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Informationen zum Autor Willliam Shakespeare Klappentext This moving and eloquent historical drama depicts the conflict between a willful and arrogant poet of a king, Richard II, and his politically pragmatic cousin, Bolingbroke. Rich with memorable scenes and speeches, this lyrical history moves from a splendid medieval tournament to the poignant surrender of a crown; from the queen's heart-shattering farewell to her king to Richard's murder—a deed "chronicled in hell” that lives forever as one of the great moments in theater.[1.1] A Enter King Richard, John of Gaunt, with other nobles and attendants. king richard Old John of Gaunt, time-honored Lancaster, Hast thou according to thy oath and bond 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 The 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 Bolingbroke and Mowbray. 22Each . . . happiness May each day improve on the happiness of other past days 23hap fortune 26you come for which you come 28what . . . object what accusation do you bring 30record witness 32Tend’ring watching over, holding dear 34appellant as the accuser 38answer answer for 39miscreant irreligious villain 40good i.e., noble, high-born 41crystal clear. (The image alludes to the crystal spheres in which, according to the Ptolemaic conception of the universe, the heavenly bodies were fixed.) 43aggravate the note emphasize the stigma, i.e., the charge of treason 45so please if it please 46right-drawn justly drawn 47accuse my zeal cast doubt on my zeal or loyalty. 48woman’s war i.e., war of words 49eager sharp, biting bolingbroke Many years of happy days befall My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege! mowbray Each day still better others’ 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? bolingbroke 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, <...
