KING RICHARD III. THIS play was entered at Stationers' Hall by Andrew Wise, Oct. 20, 1597, and published in quarto the same year. It appears to have been a popular tragedy so early as 1595, as we learn from a small volume of epigrams by John Weever, in the collection of Mr. Comb, of Henley. Of this volume, which was written in the year 1595, the twentysecond epigram is addressed to William Shakspeare, and in PERSONS REPRESENTED. KING EDWARD THE FOURTH. wards King Edward V. RICHARD, Duke of York. GEORGE, Duke of Clarence, RICHARD, Duke of Gloster, afterwards King Richard III. A young Son of Clarence. the poetical catalogue of his works enumerates Romeo and RICHARD. The space of time comprised in this drama. is about fourteen years; the second scene commences with the funeral of King Henry VI., who, according to the received account, was mur dered on the 21st of May, 1471, and closes with the death of Richard at Bosworth-field, 22d of August, 1485. And all the clouds, that lowr'd upon our house, brothers to the HENRY, Earl of Richmond, afterwards King CARDINEL BOURCHIER, Archbishop of Canterbury. DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. DUKE OF NORFOLK. EARL OF SURREY, his son. EARL RIVERS, brother to King Edward's Queen. LORD HASTINGS. LORD STANLEY. LORD LOVEL. Sir THOMAS VAUGHAN. Sir RICHARD RATCLIFF. Sir WILLIAM CATESBY. Sir JAMES TYRREL. Sir JAMES BLOUNT. Sir WALTER HERBERT. But I,-that am not shap'd for sportive tricks, I, that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty: I am determined to prove a villain, Sir ROBERT BRAKENBURY, Lieutenant of the Tower. By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams, CHRISTOPHER URSWICK, a Priest. To set my brother Clarence, and the king, Enter CLARENCE, guarded, and BRAKENBURY. Clar. His majesty, Lords, and other Attendants; two Gentlemen, a Pur-Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed SCENE,-ENGLAND. ACT I. SCENE I.-London. A Street. Glo. Now is the winter of our discontent, This conduct to convey me to the Tower. Clar. Because my name is-George. His issue disinherited should be ; And, for my name of George begins with G, Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by women:- Was it not she, and that good man of worship, Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure, I'll tell you what,-I think, it is our way, Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue : Brak. With this, my lord, myself have nought to do. Glo. Nought to do with mistress Shore? I tell thee, He that doth nought with her, excepting one, [fellow, Were best to do it secretly, alone. Brak. What one, my lord? [me? Glo. Her husband, knave :-Would'st thou betray Brak.I beseech your grace to pardon me; and, withal, Forbear your conference with the noble duke. [obey. Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will Glo. We are the queen's abjects, and must obey. Brother, farewell: I will unto the king; And whatsoe'er you will employ me in,Were it, to call king Edward's widow,-sister,-I will perform it, to enfranchise you. Mean time, this deep disgrace in brotherhood, Touches me deeper than you can imagine. Clar. I know, it pleaseth neither of us well. Glo. Well, your imprisonment shall not be long; I will deliver you, or else lie for you: Mean time, have patience. Clar. I must perforce; farewell. [Exeunt CLARENCE, BRAKENBURY, and Guard. Glo. Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er return, Simple, plain Clarence!-I do love thee so, That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, If heaven will take the present at our hands. But who comes here? the new-deliver'd Hastings? Enter HASTINGS. Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious lord! Glo. As much unto my good lord chamberlain ! Well are you welcome to this open air. Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence too; Glo. Go you before, and I will follow you. He cannot live, I hope; and must not die, By marrying her, which I must reach unto. Enter the corpse of KING HENRY THE SIXTH, borne in an open coffin, Gentlemen bearing halberds, to guard it; and Lady ANNE as mourner. Anne. Set down, set down your honourable load,— Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster ! More miserable by the death of him, [The bearers take up the corpse, and advance. Glo. Stay you, that bear the corse, and set it down. Anne. What black magician conjures up this fiend, To stop devoted charitable deeds? Glo. Villains, set down the corse; or, by Saint Paul, I'll make a corse of him that disobeys. 1 Gent. My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass. Glo. Unmanner'd dog! stand thou when I command: Advance thy halberd higher than my breast, Or, by Saint Paul, I'll strike thee to my foot, And spurn upon thee, beggar, for thy boldness. [The bearers set down the coffin. Anne. What, do you tremble? are you all afraid? Alas, I blame you not; for you are mortal, And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil.Avaunt, thou dreadful minister of hell! Thou hadst but power over his mortal body, His soul thou canst not have; therefore, be gone. Glo. Sweet saint, for charity, be not so curst. Anne. Foul devil, for God's sake, hence, and trouble For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell, [us not; Fill'd it with cursing cries, and deep exclaims. If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds, Behold this pattern of thy butcheries : O, gentlemen, see, see! dead Henry's wounds Open their congeal'd mouths and bleed afresh! Blush, blush, thou lump of foul deformity; For 'tis thy presence that exhales this blood From cold and empty veins, where no blood dwells, Thy deed, inhuman and unnatural, Provokes this deluge most unnatural. O God, which this blood mad'st, revenge his death! O earth, which this blood drink'st, revenge his death! Either, heaven, with lightning strike the murderer Or, earth, gape open wide, and eat him quick: [dead, As thou dost swallow up this good king's blood, Which his hell-govern'd arm hath butchered! Glo. Lady, you know no rules of charity, Anne. Vouchsafe, diffus'd infection of a man, Glo. Fairer than tongue can name thee, let me have Some patient leisure to excuse myself. Anne. Fouler than heart can think thee, thou canst No excuse current, but to hang thyself. [make. Anne. In thy soul's throat thou liest; queen Margaret saw Thy murderous faulchion smoking in his blood; The which thou once didst bend against her breast, But that thy brothers beat aside the point. Glo. I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue, That laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders. Anne. Thou wast provoked by thy bloody mind, That never dreamt on aught but butcheries: Didst thou not kill this king? Glo. I grant ye. [me too, Anne. Dost grant me, hedge-hog? then, God grant Thou may'st be damned for that wicked deed! O, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous. Glo. The fitter for the King of heaven that hath him. Anne. He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come. Glo. Let him thank me, that holp to send him thiFor he was fitter for that place, than earth. [ther; Anne. And thou unfit for any place, but hell. Glo. Yes, one place else, if you will hear me name Anne. Some dungeon. [it. Your bed-chamber. Glo. Glo. I know so.-But, gentle lady Anne,- Anne. Thou wast the cause, and most accurs'd effect. Glo. These eyes could not endure that beauty's You should not blemish it, if I stood by: [wreck, As all the world is cheered by the sun, So I by that; it is my day, my life. [thy life! Anne. Black night o'ershade thy day, and death Glo. Curse not thyself, fair creature; thou art both. Anne. I would I were, to be reveng'd on thee. Glo. It is a quarrel most unnatural, To be reveng'd on him that loveth thee. Anne. It is a quarrel just and reasonable, To be reveng'd on him that kill'd my husband. Glo. He that bereft thee, lady, of thy husband, Did it to help thee to a better husband. Anne. His better doth not breathe upon the earth. Glo. He lives, that loves you better than he could. Anne. Name him. Glo. Plantagenet. [at me? Anne. Why, that was he. Glo. The self-same name, but one of better nature. Anne. Where is he? Glo. Here: [She spits at him.] Why dost thou spit Anne. 'Would it were mortal poison, for thy sake! Glo. Never came poison from so sweet a place. Anne. Never hung poison on a fouler toad. Out of my sight! thou dost infect mine eyes. Glo. Thine eyes, sweet lady, have infected mine. Anne. 'Would they were basilisks, to strike thee dead! Glo. I would they were, that I might die at once; For now they kill me with a living death. Those eyes of thine from mine have drawn salt tears, Sham'd their aspects with store of childish drops: These eyes, which never shed remorseful tear,Not, when my father York and Edward wept, To hear the piteous moan that Rutland made, My tongue could never learn sweet soothing word; Lo! here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword; [He lays his breast open; she offers at it with Nay, do not pause; for I did kill king Henry ;- [She lets fall the sword. Glo. Then bid me kill myself, and I will do it. Glo. Glo. Anne. I fear me, Was never true. both are false. Anne. With all my heart; and much it joys me too, Glo. Bid me farewell. deserve: [Exeunt Lady ANNE, TRESSEL, and BERKLEY. Hath she forgot already that brave prince, I do mistake my person all this while : Then man Hereafter. Glo. That shall you know But shall I live in hope? I hope, live so. All men, Glo. That it may please you leave these sad designs Grant me this boon. [Exit. SCENE III.-The same. A Room in the Palace. Riv. Have patience, madam; there's no doubt his majesty Will soon recover his accustom'd health. Grey. In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse: Q. Eliz. Ah, he is young; and his minority [son, Enter BUCKINGHAM and STANLEY. Grey. Here come the lords of Buckingham and Stanley. been. Buck. Good time of day unto your royal grace! Stan. God make your majesty joyful as you have [Stanley, Q. Eliz. The countess Richmond, good my lord of To your good prayer will scarcely say-amen. Yet, Stanley, notwithstanding she's your wife, And loves not me, be you, good lord, assur'd, I hate not you for her proud arrogance. Stan. I do beseech you, either not believe The envious slanders of her false accusers; Or, if she be accus'd on true report, Bear with her weakness, which, I think, proceeds From wayward sickness, and no grounded malice. Q.Elis. Saw you the king to-day, my lord of Stanley? Stan. But now, the duke of Buckingham, and I, Are come from visiting his majesty. Q. Eliz. What likelihood of his amendment, lords? Buck. Madam, good hope; his grace speaks cheerfully. [him? Q. Eliz. God grant him health! did you confer with Buck. Ay, madam : he desires to make atonement Between the duke of Gloster and your brothers, And between them and my lord chamberlain ; And sent to warn them to his royal presence. Q. Eliz. 'Would all were well!--but that will never I fear our happiness is at the height. [be; Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and DORSET. Glo. They do me wrong, and I will not endure it :Who are they, that complain unto the king, That I, forsooth, am stern, and love them not? By holy Paul, they love his grace but lightly, That fill his ears with such dissentious rumours. Because I cannot flatter, and speak fair, Smile in men's faces, smooth, deceive, and cog, Duck with French nods and apish courtesy, I must be held a rancorous enemy. Cannot a plain man live, and think no harm, But thus his simple truth must be abus'd By silken, sly, insinuating Jacks? [grace? [matter: Grey. To whom in all this presence speaks your Glo. To thee, that hast nor honesty, nor grace. When have I injured thee? when done thee wrong? Or thee?—or thee?—or any of your faction? A plague upon you all! His royal grace,— Whom God preserve better than you would wish!Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing-while, But you must trouble him with lewd complaints. Q. Eliz. Brother of Gloster, you mistake the The king, of his own royal disposition, And not provok'd by any suitor else; Aiming, belike, at your interior hatred, That in your outward action shews itself, Against my children, brothers, and myself, Makes him to send; that thereby he may gather The ground of your ill-will, and so remove it. Glo. I cannot tell ;-The world is grown so bad, That wrens may prey where eagles dare not perch: Since every Jack became a gentleman, There's many a gentle person made a Jack. Q. Eliz. Čome, come, we know your meaning, brother Gloster; You envy my advancement, and my friends; Held in contempt; while great promotions [you: That scarce, some two days since, were worth a noble. Q. Eliz. By Him, that rais'd me to this careful From that contented hap which I enjoy'd, [height I never did incense his majesty Against the duke of Clarence, but have been Glo. You may deny that you were not the cause [so ? Glo. She may, lord Rivers ?-why, who knows not She may do more, sir, than denying that: She may help you to many fair preferments; And then deny her aiding hand therein, And lay those honours on your high desert. What may she not? She may,-ay, marry, may Riv. What, marry, may she? [she, Glo. What, marry, may she? marry with a king, A bachelor, a handsome stripling too: I wis, your grandam had a worser match. Q. Eliz. My lord of Gloster, I have too long borne Your blunt upbraidings, and your bitter scoffs. By heaven, I will acquaint his majesty, Of those gross taunts I often have endur'd. I had rather be a country servant-maid, Than a great queen, with this conditionTo be so baited, scorn'd, and storm'd at: Small joy have I in being England's queen. Enter QUEEN MARGARET, behind. Q. Mar. And lessen'd be that small, God, I beseech I dare adventure to be sent to the Tower. Q. Mar. Out, devil! I remember them too well: Thou kill'dst my husband Henry in the Tower, And Edward, my poor son, at Tewksbury. Glo. Ere you were queen, ay, or your husband king, I was a pack-horse in his great affairs; A weeder out of his proud adversaries, A liberal rewarder of his friends; To royalize his blood, I spilt mine own. [thine. Q. Mar. Ay, and much better blood than his, or Glo. In all which time, you, and your husbandGrey, Were factious for the house of Lancaster ;And, Rivers, so were you :-Was not your husband In Margaret's battle at Saint Alban's slain? Let me put in your minds, if you forget, What you have been ere now, and what you are ; Withal, what I have been, and what I am. Q. Mar. A murd'rous villain, and so still thou art. Glo. Poor Clarence did forsake his father Warwick, Ay, and forswore himself,-Which Jesu pardon!— Q. Mar. Which God revenge! Glo. To fight on Edward's party, for the crown; And, for his meed, poor lord, he is mew'd up: I would to God, my heart were flint like Edward's, Or Edward's soft and pitiful, like mine; I am too childish-foolish for this world. Q. Mar. Hie thee to hell for shame, and leave this Thou cacodæmon! there thy kingdom is. [world, Riv. My lord of Gloster, in those busy days, Which here you urge, to prove us enemies, We follow'd then our lord, our lawful king; So should we you, if you should be our king. Glo. If I should be?-I had rather be a pedlar: Far be it from my heart, the thought thereof! Q. Elis. As little joy, my lord, as you suppose |