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Richard II - Act 5, scene 6
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Richard II - Act 5, scene 6Act 5, scene 6
⌜Scene 6⌝
Synopsis:
News is brought to Henry about the capture and punishment of rebel leaders. Henry pardons the bishop of Carlisle. Exton enters with Richard’s body and is banished for the murder. Henry vows to launch a crusade to the Holy Land to wash off his own guilt.
Enter ⌜King Henry,⌝ with the Duke of York.KING HENRY
2811 Kind uncle York, the latest news we hear
2812 Is that the rebels have consumed with fire
2813 Our town of Ciceter in Gloucestershire,
2814 But whether they be ta’en or slain we hear not.
Enter Northumberland.
2815 5 Welcome, my lord. What is the news?
NORTHUMBERLAND
2816 First, to thy sacred state wish I all happiness.
2817 The next news is: I have to London sent
2818 The heads of Oxford, Salisbury, Blunt, and Kent.
2819 The manner of their taking may appear
2820 10 At large discoursèd in this paper here.
⌜He gives King Henry a paper.⌝
KING HENRY
2821 We thank thee, gentle Percy, for thy pains,
2822 And to thy worth will add right worthy gains.
Enter Lord Fitzwater.
FITZWATER
2823 My lord, I have from Oxford sent to London
2824 The heads of Brocas and Sir Bennet Seely,
p.
219
2825
15 Two of the dangerous consorted traitors2826 That sought at Oxford thy dire overthrow.
KING HENRY
2827 Thy pains, Fitzwater, shall not be forgot.
2828 Right noble is thy merit, well I wot.
Enter ⌜Harry⌝ Percy ⌜with the Bishop of Carlisle.⌝
PERCY
2829 The grand conspirator, Abbot of Westminster,
2830 20 With clog of conscience and sour melancholy
2831 Hath yielded up his body to the grave.
2832 But here is Carlisle living, to abide
2833 Thy kingly doom and sentence of his pride.
KING HENRY 2834 Carlisle, this is your doom:
2835 25 Choose out some secret place, some reverend room,
2836 More than thou hast, and with it joy thy life.
2837 So, as thou liv’st in peace, die free from strife;
2838 For, though mine enemy thou hast ever been,
2839 High sparks of honor in thee have I seen.
Enter Exton ⌜and Servingmen⌝ with the coffin.
EXTON
2840 30 Great king, within this coffin I present
2841 Thy buried fear. Herein all breathless lies
2842 The mightiest of thy greatest enemies,
2843 Richard of Bourdeaux, by me hither brought.
KING HENRY
2844 Exton, I thank thee not, for thou hast wrought
2845 35 A deed of slander with thy fatal hand
2846 Upon my head and all this famous land.
EXTON
2847 From your own mouth, my lord, did I this deed.
KING HENRY
2848 They love not poison that do poison need,
2849 Nor do I thee. Though I did wish him dead,
2850 40 I hate the murderer, love him murderèd.
p.
221
2851
The guilt of conscience take thou for thy labor,2852 But neither my good word nor princely favor.
2853 With Cain go wander through shades of night,
2854 And never show thy head by day nor light.
⌜Exton exits.⌝
2855 45 Lords, I protest my soul is full of woe
2856 That blood should sprinkle me to make me grow.
2857 Come mourn with me for what I do lament,
2858 And put on sullen black incontinent.
2859 I’ll make a voyage to the Holy Land
2860 50 To wash this blood off from my guilty hand.
⌜Servingmen lift the coffin to carry it out.⌝
2861 March sadly after. Grace my mournings here
2862 In weeping after this untimely bier.
⌜They exit, following the coffin.⌝