Page:Richard II (1921) Yale.djvu/38

26

Where words are scarce, they are seldom spent in vain,

For they breathe truth that breathe their words in pain.

He that no more must say is listen'd more

Than they whom youth and ease have taught to glose;

More are men's ends mark'd than their lives before:

The setting sun, and music at the close,

As the last taste of sweets, is sweetest last,

Writ in remembrance more than things long past:

Though Richard my life's counsel would not hear,

My death's sad tale may yet undeaf his ear.

York. No; it is stopp'd with other flattering sounds,

As praises, of whose taste the wise are fond;

Lascivious metres, to whose venom sound

The open ear of youth doth always listen;

Report of fashions in proud Italy,

Whose manners still our tardy apish nation

Limps after in base imitation.

Where doth the world thrust forth a vanity,—

So it be new there's no respect how vile,—

That is not quickly buzz'd into his ears?

Then all too late comes counsel to be heard,

Where will doth mutiny with wit's regard.

Direct not him whose way himself will choose:

'Tis breath thou lack'st, and that breath wilt thou lose.

Gaunt. Methinks I am a prophet new inspir'd,

And thus expiring do foretell of him:

His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last,

 9 listen'd: heeded

10 glose: dissimulate

11 mark'd: observed

13 As: like

18 Cf. n.

25 respect: care

26 buzz'd: whispered

28 mutiny: quarrel

wit's regard: deliberate judgment of the understanding

33 riot: unrestrained behavior

