Page:Richard II (1921) Yale.djvu/101

King Richard the Second, V. ii

You would have thought the very windows spake,

So many greedy looks of young and old

Through casements darted their desiring eyes

Upon his visage, and that all the walls

With painted imagery had said at once

'Jesu preserve thee! welcome, Bolingbroke!'

Whilst he, from the one side to the other turning,

Bare-headed, lower than his proud steed's neck,

Bespake them thus, 'I thank you, countrymen':

And thus still doing, thus he pass'd along.

Duch. Alack, poor Richard! where rode he the whilst?

York. As in a theatre, the eyes of men,

After a well-grac'd actor leaves the stage,

Are idly bent on him that enters next,

Thinking his prattle to be tedious;

Even so, or with much more contempt, men's eyes

Did scowl on Richard: no man cried, 'God save him';

No joyful tongue gave him his welcome home;

But dust was thrown upon his sacred head,

Which with such gentle sorrow he shook off,

His face still combating with tears and smiles,

The badges of his grief and patience,

That had not God, for some strong purpose, steel'd

The hearts of men, they must perforce have melted,

And barbarism itself have pitied him.

But heaven hath a hand in these events,

To whose high will we bound our calm contents.

To Bolingbroke are we sworn subjects now.

Whose state and honour I for aye allow.

Duch. Here comes my son Aumerle.

 16 painted imagery; cf. n.

25 idly: heedlessly

38 bound: limit

contents: wishes

40 allow: approve

41 my son; cf. n.

