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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.
    1 Zounds it is euen now at my elbowe perswading me
    980Not to kill the Duke.
    2 Take the diuell in thy minde, and beleeue him not,
    He would insinuate with thee to make thee sigh.
    1 Tut, I am strong in fraud, he cannot preuaile with me,
    983.1I warrant thee.
    2 Spoke like a tall fellow that respects his reputation.
    985Come shall we to this geere.
    1 Take him ouer the costard with the hilts of thy sword,
    And then we wil chop him in the malmsey But in the next (roome.
    2 Oh excellent deuice, make a sop of him.
    9901 Harke he stirs, shall I strike.
    2 No, first lets reason with him.
    Cla. Where art thou keeper, giue me a cup of wine.
    1 You shall haue wine enough my Lo: anon.
    995Cla. In Gods name what art thou.
    2 A man as you are.
    Cla. But not as I am, royall.
    2 Nor you as we are, loyall.
    Cla. Thy voice is thunder, but thy lookes are humble.
    10002 My voice is now the Kings, my lookes mine owne.
    Cla. How darkly, and how deadly doest thou speake:
    Tell me who are you, wherefore come you hither?
    Am. To, to, to.
    1005Cla. To murther me. Am. I.
    Cla. You scarcely haue the hearts to tell me so,
    And therefore cannot haue the hearts to doe it.
    Wherein my friends haue I offended you?
    10101 Offended vs you haue not, but the King.
    Cla. I shal be reconcild to him againe.
    2 Neuer my Lo: therfore prepare to die.
    Cla. Are you cald foorth from out a world of men
    To slay the innocent? what is my offence.
    1015Where are the euidence that doe accuse me:
    What lawfull quest haue giuen their verdict vp
    Vnto the frowning Iudge, or who pronounst
    The bitter sentence of poore Clarence death,
    Before I be conuict by course of law?
    D2 To