No Fear Shakespeare

Richard III

William Shakespeare

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Act 1, Scene 2, Page 2

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30
If ever he have wife, let her be made
More miserable by the death of him
Than I am made by my poor lord and thee.—
Come now towards Chertsey with your holy load,
Taken from Paul’s to be interrèd there.
And if he ever has a wife, let her be more miserable when he dies than I am now. Guards, let’s continue on to Chertsey monastery, carrying this holy burden you picked up at St. Paul’s monastery.
They take up the bier
They pick up the bier.

And still, as you are weary of this weight,
Rest you, whiles I lament King Henry’s corse.
When it gets too heavy, rest, and I’ll lament over King Henry’s corpse some more.
Enter RICHARD, Duke of Gloucester
RICHARD enters.

RICHARD
Stay, you that bear the corse, and set it down.
RICHARD
Halt, corpse bearers, and put down your load.


35
ANNE
What black magician conjures up this fiend
To stop devoted charitable deeds?
ANNE
What wicked magician has conjured up this devil to interrupt this sacred burial rite?


RICHARD
Villains, set down the corse or, by Saint Paul,
I’ll make a corse of him that disobeys.
RICHARD
Villains, set down the corpse, or I’ll make a corpse of you.

GENTLEMAN
My lord, stand back and let the coffin pass.
GENTLEMAN
My lord, stand back and let the coffin pass.


40

RICHARD
Unmannered dog, stand thou when I command!—
Advance thy halberd higher than my breast,
Or by Saint Paul I’ll strike thee to my foot
And spurn upon thee, beggar, for thy boldness.
RICHARD
Rude dog! Stop when I command you to! And put up your weapon so it’s not pointing at my chest, or I’ll strike you to the ground and trample on you, you beggar, for being so bold.
They set down the bier
They put down the bier.

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