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Richard III

Yale University Press

Contents

About This Book................................................ixIntroduction...................................................xixSome Essentials of the Shakespearean Stage.....................xxxixRichard III....................................................1An Essay by Harold Bloom.......................................193Further Reading................................................201Finding List...................................................207

Chapter One

CHARACTERS (DRAMATIS PERSONAE)

King Edward IV Edward, Prince of Wales (the King's oldest son) Richard, Duke of York (the King's younger son) George, Duke of Clarence (the King's next oldest brother) Richard, Duke of Gloucester (the King's youngest brother, later King Richard III) Edward (Clarence's young son) Henry, Earl of Richmond (later King Henry VIII) Cardinal Bourchier (Archbishop of Canterbury) Thomas Rotherham (Archbishop of York) John Morton (Bishop of Ely) Duke of Buckingham Duke of Norfolk (Northumberland) Earl of Surrey (Norfolk's son) Earl Rivers (Queen Elizabeth's brother, Anthony Woodville) Marquis of Dorset (Queen Elizabeth's son by her prior marriage) Grey (Queen Elizabeth's son by her prior marriage) Earl of Oxford Stanley (Earl of Derby, Count of Richmond) Hastings (Lord Chamberlain) Sir Thomas Lovel Sir Thomas Vaughan Sir Richard Ratcliff Sir William Catesby Sir James Tyrrel Sir James Blount Sir Walter Herbert Sir Robert Brakenbury (in charge of the Tower) Sir William Brandon Lord Mayor of London Tressel, Berkeley (gentlemen attendants on Lady Anne) Sir Christopher Urswick (a priest) another priest Queen Elizabeth (Edward IV's wife) Queen Margaret (Henry VI's widow) Duchess of York (mother of Edward IV, Gloucester, and Clarence) Lady Anne (betrothed [pledged to be married] to Henry VI's son, Edward, Prince of Wales; later, Richard III's wife) Clarence's young daughter (also named Margaret) Ghosts of those murdered by Richard III Lords, attendants, bishops, priests, sheriff, jailer, murderers, scrivener, herald, page, citizens, messengers, soldiers, etc.

Act I

SCENE I

London, A street

enter Gloucester

Gloucester Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this son of York, And all the clouds that loured upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, Our bruisd arms hung up for monuments, Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front, And now, instead of mounting barbd steeds To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks, Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass - I, that am rudely stamped, and want love's majesty To strut before a wanton ambling nymph - I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion, Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time Into this breathing world, scarce half made up (And that so lamely and unfashionable That dogs bark at me as I halt by them), Why I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to see my shadow in the sun And descant on mine own deformity. And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover, To entertain these fair well-spoken days I am determined to prove a villain And hate the idle pleasures of these days. Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous, By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams, To set my brother Clarence and the King In deadly hate the one against the other. And if King Edward be as true and just As I am subtle, false, and treacherous, This day should Clarence closely be mewed up, About a prophecy which says that "G" Of Edward's heirs the murderer shall be. Dive, thoughts, down to my soul, here Clarence comes.

enter Clarence, guarded, and Sir Robert Brakenbury, Constable of the Tower of London

Brother, good day. What means this armd guard That waits upon your Grace?

Clarence His Majesty, Tend'ring my person's safety, hath appointed This conduct to convey me to the Tower.

Gloucester Upon what cause?

Clarence Because my name is George.

Gloucester A lack, my lord, that fault is none of yours. He should, for that, commit your godfathers. O belike his Majesty hath some intent That you shall be new-christened in the Tower. But what's the matter, Clarence, may I know?

Clarence Yea, Richard, when I know, for I protest As yet I do not. But as I can learn, He hearkens after prophecies and dreams, And from the cross-row plucks the letter "G," And says a wizard told him that by "G" His issue disinherited should be. And for my name of George begins with "G," It follows in his thought that I am he. These (as I learn) and such like toys as these Have moved his Highness to commit me now.

Gloucester Why this it is, when men are ruled by women. 'Tis not the king that sends you to the Tower, My Lady Grey his wife, Clarence, 'tis she That tempts him to this extremity. Was it not she and that good man of worship, Anthony Woodville, her brother there, That made him send Lord Hastings to the Tower, From whence this present day he is delivered? We are not safe Clarence, we are not safe.

Clarence By heaven, I think there is no man secure But the Queen's kindred and night-walking heralds That trudge betwixt the King and Mistress Shore. Heard ye not what an humble suppliant Lord Hastings was to her for his delivery?

Gloucester Humbly complaining to her deity Got my Lord Chamberlain his liberty. I'll tell you what, I think it is our way, If we will keep in favor with the King, To be her men and wear her livery. The jealous o'erworn widow and herself, Since that our brother dubbed them gentlewomen, Are mighty gossips in our monarchy.

Brakenbury I beseech your Graces both to pardon me. His Majesty hath straitly given in charge That no man shall have private conference (Of what degree so ever) with your brother.

Gloucester Even so, and please your worship, Brakenbury, You may partake of any thing we say: We speak no treason, man. We say the King Is wise and virtuous, and his noble queen Well struck in years, fair, and not jealous. We say that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot, A cherry lip, a bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue, And that the Queen's kindred are made gentlefolks. How say you sir? Can you deny all this?

Brakenbury With this (my lord) myself have nought to do.

Gloucester Naught to do with Mistress Shore? I tell thee, fellow, He that doth naught with her (excepting one) Were best to do it secretly, alone.

Brakenbury What one, my lord?

Gloucester Her husband, knave. Wouldst thou betray me?

Brakenbury I do...