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Gaunt？ GAUNT。 O； how that name befits my composition！ Old Gaunt；
indeed； and gaunt in being old。 Within me grief hath kept a tedious fast；
And who abstains from meat that is not gaunt？ For sleeping England long
time have I watch'd； Watching breeds leanness； leanness is an gaunt。 The
pleasure that some fathers feed upon Is my strict fast…I mean my children's
looks； And therein fasting； hast thou made me gaunt。 Gaunt am I for the
grave； gaunt as a grave； Whose hollow womb inherits nought but bones。
KING RICHARD。 Can sick men play so nicely with their names？
GAUNT。 No； misery makes sport to mock itself： Since thou dost seek to
kill my name in me； I mock my name； great king； to flatter thee。 KING
RICHARD。 Should dying men flatter with those that live？ GAUNT。 No；
no； men living flatter those that die。 KING RICHARD。 Thou； now a…dying；
sayest thou flatterest me。 GAUNT。 O； no！ thou diest； though I the sicker
be。 KING RICHARD。 I am in health； I breathe； and see thee ill。 GAUNT。
Now He that made me knows I see thee ill； Ill in myself to see； and in thee
seeing ill。 Thy death…bed is no lesser than thy land Wherein thou liest in
reputation sick； And thou； too careless patient as thou art； Commit'st thy
anointed body to the cure Of those physicians that first wounded thee： A
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thousand flatterers sit within thy crown； Whose compass is no bigger than
thy head； And yet； incaged in so small a verge； The waste is no whit lesser
than thy land。 O； had thy grandsire with a prophet's eye Seen how his son's
son should destroy his sons； From forth thy reach he would have laid thy
shame； Deposing thee before thou wert possess'd； Which art possess'd now
to depose thyself。 Why； cousin； wert thou regent of the world； It were a
shame to let this land by lease； But for thy world enjoying but this land； Is
it not more than shame to shame it so？ Landlord of England art thou now；
not King。 Thy state of law is bondslave to the law； And thou… KING
RICHARD。 A lunatic lean…witted fool； Presuming on an ague's privilege；
Darest with thy frozen admonition Make pale our cheek； chasing the royal
blood With fury from his native residence。 Now by my seat's right royal
majesty； Wert thou not brother to great Edward's son； This tongue that runs
so roundly in thy head Should run thy head from thy unreverent shoulders。
GAUNT。 O； Spare me not； my brother Edward's son； For that I was his
father Edward's son； That blood already； like the pelican； Hast thou tapp'd
out； and drunkenly carous'd。 My brother Gloucester； plain well…meaning
soul… Whom fair befall in heaven 'mongst happy souls！… May be a
precedent and witness good That thou respect'st not spilling Edward's
blood。 Join with the present sickness that I have； And thy unkindness be
like crooked age； To crop at once a too long withered flower。 Live in thy
shame； but die not shame with thee！ These words hereafter thy tormentors
be！ Convey me to my bed； then to my grave。 Love they to live that love
and honour have。 Exit； borne out by his attendants KING RICHARD。 And
let them die that age and sullens have； For both hast thou； and both
become the grave。 YORK。 I do beseech your Majesty impute his words To
wayward sickliness and age in him。 He loves you； on my life； and holds
you dear As Harry Duke of Hereford； were he here。 KING RICHARD。
Right； you say true： as Hereford's love； so his； As theirs； so mine； and all
be as it is。
Enter NORTHUMBERLAND
NORTHUMBERLAND。 My liege； old Gaunt commends him to your
Majesty。 KING RICHARD。 What says he？ NORTHUMBERLAND。 Nay；
nothing； all is said。 His tongue is now a stringless instrument； Words； life；
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KING RICHARD THE SECOND
and all； old Lancaster hath spent。 YORK。 Be York the next that must be
bankrupt so！ Though death be poor； it ends a mortal woe。 KING
RICHARD。 The ripest fruit first falls； and so doth he； His time is spent；
our pilgrimage must be。 So much for that。 Now for our Irish wars。 We
must supplant those rough rug…headed kerns； Which live like venom
where no venom else But only they have privilege to live。 And for these
great affairs do ask some charge； Towards our assistance we do seize to us
The plate； coin； revenues； and moveables； Whereof our uncle Gaunt did
stand possess'd。 YORK。 How long shall I be patient？ Ah； how long Shall
tender duty make me suffer wrong？ Not Gloucester's death； nor Hereford's
banishment； Nor Gaunt's rebukes； nor England's private wrongs； Nor the
prevention of poor Bolingbroke About his marriage； nor my own disgrace；
Have ever made me sour my patient cheek Or bend one wrinkle on my
sovereign's face。 I am the last of noble Edward's sons； Of whom thy father；
Prince of Wales； was first。 In war was never lion rag'd more fierce； In
peace was never gentle lamb more mild； Than was that young and princely
gentleman。 His face thou hast； for even so look'd he； Accomplish'd with
the number of thy hours； But when he frown'd； it was against the French
And not against his friends。 His noble hand Did win what he did spend；
and spent not that Which his triumphant father's hand had won。 His hands
were guilty of no kindred blood； But bloody with the enemies of his kin。 O
Richard！ York is too far gone with grief； Or else he never would compare
between… KING RICHARD。 Why； uncle； what's the matter？ YORK。 O my
liege； Pardon me； if you please； if not； I； pleas'd Not to be pardoned； am
content withal。 Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands The royalties
and rights of banish'd Hereford？ Is not Gaunt dead？ and doth not Hereford
live？ Was not Gaunt just？ and is not Harry true？ Did not the one deserve to
have an heir？ Is not his heir a well…deserving son？ Take Hereford's rights
away； and take from Time His charters and his customary rights； Let not
to…morrow then ensue to…day； Be not thyself…for how art thou a king But
by fair sequence and succession？ Now； afore God…God forbid I say true！…
If you do wrongfully seize Hereford's rights； Call in the letters patents that
he hath By his attorneys…general to sue His livery； and deny his off'red
homage； You pluck a thousand dangers on your head； You lose a thousand
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well…disposed hearts； And prick my tender patience to those thoughts
Which hon