Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Help on texts

About this text

  • 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.
    Harrie the sixt bids thee dispaire and die.
    3575 To Rich. Vertuous and holie be thou conqueror,
    Harrie that prophisied thou shouldst be king,
    Doth comfort thee in thy sleepe liue and florish.
    Enter the Goast of Clarence.
    Ghost. Let me set heauie in thy soule to morrow,
    3580I that was washt to death with fulsome wine,
    Poore Clarence by thy guile betraid to death:
    Tomorrow in the battaile thinke on me,
    And fall thy edgeles sword, dispaire and die.
    To Rich. Thou ofspring of the house of Lancester,
    3585The wronged heires of Yorke do pray for thee,
    Good angels guard thy battaile liue and florish.
    Enter the ghosts of Riuers, Gray, Vaughan.
    King Let me sit heauie in thy soule tomorrow,
    Riuers that died at Pomfret, dispaire and die,
    3590Gray. Thinke vpon Graie, and let thy soule dispaire.
    Vaugh. Thinke vpon Vaughan, and with guiltie feare,
    Let fall thy launce, dispaire and die.
    All to Ri. Awake and thinke our wrongs in Richards bosome,
    3595Wel conquer him, awake and win the daie.
    Enter the ghosts of the two yong Princes.
    Ghost to Ri. Dreame on thy Coosens smothered in the tower,
    Let vs be lead within thy bosome Richard,
    And weigh thee down to ruine, shame, and death,
    Thy Nephewes soules bid thee dispaire and die.
    To Rich. Sleepe Richmond sleepe, in peace and wake in ioy,
    Good angels guard thee from the bores annoy,
    Liue and beget a happie race of kings,
    Edwards vnhappie sonnes do bid thee florish.
    Enter the ghost of Hastings.
    Ghost Bloudie and guiltie, guiltilie awake,
    And in a bloudie battaile end thy daies,
    Thinke on lord Hastings, dispaire and die.
    3600 To Rich. Quiet vntroubled soule, awake, awake,
    Arme, fight and conquer for faire Engiands sake.
    Enter the ghost of Lady Anne his wife.
    3615Richard thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife,
    L4 That