| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| His Maiesty | His majesty, | R3 I.i.43.2 |
| tendring my persons safety, / Hath appointed | Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed | R3 I.i.44 |
| this Conduct, to conuey me to th' Tower | This conduct to convey me to the Tower. | R3 I.i.45 |
| | | |
| Because my name is George. | Because my name is George. | R3 I.i.46.2 |
| | | |
| Yea Richard, when I know: but I protest | Yea, Richard, when I know; for I protest | R3 I.i.52 |
| As yet I do not: But as I can learne, | As yet I do not. But, as I can learn, | R3 I.i.53 |
| He hearkens after Prophesies and Dreames, | He hearkens after prophecies and dreams, | R3 I.i.54 |
| And from the Crosse-row pluckes the letter G: | And from the cross-row plucks the letter G, | R3 I.i.55 |
| And sayes, a Wizard told him, that by G, | And says a wizard told him that by G | R3 I.i.56 |
| His issue disinherited should be. | His issue disinherited should be. | R3 I.i.57 |
| And for my name of George begins with G, | And, for my name of George begins with G, | R3 I.i.58 |
| It followes in his thought, that I am he. | It follows in his thought that I am he. | R3 I.i.59 |
| These (as I learne) and such like toyes as these, | These, as I learn, and suchlike toys as these | R3 I.i.60 |
| Hath moou'd his Highnesse to commit me now. | Have moved his highness to commit me now. | R3 I.i.61 |
| | | |
| By heauen, I thinke there is no man secure | By heaven, I think there is no man secure | R3 I.i.71 |
| But the Queenes Kindred, and night-walking Heralds, | But the Queen's kindred, and night-walking heralds | R3 I.i.72 |
| That trudge betwixt the King, and Mistris Shore. | That trudge betwixt the King and Mistress Shore. | R3 I.i.73 |
| Heard you not what an humble Suppliant | Heard you not what an humble suppliant | R3 I.i.74 |
| Lord Hastings was, for her deliuery? | Lord Hastings was for his delivery? | R3 I.i.75 |
| | | |
| We know thy charge Brakenbury, and wil obey. | We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and will obey. | R3 I.i.105 |
| | | |
| I know it pleaseth neither of vs well. | I know it pleaseth neither of us well. | R3 I.i.113 |
| | | |
| I must perforce: Farewell. | I must perforce. Farewell. | R3 I.i.116.2 |
| | | |
| O, I haue past a miserable night, | O, I have passed a miserable night, | R3 I.iv.2 |
| So full of fearefull Dreames, of vgly sights, | So full of fearful dreams, of ugly sights, | R3 I.iv.3 |
| That as I am a Christian faithfull man, | That, as I am a Christian faithful man, | R3 I.iv.4 |
| I would not spend another such a night | I would not spend another such a night | R3 I.iv.5 |
| Though 'twere to buy a world of happy daies: | Though 'twere to buy a world of happy days, | R3 I.iv.6 |
| So full of dismall terror was the time. | So full of dismal terror was the time. | R3 I.iv.7 |
| | | |
| Me thoughts that I had broken from the Tower, | Methoughts that I had broken from the Tower | R3 I.iv.9 |
| And was embark'd to crosse to Burgundy, | And was embarked to cross to Burgundy | R3 I.iv.10 |
| And in my company my Brother Glouster, | And in my company my brother Gloucester, | R3 I.iv.11 |
| Who from my Cabin tempted me to walke, | Who from my cabin tempted me to walk | R3 I.iv.12 |
| Vpon the Hatches: There we look'd toward England, | Upon the hatches; thence we looked toward England | R3 I.iv.13 |
| And cited vp a thousand heauy times, | And cited up a thousand heavy times, | R3 I.iv.14 |
| During the warres of Yorke and Lancaster | During the wars of York and Lancaster, | R3 I.iv.15 |
| That had befalne vs. As we pac'd along | That had befallen us. As we paced along | R3 I.iv.16 |
| Vpon the giddy footing of the Hatches, | Upon the giddy footing of the hatches, | R3 I.iv.17 |
| Me thought that Glouster stumbled, and in falling | Methought that Gloucester stumbled, and in falling | R3 I.iv.18 |
| Strooke me (that thought to stay him) ouer-boord, | Struck me, that thought to stay him, overboard | R3 I.iv.19 |
| Into the tumbling billowes of the maine. | Into the tumbling billows of the main. | R3 I.iv.20 |
| O Lord, me thought what paine it was to drowne, | O Lord! Methought what pain it was to drown! | R3 I.iv.21 |
| What dreadfull noise of water in mine eares, | What dreadful noise of waters in mine ears! | R3 I.iv.22 |
| What sights of vgly death within mine eyes. | What sights of ugly death within mine eyes! | R3 I.iv.23 |
| Me thoughts, I saw a thousand fearfull wrackes: | Methoughts I saw a thousand fearful wracks; | R3 I.iv.24 |
| A thousand men that Fishes gnaw'd vpon: | A thousand men that fishes gnawed upon; | R3 I.iv.25 |
| Wedges of Gold, great Anchors, heapes of Pearle, | Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl, | R3 I.iv.26 |
| Inestimable Stones, vnvalewed Iewels, | Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels, | R3 I.iv.27 |
| All scattred in the bottome of the Sea, | All scattered in the bottom of the sea. | R3 I.iv.28 |
| Some lay in dead-mens Sculles, and in the holes | Some lay in dead men's skulls, and in the holes | R3 I.iv.29 |
| Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept | Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept, | R3 I.iv.30 |
| (As 'twere in scorne of eyes) reflecting Gemmes, | As 'twere in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems, | R3 I.iv.31 |
| That woo'd the slimy bottome of the deepe, | That wooed the slimy bottom of the deep | R3 I.iv.32 |
| And mock'd the dead bones that lay scattred by. | And mocked the dead bones that lay scattered by. | R3 I.iv.33 |
| | | |
| Me thought I had, and often did I striue | Methought I had; and often did I strive | R3 I.iv.36 |
| To yeeld the Ghost: but still the enuious Flood | To yield the ghost; but still the envious flood | R3 I.iv.37 |
| Stop'd in my soule, and would not let it forth | Stopped in my soul, and would not let it forth | R3 I.iv.38 |
| To find the empty, vast, and wand'ring ayre: | To find the empty, vast, and wandering air, | R3 I.iv.39 |
| But smother'd it within my panting bulke, | But smothered it within my panting bulk, | R3 I.iv.40 |
| Who almost burst, to belch it in the Sea. | Which almost burst to belch it in the sea. | R3 I.iv.41 |
| | | |
| No, no, my Dreame was lengthen'd after life. | No, no, my dream was lengthened after life. | R3 I.iv.43 |
| O then, began the Tempest to my Soule. | O then began the tempest to my soul! | R3 I.iv.44 |
| I past (me thought) the Melancholly Flood, | I passed, methought, the melancholy flood, | R3 I.iv.45 |
| With that sowre Ferry-man which Poets write of, | With that sour ferryman which poets write of, | R3 I.iv.46 |
| Vnto the Kingdome of perpetuall Night. | Unto the kingdom of perpetual night. | R3 I.iv.47 |
| The first that there did greet my Stranger-soule, | The first that there did greet my stranger soul | R3 I.iv.48 |
| Was my great Father-in-Law, renowned Warwicke, | Was my great father-in-law, renowned Warwick, | R3 I.iv.49 |
| Who spake alowd: What scourge for Periurie, | Who spake aloud, ‘ What scourge for perjury | R3 I.iv.50 |
| Can this darke Monarchy affoord false Clarence? | Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?’ | R3 I.iv.51 |
| And so he vanish'd. Then came wand'ring by, | And so he vanished. Then came wandering by | R3 I.iv.52 |
| A Shadow like an Angell, with bright hayre | A shadow like an angel, with bright hair | R3 I.iv.53 |
| Dabbel'd in blood, and he shriek'd out alowd | Dabbled in blood, and he shrieked out aloud, | R3 I.iv.54 |
| Clarence is come, false, fle eting,periur'd Clarence, | ‘ Clarence is come – false, fleeting, perjured Clarence, | R3 I.iv.55 |
| That stabb'd me in the field by Tewkesbury: | That stabbed me in the field by Tewkesbury. | R3 I.iv.56 |
| Seize on him Furies, take him vnto Torment. | Seize on him, Furies, take him unto torment!’ | R3 I.iv.57 |
| With that (me thought) a Legion of foule Fiends | With that, methoughts, a legion of foul fiends | R3 I.iv.58 |
| Inuiron'd me, and howled in mine eares | Environed me, and howled in mine ears | R3 I.iv.59 |
| Such hiddeous cries, that with the very Noise, | Such hideous cries that with the very noise | R3 I.iv.60 |
| I (trembling) wak'd, and for a season after, | I, trembling, waked, and for a season after | R3 I.iv.61 |
| Could not beleeue, but that I was in Hell, | Could not believe but that I was in hell, | R3 I.iv.62 |
| Such terrible Impression made my Dreame. | Such terrible impression made my dream. | R3 I.iv.63 |
| | | |
| Ah Keeper, Keeper, I haue done these things | Ah, keeper, keeper, I have done these things, | R3 I.iv.66 |
| (That now giue euidence against my Soule) | That now give evidence against my soul, | R3 I.iv.67 |
| For Edwards sake, and see how he requits mee. | For Edward's sake, and see how he requits me! | R3 I.iv.68 |
| O God! if my deepe prayres cannot appease thee, | O God! If my deep prayers cannot appease Thee, | R3 I.iv.69 |
| But thou wilt be aueng'd on my misdeeds, | But Thou wilt be avenged on my misdeeds, | R3 I.iv.70 |
| Yet execute thy wrath in me alone: | Yet execute Thy wrath in me alone; | R3 I.iv.71 |
| O spare my guiltlesse Wife, and my poore children. | O, spare my guiltless wife and my poor children! | R3 I.iv.72 |
| Keeper, I prythee sit by me a-while, | Keeper, I pray thee, sit by me awhile. | R3 I.iv.73 |
| My Soule is heauy, and I faine would sleepe. | My soul is heavy, and I fain would sleep. | R3 I.iv.74 |
| | | |
| Where art thou Keeper? Giue me a cup of wine. | Where art thou, keeper? Give me a cup of wine. | R3 I.iv.164 |
| | | |
| In Gods name, what art thou? | In God's name, what art thou? | R3 I.iv.166 |
| | | |
| But not as I am Royall. | But not as I am, royal. | R3 I.iv.168 |
| | | |
| Thy voice is Thunder, but thy looks are humble. | Thy voice is thunder, but thy looks are humble. | R3 I.iv.170 |
| | | |
| How darkly, and how deadly dost thou speake? | How darkly and how deadly dost thou speak! | R3 I.iv.172 |
| Your eyes do menace me: why looke you pale? | Your eyes do menace me. Why look you pale? | R3 I.iv.173 |
| Who sent you hither? Wherefore do you come? | Who sent you hither? Wherefore do you come? | R3 I.iv.174 |
| | | |
| To murther me? | To murder me? | R3 I.iv.176 |
| | | |
| You scarsely haue the hearts to tell me so, | You scarcely have the hearts to tell me so, | R3 I.iv.178 |
| And therefore cannot haue the hearts to do it. | And therefore cannot have the hearts to do it. | R3 I.iv.179 |
| Wherein my Friends haue I offended you? | Wherein, my friends, have I offended you? | R3 I.iv.180 |
| | | |
| I shall be reconcil'd to him againe. | I shall be reconciled to him again. | R3 I.iv.182 |
| | | |
| Are you drawne forth among a world of men | Are you drawn forth among a world of men | R3 I.iv.184 |
| To slay the innocent? What is my offence? | To slay the innocent? What is my offence? | R3 I.iv.185 |
| Where is the Euidence that doth accuse me? | Where are the evidence that doth accuse me? | R3 I.iv.186 |
| What lawfull Quest haue giuen their Verdict vp | What lawful quest have given their verdict up | R3 I.iv.187 |
| Vnto the frowning Iudge? Or who pronounc'd | Unto the frowning judge? Or who pronounced | R3 I.iv.188 |
| The bitter sentence of poore Clarence death, | The bitter sentence of poor Clarence' death | R3 I.iv.189 |
| Before I be conuict by course of Law? | Before I be convict by course of law? | R3 I.iv.190 |
| To threaten me with death, is most vnlawfull. | To threaten me with death is most unlawful. | R3 I.iv.191 |
| I charge you, as you hope for any goodnesse, | I charge you, as you hope to have redemption | R3 I.iv.192 |
| By Christ's dear blood shed for our grievous sins, | R3 I.iv.193 |
| That you depart, and lay no hands on me: | That you depart, and lay no hands on me | R3 I.iv.194 |
| The deed you vndertake is damnable. | The deed you undertake is damnable. | R3 I.iv.195 |
| | | |
| Erroneous Vassals, the great King of Kings | Erroneous vassals! The great King of kings | R3 I.iv.198 |
| Hath in the Table of his Law commanded | Hath in the table of His law commanded | R3 I.iv.199 |
| That thou shalt do no murther. Will you then | That thou shalt do no murder. Will you then | R3 I.iv.200 |
| Spurne at his Edict, and fulfill a Mans? | Spurn at His edict, and fulfil a man's? | R3 I.iv.201 |
| Take heed: for he holds Vengeance in his hand, | Take heed; for He holds vengeance in His hand | R3 I.iv.202 |
| To hurle vpon their heads that breake his Law. | To hurl upon their heads that break His law. | R3 I.iv.203 |
| | | |
| Alas! for whose sake did I that ill deede? | Alas! For whose sake did I that ill deed? | R3 I.iv.214 |
| For Edward, for my Brother, for his sake. | For Edward, for my brother, for his sake. | R3 I.iv.215 |
| He sends you not to murther me for this: | He sends you not to murder me for this, | R3 I.iv.216 |
| For in that sinne, he is as deepe as I. | For in that sin he is as deep as I. | R3 I.iv.217 |
| If God will be auenged for the deed, | If God will be avenged for the deed, | R3 I.iv.218 |
| O know you yet, he doth it publiquely, | O, know you yet He doth it publicly! | R3 I.iv.219 |
| Take not the quarrell from his powrefull arme: | Take not the quarrel from His powerful arm. | R3 I.iv.220 |
| He needs no indirect, or lawlesse course, | He needs no indirect or lawless course | R3 I.iv.221 |
| To cut off those that haue offended him. | To cut off those that have offended Him. | R3 I.iv.222 |
| | | |
| My Brothers loue, the Diuell, and my Rage. | My brother's love, the devil, and my rage. | R3 I.iv.226 |
| | | |
| If you do loue my Brother, hate not me: | If you do love my brother, hate not me; | R3 I.iv.229 |
| I am his Brother, and I loue him well. | I am his brother, and I love him well. | R3 I.iv.230 |
| If you are hyr'd for meed, go backe againe, | If you are hired for meed, go back again, | R3 I.iv.231 |
| And I will send you to my Brother Glouster: | And I will send you to my brother Gloucester, | R3 I.iv.232 |
| Who shall reward you better for my life, | Who shall reward you better for my life | R3 I.iv.233 |
| Then Edward will for tydings of my death. | Than Edward will for tidings of my death. | R3 I.iv.234 |
| | | |
| Oh no, he loues me, and he holds me deere: | O, no, he loves me and he holds me dear! | R3 I.iv.236 |
| Go you to him from me. | Go you to him from me. | R3 I.iv.237.1 |
| | | |
| Tell him, when that our Princely Father Yorke, | Tell him, when that our princely father York | R3 I.iv.238 |
| Blest his three Sonnes with his victorious Arme, | Blessed his three sons with his victorious arm | R3 I.iv.239 |
| And charged us from his soul to love each other, | R3 I.iv.240 |
| He little thought of this diuided Friendship: | He little thought of this divided friendship; | R3 I.iv.241 |
| Bid Glouster thinke on this, and he will weepe. | Bid Gloucester think of this, and he will weep. | R3 I.iv.242 |
| | | |
| O do not slander him, for he is kinde. | O, do not slander him, for he is kind. | R3 I.iv.244 |
| | | |
| It cannot be, for he bewept my Fortune, | It cannot be, for he bewept my fortune, | R3 I.iv.247 |
| And hugg'd me in his armes, and swore with sobs, | And hugged me in his arms, and swore with sobs | R3 I.iv.248 |
| That he would labour my deliuery. | That he would labour my delivery. | R3 I.iv.249 |
| | | |
| Haue you that holy feeling in your soules, | Have you that holy feeling in your souls | R3 I.iv.253 |
| To counsaile me to make my peace with God, | To counsel me to make my peace with God, | R3 I.iv.254 |
| And are you yet to your owne soules so blinde, | And art you yet to your own souls so blind | R3 I.iv.255 |
| That you will warre with God, by murd'ring me. | That you will war with God by murdering me? | R3 I.iv.256 |
| O sirs consider, they that set you on | O, sirs, consider, they that set you on | R3 I.iv.257 |
| To do this deede, will hate you for the deede. | To do this deed will hate you for the deed. | R3 I.iv.258 |
| | | |
| Relent, and saue your soules: | Relent, and save your souls. | R3 I.iv.259.2 |
| Which of you, if you were a Princes Sonne, | Which of you, if you were a prince's son, | R3 I.iv.260 |
| Being pent from Liberty, as I am now, | Being pent from liberty, as I am now, | R3 I.iv.261 |
| If two such murtherers as your selues came to you, | If two such murderers as yourselves came to you, | R3 I.iv.262 |
| Would not intreat for life, as you would begge | Would not entreat for life? As you would beg | R3 I.iv.263 |
| Were you in my distresse. | Were you in my distress – | R3 I.iv.264 |
| | | |
| Not to relent, is beastly, sauage, diuellish: | Not to relent is beastly, savage, devilish! | R3 I.iv.266 |
| | | |
| My Friend, I spy some pitty in thy lookes: | My friend, I spy some pity in thy looks. | R3 I.iv.267 |
| O, if thine eye be not a Flatterer, | O, if thine eye be not a flatterer, | R3 I.iv.268 |
| Come thou on my side, and intreate for mee, | Come thou on my side, and entreat for me! | R3 I.iv.269 |
| A begging Prince, what begger pitties not. | A begging prince what beggar pities not? | R3 I.iv.270 |