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.— Against the duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray ? Boling. First, (heaven be the record to my speech !) In the devotion of a subject's love, Tendering the precious safety of my prince, 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 : Disclaiming here the kindred of the king; Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except: 2 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, 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; 6 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. 5 · for lewd-] Lewd, in our author, sometimes signifies wicked, and sometimes idle. Suggesti. 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, Upon remainder of a dear account, 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, 7 ancestry. 8 this slander of his blood,] i. e. this reproach to the king's my scepter's awe-] The reverence due to my scepter. This is my fault: As for the rest appeal'd, To prove myself a loyal gentleman ; 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 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. 9 no boot.] That is, no use in delay, or refusal. |