Monologue

King Richard Monologue from Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Oxford 1911)/Volume 4/The Tragedy of King Richard the Second

From Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Oxford 1911)/Volume 4/The Tragedy of King Richard the Second by Oxford 1911

male · defiant · 1:58 min

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: (To NORTHUMBERLAND.) We are amaz'd; and thus long :have we stood :To watch the fearful bending of thy knee, :Because we thought ourself thy lawful king; :And if we be, how dare thy joints forget :To pay their awful duty to our presence? :If we be not, show us the hand of God :That hath dismiss'd us from our stewardship; :For well we know no hand of blood and bone :Can gripe the sacred handle of our sceptre, :Unless he do profane, steal, or usurp. :And though you think that all, as you have done, :Have torn their souls by turning them from us, :And we are barren and bereft of friends, :Yet know-my master, God omnipotent, :Is mustering in his clouds on our behalf :Armies of pestilence; and they shall strike :Your children yet unborn and unbegot, :That lift your vassal hands against my head :And threat the glory of my precious crown. :Tell Bolingbroke,—for yond methinks he stands,— :That every stride he makes upon my land :Is dangerous treason; he is come to open :The purple testament of bleeding war; :But ere the crown he looks for live in peace, :Ten thousand bloody crowns of mothers' sons :Shall ill become the flower of England's face, :Change the complexion of her maid-pale peace :To scarlet indignation, and bedew :Her pastures' grass with faithful English blood.

About this piece

King Richard confronts his usurper, expressing his outrage and fear over the threat to his reign and the chaos that may ensue from rebellion.

30s · anger · power · betrayal · fate · revenge

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