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- Edition: Richard III
Richard the Third (Folio 1, 1623)
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197
The Life and Death of Richard the Third.
2960Dut. Heare me a word:
2962Rich. So.
2964Ere from this warre thou turne a Conqueror:
2966And neuer more behold thy face againe.
2968Which in the day of Battell tyre thee more
2971And there the little soules of Edwards Children,
2972Whisper the Spirits of thine Enemies,
2974Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end:
2980For thee to slaughter. For my Daughters ( Richard)
2981They shall be praying Nunnes, not weeping Queenes:
2982And therefore leuell not to hit their liues.
2983Rich. You haue a daughter call'd Elizabeth,
2984Vertuous and Faire, Royall and Gracious?
2986And Ile corrupt her Manners, staine her Beauty,
2987Slander my Selfe, as false to Edwards bed:
2988Throw ouer her the vaile of Infamy,
2996Qu. No, to their liues, ill friends were contrary.
2999My Babes were destin'd to a fairer death,
3000If grace had blest thee with a fairer life.
3003Of Comfort, Kingdome, Kindred, Freedome, Life,
3006No doubt the murd'rous Knife was dull and blunt,
3007Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart,
3008To reuell in the Intrailes of my Lambes.
3010My tongue should to thy eares not name my Boyes,
3011Till that my Nayles were anchor'd in thine eyes:
3013Like a poore Barke, of sailes and tackling reft,
3017As I intend more good to you and yours,
3018Then euer you and yours by me were harm'd.
3019Qu. What good is couer'd with the face of heauen,
3020To be discouered, that can do me good.
3021Rich. Th'aduancement of your children, gentle Lady
3023Rich. Vnto the dignity and height of Fortune,
3024The high Imperiall Type of this earths glory.
3026Tell me, what State, what Dignity, what Honor,
3029Will I withall indow a childe of thine:
3030So in the Lethe of thy angry soule,
3035Rich. Then know,
3036That from my Soule, I loue thy Daughter.
3038Rich. What do you thinke?
3040So from thy Soules loue didst thou loue her Brothers,
3041And from my hearts loue, I do thanke thee for it.
3043I meane that with my Soule I loue thy daughter,
3044And do intend to make her Queene of England.
3046Rich. Euen he that makes her Queene:
3048Qu. What, thou?
3051Rich. That I would learne of you,
3052As one being best acquainted with her humour.
3053Qu. And wilt thou learne of me?
3054Rich. Madam, with all my heart.
3056A paire of bleeding hearts: thereon ingraue
3057Edward and Yorke, then haply will she weepe:
3059Did to thy Father, steept in Rutlands blood,
3060A hand-kercheefe, which say to her did dreyne
3062And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withall.
3063If this inducement moue her not to loue,
3064Send her a Letter of thy Noble deeds:
3065Tell her, thou mad'st away her Vnckle Clarence,
3066Her Vnckle Riuers, I (and for her sake)
3067Mad'st quicke conueyance with her good Aunt Anne.
3068Rich. You mocke me Madam, this not the way
3069To win your daughter.
3070Qu. There is no other way,
3072And not be Richard, that hath done all this.
3073Ric. Say that I did all this for loue of her.
3076Rich. Looke what is done, cannot be now amended:
3078Which after-houres giues leysure to repent.
3079If I did take the Kingdome from your Sonnes,
3080To make amends, Ile giue it to your daughter:
3081If I haue kill'd the issue of your wombe,
3082To quicken your encrease, I will beget
3083Mine yssue of your blood, vpon your Daughter:
3084A Grandams name is little lesse in loue,
3085Then is the doting Title of a Mother;
3086They are as Children but one steppe below,
3087Euen of your mettall, of your very blood:
3088Of all one paine, saue for a night of groanes
3089Endur'd of her, for whom you bid like sorrow.
3090Your Children were vexation to your youth,
But