And yet we hear no tidings from the king; Cap. 'Tis thought the king is dead; we will not stay. 7 The bay-trees in our country all are wither'd, Sal. Alas, Richard! with eyes of heavy mind [Exit [Exeunt. conjecture is not fo prefumptuous as may be thought. The play was not, in Shakespeare's time, broken into acts; the two editions published before his death exhibit only a fequence of scenes from the beginning to the end, without any hint of a paufe of action. In a drama fo defultory and erratic, left in fuch a state, tranfpofitions might eafily be made. JOHNSON. The bay-trees, &c.] This enumeration of prodigies is in the highest degree poetical and striking. JOHNSON. Some of these prodigies are found in T. Haywarde's Life and Raigne of Henry IV. 1599. "This yeare the laurel trees wi"thered almoft throughout the realm," &c. So again in Holinfhead. "In this yeare in a manner "throughout all the realme of England, old baie trees withered," &c. STEEVENS. 46 ACT III. SCENE I. Bolingbroke's camp at Bristol. Enter Bolingbroke, York, Northumberland, Rofs, Percy, Willoughby, with Bushy and Green, prisoners. BOLINGBROKE. forth men. B Buy and Green, I will not vex your fouls BB (Since prefently your fouls muft part your bodies) For 'twere no charity: yet, to wash your blood And ftain'd the beauty of a fair queen's cheeks Near to the king in blood; and near in love, From mine own windows torn my houfhold coat,] It was the practice, when coloured glafs was in ufe, of which there are still fome remains in old feats and churches, to anneal the arms of the family in the windows of the houfe. JOHNSON. Raz'd 9 Raz❜d out my imprefs, leaving me no fign, Save mens' opinions, and my living blood, To fhew the world I am a gentleman. This, and much more, much more than twice all this, Condemns you to the death.-See them deliver'd over To execution, and the hand of death. Busby. More welcome is the ftroke of death to me, Than Bolingbroke to England.-Lords, farewell. Green. My comfort is, that heaven will take our fouls, And plague injuftice with the pains of hell. Boling. My lord Northumberland, fee them difpatch'd. -Uncle, you fay, the queen is at your houfe; Boling. Thanks, gentle uncle. -Come, lords, away; [To fight with Glendower and his complices ;] A while to work; and, after, holiday. [Exeunt. SCENE Raz'd out my imprefs, &c.] The imprefs was a device or motto. Ferne, in his Blazon of Gentry, 1585, obferves "that the arms, &c. of traitors and rebels may be defaced and removed, wherefoever they are fixed, or fet." STEEVENS. Thanks, gentle uncle.-Come, my lords, away; 1 To fight with Glendower and his complices; A while to work, and after holiday.] Though the intermediate line has taken poffeffion of all the old copies, I have great fufpicion of its being an interpolation; and have therefore ventured to throw it out. The firit and third lines rhime to each other; nor do I imagine this was cafual, but intended by the poet. Were we to acknowledge the line genuine, it iuft argue the poet of forgetfulness and inattention to history. Bolingbroke is, as it were, yet but juft arrived; he is now at Bristol; weak in his numbers; has had no meeting with a parliament; nor is fo far affured of the fucceflion, as to think of going to fupprefs infurrections before he is planted in the throne. Be L 3 fides, The coaft of Wales. A caftle in view. Enter king Richard, Aumerle, bishop of Carlisle, and foldiers. K. Rich. Barkloughly-caftle call you this at hand? Aum. It is, my lord; how brooks your grace the air, After your toffing on the breaking feas? K. Rich. Needs muft I like it well. I I weep for joy Plays fondly with her tears, and smiles in meeting; fides, we find the oppofition of Glendower begins The First Part of K. Henry IV; and Mortimer's defeat by that hardy Welthman is the tidings of the firft fcene of that play. Again, though Glendower, in the very first year of K. Henry IV. began to be troublefome, put in for the fupremacy of Wales, and imprisoned Mortimer; yet it was not till the fucceeding year that the king employed any force against him. THEOBALD. This emendation, which I think is juft, has been followed by Sir T. Hanmer, but is neglected by Dr. Warburton. JOHNSON. 2 Here may be properly inferted the laft fcene of the fecond act. JOHNSON. Guard Guard it, I pray thee, with a lurking adder; Bishop. 3 Fear not, my lord; that power, that made you king, Hath power to keep you king, in fpight of all. Aum. He means, my lord, that we are too remifs: The cloak of night being pluck'd from off their backs, 3 Fear not, my lord, &c.] Of this fpeech the fur laft lines were restored from the first edition by Mr. Pope. They were, I fuppofe, omitted by the players only to fhorten the scenes, for they are worthy of the author and suitable to the perfonage. JOHNSON. * Behind the globe, &c.] I fhould read, -the fearching eye of beaven is hid Behind the globe, and lights the lower world. JOHNS. Such is the old reading. STEEVENS. |