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  • Title: Richard the Third (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Adrian Kiernander

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

    Richard the Third (Folio 1, 1623)

    1485Scena Quarta.
    Enter Arch-bishop, yong Yorke, the Queene,
    and the Dutchesse.
    Arch. Last night I heard they lay at Stony Stratford,
    And at Northampton they do rest to night:
    1490To morrow, or next day, they will be heere.
    Dut. I long with all my heart to see the Prince:
    I hope he is much growne since last I saw him.
    Qu. But I heare no, they say my sonne of Yorke
    Ha's almost ouertane him in his growth.
    1495Yorke. I Mother, but I would not haue it so.
    Dut. Why my good Cosin, it is good to grow.
    Yor. Grandam, one night as we did sit at Supper,
    My Vnkle Riuers talk'd how I did grow
    More then my Brother. I, quoth my Vnkle Glouster,
    1500Small Herbes haue grace, great Weeds do grow apace.
    And since, me thinkes I would not grow so fast,
    Because sweet Flowres are slow, and Weeds make hast.
    Dut. Good faith, good faith, the saying did not hold
    In him that did obiect the same to thee.
    1505He was the wretched'st thing when he was yong,
    So long a growing, and so leysurely,
    That if his rule were true, he should be gracious.
    Yor. And so no doubt he is, my gracious Madam.
    Dut. I hope he is, but yet let Mothers doubt.
    1510Yor. Now by my troth, if I had beene remembred,
    I could haue giuen my Vnkles Grace, a flout,
    To touch his growth, neerer then he toucht mine.
    Dut. How my yong Yorke,
    I prythee let me heare it.
    1515Yor. Marry (they say) my Vnkle grew so fast,
    That he could gnaw a crust at two houres old,
    'Twas full two yeares ere I could get a tooth.
    Grandam, this would haue beene a byting Iest.
    Dut. I prythee pretty Yorke, who told thee this?
    1520Yor. Grandam, his Nursse.
    Dut. His Nurse? why she was dead, ere y^u wast borne.
    Yor. If 'twere not she, I cannot tell who told me.
    Qu. A parlous Boy: go too, you are too shrew'd.
    Dut. Good Madam, be not angry with the Childe.
    1525Qu. Pitchers haue eares.
    Enter a Messenger.
    Arch. Heere comes a Messenger: What Newes?
    Mes. Such newes my Lord, as greeues me to report.
    Qu. How doth the Prince?
    1530Mes. Well Madam, and in health.
    Dut. What is thy Newes?
    Mess. Lord Riuers, and Lord Grey,
    Are sent to Pomfret, and with them,
    Sir Thomas Vaughan, Prisoners.
    1535Dut. Who hath committed them?
    Mes. The mighty Dukes, Glouster and Buckingham.
    Arch. For what offence?
    Mes. The summe of all I can, I haue disclos'd:
    Why, or for what, the Nobles were committed,
    1540Is all vnknowne to me, my gracious Lord.
    Qu. Aye me! I see the ruine of my House:
    The Tyger now hath seiz'd the gentle Hinde,
    Insulting Tiranny beginnes to Iutt
    Vpon the innocent and awelesse Throne:
    1545Welcome Destruction, Blood, and Massacre,
    I see (as in a Map) the end of all.
    Dut. Accursed, and vnquiet wrangling dayes,
    How many of you haue mine eyes beheld?
    My Husband lost his life, to get the Crowne,
    1550And often vp and downe my sonnes were tost
    For me to ioy, and weepe, their gaine and losse.
    And being seated, and Domesticke broyles
    Cleane ouer-blowne, themselues the Conquerors,
    Make warre vpon themselues, Brother to Brother;
    1555Blood to blood, selfe against selfe: O prepostorous
    And franticke outrage, end thy damned spleene,
    Or let me dye, to looke on earth no more.
    Qu. Come, come my Boy, we will to Sanctuary.
    Madam, farwell.
    1560Dut. Stay, I will go with you.
    Qu. You haue no cause.
    Arch. My gracious Lady go,
    And thether beare your Treasure and your Goodes,
    For my part, Ile resigne vnto your Grace
    1565The Seale I keepe, and so betide to me,
    As well I tender you, and all of yours.
    Go, Ile conduct you to the Sanctuary. Exeunt
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