Richard II

Act 2, Scene 4

Modern spelling. Stage directions omitted.

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CAPTAIN

My Lord of Salisbury, we have stayed ten days
And hardly kept our countrymen together,
And yet we hear no tidings from the King.
Therefore we will disperse ourselves. Farewell.

SALISBURY

Stay yet another day, trusty Welshman.
The King reposeth all his confidence in .

CAPTAIN

thought the King is dead. We will not stay.
The bay trees in our country are all withered,
And meteors fright the fixed stars of heaven;
The pale-faced moon looks bloody on the earth,
And lean-looked prophets whisper fearful change;
Rich men look sad, and ruffians dance and leap,
The one in fear to lose what they enjoy,
The other to enjoy by rage and war.
These signs forerun the death or fall of kings.
Farewell. Our countrymen are gone and fled,
As well assured Richard their king is dead.

SALISBURY

Ah, Richard! With the eyes of heavy mind
I see glory like a shooting star
Fall to the base earth from the firmament.
sun sets weeping in the lowly west,
Witnessing storms to come, woe, and unrest.
friends are fled, to wait upon foes,
And crossly to good all fortune goes.

All of Richard II

Act 1

Act 1, Scene 1Act 1, Scene 2Act 1, Scene 3Act 1, Scene 4,

Act 2

Act 2, Scene 1Act 2, Scene 2Act 2, Scene 3Act 2, Scene 4,

Act 3

Act 3, Scene 1Act 3, Scene 2Act 3, Scene 3Act 3, Scene 4,

Act 4

Act 4, Scene 1,

Act 5

Act 5, Scene 1Act 5, Scene 2Act 5, Scene 3Act 5, Scene 4Act 5, Scene 5Act 5, Scene 6

Open Richard II in the 1623 First Folio. See its words in the cloud.

Modern spelling for reading. The edition is public domain in the United States. Edition source.