Act 1
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London. King Richard II’s palace.
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London. King Richard II’s palace.
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Enter KING RICHARD II, JOHN OF GAUNT, with other Nobles and Attendants
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KING RICHARD II, JOHN OF GAUNT, and other nobles and attendants enter.
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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,
5Which then our leisure would not let us hear,
Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?
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KING RICHARD II
Old John of Gaunt, did you do as you promised and bring your brave son Henry here? I’d like to hear the violent accusation he wanted to make against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray, which I didn’t have time for earlier.
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JOHN OF GAUNT
I have, my liege.
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JOHN OF GAUNT
I’ve brought him, my lord.
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KING RICHARD II
Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him,
If he appeal the duke on ancient malice;
10Or worthily, as a good subject should,
On some known ground of treachery in him?
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KING RICHARD II
Have you asked him if the source of his complaint is an old feud, or if he knows of some treason the duke has committed?
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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 far as I could tell, it’s not some personal malice. My son believes that the duke means to harm you in some way.
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KING RICHARD II
15Then 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 call them both in to see me. I want to hear in person what each has to say. They’re both so proud and full of anger that they act recklessly and don’t listen to reason.
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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
20Many years of happy days befal
My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege!
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE
May you have many years of happiness, my gracious and loving lord.
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