same thoughts people this little world,
In humours like the people of this world, 10
For no thought is contented. The better sort,[1886]
As thoughts of things divine, are intermix'd
With scruples and do set the word itself[1887]
Against the word:[1887][1888][1889]
As thus, 'Come, little ones,' and then again,[1888] 15
'It is as hard to come as for a camel
To thread the postern of a small needle's eye.'[1890]
Thoughts tending to ambition, they do plot
Unlikely wonders; how these vain weak nails
May tear a passage through the flinty ribs[1891] 20
Of this hard world, my ragged prison walls,
And, for they cannot, die in their own pride.
Thoughts tending to content flatter themselves
That they are not the first of fortune's slaves,
Nor shall not be the last; like silly beggars[1892] 25
Who sitting in the stocks refuge their shame,[1893]
That many have and others must sit there;[1894]
And in this thought they find a kind of ease,
Bearing their own misfortunes on the back[1895]
Of such as have before endured the like. 30
Thus play I in one person many people,[1896]
And none contented: sometimes am I king;[1897]
Then treasons make me wish myself a beggar,[1898]
And so I am: then crushing penury
Persuades me I was better when a king; 35
Then am I king'd again: and by and by[1899]
Think that I am unking'd by Bolingbroke,
And straight am nothing: but whate'er I be,[1900]
Nor I nor any man that but man is
With nothing shall be pleased, till he be eased[1901] 40
With being nothing. Music do I hear? [_Music._[1902]
Ha, ha! keep time: how sour sweet music is,
When time is broke and no proportion kept!
So is it in the music of men's lives.
And here have I the daintiness of ear[1903] 45
To check time broke in a disorder'd string;[1904]
But for the concord of my state and time
Had not an ear to hear my true time broke.
I wasted time, and now doth time waste me;
For now hath time made me his numbering clock:[1905] 50
My thoughts are minutes; and with sighs they jar[1906]
Their watches on unto mine eyes, the outward watch,[1907]
Whereto my finger, like a dial's point,
Is pointing still, in cleansing them from tears.
Now sir, the sound that tells what hour it is[1908] 55
Are clamorous groans, which strike upon my heart,[1909]
Which is the bell: so sighs and tears and groans[1910]
Show minutes, times, and hours: but my time[1911]
Runs, posting on in Bolingbroke's proud joy,
While I stand fooling here, his Jack o' the clock.[1912] 60
This music mads me; let it sound no more;[1913]
For though it have holp madmen to their wits,
In me it seems it will make wise men mad.[1914]
Yet blessing on his heart that gives it me!
For 'tis a sign of love; and love to Richard 65
Is a strange brooch in this all-hating world.

_Enter a_ Groom of the Stable.[1915]

_Groom._ Hail, royal prince![1916]

_K. Rich._ Thanks, noble peer;[1917]
The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear.[1917][1918]
What art thou? and how comest thou hither,[1919]
Where no man never comes, but that sad dog[1920] 70
That brings me food to make misfortune live?

_Groom._ I was a poor groom of thy stable, king,
When thou wert king; who, travelling towards York,
With much ado at length have gotten leave
To look upon my sometimes royal master's face.[1921] 75
O, how it yearn'd my heart when I beheld[1922]
In London streets, that coronation-day,
When Bolingbroke rode on roan Barbary,
That horse that thou so often hast bestrid,[1923]
That horse that I so carefully have dress'd! 80

_K. Rich._ Rode he on Barbary? Tell me, gentle friend,
How went he under him?

_Groom._ So proudly as if he disdain'd the ground.[1924]

_K. Rich._ So proud that Bolingbroke was on his back!
That jade hath eat bread from my royal hand; 85
This hand hath made him proud with clapping him.
Would he not stumble? would he not fall down,
Since pride must have a fall, and break the neck
Of that proud man that did usurp his back?
Forgiveness, horse! why do I rail on thee, 90
Since thou, created to be awed by man,
Wast born to bear? I was not made a horse;
And yet I bear a burthen like an ass,
Spurr'd, gall'd and tired by jauncing Bolingbroke.

_Enter_ Keeper, _with a dish_.[1925]

_Keep._ Fellow, give place; here is no longer stay.[1926] 95

_K. Rich._ If thou love me, 'tis time thou wert away.

_Groom._ What my tongue dares not, that my heart shall say.

[_Exit._[1927]

_Keep._ My lord, will't please you to fall to?[1928]

_K. Rich._ Taste of it first, as thou art wont to do.[1929]

_Keep._ My lord, I dare not: sir Pierce of Exton, who[1930][1931] 100
lately came from the king, commands the contrary.[1930][1932]

_K. Rich._ The devil take Henry of Lancaster and thee![1933]
Patience is stale, and I am weary of it. [_Beats the Keeper._[1934]

_Keep._ Help, help, help!

_Enter_ EXTON _and_ Servants, _armed_.[1935]

_K. Rich._ How now! what means death in this rude assault?[1936] 105
Villain, thy own hand yields thy death's instrument.

[_Snatching an axe from a Servant and killing him._[1937]

Go thou, and fill another room in hell.

[_He kills another. Then Exton strikes him down._[1938]

That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire
That staggers thus my person. Exton, thy fierce hand[1939]
Hath with the king's blood stain'd the king's own land. 110
Mount, mount, my soul! thy seat is up on high;
Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die. [_Dies._[1940]

_Exton._ As full of valour as of royal blood:
Both have I spill'd; O would the deed were good![1941]
For now the devil, that told me I did well, 115
Says that this deed is chronicled in hell.
This dead king to the living king I'll bear:
Take hence the rest, and give them burial here. [_Exeunt._[1942]

SCENE VI. _Windsor castle._

_Flourish. Enter_ BOLINGBROKE, YORK, _with other_ Lords, _and_
Attendants.[1943]

_Boling._ Kind uncle York, the latest news we hear[1944]
Is that the rebels have consumed with fire
Our town of Cicester in Gloucestershire;[1945]
But whether they be ta'en or slain we hear not.

_Enter_ NORTHUMBERLAND.[1946]

Welcome, my lord: what is the news?[1947][1948] 5

_North._ First, to thy sacred state wish I all happiness.[1947]
The next news is, I have to London sent
The heads of Oxford, Salisbury, Blunt, and Kent:[1949]
The manner of their taking may appear
At large discoursed in this paper here. 10

_Boling._ We thank thee, gentle Percy, for thy pains;
And to thy worth will add right worthy gains.

_Enter_ FITZWATER.[1950]

_Fitz._ My lord, I have from Oxford sent to London
The heads of Brocas and Sir Bennet Seely,[1951]
Two of the dangerous consorted traitors 15
That sought at Oxford thy dire overthrow.

_Boling._ Thy pains, Fitzwater, shall not be forgot;[1952]
Right noble is thy merit, well I wot.[1953]

_Enter_ PERCY, and the BISHOP of CARLISLE.

_Percy._ The grand conspirator, Abbot of Westminster,
With clog of conscience and sour melancholy 20
Hath yielded up his body to the grave;
But here is Carlisle living, to abide[1954]
Thy kingly doom and sentence of his pride.

_Boling._ Carlisle, this is your doom:[1955]
Choose out some secret place, some reverend room,[1956] 25
More than thou hast, and with it joy thy life;[1957]
So as thou livest in peace, die free from strife:
For though mine enemy thou hast ever been,
High sparks of honour in thee have I seen.

_Enter_ EXTON, _with persons bearing a coffin_.[1958]

_Exton._ Great king, within this coffin I present 30
Thy buried fear: herein all breathless lies
The mightiest of thy greatest enemies,[1959]
Richard of Bordeaux, by me hither brought.[1960]

_Boling._ Exton, I thank thee not; for thou hast wrought
A deed of slander, with thy fatal hand,[1961] 35
Upon my head and all this famous land.

_Exton._ From your own mouth, my lord, did I this deed.[1962]

_Boling._ They love not poison that do poison need,
Nor do I thee: though I did wish him dead,
I hate the murderer, love him murdered. 40
The guilt of conscience take thou for thy labour,
But neither my good word nor princely favour:
With Cain go wander thorough shades of night,[1963]
And never show thy head by day nor light.[1964]
Lords, I protest, my soul is full of woe, 45
That blood should sprinkle me to make me grow:[1965]
Come, mourn with me for that I do lament,[1966]
And put on sullen black incontinent:[1967]
I'll make a voyage to the Holy Land,[1968]
To wash this blood off from my guilty hand: 50
March sadly after; grace my mournings here;[1969]
In weeping after this untimely bier. [_Exeunt._[1970]

FOOTNOTES:

[1705] ACT V. SCENE I.] Ff Q₅. ACT IV. SCENE II. Capell.

London ... Tower.] Capell. Continues in London. Pope.

Enter ... Ladies] Ff Q₅. Enter the Queene with her attendants Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ (Enter Queene Q₃ Q₄).

[1706] Enter ... Guard.] Ff Q₅. Enter Ric. Q₁ Q₂. Enter Richard. Q₃ Q₄.

[1707] _Ah, thou_] _Thou_ Rowe (ed. 2). _O thou_ Pope.

[To K. Rich. Rowe.

_model_] _modle_ Q₁ Q₂.

[1708] _brother, sweet_] _(brother sweet)_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1709] _Hie_] _High_ Ff Q₅.

[1710] _stricken_] Ff Q₅. _thrown_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1711] _What_] _How_ Pope.

[1712] _weaken'd_] _weak_ Pope, ending the line at _depos'd_. Qq Ff end the line at _Bullingbrooke_.

_Bolingbroke_] _proud Bolingbroke_ Capell. _this Bolingbroke_ Collier MS. (ending the line as Qq Ff).

[1713] _thy_] _the_ Q₁.

_correction mildly,_] Ff Q₅. _correction, mildly_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1714] _a king_] _the king_ Q₁.

_beasts_] _beast_ Q₅.

[1715] _but beasts_] _but beast_ Q₃ Q₄.

[1716] _sometime queen,_] _(sometimes queene)_ Q₁ Q₂. _(sometime Queene)_ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ Q₅. _(sometime) queen_ F₃ F₄.

[1717] _thy_] Q₁. The rest _my_.

[1718] _thee_] _the_ Q₁.

[1719] _betid_] Hanmer. _betidde_ Q₁. _betide_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅.

[1720] _night_] om. Q₄.]

_quit_] Ff Q₅. _quite_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _quiet_ Anon. conj.

_griefs_] _griefes_ Q₁. _griefe_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ Q₅. _grief_ F₃ F₄.

[1721] _tale_] _fall_ Ff Q₅.

[1722] _For ... king_] Put in the margin by Pope.

[1723] _For why,_] Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _For why?_ Ff Q₅.

_sympathize_] _simpathie_ Q₂. _simpathy_ Q₃ Q₄.

[1724] _The heavy_] _With the heavy_ Keightley conj.

_thy_] _my_ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[1725] and others] Capell.

[1726] SCENE II. Pope.

[1727] _corruption_] _convulsion_ Collier conj.

[1728] _And he_] Rowe. _He_ Qq Ff.

_know'st_] _knowest_ Q₁.

[1729] _wilt_] _will_ Q₃ Q₄.

[1730] _urged,_] _urg'd,_ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. _urg'd_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁.

[1731] _men_] _friends_ Ff Q₅.

[1732] North.] om. Q₂.

_there_] _there's_ F₄.

[1733] _you_] _ye_ Ff Q₅.

[1734] _marriage; 'twixt_] Ff Q₅. _marriage twixt_ Q₁. _marriage, betwixt_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1735] _'twixt_] _betwixt_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[To the Queen. Rowe.

[1736] _wife_] _Queene_ Ff Q₅.

_set_] _sent_ Anon. conj.

[1737] _Hallowmas_] Malone. _Hollowmas_ Qq Ff.

_short'st of day_] _shortest day_ Rowe.

[1738] _Ay ... heart_] Omitted by Pope.

[1739] North.] Ff Q₅. King. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1740] _Then ... part_] Put in the margin by Pope.

[1741] _thou_] om. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

_for_] _for for_ Q₅.

[1742] _off ... the near_] _off than neere be nere the neare_ Q₁. _off then neere be nere the neere_ Q₂. _off then neere be neare the neere_ Q₃ Q₄. _off, then neere, be ne're the neere_ F₁ F₂ Q₅ (_than_ F₂ Q₅) and so, substantially, F₃ F₄. _off, than--near, be ne'er the near'_ Capell. _off than near, being ne'er the near_ Collier (Collier MS.). See note (XXIV).

[1743] _dumbly_] Q₁ F₃ F₄. _dumbely_ F₁ F₂. _doubly_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[1744] [They kiss. Rowe.

[1745] _mine_] _my_ Q₃ Q₄.

[1746] [Kiss again. Rowe.

[1747] SCENE II.] SCENE III. Pope. ACT V. SCENE I. Capell.

The ... palace.] Pope. The same (i.e. London). A room in York's house. Capell.

Enter ...] Ff Q₅. Enter the Duke of Yorke and the Dutchesse. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1748] _off_] _of_ Q₁. om. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1749] _windows'_]_window_ Pope.

[1750] _Whilst_] Q₁. _While_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅.

_thee,_] F₄. _thee_ F₁ F₂ Q₅ F₃. _the_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1751] _thee!_] _thee,_ Ff Q₅. _the_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1752] _the one_] _one_ Ff Q₅.

[1753] _Bespake_] _Bespeak_ F₄. _Bespoke_ Rowe.

[1754] _Alack_] _Alac_ Q₁. _Alacke_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _Alas_ Ff Q₅.

_rode_] Q₁. _rides_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅.

_whilst_] _while_ Pope.

[1755] _gentle Richard_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _gentle Ric._ Q₁. _Richard_ Ff Q₅. See note (XXV).

[1756] _bound_] _bind_ Capell.

[1757] _subjects_] _subject_ Q₃ Q₄.

[1758] _for_] _for for_ F₂.

[1759] SCENE IV. Pope.

[1760] _to_] _in_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

Enter Aumerle.] Ff (after line 40). Enter Aum. Q₃ Q₄ (at line 41). om. Q₁ Q₂.

[1761] _are_] _art_ Q₃ Q₄.

[1762] _spring?_] Ff Q₅. _spring_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1763] _nor ... not_] _nor do greatly care_ Hanmer.

_care not_] _care_ Rowe.

[1764] _hold those ..._] Ff Q₅. _do these ... hold_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1765] _my lord_] om. Pope.

_they do_] om. Capell.

[1766] _I know_] om. Pope.

[1767] _prevent_] _prevent me_ Rowe. _prevent it_ Capell.

_purpose_] _do purpose_ Grant White conj.

[1768] _Yea ... let me_] _Yea ... come, let me_ Hanmer. _Yea ... boy, let me_ Malone conj. _Boy ... come, let me_ Rann conj.

_pale?_] _pale, sir?_ Capell.

_writing_] _writing, sir_ Keightley conj. See note (XXVI).

[1769] _see_] _sees_ Ff Q₅.

[1770] _I fear,--_] _I fear me--_ Seymour conj.

_What_] _You fear? What_ Capell.

_fear?_] _fear, my lord?_ Pope.

[1771] _band_] _bond_ Ff Q₅.

_that he is_] _he's_ Pope.

[1772] _gay_] _gay and fit_ Seymour conj.

_'gainst ... day._] _gainst ... day._ Q₁. _against the triumph._ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅. _now against the triumph._ Hanmer.

[1773] _bound to?_] Q₄ Ff Q₅. _bound to._ Q₁ Q₂. _bound to:_ Q₃.

[pushing her away. Capell.

[1774] _I do beseech_] _'Beseech_ Capell. _I beseech_ Seymour conj.

_pardon me_] _To pardon me, my lord_ Seymour conj.

[1775] _see it_] _see't_ Q₅.

[He ... reads it.] Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Snatches it. Ff Q₅.

[1776] _What is_] _What's_ Ff Q₅.

[1777] _who is_] _who's_ Ff Q₅.

Enter a Servant.] Servant appears. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

_Saddle_] _Saddle me_ Hanmer.

[1778] _God_] _Heaven_ Ff Q₅.

_here!_] Capell. _here?_ Qq Ff.

[1779] _is it_] _is't_ Ff Q₅.

[1780] [Exit Servant.] Capell.

[1781] _mine_] _my_ Ff Q₅.

_by my ... by my_] Q₁. _my ... my_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅. _by my ... my_ Pope.

[1782] _What is_] _What's_ Capell.

[1783] _woman_] _woman, peace_ Seymour conj.

[1784] _Aumerle_] _sonne_ F₁ F₂ Q₅. _son_ F₃ F₄.

[1785] SCENE V. Pope.

_me_] om. F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

Re-enter ...] Enter ... Ff Q₅ (after line 84). His man enters with his bootes. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1786] [Speaking to the Servant. Pope.

[1787] _I say_] om. Pope.

[1788] _thou not_] _not thou_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1789] _mad_] _and mad_ Q₅.

[1790] _set down_] _set_ F₃ F₄. _have set_ Rowe.

_their_] _there_ Q₁.

[1791] _He ... here_] As one line in Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1792] _Away ... him_] As in Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄; as prose in Ff Q₅; as two lines in Rowe (ed. 2), the first ending _times_.

[1793] _Were_] _where_ F₂.

[1794] _Hadst ... done_] Arranged as in Rowe (ed. 2); as one line in Qq Ff.

[1795] _thou wouldst_] _thou wouldest_ F₁ F₂ Q₅. _thou'dst_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[1796] _Not_] _Nor_ Rowe (ed. 2).

_to_] om. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

_or_] Q₁. The rest _nor_.

[1797] _Spur post_] _Spur, post_ Capell.

[1798] _be gone_] om. Pope.

[Exeunt.] Exit. Ff. Ex. Q₁.

[1799] SCENE III.] SCENE VI. Pope. SCENE II. Capell.

A royal Palace.] Oxford. Pope. The court at Windsor-Castle. Theobald.

Enter ...] Ff Q₅. Enter the King with his nobles. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1800] _tell me_] _tell_ Ff Q₅.

[1801] _God_] _heaven_ Ff Q₅.

[1802] _beat ... rob_] _rob ... beat_ Ff Q₅.

[1803] _Which_] _While_ Pope. _Whilst_ Capell.

_young wanton_] _yong wanton_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _yong wanton,_ F₁ F₂. _young wanton,_ Q₅ F₃ F₄. _young, wanton_ Rowe.

[1804] _Takes ... crew_] As in Ff Q₅; as one line in Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1805] _So ... crew_] See note (XXVII).

[1806] _those_] _these_ Ff Q₅. _the_ Hanmer.

[1807] _unto_] _to_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1808] _common'st_] Ff Q₅. _commonest_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1809] See note (XXVIII).

[1810] _sparks_] _sparkles_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

_sparks of better_] _sparks of_ Pope. _sparkles of a better_ Capell (reading as one line _which ... forth_).

_years_] _dayes_ Ff Q₅.

[1811] Enter A.] Ff Q₅. Enter Aumerle amazed. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1812] _What ... wildly?_] Arranged as by Collier; as one line in Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄; as two lines in Ff Q₅, the first ending _stares_; as two lines in Capell, the first ending _means_.

[1813] _our_] _my_ Q₅.

[1814] Exeunt ...] Exeunt Lords. Hanmer.

[1815] [Kneels. Rowe.

[1816] _on_] _but_ Pope. _of_ Collier (ed. 2). _only_ Anon. conj.

[1817] _I may_] _May_ Q₁.

[1818] _my tale be_] _my tale me_ F₁. _the tale be_ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[1819] [Aumerle rises, and locks the door. Capell.

[1820] The Duke of Yorke knocks at the doore and cryeth. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ (knokes Q₁). Yorke within. Ff (at line 38).

_beware ... thy self_] _lock to thyself; beware;_ Anon. conj.

_thyself_] _thyself, my liege_ Capell.

[1821] [Drawing.] In act to stab. Capell.

[1822] _Villain ... hand_] As one line in Capell.

[1823] _Stay ... fear_] As in Qq; as prose in Ff.

[1824] [Within] Capell.

_secure, foolhardy_] _secure foole, hardie_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ (_hardy_ Q₃ Q₄).

[1825] SCENE VII. Pope.

[Opens and shuts again. Capell.

[1826] _What ... danger_] As in Capell; as two lines in Qq Ff, the first ending _breath_.

[1827] _speak; Recover_] _speak, take_ Pope. _Recover_ Capell.

[1828] _treason_] _reason_ Ff Q₅.

[1829] _It was, villain ... did set_] _Villain, it was ... set_ Pope.

[1830] _it_] om. Q₂.

[1831] _not_] _nos_ Q₄.

[1832] _the_] _thee_ Q₄.

[1833] _sheer_] _clear_ Pope.

[1834] _held_] Q₁ Q₂. _hald_ Q₃ Q₄. _had_ Ff Q₅.

[1835] _converts to bad_] _converts the bad_ Warburton (Theobald conj.). _covers the bad_ Long MS.

[1836] _thy_] _thine_ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

_abundant_] _aboundant_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1837] See note (XXIX).

[1838] [Within] om. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Dutchesse within Ff (after line 72).

_God's_] _heavens_ Ff Q₅.

[1839] _shrill-voiced_] _shril voice_ Q₁ Q₂.

[1840] _thy_] _thine_ Ff Q₅.

[1841] _Our ... King_] Put in the margin by Pope.

[1842] _alter'd from ... thing, And now_] _alter'd; from ... thing, 'Tis now_ Capell.

[1843] _she is_] _she's_ Ff Q₅.

[Aumerle unlocks the door. Dyce.

[1844] _this_] _his_ Pope.

[1845] _fester'd_] _fetter'd_ Capell (corrected in Notes).

_rest rest_] _rest rests_ Ff Q₅. _rest is_ Pope.

[1846] SCENE VII. Pope.

_hard-hearted_] _heard-hearted_ F₂.

[1847] _make_] _do_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[1848] _walk_] _kneele_ F₁ F₂ Q₅. _kneel_ F₃ F₄.

[1849] _give joy_] _give light_ Anon. conj.

[1850] _Ill ... grace_] Omitted in Ff Q₅.

[1851] _do_] om. Pope.

_in_] om. Capell.

[1852] _come_] _do come_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1853] _shall_] Ff Q₅. _still_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

_ground_] _earth_ Capell (corrected in Notes).

[1854] _them_] _him_ Q₅.

_have_] _crave_ Pope.

[1855] _prayer_] _prayers_ Ff Q₅.

_have_] _crave_ S. Walker conj.

[1856] Boling.] Bul. Ff Q₅. Yorke Q₁. King. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1857] _Say ... and_] _But ... and_ Ff Q₅. _But ... say_ Pope.

[1858] _An if_] Theobald. _And if_ Qq Ff.

[1859] _thee_] _the_ Q₄.

[1860] _The word ... rehearse_] Put in the margin by Pope. Placed by Theobald after _strong_, line 134.

[1861] _mouths_] F₃ F₄. _mouthes_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _mouth's_ F₁ F₂ Q₅.

[1862] _say_] _sayd_ F₂.

_pardonne moi_] _pardonne moy_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _pardon'ne moy_ Ff Q₅. _pardonnez moy_ Rowe. _pardon,--a moi!_ Bubier conj.

[1863] _pardon pardon to destroy?_] _pardon? pardon to destroy:_ Q₃ Q₄.

[1864] _set'st_] Q₅ F₂ F₃ F₄. _sets_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _set's_ F₁.

[1865] Boling.] Yorke. Q₁.

[1866] _God_] _heaven_ Ff Q₅.

[1867] _With ... him_] Pope. _I pardon him with all my heart_ QqFf (_al_ Q₁ Q₂; _hart_ F₁).

[1868] _and the_] _the_ Ff Q₅. _--the_ Theobald. See note (XXX).

[1869] _where'er ... are_] _where else ... be_ Collier MS.

[1870] _They ... new_] Put in the margin by Pope.

[1871] _if I once know_] Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁. _once know_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _if I once knew_ Q₅. _so I once know_ Collier MS.

[1872] _too_] Q₅. om. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff. _mine_ Collier (Collier MS.). See note (XXXI).

[1873] [Exeunt.] Exeunt. Manet sir Pierce Exton, &c. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ (Pirce Q₁). Exit. Ff Q₅.

[1874] SCENE IV.] Steevens. SCENE IX. Pope. SCENE III. Capell. SCENE continued in Ff Q₅.

Enter ...] Ff Q₅ (Servants. F₁).

[1875] _king_] _K._ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

_words_] _works_ Q₃.

[1876] Ser.] Ff Q₅. Man. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1877] _These_] _Those_ Ff Q₅.

_very_] om. Q₅.

[1878] _friend_] _friends_ F₂.

[1879] _speaking it, he wistly_] _speaking't wistly,_ Seymour conj.

_wistly_] _wishtly_ Q₁ Q₂. _wistfully_ Reed (1803).

[1880] _should_] _shall_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[1881] [Exeunt] Q₃ Q₄. Exit. Ff Q₅. om. Q₁ Q₂.

[1882] SCENE V.] Steevens. Scæna Quarta. Ff Q₅. SCENE X. Pope. SCENE IV. Capell.

Pomfret castle.] A prison at Pomfret castle. Pope.

Enter ...] Enter R. alone. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Enter R. Ff Q₅.

[1883] _I may_] Q₁. _to_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅.

[1884] _hammer it_] Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _hammer't_ Ff Q₅.

_it out_] _on't_ Pope.

[1885] _I'll prove_] _shall prove_ Hanmer. _will prove_ Keightley conj.

[1886] _contented_] _content_ Hanmer.

[1887] _word ... word_] _faith ... faith_ Ff Q₅.

[1888] _Against ... again_] As in Capell; as one line in QqFf.

[1889] _the_] _thy_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1890] _postern_] _small posterne_ Q₃ Q₄.

_small_] om. Ff Q₅.

[1891] _through_] Ff Q₅. _thorow_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1892] _Nor_] _And_ Pope.

_silly_] Ff Q₅. _seely_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1893] _refuge_] _refnuge_ Q₄.

_refuge their_] _refuse that_ Q₅.

[1894] _sit_] _set_ Q₁ Q₂.

[1895] _misfortunes_] _misfortune_ Ff Q₅.

[1896] _person_] Q₁. The rest _prison_.

[1897] _king_] _a king_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1898] _treasons make_] _treason makes_ Ff Q₅.

[1899] _king'd_] _king_ Q₂. _a king_ Q₃ Q₄.

[1900] _be_] _am_ Ff Q₅.

[1901] _With nothing_] _With anything_ Keightley conj.

[1902] _hear?_] _heare,_ Q₁ Q₂. _heare;_ Q₃ Q₄.

[Music.] musike plaies. Q₁ Q₂. Musicke playes. Q₃. Musicks plaies. Q₄. Musick. Ff Q₅ (after line 38).

[1903] _ear_] _care_ Q₄.

[1904] _check_] _heare_ F₁ F₂ Q₅. _hear_ F₃ F₄.

_a_] om. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

_disorder'd_] Ff Q₅. _disordered_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1905] _me_] om. Q₃ Q₄.

[1906] _jar_] Hanmer. _jar,_ F₄. _jarre;_ F₃. _iarre,_ Qq F₁ F₂.

[1907] _Their_] _There_ Q₄ Q₅.

_watches on_] _watch is on_ Jackson conj. _motions_ Keightley conj.

_on unto mine_] _to mine_ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. _on; mine_ Johnson conj. _on mine_ Anon. conj.

[1908] _sir_] _for_ Collier (Collier conj.).

_sound ... tells_] _sounds ... tell_ Pope.

[1909] _which_] _that_ Ff Q₅.

[1910] _Which ... groans_] Repeated in Q₂.

[1911] _times, and hours_] _houres, and times_ Ff Q₅.

_but_] _O, but_ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[1912] _o' the_] _o' th'_ Ff Q₅. _of the_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1913] _have_] _hath_ Q₄.

_holp_] _help'd_ Pope.

[1914] _wise men_] _wise-men_ Ff Q₅.

[1915] _brooch_] _broach_ Hunter conj. _gift_ Anon. M.S. apud Halliwell.

_all-hating_] _fall-hating_ Hanmer (Warburton conj.).

Enter ... stable.] Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Enter Groome. Ff Q₅.

[1916] SCENE XI. Pope.

[1917] _Thanks ... dear._] Put in the margin by Pope.

[1918] _groats_] _gortes_ Q₂.

[1919] _art thou? and how_] _art? how_ Pope.

_hither_] _hither, man_ Capell. _in hither_ Keightley conj.

[1920] _never_] Q₁ Q₂ Q₃. _ever_ Q₄ Ff Q₅.

_dog_] Q₁ Q₂ F₄. _dogge_ Q₃ Q₄ F₁ F₂ Q₅ F₃. _drudge_ Theobald (Warburton). _Doeg_ Becket conj.

[1921] _sometimes royal_] (_sometimes royall_) Ff Q₅. _sometime_ Pope. _sometimes_ Steevens.

[1922] _yearn'd_] F₄. _ernd_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _yern'd_ F₁ F₂ F₃ Q₅.

[1923] _bestrid_] _bestride_ Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1924] _proudly as if he_] _proudly as if he had_ Ff Q₅. _proudly as he had_ Pope. _proud as if he had_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[1925] _Spurr'd, gall'd_] _Spurrde, galld_ Q₁ Q₂. _Spurde, galde_ Q₃ Q₄. _Spur-gall'd_ Ff Q₅. See note (XXXII).

_jouncing_] _jaunting_ Pope.

Enter ...] Ff Q₅. Enter one to Richard with meate. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ (Richa. Q₂). (Q₃ Q₄ after line 97).

[1926] SCENE XII. Pope.

[1927] [Exit.] Ff Q₅. Exit Groome. Q₁ Q₃ Q₄. Exit Groom. Q₂ (in margin opposite line 101).

[1928] _My lord_] _The meat, my lord_ Capell.

_will't_] _wil't_ F₄. The rest _wilt_.

[1929] _art_] Q₁ Q₂ Q₃. _wert_ Q₄. _wer't_ Ff Q₅. _were_ Theobald.

[1930] As two lines, the first ending _Exton_, in QqFf; as prose first in Collier. Malone makes the first line end at _who_.

[1931] _not: sir_] _not; for sir_ Pope.

_Pierce_] _Piercie_ Q₂.

[1932] _lately_] _late_ Pope.

[1933] _Henry of_] _Harry_ Capell conj.

[1934] [_Beats ..._] Rowe. om. QqFf.

[1935] Enter ... Servants, armed.] Enter ... servants. Ff Q₅. The murderers rush in. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

Exton] Exton with an Halberd Long MS.

[1936] _what means death ... assault?_] _what? mean'st death ... assault?_ Staunton conj. _what means? Death ... assault!_ Bubier conj.

[1937] _Villain_] _Wretch_ Pope.

_thy_] Q₁ Q₂ Q₃. _thine_ Q₄ Ff Q₅.

_instrument._] _instrument,_ QqFf.

[Snatching ...] Snatching an axe and killing him. Capell. om. QqFf. Snatching a sword. Pope. wrests the halberd from him and strikes at him. Long MS.

[1938] [He kills another.] Pope. om. QqFf.

Then Exton ...] Here Exton ... Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Exton ... Ff Q₅.

[1939] _Exton_] om. Pope.

[1940] [Dies.] Rowe. om. QqFf.

[1941] _spill'd_] _spilld_ Q₁ Q₂. _spild_ Q₃ Q₄. _spilt_ Ff Q₅.

[1942] [Exeunt.] Exit. Ff Q₅. om. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[1943] SCENE VI.] Steevens. SCÆNA QUINTA. Ff Q₅. SCENE XIII. Pope. SCENE V. Capell.

Windsor castle.] The Court at Windsor. Theobald. Scene changes. Pope.

Flourish. Enter ...] Ff Q₅. Enter Bullingbrooke, with the Duke of Yorke. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ (Bullbrooke Q₂).

[1944] Boling.] King. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ (and throughout the scene).

_Kind_] om. F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[1945] _of_] om. Q₄.

_Cicester_] Rowe. _Ciceter_ QqFf.

[1946] Enter N.] Enter N. Q₃ Q₄ (after line 5).

[1947] _Welcome ... First, to_] S. Walker reads as one line.

[1948] _news?_] _news with you?_ Collier (Collier MS.).

[1949] _Oxford, Salisbury, Blunt_] Q₁. _Oxford, Salisbury_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _Salsbury, Spencer, Blunt_ Ff Q₅ (_Salsbury_ F₁).

[1950] Fitzwater.] Q₅. Lord Fitzwaters. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Fitz-waters. Ff Q₅.

[1951] _Brocas_] Capell. _Broccas_ Qq Ff.

[1952] _Fitzwater_] Q₅. _Fitz._ Q₁ Q₂. _Fitz:_ Q₃ Q₄. _Fitzwaters_ Ff.

[1953] Enter....] Rowe. Enter Percy and Carlile. Ff Q₅ (Piercy. F₃). Enter H. Percie. Q₁ Q₂. Enter Henrie Percie. Q₃ Q₄.

[1954] _living, to_] Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _living to_ Ff Q₅.

[1955] _Carlisle, this is_] _Bishop of Carlisle, this shall be_ Collier MS.

[1956] _reverend_] _reverent_ Q₁ Q₂.

[1957] _than_] Q₁ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄. _then_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ F₁.

_life_] _selfe_ F₂ Q₅. _self_ F₃ F₄.

[1958] Enter....] Capell. Enter Exton with the Coffin. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. Enter ... a coffin. Ff Q₅.

[1959] _greatest_] _mighty_ Capell conj.

[1960] _Bordeaux_] _Burdeaux_ Qq Ff.

[1961] _slander_] _slaunder_ Q₁. The rest _slaughter_.

[1962] _lord_] _Lo._ Q₁ Q₃ Q₄.

[1963] _thorough shades_] _through shades_ Q₁. _through the shade_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Ff Q₅. _through the shades_ Rowe (ed. 1).

[1964] _nor_] _or_ Pope.

[1965] _to make_] _and make_ F₂ Q₅ F₃ F₄.

[1966] _that_] _what_ Pope.

[1967] _black incontinent:_] _black. Incontinent_ Collier MS.

[1968] _Holy_] _Holly_ Q₁.

[1969] _mournings_] _mourning_ Ff Q₅.

[1970] _after_] _over_ Pope.

[Exeunt.] Ff Q₅. om. Q₁ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. We have made some slight changes in the titles and order of the _dramatis personæ_ in accordance with the suggestion of Mr George Russell French, who writes to us: "Why should Edmund Langley be placed before his elder brother John of Gaunt? The title of 'Berkely' should be simply 'Lord,' as that family were not made Earls till the time of Charles II. Shakespeare only calls him 'Lorde Barkley.' I would recommend that the name of 'Sir Pierce Exton' should be placed after that of 'Sir Stephen Scroop,' as the latter was actually a baron of Parliament. The 'Duchess of York' should have precedence over the 'Duchess of Gloucester,' whose husband was the youngest son of Edward III."

NOTE II.

I. 1. 2. _Band_ is given by Minsheu with the sense of 'obligation' (_Guide into Tongues_, 1617). Both words _band_ and _bond_ were concurrently in use with the same sense. In this play, V. 2. 65, the first four Quartos read _band_, the Folios and the fifth Quarto _bond_, while in the 67th line both Quartos and Folios agree in _bond_.

NOTE III.

I. 1. 149. In this place and in several others Capell in his _Various Readings_ has attributed the reading of the fourth Quarto to the third. The same error is found 34. 5, _Brittaine_; 46. 22, _two_; 46. 31, _profession_; 47. 11, _impresse_; 48. 21, _from my_; 49. 26, _can cannot_; 78. 17, _night_; 88. 30, _the how_; 92. 18, _have holp_.

NOTE IV.

SCENE II. As usual, there is no division into Acts and Scenes in the Quartos. We follow generally the Folios in their arrangement, carefully noting the exceptions.

NOTE V.

I. 2. 1. We retain here the reading of the Quartos which is doubtless what Shakespeare wrote. Probably it was altered for the stage, because 'Thomas of Woodstock' was better known to the audience by his title 'Duke of Gloucester.'

NOTE VI.

I. 2. 70. Notwithstanding the paramount authority of the first Quarto we conceive that the antithesis between _there see_, line 67, and _hear there_, is too marked to admit of a doubt that the reading of the second is to be preferred in this place.

NOTE VII.

I. 3. 7. The stage direction in the text is made up of those given in the Quartos and Folios. The first Quarto has: _The trumpets sound and the King enters with his nobles; when they are set, enter the Duke of Norfolke in armes defendant_.

The first Folio has: _Flourish. Enter King, Gaunt, Bushy, Bagot, Greene, and others: Then Mowbray in Armor, and Harrold._

At I. 3. 25, the first Quarto gives as the stage direction, _The trumpets sound. Enter Duke of Hereford appellant in armour_. The first Folio has simply, _Tucket. Enter Hereford, and Harold._

NOTE VIII.

I. 3. 20. Notwithstanding that the emendation of the Folios yields an easier sense, we follow the reading of the Quartos, which may be explained, inasmuch as the Duke of Norfolk's 'succeeding issue' would be involved in the forfeiture incurred by disloyalty to his king. It may also be noted that King Richard had never any issue.

NOTE IX.

I. 3. 127. Capell's copy of the first Quarto has _cruell_. Another copy is said, in the Variorum edition of 1821, to have the reading _civil_ (or _civill_), but we have been unable to trace it. Mr George Daniel, who possesses the only known copy besides Capell's, informs us that it has _cruell_.

NOTE X.

I. 3. 129-133. Pope first restored to the text the five lines omitted in the Folios and the fifth Quarto. He found them in the Quarto of 1598, which he took to be 'the first edition.' Warburton 'put them,' as he says, 'into hooks, not as spurious, but as rejected on the author's revise.' Capell omitted the five lines next following. ''Tis probable,' he says, 'that the lines now omitted were left negligently in the MS. from which the Quarto was printed; that a mark was set on them when the Folio came out, but mistook by the printer of it, who changed the sound for the unsound.'

NOTE XI.

I. 3. 150. Some commentators have quoted the second Folio as reading 'slye slow.' In Capell's copy and in Long's it is certainly 'flye slow.' Mr Collier in a letter to _Notes and Queries_ mentions that he has found 'flye slow' in other copies.

NOTE XII.

I. 3. 239-242. Pope introduced the two last of the lines he omitted in this place at the end of Gaunt's speech after line 245. Theobald restored lines 239, 240 to their original place, but left lines 241, 242 as he found them in Pope.

NOTE XIII.

II. 1. 40-55. _This royal throne ... stubborn Jewry._ This passage, with the exception of line 50, is quoted in _England's Parnassus_, p. 348 (1600), and is there attributed to _M. Dr._, i.e. Michael Drayton, whose _England's Heroical Epistles_ had been published two years before. The three lines I. 1. 177-179 are also quoted at p. 113 of the same collection.

NOTE XIV.

II. 1. 254. The Folios omitted _noble_, in order to correct the redundant line. But Alexandrines occur too frequently in this play to admit of the supposition that they are all due to printers' or transcribers' errors. The author probably found the occasional recurrence of a six foot line no stumbling-block in the even road of his blank verse.

NOTE XV.

II. 1. 277, 278. Pope makes a bold emendation here:

'Then thus, my friends. I have from Port le Blanc,
A bay in Bretagne, had intelligence, &c.'

The first Quarto reads thus:

'Then thus, I have from le Port Blan
A Bay in Brittaine receiude intelligence, &c.'

And, excepting that Q₃ reads '_Brittanie_,' the rest are substantially the same.

The first Folio has 'Port _le Blan_' and '_Britaine_.'

The arrangement of the lines in the text agrees with Capell's.

NOTE XVI.

II. 1. 279 sqq. This passage stands thus in the first Quarto:

'That Harry duke of Herford, Rainold L. Cobham
That late broke from the Duke of Exeter
His brother, archbishop late of Canterburie,
Sir Thomas Erpingham, sir John Ramston
Sir Iohn Norbery, sir Robert Waterton and Francis Coines:'

and the three following are almost the same to a letter.

For 'Ramston' and 'Coines' the first Folio has 'Rainston' and 'Quoint.'

According to Holinshed it was not Lord Cobham but 'Thomas Arundell' who escaped from the Duke of Exeter's house, where he was kept.

In order to make Shakespeare and the Chronicler agree, Capell reads:

'That _Harry Hereford, Reignold_ lord _Cobham_;
The archbishop late of _Canterbury_; his nephew
That late broke from the duke of Exeter; &c.'

Malone introduces within brackets the following line:

'[The son of Richard earl of Arundel].'

His view that a line is lost seems to us more probable than Capell's transpositions, omission, and insertion. And as Shakespeare evidently wrote with Holinshed before him, it is not probable that he would have made such an error as we find in the printed text.

Ritson proposed to fill up the gap with

'[The son and heir of the late earl of Arundel],'

which is taken almost verbatim from Holinshed.

NOTE XVII.

II. 2. 109. The Quarto of 1597 reads the lines thus:

'Gentlemen, will you go muster men?
If I know how or which way to order these affayres
Thus, &c.'

The other editions have the same arrangement (the Folios omitting 'go' in the first line).

Pope reads:

'Gentlemen, will you go and muster men?
If I know how to order these affairs,
Disorderly thrust, &c.'

Capell reads:

'Gentlemen, will you muster men? if I know
How, or which way, to order these affairs
Thus most disorderly thrust, &c.'

Mr Dyce has:

'Gentlemen, will you go muster men? if I know
How, or which way, &c.'

Mr Staunton says in a note: The redundant _or which way_ I have always suspected to be an interlineation of the poet's, who had not decided whether to read '_how_ to order these affairs,' or '_which way_ to order.'

Perhaps the author in expressing York's agitation and perplexity, instinctively broke into irregular rhythm, and the rest of the speech might be printed as prose.

NOTE XVIII.

II. 3. 5. The fact that _Drawes_ (not _Draws_) is the reading of the first Quarto tends to show that the singular is not a misprint for the plural. The construction is not unfrequent in Shakespeare nor in colloquial language even at the present time. It is as if the author had said, 'Travelling over these high wild hills, &c. Draws....'

NOTE XIX.

III. 2. 70. Theobald in a letter to Warburton, Nichols' _Illustrations_, Vol. II. p. 398, suggests that in lines 70, 76, 85, we should read 'forty thousand,' because Holinshed says that Lord Salisbury raised forty thousand men in Wales for the King.

But the proposed reading would not suit the metre in line 70; and it is difficult to see how the mistake should have arisen in two places if the poet had written 'forty' originally in all three.

NOTE XX.

III. 3. 52. Capell seems to have printed '_the_ castle's' by mistake for '_this_ castle's'--the reading of all the old copies. The mistake was copied in several subsequent editions.

NOTE XXI.

III. 4. 22. 'And I could sing, would weeping do me good,
And never borrow any tear of thee.'

Although most editors have acquiesced in Pope's conjecture '_weep_' for '_sing_,' we retain '_sing_,' which all the Quartos and Folios agree in. The mistake is not one which a transcriber or printer would be likely to make, and the original reading yields a very good sense. The Queen speaks with an emphasis on 'sing:' 'And I could even sing for joy if my troubles were only such as weeping could alleviate, and then I would not ask you to weep for me.'

NOTE XXII.

IV. 1. 52. Pope added to Aumerle's speech three lines he found in the Quarto, beginning 'Who sets me else ...?' without intimating that it contained other five lines, 'I task thee ... thou dar'st,' which he omitted. The omission escaped the notice of Theobald and Warburton. Johnson was the first to supply it. He added in a note: 'This speech I have restored from the first edition in humble imitation of former editors, though, I believe, against the mind of the authour. For _the earth_ I suppose we ought to read, _thy oath_.'

NOTE XXIII.

IV. 1. 280 sqq. The third and fourth Quartos (the earliest editions which contain this scene) read here:

'... prosperitie.
Was this the face that euery day vnder his
Houshold roofe did keepe ten thousand men?
Was this the face that faast so many follies,
And was ...'

The first Folio has:

'... prosperitie,
Thou do'st beguile me. Was this Face, the Face
That every day, vnder his House-hold Roofe,
Did keepe ten thousand men? Was this the Face,
That like the Sunne, did make beholders winke?
Is this the Face, which fac'd so many follyes,
That was ...'

NOTE XXIV.

V. 1. 88. Sidney Walker (_Criticisms_, Vol. I. p. 189-193) has collected instances of 'near' and 'far' used in the sense of 'nearer' and 'farther.' For an instance of the latter, see _Winter's Tale_, IV. 4. 420, 'Far than Deucalion off.'

NOTE XXV.

V. 2. 28. Possibly 'God save him' should be printed in a line by itself.

NOTE XXVI.

V. 2. 57. Malone says of this passage: 'Perhaps like many other speeches in this scene it was not intended for verse.'

NOTE XXVII.

V. 3. 12. Mr Staunton thinks that the words 'So dissolute a crew' were part of a line which was intended to be cancelled, or to supply the place of 'even such they say,' line 8.

NOTE XXVIII.

V. 3. 21-24. Capell's arrangement is as follows:

'As dissolute as desperate: yet through both,
I see some _sparkles of_ a better hope,
Which elder years may happily bring forth.
But who comes here?'

NOTE XXIX.

V. 3. 66. Steevens, in his edition of 1778, says, 'The modern editors read:--_transgressing_.' The only edition in which we have found this reading is that of Johnson and Steevens, 1773.

NOTE XXX.

V. 3. 137. Theobald reads:

'But for our trusty brother-in-law,--the Abbot,'

and adds in a note: 'Without these marks of disjunction, ... the abbot here mention'd and Bolingbroke's brother-in-law seem to be one and the same person: but this was not the case.... The brother-in-law, meant, was John Duke of Exeter and Earl of Huntingdon, (own brother to King Richard II.) and who had married with the lady Elizabeth sister to Henry of Bolingbroke.'

NOTE XXXI.

V. 3. 144. 'Cousin too, adieu,' which is generally attributed to Theobald, is really the reading of the Quarto of 1634 (Q₅).

Perhaps the line may be amended thus:

'Uncle, farewell; farewell, aunt; cousin, adieu.'

Many as harsh-sounding lines may be found, and it seems only consonant with good manners that the king should take leave of his aunt as well as of the others. There is a propriety too in his using a colder form of leave-taking to his guilty cousin than to his uncle and aunt.

NOTE XXXII.

V. 4. 94. Mr Staunton says that Q₁ reads 'Spurn'd, gall'd.' Our copy has 'Spurrde, galld.' Though 'Spur-gall'd' is an extremely probable correction, we adhere to our rule of following the higher authority whenever it seems to yield a reasonable sense.

THE FIRST PART OF

KING HENRY THE FOURTH.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[I].

KING HENRY the Fourth.
HENRY, Prince of Wales, }
JOHN of Lancaster, } sons to the King.
EARL of WESTMORELAND.
SIR WALTER BLUNT.
THOMAS PERCY, Earl of Worcester.
HENRY PERCY, Earl of Northumberland.
HENRY PERCY, surnamed HOTSPUR, his son.
EDMUND MORTIMER, Earl of March.
RICHARD SCROOP, Archbishop of York.
ARCHIBALD, Earl of DOUGLAS.
OWEN GLENDOWER.
SIR RICHARD VERNON.
SIR JOHN FALSTAFF.
SIR MICHAEL, a friend to the Archbishop of York.
POINS.
GADSHILL.
PETO.
BARDOLPH.

LADY PERCY, wife to Hotspur, and sister to Mortimer.
LADY MORTIMER, daughter to Glendower, and wife to Mortimer.
MISTRESS QUICKLY, hostess of a tavern in Eastcheap.

Lords, Officers, Sheriff, Vintner, Chamberlain, Drawers, two
Carriers, Travellers, and Attendants.

SCENE: _England_.

[I] DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. First given by Rowe. See note (I).

THE FIRST PART OF

KING HENRY IV.