KING RICHARD II. KING HENRY IV. Part I. KING HENRY IV. Part II. KING HENRY V. KING HENRY VI. Part I. EDINBURG H: Printed by ALEXANDER DONALDSON. M. DCC. LXXI. A C T I. K. Rich. 4 } Rofs, Fitzwater, Lords Abbot of Weftmin in the fter, Sparlia Sir Pierce of Exton, ment. Percy, fon to Nor-Cling- SCENE, difperfedly, in feveral parts of England. Queen to King Richard. Heralds, tuo Gardeners, Keeper, Meffenger, Groom, and other Attendants. SCENE I. The Court. Enter King Richard, John of Gaunt, with other Nobles and attendants. O Haft thou, according to thy oath and Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold fon, A 2 LD John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Gaunt. Gaunt. I have, my Liege. * K. Rich. Tell me moreover, haft thou founded him, If he appeal the Duke on ancient malice, Or worthily, as a good fubject should, On fome known ground of treachery in him. Gaunt. As near as I could fift him on that argument, On fome apparent danger seen in him Aim'd at your Highnefs; no invet'rate malice. K. Rich. Then call them to my prefence; face to face, And frowning brow to brow, ourfelves will hear Th' accufer and th' accufed freely speak: High-ftomach'd are they both, and full of ire; In rage, deaf as the fea; hafty as fire. SCEN E II. Enter Bolingbroke and Mowbray. Boling. May many years of happy days befal My gracious Sovereign, my moft loving Liege! Mob. Each day still better other's happiness; Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap, Add an immortal title to your crown! K. Rich. We thank you both, yet one but flatters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come; Namely, t'appeal each other of high treafon. Coufin of Hereford, what doft thou object Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? Boling. First, (Heav'n be the record to my speech!). In the devotion of a fubject's love, Tend'ring the precious fafety of my prince, And free from other mifbegotten hate, Come I appellant to this princely prefence. Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee; And mark my greeting well; for what I fpeak, My body fhall make good upon this earth, Or my divine foul anfwer it in heav'n. Thou art a traitor and a mifcreant. † * i. e. call, demand, challenge, from appello. Mr. Pope. Too good to be so, and too bad to live; Morb 5 Mowb. Let not my cold words here accufe my zeal; 'Tis not the trial of a woman's war, The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, Can arbitrate this caufe betwixt us twain; The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this. Yet can I not of fuch tame patience boast, As to be hush'd, and nought at all to say. First, the fair rev'rence of your Highness curbs me, From giving reins and fpurs to my free fpeech; Which elfe would post, until it had return'd Thefe terms of treafon doubled down his throat. Setting afide his high blood's royalty, And let him be no kinfman to my Liege, I do defy him, and I fpit at him; Call him a fland'rous coward, and a villain ; Which to maintain, I would allow him odds, And meet him, were I ty'd to run a-foot Even to the frozen ridges of the Alps, Or any other ground unhabitable, Where never Englishman durft set his foot. Meantime, let this defend my loyalty; By all my hopes, most falfely doth he lye. Boling. Pale trembling coward there I throw my Difclaiming here the kindred of a King, [gage, And lay afide my high blood's royalty; (Which fear, not rev'rence, makes thee to except): If guilty dread hath left thee so much strength, As to take up mine honour's pawn, then stoop. By that, and all the rights of knighthood elfe, Will I make good against thee, arm to arm, What I have spoken, or thou canst devise. Mowb. I take it up, and by that sword I fwear, Which gently laid my knighthood on my shoulder, I'll anfwer thee in any fair degree, Or chivalrous defign of knightly trial; Once more, the more to aggravate the note, K. Rich. |