No Fear Shakespeare: Richard III: Act 4, scene ii

Sound a sennet. Enter RICHARD in pomp; BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, RATCLIFFE, LOVELL, a page, and others

Trumpets play. RICHARD enters, already crowned and dressed as a king. BUCKINGHAM, CATESBY, a PAGE, and others enter with him.

	RICHARD
	Stand all apart. —Cousin of Buckingham.

RICHARD

Everyone stand aside.—Cousin Buckingham.

Others move aside

Everyone moves aside.

	BUCKINGHAM
	My gracious sovereign.

BUCKINGHAM

My gracious king.

	RICHARD
	Give me thy hand.

RICHARD

Give me your hand.

Here he ascendeth the throne. Sound trumpets

RICHARD ascends the throne with BUCKINGHAM at his side.

	Thus high, by thy advice
5	And thy assistance is King Richard seated.
	But shall we wear these glories for a day,
	Or shall they last and we rejoice in them?

Because of your advice and your help, I have a high position now. But will I wear these honors for only a day or will I enjoy them for a long time?

	BUCKINGHAM
	Still live they, and forever let them last.

BUCKINGHAM

Let them last forever.

	RICHARD
	Ah, Buckingham, now do I play the touch,
10	To try if thou be current gold indeed.
	Young Edward lives; think now what I would speak.

RICHARD

Oh Buckingham, now I'm going to test to see if you're truly made of gold. Young Prince Edward is still alive—what do you think I'm going to say next?

	BUCKINGHAM
	Say on, my loving lord.

BUCKINGHAM

Go on, my loving lord.

	RICHARD
	Why, Buckingham, I say I would be king,

RICHARD

Why, Buckingham, I say I want to be king.

	BUCKINGHAM
	Why so you are, my thrice-renownèd lord.

BUCKINGHAM

Why, you are king, your highness.

	RICHARD
15	Ha! Am I king? 'Tis so—but Edward lives.

RICHARD

Ha! Am I king? I guess I am. But Edward is still alive.

	BUCKINGHAM
	True, noble prince.

BUCKINGHAM

True, noble prince.