Richard the Third (Quarto 1, 1597)
Peer Reviewed
The Tragedy
1020To threaten me with death, is most vnlawfull:
¶I charge you as you hope to haue redemption,
¶That you depart and lay no hands on me,
¶The deede you vndertake is damnable.
10252 And he that hath commanded, is the King.
¶Hath in the tables of his law commanded,
¶That thou shalt doe no murder, and wilt thou then
¶Spurne at his edict, and fulfill a mans?
1030Take heede, for he holds vengeance in his hands,
¶To hurle vpon their heads that breake his law.
¶1 And like a traitor to the name of God,
¶Didst breake that vowe, and with thy trecherous blade,
¶For Edward, for my brother, for his sake:
1045For in this sinne he is as deepe as I:
¶If God will be reuenged for this deede,
¶Take not the quarrell from his powerfull arme,
1050To cut off those that haue offended him.
¶When gallant springing braue Plantagenet,
¶That Princely Nouice was stroke dead by thee?
¶Cla. My brothers loue, the diuell, and my rage.
10551 Thy brothers loue, the diuell and thy fault
¶Haue brought vs hither now to murder thee.
¶Cla. Oh if you loue my brother, hate not me,
I am
