Gaunt. As near as I could sift him on that argu ment, On some apparent danger seen in him, Aim'd at your highness, no inveterate malice. K. Rich Then call them to our presence; face to face, And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear The accuser, and the accused, freely speak : [Exeunt some Attendants. High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire, In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire. Re-enter Attendants, with BOLINGBROKE and NORFOLK. Boling. Many years of happy days befal K. Rich. We thank you both: yet one but flatters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come; Namely, to appeal each other of high treason.- Boling. First, (heaven be the record to my speech!) In the devotion of a subject's love, Tendering the precious safety of my prince, Or my divine soul answer it in heaven. And wish, (so please my sovereign,) ere I move,' What my tongue speaks, my right-drawn' sword may prove. Nor. Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal : "Tis not the trial of a woman's war, The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, I do defy him, and I spit at him; Call him—a slanderous coward, and a villain : Boling. Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage, Disclaiming here the kindred of the king; Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except : 2 3 right-drawn —] Drawn in a right or just cause. · inhabitable—] That is, not habitable, uninhabitable. 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 us' So much as of a thought of ill in him. Boling. Look, what I speak my life shall prove it true; That Mowbray hath receiv'd eight thousand nobles, 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; 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. 5 - for lewd] Lewd, in our author, sometimes signifies wicked, and sometimes idle. 6 Suggest i. e. prompt. K. Rich. How high a pitch his resolution soars!Thomas of Norfolk, what say'st thou to this? Nor. O, let my sovereign turn away his face, How God, and good men, hate so foul a liar. K. Rich. Mowbray, impartial are our eyes, and ears: Were he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir, (As he is but my father's brother's son,) 8 Now by my scepter's awe I make a vow, Nor. Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart, Since last I went to France to fetch his queen : Neglected my sworn duty in that case.- 7 this slander of his blood,] i. e. this reproach to the king's ancestry. 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: This we prescribe, though no physician ; Deep malice makes too deep incision: Forget, forgive; conclude, and be agreed ; Our doctors say, this is no time 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. K. Rich. And, Norfolk, throw down his. Gaunt. When, Harry? when? Obedience bids, I should not bid again. K. Rich. Norfolk, throw down; we bid; there is no boot". Nor. Myself I throw, dread sovereign, at thy foot: My life thou shalt command, but not my shame : The one my duty bwes; 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. +"no month to bleed."-MALONE. 9 no boot.] That is, no use in delay, or refusal. |