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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)

    Alarum, Enter Richard and Richmond, they fight, Richard is slain
    then retrait being sounded. Enter Richmond, Darby, bearing the
    crowne, with other Lords, &c.
    3845Ri. God and your armes be praisd victorious freends,
    The daie is ours, the bloudie dog is dead.
    Dar. Couragious Richmond, wel hast thou acquit thee,
    3850Loe here this long vsurped roialtie.
    From the dead temples of this bloudie wretch,
    Haue I pluckt off to grace thy browes withall,
    Weare it, enioy it, and make much of it.
    But
    The Tragedie
    Rich. Great God of heauen saie Amen to all,
    3855But tell me, is yong George Stanley liuing.
    Dar. He is my lord, and safe in Leicester towne,
    Whether if it please you we may now withdraw vs.
    Rich. What men of name are slaine on either side?
    Iohn Duke of Norffolke, Water Lord Ferris, sir
    3860 Robert Brookenbury, & sir William Brandon.
    Rich. Inter their bodies as become their births,
    Proclaime a pardon to the soldiers fled,
    That in submission will returne to vs,
    And then as we haue tane the sacrament,
    3865We will vnite the white rose and the red,
    Smile heauen vpon this faire coniunction,
    That long haue frownd vpon their enmitie,
    What traitor heares me and saies not Amen?
    England hath long been madde and scard herselfe,
    3870The brother blindlie shed the brothers bloud,
    The father rashlie slaughterd his owne sonne,
    The sonne compeld ben butcher to the sire,
    All this deuided Yorke and Lancaster,
    Deuided in their dire deuision.
    3875O now let Richmond and Elizabeth,
    The true succeeders of each royall house,
    By Gods faire ordinance conioine together,
    And let their heires (God if thy will be so)
    Enrich the time to come with smooth-faste peace,
    3880With smiling plentie and faire prosperous daies,
    Abate the edge of traitors gracious Lord,
    That would reduce these bloudy daies againe,
    And make poore England weepe in streames of bloud,
    Let them not liue to tast this lands increase,
    3885That would with treason wound this faire lands peace,
    Now ciuill wounds are stopt, peace liues againe,
    That she may long liue heare, God saie Amen.
    FINIS.
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