That they may break his foaming courser's back, Gaunt. Sister, farewell: I must to Coventry: where it falls, Not with the empty hollowness, but weight: I take my leave before I have begun; For sorrow ends not when it seemeth done. Commend me to my brother, Edmund York. Lo, this is all:--Nay, yet depart not so; Though this be all, do not so quickly go; I shall remember more. Bid him-0, what? With all good speed at Plashy visit me. Alack, and what shall good old York there see, But empty lodgings and unfurnish'd walls, Unpeopled offices, untrodden stones? And what cheer there for welcome, but my groans? Therefore commend me; let him not come there, To seek out sorrow that dwells every where: Desolate, desolate, will I hence, and die; The last leave of thee takes my weeping eye. [Exeunt. 6 A caitiff --] Caitif originally signified a prisoner; next a slave, from the condition of prisoners; then a scoundrel, from the qualities of a slave. SCENE III. Gosford Green, near Coventry. Lists set out, and a Throne. Heralds, &c. attending. Enter the Lord Marshal," and AUMERLE. Mar. My lord Aumerle, is Harry Hereford arm'd? Aum. Yea, at all points; and longs to enter in. Mar. The duke of Norfolk, sprightfully and bold, Stays but the summons of the appellant's trumpet. Aum. Why then, the champions are prepar’d, and stay For nothing but his majesty's approach. Flourish of Trumpets. Enter King RICHARD, who takes his seat on his Throne; Gaunt, and several Noblemen, who take their places. A Trumpet is sounded, and answered by another Trumpet within. Then enter NORFOLK, in armour, preceded by a Herald. K. Rich. Marshal, demand of yonder champion The cause of his arrival here in arms: Ask him his name; and orderly proceed 7 1_Lord Marshal,] Shakspeare has here committed a slight mistake. The office of Lord Marshal was executed on this occasion by Thomas Holland, Duke of Surrey. Our author has inad. vertently introduced that nobleman as a distinct person from the Marshal, in the present drama. Mowbray Duke of Norfolk was the Earl Marshal of England; but being himself one of the combatants, the duke of Surrey officiated as Earl Marshal for the day. To swear him in the justice of his cause. 8 Aumerle.] Edward Duke of Aumerle, so created by his cousin german, King Richard II. in 1397. He was the eldest son of Edward of Langley Duke of York, fifth son of King Edward the Third, and was killed in 1415, at the battle of Agincourt. He officiated at the lists of Coventry, as High Constable of England. Mar. In God's name, and the king's, say who thou art, And why thou com’st, thus knightly clad in arms: Against what man thou com'st, and what thy quar rel: Speak truly, on thy knighthood, and thy oath; And so defend thee heaven, and thy valour! Nor. My name is Thomas Mowbray, duke of Norfolk; Who hither come engaged by my oath, (Which, heaven defend, a knight should violate !) Both to defend my loyalty and truth, To God, my king, and my succeeding issue, Against the cluke of Hereford that appeals me; And, by the grace of God, and this mine arm, To prove him, in defending of myself, A traitor to my God, my king, and me: And, as I truly fight, defend me heaven! I [He takes his seat, Trumpet sounds. Enter BOLINGBROKE, in armour ; preceded by a Herald. K. Rich. Marshal, ask yonder knight in arms, Both who he is, and why he cometh hither Thus plated in habiliments of war; And formally according to our law Depose him in the justice of his cause. Mar. What is thy name? and wherefore com’st thou hither, Before King Richard, in his royal lists? Against whom comest thou? and what's thy quar rel? Speak like a true knight, so defend thee hea ven! Boling. Harry of Hereford, Lancaster, and Derby, a Am I; who ready here do stand in arms, , Mar. On pain of death, no person be so bold, hand, And bow my knee before his majesty: For Mowbray, and myself, are like two men That vow a long and weary pilgrimage; Then let us take a ceremonious leave, And loving farewell, of our several friends. Mar. The appellant in all duty greets your high ness, And craves to kiss your hand, and take his leave. K. Rich. We will descend, and fold himn in our arins. Cousin of Hereford, as thy cause is right, Boling. O, let no noble eye profane a tear of you; 9 O thou, the earthly author of my blood, [T. GAUNT. Whose youthful spirit, in me regenerate, Doth with a two-fold vigour lift me up To reach at victory above my head, Add proof unto mine armour with thy prayers; And with thy blessings steel my lance's point, That it may enter Mowbray's waxen coat, And furbish new the name of John of Gaunt, Even in the lusty 'haviour of his son. Gaunt. Heaven in thy good cause make thee. prosperous ! Be swift like lightning in the execution; And let thy blows, doubly redoubled, Fall like amazing thunder on the casque' Of thy adverse pernicious enemy: Rouse up thy youthful blood, be valiant and live. Boling. Mine innocency, and Saint George to thrive! [He takes his seat. Nor. [Rising.] However heaven, or fortune, cast my lot, a There lives or dies, true to king Richard's throne, - waxen coat,] The object of Bolingbroke's request is, that the temper of his lance's point might as much exceed the mail of bis adversary, as the iron of that mail was harder than wax. HENLEY. Fall like amazing thunder on the casque -] To gmaze, in ancient language, signifies to stun, to confound. |