Original: We are amazed; and thus long have we stood
Modern: I am shocked; and I have been standing here for a long time

Original: To watch the fearful bending of thy knee,
Modern: Watching you bow to me in fear,

Original: Because we thought ourself thy lawful king:
Modern: Because I thought I was your rightful king:

Original: And if we be, how dare thy joints forget
Modern: And if I am, how dare your knees forget

Original: To pay their awful duty to our presence?
Modern: To show the respect that’s due to me as your king?

Original: If we be not, show us the hand of God
Modern: If I’m not your king, then show me God’s hand

Original: That hath dismissed us from our stewardship;
Modern: That has removed me from my royal position;

Original: For well we know, no hand of blood and bone
Modern: Because I know well that no mortal hand

Original: Can gripe the sacred handle of our sceptre,
Modern: Can grab the holy handle of my royal scepter,

Original: Unless he do profane, steal, or usurp.
Modern: Unless that person commits sacrilege, theft, or takes it illegally.

Original: And though you think that all, as you have done,
Modern: And even though you think that everyone, like you have done,

Original: Have torn their souls by turning them from us,
Modern: Have damned their souls by turning away from me,

Original: And we are barren and bereft of friends;
Modern: And I am left empty and without friends;

Original: Yet know, my master, God omnipotent,
Modern: Yet know that my master, almighty God,

Original: Is mustering in his clouds on our behalf
Modern: Is gathering in the heavens on my behalf

Original: Armies of pestilence; and they shall strike
Modern: Armies of plague and disease; and they will strike

Original: Your children yet unborn and unbegot,
Modern: Your children who aren’t even born or conceived yet,

Original: That lift your vassal hands against my head
Modern: Because you raise your servant hands against me

Original: And threat the glory of my precious crown.
Modern: And threaten the glory of my sacred crown.

Original: Tell Bolingbroke—for yond methinks he stands—
Modern: Tell Bolingbroke—I think he’s standing over there—

Original: That every stride he makes upon my land
Modern: That every step he takes on my land

Original: Is dangerous treason: he is come to open
Modern: Is dangerous treason: he has come to unleash

Original: The purple testament of bleeding war;
Modern: The royal decree of bloody war;

Original: But ere the crown he looks for live in peace,
Modern: But before the crown he seeks can rest in peace,

Original: Ten thousand bloody crowns of mothers’ sons
Modern: Ten thousand bloody heads of mothers’ sons

Original: Shall ill become the flower of England’s face,
Modern: Will badly stain the beautiful face of England,

Original: Change the complexion of her maid-pale peace
Modern: Change the color of her pure, pale peace

Original: To scarlet indignation and bedew
Modern: To blood-red anger and water

Original: Her pastures’ grass with faithful English blood.
Modern: Her grassy fields with the blood of loyal Englishmen.

In Act III, Scene 3 of Richard II, King Richard descends from Flint Castle’s walls to meet with Bolingbroke in the base court below. Before descending, Richard delivers a profound meditation on his fall from power, comparing himself to Phaethon and lamenting how his royal authority has crumbled. He speaks of how kingship has been reduced to nothing, and contemplates the humiliation of his position, eventually asking for a grave and acknowledging that he has been talking of nothing but graves, worms, and epitaphs.

Once in the base court, Richard confronts Bolingbroke directly. Bolingbroke kneels before Richard in a show of formal respect, claiming he comes only to reclaim his rightful inheritance and title as Duke of Lancaster, and that he will lay down his arms once his lands are restored. Richard, recognizing the reality of his powerless position despite Bolingbroke’s deferential words, grants Bolingbroke everything he requests. The scene concludes with Bolingbroke announcing that Richard will be escorted to London, while the Queen will go to the Tower. Northumberland begins to speak of Richard without his royal title, prompting a rebuke, before the party departs for London with Richard effectively a prisoner despite the courteous pretense maintained throughout the exchange.

Richard II opens with King Richard presiding over a dispute between Henry Bolingbroke (John of Gaunt’s son) and Thomas Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. Both men accuse each other of treason, and when Richard cannot reconcile them, he arranges a trial by combat. However, just as the combat is about to begin, Richard stops the fight and banishes both men from England - Mowbray for life and Bolingbroke for six years, later reduced to four.

When John of Gaunt falls ill and dies, Richard seizes his lands and wealth to fund his wars in Ireland, effectively disinheriting Bolingbroke. This act alienates the nobility, who fear their own inheritances are now at risk. While Richard departs for his Irish campaign, Bolingbroke returns from exile with an army, ostensibly to reclaim his rightful inheritance. He quickly gains support from discontented nobles, including the Duke of York, who was left as regent in Richard’s absence.

Richard returns from Ireland to find his support has collapsed and his army has dispersed. After a series of encounters, including a pivotal scene at Flint Castle where Richard realizes his situation is hopeless, he agrees to abdicate. In a formal ceremony at Westminster, Richard hands over his crown to Bolingbroke, who becomes King Henry IV. Richard is imprisoned in Pomfret Castle, where he is eventually murdered by Sir Pierce Exton, who believes he is carrying out Henry’s wishes. The play ends with Henry expressing regret over Richard’s death and vowing to journey to the Holy Land to atone for his indirect role in the former king’s murder.