Page:Richard II (1921) Yale.djvu/46

34  Ross. My heart is great; but it must break with silence,

Ere 't be disburdened with a liberal tongue.

North. Nay, speak thy mind; and let him ne'er speak more

That speaks thy words again to do thee harm!

Willo. Tends that thou'dst speak to the Duke of Hereford?

If it be so, out with it boldly, man;

Quick is mine ear to hear of good towards him.

Ross. No good at all that I can do for him,

Unless you call it good to pity him,

Bereft and gelded of his patrimony.

North. Now, afore God, 'tis shame such wrongs are borne

In him, a royal prince, and many moe

Of noble blood in this declining land.

The king is not himself, but basely led

By flatterers; and what they will inform,

Merely in hate, 'gainst any of us all,

That will the king severely prosecute

'Gainst us, our lives, our children, and our heirs.

Ross. The commons hath he pill'd with grievous taxes,

And quite lost their hearts: the nobles hath he fin'd

For ancient quarrels, and quite lost their hearts.

Willo. And daily new exactions are devis'd;

As blanks, benevolences, and I wot not what:

But what, o' God's name, doth become of this?

North. Wars have not wasted it, for warr'd he hath not,

 230 liberal: free-speaking

238 gelded: deprived

240 In: against

moe: old form of 'more'

243 inform: report slanderously

247 pill'd: robbed

248 Cf. n.

251 blanks; cf. n. on I. iv. 48

benevolences; cf. n.

