Act V, Scene 2

The DUKE OF YORK’s palace.

[Enter DUKE OF YORK and DUCHESS OF YORK]

• Duchess of York. My lord, you told me you would tell the rest, 2440
  When weeping made you break the story off,
  of our two cousins coming into London.

• Edmund of Langley. Where did I leave?

• Duchess of York. At that sad stop, my lord,
  Where rude misgovern'd hands from windows' tops 2445
  Threw dust and rubbish on King Richard's head.

• Edmund of Langley. Then, as I said, the duke, great Bolingbroke,
  Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed
  Which his aspiring rider seem'd to know,
  With slow but stately pace kept on his course, 2450
  Whilst all tongues cried 'God save thee,
  Bolingbroke!'
  You would have thought the very windows spake,
  So many greedy looks of young and old
  Through casements darted their desiring eyes 2455
  Upon his visage, and that all the walls
  With painted imagery had said at once
  'Jesu preserve thee! welcome, Bolingbroke!'
  Whilst he, from the one side to the other turning,
  Bareheaded, lower than his proud steed's neck, 2460
  Bespake them thus: 'I thank you, countrymen:'
  And thus still doing, thus he pass'd along.

• Duchess of York. Alack, poor Richard! where rode he the whilst?

• Edmund of Langley. As in a theatre, the eyes of men,
  After a well-graced actor leaves the stage, 2465
  Are idly bent on him that enters next,
  Thinking his prattle to be tedious;
  Even so, or with much more contempt, men's eyes
  Did scowl on gentle Richard; no man cried 'God save him!'
  No joyful tongue gave him his welcome home: 2470
  But dust was thrown upon his sacred head:
  Which with such gentle sorrow he shook off,
  His face still combating with tears and smiles,
  The badges of his grief and patience,
  That had not God, for some strong purpose, steel'd 2475
  The hearts of men, they must perforce have melted
  And barbarism itself have pitied him.
  But heaven hath a hand in these events,
  To whose high will we bound our calm contents.
  To Bolingbroke are we sworn subjects now, 2480
  Whose state and honour I for aye allow.

• Duchess of York. Here comes my son Aumerle.

• Edmund of Langley. Aumerle that was;
  But that is lost for being Richard's friend,
  And, madam, you must call him Rutland now: 2485
  I am in parliament pledge for his truth
  And lasting fealty to the new-made king.

[Enter DUKE OF AUMERLE]

• Duchess of York. Welcome, my son: who are the violets now
  That strew the green lap of the new come spring? 2490

• Duke of Aumerle. Madam, I know not, nor I greatly care not:
  God knows I had as lief be none as one.

• Edmund of Langley. Well, bear you well in this new spring of time,
  Lest you be cropp'd before you come to prime.
  What news from Oxford? hold those justs and triumphs? 2495

• Duke of Aumerle. For aught I know, my lord, they do.

• Edmund of Langley. You will be there, I know.

• Duke of Aumerle. If God prevent not, I purpose so.

• Edmund of Langley. What seal is that, that hangs without thy bosom?
  Yea, look'st thou pale? let me see the writing. 2500

• Duke of Aumerle. My lord, 'tis nothing.

• Edmund of Langley. No matter, then, who see it;
  I will be satisfied; let me see the writing.

• Duke of Aumerle. I do beseech your grace to pardon me:
  It is a matter of small consequence, 2505
  Which for some reasons I would not have seen.

• Edmund of Langley. Which for some reasons, sir, I mean to see.
  I fear, I fear,—

• Duchess of York. What should you fear?
  'Tis nothing but some bond, that he is enter'd into 2510
  For gay apparel 'gainst the triumph day.

• Edmund of Langley. Bound to himself! what doth he with a bond
  That he is bound to? Wife, thou art a fool.
  Boy, let me see the writing.

• Duke of Aumerle. I do beseech you, pardon me; I may not show it. 2515

• Edmund of Langley. I will be satisfied; let me see it, I say.
  [He plucks it out of his bosom and reads it]
  Treason! foul treason! Villain! traitor! slave!

• Duchess of York. What is the matter, my lord?

• Edmund of Langley. Ho! who is within there? 2520
  [Enter a Servant]
  Saddle my horse.
  God for his mercy, what treachery is here!

• Duchess of York. Why, what is it, my lord?

• Edmund of Langley. Give me my boots, I say; saddle my horse. 2525
  Now, by mine honour, by my life, by my troth,
  I will appeach the villain.

• Duchess of York. What is the matter?

• Edmund of Langley. Peace, foolish woman.

• Duchess of York. I will not peace. What is the matter, Aumerle. 2530

• Duke of Aumerle. Good mother, be content; it is no more
  Than my poor life must answer.

• Duchess of York. Thy life answer!

• Edmund of Langley. Bring me my boots: I will unto the king.

[Re-enter Servant with boots]

• Duchess of York. Strike him, Aumerle. Poor boy, thou art amazed.
  Hence, villain! never more come in my sight.

• Edmund of Langley. Give me my boots, I say.

• Duchess of York. Why, York, what wilt thou do?
  Wilt thou not hide the trespass of thine own? 2540
  Have we more sons? or are we like to have?
  Is not my teeming date drunk up with time?
  And wilt thou pluck my fair son from mine age,
  And rob me of a happy mother's name?
  Is he not like thee? is he not thine own? 2545

• Edmund of Langley. Thou fond mad woman,
  Wilt thou conceal this dark conspiracy?
  A dozen of them here have ta'en the sacrament,
  And interchangeably set down their hands,
  To kill the king at Oxford. 2550

• Duchess of York. He shall be none;
  We'll keep him here: then what is that to him?

• Edmund of Langley. Away, fond woman! were he twenty times my son,
  I would appeach him.

• Duchess of York. Hadst thou groan'd for him 2555
  As I have done, thou wouldst be more pitiful.
  But now I know thy mind; thou dost suspect
  That I have been disloyal to thy bed,
  And that he is a bastard, not thy son:
  Sweet York, sweet husband, be not of that mind: 2560
  He is as like thee as a man may be,
  Not like to me, or any of my kin,
  And yet I love him.

• Edmund of Langley. Make way, unruly woman!

[Exit]

• Duchess of York. After, Aumerle! mount thee upon his horse;
  Spur post, and get before him to the king,
  And beg thy pardon ere he do accuse thee.
  I'll not be long behind; though I be old,
  I doubt not but to ride as fast as York: 2570
  And never will I rise up from the ground
  Till Bolingbroke have pardon'd thee. Away, be gone!

[Exeunt]