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Richard II - Act 2, scene 4
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Last updated: Fri, Jul 31, 2015
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Richard II - Act 2, scene 4Act 2, scene 4
⌜Scene 4⌝
Synopsis:
The Welsh troops, having waited ten days for Richard’s return, disperse. The earl of Salisbury predicts that Richard stands at the edge of defeat.
Enter Earl of Salisbury and a Welsh Captain.WELSH CAPTAIN
1313 My Lord of Salisbury, we have stayed ten days
1314 And hardly kept our countrymen together,
1315 And yet we hear no tidings from the King.
1316 Therefore we will disperse ourselves. Farewell.
SALISBURY
1317 5 Stay yet another day, thou trusty Welshman.
1318 The King reposeth all his confidence in thee.
WELSH CAPTAIN
1319 ’Tis thought the King is dead. We will not stay.
1320 The bay trees in our country are all withered,
1321 And meteors fright the fixèd stars of heaven;
1322 10 The pale-faced moon looks bloody on the Earth,
1323 And lean-looked prophets whisper fearful change;
1324 Rich men look sad, and ruffians dance and leap,
1325 The one in fear to lose what they enjoy,
1326 The other to enjoy by rage and war.
1327 15 These signs forerun the death or fall of kings.
1328 Farewell. Our countrymen are gone and fled,
1329 As well assured Richard their king is dead.
⌜He exits.⌝
SALISBURY
1330 Ah, Richard! With the eyes of heavy mind
1331 I see thy glory like a shooting star
1332 20 Fall to the base earth from the firmament.
1333 Thy sun sets weeping in the lowly west,
1334 Witnessing storms to come, woe, and unrest.
1335 Thy friends are fled to wait upon thy foes,
1336 And crossly to thy good all fortune goes.
⌜He exits.⌝