Page:Richard II (1921) Yale.djvu/76

64

Than for his lineal royalties and to beg

Enfranchisement immediate on his knees:

Which on thy royal party granted once,

His glittering arms he will commend to rust,

His barbed steeds to stables, and his heart

To faithful service of your majesty.

This swears he, as he is a prince, is just;

And, as I am a gentleman, I credit him.

K. Rich. Northumberland, say, thus the king returns:

His noble cousin is right welcome hither;

And all the number of his fair demands

Shall be accomplish'd without contradiction:

With all the gracious utterance thou hast

Speak to his gentle hearing kind commends.

[To Aumerle.] We do debase ourselves, cousin, do we not,

To look so poorly and to speak so fair?

Shall we call back Northumberland and send

Defiance to the traitor, and so die?

Aum. No, good my lord; let's fight with gentle words,

Till time lend friends and friends their helpful swords.

K. Rich. O God! O God! that e'er this tongue of mine,

That laid the sentence of dread banishment

On yon proud man, should take it off again

With words of sooth. O! that I were as great

As is my grief, or lesser than my name,

Or that I could forget what I have been,

 113 lineal royalties: prerogatives due to descent

114 Enfranchisement: restoration to free man's rights

117 barbed: armored

127 debase: degrade

136 sooth: cajolery

