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About this text

  • 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)

    3370Actus Quintus. Scena Prima.
    Enter Buckingham with Halberds, led
    to Execution.
    Buc. Will not King Richard let me speake with him?
    Sher. No my good Lord, therefore be patient.
    3375Buc. Hastings, and Edwards children, Gray & Riuers,
    Holy King Henry, and thy faire Sonne Edward,
    Vaughan, and all that haue miscarried
    By vnder-hand corrupted foule iniustice,
    If that your moody discontented soules,
    3380Do through the clowds behold this present houre,
    Euen for reuenge mocke my destruction.
    This is All-soules day (Fellow) is it not?
    Sher. It is.
    Buc. Why then Al-soules day, is my bodies doomsday
    3385This is the day, which in King Edwards time
    I wish'd might fall on me, when I was found
    False to his Children, and his Wiues Allies.
    This is the day, wherein I wisht to fall
    By the false Faith of him whom most I trusted.
    3390This, this All-soules day to my fearfull Soule,
    Is the determin'd respit of my wrongs:
    That high All-seer, which I dallied with,
    Hath turn'd my fained Prayer on my head,
    And giuen in earnest, what I begg'd in iest.
    3395Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men
    To turne their owne points in their Masters bosomes.
    Thus Margarets curse falles heauy on my necke:
    When he (quoth she) shall split thy heart with sorrow,
    Remember Margaret was a Prophetesse:
    3400Come leade me Officers to the blocke of shame,
    Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame.
    Exeunt Buckingham with Officers.