The Life and Death of Richard the Third.Rich.You speake too bitterly.Dut.Heare me a word:For I shall neuer speake to thee againe.Rich.So.Dut.
[2810]
Either thou wilt dye, by Gods iust ordinanceEre from this warre thou turne a Conqueror:Or I with greefe and extreame Age shall perish,And neuer more behold thy face againe.Therefore take with thee my most greeuous Curse,
[2815]
Which in the day of Battell tyre thee moreThen all the compleat Armour that thou wear'st.My Prayers on the aduerse party fight,And there the little soules of
Edwards Children,
Whisper the Spirits of thine Enemies,
[2820]
And promise them Successe and Victory:Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end:Shame serues thy life, and doth thy death attend.Exit.Qu.Though far more cause, yet much lesse spirit to curseAbides in me, I say Amen to her.Rich.
[2825]
Stay Madam, I must talke a word with you.Qu.I haue no more sonnes of the Royall BloodFor thee to slaughter. For my Daughters (
Richard)
They shall be praying Nunnes, not weeping Queenes:And therefore leuell not to hit their liues.Rich.
[2830]
You haue a daughter call'd
Elizabeth,
Vertuous and Faire, Royall and Gracious?Qu.And must she dye for this? O let her liue,And Ile corrupt her Manners, staine her Beauty,Slander my Selfe, as false to
Edwards bed:
[2835]
Throw ouer her the vaile of Infamy,So she may liue vnscarr'd of bleeding slaughter,I will confesse she was not
Edwards daughter.
Rich.Wrong not her Byrth, she is a Royall Princesse.Qu.To saue her life, Ile say she is not so.Rich.
[2840]
Her life is safest onely in her byrth.Qu.And onely in that safety, dyed her Brothers.Rich.Loe at their Birth, good starres were opposite.Qu.No, to their liues, ill friends were contrary.Rich.All vnauoyded is the doome of Destiny.Qu.
[2845]
True: when auoyded grace makes Destiny.My Babes were destin'd to a fairer death,If grace had blest thee with a fairer life.Rich,You speake as if that I had slaine my Cosins?Qu.Cosins indeed, and by their Vnckle couzend,
[2850]
Of Comfort, Kingdome, Kindred, Freedome, Life,Whose hand soeuer lanch'd their tender hearts,Thy head (all indirectly) gaue direction.No doubt the murd'rous Knife was dull and blunt,Till it was whetted on thy stone‑hard heart,
[2855]
To reuell in the Intrailes of my Lambes.But that still vse of greefe, makes wilde greefe tame,My tongue should to thy eares not name my Boyes,Till that my Nayles were anchor'd in thine eyes:And I in such a desp'rate Bay of death,
[2860]
Like a poore Barke, of sailes and tackling reft,Rush all to peeces on thy Rocky bosome.Rich.Madam, so thriue I in my enterprizeAnd dangerous successe of bloody warres,As I intend more good to you and yours,
[2865]
Then euer you and yours by me were harm'd.Qu.What good is couer'd with the face of heauen,To be discouered, that can do me good.Rich.Th'aduancement of your children, gentle LadyQu.Vp to some Scaffold, there to lose their heads.Rich.
[2870]
Vnto the dignity and height of Fortune,The high Imperiall Type of this earths glory.
Qu.Flatter my sorrow with report of it:Tell me, what State, what Dignity, what Honor,Canst thou demise to any childe of mine.Rich.
[2875]
Euen all I haue; I, and my selfe and all,Will I withall indow a childe of thine:So in the Lethe of thy angry soule,Thou drowne the sad remembrance of those wrongs,Which thou supposest I haue done to thee.Qu.
[2880]
Be breefe, least that the processe of thy kindnesseLast longer telling then thy kindness date.Rich.Then know,That from my Soule, I loue thy Daughter.Qu.My daughters Mother thinkes it with her soule.Rich.
[2885]
What do you thinke?Qu.That thou dost loue my daughter from thy souleSo from thy Soules loue didst thou loue her Brothers,And from my hearts loue, I do thanke thee for it.Rich.Be not so hasty to confound my meaning:
[2890]
I meane that with my Soule I loue thy daughter,And do intend to make her Queene of England.Qu.Well then, who dost y
u meane shallbe her King.
Rich.Euen he that makes her Queene:Who else should bee?Q
.
[2895]
What, thou?Rich.Euen so: How thinke you of it?Qu.How canst thou woo her?Rich.That I would learne of you,As one being best acquainted with her humour.Qu.
[2900]
And wilt thou learne of me
?Rich.Madam, with all my heart.Qu.Send to her by the man that slew her Brothers,A paire of bleeding hearts: thereon ingraueEdward and
Yorke, then haply will she weepe:
[2905]
Therefore present to her, as sometime
MargaretDid to thy Father, steept in Rutlands blood,A hand‑kercheefe, which say to her did dreyneThe purple sappe from her sweet Brothers body,And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withall.
[2910]
If this inducement moue her not to loue,Send her a Letter of thy Noble deeds:Tell her, thou mad'st away her Vnckle
Clarence,
Her Vnckle
Riuers, I (and for her sake)
Mad'st quicke conueyance with her good Aunt
Anne.
Rich.
[2915]
You mocke me Madam, this not the wayTo win your daughter.Qu.There is no other way,Vnlesse thou could'st put on some other shape,And not be
Richard, that hath done all this.
Rich.
[2920]
Say that 1 did all this for loue of her.Qu.Nay then indeed she cannot choose but hate theeHauing bought loue, with such a bloody spoyle.Rich.Looke what is done, cannot be now amended:Men shall deale vnaduisedly sometimes,
[2925]
Which after‑houres giues leysure to repent.If I did take the Kingdome from your Sonnes,To make amends, Ile giue it to your daughter:If I haue kill'd the issue of your wombe,To quicken your encrease, I will beget
[2930]
Mine yssue of your blood, vpon your Daughter:A Grandams name is little lesse in loue,Then is the doting Title of a Mother;They are as Children but one steppe below,Euen of your mettall, of your very blood:
[2935]
Of all one paine, saue for a night of groanesEndur'd of her, for whom you bid like sorrow.Your Children were vexation to your youth,But
[Act 4, Scene 3]
Enter Tyrrel.Tyr.The tyrannous and bloodie Act is done,The most arch deed of pittious massacreThat 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 WelshmenIs 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.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<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>