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Henry Bolingbroke / King Henry IV
John of Gaunt is Richard’s uncle and Henry’s father. Like Richard II, he firmly believes in the divine right of kings, and he at first refuses to confront Richard for Gloucester’s murder (or any other matter) on religious grounds (since going against Richard would mean going against God, which is blasphemous). Gaunt cares deeply for his son, as upon Henry’s banishment Gaunt becomes deathly ill. On his deathbed, he speaks openly and honestly with Richard, criticizing the king for leasing out royal lands and deciding that Richard is no longer above the law as king. Gaunt dies very early on in the play, allowing Richard to seize his lands and disinherit Henry Bolingbroke.
John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster Quotes in Richard II
The Richard II quotes below are all either spoken by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster or refer to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 2
Quotes
Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur?
Hath love in thy old blood no living fire?
Edward's seven sons, whereof thyself art one,
Were as seven vials of his sacred blood,
Or seven fair branches springing from one root.
…
Ah, Gaunt, his blood was thine! That bed, that womb,
That metal, that self mold that fashioned thee
Made him a man; and though thou livest and breathest,
Yet art thou slain in him.
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Act 1, Scene 3
Quotes
Shorten my days thou canst with sullen sorrow,
And pluck nights from me, but not lend a morrow.
Thou canst help time to furrow me with age,
But stop no wrinkle in his pilgrimage,
Thy word is current with him for my death,
But dead, thy kingdom cannot buy my breath.
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Act 2, Scene 1
Quotes
This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
…
England,
This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings,
Feared by their breed and famous by their birth,
…
This land of such dear souls, this dear dear land,
Dear for her reputation through the world,
Is now leased out—I die pronouncing it—
Like to a tenement or pelting farm.
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Act 2, Scene 2
Quotes
O, but they say the tongues of dying men
Enforce attention like deep harmony.
Where words are since, they are seldom spent in vain,
For they breathe truth that breathe their words in pain.
He that no more must say is listened more
Than they whom youth and ease have taught to gloze.
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John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster Quotes in Richard II
The Richard II quotes below are all either spoken by John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster or refer to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, Scene 2
Quotes
Finds brotherhood in thee no sharper spur?
Hath love in thy old blood no living fire?
Edward's seven sons, whereof thyself art one,
Were as seven vials of his sacred blood,
Or seven fair branches springing from one root.
…
Ah, Gaunt, his blood was thine! That bed, that womb,
That metal, that self mold that fashioned thee
Made him a man; and though thou livest and breathest,
Yet art thou slain in him.
Related Characters:
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Related Themes:
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 1, Scene 3
Quotes
Shorten my days thou canst with sullen sorrow,
And pluck nights from me, but not lend a morrow.
Thou canst help time to furrow me with age,
But stop no wrinkle in his pilgrimage,
Thy word is current with him for my death,
But dead, thy kingdom cannot buy my breath.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2, Scene 1
Quotes
This royal throne of kings, this sceptered isle,
This earth of majesty, this seat of Mars,
This other Eden, demi-paradise,
This fortress built by Nature for herself
Against infection and the hand of war,
This happy breed of men, this little world,
This precious stone set in the silver sea,
…
England,
This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings,
Feared by their breed and famous by their birth,
…
This land of such dear souls, this dear dear land,
Dear for her reputation through the world,
Is now leased out—I die pronouncing it—
Like to a tenement or pelting farm.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 2, Scene 2
Quotes
O, but they say the tongues of dying men
Enforce attention like deep harmony.
Where words are since, they are seldom spent in vain,
For they breathe truth that breathe their words in pain.
He that no more must say is listened more
Than they whom youth and ease have taught to gloze.
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Explanation and Analysis:
