Scene 1
Enter Queen Elizabeth , with the Duchess of York , and
the Lord Marquess of Dorset , at one door ; Anne ,
Duchess of Gloucester with Clarence’s daughter , at
another door .
DUCHESS
Who meets 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 prince . —
Daughter , well met .
ANNE
God give your Graces both
A happy and a joyful time of day .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
As much to you , good sister . Whither away ?
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 , the Lieutenant .
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 ?
[199]ACT 4. SC. 1
BRAKENBURY
Right well , dear madam . By your patience ,
I may not suffer you to visit them .
The King hath strictly charged the contrary .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
The King ? Who’s that ?
BRAKENBURY
I mean , the Lord Protector .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
The Lord protect him from that kingly title !
Hath he set bounds between their love and me ?
I am their mother . Who shall bar me from them ?
DUCHESS
I am their father’s mother . I will see them .
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 .
Brakenbury the Lieutenant exits .
Enter Stanley .
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 Anne .
Come , madam , you must straight to
Westminster ,
There to be crownèd Richard’s royal queen .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Ah , cut my lace asunder
That my pent heart may have some scope to beat ,
Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news !
ANNE
Despiteful tidings ! O , unpleasing news !
[201]ACT 4. SC. 1
DORSET
, to Queen Elizabeth
Be of good cheer , mother . How fares your Grace ?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
O Dorset , speak not to me . Get thee gone .
Death and destruction dogs thee at thy 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 slaughterhouse ,
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 .
STANLEY
Full of wise care is this your counsel , madam .
To Dorset .
Take all the swift advantage of the
hours .
You shall have letters from me to my son
In your behalf , to meet you on the way .
Be not ta’en tardy by unwise delay .
DUCHESS
O ill-dispersing wind of misery !
O my accursèd womb , the bed of death !
A cockatrice hast thou hatched to the world ,
Whose unavoided eye is murderous .
STANLEY
, to Anne
Come , madam , come . I in all haste was sent .
ANNE
And I with all unwillingness will go .
O , would to God that the inclusive verge
Of golden metal that must round my brow
Were red-hot steel to sear me to the brains !
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 humor , wish thyself no harm .
[203]ACT 4. SC. 1
ANNE
No ? Why ? When he that is my husband now
Came to me as I followed Henry’s corse ,
When scarce the blood was well washed from his
hands
Which issued from my other angel husband
And that dear saint which then I weeping followed —
O , when , I say , I looked 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 wedd’st , let sorrow haunt thy bed ;
And be thy wife , if any be so mad ,
More miserable by the life of thee
Than thou hast made me by my dear lord’s death .
Lo , ere I can repeat this curse again ,
Within so small a time my woman’s heart
Grossly grew captive to his honey words
And proved the subject of mine own soul’s curse ,
Which hitherto hath held my eyes from rest ,
For never yet one hour in his bed
Did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep ,
But with his timorous dreams was still awaked .
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 .
ANNE
No more than with my soul I mourn for yours .
DORSET
Farewell , thou woeful welcomer of glory .
ANNE
Adieu , poor soul that tak’st thy leave of it .
DUCHESS
, to Dorset
Go thou to Richmond , and good fortune guide thee .
To Anne .
Go thou to Richard , and good angels
tend thee .
[205] ACT 4. SC. 2
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 wracked 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 sorrows bids your stones farewell .
They exit .
Scene 2
Sound a sennet . Enter Richard in pomp ; Buckingham ,
Catesby , Ratcliffe , Lovell , and others , including a Page .
RICHARD
Stand all apart . — Cousin of Buckingham .
The others move aside .
BUCKINGHAM
My gracious sovereign .
RICHARD
Give me thy hand .
Here he ascendeth the throne . Sound trumpets .
Thus high , by thy advice
And thy assistance is King Richard seated .
But shall we wear these glories for a day ,
Or shall they last and we rejoice in them ?
BUCKINGHAM
Still live they , and forever let them last .
RICHARD
Ah , Buckingham , now do I play the touch ,
To try if thou be current gold indeed :
Young Edward lives ; think now what I would speak .
[207]ACT 4. SC. 2
BUCKINGHAM
Say on , my loving lord .
RICHARD
Why , Buckingham , I say I would be king .
BUCKINGHAM
Why so you are , my thrice-renownèd lord .
RICHARD
Ha ! Am I king ? ’Tis so — but Edward lives .
BUCKINGHAM
True , noble prince .
RICHARD
O bitter consequence
That Edward still should live ‘true noble prince’ !
Cousin , thou wast not wont to be so dull .
Shall I be plain ? I wish the bastards dead ,
And I would have it suddenly performed .
What sayst thou now ? Speak suddenly . Be brief .
BUCKINGHAM
Your Grace may do your pleasure .
RICHARD
Tut , tut , thou art all ice ; thy kindness freezes .
Say , have I thy consent that they shall die ?
BUCKINGHAM
Give me some little breath , some pause , dear lord ,
Before I positively speak in this .
I will resolve you herein presently .
Buckingham exits .
CATESBY
, aside to the other Attendants
The King is angry . See , he gnaws his lip .
RICHARD
, aside
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
, coming forward
My lord ?
RICHARD
Know’st thou not any whom corrupting gold
Will tempt unto a close exploit of death ?
[209]ACT 4. SC. 2
PAGE
I know a discontented gentleman
Whose humble means match not his haughty spirit .
Gold were as good as twenty orators ,
And will , no doubt , tempt him to anything .
RICHARD
What is his name ?
PAGE
His name , my lord , is Tyrrel .
RICHARD
I partly know the man . Go , call him hither , boy .
Page exits .
Aside .
The deep-revolving witty Buckingham
No more shall be the neighbor to my counsels .
Hath he so long held out with me , untired ,
And stops he now for breath ? Well , be it so .
Enter Stanley .
How now , Lord Stanley , what’s the news ?
STANLEY
Know , my loving lord ,
The Marquess Dorset , as I hear , is fled
To Richmond , in the parts where he abides .
He walks aside .
RICHARD
Come hither , Catesby . Rumor it abroad
That Anne my wife is very grievous sick .
I will take order for her keeping close .
Inquire me out some mean poor 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 queen is sick and like to die .
About it , for it stands me much upon
To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me .
Catesby exits .
Aside .
I must be married to my brother’s daughter ,
Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass .
[211] ACT 4. SC. 2 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 .
Enter Tyrrel .
Is thy name Tyrrel ?
TYRREL
James Tyrrel , and your most obedient subject .
RICHARD
Art thou indeed ?
TYRREL
Prove me , my gracious lord .
RICHARD
Dar’st thou resolve to kill a friend of mine ?
TYRREL
Please you . But I had rather kill two enemies .
RICHARD
Why then , 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 .
RICHARD
Thou sing’st sweet music . Hark , come hither , Tyrrel .
Tyrrel approaches Richard and kneels .
Go , by this token . Rise , and lend thine ear .
Tyrrel rises , and Richard whispers
to him . Then Tyrrel steps back .
There is no more but so . Say it is done ,
And I will love thee and prefer thee for it .
TYRREL
I will dispatch it straight .
He exits .
Enter Buckingham .
[213]ACT 4. SC. 2
BUCKINGHAM
My lord , I have considered in my mind
The late request that you did sound me in .
RICHARD
Well , let that rest . Dorset is fled to Richmond .
BUCKINGHAM
I hear the news , my lord .
RICHARD
Stanley , he is your wife’s son . Well , look unto it .
BUCKINGHAM
My lord , I claim the gift , my due by promise ,
For which your honor and your faith is pawned —
Th’ earldom of Hereford and the movables
Which you have promisèd I shall possess .
RICHARD
Stanley , look to your wife . If she convey
Letters to Richmond , you shall answer it .
BUCKINGHAM
What says your Highness to my just request ?
RICHARD
I do remember me , Henry the Sixth
Did prophesy that Richmond should be king ,
When Richmond was a little peevish boy .
A king perhaps —
BUCKINGHAM
My lord —
RICHARD
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 —
RICHARD
Richmond ! When last I was at Exeter ,
The Mayor in courtesy showed me the castle
And called 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 —
[215]ACT 4. SC. 3
RICHARD
Ay , what’s o’clock ?
BUCKINGHAM
I am thus bold to put your Grace in mind
Of what you promised me .
RICHARD
Well , but what’s o’clock ?
BUCKINGHAM
Upon the stroke of ten .
RICHARD
Well , let it strike .
BUCKINGHAM
Why let it strike ?
RICHARD
Because that , like a jack , thou keep’st the stroke
Betwixt thy begging and my meditation .
I am not in the giving vein today .
BUCKINGHAM
Why then , resolve me whether you will or no .
RICHARD
Thou troublest me ; I am not in the vein .
He exits , and is followed by all but Buckingham .
BUCKINGHAM
And is it thus ? Repays he my deep service
With such contempt ? Made I him king for this ?
O , let me think on Hastings and be gone
To Brecknock , while my fearful head is on !
He exits .
ACT 4. SC. 4
Scene 4
Enter old Queen Margaret .
QUEEN MARGARET
So now prosperity begins to mellow
And drop into the rotten mouth of death .
Here in these confines slyly have I lurked
To watch the waning of mine enemies .
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 ?
She steps aside .
Enter Duchess of York and Queen Elizabeth .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Ah , my poor princes ! Ah , my tender babes ,
My unblown flowers , new-appearing sweets ,
If yet your gentle souls fly in the air
And be not fixed in doom perpetual ,
Hover about me with your airy wings
And hear your mother’s lamentation .
QUEEN MARGARET
, aside
Hover about her ; say that right for right
Hath dimmed your infant morn to agèd night .
DUCHESS
So many miseries have crazed my voice
That my woe-wearied tongue is still and mute .
Edward Plantagenet , why art thou dead ?
QUEEN MARGARET
, aside
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 ?
[223]ACT 4. SC. 4
QUEEN MARGARET
, aside
When holy Harry died , and my sweet son .
DUCHESS
Dead life , blind sight , poor mortal living ghost ,
Woe’s scene , world’s shame , grave’s due by life
usurped ,
Brief abstract and record of tedious days ,
Rest thy unrest on England’s lawful earth ,
Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Ah , that thou wouldst as soon afford a grave
As thou canst yield a melancholy seat ,
Then would I hide my bones , not rest them here .
Ah , who hath any cause to mourn but we ?
QUEEN MARGARET
If ancient sorrow be most reverend ,
Give mine the benefit of seigniory ,
And let my griefs frown on the upper hand .
If sorrow can admit society ,
Tell over your woes again by viewing mine .
I had an Edward till a Richard killed him ;
I had a husband till a Richard killed him .
Thou hadst an Edward till a Richard killed him ;
Thou hadst a Richard till a Richard killed him .
DUCHESS
I had a Richard too , and thou did’st kill him ;
I had a Rutland too ; thou holp’st to kill him .
QUEEN MARGARET
Thou hadst a Clarence too , and Richard killed him .
From forth the kennel of thy womb hath crept
A hellhound 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 excellent grand tyrant of the Earth ,
That reigns in gallèd eyes of weeping souls ;
That foul defacer of God’s handiwork
[225] ACT 4. SC. 4 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
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 killed my Edward ,
Thy other Edward dead , to quit my Edward ;
Young York , he is but boot , because both they
Matched not the high perfection of my loss .
Thy Clarence he is dead that stabbed my Edward ,
And the beholders of this frantic play ,
Th’ adulterate Hastings , Rivers , Vaughan , Grey ,
Untimely smothered 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 conveyed from hence .
Cancel his bond of life , dear God I pray ,
That I may live and 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-backed toad !
QUEEN MARGARET
I called thee then ‘vain flourish of my fortune .’
I called thee then poor shadow , ‘painted queen ,’
The presentation of but what I was ,
The flattering index of a direful pageant ,
[227] ACT 4. SC. 4 One heaved a-high to be hurled down below ,
A mother only mocked with two fair babes ,
A dream of what thou wast , a garish flag
To be the aim of every dangerous shot ,
A sign of dignity , a breath , a bubble ,
A queen in jest , only to fill the scene .
Where is thy husband now ? Where be thy brothers ?
Where are thy two sons ? Wherein dost thou joy ?
Who sues and kneels and says ‘God save the
Queen ?’
Where be the bending peers that flattered thee ?
Where be the thronging troops that followed thee ?
Decline all this , and see what now thou art :
For happy wife , a most distressèd widow ;
For joyful mother , one that wails the name ;
For one being sued to , one that humbly sues ;
For queen , a very caitiff crowned with care ;
For she that scorned at me , now scorned of me ;
For she being feared of all , now fearing one ;
For she commanding all , obeyed of none .
Thus hath the course of justice whirled about
And left thee but a very prey to time ,
Having no more but thought of what thou wast
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 burdened yoke ,
From which even here I slip my weary head
And leave the burden of it all on thee .
Farewell , York’s wife , and queen of sad mischance .
These English woes shall make me smile in France .
She begins to exit .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
O , thou well-skilled in curses , stay awhile ,
And teach me how to curse mine enemies .
[229]ACT 4. SC. 4
QUEEN MARGARET
Forbear to sleep the nights , and fast the days ;
Compare dead happiness with living woe ;
Think that thy babes were sweeter 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 .
Margaret exits .
DUCHESS
Why should calamity be full of words ?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Windy attorneys to their clients’ woes ,
Airy succeeders of intestate joys ,
Poor breathing orators of miseries ,
Let them have scope ; though what they will impart
Help nothing else , yet do they ease the heart .
DUCHESS
If so , then be not tongue-tied . Go with me ,
And in the breath of bitter words let’s smother
My damnèd son that thy two sweet sons smothered .
A trumpet sounds .
The trumpet sounds . Be copious in exclaims .
Enter King Richard and his train , including Catesby .
RICHARD
Who intercepts me in my expedition ?
DUCHESS
O , she that might have intercepted thee ,
By strangling thee in her accursèd womb ,
From all the slaughters , wretch , that thou hast done .
[231]ACT 4. SC. 4
QUEEN ELIZABETH
, to Richard
Hid’st thou that forehead with a golden crown
Where should be branded , if that right were right ,
The slaughter of the prince that owed that crown
And the dire death of my poor sons and brothers ?
Tell me , thou villain-slave , where are my children ?
DUCHESS
, to Richard
Thou toad , thou toad , where is thy brother Clarence ,
And little Ned Plantagenet his son ?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
, to Richard
Where is the gentle Rivers , Vaughan , Grey ?
DUCHESS
, to Richard
Where is kind Hastings ?
RICHARD
A flourish , trumpets ! Strike alarum , drums !
Let not the heavens hear these telltale women
Rail on the Lord’s anointed . 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
Art thou my son ?
RICHARD
Ay , I thank God , my father , and yourself .
DUCHESS
Then patiently hear my impatience .
RICHARD
Madam , I have a touch of your condition ,
That cannot brook the accent of reproof .
DUCHESS
O , let me speak !
RICHARD
Do then , but I’ll not hear .
DUCHESS
I will be mild and gentle in my words .
RICHARD
And brief , good mother , for I am in haste .
[233]ACT 4. SC. 4
DUCHESS
Art thou so hasty ? I have stayed for thee ,
God knows , in torment and in agony .
RICHARD
And came I not at last to comfort you ?
DUCHESS
No , by the Holy Rood , thou know’st it well .
Thou cam’st on Earth to make the Earth my hell .
A grievous burden was thy birth to me ;
Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy ;
Thy school days frightful , desp’rate , wild , and
furious ;
Thy prime of manhood daring , bold , and venturous ;
Thy age confirmed , proud , subtle , sly , and bloody ,
More mild , but yet more harmful , kind in hatred .
What comfortable hour canst thou name ,
That ever graced me with thy company ?
RICHARD
Faith , none but Humfrey Hower , that called your
Grace
To breakfast once , forth of my company .
If I be so disgracious in your eye ,
Let me march on and not offend you , madam . —
Strike up the drum .
DUCHESS
I prithee , hear me speak .
RICHARD
You speak too bitterly .
DUCHESS
Hear me a word ,
For I shall never speak to thee again .
RICHARD
So .
DUCHESS
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 nevermore behold thy face again .
Therefore take with thee my most grievous curse ,
[235] ACT 4. SC. 4 Which in the day of battle tire thee more
Than all the complete armor 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 .
She exits .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Though far more cause , yet much less spirit to
curse
Abides in me . I say amen to her .
RICHARD
Stay , madam . I must talk a word with you .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
I have no more sons of the royal blood
For thee to slaughter . For my daughters , Richard ,
They shall be praying nuns , not weeping queens ,
And therefore level not to hit their lives .
RICHARD
You have a daughter called 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 unscarred of bleeding slaughter ,
I will confess she was not Edward’s daughter .
RICHARD
Wrong not her birth . She is a royal princess .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
To save her life , I’ll say she is not so .
RICHARD
Her life is safest only in her birth .
[237]ACT 4. SC. 4
QUEEN ELIZABETH
And only in that safety died her brothers .
RICHARD
Lo , at their birth good stars were opposite .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
No , to their lives ill friends were contrary .
RICHARD
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 blessed thee with a fairer life .
RICHARD
You speak as if that I had slain my cousins .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Cousins , indeed , and by their uncle cozened
Of comfort , kingdom , kindred , freedom , life .
Whose hand soever launched their tender hearts ,
Thy head , all indirectly , gave direction .
No doubt the murd’rous 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 anchored in thine eyes ,
And I , in such a desp’rate bay of death ,
Like a poor bark of sails and tackling reft ,
Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom .
RICHARD
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 by me were harmed !
QUEEN ELIZABETH
What good is covered with the face of heaven ,
To be discovered , that can do me good ?
[239]ACT 4. SC. 4
RICHARD
Th’ advancement of your children , gentle lady .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Up to some scaffold , there to lose their heads .
RICHARD
Unto the dignity and height of fortune ,
The high imperial type of this Earth’s glory .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Flatter my sorrow with report of it .
Tell me what state , what dignity , what honor ,
Canst thou demise to any child of mine ?
RICHARD
Even all I have — ay , 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 the process of thy kindness
Last longer telling than thy kindness’ date .
RICHARD
Then know that from my soul I love thy daughter .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
My daughter’s mother thinks it with her soul .
RICHARD
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 .
RICHARD
Be not so hasty to confound my meaning .
I mean that with my soul I love thy daughter
And do intend to make her Queen of England .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Well then , who dost thou mean shall be her king ?
[241]ACT 4. SC. 4
RICHARD
Even he that makes her queen . Who else should be ?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
What , thou ?
RICHARD
Even so . How think you of it ?
QUEEN ELIZABETH
How canst thou woo her ?
RICHARD
That would I learn of you ,
As one being best acquainted with her humor .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
And wilt thou learn of me ?
RICHARD
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 will she weep .
Therefore present to her — as sometime Margaret
Did to thy father , steeped in Rutland’s blood —
A handkerchief , which say to her did drain
The purple sap from her sweet brother’s body ,
And bid her wipe her weeping eyes withal .
If this inducement move her not to love ,
Send her a letter of thy noble deeds ;
Tell her thou mad’st away her uncle Clarence ,
Her uncle Rivers , ay , and for her sake
Mad’st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne .
RICHARD
You mock me , madam . This is not the way
To win your 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 .
RICHARD
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 .
[243]ACT 4. SC. 4
RICHARD
Look what is done cannot be now amended .
Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes ,
Which after-hours gives leisure to repent .
If I did take the kingdom from your sons ,
To make amends I’ll give it to your daughter .
If I have killed 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 metal , of your very blood ,
Of all 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
Repaired 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 , transformed to orient pearl ,
Advantaging their love with interest
Of ten times double gain of happiness .
Go then , my mother ; to thy daughter go .
[245] ACT 4. SC. 4 Make bold her bashful years with your experience ;
Prepare her ears to hear a wooer’s tale ;
Put in her tender heart th’ aspiring flame
Of golden sovereignty ; acquaint the Princess
With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys ;
And when this arm of mine hath chastisèd
The petty rebel , dull-brained 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 victoress , 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 honor , and her love
Can make seem pleasing to her tender years ?
RICHARD
Infer fair England’s peace by this alliance .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Which she shall purchase with still-lasting war .
RICHARD
Tell her the King , that may command , entreats —
QUEEN ELIZABETH
That , at her hands , which the King’s King forbids .
RICHARD
Say she shall be a high and mighty queen .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
To vail the title , as her mother doth .
RICHARD
Say I will love her everlastingly .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
But how long shall that title ‘ever’ last ?
RICHARD
Sweetly in force unto her fair life’s end .
[247]ACT 4. SC. 4
QUEEN ELIZABETH
But how long fairly shall her sweet life last ?
RICHARD
As long as heaven and nature lengthens it .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
As long as hell and Richard likes of it .
RICHARD
Say I , her sovereign , am her subject low .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
But she , your subject , loathes such sovereignty .
RICHARD
Be eloquent in my behalf to her .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
An honest tale speeds best being plainly told .
RICHARD
Then plainly to her tell my loving tale .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Plain and not honest is too harsh a style .
RICHARD
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 graves .
RICHARD
Harp not on that string , madam ; that is past .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break .
RICHARD
Now by my George , my Garter , and my crown —
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Profaned , dishonored , and the third usurped .
RICHARD
I swear —
QUEEN ELIZABETH
By nothing , for this is no oath .
Thy George , profaned , hath lost his lordly honor ;
[249] ACT 4. SC. 4 Thy Garter , blemished , pawned his knightly virtue ;
Thy crown , usurped , disgraced his kingly glory .
If something thou wouldst swear to be believed ,
Swear then by something that thou hast not
wronged .
RICHARD
Then , by myself —
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Thyself is self-misused .
RICHARD
Now , by the world —
QUEEN ELIZABETH
’Tis full of thy foul wrongs .
RICHARD
My father’s death —
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Thy life hath it dishonored .
RICHARD
Why then , by God .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
God’s wrong is most of all .
If thou didst fear to break an oath with Him ,
The unity the King my husband made
Thou hadst not broken , nor my brothers died .
If thou hadst feared to break an oath by Him ,
Th’ imperial metal circling now thy head
Had graced the tender temples of my child ,
And both the Princes had been breathing here ,
Which now , two tender bedfellows for dust ,
Thy broken faith hath made the prey for worms .
What canst thou swear by now ?
RICHARD
The time to come .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
That thou hast wrongèd in the time o’erpast ;
For I myself have many tears to wash
Hereafter time , for time past wronged by thee .
The children live whose fathers thou hast
slaughtered ,
Ungoverned youth , to wail it in their age ;
[251] ACT 4. SC. 4 The parents live whose children thou hast
butchered ,
Old barren plants , to wail it with their age .
Swear not by time to come , for that thou hast
Misused ere used , by times ill-used o’erpast .
RICHARD
As I intend to prosper and repent ,
So thrive I in my dangerous affairs
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 proceeding if , with dear 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 myself and thee ,
Herself , the land , 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 , dear mother — I must call 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 found in great designs .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Shall I be tempted of the devil thus ?
RICHARD
Ay , if the devil tempt you to do good .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Shall I forget myself to be myself ?
RICHARD
Ay , if your self’s remembrance wrong yourself .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Yet thou didst kill my children .
[253]ACT 4. SC. 4
RICHARD
But in your daughter’s womb I bury them ,
Where , in that nest of spicery , they will breed
Selves of themselves , to your recomforture .
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Shall I go win my daughter to thy will ?
RICHARD
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 .
RICHARD
Bear her my true love’s kiss ; and so , farewell .
Queen exits .
Relenting fool and shallow , changing woman !
Enter Ratcliffe .
How now , what news ?
RATCLIFFE
Most mighty sovereign , on the western coast
Rideth a puissant navy . To our shores
Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends ,
Unarmed 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 .
RICHARD
Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of
Norfolk —
Ratcliffe thyself , or Catesby . Where is he ?
CATESBY
Here , my good lord .
RICHARD
Catesby , fly to the Duke .
CATESBY
I will , my lord , with all convenient haste .
RICHARD
Ratcliffe , come hither . Post to Salisbury .
[255] ACT 4. SC. 4 When thou com’st thither —
To Catesby .
Dull ,
unmindful villain ,
Why stay’st thou here and go’st not to the Duke ?
CATESBY
First , mighty liege , tell me your Highness’ pleasure ,
What from your Grace I shall deliver to him .
RICHARD
O true , good Catesby . Bid him levy straight
The greatest strength and power that he can make
And meet me suddenly at Salisbury .
CATESBY
I go .
He exits .
RATCLIFFE
What , may it please you , shall I do at Salisbury ?
RICHARD
Why , what wouldst thou do there before I go ?
RATCLIFFE
Your Highness told me I should post before .
RICHARD
My mind is changed .
Enter Lord Stanley .
Stanley , what news with you ?
STANLEY
None good , my liege , to please you with the hearing ,
Nor none so bad but well may be reported .
RICHARD
Hoyday , a riddle ! Neither good nor bad .
What need’st thou run so many miles about
When thou mayst tell thy tale the nearest way ?
Once more , what news ?
STANLEY
Richmond is on the seas .
RICHARD
There let him sink , and be the seas on him !
White-livered runagate , what doth he there ?
STANLEY
I know not , mighty sovereign , but by guess .
[257]ACT 4. SC. 4
RICHARD
Well , as you guess ?
STANLEY
Stirred up by Dorset , Buckingham , and Morton ,
He makes for England , here to claim the crown .
RICHARD
Is the chair empty ? Is the sword unswayed ?
Is the King dead , the empire unpossessed ?
What heir of York is there alive but we ?
And who is England’s king but great York’s heir ?
Then tell me , what makes he upon the seas ?
STANLEY
Unless for that , my liege , I cannot guess .
RICHARD
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 , my good lord . Therefore mistrust me not .
RICHARD
Where is thy power , then , to beat him back ?
Where be 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 .
RICHARD
Cold friends to me . What do they in the north
When they should serve their sovereign in the west ?
STANLEY
They have not been commanded , mighty king .
Pleaseth your Majesty to give me leave ,
I’ll muster up my friends and meet your Grace
Where and what time your Majesty shall please .
RICHARD
Ay , thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond ,
But I’ll not trust thee .
[259]ACT 4. SC. 4
STANLEY
Most mighty sovereign ,
You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful .
I never was nor never will be false .
RICHARD
Go then and muster men , but leave behind
Your son George Stanley . Look your heart be firm ,
Or else his head’s assurance is but frail .
STANLEY
So deal with him as I prove true to you .
Stanley exits .
Enter a Messenger .
FIRST MESSENGER
My gracious sovereign , now in Devonshire ,
As I by friends am well advertisèd ,
Sir Edward Courtney and the haughty prelate ,
Bishop of Exeter , his elder brother ,
With many more confederates are in arms .
Enter another Messenger .
SECOND MESSENGER
In Kent , my liege , the Guilfords are in arms ,
And every hour more competitors
Flock to the rebels , and their power grows strong .
Enter another Messenger .
THIRD MESSENGER
My lord , the army of great Buckingham —
RICHARD
Out on you , owls ! Nothing but songs of death .
He striketh him .
There , take thou that till thou bring 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 scattered ,
[261] ACT 4. SC. 4 And he himself wandered away alone ,
No man knows whither .
RICHARD
I cry thee mercy .
There is my purse to cure that blow of thine .
He gives money .
Hath any well-advisèd friend proclaimed
Reward to him that brings the traitor in ?
THIRD MESSENGER
Such proclamation hath been made , my lord .
Enter another Messenger .
FOURTH MESSENGER
Sir Thomas Lovell and Lord Marquess Dorset ,
’Tis said , my liege , in Yorkshire are in arms .
But this good comfort bring I to your Highness :
The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest .
Richmond , in Dorsetshire , sent out a boat
Unto the shore to ask those on the banks
If they were his assistants , yea , or no —
Who answered him they came from Buckingham
Upon his party . He , mistrusting them ,
Hoised sail and made his course again for Brittany .
RICHARD
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 .
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 .
RICHARD
Away towards Salisbury ! While we reason here ,
A royal battle might be won and lost .
[263] ACT 4. SC. 5 Someone take order Buckingham be brought
To Salisbury . The rest march on with me .
Flourish . They exit .