Get even more from the Folger - The Folger SHAKESPEARE

1 Get even more from the FolgerYou can get your own copy of this text to keep. Purchase a full copyto get the text, plus explanatory notes, illustrations, and more . Buy a copyFolger SHAKESPEARE the Director of the Folger ShakespeareLibraryTextual IntroductionSynopsisCharacters in the PlayACT 1 Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 ACT 2 Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 ACT 3 Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 ACT 4 Scene 1 ACT 5 Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3 Scene 4 Scene 5 Scene 6 ContentsMichael WitmoreDirector, Folger SHAKESPEARE LibraryIt is hard to imagine a world without SHAKESPEARE . Since theircomposition four hundred years ago, SHAKESPEARE s plays and poemshave traveled the globe, inviting those who see and read his works tomake them their of the New Folger Editions are part of this ongoing processof taking up SHAKESPEARE , finding our own thoughts and feelingsin language that strikes us as old or unusual and, for that very reason,new. We still struggle to keep up with a writer who could think amile a minute, whose words paint pictures that shift like expertly edited texts are presented to the public as a resourcefor study, artistic adaptation, and enjoyment.

2 By making the classictexts of the New Folger Editions available in electronic form as TheFolger SHAKESPEARE (formerly Folger Digital Texts), we place atrusted resource in the hands of anyone who wants New Folger Editions of SHAKESPEARE s plays, which are the basisfor the texts realized here in digital form , are special because of theirorigin. The Folger SHAKESPEARE Library in Washington, DC, is thesingle greatest documentary source of SHAKESPEARE s works. Anunparalleled collection of early modern books, manuscripts, andartwork connected to SHAKESPEARE , the Folger s holdings have beenconsulted extensively in the preparation of these texts. The Editionsalso reflect the expertise gained through the regular performance ofShakespeare s works in the Folger s Elizabethan want to express my deep thanks to editors Barbara Mowat and PaulWerstine for creating these indispensable editions of SHAKESPEARE sworks, which incorporate the best of textual scholarship with arichness of commentary that is both inspired and engaging.

3 Readerswho want to know more about SHAKESPEARE and his plays can followthe paths these distinguished scholars have tread by visiting theFolger either in-person or online, where a range of physical anddigital resources exists to supplement the material in these texts. Icommend to you these words, and hope that they the Director of the Folger ShakespeareLibraryUntil now, with the release of The Folger SHAKESPEARE (formerlyFolger Digital Texts), readers in search of a free online text ofShakespeare s plays had to be content primarily with using theMoby Text, which reproduces a late-nineteenth century version ofthe plays. What is the difference? Many ordinary readers assume thatthere is a single text for the plays: what SHAKESPEARE wrote. ButShakespeare s plays were not published the way modern novels orplays are published today: as a single, authoritative text. In somecases, the plays have come down to us in multiple publishedversions, represented by various Quartos (Qq) and by the greatcollection put together by his colleagues in 1623, called the FirstFolio (F).

4 There are, for example, three very different versions ofHamlet, two of King Lear, Henry V, Romeo and Juliet, and choose which version to use as their base text, and thenamend that text with words, lines or speech prefixes from the otherversions that, in their judgment, make for a better or more editorial decisions involve choices about whether anunfamiliar word could be understood in light of other writings of theperiod or whether it should be changed; decisions about words thatmade it into SHAKESPEARE s text by accident through four hundredyears of printings and misprinting; and even decisions based oncultural preference and taste. When the Moby Text was created,for example, it was deemed improper and indecent for Mirandato chastise Caliban for having attempted to rape her. (See TheTempest, : Abhorred slave,/Which any print of goodness wilt nottake,/Being capable of all ill! I pitied ). All Shakespeareeditors at the time took the speech away from her and gave it to herfather, editors of the Moby SHAKESPEARE produced their text longbefore scholars fully understood the proper grounds on which tomake the thousands of decisions that SHAKESPEARE editors face.

5 TheFolger Library SHAKESPEARE Editions, on which the FolgerShakespeare texts depend, make this editorial process as nearlytransparent as is possible, in contrast to older texts, like the Moby ,which hide editorial interventions. The reader of the FolgerShakespeare knows where the text has been altered because editorialinterventions are signaled by square brackets (for example, fromOthello: If she in chains of magic were not bound, ), half-squarebrackets (for example, from Henry V: With blood and sword andfire to win your right, ), or angle brackets (for example, fromTextual IntroductionBy Barbara Mowat and Paul WerstineHamlet: O farewell, honest soldier. Who hath relieved/you? ). Atany point in the text, you can hover your cursor over a bracket formore the Folger SHAKESPEARE texts are edited in accord withtwenty-first century knowledge about SHAKESPEARE s texts, the Folgerhere provides them to readers, scholars, teachers, actors, directors,and students, free of charge, confident of their quality as texts of theplays and pleased to be able to make this contribution to the studyand enjoyment of Richard II, anger at a king s arbitrary rule leads to his downfall and sets in motion a decades-long struggle for the crown thatcontinues in several more history II begins as Richard s cousin, Henry Bolingbroke, chargesThomas Mowbray with serious crimes, including the murder of theDuke of Gloucester.

6 Bolingbroke s father, John of Gaunt, privatelyblames the king for Gloucester s death. At Richard s command,Bolingbroke and Mowbray prepare for a trial by combat. The kinghalts the fight at the last minute, banishing both men from John of Gaunt dies, Richard seizes his possessions to helpfinance a war in Ireland, thus dispossessing returns to England, quickly gathering support. By thetime Richard returns from Ireland, many of his former allies havejoined Bolingbroke. Richard abdicates, yielding the crown is held at Pomfret Castle and Bolingbroke becomes KingHenry IV. A murder plot against him is uncovered and is murdered by a follower of RICHARD IIRichard s QUEENQ ueen s LADIES-IN-WAITINGJOHN OF GAUNT, Duke of LancasterHENRY BOLINGBROKE, Duke of HEREFORD, son to John of Gaunt, and later King Henry IVDUCHESS OF GLOUCESTER, widow to Thomas, Duke of GloucesterEdmund, DUKE OF YORKDUCHESS OF YORKDUKE OF AUMERLE, Earl of Rutland, son to Duke and Duchess ofYorkYork s SERVINGMENT homas MOWBRAY, Duke of NorfolkLORD FITZWATERDUKE OF SURREYANOTHER LORDGARDENERG ardener s ServingmenGROOM of Richard s stableKEEPER of prison at Pomfret CastleCharacters in the PlayRichard s friendsSir John BUSHYSir John BAGOTSir Henry GREEN officials in trial by combatLORD MARSHALFIRST HERALDSECOND HERALD supporters of King RichardEARL OF SALISBURYBISHOP OF CARLISLESIR STEPHEN SCROOPLORD BERKELEYABBOT OF WESTMINSTERWELSH CAPTAIN supporters ofBolingbrokeHenry Percy, EARL OF NORTHUMBERLANDLORD ROSSLORD WILLOUGHBYHARRY PERCY, son of Northumberland.

7 Later known as Hotspur SIR PIERCE OF EXTONS ervingmen to ExtonLords, Attendants, Officers, Soldiers, Servingmen, Exton s MenKING RICHARDGAUNTKING RICHARDGAUNTKING RICHARDAn Attendant King Richard, John of Gaunt, with other Noblesand Attendants. Old John of Gaunt, time-honored Lancaster, Hast thou, according to thy oath and band, Brought hither Henry Hereford, thy bold son, Here to make good the boist rous late appeal, Which then our leisure would not let us hear, Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? I have, my liege. Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him If he appeal the Duke on ancient malice Or worthily, as a good subject should, On some known ground of treachery in him? As near as I could sift him on that argument, On some apparent danger seen in him Aimed at your Highness, no inveterate malice. Then call them to our presence. Face to face And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear7 ACT 1 Scene 1 FTLN 0001 FTLN 0002 FTLN 0003 FTLN 0004 FTLN 00055 FTLN 0006 FTLN 0007 FTLN 0008 FTLN 0009 FTLN 001010 FTLN 0011 FTLN 0012 FTLN 0013 FTLN 0014 FTLN 001515 FTLN 0016 FTLN 00179 Richard IIACT 1.

8 SC. 1 BOLINGBROKEMOWBRAYKING RICHARDBOLINGBROKE The accuser and the accus d freely speak. High stomached are they both and full of ire, In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as Bolingbroke and Mowbray. Many years of happy days befall My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege. Each day still better other s happiness Until the heavens, envying earth s good hap, Add an immortal title to your crown. We thank you both. Yet one but flatters us, As well appeareth by the cause you come: Namely, to appeal each other of high treason. Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray? First heaven be the record to my speech! In the devotion of a subject s love, Tend ring the precious safety of my prince And free from other misbegotten hate, Come I appellant to this princely presence. Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee; And mark my greeting well, for what I speak My body shall make good upon this earth Or my divine soul answer it in heaven. Thou art a traitor and a miscreant, Too good to be so and too bad to live, Since the more fair and crystal is the sky, The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly.

9 Once more , the more to aggravate the note, With a foul traitor s name stuff I thy throat, And wish, so please my sovereign, ere I move,FTLN 0018 FTLN 0019 FTLN 002020 FTLN 0021 FTLN 0022 FTLN 0023 FTLN 0024 FTLN 002525 FTLN 0026 FTLN 0027 FTLN 0028 FTLN 0029 FTLN 003030 FTLN 0031 FTLN 0032 FTLN 0033 FTLN 0034 FTLN 003535 FTLN 0036 FTLN 0037 FTLN 0038 FTLN 0039 FTLN 004040 FTLN 0041 FTLN 0042 FTLN 0043 FTLN 0044 FTLN 004545 FTLN 004611 Richard IIACT 1. SC. 1 MOWBRAYBOLINGBROKE What my tongue speaks my right-drawn sword may prove. Let not my cold words here accuse my zeal. Tis not the trial of a woman s war, The bitter clamor of two eager tongues, Can arbitrate this cause betwixt us twain. The blood is hot that must be cooled for this. Yet can I not of such tame patience boast As to be hushed and naught at all to say. First, the fair reverence of your Highness curbs me From giving reins and spurs to my free speech, Which else would post until it had returned These terms of treason doubled down his throat.

10 Setting aside his high blood s royalty, And let him be no kinsman to my liege, I do defy him, and I spit at him, Call him a slanderous coward and a villain, Which to maintain I would allow him odds And meet him, were I tied to run afoot even to the frozen ridges of the Alps Or any other ground inhabitable Wherever Englishman durst set his foot. Meantime let this defend my loyalty: By all my hopes, most falsely doth he lie., throwing down a gage Pale trembling coward, there I throw my gage, Disclaiming here the kindred of the King, And lay aside my high blood s royalty, Which fear, not reverence, makes thee to except. If guilty dread have left thee so much strength As to take up mine honor s pawn, then stoop. By that and all the rites of knighthood else Will I make good against thee, arm to arm, What I have spoke or thou canst worse 0047 FTLN 0048 FTLN 0049 FTLN 005050 FTLN 0051 FTLN 0052 FTLN 0053 FTLN 0054 FTLN 005555 FTLN 0056 FTLN 0057 FTLN 0058 FTLN 0059 FTLN 006060 FTLN 0061 FTLN 0062 FTLN 0063 FTLN 0064 FTLN 006565 FTLN 0066 FTLN 0067 FTLN 0068 FTLN 0069 FTLN 007070 FTLN 0071 FTLN 0072 FTLN 0073 FTLN 0074 FTLN 007575 FTLN 0076 FTLN 0077 FTLN 0078 FTLN 007913 Richard IIACT 1.