Act III, Scene 2

Arriving at Barkloughly Castle in Wales, Richard is happy to return to his kingdom. York's son, Aumerle, is present, as is the Bishop of Carlisle. He humbly addresses England with emotionally charged words. He salutes the "dear earth" of England and proclaims his intense affection for her: "As a long- parted mother with her child / Plays fondly with her tears and smiles in meeting, / So, weeping, smiling, greet I thee, my earth . . . "

He commands the earth itself to launch an offensive against the rebel, Bolingbroke: "Throw death upon thy sovereign's enemies." The Bishop of Carlisle senses Richard's feeling of dread and comforts him with this remark: "Fear not, my lord: that power that made you king / Hath power to keep you king in spite of all." He urges Richard to take some concrete action and not wait for God to perform a miracle. Simply waiting for divine help amounts to a rejection of the "proffer'd means of succour and redress." Aumerle agrees with Carlisle's views and warns that Bolingbroke is growing stronger even as they speak. Richard, however, believes that God will protect him from Bolingbroke and his fellow rebels.

The Lord of Salisbury arrives with the devastating news that the Welsh soldiers, believing the rumor of Richard's death to be true, have abandoned the cause. He laments that if Richard had returned a day earlier, he would have supplied him with twelve thousand soldiers. He says regretfully, "To-day, to-day, unhappy day too late, / O'erthrows thy joys, friends, fortune, and thy state." Richard falls into premature despair and reflects that everybody who desires to be safe has deserted his side because "time hath set a blot upon (his) pride." Aumerle tries to rouse his spirits and urges him to behave in accordance with the dignity of his office. Richard regains his composure, but at this moment, Scroop enters bad news. He informs Richard that the entire populace has rebelled against him.

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