England bound in with the triumphant sea,
Whose rocky shore beats back the envious surge
Of wat'ry Neptune, is bound in with shame,
With inky-blots and rotten parchment bonds.
That England, that was wont to conquer others,
Hath made a shameful conquest of itself.
The character of Bolingbroke, afterwards Henry IV, is drawn with a
masterly hand:--patient for occasion, and then steadily availing
himself of it, seeing his advantage afar off, but only seizing on it
when he has it within his reach, humble, crafty, bold, and aspiring,
encroaching by regular but slow degrees, building power on opinion,
and cementing opinion by power. His disposition is first unfolded by
Richard himself, who however is too self-willed and secure to make a
proper use of his knowledge.
Ourself and Bushy, Bagot here and Green,
Observed his courtship of the common people;
How he did seem to dive into their hearts,
With humble and familiar courtesy,
What reverence he did throw away on slaves;
Wooing poor craftsmen with the craft of smiles,
And patient under-bearing of his fortune,
As 'twere to banish their affections with him.
Off goes his bonnet to an oyster-wench;
A brace of draymen bid God speed him well,
And had the tribute of his supple knee,
With thanks my countrymen, my loving friends;
As were our England in reversion his,
And he our subjects' next degree in hope.
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