| ACT I SCENE IV | The court. | |
| | Enter KING RICHARD II, with BAGOT and GREEN at one door; and the DUKE OF AUMERLE at another. | |
| KING RICHARD II | We did observe. Cousin Aumerle, | |
| | How far brought you high Hereford on his way? | |
| DUKE OF AUMERLE | I brought high Hereford, if you call him so, | |
| | But to the next highway, and there I left him. | 5 |
| KING RICHARD II | And say, what store of parting tears were shed? | |
| DUKE OF AUMERLE | Faith, none for me; except the north-east wind, | |
| | Which then blew bitterly against our faces, | |
| | Awaked the sleeping rheum, and so by chance | |
| | Did grace our hollow parting with a tear. | 10 |
| KING RICHARD II | What said our cousin when you parted with him? | |
| DUKE OF AUMERLE | 'Farewell:' | |
| | And, for my heart disdained that my tongue | |
| | Should so profane the word, that taught me craft | |
| | To counterfeit oppression of such grief | 15 |
| | That words seem'd buried in my sorrow's grave. | |
| | Marry, would the word 'farewell' have lengthen'd hours | |
| | And added years to his short banishment, | |
| | He should have had a volume of farewells; | |
| | But since it would not, he had none of me. | 20 |
| KING RICHARD II | He is our cousin, cousin; but 'tis doubt, | |
| | When time shall call him home from banishment, | |
| | Whether our kinsman come to see his friends. | |
| | Ourself and Bushy, Bagot here and Green | |
| | Observed his courtship to the common people; | 25 |
| | How he did seem to dive into their hearts | |
| | With humble and familiar courtesy, | |
| | What reverence he did throw away on slaves, | |
| | Wooing poor craftsmen with the craft of smiles | |
| | And patient underbearing of his fortune, | 30 |
| | As 'twere to banish their affects with him. | |
| | Off goes his bonnet to an oyster-wench; | |
| | A brace of draymen bid God speed him well | |
| | And had the tribute of his supple knee, | |
| | With 'Thanks, my countrymen, my loving friends;' | 35 |
| | As were our England in reversion his, | |
| | And he our subjects' next degree in hope. | |
| GREEN | Well, he is gone; and with him go these thoughts. | |
| | Now for the rebels which stand out in Ireland, | |
| | Expedient manage must be made, my liege, | 40 |
| | Ere further leisure yield them further means | |
| | For their advantage and your highness' loss. | |
| KING RICHARD II | We will ourself in person to this war: | |
| | And, for our coffers, with too great a court | |
| | And liberal largess, are grown somewhat light, | 45 |
| | We are inforced to farm our royal realm; | |
| | The revenue whereof shall furnish us | |
| | For our affairs in hand: if that come short, | |
| | Our substitutes at home shall have blank charters; | |
| | Whereto, when they shall know what men are rich, | 50 |
| | They shall subscribe them for large sums of gold | |
| | And send them after to supply our wants; | |
| | For we will make for Ireland presently. | |
| | Enter BUSHY. | |
| | Bushy, what news? | |
| BUSHY | Old John of Gaunt is grievous sick, my lord, | 55 |
| | Suddenly taken; and hath sent post haste | |
| | To entreat your majesty to visit him. | |
| KING RICHARD II | Where lies he? | |
| BUSHY | At Ely House. | |
| KING RICHARD II | Now put it, God, in the physician's mind | 60 |
| | To help him to his grave immediately! | |
| | The lining of his coffers shall make coats | |
| | To deck our soldiers for these Irish wars. | |
| | Come, gentlemen, let's all go visit him: | |
| | Pray God we may make haste, and come too late! | 65 |
| All | Amen. | |
| | Exeunt | |
