Aumerle at another.
K. Rich.
We did observe6 note.—Cousin Aumerle,
How far brought you high Hereford on his way?
Aum.
I brought high Hereford, if you call him so,
But to the next highway, and there I left him.
K. Rich.
And, say, what store of parting tears were shed?
Aum.
'Faith, none for me; except the north-east wind,
Which then blew bitterly against our faces7 note,
Awak'd the sleeping rheum, and so by chance
Did grace our hollow parting with a tear.
K. Rich.
What said our cousin, when you parted with him?
Aum.
Farewell: and, for my heart disdained that my tongue
Should so profane the word, that taught me craft
To counterfeit oppression of such grief,
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.
K. Rich.
He is our cousin, cousin; but 'tis doubt,
-- 134 --
When time shall call him home from banishment,
Whether our kinsman come to see his friends.
Ourself, and Bushy, Bagot here, and Green8 note,
Observ'd his courtship to the common people:
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,
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;”—
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 manage9 note must be made, my liege,
Ere farther leisure yield them farther means,
For their advantage, and your highness' loss.
K. Rich.
We will ourself in person to this war:
And, for our coffers with too great a court,
And liberal largess, are grown somewhat light,
We are enforc'd 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,
They shall subscribe them for large sums of gold,
And send them after to supply our wants,
For we will make for Ireland presently.
-- 135 -- 11Q0551
Enter Bushy1 note.
Bushy, what news?
Bushy.
Old John of Gaunt is grievous sick, my lord2 note,
Suddenly taken, and hath sent post-haste,
To entreat your majesty to visit him.
K. Rich.
Where lies he?
Bushy.
At Ely-house.
K. Rich.
Now put it, God, in his physician's mind,
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!
[Exeunt.
J. Payne Collier [1842–1844], The works of William Shakespeare. The text formed from an entirely new collation of the old editions: with the various readings, notes, a life of the poet, and a history of the Early English stage. By J. Payne Collier, Esq. F.S.A. In eight volumes (Whittaker & Co. [etc.], London) [word count] [S10101].
