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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 Tragedie
    And let my woes frowne on the vpper hand,
    If sorrow can admitte societie,
    2809.1Tell ouer your woes againe by vewing mine,
    2810I had an Edward, till a Richard kild him:
    I had a Richard, till a Ricard kild him:
    Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard kild him:
    Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard kild him.
    Duch. I had a Richard to, and thou didst kill him:
    2815I had a Rutland to, thou hopst to kill him.
    Qu.Mar. Thou hadst a Clarence to, and Richard kild him:
    From forth the kennell of thy wombe hath crept,
    A hel-hound that doeth hunt vs all to death,
    2820That dogge, that had his teeth before his eyes,
    To worrie lambes, and lap their gentle blouds,
    That foule defacer of Gods handie worke,
    Thy wombe let loose, to chase vs to our graues,
    O vpright, iust, and true disposing God,
    How doe I thanke thee, that this carnal curre,
    Praies on the issue of his mothers bodie,
    And makes her puefellow with others mone.
    2830Duch. O, Harries wifes triumph not in my woes,
    God witnes with me, I haue wept for thine.
    Qu.Mar. Beare with me, I am hungrie for reuenge,
    And now I cloie me with beholding it,
    Thy Edward, he is dead, that stabd my Edward,
    2835Thy other Edward dead, to quitte my Edward,
    Yong Yorke, he is but boote because both they
    Match not the high perfection of my losse,
    Thy Clarence he is dead, that kild my Edward,
    And the beholders of this tragicke plaie,
    2840The adulterate Hastings, Riuers, Vaughan, Gray,
    Vntimelie smothred in their duskie graues,
    Richard yet liues, hels blacke intelligencer,
    Onely reserued their factor to buie soules,
    And send them thether, but at hand at handes,
    2845ensues his piteous, and vnpittied end,
    Earth gapes, hell burnes, fiendes roare, saintes praie,
    To haue him suddenly conueied away.
    Cancell
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