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No Fear Translations
No Fear Audio
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Modern Text |
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Enter old QUEEN MARGARET
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Enter old QUEEN MARGARET
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QUEEN MARGARET So now prosperity begins to mellow
And drop into the rotten mouth of death.
Here in these confines slyly have I lurked
To watch the waning of mine enemies.
5 A dire induction am I witness to,
And will to France, hoping the consequence
Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical.
Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret. Who comes here?
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QUEEN MARGARET So now prosperity begins to mellow
And drop into the rotten mouth of death.
Here in these confines slyly have I lurked
To watch the waning of mine enemies.
A dire induction am I witness to,
And will to France, hoping the consequence
Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical.
Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret. Who comes here?
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Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and the DUCHESS of York
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Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and the DUCHESS of York
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Ah, my poor princes! Ah, my tender babes,
10 My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets,
If yet your gentle souls fly in the air
And be not fixed in doom perpetual,
Hover about me with your airy wings
And hear your mother’s lamentation.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Ah, my poor princes! Ah, my tender babes,
My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets,
If yet your gentle souls fly in the air
And be not fixed in doom perpetual,
Hover about me with your airy wings
And hear your mother’s lamentation.
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QUEEN MARGARET 15 Hover about her; say that right for right
Hath dimmed your infant morn to agèd night.
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QUEEN MARGARET Hover about her; say that right for right
Hath dimmed your infant morn to agèd night.
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DUCHESS So many miseries have crazed my voice
That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute.
Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead?
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DUCHESS So many miseries have crazed my voice
That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute.
Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead?
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QUEEN MARGARET Edward for Edward pays a dying debt.
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QUEEN MARGARET Edward for Edward pays a dying debt.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Wilt thou, O God, fly from such gentle lambs
And throw them in the entrails of the wolf?
When didst thou sleep when such a deed was done?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Wilt thou, O God, fly from such gentle lambs
And throw them in the entrails of the wolf?
When didst thou sleep when such a deed was done?
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QUEEN MARGARET |
QUEEN MARGARET |
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DUCHESS (sitting down)
Dead life, blind sight, poor mortal living ghost,
Woe’s scene, world’s shame, grave’s due by life usurped,
Brief abstract and record of tedious days,
30 Rest thy unrest on England’s lawful earth,
Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood.
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DUCHESS (sitting down)
Dead life, blind sight, poor mortal living ghost,
Woe’s scene, world’s shame, grave’s due by life usurped,
Brief abstract and record of tedious days,
Rest thy unrest on England’s lawful earth,
Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH (sitting down beside her)
Ah, that thou wouldst as soon afford a grave
As thou canst yield a melancholy seat,
35 Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here.
O, who hath any cause to mourn but we?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH (sitting down beside her)
Ah, that thou wouldst as soon afford a grave
As thou canst yield a melancholy seat,
Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here.
O, who hath any cause to mourn but we?
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QUEEN MARGARET (joining them) If ancient sorrow be most reverend,
Give mine the benefit of seigniory,
And let my griefs frown on the upper hand.
40 If sorrow can admit society,
Tell o'er your woes again by viewing mine.
I had an Edward till a Richard killed him;
I had a husband till a Richard killed him.
Thou hadst an Edward till a Richard killed him;
45 Thou hadst a Richard till a Richard killed him.
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QUEEN MARGARET (joining them) If ancient sorrow be most reverend,
Give mine the benefit of seigniory,
And let my griefs frown on the upper hand.
If sorrow can admit society,
Tell o'er your woes again by viewing mine.
I had an Edward till a Richard killed him;
I had a husband till a Richard killed him.
Thou hadst an Edward till a Richard killed him;
Thou hadst a Richard till a Richard killed him.
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DUCHESS I had a Richard too, and thou did’st kill him;
I had a Rutland too; thou holp’st to kill him.
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DUCHESS I had a Richard too, and thou did’st kill him;
I had a Rutland too; thou holp’st to kill him.
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QUEEN MARGARET Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Richard killed him
Then forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept
50 A hellhound that doth hunt us all to death—
That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes,
To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood;
That excellent grand tyrant of the earth,
That reigns in gallèd eyes of weeping souls;
55 That foul defacer of God’s handiwork
Thy womb let loose to chase us to our graves.
O upright, just, and true-disposing God,
How do I thank thee that this carnal cur
Preys on the issue of his mother’s body
60 And makes her pew-fellow with others' moan!
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QUEEN MARGARET Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Richard killed him
Then forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept
A hellhound that doth hunt us all to death—
That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes,
To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood;
That excellent grand tyrant of the earth,
That reigns in gallèd eyes of weeping souls;
That foul defacer of God’s handiwork
Thy womb let loose to chase us to our graves.
O upright, just, and true-disposing God,
How do I thank thee that this carnal cur
Preys on the issue of his mother’s body
And makes her pew-fellow with others' moan!
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DUCHESS O Harry’s wife, triumph not in my woes!
God witness with me, I have wept for thine.
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DUCHESS O Harry’s wife, triumph not in my woes!
God witness with me, I have wept for thine.
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QUEEN MARGARET Bear with me, I am hungry for revenge,
And now I cloy me with beholding it.
65 Thy Edward he is dead, that killed my Edward,
Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward;
Young York, he is but boot, because both they
Matched not the high perfection of my loss.
Thy Clarence he is dead that stabbed my Edward,
70 And the beholders of this frantic play,
Th' adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey,
Untimely smothered in their dusky graves.
Richard yet lives, hell’s black intelligencer,
Only reserved their factor to buy souls
75 And send them thither. But at hand, at hand
Ensues his piteous and unpitied end.
Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray,
To have him suddenly conveyed from hence.
Cancel his bond of life, dear God I pray,
80 That I may live to say, “The dog is dead.”
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QUEEN MARGARET Bear with me, I am hungry for revenge,
And now I cloy me with beholding it.
Thy Edward he is dead, that killed my Edward,
Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward;
Young York, he is but boot, because both they
Matched not the high perfection of my loss.
Thy Clarence he is dead that stabbed my Edward,
And the beholders of this frantic play,
Th' adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey,
Untimely smothered in their dusky graves.
Richard yet lives, hell’s black intelligencer,
Only reserved their factor to buy souls
And send them thither. But at hand, at hand
Ensues his piteous and unpitied end.
Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray,
To have him suddenly conveyed from hence.
Cancel his bond of life, dear God I pray,
That I may live to say, “The dog is dead.”
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QUEEN ELIZABETH O, thou didst prophesy the time would come
That I should wish for thee to help me curse
That bottled spider, that foul bunch-backed toad!
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QUEEN ELIZABETH O, thou didst prophesy the time would come
That I should wish for thee to help me curse
That bottled spider, that foul bunch-backed toad!
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QUEEN MARGARET I called thee then “vain flourish of my fortune.”
85 I called thee then poor shadow, “painted queen,”
The presentation of but what I was,
The flattering index of a direful pageant,
One heaved a-high, to be hurled down below,
A mother only mocked with two fair babes,
90 A dream of what thou wast, a garish flag
To be the aim of every dangerous shot,
A sign of dignity, a breath, a bubble,
A queen in jest, only to fill the scene.
Where is thy husband now? Where be thy brothers?
95 Where are thy two sons? Wherein dost thou joy?
Who sues and kneels and says “God save the queen?”
Where be the bending peers that flattered thee?
Where be the thronging troops that followed thee?
Decline all this, and see what now thou art:
100 For happy wife, a most distressèd widow;
For joyful mother, one that wails the name;
For queen, a very caitiff crowned with care;
For she that scorned at me, now scorned of me;
For she being feared of all, now fearing one;
105 For she commanding all, obeyed of none.
Thus hath the course of justice whirled about
And left thee but a very prey to time,
Having no more but thought of what thou wast
To torture thee the more, being what thou art.
110 Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not
Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?
Now thy proud neck bears half my burdened yoke,
From which even here I slip my weary head
And leave the burthen of it all on thee.
115 Farewell, York’s wife, and queen of sad mischance.
These English woes will make me smile in France.
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QUEEN MARGARET I called thee then “vain flourish of my fortune.”
I called thee then poor shadow, “painted queen,”
The presentation of but what I was,
The flattering index of a direful pageant,
One heaved a-high, to be hurled down below,
A mother only mocked with two fair babes,
A dream of what thou wast, a garish flag
To be the aim of every dangerous shot,
A sign of dignity, a breath, a bubble,
A queen in jest, only to fill the scene.
Where is thy husband now? Where be thy brothers?
Where are thy two sons? Wherein dost thou joy?
Who sues and kneels and says “God save the queen?”
Where be the bending peers that flattered thee?
Where be the thronging troops that followed thee?
Decline all this, and see what now thou art:
For happy wife, a most distressèd widow;
For joyful mother, one that wails the name;
For queen, a very caitiff crowned with care;
For she that scorned at me, now scorned of me;
For she being feared of all, now fearing one;
For she commanding all, obeyed of none.
Thus hath the course of justice whirled about
And left thee but a very prey to time,
Having no more but thought of what thou wast
To torture thee the more, being what thou art.
Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not
Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?
Now thy proud neck bears half my burdened yoke,
From which even here I slip my weary head
And leave the burthen of it all on thee.
Farewell, York’s wife, and queen of sad mischance.
These English woes will make me smile in France.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH O, thou well-skilled in curses, stay awhile,
And teach me how to curse mine enemies.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH O, thou well-skilled in curses, stay awhile,
And teach me how to curse mine enemies.
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QUEEN MARGARET Forbear to sleep the nights, and fast the days;
120 Compare dead happiness with living woe;
Think that thy babes were sweeter than they were,
And he that slew them fouler than he is.
Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse.
Revolving this will teach thee how to curse.
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QUEEN MARGARET Forbear to sleep the nights, and fast the days;
Compare dead happiness with living woe;
Think that thy babes were sweeter than they were,
And he that slew them fouler than he is.
Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse.
Revolving this will teach thee how to curse.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH 125 My words are dull. O, quicken them with thine!
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QUEEN ELIZABETH My words are dull. O, quicken them with thine!
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QUEEN MARGARET Thy woes will make them sharp and pierce like mine.
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QUEEN MARGARET Thy woes will make them sharp and pierce like mine.
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Exit
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Exit
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DUCHESS Why should calamity be full of words?
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DUCHESS Why should calamity be full of words?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Windy attorneys to their clients' woes,
Airy succeeders of intestate joys,
130 Poor breathing orators of miseries,
Let them have scope, though what they will impart
Help nothing else, yet do they ease the heart.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Windy attorneys to their clients' woes,
Airy succeeders of intestate joys,
Poor breathing orators of miseries,
Let them have scope, though what they will impart
Help nothing else, yet do they ease the heart.
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DUCHESS If so, then be not tongue-tied. Go with me,
And in the breath of bitter words let’s smother
135 My damnèd son that thy two sweet sons smothered.
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DUCHESS If so, then be not tongue-tied. Go with me,
And in the breath of bitter words let’s smother
My damnèd son that thy two sweet sons smothered.
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A trumpet sounds
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A trumpet sounds
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The trumpet sounds. Be copious in exclaims.
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The trumpet sounds. Be copious in exclaims.
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They rise
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They rise
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Enter King RICHARD and his train, including CATESBY
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Enter King RICHARD and his train, including CATESBY
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RICHARD Who intercepts my expedition?
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RICHARD Who intercepts my expedition?
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DUCHESS O, she that might have intercepted thee,
By strangling thee in her accursèd womb,
140 From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done.
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DUCHESS O, she that might have intercepted thee,
By strangling thee in her accursèd womb,
From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Hid’st thou that forehead with a golden crown
Where should be branded, if that right were right,
The slaughter of the prince that owed that crown
And the dire death of my poor sons and brothers?
145 Tell me, thou villain-slave, where are my children?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Hid’st thou that forehead with a golden crown
Where should be branded, if that right were right,
The slaughter of the prince that owed that crown
And the dire death of my poor sons and brothers?
Tell me, thou villain-slave, where are my children?
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DUCHESS Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy brother Clarence?
And little Ned Plantagenet his son?
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DUCHESS Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy brother Clarence?
And little Ned Plantagenet his son?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Where is gentle Rivers, Vaughan, Grey?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Where is gentle Rivers, Vaughan, Grey?
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DUCHESS Where is kind Hastings?
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DUCHESS Where is kind Hastings?
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RICHARD 150 A flourish, trumpets! Strike alarum, drums!
Let not the heavens hear these telltale women
Rail on the Lord’s anointed. Strike, I say!
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RICHARD A flourish, trumpets! Strike alarum, drums!
Let not the heavens hear these telltale women
Rail on the Lord’s anointed. Strike, I say!
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Flourish. Alarums
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Flourish. Alarums
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Either be patient and entreat me fair,
Or with the clamorous report of war
155 Thus will I drown your exclamations.
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Either be patient and entreat me fair,
Or with the clamorous report of war
Thus will I drown your exclamations.
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DUCHESS Art thou my son?
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DUCHESS Art thou my son?
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RICHARD Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself.
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RICHARD Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself.
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DUCHESS Then patiently hear my impatience.
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DUCHESS Then patiently hear my impatience.
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RICHARD Madam, I have a touch of your condition,
160 Which cannot brook the accent of reproof.
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RICHARD Madam, I have a touch of your condition,
Which cannot brook the accent of reproof.
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DUCHESS O, let me speak!
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DUCHESS O, let me speak!
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RICHARD Do then, but I’ll not hear.
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RICHARD Do then, but I’ll not hear.
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DUCHESS I will be mild and gentle in my words.
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DUCHESS I will be mild and gentle in my words.
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RICHARD And brief, good mother, for I am in haste.
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RICHARD And brief, good mother, for I am in haste.
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DUCHESS Art thou so hasty? I have stayed for thee,
165 God knows, in torment and in agony.
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DUCHESS Art thou so hasty? I have stayed for thee,
God knows, in torment and in agony.
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RICHARD And came I not at last to comfort you?
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RICHARD And came I not at last to comfort you?
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DUCHESS No, by the Holy Rood, thou know’st it well.
Thou cam’st on earth to make the earth my hell.
A grievous burden was thy birth to me;
170 Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy;
Thy school days frightful, desp'rate, wild, and furious;
Thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous;
Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle, sly, and bloody,
More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred.
175 What comfortable hour canst thou name,
That ever graced me in thy company?
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DUCHESS No, by the Holy Rood, thou know’st it well.
Thou cam’st on earth to make the earth my hell.
A grievous burden was thy birth to me;
Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy;
Thy school days frightful, desp'rate, wild, and furious;
Thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous;
Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle, sly, and bloody,
More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred.
What comfortable hour canst thou name,
That ever graced me in thy company?
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RICHARD Faith, none but Humfrey Hower, that called your Grace
To breakfast once, forth of my company.
If I be so disgracious in your eye,
180 Let me march on and not offend you, madam.—
Strike up the drum.
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RICHARD Faith, none but Humfrey Hower, that called your Grace
To breakfast once, forth of my company.
If I be so disgracious in your eye,
Let me march on and not offend you, madam.—
Strike up the drum.
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DUCHESS I prithee, hear me speak.
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DUCHESS I prithee, hear me speak.
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RICHARD You speak too bitterly.
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RICHARD You speak too bitterly.
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DUCHESS Hear me a word,
For I shall never speak to thee again.
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DUCHESS Hear me a word,
For I shall never speak to thee again.
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RICHARD So.
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RICHARD So.
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DUCHESS 185 Either thou wilt die by God’s just ordinance
Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror,
Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish
And nevermore behold thy face again.
Therefore take with thee my most grievous curse,
190 Which in the day of battle tire thee more
Than all the complete armor that thou wear’st.
My prayers on the adverse party fight,
And there the little souls of Edward’s children
Whisper the spirits of thine enemies
195 And promise them success and victory.
Bloody thou art; bloody will be thy end.
Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend.
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DUCHESS Either thou wilt die by God’s just ordinance
Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror,
Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish
And nevermore behold thy face again.
Therefore take with thee my most grievous curse,
Which in the day of battle tire thee more
Than all the complete armor that thou wear’st.
My prayers on the adverse party fight,
And there the little souls of Edward’s children
Whisper the spirits of thine enemies
And promise them success and victory.
Bloody thou art; bloody will be thy end.
Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend.
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Exit
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Exit
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Though far more cause, yet much less spirit to curse
Abides in me. I say amen to her.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Though far more cause, yet much less spirit to curse
Abides in me. I say amen to her.
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RICHARD 200 Stay, madam. I must talk a word with you.
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RICHARD Stay, madam. I must talk a word with you.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH I have no more sons of the royal blood
For thee to slaughter. For my daughters, Richard,
They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens,
And therefore level not to hit their lives.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH I have no more sons of the royal blood
For thee to slaughter. For my daughters, Richard,
They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens,
And therefore level not to hit their lives.
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RICHARD 205 You have a daughter called Elizabeth,
Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.
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RICHARD You have a daughter called Elizabeth,
Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH And must she die for this? O, let her live,
And I’ll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty,
Slander myself as false to Edward’s bed,
210 Throw over her the veil of infamy.
So she may live unscarred of bleeding slaughter,
I will confess she was not Edward’s daughter.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH And must she die for this? O, let her live,
And I’ll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty,
Slander myself as false to Edward’s bed,
Throw over her the veil of infamy.
So she may live unscarred of bleeding slaughter,
I will confess she was not Edward’s daughter.
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RICHARD Wrong not her birth. She is a royal princess.
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RICHARD Wrong not her birth. She is a royal princess.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH To save her life, I’ll say she is not so.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH To save her life, I’ll say she is not so.
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RICHARD 215 Her life is safest only in her birth.
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RICHARD Her life is safest only in her birth.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH And only in that safety died her brothers.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH And only in that safety died her brothers.
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RICHARD Lo, at their births good stars were opposite.
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RICHARD Lo, at their births good stars were opposite.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH No, to their lives ill friends were contrary.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH No, to their lives ill friends were contrary.
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RICHARD All unavoided is the doom of destiny.
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RICHARD All unavoided is the doom of destiny.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH 220 True, when avoided grace makes destiny.
My babes were destined to a fairer death
If grace had blessed thee with a fairer life.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH True, when avoided grace makes destiny.
My babes were destined to a fairer death
If grace had blessed thee with a fairer life.
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RICHARD You speak as if that I had slain my cousins.
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RICHARD You speak as if that I had slain my cousins.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Cousins, indeed, and by their uncle cozened
225 Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life.
Whose hand soever launched their tender hearts,
Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction.
No doubt the murd'rous knife was dull and blunt
Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart,
230 To revel in the entrails of my lambs.
But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame,
My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys
Till that my nails were anchored in thine eyes,
And I, in such a desp'rate bay of death,
235 Like a poor bark of sails and tackling reft,
Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Cousins, indeed, and by their uncle cozened
Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life.
Whose hand soever launched their tender hearts,
Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction.
No doubt the murd'rous knife was dull and blunt
Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart,
To revel in the entrails of my lambs.
But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame,
My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys
Till that my nails were anchored in thine eyes,
And I, in such a desp'rate bay of death,
Like a poor bark of sails and tackling reft,
Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom.
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RICHARD Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise
And dangerous success of bloody wars
As I intend more good to you and yours
240 Than ever you or yours were by me harmed!
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RICHARD Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise
And dangerous success of bloody wars
As I intend more good to you and yours
Than ever you or yours were by me harmed!
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QUEEN ELIZABETH What good is covered with the face of heaven,
To be discovered, that can do me good?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH What good is covered with the face of heaven,
To be discovered, that can do me good?
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RICHARD The advancement of your children, gentle lady.
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RICHARD The advancement of your children, gentle lady.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Up to some scaffold, there to lose their heads.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Up to some scaffold, there to lose their heads.
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RICHARD 245 Unto the dignity and height of fortune,
The high imperial type of this earth’s glory.
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RICHARD Unto the dignity and height of fortune,
The high imperial type of this earth’s glory.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Flatter my sorrow with report of it.
Tell me what state, what dignity, what honor,
Canst thou demise to any child of mine?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Flatter my sorrow with report of it.
Tell me what state, what dignity, what honor,
Canst thou demise to any child of mine?
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RICHARD 250 Even all I have— ay, and myself and all—
Will I withal endow a child of thine;
So in the Lethe of thy angry soul
Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs
Which thou supposest I have done to thee.
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RICHARD Even all I have— ay, and myself and all—
Will I withal endow a child of thine;
So in the Lethe of thy angry soul
Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs
Which thou supposest I have done to thee.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH 255 Be brief, lest that the process of thy kindness
Last longer telling than thy kindness' date.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Be brief, lest that the process of thy kindness
Last longer telling than thy kindness' date.
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RICHARD Then know that from my soul I love thy daughter.
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RICHARD Then know that from my soul I love thy daughter.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH My daughter’s mother thinks it with her soul.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH My daughter’s mother thinks it with her soul.
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|
RICHARD What do you think?
|
RICHARD What do you think?
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 260 That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul.
So from thy soul’s love didst thou love her brothers,
And from my heart’s love I do thank thee for it.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul.
So from thy soul’s love didst thou love her brothers,
And from my heart’s love I do thank thee for it.
|
|
RICHARD Be not so hasty to confound my meaning.
I mean that with my soul I love thy daughter
265 And do intend to make her Queen of England.
|
RICHARD Be not so hasty to confound my meaning.
I mean that with my soul I love thy daughter
And do intend to make her Queen of England.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Well then, who dost thou mean shall be her king?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Well then, who dost thou mean shall be her king?
|
|
RICHARD Even he that makes her queen. Who else should be?
|
RICHARD Even he that makes her queen. Who else should be?
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH What, thou?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH What, thou?
|
|
RICHARD Even so. How think you of it?
|
RICHARD Even so. How think you of it?
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 270 How canst thou woo her?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH How canst thou woo her?
|
|
RICHARD That would I learn of you,
As one being best acquainted with her humor.
|
RICHARD That would I learn of you,
As one being best acquainted with her humor.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH And wilt thou learn of me?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH And wilt thou learn of me?
|
|
RICHARD Madam, with all my heart.
|
RICHARD Madam, with all my heart.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers,
275 A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrave
“Edward” and “York.” Then haply she will weep.
Therefore present to her—as sometime Margaret
Did to thy father, steeped in Rutland’s blood—
A handkerchief, which say to her did drain
280 The purple sap from her sweet brother’s body,
And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withal.
If this inducement move her not to love,
Send her a letter of thy noble deeds;
Tell her thou mad’st away her uncle Clarence,
285 Her uncle Rivers, ay, and for her sake
Mad’st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers,
A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrave
“Edward” and “York.” Then haply she will weep.
Therefore present to her—as sometime Margaret
Did to thy father, steeped in Rutland’s blood—
A handkerchief, which say to her did drain
The purple sap from her sweet brother’s body,
And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withal.
If this inducement move her not to love,
Send her a letter of thy noble deeds;
Tell her thou mad’st away her uncle Clarence,
Her uncle Rivers, ay, and for her sake
Mad’st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne.
|
|
RICHARD You mock me, madam. This is not the way
To win your daughter.
|
RICHARD You mock me, madam. This is not the way
To win your daughter.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH There is no other way,
Unless thou couldst put on some other shape
290 And not be Richard, that hath done all this.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH There is no other way,
Unless thou couldst put on some other shape
And not be Richard, that hath done all this.
|
|
RICHARD Say that I did all this for love of her.
|
RICHARD Say that I did all this for love of her.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee,
Having bought love with such a bloody spoil.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee,
Having bought love with such a bloody spoil.
|
|
RICHARD Look what is done cannot be now amended.
295 Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,
Which after-hours give leisure to repent.
If I did take the kingdom from your sons,
To make amends I’ll give it to your daughter.
If I have killed the issue of your womb,
300 To quicken your increase I will beget
Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter.
A grandam’s name is little less in love
Than is the doting title of a mother.
They are as children but one step below,
305 Even of your metal, of your very blood,
Of all one pain, save for a night of groans
Endured of her for whom you bid like sorrow.
Your children were vexation to your youth,
But mine shall be a comfort to your age.
310 The loss you have is but a son being king,
And by that loss your daughter is made queen.
I cannot make you what amends I would;
Therefore accept such kindness as I can.
Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul
315 Leads discontented steps in foreign soil,
This fair alliance quickly shall call home
To high promotions and great dignity.
The king that calls your beauteous daughter wife
Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother.
320 Again shall you be mother to a king,
And all the ruins of distressful times
Repaired with double riches of content.
What, we have many goodly days to see!
The liquid drops of tears that you have shed
325 Shall come again, transformed to orient pearl,
Advantaging their love with interest
Of ten times double gain of happiness.
Go then, my mother; to thy daughter go.
|
RICHARD Look what is done cannot be now amended.
Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,
Which after-hours give leisure to repent.
If I did take the kingdom from your sons,
To make amends I’ll give it to your daughter.
If I have killed the issue of your womb,
To quicken your increase I will beget
Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter.
A grandam’s name is little less in love
Than is the doting title of a mother.
They are as children but one step below,
Even of your metal, of your very blood,
Of all one pain, save for a night of groans
Endured of her for whom you bid like sorrow.
Your children were vexation to your youth,
But mine shall be a comfort to your age.
The loss you have is but a son being king,
And by that loss your daughter is made queen.
I cannot make you what amends I would;
Therefore accept such kindness as I can.
Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul
Leads discontented steps in foreign soil,
This fair alliance quickly shall call home
To high promotions and great dignity.
The king that calls your beauteous daughter wife
Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother.
Again shall you be mother to a king,
And all the ruins of distressful times
Repaired with double riches of content.
What, we have many goodly days to see!
The liquid drops of tears that you have shed
Shall come again, transformed to orient pearl,
Advantaging their love with interest
Of ten times double gain of happiness.
Go then, my mother; to thy daughter go.
|
|
Make bold her bashful years with your experience;
330 Prepare her ears to hear a wooer’s tale;
Put in her tender heart th' aspiring flame
Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the Princess
With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys;
And when this arm of mine hath chastisèd
335 The petty rebel, dull-brained Buckingham,
Bound with triumphant garlands will I come
And lead thy daughter to a conqueror’s bed,
To whom I will retail my conquest won,
And she shall be sole victoress, Caesar’s Caesar.
|
Make bold her bashful years with your experience;
Prepare her ears to hear a wooer’s tale;
Put in her tender heart th' aspiring flame
Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the Princess
With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys;
And when this arm of mine hath chastisèd
The petty rebel, dull-brained Buckingham,
Bound with triumphant garlands will I come
And lead thy daughter to a conqueror’s bed,
To whom I will retail my conquest won,
And she shall be sole victoress, Caesar’s Caesar.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 340 What were I best to say? Her father’s brother
Would be her lord? Or shall I say her uncle?
Or he that slew her brothers and her uncles?
Under what title shall I woo for thee,
That God, the law, my honor and her love
345 Can make seem pleasing to her tender years?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH What were I best to say? Her father’s brother
Would be her lord? Or shall I say her uncle?
Or he that slew her brothers and her uncles?
Under what title shall I woo for thee,
That God, the law, my honor and her love
Can make seem pleasing to her tender years?
|
|
RICHARD Infer fair England’s peace by this alliance.
|
RICHARD Infer fair England’s peace by this alliance.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Which she shall purchase with still-lasting war.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Which she shall purchase with still-lasting war.
|
|
RICHARD Tell her the king, that may command, entreats—
|
RICHARD Tell her the king, that may command, entreats—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH That, at her hands, which the king’s King forbids.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH That, at her hands, which the king’s King forbids.
|
|
RICHARD 350 Say she shall be a high and mighty queen.
|
RICHARD Say she shall be a high and mighty queen.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH To vail the title, as her mother doth.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH To vail the title, as her mother doth.
|
|
RICHARD Say I will love her everlastingly.
|
RICHARD Say I will love her everlastingly.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH But how long shall that title “ever” last?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH But how long shall that title “ever” last?
|
|
RICHARD Sweetly in force unto her fair life’s end.
|
RICHARD Sweetly in force unto her fair life’s end.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 355 But how long fairly shall her sweet life last?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH But how long fairly shall her sweet life last?
|
|
RICHARD As long as heaven and nature lengthens it.
|
RICHARD As long as heaven and nature lengthens it.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH As long as hell and Richard likes of it.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH As long as hell and Richard likes of it.
|
|
RICHARD Say I, her sovereign, am her subject low.
|
RICHARD Say I, her sovereign, am her subject low.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty.
|
|
RICHARD 360 Be eloquent in my behalf to her.
|
RICHARD Be eloquent in my behalf to her.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.
|
|
RICHARD Then plainly to her tell my loving tale.
|
RICHARD Then plainly to her tell my loving tale.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Plain and not honest is too harsh a style.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Plain and not honest is too harsh a style.
|
|
RICHARD Your reasons are too shallow and too quick.
|
RICHARD Your reasons are too shallow and too quick.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 365 O no, my reasons are too deep and dead—
Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their graves.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH O no, my reasons are too deep and dead—
Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their graves.
|
|
RICHARD Harp not on that string, madam; that is past.
|
RICHARD Harp not on that string, madam; that is past.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break.
|
|
RICHARD Now by my George, my Garter, and my crown—
|
RICHARD Now by my George, my Garter, and my crown—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 370 Profaned, dishonored, and the third usurped.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Profaned, dishonored, and the third usurped.
|
|
RICHARD I swear—
|
RICHARD I swear—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH By nothing, for this is no oath.
Thy George, profaned, hath lost his lordly honor;
Thy garter, blemished, pawned his knightly virtue;
Thy crown, usurped, disgraced his kingly glory.
375 If something thou wouldst swear to be believed,
Swear then by something that thou hast not wronged.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH By nothing, for this is no oath.
Thy George, profaned, hath lost his lordly honor;
Thy garter, blemished, pawned his knightly virtue;
Thy crown, usurped, disgraced his kingly glory.
If something thou wouldst swear to be believed,
Swear then by something that thou hast not wronged.
|
|
RICHARD Then, by myself—
|
RICHARD Then, by myself—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thyself is self-misused.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thyself is self-misused.
|
|
RICHARD Now, by the world—
|
RICHARD Now, by the world—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs.
|
|
RICHARD My father’s death—
|
RICHARD My father’s death—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thy life hath it dishonored.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thy life hath it dishonored.
|
|
RICHARD 380 Why then, by God.
|
RICHARD Why then, by God.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH God’s wrong is most of all.
If thou didst fear to break an oath by Him,
The unity the king my husband made
Thou hadst not broken, nor my brothers died.
If thou hadst feared to break an oath by Him,
385 Th' imperial metal circling now thy head
Had graced the tender temples of my child,
And both the princes had been breathing here,
Which now, two tender bedfellows for dust,
Thy broken faith hath made the prey for worms.
390 What canst thou swear by now?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH God’s wrong is most of all.
If thou didst fear to break an oath by Him,
The unity the king my husband made
Thou hadst not broken, nor my brothers died.
If thou hadst feared to break an oath by Him,
Th' imperial metal circling now thy head
Had graced the tender temples of my child,
And both the princes had been breathing here,
Which now, two tender bedfellows for dust,
Thy broken faith hath made the prey for worms.
What canst thou swear by now?
|
|
RICHARD The time to come.
|
RICHARD The time to come.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH That thou hast wrongèd in the time o'erpast;
For I myself have many tears to wash
Hereafter time, for time past wronged by thee.
The children live whose fathers thou hast slaughtered,
395 Ungoverned youth, to wail it in their age;
The parents live whose children thou hast butchered,
Old barren plants, to wail it with their age.
Swear not by time to come, for that thou hast
Misused ere used, by times ill-used o'erpast.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH That thou hast wrongèd in the time o'erpast;
For I myself have many tears to wash
Hereafter time, for time past wronged by thee.
The children live whose fathers thou hast slaughtered,
Ungoverned youth, to wail it in their age;
The parents live whose children thou hast butchered,
Old barren plants, to wail it with their age.
Swear not by time to come, for that thou hast
Misused ere used, by times ill-used o'erpast.
|
|
RICHARD 400 As I intend to prosper and repent,
So thrive I in my dangerous affairs
Of hostile arms! Myself myself confound,
Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours,
Day, yield me not thy light, nor night thy rest,
405 Be opposite all planets of good luck
To my proceedings if, with dear heart’s love,
Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts,
I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter.
In her consists my happiness and thine.
410 Without her follows to myself and thee,
Herself, the land, and many a Christian soul,
Death, desolation, ruin and decay.
It cannot be avoided but by this;
It will not be avoided but by this.
415 Therefore, dear mother—I must call you so—
Be the attorney of my love to her:
Plead what I will be, not what I have been;
Not my deserts, but what I will deserve.
Urge the necessity and state of times,
420 And be not peevish found in great designs.
|
RICHARD As I intend to prosper and repent,
So thrive I in my dangerous affairs
Of hostile arms! Myself myself confound,
Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours,
Day, yield me not thy light, nor night thy rest,
Be opposite all planets of good luck
To my proceedings if, with dear heart’s love,
Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts,
I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter.
In her consists my happiness and thine.
Without her follows to myself and thee,
Herself, the land, and many a Christian soul,
Death, desolation, ruin and decay.
It cannot be avoided but by this;
It will not be avoided but by this.
Therefore, dear mother—I must call you so—
Be the attorney of my love to her:
Plead what I will be, not what I have been;
Not my deserts, but what I will deserve.
Urge the necessity and state of times,
And be not peevish found in great designs.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?
|
|
RICHARD Ay, if the devil tempt you to do good.
|
RICHARD Ay, if the devil tempt you to do good.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I forget myself to be myself?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I forget myself to be myself?
|
|
RICHARD Ay, if your self’s remembrance wrong yourself.
|
RICHARD Ay, if your self’s remembrance wrong yourself.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 425 Yet thou didst kill my children.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Yet thou didst kill my children.
|
|
RICHARD But in your daughter’s womb I bury them,
Where, in that nest of spicery, they will breed
Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.
|
RICHARD But in your daughter’s womb I bury them,
Where, in that nest of spicery, they will breed
Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I go win my daughter to thy will?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I go win my daughter to thy will?
|
|
RICHARD 430 And be a happy mother by the deed.
|
RICHARD And be a happy mother by the deed.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH I go. Write to me very shortly,
And you shall understand from me her mind.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH I go. Write to me very shortly,
And you shall understand from me her mind.
|
|
RICHARD Bear her my true love’s kiss; and so, farewell.
|
RICHARD Bear her my true love’s kiss; and so, farewell.
|
|
Exit QUEEN ELIZABETH
|
Exit QUEEN ELIZABETH
|
|
Relenting fool and shallow, changing woman!
|
Relenting fool and shallow, changing woman!
|
|
Enter RATCLIFFE , with CATESBY behind
|
Enter RATCLIFFE , with CATESBY behind
|
|
435 How now, what news?
|
How now, what news?
|
|
RATCLIFFE Most mighty sovereign, on the western coast
Rideth a puissant navy. To our shores
Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends,
Unarmed and unresolved to beat them back.
440 'Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral;
And there they hull, expecting but the aid
Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore.
|
RATCLIFFE Most mighty sovereign, on the western coast
Rideth a puissant navy. To our shores
Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends,
Unarmed and unresolved to beat them back.
'Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral;
And there they hull, expecting but the aid
Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore.
|
|
RICHARD Some light-foot friend post to the duke of Norfolk—
Ratcliffe, thyself, or Catesby. Where is he?
|
RICHARD Some light-foot friend post to the duke of Norfolk—
Ratcliffe, thyself, or Catesby. Where is he?
|
|
CATESBY 445 Here, my good lord.
|
CATESBY Here, my good lord.
|
|
RICHARD Catesby, fly to the duke.
|
RICHARD Catesby, fly to the duke.
|
|
CATESBY I will, my lord, with all convenient haste.
|
CATESBY I will, my lord, with all convenient haste.
|
|
RICHARD Ratcliffe, come hither. Post to Salisbury.
When thou com’st thither
450 — (to CATESBY) Dull, unmindful villain,
Why stay’st thou here and go’st not to the duke?
|
RICHARD Ratcliffe, come hither. Post to Salisbury.
When thou com’st thither
— (to CATESBY) Dull, unmindful villain,
Why stay’st thou here and go’st not to the duke?
|
|
CATESBY First, mighty liege, tell me your Highness' pleasure,
What from your Grace I shall deliver to him.
|
CATESBY First, mighty liege, tell me your Highness' pleasure,
What from your Grace I shall deliver to him.
|
|
RICHARD O true, good Catesby. Bid him levy straight
455 The greatest strength and power that he can make
And meet me suddenly at Salisbury.
|
RICHARD O true, good Catesby. Bid him levy straight
The greatest strength and power that he can make
And meet me suddenly at Salisbury.
|
|
CATESBY I go.
|
CATESBY I go.
|
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
|
RATCLIFFE What, may it please you, shall I do at Salisbury?
|
RATCLIFFE What, may it please you, shall I do at Salisbury?
|
|
RICHARD Why, what wouldst thou do there before I go?
|
RICHARD Why, what wouldst thou do there before I go?
|
|
RATCLIFFE 460 Your Highness told me I should post before.
|
RATCLIFFE Your Highness told me I should post before.
|
|
RICHARD My mind is changed.
|
RICHARD My mind is changed.
|
|
Enter STANLEY
|
Enter STANLEY
|
|
Stanley, what news with you?
|
Stanley, what news with you?
|
|
STANLEY None good, my liege, to please you with the hearing,
Nor none so bad but well may be reported.
|
STANLEY None good, my liege, to please you with the hearing,
Nor none so bad but well may be reported.
|
|
RICHARD Hoyday, a riddle! Neither good nor bad.
465 What need’st thou run so many mile about
When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way?
Once more, what news?
|
RICHARD Hoyday, a riddle! Neither good nor bad.
What need’st thou run so many mile about
When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way?
Once more, what news?
|
|
STANLEY Richmond is on the seas.
|
STANLEY Richmond is on the seas.
|
|
RICHARD There let him sink, and be the seas on him!
White-livered runagate, what doth he there?
|
RICHARD There let him sink, and be the seas on him!
White-livered runagate, what doth he there?
|
|
STANLEY 470 I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess.
|
STANLEY I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess.
|
|
RICHARD Well, as you guess?
|
RICHARD Well, as you guess?
|
|
STANLEY Stirred up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton,
He makes for England, here to claim the crown.
|
STANLEY Stirred up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton,
He makes for England, here to claim the crown.
|
|
RICHARD Is the chair empty? Is the sword unswayed?
475 Is the king dead, the empire unpossessed?
What heir of York is there alive but we?
And who is England’s king but great York’s heir?
Then tell me, what makes he upon the seas?
|
RICHARD Is the chair empty? Is the sword unswayed?
Is the king dead, the empire unpossessed?
What heir of York is there alive but we?
And who is England’s king but great York’s heir?
Then tell me, what makes he upon the seas?
|
|
STANLEY Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.
|
STANLEY Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.
|
|
RICHARD 480 Unless for that he comes to be your liege,
You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes.
Thou wilt revolt and fly to him, I fear.
|
RICHARD Unless for that he comes to be your liege,
You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes.
Thou wilt revolt and fly to him, I fear.
|
|
STANLEY No, my good lord. Therefore mistrust me not.
|
STANLEY No, my good lord. Therefore mistrust me not.
|
|
RICHARD Where is thy power, then, to beat him back?
485 Where be thy tenants and thy followers?
Are they not now upon the western shore,
Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships?
|
RICHARD Where is thy power, then, to beat him back?
Where be thy tenants and thy followers?
Are they not now upon the western shore,
Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships?
|
|
STANLEY No, my good lord. My friends are in the north.
|
STANLEY No, my good lord. My friends are in the north.
|
|
RICHARD Cold friends to me. What do they in the north
490 When they should serve their sovereign in the west?
|
RICHARD Cold friends to me. What do they in the north
When they should serve their sovereign in the west?
|
|
STANLEY They have not been commanded, mighty king.
Pleaseth your Majesty to give me leave,
I’ll muster up my friends and meet your Grace
Where and what time your Majesty shall please.
|
STANLEY They have not been commanded, mighty king.
Pleaseth your Majesty to give me leave,
I’ll muster up my friends and meet your Grace
Where and what time your Majesty shall please.
|
|
RICHARD 495 Ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond,
But I’ll not trust thee.
|
RICHARD Ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond,
But I’ll not trust thee.
|
|
STANLEY Most mighty sovereign,
You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful.
I never was nor never will be false.
|
STANLEY Most mighty sovereign,
You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful.
I never was nor never will be false.
|
|
RICHARD Go then and muster men, but leave behind
500 Your son George Stanley. Look your heart be firm.
Or else his head’s assurance is but frail.
|
RICHARD Go then and muster men, but leave behind
Your son George Stanley. Look your heart be firm.
Or else his head’s assurance is but frail.
|
|
STANLEY So deal with him as I prove true to you.
|
STANLEY So deal with him as I prove true to you.
|
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
|
Enter a MESSENGER
|
Enter a MESSENGER
|
|
MESSENGER My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire,
As I by friends am well advertisèd,
505 Sir Edward Courtney and the haughty prelate,
Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother,
With many more confederates are in arms.
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MESSENGER My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire,
As I by friends am well advertisèd,
Sir Edward Courtney and the haughty prelate,
Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother,
With many more confederates are in arms.
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Enter SECOND MESSENGER
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Enter SECOND MESSENGER
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SECOND MESSENGER In Kent, my liege, the Guilfords are in arms,
And every hour more competitors
510 Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong.
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SECOND MESSENGER In Kent, my liege, the Guilfords are in arms,
And every hour more competitors
Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong.
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Enter THIRD MESSENGER
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Enter THIRD MESSENGER
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THIRD MESSENGER My lord, the army of great Buckingham—
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THIRD MESSENGER My lord, the army of great Buckingham—
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RICHARD Out on you, owls! Nothing but songs of death.
He striketh him
There, take thou that till thou bring better news.
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RICHARD Out on you, owls! Nothing but songs of death.
He striketh him
There, take thou that till thou bring better news.
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THIRD MESSENGER 515 The news I have to tell your Majesty
Is that by sudden floods and fall of waters
Buckingham’s army is dispersed and scattered,
And he himself wandered away alone,
No man knows whither.
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THIRD MESSENGER The news I have to tell your Majesty
Is that by sudden floods and fall of waters
Buckingham’s army is dispersed and scattered,
And he himself wandered away alone,
No man knows whither.
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RICHARD I cry thee mercy.
520 There is my purse to cure that blow of thine.
He gives money
Hath any well-advisèd friend proclaimed
Reward to him that brings the traitor in?
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RICHARD I cry thee mercy.
There is my purse to cure that blow of thine.
He gives money
Hath any well-advisèd friend proclaimed
Reward to him that brings the traitor in?
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THIRD MESSENGER Such proclamation hath been made, my lord.
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THIRD MESSENGER Such proclamation hath been made, my lord.
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Enter FOURTH MESSENGER
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Enter FOURTH MESSENGER
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FOURTH MESSENGER 525 Sir Thomas Lovell and Lord Marquess Dorset,
'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms.
But this good comfort bring I to your Highness:
The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest.
Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat
530 Unto the shore to ask those on the banks
If they were his assistants, yea or no—
Who answered him they came from Buckingham
Upon his party. He, mistrusting them,
Hoisted sail and made his course for Brittany.
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FOURTH MESSENGER Sir Thomas Lovell and Lord Marquess Dorset,
'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms.
But this good comfort bring I to your Highness:
The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest.
Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat
Unto the shore to ask those on the banks
If they were his assistants, yea or no—
Who answered him they came from Buckingham
Upon his party. He, mistrusting them,
Hoisted sail and made his course for Brittany.
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RICHARD 535 March on, march on, since we are up in arms,
If not to fight with foreign enemies,
Yet to beat down these rebels here at home.
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RICHARD March on, march on, since we are up in arms,
If not to fight with foreign enemies,
Yet to beat down these rebels here at home.
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Enter CATESBY
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Enter CATESBY
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CATESBY My liege, the duke of Buckingham is taken.
That is the best news. That the earl of Richmond
540 Is with a mighty power landed at Milford,
Is colder tidings, yet they must be told.
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CATESBY My liege, the duke of Buckingham is taken.
That is the best news. That the earl of Richmond
Is with a mighty power landed at Milford,
Is colder tidings, yet they must be told.
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RICHARD Away towards Salisbury! While we reason here,
A royal battle might be won and lost.
Someone take order Buckingham be brought
545 To Salisbury. The rest march on with me.
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RICHARD Away towards Salisbury! While we reason here,
A royal battle might be won and lost.
Someone take order Buckingham be brought
To Salisbury. The rest march on with me.
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Flourish. Exeunt
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Flourish. Exeunt
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Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter old QUEEN MARGARET
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Enter old QUEEN MARGARET
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QUEEN MARGARET So now prosperity begins to mellow
And drop into the rotten mouth of death.
Here in these confines slyly have I lurked
To watch the waning of mine enemies.
5 A dire induction am I witness to,
And will to France, hoping the consequence
Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical.
Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret. Who comes here?
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QUEEN MARGARET So now prosperity begins to mellow
And drop into the rotten mouth of death.
Here in these confines slyly have I lurked
To watch the waning of mine enemies.
A dire induction am I witness to,
And will to France, hoping the consequence
Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical.
Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret. Who comes here?
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Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and the DUCHESS of York
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Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and the DUCHESS of York
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Ah, my poor princes! Ah, my tender babes,
10 My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets,
If yet your gentle souls fly in the air
And be not fixed in doom perpetual,
Hover about me with your airy wings
And hear your mother’s lamentation.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Ah, my poor princes! Ah, my tender babes,
My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets,
If yet your gentle souls fly in the air
And be not fixed in doom perpetual,
Hover about me with your airy wings
And hear your mother’s lamentation.
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QUEEN MARGARET 15 Hover about her; say that right for right
Hath dimmed your infant morn to agèd night.
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QUEEN MARGARET Hover about her; say that right for right
Hath dimmed your infant morn to agèd night.
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DUCHESS So many miseries have crazed my voice
That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute.
Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead?
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DUCHESS So many miseries have crazed my voice
That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute.
Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead?
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QUEEN MARGARET Edward for Edward pays a dying debt.
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QUEEN MARGARET Edward for Edward pays a dying debt.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Wilt thou, O God, fly from such gentle lambs
And throw them in the entrails of the wolf?
When didst thou sleep when such a deed was done?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Wilt thou, O God, fly from such gentle lambs
And throw them in the entrails of the wolf?
When didst thou sleep when such a deed was done?
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QUEEN MARGARET |
QUEEN MARGARET |
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DUCHESS (sitting down)
Dead life, blind sight, poor mortal living ghost,
Woe’s scene, world’s shame, grave’s due by life usurped,
Brief abstract and record of tedious days,
30 Rest thy unrest on England’s lawful earth,
Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood.
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DUCHESS (sitting down)
Dead life, blind sight, poor mortal living ghost,
Woe’s scene, world’s shame, grave’s due by life usurped,
Brief abstract and record of tedious days,
Rest thy unrest on England’s lawful earth,
Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH (sitting down beside her)
Ah, that thou wouldst as soon afford a grave
As thou canst yield a melancholy seat,
35 Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here.
O, who hath any cause to mourn but we?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH (sitting down beside her)
Ah, that thou wouldst as soon afford a grave
As thou canst yield a melancholy seat,
Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here.
O, who hath any cause to mourn but we?
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QUEEN MARGARET (joining them) If ancient sorrow be most reverend,
Give mine the benefit of seigniory,
And let my griefs frown on the upper hand.
40 If sorrow can admit society,
Tell o'er your woes again by viewing mine.
I had an Edward till a Richard killed him;
I had a husband till a Richard killed him.
Thou hadst an Edward till a Richard killed him;
45 Thou hadst a Richard till a Richard killed him.
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QUEEN MARGARET (joining them) If ancient sorrow be most reverend,
Give mine the benefit of seigniory,
And let my griefs frown on the upper hand.
If sorrow can admit society,
Tell o'er your woes again by viewing mine.
I had an Edward till a Richard killed him;
I had a husband till a Richard killed him.
Thou hadst an Edward till a Richard killed him;
Thou hadst a Richard till a Richard killed him.
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DUCHESS I had a Richard too, and thou did’st kill him;
I had a Rutland too; thou holp’st to kill him.
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DUCHESS I had a Richard too, and thou did’st kill him;
I had a Rutland too; thou holp’st to kill him.
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QUEEN MARGARET Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Richard killed him
Then forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept
50 A hellhound that doth hunt us all to death—
That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes,
To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood;
That excellent grand tyrant of the earth,
That reigns in gallèd eyes of weeping souls;
55 That foul defacer of God’s handiwork
Thy womb let loose to chase us to our graves.
O upright, just, and true-disposing God,
How do I thank thee that this carnal cur
Preys on the issue of his mother’s body
60 And makes her pew-fellow with others' moan!
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QUEEN MARGARET Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Richard killed him
Then forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept
A hellhound that doth hunt us all to death—
That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes,
To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood;
That excellent grand tyrant of the earth,
That reigns in gallèd eyes of weeping souls;
That foul defacer of God’s handiwork
Thy womb let loose to chase us to our graves.
O upright, just, and true-disposing God,
How do I thank thee that this carnal cur
Preys on the issue of his mother’s body
And makes her pew-fellow with others' moan!
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DUCHESS O Harry’s wife, triumph not in my woes!
God witness with me, I have wept for thine.
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DUCHESS O Harry’s wife, triumph not in my woes!
God witness with me, I have wept for thine.
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QUEEN MARGARET Bear with me, I am hungry for revenge,
And now I cloy me with beholding it.
65 Thy Edward he is dead, that killed my Edward,
Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward;
Young York, he is but boot, because both they
Matched not the high perfection of my loss.
Thy Clarence he is dead that stabbed my Edward,
70 And the beholders of this frantic play,
Th' adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey,
Untimely smothered in their dusky graves.
Richard yet lives, hell’s black intelligencer,
Only reserved their factor to buy souls
75 And send them thither. But at hand, at hand
Ensues his piteous and unpitied end.
Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray,
To have him suddenly conveyed from hence.
Cancel his bond of life, dear God I pray,
80 That I may live to say, “The dog is dead.”
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QUEEN MARGARET Bear with me, I am hungry for revenge,
And now I cloy me with beholding it.
Thy Edward he is dead, that killed my Edward,
Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward;
Young York, he is but boot, because both they
Matched not the high perfection of my loss.
Thy Clarence he is dead that stabbed my Edward,
And the beholders of this frantic play,
Th' adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey,
Untimely smothered in their dusky graves.
Richard yet lives, hell’s black intelligencer,
Only reserved their factor to buy souls
And send them thither. But at hand, at hand
Ensues his piteous and unpitied end.
Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray,
To have him suddenly conveyed from hence.
Cancel his bond of life, dear God I pray,
That I may live to say, “The dog is dead.”
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QUEEN ELIZABETH O, thou didst prophesy the time would come
That I should wish for thee to help me curse
That bottled spider, that foul bunch-backed toad!
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QUEEN ELIZABETH O, thou didst prophesy the time would come
That I should wish for thee to help me curse
That bottled spider, that foul bunch-backed toad!
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QUEEN MARGARET I called thee then “vain flourish of my fortune.”
85 I called thee then poor shadow, “painted queen,”
The presentation of but what I was,
The flattering index of a direful pageant,
One heaved a-high, to be hurled down below,
A mother only mocked with two fair babes,
90 A dream of what thou wast, a garish flag
To be the aim of every dangerous shot,
A sign of dignity, a breath, a bubble,
A queen in jest, only to fill the scene.
Where is thy husband now? Where be thy brothers?
95 Where are thy two sons? Wherein dost thou joy?
Who sues and kneels and says “God save the queen?”
Where be the bending peers that flattered thee?
Where be the thronging troops that followed thee?
Decline all this, and see what now thou art:
100 For happy wife, a most distressèd widow;
For joyful mother, one that wails the name;
For queen, a very caitiff crowned with care;
For she that scorned at me, now scorned of me;
For she being feared of all, now fearing one;
105 For she commanding all, obeyed of none.
Thus hath the course of justice whirled about
And left thee but a very prey to time,
Having no more but thought of what thou wast
To torture thee the more, being what thou art.
110 Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not
Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?
Now thy proud neck bears half my burdened yoke,
From which even here I slip my weary head
And leave the burthen of it all on thee.
115 Farewell, York’s wife, and queen of sad mischance.
These English woes will make me smile in France.
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QUEEN MARGARET I called thee then “vain flourish of my fortune.”
I called thee then poor shadow, “painted queen,”
The presentation of but what I was,
The flattering index of a direful pageant,
One heaved a-high, to be hurled down below,
A mother only mocked with two fair babes,
A dream of what thou wast, a garish flag
To be the aim of every dangerous shot,
A sign of dignity, a breath, a bubble,
A queen in jest, only to fill the scene.
Where is thy husband now? Where be thy brothers?
Where are thy two sons? Wherein dost thou joy?
Who sues and kneels and says “God save the queen?”
Where be the bending peers that flattered thee?
Where be the thronging troops that followed thee?
Decline all this, and see what now thou art:
For happy wife, a most distressèd widow;
For joyful mother, one that wails the name;
For queen, a very caitiff crowned with care;
For she that scorned at me, now scorned of me;
For she being feared of all, now fearing one;
For she commanding all, obeyed of none.
Thus hath the course of justice whirled about
And left thee but a very prey to time,
Having no more but thought of what thou wast
To torture thee the more, being what thou art.
Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not
Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow?
Now thy proud neck bears half my burdened yoke,
From which even here I slip my weary head
And leave the burthen of it all on thee.
Farewell, York’s wife, and queen of sad mischance.
These English woes will make me smile in France.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH O, thou well-skilled in curses, stay awhile,
And teach me how to curse mine enemies.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH O, thou well-skilled in curses, stay awhile,
And teach me how to curse mine enemies.
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QUEEN MARGARET Forbear to sleep the nights, and fast the days;
120 Compare dead happiness with living woe;
Think that thy babes were sweeter than they were,
And he that slew them fouler than he is.
Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse.
Revolving this will teach thee how to curse.
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QUEEN MARGARET Forbear to sleep the nights, and fast the days;
Compare dead happiness with living woe;
Think that thy babes were sweeter than they were,
And he that slew them fouler than he is.
Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse.
Revolving this will teach thee how to curse.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH 125 My words are dull. O, quicken them with thine!
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QUEEN ELIZABETH My words are dull. O, quicken them with thine!
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QUEEN MARGARET Thy woes will make them sharp and pierce like mine.
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QUEEN MARGARET Thy woes will make them sharp and pierce like mine.
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Exit
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Exit
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DUCHESS Why should calamity be full of words?
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DUCHESS Why should calamity be full of words?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Windy attorneys to their clients' woes,
Airy succeeders of intestate joys,
130 Poor breathing orators of miseries,
Let them have scope, though what they will impart
Help nothing else, yet do they ease the heart.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Windy attorneys to their clients' woes,
Airy succeeders of intestate joys,
Poor breathing orators of miseries,
Let them have scope, though what they will impart
Help nothing else, yet do they ease the heart.
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DUCHESS If so, then be not tongue-tied. Go with me,
And in the breath of bitter words let’s smother
135 My damnèd son that thy two sweet sons smothered.
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DUCHESS If so, then be not tongue-tied. Go with me,
And in the breath of bitter words let’s smother
My damnèd son that thy two sweet sons smothered.
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A trumpet sounds
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A trumpet sounds
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The trumpet sounds. Be copious in exclaims.
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The trumpet sounds. Be copious in exclaims.
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They rise
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They rise
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Enter King RICHARD and his train, including CATESBY
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Enter King RICHARD and his train, including CATESBY
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RICHARD Who intercepts my expedition?
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RICHARD Who intercepts my expedition?
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DUCHESS O, she that might have intercepted thee,
By strangling thee in her accursèd womb,
140 From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done.
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DUCHESS O, she that might have intercepted thee,
By strangling thee in her accursèd womb,
From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Hid’st thou that forehead with a golden crown
Where should be branded, if that right were right,
The slaughter of the prince that owed that crown
And the dire death of my poor sons and brothers?
145 Tell me, thou villain-slave, where are my children?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Hid’st thou that forehead with a golden crown
Where should be branded, if that right were right,
The slaughter of the prince that owed that crown
And the dire death of my poor sons and brothers?
Tell me, thou villain-slave, where are my children?
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DUCHESS Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy brother Clarence?
And little Ned Plantagenet his son?
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DUCHESS Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy brother Clarence?
And little Ned Plantagenet his son?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Where is gentle Rivers, Vaughan, Grey?
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Where is gentle Rivers, Vaughan, Grey?
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DUCHESS Where is kind Hastings?
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DUCHESS Where is kind Hastings?
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RICHARD 150 A flourish, trumpets! Strike alarum, drums!
Let not the heavens hear these telltale women
Rail on the Lord’s anointed. Strike, I say!
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RICHARD A flourish, trumpets! Strike alarum, drums!
Let not the heavens hear these telltale women
Rail on the Lord’s anointed. Strike, I say!
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Flourish. Alarums
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Flourish. Alarums
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Either be patient and entreat me fair,
Or with the clamorous report of war
155 Thus will I drown your exclamations.
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Either be patient and entreat me fair,
Or with the clamorous report of war
Thus will I drown your exclamations.
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DUCHESS Art thou my son?
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DUCHESS Art thou my son?
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RICHARD Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself.
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RICHARD Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself.
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DUCHESS Then patiently hear my impatience.
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DUCHESS Then patiently hear my impatience.
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RICHARD Madam, I have a touch of your condition,
160 Which cannot brook the accent of reproof.
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RICHARD Madam, I have a touch of your condition,
Which cannot brook the accent of reproof.
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DUCHESS O, let me speak!
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DUCHESS O, let me speak!
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RICHARD Do then, but I’ll not hear.
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RICHARD Do then, but I’ll not hear.
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DUCHESS I will be mild and gentle in my words.
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DUCHESS I will be mild and gentle in my words.
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RICHARD And brief, good mother, for I am in haste.
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RICHARD And brief, good mother, for I am in haste.
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DUCHESS Art thou so hasty? I have stayed for thee,
165 God knows, in torment and in agony.
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DUCHESS Art thou so hasty? I have stayed for thee,
God knows, in torment and in agony.
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RICHARD And came I not at last to comfort you?
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RICHARD And came I not at last to comfort you?
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DUCHESS No, by the Holy Rood, thou know’st it well.
Thou cam’st on earth to make the earth my hell.
A grievous burden was thy birth to me;
170 Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy;
Thy school days frightful, desp'rate, wild, and furious;
Thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous;
Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle, sly, and bloody,
More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred.
175 What comfortable hour canst thou name,
That ever graced me in thy company?
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DUCHESS No, by the Holy Rood, thou know’st it well.
Thou cam’st on earth to make the earth my hell.
A grievous burden was thy birth to me;
Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy;
Thy school days frightful, desp'rate, wild, and furious;
Thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous;
Thy age confirmed, proud, subtle, sly, and bloody,
More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred.
What comfortable hour canst thou name,
That ever graced me in thy company?
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RICHARD Faith, none but Humfrey Hower, that called your Grace
To breakfast once, forth of my company.
If I be so disgracious in your eye,
180 Let me march on and not offend you, madam.—
Strike up the drum.
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RICHARD Faith, none but Humfrey Hower, that called your Grace
To breakfast once, forth of my company.
If I be so disgracious in your eye,
Let me march on and not offend you, madam.—
Strike up the drum.
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DUCHESS I prithee, hear me speak.
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DUCHESS I prithee, hear me speak.
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RICHARD You speak too bitterly.
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RICHARD You speak too bitterly.
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DUCHESS Hear me a word,
For I shall never speak to thee again.
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DUCHESS Hear me a word,
For I shall never speak to thee again.
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RICHARD So.
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RICHARD So.
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DUCHESS 185 Either thou wilt die by God’s just ordinance
Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror,
Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish
And nevermore behold thy face again.
Therefore take with thee my most grievous curse,
190 Which in the day of battle tire thee more
Than all the complete armor that thou wear’st.
My prayers on the adverse party fight,
And there the little souls of Edward’s children
Whisper the spirits of thine enemies
195 And promise them success and victory.
Bloody thou art; bloody will be thy end.
Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend.
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DUCHESS Either thou wilt die by God’s just ordinance
Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror,
Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish
And nevermore behold thy face again.
Therefore take with thee my most grievous curse,
Which in the day of battle tire thee more
Than all the complete armor that thou wear’st.
My prayers on the adverse party fight,
And there the little souls of Edward’s children
Whisper the spirits of thine enemies
And promise them success and victory.
Bloody thou art; bloody will be thy end.
Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend.
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Exit
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Exit
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Though far more cause, yet much less spirit to curse
Abides in me. I say amen to her.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH Though far more cause, yet much less spirit to curse
Abides in me. I say amen to her.
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RICHARD 200 Stay, madam. I must talk a word with you.
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RICHARD Stay, madam. I must talk a word with you.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH I have no more sons of the royal blood
For thee to slaughter. For my daughters, Richard,
They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens,
And therefore level not to hit their lives.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH I have no more sons of the royal blood
For thee to slaughter. For my daughters, Richard,
They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens,
And therefore level not to hit their lives.
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RICHARD 205 You have a daughter called Elizabeth,
Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.
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RICHARD You have a daughter called Elizabeth,
Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH And must she die for this? O, let her live,
And I’ll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty,
Slander myself as false to Edward’s bed,
210 Throw over her the veil of infamy.
So she may live unscarred of bleeding slaughter,
I will confess she was not Edward’s daughter.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH And must she die for this? O, let her live,
And I’ll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty,
Slander myself as false to Edward’s bed,
Throw over her the veil of infamy.
So she may live unscarred of bleeding slaughter,
I will confess she was not Edward’s daughter.
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RICHARD Wrong not her birth. She is a royal princess.
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RICHARD Wrong not her birth. She is a royal princess.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH To save her life, I’ll say she is not so.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH To save her life, I’ll say she is not so.
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RICHARD 215 Her life is safest only in her birth.
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RICHARD Her life is safest only in her birth.
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QUEEN ELIZABETH And only in that safety died her brothers.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH And only in that safety died her brothers.
|
|
RICHARD Lo, at their births good stars were opposite.
|
RICHARD Lo, at their births good stars were opposite.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH No, to their lives ill friends were contrary.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH No, to their lives ill friends were contrary.
|
|
RICHARD All unavoided is the doom of destiny.
|
RICHARD All unavoided is the doom of destiny.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 220 True, when avoided grace makes destiny.
My babes were destined to a fairer death
If grace had blessed thee with a fairer life.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH True, when avoided grace makes destiny.
My babes were destined to a fairer death
If grace had blessed thee with a fairer life.
|
|
RICHARD You speak as if that I had slain my cousins.
|
RICHARD You speak as if that I had slain my cousins.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Cousins, indeed, and by their uncle cozened
225 Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life.
Whose hand soever launched their tender hearts,
Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction.
No doubt the murd'rous knife was dull and blunt
Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart,
230 To revel in the entrails of my lambs.
But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame,
My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys
Till that my nails were anchored in thine eyes,
And I, in such a desp'rate bay of death,
235 Like a poor bark of sails and tackling reft,
Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Cousins, indeed, and by their uncle cozened
Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life.
Whose hand soever launched their tender hearts,
Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction.
No doubt the murd'rous knife was dull and blunt
Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart,
To revel in the entrails of my lambs.
But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame,
My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys
Till that my nails were anchored in thine eyes,
And I, in such a desp'rate bay of death,
Like a poor bark of sails and tackling reft,
Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom.
|
|
RICHARD Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise
And dangerous success of bloody wars
As I intend more good to you and yours
240 Than ever you or yours were by me harmed!
|
RICHARD Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise
And dangerous success of bloody wars
As I intend more good to you and yours
Than ever you or yours were by me harmed!
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH What good is covered with the face of heaven,
To be discovered, that can do me good?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH What good is covered with the face of heaven,
To be discovered, that can do me good?
|
|
RICHARD The advancement of your children, gentle lady.
|
RICHARD The advancement of your children, gentle lady.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Up to some scaffold, there to lose their heads.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Up to some scaffold, there to lose their heads.
|
|
RICHARD 245 Unto the dignity and height of fortune,
The high imperial type of this earth’s glory.
|
RICHARD Unto the dignity and height of fortune,
The high imperial type of this earth’s glory.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Flatter my sorrow with report of it.
Tell me what state, what dignity, what honor,
Canst thou demise to any child of mine?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Flatter my sorrow with report of it.
Tell me what state, what dignity, what honor,
Canst thou demise to any child of mine?
|
|
RICHARD 250 Even all I have— ay, and myself and all—
Will I withal endow a child of thine;
So in the Lethe of thy angry soul
Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs
Which thou supposest I have done to thee.
|
RICHARD Even all I have— ay, and myself and all—
Will I withal endow a child of thine;
So in the Lethe of thy angry soul
Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs
Which thou supposest I have done to thee.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 255 Be brief, lest that the process of thy kindness
Last longer telling than thy kindness' date.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Be brief, lest that the process of thy kindness
Last longer telling than thy kindness' date.
|
|
RICHARD Then know that from my soul I love thy daughter.
|
RICHARD Then know that from my soul I love thy daughter.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH My daughter’s mother thinks it with her soul.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH My daughter’s mother thinks it with her soul.
|
|
RICHARD What do you think?
|
RICHARD What do you think?
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 260 That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul.
So from thy soul’s love didst thou love her brothers,
And from my heart’s love I do thank thee for it.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul.
So from thy soul’s love didst thou love her brothers,
And from my heart’s love I do thank thee for it.
|
|
RICHARD Be not so hasty to confound my meaning.
I mean that with my soul I love thy daughter
265 And do intend to make her Queen of England.
|
RICHARD Be not so hasty to confound my meaning.
I mean that with my soul I love thy daughter
And do intend to make her Queen of England.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Well then, who dost thou mean shall be her king?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Well then, who dost thou mean shall be her king?
|
|
RICHARD Even he that makes her queen. Who else should be?
|
RICHARD Even he that makes her queen. Who else should be?
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH What, thou?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH What, thou?
|
|
RICHARD Even so. How think you of it?
|
RICHARD Even so. How think you of it?
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 270 How canst thou woo her?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH How canst thou woo her?
|
|
RICHARD That would I learn of you,
As one being best acquainted with her humor.
|
RICHARD That would I learn of you,
As one being best acquainted with her humor.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH And wilt thou learn of me?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH And wilt thou learn of me?
|
|
RICHARD Madam, with all my heart.
|
RICHARD Madam, with all my heart.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers,
275 A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrave
“Edward” and “York.” Then haply she will weep.
Therefore present to her—as sometime Margaret
Did to thy father, steeped in Rutland’s blood—
A handkerchief, which say to her did drain
280 The purple sap from her sweet brother’s body,
And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withal.
If this inducement move her not to love,
Send her a letter of thy noble deeds;
Tell her thou mad’st away her uncle Clarence,
285 Her uncle Rivers, ay, and for her sake
Mad’st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers,
A pair of bleeding hearts; thereon engrave
“Edward” and “York.” Then haply she will weep.
Therefore present to her—as sometime Margaret
Did to thy father, steeped in Rutland’s blood—
A handkerchief, which say to her did drain
The purple sap from her sweet brother’s body,
And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withal.
If this inducement move her not to love,
Send her a letter of thy noble deeds;
Tell her thou mad’st away her uncle Clarence,
Her uncle Rivers, ay, and for her sake
Mad’st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne.
|
|
RICHARD You mock me, madam. This is not the way
To win your daughter.
|
RICHARD You mock me, madam. This is not the way
To win your daughter.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH There is no other way,
Unless thou couldst put on some other shape
290 And not be Richard, that hath done all this.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH There is no other way,
Unless thou couldst put on some other shape
And not be Richard, that hath done all this.
|
|
RICHARD Say that I did all this for love of her.
|
RICHARD Say that I did all this for love of her.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee,
Having bought love with such a bloody spoil.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee,
Having bought love with such a bloody spoil.
|
|
RICHARD Look what is done cannot be now amended.
295 Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,
Which after-hours give leisure to repent.
If I did take the kingdom from your sons,
To make amends I’ll give it to your daughter.
If I have killed the issue of your womb,
300 To quicken your increase I will beget
Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter.
A grandam’s name is little less in love
Than is the doting title of a mother.
They are as children but one step below,
305 Even of your metal, of your very blood,
Of all one pain, save for a night of groans
Endured of her for whom you bid like sorrow.
Your children were vexation to your youth,
But mine shall be a comfort to your age.
310 The loss you have is but a son being king,
And by that loss your daughter is made queen.
I cannot make you what amends I would;
Therefore accept such kindness as I can.
Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul
315 Leads discontented steps in foreign soil,
This fair alliance quickly shall call home
To high promotions and great dignity.
The king that calls your beauteous daughter wife
Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother.
320 Again shall you be mother to a king,
And all the ruins of distressful times
Repaired with double riches of content.
What, we have many goodly days to see!
The liquid drops of tears that you have shed
325 Shall come again, transformed to orient pearl,
Advantaging their love with interest
Of ten times double gain of happiness.
Go then, my mother; to thy daughter go.
|
RICHARD Look what is done cannot be now amended.
Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,
Which after-hours give leisure to repent.
If I did take the kingdom from your sons,
To make amends I’ll give it to your daughter.
If I have killed the issue of your womb,
To quicken your increase I will beget
Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter.
A grandam’s name is little less in love
Than is the doting title of a mother.
They are as children but one step below,
Even of your metal, of your very blood,
Of all one pain, save for a night of groans
Endured of her for whom you bid like sorrow.
Your children were vexation to your youth,
But mine shall be a comfort to your age.
The loss you have is but a son being king,
And by that loss your daughter is made queen.
I cannot make you what amends I would;
Therefore accept such kindness as I can.
Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul
Leads discontented steps in foreign soil,
This fair alliance quickly shall call home
To high promotions and great dignity.
The king that calls your beauteous daughter wife
Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother.
Again shall you be mother to a king,
And all the ruins of distressful times
Repaired with double riches of content.
What, we have many goodly days to see!
The liquid drops of tears that you have shed
Shall come again, transformed to orient pearl,
Advantaging their love with interest
Of ten times double gain of happiness.
Go then, my mother; to thy daughter go.
|
|
Make bold her bashful years with your experience;
330 Prepare her ears to hear a wooer’s tale;
Put in her tender heart th' aspiring flame
Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the Princess
With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys;
And when this arm of mine hath chastisèd
335 The petty rebel, dull-brained Buckingham,
Bound with triumphant garlands will I come
And lead thy daughter to a conqueror’s bed,
To whom I will retail my conquest won,
And she shall be sole victoress, Caesar’s Caesar.
|
Make bold her bashful years with your experience;
Prepare her ears to hear a wooer’s tale;
Put in her tender heart th' aspiring flame
Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the Princess
With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys;
And when this arm of mine hath chastisèd
The petty rebel, dull-brained Buckingham,
Bound with triumphant garlands will I come
And lead thy daughter to a conqueror’s bed,
To whom I will retail my conquest won,
And she shall be sole victoress, Caesar’s Caesar.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 340 What were I best to say? Her father’s brother
Would be her lord? Or shall I say her uncle?
Or he that slew her brothers and her uncles?
Under what title shall I woo for thee,
That God, the law, my honor and her love
345 Can make seem pleasing to her tender years?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH What were I best to say? Her father’s brother
Would be her lord? Or shall I say her uncle?
Or he that slew her brothers and her uncles?
Under what title shall I woo for thee,
That God, the law, my honor and her love
Can make seem pleasing to her tender years?
|
|
RICHARD Infer fair England’s peace by this alliance.
|
RICHARD Infer fair England’s peace by this alliance.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Which she shall purchase with still-lasting war.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Which she shall purchase with still-lasting war.
|
|
RICHARD Tell her the king, that may command, entreats—
|
RICHARD Tell her the king, that may command, entreats—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH That, at her hands, which the king’s King forbids.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH That, at her hands, which the king’s King forbids.
|
|
RICHARD 350 Say she shall be a high and mighty queen.
|
RICHARD Say she shall be a high and mighty queen.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH To vail the title, as her mother doth.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH To vail the title, as her mother doth.
|
|
RICHARD Say I will love her everlastingly.
|
RICHARD Say I will love her everlastingly.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH But how long shall that title “ever” last?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH But how long shall that title “ever” last?
|
|
RICHARD Sweetly in force unto her fair life’s end.
|
RICHARD Sweetly in force unto her fair life’s end.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 355 But how long fairly shall her sweet life last?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH But how long fairly shall her sweet life last?
|
|
RICHARD As long as heaven and nature lengthens it.
|
RICHARD As long as heaven and nature lengthens it.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH As long as hell and Richard likes of it.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH As long as hell and Richard likes of it.
|
|
RICHARD Say I, her sovereign, am her subject low.
|
RICHARD Say I, her sovereign, am her subject low.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty.
|
|
RICHARD 360 Be eloquent in my behalf to her.
|
RICHARD Be eloquent in my behalf to her.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.
|
|
RICHARD Then plainly to her tell my loving tale.
|
RICHARD Then plainly to her tell my loving tale.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Plain and not honest is too harsh a style.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Plain and not honest is too harsh a style.
|
|
RICHARD Your reasons are too shallow and too quick.
|
RICHARD Your reasons are too shallow and too quick.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 365 O no, my reasons are too deep and dead—
Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their graves.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH O no, my reasons are too deep and dead—
Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their graves.
|
|
RICHARD Harp not on that string, madam; that is past.
|
RICHARD Harp not on that string, madam; that is past.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break.
|
|
RICHARD Now by my George, my Garter, and my crown—
|
RICHARD Now by my George, my Garter, and my crown—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 370 Profaned, dishonored, and the third usurped.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Profaned, dishonored, and the third usurped.
|
|
RICHARD I swear—
|
RICHARD I swear—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH By nothing, for this is no oath.
Thy George, profaned, hath lost his lordly honor;
Thy garter, blemished, pawned his knightly virtue;
Thy crown, usurped, disgraced his kingly glory.
375 If something thou wouldst swear to be believed,
Swear then by something that thou hast not wronged.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH By nothing, for this is no oath.
Thy George, profaned, hath lost his lordly honor;
Thy garter, blemished, pawned his knightly virtue;
Thy crown, usurped, disgraced his kingly glory.
If something thou wouldst swear to be believed,
Swear then by something that thou hast not wronged.
|
|
RICHARD Then, by myself—
|
RICHARD Then, by myself—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thyself is self-misused.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thyself is self-misused.
|
|
RICHARD Now, by the world—
|
RICHARD Now, by the world—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs.
|
|
RICHARD My father’s death—
|
RICHARD My father’s death—
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thy life hath it dishonored.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thy life hath it dishonored.
|
|
RICHARD 380 Why then, by God.
|
RICHARD Why then, by God.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH God’s wrong is most of all.
If thou didst fear to break an oath by Him,
The unity the king my husband made
Thou hadst not broken, nor my brothers died.
If thou hadst feared to break an oath by Him,
385 Th' imperial metal circling now thy head
Had graced the tender temples of my child,
And both the princes had been breathing here,
Which now, two tender bedfellows for dust,
Thy broken faith hath made the prey for worms.
390 What canst thou swear by now?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH God’s wrong is most of all.
If thou didst fear to break an oath by Him,
The unity the king my husband made
Thou hadst not broken, nor my brothers died.
If thou hadst feared to break an oath by Him,
Th' imperial metal circling now thy head
Had graced the tender temples of my child,
And both the princes had been breathing here,
Which now, two tender bedfellows for dust,
Thy broken faith hath made the prey for worms.
What canst thou swear by now?
|
|
RICHARD The time to come.
|
RICHARD The time to come.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH That thou hast wrongèd in the time o'erpast;
For I myself have many tears to wash
Hereafter time, for time past wronged by thee.
The children live whose fathers thou hast slaughtered,
395 Ungoverned youth, to wail it in their age;
The parents live whose children thou hast butchered,
Old barren plants, to wail it with their age.
Swear not by time to come, for that thou hast
Misused ere used, by times ill-used o'erpast.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH That thou hast wrongèd in the time o'erpast;
For I myself have many tears to wash
Hereafter time, for time past wronged by thee.
The children live whose fathers thou hast slaughtered,
Ungoverned youth, to wail it in their age;
The parents live whose children thou hast butchered,
Old barren plants, to wail it with their age.
Swear not by time to come, for that thou hast
Misused ere used, by times ill-used o'erpast.
|
|
RICHARD 400 As I intend to prosper and repent,
So thrive I in my dangerous affairs
Of hostile arms! Myself myself confound,
Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours,
Day, yield me not thy light, nor night thy rest,
405 Be opposite all planets of good luck
To my proceedings if, with dear heart’s love,
Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts,
I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter.
In her consists my happiness and thine.
410 Without her follows to myself and thee,
Herself, the land, and many a Christian soul,
Death, desolation, ruin and decay.
It cannot be avoided but by this;
It will not be avoided but by this.
415 Therefore, dear mother—I must call you so—
Be the attorney of my love to her:
Plead what I will be, not what I have been;
Not my deserts, but what I will deserve.
Urge the necessity and state of times,
420 And be not peevish found in great designs.
|
RICHARD As I intend to prosper and repent,
So thrive I in my dangerous affairs
Of hostile arms! Myself myself confound,
Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours,
Day, yield me not thy light, nor night thy rest,
Be opposite all planets of good luck
To my proceedings if, with dear heart’s love,
Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts,
I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter.
In her consists my happiness and thine.
Without her follows to myself and thee,
Herself, the land, and many a Christian soul,
Death, desolation, ruin and decay.
It cannot be avoided but by this;
It will not be avoided but by this.
Therefore, dear mother—I must call you so—
Be the attorney of my love to her:
Plead what I will be, not what I have been;
Not my deserts, but what I will deserve.
Urge the necessity and state of times,
And be not peevish found in great designs.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?
|
|
RICHARD Ay, if the devil tempt you to do good.
|
RICHARD Ay, if the devil tempt you to do good.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I forget myself to be myself?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I forget myself to be myself?
|
|
RICHARD Ay, if your self’s remembrance wrong yourself.
|
RICHARD Ay, if your self’s remembrance wrong yourself.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH 425 Yet thou didst kill my children.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Yet thou didst kill my children.
|
|
RICHARD But in your daughter’s womb I bury them,
Where, in that nest of spicery, they will breed
Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.
|
RICHARD But in your daughter’s womb I bury them,
Where, in that nest of spicery, they will breed
Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I go win my daughter to thy will?
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I go win my daughter to thy will?
|
|
RICHARD 430 And be a happy mother by the deed.
|
RICHARD And be a happy mother by the deed.
|
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH I go. Write to me very shortly,
And you shall understand from me her mind.
|
QUEEN ELIZABETH I go. Write to me very shortly,
And you shall understand from me her mind.
|
|
RICHARD Bear her my true love’s kiss; and so, farewell.
|
RICHARD Bear her my true love’s kiss; and so, farewell.
|
|
Exit QUEEN ELIZABETH
|
Exit QUEEN ELIZABETH
|
|
Relenting fool and shallow, changing woman!
|
Relenting fool and shallow, changing woman!
|
|
Enter RATCLIFFE , with CATESBY behind
|
Enter RATCLIFFE , with CATESBY behind
|
|
435 How now, what news?
|
How now, what news?
|
|
RATCLIFFE Most mighty sovereign, on the western coast
Rideth a puissant navy. To our shores
Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends,
Unarmed and unresolved to beat them back.
440 'Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral;
And there they hull, expecting but the aid
Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore.
|
RATCLIFFE Most mighty sovereign, on the western coast
Rideth a puissant navy. To our shores
Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends,
Unarmed and unresolved to beat them back.
'Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral;
And there they hull, expecting but the aid
Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore.
|
|
RICHARD Some light-foot friend post to the duke of Norfolk—
Ratcliffe, thyself, or Catesby. Where is he?
|
RICHARD Some light-foot friend post to the duke of Norfolk—
Ratcliffe, thyself, or Catesby. Where is he?
|
|
CATESBY 445 Here, my good lord.
|
CATESBY Here, my good lord.
|
|
RICHARD Catesby, fly to the duke.
|
RICHARD Catesby, fly to the duke.
|
|
CATESBY I will, my lord, with all convenient haste.
|
CATESBY I will, my lord, with all convenient haste.
|
|
RICHARD Ratcliffe, come hither. Post to Salisbury.
When thou com’st thither
450 — (to CATESBY) Dull, unmindful villain,
Why stay’st thou here and go’st not to the duke?
|
RICHARD Ratcliffe, come hither. Post to Salisbury.
When thou com’st thither
— (to CATESBY) Dull, unmindful villain,
Why stay’st thou here and go’st not to the duke?
|
|
CATESBY First, mighty liege, tell me your Highness' pleasure,
What from your Grace I shall deliver to him.
|
CATESBY First, mighty liege, tell me your Highness' pleasure,
What from your Grace I shall deliver to him.
|
|
RICHARD O true, good Catesby. Bid him levy straight
455 The greatest strength and power that he can make
And meet me suddenly at Salisbury.
|
RICHARD O true, good Catesby. Bid him levy straight
The greatest strength and power that he can make
And meet me suddenly at Salisbury.
|
|
CATESBY I go.
|
CATESBY I go.
|
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
|
RATCLIFFE What, may it please you, shall I do at Salisbury?
|
RATCLIFFE What, may it please you, shall I do at Salisbury?
|
|
RICHARD Why, what wouldst thou do there before I go?
|
RICHARD Why, what wouldst thou do there before I go?
|
|
RATCLIFFE 460 Your Highness told me I should post before.
|
RATCLIFFE Your Highness told me I should post before.
|
|
RICHARD My mind is changed.
|
RICHARD My mind is changed.
|
|
Enter STANLEY
|
Enter STANLEY
|
|
Stanley, what news with you?
|
Stanley, what news with you?
|
|
STANLEY None good, my liege, to please you with the hearing,
Nor none so bad but well may be reported.
|
STANLEY None good, my liege, to please you with the hearing,
Nor none so bad but well may be reported.
|
|
RICHARD Hoyday, a riddle! Neither good nor bad.
465 What need’st thou run so many mile about
When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way?
Once more, what news?
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RICHARD Hoyday, a riddle! Neither good nor bad.
What need’st thou run so many mile about
When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way?
Once more, what news?
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STANLEY Richmond is on the seas.
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STANLEY Richmond is on the seas.
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RICHARD There let him sink, and be the seas on him!
White-livered runagate, what doth he there?
|
RICHARD There let him sink, and be the seas on him!
White-livered runagate, what doth he there?
|
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STANLEY 470 I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess.
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STANLEY I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess.
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RICHARD Well, as you guess?
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RICHARD Well, as you guess?
|
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STANLEY Stirred up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton,
He makes for England, here to claim the crown.
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STANLEY Stirred up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton,
He makes for England, here to claim the crown.
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RICHARD Is the chair empty? Is the sword unswayed?
475 Is the king dead, the empire unpossessed?
What heir of York is there alive but we?
And who is England’s king but great York’s heir?
Then tell me, what makes he upon the seas?
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RICHARD Is the chair empty? Is the sword unswayed?
Is the king dead, the empire unpossessed?
What heir of York is there alive but we?
And who is England’s king but great York’s heir?
Then tell me, what makes he upon the seas?
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STANLEY Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.
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STANLEY Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.
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RICHARD 480 Unless for that he comes to be your liege,
You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes.
Thou wilt revolt and fly to him, I fear.
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RICHARD Unless for that he comes to be your liege,
You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes.
Thou wilt revolt and fly to him, I fear.
|
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STANLEY No, my good lord. Therefore mistrust me not.
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STANLEY No, my good lord. Therefore mistrust me not.
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RICHARD Where is thy power, then, to beat him back?
485 Where be thy tenants and thy followers?
Are they not now upon the western shore,
Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships?
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RICHARD Where is thy power, then, to beat him back?
Where be thy tenants and thy followers?
Are they not now upon the western shore,
Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships?
|
|
STANLEY No, my good lord. My friends are in the north.
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STANLEY No, my good lord. My friends are in the north.
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RICHARD Cold friends to me. What do they in the north
490 When they should serve their sovereign in the west?
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RICHARD Cold friends to me. What do they in the north
When they should serve their sovereign in the west?
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STANLEY They have not been commanded, mighty king.
Pleaseth your Majesty to give me leave,
I’ll muster up my friends and meet your Grace
Where and what time your Majesty shall please.
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STANLEY They have not been commanded, mighty king.
Pleaseth your Majesty to give me leave,
I’ll muster up my friends and meet your Grace
Where and what time your Majesty shall please.
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RICHARD 495 Ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond,
But I’ll not trust thee.
|
RICHARD Ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond,
But I’ll not trust thee.
|
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STANLEY Most mighty sovereign,
You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful.
I never was nor never will be false.
|
STANLEY Most mighty sovereign,
You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful.
I never was nor never will be false.
|
|
RICHARD Go then and muster men, but leave behind
500 Your son George Stanley. Look your heart be firm.
Or else his head’s assurance is but frail.
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RICHARD Go then and muster men, but leave behind
Your son George Stanley. Look your heart be firm.
Or else his head’s assurance is but frail.
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STANLEY So deal with him as I prove true to you.
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STANLEY So deal with him as I prove true to you.
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Exit
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Exit
|
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Enter a MESSENGER
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Enter a MESSENGER
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|
MESSENGER My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire,
As I by friends am well advertisèd,
505 Sir Edward Courtney and the haughty prelate,
Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother,
With many more confederates are in arms.
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MESSENGER My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire,
As I by friends am well advertisèd,
Sir Edward Courtney and the haughty prelate,
Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother,
With many more confederates are in arms.
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Enter SECOND MESSENGER
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Enter SECOND MESSENGER
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SECOND MESSENGER In Kent, my liege, the Guilfords are in arms,
And every hour more competitors
510 Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong.
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SECOND MESSENGER In Kent, my liege, the Guilfords are in arms,
And every hour more competitors
Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong.
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|
Enter THIRD MESSENGER
|
Enter THIRD MESSENGER
|
|
THIRD MESSENGER My lord, the army of great Buckingham—
|
THIRD MESSENGER My lord, the army of great Buckingham—
|
|
RICHARD Out on you, owls! Nothing but songs of death.
He striketh him
There, take thou that till thou bring better news.
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RICHARD Out on you, owls! Nothing but songs of death.
He striketh him
There, take thou that till thou bring better news.
|
|
THIRD MESSENGER 515 The news I have to tell your Majesty
Is that by sudden floods and fall of waters
Buckingham’s army is dispersed and scattered,
And he himself wandered away alone,
No man knows whither.
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THIRD MESSENGER The news I have to tell your Majesty
Is that by sudden floods and fall of waters
Buckingham’s army is dispersed and scattered,
And he himself wandered away alone,
No man knows whither.
|
|
RICHARD I cry thee mercy.
520 There is my purse to cure that blow of thine.
He gives money
Hath any well-advisèd friend proclaimed
Reward to him that brings the traitor in?
|
RICHARD I cry thee mercy.
There is my purse to cure that blow of thine.
He gives money
Hath any well-advisèd friend proclaimed
Reward to him that brings the traitor in?
|
|
THIRD MESSENGER Such proclamation hath been made, my lord.
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THIRD MESSENGER Such proclamation hath been made, my lord.
|
|
Enter FOURTH MESSENGER
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Enter FOURTH MESSENGER
|
|
FOURTH MESSENGER 525 Sir Thomas Lovell and Lord Marquess Dorset,
'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms.
But this good comfort bring I to your Highness:
The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest.
Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat
530 Unto the shore to ask those on the banks
If they were his assistants, yea or no—
Who answered him they came from Buckingham
Upon his party. He, mistrusting them,
Hoisted sail and made his course for Brittany.
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FOURTH MESSENGER Sir Thomas Lovell and Lord Marquess Dorset,
'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms.
But this good comfort bring I to your Highness:
The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest.
Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat
Unto the shore to ask those on the banks
If they were his assistants, yea or no—
Who answered him they came from Buckingham
Upon his party. He, mistrusting them,
Hoisted sail and made his course for Brittany.
|
|
RICHARD 535 March on, march on, since we are up in arms,
If not to fight with foreign enemies,
Yet to beat down these rebels here at home.
|
RICHARD March on, march on, since we are up in arms,
If not to fight with foreign enemies,
Yet to beat down these rebels here at home.
|
|
Enter CATESBY
|
Enter CATESBY
|
|
CATESBY My liege, the duke of Buckingham is taken.
That is the best news. That the earl of Richmond
540 Is with a mighty power landed at Milford,
Is colder tidings, yet they must be told.
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CATESBY My liege, the duke of Buckingham is taken.
That is the best news. That the earl of Richmond
Is with a mighty power landed at Milford,
Is colder tidings, yet they must be told.
|
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RICHARD Away towards Salisbury! While we reason here,
A royal battle might be won and lost.
Someone take order Buckingham be brought
545 To Salisbury. The rest march on with me.
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RICHARD Away towards Salisbury! While we reason here,
A royal battle might be won and lost.
Someone take order Buckingham be brought
To Salisbury. The rest march on with me.
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|
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Flourish. Exeunt
|
Flourish. Exeunt
|
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