Richard III; Act IV, scene iv.
Richard III
Act IV, Scene iv
This speech is used in our interview with Toby Malone and Aili Huber.
Struck through lines reflect lines cut for reading
Original scene: 89 lines
Cut scene: 51 lines
RICHARD III Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise And dangerous success of bloody wars, As I intend more good to you and yours, Than ever you or yours were by me wrong'd!ELIZABETH Be brief, lest that be process of thy kindness Last longer telling than thy kindness' date.RICHARD III Then know, that from my soul I love thy daughter.ELIZABETH My daughter's mother thinks it with her soul. RICHARD III What do you think?ELIZABETH That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul: So from thy soul's love didst thou love her brothers; And from my heart's love I do thank thee for it. RICHARD III Be not so hasty to confound my meaning: I mean, that with my soul I love thy daughter, And mean to make her queen of England. ELIZABETH Say then, who dost thou mean shall be her king? RICHARD III Even he that makes her queen who should be else? ELIZABETH What, thou?RICHARD III I, even I: what think you of it, madam? ELIZABETH How canst thou woo her? RICHARD III That would I learn of you, As one that are best acquainted with her humor. ELIZABETH Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers, A pair of bleeding-hearts; thereon engrave Edward and York; then haply she will weep: RICHARD III Say that I did all this for love of her. ELIZABETH Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee, Having bought love with such a bloody spoil.RICHARD III If I did take the kingdom from your sons, To make amends, I'll give it to your daughter. The loss you have is but a son being king, And by that loss your daughter is made queen. Go, then my mother, to thy daughter go Prepare her ears to hear a wooer's tale… ELIZABETH 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?RICHARD III Say that the king, which may command, entreats. ELIZABETH That at her hands which the king's King forbids.RICHARD III Say, she shall be a high and mighty queen. ELIZABETH To wail the title, as her mother doth. RICHARD III Say, I will love her everlastingly. ELIZABETH But how long shall that title 'ever' last? RICHARD III Sweetly in force unto her fair life's end. ELIZABETH But how long fairly shall her sweet life last? RICHARD III So long as heaven and nature lengthens it. ELIZABETH So long as hell and Richard likes of it. RICHARD III Your reasons are too shallow and too quick. ELIZABETH O no, my reasons are too deep and dead; Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their grave. RICHARD III Harp not on that string, madam; that is past. ELIZABETH Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break. RICHARD III Now, by my George, my garter, and my crown,-- ELIZABETH Profaned, dishonour'd, and the third usurp'd. If something thou wilt swear to be believed, Swear then by something that thou hast not wrong'd. RICHARD III Now, by the world-- ELIZABETH 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs. RICHARD III My father's death-- ELIZABETH Thy life hath that dishonour'd. RICHARD III Then, by myself-- ELIZABETH Thyself thyself misusest. RICHARD III Why then, by God-- ELIZABETH God's wrong is most of all. What canst thou swear by now? RICHARD III The time to come. ELIZABETH Swear not by time to come; for that thou hast Misused ere used, by time misused o'erpast.RICHARD III In her consists my happiness and thine; Without her, follows to this land and me, To thee, herself, 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, good mother,--I must can you so-- Be the attorney of my love to her:ELIZABETH Shall I forget myself to be myself? RICHARD III Ay, if yourself's remembrance wrong yourself. ELIZABETH But thou didst kill my children. RICHARD III But in your daughter's womb I bury them: Where in that nest of spicery they shall breed Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.ELIZABETH Shall I go win my daughter to thy will? RICHARD III And be a happy mother by the deed. ELIZABETH I go. Write to me very shortly. And you shall understand from me her mind. RICHARD III Bear her my true love's kiss; and so, farewell.Exit QUEEN ELIZABETHRelenting fool, and shallow, changing woman!