MOWBRAY     My life thou shalt command, but not my shame. The one my duty owes, but my fair name, Despite of death, that lives upon my grave, To dark dishonour’s use thou shalt not have. I am disgraced, impeached and baffled here, Pierced to the soul with slander’s venomed spear, The which no balm can […]

RICHARD        Wrath-kindled gentlemen, be ruled by me, Let’s purge this choler without letting blood. This we prescribe, though no physician— Deep malice makes too deep incision. Forget, forgive, conclude and be agreed, Our doctors say this is no month to bleed. [To Gaunt] Good uncle, let this end where it begun, We’ll calm the Duke […]

MOWBRAY                             As for the rest appealed, It issues from the rancour of a villain, A recreant and most degenerate traitor, Which in myself I boldly will defend And interchangeably hurl down my gage Upon this overweening traitor’s foot To prove myself a loyal gentleman Even in the best blood chambered in his bosom. [He throws […]

MOWBRAY     For you, my noble lord of Lancaster, The honourable father to my foe, Once did I lay an ambush for your life, A trespass that doth vex my grievèd soul; But ere I last received the sacrament I did confess it and exactly begged Your grace’s pardon, and I hope I had it. This […]

MOWBRAY     Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart, Through the false passage of thy throat, thou liest. Three parts of that receipt I had for Calais Disbursed I duly to his highness’ soldiers; The other part reserved I by consent, For that my sovereign liege was in my debt Upon remainder of a dear […]

RICHARD        Mowbray, impartial are our eyes and ears. Were he my brother, nay, my kingdom’s heir, As he is but my father’s brother’s son, Now by my sceptre’s awe, I make a vow Such neighbour nearness to our sacred blood Should nothing privilege him nor partialize The unstooping firmness of upright soul. He is our […]

RICHARD        How high a pitch his resolution soars! Thomas of Norfolk, what sayst thou to this? MOWBRAY     O let my sovereign turn away his face And bid his ears a little while be deaf, Till I have told this slander of his blood How God and good men hate so foul a liar. (1.1.109-114) Goodness, […]

BOLINGBROKE          Further I say and further will maintain Upon his bad life to make all this good, That he did plot the Duke of Gloucester’s death, Suggest his soon-believing adversaries, And consequently, like a traitor coward, Sluiced out his innocent soul through streams of blood— Which blood, like sacrificing Abel’s, cries Even from the tongueless […]

BOLINGBROKE          Look what I speak, my life shall prove it true: That Mowbray hath received eight thousand nobles In name of lendings for your highness’ soldiers, The which he hath detained for lewd employments, Like a false traitor and injurious villain. Besides I say and will in battle prove, Or here or elsewhere to the […]

MOWBRAY     [taking up the gage] I take it up, and by that sword I swear Which gently laid my knighthood on my shoulder, I’ll answer thee in any fair degree Or chivalrous design of knightly trial. And when I mount, alive may I not light If I be traitor or unjustly fight. RICHARD        What doth […]