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Richard the Third (Quarto 1, 1597)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Adrian Kiernander
Peer Reviewed
The Trumpets sound,
Enter Richard crownd, Bucking-
ham, Catesby with other Nobles.
2590King Stand al apart. Coosin of Buckingham,
Giue me thy hand:
Here he ascendeth
Thus high by thy aduice
And thy assistance is king Richard seated:
2595But shal we weare these honours for a day?
Or shall they last, and we reioice in them.
Buc. Stil liue they, and for euer may they last.
King Ri. O Buckingham, now do I plaie the touch,
To trie if thou be currant gold indeed:
2600Young Edward liues: thinke now what I would say.
Buc. Saie on my gracious soueraigne.
King Whie Buckingham, I saie I would be king.
Buc. Whie so you are my thrice renowned liege.
King Ha: am I king? tis so, but Edward liues.
2605Buc. True noble prince.
King O bitter consequence,
That Edward stil should liue true noble prince.
Coosin, thou wert not wont to be so dul:
Shal I be plaine? I wish the bastards dead,
2610And I would haue it suddenlie performde.
What saist thou? speake suddenlie, be briefe.
Buc. Your grace may doe your pleasure.
King Tut, tut, thou art all yce, thy kindnesse freezeth,
Saie, haue I thy consent that they shal die?
2615Buc. Giue me some breath, some little pause my lord,
Before I positiuelie speake herein:
I wil resolue your grace immediatlie.
Exit.
Cates. The king is angrie, see, he bites the lip.
King I wil conuerse with iron witted fooles
2620And vnrespectiue boies, none are for me
That looke into me with considerate eies :
Boy, high reaching Buckingham growes circumspect.
Boy. My Lord.
2625King. Knowst thou not any whom corrupting gold
Would tempt vnto a close exploit of death.
Boy. My lord, I know a discontented gentleman,
Whose humble meanes match not his haughtie mind,
Gould were as good as twentie Orators,
2630And will no doubt tempt him to any thing.
King. What is his name.
Boy. His name my Lord is Tirrell.
King. Go call him hither presentlie,
2635The deepe reuoluing wittie Buckingham,
No more shall be the neighbour to my counsell,
Hath he so long held out with me vntirde
And stops he nowe for breath?
Enter Darby.
2640How now, what neewes vvith you?
Darby. My Lord, I heare the Marques Dorset
Is fled to Richmond, in those partes beyond the seas where he
abides.
King. Catesby. Cat. My Lord.
King. Rumor it abroad
2645That Anne my wife is sicke and like to die,
I will take order for her keeping close:
Enquire me out some meane borne gentleman,
Whom I will marrie straight to Clarence daughter,
The boy is foolish, and I feare not him:
2650Looke how thou dreamst: I say againe giue out
That Anne my wife is sicke and like to die.
About it, for it stands me much vpon
To stop all hopes vvhose growth may damadge me,
I must be married to my brothers daughter,
2655Or else my kingdome stands on brittle glasse,
Murther her brothers, and then marrie her,
Vncertaine vvaie of gaine, but I am in
So far in bloud that sinne vvill plucke on sin,
Teare falling pittie dwels not in this eie.
Enter Tirrel.
Is thy name Tirrill?
Tyr. Iames Tirrell and your most obedient subiect.
King Art thou indeed?
Tir. Proue me my gracious soueraigne,
2665King Darst thou resolue to kill a friend of mine?
Tir. I my Lord, but I had rather kill two enemies.
King Why there thou hast it two deepe enemies,
Foes to my rest, and my sweet sleepes disturbs,
2670Are they that I would haue thee deale vpon:
Tirrel I meane those bastards in the tower.
Tir. Let me haue open meanes to come to them,
And soone ile rid you from the feare of them.
King Thou singst sweet musicke. Come hither Tirrel,
Go by that token, rise and lend thine eare, he wispers in his eare.
Tis no more but so, saie is it done,
And I will loue thee and prefer thee too.
Tir. Tis done my gracious lord.
2679.1 KingShal we heare from thee Tirrel ere we sleep? Enter Buc.
Tir. Ye shall my lord,
Buck. My lord, I haue considered in my mind,
The late demand that you did sound me in.
King Well, let that passe, Dorset is fled to Richmond.
Buck I heare that newes my lord.
2685King Stanley he is your wifes sonnes. Wel looke to it.
Buck. My lord, I claime your gift, my dew by promise,
For which your honor and your faith is pawnd,
The Earledome of Herford and the moueables,
2690The which you promised I should possesse.
King Stanley looke to your wife, if she conuay
Letters to Richmond you shall answere it.
Buck. What saies your highnes to my iust demand.
King As I remember, Henrie the sixt
2695Did prophecie that Richmond should be king,
When Richmond was a little peeuish boy:
A king perhaps, perhaps.
Buck. My lord.
2697.1King How chance the prophet could not at that time,
Haue told me I being by, that I should kill him.
Buck. My lord, your promise for the Earledome.
King Richmond, when last I was at Exeter,
.5The Maior in curtesie showd me the Castle,
And called it Ruge-mount, at which name I started,
Because a Bard of Ireland told me once
I should not liue long after I saw Richmond.
Buck. My lord.
.10King. I, whats a clocke?
Buck. I am thus bold to put your grace in mind
Of what you promisd me.
King. Wel, but whats a clocke?
Buck. Vpon the stroke of ten.
.15King. Well, let it strike.
Buck. Whie let it strike?
King. Because that like a Iacke thou keepst the stroke
Betwixt thy begging and my meditation,
I am not in the giuing vaine to day.
Buck. Whie then resolue me whether you wil or no?
King. Tut, tut, thou troublest me, I am not in the vain.
Exit.
2700Buck. Is it euen so, rewardst he my true seruice
With such deepe contempt, made I him king for this?
O let me thinke on Hastings and be gone
To Brecnock while my fearefull head is on.
Exit.