Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Adrian Kiernander
Peer Reviewed

Richard the Third (Quarto 1, 1597)

The Tragedy
1 I thus, and thus: if this wil not serue, He stabs him.
Ile chop thee in the malmesey But, in the next roome.
11052 A bloudy deede, and desperately performd,
How faine like Pilate would I wash my hand,
Of this most grieuous guilty murder done.
1 Why doest thou not helpe me,
By heauens the Duke shall know how slacke thou art.
2 I would he knew that I had saued his brother.
Take thou the fee, and tell him what I say,
For I repent me that the Duke is slaine. Exit.
1 So doe not I, go coward as thou art:
1115Now must I hide his body in some hole,
Vntill the Duke take order for his buriall:
And when I haue my meede I must away,
For this will out, and here I must not stay. Exeunt.
Enter King, Queene, Hastings, Ryuers, Dorcet, &c.
Kin. So, now I haue done a good daies worke,
1125You peeres continue this vnited league,
I euery day eXpect an Embassage
From my redeemer to redeeme me hence:
And now in peace my soule shall part from heauen,
Since I haue set my friends at peace on earth:
1130Riuers and Hastings, take each others hand,
Dissemble not your hatred, sweare your loue.
Riu. By heauen, my heart is purgd from grudging hate,
And with my hand I seale my true hearts loue.
Hast. So thriue I as I truely sweare the like.
1135Kin. Take heede you dally not before your King,
Least he that is the supreme King of Kings,
Confound your hidden falshood and award
Either of you to be the others end.
Hast. So prosper I, as I sweare perfect loue.
1140Riu. And I, as I loue hastings with my heart.
Kin. Madame, your selfe are not exempt in this,
Nor your son Dorset, Buckingham nor you,
You haue beene factious one against the other:
Wife, loue Lo: Hastings, let him kisse your hand,
1145And what you doe, doe it vnfainedly.
Q. Here Hastings I will neuer more remember
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