Boling. What means our cousin, that he stares and looks So wildly? Aum. God save your grace! I do beseech your majesty, To have some conference with your grace alone. Boling. Withdraw yourselves, and leave us here alone. [Exeunt Percy and Lords. What is the matter with our cousin now? Aumerle. For ever may my knees grow to the earth, 30 My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth, Unless a pardon ere I rise or speak. 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. Aumerle. Then give me leave that I may turn the key, That no man enter till my tale be done. Bolingbroke. Have thy desire. York. [Within] My liege, beware: look to thyself; Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there. Bolingbroke. Villain, I'll make thee safe. 40 [Drawing. Aum. Stay thy revengeful hand; thou hast no cause to fear. York. [Within] Open the door, secure, fool-hardy king: Shall I for love speak treason to thy face? Open the door, or I will break it open. [Bolingbroke opens the door, and shuts it again. Enter YORK. Bolingbroke. What is the matter, uncle? speak; Recover breath; tell us how near is danger, That we may arm us to encounter it. York. Peruse this writing here, and thou shalt know The treason that my haste forbids me show. 50 Aumerle. Remember, as thou read'st, thy promise pass'd: I do repent me; read not my name there; York. It was, villain, ere thy hand did set it down. Fear, and not love, begets his penitence: A serpent that will sting thee to the heart. Bolingbroke. O heinous, strong and bold conspiracy! 60 O loyal father of a treacherous son! Thou sheer, immaculate and silver fountain, From whence this stream through muddy passages 70 York. So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd; And he shall spend mine honour with his shame, As thriftless sons their scraping fathers' gold. Mine honour lives when his dishonour dies, Or my shamed life in his dishonour lies: Thou kill'st me in his life; giving him breath, The traitor lives, the true man's put to death. Duch. [Within] What ho, my liege! for God's sake, let me in. Boling. What shrill-voiced suppliant makes this eager cry? Duchess. A woman, and thy aunt, great king; 'tis I. Speak with me, pity me, open the door: A beggar begs that never begg'd before. Bolingbroke. Our scene is alter'd from a serious thing, And now changed to 'The Beggar and the King.' My dangerous cousin, let your mother in: I know she is come to pray for your foul sin. 80 [Aumerle opens the door. York. If thou do pardon, whosoever pray, More sins for this forgiveness prosper may. This fester'd joint cut off, the rest rest sound; This let alone will all the rest confound. Enter DUCHESS. Duchess. O king, believe not this hard-hearted man! Love loving not itself none other can. York. Thou frantic woman, what dost thou make here? Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear? 90 Duch. Sweet York, be patient. Hear me, gentle liege. Boling. Rise up, good aunt. Duchess. [Kneels, Not yet, I thee beseech: For ever will I walk upon my knees, Till thou give joy; until thou bid me joy, Aumerle. Unto my mother's prayers I bend my knee. Duchess. Pleads he in earnest? look upon his face; 100 His eyes do drop no tears, his prayers are in jest ; His words come from his mouth, ours from our breast: He prays but faintly and would be denied; We pray with heart and soul and all beside: His weary joints would gladly rise, I know; Our knees shall kneel till to the ground they grow: Our prayers do out-pray his; then let them have Boling. Good aunt, stand up. Duchess. ΙΙΟ Nay, do not say, 'stand up;' Say 'pardon' first, and afterwards 'stand up.' No word like 'pardon' for kings' mouths so meet. 121 That set'st the word itself against the word! Boling. Good aunt, stand up. Duchess. I do not sue to stand; Pardon is all the suit I have in hand. Bolingbroke. I pardon him, as God shall pardon me. Twice saying 'pardon' doth not pardon twain, Bolingbroke. I pardon him. Duchess. With all my heart A god on earth thou art. 130 Boling. But for our trusty brother-in-law and the abbot, With all the rest of that consorted crew, Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels. 140 Your mother well hath pray'd, and prove you true. SCENE IV. The same. Enter EXTON and Servant. [Exeunt. Exton. Didst thou not mark the king, what words he spake, Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear?' Was it not so? Servant. These were his very words. Exton. 'Have I no friend?' quoth he: he spake it twice, And urged it twice together, did he not? Servant. He did. Exton. And speaking it, he wistly look'd on me; 10 [Exeunt. K. Rich. I have been studying how I may compare This prison where I live unto the world: And for because the world is populous I cannot do it; yet I'll hammer it out. As thus, 'Come, little ones,' and then again, |