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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
    With best aduantage will deceiue the time,
    3535And aide thee in this doubful shocke of armes,
    But on thy side I may not be too forward,
    Least being seene thy brother tender George
    Be executed in his fathers sight.
    Farewel, the leasure and the fearefull time,
    3540Cuts off the ceremonious vowes of loue,
    And ample enterchange of sweet discourse,
    Which so long sundried friends should dwel vpon,
    God giue vs leisure for these rights of loue,
    Once more adiew, be valiant and speed well.
    3545Rich. Good lords conduct him to his regiment:
    Ile striue with troubled thoughts to take a nap,
    Least leaden slumber peise me downe to morrow,
    When I should mount with wings of victorie,
    Once more good night kind Lords and gentlemen, Exunt.
    O thou whose Captaine I account my selfe,
    Looke on my forces with a gracious eie:
    Put in their hands thy brusing Irons of wrath,
    That they may crush downe with a heauie fall,
    3555The vsurping helmets of our aduersaries,
    Make vs thy ministers of chastisement,
    That we may praise thee in the victorie,
    To thee I do commend my watchfull soule,
    Eare I let fal the windowes of mine eies,
    3560Sleeping and waking, oh defend me still!
    Enter the ghost of young Prince Edward, sonne
    Harry the sixt, to Ri.
    Ghost to Ri. Let me sit heauie on thy soule to morrow.
    Thinke how thou stabst me in my prime of youth,
    3565At Teukesburie, dispaire therefore and die.
    To Rich. Be cheerful Richmond for the wronged soules
    Of Butchered princes fight in thy behalfe,
    King Henries issue Richmond comforts thee.
    3570Enter the ghost of Henry the sixt.
    Ghost to Ri. When I was mortall my annointed body,
    By thee was punched full of deadlie holes,
    Thinke on the tower and me dispaire and die,
    Harrie