1593 King Richard III
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Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Next page boy. Exit PAGE The deep-revolving witty Buckingham No more shall be the neighbour to my counsels. Hath he so long held out with me, untir'd, 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 Marquis Dorset, as I hear, is fled To Richmond, in the parts where he abides. [Stands apart] KING RICHARD. Come hither, Catesby. Rumour 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. 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. Art thou, indeed? TYRREL. Prove me, my gracious lord. KING RICHARD. Dar'st'thou resolve to kill a friend of mine? TYRREL. Please you; But I had rather kill two enemies. KING 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. KING RICHARD. 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 for it. TYRREL. I will dispatch it straight. Exit Re-enter BUCKINGHAM BUCKINGHAM. My lord, I have consider'd in my mind The late request that you did sound me in. KING RICHARD. Well, let that rest. Dorset is fled to Richmond. BUCKINGHAM. I hear the news, my lord. KING 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 honour and your faith is pawn'd: Th' earldom of Hereford and the movables Which you have promised I shall possess. KING 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? KING 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- KING 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- KING RICHARD. Richmond! When last I was at Exeter, The mayor in courtesy show'd me the castle And call'd it Rugemount, 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. Ay, what's o'clock? BUCKINGHAM. I am thus bold to put your Grace in mind Of what you promis'd me. KING RICHARD. Well, but o'clock? BUCKINGHAM. Upon the stroke of ten. KING RICHARD. Well, let it strike. BUCKINGHAM. Why let it strike? KING RICHARD. 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. May it please you to resolve me in my suit. KING RICHARD. Thou troublest me; I am not in the vein. Exeunt 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! Exit SCENE 3. London. The palace Enter TYRREL TYRREL. The tyrannous and bloody act is done, The most arch deed of piteous massacre That ever yet this land was guilty of. Dighton and Forrest, who I did suborn To do this piece of ruthless butchery, Albeit they were flesh'd villains, bloody dogs, Melted with tenderness and mild compassion, Wept like two children in their deaths' sad story. 'O, thus' quoth Dighton 'lay the gentle babes'- 'Thus, thus,' quoth Forrest 'girdling one another Within their alabaster innocent arms. Their lips were four red roses on a stalk, And in their summer beauty kiss'd each other. A book of prayers on their pillow lay; Which once,' quoth Forrest 'almost chang'd my mind; But, O, the devil'-there the villain stopp'd; When Dighton thus told on: 'We smothered The most replenished sweet work of nature That from the prime creation e'er she framed.' Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse They could not speak; and so I left them both, To bear this tidings to the bloody King. Enter KING RICHARD And here he comes. All health, my sovereign lord! KING RICHARD. 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. KING RICHARD. But didst thou see them dead? TYRREL. I did, my lord. KING RICHARD. And buried, gentle Tyrrel? TYRREL. The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them; But where, to say the truth, I do not know. KING RICHARD. Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after supper, When 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 then. TYRREL. I humbly take my leave. Exit KING RICHARD. 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 this world good night. Now, for I know the Britaine Richmond aims At young Elizabeth, my brother's daughter, And by that knot looks proudly on the crown, To her go I, a jolly thriving wooer. Enter RATCLIFF RATCLIFF. My lord! KING RICHARD. Good or bad news, that thou com'st in so bluntly? RATCLIFF. Bad news, my lord: Morton is fled to Richmond; And Buckingham, back'd with the hardy Welshmen, Is in the field, and still his power increaseth. KING RICHARD. Ely with Richmond troubles me more near Than Buckingham and his rash-levied strength. Come, I have learn'd that fearful commenting Is leaden servitor to dull delay; Delay leads impotent and snail-pac'd beggary. Then fiery expedition be my wing, Jove's Mercury, and herald for a king! Go, muster men. My counsel is my shield. We must be brief when traitors brave the field. Exeunt SCENE 4. London. Before the palace Enter old 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 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? [Retires] Enter QUEEN ELIZABETH and the DUCHESS OF YORK |
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