The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE IV. _Before the palace_.
_Q. Eliz._ O thou well skill’d in curses, stay awhile, And teach me how to curse mine enemies! _Q. Mar._ Forbear to sleep the nights, and fast the days; [fdd118] Compare dead happiness with living woe; [fdd119] Think that thy babes were fairer than they were, [fdd120] And he that slew them fouler than he is: Bettering thy loss makes the bad causer worse: [fdd122] Revolving this will teach thee how to curse. _Q. Eliz._ My words are dull; O, quicken them with thine! [fdd124] _Q. Mar._ Thy woes will make them sharp and pierce like mine. [_Exit._ [fdd125] _Duch._ Why should calamity be full of words? _Q. Eliz._ Windy attorneys to their client woes, [fdd127] Airy succeeders of intestate joys, [fdd128] Poor breathing orators of miseries! Let them have scope: though what they do impart [fdd130] Help not at all, yet do they ease the heart. [fdd131] _Duch._ If so, then be not tongue-tied: go with me, [fdd132] And in the breath of bitter words let’s smother My damned son, which thy two sweet sons smother’d. [fdd134] I hear his drum: be copious in exclaims. [fdd135] _Enter_ KING RICHARD, _marching, with drums and trumpets_. _K. Rich._ Who intercepts my expedition? [fdd136] _Duch._ O, she that might have intercepted thee, [fdd137] By strangling thee in her accursed womb, From all the slaughters, wretch, that thou hast done!
_K. Rich._ Look, what is done cannot be now amended: Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes, Which after-hours give leisure to repent. [fdd293] If I did take the kingdom from your sons, To make amends, I’ll give it to your daughter. ·fdd295· If I have kill’d the issue of your womb, To quicken your increase, I will beget Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter: A grandam’s name is little less in love Than is the doting title of a mother; ·fdd300· They are as children but one step below, Even of your mettle, of your very blood; [fdd302] Of all one pain, save for a night of groans Endured of her, for whom you bid like sorrow. [fdd304] Your children were vexation to your youth, ·fdd305· But mine shall be a comfort to your age. The loss you have is but a son being king, And by that loss your daughter is made queen.
I cannot make you what amends I would, Therefore accept such kindness as I can. ·fdd310· Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul Leads discontented steps in foreign soil, [fdd312] This fair alliance quickly shall call home To high promotions and great dignity: The king, that calls your beauteous daughter wife, ·fdd315· Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother; Again shall you be mother to a king, And all the ruins of distressful times Repair’d with double riches of content. What! we have many goodly days to see: ·fdd320· The liquid drops of tears that you have shed Shall come again, transform’d to orient pearl, Advantaging their loan with interest [fdd323] Of ten times double gain of happiness. [fdd324] Go, then, my mother, to thy daughter go; ·fdd325· Make bold her bashful years with your experience; Prepare her ears to hear a wooer’s tale; Put in her tender heart the aspiring flame Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the princess With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys: ·fdd330· And when this arm of mine hath chastised The petty rebel, dull-brain’d Buckingham, Bound with triumphant garlands will I come [fdd333] And lead thy daughter to a conqueror’s bed; To whom I will retail my conquest won, ·fdd335· And she shall be sole victress, Cæsar’s Cæsar. [fdd336] _Q. Eliz._ What were I best to say? her father’s brother Would be her lord? or shall I say, her uncle? Or, he that slew her brothers and her uncles? Under what title shall I woo for thee, ·fdd340· That God, the law, my honour and her love, Can make seem pleasing to her tender years?
_K. Rich._ Harp not on that string, madam; that is past. [fdd364] _Q. Eliz._ Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break. ·fdd365· _K. Rich._ Now, by my George, my garter, and my crown,-- _Q. Eliz._ Profaned, dishonour’d, and the third usurp’d. _K. Rich._ I swear-- _Q. Eliz._ By nothing; for this is no oath: [fdd368] The George, profaned, hath lost his holy honour; [fdd369] The garter, blemish’d, pawn’d his knightly virtue; [fdd370] The crown, usurp’d, disgraced his kingly glory. [fdd371] If something thou wilt swear to be believed, [fdd372] Swear then by something that thou hast not wrong’d. _K. Rich._ Now, by the world-- _Q. Eliz._ ’Tis full of thy foul wrongs. _K. Rich._ My father’s death-- _Q. Eliz._ Thy life hath that dishonour’d. [fdd375] _K. Rich._ Then, by myself-- _Q. Eliz._ Thyself thyself misusest. [fdd376] _K. Rich._ Why then, by God-- _Q. Eliz._ God’s wrong is most of all. [fdd377] If thou hadst fear’d to break an oath by Him, [fdd378] The unity the king thy brother made [fdd379] Had not been broken, nor my brother slain: [fdd380] If thou hadst fear’d to break an oath by Him, [fdd381] The imperial metal, circling now thy brow, [fdd382] Had graced the tender temples of my child. [fdd383] And both the princes had been breathing here, Which now, two tender playfellows for dust, [fdd385] Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms. [fdd386] What canst thou swear by now?
_Q. Eliz._ Shall I be tempted of the devil thus? _K. Rich._ Ay, if the devil tempt thee to do good. [fdd419] _Q. Eliz._ Shall I forget myself to be myself? ·fdd420· _K. Rich._ Ay, if yourself’s remembrance wrong yourself. [fdd421] _Q. Eliz._ But thou didst kill my children. [fdd422] _K. Rich._ But in your daughter’s womb I bury them: [fdd423] Where in that nest of spicery they shall breed [fdd424] Selves of themselves, to your recomforture. [fdd425] _Q. Eliz._ Shall I go win my daughter to thy will? _K. Rich._ And be a happy mother by the deed. [fdd427] _Q. Eliz._ I go. Write to me very shortly, [fdd428] And you shall understand from me her mind. [fdd429] _K. Rich._ Bear her my true love’s kiss; and so, farewell. [fdd430] [_Exit Queen Elizabeth._ Relenting fool, and shallow, changing woman! [fdd431] _Enter_ RATCLIFF; CATESBY _following_. How now! what news? [fdd432] _Rat._ My gracious sovereign, on the western coast [fdd433] Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore [fdd434] Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends, ·fdd435· Unarm’d, and unresolved to beat them back: ’Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral; And there they hull, expecting but the aid [fdd438] Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore. _K. Rich._ Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of Norfolk: [fdd440] Ratcliff, thyself, or Catesby; where is he?
_K. Rich._ Ay, ay, thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond: [fdd491] I will not trust you, sir. _Stan._ Most mighty sovereign, [fdd492] You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful: I never was nor never will be false. [fdd494] _K. Rich._ Well, [fdd495] Go muster men; but, hear you, leave behind Your son, George Stanley: look your faith be firm, [fdd497] Or else his head’s assurance is but frail. _Stan._ So deal with him as I prove true to you. [_Exit._ [fdd499] _Enter a_ Messenger. _Mess._ My gracious sovereign, now in Devonshire, ·fdd500· As I by friends am well advertised, Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate [fdd502] Bishop of Exeter, his brother there, [fdd503] With many moe confederates, are in arms. [fdd504] _Enter another_ Messenger. _Sec. Mess._ My liege, in Kent, the Guildfords are in arms; [fdd505] And every hour more competitors [fdd506] Flock to their aid, and still their power increaseth. [fdd507] _Enter another_ Messenger. _Third Mess._ My lord, the army of the Duke of Buckingham-- [fdd508] _K. Rich._ Out on you, owls! nothing but songs of death? [fdd509] [_He striketh him._ Take that, until thou bring me better news. [fdd510] _Third Mess._ The news I have to tell your majesty [fdd511] Is, that by sudden floods and fall of waters, Buckingham’s army is dispersed and scatter’d; And he himself wander’d away alone, No man knows whither.
_K. Rich._ I cry thee mercy: [fdd515] There is my purse to cure that blow of thine. [fdd516] Hath any well-advised friend proclaim’d [fdd517] Reward to him that brings the traitor in? [fdd518] _Third Mess._ Such proclamation hath been made, my liege. [fdd519] _Enter another_ Messenger. _Fourth Mess._ Sir Thomas Lovel and Lord Marquis Dorset, ·fdd520· ’Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms. [fdd521] Yet this good comfort bring I to your grace, [fdd522] The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest: [fdd523] Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat [fdd524] Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks ·fdd525· If they were his assistants, yea or no; Who answer’d him, they came from Buckingham [fdd527] Upon his party: he, mistrusting them, Hoised sail and made away for Brittany. [fdd529] _K. Rich._ March on, march on, since we are up in arms; ·fdd530· If not to fight with foreign enemies, Yet to beat down these rebels here at home. [fdd532] _Re-enter_ Catesby. _Cate._ My liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken; That is the best news: that the Earl of Richmond [fdd534] Is with a mighty power landed at Milford, ·fdd535· Is colder tidings, yet they must be told. [fdd536] _K. Rich._ Away towards Salisbury! while we reason here, A royal battle might be won and lost: Some one take order Buckingham be brought To Salisbury; the rest march on with me. [fdd540] [_Flourish. Exeunt._
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