A twofold marriage; 'twixt my crown and me; Queen. And must we be divided? must we part? K. Rich. Ay, hand from hand, my love, and heart from heart. Queen. Banish us both, and send the king with me. North. 11 That were some love, but little policy. Queen. Then whither he goes, thither let me go? K.Rich. So two, together weeping, make one woe. Weep thou for me in France, I for thee here; Better far off, than-near, be ne'er the near' 12. Go, count thy way with sighs; I, mine with groans. Queen. So longest way shall have the longest moans. K. Rich. Twice for one step I'll groan, the way being short, And piece the way out with a heavy heart. [They kiss. 9 A kiss appears to have been an established circumstance in our ancient marriage ceremonies. So, in Marston's Insatiate Countess, 1613, the duke, on parting with his wife, says to her :'The kiss thou gav'st me in the church here take.' 10 All Hallows, i. e. All Saints, Nov. 1. 11 The quartos give this speech to the king. 12 Never the nigher, i. e. 'it is better to be at a great distance than being near each other, to find that we are yet not likely to be peaceably and happily united.' Queen. Give me mine own again; 'twere no good part, To take on me to keep, and kill thy heart 13. [Kiss again. So now I have mine own again, begone, K. Rich. We make woe wanton with this fond delay: Once more, adieu; the rest let sorrow say. [Exeunt. The same. SCENE II. A Room in the Duke of York's Palace. Enter YORK, and his Duchess1. Duch. My lord, you told me, you would tell the rest, When weeping made you break the story off Mounted upon a hot and fiery steed, Which his aspiring rider seem'd to know,- 13 So in King Henry V. Act ii. Sc. 2:— the king hath kill'd his heart? 1 The first wife of Edward duke of York was Isabella, daughter of Peter the Cruel, king of Castile and Leon. He married her in 1372, and had by her the duke of Aumerle, and all his other children. In introducing her the poet has departed widely from history; for she died in 1394, four or five years before the events related in the present play. After her death York married Joan, daughter of John Holland, earl of Kent, who survived him about thirty-four years, and had three other husbands. While all tongues cried-God save thee, Boling broke! You would have thought the very windows spake, Duch. Alas, poor Richard! where rides he the while? York. As in a theatre, the eyes of men2, Even so, or with much more contempt, men's eyes That had not God, for some strong purpose, steel'd But heaven hath a hand in these events; 2 The painting of this description is so lively, and the words so moving that I have scarce read any thing comparable to it in any other language.'-Dryden; Pref. to Troilus and Cressida. Enter AUMERLE. Duch. Here comes my son Aumerle. York. Aumerle that was; But that is lost, for being Richard's friend; And lasting fealty to the new-made king. Duch. Welcome, my son: Who are the violets now, That strew the green lap of the new-come spring? Aum. Madam, I know not, nor I greatly care not; God knows, I had as lief be none as one. York. Well, bear you well in this new spring of time, Lest you be cropp'd before you come to prime. What news from Oxford? hold those justs and triumphs? Aum. For aught I know, my lord, they do. Aum. If God prevent it not; I purpose so. York. What seal is that, that hangs without thy bosom 5? Yea, look'st thou pale? let me see the writing. Aum. My lord, 'tis nothing. York. No matter then who sees it; I will be satisfied, let me see the writing. Aum. I do beseech your grace to pardon me; It is a matter of small consequence, Which for some reasons I would not have seen. 3 The dukes of Aumerle, Surrey, and Exeter were deprived of their dukedoms by an act of Henry's first parliament, but were allowed to retain the earldoms of Rutland, Kent, and Huntingdon.'-Holinshed. 4 So in Milton's Song on May Morning : who from her green lap throws The yellow cowslip and the pale primrose.' 5 The seals of deeds were formerly impressed on slips or labels of parchment appendant to them. York. Which for some reasons, sir, I mean to see. I fear, I fear, Duch. What should you fear? "Tis nothing but some bond that he is enter'd into For gay apparel, 'gainst the triumph day. York. Bound to himself? what doth he with a bond That he is bound to? Wife, thou art a fool.Boy, let me see the writing. Aum. I do beseech you, pardon me; I show it. may not York. I will be satisfied; let me see it, I say. [Snatches it, and reads. Treason! foul treason!-villain! traitor! slave! Duch. What is the matter, my lord? York. Ho! who is within there? [Enter a Servant.] Saddle my horse. God for his mercy! what treachery is here! York. Give me my boots, I say; saddle my horse : Now by mine honour, by my life, my troth, I will appeach the villain. Duch. [Exit Servant. What's the matter? York. Peace, foolish woman. Duch. I will not peace:-What is the matter, son? Aum. Good mother, be content; it is no more Than my poor life must answer. Duch. Thy life answer? Re-enter Servant, with Boots. York. Bring me my boots, I will unto the king. Duch. Strike him, Aumerle.-Poor boy, thou art amaz'd: Hence, villain; never more come in my sight.— [To the Servant. York. Give me my boots, I say. |