Groom What my tongue dares not, that my heart shall say.
[Exit]
Keeper My lord, will't please you to fall to?
KING RICHARD II Taste of it first, as thou art wont to do.
Keeper My lord, I dare not: Sir Pierce of Exton, who
lately came from the king, commands the contrary.
KING RICHARD II The devil take Henry of Lancaster and thee!
Patience is stale, and I am weary of it.
[Beats the keeper]
Keeper Help, help, help!
[Enter EXTON and Servants, armed]
KING RICHARD II How now! what means death in this rude assault?
Villain, thy own hand yields thy death's instrument.
[Snatching an axe from a Servant and killing him]
Go thou, and fill another room in hell.
[He kills another. Then Exton strikes him down]
That hand shall burn in never-quenching fire
That staggers thus my person. Exton, thy fierce hand
Hath with the king's blood stain'd the king's own land.
Mount, mount, my soul! thy seat is up on high;
Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die.
[Dies]
EXTON As full of valour as of royal blood:
Both have I spill'd; O would the deed were good!
For now the devil, that told me I did well,
Says that this deed is chronicled in hell.
This dead king to the living king I'll bear
Take hence the rest, and give them burial here.
[Exeunt]
KING RICHARD II
ACT V
SCENE VI Windsor castle.
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