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But stop no wrinkle in his pilgrimage;

Thy word is current with him for my death,

But dead, thy kingdom cannot buy my breath.

K. Rich. Thy son is banish'd upon good advice,

Whereto thy tongue a party-verdict gave:

Why at our justice seem'st thou then to lower?

Gaunt. Things sweet to taste prove in digestion sour.

You urg'd me as a judge; but I had rather

You would have bid me argue like a father.

O! had it been a stranger, not my child,

To smooth his fault I should have been more mild:

A partial slander sought I to avoid,

And in the sentence my own life destroy'd.

Alas! I look'd when some of you should say,

I was too strict to make mine own away;

But you gave leave to my unwilling tongue

Against my will to do myself this wrong.

K. Rich. Cousin, farewell; and uncle, bid him so:

Six years we banish him, and he shall go.

Exit [King Richard]. Flourish.

Aum. Cousin, farewell: what presence must not know,

From where you do remain let paper show.

Mar. My lord, no leave take I; for I will ride,

As far as land will let me, by your side.

Gaunt. O! to what purpose dost thou hoard thy words,

That thou return'st no greeting to thy friends?

Boling. I have too few to take my leave of you,

When the tongue's office should be prodigal

To breathe the abundant dolour of the heart.

 234 party-verdict: share in joint verdict

239–242 Cf. n.

240 smooth: gloss over

241 partial slander: slanderous charge of partiality

249 presence: the king's presence

257 dolour: grief

