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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)

    Enter Duke of Glocester and Buckingham in armour.
    Glo. Come Cosen, canst thou quake and change thy co-(lour?
    Murther thy breath in middle of a word,
    And then beginne againe, and stop againe,
    As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror.
    Buc. Tut feare not me.
    2090I can counterfait the deepe Tragedian:
    Speake, and looke backe, and prie on euery side:
    Intending deepe suspition, gastly lookes
    Are at my seruice like inforced smiles,
    And both are ready in their offices
    2095To grace my stratagems. Enter Maior.
    Glo. Here comes the Maior.
    2097.1Buc. Let me alone to entertaine him. Lo: Maior,
    2100Glo. Looke to the drawbridge there.
    Buc. The reason we haue sent for you.
    Glo. Catesby ouerlooke the wals.
    Buck.
    of Richard the third.
    Buck. Harke, I heare a drumme.
    Glo. Looke backe, defend thee, here are enemies.
    2105Buc. God and our innocence defend vs. Enter Catesby with Hast. head.
    2105.1Glo. O, O, be quiet, it is Catesby.
    Cat. Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
    The daungerous and vnsuspected Hastings.
    2110Glo. So deare I lou'd the man, that I must weepe:
    I tooke him for the plainest harmelesse man,
    That breathed vpon this earth a christian,
    2112.1Looke ye my Lo: Maior.
    Made him my booke, wherein my soule recorded,
    The history of all her secret thoughts:
    2115So smoothe he daubd his vice with shew of vertue,
    That his apparant open guilt omitted:
    I meane his conuersation with Shores wife,
    He laid from all attainder of suspect.
    Buck. Well well, he was the couertst sheltred traitor
    2120That euer liu'd, would you haue imagined,
    Or almost beleeue, wert not by great preseruation
    We liue to tell it you? The subtile traitor
    Had this day plotted in the councell house,
    2125To murder me, and my good Lord of Glocester.
    Maior. What, had he so?
    Glo. What thinke you we are Turkes or Infidels,
    Or that we would against the forme of lawe,
    Proceede thus rashly to the villaines death,
    2130But that the extreame perill of the case,
    The peace of England, and our persons safety
    Inforst vs to this execution.
    Ma. Now faire befall you, he deserued his death,
    And you my good Lords both, haue well proceeded
    2135To warne false traitours from the like attempts:
    I neuer lookt for better at his hands,
    After he once fell in with Mistresse Shore.
    Dut. Yet had not we determined he should die,
    Vntill your Lordship came to see his death,
    2140Which now the longing haste of these our friends,
    Somewhat against our meaning haue preuented,
    G3 Be
    The Tragedy
    Because, my Lord, we would haue had you heard
    The traitor speake, and timerously confesse
    The maner, and the purpose of his treason,
    2145That you might well haue signified the same
    Vnto the Citizens, who happily may
    Misconster vs in him, and wayle his death.
    Ma. But my good Lord, your graces word shall serue
    As well as I had seene or heard him speake,
    2150And doubt you not, right noble Princes both,
    But Ile acquaint your dutious citizens,
    With all your iust proceedings in this cause.
    Glo. And to that end we wisht your Lordship here
    To auoyde the carping censures of the world.
    2155Buc. But since you come too late of our intents,
    Yet witnesse what we did intend, and so my Lord adue.
    Glo. After, after, coosin Buckingham, Exit Maior.
    2160The Maior towards Guildhall hies him in all post,
    There at your meetst aduantage of the time,
    Inferre the bastardy of Edwards children:
    Tell them how Edward put to death a Cittizen,
    Onely for saying he would make his sonne
    2165Heire to the Crowne, meaning (indeede) his house,
    Which by the signe thereof was termed so.
    Moreouer, vrge his hatefull luxurie,
    And bestiall appetite in change of lust,
    Which stretched to theyr seruants, daughters, wiues,
    2170Euen where his lustfull eye, or sauage heart
    Without controll listed to make his prey:
    Nay for a neede thus farre, come neere my person.
    Tell them, when that my mother went with childe
    Of that vnsatiate Edward, noble Yorke
    2175My princely father then had warres in Fraunce,
    And by iust computation of the tyme
    Found, that the issue was not his begot,
    Which well appeared in his lineaments,
    Being nothing like the noble Duke my father:
    2180But touch this sparingly as it were farre off,
    Because you know, my Lord, my mother liues.
    Buc.
    of Richard the third.
    Buck. Feare not, my Lord, Ile play the Orator,
    As if the golden fee for which I pleade
    Were for my selfe.
    2185Glo. If you thriue well, bring them to Baynards castle,
    Where you shall finde me well accompanyed,
    Wyth reuerend fathers and well learned Bishops.
    Buc. About three or foure a clocke look to heare
    What news Guildhall affordeth, and so my Lord farewell.
    Glo. Now will I in to take some priuy order, Exit Buc.
    2195To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,
    And to giue notice, that no maner of person
    At any tyme haue recourse vnto the Princes. Exit.
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