Page 2905 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

As when brave Gaunt, thy father, and myself
Rescued the Black Prince, that young Mars of men, [100]
From forth the ranks of many thousand French,
O then how quickly should this arm of mine,
Now prisoner to the palsy, chastise thee
And minister correction to thy fault!

BOLINGBROKE

My gracious uncle, let me know my fault: [105]
On what condition stands it, and wherein?

Y ORK

Even in condition of the worst degree,
In gross rebellion and detested treason.
Thou art a banish’d man, and here art come
Before the expiration of thy time [110]
In braving arms against thy sovereign!

BOLINGBROKE

As I was banish’d, I was banish’d Hereford;
But as I come, I come for Lancaster.
And, noble uncle, I beseech your grace
Look on my wrongs with an indifferent eye. [115]
You are my father; for methinks in you
I see old Gaunt alive. O then, my father,
Will you permit that I shall stand condemn’d
A wandering vagabond, my rights and royalties
Pluck’d from my arms perforce, and given away [120]
To upstart unthrifts? Wherefore was I born?
If that my cousin King be King of England
It must be granted I am Duke of Lancaster.
You have a son, Aumerle, my noble cousin;
Had you first died and he been thus trod down [125]
He should have found his uncle Gaunt a father
To rouse his wrongs and chase them to the bay.
I am denied to sue my livery here,
And yet my letters patents give me leave.
My father’s goods are all distrained and sold, [130]
And these, and all, are all amiss employ’d.
What would you have me do? I am a subject,
And I challenge law. Attorneys are denied me,