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Informationen zum Autor William Shakespeare Klappentext Considered one of Shakespeare's greatest history plays, The Tragedy of King Richard II concerns the ill-fated reign of a king whose eventual overthrow marks the beginning of Shakespeare's history cycle, including Henry IV, Part I, Henry IV Part II; and Henry V. This edition features an overview of Shakespeare's works by Sylvan Barnet, former Chairman of the English Department at Tufts University, as well as a comprehensive stage and screen history, dramatic criticism from the past and present, and sources from which Shakespeare derived this great work.Chapter 1 Act 1 Scene 1 running scene 1 Enter King Richard, John of Gaunt, with other Nobles and Attendants KING RICHARD Old John of Gaunt, time-honoured Lancaster, Hast thou according to thy oath and band Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold son, Here to make good the boist'rous late appeal, Which then our leisure would not let us hear, Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? GAUNT I have, my liege. KING RICHARD Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him, If he appeal the duke on ancient malice, Or worthily, as a good subject should, On some known ground of treachery in him? GAUNT As near as I could sift him on that argument, On some apparent danger seen in him Aimed at your highness, no inveterate malice. KING RICHARD Then call them to our presence. [Exit an Attendant] Face to face, And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear Th'accuser and the accusèd freely speak; High-stomached are they both, and full of ire, In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire. Enter Bullingbrook and Mowbray BULLINGBROOK Many years of happy days befall My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege! MOWBRAY Each day still better other's happiness Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap, Add an immortal title to your crown! KING RICHARD We thank you both. Yet one but flatters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come, Namely, to appeal each other of high treason. Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? BULLINGBROOK First, heaven be the record to my speech! In the devotion of a subject's love, Tend'ring the precious safety of my prince, And free from other misbegotten hate, Come I appellant to this princely presence. Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee, And mark my greeting well, for what I speak My body shall make good upon this earth, Or my divine soul answer it in heaven. Thou art a traitor and a miscreant; Too good to be so and too bad to live, Since the more fair and crystal is the sky, The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly. Once more, the more to aggravate the note, With a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat; And wish - so please my sovereign - ere I move, What my tongue speaks my right drawn sword may prove. MOWBRAY Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal: 'Tis not the trial of a woman's war, The bitter clamour of two eager tongues, Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain. The blood is hot that must be cooled for this. Yet can I not of such tame patience boast As to be hushed and nought at all to say. First, the fair reverence of your highness curbs me From giving reins and spurs to my free speech, Which else would post until it had returned These terms of treason doubly down his throat. Setting aside his high blood's royalty, And let him be no kinsman to my liege, I do defy him, and I spit at him, Call him a slanderous coward and a villain, Which to maintain I would allow him odds, An...
