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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.
    Oh gentlemen see, see dead Henries woundes,
    Open their congeald mouthes and bleede a fresh.
    Blush blush thou lumpe of foule deformity,
    235For tis thy presence that exhales this bloud,
    From cold and empty veines where no bloud dwells.
    Thy deed inhumane and vnnaturall,
    Prouokes this deluge most vnnaturall.
    Oh God which this bloud madest, reuenge his death,
    240Oh earth which this bloud drinkst, reuenge his death:
    Either heauen with lightning strike the murtherer dead,
    Or earth gape open wide and eate him quicke.
    As thou doest swallow vp this good Kings bloud,
    Which his hell-gouernd arme hath butchered.
    245Glo. Lady you know no rules of charity,
    Which renders good for bad, blessings for curses.
    Lady Villaine thou knowest no law of God nor man:
    No beast so fierce but knowes some touch of pitty.
    Glo. But I know none, and therefore am no beast.
    250Lady Oh wonderfull when Diuels tell the troth.
    Glo. More wonderfull when Angels are so angry
    Voutsafe deuine perfection of a woman,
    Of these supposed euils to giue me leaue,
    By circumstance but to acquite my selfe.
    255La. Vouchsafe defused infection of a man,
    For these knowne euils but to giue me leaue,
    By circumstance to curse thy cursed selfe.
    Glo. Fairer then tongue can name thee, let me haue
    Some patient leisure to excuse my selfe.
    260La. Fouler then heart can thinke thee thou canst make
    No excuse currant but to hang thy selfe.
    Glo. By such despaire I should accuse my selfe.
    Lad. And by despairing shouldst thou stand excusde,
    265For doing worthy vengeance on thy selfe,
    Which didst vnworthy slaughter vpon others.
    Glo. Say that I slew them not.
    La. Why then they are not dead,
    But dead they are, and diuelish slaue by thee.
    270Glo. I did not kill your husband.
    B La
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