Monologue

York 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 · anguished · 1:30 min

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:O! my liege. :Pardon me, if you please; if not, I, pleas'd :Not to be pardon'd, am content withal. :Seek you to seize and gripe into your hands :The royalties and rights of banish'd Hereford? :Is not Gaunt dead, and doth not Hereford live? :Was not Gaunt just, and is not Harry true? :Did not the one deserve to have an heir? :Is not his heir a well-deserving son? :Take Hereford's rights away, and take from Time :His charters and his customary rights; :Let not to-morrow then ensue to-day; :Be not thyself; for how art thou a king :But by fair sequence and succession? :Now, afore God,—God forbid I say true!— :If you do wrongfully seize Hereford's rights, :Call in the letters-patents that he hath :By his attorneys-general to sue :His livery, and deny his offer'd homage, :You pluck a thousand dangers on your head, :You lose a thousand well-disposed hearts, :And prick my tender patience to those thoughts :Which honour and allegiance cannot think.

About this piece

York expresses deep concern over the potential wrongful seizure of Hereford's rights, highlighting the implications for justice, loyalty, and the stability of the kingdom.

40s · fear · power · honor · betrayal · family

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