[Editor's note: the following scene appears in the 1700 edition but is ommitted in the 1718 edition where Richard's exit is followed immediately by "Enter Tirrel. solus."]
[
PRINCE EDWARD
[SCENE a Chamber, the Princes in Bed. The Stage darkened.]
1550: Why do you startle, Brother?
DUKE OF YORK
1551: O! I have been so frighted in my sleep!
1552: Pray turn this way?
PRINCE EDWARD
1553: Alas, i fain wou'd sleep, but cannot
1554: Tho' 'tis the stillest night I ever knew.
1555: Not the least breath has stir'd these four hours
1556: Sure all the World's asleep but we.
DUKE OF YORK
1557: Hark, Pray Brother count the Clock! [(Clock strikes.]
1558: -- But two! O tedious night : I've slept an Age.
1559: Wou'd it were day, I am so melancholy.
PRINCE EDWARD
1560: Hark! What noise is that?
1561: I thought I heard some one upon the stairs!
1562: Hark! Again!
DUKE OF YORK
1563: O dear, I hear 'em too! Who is it, Brother?
1564: Enter Dighton and Forrest with dark lanterns.
PRINCE EDWARD
1565: Bless me! What frightful men are these?
DUKE OF YORK
1566: Who's there?
PRINCE EDWARD
1567: Who's there?
DIGHTON
1568: Hist, we've waked 'em! What shall we say?
FORREST
1569: Nothing. We come to do.
DIGHTON
1570: I'll see their Faces -- -- --
-39-
DUKE OF YORK
1571: Won't they speak to us? [(Dighton looks in with his Lanthorn.]
1572: O save me! Hide me! Save me, Brother!
PRINCE EDWARD
1573: O mercy Heaven! Who are you, Sirs,
1574: That look so ghastly pale and terrible?
DIGHTON
1575: I am a Fool. -- -- -I cannot answer 'em.
FORREST
1576: You must die, my Lord, so must your Brother.
PRINCE EDWARD
1577: O stay, for pity sake! What is our Crime, Sir?
1578: Why must we die?
DIGHTON
1579: The King, your Uncle, loves you not.
PRINCE EDWARD
1580: O Cruel Man!
1581: Tell him we'll live in Prison all our days,
1582: Wnd, when we give occasion of offence,
1583: Then let us die: H'as yet no cause to kill us.
FORREST
1584: Pray.
PRINCE EDWARD
1585: We do, Sir, to you. O spare us gentlemen!
1586: I was some time your King, and might have shown
1587: You mercy : For your dear Souls sake pity us.
FORREST
1588: We'll hear no more.
BOTH PRINCES
1589: O Mercy, Mercy!
FORREST
[They smother them, and the Scene shuts on them.]
1590: Down, down with 'em.] [Enter Tirrel. Solus]
TIRREL
1591: ''Tis done: The barbarous bloody act is done.
1592: 'O the most Arch-deed of pitious Massacre
1593: 'That ever yet this Land was guilty of.
1594: Ha! the King: His coming hither at this
1595: Late hour, speaks him impatient for the welcome News. [Enter Richard.]
RICHARD
1596: Now my Tirrel, how are the Brats dispos'd?
1597: Say; am I happy? Hast thou dealt upon 'em?
TIRREL
1598: 'If to have done the thing you gave in charge
1599: 'Beget your happiness, then, Sir, be happy;
1600: For it is done.
RICHARD
1601" ana="Shakespeare: But didst thou see 'em dead?
TIRREL
1602" ana="Shakespeare: I did, my Lord.
RICHARD
1603" ana="Shakespeare: And buried, my good Tirrel?
TIRREL
1604: In that I thought to ask your Grace's Pleasure.
RICHARD
1605: I have't -- I'll have 'em sure -- Get me a Coffin
1606: Full of holes, let 'em be both cram'd into't;
1607: And, hark thee, in the night-tide throw 'em down
1608: The Thames; once in, they'll find the way to th'bottom,
1609" ana="Shakespeare: Mean time but think how I may do thee good,
1610" ana="Shakespeare: And be Inheritor of thy desire.
TIRREL
1611: I humbly thank your Highness.
-40-
RICHARD
1612: About it strait, good Tirrel.
TIRREL
1613: Conclude it done, my Lord. [(Exit Tir.]
RICHARD
1614: Why then my lowdest fears are husht.
1615: 'The Sons of Edward have Eternal Rest,
1616: 'And Ann, my Wife, has bid this World good night,
1617: While fair Elizabeth my beauteous Neice
1618: Like a New Morn lights onward to my wishes. [Enter Catesby.]
CATESBY
1619: My Lord!
RICHARD
1620" ana="Shakespeare: Good News, or bad, that thou comest in so bluntly?
CATESBY
1621" ana="Shakespeare: Bad News, my Lord, Morton is fled to Richmond,
1622" ana="Shakespeare: And Buckingham, back'd with the hardy Welshmen,
1623" ana="Shakespeare: Is in the Field, and still his Power increases.
RICHARD
1624: Morton with Richmond, touches me more near
1625: Than Buckingham and his rash levied numbers.
1626: 'But come, dangers retreat when boldly they're oppos'd,
1627: 'And dull delays lead impotence and fear.
1628: 'Then fiery Expedition raise my Arm,
1629: And fatal may it fall on crush'd Rebellion.
1630" ana="Shakespeare: Let's muster Men, my Councel is my Shield,
1631" ana="Shakespeare: We must be brief when Traytors brave the Field. [Exit.]
[Enter the Queen and Dutchess of York]
QUEEN
1632: O my poor Childen! O my tender Babes!
1633: My unblown flowers pluck'd by untimely hands:
1634: 'If yet your gentle Souls fly in the Air,
1635: 'And be not fix'd in doom perpetual;
1636: 'Hover about me with your Airy wings,
1637: 'And hear your Mothers Lamentation:
1638: Why slept their Guardian Angels, when this deed was done?
DUTCHESS
1639: 'So many miseries have drain'd my Eyes,
1640: 'That my woe-wearied Tongue is still and mute.
1641: 'Why should Calamity be full of Words?
QUEEN
1642: Let's give 'em scope, for tho' they can't remove,
1643: 'Yet they do ease Affliction.
DUTCHESS
1644: Why then let us be loud in Exclamations
1645: To Richard! Haste, and pierce him with our cries!
1646: That from henceforth his Conscience may out-Tongue
1647: The close whispers of his relentless heart.
1648: Hark! His Trumpet sounds! This way he must pass.
QUEEN
1649: Alas, I've not the Daring to confront him.
DUTCHESS
1650: I have a Mothers right, I'll force him hear me.
-41-
1651: Enter Richard with his Powers,
1652: the Dutchess meets and stops him, & c.
RICHARD
1653" ana="Shakespeare: Who intercepts me in my Expedition?
DUTCHESS
1654" ana="Shakespeare: Dost thou not know me? Art thou not my Son?
RICHARD
1655" ana="Shakespeare: I cry you mercy, Madam, is it you?
DUTCHESS
1656: 'Art thou not my Son?
RICHARD
1657" ana="Shakespeare: I, I thank Heaven, my Father and your Self.
DUTCHESS
1658: 'Then I command thee, hear me.
RICHARD
1659" ana="Shakespeare: Madam, I have a touch of your condition,
1660" ana="Shakespeare: That cannot brook the accent of Reproof.
DUTCHESS
1661" ana="Shakespeare: Stay, I'll be mild and gentle in my Words.
RICHARD
1662" ana="Shakespeare: And brief, good Mother, for I am in haste.
DUTCHESS
1663" ana="Shakespeare: Why, I have staid for thee (just Heaven knows)
1664" ana="Shakespeare: In Torment and Agony.
RICHARD
1665" ana="Shakespeare: And came I not at last to comfort you?
DUTCHESS
1666" ana="Shakespeare: No, on my Soul, too well thou know'st it.
1667" ana="Shakespeare: A grievous burthen was thy Birth to me;
1668" ana="Shakespeare: Tetchy and way-ward was thy Infancy,
1669" ana="Shakespeare: Thy prime of Manhood daring, bold and stubborn:
1670" ana="Shakespeare: Thy Age confirm'd most subtle, proud and bloody.
RICHARD
1671" ana="Shakespeare: If I am so disgracious in your eye,
1672" ana="Shakespeare: Let me march on, and not offend you, Madam.
1673" ana="Shakespeare: Strike up the Drum.
DUTCHESS
1674: Yet stay, I charge thee hear me.
QUEEN
1675: If not, hear me; for I have wrongs will speak
1676: Without a Tongue: methinks the very sight
1677: Of me shou'd turn thee into stone.
1678: 'Where are my Children, Richard?
DUTCHESS
1679: 'Where is they Brother Clarence?
QUEEN
1680: Where Hastings?
DUTCHESS
1681: 'Rivers?
QUEEN
1682: 'Vaughan?
DUTCHESS
1683: 'Grey?
RICHARD A Flourish, Trumpets: Strike Allarum, Drums.
1684" ana="Shakespeare: Let not the Heavens hear these Tell-tale Women
1685" ana="Shakespeare: Rail on the Heavens Anointed. Strike, I say. [Allarum of Drums and Trumpets.]
1686" ana="Shakespeare: Either be patient and intreat me fair,
1687" ana="Shakespeare: Or with the Clamorous report of War
1688" ana="Shakespeare: Thus will I drown your Exclamations.
DUTCHESS
1689: Then hear me Heaven, and Heaven at his latest hour
1690: Be Deaf to Him as he is now to me:
1691: 'E'er from this War he turn a Conqueror,
1692: Ye Pow'rs, cut off his dangerous thread of Life,
-42-
1693: Least his black sins rise higher in Account,
1694: Than Hell has pains to punish -- -
1695: Mischance and sorrow wait thee to the Field:
1696: Hearts Discontent, languid and lean Despair
1697: With all the Hells of Guilt pursue thy steps for ever. [Ex. Duc.]
QUEEN
1698: Tho'far more cause, yet much less power to curse
1699: Abides in me: I say Amen to her.
RICHARD
1700" ana="Shakespeare: Stay, Madam, I wou'd beg some words with you?
QUEEN
1701: 'What canst thou ask, that I have now to grant?
1702: 'Is't another Son? Richard I have none.
RICHARD
1703" ana="Shakespeare: You have a Beauteous Daughter call'd Elizabeth.
QUEEN
1704: 'Must she die too?
RICHARD
1705" ana="Shakespeare: For whose fair sake I'll bring more Good to you,
1706" ana="Shakespeare: Than ever You or Yours from me had Harm;
1707" ana="Shakespeare: So in the Lethe of thy angry Soul
1708" ana="Shakespeare: Thou'lt drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs
1709: 'Which thou supposest me the cruel cause of.
QUEEN
1710" ana="Shakespeare: Be brief, least that the process of they Kindness
1711" ana="Shakespeare: Last longer telling than thy kindness Date.
RICHARD
1712: 'Know then, that from my Soul I love the fair
1713: 'Elizabeth, and will, with your permission,
1714: 'Seat her on the Throne of England.
QUEEN
1715: 'Alas, vain man, how canst thou wooe her?
RICHARD
1716" ana="Shakespeare: That would I learn of you,
1717" ana="Shakespeare: As one being best acquainted with her humour.
QUEEN
1718" ana="Shakespeare: If thou wilt learn of me, then wooe her thus,
1719" ana="Shakespeare: Send to her, by the man that kill'd her Brothers,
1720: 'A pair of bleeding Hearts; thereon Engrave
1721: 'Edward and York: Then haply will she weep.
1722: 'On this present her with an Hankerchief
1723: 'Stain'd in their Blood, to wipe her woeful Eyes.
1724" ana="Shakespeare: If this Inducement move her not to Love,
1725" ana="Shakespeare: Read o'er the History of they Noble Deeds;
1726: 'Tell her, thy Policy took off her Uncle
1727: Clarence, Rivers, Grey; nay, and for her sake,
1728" ana="Shakespeare: Made quick conveyance with her dear Aunt Ann.
RICHARD
1729" ana="Shakespeare: You mock me, Madam; this is not the way
1730" ana="Shakespeare: To win your Daughter.
QUEEN
1731" ana="Shakespeare: There is no other way,
1732" ana="Shakespeare: Unless thou coulds't put on some other form,
1733" ana="Shakespeare: And not be Richard that has doen all this.
-43-
RICHARD
1734" ana="Shakespeare: As I intend to prosper and Repent,
1735" ana="Shakespeare: So thrive I in my dangerous Affairs
1736" ana="Shakespeare: Of Hostile Arms: My self, my self confound,
1737" ana="Shakespeare: Heaven and Fortune bar me happy hours:
1738" ana="Shakespeare: Day yield me not they light, nor Night thy Rest;
1739" ana="Shakespeare: Be opposite all Planets of good luck,
1740" ana="Shakespeare: To my Proceeding, if with dear Hearts Love,
1741" ana="Shakespeare: Immaculate Devotion, Holy Thoughts,
1742" ana="Shakespeare: I tender not the fair Elizabeth,
1743" ana="Shakespeare: In her consists my happiness and thine:
1744" ana="Shakespeare: Without her follows to myself and thee,
1745" ana="Shakespeare: Her self, the Land, and many a Christian Soul,
1746" ana="Shakespeare: Death, Desolation, Ruin and Decay.
1747: 'It cannot, will not be avoided, but by this.
QUEEN
1748: What shall I say? still to afront his love, [Aside.]
1749: I fear will but incense him to Revenge. [Aside.]
1750: And to consent I shou'd abhor my self, [Aside.]
1751: Yet I may seemingly comply, and thus Aside. [Aside.]
1752: By sending Richmond Word of his Intent, [Aside.]
1753: Shall gain some time to let my Child escape him. [Aside.]
1754: It shall be so, [Aside.]
1755: I have consider'd, Sir, of your important wishes,
1756: And cou'd I but believe you real -- -
RICHARD
1757: Now by the sacred Hosts of Saints above -- -
QUEEN
1758: O do not swear, my Lord, I ask no Oath;
1759: Unless my Daughter doubts you more than I.
RICHARD
1760" ana="Shakespeare: O my kind Mother (I must call you so)
1761" ana="Shakespeare: Be thou to her my loves soft Orator;
1762" ana="Shakespeare: Plead what I Will be, not what I Have been;
1763" ana="Shakespeare: Not my deserts, but what I Will deserve:
1764: 'And when this Warlike arm shall have chastis'd
1765: 'The'audacious Rebel hot-brain'd Buckingham:
1766" ana="Shakespeare: Bound with Triumphant Garlands will I come,
1767" ana="Shakespeare: And lead thy Daughter to a Conqueror's Bed.
QUEEN
1768: My Lord, farewel: in some few days expect
1769: To hear how fair a progress I have made.
1770: Till when be Happy, as you're Penitent.
RICHARD
1771: My heart goes with you to my Love, farewel. [Exit Queen.]
1772: 'Relenting, Shallow-thoughted Woman.
1773: How now! the News?
-44-
[Enter Ratcliff.]
RATCLIFF
1774" ana="Shakespeare: Most gracious Sovereign, on the Western Coasts
1775" ana="Shakespeare: Rides a most powerful Navy and our fears
1776" ana="Shakespeare: Inform us Richmond is their Admiral,
1777" ana="Shakespeare: There do they Hull Expecting but the aid,
1778" ana="Shakespeare: Of Buckingham to welcome them a shore.
RICHARD
1779: 'We must prevent him then. Come hither Catesby.
CATESBY
1780: 'My Lord, your pleasure?
RICHARD
1781" ana="Shakespeare: Post to the Duke of Norfolk instantly;
1782" ana="Shakespeare: Bid him strait levy all the strength and power
1783" ana="Shakespeare: That he can make, and meet me suddenly
1784: At Salisbury: Commend me to his Grace: away! [(Exit Cat.]
1785: Well, my Lord, What News have you gather'd? [Enter Lord Stanley.]
STANLEY
1786" ana="Shakespeare: Richmond is on the seas, my Lord.
RICHARD
1787" ana="Shakespeare: There let him sink, and be the Seas on Him:
1788" ana="Shakespeare: White Liver'd Runnagade, what does he there?
STANLEY
1789" ana="Shakespeare: I know not, mighty Sovereign, but by guess.
RICHARD
1790" ana="Shakespeare: Well, as you guess?
STANLEY
1791" ana="Shakespeare: Stir'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton,
1792" ana="Shakespeare: He makes for England here to claim the Crown.
RICHARD
1793: Traytor, the Crown: Where is thy power then
1794: To beat him back?
1795" ana="Shakespeare: Where be thy Tenants, and thy Followers?
1796: 'The Foe upon our Coast, and thou no Friends to meet 'em?
1797" ana="Shakespeare: Or hast thou marched 'em to the Western shore,
1798" ana="Shakespeare: To give the Rebels Conduct from their Ships?
STANLEY
1799" ana="Shakespeare: My Lord, my Friends are ready all, i'th'North.
RICHARD
1800" ana="Shakespeare: The North! Why, what do they do in the North,
1801" ana="Shakespeare: When they shou'd serve their Sovereign in the West?
STANLEY
1802: They yet have had no Orders, Sir, to move:
1803: If 'tis your Royal Pleasure they should march,
1804: 'I'll lead 'em on with utmost haste to joyn you,
1805: 'Where, and what Time your Majesty shall please.
RICHARD
1806" ana="Shakespeare: What, thou wou'dst be gone, to joyn with Richmond?
-45-
STANLEY
1807: 'Sir, you've no Cause to doubt my Loyalty;
1808: 'I ne'er yet was, nor ever will be false.
RICHARD
1809: Away then, to thy Friends, and lead 'em on
1810: 'To meet me -- Hold! Come back! I will not trust thee,
1811: I've thought a way to make thee sure: Your Son
1812" ana="Shakespeare: George Stanley, Sir, I'll have him left behind;
1813" ana="Shakespeare: And look your Heat be Firm,
1814" ana="Shakespeare: Or else his heads Assurance is but Frail.
STANLEY
1815" ana="Shakespeare: As I prove true, my Lord, so deal with him. [(Exit Stan.]
[Enter a Messenger.]
MESSENGER
1816" ana="Shakespeare: My Lord, the Army of Great Buckingham
1817" ana="Shakespeare: By sudden Floods, and fall of Waters,
1818" ana="Shakespeare: Is half lost and scatter'd,
1819" ana="Shakespeare: And he himself wander'd away alone;
1820" ana="Shakespeare: No man knows whither.
RICHARD
1821: 'Has any careful Officer proclaim'd
1822" ana="Shakespeare: Reward to him that brings the Traytor in? [Enter Catesby]
CATESBY
1823" ana="Shakespeare: My Liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken.
RICHARD
1824" ana="Shakespeare: Off with his head. So much for Buckingham.
CATESBY
1825: My Lord, I'm sorry I must tell more News.
RICHARD
1826: Out with it.
CATESBY
1827" ana="Shakespeare: The Earl of Richmond with a mighty power
1828" ana="Shakespeare: Is Landed, Sir, at Milford:
1829" ana="Shakespeare: And, to confirm the News, Lord Marquess Dorset,
1830" ana="Shakespeare: And Sir Thomas Lovewel are up in Yorkshire.
RICHARD
1831: Why ay, this looks Rebellion. Ho! my Horse!
1832: By Heaven the News allarms my stirring Soul.
1833: 'And as the Wretch, whose fever-weakned joynts,
1834: 'Like strengthless hinges buckle under Life:
1835: 'Impatient of his fit, breaks like a fire
1836: 'From his fond Keeper's Arms, and starts away:
1837: 'Even so these War-worn Limbs grown weak
1838: 'From Wars disuse, being now inrag'd with War,
1839: 'Feel a new Fury, and are thrice themselves.
1840: Come forth my Honest Sword, which here I vow,
1841: By my Souls hope, shall ne'er again be sheath'd,
-46-
1842: Ne'er shall these watching Eyes have needful rest,
1843: Till Death has clos'd 'em in a glorious Grave,
1844: Or Fortune given me Measure of Revenge. [Exeunt.]
[The End of the Fourth ACT.]
ACT the Fifth