Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Adrian Kiernander
Not Peer Reviewed

Richard the Third (Modern)

[4.2]
[A throne is set forth.] The trumpets sound. Enter Richard crowned, Buckingham, Catesby, with other nobles [and a page boy].
2590King Richard
Stand all apart!
[The courtiers stand back.]
Cousin of Buckingham,
Give me thy hand:
Here he ascends the throne[, assisted by Buckingham].
Thus high by thy advice
And thy assistance is King Richard seated;
2595But shall we wear these honors for a day?
Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?
Buckingham
Still live they, and for ever may they last.
King Richard
Oh, Buckingham, now do I play the touch
To try if thou be current gold indeed:
2600Young Edward lives -- think now what I would say.
Buckingham
Say on, my gracious sovereign.
King Richard
Why, Buckingham, I say I would be king.
Buckingham
Why so you are, my thrice renownèd liege.
King Richard
Ha! Am I king? 'Tis so, but Edward lives.
2605Buckingham
True, noble Prince.
King Richard
Oh, bitter consequence
That Edward still should live true noble prince. . .
Cousin, thou wert not wont to be so dull:
Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead
2610And I would have it suddenly performed.
What say'st thou? Speak suddenly, be brief.
Buckingham
Your grace may do your pleasure.
King Richard
Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezeth;
Say, have I thy consent that they shall die?
2615Buckingham
Give me some breath, some little pause, my lord
Before I positively speak herein:
I will resolve your grace immediately.
Exit.
[Quietly] The King is angry, see, he bites the lip.
King Richard
[Aside] I will converse with iron-witted fools
2620And unrespective boys, none are for me
That look into me with considerate eyes.
[A page approaches the throne.]
[Aside]
High reaching Buckingham grows circumspect.
My lord.
2625King Richard
Know'st thou not any whom corrupting gold
Would tempt unto a close exploit of death?
My lord, I know a discontented gentleman
Whose humble means match not his haughty mind;
Gold were as good as twenty orators
2630And will no doubt tempt him to anything.
King Richard
What is his name?
His name, my lord, is Tyrrel.
King Richard
Go call him hither presently.
[Exit boy.]
2635The deep-revolving, witty Buckingham
No more shall be the neighbor to my counsel.
Hath he so long held out with me untired
And stops he now for breath?
Enter Stanley.
2640How now, what news with you?
My lord, I hear the Marquess Dorset
Is fled to Richmond, in those parts beyond the seas where he
[Richard dismisses Stanley, who retreats.]
King Richard
Catesby.
Catesby
[Approaching King Richard.] My lord.
King Richard
Rumor it abroad
2645That Anne my wife is sick and like to die;
I will take order for her keeping close.
Enquire me out some mean-born gentleman
Whom I will marry straight to Clarence' daughter;
The boy is foolish, and I fear not him:
2650Look how thou dream'st! I say again, give out
That Anne my wife is sick and like to die.
About it,
[Exit Catesby.]
for it stands me much upon
To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me.
I must be married to my brother's daughter
2655Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass.
Murder her brothers, and then marry her. . .
Uncertain way of gain, but I am in
So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin.
Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye.
2660Enter Tyrrel. [King Richard beckons him.]
Is thy name Tyrrel?
James Tyrrel, and your most obedient subject.
King Richard
Art thou indeed?
Prove me my gracious sovereign.
2665King Richard
Dar'st thou resolve to kill a friend of mine?
Aye, my lord, but I had rather kill two enemies.
King Richard
Why, there thou hast it, two deep enemies,
Foes to my rest, and my sweet sleep's disturbers
2670Are they that I would have thee deal upon:
Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower.
Let me have open means to come to them
And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them.
King Richard
Thou sing'st sweet music. 2675Come hither Tyrrel,
[Tyrrel moves closer to King Richard and kneels; Richard gives him a token.]
Go by that token; rise and lend thine ear --
[Tyrrel stands; Richard] whispers in his ear.
'Tis no more but so, say is it done
And I will love thee and prefer thee too.
'Tis done, my gracious lord.
2679.1 King Richard
Shall we hear from thee, Tyrrel, ere we sleep?
Tyrrel
Ye shall, my lord.
[Exit.]
2680Enter Buc[kingham. He approaches King Richard].
Buckingham
My lord, I have considered in my mind
The late demand that you did sound me in.
King Richard
Well, let that pass. Dorset is fled to Richmond.
Buckingham
I hear that news, my lord.
2685King Richard
Stanley, he is your wife's son. Well, look to it.
Buckingham
My lord, I claim your gift, my due by promise
For which your honor and your faith is pawned:
The Earldom of Hereford and the moveables
2690The which you promisèd I should possess.
King Richard
Stanley, look to your wife; if she convey
Letters to Richmond you shall answer it.
Buckingham
What says your highness to my just demand?
King Richard
As I remember, Henry the Sixth
2695Did prophesy that Richmond should be king
When Richmond was a little peevish boy:
A king perhaps, perhaps.
Buckingham
My lord.
2697.1King Richard
How chance the prophet could not at that time
Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him.
My lord, your promise for the Earldom.
King Richard
Richmond. When last I was at Exeter
2697.5The Mayor in courtesy showed me the Castle
And called it Rouge-mount, at which name I started,
Because a bard of Ireland told me once
I should not live long after I saw Richmond.
My lord.
2697.10King Richard
Aye, what's o'clock?
I am thus bold to put your grace in mind
Of what you promised me.
King Richard
Well, but what's o'clock?
Upon the stroke of ten.
2697.15King Richard
Well, let it strike.
Why let it strike?
King Richard
Because that like a Jack thou keep'st the stroke
Betwixt thy begging and my meditation.
I am not in the giving vein today.
Buckingham
Why then, resolve me whether you will or no!
King Richard
Tut, tut, thou troublest me, I am not in the vein.
Exit[. All follow except Buckingham].
2700Buckingham
Is it even so, reward'st he my true service
With such deep contempt, made I him King for this?
Oh, let me think on Hastings and be gone
To Brecknock while my fearful head is on.
Exit.