Nor. My name is Thomas Mowbray, duke of Nor folk; Who hither come engaged by my oath, (Which, heaven defend, a knight should violate!) To God, my king, and my succeeding issue, A traitor to my God, my king, and me: [He takes his seat. Trumpet sounds. Enter BOLINGBROKE, in armour; preceded by a Herald. K. Rich. Marshal, ask yonder knight in arms, 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 comest 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, To God of heaven, king Richard, and to me; 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 sovereign's hand, And bow my knee before his majesty: For Mowbray, and myself, are like two men And loving farewell, of our several friends. Mar. The appellant in all duty greets your highness, Farewell, my blood; which if to-day thou shed, Boling. O, let no noble eye profane a tear 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; [To GAUNT Whose youthful spirit, in me regenerate, Doth with a two-fold vigour lift me up 8 That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat, Gaunt. Heaven in thy good cause make thee prosperous ! Be swift like lightning in the execution; thrive! 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 Go I to fight; Truth hath a quiet breast. K. Rich. Farewell, my lord: securely I espy Virtue with valour couched in thine eye.— $ Yielding. 9 Brighten up. I Helmet. 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. 1 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. 2 Her. Here standeth Thomas Mowbray, duke of Norfolk, On pain to be found false and recreant, Henry of Hereford, Lancaster, and Derby, Attending but the signal to begin. Mar. Sound, trumpets; and set forward, com batants. [A Charge sounded. Stay, the king hath thrown his warder3 down. K. Rich. Let them lay by their helmets and their spears, And both return back to their chairs again: 3 Truncheon. Draw near, Of civil wounds plough'd up with neighbours' swords; [And for we think the eagle-winged pride Of sky-aspiring and ambitious thoughts, To wake our peace, which in our country's cradle Might from our quiet confines fright fair peace, 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 exíle ; The hopeless word of-never to return 4 Nursed. |