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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.
    Canst thou demise to anie child of mine.
    King. Euen all I haue, yea and my selfe and all,
    Will I withal endow a child of thine,
    3030So in the Lethe of thy angrie soule,
    Thou drown the sadd remembrance of those wrongs
    Which thou supposest I haue done to thee.
    Qu. Be briefe, least that the processe of thy kindnes,
    Last longer telling then thy kindnes doe.
    3035King. Then know that from my soule I loue thy daughter.
    Qu. My daughters mother thinkes it with her soule.
    King. What do you thinke?
    Qu. That thou dost loue my daughter from thy soule,
    3040So from thy soules loue didst thou loue her brothers,
    And from my harts loue I do thanke thee for it.
    King. Be not so hastie to confound my meaning,
    I meane that with my soule I loue thy daughter,
    And meane to make her Queene of England.
    3045Qu. Saie then, who dost thou meane shal be her king?
    King. Euen he that makes her Queen, who should be else?
    Qu. What thou?
    King I euen I, what thinke you of it Maddame?
    3050Qu. How canst thou wooe her?
    King That would I learne of you.
    As one that are best acquainted with her humor.
    Qu. And wilt thou learn of me?
    King Madam with al my hart.
    3055Qu. Send to her by the man that slew her brothers,
    A paire of bleeding harts thereon ingraue,
    Edward and Yorke, then happelie she wil weepe,
    Therefore present to her as sometimes Margaret
    Did to thy father, a handkercher steept in Rutlands bloud,
    And bid her drie her weeping eies therewith,
    If this inducement force her not to loue,
    Send her a storie of thy noble acts,
    3065Tel her thou madst awaie her Vncle Clarence,
    Her Vncle Riuers, yea, and for her sake
    Madst quicke conueiance with her good Aunt Anne.
    King Come, come, you mocke me, this is not the waie
    K.2 To