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  • Title: Richard the Third (Quarto 1, 1597)
  • Editor: Adrian Kiernander

  • Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Adrian Kiernander
    Peer Reviewed

    Richard the Third (Quarto 1, 1597)

    of Richard the third.
    I am his brother, and I loue him well:
    If you be hirde for meede, go backe againe,
    1060And I will send you to my brother Glocester,
    Who will reward you better for my life,
    Then Edward will for tydings of my death.
    2 You are deceiu'd, your brother Glocester hates you.
    1065Cla. Oh no, he loues me, and he holds me deare,
    Go you to him from me.
    Am. I, so we will.
    Cla. Tell him, when that our princely father Yorke,
    Blest his three sonnes with his victorious arme:
    1069.1And chargd vs from his soule, to loue each other,
    1070He little thought of this deuided friendship.
    Bid Glocester thinke of this, and he will weepe.
    Am. I, milstones as he lessond vs to weepe.
    Cla. O doe not slaunder him for he is kind.
    1 Right as snow in haruest, thou deceiu'st thy selfe,
    Tis he hath sent vs hither now to slaughter thee.
    Cla. It cannot be, for when I parted with him,
    He hugd me in his armes, and swore with sobs,
    That he would labour my deliuery.
    10802 Why so he doth, now he deliuers thee,
    From this worlds thraldome, to the ioies of heauen,
    1 Makes peace with God, for you must die my Lo:
    Cla. Hast thou that holy feeling in thy soule,
    To counsell me to make my peace with God;
    1085And art thou yet to thy owne soule so blinde,
    That thou wilt war with God, by murdring me?
    Ah sirs, consider, he that set you on
    To doe this deede, will hate you for this deede.
    2 What shall we doe?
    1090Cla. Relent, and saue your soules.
    1 Relent, tis cowardly and womanish.
    Cla. Not to relent, is beastly, sauage, diuelish,
    My friend, I spie some pitty in thy lookes:
    Oh if thy eye be not a flatterer,
    1100Come thou on my side, and intreat for me,
    A begging Prince, what begger pitties not?
    D3 1 I