1440100 1623 Shakespeare. Richard III. Two Leaves.
10214.
Richard III. From the First Folio. 1623
Two Leaves. (History 197-198, 203-204)
(See also complete play - item 10235 in this collection)
These fragments present several of the final scenes of this, the masterful capstone of the first of Shakespeare’s history tetralogies. We see the new King (Richard) who has just inherited the throne from his brother Edward the Fourth whom Richard has murdered. Richard confronts Edward’s wife, Queen Elizabeth, and using basically the same charm and flow of speech he did earlier in the play with Anne, tries to convince her that he is a good person. She should try to get past the minor unpleasantries of his having murdered the Two Princes in the tower and his brothers Edward the Fourth and Clarence and a few others. He asserts (all the while winking at the audience) that he is a good man who will be a good King. Elizabeth bitterly comments that she has no more sons for Richard to slaughter, but Richard is much more interested in her royal and gracious daughter whom he wishes to make his queen.
We learn that Richmond’s army is approaching the coast with the intention of joining Buckingham and his army. Derby enters and brings the news that Richmond is planning to take the throne from Richard. Richard heads for Salisbury to do battle.
Now Begins a series of quick exchanges showing the armies on each side readying for battle. In a very interesting juxtaposition: each man (Richard and Richmond) has dream sequences that are quite prophetic. A vision of a series of ghosts appears on the stage and all curse Richard for his role in their deaths repeating that he will “Despair and die”. Each also addresses Richmond blessing him and wishing him victory. When the last ghost (that of Buckingham) has spoken Richard awakes crying out “give me another horse bind up my wounds”.
Finally, Richard enters crying “a horse a horse my kingdom for a horse”. He ventures forth on foot, encounters Richmond and is slain. Richmond then announces his intention to marry princess Elizabeth thus uniting the two houses of York and Lancaster As Henry the 7th and the first of the Tudors, he will restore peace to the long fractured Kingdom.
Good