ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THE NOTES. Abbott (or Gr.), Abbott's Shakespearian Grammar (third edition). A. S., Anglo-Saxon. A. V., Authorized Version of the Bible (1611). B. and F., Beaumont and Fletcher. B. J., Ben Jonson. Camb. ed., "Cambridge edition" of Shakespeare, edited by Clark and Wright. Cf. (confer), compare. Clarke, "Cassell's Illustrated Shakespeare," edited by Charles and Mary Cowden Clarke (London, n. d.). Coll., Collier (second edition). Coll. MS., Manuscript Corrections of Second Folio, edited by Collier. D., Dyce (second edition). H., Hudson (first edition). Halliwell, J. O. Halliwell (folio ed. of Shakespeare). Id. (idem), the same. J. H., J. Hunter's ed. of Richard III. (London, 1874). K., Knight (second edition). Lawson, W. Lawson's ed. of Richard III. (London and Glasgow, 1877). Nares, Glossary, edited by Halliwell and Wright (London, 1859). Prol., Prologue. S., Shakespeare. Schmidt, A. Schmidt's Shakespeare-Lexicon (Berlin, 1874). Sr., Singer. St., Staunton. Theo., Theoba'd V., Verplanck. W., R. Grant White. Walker, Wm. Sidney Walker's Critical Examination of the Text of Shakespeare (London, 1860). Warb., Warburton. Wb., Webster's Dictionary (revised quarto edition of 1879). Worc., Worcester's Dictionary (quarto edition). The abbreviations of the names of Shakespeare's Plays will be readily understood; as T. N. for Twelfth Night, Cor. for Coriolanus, 3 Hen. VI. for The Third Part of King Henry the Sixth, etc. P. P. refers to The Passionate Pilgrim; V. and A. to Venus and Adonis; L. C. to Lover's Complaint; and Sonn. to the Sonnets. When the abbreviation of the name of a play is followed by a reference to page, Rolfe's edition of the play is meant. The numbers of the lines (except for Richard III.) are those of the "Globe" ed. or of the "Acme" reprint of that ed. THE following extracts from More, Hall, and Holinshed (the spelling being modernized) comprise all the passages of any importance illustrative of the play; Richard, the third son, of whom we now entreat, was in wit and courage equal with either of them, in body and prowess far under them both, little of stature, ill-featured of limbs, crooked-backed, his left shoulder much higher than his right, hard favoured of visage, and such as is in states called warlike,* in other men otherwise. He was malicious, wrathful, envious; and from before his birth ever froward. It is for truth reported that the Duchess, his mother, had so much ado in her travail that she could not be delivered of him uncut; and that he came into the world with the feet forward as men be borne outward, and (as the fame runneth) also not untoothed: whether men of hatred report above the truth, or else that nature changed her course in his beginnings which in the course of his life many things unnaturally committed. So that the full confluence of these qualities, with the defects of favour and amiable proportion, gave proof to this rule of physiognomy— "Distortum vultum sequitur distortio morum.” None evil captain was he in the war, as to which his disposition was more meetly than for peace. Sundry victories had he, and sometime overthrows, but never on default, as for his own person, either of hardiness or politic order. Free was he called of dispense, and somewhat above his power liberal; with large gifts he got him unsteadfast friendship, for which he was fain to pill and spoil in other places, and got him steadfast hatred. He was close and secret, a deep dissimuler, lowly of countenance, arrogant of heart, outwardly companiable where he inwardly hated, not letting to kiss whom he thought to kill, dispitious and cruel, not for evil will alway, but ofter for ambition, and either for the surety or increase of his estate. Friend and foe was much-what ‡ indifferent, where his advantage grew; he spared no man's death whose life withstood his purpose. He slew with his own hands King Henry VI., being prisoner in the Tower as men constantly said, and that without commandment or knowledge of the king, which would undoubtedly, if he had intended that thing, have appointed that butcherly office to some other than his own born brother. Some wise men also ween that his drift, covertly conveyed, lacked not in helping forth his brother of Clarence to his death, which he resisted openly, howbeit somewhat (as men deemed) more faintly than he that were heartily minded to his wealth.§ And they that thus deem, think that he long time in King Edward's life forethought to be king, in case that the king his brother (whose life he looked that evil diet should shorten) should happen to decease (as indeed he did) while his children were young. And they deem that for this intent he was glad of his brother's death, the *The word in More is "warlye;" but Hall gives the passage thus: "Such as in estates is called a warlyke visage, and emong common persons a crabbed face."-Ed. † Forbearing, hesitating. Cf. R. of L. 10: "When Collatine unwisely did not let To praise the clear unmatched red and white," etc. For the transitive use (=hinder), see Ham. p. 195.-Ed. Very much; a compound like somewhat. Most-what is another obsolete one. -Ed. § Weal, welfare. See M. of V. p. 165, and cf. commonwealth the common weal, etc. Ed |