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are too deep and dead… Too deep and dead； poor infants； in their graves。
KING RICHARD。 Harp not on that string； madam； that is past。 QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 Harp on it still shall I till heartstrings break。 KING
RICHARD。 Now； by my George； my garter； and my crown… QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 Profan'd； dishonour'd； and the third usurp'd。 KING
RICHARD。 I swear… QUEEN ELIZABETH。 By nothing； for this is no
oath： Thy George； profan'd； hath lost his lordly honour； Thy garter；
blemish'd； pawn'd his knightly virtue； Thy crown； usurp'd； disgrac'd his
kingly glory。 If something thou wouldst swear to be believ'd； Swear then
by something that thou hast not wrong'd。 KING RICHARD。 Then； by my
self… QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Thy self is self…misus'd。 KING RICHARD。
Now； by the world… QUEEN ELIZABETH。 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs。
KING RICHARD。 My father's death… QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Thy life
hath it dishonour'd。 KING RICHARD。 Why； then； by God… QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 God's wrong is most of all。 If thou didst fear to break an
oath with Him； The unity the King my husband made Thou hadst not
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broken； nor my brothers died。 If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him；
Th' imperial metal； circling now thy head； Had grac'd the tender temples
of my child； And both the Princes had been breathing here； Which now；
two tender bedfellows for dust； Thy broken faith hath made the prey for
worms。 What canst thou swear by now？ KING RICHARD。 The time to
come。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 That thou hast wronged in the time o'erpast；
For I myself have many tears to wash Hereafter time； for time past
wrong'd by thee。 The children live whose fathers thou hast slaughter'd；
Ungovern'd youth； to wail it in their age； The parents live whose children
thou hast butcheed； Old barren plants； to wail it with their age。 Swear not
by time to come； for that thou hast Misus'd ere us'd； by times ill…us'd
o'erpast。 KING RICHARD。 As I intend to prosper and repent； So thrive I
in my dangerous affairs Of hostile arms！ Myself myself confound！ Heaven
and fortune bar me happy hours！ Day； yield me not thy light； nor； night；
thy rest！ Be opposite all planets of good luck To my proceeding！…if； with
dear heart's love； Immaculate devotion； holy thoughts； I tender not thy
beauteous princely daughter。 In her consists my happiness and thine；
Without her； follows to myself and thee； Herself； the land； and many a
Christian soul； Death； desolation； ruin； and decay。 It cannot be avoided but
by this； It will not be avoided but by this。 Therefore； dear mother…I must
call you so… Be the attorney of my love to her； Plead what I will be； not
what I have been； Not my deserts； but what I will deserve。 Urge the
necessity and state of times； And be not peevish…fond in great designs。
QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Shall I be tempted of the devil thus？ KING
RICHARD。 Ay； if the devil tempt you to do good。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。
Shall I forget myself to be myself？ KING RICHARD。 Ay； if your self's
remembrance wrong yourself。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Yet thou didst kill
my children。 KING RICHARD。 But in your daughter's womb I bury them；
Where； in that nest of spicery； they will breed Selves of themselves； to
your recomforture。 QUEEN ELIZABETH。 Shall I go win my daughter to
thy will？ KING RICHARD。 And be a happy mother by the deed。 QUEEN
ELIZABETH。 I go。 Write to me very shortly； And you shall understand
from me her mind。 KING RICHARD。 Bear her my true love's kiss； and so；
farewell。 Kissing her。 Exit QUEEN ELIZABETH Relenting fool； and
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shallow； changing woman！
Enter RATCLIFF； CATESBY following
How now！ what news？ RATCLIFF。 Most mighty sovereign； on the
western coast Rideth a puissant navy； to our shores Throng many doubtful
hollow…hearted friends； Unarm'd； and unresolv'd to beat them back。 'Tis
thought that Richmond is their admiral； And there they hull； expecting but
the aid Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore。 KING RICHARD。 Some
light…foot friend post to the Duke of Norfolk。 Ratcliff； thyself…or Catesby；
where is he？ CATESBY。 Here； my good lord。 KING RICHARD。 Catesby；
fly to the Duke。 CATESBY。 I will my lord； with all convenient haste。
KING RICHARD。 Ratcliff； come hither。 Post to Salisbury； When thou
com'st thither… ＇To CATESBY＇ Dull； unmindfull villain； Why stay'st thou
here； and go'st not to the Duke？ CATESBY。 First； mighty liege； tell me
your Highness' pleasure； What from your Grace I shall deliver to him。
KING RICHARD。 O； true； good Catesby。 Bid him levy straight The
greatest strength and power that he can make And meet me suddenly at
Salisbury。 CATESBY。 I go。 Exit RATCLIFF。 What； may it please you；
shall I do at Salisbury？ KING RICHARD。 Why； what wouldst thou do
there before I go？ RATCLIFF。 Your Highness told me I should post before。
KING RICHARD。 My mind is chang'd。
Enter LORD STANLEY
STANLEY； what news with you？ STANLEY。 None good； my liege；
to please you with the hearing； Nor none so bad but well may be reported。
KING RICHARD。 Hoyday； a riddle！ neither good nor bad！ What need'st
thou run so many miles about； When thou mayest tell thy tale the nearest
way？ Once more； what news？ STANLEY。 Richmond is on the seas。 KING
RICHARD。 There let him sink； and be the seas on him！ White…liver'd
runagate； what doth he there？ STANLEY。 I know not； mighty sovereign；
but by guess。 KING RICHARD。 Well； as you guess？ STANLEY。 Stirr'd up
by Dorset； Buckingham； and Morton； He makes for England here to claim
the crown。 KING RICHARD。 Is the chair empty？ Is the sword unsway'd？
Is the King dead； the empire unpossess'd？ What heir of York is there alive
but we？ And who is England's King but great York's heir？ Then tell me
what makes he upon the seas。 STANLEY。 Unless for that； my liege； I
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cannot guess。 KING RICHARD。 Unless for that he comes to be your liege；
You cannot guess wherefor