I'll not be long behind; though I be old, Till Bolingbroke hath pardon'd thee. Away, be gone! SCENE III.-WINDSOR. A Room in the Castle. Enter BOLINGBROKE as King; PERCY, and other Lords. I would to God, my lords, he might be found: So dissolute a crew. [Exeunt. Percy. My lord, some two days since I saw the prince, And told him of these triumphs held at Oxford. Boling. And what said the gallant? Percy. His answer was, he would unto the stews, And from the common'st creature pluck a glove, And wear it as a favour; and with that He would unhorse the lustiest challenger. Boling. As dissolute as desperate; yet, through both I see some sparkles of a better hope, Which elder days may happily bring forth. But who comes here? Enter AUMERLE, hastily. Aum. Where is the king? 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? Aum. [Kneels.] For ever may my knees grow to the earth, My tongue cleave to my roof within my mouth, Unless a pardon, ere I rise or speak. Boling. Intended, or committed, was this fault? If on the first, how heinous e'er it be, To win thy after-love I pardon thee. Aum. Then give me leave that I may turn the key, That no man enter till my tale be done. Boling. Have thy desire. [AUMERLE locks the door. York. [Within.] My liege, beware; look to thyself; Thou hast a traitor in thy presence there. Boling. [Drawing.] Villain, I'll make thee safe. Aum. Stay thy revengeful hand; thou hast no cause to fear. York. [Within.] Open the door, secure, foolhardy king: Shall I, for love, speak treason to thy face? Open the door, or I will break it open. [BOLINGBROKE unlocks the door; and afterwards, relocks it. Enter YORK. Boling. 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. Aum. Remember, as thou read'st, thy promise past: I do repent me; read not my name there; York. It was, villain, ere thy hand did set it down.— I tore it from the traitor's bosom, king; A serpent that will sting thee to the heart. Boling. O heinous, strong, and bold conspiracy!— O loyal father of a treacherous son! Thou sheer, immaculate, and silver fountain, From whence this stream through muddy passages Thy overflow of good converts to bad; York. So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd; Duch. [Within.] What ho! my liege! for God's sake let me in. Boling. What shrill-voic'd suppliant makes this eager cry? Duch. [Within.] A woman, and thine aunt, great king; 'tis I. Speak with me, pity me, open the door : A beggar begs, that never begg'd before. Boling. Our scene is alter'd from a serious thing, And now chang'd to "The Beggar and the King."My dangerous cousin, let your mother in : I know she's come to pray for your foul sin. [AUMERLE unlocks the door. York. If thou do pardon, whosoever pray, More sins, for this forgiveness, prosper may. This fester'd joint cut off, the rest rests sound; This, let alone, will all the rest confound. Enter DUCHESS. Duch. 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? Duch. Sweet York, be patient.-[Kneels.] Hear me, gentle liege. Boling. Rise up, good aunt. Duch. Not yet, I thee beseech: For ever will I walk upon my knees, By pardoning Rutland, my transgressing boy. Aum. [Kneels.] Unto my mother's prayers, I bend my knee. York. [Kneels.] Against them both, my true joints bended be. Ill mayst thou thrive, if thou grant any grace! Duch. Pleads he in earnest? look upon his face; 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: His prayers are full of false hypocrisy ; Ours of true zeal and deep integrity. Our prayers do out-pray his; then let them have Duch. Nay, do not say-" stand up;" Say " pardon," king; let pity teach thee how : Boling. Good aunt, stand up. Duch. I do not sue to stand Pardon is all the suit I have in hand. Boling. I pardon him, as God shall pardon me. Twice saying "pardon" doth not pardon twain, Boling. I pardon him. Duch. With all my heart A god on earth thou art. 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.— Good uncle, help to order several powers To Oxford, or where'er these traitors are: They shall not live within this world, I swear, But I will have them, if I once know where. Uncle, farewell:—and cousin too, adieu : Your mother well hath pray'd, and prove you true. Duch. Come, my old son :-I pray God make thee new. SCENE IV.-WINDSOR. [Exeunt. Another Room in the Castle. Enter SIR PIERCE OF EXTON and a Servant. 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? Serv. Those were his very words. Exton. "Have I no friend?" quoth he: he spake it twice, And urg'd it twice together,-did he not? Serv. He did. Exton. And speaking it, he wistly look'd on me ; SCENE V.-POMFRET. The Dungeon of the Castle. Enter KING RICHARD. K. Rich. I have been studying how I may compare And these same thoughts people this little world; As thus,-"Come, little ones ;" and then again,- To thread the postern of a needle's eye." [Exeunt. |