Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy colour,
Murder thy breath in middle of a word,
And then again begin, and stop again,
As if thou were distraught and mad with terror?
Come on, cousin, can you tremble and turn pale, Stop your breath in the middle of a word, Then start again and stop once more, As if you were falling apart and driven mad by fear?
Hey cousin, can you do that shake-and-pale thing, hold your breath mid-sentence, then start up and stop again— make it look like you're losing it, completely panicked?
can u fake trembling, going pale, stop mid-word then start again? like you're losing ur mind from fear?
Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian;
Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,
Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,
Intending deep suspicion. Ghastly looks
Are at my service, like enforced smiles,
And both are ready in their offices,
At anytime to grace my stratagems.
But what, is Catesby gone?
I can perform like a great actor in a tragedy; Speak and look back, checking every side, Tremble and jump at the tiniest movement, Intent on showing deep suspicion. I can summon ghastly expressions, Like forced smiles—both are always ready To serve my schemes whenever I need them. But, has Catesby gone?
Absolutely, I can nail the tragic actor bit; I'll speak and look over my shoulder, checking everything around, Jump at the slightest thing, Make it clear I'm deeply suspicious. I've got the haunted look down, Like fake smiles—both tricks are always in my back pocket, Ready to pull out whenever I need them for my plans. So... is Catesby gone?
i can play the tragic actor look back, check everything, jump at anything do the haunted look, fake smiles whatever works for my plans is catesby gone?
He is; and, see, he brings the Mayor along.
Yes, and see—he brings the Mayor with him.
There he is, and he's got the Mayor.
there's the mayor
Lord Mayor—
Lord Mayor—
Lord Mayor—
mayor—
Look to the drawbridge there!
Watch the drawbridge!
Guard the drawbridge!
drawbridge!
Hark, a drum.
Hear, a drum!
A drum!
drum!
The stage direction 'Enter Richard and Buckingham in rotten armour, marvellous ill-favoured' is one of the most precise scenic instructions in Shakespeare. 'Rotten' means damaged, rusty, ill-maintained — armour that hasn't been used in war, dug out of storage for a theatrical effect. 'Marvellous ill-favoured' means conspicuously ugly and disordered — deliberately disheveled to look like men who've been in a sudden crisis. The performance that follows — fake alarms, calls to the drawbridge, invoking God and innocence — is a dress rehearsal that Richard explicitly directs in the opening lines. What Shakespeare is doing is making the theatrical metaphor literal: these are actors in a production of innocence-under-threat. The 'rotten armour' is the costume. The 'drawbridge' call is the blocking. The Mayor is the audience who will take the performance home. The play within the play, briefly made visible, then collapsed back into the fiction.
Catesby, o’erlook the walls.
Catesby, watch the walls!
Catesby—guard the walls!
watch the walls!
Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent—
Lord Mayor, the reason we have summoned—
Lord Mayor, we called you here because—
mayor the reason we sent—
Look back! Defend thee, here are enemies.
Look behind! Defend yourself—there are enemies!
Behind us! Enemies! Defend!
behind! enemies!
God and our innocence defend and guard us!
God and our innocence protect and guard us!
God help us! We're innocent!
god protect us we're innocent
Be patient, they are friends, Ratcliffe and Lovell.
Be calm, they are friends—Ratcliffe and Lovell.
Don't worry, those are just Ratcliffe and Lovell. Friends.
don't worry they're friends ratcliffe lovell
Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,
The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.
Here is the severed head of that dishonorable traitor—the dangerous and deceptive Hastings.
Here's the head of that vile traitor, that dangerous deceiver Hastings.
hastings' head traitor down
So dear I loved the man that I must weep.
I took him for the plainest harmless creature
That breathed upon the earth a Christian;
Made him my book, wherein my soul recorded
The history of all her secret thoughts.
So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue
That, his apparent open guilt omitted—
I mean his conversation with Shore’s wife—
He lived from all attainder of suspects.
I loved the man so dearly that I must weep. I took him for the most innocent harmless being Who breathed as a Christian on this earth; I treated him as my book, where my soul recorded The history of all her secret thoughts. So skillfully he covered his wickedness with the appearance of goodness That, except for his obvious guilt— I mean his affair with Shore's wife— He lived free from all suspicion.
I cared about this man so much I could cry. I thought he was the most genuinely good, harmless person Walking the earth as a Christian; I made him like a diary where I wrote down All the secrets of my soul. He was so good at hiding his corruption behind seeming virtue That, except for one obvious thing— His thing with Shore's wife— He managed to escape all suspicion.
i loved him so much it hurts thought he was pure, innocent, good made him my diary but he hid his corruption so well except for his affair—that was obvious everyone else trusted him tho
Scene 3-5 is a manual for propaganda construction. Richard's instructions to Buckingham demonstrate a five-step process that would be recognizable in any era. First, establish personal credibility (the armor, the grief, invoking God). Second, present a witness figure who can verify the story (the Mayor). Third, seed a simple narrative with an emotional hook (Hastings betrayed us — and he was sleeping with Shore). Fourth, escalate to a larger claim that serves the political purpose (Edward's children are bastards). Fifth, plant a rumor too dangerous to state directly but too useful to ignore (Edward himself was illegitimate — touch it 'as 'twere far off'). The genius is in the calibration: each claim is designed to be more credible than the next, but each claim, if accepted, makes the next one more plausible. By the time the audience at Guildhall hears the bastardy argument, they've already been primed by the Hastings story.
Well, well, he was the covert’st sheltered traitor
That ever lived.—
Would you imagine, or almost believe,
Were’t not that by great preservation
We live to tell it, that the subtle traitor
This day had plotted, in the council-house,
To murder me and my good lord of Gloucester?
He was the most secretive traitor who ever lived. Would you believe, had we not survived by God's grace, that this man plotted to murder both of us in the council chamber today?
He was the sneakiest traitor ever. Would you even believe that if we hadn't stopped him, he was planning to kill both of us in the council meeting today?
the sneakiest traitor we had no idea he was planning to murder us in the council today
Had he done so?
He truly intended to do this?
He really was going to do that?
really?
What, think you we are Turks or Infidels?
Or that we would, against the form of law,
Proceed thus rashly in the villain’s death,
But that the extreme peril of the case,
The peace of England, and our persons’ safety,
Enforced us to this execution?
What—do you think we are like heathens who act on whim? Would we execute him without legal process, except that the danger was so extreme, England's peace so threatened, and our own lives in such immediate peril that we had no choice but this action?
What, you think we're barbarians? We wouldn't just kill someone without proper legal cause, except the threat was so extreme, England's survival was at stake, and we had to act now or we'd all die.
we're not savages we followed the law but the threat was extreme england's peace our lives
Now, fair befall you! He deserved his death,
And your good Graces both have well proceeded,
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
Luck and blessing on you. He deserved to die, and your Graces have done well by executing him—a warning to other false traitors.
Good luck and God's blessing. He had it coming, and you both did the right thing—it'll scare off the other traitors.
he deserved it you did well warning to others
I never looked for better at his hands
After he once fell in with Mistress Shore.
Yet had we not determined he should die
Until your lordship came to see his end
Which now the loving haste of these our friends,
Something against our meanings, have prevented,
Because, my lord, we would have had you heard
The traitor speak, and timorously confess
The manner and the purpose of his treasons,
That you might well have signified the same
Unto the citizens, who haply may
Misconster us in him, and wail his death.
I never expected better from him after he took up with Mistress Shore. But we hadn't actually decided he should die until you came to witness the ending ourselves—which these eager friends prevented by acting without our permission. We wanted you to hear him confess, so you could report his treasons to the citizens, who might otherwise believe we acted rashly.
I should've known better once he got involved with Shore. But we didn't decide to execute him until you got here—these guys jumped the gun and acted before we told them to. We wanted you to hear him confess so you could tell the people we had good reason.
after he got with shore we knew but we wanted you to hear his confession so the citizens would understand
But, my good lord, your Grace’s word shall serve
As well as I had seen and heard him speak;
And do not doubt, right noble princes both,
But I’ll acquaint our duteous citizens
With all your just proceedings in this case.
Your word is enough for me, noble Dukes. I will tell the citizens everything I've seen and heard, and they will trust your judgment.
I don't need more than your word. I'll tell the citizens what I saw here, and they'll believe you.
your word is enough i'll tell the people everything
And to that end we wished your lordship here,
T’ avoid the censures of the carping world.
That's why we wanted you here—to protect us from the world's gossip.
That's exactly why we brought you in—to show the city we did this right.
that's why we wanted you to be the witness to prove we acted justly
But since you come too late of our intent,
Yet witness what you hear we did intend.
And so, my good Lord Mayor, we bid farewell.
Since you arrived too late to see the whole thing, what you've heard now is enough to report. We bid you farewell, Lord Mayor.
But since you didn't see it all yourself, what you know now is enough to tell people. Goodbye, Lord Mayor.
you got here late what you know is enough farewell
Shakespeare's depiction of Richard's propaganda campaign is grounded in historical record. In June 1483, a petition to Parliament called Titulus Regius formally declared Edward IV's children illegitimate, citing the allegedly invalid marriage between Edward and Elizabeth Woodville. The petition claimed Edward had been pre-contracted to another woman before marrying Elizabeth — a pre-contract was the legal equivalent of a betrothal, which would invalidate a subsequent marriage. Doctor Ralph Shaa (Shakespeare's 'Shaa') did preach a sermon in London arguing for the bastardy of Edward's children. The petition was accepted by Parliament and Richard was offered the crown. When Henry VII took power after Bosworth, one of his first acts was to destroy all copies of Titulus Regius — an implicit admission that its argument was embarrassing. One copy survived, hidden in the Tower's archives, and was discovered under Henry VIII. Shakespeare's source (More, Hall, Holinshed) was written by Tudor partisans, which colors his depiction — but the propaganda campaign itself is historical fact.
Go, after, after, cousin Buckingham.
The Mayor towards Guildhall hies him in all post.
There, at your meet’st advantage of the time,
Infer the bastardy of Edward’s children;
Tell them how Edward put to death a citizen
Only for saying he would make his son
Heir to the Crown—meaning indeed his house,
Which, by the sign thereof, was termed so.
Moreover, urge his hateful luxury
And bestial appetite in change of lust,
Which stretched unto their servants, daughters, wives,
Even where his raging eye or savage heart,
Without control, lusted to make a prey.
Nay, for a need, thus far come near my person:
Tell them, when that my mother went with child
Of that insatiate Edward, noble York
My princely father then had wars in France,
And, by true computation of the time,
Found that the issue was not his begot;
Which well appeared in his lineaments,
Being nothing like the noble Duke, my father.
Yet touch this sparingly, as ’twere far off;
Because, my lord, you know my mother lives.
Go after Buckingham. The Mayor is heading to Guildhall in a hurry. When you get the chance, tell them: Edward declared a man a traitor for predicting his son would be king—he meant his bloodline. Also mention his sexual violence—his uncontrolled lust toward any woman he desired, noble or common. And here's what you must use carefully: Edward's father was in France when Edward was born, and Edward looked nothing like him. Mention this very subtly, almost as an afterthought, because I can't directly accuse my own mother of adultery—she's still alive.
Follow Buckingham to Guildhall before the Mayor gets there. When you can, tell the people: Edward killed a man just for saying Edward's son would inherit—he was crazy about bloodlines. Also bring up how he assaulted women, used his power to prey on them. And here's the dangerous one you have to soft-pedal: Edward's father was out of the country when Edward was born, and Edward looked nothing like him. Hint at it like you're almost mentioning it by accident, because if I directly say my mother had an affair with someone else, it'll destroy her—she's still alive.
edward's children are bastards edward was a rapist and maybe even edward was illegitimate but don't say that out loud my mother's alive
Doubt not, my lord, I’ll play the orator
As if the golden fee for which I plead
Were for myself. And so, my lord, adieu.
I promise you, I'll argue your case as passionately as if I had a fortune to gain from it myself. Farewell.
I swear I'll make the case like I'm fighting for my own life. See you later.
i'll argue like it's for me like my fortune depends on it
If you thrive well, bring them to Baynard’s Castle,
Where you shall find me well accompanied
With reverend fathers and well-learned bishops.
If you succeed with the citizens, bring them to Baynard's Castle, where I'll be waiting surrounded by bishops and learned divines.
When you get them on our side, bring them to Baynard's Castle. I'll be there with a bunch of bishops and priests.
if it works bring them to baynard's i'll be there with bishops
I go; and towards three or four o’clock
Look for the news that the Guildhall affords.
I'm going. Look for news from Guildhall around three or four this afternoon.
I'll go. Expect to hear how Guildhall reacts around three or four.
i'm going look for news three or four o'clock
Go, Lovell, with all speed to Doctor Shaa.
Lovell, go quickly to Doctor Shaa.
Lovell, go find Doctor Shaa right now.
lovell go to shaa fast
[_To Ratcliffe_.] Go thou to Friar Penker; bid them both
Meet me within this hour at Baynard’s Castle.
Go to Friar Penker; tell both of them to meet me within this hour at Baynard's Castle.
Head over to Friar Penker and tell him and the other one to meet me at Baynard's Castle within the next hour.
go tell friar penker meet me at bayards in an hour
Now will I go to take some privy order
To draw the brats of Clarence out of sight,
And to give order that no manner person
Have any time recourse unto the Princes.
Now I will go to make some secret arrangements to remove Clarence's children out of sight and to give orders that no person whatsoever shall be able to visit the Princes at any time.
Now I'm going to work out the details to get Clarence's kids hidden away and make sure nobody can visit the young Princes.
gonna hide clarence's kids and keep everyone away from the princes
The Reckoning
[object Object]
If this happened today…
Two executives appear in a press conference dressed like they've been in a hostage situation. They show the cameras 'evidence' of a colleague's crimes. They mourn their trusted friend who 'turned out' to be a criminal. The company's communications director goes to brief the financial press with the story they've prepared: the CEO's children from his first marriage aren't legally entitled to inherit (because the prenup was invalid); the CEO was a well-known harasser (true, conveniently); and — very quietly — there may be questions about the CEO's actual parentage that affect share inheritance. Nudge nudge. Don't quote us on that last one.