First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
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| Enter the Queene, Anne Duchesse of Gloucester, the | Enter Queen Elizabeth, the Duchess of York, and | | R3 IV.i.1.1 | |
| Duchesse of Yorke, and Marquesse Dorset. | Marquess of Dorset at one door; Anne, Duchess of | | R3 IV.i.1.2 | |
| Gloucester, and Lady Margaret Plantagenet, Clarence's | | R3 IV.i.1.3 | |
| young daughter, at another door | | R3 IV.i.1.4 | |
| Duch.Yorke. | DUCHESS OF YORK | | | |
| Who meetes vs heere? / My Neece Plantagenet, | Who meets us here? My niece Plantagenet, | | R3 IV.i.1 | |
| Led in the hand of her kind Aunt of Gloster? | Led in the hand of her kind aunt of Gloucester? | | R3 IV.i.2 | |
| Now, for my Life, shee's wandring to the Tower, | Now, for my life, she's wandering to the Tower | | R3 IV.i.3 | |
| On pure hearts loue, to greet the tender Prince. | On pure heart's love, to greet the tender Prince. | tender (adj.) young | R3 IV.i.4 | |
| Daughter, well met. | Daughter, well met. | | R3 IV.i.5.1 | |
| Anne. | ANNE | | | |
| God giue your Graces both, | God give your graces both | | R3 IV.i.5.2 | |
| a happie / And a ioyfull time of day. | A happy and a joyful time of day! | | R3 IV.i.6 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ELIZABETH | | | |
| As much to you, good Sister: whither away? | As much to you, good sister. Whither away? | | R3 IV.i.7 | |
| Anne. | ANNE | | | |
| No farther then the Tower, and as I guesse, | No farther than the Tower, and, as I guess, | | R3 IV.i.8 | |
| Vpon the like deuotion as your selues, | Upon the like devotion as yourselves, | like (adj.)same, similar, alike, equal | R3 IV.i.9 | |
| | devotion (n.)purpose, object, intent | | |
| To gratulate the gentle Princes there. | To gratulate the gentle princes there. | gratulate (v.)greet, welcome, salute | R3 IV.i.10 | |
| | gentle (adj.)soft, tender, kind | | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ELIZABETH | | | |
| Kind Sister thankes, wee'le enter all together: | Kind sister, thanks. We'll enter all together. | | R3 IV.i.11 | |
| Enter the Lieutenant. | Enter Brakenbury, the Lieutenant | | R3 IV.i.12 | |
| And in good time, here the Lieutenant comes. | And in good time, here the Lieutenant comes. | | R3 IV.i.12 | |
| Master Lieutenant, pray you, by your leaue, | Master Lieutenant, pray you, by your leave, | | R3 IV.i.13 | |
| How doth the Prince, and my young Sonne of Yorke? | How doth the Prince, and my young son of York? | | R3 IV.i.14 | |
| Lieu. | BRAKENBURY | | | |
| Right well, deare Madame: by your patience, | Right well, dear madam. By your patience, | patience (n.)leave, permission, indulgence | R3 IV.i.15 | |
| I may not suffer you to visit them, | I may not suffer you to visit them; | suffer (v.)allow, permit, let | R3 IV.i.16 | |
| The King hath strictly charg'd the contrary. | The King hath strictly charged the contrary. | | R3 IV.i.17 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ELIZABETH | | | |
| The King? who's that? | The King! Who's that? | | R3 IV.i.18.1 | |
| Lieu. | BRAKENBURY | | | |
| I meane, the Lord Protector. | I mean the Lord Protector. | | R3 IV.i.18.2 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ELIZABETH | | | |
| The Lord protect him from that Kingly Title. | The Lord protect him from that kingly title! | | R3 IV.i.19 | |
| Hath he set bounds betweene their loue, and me? | Hath he set bounds between their love and me? | bound (n.)limit, boundary, confine, barrier | R3 IV.i.20 | |
| I am their Mother, who shall barre me from them? | I am their mother; who shall bar me from them? | | R3 IV.i.21 | |
| Duch.Yorke. | DUCHESS OF YORK | | | |
| I am their Fathers Mother, I will see them. | I am their father's mother; I will see them. | | R3 IV.i.22 | |
| Anne. | ANNE | | | |
| Their Aunt I am in law, in loue their Mother: | Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother; | | R3 IV.i.23 | |
| Then bring me to their sights, Ile beare thy blame, | Then bring me to their sights. I'll bear thy blame | | R3 IV.i.24 | |
| And take thy Office from thee, on my perill. | And take thy office from thee on my peril. | office (n.)task, service, duty, responsibility | R3 IV.i.25 | |
| Lieu. | BRAKENBURY | | | |
| No, Madame, no; I may not leaue it so: | No, madam, no! I may not leave it so: | | R3 IV.i.26 | |
| I am bound by Oath, and therefore pardon me. | I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me. | | R3 IV.i.27 | |
| Exit Lieutenant. | Exit Brakenbury | | R3 IV.i.27 | |
| Enter Stanley. | Enter the Earl of Derby | | R3 IV.i.28 | |
| Stanley. | DERBY | | | |
| Let me but meet you Ladies one howre hence, | Let me but meet you, ladies, one hour hence, | | R3 IV.i.28 | |
| And Ile salute your Grace of Yorke as Mother, | And I'll salute your grace of York as mother | | R3 IV.i.29 | |
| And reuerend looker on of two faire Queenes. | And reverend looker-on of two fair queens. | | R3 IV.i.30 | |
| (To Anne) | | R3 IV.i.31.1 | |
| Come Madame, you must straight to Westminster, | Come, madam, you must straight to Westminster, | straight (adv.)straightaway, immediately, at once | R3 IV.i.31 | |
| There to be crowned Richards Royall Queene. | There to be crowned Richard's royal Queen. | | R3 IV.i.32 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ELIZABETH | | | |
| Ah, cut my Lace asunder, | Ah, cut my lace asunder, | lace (n.)lacing of stays, bodice-string | R3 IV.i.33 | |
| That my pent heart may haue some scope to beat, | That my pent heart may have some scope to beat, | pent (adj.)imprisoned, closely confined | R3 IV.i.34 | |
| Or else I swoone with this dead-killing newes. | Or else I swoon with this dead-killing news! | dead-killing (adj.)mortal, deadly, fatal | R3 IV.i.35 | |
| | swoon (v.)faint | | |
| Anne. | ANNE | | | |
| Despightfull tidings, O vnpleasing newes. | Despiteful tidings! O unpleasing news! | despiteful (adj.)cruel, spiteful, malicious | R3 IV.i.36 | |
| Dors. | DORSET | | | |
| Be of good cheare: Mother, how fares your Grace? | Be of good cheer. Mother, how fares your grace? | fare (v.)get on, manage, do, cope | R3 IV.i.37 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ELIZABETH | | | |
| O Dorset, speake not to me, get thee gone, | O Dorset, speak not to me, get thee gone! | | R3 IV.i.38 | |
| Death and Destruction dogges thee at thy heeles, | Death and destruction dog thee at thy heels; | | R3 IV.i.39 | |
| Thy Mothers Name is ominous to Children. | Thy mother's name is ominous to children. | | R3 IV.i.40 | |
| If thou wilt out-strip Death, goe crosse the Seas, | If thou wilt outstrip death, go cross the seas, | | R3 IV.i.41 | |
| And liue with Richmond, from the reach of Hell. | And live with Richmond, from the reach of hell. | | R3 IV.i.42 | |
| Goe hye thee, hye thee from this slaughter-house, | Go hie thee, hie thee from this slaughter-house, | hie (v.)hasten, hurry, speed | R3 IV.i.43 | |
| Lest thou encrease the number of the dead, | Lest thou increase the number of the dead | | R3 IV.i.44 | |
| And make me dye the thrall of Margarets Curse, | And make me die the thrall of Margaret's curse, | thrall (n.)slave, subject, captive | R3 IV.i.45 | |
| Nor Mother, Wife, nor Englands counted Queene. | Nor mother, wife, nor England's counted Queen. | counted (adj.)recognized, accounted, accepted | R3 IV.i.46 | |
| Stanley. | DERBY | | | |
| Full of wise care, is this your counsaile, Madame: | Full of wise care is this your counsel, madam. | | R3 IV.i.47 | |
| Take all the swift aduantage of the howres: | (To Dorset) Take all the swift advantage of the hours. | | R3 IV.i.48 | |
| You shall haue Letters from me to my Sonne, | You shall have letters from me to my son | | R3 IV.i.49 | |
| In your behalfe, to meet you on the way: | In your behalf, to meet you on the way. | | R3 IV.i.50 | |
| Be not ta'ne tardie by vnwise delay. | Be not ta'en tardy by unwise delay. | tardy, takecatch unawares, take by surprise | R3 IV.i.51 | |
| Duch.Yorke. | DUCHESS OF YORK | | | |
| O ill dispersing Winde of Miserie. | O ill-dispersing wind of misery! | ill-dispersing (adj.)evil-scattering, spreading wickedness | R3 IV.i.52 | |
| O my accursed Wombe, the Bed of Death: | O my accursed womb, the bed of death! | | R3 IV.i.53 | |
| A Cockatrice hast thou hatcht to the World, | A cockatrice hast thou hatched to the world, | cockatrice (n.)murderous serpent, basilisk | R3 IV.i.54 | |
| Whose vnauoided Eye is murtherous. | Whose unavoided eye is murderous. | | R3 IV.i.55 | |
| Stanley. | DERBY | | | |
| Come, Madame, come, I in all haste was sent. | Come, madam, come! I in all haste was sent. | | R3 IV.i.56 | |
| Anne. | ANNE | | | |
| And I with all vnwillingnesse will goe. | And I with all unwillingness will go. | | R3 IV.i.57 | |
| O would to God, that the inclusiue Verge | O, would to God that the inclusive verge | verge (n.)rim, band, encircling edge | R3 IV.i.58 | |
| | inclusive (adj.)enclosing, encircling, encompassing | | |
| Of Golden Mettall, that must round my Brow, | Of golden metal that must round my brow | round (v.)ring, encircle, surround | R3 IV.i.59 | |
| | brow (n.)forehead [often plural, referring to the two prominences of the forehead] | | |
| Were red hot Steele, to seare me to the Braines, | Were red-hot steel, to sear me to the brains! | | R3 IV.i.60 | |
| Anoynted let me be with deadly Venome, | Anointed let me be with deadly venom | | R3 IV.i.61 | |
| And dye ere men can say, God saue the Queene. | And die ere men can say, ‘ God save the Queen!’ | | R3 IV.i.62 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ELIZABETH | | | |
| Goe, goe, poore soule, I enuie not thy glory, | Go, go, poor soul! I envy not thy glory. | | R3 IV.i.63 | |
| To feed my humor, wish thy selfe no harme. | To feed my humour wish thyself no harm. | humour (n.)mood, disposition, frame of mind, temperament [as determined by bodily fluids] | R3 IV.i.64 | |
| Anne. | ANNE | | | |
| No: why? When he that is my Husband now, | No? Why? When he that is my husband now | | R3 IV.i.65 | |
| Came to me, as I follow'd Henries Corse, | Came to me as I followed Henry's corse, | corse (n.)corpse, dead body | R3 IV.i.66 | |
| When scarce the blood was well washt from his hands, | When scarce the blood was well washed from his hands | | R3 IV.i.67 | |
| Which issued from my other Angell Husband, | Which issued from my other angel husband | | R3 IV.i.68 | |
| And that deare Saint, which then I weeping follow'd: | And that dear saint which then I weeping followed – | | R3 IV.i.69 | |
| O, when I say I look'd on Richards Face, | O, when, I say, I looked on Richard's face, | | R3 IV.i.70 | |
| This was my Wish: Be thou (quoth I) accurst, | This was my wish: ‘ Be thou,’ quoth I, ‘ accursed | quoth (v.)said | R3 IV.i.71 | |
| For making me, so young, so old a Widow: | For making me, so young, so old a widow! | | R3 IV.i.72 | |
| And when thou wed'st, let sorrow haunt thy Bed; | And when thou wed'st, let sorrow haunt thy bed; | | R3 IV.i.73 | |
| And be thy Wife, if any be so mad, | And be thy wife, if any be so mad, | | R3 IV.i.74 | |
| More miserable, by the Life of thee, | More miserable by the life of thee | | R3 IV.i.75 | |
| Then thou hast made me, by my deare Lords death. | Than thou hast made me by my dear lord's death!’ | | R3 IV.i.76 | |
| Loe, ere I can repeat this Curse againe, | Lo, ere I can repeat this curse again, | | R3 IV.i.77 | |
| Within so small a time, my Womans heart | Within so small a time, my woman's heart | | R3 IV.i.78 | |
| Grossely grew captiue to his honey words, | Grossly grew captive to his honey words | grossly (adv.)stupidly, senselessly, foolishly | R3 IV.i.79 | |
| And prou'd the subiect of mine owne Soules Curse, | And proved the subject of mine own soul's curse, | | R3 IV.i.80 | |
| Which hitherto hath held mine eyes from rest: | Which hitherto hath held mine eyes from rest; | | R3 IV.i.81 | |
| For neuer yet one howre in his Bed | For never yet one hour in his bed | | R3 IV.i.82 | |
| Did I enioy the golden deaw of sleepe, | Did I enjoy the golden dew of sleep, | | R3 IV.i.83 | |
| But with his timorous Dreames was still awak'd. | But with his timorous dreams was still awaked. | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | R3 IV.i.84 | |
| Besides, he hates me for my Father Warwicke, | Besides, he hates me for my father Warwick, | | R3 IV.i.85 | |
| And will (no doubt) shortly be rid of me. | And will, no doubt, shortly be rid of me. | | R3 IV.i.86 | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ELIZABETH | | | |
| Poore heart adieu, I pittie thy complaining. | Poor heart, adieu! I pity thy complaining. | | R3 IV.i.87 | |
| Anne. | ANNE | | | |
| No more, then with my soule I mourne for yours. | No more than with my soul I mourn for yours. | | R3 IV.i.88 | |
| Dors. | QUEEN ELIZABETH | | | |
| Farewell, thou wofull welcommer of glory. | Farewell, thou woeful welcomer of glory. | | R3 IV.i.89 | |
| Anne. | ANNE | | | |
| Adieu, poore soule, that tak'st thy leaue of it. | Adieu, poor soul, that tak'st thy leave of it. | | R3 IV.i.90 | |
| Du.Y. | DUCHESS OF YORK | | | |
| (To Dorset) | | R3 IV.i.91 | |
| Go thou to Richmond, & good fortune guide thee, | Go thou to Richmond, and good fortune guide thee! | | R3 IV.i.91 | |
| (To Anne) | | R3 IV.i.92 | |
| Go thou to Richard, and good Angels tend thee, | Go thou to Richard, and good angels tend thee! | | R3 IV.i.92 | |
| (To Queen Elizabeth) | | R3 IV.i.93 | |
| Go thou to Sanctuarie, and good thoughts possesse thee, | Go thou to sanctuary, and good thoughts possess thee! | | R3 IV.i.93 | |
| I to my Graue, where peace and rest lye with mee. | I to my grave, where peace and rest lie with me! | | R3 IV.i.94 | |
| Eightie odde yeeres of sorrow haue I seene, | Eighty odd years of sorrow have I seen, | | R3 IV.i.95 | |
| And each howres ioy wrackt with a weeke of teene. | And each hour's joy wracked with a week of teen. | teen (n.)trouble, grief, suffering | R3 IV.i.96 | |
| | wrack (v.)overthrow, ruin, wipe out | | |
| Qu. | QUEEN ELIZABETH | | | |
| Stay, yet looke backe with me vnto the Tower. | Stay, yet look back with me unto the Tower. | | R3 IV.i.97 | |
| Pitty, you ancient Stones, those tender Babes, | Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes | | R3 IV.i.98 | |
| Whom Enuie hath immur'd within your Walls, | Whom envy hath immured within your walls – | envy (n.)malice, ill-will, enmity | R3 IV.i.99 | |
| Rough Cradle for such little prettie ones, | Rough cradle for such little pretty ones! | | R3 IV.i.100 | |
| Rude ragged Nurse, old sullen Play-fellow, | Rude ragged nurse, old sullen playfellow | ragged (adj.)rough-hewn, dilapidated, rugged | R3 IV.i.101 | |
| | rude (adj.)rough, wild, harsh-looking | | |
| For tender Princes: vse my Babies well; | For tender princes – use my babies well! | | R3 IV.i.102 | |
| So foolish Sorrowes bids your Stones farewell. | So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell. | | R3 IV.i.103 | |
| Exeunt. | Exeunt | | R3 IV.i.103 | |