RICHARD I am in health, I breathe, and see thee ill. GAUNT Now he that made me knows I see thee ill. Ill in myself to see, and in thee seeing ill. Thy deathbed is no lesser than thy land Wherein thou liest in reputation sick, And thou, too careless patient as thou art, Commit’st […]
Continue ReadingDeath, flattery, snark, and stichomythia (2.1.84-91) #KingedUnkinged
RICHARD Can sick men play so nicely with their names? GAUNT No, misery makes sport to mock itself. Since thou dost seek to kill my name in me, I mock my name, great King, to flatter thee. RICHARD Should dying men flatter with those that live? GAUNT No, no, men living flatter those that die. […]
Continue ReadingAnd how are you feeling today, Uncle Gaunt? (2.1.71-83) #KingedUnKinged
QUEEN How fares our noble uncle Lancester? RICHARD What comfort, man? How is’t with agèd Gaunt? GAUNT O, how that name befits my composition! Old Gaunt indeed and gaunt in being old. Within me grief hath kept a tedious fast, And who abstains from meat that is not gaunt? For sleeping England long time have […]
Continue ReadingThis England, now just a soggy mess (2.1.61-70) #KingedUnkinged
GAUNT England, bound in with the triumphant sea, Whose rocky shore beats back the envious siege Of watery Neptune, is now bound in with shame, With inky blots and rotten parchment bonds. That England which was wont to conquer others Hath made a shameful conquest of itself. Ah, would the scandal vanish with my life, […]
Continue ReadingThis England, sold off and sold out (2.1.50-60) #KingedUnKinged
GAUNT This blessèd plot, this earth, this realm, this England, This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings, Feared by their breed and famous by their birth, Renownèd for their deed as far from home For Christian service and true chivalry As is the sepulchre in stubborn Jewry Of the world’s ransom, blessèd Mary’s son; […]
Continue ReadingThis royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle… (2.1.40-49) #KingedUnKinged
GAUNT This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle, This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars, This other Eden, demi-paradise, This fortress built by Nature for herself Against infection and the hand of war, This happy breed of men, this little world, This precious stone set in the silver sea, Which serves it in […]
Continue ReadingGaunt: Richard will burn out soon enough (2.1.31-39) #KingedUnKinged
GAUNT Methinks I am a prophet new inspired And thus, expiring, do foretell of him: His rash fierce blaze of riot cannot last For violent fires soon burn out themselves. Small showers last long, but sudden storms are short; He tires betimes that spurs too fast betimes; With eager feeding, food doth choke the feeder; […]
Continue ReadingRichard won’t listen, he’s too easily distracted by poetry and clothes and stuff (2.1.15-30) #KingedUnKinged
GAUNT Though Richard my life’s counsel would not hear, My death’s sad tale may yet undeaf his ear. YORK No, it is stopped with other flatt’ring sounds, As praises, of whose taste the wise are feared, Lascivious metres, to whose venom sound The open ear of youth doth always listen, Report of fashions in proud […]
Continue ReadingGaunt, revving up: sweet music at the close (2.1.5-14) #KingedUnKinged
GAUNT O, but they say the tongues of dying men Enforce attention like deep harmony. When 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 listened more Than they whom youth and ease have taught to gloze; More […]
Continue ReadingEnter John of Gaunt, sick (and anxious) (2.1.1-4) #KingedUnKinged
Enter John of Gaunt, sick, with the Duke of York [and attendants] GAUNT Will the King come that I may breathe my last In wholesome counsel to his unstaid youth? YORK Vex not yourself nor strive not with your breath, For all in vain comes counsel to his ear. (2.1.1-4) A quick segue: we’ve […]
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