Richard III

by: William Shakespeare

Act 3 Scene 4

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the bishop of ELY, RATCLIFFE, LOVELL, with others, at a table	BUCKINGHAM, STANLEY, HASTINGS, the bishop of ELY, RATCLIFFE, and LOVELL, enter with others and take their seats 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 lords, the reason we’re meeting is to determine the day the prince will be crowned. In God’s name, speak. When should the royal day be?
BUCKINGHAM Is all things ready for the royal time?	BUCKINGHAM Is everything ready for that event?
STANLEY 5It is, and wants but nomination.	STANLEY It is. All we have to do is name the day.
ELY Tomorrow, then, I judge a happy day.	ELY Tomorrow’s a good day.
BUCKINGHAM Who knows the Lord Protector’s mind herein? Who is most inward with the noble duke?	BUCKINGHAM Who knows what the Lord Protector thinks? Who’s closest to him?
ELY Your Grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.	ELY You, I think, would best know what he’s thinking.
BUCKINGHAM 10We 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, but as for our thoughts, he doesn’t know any more about my thinking than I do about yours or his—or you do about mine. Lord Hastings, you and he are close.
HASTINGS I thank his Grace. I know he loves me well. 15But 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, 20Which I presume he’ll take in gentle part.	HASTINGS Thank you. I know he holds me dear, but I haven’t asked him about the coronation, and he hasn’t told me. But you, my noble lords, may name a time, and I’ll second it on the duke’s behalf, which I don’t think he’ll mind.
Enter RICHARD	RICHARD, enters.

Read the Summary of Act III, scenes ii–iv

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