First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
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Sound a Sennet. Enter Richard in pompe, | Sound a sennet. Enter Richard as King, in pomp, | | R3 IV.ii.1.1 | |
Buckingham, Catesby, Ratcliffe, Louel. | Buckingham, Catesby, Ratcliffe, Lovel, a Page, and | | R3 IV.ii.1.2 | |
| attendants | | R3 IV.ii.1.3 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Stand all apart. Cousin of Buckingham. | Stand all apart. Cousin of Buckingham – | | R3 IV.ii.1 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
My gracious Soueraigne. | My gracious sovereign? | | R3 IV.ii.2 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Giue me thy hand. | Give me thy hand. | | R3 IV.ii.3.1 | |
Sound. | Sound | | R3 IV.ii.3.1 | |
| Here he ascendeth his throne | | R3 IV.ii.3.2 | |
Thus high, by thy aduice, | Thus high, by thy advice | | R3 IV.ii.3.2 | |
and thy assistance, / Is King Richard seated: | And thy assistance, is King Richard seated. | | R3 IV.ii.4 | |
But shall we weare these Glories for a day? | But shall we wear these glories for a day? | | R3 IV.ii.5 | |
Or shall they last, and we reioyce in them? | Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them? | | R3 IV.ii.6 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
Still liue they, and for euer let them last. | Still live they, and for ever let them last! | | R3 IV.ii.7 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Ah Buckingham, now doe I play the Touch, | Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch, | touch (n.)touchstone, test, proof | R3 IV.ii.8 | |
To trie if thou be currant Gold indeed: | To try if thou be current gold indeed. | | R3 IV.ii.9 | |
Young Edward liues, thinke now what I would speake. | Young Edward lives. Think now what I would say. | | R3 IV.ii.10 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
Say on my louing Lord. | Say on, my loving lord. | | R3 IV.ii.11 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Why Buckingham, I say I would be King. | Why, Buckingham, I say I would be king. | | R3 IV.ii.12 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
Why so you are, my thrice-renowned Lord. | Why, so you are, my thrice -renowned lord. | | R3 IV.ii.13 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Ha? am I King? 'tis so: but Edward liues. | Ha! Am I king? 'Tis so. But Edward lives. | | R3 IV.ii.14 | |
Buck | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
True, Noble Prince. | True, noble prince. | | R3 IV.ii.15.1 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
O bitter consequence! | O bitter consequence | consequence (n.)upshot, outcome, sequel | R3 IV.ii.15.2 | |
That Edward still should liue true Noble Prince. | That Edward still should live true noble prince! | | R3 IV.ii.16 | |
Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull. | Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull. | wont (v.)be accustomed, used [to], be in the habit of | R3 IV.ii.17 | |
Shall I be plaine? I wish the Bastards dead, | Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead, | | R3 IV.ii.18 | |
And I would haue it suddenly perform'd. | And I would have it suddenly performed. | suddenly (adv.)immediately, at once, without delay | R3 IV.ii.19 | |
What say'st thou now? speake suddenly, be briefe. | What sayest thou now? Speak suddenly, be brief. | | R3 IV.ii.20 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
Your Grace may doe your pleasure. | Your grace may do your pleasure. | | R3 IV.ii.21 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Tut, tut, thou art all Ice, thy kindnesse freezes: | Tut, tut, thou art all ice; thy kindness freezes. | kindness (n.)friendship, affection, good will | R3 IV.ii.22 | |
Say, haue I thy consent, that they shall dye? | Say, have I thy consent that they shall die? | | R3 IV.ii.23 | |
Buc. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
Giue me some litle breath, some pawse, deare Lord, | Give me some little breath, some pause, dear lord, | breath (n.)breathing-space, respite | R3 IV.ii.24 | |
Before I positiuely speake in this: | Before I positively speak in this. | | R3 IV.ii.25 | |
I will resolue you herein presently. | I will resolve you herein presently. | presently (adv.)after a short time, soon, before long | R3 IV.ii.26 | |
| | resolve (v.)answer, respond to | | |
Exit Buck. | Exit Buckingham | | R3 IV.ii.26 | |
Catesby. | CATESBY | | | |
| (aside) | | R3 IV.ii.27 | |
The King is angry, see he gnawes his Lippe. | The King is angry. See, he gnaws his lip. | | R3 IV.ii.27 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
I will conuerse with Iron-witted Fooles, | I will converse with iron-witted fools | iron-witted (adj.)dull-witted, obtuse, dense | R3 IV.ii.28 | |
And vnrespectiue Boyes: none are for me, | And unrespective boys. None are for me | unrespective (adj.)inattentive, heedless, negligent | R3 IV.ii.29 | |
That looke into me with considerate eyes, | That look into me with considerate eyes. | considerate (adj.)deliberate, calculating, wary | R3 IV.ii.30 | |
High-reaching Buckingham growes circumspect. | High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect. | | R3 IV.ii.31 | |
Boy. | Boy! | | R3 IV.ii.32 | |
Page. | PAGE | | | |
My Lord. | My lord? | | R3 IV.ii.33 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Know'st thou not any, whom corrupting Gold | Know'st thou not any whom corrupting gold | | R3 IV.ii.34 | |
Will tempt vnto a close exploit of Death? | Would tempt unto a close exploit of death? | exploit (n.)act, deed, enterprise | R3 IV.ii.35 | |
| | close (adj.)secret, covert, underhanded | | |
Page. | PAGE | | | |
I know a discontented Gentleman, | I know a discontented gentleman | | R3 IV.ii.36 | |
Whose humble meanes match not his haughtie spirit: | Whose humble means match not his haughty spirit. | | R3 IV.ii.37 | |
Gold were as good as twentie Orators, | Gold were as good as twenty orators, | | R3 IV.ii.38 | |
And will (no doubt) tempt him to any thing. | And will, no doubt, tempt him to anything. | | R3 IV.ii.39 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
What is his Name? | What is his name? | | R3 IV.ii.40.1 | |
Page. | PAGE | | | |
His Name, my Lord, is Tirrell. | His name, my lord, is Tyrrel. | | R3 IV.ii.40.2 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
I partly know the man: goe call him hither, / Boy. | I partly know the man. Go call him hither, boy. | | R3 IV.ii.41 | |
Exit. | Exit Page | | R3 IV.ii.41 | |
The deepe reuoluing wittie Buckingham, | The deep-revolving witty Buckingham | witty (adj.)crafty, cunning, wily | R3 IV.ii.42 | |
| | deep-revolving (adj.)deeply considering, meditating, pondering | | |
No more shall be the neighbor to my counsailes. | No more shall be the neighbour to my counsels. | | R3 IV.ii.43 | |
Hath he so long held out with me, vntyr'd, | Hath he so long held out with me, untired, | | R3 IV.ii.44 | |
And stops he now for breath? Well, be it so. | And stops he now for breath? Well, be it so. | | R3 IV.ii.45 | |
Enter Stanley. | Enter the Earl of Derby | | R3 IV.ii.46 | |
How now, Lord Stanley, what's the newes? | How now, Lord Stanley? What's the news? | | R3 IV.ii.46.1 | |
Stanley. | DERBY | | | |
Know my louing Lord, | Know, my loving lord, | | R3 IV.ii.46.2 | |
the Marquesse Dorset /As I heare, is fled | The Marquess Dorset, as I hear, is fled | | R3 IV.ii.47 | |
to Richmond, / In the parts where he abides. | To Richmond in the parts where he abides. | | R3 IV.ii.48 | |
Rich. | Derby stands aside | | R3 IV.ii.49 | |
| KING RICHARD | | | |
Come hither Catesby, rumor it abroad, | Come hither, Catesby. Rumour it abroad | | R3 IV.ii.49 | |
That Anne my Wife is very grieuous sicke, | That Anne my wife is grievous sick. | | R3 IV.ii.50 | |
I will take order for her keeping close. | I will take order for her keeping close. | close (adj.)private, secluded, sequestered | R3 IV.ii.51 | |
Inquire me out some meane poore Gentleman, | Inquire me out some mean poor gentleman, | mean (adj.)of low rank, inferior in position, less important | R3 IV.ii.52 | |
Whom I will marry straight to Clarence Daughter: | Whom I will marry straight to Clarence' daughter. | straight (adv.)straightaway, immediately, at once | R3 IV.ii.53 | |
The Boy is foolish, and I feare not him. | The boy is foolish, and I fear not him. | foolish (adj.)like an idiot, lacking in sense | R3 IV.ii.54 | |
Looke how thou dream'st: I say againe, giue out, | Look how thou dream'st! I say again, give out | | R3 IV.ii.55 | |
That Anne, my Queene, is sicke, and like to dye. | That Anne, my Queen, is sick and like to die. | like (adv.)likely, probable / probably | R3 IV.ii.56 | |
About it, for it stands me much vpon | About it! For it stands me much upon | stand upon (v.)concern, be of importance to | R3 IV.ii.57 | |
To stop all hopes, whose growth may dammage me. | To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me. | | R3 IV.ii.58 | |
| Exit Catesby | | R3 IV.ii.58 | |
I must be marryed to my Brothers Daughter, | I must be married to my brother's daughter, | | R3 IV.ii.59 | |
Or else my Kingdome stands on brittle Glasse: | Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass. | | R3 IV.ii.60 | |
Murther her Brothers, and then marry her, | Murder her brothers, and then marry her – | | R3 IV.ii.61 | |
Vncertaine way of gaine. But I am in | Uncertain way of gain! But I am in | | R3 IV.ii.62 | |
So farre in blood, that sinne will pluck on sinne, | So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin. | pluck on (v.)draw on, pull in, drag in | R3 IV.ii.63 | |
Teare-falling Pittie dwells not in this Eye. | Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye. | | R3 IV.ii.64 | |
Enter Tyrrel. | Enter Page, with Tyrrel | | R3 IV.ii.65 | |
Is thy Name Tyrrel? | Is thy name Tyrrel? | | R3 IV.ii.65 | |
Tyr. | TYRREL | | | |
Iames Tyrrel, and your most obedient subiect. | James Tyrrel, and your most obedient subject. | | R3 IV.ii.66 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Art thou indeed? | Art thou, indeed? | | R3 IV.ii.67.1 | |
Tyr. | TYRREL | | | |
Proue me, my gracious Lord. | Prove me, my gracious lord. | | R3 IV.ii.67.2 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Dar'st thou resolue to kill a friend of mine? | Dar'st thou resolve to kill a friend of mine? | | R3 IV.ii.68 | |
Tyr. | TYRREL | | | |
Please you: | Please you; | | R3 IV.ii.69 | |
But I had rather kill two enemies. | But I had rather kill two enemies. | | R3 IV.ii.70 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Why then thou hast it: two deepe enemies, | Why, there thou hast it! Two deep enemies, | deep (adj.)deadly, grave, mortal | R3 IV.ii.71 | |
Foes to my Rest, and my sweet sleepes disturbers, | Foes to my rest and my sweet sleep's disturbers, | disturb (n.)disturbance | R3 IV.ii.72 | |
Are they that I would haue thee deale vpon: | Are they that I would have thee deal upon. | deal upon (v.)deal with, proceed against | R3 IV.ii.73 | |
Tyrrel, I meane those Bastards in the Tower. | Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower. | | R3 IV.ii.74 | |
Tyr. | TYRREL | | | |
Let me haue open meanes to come to them, | Let me have open means to come to them, | | R3 IV.ii.75 | |
And soone Ile rid you from the feare of them. | And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them. | | R3 IV.ii.76 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Thou sing'st sweet Musique: / Hearke, come hither Tyrrel, | Thou sing'st sweet music. Hark, come hither, Tyrrel. | | R3 IV.ii.77 | |
Goe by this token: rise, and lend thine Eare, | Go by this token. Rise, and lend thine ear. | | R3 IV.ii.78 | |
Whispers. | Whispers | | R3 IV.ii.79 | |
There is no more but so: say it is done, | There is no more but so; say it is done, | | R3 IV.ii.79 | |
And I will loue thee, and preferre thee for it. | And I will love thee and prefer thee for it. | prefer (v.)promote, advance, recommend | R3 IV.ii.80 | |
Tyr. | TYRREL | | | |
I will dispatch it straight. | I will dispatch it straight. | straight (adv.)straightaway, immediately, at once | R3 IV.ii.81 | |
| | dispatch, despatch (v.)deal with promptly, settle, get [something] done quickly | | |
Exit. | Exit | | R3 IV.ii.81 | |
Enter Buckingham. | Enter Buckingham | | R3 IV.ii.82 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
My Lord, I haue consider'd in my minde, | My Lord, I have considered in my mind | | R3 IV.ii.82 | |
The late request that you did sound me in. | The late demand that you did sound me in. | | R3 IV.ii.83 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Well, let that rest: Dorset is fled to Richmond. | Well, let that rest. Dorset is fled to Richmond. | | R3 IV.ii.84 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
I heare the newes, my Lord. | I hear the news, my lord. | | R3 IV.ii.85 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Stanley, hee is your Wiues Sonne: well, looke vnto it. | Stanley, he is your wife's son. Well, look unto it. | | R3 IV.ii.86 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
My Lord, I clayme the gift, my due by promise, | My lord, I claim the gift, my due by promise, | | R3 IV.ii.87 | |
For which your Honor and your Faith is pawn'd, | For which your honour and your faith is pawned, | | R3 IV.ii.88 | |
Th'Earledome of Hertford, and the moueables, | Th' earldom of Hereford and the movables | movable, moveable (n.)(plural) personal possessions, private effects, pieces of property | R3 IV.ii.89 | |
Which you haue promised I shall possesse. | Which you promised I shall possess. | | R3 IV.ii.90 | |
Rich | KING RICHARD | | | |
Stanley looke to your Wife: if she conuey | Stanley, look to your wife; if she convey | | R3 IV.ii.91 | |
Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it. | Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it. | answer (v.)suffer the consequences [for], be accountable [for] | R3 IV.ii.92 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
What sayes your Highnesse to my iust request? | What says your highness to my just request? | | R3 IV.ii.93 | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
I doe remember me, Henry the Sixt | I do remember me Henry the Sixth | remember (v.)recollect, recall, call to mind | R3 IV.ii.94 | |
Did prophecie, that Richmond should be King, | Did prophesy that Richmond should be king | | R3 IV.ii.95 | |
When Richmond was a little peeuish Boy. | When Richmond was a little peevish boy. | peevish (adj.)silly, foolish; or: headstrong, impulsive | R3 IV.ii.96 | |
A King perhaps. | A king! – Perhaps! – | | R3 IV.ii.97 | |
| BUCKINGHAM | | | |
| My lord – | | R3 IV.ii.98 | |
| KING RICHARD | | | |
| How chance the prophet could not at that time | | R3 IV.ii.99 | |
| Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him? | | R3 IV.ii.100 | |
| BUCKINGHAM | | | |
| My lord, your promise for the earldom! | | R3 IV.ii.101 | |
| KING RICHARD | | | |
| Richmond! When last I was at Exeter, | | R3 IV.ii.102 | |
| The Mayor in courtesy showed me the castle, | | R3 IV.ii.103 | |
| And called it Rouge-mount; at which name I started, | | R3 IV.ii.104 | |
| Because a bard of Ireland told me once | | R3 IV.ii.105 | |
| I should not live long after I saw Richmond. | | R3 IV.ii.106 | |
| BUCKINGHAM | | | |
| My lord – | | R3 IV.ii.107 | |
| KING RICHARD | | | |
| Ay, what's a clock? | | R3 IV.ii.108 | |
| BUCKINGHAM | | | |
| I am thus bold to put your grace in mind | | R3 IV.ii.109 | |
| Of what you promised me. | | R3 IV.ii.110.1 | |
| KING RICHARD | | | |
| Well, but what's a clock? | | R3 IV.ii.110.2 | |
| BUCKINGHAM | | | |
| Upon the stroke of ten. | | R3 IV.ii.111.1 | |
| KING RICHARD | | | |
| Well, let it strike. | | R3 IV.ii.111.2 | |
| BUCKINGHAM | | | |
| Why let it strike? | | R3 IV.ii.112 | |
| KING RICHARD | | | |
| Because that like a Jack thou keep'st the stroke | jack (n.)figure of a man who strikes a bell on the outside of a clock | R3 IV.ii.113 | |
| Betwixt thy begging and my meditation. | | R3 IV.ii.114 | |
| I am not in the giving vein today. | vein (n.)state of mind, motive, mood | R3 IV.ii.115 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
May it please you to resolue me in my suit. | May it please you to resolve me in my suit? | suit (n.)formal request, entreaty, petition | R3 IV.ii.116 | |
| | resolve (v.)answer, respond to | | |
Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
Thou troublest me, I am not in the vaine. | Thou troublest me; I am not in the vein. | | R3 IV.ii.117 | |
Exit. | Exeunt all but Buckingham | | R3 IV.ii.117 | |
Buck. | BUCKINGHAM | | | |
And is it thus? repayes he my deepe seruice | And is it thus? Repays he my deep service | deep (adj.)solemn, weighty, important | R3 IV.ii.118 | |
With such contempt? made I him King for this? | With such contempt? Made I him king for this? | | R3 IV.ii.119 | |
O let me thinke on Hastings, and be gone | O, let me think on Hastings, and be gone | | R3 IV.ii.120 | |
To Brecnock, while my fearefull Head is on. | To Brecknock, while my fearful head is on! | | R3 IV.ii.121 | |
Exit. | Exit | | R3 IV.ii.121 | |