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  • William Shakespeare: Richard III, Act IV, Scene II

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Scene IILondon. The palaceSennet. Enter King Richard III, in pomp, crowned; Buckingham, Catesby, a page, and othersKing Richard IIIStand all apart Cousin of Buckingham!BuckinghamMy gracious sovereign?King Richard IIIGive me thy hand.Here he ascendeth his throneThus high, by thy advice And thy assistance, is King Richard seated; But shall we wear these honours for a day? Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?BuckinghamStill live they and for ever may they last!King Richard IIIO Buckingham, now do I play the touch, To try if thou be current gold indeed Young Edward lives: think now what I would say.BuckinghamSay on, my loving lord.King Richard IIIWhy, Buckingham, I say, I would be king,BuckinghamWhy, so you are, my thrice renowned liege.King Richard IIIHa! am I king? ’tis so: but Edward lives.BuckinghamTrue, noble prince.King Richard IIIO bitter consequence, That Edward still should live! ‘True, noble prince!’ Cousin, thou wert not wont to be so dull: Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead; And I would have it suddenly perform’d. What sayest thou? speak suddenly; be brief.BuckinghamYour grace may do your pleasure.King Richard IIITut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezeth: Say, have I thy consent that they shall die?BuckinghamGive me some breath, some little pause, my lord Before I positively herein: I will resolve your grace immediately.ExitCatesbyAside to a stander byThe king is angry: see, he bites the lip.King Richard IIII 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!PageMy lord?King Richard IIIKnow’st thou not any whom corrupting gold Would tempt unto a close exploit of death?PageMy lord, I know a discontented gentleman, Whose humble means match not his haughty mind: Gold were as good as twenty orators, And will, no doubt, tempt him to any thing.King Richard IIIWhat is his name?PageHis name, my lord, is Tyrrel.King Richard IIII partly know the man: go, call him hither.Exit PageThe deep-revolving witty Buckingham No more shall be the neighbour to my counsel: Hath he so long held out with me untired, And stops he now for breath?Enter StanleyHow now! what news with you?StanleyMy lord, I hear the Marquis Dorset’s fled To Richmond, in those parts beyond the sea Where he abides.Stands apartKing Richard IIICatesby!CatesbyMy lord?King Richard IIIRumour it abroad That Anne, my wife, is sick and like to die: I will take order for her keeping close. Inquire me out some mean-born 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 wife is sick and like to die: About it; for it stands me much upon, To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me.Exit CatesbyI 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 TyrrelIs thy name Tyrrel?TyrrelJames Tyrrel, and your most obedient subject.King Richard IIIArt thou, indeed?TyrrelProve me, my gracious sovereign.King Richard IIIDarest thou resolve to kill a friend of mine?TyrrelAy, my lord; But I had rather kill two enemies.King Richard IIIWhy, there 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.TyrrelLet me have open means to come to them, And soon I’ll rid you from the fear of them.King Richard IIIThou sing’st sweet music. Hark, come hither, Tyrrel Go, by this token: rise, and lend thine ear:WhispersThere is no more but so: say it is done, And I will love thee, and prefer thee too.Tyrrel’Tis done, my gracious lord.King Richard IIIShall we hear from thee, Tyrrel, ere we sleep?TyrrelYe shall, my Lord. [Exit]Re-enter BuckinghamBuckinghamMy Lord, I have consider’d in my mind The late demand that you did sound me in.King Richard IIIWell, let that pass. Dorset is fled to Richmond.BuckinghamI hear that news, my lord.King Richard IIIStanley, he is your wife’s son well, look to it.BuckinghamMy lord, I claim your gift, my due by promise, For which your honour and your faith is pawn’d; The earldom of Hereford and the moveables The which you promised I should possess.King Richard IIIStanley, look to your wife; if she convey Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it.BuckinghamWhat says your highness to my just demand?King Richard IIIAs I remember, Henry the Sixth Did prophesy that Richmond should be king, When Richmond was a little peevish boy. A king, perhaps, perhaps,—BuckinghamMy lord!King Richard IIIHow chance the prophet could not at that time Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him?BuckinghamMy lord, your promise for the earldom,—King Richard IIIRichmond! When last I was at Exeter, The mayor in courtesy show’d me the castle, And call’d it Rougemont: at which name I started, Because a bard of Ireland told me once I should not live long after I saw Richmond.BuckinghamMy Lord!King Richard IIIAy, what’s o’clock?BuckinghamI am thus bold to put your grace in mind Of what you promised me.King Richard IIIWell, but what’s o’clock?BuckinghamUpon the stroke of ten.King Richard IIIWell, let it strike.BuckinghamWhy let it strike?King Richard IIIBecause that, like a Jack, thou keep’st the stroke Betwixt thy begging and my meditation. I am not in the giving vein to-day.BuckinghamWhy, then resolve me whether you will or no.King Richard IIITut, tut, Thou troublest me; am not in the vein.Exeunt all but BuckinghamBuckinghamIs it even so? rewards he my true service With such deep 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

William Shakespeare: Richard III, Act IV

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William Shakespeare: Richard III, Act V, Scene III

  • William Shakespeare: Richard III, Act V, Scene III

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

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Current Events This Week: January 2023

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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

TrendingHere are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about.

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Current Events This Week: January 2023

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Andersen’s Fairy Tales: Contents

The Celtic Twilight: A Teller of Tales

  • Did Birds Evolve from Dinosaurs?
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  • Current Events This Week: January 2023
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