For hardy and undoubted champions :

K. Edw. Thanks, noble Clarence; worthy Two Cliffords, as the father and the son,

brother, thanks. And two Northumberlands; two braver inen Glo. 'And, that I love the tree from whence Ne'er spurr'd their coursers at the trumpet's thou sprang'st, sound :

Witness the loving kiss I give the fruit :With them the two brave bears, Warwick and to say the truth, So Judas kiss'd his Montague,

2

master; That in their chains fetter'd the kingly lion, And cried-all hail ! when as he meant

Aside. Aud made the forest tremble when they roar'd.

--all barm. Thus have we swept suspicion from our seat, K. Edw. Now am I seated as my soul deAnd made our footstool of security.-

lights, Come hither, Bess, and let me kiss my boy : Having my country's peace, and brothers Young Ned, for thee, thine uncles, and myself,

loves. Have in our armours watch'd the winter's night; Clar. What will your grace have done with Went all afoot in summer's scalding heat,

Margaret? That thou might'st repossess the crown in peace ; Reignier, ber father, to the king of France And of our labours thou shalt reap the gain. Hath pawn's the Sicils and Jerusalem, Glo. I'll blast bis harvest, if your head were And hither have they sent it for her ransom.

K. Edw. Away with her, and waft her hence For yet I am not look'd on in the world.

to France. This shoulder was ordain'd so thick, to heave ; And now what rests, but that we spend the And heave it shall some weight or break my

time back :

With stately triomphs, mirthful comic shows, Work thou the way,—and thou shalt execute. Such as betit the pleasures of the court ?

(4 side. Sound, drums and trumpets !--farewell, sour K. Edw. Clarence and Gloster, love my lovely

annoy! queen,

Por here, I hope, begins our lasting joy. And kiss your princely nephew, brothers both,

(Exernt. Clar. The duty that I owe unto your majesty, seal upon the lips of this sweet babe.

• Public shows.

laid ;

LIFE AND DEATH

OP

EING RICHARD III.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. IN this very popular tragedy, there is another specimen of historical jumble, and poetical license. The second

scene commences with the funeral of Henry VI. who is said to have been murdered in May, 1471, whilst the imprisonment of Clarence, which did not take place till 1478, is represented in the first. Thus the real length of time comprised in this drama, (lating from the former event) is fourteen years; as it concludes with the death of Richard, at Bosworth Field, in August, 1483. With respect to Richard's character, though grertly blackened by Lancasterian historians, he was certainly one of the most odious tyrants that ever obtained possession of a throne. Yet it appears from some accounts still preserved in the Exchequer, that King Henry lived twenty-two days after the time assigned for his pretended assassination ; that his body lay in state at St, Paul's, and that it was afterwards interred at Chertsey, with much solemnity. Shakspeare has made the usurper deformed in figure, as well as in mind; though popular detestation had probably aggravated the tra ditionary story of his bodily defects. In this drama, the events appear admirably connected with, and consequential to, each other : the characters and incidents are natural; the sentiment and language free from bonibast. But Malone and Dr. Johnson consider it as popular beyond its merits ; with "some parts tritling, others shocking, and some improbable :” whilst Stevens maintains, that above all others the tragedy of Richard must command approbation, as it is indefinitely variegated, and comprehends every species of character---" the hero, the lover, the statesman, the buffoon, the hypocrite, and the hardened or repentant sinner." Its present success in representation, is, however, chiefly attributable to the admirable alterations of Colly Cibber, which evince a very extensive and settled knowledge of stage effect, and by which reformations the more valuable parts of the piece, could alone have attained their present effect and consequence. Shakspeare probably formed the play in 1591 ; though he is not supposed to have been indebted to any of the numerous existing compositions on the same subject.

OP

DRAMATIS PERSON. KING EDWARD THE FOURTH.

SIR THOMAS VAUGHAN.-SIR RICHARD RAT. EDWARD, Prince of Wales, after-Sons to the

CLIFF. wards King Edward V.

SIR WILLIAM CATESBY.-SIR JAMES TYREL. RICHARD, Duke of York.

King.

SIR JAMES BLOUNT.-SIR WALTER HEKBERT. GEORGE, Duke of Clarence, Brothers to Sir Robert BRAKENBURY, Lieutenant of the RICHARD, Duke of Gloster, af.

Touer. the King

CHRISTOPHER URSWICK, a Priest.-- Another A young Son of Clarence.

Priest. HENRY, Earl of Richmond, afteruards King LORD MAYOR OF LONDON.-SHERIFF Henry VIÍ.

WILTSHIRE. CARDINAL BOUCHIER, Archbishop of Canter. bury.

ELIZABETH, Queen of King Edward IV. THOMAS ROTHERAX, Archbishop of York. MARGARET, Queen of King Henry VI. JOHN MOXTON, Bishop of Ely.

DUCHESS OF YORK, Mother to King EdDUKE OP BUCKINGHAM.

uard IV., CLARENCE, and GLOSTER. DUKE OF NORFOLK : EARL OF SURREY, his LADY ANNE, Widow of Edward, Prince of Son.

Wales, Son to King Henry VI.; after. EARL RIVERS, Brother to King Edward's wards married to the Duke of Gloster. Queen.

A young DAUGHTER of Clarence.
MARQUIS OP DORSst, and LORD Grey, her
Sons.

Lords and other Attendants ; two Gentlemen, EARL OF OXFORD.-LORD HASTINGS.- LORD a Pursuivant, Scrivener, Citizens, Mur. STANLEY, LORD LOVEL.

derers, Messengers, Ghosts, Soldiers, sc.

SCENE, England.

ACT I.

our

SCENE 1.- London.--A Street.

Enter GLOSTER.
Glo. Nov is the winter of our discoment
Made glorivus suumer hy this sun of York;

And all the clouds, that lowr'd upon

house,
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Now are

our

brows bound with victorions wreaths ; Our brnised arms bung np for mo.mments : Our stern alaruins chang'd to merry meeticesi

Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. That trudge betwixt the king and mistress Grim visag'd war bath smooth'd his wrinkled

Shore. front:

Heard you not, what an humble suppliant And now,-instead of mounting barbed + steeds, Lord Hastings was to her for his delivery To fright the souls of learful adversaries,

Glo. Humbly complaining to her deity He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber,

Got my lord chamberlain his liberty.
To the lascivious pleasing of a lute.

I'll tell you what I think : it is our way,
But I, that am not shap'd for sportive tricks, If we will keep in favour with the king,
Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass; To be her men, and wear her livery;
I that am rudely stainp'd, and want love's ina. The jealous o'er-worn widow, and herself,
jesty,

Since that our brother dubu'd them gentlewoTo strut before a wanton ambling nymph ;

mel, 1, that am curtail'd of this fair proportion, Are mighty gossips in this monarchy. Cheated of feature by dissembling nature,

Brak. I beseech your graces both to pardon Deform'd, unfinishid, sent before my time

me ; Into this breathing world, scarce hall made up, His majesty hath straitly given in charge, And that so lamely and unfashionable,

That no man shall bave private couterence, That dogs bark at ine, as I halt by them ; or what degree soever, with his brother. Why 1, in this weak piping time of peace,

Glo. Even so ? an please your worship, Bia. Have no delight to pass away the time;

kenbury, Unless to spy my shadow in the sun,

You may partake of any thing we say: And descant on mine own deformity:

We speak no treason, man ;--We say, the king And therefore,-since I cannot prove a lover, Is wise, and virtuous ; and bis uoble queen To entertain these fair well-spoken days,- Well struck in years ; fair, and not jealous : I am determined to prove a villain,

We say, that Shore's wile bath a pretty foot, And late the idle pleasures of these days. A cherry lip, Plots have I laid, inductions I dangerous, A bomy eye, a passing pleasing tongue ; By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams, And the queen's kindred are made gentlefolks : To set my brother Clarence, and the king, How say you, Sir ? can you deny all this? In deadly hate the one against the other :

Brak. With this, my lord, myself bave naught And, if king Edward be as true and just,

to do. As I am subtle, false, and treacherous,

Glo. Naught to do with mistress Shore ? I tell This day should Clarence closely be mew'd up;

thee, fellow, About a prophecy, wbich says-that G

He that doth nauglit with her, excepting one, Of Edward's heirs the murderers shall be. Were best to do it secretly, alone. Dive, thoughts, down to my soul ! here Clarence Brak. What one, my lord ? comes.

Glo. Her husbaud, kuave :-Would'st thou be

tray met Enter CLARENCE, guarded, and BRAKEN. Brak. I beseech your grace to pardon me, BURY.

and, withal, Brother, good day: What means this armed Forbear your conference with the noble duke. guard,

Clar. We know thy charge, Brakenbury, and That waits upon your grace ?

will obey. Clar. His majesty,

Glo. We are ihe queen's abjects, + and must Tendering my person's safety, hath appointed

obey. This conduct to convey ine to the Tower. Brother, farewell : I will unto the king; Glo. Upon what cause?

And wbatsoever you will employ me in, Clar. Because my name is-George.

Were it, to call king Edward's widow-sister, Glo. Alack, my lord, that fault is none of I will perform it to entranchise you. your's;

Mean time, this deep disgrace in brotherhood, He should, for that, commit your godfathers :

-Touches me deeper than you can imagine. Oh! belike bis majesty bath sotne intent,

Clar. I know it pleaseth neither of us well. That you shall be new christen'd in the Tower. Glo. Well, your imprisonment shall not be But what's the matter, Clarence? may I know?

long ; Clar. Yea, Richard, when I know; for I pro- ! will deliver you, or else lie for you : test,

Mean time, have patience. As yet I do not : but, as I can learn,

Clar. I must perforce; farewell. He hearkens after prophecies and dreams;

(Exeunt CLARENCE, BRAKENBURY, and And from the cross-row plucks the letter G,

Guard. And says--a wizard told him, that by G

Glo. Go, tread the path that thon shalt ne'er His issue disinherited should be ;

return, And, for my name of George begins with G, Simple, plain Clarence !-I do love thee so, It follows in his thought, that I am he:

Thai I will shortly send thy soul to heaven, These, as I learn, and such like toys 9 as these, If heaven will take the present at our hands. Have mov'd his highness to commit ine now. But who comes here? the new deliver'd HastGlo. Why, this it is, when inen are rul'd by

jugs ? Women:

Enter HASTINGS. 'Tis not the king, that sends you to the Tower ; My lady Grey, his wife, Clarence, 'tis she, Hast. Good time of day unto my gracious That tempers him to this extremity.

lord! Was it not she, and that good man of wor. Glo. As much anto my good lord chambership,

lain ! Anthony Woodeville, ber brother there,

Well are you welcome to this open air. That made him send lord Hastings to the How hath your fordship brook'd imprisonment ! Tower ;

Hast. With patience, noble lord, as prisoners From whence this present day he is deliver'd ?

must: We are not safe, Clarence, we are not safe. But I shall live, my lord, to give them thanks, Clar. By heaven, i thiuk, there is no man that were the cause of my imprisonment. secure,

Glo. No doubt, no doubt; and so shall Cla. But the queen's kindred, and night walking

rence too;
heralds

For they, that were your enemies, are bis,
And wave prevail'd as much on him as you.

• Dances.

+ Armed. • Preparations for mischief.

Fanetes.

• The Queen and Shore.

Lowest of subjects.