From whence this stream, through muddy passages, Hath held his current, and defil'd himself! Thy overflow of good converts to bad; York. So shall my virtue be his vice's bawd: Boling. What shrill-voic'd suppliant makes this eager cry? Duch. A woman, and thine aunt, great king; 'tis I. Speak with me, pity me, open the door; A beggar begs, that never begg'd before. Boling. Our scene is alter'd, from a serious thing, And now chang'd to The Beggar and the King.— My dangerous cousin, let your mother in; I know, she's come to pray for your foul sin. York. If thou do pardon, whosoever pray, More sins, for this forgiveness, prosper may. This fester'd joint cut off, the rest rests sound; This, let alone, will all the rest confound. Enter Duchess. Duch. O king, believe not this hard-hearted man : Love, loving not itself, none other can. York. Thou frantick woman, what dost thou make here? Shall thy old dugs once more a traitor rear? Duch. Sweet York, be patient:-Hear me, gentle liege. Boling. Rise up, good aunt. Duch. Not yet, I thee beseech: For ever will I kneel upon my knees, And never see day that the happy sees, [Kneels. Till thou give joy; until thou bid me joy, [Kneels. York. Against them both, my true joints bended be. [Kneels. Ill may'st thou thrive, if thou grant any grace! His weary joints would gladly rise, I know; Our knees shall kneel, till to the ground they grow: His prayers are full of false hypocrisy ; Ours, of true zeal and deep integrity. Ours prayers do out-pray his; then let them have Duch. Nay, do not say-stand up; But, pardon, first; and afterwards, stand up. I never long'd to hear a word till now: The chopping French we do not understand. Boling. Good aunt, stand up.` Duch. I do not sue to stand, Pardon is all the suit I have in hand. Boling. I pardon him, as God shall pardon me. Duch. O happy vantage of a kneeling knee! Yet am I sick for fear: speak it again; Twice saying pardon, doth not pardon twain, Boling. With all my heart I pardon him. Duch. A god on earth thou art. Boling. But for our trusty brother-in-law,—and the abbot, With all the rest of that consorted crew, Destruction straight shall dog them at the heels. Good uncle, help to order several powers To Oxford, or where'er these traitors are: They shall not live within this world, I swear, Your mother well hath pray'd, and prove you true. Duch. Come, my old son ;-I pray God make thee new. SCENE IV. [Exeunt. Enter EXTON, and a Servant. Exton. Didst thou not mark the king, what words he spake? Have I no friend will rid me of this living fear? Was it not so? Serv. Those were his very words. Exton. Have I no friend? quoth he: he spake it twice, And urg'd it twice together; did he not? Serv. He did. Exton. And, speaking it, he wistfully look'd on me; As who should say,-I would, thou wert the man That would divorce this terror from my heart; Meaning, the king at Pomfret. Come, let's go; I am the king's friend, and will rid his foe. [Exeunt. SCENE V.-Pomfret. The Dungeon of the Castle. Enter King RICHARD. K. Rich. I have been studying how I may compare This prison, where I live, unto the world: 2 And, for because the world is populous, As thus,-Come little ones; and then again,— |