Richard II Quotes

Act 1

Thou art a traitor and a miscreant, too good to be so, and too bad to live.
-Henry

I do defy him, and I spit at him.
-Mowbray

Then, Bolingbroke, as low as to thy heart, through the false passage of thy throat, thou liest.
-Mowbray

One vial full of Edward's sacred blood, one flourishing branch of his most royal root, is cracked, and all the precious liquor spilt.
-duchess of Gloucester

Desolate, desolate, will I hence and die.
-duchess of Gloucester

And now my tongue's use is to me no more than an unstringed viol or harp, or like a cunning instrument cased up, or, being open, put into his hands that knows no touch to tune the harmony.
-Mowbray

Since thou hast far to go, bear not along the burden of a clogging soul.
-Henry

O, who can hold a fire in his hand by thinking on the frosty Caucasus?
-Henry

As were our England in reversion his, and he our subjects' next degree in hope.
-Richard, describing Henry

Act 2

Though Richard my life's counsel would not hear, my death's sad tale may yet undeaf his ear.
-John of Gaunt

This land of such dear souls...is now leased out-I die pronouncing it-like to a tenement or pelting farm.
-John of Gaunt

Act 3

Say, is my kingdom lost?  Why, 'twas my care, and what loss is it to be rid of care?
-Richard

Let's talk of graves, of worms, and epitaphs, make dust our paper, and with rainy eyes write sorrow on the bosom of the earth.  Let's choose executors and talk of wills.  And yet not so, for what can we bequeath save our deposed bodies to the ground?  Our lands, our lives, and all are Bolingbroke's, and nothing can we call our own but death...For God's sake, let us sit upon the ground and tell sad stories of the death of kings-how some have been deposed, some slain in war, some haunted by the ghosts they have deposed, some poisoned by their wives, some sleeping killed, all murdered.  For within the hollow crown that rounds the mortal temples of a king keeps Death his court, and there the antic sits...
-Richard

What must the King do now?  Must he submit?  The King shall do it.  Must he be deposed?  The King shall be contented.  Must he lose the name of king?  I' God's name, let it go.
-Richard

For on my heart they tread now whilst I live, and, buried once, why not upon my head?
-Richard

Base court, where kings grow base, to come at traitors' calls and do them grace.  In the base court come down-down court, down king, for nightowls shriek where mounting larks should sing.
-Richard

Act 5

Mount, mount, my soul.  Thy seat is up on high, whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die.
-Richard

O, would the deed were good!  For now the devil that told me I did well says that this deed is chronicled in hell.
-Exton

With Cain go wander through shades of night, and never show thy head by day nor light.
-Henry

March sadly after.  Grace my mournings here in weeping after this untimely bier.
-Henry

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