Enter KING RICHARD II, JOHN OF GAUNT, with other Nobles and Attendants
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KING RICHARD II and JOHN OF GAUNT enter, with other nobles and servants.
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KING RICHARD II Old John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancaster, Hast thou, according to thy oath and band, Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold son, Here to make good the boisterous late appeal, Which then our leisure would not let us hear, Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?
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KING RICHARD II OId John of Gaunt, well-respected Lancaster : have you, according to your promise and duty, brought here your presumptuous son Henry Hereford to explain his case against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray, which at the time we didn't have time to hear?
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JOHN OF GAUNT I have, my liege.
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JOHN OF GAUNT I have, my liege.
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KING RICHARD II Tell me, moreover, hast thou 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?
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KING RICHARD II Tell me, furthermore: have you asked him whether he accuses the duke because he has a grudge against him, or because—like a good subject—he has reason to suspect him of disloyalty?
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JOHN OF 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.
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JOHN OF GAUNT As much as I could gather, he accuses the duke because he thinks he poses a threat to your highness, not for personal reasons.
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KING RICHARD II Then call them to our presence; face to face, And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear The accuser and the accused freely speak : High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire, In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire.
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KING RICHARD II Then bring them before us: we will hear the accuser and the accused make their case, face to face. They're both proud men, full of anger, and their rage makes them too hasty and quick to take offense.
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Enter HENRY BOLINGBROKE and THOMAS MOWBRAY
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE and THOMAS MOWBRAY enter
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE Many years of happy days befalMy gracious sovereign, my most loving liege!
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE May you reign many years in happiness, my gracious King, my most loving lord!
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THOMAS MOWBRAY Each day still better other's happiness ; Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap, Add an immortal title to your crown!
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THOMAS MOWBRAY May each day be happier than the one that came before, until heaven, jealous of earth's good fortune in having such a king, gives you an immortal crown after death.
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KING RICHARD II We thank you both: yet one but flatters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come; Namely to appeal each other of high treason. Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?
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KING RICHARD II We thank you both: yet one merely flatters us, since you come to accuse one another of high treason. Cousin of Hereford, what is your accusation against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE First, heaven be the record to my speech! In the devotion of a subject's love, Tendering the precious safety of my prince, And free from other misbegotten hate, Come I appellant to this princely presence. Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee, And mark my greeting well; for what I speak My body shall make good upon this earth, Or my divine soul answer it in heaven. Thou art a traitor and a miscreant, Too good to be so and too bad to live, Since the more fair and crystal is the sky, The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly. Once more, the more to aggravate the note, With a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat; And wish, so please my sovereign, ere I move, What my tongue speaks my right drawn sword may prove.
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE First, let heaven witness my speech! I swear that I make this accusation as a devoted subject, concerned for the precious safety of my prince, and free from any other grudge or personal motive. Now, Thomas Mowbray, I turn to you, and listen closely; for what I speak, I'll prove true while I live, or my soul will answer for it in heaven. You are a traitor and a villain, too good to be so and too bad to live, since the brighter and clearer the sky, the uglier it looks when clouds fill it. Once more (the more to make my point), I throw the name of "foul traitor" back down your throat; and wish—if it pleased my sovereign—that before I go, I might prove what I say with my sword.
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