King Richard II by William Shakespeare
page 43 of 144 (29%)
page 43 of 144 (29%)
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The royalties and rights of banish'd Hereford?
Is not Gaunt dead, and doth not Hereford live? Was not Gaunt just, and is not Harry true? Did not the one deserve to have an heir? Is not his heir a well-deserving son? Take Hereford's rights away, and take from Time His charters and his customary rights; Let not to-morrow then ensue to-day; Be not thyself; for how art thou a king But by fair sequence and succession? Now, afore God,--God forbid I say true!-- If you do wrongfully seize Hereford's rights, Call in the letters-patents that he hath By his attorneys-general to sue His livery, and deny his offer'd homage, You pluck a thousand dangers on your head, You lose a thousand well-disposed hearts, And prick my tender patience to those thoughts Which honour and allegiance cannot think. KING RICHARD. Think what you will: we seize into our hands His plate, his goods, his money, and his lands. YORK. I'll not be by the while: my liege, farewell: What will ensue hereof there's none can tell; But by bad courses may be understood That their events can never fall out good. |
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