Page 2938 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

And soon lie Richard in an earthy pit.
“God save King Henry”, unking’d Richard says,
“And send him many years of sunshine days”. [220]
What more remains?

NORT HUMBERLAND

No more but that you read
These accusations and these grievous crimes
Committed by your person and your followers
Against the state and profit of this land,
That by confessing them the souls of men [225]
May deem that you are worthily depos’d.

RICHARD

Must I do so? And must I ravel out
My weaved-up follies? Gentle Northumberland,
If thy offences were upon record,
Would it not shame thee in so fair a troop [230]
To read a lecture of them? If thou wouldst,
There shouldst thou find one heinous article,
Containing the deposing of a king
And cracking the strong warrant of an oath,
Mark’d with a blot, damn’d in the book of heaven. [235]
Nay, all of you that stand and look upon me,
Whilst that my wretchedness doth bait myself,
Though some of you - with Pilate - wash your hands,
Showing an outward pity, yet you Pilates
Have here deliver’d me to my sour cross, [240]
And water cannot wash away your sin.

NORT HUMBERLAND

My lord, dispatch. Read o’er these articles.

RICHARD

Mine eyes are full of tears. I cannot see.
And yet salt water blinds them not so much
But they can see a sort of traitors here. [245]
Nay, if I turn mine eyes upon myself
I find myself a traitor with the rest.
For I have given here my soul’s consent