Page 2861 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

ACT I IT

Scene I IT

Enter King Richard, John of Gaunt, with other nobles and attendants.

RICHARD

Old John of Gaunt, time-honoured Lancaster,
Hast thou according to thy oath and band
Brought hither Henry Hereford, thy bold son,
Here to make good the boist’rous late appeal,
Which then our leisure would not let us hear, [5]
Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?

GAUNT

I have, my liege.

RICHARD

Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him
If he appeal the Duke on ancient malice,
Or worthily, as a good subject should, [10]
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
Aimed at your highness; no inveterate malice.

RICHARD

Then call them to our presence; face to face, [15]
And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear
The accuser and the accusèd freely speak.
High-stomach’d are they both, and full of ire;
In rage, deaf as the sea, hasty as fire.

Enter Bolingbroke and Mowbray.