No Fear Shakespeare

Richard III

William Shakespeare

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Act 3, Scene 5

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM, in rotten armor, marvelous ill-favored
RICHARD and BUCKINGHAM enter wearing rusty, hideous-looking armor.




RICHARD
Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy color,
Murder thy breath in the middle of a word,
And then begin again, and stop again,
As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror?
RICHARD
Tell me, cousin, I need to know if you can shake like you’ve got a fever, turn pale all of a sudden, and stop speaking in the middle of a word—as if you were driven crazy with fear.

5




10

BUCKINGHAM
Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian,
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion. Ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforcèd smiles,
And both are ready in their offices,
At any time to grace my stratagems.
But what, is Catesby gone?
BUCKINGHAM
Oh please, I can imitate the best tragic actor around. I can speak and then look all around, and tremble, and start at a mere piece of straw as if I were paranoid. Frightening looks are also at my service, as are fake smiles. Anytime I need them, they’re waiting to do my bidding. But has Catesby gone?

RICHARD
He is; and see, he brings the mayor along.
RICHARD
He has. But here he is, back with the mayor.
Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY
The LORD MAYOR and CATESBY enter.

BUCKINGHAM
Lord Mayor—
BUCKINGHAM
Lord Mayor—

15
RICHARD
Look to the drawbridge there!
RICHARD
Watch out for the drawbridge over there!

BUCKINGHAM
Hark, a drum!
BUCKINGHAM
Listen! A drum!

RICHARD
Catesby, o'erlook the walls.
RICHARD
Catesby, look over the top of these walls to see if anyone’s there.
Exit CATESBY
CATESBY exits.

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