The night-crow cried, a boding luckless tune;'
Dogs howl'd, and hideous tempest shook down trees:
The raven rook’da her on the chimney's top,
And chattering pies in dismal discords sung.
Thy mother felt more than a mother's pain,
And yet brought forth less than a mother's hope ;
To wit,-an indigest deformed lump,
Not like the fruit of such a goodly tree.
Teeth hadst thou in thy head, when thou wast born,
To signify, thou cam’st to bite the world :
And, if the rest be true which I have heard,
Thou cam'st-
Glo. I'll hear no more.—Die, prophet, in thy speech:

[Stabs him. For this, amongst the rest, was I ordain’d.

K. Hen. Ay, and for much more slaughter after this. O! God forgive my sins, and pardon thee. [Dies.

Glo. What! will the aspiring blood of Lancaster Sink in the ground ? I thought it would have mounted. See, how my sword weeps for the poor king's death! O, may such purple tears be always shed From those that wish the downfall of our house If any spark of life be yet remaining, Down, down to hell; and say I sent thee thither,

[Stabs him again. I, that have neither pity, love, nor fear. Indeed, 't is true, that Henry told me of; For I have often heard my mother say, I came into the world with my legs forward. Had I not reason, think ye, to make haste, And seek their ruin that usurp'd our right? The midwife wonder'd ; and the women cried, “O, Jesus bless us! he is born with teeth :"> And so I was; which plainly signified That I should snarl, and bite, and play the dog. Then, since the heavens have shap'd my body so, Let hell make crook'd my mind to answer it. I have no brother, I am like no brother ; And this word love, which greybeards call divine, Be resident in men like one another, And not in me: I am myself alone. Clarence, beware : thou keep'st me from the light; But I will sort a pitchy day for thee:

1 aboding luckless time : in f. e.

2 Roost.

For I will buz abroad such prophecies,
That Edward shall be fearful of his life;
And then, to purge his fear, I'll be thy death.
King Henry, and the prince his son, are gone:
Clarence, thy turn is next, and then the rest;
Counting myself but bad, till I be best.--
I'll throw thy body in another room,
And triumph, Henry in thy day of doom.

[Exit with the Body. SCENE VII.—The Same. A Room in the Palace. King EDWARD is discovered sitting on his Throne.'

Queen ELIZABETH ; a Nurse with the Infant Prince,
CLARENCE, HASTINGS, and others.
K. Edw. Once more we sit in England's royal

throne.
Re-purchas'd with the blood of enemies.
What valiant foe-men, like to autumn's corn,
Have we mow'd down, in tops of all their pride ?
Three dukes of Somerset, threefold renown'd
For hardy and redoubted champions :
Two Cliffords, as the father and the son;
And two Northumberlands; two braver men
Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's sound:
With them, the two brave bears, Warwick and Mon-

tague,
That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion,
And made the forest tremble when they roar'd.
Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat,
And made our footstool of security.-

Enter GLOSTER behind. 3
Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy.-
Young Ned, for thee, thine uncles, and myself,
Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night;
Went all a-foot in summer's scalding heat,
That thou mightst repossess the crown in peace;
And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain.
Glo. I'll blast his harvest, if your head were laid ;

[Aside. For yet I am not look'd on in the world. This shoulder was ordain'd so thick, to heave;

1 The rest of this stage direction is thus given in f. e. : “Queen ELIZABETH with the infant Prince, CLARENCE, GLOSTER, HASTINGS," &c.

% undoubted : in f. e. 3 Not in f. e.

And heave it shall some weight, or break my back. Work thou the way, and that shall execute.

K. Edw. Clarence, and Gloster, love my lovely queen; And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both,

Clar. The duty that I owe unto your majesty: I seal upon the lips of this sweet babe. [Kissing it. K. Edw. Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy brother,

thanks. Glo. And, that I love the tree from whence thou sprang'st,

[Kissing the infant.” Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit. — [ Aside. To say the truth, so Judas kiss'd his master, And cried-all hail! when as he meant-all harm.

K. Edw. Now am I seated as my soul delights, Having my country's peace, and brothers' loves.

Clar. What will your grace have done with Margaret? Reignier, her father, to the king of France Hath pawn'd the Sicils and Jerusalem, And hither have they sent it for her ransom. K. Edw. Away with her, and waft her hence to

France. And now what rests, but that we spend the time With stately triumphs, mirthful comfc shows, Such as befit the pleasure of the court ? Sound, drums and trumpets !-farewell, sour annoy; For here, I hope, begins our lasting joy.

[Exeunt. 12 Not in f. e.

KING RICHARD III.

“The Tragedy of King Richard the third. Containing, His treacherous Plots agairist his brother Clarence : the pittiefull murther of his innocent nephewes: his tyrannicall vsurpation: with the whole course of his detested life, and most deserued death. As it bath beene lately Acted by the Right honourable the Lord Chamberlaine his seruants. At London, Printed by Valentine Sims, for Andrew Wise, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Angell, 1597.” 4to. 47 leaves.

“The Tragedie of King Richard the third. Conteining his treacherous Plots against his brother Clarence: the pitiful murther of his innocent Nephewes: his tyrannicall vsurpation : with the whole course of his detested life, and most deserued death. As it hath beene lately Acted by the Right honourable the Lord Chamberlaine his seruants. By William Shake-speare. London Printed by Thomas Creede, for Andrew Wise, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Angell. 1598.” 4to. 47 leaves.

“ The Tragedie of King Richard the third. Conteining his treacherous Plots against his brother Clarence : the pittifull murther of his innocent Nephewes : his tyrannicall vsurpation: with the whole course of his detested life, and most deserued death. As it hath bene lately Acted by the Right Honourable the Lord Chamberlaine his seruants. Newly augmented, By William Shakespeare. London Printed by Thomas Creede, for Andrew Wise, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Angell. 1602." 4to. 46 leaves.

“ The Tragedie of King Richard the third. Conteining his treacherous Plots against his brother Clarence : the pittifull murther of his innocent Nephewes : his tyrannicall vsurpation: with the whole course of his detested life, and most deserued death. As it hath bin lately Acted by the Right Honourable the Lord Chamberlaine his seruants. Newly augmented, by William Shake-speare. London, Printed by Thomas Creede, and are to be sold by Matthew Lawe, dwelling in Paules Church-yard, at the signe of the Foxe, near $. Austins gate, 1605.” 4to. 46 leaves.

In the folio of 1623, “ The Tragedy of Richard the Third : with the Landing of the Earle of Richmond, and the Bate tell at Bosworth Field,” occupies thirty-two pages; viz. from p. 173 to p. 204 inclusive. There is no material variation in the later folios.