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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)

    The Tragedy
    If heauen haue any grieuous plague in store,
    Exceeding those that I can wish vpon thee:
    O let them keepe it till thy sinnes be ripe,
    And then hurle downe their indignation
    690On thee the troubler of the poore worlds peace:
    The worme of conscience still begnaw thy soule,
    Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liuest,
    And take deepe traitors for thy dearest friends:
    No sleepe, close vp that deadly eye of thine,
    695Vnlesse it be whilest some tormenting dreame
    Affrights thee with a hell of vgly diuels.
    Thou eluish markt abortiue rooting hog,
    Thou that wast seald in thy natiuity
    The slaue of nature, and the sonne of hell,
    700Thou slaunder of thy mothers heauy wombe,
    Thou lothed issue of thy fathers loynes,
    Thou rag of honour, thou detested, &c.
    Glo. Margaret.
    Qu. M. Richard.Glo. Ha.
    705Qu. M . I call thee not.
    Glo. Then I crie thee mercy, for I had thought
    That thou hadst cald me all these bitter names.
    Qu M. Why so I did, but lookt for no reply,
    O Let me make the period to my curse.
    710Glo. Tis done by me, and ends in Margaret.
    Qu. Thus haue you breathed your curse against your (selfe.
    Qu. M . Poore painted Queene, vaine flourish of my for- (tune
    Why strewest thou suger on that bottled spider,
    Whose deadly web ensnareth thee about?
    715Foole foole, thou whetst a knife to kill thy selfe,
    The time will come that thou shalt wish for me,
    To helpe thee curse that poisenous bunchbackt toade.
    Hast. False boading woman, end thy frantike curse,
    Lest to thy harme thou moue our patience.
    720Q. M . Foule shame vpon you, you haue all mou'd mine,
    Ri. Were you well seru'd you would be taught your duty.
    Q. M . To serue me well, you all should doe me duty,
    Teach me to be your Queene, and you my subiects:
    O