SCENE V.-Pomfret. The Dungeon of the Castle. Enter KING RICHARD. K. Rich. I have been studying how to compare As thus,-Come, little ones; and then again,- To thread the postern of a needle's eye. a So the folio. Modern editions, how I may compare. b b This little world. "The little world of man," as in "Lear.' Shakspere here uses the philosophy which is thus described by Raleigh: Because in the little frame of man's body there is a representation of the universal, and (by allusion) a kind of participation of all the parts there, therefore was man called microcosmos, or the little world."-('History of the World.') c So the folio. The quarto of 1597 reads-" The word itself against the word;" which is, perhaps, better taken singly. But in the third scene of this act the duchess uses precisely the same expression; and the sense of the word there being altogether different, the change was, we think, judicious. Modern editors have, however, rejected the reading which we adopt. Who, sitting in the stocks, refuge their shame, With nothing shall be pleas'd till he be eas'd Ha, ha! keep time:-How sour sweet music is, Is pointing still, in cleansing them from tears." Are clamorous groans, that strike upon my heart, [Music. a It is somewhat difficult to follow this reading. Richard says Time has made him a numbering clock. A clock and a watch were formerly the same instruments; a clock so called because it clicketh-a watch so called because it marks the watches, the ancient divisions of the day. Comparing, then, himself to such an instrument, he says, his thoughts jar-that is, tick their watches on (unto) his eyes. which are the outward part of the instrument-the dial-plate on which the hours are numbered,-whereto his finger, the dial's point, is pointing. These analogies may appear forced, and somewhat obscure; but it must be observed that, throughout the character of Richard, the poet has made him indulge in those freaks of the imagination which belong to weakness of character. (See Supplementary Notice.) Which is the bell: So sighs, and tears, and groans, Groom. Hail, royal prince! K. Rich. с Groom. I was a poor groom of thy stable, king, K. Rich. Rode he on Barbary? Tell me, gentle friend, How went he under him? Groom. So proudly as if he had disdain'd the ground. K. Rich. So proud that Bolingbroke was on his back! That jade hath eat bread from my royal hand ; a Jack o' the clock. An automaton, such as formerly constituted one of the wonders of London before St. Dunstan's Church in Fleet Street; but which the ruthless hand of improvement has now swept away. b A strange brooch. The brooch, a valuable ornament, was, it seems, out of fashion in Shakspere's time. In 'All's Well that Ends Well' we have "the brooch and the toothpick, which wear not now." Love to Richard is, therefore, called a strange brooch, a thing of value out of fashion. Sad dog. Sad is here used in the sense of grave, gloomy. This hand hath made him proud with clapping him. Enter Keeper, with a dish. Keep. Fellow, give place; here is no longer stay. [To the Groom. K. Rich. If thou love me 't is time thou wert away. Groom. What my tongue dares not that my heart shall say. Keep. My lord, will 't please you to fall to? [Exit. K. Rich. Taste of it first, as thou art wont to do. Keep. My lord, I dare not; Sir Pierce of Exton, who Lately came from the king, commands the contrary. K. Rich. The devil take Henry of Lancaster, and thee! Patience is stale, and I am weary of it. [Beats the Keeper. Keep. Help, help, help! Enter EXTON, and Servants, armed. K. Rich. How now? what means death in this rude as sault? Villain, thine own hand yields thy death's instrument. [Snatching a weapon, and killing one. 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 Whilst my gross flesh sinks downward, here to die. [Dies. a Jauncing. Richard compares himself to a spur-galled beast that Bolingbroke rides. Jauncing-jaunting-hurriedly moving Bolingbroke. It is possible, however, that it may be a contraction of joyauncing. Exton. As full of valour as of royal blood : Both have I spilt; O, would the deed were good! [Exeunt. SCENE VI.-Windsor. A Room in the Castle. Flourish. Enter BOLINGBROKE and YORK, with Lords and Attendants. Boling. Kind uncle York, the latest news we hear Our town of Cicester in Glostershire; But whether they be ta'en, or slain, we hear not. Enter NORTHUMBERLAND. Welcome, my lord: what is the news? North. First, to thy sacred state wish I all happiness. The heads of Salisbury, Spencer, Blunt, and Kent : At large discoursed in this paper here. [Presenting a paper. Enter FITZWATER. Fitz. My lord, I have from Oxford sent to London Two of the dangerous consorted traitors Boling. Thy pains, Fitzwater, shall not be forgot; Enter PERCY, with the BISHOP OF CARLISLE. Hath yielded up his body to the grave; " 5 But here is Carlisle living, to abide |