No Fear Shakespeare: Richard III: Act 3 Scene 4

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Richard III

William Shakespeare

Act 3 Scene 4

Original Text

Modern Text

Original Text

Modern Text

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter BUCKINGHAM , STANLEY , HASTINGS , the bishop of ELY , RATCLIFFE , LOVELL , with others, at a table	Enter BUCKINGHAM , STANLEY , HASTINGS , the bishop of ELY , RATCLIFFE , LOVELL , with others, at a table
HASTINGS Now, noble peers. the cause why we are met Is to determine of the coronation. In God’s name, speak. When is the royal day?	HASTINGS Now, noble peers. the cause why we are met Is to determine of the coronation. In God’s name, speak. When is the royal day?
BUCKINGHAM Is all things ready for the royal time?	BUCKINGHAM Is all things ready for the royal time?
STANLEY 5 It is, and wants but nomination.	STANLEY It is, and wants but nomination.
ELY Tomorrow, then, I judge a happy day.	ELY Tomorrow, then, I judge a happy day.
BUCKINGHAM Who knows the Lord Protector’s mind herein? Who is most inward with the noble duke?	BUCKINGHAM Who knows the Lord Protector’s mind herein? Who is most inward with the noble duke?
ELY Your Grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.	ELY Your Grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.
BUCKINGHAM 10 We know each other’s faces; for our hearts, He knows no more of mine than I of yours, Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine.— Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.	BUCKINGHAM We know each other’s faces; for our hearts, He knows no more of mine than I of yours, Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine.— Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
HASTINGS I thank his Grace. I know he loves me well. 15 But for his purpose in the coronation, I have not sounded him, nor he delivered His gracious pleasure any way therein. But you, my honorable lords, may name the time, And in the duke’s behalf I’ll give my voice, 20 Which I presume he’ll take in gentle part.	HASTINGS I thank his Grace. I know he loves me well. But for his purpose in the coronation, I have not sounded him, nor he delivered His gracious pleasure any way therein. But you, my honorable lords, may name the time, And in the duke’s behalf I’ll give my voice, Which I presume he’ll take in gentle part.
Enter RICHARD	Enter RICHARD
ELY In happy time here comes the duke himself.	ELY In happy time here comes the duke himself.
RICHARD My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow. I have been long a sleeper; but I trust My absence doth neglect no great design 25 Which by my presence might have been concluded.	RICHARD My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow. I have been long a sleeper; but I trust My absence doth neglect no great design Which by my presence might have been concluded.
BUCKINGHAM Had you not come upon your cue, my lord, William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part— I mean your voice for crowning of the king.	BUCKINGHAM Had you not come upon your cue, my lord, William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part— I mean your voice for crowning of the king.
RICHARD Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder. 30 His Lordship knows me well, and loves me well.— My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn I saw good strawberries in your garden there; I do beseech you, send for some of them.	RICHARD Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder. His Lordship knows me well, and loves me well.— My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn I saw good strawberries in your garden there; I do beseech you, send for some of them.
ELY Marry and will, my lord, with all my heart.	ELY Marry and will, my lord, with all my heart.
Exit	Exit
RICHARD 35 Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you. They move aside Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business And finds the testy gentleman so hot As he will lose his head ere give consent 40 His master’s child, as worshipfully he terms it, Shall lose the royalty of England’s throne.	RICHARD Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you. They move aside Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business And finds the testy gentleman so hot As he will lose his head ere give consent His master’s child, as worshipfully he terms it, Shall lose the royalty of England’s throne.
BUCKINGHAM Withdraw yourself awhile. I’ll go with you.	BUCKINGHAM Withdraw yourself awhile. I’ll go with you.
Exeunt RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM	Exeunt RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM
STANLEY We have not yet set down this day of triumph. Tomorrow, in my judgement, is too sudden, 45 For I myself am not so well provided As else I would be, were the day prolonged.	STANLEY We have not yet set down this day of triumph. Tomorrow, in my judgement, is too sudden, For I myself am not so well provided As else I would be, were the day prolonged.
Enter Bishop of ELY ,	Enter Bishop of ELY ,
ELY Where is my lord the duke of Gloucester? I have sent for these strawberries.	ELY Where is my lord the duke of Gloucester? I have sent for these strawberries.
HASTINGS His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning. 50 There’s some conceit or other likes him well When that he bids good morrow with such spirit. I think there’s never a man in Christendom Can lesser hide his love or hate than he, For by his face straight shall you know his heart.	HASTINGS His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning. There’s some conceit or other likes him well When that he bids good morrow with such spirit. I think there’s never a man in Christendom Can lesser hide his love or hate than he, For by his face straight shall you know his heart.
STANLEY 55 What of his heart perceive you in his face By any livelihood he showed today?	STANLEY What of his heart perceive you in his face By any livelihood he showed today?
HASTINGS Marry, that with no man here he is offended, For were he, he had shown it in his looks.	HASTINGS Marry, that with no man here he is offended, For were he, he had shown it in his looks.
STANLEY I pray God he be not, I say.	STANLEY I pray God he be not, I say.
Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM	Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM
RICHARD 60 I pray you all, tell me what they deserve That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damnèd witchcraft, and that have prevailed Upon my body with their hellish charms?	RICHARD I pray you all, tell me what they deserve That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damnèd witchcraft, and that have prevailed Upon my body with their hellish charms?
HASTINGS The tender love I bear your Grace, my lord, 65 Makes me most forward in this princely presence To doom th' offenders, whosoe'er they be. I say, my lord, they have deservèd death.	HASTINGS The tender love I bear your Grace, my lord, Makes me most forward in this princely presence To doom th' offenders, whosoe'er they be. I say, my lord, they have deservèd death.
RICHARD Then be your eyes the witness of their evil. (shows his arm) 70 Look how I am bewitched! Behold mine arm Is like a blasted sapling withered up; And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch, Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore, That by their witchcraft thus have markèd me.	RICHARD Then be your eyes the witness of their evil. (shows his arm) Look how I am bewitched! Behold mine arm Is like a blasted sapling withered up; And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch, Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore, That by their witchcraft thus have markèd me.
HASTINGS 75 If they have done this deed, my noble lord—	HASTINGS If they have done this deed, my noble lord—
RICHARD If? Thou protector of this damnèd strumpet, Talk’st thou to me of “ifs”? Thou art a traitor— Off with his head. Now by Saint Paul I swear I will not dine until I see the same.— 80 Lovell and Ratcliffe, look that it be done.— The rest that love me, rise and follow me.	RICHARD If? Thou protector of this damnèd strumpet, Talk’st thou to me of “ifs”? Thou art a traitor— Off with his head. Now by Saint Paul I swear I will not dine until I see the same.— Lovell and Ratcliffe, look that it be done.— The rest that love me, rise and follow me.
Exeunt all but HASTINGS , RATCLIFFE , and LOVELL ,	Exeunt all but HASTINGS , RATCLIFFE , and LOVELL ,
HASTINGS Woe, woe for England! Not a whit for me, For I, too fond, might have prevented this. Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm, 85 And I did scorn it and disdain to fly. Three times today my foot-cloth horse did stumble, And started when he looked upon the Tower, As loath to bear me to the slaughterhouse. O, now I need the priest that spake to me!	HASTINGS Woe, woe for England! Not a whit for me, For I, too fond, might have prevented this. Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm, And I did scorn it and disdain to fly. Three times today my foot-cloth horse did stumble, And started when he looked upon the Tower, As loath to bear me to the slaughterhouse. O, now I need the priest that spake to me!
HASTINGS 90 I now repent I told the pursuivant, As too triumphing, how mine enemies Today at Pomfret bloodily were butchered, And I myself secure in grace and favor. O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse 95 Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head.	HASTINGS I now repent I told the pursuivant, As too triumphing, how mine enemies Today at Pomfret bloodily were butchered, And I myself secure in grace and favor. O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head.
RATCLIFFE Come, come, dispatch. The duke would be at dinner. Make a short shrift. He longs to see your head.	RATCLIFFE Come, come, dispatch. The duke would be at dinner. Make a short shrift. He longs to see your head.
HASTINGS O momentary grace of mortal men, Which we more hunt for than the grace of God! 100 Who builds his hopes in air of your good looks Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast, Ready with every nod to tumble down Into the fatal bowels of the deep.	HASTINGS O momentary grace of mortal men, Which we more hunt for than the grace of God! Who builds his hopes in air of your good looks Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast, Ready with every nod to tumble down Into the fatal bowels of the deep.
LOVELL Come, come, dispatch. 'Tis bootless to exclaim.	LOVELL Come, come, dispatch. 'Tis bootless to exclaim.
HASTINGS 105 O bloody Richard! Miserable England, I prophesy the fearfull’st time to thee That ever wretched age hath looked upon.— Come, lead me to the block. Bear him my head. They smile at me that shortly shall be dead.	HASTINGS O bloody Richard! Miserable England, I prophesy the fearfull’st time to thee That ever wretched age hath looked upon.— Come, lead me to the block. Bear him my head. They smile at me that shortly shall be dead.
Exeunt	Exeunt