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HENRY BOLINGBROKE
310Name it, fair cousin.
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE Whatever you want, fair cousin.
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KING RICHARD II ‘Fair cousin’? I am greater than a king:
For when I was a king, my flatterers
Were then but subjects; being now a subject,
I have a king here to my flatterer.
315Being so great, I have no need to beg.
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KING RICHARD II “Fair cousin”? I must be mightier than a king, since when I was a king subjects flattered me, but now that I’m a subject the king flatters me. Since I’m so mighty, I don’t need to beg.
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE Yet ask.
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE Ask anyway.
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KING RICHARD II And shall I have?
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KING RICHARD II And will I have it?
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE You shall.
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE You will.
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KING RICHARD II Then give me leave to go.
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KING RICHARD II Then give me permission to go.
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE
320Whither?
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE Where?
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KING RICHARD II Whither you will, so I were from your sights.
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KING RICHARD II Wherever you want, as long as it is away from you.
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE Go, some of you convey him to the Tower.
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE Go, some of you take him to the tower.
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KING RICHARD II O, good! convey? conveyers are you all,
That rise thus nimbly by a true king’s fall.
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KING RICHARD II Oh good! Take me? You’re all takers who’ve risen so mightily by my downfall.
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Exeunt KING RICHARD II, some Lords, and a Guard
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KING RICHARD II exits, with some lords and a guard.
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE
325On Wednesday next we solemnly set down
Our coronation: lords, prepare yourselves.
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HENRY BOLINGBROKE Next Wednesday, I’ll be crowned. Lords, prepare for it.
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Exeunt all except the BISHOP OF CARLISLE, the Abbot of Westminster, and DUKE OF AUMERLE
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They all exit, except the BISHOP OF CARLISLE, the ABBOT OF WESTMINSTER, and the DUKE OF AUMERLE.
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ABBOT A woeful pageant have we here beheld.
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ABBOT This is a sad scene we’ve witnessed.
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BISHOP OF CARLISLE The woe’s to come; the children yet unborn.
Shall feel this day as sharp to them as thorn.
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BISHOP OF CARLISLE The sadness is yet to come. Children who aren’t even born yet will feel the effects of this day like a thorn in their side.
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DUKE OF AUMERLE
330You holy clergymen, is there no plot
To rid the realm of this pernicious blot?
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DUKE OF AUMERLE You holy men, isn’t there a way we can get rid of this terrible ruler?
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