Script of Act IV Richard III The play by William Shakespeare Introduction This section contains the script of Act IV of Richard III the play by William Shakespeare. The enduring works of William Shakespeare feature many famous and well loved characters. Make a note of any unusual words that you encounter whilst reading the script of Richard III and check their definition in the Shakespeare Dictionary The script of Richard III is extremely long. To reduce the time to load the script of the play, and for ease in accessing specific sections of the script, we have separated the text of Richard III into Acts. Please click Richard III Script to access further Acts. Script / Text of Act IV Richard III ACT IV SCENE I. Before the Tower.
Enter, on one side, QUEEN ELIZABETH, DUCHESS OF YORK, and DORSET; on the other, ANNE, Duchess of Gloucester, leading Lady Margaret Plantagenet, CLARENCE's young Daughter DUCHESS OF YORK Who m eets us here? my niece Plantagenet Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloucester? Now, for my life, she's wandering to the Tower, On pure heart's love to greet the tender princes. Daughter, well met.
LADY ANNE God give your graces both A happy and a joyful time of day!
QUEEN ELIZABETH As much to you, good sister! Whither away?
LADY ANNE No farther than the Tower; and, as I guess, Upon the like devotion as yourselves, To gratulate the gentle princes there.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Kind sister, thanks: we'll enter all together.
Enter BRAKENBURY
And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes. Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave, How doth the prince, and my young son of York?
BRAKENBURY Right well, dear madam. By your patience, I may not suffer you to visit them; The king hath straitly charged the contrary.
QUEEN ELIZABETH The king! why, who's that?
BRAKENBURY I cry you mercy: I mean the lord protector.
QUEEN ELIZABETH The Lord protect him from that kingly title! Hath he set bounds betwixt their love and me? I am their mother; who should keep me from them?
DUCHESS OF YORK I am their fathers mother; I will see them.
LADY ANNE Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother: Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame And take thy office from thee, on my peril.
BRAKENBURY No, madam, no; I may not leave it so: I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me.
Exit
Enter LORD STANLEY
LORD STANLEY Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence, And I'll salute your grace of York as mother, And reverend looker on, of two fair queens.
To LADY ANNE
Come, madam, you must straight to Westminster, There to be crowned Richard's royal queen.
QUEEN ELIZABETH O, cut my lace in sunder, that my pent heart May have some scope to beat, or else I swoon With this dead-killing news!
LADY ANNE Despiteful tidings! O unpleasing news!
DORSET Be of good cheer: mother, how fares your grace?
QUEEN ELIZABETH O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee hence! Death and destruction dog thee at the heels; Thy mother's name is ominous to children. If thou wilt outstrip death, go cross the seas, And live with Richmond, from the reach of hell Go, hie thee, hie thee from this slaughter-house, Lest thou increase the number of the dead; And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse, Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted queen.
LORD STANLEY Full of wise care is this your counsel, madam. Take all the swift advantage of the hours; You shall have letters from me to my son To meet you on the way, and welcome you. Be not ta'en tardy by unwise delay.
DUCHESS OF YORK O ill-dispersing wind of misery! O my accursed womb, the bed of death! A cockatrice hast thou hatch'd to the world, Whose unavoided eye is murderous.
LORD STANLEY Come, madam, come; I in all haste was sent.
LADY ANNE And I in all unwillingness will go. I would to God that the inclusive verge Of golden metal that must round my brow Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brain! Anointed let me be with deadly venom, And die, ere men can say, God save the queen!
QUEEN ELIZABETH Go, go, poor soul, I envy not thy glory To feed my humour, wish thyself no harm.
LADY ANNE No! why? When he that is my husband now Came to me, as I follow'd Henry's corse, When scarce the blood was well wash'd from his hands Which issued from my other angel husband And that dead saint which then I weeping follow'd; O, when, I say, I look'd on Richard's face, This was my wish: 'Be thou,' quoth I, ' accursed, For making me, so young, so old a widow! And, when thou wed'st, let sorrow haunt thy bed; And be thy wife--if any be so mad-- As miserable by the life of thee As thou hast made me by my dear lord's death! Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again, Even in so short a space, my woman's heart Grossly grew captive to his honey words And proved the subject of my own soul's curse, Which ever since hath kept my eyes from rest; For never yet one hour in his bed Have I enjoy'd the golden dew of sleep, But have been waked by his timorous dreams. Besides, he hates me for my father Warwick; And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Poor heart, adieu! I pity thy complaining.
LADY ANNE No more than from my soul I mourn for yours.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Farewell, thou woful welcomer of glory!
LADY ANNE Adieu, poor soul, that takest thy leave of it!
DUCHESS OF YORK [To DORSET] Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune guide thee!
To LADY ANNE
Go thou to Richard, and good angels guard thee!
To QUEEN ELIZABETH
Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess thee! I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me! Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen, And each hour's joy wrecked with a week of teen.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Stay, yet look back with me unto the Tower. Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes Whom envy hath immured within your walls! Rough cradle for such little pretty ones! Rude ragged nurse, old sullen playfellow For tender princes, use my babies well! So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell.
Exeunt
SCENE II. London. The palace.
Sennet. Enter KING RICHARD III, in pomp, crowned; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, a page, and others KING RICHARD III Stand all apart Cousin of Buckingham!
BUCKINGHAM My gracious sovereign?
KING RICHARD III Give me thy hand.
Here he ascendeth his throne
Thus high, by thy advice And thy assistance, is King Richard seated; But shall we wear these honours for a day? Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?
BUCKINGHAM Still live they and for ever may they last!
KING RICHARD III O Buckingham, now do I play the touch, To try if thou be current gold indeed Young Edward lives: think now what I would say.
BUCKINGHAM Say on, my loving lord.
KING RICHARD III Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be king,
BUCKINGHAM Why, so you are, my thrice renowned liege.
KING RICHARD III Ha! am I king? 'tis so: but Edward lives.
BUCKINGHAM True, noble prince.
KING RICHARD III O bitter consequence, That Edward still should live! 'True, noble prince!' Cousin, thou wert not wont to be so dull: Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead; And I would have it suddenly perform'd. What sayest thou? speak suddenly; be brief.
BUCKINGHAM Your grace may do your pleasure.
KING RICHARD III Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezeth: Say, have I thy consent that they shall die?
BUCKINGHAM Give me some breath, some little pause, my lord Before I positively herein: I will resolve your grace immediately.
Exit
CATESBY [Aside to a stander by] The king is angry: see, he bites the lip.
KING RICHARD III I will converse with iron-witted fools And unrespective boys: none are for me That look into me with considerate eyes: High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect. Boy!
Page My lord?
KING RICHARD III Know'st thou not any whom corrupting gold Would tempt unto a close exploit of death?
Page My lord, I know a discontented gentleman, Whose humble means match not his haughty mind: Gold were as good as twenty orators, And will, no doubt, tempt him to any thing.
KING RICHARD III What is his name?
Page His name, my lord, is Tyrrel.
KING RICHARD III I partly know the man: go, call him hither.
Exit Page
The deep-revolving witty Buckingham No more shall be the neighbour to my counsel: Hath he so long held out with me untired, And stops he now for breath?
Enter STANLEY
How now! what news with you?
STANLEY My lord, I hear the Marquis Dorset's fled To Richmond, in those parts beyond the sea Where he abides.
Stands apart
KING RICHARD III Catesby!
CATESBY My lord?
KING RICHARD III Rumour it abroad That Anne, my wife, is sick and like to die: I will take order for her keeping close. Inquire me out some mean-born gentleman, Whom I will marry straight to Clarence' daughter: The boy is foolish, and I fear not him. Look, how thou dream'st! I say again, give out That Anne my wife is sick and like to die: About it; for it stands me much upon, To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me.
Exit CATESBY
I must be married to my brother's daughter, Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass. Murder her brothers, and then marry her! Uncertain way of gain! But I am in So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin: Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye.
Re-enter Page, with TYRREL
Is thy name Tyrrel?
TYRREL James Tyrrel, and your most obedient subject.
KING RICHARD III Art thou, indeed?
TYRREL Prove me, my gracious sovereign.
KING RICHARD III Darest thou resolve to kill a friend of mine?
TYRREL Ay, my lord; But I had rather kill two enemies.
KING RICHARD III Why, there thou hast it: two deep enemies, Foes to my rest and my sweet sleep's disturbers Are they that I would have thee deal upon: Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower.
TYRREL Let me have open means to come to them, And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them.
KING RICHARD III Thou sing'st sweet music. Hark, come hither, Tyrrel Go, by this token: rise, and lend thine ear:
Whispers
There is no more but so: say it is done, And I will love thee, and prefer thee too.
TYRREL 'Tis done, my gracious lord.
KING RICHARD III Shall we hear from thee, Tyrrel, ere we sleep?
TYRREL Ye shall, my Lord.
Exit
Re-enter BUCKINGHAM
BUCKINGHAM My Lord, I have consider'd in my mind The late demand that you did sound me in.
KING RICHARD III Well, let that pass. Dorset is fled to Richmond.
BUCKINGHAM I hear that news, my lord.
KING RICHARD III Stanley, he is your wife's son well, look to it.
BUCKINGHAM My lord, I claim your gift, my due by promise, For which your honour and your faith is pawn'd; The earldom of Hereford and the moveables The which you promised I should possess.
KING RICHARD III Stanley, look to your wife; if she convey Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it.
BUCKINGHAM What says your highness to my just demand?
KING RICHARD III As I remember, Henry the Sixth Did prophesy that Richmond should be king, When Richmond was a little peevish boy. A king, perhaps, perhaps,--
BUCKINGHAM My lord!
KING RICHARD III How chance the prophet could not at that time Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him?
BUCKINGHAM My lord, your promise for the earldom,--
KING RICHARD III Richmond! When last I was at Exeter, The mayor in courtesy show'd me the castle, And call'd it Rougemont: at which name I started, Because a bard of Ireland told me once I should not live long after I saw Richmond.
BUCKINGHAM My Lord!
KING RICHARD III Ay, what's o'clock?
BUCKINGHAM I am thus bold to put your grace in mind Of what you promised me.
KING RICHARD III Well, but what's o'clock?
BUCKINGHAM Upon the stroke of ten.
KING RICHARD III Well, let it strike.
BUCKINGHAM Why let it strike?
KING RICHARD III Because that, like a Jack, thou keep'st the stroke Betwixt thy begging and my meditation. I am not in the giving vein to-day.
BUCKINGHAM Why, then resolve me whether you will or no.
KING RICHARD III Tut, tut, Thou troublest me; am not in the vein.
Exeunt all but BUCKINGHAM
BUCKINGHAM Is it even so? rewards he my true service With such deep contempt made I him king for this? O, let me think on Hastings, and be gone To Brecknock, while my fearful head is on!
Exit
SCENE III. The same.
Enter TYRREL TYRREL The tyrannous and bloody deed is done. The most arch of piteous massacre That ever yet this land was guilty of. Dighton and Forrest, whom I did suborn To do this ruthless piece of butchery, Although they were flesh'd villains, bloody dogs, Melting with tenderness and kind compassion Wept like two children in their deaths' sad stories. 'Lo, thus' quoth Dighton, 'lay those tender babes:' 'Thus, thus,' quoth Forrest, 'girdling one another Within their innocent alabaster arms: Their lips were four red roses on a stalk, Which in their summer beauty kiss'd each other. A book of prayers on their pillow lay; Which once,' quoth Forrest, 'almost changed my mind; But O! the devil'--there the villain stopp'd Whilst Dighton thus told on: 'We smothered The most replenished sweet work of nature, That from the prime creation e'er she framed.' Thus both are gone with conscience and remorse; They could not speak; and so I left them both, To bring this tidings to the bloody king. And here he comes.
Enter KING RICHARD III
All hail, my sovereign liege!
KING RICHARD III Kind Tyrrel, am I happy in thy news?
TYRREL If to have done the thing you gave in charge Beget your happiness, be happy then, For it is done, my lord.
KING RICHARD III But didst thou see them dead?
TYRREL I did, my lord.
KING RICHARD III And buried, gentle Tyrrel?
TYRREL The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them; But how or in what place I do not know.
KING RICHARD III Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after supper, And thou shalt tell the process of their death. Meantime, but think how I may do thee good, And be inheritor of thy desire. Farewell till soon.
Exit TYRREL
The son of Clarence have I pent up close; His daughter meanly have I match'd in marriage; The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom, And Anne my wife hath bid the world good night. Now, for I know the Breton Richmond aims At young Elizabeth, my brother's daughter, And, by that knot, looks proudly o'er the crown, To her I go, a jolly thriving wooer.
Enter CATESBY
CATESBY My lord!
KING RICHARD III Good news or bad, that thou comest in so bluntly?
CATESBY Bad news, my lord: Ely is fled to Richmond; And Buckingham, back'd with the hardy Welshmen, Is in the field, and still his power increaseth.
KING RICHARD III Ely with Richmond troubles me more near Than Buckingham and his rash-levied army. Come, I have heard that fearful commenting Is leaden servitor to dull delay; Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary Then fiery expedition be my wing, Jove's Mercury, and herald for a king! Come, muster men: my counsel is my shield; We must be brief when traitors brave the field.
Exeunt
SCENE IV. Before the palace.
Enter QUEEN MARGARET QUEEN MARGARET So, now prosperity begins to mellow And drop into the rotten mouth of death. Here in these confines slily have I lurk'd, To watch the waning of mine adversaries. A dire induction am I witness to, And will to France, hoping the consequence Will prove as bitter, black, and tragical. Withdraw thee, wretched Margaret: who comes here?
Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and the DUCHESS OF YORK
QUEEN ELIZABETH Ah, my young princes! ah, my tender babes! My unblown flowers, new-appearing sweets! If yet your gentle souls fly in the air And be not fix'd in doom perpetual, Hover about me with your airy wings And hear your mother's lamentation!
QUEEN MARGARET Hover about her; say, that right for right Hath dimm'd your infant morn to aged night.
DUCHESS OF YORK So many miseries have crazed my voice, That my woe-wearied tongue is mute and dumb, Edward Plantagenet, why art thou dead?
QUEEN MARGARET Plantagenet doth quit Plantagenet. Edward for Edward pays a dying debt.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Wilt thou, O God, fly from such gentle lambs, And throw them in the entrails of the wolf? When didst thou sleep when such a deed was done?
QUEEN MARGARET When holy Harry died, and my sweet son.
DUCHESS OF YORK Blind sight, dead life, poor mortal living ghost, Woe's scene, world's shame, grave's due by life usurp'd, Brief abstract and record of tedious days, Rest thy unrest on England's lawful earth,
Sitting down
Unlawfully made drunk with innocents' blood!
QUEEN ELIZABETH O, that thou wouldst as well afford a grave As thou canst yield a melancholy seat! Then would I hide my bones, not rest them here. O, who hath any cause to mourn but I?
Sitting down by her
QUEEN MARGARET If ancient sorrow be most reverend, Give mine the benefit of seniory, And let my woes frown on the upper hand. If sorrow can admit society,
Sitting down with them
Tell o'er your woes again by viewing mine: I had an Edward, till a Richard kill'd him; I had a Harry, till a Richard kill'd him: Thou hadst an Edward, till a Richard kill'd him; Thou hadst a Richard, till a Richard killed him;
DUCHESS OF YORK I had a Richard too, and thou didst kill him; I had a Rutland too, thou holp'st to kill him.
QUEEN MARGARET Thou hadst a Clarence too, and Richard kill'd him. From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept A hell-hound that doth hunt us all to death: That dog, that had his teeth before his eyes, To worry lambs and lap their gentle blood, That foul defacer of God's handiwork, That excellent grand tyrant of the earth, That reigns in galled eyes of weeping souls, Thy womb let loose, to chase us to our graves. O upright, just, and true-disposing God, How do I thank thee, that this carnal cur Preys on the issue of his mother's body, And makes her pew-fellow with others' moan!
DUCHESS OF YORK O Harry's wife, triumph not in my woes! God witness with me, I have wept for thine.
QUEEN MARGARET Bear with me; I am hungry for revenge, And now I cloy me with beholding it. Thy Edward he is dead, that stabb'd my Edward: Thy other Edward dead, to quit my Edward; Young York he is but boot, because both they Match not the high perfection of my loss: Thy Clarence he is dead that kill'd my Edward; And the beholders of this tragic play, The adulterate Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey, Untimely smother'd in their dusky graves. Richard yet lives, hell's black intelligencer, Only reserved their factor, to buy souls And send them thither: but at hand, at hand, Ensues his piteous and unpitied end: Earth gapes, hell burns, fiends roar, saints pray. To have him suddenly convey'd away. Cancel his bond of life, dear God, I prey, That I may live to say, The dog is dead!
QUEEN ELIZABETH O, thou didst prophesy the time would come That I should wish for thee to help me curse That bottled spider, that foul bunch-back'd toad!
QUEEN MARGARET I call'd thee then vain flourish of my fortune; I call'd thee then poor shadow, painted queen; The presentation of but what I was; The flattering index of a direful pageant; One heaved a-high, to be hurl'd down below; A mother only mock'd with two sweet babes; A dream of what thou wert, a breath, a bubble, A sign of dignity, a garish flag, To be the aim of every dangerous shot, A queen in jest, only to fill the scene. Where is thy husband now? where be thy brothers? Where are thy children? wherein dost thou, joy? Who sues to thee and cries 'God save the queen'? Where be the bending peers that flatter'd thee? Where be the thronging troops that follow'd thee? Decline all this, and see what now thou art: For happy wife, a most distressed widow; For joyful mother, one that wails the name; For queen, a very caitiff crown'd with care; For one being sued to, one that humbly sues; For one that scorn'd at me, now scorn'd of me; For one being fear'd of all, now fearing one; For one commanding all, obey'd of none. Thus hath the course of justice wheel'd about, And left thee but a very prey to time; Having no more but thought of what thou wert, To torture thee the more, being what thou art. Thou didst usurp my place, and dost thou not Usurp the just proportion of my sorrow? Now thy proud neck bears half my burthen'd yoke; From which even here I slip my weary neck, And leave the burthen of it all on thee. Farewell, York's wife, and queen of sad mischance: These English woes will make me smile in France.
QUEEN ELIZABETH O thou well skill'd in curses, stay awhile, And teach me how to curse mine enemies!
QUEEN MARGARET Forbear to sleep the nights, and fast the days; Compare dead happiness with living woe; Think that thy babes were fairer than they were, And he that slew them fouler than he is: Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse: Revolving this will teach thee how to curse.
QUEEN ELIZABETH My words are dull; O, quicken them with thine!
QUEEN MARGARET Thy woes will make them sharp, and pierce like mine.
Exit
DUCHESS OF YORK Why should calamity be full of words?
QUEEN ELIZABETH Windy attorneys to their client woes, Airy succeeders of intestate joys, Poor breathing orators of miseries! Let them have scope: though what they do impart Help not all, yet do they ease the heart.
DUCHESS OF YORK If so, then be not tongue-tied: go with me. And in the breath of bitter words let's smother My damned son, which thy two sweet sons smother'd. I hear his drum: be copious in exclaims.
Enter KING RICHARD III, marching, with drums and trumpets
KING RICHARD III Who intercepts my expedition?
DUCHESS OF YORK O, she that might have intercepted thee, By strangling thee in her accursed womb From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done!
QUEEN ELIZABETH Hidest thou that forehead with a golden crown, Where should be graven, if that right were right, The slaughter of the prince that owed that crown, And the dire death of my two sons and brothers? Tell me, thou villain slave, where are my children?
DUCHESS OF YORK Thou toad, thou toad, where is thy brother Clarence? And little Ned Plantagenet, his son?
QUEEN ELIZABETH Where is kind Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey?
KING RICHARD III A flourish, trumpets! strike alarum, drums! Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women Rail on the Lord's enointed: strike, I say!
Flourish. Alarums
Either be patient, and entreat me fair, Or with the clamorous report of war Thus will I drown your exclamations.
DUCHESS OF YORK Art thou my son?
KING RICHARD III Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself.
DUCHESS OF YORK Then patiently hear my impatience.
KING RICHARD III Madam, I have a touch of your condition, Which cannot brook the accent of reproof.
DUCHESS OF YORK O, let me speak!
KING RICHARD III Do then: but I'll not hear.
DUCHESS OF YORK I will be mild and gentle in my speech.
KING RICHARD III And brief, good mother; for I am in haste.
DUCHESS OF YORK Art thou so hasty? I have stay'd for thee, God knows, in anguish, pain and agony.
KING RICHARD III And came I not at last to comfort you?
DUCHESS OF YORK No, by the holy rood, thou know'st it well, Thou camest on earth to make the earth my hell. A grievous burthen was thy birth to me; Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy; Thy school-days frightful, desperate, wild, and furious, Thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous, Thy age confirm'd, proud, subdued, bloody, treacherous, More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred: What comfortable hour canst thou name, That ever graced me in thy company?
KING RICHARD III Faith, none, but Humphrey Hour, that call'd your grace To breakfast once forth of my company. If I be so disgracious in your sight, Let me march on, and not offend your grace. Strike the drum.
DUCHESS OF YORK I prithee, hear me speak.
KING RICHARD III You speak too bitterly.
DUCHESS OF YORK Hear me a word; For I shall never speak to thee again.
KING RICHARD III So.
DUCHESS OF YORK Either thou wilt die, by God's just ordinance, Ere from this war thou turn a conqueror, Or I with grief and extreme age shall perish And never look upon thy face again. Therefore take with thee my most heavy curse; Which, in the day of battle, tire thee more Than all the complete armour that thou wear'st! My prayers on the adverse party fight; And there the little souls of Edward's children Whisper the spirits of thine enemies And promise them success and victory. Bloody thou art, bloody will be thy end; Shame serves thy life and doth thy death attend.
Exit
QUEEN ELIZABETH Though far more cause, yet much less spirit to curse Abides in me; I say amen to all.
KING RICHARD III Stay, madam; I must speak a word with you.
QUEEN ELIZABETH I have no more sons of the royal blood For thee to murder: for my daughters, Richard, They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens; And therefore level not to hit their lives.
KING RICHARD III You have a daughter call'd Elizabeth, Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.
QUEEN ELIZABETH And must she die for this? O, let her live, And I'll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty; Slander myself as false to Edward's bed; Throw over her the veil of infamy: So she may live unscarr'd of bleeding slaughter, I will confess she was not Edward's daughter.
KING RICHARD III Wrong not her birth, she is of royal blood.
QUEEN ELIZABETH To save her life, I'll say she is not so.
KING RICHARD III Her life is only safest in her birth.
QUEEN ELIZABETH And only in that safety died her brothers.
KING RICHARD III Lo, at their births good stars were opposite.
QUEEN ELIZABETH No, to their lives bad friends were contrary.
KING RICHARD III All unavoided is the doom of destiny.
QUEEN ELIZABETH True, when avoided grace makes destiny: My babes were destined to a fairer death, If grace had bless'd thee with a fairer life.
KING RICHARD III You speak as if that I had slain my cousins.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Cousins, indeed; and by their uncle cozen'd Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life. Whose hand soever lanced their tender hearts, Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction: No doubt the murderous knife was dull and blunt Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart, To revel in the entrails of my lambs. But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame, My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys Till that my nails were anchor'd in thine eyes; And I, in such a desperate bay of death, Like a poor bark, of sails and tackling reft, Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom.
KING RICHARD III Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise And dangerous success of bloody wars, As I intend more good to you and yours, Than ever you or yours were by me wrong'd!
QUEEN ELIZABETH What good is cover'd with the face of heaven, To be discover'd, that can do me good?
KING RICHARD III The advancement of your children, gentle lady.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Up to some scaffold, there to lose their heads?
KING RICHARD III No, to the dignity and height of honour The high imperial type of this earth's glory.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Flatter my sorrows with report of it; Tell me what state, what dignity, what honour, Canst thou demise to any child of mine?
KING RICHARD III Even all I have; yea, and myself and all, Will I withal endow a child of thine; So in the Lethe of thy angry soul Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs Which thou supposest I have done to thee.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Be brief, lest that be process of thy kindness Last longer telling than thy kindness' date.
KING RICHARD III Then know, that from my soul I love thy daughter.
QUEEN ELIZABETH My daughter's mother thinks it with her soul.
KING RICHARD III What do you think?
QUEEN ELIZABETH That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul: So from thy soul's love didst thou love her brothers; And from my heart's love I do thank thee for it.
KING RICHARD III Be not so hasty to confound my meaning: I mean, that with my soul I love thy daughter, And mean to make her queen of England.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Say then, who dost thou mean shall be her king?
KING RICHARD III Even he that makes her queen who should be else?
QUEEN ELIZABETH What, thou?
KING RICHARD III I, even I: what think you of it, madam?
QUEEN ELIZABETH How canst thou woo her?
KING RICHARD III That would I learn of you, As one that are best acquainted with her humour.
QUEEN ELIZABETH And wilt thou learn of me?
KING RICHARD III Madam, with all my heart.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers, A pair of bleeding-hearts; thereon engrave Edward and York; then haply she will weep: Therefore present to her--as sometime Margaret Did to thy father, steep'd in Rutland's blood,-- A handkerchief; which, say to her, did drain The purple sap from her sweet brother's body And bid her dry her weeping eyes therewith. If this inducement force her not to love, Send her a story of thy noble acts; Tell her thou madest away her uncle Clarence, Her uncle Rivers; yea, and, for her sake, Madest quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne.
KING RICHARD III Come, come, you mock me; this is not the way To win our daughter.
QUEEN ELIZABETH There is no other way Unless thou couldst put on some other shape, And not be Richard that hath done all this.
KING RICHARD III Say that I did all this for love of her.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee, Having bought love with such a bloody spoil.
KING RICHARD III Look, what is done cannot be now amended: Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes, Which after hours give leisure to repent. If I did take the kingdom from your sons, To make amends, Ill give it to your daughter. If I have kill'd the issue of your womb, To quicken your increase, I will beget Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter A grandam's name is little less in love Than is the doting title of a mother; They are as children but one step below, Even of your mettle, of your very blood; Of an one pain, save for a night of groans Endured of her, for whom you bid like sorrow. Your children were vexation to your youth, But mine shall be a comfort to your age. The loss you have is but a son being king, And by that loss your daughter is made queen. I cannot make you what amends I would, Therefore accept such kindness as I can. Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul Leads discontented steps in foreign soil, This fair alliance quickly shall call home To high promotions and great dignity: The king, that calls your beauteous daughter wife. Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother; Again shall you be mother to a king, And all the ruins of distressful times Repair'd with double riches of content. What! we have many goodly days to see: The liquid drops of tears that you have shed Shall come again, transform'd to orient pearl, Advantaging their loan with interest Of ten times double gain of happiness. Go, then my mother, to thy daughter go Make bold her bashful years with your experience; Prepare her ears to hear a wooer's tale Put in her tender heart the aspiring flame Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the princess With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys And when this arm of mine hath chastised The petty rebel, dull-brain'd Buckingham, Bound with triumphant garlands will I come And lead thy daughter to a conqueror's bed; To whom I will retail my conquest won, And she shall be sole victress, Caesar's Caesar.
QUEEN ELIZABETH What were I best to say? her father's brother Would be her lord? or shall I say, her uncle? Or, he that slew her brothers and her uncles? Under what title shall I woo for thee, That God, the law, my honour and her love, Can make seem pleasing to her tender years?
KING RICHARD III Infer fair England's peace by this alliance.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Which she shall purchase with still lasting war.
KING RICHARD III Say that the king, which may command, entreats.
QUEEN ELIZABETH That at her hands which the king's King forbids.
KING RICHARD III Say, she shall be a high and mighty queen.
QUEEN ELIZABETH To wail the tide, as her mother doth.
KING RICHARD III Say, I will love her everlastingly.
QUEEN ELIZABETH But how long shall that title 'ever' last?
KING RICHARD III Sweetly in force unto her fair life's end.
QUEEN ELIZABETH But how long fairly shall her sweet lie last?
KING RICHARD III So long as heaven and nature lengthens it.
QUEEN ELIZABETH So long as hell and Richard likes of it.
KING RICHARD III Say, I, her sovereign, am her subject love.
QUEEN ELIZABETH But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty.
KING RICHARD III Be eloquent in my behalf to her.
QUEEN ELIZABETH An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.
KING RICHARD III Then in plain terms tell her my loving tale.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Plain and not honest is too harsh a style.
KING RICHARD III Your reasons are too shallow and too quick.
QUEEN ELIZABETH O no, my reasons are too deep and dead; Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their grave.
KING RICHARD III Harp not on that string, madam; that is past.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break.
KING RICHARD III Now, by my George, my garter, and my crown,--
QUEEN ELIZABETH Profaned, dishonour'd, and the third usurp'd.
KING RICHARD III I swear--
QUEEN ELIZABETH By nothing; for this is no oath: The George, profaned, hath lost his holy honour; The garter, blemish'd, pawn'd his knightly virtue; The crown, usurp'd, disgraced his kingly glory. if something thou wilt swear to be believed, Swear then by something that thou hast not wrong'd.
KING RICHARD III Now, by the world--
QUEEN ELIZABETH 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs.
KING RICHARD III My father's death--
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thy life hath that dishonour'd.
KING RICHARD III Then, by myself--
QUEEN ELIZABETH Thyself thyself misusest.
KING RICHARD III Why then, by God--
QUEEN ELIZABETH God's wrong is most of all. If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him, The unity the king thy brother made Had not been broken, nor my brother slain: If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him, The imperial metal, circling now thy brow, Had graced the tender temples of my child, And both the princes had been breathing here, Which now, two tender playfellows to dust, Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms. What canst thou swear by now?
KING RICHARD III The time to come.
QUEEN ELIZABETH That thou hast wronged in the time o'erpast; For I myself have many tears to wash Hereafter time, for time past wrong'd by thee. The children live, whose parents thou hast slaughter'd, Ungovern'd youth, to wail it in their age; The parents live, whose children thou hast butcher'd, Old wither'd plants, to wail it with their age. Swear not by time to come; for that thou hast Misused ere used, by time misused o'erpast.
KING RICHARD III As I intend to prosper and repent, So thrive I in my dangerous attempt Of hostile arms! myself myself confound! Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours! Day, yield me not thy light; nor, night, thy rest! Be opposite all planets of good luck To my proceedings, if, with pure heart's love, Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts, I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter! In her consists my happiness and thine; Without her, follows to this land and me, To thee, herself, and many a Christian soul, Death, desolation, ruin and decay: It cannot be avoided but by this; It will not be avoided but by this. Therefore, good mother,--I must can you so-- Be the attorney of my love to her: Plead what I will be, not what I have been; Not my deserts, but what I will deserve: Urge the necessity and state of times, And be not peevish-fond in great designs.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?
KING RICHARD III Ay, if the devil tempt thee to do good.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I forget myself to be myself?
KING RICHARD III Ay, if yourself's remembrance wrong yourself.
QUEEN ELIZABETH But thou didst kill my children.
KING RICHARD III But in your daughter's womb I bury them: Where in that nest of spicery they shall breed Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.
QUEEN ELIZABETH Shall I go win my daughter to thy will?
KING RICHARD III And be a happy mother by the deed.
QUEEN ELIZABETH I go. Write to me very shortly. And you shall understand from me her mind.
KING RICHARD III Bear her my true love's kiss; and so, farewell.
Exit QUEEN ELIZABETH
Relenting fool, and shallow, changing woman!
Enter RATCLIFF; CATESBY following
How now! what news?
RATCLIFF My gracious sovereign, on the western coast Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends, Unarm'd, and unresolved to beat them back: 'Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral; And there they hull, expecting but the aid Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore.
KING RICHARD III Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of Norfolk: Ratcliff, thyself, or Catesby; where is he?
CATESBY Here, my lord.
KING RICHARD III Fly to the duke:
To RATCLIFF
Post thou to Salisbury When thou comest thither--
To CATESBY
Dull, unmindful villain, Why stand'st thou still, and go'st not to the duke?
CATESBY First, mighty sovereign, let me know your mind, What from your grace I shall deliver to him.
KING RICHARD III O, true, good Catesby: bid him levy straight The greatest strength and power he can make, And meet me presently at Salisbury.
CATESBY I go.
Exit
RATCLIFF What is't your highness' pleasure I shall do at Salisbury?
KING RICHARD III Why, what wouldst thou do there before I go?
RATCLIFF Your highness told me I should post before.
KING RICHARD III My mind is changed, sir, my mind is changed.
Enter STANLEY
How now, what news with you?
STANLEY None good, my lord, to please you with the hearing; Nor none so bad, but it may well be told.
KING RICHARD III Hoyday, a riddle! neither good nor bad! Why dost thou run so many mile about, When thou mayst tell thy tale a nearer way? Once more, what news?
STANLEY Richmond is on the seas.
KING RICHARD III There let him sink, and be the seas on him! White-liver'd runagate, what doth he there?
STANLEY I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess.
KING RICHARD III Well, sir, as you guess, as you guess?
STANLEY Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Ely, He makes for England, there to claim the crown.
KING RICHARD III Is the chair empty? is the sword unsway'd? Is the king dead? the empire unpossess'd? What heir of York is there alive but we? And who is England's king but great York's heir? Then, tell me, what doth he upon the sea?
STANLEY Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.
KING RICHARD III Unless for that he comes to be your liege, You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes. Thou wilt revolt, and fly to him, I fear.
STANLEY No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me not.
KING RICHARD III Where is thy power, then, to beat him back? Where are thy tenants and thy followers? Are they not now upon the western shore. Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships!
STANLEY No, my good lord, my friends are in the north.
KING RICHARD III Cold friends to Richard: what do they in the north, When they should serve their sovereign in the west?
STANLEY They have not been commanded, mighty sovereign: Please it your majesty to give me leave, I'll muster up my friends, and meet your grace Where and what time your majesty shall please.
KING RICHARD III Ay, ay. thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond: I will not trust you, sir.
STANLEY Most mighty sovereign, You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful: I never was nor never will be false.
KING RICHARD III Well, Go muster men; but, hear you, leave behind Your son, George Stanley: look your faith be firm. Or else his head's assurance is but frail.
STANLEY So deal with him as I prove true to you.
Exit
Enter a Messenger
Messenger My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire, As I by friends am well advertised, Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate Bishop of Exeter, his brother there, With many more confederates, are in arms.
Enter another Messenger
Second Messenger My liege, in Kent the Guildfords are in arms; And every hour more competitors Flock to their aid, and still their power increaseth.
Enter another Messenger
Third Messenger My lord, the army of the Duke of Buckingham--
KING RICHARD III Out on you, owls! nothing but songs of death?
He striketh him
Take that, until thou bring me better news.
Third Messenger The news I have to tell your majesty Is, that by sudden floods and fall of waters, Buckingham's army is dispersed and scatter'd; And he himself wander'd away alone, No man knows whither.
KING RICHARD III I cry thee mercy: There is my purse to cure that blow of thine. Hath any well-advised friend proclaim'd Reward to him that brings the traitor in?
Third Messenger Such proclamation hath been made, my liege.
Enter another Messenger
Fourth Messenger Sir Thomas Lovel and Lord Marquis Dorset, 'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms. Yet this good comfort bring I to your grace, The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest: Richmond, in Yorkshire, sent out a boat Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks If they were his assistants, yea or no; Who answer'd him, they came from Buckingham. Upon his party: he, mistrusting them, Hoisted sail and made away for Brittany.
KING RICHARD III March on, march on, since we are up in arms; If not to fight with foreign enemies, Yet to beat down these rebels here at home.
Re-enter CATESBY
CATESBY My liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken; That is the best news: that the Earl of Richmond Is with a mighty power landed at Milford, Is colder tidings, yet they must be told.
KING RICHARD III Away towards Salisbury! while we reason here, A royal battle might be won and lost Some one take order Buckingham be brought To Salisbury; the rest march on with me.
Flourish. Exeunt
SCENE V. Lord Derby's house.
Enter DERBY and SIR CHRISTOPHER URSWICK DERBY Sir Christopher, tell Richmond this from me: That in the sty of this most bloody boar My son George Stanley is frank'd up in hold: If I revolt, off goes young George's head; The fear of that withholds my present aid. But, tell me, where is princely Richmond now?
CHRISTOPHER At Pembroke, or at Harford-west, in Wales.
DERBY What men of name resort to him?
CHRISTOPHER Sir Walter Herbert, a renowned soldier; Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir William Stanley; Oxford, redoubted Pembroke, Sir James Blunt, And Rice ap Thomas with a valiant crew; And many more of noble fame and worth: And towards London they do bend their course, If by the way they be not fought withal.
DERBY Return unto thy lord; commend me to him: Tell him the queen hath heartily consented He shall espouse Elizabeth her daughter. These letters will resolve him of my mind. Farewell.
Exeunt Script of Act IV Richard III by William Shakespeare Personae |