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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