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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.
    You should not blemish them if I stood by:
    315As all the world is cheered by the sonne,
    So I by that, it is my day, my life.
    La. Blacke night ouershade thy day, and death thy life.
    Glo. Curse not thy selfe faire creature, thou art both.
    320La. I would I were to be reuenged on thee.
    Glo. It is a quarrell most vnnaturall,
    To be reuengd on him that loueth you.
    La. It is a quarrell iust and reasonable,
    To be reuengd on him that slew my husband.
    325Glo. He that bereft thee Lady of thy husband,
    Did it to helpe thee to a better husband.
    La. His better doth not breath vpon the earth.
    Glo. Go to, he liues that loues you better then he could.
    La. Name him.Glo. Plantagenet.
    La. Why that was hee.
    Glo. The selfesame name but one of better nature.
    La. Where is he. Shee spitteth at him.
    Glo. Heere.
    335Why doest thou spitte at me.
    La. Would it were mortall poison for thy sake.
    Glo. Neuer came poison from so sweete a place.
    La. Neuer hung poison on a fouler toade,
    Out of my sight thou doest infect my eies.
    340Glo. Thine eies sweete Lady haue infected mine.
    La. Would they were basiliskes to strike thee dead.
    Glo. I would they were that I might die at once,
    For now they kill me with a liuing death:
    Those eies of thine from mine haue drawen salt teares,
    345Shamd their aspect with store of childish drops:
    I neuer sued to friend nor enemy,
    My tongue could neuer learne sweete soothing words:
    360But now thy beauty is proposde my fee:
    My proud heart sues and prompts my tongue to speake,
    Teach not thy lips such scorne, for they were made
    For kissing Lady not for such contempt.
    365If thy reuengefull heart cannot forgiue,
    Lo here I lend thee this sharpe pointed sword:
    B2 Which