Grasping for the Wind

Richard II

I'm currently reading Shakespeare's Kings, a comparative analysis of the historical plays of Shakespeare from Edward III to Richard III with the actual history (as well as we know it.)

I just finished reading the section on Richard II, the second king of the series. The following lines that Richard laments after learning that Henry Bolingbroke (soon to be Henry IV) will likely depose him were very moving.

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? o' God's name, let it go:
I'll give my jewels for a set of beads,
My gorgeous palace for a hermitage,
My gay apparel for an almsman's gown,
My figured goblets for a dish of wood,
My sceptre for a palmer's walking staff,
My subjects for a pair of carved saints
And my large kingdom for a little grave,
A little little grave, an obscure grave;
Or I'll be buried in the king's highway,
Some way of common trade, where subjects' feet
May hourly trample on their sovereign's head;
For on my heart they tread now whilst I live;
And buried once, why not upon my head?

King Richard is lamenting his loss of power and influence (Richard was a king who loved frivolity, usually at the people's expense). One feels sad for the King, even though the problems occurring in his kingdom were his own fault through selfishness and listening to unwise advice. Still, it's poetic isn't it?

Posted by John on April 5, 2007 12:09 PM | Posted to History
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