Richard III: Act 4, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 3 of Richard III from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text	Translated Text
Source: Folger Shakespeare Library
Enter Tyrrel. TYRREL The tyrannous and bloody act is done, The most arch deed of piteous massacre That ever yet this land was guilty of. Dighton and Forrest, who I did suborn To do this piece of ruthless butchery, 5 Albeit they were fleshed villains, bloody dogs, Melted with tenderness and mild compassion, Wept like two children in their deaths’ sad story. “O thus,” quoth Dighton, “lay the gentle babes.” “Thus, thus,” quoth Forrest, “girdling one another 10 Within their alabaster innocent arms. Their lips were four red roses on a stalk, And in their summer beauty kissed each other. A book of prayers on their pillow lay, Which once,” quoth Forrest, “almost changed my 15 mind, But, O, the devil—” There the villain stopped; When Dighton thus told on: “We smotherèd The most replenishèd sweet work of nature That from the prime creation e’er she framed.” 20 Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse; They could not speak; and so I left them both To bear this tidings to the bloody king. Enter Richard. And here he comes.—All health, my sovereign lord.	Tyrrell, the murderer, arrives back at the palace in London and reports that the two princes are dead. Tyrrell says he feels guilty and explains that he hired two hit men, Dighton and Forrest, to smother the kids in their sleep. Even the hit men felt bad about offing two little kids.
RICHARD Kind Tyrrel, am I happy in thy news? 25 TYRREL If to have done the thing you gave in charge Beget your happiness, be happy then, For it is done. RICHARD But did’st thou see them dead? TYRREL I did, my lord. 30 RICHARD And buried, gentle Tyrrel? TYRREL The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them, But where, to say the truth, I do not know. RICHARD Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after-supper, When thou shalt tell the process of their death. 35 Meantime, but think how I may do thee good, And be inheritor of thy desire. Farewell till then. TYRREL I humbly take my leave. Tyrrel exits.	Richard thinks this is the best news he's ever heard. Tyrrell reports that he saw the kids and is certain they're dead, though he doesn't know where they're buried. (Brain Snack: The real historical mystery of what happened to the little boys is still unsolved, and it's unclear who really murdered the princes.) Richard promises to reward Tyrrell handsomely.
RICHARD The son of Clarence have I pent up close, 40 His daughter meanly have I matched in marriage, The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham’s bosom, And Anne my wife hath bid this world goodnight. Now, for I know the Breton Richmond aims At young Elizabeth, my brother’s daughter, 45 And by that knot looks proudly on the crown, To her go I, a jolly thriving wooer.	In his usual style of giving the audience useful information, Richard fills us in: he's imprisoned Clarence's young son, married off Clarence's daughter to some harmless guy, and killed Edward's sons. Oh, and his wife Anne is dead. (What?! Yeah, that's all we get about Anne. Historically, the circumstances surrounding the actual Lady Anne's death are unclear.) Richard reveals that he knows Richmond is also after young Elizabeth's hand (remember Edward's random daughter that Richard wants to marry?). Richard declares he'll be off to woo Elizabeth for himself.
Enter Ratcliffe. RATCLIFFE My lord. RICHARD Good or bad news, that thou com’st in so bluntly? RATCLIFFE Bad news, my lord. Morton is fled to Richmond, 50 And Buckingham, backed with the hardy Welshmen, Is in the field, and still his power increaseth. RICHARD Ely with Richmond troubles me more near Than Buckingham and his rash-levied strength. Come, I have learned that fearful commenting 55 Is leaden servitor to dull delay; Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary; Then fiery expedition be my wing, Jove’s Mercury, and herald for a king. Go, muster men. My counsel is my shield. 60 We must be brief when traitors brave the field. They exit.	Ratcliffe (who, as his name suggests, is like a rodent for still being allied to Richard) enters with the bad news that Morton Bishop of Ely has actually turned tail and joined Richmond's side. Buckingham is also waiting for Richard on the battlefield, backed by a horde of intimidating Welshmen. Richard declares that Buckingham doesn't scare him, but this Richmond/Ely alliance is bad news. Either way, Richard says he won't waste time lamenting. He's ready to get his battle on.

Original Text

Translated Text

Enter Tyrrel.

TYRREL
The tyrannous and bloody act is done,
The most arch deed of piteous massacre
That ever yet this land was guilty of.
Dighton and Forrest, who I did suborn
To do this piece of ruthless butchery, 5
Albeit they were fleshed villains, bloody dogs,
Melted with tenderness and mild compassion,
Wept like two children in their deaths’ sad story.
“O thus,” quoth Dighton, “lay the gentle babes.”
“Thus, thus,” quoth Forrest, “girdling one another 10
Within their alabaster innocent arms.
Their lips were four red roses on a stalk,
And in their summer beauty kissed each other.
A book of prayers on their pillow lay,
Which once,” quoth Forrest, “almost changed my 15
mind,
But, O, the devil—” There the villain stopped;
When Dighton thus told on: “We smotherèd
The most replenishèd sweet work of nature
That from the prime creation e’er she framed.” 20
Hence both are gone with conscience and remorse;
They could not speak; and so I left them both
To bear this tidings to the bloody king.

Enter Richard.

And here he comes.—All health, my sovereign lord.

Tyrrell, the murderer, arrives back at the palace in London and reports that the two princes are dead.

Tyrrell says he feels guilty and explains that he hired two hit men, Dighton and Forrest, to smother the kids in their sleep. Even the hit men felt bad about offing two little kids.

RICHARD
Kind Tyrrel, am I happy in thy news? 25

TYRREL
If to have done the thing you gave in charge
Beget your happiness, be happy then,
For it is done.

RICHARD But did’st thou see them dead?

TYRREL
I did, my lord. 30

RICHARD And buried, gentle Tyrrel?

TYRREL
The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them,
But where, to say the truth, I do not know.

RICHARD
Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after-supper,
When thou shalt tell the process of their death. 35
Meantime, but think how I may do thee good,
And be inheritor of thy desire.
Farewell till then.

TYRREL I humbly take my leave.

Tyrrel exits.

Richard thinks this is the best news he's ever heard.

Tyrrell reports that he saw the kids and is certain they're dead, though he doesn't know where they're buried.

(Brain Snack: The real historical mystery of what happened to the little boys is still unsolved, and it's unclear who really murdered the princes.)

Richard promises to reward Tyrrell handsomely.

RICHARD
The son of Clarence have I pent up close, 40
His daughter meanly have I matched in marriage,
The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham’s bosom,
And Anne my wife hath bid this world goodnight.
Now, for I know the Breton Richmond aims
At young Elizabeth, my brother’s daughter, 45
And by that knot looks proudly on the crown,
To her go I, a jolly thriving wooer.

In his usual style of giving the audience useful information, Richard fills us in: he's imprisoned Clarence's young son, married off Clarence's daughter to some harmless guy, and killed Edward's sons. Oh, and his wife Anne is dead. (What?! Yeah, that's all we get about Anne. Historically, the circumstances surrounding the actual Lady Anne's death are unclear.)

Richard reveals that he knows Richmond is also after young Elizabeth's hand (remember Edward's random daughter that Richard wants to marry?). Richard declares he'll be off to woo Elizabeth for himself.

Enter Ratcliffe.

RATCLIFFE My lord.

RICHARD
Good or bad news, that thou com’st in so bluntly?

RATCLIFFE
Bad news, my lord. Morton is fled to Richmond, 50
And Buckingham, backed with the hardy Welshmen,
Is in the field, and still his power increaseth.

RICHARD
Ely with Richmond troubles me more near
Than Buckingham and his rash-levied strength.
Come, I have learned that fearful commenting 55
Is leaden servitor to dull delay;
Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary;
Then fiery expedition be my wing,
Jove’s Mercury, and herald for a king.
Go, muster men. My counsel is my shield. 60
We must be brief when traitors brave the field.

They exit.

Ratcliffe (who, as his name suggests, is like a rodent for still being allied to Richard) enters with the bad news that Morton Bishop of Ely has actually turned tail and joined Richmond's side. Buckingham is also waiting for Richard on the battlefield, backed by a horde of intimidating Welshmen.

Richard declares that Buckingham doesn't scare him, but this Richmond/Ely alliance is bad news.

Either way, Richard says he won't waste time lamenting. He's ready to get his battle on.

Richard III: Act 4, Scene 3 Translation

A side-by-side translation of Act 4, Scene 3 of Richard III from the original Shakespeare into modern English.

Original Text

Translated Text

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