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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 uncontroll'd
enfranchisement； More than my dancing soul doth celebrate This feast of
battle with mine adversary。 Most mighty liege； and my companion peers；
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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
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。 KING RICHARD。 Farewell；
my lord； securely I espy Virtue with valour couched in thine eye。 Order the
trial； Marshal； and begin。 MARSHAL。 Harry of Hereford； Lancaster； and
Derby； Receive thy lance； and God defend the right！ BOLINGBROKE。
Strong as a tower in hope； I cry amen。 MARSHAL。 ＇To an officer＇ Go
bear this lance to Thomas； Duke of Norfolk。 FIRST HERALD。 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。 SECOND HERALD。 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。
MARSHAL。 Sound trumpets； and set forward； combatants。 ＇A charge
sounded＇ Stay； the King hath thrown his warder down。 KING RICHARD。
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。
A long flourish； while the KING consults his Council Draw near； And
list what with our council we have done。 For that our kingdom's earth
should not be soil'd With that dear blood which it hath fostered； And for
our eyes do hate the dire aspect Of civil wounds plough'd up with
neighbours' sword； And for we think the eagle…winged pride Of sky…
aspiring and ambitious thoughts； With rival…hating envy； set on you To
wake our peace； which in our country's cradle Draws the sweet infant
breath of gentle sleep； Which so rous'd up with boist'rous untun'd drums；
With harsh…resounding trumpets' dreadful bray； And grating shock of
wrathful iron arms； Might from our quiet confines 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 life； Till twice five
summers have enrich'd our fields Shall not regreet our fair dominions； But
tread the stranger paths of banishment。 BOLINGBROKE。 Your will be
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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
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。 KING RICHARD。 Norfolk； for thee remains a
heavier doom； Which I with some unwillingness pronounce： The sly 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。
MOWBRAY。 A heavy sentence； my most sovereign liege； And all unlook'd
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' hands。
The language I have learnt these forty years； My native English； now I
must forgo； And now my tongue's use is to me no more Than an
unstringed viol or a harp； Or like a cunning instrument cas'd up Or； being
open； put into his hands That knows no touch to tune the harmony。 Within
my mouth you have engaol'd my tongue； Doubly portcullis'd with my
teeth and lips； And dull； unfeeling； barren ignorance Is made my gaoler to
attend on me。 I am too old to fawn upon a nurse； Too far in years to be a
pupil now。 What is thy sentence； then； but speechless death； Which robs
my tongue from breathing native breath？ KING RICHARD。 It boots thee
not to be compassionate； After our sentence plaining comes too late。
MOWBRAY。 Then thus I turn me from my countrv's light； To dwell in
solemn shades of endless night。 KING RICHARD。 Return again； and take
an oath with thee。 Lay on our royal sword your banish'd hands； Swear by
the duty that you owe to God； Our part therein we banish with yourselves；
To keep the oath that we administer： You never shall； so help you truth and
God； Embrace each other's love in banishment； Nor never look upon each
other's face； Nor never write； regreet； nor reconcile This louring tempest
of your home…bred hate； Nor never by advised purpose meet To plot；
contrive； or complot any ill； 'Gainst us； our state； our subjects； or our land。
BOLINGBROKE。 I swear。 MOWBRAY。 And I； to keep all this。
BOLINGBROKE。 Norfolk； so far as to mine enemy。 By this time； had the
King permitted us； One of our souls had wand'red in the air； Banish'd this
frail sepulchre of our flesh； As now our flesh is banish'd from this land…
Confess thy treasons ere thou fly the realm； Since thou hast far to go； bear
not along The clogging burden of a guilty soul。 MOWBRAY。 No；
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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
Bolingbroke； if ever I were traitor； My name be blotted from the book of
life； And I from heaven banish'd as from hence！ But what thou art； God；
thou； and I； do know； And all too soon； I fear； the King shall rue。 Farewell；
my liege。 Now no way can I stray： Save back to England； an the world's
my way。 Exit KING RICHARD。 Uncle； even in the glasses of thine eyes I
see thy grieved heart。 Thy sad aspect Hath from the number of his banish'd
years Pluck'd four away。 ＇To BOLINGBROKE＇ Six frozen winters spent；
Return with welcome home from banishment。 BOLINGBROKE。 How
long a time lies in one little word！ Four lagging winters and four wanton
springs End in a word： such i