K. Rich. Old John of Gaunt, time-honour'd Lancaster,
Hast thou, according to thy oath and band,[693]
Brought hither Henry Hereford thy bold son,[694]
Here to make good the boisterous late appeal,
Which then our leisure would not let us hear,[695]5
Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?[696]
Gaunt. I have, my liege.
K. Rich. Tell me, moreover, hast thou sounded him,
If he appeal the duke on ancient malice;[697]
Or worthily, as a good subject should,10
On some known ground of treachery in him?
Gaunt. As near as I could sift him on that argument,
On some apparent danger seen in him
Aim'd at your highness, no inveterate malice.
K. Rich. Then call them to our presence; face to face,[698]15
And frowning brow to brow, ourselves will hear
The accuser and the accused freely speak:[699]
High-stomach'd are they both, and full of ire,
In rage deaf as the sea, hasty as fire.
Enter Bolingbroke and Mowbray.[700]
Boling. Many years of happy days befal[701]20
My gracious sovereign, my most loving liege!
Mow. Each day still better other's happiness;
Until the heavens, envying earth's good hap,
Add an immortal title to your crown![702]
K. Rich. We thank you both: yet one but flatters us,25
As well appeareth by the cause you come;[703]
Namely, to appeal each other of high treason.[704]
Cousin of Hereford, what dost thou object
Against the Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Mowbray?
Boling. First, heaven be the record to my speech!30
In the devotion of a subject's love,[705]
Tendering the precious safety of my prince,
And free from other misbegotten hate,[706]
Come I appellant to this princely presence.[707]
Now, Thomas Mowbray, do I turn to thee,35
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.[708]
Thou art a traitor and a miscreant,
Too good to be so and too bad to live,[709]40
Since the more fair and crystal is the sky,[709]
The uglier seem the clouds that in it fly.[709]
Once more, the more to aggravate the note,[709][710]
With a foul traitor's name stuff I thy throat;[709]
And wish, so please my sovereign, ere I move,[709]45
What my tongue speaks my right drawn sword may prove.[709]