Page 225 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

But tell me, keeper, will my nephew come?

FIRST KEEPER

Richard Plantagenet, my lord, will come:
We sent unto the Temple, unto his chamber,
And answer was returned that he will come. [20]

MORT IMER

Enough; my soul shall then be satisfied.
Poor gentleman! His wrong doth equal mine.
Since Henry Monmouth first began to reign,
Before whose glory I was great in arms,
This loathsome sequestration have I had; [25]
And even since then hath Richard been obscured,
Deprived of honour and inheritance.
But now the arbitrator of despairs,
Just Death, kind umpire of men’s miseries,
With sweet enlargement doth dismiss me hence. [30]
I would his troubles likewise were expired,
That so he might recover what was lost.

Enter Richard [Plantagenet].

FIRST KEEPER

My lord, your loving nephew now is come.

MORT IMER

Richard Plantagenet, my friend, is he come?

PLANT AGENET

Ay, noble uncle, thus ignobly used; [35]
Your nephew, late-despisèd Richard, comes.

MORT IMER

Direct mine arms I may embrace his neck
And in his bosom spend my latter gasp.
O, tell me when my lips do touch his cheeks,
That I may kindly give one fainting kiss. [40]

[Embraces him.]
And now declare, sweet stem from York’s great stock,