Hamlet and Julius Cæsar than to anything found elsewhere in the English Histories. In Richard II. we have almost the first note of that profound Shakespearean pity which the Titanism of the earlier Histories and the joyous exultation of the later alike exclude: the pity which penetrates beyond the doom of an individual to the social milieu by which the doom was provoked; and reflects a sad recognition of what Pater called 'the unkindness of things themselves,'-the tragedy of the world itself. THE TRAGEDY OF KING RICHARD THE SECOND ACT I. SCENE I. London. KING RICHARD's palace. Enter KING RICHARD, JOHN OF GAUNT, with K. Rich. Old John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Hast thou, according to thy oath and band, 1. Old John of Gaunt. Gaunt reality fifty-eight. 2. band, bond. 3. Hereford (always disyllabic; in Qq and Ff written 'Herford'). 4. appeal; a formal accusa tion which the accuser bound at the K. Rich. Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him, If he appeal the duke on ancient malice; Or worthily, as a good subject should, On some known ground of treachery in him? 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. K. Rich. Then call them to our presence; face to face, And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear Enter BOLINGBROKE and MOWBRAY. K. Rich. We thank you both: yet one but As well appeareth by the cause you come; Namely, to appeal each other of high treason. Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray ? Boling. First, heaven be the record to my speech! In the devotion of a subject's love, 9. on, on the ground of. So v. 13. 13. apparent, evident. 18. High-stomach'd, full of warlike temper. 20. Many. ΙΟ 20 30 befal. The first foot lacks a syllable. An incomplete line often follows a marked pause or break. 26. the cause you come, i.e. come for. Tendering the precious safety of my prince, may prove. Mow. Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal : 'Tis not the trial of a woman's war, The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain; The blood is hot that must be cool'd for this: First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me And let him be no kinsman to my liege, I do defy him, and I spit at him; Call him a slanderous coward and a villain : 32. Tendering, in fond regard for. 40. Too good, i.e. in virtue of his noble name and descent. 40 50 60 43. aggravate the note, deepen the stigma. 46. right drawn, justly drawn. |