Nor. I take it up; and, by that sword I swear, Which gently lay'd my knighthood on my shoulder, I'll answer thee in any fair degree, Or chivalrous design of knightly trial: And, when I mount, alive may I not light, If I be traitor, or unjustly fight! K. Rich. What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray's charge? It must be great, that can inherit us1 So much as of a thought of ill in him. Boling. Look, what I speak my life shall prove it That Mowbray hath receiv'd eight thousand nobles, Besides I and will in battle Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and spring, Upon his bad life, to make all this good, That he did plot the duke of Gloster's death; Suggest his soon-believing adversaries; And, consequently, like a traitor coward, Sluic'd out his innocent soul through streams of blood: 4 that can inherit us, &c.] To inherit is no more than to possess, though such a use of the word may be peculiar to Shakspeare. for lewd] Lewd, in our author, sometimes signifies wicked, and sometimes idle. 5 Suggest i. e. prompt. K. Rich. How high a pitch his resolution soars ! Nor. O, let my sovereign turn away his face, K. Rich. Mowbray, impartial are our eyes, and ears: Nor. Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart, Since last I went to France to fetch his queen: Now swallow down that lie. For Gloster's death, - I slew him not; but to my own disgrace, Your grace's pardon, and, I hope, I had it. 7 ancestry. this slander of his blood,] i. e. this reproach to the king's 8 · my scepter's awe,] The reverence due to my scepter. This is my fault: As for the rest appeal'd, Even in the best blood chamber'd in his bosom : Your highness to assign our trial day. K. Rich. Wrath-kindled gentlemen, be rul'd by me; Let's purge this choler without letting blood: Deep malice makes too deep incision: Gaunt. To be a make-peace shall become my age:- Gaunt. When, Harry? when? Obedience bids, I should not bid again. K. Rich. Norfolk, throw down; we bid; there is no boot. 9 Nor. 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 baffled 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. K. Rich. Rage must be withstood: Give me his gage: - Lions make leopards tame.+ Nor. Yea, but not change their spots: take but my shame, And I resign my gage. My dear dear lord, Mine honour is my life; both grow in one; K. Rich. Cousin, throw down your gage; do you begin. And spit it bleeding, in his high disgrace, Where shame doth harbour, even in Mowbray's face. [Exit GAUNT. K. Rich. 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 cannot atone you', we shall see 2 Justice design the victor's chivalry. — + Lions make leopards tame.] There is a peculiar allusion here which has not been noticed. The Norfolk crest was a golden. leopard. MALONE. In the next line Mr. M. reads "his spots." 11 atone you,] i. e. reconcile you. 2 Justice design] i. e. mark out. +Marshal, command our officers at arms Be ready to direct these home-alarms. [Exeunt. The same. SCENE II. A Room in the Duke of Lancaster's Palace. Enter GAUNT, and Duchess of Gloster.3 Gaunt. Alas! the part I had in Gloster's blood To stir against the butchers of his life. Duch. Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur? One flourishing branch of his most royal root, →→ Is hack'd down, and his summer leaves all faded, +"Lord Marshal," - MALONE. Duchess of Gloster.] The Duchess of Gloster was Eleanor Bohun, widow of duke Thomas, son of Edward III. 4 the part] That is, my relation of consanguinity to Gloster. |