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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.
    Buck. Harke, I heare a drumme.
    Glo. Looke backe, defend thee, here are enemies.
    2105Buc. God and our innocence defend vs. Enter Catesby with Hast. head.
    2105.1Glo. O, O, be quiet, it is Catesby.
    Cat. Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
    The daungerous and vnsuspected Hastings.
    2110Glo. So deare I lou'd the man, that I must weepe:
    I tooke him for the plainest harmelesse man,
    That breathed vpon this earth a christian,
    2112.1Looke ye my Lo: Maior.
    Made him my booke, wherein my soule recorded,
    The history of all her secret thoughts:
    2115So smoothe he daubd his vice with shew of vertue,
    That his apparant open guilt omitted:
    I meane his conuersation with Shores wife,
    He laid from all attainder of suspect.
    Buck. Well well, he was the couertst sheltred traitor
    2120That euer liu'd, would you haue imagined,
    Or almost beleeue, wert not by great preseruation
    We liue to tell it you? The subtile traitor
    Had this day plotted in the councell house,
    2125To murder me, and my good Lord of Glocester.
    Maior. What, had he so?
    Glo. What thinke you we are Turkes or Infidels,
    Or that we would against the forme of lawe,
    Proceede thus rashly to the villaines death,
    2130But that the extreame perill of the case,
    The peace of England, and our persons safety
    Inforst vs to this execution.
    Ma. Now faire befall you, he deserued his death,
    And you my good Lords both, haue well proceeded
    2135To warne false traitours from the like attempts:
    I neuer lookt for better at his hands,
    After he once fell in with Mistresse Shore.
    Dut. Yet had not we determined he should die,
    Vntill your Lordship came to see his death,
    2140Which now the longing haste of these our friends,
    Somewhat against our meaning haue preuented,
    G3 Be