Rivers speaks with aristocratic confidence — the Queen's brother, accustomed to deference. He doesn't grasp that his family's elevation is what everyone resents. Watch for how he underestimates the danger.
Have patience, madam. There’s no doubt his Majesty
Will soon recover his accustomed health.
Be patient, madam. There's no doubt his Majesty will soon recover his usual health.
Don't worry, the King will get better soon.
have patience no doubt his majesty will recover
In that you brook it ill, it makes him worse.
Therefore, for God’s sake, entertain good comfort,
And cheer his Grace with quick and merry eyes.
If you take this badly, it makes him worse. So for God's sake, be comforting and show him your best face with quick, cheerful eyes.
Look, if you're stressed, he'll get worse. Just smile, be positive, show him some life.
if you stress he gets worse smile be positive
Elizabeth speaks as a woman who knows her position is entirely dependent on one sick man. Her tone alternates between suppressed panic and formal dignity — watch for when the dignity slips and the fear shows through.
If he were dead, what would betide on me?
If he were dead, what would become of me?
If he dies, what happens to me?
if he dies what happens to me
No other harm but loss of such a lord.
Nothing but the loss of such a lord.
You'd just lose him—that's all.
just lose him that's it
The loss of such a lord includes all harms.
The loss of such a lord includes all harms.
Losing him means losing everything.
losing him means losing everything
The heavens have blessed you with a goodly son
To be your comforter when he is gone.
Heaven has blessed you with a goodly son to be your comforter when he is gone.
You've got a good son. He can comfort you when he's gone.
you have a good son he'll help you
Ah, he is young, and his minority
Is put unto the trust of Richard Gloucester,
A man that loves not me, nor none of you.
He is young, and his minority is put into the trust of Richard Gloucester, a man who loves not me, nor none of you.
He's a kid, and Richard Gloucester is his guardian. Richard hates me and everyone here.
he's young richard controls him richard hates us all of us
Is it concluded he shall be Protector?
Is it concluded that he shall be Protector?
So Richard's definitely going to be his guardian?
richard is going to be his guardian?
It is determined, not concluded yet;
But so it must be, if the King miscarry.
It is determined, not concluded yet, but so it must be if the King dies.
It's decided, not official yet, but if the King dies, that's what happens.
it's decided if king dies richard rules
Here come the Lords of Buckingham and Derby.
Here come the Lords of Buckingham and Derby.
Here come Buckingham and Derby.
buckingham and derby are here
Buckingham speaks with the smooth authority of a man who has always been in the right room at the right time. He's a superb political operator who doesn't yet understand that he's playing for someone else's benefit. Watch how he calibrates his advice to what he thinks Richard wants to hear.
Good time of day unto your royal Grace.
Good time of day unto your royal Grace.
Good day, Your Majesty.
good day to you
Stanley is the careful pragmatist, always measuring the room before speaking. He'll hedge every statement, qualify every commitment. Watch for how his caution is exactly the quality that keeps him alive when everyone else dies.
God make your Majesty joyful as you have been.
God make your Majesty as joyful as you have been.
I hope God brings you back to happiness like before.
hope you're happy again soon
The Countess Richmond, good my Lord of Derby,
To your good prayer will scarcely say amen.
Yet, Derby, notwithstanding she’s your wife,
And loves not me, be you, good lord, assured
I hate not you for her proud arrogance.
The Countess Richmond, good my Lord of Derby, will scarcely say amen to your good prayer. Yet, Derby, even though she is your wife and loves not me, be assured I do not hate you for her proud arrogance.
The Countess Richmond won't pray for me—she doesn't like me. But you're married to her, so I'm not blaming you for her attitude.
your wife hates me but i don't blame you
I do beseech you, either not believe
The envious slanders of her false accusers,
Or if she be accused on true report,
Bear with her weakness, which I think proceeds
From wayward sickness, and no grounded malice.
I ask you not to believe the envious slanders of her false accusers, or if she is accused on true report, bear with her weakness, which I think comes from wayward sickness, not grounded malice.
Don't believe what people say about her, or if they're right, just understand she's got issues—probably health stuff, not real meanness.
don't believe the rumors it's her health not meanness
Saw you the King today, my Lord of Derby?
Did you see the King today, my Lord of Derby?
Have you seen the King today?
did you see the king?
But now the Duke of Buckingham and I
Are come from visiting his Majesty.
Just now the Duke of Buckingham and I came from visiting his Majesty.
Me and Buckingham just came from seeing him.
just visited him now
What likelihood of his amendment, lords?
What likelihood of his improvement, lords?
Will he get better?
will he recover?
Madam, good hope; his Grace speaks cheerfully.
My lady, there is good hope. His Grace speaks cheerfully.
Good news—he's talking in a cheerful mood.
good signs he's cheerful
God grant him health! Did you confer with him?
God grant him health! Did you confer with him?
Thank God. Did you talk to him about anything serious?
god grant he gets better did you talk to him
Ay, madam; he desires to make atonement
Between the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers,
And between them and my Lord Chamberlain;
And sent to warn them to his royal presence.
Yes, my lady. He wants to make peace between the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers, and between them and my Lord Chamberlain. He has sent word asking them to come to his royal presence.
Yeah, he wants to fix things between Richard and your family, and between them and Hastings. He's called everyone to come see him.
he wants peace between richard and your family
Would all were well—but that will never be.
I fear our happiness is at the height.
I wish all were well, but that will never be. I fear our happiness is at its height.
I hope everything works out, but it won't. I think we've had all the good luck we're going to get.
wish it would work but it won't we've had our good days
They do me wrong, and I will not endure it!
Who is it that complains unto the King
That I, forsooth, am stern and love them not?
By holy Paul, they love his Grace but lightly
That fill his ears with such dissentious rumours.
Because I cannot flatter and look fair,
Smile in men’s faces, smooth, deceive, and cog,
Duck with French nods and apish courtesy,
I must be held a rancorous enemy.
Cannot a plain man live and think no harm,
But thus his simple truth must be abused
With silken, sly, insinuating Jacks?
They wrong me, and I will not endure it! Who complains to the King that I am stern and do not love them? By God's truth, they love the King only lightly—they fill his ears with such divisive rumors. Because I cannot flatter and smile with false courtesy, smooth and deceive and cheat, mock with French-style nods and ape-like courtesy, I must be held a hateful enemy. Can a plain man live and think no harm but his simple truth must be abused with smooth, sly, insinuating manipulators?
People are lying about me to the King, and I'm sick of it. They're saying I'm cold and don't like them—but they're just spreading rumors to make trouble. I can't help that I don't play games, don't smile fake smiles and bow and scrape like an idiot. Suddenly that makes me the bad guy? I'm just an honest person, and they won't let that be.
they're lying about me i don't play games don't smile fake don't bow they hate that they call me the bad guy
To who in all this presence speaks your Grace?
Your Grace, to whom in this whole group do you speak?
Who are you talking about, exactly?
who? who do you mean?
To thee, that hast nor honesty nor grace.
When have I injured thee? When done thee wrong?
Or thee? Or thee? Or any of your faction?
A plague upon you all! His royal Grace,
Whom God preserve better than you would wish,
Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing while
But you must trouble him with lewd complaints.
To you, who have neither honesty nor grace. When have I harmed you? When wronged you? Or you? Or you? Or any of your faction? A plague on you all! The King, whom God preserve better than you would wish, cannot rest a moment without you troubling him with foul complaints.
To you, who aren't honest or respectful. What did I ever do to hurt you? Or you? Or you? All of you are the same—you're poisoning the King with lies about me. He can't even catch his breath without you complaining to him.
you're liars you all poison the king with complaints about me leave him alone
Brother of Gloucester, you mistake the matter.
The King, on his own royal disposition,
And not provoked by any suitor else,
Aiming, belike, at your interior hatred
That in your outward action shows itself
Against my children, brothers, and myself,
Makes him to send, that he may learn the ground
Of your ill will, and thereby to remove it.
Brother of Gloucester, you misunderstand the matter. The King acts from his own royal judgment, not pushed by any petitioner, intending to understand your inner hatred that shows itself outwardly against my children, brothers, and myself. He sends for you so he may learn the reason for your ill will and remove it.
Richard, you've got it wrong. The King isn't being manipulated—he's figured out on his own that you hate us. He can see it in how you act toward my kids and family. He wants to know why and fix it.
the king figured it out himself he sees you hate us he wants to fix it
I cannot tell. The world is grown so bad
That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch.
Since every Jack became a gentleman,
There’s many a gentle person made a Jack.
I cannot tell. The world has grown so corrupt that wrens hunt where eagles fear to perch. Since every low man became a gentleman, many a good person has been turned into a nobody.
Look, the world's rotten. Nobodies are stealing the place of real nobles. Since every nobody became a lord, real people got pushed out.
world is corrupt nobodies steal from nobles real people get nothing
Come, come, we know your meaning, brother Gloucester.
You envy my advancement, and my friends’.
God grant we never may have need of you.
Come, come, we know your meaning, brother Gloucester. You envy my rise and my friends' rise. God grant we never need your help.
We get it—you're mad we're doing well. You can't stand it. I hope we never have to depend on you.
you're jealous we're doing well hope we never need you
Meantime, God grants that we have need of you.
Our brother is imprisoned by your means,
Myself disgraced, and the nobility
Held in contempt, while great promotions
Are daily given to ennoble those
That scarce some two days since were worth a noble.
God grants that we have need of you. Your means have imprisoned our brother Clarence, I am disgraced, and the nobility are held in contempt while great promotions are daily given to ennoble those who scarcely two days ago were not worth a noble coin.
Too bad we do need you. Your family locked up my brother Clarence, I'm being insulted, and nobles are being ignored while people who were nothing get handed titles every day.
you imprisoned clarence i'm disgraced real nobles get nothing no bodies get everything
By Him that raised me to this careful height
From that contented hap which I enjoyed,
I never did incense his Majesty
Against the Duke of Clarence, but have been
An earnest advocate to plead for him.
My lord, you do me shameful injury
Falsely to draw me in these vile suspects.
By Him who raised me to this anxious height from the happy life I enjoyed, I never stirred the King's anger against Clarence, but have been an earnest advocate pleading for him. My lord, you do me shameful injury to falsely drag me into these vile suspicions.
I swear by God—I never turned the King against Clarence. I've been on Clarence's side the whole time. You're lying about me, and it's insulting and wrong.
i swear i didn't turn king against clarence i helped him you're lying
You may deny that you were not the mean
Of my Lord Hastings’ late imprisonment.
You can deny you were not the cause of my Lord Hastings' recent imprisonment.
You were behind Hastings' arrest, and we both know it.
you got hastings arrested
Queen Margaret is historically unlikely to be where she is in this scene — she was in France by this point in real history. Shakespeare keeps her in England because she serves a structural function the play cannot do without: she is the one voice in the court who tells the truth, and the one person whose curses we believe. She speaks in a register no one else in the play can access — the formal rhetoric of prophetic imprecation, with the symmetrical repetitions of a curse ritual. 'Edward thy son / For Edward our son.' 'Thyself a queen, for me that was a queen.' The mirror structure implies a moral order where actions have consequences, an eye for an eye extracted by cosmic justice. The audience knows she's right before she finishes. And the truly uncanny thing is that she will reappear in Act 4, after all her curses have come true, to rub it in with 'I told you so.' She's not just a witness — she's the play's moral bookkeeper.
She may, my lord; for—
She may, my lord, for—
She couldn't have been, my lord, because—
she couldn't—
She may, Lord Rivers; why, who knows not so?
She may do more, sir, than denying that.
She may help you to many fair preferments,
And then deny her aiding hand therein,
And lay those honours on your high desert.
What may she not? She may, ay, marry, may she—
She may, Lord Rivers—why, who knows not so? She may do more, sir: she may help you get many fine positions, and then deny she helped you, and lay those honors on your high merit. What may she not? She may—indeed, she may—
She may do what? She may do anything—she can get you promotions, then act innocent, take credit away from you. What can't she do? She might even—
she can do anything get you positions take credit what else
What, marry, may she?
What do you mean, may she?
What are you saying?
what do you mean?
What, marry, may she? Marry with a king,
A bachelor, and a handsome stripling too.
Iwis your grandam had a worser match.
What do you mean may she marry? Marry with a king—a bachelor and a handsome young man too. Indeed, your grandmother made a worse marriage than that.
She could marry a king—a young, good-looking one. That's better than what your family did.
she could marry a king your family did worse
My lord of Gloucester, I have too long borne
Your blunt upbraidings and your bitter scoffs.
By heaven, I will acquaint his Majesty
Of those gross taunts that oft I have endured.
I had rather be a country servant-maid
Than a great queen with this condition,
To be so baited, scorned, and stormed at.
My lord of Gloucester, I have endured your blunt insults and bitter mocks for too long. By heaven, I will tell his Majesty about the gross taunts I have suffered. I would rather be a country servant-maid than a great queen with this condition—to be so mocked, scorned, and attacked.
That's enough. I'm telling the King about how you've been treating me. I'd rather be a peasant than deal with this anymore—being insulted and attacked like this.
enough telling the king you're insulting me i'd rather be poor
Margaret speaks in the register of prophecy and curse — formal, repetitive, structurally symmetrical. Her speeches have an incantatory quality, like she's performing a ritual. Watch for the uncanny accuracy of everything she says.
Thy honour, state, and seat, is due to me.
Your honor, station, and crown belong to me.
That crown should be mine.
that crown should be mine
What, threat you me with telling of the King?
Tell him, and spare not. Look what I have said
I will avouch ’t in presence of the King;
I dare adventure to be sent to th’ Tower.
’Tis time to speak. My pains are quite forgot.
Are you threatening me by telling the King? Tell him and don't hold back. Look at what I have said—I will stand by every word before the King. I dare face being sent to the Tower. It is time to speak. My suffering has been forgotten.
You're threatening to tell the King? Go ahead. I'll say everything I said right to his face. I don't care if he sends me to the Tower. I'm sick of being silent about what I've suffered.
tell the king i'll face him i don't care about the tower i'm done keeping quiet
Thou killed’st my husband Henry in the Tower,
And Edward, my poor son, at Tewksbury.
You murdered my husband Henry in the Tower and my poor son Edward at Tewkesbury.
You killed my husband Henry and my son Edward.
you murdered my husband my son both dead because of you
Ere you were queen, ay, or your husband king,
I was a pack-horse in his great affairs;
A weeder-out of his proud adversaries,
A liberal rewarder of his friends.
To royalize his blood, I spilt mine own.
Before you were queen, and before your husband was king, I was a laborer in his great affairs, a remover of his enemies, a generous rewarder of his friends. I spilled my blood to make his blood royal.
I was doing the dirty work before you even had your crown. I killed his enemies, rewarded his friends, and bled for his cause.
i was a soldier before you were queen i fought for his crown
In all which time, you and your husband Grey
Were factious for the house of Lancaster.
And, Rivers, so were you. Was not your husband
In Margaret’s battle at Saint Albans slain?
Let me put in your minds, if you forget,
What you have been ere this, and what you are;
Withal, what I have been, and what I am.
All this time, you and your husband Grey were factious for the house of Lancaster. And Rivers, so were you. Was not your husband slain in Margaret's battle at Saint Albans? Let me remind you, if you've forgotten, what you have been before now and what you are; and as well, what I have been and what I am.
You all were on the Lancaster side during the wars. Rivers, your husband died fighting for them. You all switched sides—let me remind you of that before you judge me.
you were all lancaster now you're york you switched sides too
Poor Clarence did forsake his father Warwick,
Ay, and forswore himself—which Jesu pardon!—
Poor Clarence did abandon his father Warwick, and swore an oath he broke—which Jesus pardon him—
Even Clarence abandoned his own father Warwick and broke his oath—God forgive him—
clarence betrayed his own father swore and broke it
To fight on Edward’s party for the crown;
And for his meed, poor lord, he is mewed up.
I would to God my heart were flint, like Edward’s,
Or Edward’s soft and pitiful, like mine.
I am too childish-foolish for this world.
To fight for Edward's party for the crown. And for his reward, poor lord, he is locked away. I wish my heart were flint like Edward's, or Edward's soft and pitiful like mine. I am too childish-simple for this world.
He switched sides to help Edward get the crown, and now he's in prison. I'm softer than this world requires—I'm too innocent for all this.
he fought for the crown locked away for it i'm too soft for this
Thou cacodemon! There thy kingdom is.
You evil demon! Your kingdom is there—in hell.
You're a demon, and hell is your kingdom.
you're a demon hell is your home
My lord of Gloucester, in those busy days
Which here you urge to prove us enemies,
We followed then our lord, our sovereign king.
So should we you, if you should be our king.
My lord of Gloucester, in those dangerous times which you mention to prove us enemies, we followed our sovereign king. We would do the same if you became our king.
In those wars, we were loyal to the king we had. We'd be loyal to you too if you were king.
we followed the king we'd follow you too
If I should be! I had rather be a pedler.
Far be it from my heart, the thought thereof.
If I should be king? I would rather be a peddler. Far from my heart, such a thought.
If I became king? God, no. I'd rather sell cheap goods in the street.
me? king? no way i'd rather be poor
As little joy, my lord, as you suppose
You should enjoy, were you this country’s king,
As little joy you may suppose in me
That I enjoy, being the Queen thereof.
You would have as little joy being king, my lord, as I have joy being queen.
You'd be just as miserable with a crown as I am with mine.
being king would hurt like being queen husts me
For I am she, and altogether joyless.
I can no longer hold me patient.
Because I am the one who was queen, and I have no joy at all. I cannot hold my silence any longer.
I'm the real queen, and I have nothing. I can't stay quiet anymore.
i was queen i have nothing no silence no more
Foul wrinkled witch, what mak’st thou in my sight?
Were you not banished on penalty of death?
Weren't you banished? Didn't they say if you came back you'd die?
you were banished deathpenalty
Richard's entrance in this scene is a textbook example of a political technique as old as power: attack first, loudly, to seize the frame. He storms in accusing everyone of slandering him before anyone has said a word against him on stage. The technique works because it puts the room on defense. Queen Elizabeth, Rivers, even Buckingham, are all responding to Richard rather than setting their own agenda. When he turns to the audience at the end of the scene and explains this — 'I do the wrong and first begin to brawl' — he's essentially teaching a masterclass. His explanation of how he uses Scripture as camouflage for villainy is one of the most explicit statements of cynical political manipulation in any drama. He doesn't just do it. He explains it, names it, and takes visible pleasure in it. This is the Richard III who has made the role one of the great acting challenges in theater history.
But repetition of what thou hast marred.
That will I make before I let thee go.
I was, but I find more pain in banishment than death can give me here by my staying. You owe me a husband and a son. And you owe a kingdom. All of you owe allegiance. This sorrow I have by right is yours. And all the pleasures you usurp are mine.
I was, but being away hurt worse than dying here would. You took my husband and son. You took the kingdom. You all owe me loyalty. The pain I should have is yours to feel. And all your happiness should be mine.
banishment hurt worse than death you stole my husband my son the kingdom all mine
Wert thou not banished on pain of death?
The curse my noble father laid on you when you crowned his warlike brow with paper, and with your scorn drew tears from his eyes, and then to dry them gave the Duke a cloth steeped in the blameless blood of young Rutland—his curses from the bitterness of his soul denounced against you have all fallen upon you, and God, not we, has punished your bloody deed.
My father cursed you when you shamed him at that battle. He cursed you with dying words, and God has made those curses come true on you. We didn't do it—God did.
my father cursed you when you shamed him god made it come true not us
I was, but I do find more pain in banishment
Than death can yield me here by my abode.
A husband and a son thou ow’st to me;
And thou a kingdom; all of you, allegiance.
This sorrow that I have by right is yours;
And all the pleasures you usurp are mine.
God is just, and will right the innocent.
God is fair. He'll make this right.
god is just god will help us
The curse my noble father laid on thee
When thou didst crown his warlike brows with paper,
And with thy scorns drew’st rivers from his eyes,
And then to dry them, gav’st the Duke a clout
Steeped in the faultless blood of pretty Rutland—
His curses then, from bitterness of soul
Denounced against thee, are all fall’n upon thee,
And God, not we, hath plagued thy bloody deed.
Oh, it was the most foul deed to slay that baby, and the most merciless ever heard of.
That was the worst, most cruel thing—killing a baby.
killing that child most cruel most foul
So just is God, to right the innocent.
Tyrants themselves wept when it was reported.
When people heard about it, even the cruelest men cried.
even tyrants wept when they heard
O, ’twas the foulest deed to slay that babe,
And the most merciless that e’er was heard of.
No man but prophesied revenge for it.
Everyone said it would come back on you.
everyone wanted revenge
Tyrants themselves wept when it was reported.
Northumberland, present at the time, wept to see it.
Northumberland was there and cried.
northumberland saw it wept
No man but prophesied revenge for it.
So, were you all snarling at each other before I came, ready to grab each other by the throat, and now you turn all your hatred on me? Did my father's dread curse work so powerfully with heaven that my husband's death, my poor son's death, my kingdom's loss, my woeful banishment—should all amount only to avenging that whining brat? Can curses pierce the clouds and reach heaven? Then let the clouds give way to my swift curses. Not by war, but by sickness let your king die, as ours did by murder to make him king. Edward your son, who is now Prince of Wales—for Edward our son, who was Prince of Wales—let him die in his youth by the same untimely violence. Be queen yourself, for me who was queen, and outlive your glory like my wretched self. Live long and wail your children's deaths. See another, as I see you now, clothed in your rights, as I am robbed of mine. Live long die happy before your death, and after many lengthened hours of grief, be neither mother, wife, nor England's queen. Rivers and Dorset, you who stood by and watched, and so did you, Lord Hastings, when my son was stabbed with bloody daggers—God, I pray, let none of you live to your natural age, but have some unexpected accident cut you down.
You were all about to tear each other apart, and now you're united against me? My father cursed your family, and look—he was right. My husband died, my son died, I lost the kingdom, I was banished. Is all that just to settle a score about that child? If curses can reach God, then hear mine. Let your king die of sickness, not war. Let your son, Edward, die young in violence, like mine did. You be queen, Elizabeth, and watch everything you love fall apart. Live long enough to see your children die. See someone else wearing your crown. And you three—Rivers, Dorset, Hastings—you watched my son get murdered. None of you will die of old age. Something sudden and terrible will get you.
you turn on me now curses work let them let your king die let your son die young victimized watch your children die rivers dorset hastings you watched my son die none of you get old
Northumberland, then present, wept to see it.
Northumberland, who was there at the time, wept to see it.
Northumberland was there. He cried at the sight of it.
northumberland present wept to see
What, were you snarling all before I came,
Ready to catch each other by the throat,
And turn you all your hatred now on me?
Did York’s dread curse prevail so much with heaven
That Henry’s death, my lovely Edward’s death,
Their kingdom’s loss, my woeful banishment,
Should all but answer for that peevish brat?
Can curses pierce the clouds and enter heaven?
Why then, give way, dull clouds, to my quick curses!
Though not by war, by surfeit die your King,
As ours by murder, to make him a king.
Edward thy son, that now is Prince of Wales,
For Edward our son, that was Prince of Wales,
Die in his youth by like untimely violence.
Thyself a queen, for me that was a queen,
Outlive thy glory, like my wretched self.
Long mayst thou live to wail thy children’s death,
And see another, as I see thee now,
Decked in thy rights, as thou art stalled in mine;
Long die thy happy days before thy death,
And, after many lengthened hours of grief,
Die neither mother, wife, nor England’s Queen.
Rivers and Dorset, you were standers-by,
And so wast thou, Lord Hastings, when my son
Was stabbed with bloody daggers. God, I pray Him,
That none of you may live his natural age,
But by some unlooked accident cut off.
What, were you all snarling at each other before I came, ready to catch each other by the throat, and now turn all that hatred on me instead? Did York's dread curse prevail so much with heaven that my husband's death, my lovely Edward's death, my kingdom lost, my woeful banishment should all add up only to avenging that peevish brat? Can curses pierce the clouds and reach heaven? Then give way, dull clouds, to my swift curses. You won't die by war, but by sickness let your king die, as mine did by murder to make him king. Edward your son, now Prince of Wales — for Edward our son, who was Prince of Wales, died in his youth by untimely violence. Be queen yourself, for me who was queen, and outlive your glory as I do my miserable self. Live long and wail your children's deaths. See another, as I see you, dressed in your rights while I am stripped of mine. Live long to see your happy days end before death itself, and after many hours of grief, neither mother, wife, nor England's queen. Rivers and Dorset, you stood by, and you as well, Lord Hastings, when my son was stabbed with bloody daggers. God, I pray him, let none of you live your natural lifespan, but have some unexpected accident cut you down.
What, you were all about to tear each other apart before I showed up, ready to kill each other, and now you're united against me? Did my father's curse work so well that my husband's death and my son's death and my banishment should only be payment for a spoiled brat? If curses can reach God, hear mine. Your king will die of sickness, not war, like mine died by murder. Your son Edward will die young and violently like mine. Elizabeth, you be queen and watch everything you love fall apart. Live long enough to see your children die. Watch someone else wear your crown. Rivers, Dorset, Hastings — you watched my son get stabbed. None of you will get old. You'll all die suddenly and wrong.
snarling before turn hatred on me york's curse husband dead son dead banished can curses reach heaven yes let your king die of sickness let your son die young watch your children die rivers dorset hastings watched stabbing none of you get old
Have done thy charm, thou hateful withered hag.
Finish your curse, you hateful, withered hag.
Done cursing, you ugly old witch?
enough witch
And leave out thee? Stay, dog, for thou shalt hear me.
If heaven have any grievous plague in store
Exceeding those that I can wish upon thee,
O, let them keep it till thy sins be ripe,
And then hurl down their indignation
On thee, the troubler of the poor world’s peace.
The worm of conscience still begnaw thy soul;
Thy friends suspect for traitors while thou liv’st,
And take deep traitors for thy dearest friends;
No sleep close up that deadly eye of thine,
Unless it be while some tormenting dream
Affrights thee with a hell of ugly devils.
Thou elvish-marked, abortive, rooting hog,
Thou that wast sealed in thy nativity
The slave of nature and the son of hell;
Thou slander of thy heavy mother’s womb,
Thou loathed issue of thy father’s loins,
Thou rag of honour, thou detested—
And leave out you? Stay, dog, for you shall hear me. If heaven has any terrible plague in store beyond those I can wish on you, let them save it till your sins are ripe, and then hurl down their judgment on you, the troubler of the poor world's peace. The worm of conscience shall forever gnaw your soul. Your friends will suspect you as traitors while you live, and you will trust deep traitors as your dearest friends. No sleep will close your deadly eye unless some tormenting dream terrifies you with a hell full of ugly devils. You twisted, deformed, aborted creature, you pig rooting in filth—you were marked in your birth as the slave of nature and child of hell, you shame of your heavy mother's womb, you loathed offspring of your father's body, you rag of honor, you despised—
Not done with you, you dog. God has worse plagues than I can even imagine for you. Your own conscience will torture you forever. Your friends will betray you and you'll trust traitors. You'll have nightmares of hell. You ugly creature, you're marked from birth as evil. You're the shame of your mother, the worst of your father's children, you disgusting thing—
i'm not done with you conscience will torture you friends betray traitors are your friends no sleep nightmares marked evil from birth
Margaret.
Margaret.
Margaret.
margaret
Richard!
Richard!
Richard!
richard
Ha?
What?
What?
what
I call thee not.
I was not calling you.
I wasn't calling you over.
wasn't calling you
I cry thee mercy then, for I did think
That thou hadst called me all these bitter names.
I beg your pardon then, for I thought you had called me all those bitter names.
Sorry—I thought you were cursing my name like that.
thought you cursed me
Why, so I did, but looked for no reply.
O, let me make the period to my curse!
Why, I did, but I expected no reply. Oh, let me complete the curse.
I was cursing you—just didn't expect you to talk back. Let me finish.
i was cursing you let me finish
’Tis done by me, and ends in “Margaret”.
It is done by me, and ends in "Margaret."
I finished it for you—and it ends with your name.
done by me ends in margaret
Thus have you breathed your curse against yourself.
So you have breathed your curse against yourself.
You just cursed yourself with your own words.
cursed yourself with it
Poor painted queen, vain flourish of my fortune,
Why strew’st thou sugar on that bottled spider,
Whose deadly web ensnareth thee about?
Fool, fool; thou whet’st a knife to kill thyself.
The day will come that thou shalt wish for me
To help thee curse this poisonous bunch-backed toad.
Poor painted queen, vain decoration from my misfortune. Why do you pour honey on that bottled spider whose deadly web traps you? Fool, fool—you sharpen a knife to kill yourself. The day will come when you will beg me to help you curse this poisonous, hump-backed toad.
You're all dolled up with my stolen crown. Why are you flattering this spider whose web will kill you? You're stupid—you're helping the one who'll destroy you. Someday you'll come crying to me begging for help cursing him.
painted queen silly feeding the spider that will eat you stupid you'll beg me to curse him
False-boding woman, end thy frantic curse,
Lest to thy harm thou move our patience.
Stop your mad cursing, woman, or you will make us lose patience with you.
Stop it. You're going to push us too far.
stop or we'll lash out
Foul shame upon you, you have all moved mine.
Foul shame on you—all of you have already lost my patience.
You made me furious first.
you made me mad first
Were you well served, you would be taught your duty.
If you were treated properly, you would be taught your duty.
You need to learn how to behave.
teach her duty
To serve me well, you all should do me duty:
Teach me to be your queen, and you my subjects.
O, serve me well, and teach yourselves that duty!
To serve me well, you should all owe me duty. Teach me to be your queen and you my subjects. Oh, serve me well and teach yourselves that duty!
I'm the queen and you're my subjects. You should be teaching yourselves to obey me, not the other way around.
i'm the queen you owe me duty learn it
Dispute not with her; she is lunatic.
Don't argue with her. She is mad.
She's crazy. Don't engage.
she's crazy
Peace, Master Marquess, you are malapert.
Your fire-new stamp of honour is scarce current.
O, that your young nobility could judge
What ’twere to lose it and be miserable!
They that stand high have many blasts to shake them,
And if they fall they dash themselves to pieces.
Quiet, Master Marquess, you are disrespectful. Your fresh new title of honor is barely circulated. Oh, that your young nobility could understand what it is to lose such elevation and be miserable! Those who stand high get knocked down by many storms, and if they fall they smash themselves to pieces.
Your fancy new title isn't even established yet, kid. You don't understand what it's like to lose everything. High positions are unstable—one fall and you're destroyed.
your title is new you don't understand fall from high breaks you
Good counsel, marry. Learn it, learn it, Marquess.
Good advice indeed. Learn it, Marquess.
She's right. You should listen to that.
good point listen to her
It touches you, my lord, as much as me.
It concerns you, my lord, as much as me.
That applies to you too, Richard.
same for you richard
Ay, and much more; but I was born so high.
Our aery buildeth in the cedar’s top,
And dallies with the wind, and scorns the sun.
Yes, and much more—but I was born to heights. My nest is built in the cedar's top, and I play with the wind and scorn the sun.
Maybe for you. But I was born into power. I'm an eagle in the highest tree—above all this.
i was born high eagle in the highest tree above it all
And turns the sun to shade, alas, alas!
Witness my son, now in the shade of death,
Whose bright out-shining beams thy cloudy wrath
Hath in eternal darkness folded up.
Your aery buildeth in our aery’s nest.
O God, that seest it, do not suffer it!
As it is won with blood, lost be it so.
And turns the sun to shadow, alas, alas! Watch my son, now in death's shadow, whose bright shining beams your dark, angry hatred has folded in eternal darkness. Your nest is built in what was our nest. Oh God, who sees all, do not allow it! As it is won with blood, let it be lost with blood.
Your darkness kills everything bright. My son's brightness was snuffed out by your hatred. You've stolen our place with blood, so let it be lost in blood too.
you darken everything my son was bright you killed the light stolen with blood lose it with blood
Peace, peace, for shame, if not for charity.
Peace, peace, for shame, if not for mercy.
Stop. Have some shame, if you won't have pity.
stop for shame
Urge neither charity nor shame to me.
Uncharitably with me have you dealt,
And shamefully my hopes by you are butchered.
My charity is outrage, life my shame,
And in that shame still live my sorrow’s rage.
Use neither charity nor shame on me. You have dealt with me uncharitably, and my hopes are shamefully murdered by you. My charity is outrage, my life is shame, and in that shame my sorrow lives in rage.
Don't preach to me about charity or shame. You've been cruel to me and killed my hopes. My kindness turned to anger, my life is shame, and I live in rage.
no charity no shame you were cruel killed my hopes i'm all rage
Have done, have done.
Have done, have done.
Stop. Please stop.
stop
The hostility between Richard and Queen Elizabeth's family — the Woodvilles — was real historical tension. When the widowed Elizabeth Woodville married Edward IV in 1464, she brought a large family of brothers, nephews, and allies who rapidly received titles and positions. To the old aristocracy, this was an affront — upstarts displacing established blood. Richard's jibes about 'those that scarce some two days since were worth a noble' tap directly into this resentment. But the play complicates the simple 'old blood good, new money bad' narrative: the Woodvilles, whatever their origins, don't seem particularly villainous. They're courtiers trying to survive in a dangerous system. Richard uses the class grievance instrumentally — as ammunition — while his actual motivation is purely personal ambition. He would hate the Woodvilles even if they were ancient nobility, because they stand between him and the throne.
O princely Buckingham, I’ll kiss thy hand
In sign of league and amity with thee.
Now fair befall thee and thy noble house!
Thy garments are not spotted with our blood,
Nor thou within the compass of my curse.
Oh, noble Buckingham, I will kiss your hand in sign of alliance and friendship with you. Now fair fortune come to you and your noble house! Your garments are not stained with our blood, nor you within the range of my curse.
Buckingham, you're good. I'll kiss your hand as a sign of peace between us. Good luck to you and your house. You weren't part of this, so my curse doesn't touch you.
buckingham you're good no blood no curse good luck
Nor no one here, for curses never pass
The lips of those that breathe them in the air.
And no one here is under your curse, for curses never cross the lips of those who speak them in the air.
Curses don't even work—they just evaporate. They don't touch anybody.
curses don't work they just vanish
I will not think but they ascend the sky,
And there awake God’s gentle sleeping peace.
O Buckingham, take heed of yonder dog!
Look when he fawns, he bites; and when he bites,
His venom tooth will rankle to the death.
Have not to do with him; beware of him;
Sin, death, and hell have set their marks on him,
And all their ministers attend on him.
I believe they do rise to the sky and waken God's sleeping peace. Oh Buckingham, beware that dog! Look when he smiles, he bites. And when he bites, his venom tooth will cause death from the infection. Do not have dealings with him. Be afraid of him. Sin, death, and hell have marked him, and all their servants work through him.
My curses reach God. Buckingham, watch out for Richard. When he smiles, that's when he strikes. His bite is poisonous and fatal. Don't trust him. Don't go near him. He's marked by every evil power.
beware richard smiles then bites poison venom death don't trust marked by evil
What doth she say, my lord of Buckingham?
What does she say, my lord of Buckingham?
What was she ranting about?
what'd she say?
Nothing that I respect, my gracious lord.
Nothing that matters to me, my gracious lord.
Nothing worth listening to.
nothing matters
What, dost thou scorn me for my gentle counsel,
And soothe the devil that I warn thee from?
O, but remember this another day,
When he shall split thy very heart with sorrow,
And say, poor Margaret was a prophetess.
Live each of you the subjects to his hate,
And he to yours, and all of you to God’s!
Do you scorn my good advice, and soothe the devil I warn you against? Oh, remember this another day, when he will break your heart with sorrow, and you will say: poor Margaret was a prophet. Live each as subjects to his hate, and he to yours, and all of you to God's.
You're ignoring my warning and trusting him anyway? You'll regret this. When he destroys you, you'll remember I tried to warn you. You'll all end up hating each other, and God will judge you all.
you'll regret this he'll destroy you you'll remember i warned you god judges all
My hair doth stand on end to hear her curses.
My hair stands on end to hear her curses.
That got to me. I'm frightened.
scared hair on end
And so doth mine. I muse why she’s at liberty.
And mine as well. I wonder why she is allowed to walk free.
Mine too. How is she even allowed to be here?
mine too why's she free
I cannot blame her. By God’s holy mother,
She hath had too much wrong; and I repent
My part thereof that I have done to her.
I cannot blame her. By God's holy mother, she has suffered too much wrong, and I regret my part in it to her.
I can't fault her. She's been hurt so much. I wish I hadn't done my part in it.
can't blame her suffered too much i regret my part
I never did her any, to my knowledge.
I never did her any harm, to my knowledge.
I never hurt her.
i never hurt her
Yet you have all the vantage of her wrong.
I was too hot to do somebody good
That is too cold in thinking of it now.
Marry, as for Clarence, he is well repaid;
He is franked up to fatting for his pains.
God pardon them that are the cause thereof.
Yet you have all the advantage of her wrong. I was too eager to do somebody good that is now too cold in thinking of it. But Clarence—he is well repaid. He is fattened up like livestock for slaughter for his loyalty. God pardon those who are the cause of it.
But you're all profiting from what was done to her. Clarence is trapped because of what we did—God forgive us for it.
you benefit from her wrongs clarence is trapped god forgive us
A virtuous and a Christian-like conclusion,
To pray for them that have done scathe to us.
A virtuous and Christian conclusion—to pray for those who have harmed us.
That's very Christian of you—to pray for those who hurt you.
christian virtuousof you to pray for them
So do I ever—(_Speaks to himself_) being well advised;
For had I cursed now, I had cursed myself.
So I always do—being well advised. For had I cursed now, I would have cursed myself.
I pray because if I cursed, I'd curse myself too.
curse them? i'd curse myself
Madam, his Majesty doth call for you,
And for your Grace, and you, my gracious lords.
My lady, his Majesty calls for you and for your Grace, and you, my gracious lords.
The King wants to see you all.
king wants to see you
Catesby, I come. Lords, will you go with me?
Catesby, I come. Lords, will you come with me?
Let's go. Are you coming?
let's go
We wait upon your Grace.
We wait upon your Grace.
We'll follow you.
we follow
I do the wrong, and first begin to brawl.
The secret mischiefs that I set abroach
I lay unto the grievous charge of others.
Clarence, whom I indeed have cast in darkness,
I do beweep to many simple gulls,
Namely, to Derby, Hastings, Buckingham;
And tell them ’tis the Queen and her allies
That stir the King against the Duke my brother.
Now they believe it, and withal whet me
To be revenged on Rivers, Dorset, Grey.
But then I sigh, and, with a piece of Scripture,
Tell them that God bids us do good for evil;
And thus I clothe my naked villany
With odd old ends stol’n forth of Holy Writ,
And seem a saint when most I play the devil.
I do the wrong and start the quarrel first. The secret mischiefs that I set in motion I lay at the feet of others. Clarence, whom I have indeed cast into darkness, I bewail to many simple fools—namely to Derby, Hastings, Buckingham. And I tell them it is the Queen and her allies that stir the King against my brother Clarence. Now they believe it, and together they incite me to revenge myself on Rivers, Dorset, and Grey. But then I sigh and with a bit of Scripture tell them that God bids us do good for those who hurt us. And so I clothe my naked villainy with old passages stolen from Holy Writ, and seem a saint when most I play the devil.
I'm the one causing all the trouble, but I make them think they did it. I've locked up Clarence, but I tell everyone—Derby, Hastings, Buckingham—that the Queen's family did it. They believe me and want revenge on the Woodvilles. Then I act pious and quote Scripture about forgiving enemies. That's how I get away with it—I dress up my evil with Bible verses and look like a saint.
i do wrong blame them clarence locked up but they think queen did it they believe me i quote scripture look pious play devil working perfectly
We are, my lord, and come to have the warrant,
That we may be admitted where he is.
We are, my lord, and we've come to get the warrant so we can be admitted where he is.
Yeah, we need the order to get into the Tower.
we need the warrant to get to him
Well thought upon; I have it here about me.
Well thought of. I have it here with me.
Good thinking. Here it is.
good thinking here
Tut, tut, my lord, we will not stand to prate.
Talkers are no good doers. Be assured
We go to use our hands, and not our tongues.
Never mind, my lord—we won't stop to chat. Talkers are not good doers. Be sure we'll use our hands, not our tongues.
Don't worry about that—we don't talk, we act. We use our hands, not our mouths.
don't worry we're doers use hands not words
Your eyes drop millstones when fools’ eyes fall tears.
I like you, lads. About your business straight.
Go, go, dispatch.
Your eyes will drop stones where fools' eyes drop tears. I like you, lads. Now, off with you on your work immediately. Go, go, be quick.
You won't cry—you're tough. I like that. Now go do it. Move.
you're hard i like you go now do it
We will, my noble lord.
We will, my noble lord.
We're on it.
yes lord
The Reckoning
This is the play's crowded battlefield — everyone is maneuvering, everyone is frightened, and then Margaret arrives to call all of them on their sins, accurately. Her curses sound like madness but are actually prophecy. When she leaves, Richard does something extraordinary: he turns to the audience and explains exactly how he just played everyone in the room. We're watching a masterclass in political manipulation, and the teacher is our guide.
If this happened today…
Picture a hostile boardroom: the CEO is dying, and the executive team is openly feuding over succession. The CFO storms in claiming to be the victim of slander. The former CEO's first wife — long exiled, legally barred from the premises — walks in from behind a pillar and starts listing exactly how each person in the room will fail. The room is stunned. She leaves. The CFO turns to a colleague, grins, and says: 'Watch what I just did there.' Then he meets two men in the lobby and hands them a commission to execute a problem.