King Richard II by William Shakespeare
page 74 of 144 (51%)
page 74 of 144 (51%)
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Say, is my kingdom lost? Why, 'twas my care,
And what loss is it to be rid of care? Strives Bolingbroke to be as great as we? Greater he shall not be: if he serve God We'll serve him too, and be his fellow so: Revolt our subjects? That we cannot mend; They break their faith to God as well as us: Cry woe, destruction, ruin, loss, decay; The worst is death, and death will have his day. SCROOP. Glad am I that your highness is so arm'd To bear the tidings of calamity. Like an unseasonable stormy day Which makes the silver rivers drown their shores, As if the world were all dissolv'd to tears, So high above his limits swells the rage Of Bolingbroke, covering your fearful land With hard bright steel and hearts harder than steel. White-beards have arm'd their thin and hairless scalps Against thy majesty; and boys, with women's voices, Strive to speak big, and clap their female joints In stiff unwieldy arms against thy crown; Thy very beadsmen learn to bend their bows Of double-fatal yew against thy state; Yea, distaff-women manage rusty bills Against thy seat: both young and old rebel, And all goes worse than I have power to tell. KING RICHARD. |
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