Mojo, The Bard, & Me

 

Today’s Totally Random Lines

                                             

With mine own tears, I wash away my balm,

With mine own hands I give away my crown,

With mine own tongue deny my sacred state,

With mine own breath release all duty’s rites:

King Richard

King Richard the Second              Act IV, Scene i, Line 207

                                 

Today’s Lines are just part of King Richard’s response to Henry Bolingbroke. Recall that Henry Bolingbroke (who is on the verge of becoming King Henry IV) has raised a rebellion to usurp the crown from Richard. Now the rebellion is over and, they are in Westminster Hall. Henry has won, and he has had Richard brought before him. He asks Richard,

Are you contented to resign the crown?

Richard is torn. He begins his answer with

Ay, no;--no, ay; for I must nothing be;

This betrays his indecision. Then he rambles on for quite a bit, but seems to conclude that all is lost for him, ending with,

God save King Henry, unking’d Richard says,

And send him many years of sunshine days!—

What more remains?

Unfortunately, what more remains is that they want him to read a list of what they consider the transgressions he committed that led to the rebellion. Richard’s not so keen on that idea. 

Can you blame him?

Well boo hoo for King What's-his-name. Can I blame him? Honestly, I couldn't care less.  The guy obviously didn't know how to keep control over things. I could've taught him a thing or two. 

And by the way, a little long-winded on the post this morning, Mr. B. Let's see if we can keep them a bit shorter, eh?

Now, where's that treat I was promised?