Richard III: Act IV, Scene iv
Richard III Act IV, Scene iv King Richard
(This text is featured in our interview with Drew Cortese)
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304 Look, what is done cannot be now amended:
305 Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,
306 Which after hours give leisure to repent.
307 If I did take the kingdom from your sons,
308 To make amends, I’ll give it to your daughter.
309 If I have kill’d the issue of your womb,
310 To quicken your increase, I will beget
311 Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter
312 A grandam’s name is little less in love
313 Than is the doting title of a mother;
314 They are as children but one step below,
315 Even of your mettle, of your very blood;
316 Of an one pain, save for a night of groans
317 Endured of her, for whom you bid like sorrow.
318 Your children were vexation to your youth,
319 But mine shall be a comfort to your age.
320 The loss you have is but a son being king,
321 And by that loss your daughter is made queen.
322 I cannot make you what amends I would,
323 Therefore accept such kindness as I can.
324 Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul
325 Leads discontented steps in foreign soil,
326 This fair alliance quickly shall call home
327 To high promotions and great dignity:
328 The king, that calls your beauteous daughter wife.
329 Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother;
330 Again shall you be mother to a king,
331 And all the ruins of distressful times
332 Repair’d with double riches of content.
333 What! we have many goodly days to see:
334 The liquid drops of tears that you have shed
335 Shall come again, transform’d to orient pearl,
336 Advantaging their loan with interest
337 Of ten times double gain of happiness.
338 Go, then my mother, to thy daughter go
339 Make bold her bashful years with your experience;
340 Prepare her ears to hear a wooer’s tale
341 Put in her tender heart the aspiring flame
342 Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the princess
343 With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys
344 And when this arm of mine hath chastised
345 The petty rebel, dull-brain’d Buckingham,
346 Bound with triumphant garlands will I come
347 And lead thy daughter to a conqueror’s bed;
348 To whom I will retail my conquest won,
349 And she shall be sole victress, Caesar’s Caesar.
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