Page:Richard II (1921) Yale.djvu/88

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76
The Life and Death of

And his pure soul unto his captain Christ,
Under whose colours he had fought so long. 100

Boling. Why, bishop, is Norfolk dead?

Car. As surely as I live, my lord.

Boling. Sweet peace conduct his sweet soul to the bosom
Of good old Abraham! Lords appellants, 104
Your differences shall all rest under gage
Till we assign you to your days of trial.

Enter York [attended].

York. Great Duke of Lancaster, I come to thee
From plume-pluck'd Richard; who with willing soul 108
Adopts thee heir, and his high sceptre yields
To the possession of thy royal hand.
Ascend his throne, descending now from him;
And long live Henry, of that name the fourth! 112

Boling. In God's name, I'll ascend the regal throne.

Car. Marry, God forbid!
Worst in this royal presence may I speak,
Yet best beseeming me to speak the truth. 116
Would God that any in this noble presence
Were enough noble to be upright judge
Of noble Richard! then, true noblesse would
Learn him forbearance from so foul a wrong. 120
What subject can give sentence on his king?
And who sits here that is not Richard's subject?
Thieves are not judg'd but they are by to hear,
Although apparent guilt be seen in them; 124
And shall the figure of God's majesty,
His captain, steward, deputy elect,

115 Worst; cf. n.
117–119 noble; cf. n.
119 noblesse: nobility
120 Learn: teach
123 but: unless
124 apparent: obvious
125 figure: symbol