Слике страница
PDF
ePub

LIFE AND DEATH OF

KING RICHARD III.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

[blocks in formation]

Lord LovEL.

Sir WILLIAM CATESBY.
Sir JAMES TYRREL.
Lord STANLEY.
Earl of OXFORD.

Sir JAMES BLOUNT.

Sir WALTER HERBERT.

Sir ROBERT BRAKENBURY, Lieutenant of the
Tower.

CHRISTOPHER URSWICK, a Priest.
Another Priest.
Lord Mayor.

ELIZABETH, Queen of Edward IV.

Queen MARGARET, Widow of Henry VI.
ANNE, Widow of Edward Prince of Wales, Son
to Henry VI. afterwards married to the Duke
of Gloster.

Dutchess of YORK, Mather to Edward IV. Cla-
rence, and Richard III.

Sheriff, Pursuivant, Scrivener, Citizens, Ghosts, Soldiers, and other Attendants.

[blocks in formation]

2

'This tragedy, though it is call'd the Life and Death of this prince, comprizes, at most, but the last eight years of his time; for it opens with George duke of Clarence being clapp'd up in the Tower, which happen'd in the beginning of the year 1477; and closes with the death of Richard at Bosworth Field, which battle was fought on the 22d of August, in the year 1485. Alluding to the cognizance of Edward IV. which was a sun, in memory of the three suns, which are said to have appear'd at the battle which he gain'd over the Lancastrians at Mortiníer's Cross. i. e. steeds furnished with armour, or warlike trappings.

Nor

Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass;
I,that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty,
To strut before a wanton ambling nymph;
I, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling' nature,
Deform'd, unfinish'd, sent before my time
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up,
And that so lamely and unfashionably,
That dogs bark at me, as I halt by them ;-
Why I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time;
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun,
And descant' on mine own deformity:
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,―
I am determined to prove a villain,
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
Plots have I laid, inductions' dangerous
By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams,
To set my brother Clarence, and the king,
In deadly hate the one against the other:
And, if king Edward be as true and just,
As I am subtle, false, and treacherous,
This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up;
About a prophecy, which says that G
Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be.
Dive, thoughts, down to my soul! here Clarence

[blocks in formation]

Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed This conduct to convey me to the Tower. Glo. Upon what cause?

Clar. Because my name is-George.

Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours;

He should, for that, commit your godfathers:

O, belike, his majesty hath some intent,

That made him send lord Hastings to the Tower; From whence this present day he is deliver'd? We are not safe, Clarence, we are not safe.

Clar. By heaven, I think, there is no man secure, 5 Butthe queen's kindred,and night-walking heralds That trudge betwixt the king and mistress Shore. Heard you not, what an humble suppliant Lord Hastings was to her for his delivery? Glo. Humbly complaining to her deity 10 Got my lord chamberlain his liberty. I'll tell you what,—I think, it is our way, If we will keep in favour with the king, To be her men, and wear her livery: The jealous o'er-worn widow, and herself, 15 Since that our brother dubb'd them gentlewomen, Are mighty gossips in this monarchy.

Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon me; His majesty hath straitly given in charge, That no man shall have private conference, 20 Of what degree soever, with his brother. [bury, Glo. Even so? an please your worship, BrakenYou may partake of any thing we say: We speak no treason, man;-We say, the king Is wise, and virtuous; and his noble queen 25 Well struck in years; fair, and not jealous:We say, that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot, A cherry lip, a bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue;

That the queen's kindred are made gentle-folks: 30 How say you, sir? can you deny all this?

Brak. With this, my lord, myself have nought to do. [thee, fellow, Glo. Nought to do with mistress Shore? I tell He that doth naught with her, excepting one, 33 Were best to do it secretly, alone. Brak. What one, my lord?

[tray me

Glo. Her husband, knave:-Would'st thou be Brak. I beseech your grace to pardon me; and, withal,

That you should be new christen'd in the Tower. 40 Forbear your conference with the noble duke.

But what's the matter, Clarence? may I know? Clar. Yea, Richard, when I know; for I pro

[blocks in formation]

Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and

will obey.

Lobey, Glo. We are the queen's abjects, and must Brother, farewell: I will unto the king;

45 And whatsoc'er you will employ me in,-
Were it, to call King Edward's widow-sister,-
I will perform it, to enfranchise you.
Mean time, this deep disgrace in brotherhood
Touches me deeper than you can imagine.

50

'Tis not the king, that sends you to the Tower; 55
My lady Grey his wife, Clarence, 'tis she,
That tempts him to this harsh extremity.
Was it not she, and that good man of worship,
Anthony Woodeville, her brother there,

Clar. I know, it pleaseth neither of us well. Glo. Well, your imprisonment shall not be long: I will deliver you, or else lye for you: Mean time, have patience.

Clar. I must perforce: farewell.

[Exeunt Clarence and Brakenbury. Glo. Go, tread the path that thou shalt ne'er

return,

Simple, plain Clarence!—I do love thee so, That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven,

1i. e. deceitful. 2 Sir John Hawkins observes, that descant is a term in music, signifying in general that kind of harmony wherein one part is broken and formed into a kind of paraphrase on the other. I prefer the common acceptation-to consider or ruminate on. i. e. preparations for mischief. The induction is preparatory to the action of the play. 4 i. e. fancies. That is, not the queen's subjects, whom she might protect, but her abjects, whom she drives away. · Alluding to the proverb," Patience perforce is a medicine for a mad dog.”

If heaven will take the present at our hands.
But who comes here? the new-deliver'd Hastings?
En er Hastings.

Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious lord!
Glo. As much unto my good lord chamberlain
Well are you welcome to this open air.
How hath your lordship brook'd imprisonment?|
Hast. With patience, noble lord, as prisoners

must:

But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks,
That were the cause of my imprisonment.

Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Clarence
too;

For they, that were your enemies, are his,
And have prevail'd as much on him, as you.
Hast. More pity, that the eagle should be mew'd',
While kites and buzzards play at liberty.
Glo. What news abroad?

Hast. No news so bad abroad,as this at home;-
The king is sickly, weak, and melancholy,
And his physicians fear him mightily.

Glo. Now, by saint Paul, that news is bad, in-
O, he hath kept an evil diet long, [deed.
And over-much consum'd his royal person;
"Tis very grievous to be thought upon.
What, is he in his bed?

Hast. He is.

[blocks in formation]

I

Lo, in these windows, that let forth thy life,
10 pour the helpless balm of my poor eyes:-
O, cursed be the hand, that made these holes!
Cursed the heart, that had the heart to do it!
Cursed the blood, that let this blood from hence!
More direful hap betide that hated wretch,

15 That makes us wretched by the death of thee,
Than I can wish to adders, spiders, toads,
Or any creeping venom'd thing that lives!
If ever he have child, abortive be it,
|Prodigious, and untimely brought to light,
20 Whose ugly and unnatural aspect

May fright the hopeful mother at the view;
And that be heir to his unhappiness!
If ever he have wife, let her be made
More miserable by the death of him,
25 Than I am made by my young lord, and thee!
Come, now,toward Chertsey with your holy load,
Taken from Paul's to be interred there;
And, still as you are weary of the weight,
Rest you, whiles I lament king Henry's corse.

Glo. Go you before, and I will follow you.
[Exit Hastings.
He cannot live, I hope; and must not die, 30
'Till George be pack'd with post-horse up to
heaven.

I'll in, to urge his hatred more to Clarence,
With lies well steel'd with weighty arguments;
And, if I fail not in my deep intent,
Clarence hath not another day to live:
Which done, God take king Edward to his mercy,
And leave the world for me to bustle in!.
For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter:
What though I kill'd her husband, and her father?
The readiest way to make the wench amends,
Is to become her husband, and her father:
The which will I; not all so much for love,
As for another secret close intent,

By marrying her, which I must reach unto.
But yet I run before my horse to market:
Clarence still breathes; Edward still lives, and
reigns;

When they are gone, then must I count my gains.

SCENE II.
Another Strect.

Enter Gloster.

Glo. Stay you, that bear the corse, and set it down.
Anne. What black magician conjures up this fiend,
To stop devoted charitable deeds?, [Paul,

Glo. Villains, set down the corse; or, by saint 35 I'll make a corse of him that disobeys.

Gen. My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass. Glo. Unmanner'd dog! stand thou when I command:

Advance thy halberd higher than my breast,
40 Or, by saint Paul, I'H strike thee to my foot,
And spurn upon thee, beggar, for thy boldness.

Anne. What, do you tremble? are you all afraid?
Alas, I blame you not; for you are mortal,
And mortal eyes cannot endure the devil.--
45 Avaunt, thou dreadful minister of hell!
Thou had'st but power over his mortal body,
His soul thou canst not have; therefore, be gone.
Glo. Sweet saint, for charity, be not so curst.
Anne. Foul devil, for God's sake, hence, and
trouble us not;

[Exit. 50

4

For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell,
Fill'd it with cursing cries, and deep exclaims.
If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds,
Behold this pattern of thy butcheries:-
Oh, gentlemen, see, see! dead Henry's wounds
Open their congeal'd mouths, and bleed afresh'!-
Blush, blush, thou lump of foul deformity;
For 'tis thy presence that exhales this blood
From cold and empty veins, where no blood
60 Thy deed, inhuman, and unnatural, [dwells!
Provokes this deluge most unnatural.-

Enter the Corse of Henry the Sixth, with halberds|55
to guard it; Lady Anne being the mourner.
Anne. Set down, set down your honourable
load,-

If honour may be shrouded in a hearse,—
Whilst I awhile obsequiously lament

The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster,—

A mew was the place of confinement where a hawk was kept till he had moulted.

in this instance, means funereal.

3

2 Obsequious,

It

A key, on the account of the coldness of the metal of which it is composed, was anciently employed to stop any slight bleeding. i. e. instance or example. is a tradition very generally received, that the murdered body bleeds on the touch of the murderer. Mr. Tollet observes, that this opinion seems to be derived from the ancient Swedes, or Northern nations from whom we descend; for they practised this method of trial in dubious cases. O God,

O God, which this blood mad'st, revenge his death!
O earth, which this blood drink'st, revenge his
death!

[dead,
Either, heaven, with lightning strike the murderer
Or, earth, gape open wide, and eat him quick; 5
As thou dost swallow up this good king's blood,
Which his hell-govern'd arm hath butchered!
Glo. Lady, you know no rules of charity,

Which renders good for bad, blessings for curses.

1

Anne. Il rest betide the chamber where thou
lyest!

Glo. So will it, madam, 'till I lie with you.
Anne. I hope so.

Glo. I know so.-But, gentle lady Anne,-
To leave this keen encounter of our wits,
And fall somewhat into a slower2 method;—
Is not the causer of the timeless deaths
Of these Plantagenets, Henry, and Edward,

Anne. Villain, thou know'st no law of God nor 10 As blameful as the executioner?

man;

No beast so fierce, but knows some touch of pity.

Glo. But I know none, and therefore am no
beast.

Anne. O wonderful, when devils tell the truth!
Glo. More wonderful, when angels are so angry.--
Vouchsafe, divine perfection of a woman,
Of these supposed evils, to give me leave,
By circumstance, but to acquit myself.

[effect. Anne. Thou wast the cause, and most accurs'd Glo. Your beauty was the cause of that effect; Your beauty, which did haunt me in my sleep, To undertake the death of all the world, 15 So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom. Anne. If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide, Thesenails shouldrendthatbeautyfrom my cheeks. Glo. These eyes could not endure that beauty's wreck,

Anne. Vouchsafe, diffus'd' infection of a man, 20
For these known evils, but to give me leave,
By circumstance, to curse thy cursed self. [have]
Glo. Fairer than tongue can name thee, let me
Some patient leisure to excuse myself.

Anne. Fouler than heart can think thee, thou 25|
canst make

No excuse current, but to hang thyself.

Glo. By such despair, I should accuse myself.
Anne. And, by despairing, shalt thou stand ex-
For doing worthy vengeance on thyself, [cus'd 30
That didst unworthy slaughter upon others.

Glo. Say, that I slew them not?
Anne. Then say, they were not slain :
But dead they are, and, devilish slave, by thee.
Glo. I did not kill your husband.

Anne. Why, then he is alive.

35

Glo. Nay, he is dead; and slain by Edward's
hand.
[Margaret saw
Anne. In thy foul throat thou ly'st; queen
Thy murderous faulchion smoking in his blood; 40
The which thou once didst bend against her breast,
But that thy brothers beat aside the point.

Glo. I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue,
That laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders.
Anne. Thou wast provoked by thy bloody mind, 45
That never dreamt on aught but butcheries:
Didst thou not kill this king?

Glo. I grant ye.

[grant me too, Anne. Dost grant me, hedge-hog? then God Thou may'st be damned for that wicked deed! Oh, he was gentle, mild, and virtuous.— Glo. The fitter for the King of heaven that hath him. [come.

You should not blemish it, if I stood by:
As all the world is cheered by the sun,
So I by that; it is my day, my life.
[thy life!
Anne. Black night o'er-shade thy day, and death
Glo. Curse not thyself, fair creature; thou art
both.

Anne. I would I were, to be reveng'd on thee.
Glo. It is a quarrel most unnatural,
To be reveng'd on him that loveth thee.

Anne. It is a quarrel just and reasonable,
To be reveng'd on him that kill'd my husband.
Glo. He that bereft thee, lady, of thy husband,
Did it to help thee to a better husband. [earth.
Anne. His better doth not breathe upon the
Glo. He lives, that loves you better than he
Anne. Name him.

[blocks in formation]

[could.

[nature.

Glo. The self-same name, but one of better
Anne. Where is he?

[spit at me?

Glo. Here: [She spits at him.] Why dost thou Anne. Would it were mortal poison for thy sake! Glo. Never came poison from so sweet a place. Anne. Never hung poison on a fouler toad. Out of my sight! thou dost infect mine eyes. Glo.Thine eyes, sweet lady, have infected mine. Anne. 'Would they were basilisks, to strike thee [once;

dead!

Glo. I would they were, that I might die at For now they kill me with a living death. 50Those eyes of thine from mine have drawn salt

Anne. He is in heaven, where thou shalt never
Glo. Let him thank me, that holp to send him 55
thither;

For he was fitter for that place, than earth.
Anne. And thou unfit for any place, but hell.
Glo. Yes, one place else, if you will hear me
Anne. Some dungeon.

Glo. Your bed-chamber.

[name it. 50

tears,

Sham'd their aspects with store of childish drops:
These eyes, which never shed remorseful tear-
Not, when my father York and Edward wept,
To hear the piteous moan that Rutland made,
When black-fac'd Clifford shook his sword at him:
Nor when thy warlike father, like a child,
Told the sad story of my father's death;
And twenty times made pause, to sob, and weep,
That all the standers-by had wet their cheeks,
Like trees bedash'd with rain: in that sad time,

1i. e. irregular, uncouth; or the phrase may mean, Thou that art as dangerous as a pestilence, that infects the air by its diffusion.

i. e. a more serious method.

My

My manly eyes did scorn an humble tear;
And what these sorrows could not thence exhale,
Thy beauty hath, and made them blind with weep-
I never su'd to friend, nor enemy; [ing.
My tongue could never learn sweet soothing word; 5
But now thy beauty is propos'd my fee, [speak.
My proud heart sues, and prompts my tongue to
[She looks scornfully at him.

Teach not thy lip such scorn; for it was made
For kissing, lady, not for such contempt.
If thy revengeful heart cannot forgive,
Lo! here I lend thee this sharp-pointed sword;
Which if thou please to hide in this true breast,
And let the soul forth that adoreth thee,
I lay it naked to the deadly stroke,
And humbly beg the death upon my knee.

10

¡Grant me this boon.

Anne. With all my heart; and much it joys me
To see you are become so penitent.- [too,
Tressel, and Berkley, go along with me.
Glo. Bid me farewell.

Anne. 'Tis more than you deserve:
But, since you teach me how to flatter you,
Imagine I have said farewell already.
[Exeunt two, with Lady Anne.
Glo. Take up the corse, sirs.
Gen. Towards Chertsey, noble lord?
Glo. No, to White-Fryars; there attend my
coming. [Exeunt the rest, with the corse.
Was ever woman in this humour woo'd?
15 Was ever woman in this humour won?
I'll have her, but I will not keep her long.
What! I that kill'd her husband, and his father,
To take her in her heart's extremest hate;
With curses in her mouth, tears in her eyes,
The bleeding witness of her hatred by;
With God, her conscience, and these bars against
And I no friends to back my suit withal,
But the plain devil, and dissembling looks,
And yet to win her,—all the world to nothing!
Ha!

[He lays his breast open, she offers at it with his sword.
Nay, do not pause; for I did kill king Henry;-
But 'twas thy beauty that provoked me.
Nay, now dispatch; 'twas I that stabb'd young 20
Edward;-

But 'twas thy heavenly face that set me on.
[She lets fall the sword.
Take up the sword again, or take up me.
Anne. Arise, dissembler; though I wish thy 25
I will not be thy executioner.
[death,

Glo. Then bid me kill myself, and I will do it.
Anne. I have already.

Glo. That was in thy rage:
Speak it again, and, even with the word,
This hand, which, for thy love, did kill thy love,
Shall, for thy love, kill a far truer love;
To both their deaths shalt thou be accessary.
Anne. I would, I knew thy heart.
Glo. 'Tis figur'd in my tongue.
Anne. I fear me, both are false.
Glo. Then never man was true.
Anne. Well, well, put up your sword.
Glo. Say then, my peace is made.
Anne. That shall you know hereafter.
Glo. But shall I live in hope?
Anne. All men, I hope, live so.
Glo. Vouchsafe to wear this ring.

[She puts on the ring.

Anne. To take is not to give.
Glo. Look, how this ring encompasseth thy fin-
Even so thy breast encloseth my poor heart; [ger,
Wear both of them, for both of them are thine.
And if thy poor devoted servant may
But beg one favour at thy gracious hand,
Thou dost confirm his happiness for ever.

Anne. What is it?

[signs

Glo. That it may please you leave these sad de-
To him that hath more cause to be a mourner,
And presently repair to Crosby-place':
Where-after I have solemnly interr'd
At Chertsey monast'ry this noble king,
And wet his grave with my repentant tears,→→→
I will with all expedient duty see you:-
For divers unknown reasons I beseech you,

[me,

Hath she forgot already that brave prince,
Edward, her lord, whom I, some three months
Stabb'd in my angry mood at Tewksbury? [since,
A sweeter and a lovelier gentleman,—

30 Fram'd in the prodigality of nature',
Young, valiant,wise, and, no doubt, right royal,-
The spacious world cannot again afford:
And will she yet abase her eyes on me,
That cropp'd the golden prime of this sweet prince,
35 And made her widow to a woeful bed?
On me, whose all not equals Edward's moiety?
On me, that halt, and am mishapen thus?
My dukedom to a beggarly denier,
I do mistake my person all this while:
40 Upon my life, she finds, although I cannot,
Myself to be a marvellous proper man.
I'll be at charges for a looking-glass;
And entertain a score or two of taylors,
To study fashions to adorn my body:
45 Since I am crept in favour with myself,
I will maintain it with some little cost.
But, first, I'll turn yon' fellow in his grave;
And then return lamenting to my love.
Shine out, fair sun, 'till I have bought a glass,
50 That I may see my shadow as I pass.

55

SCENE III.
The Palace.

[Exit.

[blocks in formation]

Will soon recover his accustom'd health.

Grey. In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse: 60 Therefore, for God's sake, entertain good comfort,

1 Crosby-place is now Crosby-square in Bishopsgate-street. choicest materials to complete a perfect man.

2 i. e. when nature selected all her And

« ПретходнаНастави »