Richard II Suffering Quotes

 This is a little confusing. Basically Ross is saying that Richard's bad decisions have led to terrible consequences (here, the theft of Henry Bolingbroke's inheritance), but that the nobles have allowed it to happen. It's an interesting little passage, because the definition of suffering changes. In the first line, the meaning is the same as in modern English. In the third line, it means "to allow." Just another example of how passivity leads to disaster.

Wow. When Richard finds out that he's outmatched by Henry's army, he almost seems to take pleasure in talking about all the suffering he plans to do. Drama queen!

Jaded by a lifetime of being told what he wants to hear, Richard, who hasn't ever really suffered much, overreacts a little by forbidding anyone to give him what he most wants: comfort.