Richard II

Share
First folio
Modern text

Definitions

Key line

Enter the Queene, and two Ladies.Enter the Queen with two Ladies, her attendants R2 III.iv.1.1
Qu. QUEEN ISABEL 
What sport shall we deuise here in this Garden,What sport shall we devise here in this gardensport (n.)
recreation, amusement, entertainment
R2 III.iv.1
To driue away the heauie thought of Care?To drive away the heavy thought of care?heavy (adj.)

old form: heauie
sorrowful, sad, gloomy
R2 III.iv.2
La. FIRST LADY 
Madame, wee'le play at Bowles.Madam, we'll play at bowls. R2 III.iv.3
Qu. QUEEN ISABEL 
'Twill make me thinke the World is full of Rubs,'Twill make me think the world is full of rubsrub (n.)
[bowls] obstacle, impediment, hindrance
R2 III.iv.4
And that my fortune runnes against the Byas.And that my fortune rubs against the bias. R2 III.iv.5
La. SECOND LADY 
Madame, wee'le Dance.Madam, we'll dance. R2 III.iv.6
QUEEN ISABEL 
My Legges can keepe no measure in Delight,My legs can keep no measure in delightmeasure (n.)
slow stately dance, graceful movement
R2 III.iv.7
When my poore Heart no measure keepes in Griefe.When my poor heart no measure keeps in grief.measure (n.)
limit, moderation, extent not to be exceeded
R2 III.iv.8
Therefore no Dancing (Girle) some other sport.Therefore no dancing, girl. Some other sport. R2 III.iv.9
La. FIRST LADY 
Madame, wee'le tell Tales.Madam, we'll tell tales. R2 III.iv.10
Qu. QUEEN ISABEL 
Of Sorrow, or of Griefe?Of sorrow or of joy? R2 III.iv.11.1
La. FIRST LADY 
Of eyther, Madame.Of either, madam. R2 III.iv.11.2
Qu. QUEEN ISABEL 
Of neyther, Girle.Of neither, girl. R2 III.iv.12
For if of Ioy, being altogether wanting,For of joy, being altogether wanting,want (v.)
lack, need, be without
R2 III.iv.13
It doth remember me the more of Sorrow:It doth remember me the more of sorrow;remember (v.)
remind, bring to someone's mind
R2 III.iv.14
Or if of Griefe, being altogether had,Or if of grief, being altogether had, R2 III.iv.15
It addes more Sorrow to my want of Ioy:It adds more sorrow to my want of joy;want (n.)
lack, shortage, dearth
R2 III.iv.16
For what I haue, I need not to repeat;For what I have I need not to repeat, R2 III.iv.17
And what I want, it bootes not to complaine.And what I want it boots not to complain.want (v.)
lack, need, be without
R2 III.iv.18
complain (v.)
lament, bewail, bemoan
boot (v.)

old form: bootes
help, serve, benefit, be useful [to]
La. SECOND LADY 
Madame, Ile sing.Madam, I'll sing. R2 III.iv.19.1
Qu. QUEEN ISABEL 
'Tis well that thou hast cause:'Tis well that thou hast cause; R2 III.iv.9.2
But thou should'st please me better, would'st thou weepe.But thou shouldst please me better wouldst thou weep. R2 III.iv.20
La. SECOND LADY 
I could weepe, Madame, would it doe you good.I could weep, madam, would it do you good. R2 III.iv.21
Qu. QUEEN ISABEL 
And I could sing, would weeping doe me good,And I could sing would weeping do me good, R2 III.iv.22
And neuer borrow any Teare of thee.And never borrow any tear of thee. R2 III.iv.23
Enter a Gardiner, and two Seruants.Enter Gardeners, one the master and the other two his R2 III.iv.24.1
men R2 III.iv.24.2
But stay, here comes the Gardiners,But stay, here come the gardeners. R2 III.iv.24
Let's step into the shadow of these Trees.Let's step into the shadow of these trees. R2 III.iv.25
My wretchednesse, vnto a Rowe of Pinnes,My wretchedness unto a row of pinsunto (prep.)

old form: vnto
[gambling] against
R2 III.iv.26
They'le talke of State: for euery one doth so,They will talk of state; for everyone doth so R2 III.iv.27
Against a Change; Woe is fore-runne with Woe.Against a change. Woe is forerun with woe.forerun (v.)

old form: fore-runne
forecast, foreshadow, be the precursor of
R2 III.iv.28
The Queen and her Ladies stand apart R2 III.iv.29.1
Gard. GARDENER  
(to one man) R2 III.iv.29.2
Goe binde thou vp yond dangling Apricocks,Go, bind thou up young dangling apricocksapricock (n.)
apricot
R2 III.iv.29
Which like vnruly Children, make their SyreWhich, like unruly children, make their sire R2 III.iv.30
Stoupe with oppression of their prodigall weight:Stoop with oppression of their prodigal weight.oppression (n.)
weight, burden, pressure
R2 III.iv.31
prodigal (adj.)

old form: prodigall
excessive, extra, superfluous
Giue some supportance to the bending twigges.Give some supportance to the bending twigs.supportance (n.)
support, propping up, reinforcement
R2 III.iv.32
(To the other) R2 III.iv.33
Goe thou, and like an ExecutionerGo thou, and like an executioner R2 III.iv.33
Cut off the heads of too fast growing sprayes,Cut off the heads of too fast-growing sprays R2 III.iv.34
That looke too loftie in our Common-wealth:That look too lofty in our commonwealth. R2 III.iv.35
All must be euen, in our Gouernment.All must be even in our government.even (adj.)

old form: euen
equal, alike, same
R2 III.iv.36
You thus imploy'd, I will goe root awayYou thus employed, I will go root away R2 III.iv.37
The noysome Weedes, that without profit suckeThe noisome weeds which without profit sucknoisome (adj.)

old form: noysome
noxious, harmful, evil
R2 III.iv.38
The Soyles fertilitie from wholesome flowers.The soil's fertility from wholesome flowers. R2 III.iv.39
Ser. FIRST MAN 
Why should we, in the compasse of a Pale,Why should we, in the compass of a pale,pale (n.)
fence, paling, enclosure
R2 III.iv.40
compass (n.)

old form: compasse
circle, circumference, bound
Keepe Law and Forme, and due Proportion,Keep law and form and due proportion, R2 III.iv.41
Shewing as in a Modell our firme Estate?Showing as in a model our firm estate,firm (adj.)

old form: firme
stable, secure, settled
R2 III.iv.42
When our Sea-walled Garden, the whole Land,When our sea-walled garden, the whole land, R2 III.iv.43
Is full of Weedes, her fairest Flowers choakt vp,Is full of weeds, her fairest flowers choked up,choke up (v.)

old form: choakt vp
smother, suffocate, stifle
R2 III.iv.44
Her Fruit-trees all vnpruin'd, her Hedges ruin'd,Her fruit trees all unpruned, her hedges ruined, R2 III.iv.45
Her Knots disorder'd, and her wholesome HearbesHer knots disordered, and her wholesome herbswholesome (adj.)
good, nutritious, fit to eat
R2 III.iv.46
knot (n.)
intricately designed flower-bed
Swarming with Caterpillers.Swarming with caterpillars?caterpillar (n.)

old form: Caterpillers
parasite, exploiter, sponger
R2 III.iv.47.1
Gard. GARDENER 
Hold thy peace.Hold thy peace. R2 III.iv.47.2
He that hath suffer'd this disorder'd Spring,He that hath suffered this disordered springsuffer (v.)

old form: suffer'd
allow, permit, let
R2 III.iv.48
Hath now himselfe met with the Fall of Leafe.Hath now himself met with the fall of leaf. R2 III.iv.49
The Weeds that his broad-spreading Leaues did shelter,The weeds which his broad-spreading leaves did shelter, R2 III.iv.50
That seem'd, in eating him, to hold him vp,That seemed in eating him to hold him up, R2 III.iv.51
Are pull'd vp, Root and all, by Bullingbrooke:Are plucked up, root and all, by Bolingbroke –  R2 III.iv.52
I meane, the Earle of Wiltshire, Bushie, Greene.I mean the Earl of Wiltshire, Bushy, Green. R2 III.iv.53
Ser. SECOND MAN 
What are they dead?What, are they dead? R2 III.iv.54.1
Gard. GARDENER 
They are, / And Bullingbrooke They are; and Bolingbroke R2 III.iv.54.2
hath seiz'd the wastefull King. / Oh, what pitty is it, Hath seized the wasteful King. O, what pity is it R2 III.iv.55
that he had not so trim'd / Aad drest his Land, That he had not so trimmed and dressed his landdress (v.)

old form: drest
[of land] cultivate, tend, look after
R2 III.iv.56
as we this Garden, at time of yeare,As we this garden! We at time of year R2 III.iv.57
And wound the Barke, the skin of our Fruit-trees,Do wound the bark, the skin of our fruit trees, R2 III.iv.58
Least being ouer-proud with Sap and Blood,Lest being overproud in sap and bloodoverproud (adj.)

old form: ouer-proud
excessively swollen, too luxuriant
R2 III.iv.59
blood (n.)
vital fluid, life-giving juice
With too much riches it confound it selfe?With too much riches it confound itself.confound (v.)
destroy, overthrow, ruin
R2 III.iv.60
Had he done so, to great and growing men,Had he done so to great and growing men R2 III.iv.61
They might haue liu'd to beare, and he to tasteThey might have lived to bear, and he to taste R2 III.iv.62
Their fruites of dutie. Superfluous branchesTheir fruits of duty. Superfluous branches R2 III.iv.63
We lop away, that bearing boughes may liue:We lop away that bearing boughs may live. R2 III.iv.64
Had he done so, himselfe had borne the Crowne,Had he done so, himself had borne the crown R2 III.iv.65
Which waste and idle houres, hath quite thrown downe.Which waste of idle hours hath quite thrown down.idle (adj.)
empty, unoccupied, inactive
R2 III.iv.66
Ser. FIRST MAN 
What thinke you the King shall be depos'd?What, think you then the King shall be deposed? R2 III.iv.67
Gar.GARDENER 
Deprest he is already, and depos'dDepressed he is already, and deposeddepress (v.)

old form: Deprest
bring low, humble, put down
R2 III.iv.68
'Tis doubted he will be. Letters came last night'Tis doubt he will be. Letters came last nightdoubt (n.)
danger, risk, fear
R2 III.iv.69
To a deere Friend of the Duke of Yorkes,To a dear friend of the good Duke of York's R2 III.iv.70
That tell blacke tydings.That tell black tidings. R2 III.iv.71
Qu:QUEEN ISABEL 
Oh I am prest to death through want of speaking:O, I am pressed to death through want of speaking! R2 III.iv.72
She comes forward R2 III.iv.73.1
Thou old Adams likenesse, set to dresse this Garden:Thou, old Adam's likeness, set to dress this garden,dress (v.)

old form: dresse
[of land] cultivate, tend, look after
R2 III.iv.73
Adam (n.)
in the Bible, the first human being, in the Garden of Eden, who disobeyed God
How dares thy harsh rude tongue sound this vnpleasing newesHow dares thy harsh rude tongue sound this unpleasing news?sound (v.)
cry out, declare, proclaim
R2 III.iv.74
rude (adj.)
ignorant, unlearned, uneducated
What Eue? what Serpent hath suggested thee,What Eve, what serpent hath suggested theesuggest (v.)
tempt, prompt, incite
R2 III.iv.75
Eve (n.)
in the Bible, wife of the first human being
To make a second fall of cursed man?To make a second Fall of cursed man? R2 III.iv.76
Why do'st thou say, King Richard is depos'd,Why dost thou say King Richard is deposed? R2 III.iv.77
Dar'st thou, thou little better thing then earth,Darest thou, thou little better thing than earth, R2 III.iv.78
Diuine his downfall? Say, where, when, and howDivine his downfall? Say, where, when, and howdivine (v.)

old form: Diuine
predict, foretell, prophesy
R2 III.iv.79
Cam'st thou by this ill-tydings? Speake thou wretch.Camest thou by this ill tidings? Speak, thou wretch!ill (adj.)
bad, adverse, unfavourable
R2 III.iv.80
Gard. GARDENER 
Pardon me Madam. Little ioy haue IPardon me, madam. Little joy have I R2 III.iv.81
To breath these newes; yet what I say, is true;To breathe this news. Yet what I say is true.breathe (v.)

old form: breath
speak, utter, talk
R2 III.iv.82
King Richard, he is in the mighty holdKing Richard he is in the mighty holdhold (n.)
guard, custody, confinement
R2 III.iv.83
Of Bullingbrooke, their Fortunes both are weigh'd:Of Bolingbroke. Their fortunes both are weighed.weigh (v.)

old form: weigh'd
balance [as in scales], poise, match
R2 III.iv.84
In your Lords Scale, is nothing but himselfe,In your lord's scale is nothing but himself R2 III.iv.85
And some few Vanities, that make him light:And some few vanities that make him light.light (adj.)
minor, slight, of little value
R2 III.iv.86
vanity (n.)
trifle, folly, vain thing
But in the Ballance of great Bullingbrooke,But in the balance of great Bolingbrokebalance (n.)

old form: Ballance
weighing pan of a pair of scales
R2 III.iv.87
Besides himselfe, are all the English Peeres,Besides himself are all the English peers, R2 III.iv.88
And with that oddes he weighes King Richard downe.And with that odds he weighs King Richard down.odds (n. plural)

old form: oddes
superiority, advantage, edge
R2 III.iv.89
Poste you to London, and you'l finde it so,Post you to London and you will find it so.post (v.)

old form: Poste
hasten, speed, ride fast
R2 III.iv.90
I speake no more, then euery one doth know.I speak no more than everyone doth know. R2 III.iv.91
Qu. QUEEN ISABEL 
Nimble mischance, that art so light of foote,Nimble mischance, that art so light of foot, R2 III.iv.92
Doth not thy Embassage belong to me?Doth not thy embassage belong to me,embassage, ambassage (n.)
message, errand, business, mission
R2 III.iv.93
And am I last that knowes it? Oh thou think'stAnd am I last that knows it? O, thou thinkest R2 III.iv.94
To serue me last, that I may longest keepeTo serve me last that I may longest keep R2 III.iv.95
Thy sorrow in my breast. Come Ladies goe,Thy sorrow in my breast. Come, ladies, go R2 III.iv.96
To meet at London, Londons King in woe.To meet at London London's king in woe. R2 III.iv.97
What was I borne to this: that my sad looke,What was I born to this – that my sad looksad (adj.)
downcast, distressed, mournful, gloomy
R2 III.iv.98
Should grace the Triumph of great Bullingbrooke.Should grace the triumph of great Bolingbroke? R2 III.iv.99
Gard'ner, for telling me this newes of woe,Gardener, for telling me these news of woe, R2 III.iv.100
I would the Plants thou graft'st, may neuer grow. Pray God the plants thou graftest may never grow.graft (v.)

old form: graft'st
insert, implant, make grow
R2 III.iv.101
Exit.Exit Queen with her Ladies R2 III.iv.101
G GARDENER 
Poore Queen, so that thy State might be no worse,Poor Queen, so that thy state might be no worse R2 III.iv.102
I would my skill were subiect to thy curse:I would my skill were subject to thy curse. R2 III.iv.103
Heere did she drop a teare, heere in this placeHere did she fall a tear. Here in this place R2 III.iv.104
Ile set a Banke of Rew, sowre Herbe of Grace:I'll set a bank of rue, sour herb of grace.rue (n.)
aromatic shrub, associated with repentance, pity
R2 III.iv.105
Rue, eu'n for ruth, heere shortly shall be seene,Rue even for ruth here shortly shall be seenruth (n.)
pity, compassion, sympathy
R2 III.iv.106
In the remembrance of a Weeping Queene. In the remembrance of a weeping Queen.remembrance (n.)
memory, bringing to mind, recollection
R2 III.iv.107
Exit.Exeunt R2 III.iv.107
 Previous Act III, Scene IV Next  
x

Jump directly to