Her fruit-trees all unprun'd, her hedges ruin'd, Her knots disorder'd, and her wholesome herbs Swarming with caterpillars ? GARD. That seem'd in eating him to hold him up, GARD. That he had not so trimm'd and dress'd his land, 1 SERV. What, think you then, the king shall be depos'd? GARD. Depress'd he is already; and depos'd, 'Tis doubt, he will be: Letters came last night To a dear friend of the good duke of York's, That tell black tidings. QUEEN. O, I am press'd to death, Through want of speaking!-Thou, old Adam's likeness, [Coming from her concealment. Set to dress this garden, how dares Thy harsh-rude tongue sound this unpleasing news? What Eve, what serpent hath suggested thee Why dost thou say, king Richard is depos'd? Dar'st thou, thou little better thing than earth, Divine his downfall? Say, where, when, and how, Cam'st thou by these ill-tidings? speak, thou wretch. GARD. Pardon me, madam; little joy have I, To breathe this news: yet, what I say is true. King Richard, he is in the mighty hold Of Bolingbroke; their fortunes both are weigh'd: Post you to London, and you'll find it so: Doth not thy embassage belong to me, And am I last that knows it? O, thou think'st grow. GARD. Poor queen! so that thy state might be no worse, I would my skill were subject to thy curse.- K. RICHARD II., A. 3, s. 4. THE KING'S DEATH. GROOM. Hail, royal prince! K. RICHARD. Thanks, noble peer; The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear. What art thou? and how comest thou hither, Where no man never comes, but that sad dog 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 With much ado, at length have gotten leave How went he under him? GROOM. So proudly, as if he disdain'd the ground. K. RICH. So proud that Bolingbroke was on his back! That jade hath eat bread from my royal hand; 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? Spur-gall'd, and tir'd by jauncing Bolingbroke. KEEPER. Fellow, give place; here is no longer stay. [To the Groom. K. RICH. If thou love me, 'tis time thou wert away. GROOM. What my tongue dares not, that my heart shall say. [Exit. KEEP. My lord, will't please you to fall to? K. RICH. Taste of it first, as thou art wont to do. KEEP. My lord, I dare not; sir Pierce of Exton, who Lately came from the king, commands the contrary. K. RICH. The devil take Henry of Lancaster, and thee! Patience is stale, and I am weary of it. KEEP. Help, help, help! [Beats the Keeper. Enter EXTON, and Servants, armed. K. RICH. How now? what means death in this rude assault? Villain, thy own hand yields thy death's instrument. [Snatching a weapon, and killing one. Go thou, and fill another room in hell. [He kills another, then EXTON strikes him down. That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire, That staggers thus my person.-Exton, thy fierce hand Hath with the king's blood stain'd the king's own land. Mount, mount, my soul! thy seat is up on high; Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die. [Dies. K. RICHARD II., A. 5, s. 5. THE KING'S DEATH, WHY, SO:-now have I done a good day's work;— From my Redeemer to redeem me hence; Madam, yourself are not exempt in this,— |