BOLINGBROKE: How long a time lies in one little word!
Four lagging winters and four wanton springs
End in a word; such is the breath of kings.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) English dramatist and poet

Richard II, Act 1, sc. 3, l. 218ff (1.3.218-220) (1595)
    (Source)

After King Richard casually reduces his banishment of Bolingbroke from ten years to six.