Richard III
Act III, Scene 6
London. A street.
Title page for "The tragedie of King Richard the third", fifth quarto
The tragedie of King Richard the third. Containing 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 beene lately acted by the Kings Maiesties seruants. Newly augmented, by William Shake-speare.
1612
- Enter a Scrivener with a paper in his hand.
Scrivener
1 - 14- Here is the indictment of the good Lord Hastings,
- Which in a set hand fairly is engross’d
- That it may be today read o’er in Paul’s.
- And mark how well the sequel hangs together:
- Eleven hours I have spent to write it over,
- For yesternight by Catesby was it sent me;
- The precedent was full as long a-doing,
- And yet within these five hours Hastings liv’d,
- Untainted, unexamin’d, free, at liberty.
- Here’s a good world the while! Who is so gross
- That cannot see this palpable device?
- Yet who’s so bold but says he sees it not?
- Bad is the world, and all will come to nought,
- When such ill dealing must be seen in thought.
- Exit.