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On some apparent danger seen in him,
Aimed at your highness; no inveterate malice.
K. Rich. Then call them to our presence: face
to face,

And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear
The accuser and the accuséd freely speak:-
[Exeunt some Attendants.
High-stomached are they both, and full of ire;
In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire.

Re-enter Attendants, with BOLINGBROKE and
NORFOLK.

Boling. Many years of happy days befal My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege! Nor. Each day still better other's happiness; Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap, Add an immortal title to your crown!

K. Rich. We thank you both: yet one but

flatters us,

As well appeareth by the cause you come;
Namely, to appeal each other of high treason.-
Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object
Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?
Boling. First, (Heaven be the record to my
speech!)

In the devotion of a subject's love,
Tendering the precious safety of my prince,
And free from other misbegotten hate,
Come I appellant to this princely presence.—
Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee;
And mark my greeting well: for what I speak
My body shall make good upon this earth,
Or my divine soul answer it in heaven :-
Thou art a traitor and a miscreant;
Too good to be so, and too bad to live;
Since the more fair and crystal is the sky,
The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly.
Once more, the more to aggravate the note,
With a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat;
And wish (so please my sovereign), ere I move,
What my tongue speaks my right-drawn sword

may prove.

Nor. Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal:

"T is 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 cooled for this.
Yet can I not of such tame patience boast,
As to be hushed, and nought at all to say.
First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me
From giving reins and spurs to my free speech,
Which else would post until it had returned
These terms of treason doubled down his throat.
Setting aside his high blood's royalty,
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:
Which to maintain, I would allow him odds,
And meet him, were I tied to run a-foot
Even to the frozen ridges of the Alps,
Or any other ground inhabitable,
Where ever Englishman dare set his foot.
Meantime, let this defend my loyalty,—
By all my hopes, most falsely doth he lie.
Boling. Pale trembling coward, there I throw
my gage,

Disclaiming here the kindred of a king;
And lay aside my high blood's royalty,
Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except.
If guilty dread hath left thee so much strength
As to take up mine honour's pawn, then stoop:
By that, and all the rites of knighthood else,
Will I make good against thee, arm to arm,
What I have spoke, or thou canst worse devise.

Nor. I take it up: and by that sword I swear Which gently laid my knighthood on my shoulder, I'll answer thee in any fair degree,

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 Mowbray's charge?

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
it true;-

That Mowbray hath received eight thousand nobles,

In name of lendings for your highness' soldiers:
The which he hath detained for lewd employments,
Like a false traitor and injurious villain.
Besides I say, and will in battle prove
(Or here or elsewhere, to the furthest verge
That ever was surveyed by English eye),
That all the treasons for these eighteen years
Complotted and contrivéd in this land,
Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and
spring.

Further I say (and further will maintain
Upon his bad life to make all this good),
That he did plot the Duke of Gloster's death;
Suggest his soon-believing adversaries;
And consequently, like a traitor coward,
Sluiced out his innocent soul through streams of
blood:

Which blood, like sacrificing Abel's, cries,
Even from the tongueless caverns of the earth,
To me for justice and rough chastisement:
And, by the glorious worth of my descent,
This arm shall do it, or this life be spent.

K. Rich. How high a pitch his resolution soars!

Thomas of Norfolk, what sayst thou to this?

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Nor. O, let my sovereign turn away his face, And bid his ears a little while be deaf, Till I have told this slander of his blood How God and good men hate so foul a liar. K. Rich. Mowbray, impartial are our eyes and

ears:

Were he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir
(As he is but my father's brother's son),
Now by my sceptre's awe I make a vow
Such neighbour nearness to our sacred blood
Should nothing privilege him, nor partialise
The unstooping firmness of my upright soul.
He is our subject, Mowbray; so art thou:
Free speech, and fearless, I to thee allow.

Nor. Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart,
Through the false passage of thy throat, thou liest!
Three parts of that receipt I had for Calais,
Disbursed I duly to his highness' soldiers:
The other part reserved I by consent;
For that my sovereign liege was in my debt,
Upon remainder of a dear account

Since last I went to France to fetch his queen.
Now swallow down that lie.-For Gloster's death,
I slew him not; but to my own disgrace,
Neglected my sworn duty in that case.-
For you, my noble lord of Lancaster,
The honourable father to my foe,
Once did I lay in ambush for your life;
A trespass that doth vex my grievéd soul:
But ere I last received the sacrament
I did confess it, and exactly begged
Your grace's pardon; and I hope I had it.
This is my fault. As for the rest appealed,
It issues from the rancour of a villain,
A recreant and most degenerate traitor:
Which in myself I boldly will defend;
And interchangeably hurl down my gage
Upon this overweening traitor's foot,
To prove myself a loyal gentleman

Even in the best blood chambered in his bosom.
In haste whereof, most heartily I pray
Your highness to assign our trial day.

K. Rich. Wrath-kindled gentlemen, be ruled by me :

Let's purge this choler without letting blood:
This we prescribe, though no physician:
Deep malice makes too deep incision.
Forget, forgive; conclude, and be agreed:
Our doctors say this is no time to bleed.-
Good uncle, let this end where it begun:
We'll calm the Duke of Norfolk; you your son.
Gaunt. To be a make-peace shall become my
age :-

Throw down, my son, the Duke of Norfolk's gage.
K. Rich. And, Norfolk, throw down his.
Gaunt. When, Harry; when?
Obedience bids I should not bid again.

K. Rich. Norfolk, throw down; we bid: there is no boot.

Nor. Myself I throw, dread sovereign, at thy foot: My life thou shalt command, but not my shame: The one my duty owes; but my fair name (Despite of death, that lives upon my grave) To dark dishonour's use thou shalt not have. I am disgraced, impeached, and baffled here; Pierced to the soul with slander's venomed spear: The which no balm can cure but his heart-blood Which breathed this poison.

K. Rich. Rage must be withstood: Give me his gage:-lions make leopards tame. Nor. Yea, but not change their spots: take

but my shame,

And I resign my gage. My dear dear lord,
The purest treasure mortal times afford,
Is spotless reputation that away,
Men are but gilded loam or painted clay.
A jewel in a ten-times-barred-up chest
Is a bold spirit in a loyal breast.

Mine honour is my life; both grow in one:
Take honour from me, and my life is done.
Then, dear my liege, mine honour let me try:
In that I live, and for that will I die.

K. Rich. Cousin, throw down your gage: do

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To stir against the butchers of his life.
But since correction lieth in those hands
Which made the fault that we cannot correct,
Put we our quarrel to the will of Heaven;
Who, when He sees the hours ripe on earth,
Will rain hot vengeance on offenders' heads.
Duch. Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur?
Hath love in thy old blood no living fire?
Edward's seven sons, whereof thyself art one,
Were as seven phials of his sacred blood,
Or seven fair branches springing from one root:
Some of those seven are dried by nature's course,

Some of those branches by the destinies cut:
But Thomas, my dear lord, my life, my Gloster,-
One phial full of Edward's sacred blood,
One flourishing branch of his most royal root,-
Is cracked, and all the precious liquor spilt:
Is hacked down, and his summer leaves all faded,
By envy's hand, and murder's bloody axe.
Ah, Gaunt! his blood was thine: that bed, that womb,
That mettle, that self-mould, that fashioned thee,
Made him a man: and though thou liv'st and
breath'st,

Yet art thou slain in him: thou dost consent

[graphic]

In some large measure to thy father's death,
In that thou seest thy wretched brother die,
Who was the model of thy father's life.
Call it not patience, Gaunt; it is despair.
In suffering thus thy brother to be slaughtered,
Thou shew'st the naked pathway to thy life;
Teaching stern murder how to butcher thee.
That which in mean men we entitle patience,
Is pale cold cowardice in noble breasts.
What shall I say?-to safeguard thine own life,
The best way is to 'venge my Gloster's death.

Gaunt. Heaven's is the quarrel: for Heaven's substitute,

His deputy anointed in His sight,

Hath caused his death: the which, if wrongfully,
Let Heaven revenge; for I may never lift
An angry arm against His minister.

Duch. Where then, alas! may I complain myself? Gaunt. To Heaven, the widow's champion and defence.

Duch. Why then, I will. Farewell, old Gaunt: Thou go'st to Coventry, there to behold Our cousin Hereford and fell Mowbray fight:O, sit my husband's wrongs on Hereford's spear, That it may enter butcher Mowbray's breast! Or, if misfortune miss the first career, Be Mowbray's sins so heavy in his bosom That they may break his foaming courser's back, And throw the rider headlong in the lists, A caitiff recreant to my cousin Hereford!Farewell, old Gaunt: thy sometime brother's wife With her companion grief must end her life.

Gaunt. Sister, farewell: I must to Coventry: As much good stay with thee as go with me!

Duch. Yet one word more :-grief boundeth

where it falls,

Not with the empty hollowness, but weight:
I take my leave before I have begun;

For sorrow ends not when it seemeth done :-
Commend me to my brother, Edmund York.
Lo, this is all :-nay, yet depart not so:
Though this be all, do not so quickly go:
I shall remember more. Bid him-0, what?-
With all good speed at Plashy visit me.
Alack, and what shall good old York there see
But empty lodgings and unfurnished walls,
Unpeopled offices, untrodden stones?

And what hear there for welcome but my groans?
Therefore commend me: let him not come there,
To seek out sorrow that dwells everywhere.
Desolate, desolate, will I hence and die:
The last leave of thee takes my weeping eye.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III. Gosford Green, near Coventry. Lists set out, and a Throne. Heralds, &c. attending.

Enter the Lord Marshal and AUMERLE. Mar. My lord Aumerle, is Harry Hereford armed?

Aum. Yea, at all points; and longs to enter in. Mar. The Duke of Norfolk, sprightfully and bold,

Stays but the summons of the appellant's trumpet. Aum. Why, then, the champions are prepared, and stay

For nothing but his majesty's approach.

Flourish of trumpets. Enter KING RICHARD, who takes his seat on the throne; GAUNT and several Noblemen, who take their places. A trumpet is sounded, and answered by another trumpet within. Then enter NORFOLK in armour, preceded by a Herald.

K. Rich. Marshal, demand of yonder champion The cause of his arrival here in arms: Ask him his name; and orderly proceed To swear him in the justice of his cause.

Mar. In God's name and the King's, say who

thou art,

And why thou com'st thus knightly clad in arms : Against what man thou com'st, and what thy quarrel.

Speak truly, on thy knighthood and thy oath : And so defend thee Heaven and thy valour! Nor. My name is Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk :

Who hither come, engagéd by my oath,

(Which Heaven defend a knight should violate!) Both to defend my loyalty and truth,

To God, my king, and my succeeding issue,
Against the Duke of Hereford, that appeals me;
And by the grace of God, and this mine arm,
To prove him, in defending of myself,
A traitor to my God, my king, and me:
And, as I truly fight, defend me Heaven!
[He takes his seat.

Trumpet sounds. Enter BOLINGBROKE in armour ; preceded by a Herald.

K. Rich. Marshal, ask yonder knight in arms Both who he is and why he cometh hither, Thus plated in habiliments of war: And formally, according to our law, Depose him in the justice of his cause.

Mar. What is thy name; and wherefore com'st thou hither,

Before King Richard, in his royal lists ? Against whom comést thou; and what's thy quarrel?

Speak like a true knight, so defend thee Heaven! Boling. Harry of Hereford, Lancaster, and

Derby,

Am I who ready here do stand in arms,
To prove, by Heaven's grace and my body's valour,
In lists, on Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk,
That he's a traitor, foul and dangerous,
To God of heaven, King Richard, and to me:
And, as I truly fight, defend me Heaven!

Mar. On pain of death, no person be so bold
Or daring-hardy as to touch the lists,
Except the marshal and such officers
Appointed to direct these fair designs.
Boling. Lord Marshal, let me kiss my sove-
reign's hand,

And bow my knee before his majesty:
For Mowbray and myself are like two men
That vow a long and weary pilgrimage:
Then let us take a ceremonious leave
And loving farewell of our several friends.
Mar. The appellant in all duty greets your
highness,

And craves to kiss your hand and take his leave.
K. Rich. We will descend and fold him in our

arms.

Cousin of Hereford, as thy cause is right
So be thy fortune in this royal fight!
Farewell, my blood: which if it to-day thou shed,
Lament we may, but not revenge thee dead.

Boling. O, let no noble eye profane a tear
For me, if I be gored with Mowbray's spear:
As confident as is the falcon's flight

Against a bird, do I with Mowbray fight.My loving lord [To Lord Marshal], I take my leave of you :

Of you, my noble cousin, Lord Aumerle:-
Not sick, although I have to do with death;
But lusty, young, and cheerly drawing breath.—
Lo, as at English feasts, so I regreet
The daintiest last, to make the end most sweet:
O thou, the earthly author of my blood,-

[TO GAUNT.
Whose youthful spirit, in me regenerate,
Doth with a twofold vigour lift me up
To reach at victory above my head,-
Add proof unto mine armour with thy prayers;
And with thy blessings steel my lance's point,
That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat,
And furbish new the name of John of Gaunt,
Even in the lusty 'haviour of his son.

Gaunt. Heaven in thy good cause make thee prosperous!

Be swift like lightning in the execution;
And let thy blows, doubly redoubled,
Fall like amazing thunder on the casque
Of thy adverse pernicious enemy.
Rouse up thy youthful blood: be valiant and live.
Boling. Mine innocency, and Saint George to
thrive!
[He takes his seat.
Nor. [rising]. However Heaven or fortune
cast my lot,

There lives or dies, true to King Richard's throne,
A loyal, just, and upright gentleman.
Never did captive with a freer heart

Cast off his chains of bondage, and embrace
His golden uncontrolled enfranchisement,
More than my dancing soul doth celebrate
This feast of battle with mine adversary.—
Most mighty liege, and my companion peers,
Take from my mouth the wish of happy years:
As gentle and as jocund as to jest,
Go I to fight: truth hath a quiet breast.

K. Rich. Farewell, my lord: securely I espy Virtue with valour couchéd in thine eye.Order the trial, marshal, and begin.

The King and the Lords return to their seats. Mar. Harry of Hereford, Lancaster, and Derby, Receive thy lance; and God defend the right! Boling. [rising]. Strong as a tower in hope, I cry "Amen."

Mar. Go bear this lance [To an Officer] to
Thomas, Duke of Norfolk.

1st Her. Harry of Hereford, Lancaster, and
Derby,

Stands here for God, his sovereign, and himself,
On pain to be found false and recreant,
To prove the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray,
A traitor to his God, his king, and him;
And dares him to set forward to the fight.
2nd Her. Here standeth Thomas Mowbray,
Duke of Norfolk,

On pain to be found false and recreant,
Both to defend himself and to approve
Henry of Hereford, Lancaster, and Derby,
To God, his sovereign, and to him, disloyal:
Courageously and with a free desire,
Attending but the signal to begin.

Mar. Sound, trumpets; and set forward, combatants.[A charge sounded. Stay! the King hath thrown his warder down.

K. Rich. Let them lay by their helmets and
their spears,

And both return back to their chairs again:-
Withdraw with us:- -and let the trumpets sound
While we return these dukes what we decree.-
[4 long flourish.
Draw near,
[To the Combatants.
And list what, with our council, we have done:-
For that our kingdom's earth should not be soiled
With that dear blood which it hath fostered;
And for our eyes do hate the dire aspéct
Of civil wounds, ploughed up with neighbours'
swords;

And for we think the eagle-wingéd pride
Of sky-aspiring and ambitious thoughts,
With rival-hating envy, set you on

To wake our peace, which in our country's cradle
Draws the sweet infant breath of gentle sleep
(Which so roused up with boisterous untuned
drums

With harsh resounding trumpets' dreadful bray,
And grating shock of wrathful iron arms,
Might from our quiet cónfines fright fair peace,
And make us wade even in our kindred's blood);—
Therefore we banish you our territories.
You, cousin Hereford, upon pain of death,
Till twice five summers have enriched our fields
Shall not regreet our fair dominions,
But tread the stranger paths of banishment.

Boling. Your will be done. This must my

comfort be,

That sun that warms you here shall shine on me; And those his golden beams, to you here lent, Shall point on me, and gild my banishment.

K. Rich. Norfolk, for thee remains a heavier

doom,

Which I with some unwillingness pronounce:
The fly-slow hours shall not determinate
The dateless limit of thy dear exile:-
The hopeless word of "never to return"
Breathe I against thee, upon pain of life.
Nor. A heavy sentence, my most sovereign

liege,

And all unlooked for from your highness' mouth!
A dearer merit-not so deep a maim
As to be cast forth in the common air-
Have I deserved at your highness' hand.
The language I have learned these forty years,

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