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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.
    King. Stur with the Larke to morrow gentle Norffolke.
    Nor. I warrant you my Lord.
    King. Catesby.
    Rat. My lord.
    3500King. Send out a Pursiuant at armes
    To Stanleys regiment, bid him bring his power
    Before sun rising, least his sonne George fall
    Into the blind caue of eternal night.
    Fill me a bowle of wine, giue me a watch,
    3505Saddle white Surrey for the field to morrow,
    Looke that my staues be sound and not too heauy Ratliffe.
    Rat. My lord.
    King. Sawst thou the melancholie Lo. Northumberland?
    Rat. Thomas the Earle of Surrey and himselfe,
    3510Much about cockshut time, from troupe to troupe
    Went through the army cheering vp the soldiors.
    King. So I am satisfied, giue me a boule of wine,
    I haue not that alacrity of spirit
    Nor cheere of mind that I was wont to haue:
    3515Set it down. Is inke and paper ready?
    Rat. It is my lord.
    King Bid my guard watch, leaue me.
    Ratliffe about the mid of night come to my tent
    And helpe to arme me: leaue me I say. Exit . Ratliffe
    3520Enter Darby to Richmond in his tent.
    Darby. Fortune and victorie set on thy helme.
    Rich. All comfort that the darke night can afford,
    Be to thy person noble father in law,
    Tel me how fares our louing mother?
    3525Dar. I by atturney blesse thee from thy mother,
    Who praies continuallie for Richmonds good,
    So much for that the silent houres steale on,
    And flakie darkenesse breakes within the east,
    In briefe, for so the season bids vs be:
    3530Prepare thy battell earelie in the morning,
    And put thy fortune to the arbitrement,
    Of bloudie strokes and mortal staring war,
    I as I may, that which I would, I cannot,
    L3 With