Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Adrian Kiernander
Peer Reviewed

Richard the Third (Quarto 1, 1597)

The Tragedy
935Ile to his Maiesty, and certifie his Grace,
That thus I haue resignd my charge to you.
Exe. Doe so, it is a point of wisedome.
2 What shall I stab him as he sleepes?
9401 No then he will say it was done cowardly
When he wakes.
2 When he wakes,
Why foole he shall neuer wake till the iudgement day.
1 Why then he will say, we stabd him sleeping.
2 The vrging of that word Iudgement, hath bred
945A kind of remorse in me.
1 What art thou afraid.
2 Not to kill him hauing a warrant for it, but to be dānd
For killing him, from which no warrant can defend vs.
1 Backe to the Duke of Glocester, tell him so.
2 I pray thee stay a while, I hope my holy humor will
Change, twas wont to hold me but while one would tel xx.
1 How doest thou feele thy selfe now?
2 Faith some certaine dregs of conscience are yet with (in me.
1 Remember our reward when the deede is done.
9602 Zounds he dies, I had forgot the reward.
1 Where is thy conscience now?
2 In the Duke of Glocesters purse.
1 So when he opens his purse to giue vs our reward,
Thy conscience flies out.
9652 Let it go, theres few or none will entertaine it,
1 How if it come to thee againe?
2 Ile not meddle with it, it is a dangerous thing,
It makes a man a coward: A man cannot steale,
But it accuseth him: he cannot sweare, but it checks him:
970He cannot lie with his neighbors wife, but it detects
Him. It is a blushing shamefast spirit, that mutinies
In a mans bosome: it fils one full of obstacles,
It made me once restore a purse of gold that I found,
It beggers any man that keepes it: it is turned out of all
975Townes and Citties for a dangerous thing, and euery
Man that meanes to liue wel, endeuors to trust to
To himselfe, and to liue without it.
1 Zounds