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1. Act I, Scene 1
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0
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London. A street.
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1
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[Enter GLOUCESTER, solus]
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2
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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3
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Now is the winter of our discontent
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4
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Made glorious summer by this sun of York;
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5
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And all the clouds that lour'd upon our house
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In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
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7
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Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths;
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8
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Our bruised arms hung up for monuments;
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9
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Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings,
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10
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Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.
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11
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Grim-visaged war hath smooth'd his wrinkled front;
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12
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And now, instead of mounting barded steeds
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13
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To fright the souls of fearful adversaries,
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He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber
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To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.
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But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks,
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Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass;
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I, that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty
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To strut before a wanton ambling nymph;
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20
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I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion,
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Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,
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Deformed, unfinish'd, sent before my time
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Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
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And that so lamely and unfashionable
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That dogs bark at me as I halt by them;
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Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace,
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Have no delight to pass away the time,
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Unless to spy my shadow in the sun
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And descant on mine own deformity:
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30
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And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
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31
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To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
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I am determined to prove a villain
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33
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And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
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34
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Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous,
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By drunken prophecies, libels and dreams,
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36
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To set my brother Clarence and the king
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In deadly hate the one against the other:
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And if King Edward be as true and just
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As I am subtle, false and treacherous,
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This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up,
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About a prophecy, which says that 'G'
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Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be.
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43
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Dive, thoughts, down to my soul: here
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Clarence comes.
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45
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[Enter CLARENCE, guarded, and BRAKENBURY]
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Brother, good day; what means this armed guard
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That waits upon your grace?
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George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence).
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49
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His majesty
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Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed
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This conduct to convey me to the Tower.
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52
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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53
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Upon what cause?
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54
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George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence).
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Because my name is George.
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56
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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57
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Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours;
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58
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He should, for that, commit your godfathers:
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59
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O, belike his majesty hath some intent
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60
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That you shall be new-christen'd in the Tower.
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But what's the matter, Clarence? may I know?
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George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence).
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63
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Yea, Richard, when I know; for I protest
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As yet I do not: but, as I can learn,
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He hearkens after prophecies and dreams;
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And from the cross-row plucks the letter G.
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67
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And says a wizard told him that by G
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His issue disinherited should be;
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69
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And, for my name of George begins with G,
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70
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It follows in his thought that I am he.
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71
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These, as I learn, and such like toys as these
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Have moved his highness to commit me now.
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73
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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74
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Why, this it is, when men are ruled by women:
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75
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'Tis not the king that sends you to the Tower:
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76
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My Lady Grey his wife, Clarence, 'tis she
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That tempers him to this extremity.
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78
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Was it not she and that good man of worship,
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Anthony Woodville, her brother there,
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80
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That made him send Lord Hastings to the Tower,
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From whence this present day he is deliver'd?
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We are not safe, Clarence; we are not safe.
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George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence).
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84
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By heaven, I think there's no man is secure
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85
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But the queen's kindred and night-walking heralds
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86
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That trudge betwixt the king and Mistress Shore.
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87
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Heard ye not what an humble suppliant
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88
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Lord hastings was to her for his delivery?
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89
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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90
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Humbly complaining to her deity
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91
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Got my lord chamberlain his liberty.
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92
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I'll tell you what; I think it is our way,
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93
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If we will keep in favour with the king,
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94
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To be her men and wear her livery:
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95
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The jealous o'erworn widow and herself,
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96
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Since that our brother dubb'd them gentlewomen.
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Are mighty gossips in this monarchy.
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98
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Sir Robert Brakenbury.
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99
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I beseech your graces both to pardon me;
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100
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His majesty hath straitly given in charge
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That no man shall have private conference,
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102
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Of what degree soever, with his brother.
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103
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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104
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Even so; an't please your worship, Brakenbury,
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105
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You may partake of any thing we say:
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106
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We speak no treason, man: we say the king
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107
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Is wise and virtuous, and his noble queen
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108
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Well struck in years, fair, and not jealous;
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109
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We say that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot,
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A cherry lip, a bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue;
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111
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And that the queen's kindred are made gentle-folks:
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112
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How say you sir? Can you deny all this?
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113
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Sir Robert Brakenbury.
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114
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With this, my lord, myself have nought to do.
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115
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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116
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Naught to do with mistress Shore! I tell thee, fellow,
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117
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He that doth naught with her, excepting one,
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118
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Were best he do it secretly, alone.
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119
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Sir Robert Brakenbury.
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120
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What one, my lord?
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121
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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122
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Her husband, knave: wouldst thou betray me?
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123
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Sir Robert Brakenbury.
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124
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I beseech your grace to pardon me, and withal
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Forbear your conference with the noble duke.
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126
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George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence).
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127
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We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey.
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128
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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129
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We are the queen's abjects, and must obey.
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Brother, farewell: I will unto the king;
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131
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And whatsoever you will employ me in,
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132
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Were it to call King Edward's widow sister,
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I will perform it to enfranchise you.
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134
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Meantime, this deep disgrace in brotherhood
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Touches me deeper than you can imagine.
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George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence).
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I know it pleaseth neither of us well.
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138
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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139
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Well, your imprisonment shall not be long;
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140
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Meantime, have patience.
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George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence).
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142
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I must perforce. Farewell.
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[Exeunt CLARENCE, BRAKENBURY, and Guard]
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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145
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Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return.
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146
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Simple, plain Clarence! I do love thee so,
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147
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That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven,
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148
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If heaven will take the present at our hands.
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But who comes here? the new-deliver'd Hastings?
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[Enter HASTINGS]
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Lord Hastings.
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Good time of day unto my gracious lord!
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153
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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154
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As much unto my good lord chamberlain!
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Well are you welcome to the open air.
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156
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How hath your lordship brook'd imprisonment?
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157
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Lord Hastings.
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158
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With patience, noble lord, as prisoners must:
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159
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But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks
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That were the cause of my imprisonment.
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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162
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No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence too;
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163
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For they that were your enemies are his,
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164
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And have prevail'd as much on him as you.
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Lord Hastings.
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166
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More pity that the eagle should be mew'd,
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167
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While kites and buzzards prey at liberty.
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168
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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169
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What news abroad?
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170
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Lord Hastings.
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171
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No news so bad abroad as this at home;
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172
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The King is sickly, weak and melancholy,
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173
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And his physicians fear him mightily.
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174
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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175
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Now, by Saint Paul, this news is bad indeed.
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176
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O, he hath kept an evil diet long,
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177
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And overmuch consumed his royal person:
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'Tis very grievous to be thought upon.
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179
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What, is he in his bed?
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Lord Hastings.
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He is.
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182
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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183
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Go you before, and I will follow you.
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[Exit HASTINGS]
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185
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He cannot live, I hope; and must not die
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186
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Till George be pack'd with post-horse up to heaven.
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187
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I'll in, to urge his hatred more to Clarence,
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With lies well steel'd with weighty arguments;
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189
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And, if I fall not in my deep intent,
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Clarence hath not another day to live:
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Which done, God take King Edward to his mercy,
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192
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And leave the world for me to bustle in!
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193
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For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter.
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194
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What though I kill'd her husband and her father?
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195
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The readiest way to make the wench amends
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196
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Is to become her husband and her father:
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197
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The which will I; not all so much for love
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198
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As for another secret close intent,
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By marrying her which I must reach unto.
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200
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But yet I run before my horse to market:
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201
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Clarence still breathes; Edward still lives and reigns:
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When they are gone, then must I count my gains.
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203
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[Exit]
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2. Act I, Scene 2
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0
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The same. Another street.
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1
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[Enter the corpse of KING HENRY the Sixth, Gentlemen] with halberds to guard it; LADY ANNE being the mourner]
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2
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Lady Anne.
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Set down, set down your honourable load,
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If honour may be shrouded in a hearse,
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Whilst I awhile obsequiously lament
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The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster.
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Poor key-cold figure of a holy king!
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Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster!
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9
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Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood!
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10
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Be it lawful that I invocate thy ghost,
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To hear the lamentations of Poor Anne,
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Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughter'd son,
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Stabb'd by the selfsame hand that made these wounds!
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Lo, in these windows that let forth thy life,
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I pour the helpless balm of my poor eyes.
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Cursed be the hand that made these fatal holes!
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Cursed be the heart that had the heart to do it!
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Cursed the blood that let this blood from hence!
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More direful hap betide that hated wretch,
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That makes us wretched by the death of thee,
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Than I can wish to adders, spiders, toads,
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Or any creeping venom'd thing that lives!
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If ever he have child, abortive be it,
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Prodigious, and untimely brought to light,
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Whose ugly and unnatural aspect
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May fright the hopeful mother at the view;
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And that be heir to his unhappiness!
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If ever he have wife, let her he made
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A miserable by the death of him
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As I am made by my poor lord and thee!
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Come, now towards Chertsey with your holy load,
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Taken from Paul's to be interred there;
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33
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And still, as you are weary of the weight,
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34
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Rest you, whiles I lament King Henry's corse.
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35
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[Enter GLOUCESTER]
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36
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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37
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Stay, you that bear the corse, and set it down.
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38
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Lady Anne.
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39
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What black magician conjures up this fiend,
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40
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To stop devoted charitable deeds?
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41
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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42
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Villains, set down the corse; or, by Saint Paul,
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43
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I'll make a corse of him that disobeys.
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44
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Gentleman.
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45
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My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass.
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46
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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47
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Unmanner'd dog! stand thou, when I command:
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48
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Advance thy halbert higher than my breast,
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49
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Or, by Saint Paul, I'll strike thee to my foot,
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50
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And spurn upon thee, beggar, for thy boldness.
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51
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Lady Anne.
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52
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What, do you tremble? are you all afraid?
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53
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Alas, I blame you not; for you are mortal,
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54
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And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil.
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55
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Avaunt, thou dreadful minister of hell!
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56
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Thou hadst but power over his mortal body,
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57
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His soul thou canst not have; therefore be gone.
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58
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Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
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59
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Sweet saint, for charity, be not so curst.
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60
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Lady Anne.
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61
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Foul devil, for God's sake, hence, and trouble us not;
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62
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For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell,
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63
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Fill'd it with cursing cries and deep exclaims.
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64
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If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds,
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65
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|
Behold this pattern of thy butcheries.
|
|
66
|
|
|
O, gentlemen, see, see! dead Henry's wounds
|
|
67
|
|
|
Open their congeal'd mouths and bleed afresh!
|
|
68
|
|
|
Blush, Blush, thou lump of foul deformity;
|
|
69
|
|
|
For 'tis thy presence that exhales this blood
|
|
70
|
|
|
From cold and empty veins, where no blood dwells;
|
|
71
|
|
|
Thy deed, inhuman and unnatural,
|
|
72
|
|
|
Provokes this deluge most unnatural.
|
|
73
|
|
|
O God, which this blood madest, revenge his death!
|
|
74
|
|
|
O earth, which this blood drink'st revenge his death!
|
|
75
|
|
|
Either heaven with lightning strike the
|
|
76
|
|
|
murderer dead,
|
|
77
|
|
|
Or earth, gape open wide and eat him quick,
|
|
78
|
|
|
As thou dost swallow up this good king's blood
|
|
79
|
|
|
Which his hell-govern'd arm hath butchered!
|
|
80
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
81
|
|
|
Lady, you know no rules of charity,
|
|
82
|
|
|
Which renders good for bad, blessings for curses.
|
|
83
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
84
|
|
|
Villain, thou know'st no law of God nor man:
|
|
85
|
|
|
No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity.
|
|
86
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
87
|
|
|
But I know none, and therefore am no beast.
|
|
88
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
89
|
|
|
O wonderful, when devils tell the truth!
|
|
90
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
91
|
|
|
More wonderful, when angels are so angry.
|
|
92
|
|
|
Vouchsafe, divine perfection of a woman,
|
|
93
|
|
|
Of these supposed-evils, to give me leave,
|
|
94
|
|
|
By circumstance, but to acquit myself.
|
|
95
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
96
|
|
|
Vouchsafe, defused infection of a man,
|
|
97
|
|
|
For these known evils, but to give me leave,
|
|
98
|
|
|
By circumstance, to curse thy cursed self.
|
|
99
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
100
|
|
|
Fairer than tongue can name thee, let me have
|
|
101
|
|
|
Some patient leisure to excuse myself.
|
|
102
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
103
|
|
|
Fouler than heart can think thee, thou canst make
|
|
104
|
|
|
No excuse current, but to hang thyself.
|
|
105
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
106
|
|
|
By such despair, I should accuse myself.
|
|
107
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
108
|
|
|
And, by despairing, shouldst thou stand excused;
|
|
109
|
|
|
For doing worthy vengeance on thyself,
|
|
110
|
|
|
Which didst unworthy slaughter upon others.
|
|
111
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
112
|
|
|
Say that I slew them not?
|
|
113
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
114
|
|
|
Why, then they are not dead:
|
|
115
|
|
|
But dead they are, and devilish slave, by thee.
|
|
116
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
117
|
|
|
I did not kill your husband.
|
|
118
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
119
|
|
|
Why, then he is alive.
|
|
120
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
121
|
|
|
Nay, he is dead; and slain by Edward's hand.
|
|
122
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
123
|
|
|
In thy foul throat thou liest: Queen Margaret saw
|
|
124
|
|
|
Thy murderous falchion smoking in his blood;
|
|
125
|
|
|
The which thou once didst bend against her breast,
|
|
126
|
|
|
But that thy brothers beat aside the point.
|
|
127
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
128
|
|
|
I was provoked by her slanderous tongue,
|
|
129
|
|
|
which laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders.
|
|
130
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
131
|
|
|
Thou wast provoked by thy bloody mind.
|
|
132
|
|
|
Which never dreamt on aught but butcheries:
|
|
133
|
|
|
Didst thou not kill this king?
|
|
134
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
135
|
|
|
I grant ye.
|
|
136
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
137
|
|
|
Dost grant me, hedgehog? then, God grant me too
|
|
138
|
|
|
Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed!
|
|
139
|
|
|
O, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous!
|
|
140
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
141
|
|
|
The fitter for the King of heaven, that hath him.
|
|
142
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
143
|
|
|
He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come.
|
|
144
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
145
|
|
|
Let him thank me, that holp to send him thither;
|
|
146
|
|
|
For he was fitter for that place than earth.
|
|
147
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
148
|
|
|
And thou unfit for any place but hell.
|
|
149
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
150
|
|
|
Yes, one place else, if you will hear me name it.
|
|
151
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
152
|
|
|
Some dungeon.
|
|
153
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
154
|
|
|
Your bed-chamber.
|
|
155
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
156
|
|
|
I'll rest betide the chamber where thou liest!
|
|
157
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
158
|
|
|
So will it, madam till I lie with you.
|
|
159
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
160
|
|
|
I hope so.
|
|
161
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
162
|
|
|
I know so. But, gentle Lady Anne,
|
|
163
|
|
|
To leave this keen encounter of our wits,
|
|
164
|
|
|
And fall somewhat into a slower method,
|
|
165
|
|
|
Is not the causer of the timeless deaths
|
|
166
|
|
|
Of these Plantagenets, Henry and Edward,
|
|
167
|
|
|
As blameful as the executioner?
|
|
168
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
169
|
|
|
Thou art the cause, and most accursed effect.
|
|
170
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
171
|
|
|
Your beauty was the cause of that effect;
|
|
172
|
|
|
Your beauty: which did haunt me in my sleep
|
|
173
|
|
|
To undertake the death of all the world,
|
|
174
|
|
|
So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom.
|
|
175
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
176
|
|
|
If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide,
|
|
177
|
|
|
These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks.
|
|
178
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
179
|
|
|
These eyes could never endure sweet beauty's wreck;
|
|
180
|
|
|
You should not blemish it, if I stood by:
|
|
181
|
|
|
As all the world is cheered by the sun,
|
|
182
|
|
|
So I by that; it is my day, my life.
|
|
183
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
184
|
|
|
Black night o'ershade thy day, and death thy life!
|
|
185
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
186
|
|
|
Curse not thyself, fair creature thou art both.
|
|
187
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
188
|
|
|
I would I were, to be revenged on thee.
|
|
189
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
190
|
|
|
It is a quarrel most unnatural,
|
|
191
|
|
|
To be revenged on him that loveth you.
|
|
192
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
193
|
|
|
It is a quarrel just and reasonable,
|
|
194
|
|
|
To be revenged on him that slew my husband.
|
|
195
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
196
|
|
|
He that bereft thee, lady, of thy husband,
|
|
197
|
|
|
Did it to help thee to a better husband.
|
|
198
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
199
|
|
|
His better doth not breathe upon the earth.
|
|
200
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
201
|
|
|
He lives that loves thee better than he could.
|
|
202
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
203
|
|
|
Name him.
|
|
204
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
205
|
|
|
Plantagenet.
|
|
206
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
207
|
|
|
Why, that was he.
|
|
208
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
209
|
|
|
The selfsame name, but one of better nature.
|
|
210
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
211
|
|
|
Where is he?
|
|
212
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
213
|
|
|
Here.
|
|
214
|
|
|
[She spitteth at him]
|
|
215
|
|
|
Why dost thou spit at me?
|
|
216
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
217
|
|
|
Would it were mortal poison, for thy sake!
|
|
218
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
219
|
|
|
Never came poison from so sweet a place.
|
|
220
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
221
|
|
|
Never hung poison on a fouler toad.
|
|
222
|
|
|
Out of my sight! thou dost infect my eyes.
|
|
223
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
224
|
|
|
Thine eyes, sweet lady, have infected mine.
|
|
225
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
226
|
|
|
Would they were basilisks, to strike thee dead!
|
|
227
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
228
|
|
|
I would they were, that I might die at once;
|
|
229
|
|
|
For now they kill me with a living death.
|
|
230
|
|
|
Those eyes of thine from mine have drawn salt tears,
|
|
231
|
|
|
Shamed their aspect with store of childish drops:
|
|
232
|
|
|
These eyes that never shed remorseful tear,
|
|
233
|
|
|
No, when my father York and Edward wept,
|
|
234
|
|
|
To hear the piteous moan that Rutland made
|
|
235
|
|
|
When black-faced Clifford shook his sword at him;
|
|
236
|
|
|
Nor when thy warlike father, like a child,
|
|
237
|
|
|
Told the sad story of my father's death,
|
|
238
|
|
|
And twenty times made pause to sob and weep,
|
|
239
|
|
|
That all the standers-by had wet their cheeks
|
|
240
|
|
|
Like trees bedash'd with rain: in that sad time
|
|
241
|
|
|
My manly eyes did scorn an humble tear;
|
|
242
|
|
|
And what these sorrows could not thence exhale,
|
|
243
|
|
|
Thy beauty hath, and made them blind with weeping.
|
|
244
|
|
|
I never sued to friend nor enemy;
|
|
245
|
|
|
My tongue could never learn sweet smoothing word;
|
|
246
|
|
|
But now thy beauty is proposed my fee,
|
|
247
|
|
|
My proud heart sues, and prompts my tongue to speak.
|
|
248
|
|
|
[She looks scornfully at him]
|
|
249
|
|
|
Teach not thy lips such scorn, for they were made
|
|
250
|
|
|
For kissing, lady, not for such contempt.
|
|
251
|
|
|
If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive,
|
|
252
|
|
|
Lo, here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword;
|
|
253
|
|
|
Which if thou please to hide in this true bosom.
|
|
254
|
|
|
And let the soul forth that adoreth thee,
|
|
255
|
|
|
I lay it naked to the deadly stroke,
|
|
256
|
|
|
And humbly beg the death upon my knee.
|
|
257
|
|
|
[He lays his breast open: she offers at it with his sword]
|
|
258
|
|
|
Nay, do not pause; for I did kill King Henry,
|
|
259
|
|
|
But 'twas thy beauty that provoked me.
|
|
260
|
|
|
Nay, now dispatch; 'twas I that stabb'd young Edward,
|
|
261
|
|
|
But 'twas thy heavenly face that set me on.
|
|
262
|
|
|
[Here she lets fall the sword]
|
|
263
|
|
|
Take up the sword again, or take up me.
|
|
264
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
265
|
|
|
Arise, dissembler: though I wish thy death,
|
|
266
|
|
|
I will not be the executioner.
|
|
267
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
268
|
|
|
Then bid me kill myself, and I will do it.
|
|
269
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
270
|
|
|
I have already.
|
|
271
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
272
|
|
|
Tush, that was in thy rage:
|
|
273
|
|
|
Speak it again, and, even with the word,
|
|
274
|
|
|
That hand, which, for thy love, did kill thy love,
|
|
275
|
|
|
Shall, for thy love, kill a far truer love;
|
|
276
|
|
|
To both their deaths thou shalt be accessary.
|
|
277
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
278
|
|
|
I would I knew thy heart.
|
|
279
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
280
|
|
|
'Tis figured in my tongue.
|
|
281
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
282
|
|
|
I fear me both are false.
|
|
283
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
284
|
|
|
Then never man was true.
|
|
285
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
286
|
|
|
Well, well, put up your sword.
|
|
287
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
288
|
|
|
Say, then, my peace is made.
|
|
289
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
290
|
|
|
That shall you know hereafter.
|
|
291
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
292
|
|
|
But shall I live in hope?
|
|
293
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
294
|
|
|
All men, I hope, live so.
|
|
295
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
296
|
|
|
Vouchsafe to wear this ring.
|
|
297
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
298
|
|
|
To take is not to give.
|
|
299
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
300
|
|
|
Look, how this ring encompasseth finger.
|
|
301
|
|
|
Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart;
|
|
302
|
|
|
Wear both of them, for both of them are thine.
|
|
303
|
|
|
And if thy poor devoted suppliant may
|
|
304
|
|
|
But beg one favour at thy gracious hand,
|
|
305
|
|
|
Thou dost confirm his happiness for ever.
|
|
306
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
307
|
|
|
What is it?
|
|
308
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
309
|
|
|
That it would please thee leave these sad designs
|
|
310
|
|
|
To him that hath more cause to be a mourner,
|
|
311
|
|
|
And presently repair to Crosby Place;
|
|
312
|
|
|
Where, after I have solemnly interr'd
|
|
313
|
|
|
At Chertsey monastery this noble king,
|
|
314
|
|
|
And wet his grave with my repentant tears,
|
|
315
|
|
|
I will with all expedient duty see you:
|
|
316
|
|
|
For divers unknown reasons. I beseech you,
|
|
317
|
|
|
Grant me this boon.
|
|
318
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
319
|
|
|
With all my heart; and much it joys me too,
|
|
320
|
|
|
To see you are become so penitent.
|
|
321
|
|
|
Tressel and Berkeley, go along with me.
|
|
322
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
323
|
|
|
Bid me farewell.
|
|
324
|
|
|
Lady Anne.
|
|
325
|
|
|
'Tis more than you deserve;
|
|
326
|
|
|
But since you teach me how to flatter you,
|
|
327
|
|
|
Imagine I have said farewell already.
|
| |
|
328
|
|
|
[Exeunt LADY ANNE, TRESSEL, and BERKELEY]
|
| |
|
329
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
330
|
|
|
Sirs, take up the corse.
|
|
331
|
|
|
Gentlemen.
|
|
332
|
|
|
Towards Chertsey, noble lord?
|
|
333
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
334
|
|
|
No, to White-Friars; there attend my coining.
|
|
335
|
|
|
[Exeunt all but GLOUCESTER]
|
|
336
|
|
|
Was ever woman in this humour woo'd?
|
|
337
|
|
|
Was ever woman in this humour won?
|
|
338
|
|
|
I'll have her; but I will not keep her long.
|
|
339
|
|
|
What! I, that kill'd her husband and his father,
|
|
340
|
|
|
To take her in her heart's extremest hate,
|
|
341
|
|
|
With curses in her mouth, tears in her eyes,
|
|
342
|
|
|
The bleeding witness of her hatred by;
|
|
343
|
|
|
Having God, her conscience, and these bars
|
|
344
|
|
|
against me,
|
|
345
|
|
|
And I nothing to back my suit at all,
|
|
346
|
|
|
But the plain devil and dissembling looks,
|
|
347
|
|
|
And yet to win her, all the world to nothing!
|
|
348
|
|
|
Ha!
|
|
349
|
|
|
Hath she forgot already that brave prince,
|
|
350
|
|
|
Edward, her lord, whom I, some three months since,
|
|
351
|
|
|
Stabb'd in my angry mood at Tewksbury?
|
|
352
|
|
|
A sweeter and a lovelier gentleman,
|
|
353
|
|
|
Framed in the prodigality of nature,
|
|
354
|
|
|
Young, valiant, wise, and, no doubt, right royal,
|
|
355
|
|
|
The spacious world cannot again afford
|
|
356
|
|
|
And will she yet debase her eyes on me,
|
|
357
|
|
|
That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince,
|
|
358
|
|
|
And made her widow to a woful bed?
|
|
359
|
|
|
On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety?
|
|
360
|
|
|
On me, that halt and am unshapen thus?
|
|
361
|
|
|
My dukedom to a beggarly denier,
|
|
362
|
|
|
I do mistake my person all this while:
|
|
363
|
|
|
Upon my life, she finds, although I cannot,
|
|
364
|
|
|
Myself to be a marvellous proper man.
|
|
365
|
|
|
I'll be at charges for a looking-glass,
|
|
366
|
|
|
And entertain some score or two of tailors,
|
|
367
|
|
|
To study fashions to adorn my body:
|
|
368
|
|
|
Since I am crept in favour with myself,
|
|
369
|
|
|
Will maintain it with some little cost.
|
|
370
|
|
|
But first I'll turn yon fellow in his grave;
|
|
371
|
|
|
And then return lamenting to my love.
|
|
372
|
|
|
Shine out, fair sun, till I have bought a glass,
|
|
373
|
|
|
That I may see my shadow as I pass.
|
| |
|
374
|
|
|
[Exit]
|
| |
| |
|
3. Act I, Scene 3
|
|
0
|
|
|
The palace.
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| |
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1
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[Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH, RIVERS, and GREY]
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| |
|
2
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|
Lord (Earl) Rivers.
|
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3
|
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|
Have patience, madam: there's no doubt his majesty
|
|
4
|
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|
Will soon recover his accustom'd health.
|
|
5
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|
Lord Grey.
|
|
6
|
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|
In that you brook it in, it makes him worse:
|
|
7
|
|
|
Therefore, for God's sake, entertain good comfort,
|
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8
|
|
|
And cheer his grace with quick and merry words.
|
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9
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|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
10
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|
|
If he were dead, what would betide of me?
|
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11
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|
Lord (Earl) Rivers.
|
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12
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|
No other harm but loss of such a lord.
|
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13
|
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|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
14
|
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|
The loss of such a lord includes all harm.
|
|
15
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|
|
Lord Grey.
|
|
16
|
|
|
The heavens have bless'd you with a goodly son,
|
|
17
|
|
|
To be your comforter when he is gone.
|
|
18
|
|
|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
19
|
|
|
Oh, he is young and his minority
|
|
20
|
|
|
Is put unto the trust of Richard Gloucester,
|
|
21
|
|
|
A man that loves not me, nor none of you.
|
|
22
|
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|
Lord (Earl) Rivers.
|
|
23
|
|
|
Is it concluded that he shall be protector?
|
|
24
|
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|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
25
|
|
|
It is determined, not concluded yet:
|
|
26
|
|
|
But so it must be, if the king miscarry.
|
| |
|
27
|
|
|
[Enter BUCKINGHAM and DERBY]
|
| |
|
28
|
|
|
Lord Grey.
|
|
29
|
|
|
Here come the lords of Buckingham and Derby.
|
|
30
|
|
|
Duke of Buckingham.
|
|
31
|
|
|
Good time of day unto your royal grace!
|
|
32
|
|
|
Sir William Stanley.
|
|
33
|
|
|
God make your majesty joyful as you have been!
|
|
34
|
|
|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
35
|
|
|
The Countess Richmond, good my Lord of Derby.
|
|
36
|
|
|
To your good prayers will scarcely say amen.
|
|
37
|
|
|
Yet, Derby, notwithstanding she's your wife,
|
|
38
|
|
|
And loves not me, be you, good lord, assured
|
|
39
|
|
|
I hate not you for her proud arrogance.
|
|
40
|
|
|
Sir William Stanley.
|
|
41
|
|
|
I do beseech you, either not believe
|
|
42
|
|
|
The envious slanders of her false accusers;
|
|
43
|
|
|
Or, if she be accused in true report,
|
|
44
|
|
|
Bear with her weakness, which, I think proceeds
|
|
45
|
|
|
From wayward sickness, and no grounded malice.
|
|
46
|
|
|
Lord (Earl) Rivers.
|
|
47
|
|
|
Saw you the king to-day, my Lord of Derby?
|
|
48
|
|
|
Sir William Stanley.
|
|
49
|
|
|
But now the Duke of Buckingham and I
|
|
50
|
|
|
Are come from visiting his majesty.
|
|
51
|
|
|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
52
|
|
|
What likelihood of his amendment, lords?
|
|
53
|
|
|
Duke of Buckingham.
|
|
54
|
|
|
Madam, good hope; his grace speaks cheerfully.
|
|
55
|
|
|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
56
|
|
|
God grant him health! Did you confer with him?
|
|
57
|
|
|
Duke of Buckingham.
|
|
58
|
|
|
Madam, we did: he desires to make atonement
|
|
59
|
|
|
Betwixt the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers,
|
|
60
|
|
|
And betwixt them and my lord chamberlain;
|
|
61
|
|
|
And sent to warn them to his royal presence.
|
|
62
|
|
|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
63
|
|
|
Would all were well! but that will never be
|
|
64
|
|
|
I fear our happiness is at the highest.
|
| |
|
65
|
|
|
[Enter GLOUCESTER, HASTINGS, and DORSET]
|
| |
|
66
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
67
|
|
|
They do me wrong, and I will not endure it:
|
|
68
|
|
|
Who are they that complain unto the king,
|
|
69
|
|
|
That I, forsooth, am stern, and love them not?
|
|
70
|
|
|
By holy Paul, they love his grace but lightly
|
|
71
|
|
|
That fill his ears with such dissentious rumours.
|
|
72
|
|
|
Because I cannot flatter and speak fair,
|
|
73
|
|
|
Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive and cog,
|
|
74
|
|
|
Duck with French nods and apish courtesy,
|
|
75
|
|
|
I must be held a rancorous enemy.
|
|
76
|
|
|
Cannot a plain man live and think no harm,
|
|
77
|
|
|
But thus his simple truth must be abused
|
|
78
|
|
|
By silken, sly, insinuating Jacks?
|
|
79
|
|
|
Lord (Earl) Rivers.
|
|
80
|
|
|
To whom in all this presence speaks your grace?
|
|
81
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
82
|
|
|
To thee, that hast nor honesty nor grace.
|
|
83
|
|
|
When have I injured thee? when done thee wrong?
|
|
84
|
|
|
Or thee? or thee? or any of your faction?
|
|
85
|
|
|
A plague upon you all! His royal person,—
|
|
86
|
|
|
Whom God preserve better than you would wish!—
|
|
87
|
|
|
Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing-while,
|
|
88
|
|
|
But you must trouble him with lewd complaints.
|
|
89
|
|
|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
90
|
|
|
Brother of Gloucester, you mistake the matter.
|
|
91
|
|
|
The king, of his own royal disposition,
|
|
92
|
|
|
And not provoked by any suitor else;
|
|
93
|
|
|
Aiming, belike, at your interior hatred,
|
|
94
|
|
|
Which in your outward actions shows itself
|
|
95
|
|
|
Against my kindred, brothers, and myself,
|
|
96
|
|
|
Makes him to send; that thereby he may gather
|
|
97
|
|
|
The ground of your ill-will, and so remove it.
|
|
98
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
99
|
|
|
I cannot tell: the world is grown so bad,
|
|
100
|
|
|
That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch:
|
|
101
|
|
|
Since every Jack became a gentleman
|
|
102
|
|
|
There's many a gentle person made a Jack.
|
|
103
|
|
|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
104
|
|
|
Come, come, we know your meaning, brother
|
|
105
|
|
|
Gloucester;
|
|
106
|
|
|
You envy my advancement and my friends':
|
|
107
|
|
|
God grant we never may have need of you!
|
|
108
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
109
|
|
|
Meantime, God grants that we have need of you:
|
|
110
|
|
|
Your brother is imprison'd by your means,
|
|
111
|
|
|
Myself disgraced, and the nobility
|
|
112
|
|
|
Held in contempt; whilst many fair promotions
|
|
113
|
|
|
Are daily given to ennoble those
|
|
114
|
|
|
That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble.
|
|
115
|
|
|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
116
|
|
|
By Him that raised me to this careful height
|
|
117
|
|
|
From that contented hap which I enjoy'd,
|
|
118
|
|
|
I never did incense his majesty
|
|
119
|
|
|
Against the Duke of Clarence, but have been
|
|
120
|
|
|
An earnest advocate to plead for him.
|
|
121
|
|
|
My lord, you do me shameful injury,
|
|
122
|
|
|
Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.
|
|
123
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
124
|
|
|
You may deny that you were not the cause
|
|
125
|
|
|
Of my Lord Hastings' late imprisonment.
|
|
126
|
|
|
Lord (Earl) Rivers.
|
|
127
|
|
|
She may, my lord, for—
|
|
128
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
129
|
|
|
She may, Lord Rivers! why, who knows not so?
|
|
130
|
|
|
She may do more, sir, than denying that:
|
|
131
|
|
|
She may help you to many fair preferments,
|
|
132
|
|
|
And then deny her aiding hand therein,
|
|
133
|
|
|
And lay those honours on your high deserts.
|
|
134
|
|
|
What may she not? She may, yea, marry, may she—
|
|
135
|
|
|
Lord (Earl) Rivers.
|
|
136
|
|
|
What, marry, may she?
|
|
137
|
|
|
Richard III (Duke of Gloucester).
|
|
138
|
|
|
What, marry, may she! marry with a king,
|
|
139
|
|
|
A bachelor, a handsome stripling too:
|
|
140
|
|
|
I wis your grandam had a worser match.
|
|
141
|
|
|
Queen Elizabeth.
|
|
142
|
|
|
My Lord of Gloucester, I have too long borne
|
|
143
|
|
|
Your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs:
|
|
144
|
|
|
By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty
|
|
145
|
|
|
With those gross taunts I often have endured.
|
|
146
|
|
|
I had rather be a country servant-maid
|
|
147
|
|
|
Than a great queen, with this condition,
|
|
148
|
|
|
To be thus taunted, scorn'd, and baited at:
|
|
149
|
|
|
[Enter QUEEN MARGARET, behind]
|
|
150
|
|
|
Small joy have I in being England's queen.
|
|
151
|
|
|
Queen Margaret.
|
|
152
|
|
|
And lessen'd be that small, God, I beseech thee!
|
|
153
|
|
|
Thy |
