King Richard II
Act I, Scene 4
The court.
Julian L'Estrange as Duke of Aumerle
circa 1903
- Enter the King with Green and Bagot at one door and the Lord
- Aumerle at another.
King Richard II
1 - 2- We did observe. Cousin Aumerle,
- How far brought you high Herford on his way?
Aumerle
3 - 4- I brought high Herford, if you call him so,
- But to the next high way, and there I left him.
King Richard II
5- And say, what store of parting tears were shed?
Aumerle
6 - 9- Faith, none for me, except the northeast wind,
- Which then blew bitterly against our faces,
- Awak’d the sleeping rheum, and so by chance
- Did grace our hollow parting with a tear.
King Richard II
10- What said our cousin when you parted with him?
Aumerle
11 - 19- “Farewell!”
- And for my heart disdained that my tongue
- Should so profane the word, that taught me craft
- To counterfeit oppression of such grief
- That words seem’d buried in my sorrow’s grave.
- Marry, would the word “farewell” have length’ned hours
- And added years to his short banishment,
- He should have had a volume of farewells;
- But since it would not, he had none of me.
King Richard II
20 - 36- He is our cousin’s cousin, but ’tis doubt,
- When time shall call him home from banishment,
- Whether our kinsman come to see his friends.
- Ourself and Bushy, Bagot here and Green,
- Observ’d his courtship to the common people,
- How he did seem to dive into their hearts
- With humble and familiar courtesy,
- What reverence he did throw away on slaves,
- Wooing poor craftsmen with the craft of smiles
- And patient underbearing of his fortune,
- As ’twere to banish their affects with him.
- Off goes his bonnet to an oyster-wench,
- A brace of draymen bid God speed him well,
- And had the tribute of his supple knee,
- With “Thanks, my countrymen, my loving friends,”
- As were our England in reversion his,
- And he our subjects’ next degree in hope.
Green
37 - 41- Well, he is gone, and with him go these thoughts.
- Now for the rebels which stand out in Ireland,
- Expedient manage must be made, my liege,
- Ere further leisure yield them further means
- For their advantage and your Highness’ loss.
King Richard II
42 - 53- We will ourself in person to this war,
- And for our coffers, with too great a court
- And liberal largess, are grown somewhat light,
- We are enforc’d to farm our royal realm,
- The revenue whereof shall furnish us
- For our affairs in hand. If that come short,
- Our substitutes at home shall have blank charters,
- Whereto, when they shall know what men are rich,
- They shall subscribe them for large sums of gold,
- And send them after to supply our wants,
- For we will make for Ireland presently.
- Enter Bushy.
- Bushy, what news?
Bushy
54 - 56- Old John of Gaunt is grievous sick, my lord,
- Suddenly taken, and hath sent post-haste
- To entreat your Majesty to visit him.
King Richard II
57- Where lies he?
Bushy
58- At Ely House.
King Richard II
59 - 64- Now put it, God, in the physician’s mind
- To help him to his grave immediately!
- The lining of his coffers shall make coats
- To deck our soldiers for these Irish wars.
- Come, gentlemen, let’s all go visit him.
- Pray God we may make haste and come too late!
All Green, Bagot, Aumerle and Bushy
65- Amen.
- Exeunt.
King Richard II
Unknown artist, circa 1600