Page 1072 - Shakespeare - Vol. 2

I have in equal balance justly weighed
What wrongs our arms may do, what wrongs we suffer,
And find our griefs heavier than our offenses.
We see which way the stream of time doth run, [70]

And are enforced from our most quiet there
By the rough torrent of occasion,
And have the summary of all our griefs,
When time shall serve, to show in articles;

Which long ere this we offered to the king, [75]
And might by no suit gain our audience.
When we are wronged and would unfold our griefs,
We are denied access unto his person

Even by those men that most have done us wrong.]
The dangers of the days but newly gone, [80]
Whose memory is written on the earth
With yet appearing blood, and the examples

Of every minute’s instance, present now,
Hath put us in these ill-beseeming arms,
Not to break peace or any branch of it, [85]
But to establish here a peace indeed,

Concurring both in name and quality.

WESTMORELAND
When ever yet was your appeal denied?
Wherein have you been gallèd by the king?
What peer hath been suborned to grate on you, [90]

That you should seal this lawless bloody book
Of forged rebellion with a seal divine
And consecrate commotion’s bitter edge?

ARCHBISHOP
My brother general, the commonwealth,
To brother born an household cruelty, [95]

I make my quarrel in particular.

WESTMORELAND
There is no need of any such redress,
Or if there were, it not belongs to you.