Richard II

[Guru]

DUKE OF YORK

Thou fond mad woman,
Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy?
A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament,
And interchangeably set down their hands,
To kill the king at Oxford.

 

[Guru]

DUCHESS OF YORK

He shall be none;
We'll keep him here: then what is that to him?

 

[Guru]

DUKE OF YORK

Away, fond woman! were he twenty times my son,
I would appeach him.

 

[Guru]

DUCHESS OF YORK

Hadst thou groan'd for him
As I have done, thou wouldst be more pitiful.
But now I know thy mind; thou dost suspect
That I have been disloyal to thy bed,
And that he is a bastard, not thy son:
Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind:
He is as like thee as a man may be,
Not like to me, or any of my kin,
And yet I love him.

 

[Guru]

DUKE OF YORK

Make way, unruly woman!
Exit

 

[Guru]

DUCHESS OF YORK

After, Aumerle! mount thee upon his horse;
Spur post, and get before him to the king,
And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee.
I'll not be long behind; though I be old,
I doubt not but to ride as fast as York:
And never will I rise up from the ground
Till Bolingbroke have pardon'd thee. Away, be gone!
Exeunt


SCENE III. A royal palace.

Enter HENRY BOLINGBROKE, HENRY PERCY, and other Lords

 

[Guru]

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

Can no man tell me of my unthrifty son?
'Tis full three months since I did see him last;
If any plague hang over us, 'tis he.
I would to God, my lords, he might be found:
Inquire at London, 'mongst the taverns there,
For there, they say, he daily doth frequent,
With unrestrained loose companions,
Even such, they say, as stand in narrow lanes,
And beat our watch, and rob our passengers;
Which he, young wanton and effeminate boy,
Takes on the point of honour to support
So dissolute a crew.

 

[Guru]

HENRY PERCY

My lord, some two days since I saw the prince,
And told him of those triumphs held at Oxford.

 

[Guru]

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

And what said the gallant?

 

[Guru]

HENRY PERCY

His answer was, he would unto the stews,
And from the common'st creature pluck a glove,
And wear it as a favour; and with that
He would unhorse the lustiest challenger.

 

[Guru]

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

As dissolute as desperate; yet through both
I see some sparks of better hope, which elder years
May happily bring forth. But who comes here?
Enter DUKE OF AUMERLE

 

[Guru]

DUKE OF AUMERLE

Where is the king?

 

[Guru]

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

What means our cousin, that he stares and looks
So wildly?

 

[Guru]

DUKE OF AUMERLE

God save your grace! I do beseech your majesty,
To have some conference with your grace alone.

 

[Guru]

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone.
Exeunt HENRY PERCY and Lords

What is the matter with our cousin now?

 

[Guru]

DUKE OF AUMERLE

For ever may my knees grow to the earth,
My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth
Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak.

 

[Guru]

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

Intended or committed was this fault?
If on the first, how heinous e'er it be,
To win thy after-love I pardon thee.

 

[Guru]

DUKE OF AUMERLE

Then give me leave that I may turn the key,
That no man enter till my tale be done.

 

[Guru]

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

Have thy desire.

 

[Guru]

DUKE OF YORK

[Within] My liege, beware; look to thyself;
Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there.

 

[Guru]

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

Villain, I'll make thee safe.
Drawing

 

[Guru]

DUKE OF AUMERLE

Stay thy revengeful hand; thou hast no cause to fear.

 

[Guru]

DUKE OF YORK

[Within] Open the door, secure, foolhardy king:
Shall I for love speak treason to thy face?
Open the door, or I will break it open.
Enter DUKE OF YORK

 

[Guru]

HENRY BOLINGBROKE

What is the matter, uncle? speak;
Recover breath; tell us how near is danger,
That we may arm us to encounter it.

 

[Guru]

DUKE OF YORK

Peruse this writing here, and thou shalt know
The treason that my haste forbids me show.