William Shakespeare - The Complete Works

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KING RICHARD THE THIRD Background In narrative sequence, Richard III follows directly after Richard Duke of York, and that play's closing scenes, in which Richard of Gloucester expresses his ambitions for the crown, suggest that Shakespeare had a sequel in mind. But he seems to have gone back to tell the beginning of the story of Henry VI's reign before covering the events from Henry VI's death (in 1471) to the Battle of Bosworth (1485). We have no record of the first performance of Richard III (probably in late 1592 or early 1593, outside London); it was printed in 1597, with five reprints before its inclusion in the 1623 Folio. The principal source of information about Richard III available to Shakespeare was Sir Thomas More's History of King Richard III as incorporated in chronicle histories by Edward Hall (1542) and Raphael Holinshed (1577, revised in 1587), both of which Shakespeare seems to have used. His artistic influences include the tragedies of the Roman dramatist Seneca (who was born about 4 bcand died in ad65), with their ghosts, their rhetorical style, their prominent choruses, and their indirect, highly formal presentation of violent events. (Except for the stabbing of Clarence (1.4) there is no on-stage violence in Richard III until the final battle scenes.) In this play, Shakespeare demonstrates a more complete artistic control of his historical material than in its predecessors: Richard himself is a more dominating central figure than is to be found in any of the earlier plays, historical events are freely manipulated in the interests of an overriding design, and the play's language is more highly patterned and rhetorically unified. That part of the play which shows Richard's bloody progress to the throne is based on the events of some twelve years; the remainder covers the two years of his reign. Shakespeare omits some important events, but invents Richard's wooing of Lady Anne over her father-in-law's coffin, and causes Queen Margaret, who had returned to France in 1476 and who died before Richard became king, to remain in England as a choric figure of grief and retribution. The characterization of Richard as a self-delighting ironist builds upon More. The episodes in which the older women of the play--the Duchess of York, Queen Elizabeth, and Queen Margaret--bemoan their losses, and the climactic procession of ghosts before the final confrontation of Richard with the idealized figure of Richmond, the future Henry VII, help to make Richard III the culmination of a tetralogy as well as a masterly poetic drama in its own right. The final speech, in which Richmond, heir to the house of Lancaster and grandfather of Queen Elizabeth I, proclaims the union of `the white rose and the red=' in his marriage to Elizabeth of York, provides a patriotic climax which must have been immensely stirring to the play's early audiences. Colley Cibber's adaptation (1700) of Richard III, incorporating the death of Henry VI, shortening and adapting the play, and making the central role (played by Cibber) even more dominant than it had originally been, held the stage with great success until the late nineteenth century. Since then, Shakespeare's text has been restored (though usually abbreviated - next to Hamlet, this is Shakespeare's longest play), and the role of Richard has continued to present a rewarding challenge to leading actors. THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY KING EDWARD IV DUCHESS OF YORK, his mother PRINCE EDWARD } Richard, the young Duke of YORK }his sons George, Duke of CLARENCE } RICHARD, Duke of GLOUCESTER, later KING RICHARD }his brothers Clarence's SON Clarence's DAUGHTER QUEEN ELIZABETH, King Edward's wife Anthony Woodville, Earl RIVERS, her brother Marquis of DORSET } Lord GRAY }her sons Sir Thomas VAUGHAN GHOST OF KING HENRY the Sixth QUEEN MARGARET, his widow GHOST OF PRINCE EDWARD, his son LADY ANNE, Prince Edward's widow William, LORD HASTINGS, Lord Chamberlain Lord STANLEY, Earl of Derby, his friend HENRY EARL OF RICHMOND, later KING HENRY VII, Stanley's son-in-law Earl of OXFORD } Sir James BLUNT }Richmond's followers Sir Walter HERBERT } Duke of BUCKINGHAM } Duke of NORFOLK } Sir Richard RATCLIFFE } Sir William CATESBY }Richard Gloucester's followers Sir James TYRREL } Two MURDERERS } A PAGE } CARDINAL Bishop of ELY John, a PRIEST CHRISTOPHER, a Priest Sir Robert BRACKENBURY, Lieutenant of the Tower of London Lord MAYORof London A SCRIVENER Hastings, a PURSUIVANT SHERIFF Aldermen and Citizens Attendants, two bishops, messengers, soldiers Act 1 Scene 1 (Enter Richard Duke of Gloucester) l1l Richard Gloucester Now is the winter of our discontent l2l Made glorious summer by this son of York; l3l And all the clouds that loured upon our house l4l In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. l5l Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, l6l Our bruisΦd arms hung up for monuments, l7l Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, l8l Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. l9l Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front, l10l And nowùinstead of mounting barbΦd steeds l11l To fright the souls of fearful adversariesù l12l He capers nimbly in a ladyÆs chamber l13l To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. l14l But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks l15l Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass, l16l I that am rudely stamped and want loveÆs majesty l17l To strut before a wanton ambling nymph, l18l I that am curtailed of this fair proportion, l19l Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, l20l Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time l21l Into this breathing world scarce half made upù l22l And that so lamely and unfashionable l23l That dogs bark at me as I halt by themù l24l Why, I in this weak piping time of peace l25l Have no delight to pass away the time, l26l Unless to spy my shadow in the sun l27l And descant on mine own deformity. l28l And therefore since I cannot prove a lover l29l To entertain these fair well-spoken days, l30l I am determinΦd to prove a villain l31l And hate the idle pleasures of these days. l32l Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous, l33l By drunken prophecies, libels and dreams l34l To set my brother Clarence and the King l35l In deadly hate the one against the other. l36l And if King Edward be as true and just l37l As I am subtle false and treacherous, l38l This day should Clarence closely be mewed up l39l About a prophecy which says that ôGö l40l Of EdwardÆs heirs the murderer shall be. (Enter George Duke of Clarence, guarded, and Sir Robert Brackenbury) l41l Dive, thoughts, down to my soul: here Clarence comes. l42l Brother, good day. What means this armΦd guard l43l That waits upon your grace? Clarence His majesty, l44l TendÆring my personÆs safety, hath appointed l45l This conduct to convey me to the Tower. l46l Richard Gloucester Upon what cause? Clarence Because my name is George. l47l Richard Gloucester Alack, my lord, that fault is none of yours. l48l He should for that commit your godfathers. l49l Belike his majesty hath some intent l50l That you should be new-christened in the Tower. l51l But whatÆs the matter, Clarence? May I know? l52l Clarence Yea, Richard, when I knowùfor I protest l53l As yet I do not. But as I can learn l54l He hearkens after prophecies and dreams, l55l And from the cross-row plucks the letter ôGö l56l And says a wizard told him that by ôGö l57l His issue disinherited should be. l58l And for my name of George begins with ôGö, l59l It follows in his thought that I am he. l60l These, as I learn, and suchlike toys as these, l61l Hath moved his highness to commit me now. l62l Richard Gloucester Why, this it is when men are ruled by women. l63l ÆTis not the King that sends you to the Tower; l64l My Lady Gray, his wifeùClarence, Ætis she l65l That tempts him to this harsh extremity. l66l Was it not she, and that good man of worship l67l Anthony Woodeville her brother there, l68l That made him send Lord Hastings to the Tower, l69l From whence this present day he is delivered? l70l We are not safe, Clarence; we are not safe. l71l Clarence By heaven, I think there is no man secure l72l But the QueenÆs kindred, and night-walking heralds l73l That trudge betwixt the King and Mrs Shore. l74l Heard ye not what an humble suppliant l75l Lord Hastings was for his delivery? l76l Richard Gloucester Humbly complaining to her deity l77l Got my Lord Chamberlain his liberty. l78l IÆll tell you what: I think it is our way, l79l If we will keep in favour with the King, l80l To be her men and wear her livery. l81l The jealous, oÆerworn widow and herself, l82l Since that our brother dubbed them gentlewomen, l83l Are mighty gossips in our monarchy. l84l Brackenbury I beseech your graces both to pardon me. l85l His majesty hath straitly given in charge l86l That no man shall have private conference, l87l Of what degree soever, with your brother. l88l Richard Gloucester Even so. An Æt please your worship, Brackenbury, l89l You may partake of anything we say. l90l We speak no treason, man. We say the King l91l Is wise and virtuous, and his noble Queen l92l Well struck in years, fair, and not jealous. l93l We say that ShoreÆs wife hath a pretty foot, l94l A cherry lip, l95l A bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue, l96l And that the QueenÆs kin are made gentlefolks. l97l How say you, sir? Can you deny all this? l98l Brackenbury With this, my lord, myself have naught to do. l99l Richard Gloucester Naught to do with Mrs Shore? I tell thee, fellow: l100l He that doth naught with herùexcepting oneù l101l Were best to do it secretly alone. l102l Brackenbury What one, my lord? l103l Richard Gloucester Her husband, knave. Wouldst thou betray me? l104l Brackenbury I beseech your grace to pardon me, and do withal l105l Forbear your conference with the noble Duke. l106l Clarence We know thy charge, Brackenbury, and will obey. l107l Richard Gloucester We are the QueenÆs abjects, and must obey. l108l Brother, farewell. I will unto the King, l109l And whatsoeÆer you will employ me inù l110l Were it to call King EdwardÆs widow ôsisteröù l111l I will perform it to enfranchise you. l112l Meantime, this deep disgrace in brotherhood l113l Touches me dearer than you can imagine. l114l Clarence I know it pleaseth neither of us well. l115l Richard Gloucester Well, your imprisonment shall not be long. l116l I will deliver you or lie for you. l117l Meantime, have patience. Clarence I must perforce. Farewell. (Exeunt Clarence, Brackenbury, and guard, to the Tower) l118l Richard Gloucester Go tread the path that thou shalt neÆer return. l119l Simple plain Clarence, I do love thee so l120l That I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, l121l If heaven will take the present at our hands. l122l But who comes here? The new-delivered Hastings? (Enter Lord Hastings from the Tower) l123l Lord Hastings Good time of day unto my gracious lord. l124l Richard Gloucester As much unto my good Lord Chamberlain. l125l Well are you welcome to the open air. l126l How hath your lordship brooked imprisonment? l127l Lord Hastings With patience, noble lord, as prisoners must. l128l But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks l129l That were the cause of my imprisonment. l130l Richard Gloucester No doubt, no doubtùand so shall Clarence too, l131l For they that were your enemies are his, l132l And have prevailed as much on him as you. l133l Lord Hastings More pity that the eagles should be mewed l134l While kites and buzzards prey at liberty. l135l Richard Gloucester What news abroad? l136l Lord Hastings No news so bad abroad as this at home: l137l The King is sickly, weak, and melancholy, l138l And his physicians fear him mightily. l139l Richard Gloucester Now by Saint Paul, that news is bad indeed. l140l O he hath kept an evil diet long, l141l And overmuch consumed his royal person. l142l ÆTis very grievous to be thought upon. l143l Where is he? In his bed? Lord Hastings He is. l144l Richard Gloucester Go you before and I will follow you. (Exit Hastings) l145l He cannot live, I hope, and must not die l146l Till George be packed with post-haste up to heaven. l147l IÆll in to urge his hatred more to Clarence, l148l With lies well steeled with weighty arguments. l149l And if I fail not in my deep intent, l150l Clarence hath not another day to liveù l151l Which done, God take King Edward to his mercy l152l And leave the world for me to bustle in. l153l For then IÆll marry WarwickÆs youngest daughter. l154l What though I killed her husband and her father? l155l The readiest way to make the wench amends l156l Is to become her husband and her father, l157l The which will I: not all so much for love, l158l As for another secret close intent, l159l By marrying her, which I must reach unto. l160l But yet I run before my horse to market. l161l Clarence still breathes, Edward still lives and reigns; l162l When they are gone, then must I count my gains. (Exit)