MORTIMER
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Kind Keepers of my weake decaying Age,Kind keepers of my weak decaying age,1H6 II.v.1
Let dying Mortimer here rest himselfe.Let dying Mortimer here rest himself.1H6 II.v.2
Euen like a man new haled from the Wrack,Even like a man new haled from the rack,1H6 II.v.3
So fare my Limbes with long Imprisonment:So fare my limbs with long imprisonment;1H6 II.v.4
And these gray Locks, the Pursuiuants of death,And these grey locks, the pursuivants of Death,1H6 II.v.5
Nestor-like aged, in an Age of Care,Nestor-like aged in an age of care,1H6 II.v.6
Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer.Argue the end of Edmund Mortimer.1H6 II.v.7
These Eyes, like Lampes,whose wasting Oyle is spent,These eyes, like lamps whose wasting oil is spent,1H6 II.v.8
Waxe dimme, as drawing to their Exigent.Wax dim, as drawing to their exigent;1H6 II.v.9
Weake Shoulders, ouer-borne with burthening Griefe,Weak shoulders, overborne with burdening grief,1H6 II.v.10
And pyth-lesse Armes, like to a withered Vine,And pithless arms, like to a withered vine1H6 II.v.11
That droupes his sappe-lesse Branches to the ground.That droops his sapless branches to the ground.1H6 II.v.12
Yet are these Feet, whose strength-lesse stay is numme,Yet are these feet, whose strengthless stay is numb,1H6 II.v.13
(Vnable to support this Lumpe of Clay)Unable to support this lump of clay,1H6 II.v.14
Swift-winged with desire to get a Graue,Swift-winged with desire to get a grave,1H6 II.v.15
As witting I no other comfort haue.As witting I no other comfort have.1H6 II.v.16
But tell me, Keeper, will my Nephew come?But tell me, keeper, will my nephew come?1H6 II.v.17
   
Enough: my Soule shall then be satisfied.Enough; my soul shall then be satisfied.1H6 II.v.21
Poore Gentleman, his wrong doth equall mine.Poor gentleman, his wrong doth equal mine.1H6 II.v.22
Since Henry Monmouth first began to reigne,Since Henry Monmouth first began to reign,1H6 II.v.23
Before whose Glory I was great in Armes,Before whose glory I was great in arms,1H6 II.v.24
This loathsome sequestration haue I had;This loathsome sequestration have I had;1H6 II.v.25
And euen since then, hath Richard beene obscur'd,And even since then hath Richard been obscured,1H6 II.v.26
Depriu'd of Honor and Inheritance.Deprived of honour and inheritance.1H6 II.v.27
But now, the Arbitrator of Despaires,But now the arbitrator of despairs,1H6 II.v.28
Iust Death, kinde Vmpire of mens miseries,Just Death, kind umpire of men's miseries,1H6 II.v.29
With sweet enlargement doth dismisse me hence:With sweet enlargement doth dismiss me hence.1H6 II.v.30
I would his troubles likewise were expir'd,I would his troubles likewise were expired,1H6 II.v.31
That so he might recouer what was lost.That so he might recover what was lost.1H6 II.v.32
   
Richard Plantagenet, my friend, is he come?Richard Plantagenet, my friend, is he come?1H6 II.v.34
   
Direct mine Armes, I may embrace his Neck,Direct mine arms I may embrace his neck1H6 II.v.37
And in his Bosome spend my latter gaspe.And in his bosom spend my latter gasp.1H6 II.v.38
Oh tell me when my Lippes doe touch his Cheekes,O, tell me when my lips do touch his cheeks,1H6 II.v.39
That I may kindly giue one fainting Kisse.That I may kindly give one fainting kiss.1H6 II.v.40
And now declare sweet Stem from Yorkes great Stock,And now declare, sweet stem from York's great stock,1H6 II.v.41
Why didst thou say of late thou wert despis'd?Why didst thou say of late thou wert despised?1H6 II.v.42
   
That cause (faire Nephew) that imprison'd me,That cause, fair nephew, that imprisoned me1H6 II.v.55
And hath detayn'd me all my flowring Youth,And hath detained me all my flowering youth1H6 II.v.56
Within a loathsome Dungeon, there to pyne,Within a loathsome dungeon, there to pine,1H6 II.v.57
Was cursed Instrument of his decease.Was cursed instrument of his decease.1H6 II.v.58
   
I will, if that my fading breath permit,I will, if that my fading breath permit1H6 II.v.61
And Death approach not, ere my Tale be done.And death approach not ere my tale be done.1H6 II.v.62
Henry the Fourth, Grandfather to this King,Henry the Fourth, grandfather to this king,1H6 II.v.63
Depos'd his Nephew Richard, Edwards Sonne,Deposed his nephew Richard, Edward's son,1H6 II.v.64
The first begotten, and the lawfull HeireThe first-begotten and the lawful heir1H6 II.v.65
Of Edward King, the Third of that Descent.Of Edward king, the third of that descent;1H6 II.v.66
During whose Reigne, the Percies of the North,During whose reign the Percys of the north,1H6 II.v.67
Finding his Vsurpation most vniust,Finding his usurpation most unjust,1H6 II.v.68
Endeuour'd my aduancement to the Throne.Endeavoured my advancement to the throne.1H6 II.v.69
The reason mou'd these Warlike Lords to this,The reason moved these warlike lords to this1H6 II.v.70
Was, for that (young Richard thus remou'd,Was for that – young Richard thus removed,1H6 II.v.71
Leauing no Heire begotten of his Body)Leaving no heir begotten of his body – 1H6 II.v.72
I was the next by Birth and Parentage:I was the next by birth and parentage;1H6 II.v.73
For by my Mother, I deriued amFor by my mother I derived am1H6 II.v.74
From Lionel Duke of Clarence, third SonneFrom Lionel Duke of Clarence, third son1H6 II.v.75
To King Edward the Third; whereas hee,To King Edward the Third; whereas he1H6 II.v.76
From Iohn of Gaunt doth bring his Pedigree,From John of Gaunt doth bring his pedigree,1H6 II.v.77
Being but fourth of that Heroick Lyne.Being but fourth of that heroic line.1H6 II.v.78
But marke: as in this haughtie great attempt,But mark: as in this haughty great attempt1H6 II.v.79
They laboured, to plant the rightfull Heire,They laboured to plant the rightful heir,1H6 II.v.80
I lost my Libertie, and they their Liues.I lost my liberty, and they their lives.1H6 II.v.81
Long after this,when Henry the FiftLong after this, when Henry the Fifth,1H6 II.v.82
(Succeeding his Father Bullingbrooke) did reigne;Succeeding his father Bolingbroke, did reign,1H6 II.v.83
Thy Father, Earle of Cambridge, then deriu'dThy father, Earl of Cambridge then, derived1H6 II.v.84
From famous Edmund Langley, Duke of Yorke,From famous Edmund Langley, Duke of York,1H6 II.v.85
Marrying my Sister, that thy Mother was;Marrying my sister that thy mother was,1H6 II.v.86
Againe, in pitty of my hard distresse,Again, in pity of my hard distress,1H6 II.v.87
Leuied an Army, weening to redeeme,Levied an army, weening to redeem1H6 II.v.88
And haue install'd me in the Diademe:And have installed me in the diadem;1H6 II.v.89
But as the rest, so fell that Noble Earle,But, as the rest, so fell that noble earl,1H6 II.v.90
And was beheaded. Thus the Mortimers,And was beheaded. Thus the Mortimers,1H6 II.v.91
In whom the Title rested, were supprest.In whom the title rested, were suppressed.1H6 II.v.92
   
True; and thou seest, that I no Issue haue,True, and thou seest that I no issue have,1H6 II.v.94
And that my fainting words doe warrant death:And that my fainting words do warrant death.1H6 II.v.95
Thou art my Heire; the rest, I wish thee gather:Thou art my heir. The rest I wish thee gather;1H6 II.v.96
But yet be wary in thy studious care.But yet be wary in thy studious care.1H6 II.v.97
   
With silence, Nephew, be thou pollitick,With silence, nephew, be thou politic.1H6 II.v.101
Strong fixed is the House of Lancaster,Strong fixed is the house of Lancaster1H6 II.v.102
And like a Mountaine, to be remou'd.And like a mountain, not to be removed.1H6 II.v.103
But now thy Vnckle is remouing hence,But now thy uncle is removing hence,1H6 II.v.104
As Princes doe their Courts, when they are cloy'dAs princes do their courts when they are cloyed1H6 II.v.105
With long continuance in a setled place.With long continuance in a settled place.1H6 II.v.106
   
Thou do'st then wrong me, as yt slaughterer doth,Thou dost then wrong me, as that slaughterer doth1H6 II.v.109
Which giueth many Wounds, when one will kill.Which giveth many wounds when one will kill.1H6 II.v.110
Mourne not, except thou sorrow for my good,Mourn not, except thou sorrow for my good;1H6 II.v.111
Onely giue order for my Funerall.Only give order for my funeral.1H6 II.v.112
And so farewell, and faire be all thy hopes,And so farewell, and fair be all thy hopes,1H6 II.v.113
And prosperous be thy Life in Peace and Warre. And prosperous be thy life in peace and war!1H6 II.v.114
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