Suggestions
Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select.Please wait while we process your payment
If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.
If you don't see it, please check your spam folder. Sometimes it can end up there.
Please wait while we process your payment
By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy.
Don’t have an account? Subscribe now
Create Your Account
Sign up for your FREE 7-day trial
Already have an account? Log in
Your Email
Choose Your Plan
Individual
Group Discount
Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan!
payment page
Purchasing SparkNotes PLUS for a group?
Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more!
Price
$24.99 $18.74 /subscription + tax
Subtotal $37.48 + tax
Save 25% on 2-49 accounts
Save 30% on 50-99 accounts
Want 100 or more? Contact us for a customized plan.
payment page
Your Plan
Payment Details
Payment Summary
SparkNotes Plus
You'll be billed after your free trial ends.
7-Day Free Trial
Not Applicable
Renews December 6, 2023 November 29, 2023
Discounts (applied to next billing)
DUE NOW
US $0.00
SNPLUSROCKS20 | 20% Discount
This is not a valid promo code.
Discount Code (one code per order)
SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan - Group Discount
Qty: 00
SparkNotes Plus subscription is $4.99/month or $24.99/year as selected above. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. You may cancel your subscription on your Subscription and Billing page or contact Customer Support at custserv@bn.com. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. Free trial is available to new customers only.
Choose Your Plan
For the next 7 days, you'll have access to awesome PLUS stuff like AP English test prep, No Fear Shakespeare translations and audio, a note-taking tool, personalized dashboard, & much more!
You’ve successfully purchased a group discount. Your group members can use the joining link below to redeem their group membership. You'll also receive an email with the link.
Members will be prompted to log in or create an account to redeem their group membership.
Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Continue to start your free trial.
Please wait while we process your payment
Your PLUS subscription has expired
Please wait while we process your payment
Please wait while we process your payment
Continue reading with a SparkNotes PLUS trial
Already have an account? Log in
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM , in rotten armor, marvelous ill-favored
|
Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM , in rotten armor, marvelous ill-favored
|
|
RICHARD Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy color,
Murder thy breath in the middle of a word,
And then begin again, and stop again,
As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror?
|
RICHARD Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy color,
Murder thy breath in the middle of a word,
And then begin again, and stop again,
As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror?
|
|
BUCKINGHAM 5 Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian,
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion. Ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforcèd smiles,
10 And both are ready in their offices,
At any time to grace my stratagems.
But what, is Catesby gone?
|
BUCKINGHAM Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian,
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion. Ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforcèd smiles,
And both are ready in their offices,
At any time to grace my stratagems.
But what, is Catesby gone?
|
|
RICHARD He is; and see, he brings the mayor along.
|
RICHARD He is; and see, he brings the mayor along.
|
|
Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY
|
Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Lord Mayor—
|
BUCKINGHAM Lord Mayor—
|
|
RICHARD 15 Look to the drawbridge there!
|
RICHARD Look to the drawbridge there!
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Hark, a drum!
|
BUCKINGHAM Hark, a drum!
|
|
RICHARD Catesby, o'erlook the walls.
|
RICHARD Catesby, o'erlook the walls.
|
|
Exit CATESBY
|
Exit CATESBY
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent—
|
BUCKINGHAM Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent—
|
|
RICHARD Look back! Defend thee! Here are enemies.
|
RICHARD Look back! Defend thee! Here are enemies.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM 20 God and our innocence defend and guard us!
|
BUCKINGHAM God and our innocence defend and guard us!
|
|
Enter LOVELL and RATCLIFFE , with HASTINGS’s head
|
Enter LOVELL and RATCLIFFE , with HASTINGS’s head
|
|
RICHARD Be patient. They are friends, Ratcliffe and Lovell.
|
RICHARD Be patient. They are friends, Ratcliffe and Lovell.
|
|
LOVELL Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
|
LOVELL Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
|
|
RICHARD So dear I loved the man that I must weep.
25 I took him for the plainest harmless creature
That breathed upon this earth a Christian;
Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts.
So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue
30 That, his apparent open guilt omitted—
I mean his conversation with Shore’s wife—
He lived from all attainder of suspects.
|
RICHARD So dear I loved the man that I must weep.
I took him for the plainest harmless creature
That breathed upon this earth a Christian;
Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts.
So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue
That, his apparent open guilt omitted—
I mean his conversation with Shore’s wife—
He lived from all attainder of suspects.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Well, well, he was the covert’st sheltered traitor
That ever lived.—
35 Would you imagine, or almost believe,
Were ’t not that by great preservation
We live to tell it, that subtle traitor
This day had plotted, in the council house
To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester?
|
BUCKINGHAM Well, well, he was the covert’st sheltered traitor
That ever lived.—
Would you imagine, or almost believe,
Were ’t not that by great preservation
We live to tell it, that subtle traitor
This day had plotted, in the council house
To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester?
|
|
LORD MAYOR 40 Had he done so?
|
LORD MAYOR Had he done so?
|
|
RICHARD What, think you we are Turks or infidels?
Or that we would, against the form of law,
Proceed thus rashly in the villain’s death,
But that the extreme peril of the case,
45 The peace of England and our persons' safety
Enforced us to this execution?
|
RICHARD What, think you we are Turks or infidels?
Or that we would, against the form of law,
Proceed thus rashly in the villain’s death,
But that the extreme peril of the case,
The peace of England and our persons' safety
Enforced us to this execution?
|
|
LORD MAYOR Now fair befall you! He deserved his death,
And your good Graces both have well proceeded
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
|
LORD MAYOR Now fair befall you! He deserved his death,
And your good Graces both have well proceeded
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM 50 I never looked for better at his hands
After he once fell in with Mistress Shore.
Yet had we not determined he should die
Until your Lordship came to see his end
(Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
55 Something against our meaning, have prevented),
Because, my lord, I would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons,
That you might well have signified the same
60 Unto the citizens, who haply may
Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death.
|
BUCKINGHAM I never looked for better at his hands
After he once fell in with Mistress Shore.
Yet had we not determined he should die
Until your Lordship came to see his end
(Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Something against our meaning, have prevented),
Because, my lord, I would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons,
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who haply may
Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death.
|
|
LORD MAYOR But, my good lord, your Graces' words shall serve
As well as I had seen and heard him speak;
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
65 But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this case.
|
LORD MAYOR But, my good lord, your Graces' words shall serve
As well as I had seen and heard him speak;
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this case.
|
|
RICHARD And to that end we wished your Lordship here
T' avoid the censures of the carping world.
|
RICHARD And to that end we wished your Lordship here
T' avoid the censures of the carping world.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Which since you come too late of our intent,
70 Yet witness what you hear we did intend.
And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.
|
BUCKINGHAM Which since you come too late of our intent,
Yet witness what you hear we did intend.
And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.
|
|
Exit LORD MAYOR
|
Exit LORD MAYOR
|
|
RICHARD Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post.
There, at your meetest vantage of the time,
75 Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children.
Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen
Only for saying he would make his son
Heir to the Crown—meaning indeed his house,
Which, by the sign thereof, was termèd so.
80 Moreover, urge his hateful luxury
And bestial appetite in change of lust,
Which stretched to their servants, daughters, wives,
Even where his raging eye or savage heart,
Without control, lusted to make his prey.
85 Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:
Tell them when that my mother went with child
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York
My princely father then had wars in France,
And, by true computation of the time,
90 Found that the issue was not his begot,
Which well appearèd in his lineaments,
Being nothing like the noble duke my father.
Yet touch this sparingly, as ’twere far off,
Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.
|
RICHARD Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post.
There, at your meetest vantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children.
Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen
Only for saying he would make his son
Heir to the Crown—meaning indeed his house,
Which, by the sign thereof, was termèd so.
Moreover, urge his hateful luxury
And bestial appetite in change of lust,
Which stretched to their servants, daughters, wives,
Even where his raging eye or savage heart,
Without control, lusted to make his prey.
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:
Tell them when that my mother went with child
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York
My princely father then had wars in France,
And, by true computation of the time,
Found that the issue was not his begot,
Which well appearèd in his lineaments,
Being nothing like the noble duke my father.
Yet touch this sparingly, as ’twere far off,
Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM 95 Doubt not, my lord. I’ll play the orator
As if the golden fee for which I plead
Were for myself. And so, my lord, adieu.
|
BUCKINGHAM Doubt not, my lord. I’ll play the orator
As if the golden fee for which I plead
Were for myself. And so, my lord, adieu.
|
|
RICHARD If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle,
Where you shall find me well accompanied
100 With reverend fathers and well-learnèd bishops.
|
RICHARD If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle,
Where you shall find me well accompanied
With reverend fathers and well-learnèd bishops.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM I go; and towards three or four o'clock
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
|
BUCKINGHAM I go; and towards three or four o'clock
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
|
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
|
RICHARD Go, Lovell, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.
(to RATCLIFFE) Go thou to Friar Penker. Bid them both
105 Meet me within this hour at Baynard’s Castle.
|
RICHARD Go, Lovell, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.
(to RATCLIFFE) Go thou to Friar Penker. Bid them both
Meet me within this hour at Baynard’s Castle.
|
|
Exit LOVELL and RATCLIFFE
|
Exit LOVELL and RATCLIFFE
|
|
Now will I go to take some privy order
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,
And to give order that no manner of person
Have any time recourse unto the princes.
|
Now will I go to take some privy order
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,
And to give order that no manner of person
Have any time recourse unto the princes.
|
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
Original Text |
Modern Text |
|
Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM , in rotten armor, marvelous ill-favored
|
Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM , in rotten armor, marvelous ill-favored
|
|
RICHARD Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy color,
Murder thy breath in the middle of a word,
And then begin again, and stop again,
As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror?
|
RICHARD Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy color,
Murder thy breath in the middle of a word,
And then begin again, and stop again,
As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror?
|
|
BUCKINGHAM 5 Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian,
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion. Ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforcèd smiles,
10 And both are ready in their offices,
At any time to grace my stratagems.
But what, is Catesby gone?
|
BUCKINGHAM Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian,
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion. Ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforcèd smiles,
And both are ready in their offices,
At any time to grace my stratagems.
But what, is Catesby gone?
|
|
RICHARD He is; and see, he brings the mayor along.
|
RICHARD He is; and see, he brings the mayor along.
|
|
Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY
|
Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Lord Mayor—
|
BUCKINGHAM Lord Mayor—
|
|
RICHARD 15 Look to the drawbridge there!
|
RICHARD Look to the drawbridge there!
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Hark, a drum!
|
BUCKINGHAM Hark, a drum!
|
|
RICHARD Catesby, o'erlook the walls.
|
RICHARD Catesby, o'erlook the walls.
|
|
Exit CATESBY
|
Exit CATESBY
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent—
|
BUCKINGHAM Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent—
|
|
RICHARD Look back! Defend thee! Here are enemies.
|
RICHARD Look back! Defend thee! Here are enemies.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM 20 God and our innocence defend and guard us!
|
BUCKINGHAM God and our innocence defend and guard us!
|
|
Enter LOVELL and RATCLIFFE , with HASTINGS’s head
|
Enter LOVELL and RATCLIFFE , with HASTINGS’s head
|
|
RICHARD Be patient. They are friends, Ratcliffe and Lovell.
|
RICHARD Be patient. They are friends, Ratcliffe and Lovell.
|
|
LOVELL Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
|
LOVELL Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
|
|
RICHARD So dear I loved the man that I must weep.
25 I took him for the plainest harmless creature
That breathed upon this earth a Christian;
Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts.
So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue
30 That, his apparent open guilt omitted—
I mean his conversation with Shore’s wife—
He lived from all attainder of suspects.
|
RICHARD So dear I loved the man that I must weep.
I took him for the plainest harmless creature
That breathed upon this earth a Christian;
Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts.
So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue
That, his apparent open guilt omitted—
I mean his conversation with Shore’s wife—
He lived from all attainder of suspects.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Well, well, he was the covert’st sheltered traitor
That ever lived.—
35 Would you imagine, or almost believe,
Were ’t not that by great preservation
We live to tell it, that subtle traitor
This day had plotted, in the council house
To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester?
|
BUCKINGHAM Well, well, he was the covert’st sheltered traitor
That ever lived.—
Would you imagine, or almost believe,
Were ’t not that by great preservation
We live to tell it, that subtle traitor
This day had plotted, in the council house
To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester?
|
|
LORD MAYOR 40 Had he done so?
|
LORD MAYOR Had he done so?
|
|
RICHARD What, think you we are Turks or infidels?
Or that we would, against the form of law,
Proceed thus rashly in the villain’s death,
But that the extreme peril of the case,
45 The peace of England and our persons' safety
Enforced us to this execution?
|
RICHARD What, think you we are Turks or infidels?
Or that we would, against the form of law,
Proceed thus rashly in the villain’s death,
But that the extreme peril of the case,
The peace of England and our persons' safety
Enforced us to this execution?
|
|
LORD MAYOR Now fair befall you! He deserved his death,
And your good Graces both have well proceeded
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
|
LORD MAYOR Now fair befall you! He deserved his death,
And your good Graces both have well proceeded
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM 50 I never looked for better at his hands
After he once fell in with Mistress Shore.
Yet had we not determined he should die
Until your Lordship came to see his end
(Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
55 Something against our meaning, have prevented),
Because, my lord, I would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons,
That you might well have signified the same
60 Unto the citizens, who haply may
Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death.
|
BUCKINGHAM I never looked for better at his hands
After he once fell in with Mistress Shore.
Yet had we not determined he should die
Until your Lordship came to see his end
(Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Something against our meaning, have prevented),
Because, my lord, I would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons,
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who haply may
Misconstrue us in him, and wail his death.
|
|
LORD MAYOR But, my good lord, your Graces' words shall serve
As well as I had seen and heard him speak;
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
65 But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this case.
|
LORD MAYOR But, my good lord, your Graces' words shall serve
As well as I had seen and heard him speak;
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this case.
|
|
RICHARD And to that end we wished your Lordship here
T' avoid the censures of the carping world.
|
RICHARD And to that end we wished your Lordship here
T' avoid the censures of the carping world.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Which since you come too late of our intent,
70 Yet witness what you hear we did intend.
And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.
|
BUCKINGHAM Which since you come too late of our intent,
Yet witness what you hear we did intend.
And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.
|
|
Exit LORD MAYOR
|
Exit LORD MAYOR
|
|
RICHARD Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post.
There, at your meetest vantage of the time,
75 Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children.
Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen
Only for saying he would make his son
Heir to the Crown—meaning indeed his house,
Which, by the sign thereof, was termèd so.
80 Moreover, urge his hateful luxury
And bestial appetite in change of lust,
Which stretched to their servants, daughters, wives,
Even where his raging eye or savage heart,
Without control, lusted to make his prey.
85 Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:
Tell them when that my mother went with child
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York
My princely father then had wars in France,
And, by true computation of the time,
90 Found that the issue was not his begot,
Which well appearèd in his lineaments,
Being nothing like the noble duke my father.
Yet touch this sparingly, as ’twere far off,
Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.
|
RICHARD Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
The mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post.
There, at your meetest vantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children.
Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen
Only for saying he would make his son
Heir to the Crown—meaning indeed his house,
Which, by the sign thereof, was termèd so.
Moreover, urge his hateful luxury
And bestial appetite in change of lust,
Which stretched to their servants, daughters, wives,
Even where his raging eye or savage heart,
Without control, lusted to make his prey.
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:
Tell them when that my mother went with child
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York
My princely father then had wars in France,
And, by true computation of the time,
Found that the issue was not his begot,
Which well appearèd in his lineaments,
Being nothing like the noble duke my father.
Yet touch this sparingly, as ’twere far off,
Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM 95 Doubt not, my lord. I’ll play the orator
As if the golden fee for which I plead
Were for myself. And so, my lord, adieu.
|
BUCKINGHAM Doubt not, my lord. I’ll play the orator
As if the golden fee for which I plead
Were for myself. And so, my lord, adieu.
|
|
RICHARD If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle,
Where you shall find me well accompanied
100 With reverend fathers and well-learnèd bishops.
|
RICHARD If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle,
Where you shall find me well accompanied
With reverend fathers and well-learnèd bishops.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM I go; and towards three or four o'clock
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
|
BUCKINGHAM I go; and towards three or four o'clock
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
|
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
|
RICHARD Go, Lovell, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.
(to RATCLIFFE) Go thou to Friar Penker. Bid them both
105 Meet me within this hour at Baynard’s Castle.
|
RICHARD Go, Lovell, with all speed to Doctor Shaw.
(to RATCLIFFE) Go thou to Friar Penker. Bid them both
Meet me within this hour at Baynard’s Castle.
|
|
Exit LOVELL and RATCLIFFE
|
Exit LOVELL and RATCLIFFE
|
|
Now will I go to take some privy order
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,
And to give order that no manner of person
Have any time recourse unto the princes.
|
Now will I go to take some privy order
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,
And to give order that no manner of person
Have any time recourse unto the princes.
|
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
Please wait while we process your payment
