Richard III

Richard
Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy color,
Murder thy breath in middle of a word,
And then again begin, and stop again,
As if thou were distraught and mad with terror?
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,
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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.
I took him for the plainest harmless creature
That breathed upon the Earth a Christian;
Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts.
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Richard
How now, how now? What say the citizens?
Buckingham
Now, by the holy mother of our Lord,
The citizens are mum, say not a word.
Richard
Touched you the bastardy of Edward’s children?

Now, by the holy mother of our Lord,
The citizens are mum, say not a word.
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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.

I would rather hide me from my greatness,
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Richard
Cousin, thou wast not wont to be so dull.
Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead,
And I would have it suddenly performed.
What sayst thou now? Speak suddenly. Be brief.
Buckingham
Your Grace may do your pleasure.

I know a discontented gentleman
Whose humble means match not his haughty spirit.
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Come hither, Catesby. Rumor it abroad
That Anne my wife is very grievous sick.
I will take order for her keeping close.
Inquire me out some mean poor gentleman,
Whom I will marry straight to Clarence’ daughter.
The boy is foolish, and I fear not him.

But I am in
So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin.
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Ely with Richmond troubles me more near
Than Buckingham and his rash-levied strength.

Then fiery expedition be my wing,
Jove’s Mercury, and herald for a king.

Come, I have learned that fearful commenting
Is leaden servitor to dull delay;
Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary;
Then fiery expedition be my wing,
Jove’s Mercury, and herald for a king.
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Duchess
O, let me speak!
Richard
Do then, but I’ll not hear.
Duchess
I will be mild and gentle in my words.
Richard
And brief, good mother, for I am in haste.
Duchess
Art thou so hasty? I have stayed for thee,
God knows, in torment and in agony.
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Richard
All unavoided is the doom of destiny.
Queen Elizabeth
True, when avoided grace makes destiny.
My babes were destined to a fairer death
If grace had blessed thee with a fairer life.
Richard
You speak as if that I had slain my cousins.

No doubt the murd’rous knife was dull and blunt
Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart,
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Look what is done cannot be now amended.
Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,
Which after-hours gives leisure to repent.
If I did take the kingdom from your sons,
To make amends I’ll give it to your daughter.
If I have killed the issue of your womb,
To quicken your increase I will beget
Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter.
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