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Now by my sceptre's awe I make a vow； Such neighbour nearness to our
sacred blood Should nothing privilege him nor partialize The unstooping
firmness of my upright soul。 He is our subject； Mowbray； so art thou： Free
speech and fearless I to thee allow。 MOWBRAY。 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 Disburs'd I duly to his
Highness' soldiers； The other part reserv'd 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
Gloucester'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 an ambush for your life； A
trespass that doth vex my grieved soul； But ere I last receiv'd the
sacrament I did confess it； and exactly begg'd Your Grace's pardon； and I
hope I had it。 This is my fault。 As for the rest appeal'd； 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 chamber'd in his bosom。 In haste whereof； most
heartily I pray Your Highness to assign our trial day。 KING RICHARD。
Wrath…kindled gentlemen； be rul'd 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
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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
say this is no month 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。 KING RICHARD。 And； Norfolk； throw down his。 GAUNT。 When；
Harry； when？ Obedience bids I should not bid again。 KING RICHARD。
Norfolk； throw down； we bid。 There is no boot。 MOWBRAY。 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
disgrac'd； impeach'd； and baffl'd here； Pierc'd to the soul with slander's
venom'd spear； The which no balm can cure but his heart…blood Which
breath'd this poison。 KING RICHARD。 Rage must be withstood： Give me
his gage…lions make leopards tame。 MOWBRAY。 Yea； but not change his
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 barr'd…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。 KING RICHARD。
Cousin； throw up your gage； do you begin。 BOLINGBROKE。 O； God
defend my soul from such deep sin！ Shall I seem crest…fallen in my father's
sight？ Or with pale beggar…fear impeach my height Before this outdar'd
dastard？ Ere my tongue Shall wound my honour with such feeble wrong
Or sound so base a parle； my teeth shall tear The slavish motive of
recanting fear； And spit it bleeding in his high disgrace； Where shame doth
harbour； even in Mowbray's face。 Exit GAUNT KING RICHARD。 We
were not born to sue； but to command； Which since we cannot do to make
you friends； Be ready； as your lives shall answer it； At Coventry； upon
Saint Lambert's day。 There shall your swords and lances arbitrate The
swelling difference of your settled hate； Since we can not atone you； we
shall see Justice design the victor's chivalry。 Lord Marshal； command our
officers…at…arms Be ready to direct these home alarms。 Exeunt
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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
SCENE 2。 London。 The DUKE OF LANCASTER'S
palace
Enter JOHN OF GAUNT with the DUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER
GAUNT。 Alas； the part I had in Woodstock's blood Doth more solicit
me than your exclaims 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 they see the
hours ripe on earth； Will rain hot vengeance on offenders' heads。
DUCHESS。 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 vials 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 Gloucester； One vial full of Edward's sacred blood； One flourishing
branch of his most royal root； Is crack'd； and all the precious liquor spilt；
Is hack'd 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 fashion'd thee； Made him a man； and
though thou livest and breathest； Yet art thou slain in him。 Thou dost
consent 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 suff'ring thus thy brother to be slaught'red；
Thou showest 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 Gloucester's death。 GAUNT。 God's is the
quarrel； for God's substitute； His deputy anointed in His sight； Hath caus'd
his death； the which if wrongfully； Let heaven revenge； for I may never lift
An angry arm against His minister。 DUCHESS。 Where then； alas； may