The Life and Death of Richard the Third.But mine shall be a comfort to your Age,The losse you haue, is but a Sonne being King,
[2940]
And by that losse, your Daughter is made Queene.I cannot make you what amends I would,Therefore accept such kindnesse as I can.Dorset your Sonne, that with a fearfull soule
Leads discontented steppes in Forraine soyle,
[2945]
This faire Alliance, quickly shall call homeTo high Promotions, and great Dignity.The King that calles your beauteous Daughter Wife,Familiarly shall call thy
Dorset, Brother:
Againe shall you be Mother to a King:
[2950]
And all the Ruines of distressefull Times,Repayr'd with double Riches of Content.What? we haue many goodly dayes to see:The liquid drops of Teares that you haue shed,Shall come againe, transform'd to Orient Pearle,
[2955]
Aduantaging their Loue, with interestOf ten‑times double gaine of happinesse.Go then (my Mother) to thy Daughter go,Make bold her bashfull yeares, with your experience,Prepare her eares to heare a Woers Tale.
[2960]
Put in her tender heart, th'aspiring FlameOf Golden Soueraignty: Acquaint the PrincesseWith the sweet silent houres of Marriage ioyes:And when this Arme of mine hath chastisedThe petty Rebell, dull‑brain'd
Buckingham,
[2965]
Bound with Triumphant Garlands will I come,And leade thy daughter to a Conquerors bed:To whom I will retaile my Conquest wonne,And she shalbe sole Victoresse,
Cæsars Cæsar.
Qu.What were I best to say, her Fathers Brother
[2970]
Would be her Lord
? Or shall I say her Vnkle?
Or he that slew her Brothers, and her Vnkles?Vnder what Title shall I woo for thee,That God, the Law, my Honor, and her Loue,Can make seeme pleasing to her tender yeares?Rich.
[2975]
Inferre faire Englands peace by this Alliance.Qu.Which she shall purchase with stil lasting warre.Rich.Tell her, the King that may command, intreats.Qu.That at her hands, which the kings King forbids.Rich.Say she shall be a High and Mighty Queene.Qu.
[2980]
To vaile the Title, as her Mother doth.Rich.Say I will loue her euerlastingly.Qu.But how long shall that title euer last?Rich.Sweetly in force, vnto her faire liues end.Qu.But how long fairely shall her sweet life last?Rich.
[2985]
As long as Heauen and Nature lengthens it.Qu.As long as Hell and
Richard likes of it.
Rich.Say, I her Soueraigne, am her Subiect low.Qu.But she your Subiect, lothes such Soueraignty.Rich.Be eloquent in my behalfe to her.Qu.
[2990]
An honest tale speeds best, being plainly told.Rich.Then plainly, to her, tell my louing tale.Qu.Plaine and not honest, is too harsh a style.Rich.Your Reasons are too shallow, and to quicke.Qu.O no, my Reasons are too deepe and dead,
[2995]
Too deepe and dead (poore Infants) in their graues,Harpe on it still shall I, till heart‑strings breake.Rich.Harpe not on that string Madam, that is past.Now by my George, my Garter, and my Crowne.Qu.Prophan'd, dishonor'd, and the third vsurpt.Rich.
[3000]
I sweare.Qu.By nothing, for this is no Oath:Thy George prophan'd, hath lost his Lordly Honor;Thy Garter blemish'd, pawn'd his Knightly Vertue;
If something thou would'st sweare to be beleeu'd,Sweare then by something, that thou hast not wrong'd.Rich.Then by my Selfe.Qu.Thy Selfe, is selfe‑misvs'd.Rich.Now by the World.Qu.
[3010]
'Tis full of thy foule wrongs.Rich.My Fathers death.Qu.Thy life hath it dishonor'd.Rich.Why then, by Heauen.Qu.Hea
uens wrong is most of all:
[3015]
If thou didd'st feare to breake an Oath with him,The vnity the King my husband made,Thou had'st not broken, nor my Brothers died.If thou had'st fear'd to breake an oath by him,Th'Imperiall mettall, circling now thy head,
[3020]
Had grac'd the tender temples of my Child,And both the Princes had bene breathing heere,Which now two tender Bed‑fellowes for dust,Thy broken Faith hath made the prey for Wormes.What can'st thou sweare by now.Rich.
[3025]
The time to come.Qu.That thou hast wronged in the time ore‑past:For I my selfe haue many teares to washHeereafter time, for time past, wrong'd by thee.The Children liue, whose Fathers thou hast slaughter'd,
[3030]
Vngouern'd youth, to waile it with their age:The Parents liue, whose Children thou hast butcher'd,Old barren Plants, to waile it with their Age.Sweare not by time to come, for that thou hastMisvs'd ere vs'd, by times ill‑vs'd repast.Rich.
[3035]
As I entend to prosper, and repent:So thriue I in my dangerous AffayresOf hostile Armes: My selfe, my selfe confound:Heauen, and Fortune barre me happy houres:Day, yeeld me not thy light; nor Night, thy rest.
[3040]
Be opposite all Planets of good luckeTo my proceeding, if with deere hearts loue,Immaculate deuotion, holy thoughts,I tender not thy beautious Princely daughter.In her, consists my Happinesse, and thine:
[3045]
Without her, followes to my selfe, and thee;Her selfe, the Land, and many a Christian soule,Death, Desolation, Ruine, and Decay:It cannot be auoyded, but by this:It will not be auoyded, but by this.
[3050]
Therefore deare Mother (I must call you so)Be the Atturney of my loue to her:Pleade what I will be, not what I haue beene;Not my deserts, but what I will deserue:Vrge the Necessity and state of times,
[3055]
And be not peeuish found, in great Designes.Qu.Shall I be tempted of the Diuel thus?Rich.I, if the Diuell tempt you to do good.Qu.Shall I forget my selfe, to be my selfe.Rich.I, if your selfes remembrance wrong your selfe.Qu.
[3060]
Yet thou didst kil my Children.Rich.But in your daughters wombe I bury them.Where in that Nest of Spicery they will breedSelues of themselues, to your recomforture.Qu.Shall I go win my daughter to thy will
?Rich.
[3065]
And be a happy Mother by the deed.Qu.I go, write to me very shortly,And you shal vnderstand from me her mind.Exit Q.Rich.Beare her my true loues kisse, and so farewell.Relenting Foole, and shallow‑changing Woman.How
[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>
