The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



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Reference: s4r - Histories, p. 195

Left Column


The Life and Death of Richard the Third. That euer yet this Land was guilty of: Dighton and Forrest, who I did suborne
[2565]
To do this peece of ruthfull Butchery, Albeit they were flesht Villaines, bloody Dogges, Melted with tendernesse, and milde compassion, Wept like to Children, in their deaths sad Story. O thus (quoth Dighton) lay the gentle Babes;
[2570]
Thus, thus (quoth Forrest) girdling one another Within their Alablaster innocent Armes: Their lips were foure red Roses on a stalke, And in their Summer Beauty kist each other. A Booke of Prayers on their pillow lay,
[2575]
Which one (quoth Forrest) almost chang'd my minde: But oh the Diuell, there the Villaine stopt: When Dighton thus told on, we smothered The most replenished sweet worke of Nature, That from the prime Creation ere she framed.
[2580]
Hence both are gone with Conscience and Remorse, They could not speake, and so I left them both, To beare this tydings to the bloody King. Enter Richard. And heere he comes. All health my Soueraigne Lord.
Ric. Kinde Tirrell, am I happy in thy Newes. Tir.
[2585]
If to haue done the thing you gaue in charge, Beget your happinesse, be happy then, For it is done.
Rich. But did'st thou see them dead. Tir. I did my Lord. Rich.
[2590]
And buried gentle Tirrell.
Tir. The Chaplaine of the Tower hath buried them, But where (to say the truth) I do not know. Rich. Come to me Tirrel soone, and after Supper, When thou shalt tell the processe of their death.
[2595]
Meane time, but thinke how I may do the good, And be inheritor of thy desire. Farewell till then.
Tir. I humbly take my leaue. Rich. The Sonne of Clarence haue I pent vp close,
[2600]
His daughter meanly haue I matcht in marriage, The Sonnes of Edward sleepe in Abrahams bosome, And Anne my wife hath bid this world good night. Now for I know the Britaine Richmond aymes At yong Elizabeth my brothers daughter,
[2605]
And by that knot lookes proudly on the Crowne, To her go I, a iolly thriuing wooer.
Enter Ratcliffe. Rat. My Lord. Rich. Good or bad newes, that thou com'st in so bluntly? Rat. Bad news my Lord, Mourton is fled to Richmond,
[2610]
And Buckingham backt with the hardy Welshmen Is in the field, and still his power encreaseth.
Rich. Ely with Richmond troubles me more neere, Then Buckingham and his rash leuied Strength. Come, I haue learn'd, that fearfull commenting
[2615]
Is leaden seruitor to dull delay. Delay leds impotent and Snaile‑pac'd Beggery: Then fierie expedition be my wing, Ioues Mercury, and Herald for a King: Go muster men: My counsaile is my Sheeld,
[2620]
We must be breefe, when Traitors braue the field.
Exeunt.

Right Column


Scena Tertia. [Act 4, Scene 4] Enter old Queene Margaret. Mar. So now prosperity begins to mellow, And drop into the rotten mouth of death: Heere in these Confines slily haue I lurkt, To watch the waining of mine enemies.
[2625]
A dire induction, am I witnesse to, And will to France, hoping the consequence Will proue as bitter, blacke, and Tragicall. Withdraw thee wretched Margaret, who comes heere?
Enter Dutchesse and Queene. Qu. Ah my poore Princes! ah my tender Babes:
[2630]
My vnblowed Flowres, new appearing sweets: If yet your gentle soules flye in the Ayre, And be not fixt in doome perpetuall, Houer about me with your ayery wings, And heare your mothers Lamentation.
Mar.
[2635]
Houer about her, say that right for right Hath dim'd your Infant morne, to Aged night.
Dut. So many miseries haue craz'd my voyce, That my woe‑wearied tongue is still and mute. Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead? Mar.
[2640]
Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet, Edward for Edward, payes a dying debt.
Qu. Wilt thou, O God, flye from such gentle Lambs, And throw them in the intrailes of the Wolfe ? When didst thou sleepe, when such a deed was done? Mar.
[2645]
When holy Harry dyed, and my sweet Sonne.
Dut. Dead life, blind sight, poore mortall liuing ghost, Woes Scene, Worlds shame, Graues due, by life vsurpt, Breefe abstract and record of tedious dayes, Rest thy vnrest on Englands lawfull earth,
[2650]
Vnlawfully made drunke with innocent blood.
Qu. Ah that thou would'st assoone affoord a Graue, As thou canst yeeld a melancholly seate: Then would I hide my bones, not rest them heere, Ah who hath any cause to mourne but wee? Mar.
[2655]
If ancient sorrow be most reuerent, Giue mine the benefit of signeurie, And let my greefes frowne on the vpper hand If sorrow can admit Society. I had an Edward, till a Richard kill'd him:
[2660]
I had a Husband, till a Richard kill'd him: Thou had'st an Edward, till a Richard kill'd him: Thou had'st a Richard, till a Richard kill'd him.
Dut. I had a Richard too, and thou did'st kill him; I had a Rutland too, thou hop'st to kill him. Mar.
[2665]
Thou had'st a Clarence too, And Richard kill'd him. From forth the kennell of thy wombe hath crept A Hell‑hound that doth hunt vs all to death: That Dogge, that had his teeth before his eyes,
[2670]
To worry Lambes, and lap their gentle blood: That foule defacer of Gods handy worke: That reignes in gauled eyes of weeping soules: That excellent grand Tyrant of the earth, Thy wombe let loose to chase vs to our graues.
[2675]
O vpright, iust, and true‑disposing God, How do I thanke thee, that this carnall Curre Prayes

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[Act 4, Scene 3] Enter Tyrrel. Tyr. The tyrannous and bloodie Act is done, The most arch deed of pittious massacre That euer yet this Land was guilty of: Dighton and Forrest, who I did suborne
[2565]
To do this peece of ruthfull Butchery, Albeit they were flesht Villaines, bloody Dogges, Melted with tendernesse, and milde compassion, Wept like to Children, in their deaths sad Story. O thus (quoth Dighton) lay the gentle Babes;
[2570]
Thus, thus (quoth Forrest) girdling one another Within their Alablaster innocent Armes: Their lips were foure red Roses on a stalke, And in their Summer Beauty kist each other. A Booke of Prayers on their pillow lay,
[2575]
Which one (quoth Forrest) almost chang'd my minde: But oh the Diuell, there the Villaine stopt: When Dighton thus told on, we smothered The most replenished sweet worke of Nature, That from the prime Creation ere she framed.
[2580]
Hence both are gone with Conscience and Remorse, They could not speake, and so I left them both, To beare this tydings to the bloody King. Enter Richard. And heere he comes. All health my Soueraigne Lord.
Ric. Kinde Tirrell, am I happy in thy Newes. Tir.
[2585]
If to haue done the thing you gaue in charge, Beget your happinesse, be happy then, For it is done.
Rich. But did'st thou see them dead. Tir. I did my Lord. Rich.
[2590]
And buried gentle Tirrell.
Tir. The Chaplaine of the Tower hath buried them, But where (to say the truth) I do not know. Rich. Come to me Tirrel soone, and after Supper, When thou shalt tell the processe of their death.
[2595]
Meane time, but thinke how I may do the good, And be inheritor of thy desire. Farewell till then.
Tir. I humbly take my leaue. Rich. The Sonne of Clarence haue I pent vp close,
[2600]
His daughter meanly haue I matcht in marriage, The Sonnes of Edward sleepe in Abrahams bosome, And Anne my wife hath bid this world good night. Now for I know the Britaine Richmond aymes At yong Elizabeth my brothers daughter,
[2605]
And by that knot lookes proudly on the Crowne, To her go I, a iolly thriuing wooer.
Enter Ratcliffe. Rat. My Lord. Rich. Good or bad newes, that thou com'st in so bluntly? Rat. Bad news my Lord, Mourton is fled to Richmond,
[2610]
And Buckingham backt with the hardy Welshmen Is in the field, and still his power encreaseth.
Rich. Ely with Richmond troubles me more neere, Then Buckingham and his rash leuied Strength. Come, I haue learn'd, that fearfull commenting
[2615]
Is leaden seruitor to dull delay. Delay leds impotent and Snaile‑pac'd Beggery: Then fierie expedition be my wing, Ioues Mercury, and Herald for a King: Go muster men: My counsaile is my Sheeld,
[2620]
We must be breefe, when Traitors braue the field.
Exeunt.
 

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<div type="scene" n="3" rend="notPresent">
   <head type="supplied">[Act 4, Scene 3]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Tyrrel.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-r3-tyr">
      <speaker rend="italic">Tyr.</speaker>
      <l n="2561">The tyrannous and bloodie Act is done,</l>
      <l n="2562">The most arch deed of pittious massacre</l>
      <pb facs="FFimg:axc0551-0.jpg" n="195"/>
      <cb n="1"/>
      <l n="2563">That euer yet this Land was guilty of:</l>
      <l n="2564">
         <hi rend="italic">Dighton</hi>and<hi rend="italic">Forrest</hi>, who I did suborne</l>
      <l n="2565">To do this peece of ruthfull Butchery,</l>
      <l n="2566">Albeit they were flesht Villaines, bloody Dogges,</l>
      <l n="2567">Melted with tendernesse, and milde compassion,</l>
      <l n="2568">Wept like to Children, in their deaths sad Story.</l>
      <l n="2569">O thus (quoth<hi rend="italic">Dighton</hi>) lay the gentle Babes;</l>
      <l n="2570">Thus, thus (quoth<hi rend="italic">Forrest</hi>) girdling one another</l>
      <l n="2571">Within their Alablaster innocent Armes:</l>
      <l n="2572">Their lips were foure red Roses on a stalke,</l>
      <l n="2573">And in their Summer Beauty kist each other.</l>
      <l n="2574">A Booke of Prayers on their pillow lay,</l>
      <l n="2575">Which one (quoth<hi rend="italic">Forrest</hi>) almost chang'd my minde:</l>
      <l n="2576">But oh the Diuell, there the Villaine stopt:</l>
      <l n="2577">When<hi rend="italic">Dighton</hi>thus told on, we smothered</l>
      <l n="2578">The most replenished sweet worke of Nature,</l>
      <l n="2579">That from the prime Creation ere she framed.</l>
      <l n="2580">Hence both are gone with Conscience and Remorse,</l>
      <l n="2581">They could not speake, and so I left them both,</l>
      <l n="2582">To beare this tydings to the bloody King.</l>
      <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Richard.</stage>
      <l n="2583">And heere he comes. All health my Soueraigne Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-rch">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ric.</speaker>
      <l n="2584">Kinde<hi rend="italic">Tirrell</hi>, am I happy in thy Newes.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-tyr">
      <speaker rend="italic">Tir.</speaker>
      <l n="2585">If to haue done the thing you gaue in charge,</l>
      <l n="2586">Beget your happinesse, be happy then,</l>
      <l n="2587">For it is done.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-rch">
      <speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
      <l n="2588">But did'st thou see them dead.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-tyr">
      <speaker rend="italic">Tir.</speaker>
      <l n="2589">I did my Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-rch">
      <speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
      <l n="2590">And buried gentle<hi rend="italic">Tirrell</hi>.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-tyr">
      <speaker rend="italic">Tir.</speaker>
      <l n="2591">The Chaplaine of the Tower hath buried them,</l>
      <l n="2592">But where (to say the truth) I do not know.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-rch">
      <speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
      <l n="2593">Come to me<hi rend="italic">Tirrel</hi>soone, and after Supper,</l>
      <l n="2594">When thou shalt tell the processe of their death.</l>
      <l n="2595">Meane time, but thinke how I may do the good,</l>
      <l n="2596">And be inheritor of thy desire.</l>
      <l n="2597">Farewell till then.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-tyr">
      <speaker rend="italic">Tir.</speaker>
      <l n="2598">I humbly take my leaue.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-rch">
      <speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
      <l n="2599">The Sonne of<hi rend="italic">Clarence</hi>haue I pent vp close,</l>
      <l n="2600">His daughter meanly haue I matcht in marriage,</l>
      <l n="2601">The Sonnes of<hi rend="italic">Edward</hi>sleepe in<hi rend="italic">Abrahams</hi>bosome,</l>
      <l n="2602">And<hi rend="italic">Anne</hi>my wife hath bid this world good night.</l>
      <l n="2603">Now for I know the Britaine<hi rend="italic">Richmond</hi>aymes</l>
      <l n="2604">At yong<hi rend="italic">Elizabeth</hi>my brothers daughter,</l>
      <l n="2605">And by that knot lookes proudly on the Crowne,</l>
      <l n="2606">To her go I, a iolly thriuing wooer.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Ratcliffe.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-r3-rat">
      <speaker rend="italic">Rat.</speaker>
      <l n="2607">My Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-rch">
      <speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
      <l n="2608">Good or bad newes, that thou com'st in so
      <lb/>bluntly?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-rat">
      <speaker rend="italic">Rat.</speaker>
      <l n="2609">Bad news my Lord,<hi rend="italic">Mourton</hi>is fled to Richmond,</l>
      <l n="2610">And Buckingham backt with the hardy Welshmen</l>
      <l n="2611">Is in the field, and still his power encreaseth.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-r3-rch">
      <speaker rend="italic">Rich.</speaker>
      <l n="2612">Ely with Richmond troubles me more neere,</l>
      <l n="2613">Then Buckingham and his rash leuied Strength.</l>
      <l n="2614">Come, I haue learn'd, that fearfull commenting</l>
      <l n="2615">Is leaden seruitor to dull delay.</l>
      <l n="2616">Delay leds impotent and Snaile‑pac'd Beggery:</l>
      <l n="2617">Then fierie expedition be my wing,</l>
      <l n="2618">Ioues Mercury, and Herald for a King:</l>
      <l n="2619">Go muster men: My counsaile is my Sheeld,</l>
      <l n="2620">We must be breefe, when Traitors braue the field.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
   <cb n="2"/>
</div>

                                
                            

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