Page 2882 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Should so profane the word, that taught me craft
To counterfeit oppression of such grief
That words seem’d buried in my sorrow’s grave. [15]
Marry, would the word “farewell” have lengthened hours
And added years to his short banishment,
He should have had a volume of farewells;
But since it would not, he had none of me.

RICHARD

He is our cousin, cousin; but ’tis doubt, [20]
When time shall call him home from banishment,
Whether our kinsman come to see his friends.
Ourself and Bushy, here Bagot and Green
Observ’d his courtship to the common people,
How he did seem to dive into their hearts [25]
With humble and familiar courtesy;
What reverence he did throw away on slaves,
Wooing poor craftsmen with the craft of smiles
And patient underbearing of his fortune,
As ’twere to banish their affects with him. [30]
Off goes his bonnet to an oyster-wench.
A brace of draymen bid God speed him well,
And had the tribute of his supple knee,
With “Thanks, my countrymen, my loving friends”,
As were our England in reversion his, [35]
And he our subjects’ next degree in hope.

GREEN

Well, he is gone; and with him go these thoughts.
Now, for the rebels which stand out in Ireland,
Expedient manage must be made, my liege,
Ere further leisure yield them further means [40]
For their advantage and your highness’ loss.

RICHARD

We will ourself in person to this war;
And, for our coffers with too great a court
And liberal largess are grown somewhat light,
We are enforc’d to farm our royal realm, [45]
The revenue whereof shall furnish us
For our affairs in hand. If that come short