THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND ACT I. SCENE I. London. KING RICHARD's palace. Enter KING RICHARD, JOHN OF GAUNT, with K. Rich. Old John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Hast thou, according to thy oath and band, 1. Old John of Gaunt. Gaunt is throughout represented as in extreme old age. He was in reality fifty-eight. 2. band, bond. 3. Hereford (always disyllabic; in Qq and Ff written 'Herford'). 4. appeal; a formal accusa tion which the accuser bound weeks' before. ' about six K. Rich. Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him, If he appeal the duke on ancient malice; Or worthily, as a good subject should, On some known ground of treachery in him? Gaunt. As near as I could sift him on that argument, On some apparent danger seen in him Aim'd at your highness, no inveterate malice. And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear Enter BOLINGBROKE and MOWBRAY. K. Rich. We thank you both: yet one but As well appeareth by the cause you come; Namely, to appeal each other of high treason. Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray ? Boling. First, heaven be the record to my speech! In the devotion of a subject's love, 9. on, on the ground of. So v. 13. 13. apparent, evident. 18. High-stomach'd, full of warlike temper. 20. Many ΙΟ 20 30 befal. The first foot lacks a syllable. An incomplete line often follows a marked pause or break. 26. the cause you come, i.e. come for. Tendering the precious safety of my prince, my divine soul answer it in heaven. Mow. Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal : 'Tis not the trial of a woman's war, The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain; The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this: First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me And let him be no kinsman to my liege, I do defy him, and I spit at him; Call him a slanderous coward and a villain : 32. Tendering, in fond regard for. 40. Too good, i. e. in virtue of his noble name and descent. 40 50 60 Which to maintain I would allow him odds, Disclaiming here the kindred of the king, Mow. I take it up; and by that sword I swear, Or chivalrous design of knightly trial: And when I mount, alive may I not light, If I be traitor or unjustly fight! K. Rich. What doth our cousin lay to Mow- It must be great that can inherit us So much as of a thought of ill in him. Boling. Look, what I speak, my life shall prove That Mowbray hath received eight thousand In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers, 65. inhabitable, 'un-habit able,' uninhabitable. 74. pawn, pledge. 80. in any fair degree, in any way becoming me. 70 80 81. design, enterprise, action. 85. inherit, possess. 89. In name of lendings, as money entrusted to him. |