William Shakespeare 1564-1616 King Rihard III John Bartlett 1919 Familiar Quotations


1
Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York, And all the clouds that loured upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, Our bruised arms hung up for monuments, Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front; And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, He capers nimbly in a lady’s chamber To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks, Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass; I, that am rudely stamped, and want love’s majesty To strut before a wanton ambling nymph; I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion, Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time Into this breathing world, scarce half made up, And that so lamely and unfashionable That dogs bark at me as I halt by them,— Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to spy my shadow in the sun.
King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 1.
2
To leave this keen encounter of our wits.
King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 2.
3
Was ever woman in this humour wooed? Was ever woman in this humour won?
King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 2.
4
Framed in the prodigality of nature.
King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 2.
5
The world is grown so bad, That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch. 1
King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 3.
6
And thus I clothe my naked villany With old odd ends stolen out of 2 holy writ, And seem a saint when most I play the devil.
King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 3.
7
O, I have passed a miserable night, So full of ugly sights, of ghastly dreams, That, as I am a Christian faithful man, I would not spend another such a night, Though ’t were to buy a world of happy days.
King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 4.
8
Lord, Lord! methought, what pain it was to drown! What dreadful noise of waters in mine ears! What ugly sights of death within mine eyes! Methought I saw a thousand fearful wrecks, Ten thousand men that fishes gnawed upon, Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl, Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels, All scattered in the bottom of the sea: Some lay in dead men’s skulls; and in those holes Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept, As ’t were in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems.
King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 4.
9
A parlous boy.
King Richard III. Act ii. Sc. 4.
10
So wise so young, they say, do never live long. 3
King Richard III. Act iii. Sc. 1.



11
Off with his head! 4
King Richard III. Act iii. Sc. 4.
12
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast, Ready with every nod to tumble down.
King Richard III. Act iii. Sc. 4.
13
Even in the afternoon of her best days.
King Richard III. Act iii. Sc. 7.
14
Thou troublest me; I am not in the vein.
King Richard III. Act iv. Sc. 2.
15
Their lips were four red roses on a stalk.
King Richard III. Act iv. Sc. 3.
16
The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham’s bosom.
King Richard III. Act iv. Sc. 3.
17
Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women Rail on the Lord’s anointed.
King Richard III. Act iv. Sc. 4.
18
Tetchy and wayward.
King Richard III. Act iv. Sc. 4.
19
An honest tale speeds best, being plainly told.
King Richard III. Act iv. Sc. 4.
20
Thus far into the bowels of the land Have we marched on without impediment.
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 2.
21
True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings; Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 2.
22
The king’s name is a tower of strength.
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 3.
23
Give me another horse: bind up my wounds.
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 3.
24
O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 3.
25
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, And every tongue brings in a several tale, And every tale condemns me for a villain.
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 3.
26
The early village cock Hath twice done salutation to the morn.
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 3.
27
By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers.
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 3.
28
The selfsame heaven That frowns on me looks sadly upon him.
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 3.
29
A thing devised by the enemy. 5
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 3.
30
I have set my life upon a cast, And I will stand the hazard of the die: I think there be six Richmonds in the field.
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 4.
31
A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!
King Richard III. Act v. Sc. 4.

Note 1.
For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.—Alexander Pope: Essay on Criticism, part iii. line 66. [back]

Note 2.
”Stolen forth” in White and Knight. [back]

Note 3.
A little too wise, they say, do ne’er live long.—Thomas Middleton: The Phœnix, act i. sc. 1. [back]

Note 4.
Off with his head! so much for Buckingham!—Colley Cibber: Richard III. (altered), act iv. sc. 3. [back]

Note 5.
A weak invention of the enemy.—Colley Cibber: Richard III. (altered), act v. sc. 3. [back]

Contents -AUTHOR INDEX -CONCORDANCE INDEX -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD