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No Fear Translations
No Fear Audio
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Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM , at several doors
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Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM , at several doors
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RICHARD How now, how now? What say the citizens?
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RICHARD How now, how now? What say the citizens?
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BUCKINGHAM Now, by the holy mother of our Lord,
The citizens are mum, say not a word.
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BUCKINGHAM Now, by the holy mother of our Lord,
The citizens are mum, say not a word.
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RICHARD Touched you the bastardy of Edward’s children?
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RICHARD Touched you the bastardy of Edward’s children?
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BUCKINGHAM 5 I did; with his contract with Lady Lucy
And his contract by deputy in France;
Th' unsatiate greediness of his desire
And his enforcement of the city wives;
His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,
10 As being got, your father then in France,
His resemblance being not like the duke.
Withal, I did infer your lineaments,
Being the right idea of your father,
Both in your form and nobleness of mind;
15 Laid open all your victories in Scotland,
Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;
Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpose
Untouched or slightly handled in discourse.
20 And when mine oratory grew toward end,
I bid them that did love their country’s good
Cry “God save Richard, England’s royal king!”
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BUCKINGHAM I did; with his contract with Lady Lucy
And his contract by deputy in France;
Th' unsatiate greediness of his desire
And his enforcement of the city wives;
His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,
As being got, your father then in France,
His resemblance being not like the duke.
Withal, I did infer your lineaments,
Being the right idea of your father,
Both in your form and nobleness of mind;
Laid open all your victories in Scotland,
Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;
Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpose
Untouched or slightly handled in discourse.
And when mine oratory grew toward end,
I bid them that did love their country’s good
Cry “God save Richard, England’s royal king!”
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RICHARD And did they so?
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RICHARD And did they so?
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BUCKINGHAM No. So God help me, they spake not a word
25 But, like dumb statues or breathing stones,
Stared each on other and looked deadly pale;
Which when I saw, I reprehended them
And asked the mayor what meant this willful silence.
His answer was, the people were not used
30 To be spoke to but by the recorder.
Then he was urged to tell my tale again:
“Thus saith the duke. Thus hath the duke inferred”—
But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
35 At the lower end of the hall, hurled up their caps,
And some ten voices cried “God save King Richard!”
And thus I took the vantage of those few.
“Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,” quoth I.
"This general applause and cheerful shout
40 Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard"—
And even here brake off, and came away.
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BUCKINGHAM No. So God help me, they spake not a word
But, like dumb statues or breathing stones,
Stared each on other and looked deadly pale;
Which when I saw, I reprehended them
And asked the mayor what meant this willful silence.
His answer was, the people were not used
To be spoke to but by the recorder.
Then he was urged to tell my tale again:
“Thus saith the duke. Thus hath the duke inferred”—
But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
At the lower end of the hall, hurled up their caps,
And some ten voices cried “God save King Richard!”
And thus I took the vantage of those few.
“Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,” quoth I.
"This general applause and cheerful shout
Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard"—
And even here brake off, and came away.
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RICHARD What tongueless blocks were they! Would not they speak?
Will not the mayor then and his brethren come?
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RICHARD What tongueless blocks were they! Would not they speak?
Will not the mayor then and his brethren come?
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BUCKINGHAM The mayor is here at hand. Intend some fear;
45 Be not you spoke with but by mighty suit.
And look you get a prayer book in your hand
And stand between two churchmen, good my lord,
For on that ground I’ll make a holy descant.
And be not easily won to our requests.
50 Play the maid’s part: still answer “nay,” and take it.
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BUCKINGHAM The mayor is here at hand. Intend some fear;
Be not you spoke with but by mighty suit.
And look you get a prayer book in your hand
And stand between two churchmen, good my lord,
For on that ground I’ll make a holy descant.
And be not easily won to our requests.
Play the maid’s part: still answer “nay,” and take it.
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RICHARD I go. An if you plead as well for them
As I can say “nay” to thee for myself,
No doubt we bring it to a happy issue.
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RICHARD I go. An if you plead as well for them
As I can say “nay” to thee for myself,
No doubt we bring it to a happy issue.
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Knocking within
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Knocking within
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BUCKINGHAM Go, go, up to the leads. The Lord Mayor knocks.
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BUCKINGHAM Go, go, up to the leads. The Lord Mayor knocks.
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Exit RICHARD
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Exit RICHARD
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Enter the LORD MAYOR and CITIZENS
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Enter the LORD MAYOR and CITIZENS
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55 Welcome, my lord. I dance attendance here.
I think the duke will not be spoke withal.
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Welcome, my lord. I dance attendance here.
I think the duke will not be spoke withal.
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Enter CATESBY
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Enter CATESBY
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Now, Catesby, what says your lord to my request?
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Now, Catesby, what says your lord to my request?
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CATESBY He doth entreat your Grace, my noble lord,
To visit him tomorrow or next day.
60 He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Divinely bent to meditation,
And in no worldly suits would he be moved
To draw him from his holy exercise.
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CATESBY He doth entreat your Grace, my noble lord,
To visit him tomorrow or next day.
He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Divinely bent to meditation,
And in no worldly suits would he be moved
To draw him from his holy exercise.
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BUCKINGHAM Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke.
65 Tell him myself, the mayor, and aldermen,
No less importing than our general good,
In deep designs, and matters of great moment
Are come to have some conference with his grace.
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BUCKINGHAM Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke.
Tell him myself, the mayor, and aldermen,
No less importing than our general good,
In deep designs, and matters of great moment
Are come to have some conference with his grace.
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CATESBY I’ll signify so much unto him straight.
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CATESBY I’ll signify so much unto him straight.
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Exit
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Exit
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BUCKINGHAM 70 Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!
He is not lolling on a lewd love bed,
But on his knees at meditation;
Not dallying with a brace of courtesans,
But meditating with two deep divines;
75 Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul.
Happy were England would this virtuous prince
Take on his grave the sovereignty thereof.
But sure I fear we shall not win him to it.
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BUCKINGHAM Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!
He is not lolling on a lewd love bed,
But on his knees at meditation;
Not dallying with a brace of courtesans,
But meditating with two deep divines;
Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul.
Happy were England would this virtuous prince
Take on his grave the sovereignty thereof.
But sure I fear we shall not win him to it.
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LORD MAYOR 80 Marry, God defend his grace should say us nay!
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LORD MAYOR Marry, God defend his grace should say us nay!
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BUCKINGHAM I fear he will. Here Catesby comes again.
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BUCKINGHAM I fear he will. Here Catesby comes again.
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Enter CATESBY
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Enter CATESBY
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Now, Catesby, what says his grace?
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Now, Catesby, what says his grace?
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CATESBY He wonders to what end you have assembled
Such troops of citizens to come to him,
85 His grace not being warned thereof before.
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.
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CATESBY He wonders to what end you have assembled
Such troops of citizens to come to him,
His grace not being warned thereof before.
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.
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BUCKINGHAM Sorry I am my noble cousin should
Suspect me that I mean no good to him.
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love,
90 And so once more return and tell his grace.
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BUCKINGHAM Sorry I am my noble cousin should
Suspect me that I mean no good to him.
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love,
And so once more return and tell his grace.
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Exit CATESBY
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Exit CATESBY
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When holy and devout religious men
Are at their beads, ’tis much to draw them thence,
So sweet is zealous contemplation.
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When holy and devout religious men
Are at their beads, ’tis much to draw them thence,
So sweet is zealous contemplation.
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Enter RICHARD aloft, between two bishops CATESBY returns
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Enter RICHARD aloft, between two bishops CATESBY returns
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LORD MAYOR See where his Grace stands, ’tween two clergymen.
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LORD MAYOR See where his Grace stands, ’tween two clergymen.
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BUCKINGHAM 95 Two props of virtue for a Christian prince,
To stay him from the fall of vanity;
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand,
True ornaments to know a holy man.—
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
100 Lend favorable ears to our requests,
And pardon us the interruption
Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.
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BUCKINGHAM Two props of virtue for a Christian prince,
To stay him from the fall of vanity;
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand,
True ornaments to know a holy man.—
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
Lend favorable ears to our requests,
And pardon us the interruption
Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.
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RICHARD My lord, there needs no such apology.
I do beseech your Grace pardon me,
105 Who, earnest in the service of my God,
Deferred the visitation of my friends.
But, leaving this, what is your Grace’s pleasure?
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RICHARD My lord, there needs no such apology.
I do beseech your Grace pardon me,
Who, earnest in the service of my God,
Deferred the visitation of my friends.
But, leaving this, what is your Grace’s pleasure?
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BUCKINGHAM Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above
And all good men of this ungoverned isle.
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BUCKINGHAM Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above
And all good men of this ungoverned isle.
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RICHARD 110 I do suspect I have done some offense
That seems disgracious in the city’s eye,
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.
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RICHARD I do suspect I have done some offense
That seems disgracious in the city’s eye,
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.
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BUCKINGHAM You have, my lord. Would it might please your Grace,
On our entreaties, to amend your fault.
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BUCKINGHAM You have, my lord. Would it might please your Grace,
On our entreaties, to amend your fault.
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RICHARD 115 Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?
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RICHARD Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?
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BUCKINGHAM Know, then, it is your fault that you resign
The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The sceptered office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune, and your due of birth,
120 The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemished stock,
Whiles in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,
Which here we waken to our country’s good,
The noble isle doth want her proper limbs—
125 Her face defaced with scars of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
And almost shouldered in the swallowing gulf
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion;
Which to recure, we heartily solicit
130 Your gracious self to take on you the charge
And kingly government of this your land,
Not as Protector, steward, substitute,
Or lowly factor for another’s gain,
But as successively, from blood to blood,
135 Your right of birth, your empery, your own.
For this, consorted with the citizens,
Your very worshipful and loving friends,
And by their vehement instigation,
In this just suit come I to move your Grace.
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BUCKINGHAM Know, then, it is your fault that you resign
The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The sceptered office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune, and your due of birth,
The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemished stock,
Whiles in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,
Which here we waken to our country’s good,
The noble isle doth want her proper limbs—
Her face defaced with scars of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
And almost shouldered in the swallowing gulf
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion;
Which to recure, we heartily solicit
Your gracious self to take on you the charge
And kingly government of this your land,
Not as Protector, steward, substitute,
Or lowly factor for another’s gain,
But as successively, from blood to blood,
Your right of birth, your empery, your own.
For this, consorted with the citizens,
Your very worshipful and loving friends,
And by their vehement instigation,
In this just suit come I to move your Grace.
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RICHARD 140 I cannot tell if to depart in silence
Or bitterly to speak in your reproof
Best fitteth my degree or your condition.
If not to answer, you might haply think
Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded
145 To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty,
Which fondly you would here impose on me.
If to reprove you for this suit of yours,
So seasoned with your faithful love to me,
Then on the other side I checked my friends.
150 Therefore, to speak, and to avoid the first,
And then, in speaking, not to incur the last,
Definitively thus I answer you:
Your love deserves my thanks, but my desert
Unmeritable shuns your high request.
155 First, if all obstacles were cut away
And that my path were even to the crown
As the ripe revenue and due of birth,
Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty and so many my defects,
160 That I would rather hide me from my greatness,
Being a bark to brook no mighty sea,
Than in my greatness covet to be hid
And in the vapor of my glory smothered.
But, God be thanked, there is no need of me,
165 And much I need to help you, were there need.
The royal tree hath left us royal fruit,
Which, mellowed by the stealing hours of time,
Will well become the seat of majesty,
And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign.
170 On him I lay what you would lay on me,
The right and fortune of his happy stars,
Which God defend that I should wring from him.
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RICHARD I cannot tell if to depart in silence
Or bitterly to speak in your reproof
Best fitteth my degree or your condition.
If not to answer, you might haply think
Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded
To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty,
Which fondly you would here impose on me.
If to reprove you for this suit of yours,
So seasoned with your faithful love to me,
Then on the other side I checked my friends.
Therefore, to speak, and to avoid the first,
And then, in speaking, not to incur the last,
Definitively thus I answer you:
Your love deserves my thanks, but my desert
Unmeritable shuns your high request.
First, if all obstacles were cut away
And that my path were even to the crown
As the ripe revenue and due of birth,
Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty and so many my defects,
That I would rather hide me from my greatness,
Being a bark to brook no mighty sea,
Than in my greatness covet to be hid
And in the vapor of my glory smothered.
But, God be thanked, there is no need of me,
And much I need to help you, were there need.
The royal tree hath left us royal fruit,
Which, mellowed by the stealing hours of time,
Will well become the seat of majesty,
And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign.
On him I lay what you would lay on me,
The right and fortune of his happy stars,
Which God defend that I should wring from him.
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BUCKINGHAM My lord, this argues conscience in your Grace,
But the respects thereof are nice and trivial,
175 All circumstances well considerèd.
You say that Edward is your brother’s son;
So say we too, but not by Edward’s wife.
For first was he contract to Lady Lucy—
Your mother lives a witness to that vow—
180 And afterward by substitute betrothed
To Bona, sister to the king of France.
These both put off, a poor petitioner,
A care-crazed mother to a many sons,
A beauty-waning and distressèd widow,
185 Even in the afternoon of her best days,
Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye,
Seduced the pitch and height of his degree
To base declension and loathed bigamy.
By her in his unlawful bed he got
190 This Edward, whom our manners term “the Prince.”
More bitterly could I expostulate,
Save that, for reverence to some alive,
I give a sparing limit to my tongue.
Then, good my lord, take to your royal self
195 This proffered benefit of dignity,
If not to bless us and the land withal,
Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry
From the corruption of abusing times
Unto a lineal, true-derivèd course.
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BUCKINGHAM My lord, this argues conscience in your Grace,
But the respects thereof are nice and trivial,
All circumstances well considerèd.
You say that Edward is your brother’s son;
So say we too, but not by Edward’s wife.
For first was he contract to Lady Lucy—
Your mother lives a witness to that vow—
And afterward by substitute betrothed
To Bona, sister to the king of France.
These both put off, a poor petitioner,
A care-crazed mother to a many sons,
A beauty-waning and distressèd widow,
Even in the afternoon of her best days,
Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye,
Seduced the pitch and height of his degree
To base declension and loathed bigamy.
By her in his unlawful bed he got
This Edward, whom our manners term “the Prince.”
More bitterly could I expostulate,
Save that, for reverence to some alive,
I give a sparing limit to my tongue.
Then, good my lord, take to your royal self
This proffered benefit of dignity,
If not to bless us and the land withal,
Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry
From the corruption of abusing times
Unto a lineal, true-derivèd course.
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LORD MAYOR 200 Do, good my lord. Your citizens entreat you.
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LORD MAYOR Do, good my lord. Your citizens entreat you.
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BUCKINGHAM Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffered love.
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BUCKINGHAM Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffered love.
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CATESBY O, make them joyful. Grant their lawful suit.
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CATESBY O, make them joyful. Grant their lawful suit.
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RICHARD Alas, why would you heap this care on me?
I am unfit for state and majesty.
205 I do beseech you, take it not amiss;
I cannot, nor I will not, yield to you.
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RICHARD Alas, why would you heap this care on me?
I am unfit for state and majesty.
I do beseech you, take it not amiss;
I cannot, nor I will not, yield to you.
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BUCKINGHAM If you refuse it, as in love and zeal
Loath to depose the child, your brother’s son—
As well we know your tenderness of heart
210 And gentle, kind, effeminate remorse,
Which we have noted in you to your kindred
And equally indeed to all estates—
Yet know whe'er you accept our suit or no,
Your brother’s son shall never reign our king,
215 But we will plant some other in the throne,
To the disgrace and downfall of your house.
And in this resolution here we leave you.—
Come, citizens. Zounds, I’ll entreat no more.
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BUCKINGHAM If you refuse it, as in love and zeal
Loath to depose the child, your brother’s son—
As well we know your tenderness of heart
And gentle, kind, effeminate remorse,
Which we have noted in you to your kindred
And equally indeed to all estates—
Yet know whe'er you accept our suit or no,
Your brother’s son shall never reign our king,
But we will plant some other in the throne,
To the disgrace and downfall of your house.
And in this resolution here we leave you.—
Come, citizens. Zounds, I’ll entreat no more.
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RICHARD O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingham!
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RICHARD O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingham!
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Exit BUCKINGHAM and some others
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Exit BUCKINGHAM and some others
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CATESBY 220 Call them again, sweet prince. Accept their suit.
If you deny them, all the land will rue it.
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CATESBY Call them again, sweet prince. Accept their suit.
If you deny them, all the land will rue it.
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RICHARD Will you enforce me to a world of cares?
Call them again. I am not made of stones,
But penetrable to your kind entreaties,
225 Albeit against my conscience and my soul.
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RICHARD Will you enforce me to a world of cares?
Call them again. I am not made of stones,
But penetrable to your kind entreaties,
Albeit against my conscience and my soul.
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Enter BUCKINGHAM and the rest
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Enter BUCKINGHAM and the rest
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Cousin of Buckingham and sage, grave men,
Since you will buckle fortune on my back,
To bear her burden, whe'er I will or no,
I must have patience to endure the load;
230 But if black scandal or foul-faced reproach
Attend the sequel of your imposition,
Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me
From all the impure blots and stains thereof,
For God doth know, and you may partly see,
235 How far I am from the desire of this.
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Cousin of Buckingham and sage, grave men,
Since you will buckle fortune on my back,
To bear her burden, whe'er I will or no,
I must have patience to endure the load;
But if black scandal or foul-faced reproach
Attend the sequel of your imposition,
Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me
From all the impure blots and stains thereof,
For God doth know, and you may partly see,
How far I am from the desire of this.
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LORD MAYOR God bless your Grace! We see it and will say it.
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LORD MAYOR God bless your Grace! We see it and will say it.
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RICHARD In saying so, you shall but say the truth.
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RICHARD In saying so, you shall but say the truth.
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BUCKINGHAM Then I salute you with this royal title:
Long live Richard, England’s worthy king!
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BUCKINGHAM Then I salute you with this royal title:
Long live Richard, England’s worthy king!
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ALL 240 Amen.
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ALL Amen.
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BUCKINGHAM Tomorrow will it please you to be crowned?
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BUCKINGHAM Tomorrow will it please you to be crowned?
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RICHARD Even when you please, since you will have it so.
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RICHARD Even when you please, since you will have it so.
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BUCKINGHAM Tomorrow, then, we will attend your Grace,
And so most joyfully we take our leave.
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BUCKINGHAM Tomorrow, then, we will attend your Grace,
And so most joyfully we take our leave.
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RICHARD Farewell, my cousin. Farewell, gentle friends.
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RICHARD Farewell, my cousin. Farewell, gentle friends.
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Exeunt
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Exeunt
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Original Text |
Modern Text |
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Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM , at several doors
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Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM , at several doors
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RICHARD How now, how now? What say the citizens?
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RICHARD How now, how now? What say the citizens?
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BUCKINGHAM Now, by the holy mother of our Lord,
The citizens are mum, say not a word.
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BUCKINGHAM Now, by the holy mother of our Lord,
The citizens are mum, say not a word.
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RICHARD Touched you the bastardy of Edward’s children?
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RICHARD Touched you the bastardy of Edward’s children?
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BUCKINGHAM 5 I did; with his contract with Lady Lucy
And his contract by deputy in France;
Th' unsatiate greediness of his desire
And his enforcement of the city wives;
His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,
10 As being got, your father then in France,
His resemblance being not like the duke.
Withal, I did infer your lineaments,
Being the right idea of your father,
Both in your form and nobleness of mind;
15 Laid open all your victories in Scotland,
Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;
Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpose
Untouched or slightly handled in discourse.
20 And when mine oratory grew toward end,
I bid them that did love their country’s good
Cry “God save Richard, England’s royal king!”
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BUCKINGHAM I did; with his contract with Lady Lucy
And his contract by deputy in France;
Th' unsatiate greediness of his desire
And his enforcement of the city wives;
His tyranny for trifles; his own bastardy,
As being got, your father then in France,
His resemblance being not like the duke.
Withal, I did infer your lineaments,
Being the right idea of your father,
Both in your form and nobleness of mind;
Laid open all your victories in Scotland,
Your discipline in war, wisdom in peace,
Your bounty, virtue, fair humility;
Indeed, left nothing fitting for your purpose
Untouched or slightly handled in discourse.
And when mine oratory grew toward end,
I bid them that did love their country’s good
Cry “God save Richard, England’s royal king!”
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RICHARD And did they so?
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RICHARD And did they so?
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BUCKINGHAM No. So God help me, they spake not a word
25 But, like dumb statues or breathing stones,
Stared each on other and looked deadly pale;
Which when I saw, I reprehended them
And asked the mayor what meant this willful silence.
His answer was, the people were not used
30 To be spoke to but by the recorder.
Then he was urged to tell my tale again:
“Thus saith the duke. Thus hath the duke inferred”—
But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
35 At the lower end of the hall, hurled up their caps,
And some ten voices cried “God save King Richard!”
And thus I took the vantage of those few.
“Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,” quoth I.
"This general applause and cheerful shout
40 Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard"—
And even here brake off, and came away.
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BUCKINGHAM No. So God help me, they spake not a word
But, like dumb statues or breathing stones,
Stared each on other and looked deadly pale;
Which when I saw, I reprehended them
And asked the mayor what meant this willful silence.
His answer was, the people were not used
To be spoke to but by the recorder.
Then he was urged to tell my tale again:
“Thus saith the duke. Thus hath the duke inferred”—
But nothing spoke in warrant from himself.
When he had done, some followers of mine own,
At the lower end of the hall, hurled up their caps,
And some ten voices cried “God save King Richard!”
And thus I took the vantage of those few.
“Thanks, gentle citizens and friends,” quoth I.
"This general applause and cheerful shout
Argues your wisdoms and your love to Richard"—
And even here brake off, and came away.
|
|
RICHARD What tongueless blocks were they! Would not they speak?
Will not the mayor then and his brethren come?
|
RICHARD What tongueless blocks were they! Would not they speak?
Will not the mayor then and his brethren come?
|
|
BUCKINGHAM The mayor is here at hand. Intend some fear;
45 Be not you spoke with but by mighty suit.
And look you get a prayer book in your hand
And stand between two churchmen, good my lord,
For on that ground I’ll make a holy descant.
And be not easily won to our requests.
50 Play the maid’s part: still answer “nay,” and take it.
|
BUCKINGHAM The mayor is here at hand. Intend some fear;
Be not you spoke with but by mighty suit.
And look you get a prayer book in your hand
And stand between two churchmen, good my lord,
For on that ground I’ll make a holy descant.
And be not easily won to our requests.
Play the maid’s part: still answer “nay,” and take it.
|
|
RICHARD I go. An if you plead as well for them
As I can say “nay” to thee for myself,
No doubt we bring it to a happy issue.
|
RICHARD I go. An if you plead as well for them
As I can say “nay” to thee for myself,
No doubt we bring it to a happy issue.
|
|
Knocking within
|
Knocking within
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Go, go, up to the leads. The Lord Mayor knocks.
|
BUCKINGHAM Go, go, up to the leads. The Lord Mayor knocks.
|
|
Exit RICHARD
|
Exit RICHARD
|
|
Enter the LORD MAYOR and CITIZENS
|
Enter the LORD MAYOR and CITIZENS
|
|
55 Welcome, my lord. I dance attendance here.
I think the duke will not be spoke withal.
|
Welcome, my lord. I dance attendance here.
I think the duke will not be spoke withal.
|
|
Enter CATESBY
|
Enter CATESBY
|
|
Now, Catesby, what says your lord to my request?
|
Now, Catesby, what says your lord to my request?
|
|
CATESBY He doth entreat your Grace, my noble lord,
To visit him tomorrow or next day.
60 He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Divinely bent to meditation,
And in no worldly suits would he be moved
To draw him from his holy exercise.
|
CATESBY He doth entreat your Grace, my noble lord,
To visit him tomorrow or next day.
He is within, with two right reverend fathers,
Divinely bent to meditation,
And in no worldly suits would he be moved
To draw him from his holy exercise.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke.
65 Tell him myself, the mayor, and aldermen,
No less importing than our general good,
In deep designs, and matters of great moment
Are come to have some conference with his grace.
|
BUCKINGHAM Return, good Catesby, to the gracious duke.
Tell him myself, the mayor, and aldermen,
No less importing than our general good,
In deep designs, and matters of great moment
Are come to have some conference with his grace.
|
|
CATESBY I’ll signify so much unto him straight.
|
CATESBY I’ll signify so much unto him straight.
|
|
Exit
|
Exit
|
|
BUCKINGHAM 70 Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!
He is not lolling on a lewd love bed,
But on his knees at meditation;
Not dallying with a brace of courtesans,
But meditating with two deep divines;
75 Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul.
Happy were England would this virtuous prince
Take on his grave the sovereignty thereof.
But sure I fear we shall not win him to it.
|
BUCKINGHAM Ah, ha, my lord, this prince is not an Edward!
He is not lolling on a lewd love bed,
But on his knees at meditation;
Not dallying with a brace of courtesans,
But meditating with two deep divines;
Not sleeping, to engross his idle body,
But praying, to enrich his watchful soul.
Happy were England would this virtuous prince
Take on his grave the sovereignty thereof.
But sure I fear we shall not win him to it.
|
|
LORD MAYOR 80 Marry, God defend his grace should say us nay!
|
LORD MAYOR Marry, God defend his grace should say us nay!
|
|
BUCKINGHAM I fear he will. Here Catesby comes again.
|
BUCKINGHAM I fear he will. Here Catesby comes again.
|
|
Enter CATESBY
|
Enter CATESBY
|
|
Now, Catesby, what says his grace?
|
Now, Catesby, what says his grace?
|
|
CATESBY He wonders to what end you have assembled
Such troops of citizens to come to him,
85 His grace not being warned thereof before.
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.
|
CATESBY He wonders to what end you have assembled
Such troops of citizens to come to him,
His grace not being warned thereof before.
He fears, my lord, you mean no good to him.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Sorry I am my noble cousin should
Suspect me that I mean no good to him.
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love,
90 And so once more return and tell his grace.
|
BUCKINGHAM Sorry I am my noble cousin should
Suspect me that I mean no good to him.
By heaven, we come to him in perfect love,
And so once more return and tell his grace.
|
|
Exit CATESBY
|
Exit CATESBY
|
|
When holy and devout religious men
Are at their beads, ’tis much to draw them thence,
So sweet is zealous contemplation.
|
When holy and devout religious men
Are at their beads, ’tis much to draw them thence,
So sweet is zealous contemplation.
|
|
Enter RICHARD aloft, between two bishops CATESBY returns
|
Enter RICHARD aloft, between two bishops CATESBY returns
|
|
LORD MAYOR See where his Grace stands, ’tween two clergymen.
|
LORD MAYOR See where his Grace stands, ’tween two clergymen.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM 95 Two props of virtue for a Christian prince,
To stay him from the fall of vanity;
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand,
True ornaments to know a holy man.—
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
100 Lend favorable ears to our requests,
And pardon us the interruption
Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.
|
BUCKINGHAM Two props of virtue for a Christian prince,
To stay him from the fall of vanity;
And, see, a book of prayer in his hand,
True ornaments to know a holy man.—
Famous Plantagenet, most gracious prince,
Lend favorable ears to our requests,
And pardon us the interruption
Of thy devotion and right Christian zeal.
|
|
RICHARD My lord, there needs no such apology.
I do beseech your Grace pardon me,
105 Who, earnest in the service of my God,
Deferred the visitation of my friends.
But, leaving this, what is your Grace’s pleasure?
|
RICHARD My lord, there needs no such apology.
I do beseech your Grace pardon me,
Who, earnest in the service of my God,
Deferred the visitation of my friends.
But, leaving this, what is your Grace’s pleasure?
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above
And all good men of this ungoverned isle.
|
BUCKINGHAM Even that, I hope, which pleaseth God above
And all good men of this ungoverned isle.
|
|
RICHARD 110 I do suspect I have done some offense
That seems disgracious in the city’s eye,
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.
|
RICHARD I do suspect I have done some offense
That seems disgracious in the city’s eye,
And that you come to reprehend my ignorance.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM You have, my lord. Would it might please your Grace,
On our entreaties, to amend your fault.
|
BUCKINGHAM You have, my lord. Would it might please your Grace,
On our entreaties, to amend your fault.
|
|
RICHARD 115 Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?
|
RICHARD Else wherefore breathe I in a Christian land?
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Know, then, it is your fault that you resign
The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The sceptered office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune, and your due of birth,
120 The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemished stock,
Whiles in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,
Which here we waken to our country’s good,
The noble isle doth want her proper limbs—
125 Her face defaced with scars of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
And almost shouldered in the swallowing gulf
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion;
Which to recure, we heartily solicit
130 Your gracious self to take on you the charge
And kingly government of this your land,
Not as Protector, steward, substitute,
Or lowly factor for another’s gain,
But as successively, from blood to blood,
135 Your right of birth, your empery, your own.
For this, consorted with the citizens,
Your very worshipful and loving friends,
And by their vehement instigation,
In this just suit come I to move your Grace.
|
BUCKINGHAM Know, then, it is your fault that you resign
The supreme seat, the throne majestical,
The sceptered office of your ancestors,
Your state of fortune, and your due of birth,
The lineal glory of your royal house,
To the corruption of a blemished stock,
Whiles in the mildness of your sleepy thoughts,
Which here we waken to our country’s good,
The noble isle doth want her proper limbs—
Her face defaced with scars of infamy,
Her royal stock graft with ignoble plants,
And almost shouldered in the swallowing gulf
Of dark forgetfulness and deep oblivion;
Which to recure, we heartily solicit
Your gracious self to take on you the charge
And kingly government of this your land,
Not as Protector, steward, substitute,
Or lowly factor for another’s gain,
But as successively, from blood to blood,
Your right of birth, your empery, your own.
For this, consorted with the citizens,
Your very worshipful and loving friends,
And by their vehement instigation,
In this just suit come I to move your Grace.
|
|
RICHARD 140 I cannot tell if to depart in silence
Or bitterly to speak in your reproof
Best fitteth my degree or your condition.
If not to answer, you might haply think
Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded
145 To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty,
Which fondly you would here impose on me.
If to reprove you for this suit of yours,
So seasoned with your faithful love to me,
Then on the other side I checked my friends.
150 Therefore, to speak, and to avoid the first,
And then, in speaking, not to incur the last,
Definitively thus I answer you:
Your love deserves my thanks, but my desert
Unmeritable shuns your high request.
155 First, if all obstacles were cut away
And that my path were even to the crown
As the ripe revenue and due of birth,
Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty and so many my defects,
160 That I would rather hide me from my greatness,
Being a bark to brook no mighty sea,
Than in my greatness covet to be hid
And in the vapor of my glory smothered.
But, God be thanked, there is no need of me,
165 And much I need to help you, were there need.
The royal tree hath left us royal fruit,
Which, mellowed by the stealing hours of time,
Will well become the seat of majesty,
And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign.
170 On him I lay what you would lay on me,
The right and fortune of his happy stars,
Which God defend that I should wring from him.
|
RICHARD I cannot tell if to depart in silence
Or bitterly to speak in your reproof
Best fitteth my degree or your condition.
If not to answer, you might haply think
Tongue-tied ambition, not replying, yielded
To bear the golden yoke of sovereignty,
Which fondly you would here impose on me.
If to reprove you for this suit of yours,
So seasoned with your faithful love to me,
Then on the other side I checked my friends.
Therefore, to speak, and to avoid the first,
And then, in speaking, not to incur the last,
Definitively thus I answer you:
Your love deserves my thanks, but my desert
Unmeritable shuns your high request.
First, if all obstacles were cut away
And that my path were even to the crown
As the ripe revenue and due of birth,
Yet so much is my poverty of spirit,
So mighty and so many my defects,
That I would rather hide me from my greatness,
Being a bark to brook no mighty sea,
Than in my greatness covet to be hid
And in the vapor of my glory smothered.
But, God be thanked, there is no need of me,
And much I need to help you, were there need.
The royal tree hath left us royal fruit,
Which, mellowed by the stealing hours of time,
Will well become the seat of majesty,
And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign.
On him I lay what you would lay on me,
The right and fortune of his happy stars,
Which God defend that I should wring from him.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM My lord, this argues conscience in your Grace,
But the respects thereof are nice and trivial,
175 All circumstances well considerèd.
You say that Edward is your brother’s son;
So say we too, but not by Edward’s wife.
For first was he contract to Lady Lucy—
Your mother lives a witness to that vow—
180 And afterward by substitute betrothed
To Bona, sister to the king of France.
These both put off, a poor petitioner,
A care-crazed mother to a many sons,
A beauty-waning and distressèd widow,
185 Even in the afternoon of her best days,
Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye,
Seduced the pitch and height of his degree
To base declension and loathed bigamy.
By her in his unlawful bed he got
190 This Edward, whom our manners term “the Prince.”
More bitterly could I expostulate,
Save that, for reverence to some alive,
I give a sparing limit to my tongue.
Then, good my lord, take to your royal self
195 This proffered benefit of dignity,
If not to bless us and the land withal,
Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry
From the corruption of abusing times
Unto a lineal, true-derivèd course.
|
BUCKINGHAM My lord, this argues conscience in your Grace,
But the respects thereof are nice and trivial,
All circumstances well considerèd.
You say that Edward is your brother’s son;
So say we too, but not by Edward’s wife.
For first was he contract to Lady Lucy—
Your mother lives a witness to that vow—
And afterward by substitute betrothed
To Bona, sister to the king of France.
These both put off, a poor petitioner,
A care-crazed mother to a many sons,
A beauty-waning and distressèd widow,
Even in the afternoon of her best days,
Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye,
Seduced the pitch and height of his degree
To base declension and loathed bigamy.
By her in his unlawful bed he got
This Edward, whom our manners term “the Prince.”
More bitterly could I expostulate,
Save that, for reverence to some alive,
I give a sparing limit to my tongue.
Then, good my lord, take to your royal self
This proffered benefit of dignity,
If not to bless us and the land withal,
Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry
From the corruption of abusing times
Unto a lineal, true-derivèd course.
|
|
LORD MAYOR 200 Do, good my lord. Your citizens entreat you.
|
LORD MAYOR Do, good my lord. Your citizens entreat you.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffered love.
|
BUCKINGHAM Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffered love.
|
|
CATESBY O, make them joyful. Grant their lawful suit.
|
CATESBY O, make them joyful. Grant their lawful suit.
|
|
RICHARD Alas, why would you heap this care on me?
I am unfit for state and majesty.
205 I do beseech you, take it not amiss;
I cannot, nor I will not, yield to you.
|
RICHARD Alas, why would you heap this care on me?
I am unfit for state and majesty.
I do beseech you, take it not amiss;
I cannot, nor I will not, yield to you.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM If you refuse it, as in love and zeal
Loath to depose the child, your brother’s son—
As well we know your tenderness of heart
210 And gentle, kind, effeminate remorse,
Which we have noted in you to your kindred
And equally indeed to all estates—
Yet know whe'er you accept our suit or no,
Your brother’s son shall never reign our king,
215 But we will plant some other in the throne,
To the disgrace and downfall of your house.
And in this resolution here we leave you.—
Come, citizens. Zounds, I’ll entreat no more.
|
BUCKINGHAM If you refuse it, as in love and zeal
Loath to depose the child, your brother’s son—
As well we know your tenderness of heart
And gentle, kind, effeminate remorse,
Which we have noted in you to your kindred
And equally indeed to all estates—
Yet know whe'er you accept our suit or no,
Your brother’s son shall never reign our king,
But we will plant some other in the throne,
To the disgrace and downfall of your house.
And in this resolution here we leave you.—
Come, citizens. Zounds, I’ll entreat no more.
|
|
RICHARD O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingham!
|
RICHARD O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingham!
|
|
Exit BUCKINGHAM and some others
|
Exit BUCKINGHAM and some others
|
|
CATESBY 220 Call them again, sweet prince. Accept their suit.
If you deny them, all the land will rue it.
|
CATESBY Call them again, sweet prince. Accept their suit.
If you deny them, all the land will rue it.
|
|
RICHARD Will you enforce me to a world of cares?
Call them again. I am not made of stones,
But penetrable to your kind entreaties,
225 Albeit against my conscience and my soul.
|
RICHARD Will you enforce me to a world of cares?
Call them again. I am not made of stones,
But penetrable to your kind entreaties,
Albeit against my conscience and my soul.
|
|
Enter BUCKINGHAM and the rest
|
Enter BUCKINGHAM and the rest
|
|
Cousin of Buckingham and sage, grave men,
Since you will buckle fortune on my back,
To bear her burden, whe'er I will or no,
I must have patience to endure the load;
230 But if black scandal or foul-faced reproach
Attend the sequel of your imposition,
Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me
From all the impure blots and stains thereof,
For God doth know, and you may partly see,
235 How far I am from the desire of this.
|
Cousin of Buckingham and sage, grave men,
Since you will buckle fortune on my back,
To bear her burden, whe'er I will or no,
I must have patience to endure the load;
But if black scandal or foul-faced reproach
Attend the sequel of your imposition,
Your mere enforcement shall acquittance me
From all the impure blots and stains thereof,
For God doth know, and you may partly see,
How far I am from the desire of this.
|
|
LORD MAYOR God bless your Grace! We see it and will say it.
|
LORD MAYOR God bless your Grace! We see it and will say it.
|
|
RICHARD In saying so, you shall but say the truth.
|
RICHARD In saying so, you shall but say the truth.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Then I salute you with this royal title:
Long live Richard, England’s worthy king!
|
BUCKINGHAM Then I salute you with this royal title:
Long live Richard, England’s worthy king!
|
|
ALL 240 Amen.
|
ALL Amen.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Tomorrow will it please you to be crowned?
|
BUCKINGHAM Tomorrow will it please you to be crowned?
|
|
RICHARD Even when you please, since you will have it so.
|
RICHARD Even when you please, since you will have it so.
|
|
BUCKINGHAM Tomorrow, then, we will attend your Grace,
And so most joyfully we take our leave.
|
BUCKINGHAM Tomorrow, then, we will attend your Grace,
And so most joyfully we take our leave.
|
|
RICHARD Farewell, my cousin. Farewell, gentle friends.
|
RICHARD Farewell, my cousin. Farewell, gentle friends.
|
|
Exeunt
|
Exeunt
|
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