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COME HITHER, HARRY, SIT THOUGH BY MY BED,
AND HEAR, I THINK, THE VERY LATEST COUNSEL
THAT EVER I SHALL BREATHE. GOD KNOWS, MY SON,
BY WHAT BYPATHS AND INDIRECT CROOKED WAYS
I MET THIS CROWN, AND I MYSELF KNOW WELL
HOW TROUBLESOME IT SAT UPON MY HEAD.
BUT AS AN HONOR SNATCHED WITH BOISTEROUS HAND,
FOR ALL MY REIGN HATH BEEN BUT AS A SCENE
ACTING THAT ARGUMENT. AND NOW MY DEATH
CHANGES THE MOOD, FOR WHAT IN ME WAS PURCHASED
FALLS UPON THEE IN A MORE FAIRER SORT,
SO THOU THE GARLAND WEARST SUCCESSIVELY.
HOW I CAME BY THE CROWN, O GOD FORGIVE,
AND GRANT IT MAY WITH THEE IN TRUE PEACE LIVE!
MY GRACIOUS LIEGE,
YOU WON IT, WORE IT, KEPT IT, GAVE IT TO ME.
THE PLAIN AND RIGHT MUST MY POSSESSION BE,
WHICH I WITH MORE THAN WITH A COMMON PAIN
GAINST ALL THE WORLD WILL RIGHTFULLY MAINTAIN.
ACT IV, SCENE 5
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