Buck. Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above, 108
And all good men of this ungovern'd isle.
Rich. I do suspect I have done some offence
That seems disgracicus in the city's eye;
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance. 112
Buck. You have, my lord: would it might please your Grace,
On our entreaties to amend your fault!
Rich. Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?
Buck. Know then, it is your fault that you resign 116
The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The sceptred office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune and your due of birth,
The lineal glory of your royal house, 120
To the corruption of a blemish'd stock;
Whiles, in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,—
Which here we waken to our country's good,—
The noble isle doth want his proper limbs; 124
His face defac'd with scars of infamy,
His royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
And almost shoulder'd in the swallowing gulf
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion. 128
Which to recure we heartily solicit
Your gracious self to take on you the charge
And kingly government of this your land:
Not as protector, steward, substitute, 132
Or lowly factor for another's gain;
But as successively from blood to blood,
Your right of birth, your empery, your own.
For this, consorted with the citizens, 136
111 disgracious: ungracious
124 want: lack
his: its
126 graft: engrafted
128 deep: profound
129 recure: restore (to normal)
130 charge: responsibility
133 factor: hireling
134 successively: by right of succession
135 empery: empire
