And, if the rest be true which I have heard, Thou cam'st Glo. I'll hear no more :-Die, prophet, in thy speech: For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain'd. [Stabs him. K. Hen. Ay, and for much more slaughter after this. Glo. What, will the aspiring blood of Lancaster From those that wish the downfall of our house !— For I have neither pity, love, nor fear.- And so I was; which plainly signified [Dies. [Stabs him again. That I should snarl, and bite, and play the dog. I have no brother, I am like no brother; And this word "love," which greybeards call divine, And not in me: I am myself alone. Clarence, beware; thou keep'st me from the light: That Edward shall be fearful of his life; And triumph, Henry, in thy day of doom. [Exit with the body. SCENE VII.-London. A Room in the Palace. KING EDWARD is discovered sitting on his throne; QUEEN ELIZABETH with the infant Prince, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, HASTINGS, and others, near him. K. Edw. Once more we sit in England's royal throne, Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy.- That thou might'st repossess the crown in peace : Glo. [Aside.] I'll blast his harvest, if your head were laid; For yet I am not look'd on in the world. This shoulder was ordain'd so thick, to heave; And heave it shall some weight, or break my back: Work thou the way, and that shall execute. K. Edw. Clarence, and Gloster, love my lovely queen; And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both. Clar. The duty, that I owe unto your majesty, I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe. K. Edw. Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother, thanks. Glo. And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st, Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit. [Aside.] To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his master, Clar. What will your grace have done with Margaret? Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem, And hither have they sent it for her ransom. K. Edw. Away with her, and waft her hence to France.— Sound drums and trumpets!-farewell, sour annoy! [Exeunt. LIFE AND DEATH OF KING RICHARD III. UNDER the title of "The Life and Death of King Richard III.," Shakspeare has given the leading incidents in the last fourteen years of the life of Richard, Duke of Gloster, in almost continuous succession, from the close of the Third Part of Henry VI. In the fuller and more perfect development of Richard's character in this dramatic chronicle, the poet rises to his greatest powers of original sustained conception. The Richard of Shakspeare is incorporated in our minds, as a real picture of the man, notwithstanding the sceptical doubts, thrown by later historians and commentators, as to the faithfulness of the poet's delineation. From this vivid individualism of character may be ascribed the great popularity of this Play, during a period of two hundred and fifty years. It has been, and still is, the most in favor, in the representation, of all his series of Historical Dramas; and that success is not, alone, attributable to the version prepared by Colley Cibber, in the early part of the last century, which still is used in representation; but previous to the adoption of that compiled alteration of Richard III., the Play, as originally given by Shakspeare, held possession of the stage, when most of the poet's other dramas had sunk into disuse. PERSONS REPRESENTED. KING EDWARD THE FOURTH. EDWARD, Prince of Wales; afterwards KING EDWARD V., RICHARD, Duke of York, GEORGE, Duke of Clarence, RICHARD, Duke of Gloster; afterwards KING RICHARD III., A young Son of CLARENCE. Sons to the KING. Brothers to the KING. HENRY, Earl of Richmond; afterwards KING HENRY VII. THOMAS ROTHERHAM, Archbishop of York. JOHN MORTON, Bishop of Ely. DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM. DUKE OF NORFOLK. EARL OF SURREY, his Son. EARL RIVERS, Brother to KING EDWARD'S Queen: MARQUESS OF DORSET, and LORD GREY, her Sons. EARL OF OXFORD. LORD HASTINGS. LORD STANLEY. LORD LOVEL. Sir THOMAS VAUGHAN. Sir RICHARD RATCLIFF. Sir WILLIAM CATESBY. Sir JAMES TYRREL. Sir JAMES BLOUNT. Sir WALTER HERBERT. Sir ROBERT BRAKENBURY, Lieutenant of the Tower. MARGARET, Widow of KING HENRY VI. DUCHESS OF YORK, Mother to KING EDWARD IV., CLARENCE, and GLOSTER. LADY ANNE, Widow of EDWARD, Prince of Wales, Son to KING HENRY VI.; afterwards married to the DUKE OF GLOSTER. LADY MARGARET PLANTAGENET, a young Daughter of CLARENCE. Lords, and other Attendants; two Gentlemen, a Pursuivant, Scrivener, Citizens, Murderers, Messengers, Ghosts, Soldiers, &c. SCENE, ENGLAND. ACT I. SCENE I.-London. A Street. Enter GLOSTER. Glo. Now is the winter of our discontent Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths; To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. But I,—that am not shap'd for sportive tricks, I, that am rudely stamp'd, and want love's majesty, That dogs bark at me, as I halt by them ;- And hate the idle pleasures of these days. Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be. Dive, thoughts, down to my soul: here Clarence comes. Brother, good day: what means this armed guard, Clar. His majesty, Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed Glo. Upon what cause? Because my name is George. O, belike his majesty hath some intent As yet I do not: but, as I can learn, He hearkens after prophecies and dreams; And, for my name of George begins with G, These, as I learn, and such like toys as these, Glo. Why, this it is, when men are rul'd by women: 'Tis not the king that sends you to the Tower; My Lady Grey, his wife, Clarence, 'tis she That tempers him to this extremity. We are not safe, Clarence; we are not safe. |