Berk. My Lord of Hereford, my message is to you.[1233]
Boling. My lord, my answer is—to Lancaster;[1234]70
And I am come to seek that name in England;[1235]
And I must find that title in your tongue,[1236]
Before I make reply to aught you say.
Berk. Mistake me not, my Lord; 'tis not my meaning
To raze one title of your honour out:[1237]75
To you, my lord, I come, what lord you will,
From the most gracious regent of this land,[1238]
The Duke of York, to know what pricks you on
To take advantage of the absent time[1239]
And fright our native peace with self-born arms.80
Enter York attended.[1240]
Boling. I shall not need transport my words by you;[1241]
Here comes his grace in person.
My noble uncle! [Kneels.[1242]
York. Show me thy humble heart, and not thy knee,
Whose duty is deceiveable and false.
Boling. My gracious uncle—85
York. Tut, tut![1243]
Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle:[1243][1244]
I am no traitor's uncle; and that word 'grace'[1245]
In an ungracious mouth is but profane.
Why have those banish'd and forbidden legs[1246]90
Dared once to touch a dust of England's ground?[1247]
But then more 'why?' why have they dared to march[1248]
So many miles upon her peaceful bosom,
Frighting her pale-faced villages with war
And ostentation of despised arms?[1249]95
Comest thou because the anointed king is hence?
Why, foolish boy, the king is left behind,
And in my loyal bosom lies his power.
Were I but now the lord of such hot youth[1250]
As when brave Gaunt, thy father, and myself[1251]100
Rescued the Black Prince, that young Mars of men,
From forth the ranks of many thousand French,[1252]
O, then how quickly should this arm of mine,
Now prisoner to the palsy, chastise thee[1253]
And minister correction to thy fault!105
Boling. My gracious uncle, let me know my fault:
On what condition stands it and wherein?[1254]
York. Even in condition of the worst degree,
In gross rebellion and detested treason:
Thou art a banish'd man, and here art come110
Before the expiration of thy time,
In braving arms against thy sovereign.[1255]