Rail on the Lord's anointed. Strike, I say!
Flourish. Alarums.
Either be patient, and entreat me fair, 152
Or with the clamorous report of war
Thus will I drown your exclamations.
Duch. Art thou my son?
K. Rich. Ay; I thank God, my father, and yourself. 156
Duch. Then patiently hear my impatience.
K. Rich. Madam, I have a touch of your condition,
That cannot brook the accent of reproof.
Duch. O, let me speak!
K. Rich. Do, then; but I'll not hear. 160
Duch. I will be mild and gentle in my words.
K. Rich. And brief, good mother; for I am in haste.
Duch. Art thou so hasty? I have stay'd for thee,
God knows, in torment and in agony. 164
K. Rich. And came I not at last to comfort you?
Duch. No, by the holy rood, thou know'st it well,
Thou cam'st on earth to make the earth my hell.
A grievous burthen was thy birth to me; 168
Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy;
Thy school-days frightful, desperate, wild and furious;
Thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous;
Thy age confirm'd, proud, subtle, sly, and bloody, 172
More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred.
What comfortable hour canst thou name
That ever grac'd me with thy company?
K. Rich. Faith, none, but Humphrey Hour, that call'd your Grace 176
152 entreat me fair: use me well
158 condition: temperament
163 stay'd: waited
169 Tetchy: fretful, peevish
171 prime of: early
173 kind in hatred: i.e. hating while pretending kindness
176 Humphrey Hour; cf. n.
