First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
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| Enter Tyrrel. | Enter Tyrrel | | R3 IV.iii.1.1 | |
| Tyr. | TYRREL | | | |
| The tyrannous and bloodie Act is done, | The tyrannous and bloody act is done, | tyrannous (adj.) cruel, pitiless, oppressive | R3 IV.iii.1 | |
| The most arch deed of pittious massacre | The most arch deed of piteous massacre | arch (adj.)chief, principal, pre-eminent | R3 IV.iii.2 | |
| That euer yet this Land was guilty of: | That ever yet this land was guilty of. | | R3 IV.iii.3 | |
| Dighton and Forrest, who I did suborne | Dighton and Forrest, whom I did suborn | suborn (v.)bribe, corrupt, persuade [someone] to commit perjury | R3 IV.iii.4 | |
| To do this peece of ruthfull Butchery, | To do this piece of ruthless butchery, | piece (n.)specimen, masterpiece | R3 IV.iii.5 | |
| | ruthless (adj.)unpitying, pitiless, unsparing | | |
| Albeit they were flesht Villaines, bloody Dogges, | Albeit they were fleshed villains, bloody dogs, | fleshed (adj.)well used to bloodshed, hardened | R3 IV.iii.6 | |
| Melted with tendernesse, and milde compassion, | Melting with tenderness and mild compassion, | | R3 IV.iii.7 | |
| Wept like to Children, in their deaths sad Story. | Wept like two children in their death's sad story. | sad (adj.)downcast, distressed, mournful, gloomy | R3 IV.iii.8 | |
| O thus (quoth Dighton) lay the gentle Babes: | ‘ O, thus,’ quoth Dighton, ‘ lay the gentle babes.’ | quoth (v.)said | R3 IV.iii.9 | |
| | gentle (adj.)soft, tender, kind | | |
| Thus, thus (quoth Forrest) girdling one another | ‘ Thus, thus,’ quoth Forrest, ‘ girdling one another | | R3 IV.iii.10 | |
| Within their Alablaster innocent Armes: | Within their alablaster innocent arms. | alablaster (adj.)white, smooth [as alabaster] | R3 IV.iii.11 | |
| Their lips were foure red Roses on a stalke, | Their lips were four red roses on a stalk, | | R3 IV.iii.12 | |
| And in their Summer Beauty kist each other. | Which in their summer beauty kissed each other. | summer (adj.)joyful, pleasant, happy | R3 IV.iii.13 | |
| A Booke of Prayers on their pillow lay, | A book of prayers on their pillow lay, | | R3 IV.iii.14 | |
| Which one (quoth Forrest) almost chang'd my minde: | Which once,’ quoth Forrest, ‘ almost changed my mind; | | R3 IV.iii.15 | |
| But oh the Diuell, there the Villaine stopt: | But O! The devil ’ – there the villain stopped; | | R3 IV.iii.16 | |
| When Dighton thus told on, we smothered | When Dighton thus told on – ‘ We smothered | | R3 IV.iii.17 | |
| The most replenished sweet worke of Nature, | The most replenished sweet work of nature | replenished (adj.)complete, perfect, consummate | R3 IV.iii.18 | |
| That from the prime Creation ere she framed. | That from the prime creation e'er she framed.’ | prime (adj.)first, original, initial | R3 IV.iii.19 | |
| Hence both are gone with Conscience and Remorse, | Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse. | remorse (n.)pity, regret, sorrow | R3 IV.iii.20 | |
| | gone (adj.)lost, ruined, brought down | | |
| They could not speake, and so I left them both, | They could not speak; and so I left them both, | | R3 IV.iii.21 | |
| To beare this tydings to the bloody King. | To bear this tidings to the bloody King. | | R3 IV.iii.22 | |
| Enter Richard. | Enter King Richard | | R3 IV.iii.23 | |
| And heere he comes. All health my Soueraigne Lord. | And here he comes. All health, my sovereign lord! | | R3 IV.iii.23 | |
| Ric. | KING RICHARD | | | |
| Kinde Tirrell, am I happy in thy Newes. | Kind Tyrrel, am I happy in thy news? | | R3 IV.iii.24 | |
| Tir. | TYRREL | | | |
| If to haue done the thing you gaue in charge, | If to have done the thing you gave in charge | give in chargegive orders, command, direct | R3 IV.iii.25 | |
| Beget your happinesse, be happy then, | Beget your happiness, be happy then, | beget (v.), past form begotproduce, engender, give rise to | R3 IV.iii.26 | |
| For it is done. | For it is done. | | R3 IV.iii.27.1 | |
| Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
| But did'st thou see them dead. | But didst thou see them dead? | | R3 IV.iii.27.2 | |
| Tir. | TYRREL | | | |
| I did my Lord. | I did, my lord. | | R3 IV.iii.28.1 | |
| Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
| And buried gentle Tirrell. | And buried, gentle Tyrrel? | gentle (adj.)courteous, friendly, kind | R3 IV.iii.28.2 | |
| Tir. | TYRREL | | | |
| The Chaplaine of the Tower hath buried them, | The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them; | | R3 IV.iii.29 | |
| But where (to say the truth) I do not know. | But where, to say the truth, I do not know. | | R3 IV.iii.30 | |
| Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
| Come to me Tirrel soone, and after Supper, | Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after-supper, | after-supper (n.)period of time immediately after dessert [eaten after the main course of the evening meal] | R3 IV.iii.31 | |
| When thou shalt tell the processe of their death. | When thou shalt tell the process of their death. | process (n.)account, report, story | R3 IV.iii.32 | |
| Meane time, but thinke how I may do the good, | Meantime, but think how I may do thee good, | | R3 IV.iii.33 | |
| And be inheritor of thy desire. | And be inheritor of thy desire. | | R3 IV.iii.34 | |
| Farewell till then. | Farewell till then. | | R3 IV.iii.35.1 | |
| Tir. | TYRREL | | | |
| I humbly take my leaue. | I humbly take my leave. | | R3 IV.iii.35.2 | |
| Exit | | R3 IV.iii.35 | |
| Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
| The Sonne of Clarence haue I pent vp close, | The son of Clarence have I pent up close, | pent up (v.)shut up, confine, lock in | R3 IV.iii.36 | |
| | close (adv.)securely, in strict confinement | | |
| His daughter meanly haue I matcht in marriage, | His daughter meanly have I matched in marriage, | meanly (adv.)humbly, in a lowly manner | R3 IV.iii.37 | |
| The Sonnes of Edward sleepe in Abrahams bosome, | The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom, | Abraham (n.)in the Bible, a Hebrew patriarch, whose name is changed by God from Abram to Abraham | R3 IV.iii.38 | |
| And Anne my wife hath bid this world good night. | And Anne my wife hath bid this world good night. | | R3 IV.iii.39 | |
| Now for I know the Britaine Richmond aymes | Now, for I know the Britain Richmond aims | Britain (adj.)living in Brittany, from Brittany | R3 IV.iii.40 | |
| At yong Elizabeth my brothers daughter, | At young Elizabeth, my brother's daughter, | | R3 IV.iii.41 | |
| And by that knot lookes proudly on the Crowne, | And by that knot looks proudly on the crown, | proudly (adv.)haughtily, arrogantly, disdainfully | R3 IV.iii.42 | |
| | knot (n.)marriage tie, bond of wedlock | | |
| To her go I, a iolly thriuing wooer. | To her go I, a jolly thriving wooer. | jolly (adj.)amorous, lustful, licentious | R3 IV.iii.43 | |
| Enter Ratcliffe. | Enter Ratcliffe | | R3 IV.iii.44 | |
| Rat. | RATCLIFFE | | | |
| My Lord. | My lord – | | R3 IV.iii.44 | |
| Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
| Good or bad newes, that thou com'st in so bluntly? | Good or bad news, that thou com'st in so bluntly? | | R3 IV.iii.45 | |
| Rat. | RATCLIFFE | | | |
| Bad news my Lord, Mourton is fled to Richmond, | Bad news, my lord. Morton is fled to Richmond, | | R3 IV.iii.46 | |
| And Buckingham backt with the hardy Welshmen | And Buckingham, backed with the hardy Welshmen, | | R3 IV.iii.47 | |
| Is in the field, and still his power encreaseth. | Is in the field, and still his power increaseth. | power (n.)armed force, troops, host, army | R3 IV.iii.48 | |
| | still (adv.)constantly, always, continually | | |
| | field (n.)field of battle, battleground, field of combat | | |
| Rich. | KING RICHARD | | | |
| Ely with Richmond troubles me more neere, | Ely with Richmond troubles me more near | near (adv.)closely, intimately, seriously | R3 IV.iii.49 | |
| Then Buckingham and his rash leuied Strength. | Than Buckingham and his rash-levied strength. | rash-levied (adj.)hastily raised | R3 IV.iii.50 | |
| Come, I haue learn'd, that fearfull commenting | Come! I have learned that fearful commenting | fearful (adj.)timid, timorous, frightened, full of fear | R3 IV.iii.51 | |
| | commenting (n.)meditation, pondering, cogitation | | |
| Is leaden seruitor to dull delay. | Is leaden servitor to dull delay; | servitor (n.)servant | R3 IV.iii.52 | |
| Delay leds impotent and Snaile-pac'd Beggery: | Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary. | | R3 IV.iii.53 | |
| Then fierie expedition be my wing, | Then fiery expedition be my wing, | expedition (n.)warlike enterprise, setting out for war | R3 IV.iii.54 | |
| | fiery (adj.)ardent, spirited, animated | | |
| Ioues Mercury, and Herald for a King: | Jove's Mercury, and herald for a king! | Mercury (n.)messenger of the Roman gods; also, god of commerce | R3 IV.iii.55 | |
| | Jove (n.)[pron: johv] alternative name for Jupiter, the Roman supreme god | | |
| Go muster men: My counsaile is my Sheeld, | Go, muster men. My counsel is my shield; | | R3 IV.iii.56 | |
| We must be breefe, when Traitors braue the Field. | We must be brief when traitors brave the field. | field (n.)field of battle, battleground, field of combat | R3 IV.iii.57 | |
| | brief (adj.)quick, speedy, swift, expeditious | | |
| | brave (v.)challenge, defy, confront, provoke | | |
| Exeunt. | Exeunt | | R3 IV.iii.57 | |