Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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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, 5
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. | Back in front of the palace, Queen Margaret is doing her usual bitter, creepy lurking-in-the-shadows act. She says she's happy to witness the tragic downfall of this whole lot of people, and she'll be on her way to France before long. |
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Ah, my poor princes! Ah, my tender babes, 10
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. 15 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? 20 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? 25 QUEEN MARGARET, aside
When holy Harry died, and my sweet son. DUCHESS, to Queen Elizabeth
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, 30
Rest thy unrest on England’s lawful earth,
Unlawfully made drunk with innocent blood. QUEEN ELIZABETH, as they both sit down
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. 35
Ah, who hath any cause to mourn but we? QUEEN MARGARET, coming forward
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, 40
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. 45 | The Duchess of York and Queen Elizabeth jointly mourn the loss of the two princes and bemoan the state of the world in general. Queen Margaret then comes forward and asks to join in this dark session, as she feels she has more to grieve over than either of the other ladies. The women compare all the wrongs their men have done to each other, and
Margaret blames the Duchess's son (Richard) for having a hand in the
death of her husband (Prince Henry VI) and son (Prince Edward of Wales
at Tewksbury). Queen Margaret also blames Richard for having a hand in
killing little Prince Edward (Elizabeth's son in the tower) and even his
own father, Richard Duke of York. |
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— 50
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 55
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! 60 DUCHESS, standing
O Harry’s wife, triumph not in my woes!
God witness with me, I have wept for thine. | The Duchess points out that, actually, Margaret was mostly responsible for Richard Duke of York's death, and Margaret happily helped the murder of her young son Rutland. Finally Margaret settles on the fact that Richard killed his own brother Clarence (or at least ordered it) as evidence that the Duchess of York really does have the more vile offspring. Then Margaret calls the Duchess's womb a kennel that bore a hell-hound. |
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, 65
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, 70
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 75
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.” 80 QUEEN ELIZABETH, standing
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 then turns her bitterness from the Duchess onto Queen Elizabeth, who likely feels bad enough already, with her fair share of dead kids. Margaret happily reiterates her curse: Elizabeth wrongfully took what Margaret thought was hers (the queen's crown) and now Elizabeth has lost everything. Elizabeth asks Margaret to teach her how to curse (since Margaret's curses are obviously so effective). |
QUEEN MARGARET
I called thee then “vain flourish of my fortune.”
I called thee then poor shadow, “painted queen,” 85
The presentation of but what I was,
The flattering index of a direful pageant,
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 90
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? 95
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: 100
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; 105
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 110
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 115
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. | Margaret says that if you concentrate on your own unhappiness, you can
magnify it, which makes for good cursing. Basically, Elizabeth just
needs to act like Margaret and feed a black and icy heart, which will
only get blacker and icier if you do the whole thing right. |
QUEEN ELIZABETH
O, thou well-skilled in curses, stay awhile,
And teach me how to curse mine enemies. 120 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. 125
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. | Then Margaret goes off to France. |
DUCHESS
Why should calamity be full of words? 130 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. 135 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. | The Duchess has a bright idea: she'd like Elizabeth to help her smother her son King Richard. With bad words, we mean. |
RICHARD
Who intercepts me in my expedition? 140 DUCHESS
O, she that might have intercepted thee,
By strangling thee in her accursèd womb,
From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done. QUEEN ELIZABETH, to Richard
Hid’st thou that forehead with a golden crown
Where should be branded, if that right were right, 145
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? 150 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! 155 Flourish. Alarums. Either be patient and entreat me fair,
Or with the clamorous report of war
Thus will I drown your exclamations. | Richard enters with his royal train and is immediately seized upon by his mother, the Duchess of York, who says she wishes she had strangled him in her womb. Queen Elizabeth joins in, and both women begin to rail on Richard, listing all the people he's wrongfully murdered. Richard responds in something of a panic. He says that as the "Lord's anointed" he doesn't need to hear the shrill cries of these women. To drown them out, he demands that his people strike up loud music. |
DUCHESS Art thou my son? RICHARD
Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself. 160 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. 165 DUCHESS
I will be mild and gentle in my words. RICHARD
And brief, good mother, for I am in haste. 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? 170 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 175
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, 180
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, 185
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, 190
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 195
And nevermore behold thy face again.
Therefore take with thee my most grievous curse,
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, 200
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. 205 She exits. | The women are undeterred, though, and the Duchess of York insists on having a word with Richard. Her essential claim amounts to the fact that since his birth, Richard has only ever been a burden to her. The Duchess promises she will never speak to Richard again, but she says she hopes God will kill him on the battlefield. Before she exits, she says she will pray for his enemies, and wishes him a bloody and shameful death (soon!). |
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 210
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. 215 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, 220
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. QUEEN ELIZABETH
And only in that safety died her brothers. 225 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 230
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, 235
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, 240
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. 245 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, 250
To be discovered, that can do me good? 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. 255 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; 260
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. 265 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, 270
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. | Richard recovers surprisingly quickly from his mother's death wish. He immediately takes Queen Elizabeth aside and says he wants to marry her daughter. (Yep, his niece.) |
QUEEN ELIZABETH
Well then, who dost thou mean shall be her king? 275 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, 280
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 285
“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, 290
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 295
Mad’st quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne. | Queen Elizabeth is horrified. Richard denies that he had anything to do with murdering her sons in the Tower. Richard asks Queen Elizabeth for some tips on how to woo little Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth suggests that Richard carve the name of her two dead sons, Edward and York, into their tiny bleeding hearts and send that along to the little sister. Elizabeth reminds everyone of the time when Queen Margaret gave Richard's dad a handkerchief steeped in his own son's blood. Maybe Richard has a similar handkerchief he could give Elizabeth with her brothers' blood? If that gift idea doesn't do it, Richard could write a letter detailing all the people he's murdered, and especially emphasize that he had Anne murdered just so he could marry little Elizabeth. |
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 300
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. RICHARD
Look what is done cannot be now amended. 305
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, 310
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, 315
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. 320
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 325
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. 330
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 335
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.
Make bold her bashful years with your experience; 340
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 345
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. 350 | Richard points out that things would be fair and square between them if he married little Elizabeth. He may have stolen the kingdom from the princes by killing them, but he could keep it in the family by marrying their sister. Also, this alliance is the best way to stop a civil war – it could forge a nifty alliance. |
| Richard continues to argue audaciously on his own behalf, and the queen meets him with sharp retorts. She declares that nothing Richard can say will make her believe him. By breaking the peace made by the dying King Edward IV, and by murdering his rightful heirs, it's clear Richard can't be trusted.
Richard, it seems, is a bit cowed. He makes a vow of his own that (as with all the prophecies in the play) will come back to bite him in the tuchus. Richard vows to never have happiness or good luck if he doesn't value little Elizabeth with "immaculate devotion and holy thoughts." (Since we've never known Richard to have either of those things, looks like it's goodbye happiness and good luck.) |
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. 445 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. 450 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! | Richard reiterates he'd like Queen Elizabeth to be his advocate in making his case to little Elizabeth. Richard stresses that Queen Elizabeth should think not on who he has been, but on who he'll grow to be. Finally, after what seems like ages of talking, Queen Elizabeth says she'll talk to her daughter on Richard's behalf. Queen Elizabeth relents her anti-Richard position, and no sooner is she out the door than Richard dismisses her gleefully as a "shallow, changing woman!" |
Enter Ratcliffe. How now, what news? 455 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; 460
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? 465 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.When thou com’st thither—To Catesby. Dull, 470
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 475
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? 480 RATCLIFFE
Your Highness told me I should post before. RICHARD
My mind is changed. | Just then, Richard begins receiving reports that Richmond has taken to
the seas, and he's expecting the aid of Buckingham. Further, the people
who are on Richard's side are clearly half-hearted and are doing very
little to beat the enemy army back. |
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. 485 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. 490 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. RICHARD Well, as you guess? STANLEY
Stirred up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton, 495
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? 500
Then tell me, what makes he upon the seas? | Richard loses composure when Lord Stanley arrives with the news that Richmond has shown up to seize the throne of England. |
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. 505 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? 510 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, 515
I’ll muster up my friends and meet your Grace
Where and what time your Majesty shall please. | Richard then lashes out against Stanley. He questions why Stanley came
without troops and wonders whether Stanley's troops are helping the
enemy to shore. |
RICHARD
Ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond,
But I’ll not trust thee. STANLEY Most mighty sovereign, 520
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. 525 STANLEY
So deal with him as I prove true to you. Stanley exits. | Stanley promises he wouldn't betray Richard, but Richard knows betrayal
like the back of his hand, so he covers himself. He says Stanley can go
gather troops, but he must leave his son, George Stanley, in Richard's
care. If the troops Stanley brings aren't for Richard's side, then
Stanley's son will lose his head. |
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, 530
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— 535 RICHARD
Out on you, owls! Nothing but songs of death. He striketh him. There, take thou that till thou bring better news. | As Stanley exits, Richard learns that more of his friends are defecting to Richmond's side and mounting armies. By the time a third messenger shows up, Richard has flown into a passionate rage. He smacks the poor guy around a little before he hears the good news that Buckingham's army has been scattered by flooding, and Buckingham has wandered off to god knows where. |
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, 540
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 545
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: 550
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 555
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. 560 | Richard then hears from another messenger that the army from Brittany is definitely dispersed. With this news that the enemy army is also a bit disoriented, Richard seems to take heart and prepares to head for the battlefield. Things are in such a state of disarray that he's feeling bloodlust-y regardless of whether he's fighting foreign enemies or domestic rebels. Seriously, he's just ready to go kill some people. |
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, 565
A royal battle might be won and lost.
Someone take order Buckingham be brought
To Salisbury. The rest march on with me. Flourish. They exit. | Richard then receives news from Catesby that Buckingham is caught, but Richmond now leads a mighty fighting force. Richard says he's done talking – he wants the captive Buckingham taken to Salisbury. |