THE LIFE AND DEATH G KING RICHARD II. SCENE I.-London. with him. ACT I. A Room in the Palace. Enter King RICHARD, attended; JOHN of GAUNT, and other Nobles, King Richard. OLD John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancaster, K. Rich. Tell me, moreover, hast they sounded him, If he appeal the duke on ancient malice; Or worthily as a good subject should, On some known ground of treachery in him? Gaunt. As near as I could sift him on that argument,- 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 Th' accuser, and th' accused, freely speak : [Exeunt some Attendant. -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 NORFOL K. Rich. We thank you both: yet one but fiatters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come; Namely, to appeal each other of high treason.- [1] When these public challenges were accepted, each combatant found a pleuge for his appearance at the time and place appointed. Band and bond were formerl synonymous. STEEVENS. Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object 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, Come I appellant to this princely presence.- 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, Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain : The blood is hot, that must be cool'd for this, As to be hush'd, and naught at all to say: First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me These terms of treason doubled down his throat. And let him be no kinsman to my liege, I do defy him, and I spit at him; Call him—a slanderous coward, and a villain : Which to maintain, I would allow him odds; And meet him, were I tied to run a-foot [2] Drawn in a right or just cause. JOHNSON. By all my hopes, most falsely doth he lie. Boling. Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage, Disclaiming here the kindred of a king; And lay aside my high blood's royalty, Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except: 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;-- 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: Even from the tongueless caverns of the earth, [4] Lend here signifies wicked. It is so used in many of our, old statutes. It sometimes signifies idle. STEEVENS. MALONE |