Turning your books to graves, your ink to blood, Arch. Wherefore do I this?-so the question stands. And purge the obstructions, which begin to stop I have in equal balance justly weigh'd What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer, 6 And find our griefs heavier than our offences. We see which way the stream of time doth run, By the rough torrent of occasion: And have the summary of all our griefs, When we are wrong'd, and would unfold our griefs, Even by those men that most have done us wrong. (Whose memory is written on the earth With yet-appearing blood,) and the examples 5 graves,] For graves Dr. Warburton very plausibly reads glaives, and is followed by Sir Thomas Hanmer. But we might perhaps as plausibly read greaves, i. e. armour for the legs, a kind of boots. 6 our griefs-] i. e. our grievances. Of every minute's instance, (present now,) West. Whenever yet was your appeal denied? I make my quarrel in particular.8 West. There is no need of any such redress; Or, if there were, it not belongs to you. Mowb. Why not to him, in part; and to us all, That feel the bruises of the days before; And suffer the condition of these times To lay a heavy and unequal hand Upon our honours? West. Construe the times to their necessities," O my good lord Mowbray, it is the time, And you shall say indeed, And not the king, that doth you injuries. —commotion's bitter edge?] i. e. the edge of bitter strife and commotion; the sword of rebellion. • My brother general, &c. I make my quarrel in particular.] The sense is this-" My brother general, the commonwealth, which ought to distribute its benefits equally, is become an enemy to those of his own house, to brothers born, by giving all to some, and others none; and this (says he) I make my quarrel or grievance that honours are unequally dis tributed;" the constant birth of male-contents, and the source of civil commotions. WARBURTON. Other senses have been attempted by other commentators, but none more probable. 9 Construe the times to their necessities,] that is,- Judge of what is done in these times, according to the exigencies that over-rule us. Yet, for your part, it not appears to me, Then threw he down himself; and all their lives, Have since miscarried under Bolingbroke. West. You speak, lord Mowbray, now you know not what: 5 The earl of Hereford was reputed then 1 Either from the king, &c.] Whether the faults of government be imputed to the time or the king, it appears not that you have, for your part, been injured either by the king or the time. 2 Their armed staves in charge, &c.] An armed staff is a lance. To be in charge, is to be fixed in the rest for the encounter. 3 their beavers down,] Beaver meant properly that part of the helmet which let down, to enable the wearer to drink; but is confounded both here and in Hamlet with visiere, or used for helmet in general. 4 sights of steel,] i. e. the perforated part of their helmets, through which they could see to direct their aim. 5 The earl of Hereford-] This is a mistake of our author's. He was duke of Hereford. In England the most valiant gentleman; Who knows, on whom fortune would then have smil'd? For all the country, in a general voice, from his grace, Cried hate upon him; and all their prayers, and love, West. Mowbray, you overween, to take it so; Mowb. Well, by my will, we shall admit no parley. West. That argues but the shame of your offence A rotten case abides no handling. Hast. Hath the prince John a full commission, In very ample virtue of his father, To hear, and absolutely to determine Of what conditions we shall stand upon? West. That is intended in the general's name : I muse, you make so slight a question. Arch. Then take, my lord of Westmoreland, this schedule; For this contains our general grievances: Each several article herein redress'd; All members of our cause, both here and hence, West. This will I show the general. Please you, lords, In sight of both our battles we may meet: And either end in peace, which heaven so frame! Which must decide it. Arch. My lord, we will do so. [Exit WEST. Mowb. There is a thing within my bosom, tells me, That no conditions of our peace can stand. Hast. Fear you not that: if we can make our peace Upon such large terms, and so absolute, As our conditions shall consist upon, 8 Our peace shall stand as firm as rocky mountains. That every slight and false-derived cause, 6 - substantial form ;] that is, by a pardon of due form and legal validity. 7 awful banks again,] i. e. the proper limits of reverence. 8 - consist upon,] Perhaps the meaning is, as our conditions shall stand upon, shall make the foundation of the treaty. A Latin sense. 9 - nice,] i. e. trivial. That, were our royal faiths martyrs in love,] Royal faith means the faith due to a king. |