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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.
    Lines of faire comfort, and incouragement,
    The wretched, bloudie, and vsurping bore,
    That spoild your somer-fieldes, and fruitfull vines,
    Swils your warme bloud like wash, and makes his trough,
    3415In your inboweld bosomes, this foule swine,
    Lies now euen in the center of this Ile,
    Neare to the towne of Leycester as we learne:
    From Tamworth thether, is but one dayes march.
    In Gods name cheerelie on, couragious friendes,
    3420To reape the haruest of perpetuall peace,
    By this one bloudie triall of sharpe warre.
    1 Lo. Euerie mans conscience is a thousand swordes,
    To fight against that bloudie homicide.
    2 Lo. I doubt not but his friendes will flie to vs.
    34253 Lo. He hath no friendes, but who are friendes for feare,
    Which in his greatest neede will shrinke from him.
    Rich. All for our vantage, then in Gods name march,
    True hope is swift, and flies with Swallowes wings,
    Kings it make Gods, and meaner creatures kings. Exit.
    Enter King Richard, Norffolke, Ratcliffe,
    Catesbie, with others.
    King. Here pitch our tentes, euen here in Bosworth field,
    Whie, how now Catesbie, whie lookst thou so bad.
    3435Cat, My hart is ten times lighter then my lookes.
    King. Norffolke, come hether.
    Norffolke, we must haue knockes, ha, must we not?
    3440Norff. We must both giue, and take, my gracious Lord.
    King. Vp with my tent there, here will I lie to night,
    But where to morrow, well, all is one for that:
    Who hath discried the number of the foe.
    Norff. Sixe or seuen thousand is their vtmost number.
    3445King. Whie our battalion trebles that account,
    Besides, the Kings name is a tower of strength,
    Which they vpon the aduerse partie want,
    Vp with my tent there, valiant gentlemen,
    Let vs suruey the vantage of the field,
    3450Call for some men of sound direction,
    Lets want no discipline, make no delaie,
    L2 For