Page:Richard II (1921) Yale.djvu/115

King Richard the Second, V. v

Forgiveness, horse! why do I rail on thee,

Since thou, created to be aw'd by man,

Wast born to bear? I was not made a horse;

And yet I bear a burden like an ass,

Spurr'd, gall'd, and tir'd by jauncing Bolingbroke.

Keep. [To the Groom.] Fellow, give place; here is no longer stay.

K. Rich. If thou love me, 'tis time thou wert away.

Groom. What my tongue dares not, that my heart shall say.

Keep. My lord, will 't please you to fall to?

K. Rich. Taste of it first, as thou art wont to do.

Keep. My lord, I dare not: Sir Pierce of Ex-

ton, who lately came from the king, commands

the contrary.

K. Rich. The devil take Henry of Lancaster, and thee!

Patience is stale, and I am weary of it.

[Strikes the Keeper.]

Keep. Help, help, help!

K. Rich. How now! what means death in this rude assault?

Villain, thine own hand yields thy death's instrument.

Go thou and fill another room in hell.

That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire

 94 jauncing: hard-riding

108 room: place

