THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KING RICHARD THE THIRD. PRELIMINARY REMARKS. HIS Tragedy, though called in the original edition in 4to. "The Life and Death of King Richard the Third," comprises only fourteen years. The second scene commences with the funeral of King Henry VI. who is said to have been murdered on the 21st of May, 1471. The imprisonment of Clarence, which is represented previously in the first scene, did not in fact take place till 1477-8. 66 Several dramas on the present story had been written before Shakespeare attempted it. There was a Latin play on the subject, by Dr. Legge, which had been acted at St. John's College, Oxford, some time before the year 1588. And a childish imitation of it, by one Henry Lacey, exists in MS. in the British Museum (MSS. Harl. No. 6926); it is dated 1586. In the books of the Stationers' Company are the following entries:Aug. 15, 1586, A Tragical Report of King Richard the Third: a ballad." June 19, 1594, Thomas Creede made the following entry: "An enterlude, intitled the Tragedie of Richard the Third, wherein is shown the Deathe of Edward the Fourthe, with the Smotheringe of the Two Princes in the Tower, with the lamentable Ende of Shore's Wife, and the Contention of the Two Houses of Lancaster and Yorke." A single copy of this ancient Interlude, which Mr. Boswell thinks was written by the author of Locrine, wanting the title-page, and a few lines at the beginning, was in the collection of Mr. Rhodes of Lyon's Inn, who liberally allowed Mr. Boswell to print it in the last Variorum edition of Shakespeare*. It is possible that it may have been read and * A complete copy of Creed's edition of this curious Interlude (which upon comparison proved to be a different impression from that in Mr. Rhodes's collection), was afterwards sold by auction by Mr. Evans. The title was as follows:-"The True Tragedie of Richard the Third: Wherein is showne the death of Edward used by Shakespeare, but if so it seems to have afforded him little or nothing, as there are few traces of imitation. In this, as in other instances, the bookseller was probably induced to publish the old play in consequence of the success of the new one in performance, and before it had yet got into print. It is in itself interesting as a specimen of the kind of Historical drama with which the theatre was furnished by the precursors of Marlowe and Shakespeare. It is a very rude and inartificial piece of work, chronology, facts, places and persons are confounded, and the expedient of a kind of chorus, to explain circumstances not exhibited, is adopted, in one place Report being personified for that purpose. It is partly in prose, partly in rhyming couplets and stanzas, and partly in the popular old fourteen syllable metre. Shakespeare's play was first entered at Stationers' Hall, Oct. 20, 1597, by Andrew Wise; and was then published with the following title:-"The Tragedy of King Richard the Third; Containing His treacherous Plots against his Brother Clarence; the pitiful murther of his innocent nephewes; his tyrannical usurpation: with the whole course of his detested life, and most deserved death. As it hath beene lately acted by the Right honourable the Lord Chamberlaine his servants. At London, printed by Valentine Sims, for Andrew Wise, 1597. It was again reprinted, in 4to. in 1598, 1602, 1613, 1624, twice in 1629, and again in 1634. Malone thought that this play was probably written in the year 1593 or 1594. One of Shakespeare's Richards, and most probably this, is alluded to in the Epigrams of John Weever *, the Fourth, with the smothering of the two yoong Princes in the Tower: With a lamentable end of Shore's wife, an example for all wicked women. And lastly, the conjunction of the two noble Houses Lancaster and Yorke. As it was playd by the Queenes Maiesties Players. London, Printed by Thomas Creede; and are to be sold by William Barley at his shop in Newgate Market, neare Christ Church doore, 1594; 4to." This copy is now in the Duke of Devonshire's collection. It is a circumstance sufficiently remarkable that but a single copy of each of the two editions of this piece should be known to exist. *Of this very curious little volume the title is as follows:"Epigrammes in the oldest Cut and newest Fashion. A twise seven Houres (in so many Weekes) Studie. No longer (like the Fashion) not unlike to continue. The first seven, John Weever. Sit voluisse sit valuisse. At London: printed by V. S. for Thomas Bushele; and are to be sold at his shop, at the great north doore of Paules. 1599. 12°." There is a portrait of the author, engraved by Cecill, prefixed. According to the date upon this print Weever was then twenty-three years old; but he tells us in some introductory stanzas that when he wrote the Epigrams, which com published in 1599; but which must have been written in 1595. AD GULIELMUM SHAKESPEARE. Honie-tong'd Shakespeare, when I saw thine issue, Proud lust-stung Tarquine seeking still to prove her, The earliest entry relating to Shakespeare's Richard the Third is dated Oct. 20, 1597, when it is registered to Andrew Wise, the publisher of the first edition, bearing date in that year, and Mr. Collier is disposed to think that nearer the date of its production. It was again entered to Matthew Lawe, together with Richard the Second and Henry IV., first part, on the 17th of June, 1603. The first 4to. bears marks of having been hastily and carelessly printed, probably from an imperfect MS. Yet it serves in many places to correct the folio where it would otherwise be unintelligible. The folio contains several passages which are not to be found in any of the quartos, one in particular extending to more than fifty lines, but it has also omissions for which it is difficult to account. These variations are pointed out in the notes. Johnson says:-"This is one of the most celebrated of our author's performances; yet I know not whether it has not happened to him as to others, to be praised most when praise is not most deserved. That this play has scenes noble in themselves, and very well contrived to strike in the exhibition, cannot be denied. But some parts are trifling, others shocking, and some improbable." Malone agrees with Dr. Johnson in thinking that this play, from its first exhibition to the present hour, has been estimated greatly beyond its merits. He attributes, but I think erroneously, its popularity to the detestation in which Richard's cha pose the volume, he was not twenty years old; that he was one"That twenty twelvemonths yet did never know." Consequently these Epigrams must have been written in 1595. racter was held at the time Shakespeare wrote, and to the patronage of Queen Elizabeth, "who was pleased at seeing King Henry VII. placed in the only favourable light in which he could be placed on the scene." Steevens has stated the true grounds of the perpetual popularity of the play, which can only be attributed to one cause-the wonderful dramatic effect produced by the character of Richard. He says: "I most cordially join with Dr. Johnson and Mr. Malone in their opinions; and yet, perhaps, they have overlooked one cause of the success of this tragedy. The part of Richard is, perhaps beyond all others, variegated, and consequently favourable to a judicious performer. It comprehends, indeed, a trait of almost every species of character on the stage: the hero, the lover, the statesman, the buffoon, the hypocrite, the hardened and repenting sinner, &c. are to be found within its compass. No wonder, therefore, that the discriminating powers of a Burbage, a Garrick, and a Henderson, should at different periods have given it a popularity beyond other dramas of the same author." RICHARD, Duke of Gloster, afterwards › Brothers to the King. King Richard III. A young Son of Clarence. HENRY, Earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry VII JOHN MORTON, Bishop of Ely. DUKE of BUCKINGHAM. DUKE of NORFOLK: EARL of SURREY, his Son. LORD LOVEL. SIR THOMAS VAUGHAN. SIR RICHARD RATCLIFF. ELIZABETH, Queen of King Edward IV. DUCHESS of YORK, Mother to King Edward IV. Clarence, and Gloster. LADY ANNE, Widow of Edward, Prince of Wales, Son to King Henry VI.; afterwards married to the Duke of Gloster. A young Daughter of Clarence. Lords, and other Attendants, two Gentlemen, a Pursuivant, Scrivener, Citizens, Murderers, Messengers, Ghosts, Soldiers, &c. SCENE-England. |