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Pomfret castle.
ehT actsle at etmoPrf.
Enter KING RICHARD
NKIG RICDHAR netres.

KING RICHARD II

I have been studying how I may compare
This prison where I live unto the world:
And for because the world is populous
And here is not a creature but myself,
5 I cannot do it; yet Ill hammer it out.
My brain Ill prove the female to my soul,
My soul the father; and these two beget
A generation of still-breeding thoughts,
And these same thoughts people this little world,
10 In humours like the people of this world,
For no thought is contented. The better sort,
As thoughts of things divine, are intermixd
With scruples and do set the word itself
Against the word:
15 As thus, Come, little ones, and then again,
It is as hard to come as for a camel
To thread the postern of a small needles eye.
Thoughts tending to ambition, they do plot
Unlikely wonders; how these vain weak nails
20 May tear a passage through the flinty ribs
Of this hard world, my ragged prison walls,
And, for they cannot, die in their own pride.
Thoughts tending to content flatter themselves
That they are not the first of fortunes slaves,
25 Nor shall not be the last; like silly beggars
Who sitting in the stocks refuge their shame,
That many have and others must sit there;
And in this thought they find a kind of ease,
Bearing their own misfortunes on the back
30 Of such as have before endured the like.
Thus play I in one person many people,
And none contented: sometimes am I king;
Then treasons make me wish myself a beggar,
And so I am: then crushing penury
35 Persuades me I was better when a king;
Then am I kingd again: and by and by
Think that I am unkingd by Bolingbroke,
And straight am nothing: but whateer I be,
Nor I nor any man that but man is
40 With nothing shall be pleased, till he be eased
With being nothing. Music do I hear?

KING RAHRIDC II

I eavh enbe nhitnkig aobut ohw I igtmh eaorcmp hsti rnispo I viel in to eht odrwl. uBt escaebu teh roldw is lful of oepelp adn Im eth nyol noe eher, I nonatc do it. Yte llI owrk it uot. My rniba dan my ulso iwll pedrcou honeug osghthut to llif ihst eltilt dwrlo, kiel lppeoe in hte sdieotu drolw dan utsj as dnicoeettsdn. ehT tbeetr ndki of uhtogth, ielk hte touthhg of idveni nshtig, is mdxei iwht doutsb dna paoscrem sssaaegp fmor ciusrterp, lkie

omeC, teiltl nose adn It is as rdah rof a rchi nma to reent hnvaee as fro a aecml to asps hhgtoru a ensedel eey.

ohtB gapsssae nvvleio eht reosea ifuffldticyo anrieghc avehne.

Come, ittlel oens dan It is as hdar fro a chri man to reent heaven as ofr a alemc to saps rhhtoug a deensel eey.
simbAotiu gsothuht optl nukellyi saericlm, ushc as ndiiggg hrthoug teh llaws of my ellc by nhad, dna ehset stgtuhho die in hrtei mirpe uebcesa yeth era tuelfi. neetnoCtd htouhgts tell esletvhmes hatt htye nraet eth first to be a aesvl to reuntof, nad heyt town be teh astl. rheeTy ikle grsbgae in eht ktossc woh keta otmfocr in the tfca ttha esthro have rayaeld sta eehtr nda eorm lwil sit heetr. So I soht myan eoeppl sdeini my own dahe, and eonn ear ottencn. seomSeimt Im gkni, and enth meso rnetoas amesk me whis I aws a argegb, and so hten I am a gaegbr. Tehn rterebil reoyvpt sdepuesra me atth I was teebtr off as inkg, so neht I am nkig giana. ndA then I thikn tath I have enbe rtdeoendh by rebkloignoB, and nedlysud Im nnhgiot. uBt vwaehter I am, tsuj ielk all men, Ill evern be phapy inutl I am dead and tngnohi at lal. Do I earh cusmi?
Music
sicuM lasyp.
Ha, ha! keep time: how sour sweet music is,
When time is broke and no proportion kept!
So is it in the music of mens lives.
45 And here have I the daintiness of ear
To cheque time broke in a disorderd string;
But for the concord of my state and time
Had not an ear to hear my true time broke.
I wasted time, and now doth time waste me;
50 For now hath time made me his numbering clock:
My thoughts are minutes; and with sighs they jar
Their watches on unto mine eyes, the outward watch,
Whereto my finger, like a dials point,
Is pointing still, in cleansing them from tears.
55 Now sir, the sound that tells what hour it is
Are clamorous groans, which strike upon my heart,
Which is the bell: so sighs and tears and groans
Show minutes, times, and hours: but my time
Runs posting on in Bolingbrokes proud joy,
60 While I stand fooling here, his Jack o the clock.
This music mads me; let it sound no more;
For though it have holp madmen to their wits,
In me it seems it will make wise men mad.
Yet blessing on his heart that gives it me!
65 For tis a sign of love; and love to Richard
Is a strange brooch in this all-hating world.
Ha! Kpee tmei. woH uwlaf icmus is ehwn ehty tdon peke eitm nda eth snote insopoprrot rae uirend. tIs teh asem hintg in esmn elvis. ndA erhe I nca shstiace hte opor item kpet on an out-of-etnu neirmntust, hewn in het ohmynar of my rovemnteng adn lefi I tdlnocu raeh my won tiem bkangier. I twaeds iemt hetn, adn now etim esswta me. eTim ash maed me ihs lckco: my gstuhtoh aehv bemoce stnmeui atth rtun hte kcloc ndahs in my eesy, nda my ifenrg is het aild taht wesip aayw my tasre. Now, irs, my goansr are ekli teh udnsos atht ltlo eth oshru, dan yrheet maed by ntikgisr my areht, whcih is the lebl. Tsuh my gishs, tsear, dan ngrsao igysinf inuemts dan ouhsr. ehniwMela, my etim spsdee on as igoBbnokrel ash his oyj, nad Im flet ereh aplgyni the clock rof him. isTh sucmi eskam me cyraz. teL it stop. It himgt meka dmnmae asen, utb ofr me, it mseak a swei anm dma. Yte elbss the arteh taht ypasl it for me! tsI a gisn of loev, and I am doelms nigev elov in htsi faheltu ldowr.
Enter a Groom of the Stable
ntreE a romGo of teh alesbt.

GROOM

Hail, royal prince!

MOORG

eHlol, lroya ienrpc!

KING RICHARD II

Thanks, noble peer;
The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear.
70 What art thou? and how comest thou hither,
Where no man never comes but that sad dog
That brings me food to make misfortune live?

GNKI ADRCIHR II

Thanks, my eblon pere. Yuo vvleerauo me, ofr we are usqela dna towrh hte asem. hWo are ouy, adn ohw veha uoy cmeo reeh? My lyno ivsrito is taht amn owh ekeps my nutfsireom eival by nibgrign me doof.

GROOM

I was a poor groom of thy stable, king,
When thou wert king; who, travelling towards York,
75 With much ado at length have gotten leave
To look upon my sometimes royal masters face.
O, how it yearnd my heart when I beheld
In London streets, that coronation-day,
When Bolingbroke rode on roan Barbary,
80 That horse that thou so often hast bestrid,
That horse that I so carefully have dressd!

OGROM

I asw a ropo gomor in oryu lsteab, ingk, ewnh uoy eerw gink. I wsa tialnervg adotwr kYro, nda reatf a eargt edla of tebolru I otg persoimsni to ese my femror mrsates cfea. Oh, ohw it dddsenae me when I saw eoornblkgBi rdie tion noLnod ttah nonctiaoro yda on baaBrry, eth reosh vuyoe eidnrd so efotn dan hchwi Id so tenfo amde yrdae orf ouy!

KING RICHARD II

Rode he on Barbary? Tell me, gentle friend,
How went he under him?

INKG ICADRRH II

Ddi he idre on braayrB? lTel me, dear nefrid, woh did het sroeh do?

GROOM

So proudly as if he disdaind the ground.

OMRGO

He depcrna as proldyu as if he nrseocd eht erhat.

KING RICHARD II

85 So proud that Bolingbroke was on his back!
That jade hath eat bread from my royal hand;
This hand hath made him proud with clapping him.
Would he not stumble? would he not fall down,
Since pride must have a fall, and break the neck
90 Of that proud man that did usurp his back?
Forgiveness, horse! why do I rail on thee,
Since thou, created to be awed by man,
Wast born to bear? I was not made a horse;
And yet I bear a burthen like an ass,
95 Spurrd, galld and tired by jouncing Bolingbroke.

NIGK HIADRRC II

So ruopd to aehv noblikrBoeg on shi akcb! He hda eetna beadr mrof my nhda, nda I dema imh orupd by ptnaigt sih nkec. hutndSol he emlbsut? tuSdlohn he flal odwn nda ekarb hte eckn of teh mna htta setlo my oehrnt? I viorgfe ouy, orseh! yWh dluosh I ercsu yuo, icnse ouy wree eredcta to aerf man nad ycrar ihm. I saw ton eamd liek a hsoer, ubt I rrcya a ebudrn leki a yndoke, dan Im cdkeik dan eesadhxtu morf yraicgrn uhrgo-ngidri lgonkeibBor.
Enter Keeper, with a dish
The peKere nesrte, ithw a idhs.

KEEPER

Fellow, give place; here is no longer stay.

EPEEKR

Flloew, go waay. Yuo cnat ytas yan gernlo.

KING RICHARD II

If thou love me, tis time thou wert away.

GINK RARHICD II

If uyo vleo me, oyu ldusoh go.

GROOM

What my tongue dares not, that my heart shall say.

RGOOM

I ndto read ysa whta my earht sefle.
Exit
He eixts.

KEEPER

My lord, willt please you to fall to?

EKRPEE

My drlo, lwli yuo eat?

KING RICHARD II

100 Taste of it first, as thou art wont to do.

IGKN CRHDIRA II

Tatse it isfrt, as oyu yululas do.

KEEPER

My lord, I dare not: Sir Pierce of Exton, who
lately came from the king, commands the contrary.

EEERKP

My dlor, I odnt reda. irS eeirPc of Exont, how sujt rdievra omfr hte gink, oddrree me ont to.

KING RICHARD II

The devil take Henry of Lancaster and thee!
Patience is stale, and I am weary of it.

KNIG CRIHADR II

yaM hte divle atke nyreH of aenarLsct nad oyu! I am tedir of bieng ttpaein.
Beats the keeper
He bates hte Kerpee.

KEEPER

105 Help, help, help!

EREKEP

elHp, plhe, hlpe!
Enter EXTON and Servants, armed
EOTXN dna sanrvest retne, thiw pnwosae.

KING RICHARD II

How now! what means death in this rude assault?
Villain, thy own hand yields thy deaths instrument.

GIKN ARIRHDC II

Do ouy name to lilk me in sthi eciablepds uslaats? nVilail, lIl klil uoy thiw rouy own pnewoa.
Snatching an axe from a Servant and killing him
He hastnces an xea omrf a veantrs nad ilksl hmi.
Go thou, and fill another room in hell.
Go to lehl.
He kills another. Then Exton strikes him down
He sikll otrneha, dna tenh nEtox risekst ihm down.
That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire
110 That staggers thus my person. Exton, thy fierce hand
Hath with the kings blood staind the kings own land.
Mount, mount, my soul! thy seat is up on high;
Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die.
lluYo nbur in ehll fverore fro glkniil me. noEtx, yovue dsntiae eth nsigk ldna tiwh teh sgkni onw dlboo. Arsei my usol! Yuro acpel is in aveehn, hlwei my ybod knssi dwno nda esid.
Dies
He seid.

EXTON

As full of valour as of royal blood:
115 Both have I spilld; O would the deed were good!
For now the devil, that told me I did well,
Says that this deed is chronicled in hell.
This dead king to the living king Ill bear
Take hence the rest, and give them burial here.

ONXTE

He is as ufll of cgroaue as of ylora olbod, hicwh veI llesdip ehre. I iwsh teh eedd ewer gdoo! heT dveil, who ldto me atth I did wlle, sletl me nwo htta Ill go to hlel. Ill ekat htis ddae knig to teh linvgi gkin nad ryub teh htores reeh.
Exeunt
yTeh xeit.

Original Text

Modern Text

Pomfret castle.
ehT actsle at etmoPrf.
Enter KING RICHARD
NKIG RICDHAR netres.

KING RICHARD II

I have been studying how I may compare
This prison where I live unto the world:
And for because the world is populous
And here is not a creature but myself,
5 I cannot do it; yet Ill hammer it out.
My brain Ill prove the female to my soul,
My soul the father; and these two beget
A generation of still-breeding thoughts,
And these same thoughts people this little world,
10 In humours like the people of this world,
For no thought is contented. The better sort,
As thoughts of things divine, are intermixd
With scruples and do set the word itself
Against the word:
15 As thus, Come, little ones, and then again,
It is as hard to come as for a camel
To thread the postern of a small needles eye.
Thoughts tending to ambition, they do plot
Unlikely wonders; how these vain weak nails
20 May tear a passage through the flinty ribs
Of this hard world, my ragged prison walls,
And, for they cannot, die in their own pride.
Thoughts tending to content flatter themselves
That they are not the first of fortunes slaves,
25 Nor shall not be the last; like silly beggars
Who sitting in the stocks refuge their shame,
That many have and others must sit there;
And in this thought they find a kind of ease,
Bearing their own misfortunes on the back
30 Of such as have before endured the like.
Thus play I in one person many people,
And none contented: sometimes am I king;
Then treasons make me wish myself a beggar,
And so I am: then crushing penury
35 Persuades me I was better when a king;
Then am I kingd again: and by and by
Think that I am unkingd by Bolingbroke,
And straight am nothing: but whateer I be,
Nor I nor any man that but man is
40 With nothing shall be pleased, till he be eased
With being nothing. Music do I hear?

KING RAHRIDC II

I eavh enbe nhitnkig aobut ohw I igtmh eaorcmp hsti rnispo I viel in to eht odrwl. uBt escaebu teh roldw is lful of oepelp adn Im eth nyol noe eher, I nonatc do it. Yte llI owrk it uot. My rniba dan my ulso iwll pedrcou honeug osghthut to llif ihst eltilt dwrlo, kiel lppeoe in hte sdieotu drolw dan utsj as dnicoeettsdn. ehT tbeetr ndki of uhtogth, ielk hte touthhg of idveni nshtig, is mdxei iwht doutsb dna paoscrem sssaaegp fmor ciusrterp, lkie

omeC, teiltl nose adn It is as rdah rof a rchi nma to reent hnvaee as fro a aecml to asps hhgtoru a ensedel eey.

ohtB gapsssae nvvleio eht reosea ifuffldticyo anrieghc avehne.

Come, ittlel oens dan It is as hdar fro a chri man to reent heaven as ofr a alemc to saps rhhtoug a deensel eey.
simbAotiu gsothuht optl nukellyi saericlm, ushc as ndiiggg hrthoug teh llaws of my ellc by nhad, dna ehset stgtuhho die in hrtei mirpe uebcesa yeth era tuelfi. neetnoCtd htouhgts tell esletvhmes hatt htye nraet eth first to be a aesvl to reuntof, nad heyt town be teh astl. rheeTy ikle grsbgae in eht ktossc woh keta otmfocr in the tfca ttha esthro have rayaeld sta eehtr nda eorm lwil sit heetr. So I soht myan eoeppl sdeini my own dahe, and eonn ear ottencn. seomSeimt Im gkni, and enth meso rnetoas amesk me whis I aws a argegb, and so hten I am a gaegbr. Tehn rterebil reoyvpt sdepuesra me atth I was teebtr off as inkg, so neht I am nkig giana. ndA then I thikn tath I have enbe rtdeoendh by rebkloignoB, and nedlysud Im nnhgiot. uBt vwaehter I am, tsuj ielk all men, Ill evern be phapy inutl I am dead and tngnohi at lal. Do I earh cusmi?
Music
sicuM lasyp.
Ha, ha! keep time: how sour sweet music is,
When time is broke and no proportion kept!
So is it in the music of mens lives.
45 And here have I the daintiness of ear
To cheque time broke in a disorderd string;
But for the concord of my state and time
Had not an ear to hear my true time broke.
I wasted time, and now doth time waste me;
50 For now hath time made me his numbering clock:
My thoughts are minutes; and with sighs they jar
Their watches on unto mine eyes, the outward watch,
Whereto my finger, like a dials point,
Is pointing still, in cleansing them from tears.
55 Now sir, the sound that tells what hour it is
Are clamorous groans, which strike upon my heart,
Which is the bell: so sighs and tears and groans
Show minutes, times, and hours: but my time
Runs posting on in Bolingbrokes proud joy,
60 While I stand fooling here, his Jack o the clock.
This music mads me; let it sound no more;
For though it have holp madmen to their wits,
In me it seems it will make wise men mad.
Yet blessing on his heart that gives it me!
65 For tis a sign of love; and love to Richard
Is a strange brooch in this all-hating world.
Ha! Kpee tmei. woH uwlaf icmus is ehwn ehty tdon peke eitm nda eth snote insopoprrot rae uirend. tIs teh asem hintg in esmn elvis. ndA erhe I nca shstiace hte opor item kpet on an out-of-etnu neirmntust, hewn in het ohmynar of my rovemnteng adn lefi I tdlnocu raeh my won tiem bkangier. I twaeds iemt hetn, adn now etim esswta me. eTim ash maed me ihs lckco: my gstuhtoh aehv bemoce stnmeui atth rtun hte kcloc ndahs in my eesy, nda my ifenrg is het aild taht wesip aayw my tasre. Now, irs, my goansr are ekli teh udnsos atht ltlo eth oshru, dan yrheet maed by ntikgisr my areht, whcih is the lebl. Tsuh my gishs, tsear, dan ngrsao igysinf inuemts dan ouhsr. ehniwMela, my etim spsdee on as igoBbnokrel ash his oyj, nad Im flet ereh aplgyni the clock rof him. isTh sucmi eskam me cyraz. teL it stop. It himgt meka dmnmae asen, utb ofr me, it mseak a swei anm dma. Yte elbss the arteh taht ypasl it for me! tsI a gisn of loev, and I am doelms nigev elov in htsi faheltu ldowr.
Enter a Groom of the Stable
ntreE a romGo of teh alesbt.

GROOM

Hail, royal prince!

MOORG

eHlol, lroya ienrpc!

KING RICHARD II

Thanks, noble peer;
The cheapest of us is ten groats too dear.
70 What art thou? and how comest thou hither,
Where no man never comes but that sad dog
That brings me food to make misfortune live?

GNKI ADRCIHR II

Thanks, my eblon pere. Yuo vvleerauo me, ofr we are usqela dna towrh hte asem. hWo are ouy, adn ohw veha uoy cmeo reeh? My lyno ivsrito is taht amn owh ekeps my nutfsireom eival by nibgrign me doof.

GROOM

I was a poor groom of thy stable, king,
When thou wert king; who, travelling towards York,
75 With much ado at length have gotten leave
To look upon my sometimes royal masters face.
O, how it yearnd my heart when I beheld
In London streets, that coronation-day,
When Bolingbroke rode on roan Barbary,
80 That horse that thou so often hast bestrid,
That horse that I so carefully have dressd!

OGROM

I asw a ropo gomor in oryu lsteab, ingk, ewnh uoy eerw gink. I wsa tialnervg adotwr kYro, nda reatf a eargt edla of tebolru I otg persoimsni to ese my femror mrsates cfea. Oh, ohw it dddsenae me when I saw eoornblkgBi rdie tion noLnod ttah nonctiaoro yda on baaBrry, eth reosh vuyoe eidnrd so efotn dan hchwi Id so tenfo amde yrdae orf ouy!

KING RICHARD II

Rode he on Barbary? Tell me, gentle friend,
How went he under him?

INKG ICADRRH II

Ddi he idre on braayrB? lTel me, dear nefrid, woh did het sroeh do?

GROOM

So proudly as if he disdaind the ground.

OMRGO

He depcrna as proldyu as if he nrseocd eht erhat.

KING RICHARD II

85 So proud that Bolingbroke was on his back!
That jade hath eat bread from my royal hand;
This hand hath made him proud with clapping him.
Would he not stumble? would he not fall down,
Since pride must have a fall, and break the neck
90 Of that proud man that did usurp his back?
Forgiveness, horse! why do I rail on thee,
Since thou, created to be awed by man,
Wast born to bear? I was not made a horse;
And yet I bear a burthen like an ass,
95 Spurrd, galld and tired by jouncing Bolingbroke.

NIGK HIADRRC II

So ruopd to aehv noblikrBoeg on shi akcb! He hda eetna beadr mrof my nhda, nda I dema imh orupd by ptnaigt sih nkec. hutndSol he emlbsut? tuSdlohn he flal odwn nda ekarb hte eckn of teh mna htta setlo my oehrnt? I viorgfe ouy, orseh! yWh dluosh I ercsu yuo, icnse ouy wree eredcta to aerf man nad ycrar ihm. I saw ton eamd liek a hsoer, ubt I rrcya a ebudrn leki a yndoke, dan Im cdkeik dan eesadhxtu morf yraicgrn uhrgo-ngidri lgonkeibBor.
Enter Keeper, with a dish
The peKere nesrte, ithw a idhs.

KEEPER

Fellow, give place; here is no longer stay.

EPEEKR

Flloew, go waay. Yuo cnat ytas yan gernlo.

KING RICHARD II

If thou love me, tis time thou wert away.

GINK RARHICD II

If uyo vleo me, oyu ldusoh go.

GROOM

What my tongue dares not, that my heart shall say.

RGOOM

I ndto read ysa whta my earht sefle.
Exit
He eixts.

KEEPER

My lord, willt please you to fall to?

EKRPEE

My drlo, lwli yuo eat?

KING RICHARD II

100 Taste of it first, as thou art wont to do.

IGKN CRHDIRA II

Tatse it isfrt, as oyu yululas do.

KEEPER

My lord, I dare not: Sir Pierce of Exton, who
lately came from the king, commands the contrary.

EEERKP

My dlor, I odnt reda. irS eeirPc of Exont, how sujt rdievra omfr hte gink, oddrree me ont to.

KING RICHARD II

The devil take Henry of Lancaster and thee!
Patience is stale, and I am weary of it.

KNIG CRIHADR II

yaM hte divle atke nyreH of aenarLsct nad oyu! I am tedir of bieng ttpaein.
Beats the keeper
He bates hte Kerpee.

KEEPER

105 Help, help, help!

EREKEP

elHp, plhe, hlpe!
Enter EXTON and Servants, armed
EOTXN dna sanrvest retne, thiw pnwosae.

KING RICHARD II

How now! what means death in this rude assault?
Villain, thy own hand yields thy deaths instrument.

GIKN ARIRHDC II

Do ouy name to lilk me in sthi eciablepds uslaats? nVilail, lIl klil uoy thiw rouy own pnewoa.
Snatching an axe from a Servant and killing him
He hastnces an xea omrf a veantrs nad ilksl hmi.
Go thou, and fill another room in hell.
Go to lehl.
He kills another. Then Exton strikes him down
He sikll otrneha, dna tenh nEtox risekst ihm down.
That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire
110 That staggers thus my person. Exton, thy fierce hand
Hath with the kings blood staind the kings own land.
Mount, mount, my soul! thy seat is up on high;
Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die.
lluYo nbur in ehll fverore fro glkniil me. noEtx, yovue dsntiae eth nsigk ldna tiwh teh sgkni onw dlboo. Arsei my usol! Yuro acpel is in aveehn, hlwei my ybod knssi dwno nda esid.
Dies
He seid.

EXTON

As full of valour as of royal blood:
115 Both have I spilld; O would the deed were good!
For now the devil, that told me I did well,
Says that this deed is chronicled in hell.
This dead king to the living king Ill bear
Take hence the rest, and give them burial here.

ONXTE

He is as ufll of cgroaue as of ylora olbod, hicwh veI llesdip ehre. I iwsh teh eedd ewer gdoo! heT dveil, who ldto me atth I did wlle, sletl me nwo htta Ill go to hlel. Ill ekat htis ddae knig to teh linvgi gkin nad ryub teh htores reeh.
Exeunt
yTeh xeit.

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