Once more, the more to aggravate the note, Nor. 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, 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: And meet him, were I tied to run a-foot Even to the frozen ridges of the Alps, Or any other ground inhabitable 3 Where ever Englishman durst set his foot. Boling. Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage, Disclaiming here the kindred of a king; 3 Uninhabitable. VOL. V. B And lay aside my high blood's royalty, Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except: Or chivalrous design of knightly trial: And, when I mount, alive may I. not light, If I be traitor, or unjustly fight! K. Rich. What doth our cousin lay to Mowbray's charge? It must be great, that can inherit 4 us So much as of a thought of ill in him. Boling. Look, what I speak my life shall prove it. true; That Mowbray hath receiv'd eight thousand nobles, Fetch from false Mowbray their first head and spring. Further I say, and further will maintain Upon his bad life, to make all this good,— That he did plot the duke of Gloster's death; 6 And, consequently, like a traitor coward, Sluic'd out his innocent soul through streams of blood: K. Rich. How high a pitch his resolution soars!- Till I have told this slander of his blood," How God, and good men, hate so foul a liar. ears: Where he my brother, nay, my kingdom's heir, Now by my scepter's awe I make a vow, Nor. Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart, 6 Prompt, 7 Reproach to his ancestry. For that my sovereign liege was in my debt, Since last I went to France to fetch his queen: Now swallow down that lie.-For Gloster's death,— I did confess it; and exactly begg'd Your grace's pardon, and, I hope, I had it. Even in the best blood chamber'd in his bosom: In haste whereof, most heartily I pray Your highness to assign our trial day. K.Rich. Wrath-kindled gentlemen, berul'd by me; Let's purge this choler without letting blood: This we prescribe though no physician; Deep malice makes too deep incision: Forget, forgive; conclude, and be agreed; Our doctors say, this is no time to bleed.Good uncle, let this end where it begun; We'll calm the duke of Norfolk, you your son. a Gaunt. To be a make-peace shall become my age: Throw down, my son, the duke of Norfolk's gage. K. Rich. And, Norfolk, throw down his. Gaunt. When, Harry? when? Obedience bids, I should not bid again. K. Rich. Norfolk, throw down; we bid; there is no boot.' Nor. Myself I throw, dread sovereign, at thy foot: My life thou shalt command, but not my shame: K. Rich. Rage must be withstood: Give me his gage :-Lions make leopards tame. Nor. Yea, but not change their spots: take but my shame, And I resign my gage. My dear dear lord, The purest treasure mortal times afford, Men are but gilded loam; or painted clay. Is Mine honour is my life; both grow in one; Take honour from me, and my life is done: I No advantage in delay. |