Lady ANNE, widow of Edward, Prince of Wales, later Duchess of Gloucester QUEEN MARGARET, widow of Henry VI DUCHESS OF YORK, mother to Gloucester, Clarence, Edward IV
Clarence's children
BOY
DAUGHTER
Earl of RICHMOND, later King Henry VII Earl of OXFORD
Sir JAMES BLUNT
Sir WALTER HERBERT
Sir WILLIAM BRANDON
Duke of NORFOLK
Earl of SURREY
CARDINAL, Archbishop of Canterbury ARCHBISHOP OF YORK
BISHOP OF ELY
SIR CHRISTOPHER, a priest Sir John, a PRIEST
Lord MAYOR of London Three CITIZENS
JAMES TYRRELL
Two MURDERERS
MESSENGERS
KEEPER
PURSUIVANT
PAGE
Ghost of KING HENRY VI
Ghost of EDWARD, his son TWO BISHOPS, Soldiers, Halberdiers, Gentlemen, Lords, Citizens, Attendants
Act 1 Scene 1
running scene 1
Enter Richard, Duke of Gloucester, solus
RICHARD Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of York2:
And all the clouds that loured3 upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths,
Our bruised arms6 hung up for monuments,
Our stern alarums7 changed to merry meetings,
Our dreadful marches to delightful measures.8
Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front9,
And now, instead of mounting barbed10 steeds
To fright the souls of fearful11 adversaries.
He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber12
To the lascivious pleasing13 of a lute.
But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks14,
Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass15:
I, that am rudely stamped, and want16 love's majesty
To strut before a wanton ambling17 nymph:
I, that am curtailed18 of this fair proportion,
Cheated of feature by dissembling19 nature,
Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time20
Into this breathing world, scarce half made up21,
And that so lamely and unfashionable22
That dogs bark at me as I halt23 by them --
Why, I, in this weak piping24 time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time,
Unless to see my shadow in the sun
And descant27 on mine own deformity.
And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,
To entertain these fair well-spoken29 days,
I am determined30 to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.
Plots have I laid, inductions32 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, false37 and treacherous,
This day should Clarence closely be mewed up38,
About a prophecy, which says that 'G'39
Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be.
Dive, thoughts, down to my soul: here Clarence comes.--
Enter Clarence, guarded, and Brackenbury
Brother, good day. What means this armed guard
That waits upon43 your grace?
CLARENCE His majesty,
Tend'ring45 my person's safety, hath appointed
This conduct to convey me to th'Tower.46
RICHARD Upon what cause?
CLARENCE Because my name is George.
RICHARD Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours.
He should, for that, commit your godfathers.50
O, belike51 his majesty hath some intent
That you should be new-christened52 in the Tower.
But what's the matter53, Clarence, may I know?
CLARENCE Yea, Richard, when I know, but I protest54
As yet I do not. But, as I can learn.
He hearkens after56 prophecies and dreams,
And from the cross-row57 plucks the letter G,
And says a wizard told him that by 'G'
His issue59 disinherited should be:
And, for60 my name of George begins with G,
It follows in his thought that I am he.
These, as I learn, and such like toys62 as these,
Hath moved his highness to commit me now.
RICHARD Why, this it is when men are ruled by women:
'Tis not the king that sends you to the Tower,
My lady Grey66 his wife, Clarence, 'tis she
That tempts him to this harsh extremity.
Was it not she and that good man of worship68,
Anthony Woodville69, her brother there,
That made him send Lord Hastings to the Tower,
From whence this present day he is delivered?71
We are not safe, Clarence, we are not safe.
CLARENCE By heaven, I think there is no man secure
But the queen's kindred and night-walking heralds74
That trudge betwixt the king and Mistress Shore.75
Heard you not what an humble suppliant76
Lord Hastings was to her, for his delivery?77
RICHARD Humbly complaining to her deity78
Got my Lord Chamberlain79 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.82
The jealous o'erworn widow83 and herself,
Since that our brother dubbed them84 gentlewomen,
Are mighty gossips85 in our monarchy.
BRACKENBURY I beseech your graces both to pardon me:
His majesty hath straitly given in charge87
That no man shall have private conference,
Of what degree soever89, with your brother.
RICHARD Even so, an90 please your worship, Brackenbury,
You may partake of anything we say.
We speak no treason, man: we say the king
Is wise and virtuous, and his noble queen
Well struck in years, fair94 and not jealous.
We say that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot,
A cherry lip, a bonny eye, a passing96 pleasing tongue,
And that the queen's kindred are made gentlefolks.
How say you sir? Can you deny all this?
BRACKENBURY With this, my lord, myself have nought to do.
RICHARD Naught to do with Mistress Shore? I tell thee, fellow,
He that doth naught101 with her, excepting one,
Were best to do it secretly, alone.
BRACKENBURY What one, my lord?
RICHARD Her husband, knave. Wouldst thou betray me?104
BRACKENBURY I do beseech your grace to pardon me, and withal105
Forbear106 your conference with the noble duke.
CLARENCE We know thy charge107, Brackenbury, and will obey.
RICHARD We are the queen's abjects108, and must obey.--
Brother, farewell. I will unto the king,
And whatsoe'er you will employ me in,
Were it to call King Edward's widow sister,
I will perform it to enfranchise112 you.
Meantime, this deep disgrace in brotherhood
Touches114 me deeper than you can imagine.
Embraces him
CLARENCE I know it pleaseth neither of us well.
RICHARD Well, your imprisonment shall not be long.
I will deliver you or else lie for you.117
Meantime, have patience.
CLARENCE I must perforce.119 Farewell.
Exit Clarence [led by Brackenbury and Guards]
RICHARD 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,
If heaven will take the present123 at our hands.
But who comes here? The new-delivered124 Hastings?
Enter Lord Hastings
HASTINGS Good time of day unto my gracious lord.
RICHARD As much unto my good Lord Chamberlain.
Well are you welcome to this open air.
How hath your lordship brooked128 imprisonment?
HASTINGS With patience, noble lord, as prisoners must.
But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks130
That were the cause of my imprisonment.
RICHARD No doubt, no doubt. And so shall Clarence too,
For they that were your enemies are his,
And have prevailed as much on him as you.
HASTINGS More pity that the eagles should be mewed135,
Whiles kites and buzzards136 play at liberty.
RICHARD What news abroad?137
HASTINGS No news so bad abroad as this at home:
The king is sickly, weak and melancholy,
And his physicians fear him140 mightily.
RICHARD Now, by Saint John, that news is bad indeed.
O, he hath kept an evil diet142 long,
And overmuch consumed his royal person.
'Tis very grievous to be thought upon.
Where is he, in his bed?
HASTINGS He is.
RICHARD Go you before, and I will follow you.
Exit Hastings
He cannot live, I hope, and must not die
Till George be packed with post-horse149 up to heaven.
I'll in to urge his hatred more to Clarence,
With lies well steeled151 with weighty arguments.
And, if I fail not in my deep152 intent,
Clarence hath not another day to live:
Which done, God take King Edward to his mercy,
And leave the world for me to bustle155 in.
For then I'll marry Warwick's youngest daughter.156
What though I killed her husband and her father?157
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 close161 intent,
By marrying her which I must reach unto.162
But yet I run before my horse to market163:
Clarence still breathes, Edward still lives and reigns.
When they are gone, then must I count my gains.
Exit
Act 1 Scene 2
running scene 1 continues
Enter the corpse of Henry the Sixth with [Gentlemen bearing] halberds to guard it, Lady Anne being the mourner
ANNE Set down, set down your honourable load --
If honour may be shrouded in a hearse2 --
Whilst I awhile obsequiously3 lament
Th'untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster.4
They set down the coffin
Poor key-cold5 figure of a holy king,
Pale ashes6 of the house of Lancaster,
Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood,
Be it lawful that I invocate8 thy ghost,
To hear the lamentations of poor Anne,
Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughtered son,
Stabbed by the selfsame hand that made these wounds.
Lo, in these windows12 that let forth thy life,
I pour the helpless balm13 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 betide17 that hated wretch
That makes us wretched by the death of thee
Than I can wish to wolves, to spiders, toads19,
Or any creeping venomed thing that lives.
If ever he have child, abortive21 be it,
Prodigious22, and untimely brought to light,
Whose ugly and unnatural aspect23
May fright the hopeful mother at the view,
And that be heir to his unhappiness.25
If ever he have wife, let her be made
More miserable by the death of him
Than I am made by my young lord and thee.--
Come, now towards Chertsey29 with your holy load,
Taken from Paul's30 to be interred there.
They lift the coffin
And still as31 you are weary of this weight,
Rest you, whiles I lament King Henry's corpse.
Enter Richard, Duke of Gloucester
RICHARD Stay, you that bear the corpse, and set it down.
ANNE What black magician conjures up this fiend,
To stop devoted35 charitable deeds?
RICHARD Villains, set down the corpse, or, by Saint Paul,
I'll make a corpse of him that disobeys.
GENTLEMAN My lord, stand back, and let the coffin pass.
RICHARD Unmannered dog, stand'st thou when I command.
Advance40 thy halberd higher than my breast,
Or, by Saint Paul, I'll strike thee to my foot,
And spurn upon42 thee, beggar, for thy boldness.
They set down the coffin
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.--
Avaunt46, thou dreadful minister of hell!
Thou hadst but power over his mortal body,
His soul thou canst not have: therefore be gone.
RICHARD Sweet saint, for charity, be not so curst.49
ANNE Foul devil, for God's sake, hence50, and trouble us not,
For thou hast made the happy earth thy hell,
Filled it with cursing cries and deep exclaims.52
If thou delight to view thy heinous deeds,
Behold this pattern54 of thy butcheries.--
Uncovers the body
O, gentlemen, see, see dead Henry's wounds
Open their congealed mouths and bleed afresh.--
Blush, blush, thou lump of foul deformity,
For' tis thy presence that exhales58 this blood
From cold and empty veins, where no blood dwells.
Thy deeds, inhuman and unnatural,
Provokes this deluge most unnatural.--
O God, which this blood mad'st, revenge his death!
O earth, which this blood drink'st, revenge his death!
Either heav'n with lightning strike the murd'rer dead,
Or earth gape open wide and eat him quick,
As thou dost swallow up this good king's blood
Which his hell-governed arm hath butchered!
RICHARD Lady, you know no rules of charity,
Which renders good for bad, blessings for curses.
ANNE Villain, thou know'st nor law of God nor man:
No beast so71 fierce but knows some touch of pity.
RICHARD But I know none, and therefore am no beast.
ANNE O, wonderful, when devils tell the truth!73
RICHARD More wonderful, when angels are so angry.
Vouchsafe75, divine perfection of a woman,
Of these supposed crimes to give me leave76,
By circumstance77 but to acquit myself.
ANNE Vouchsafe, defused78 infection of man,
Of these known evils, but to give me leave,
By circumstance to curse thy cursed self.
RICHARD Fairer than tongue can name thee, let me have
Some patient leisure82 to excuse myself.
ANNE Fouler than heart can think thee, thou canst make
No excuse current84, but to hang thyself,
RICHARD By such despair85, I should accuse myself.
ANNE And by despairing shalt thou stand excused
For doing worthy vengeance on thyself87,
That
didst unworthy88 slaughter upon others.
RICHARD Say that I slew them not.
ANNE Then say they were not slain.
But dead they are, and devilish slave91, by thee.
RICHARD I did not kill your husband.
ANNE Why, then he is alive.
RICHARD Nay, he is dead, and slain by Edward's hands.
ANNE In thy foul throat thou liest95: Queen Margaret saw
Thy murd'rous falchion96 smoking in his blood,
The which thou once97 didst bend against her breast,
But that thy brothers beat aside the point.
RICHARD I was provoked by her sland'rous tongue,
That laid their guilt upon my guiltless shoulders.
ANNE Thou wast provoked by thy bloody mind,
That never dream'st on aught102 but butcheries.
Didst thou not kill this king?
RICHARD I grant ye.
ANNE Dost grant me, hedgehog?105 Then, God grant me too
Thou mayst be damned for that wicked deed.
O, he was gentle, mild and virtuous!
RICHARD The better for the king of heaven that hath him.
ANNE He is in heaven, where thou shalt never come,
RICHARD Let him thank me, that holp110 to send him thither,
For he was fitter for that place than earth.
ANNE And thou unfit for any place but hell.
RICHARD Yes, one place else, if you will hear me name it.
ANNE Some dungeon.
RICHARD Your bedchamber.115
ANNE Ill rest betide the chamber where thou liest.
RICHARD So will it, madam, till I lie with you.
ANNE I hope so.118
RICHARD I know so, But, gentle Lady Anne,
To leave this keen encounter of our wits120,
And fall something into a slower method:
Is not the causer of the timeless122 deaths
Of these Plantagenets, Henry and Edward,
As blameful as the executioner?
ANNE Thou wast the cause and most accursed effect.
RICHARD Your beauty was the cause of that effect.125
Your beauty, that did haunt me in my sleep
To undertake the death of all the world,
So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom.
ANNE If I thought that, I tell thee, homicide130,
These nails should rend that beauty from my cheeks.
RICHARD These eyes could never endure that beauty's wreck.
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.
ANNE Black night o'ershade thy day, and death thy life.
RICHARD Curse not thyself, fair creature: thou art both.137
ANNE I would138 I were, to be revenged on thee.
RICHARD It is a quarrel most unnatural
To be revenged on him that loveth thee.
ANNE It is a quarrel just and reasonable
To be revenged on him that killed my husband.
RICHARD He that bereft thee, lady, of thy husband,
Did it to help thee to a better husband.
ANNE His better doth not breathe upon the earth.
RICHARD He lives146 that loves thee better than he could.
ANNE Name him.
RICHARD Plantagenet.148
ANNE Why, that was he.
RICHARD The selfsame name, but one of better nature.