Open Source Shakespeare

Speeches (Lines) for Sir Robert Brakenbury
in "Richard III"

Total: 16

# Act, Scene, Line
(Click to see in context)
Speech text

1

I,1,89

Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). Humbly complaining to her deity
Got my lord chamberlain his liberty.
I'll tell you what; I think it is our way,
If we will keep in favour with the king,
To be her men and wear her livery:
The jealous o'erworn widow and herself,
Since that our brother dubb'd them gentlewomen.
Are mighty gossips in this monarchy.

Sir Robert Brakenbury. I beseech your graces both to pardon me;
His majesty hath straitly given in charge
That no man shall have private conference,
Of what degree soever, with his brother.


2

I,1,102

Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). Even so; an't please your worship, Brakenbury,
You may partake of any thing we say:
We speak no treason, man: we say the king
Is wise and virtuous, and his noble queen
Well struck in years, fair, and not jealous;
We say that Shore's wife hath a pretty foot,
A cherry lip, a bonny eye, a passing pleasing tongue;
And that the queen's kindred are made gentle-folks:
How say you sir? Can you deny all this?

Sir Robert Brakenbury. With this, my lord, myself have nought to do.


3

I,1,106

Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). Naught to do with mistress Shore! I tell thee, fellow,
He that doth naught with her, excepting one,
Were best he do it secretly, alone.

Sir Robert Brakenbury. What one, my lord?


4

I,1,108

Richard III (Duke of Gloucester). Her husband, knave: wouldst thou betray me?

Sir Robert Brakenbury. I beseech your grace to pardon me, and withal
Forbear your conference with the noble duke.


5

I,4,834

(stage directions). [Enter CLARENCE and BRAKENBURY]

Sir Robert Brakenbury. Why looks your grace so heavily today?


6

I,4,841

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). O, I have pass'd 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 'twere to buy a world of happy days,
So full of dismal terror was the time!

Sir Robert Brakenbury. What was your dream? I long to hear you tell it.


7

I,4,867

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). Methoughts that I had broken from the Tower,
And was embark'd to cross to Burgundy;
And, in my company, my brother Gloucester;
Who from my cabin tempted me to walk
Upon the hatches: thence we looked toward England,
And cited up a thousand fearful times,
During the wars of York and Lancaster
That had befall'n us. As we paced along
Upon the giddy footing of the hatches,
Methought that Gloucester stumbled; and, in falling,
Struck me, that thought to stay him, overboard,
Into the tumbling billows of the main.
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 gnaw'd upon;
Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl,
Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels,
All scatter'd 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 'twere in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems,
Which woo'd the slimy bottom of the deep,
And mock'd the dead bones that lay scatter'd by.

Sir Robert Brakenbury. Had you such leisure in the time of death
To gaze upon the secrets of the deep?


8

I,4,875

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). Methought I had; and often did I strive
To yield the ghost: but still the envious flood
Kept in my soul, and would not let it forth
To seek the empty, vast and wandering air;
But smother'd it within my panting bulk,
Which almost burst to belch it in the sea.

Sir Robert Brakenbury. Awaked you not with this sore agony?


9

I,4,897

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). O, no, my dream was lengthen'd after life;
O, then began the tempest to my soul,
Who pass'd, methought, the melancholy flood,
With that grim ferryman which poets write of,
Unto the kingdom of perpetual night.
The first that there did greet my stranger soul,
Was my great father-in-law, renowned Warwick;
Who cried aloud, 'What scourge for perjury
Can this dark monarchy afford false Clarence?'
And so he vanish'd: then came wandering by
A shadow like an angel, with bright hair
Dabbled in blood; and he squeak'd out aloud,
'Clarence is come; false, fleeting, perjured Clarence,
That stabb'd me in the field by Tewksbury;
Seize on him, Furies, take him to your torments!'
With that, methoughts, a legion of foul fiends
Environ'd me about, and howled in mine ears
Such hideous cries, that with the very noise
I trembling waked, and for a season after
Could not believe but that I was in hell,
Such terrible impression made the dream.

Sir Robert Brakenbury. No marvel, my lord, though it affrighted you;
I promise, I am afraid to hear you tell it.


10

I,4,908

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence). O Brakenbury, I have done those things,
Which now bear evidence against my soul,
For Edward's sake; and see how he requites me!
O God! if my deep prayers cannot appease thee,
But thou wilt be avenged on my misdeeds,
Yet execute thy wrath in me alone,
O, spare my guiltless wife and my poor children!
I pray thee, gentle keeper, stay by me;
My soul is heavy, and I fain would sleep.

Sir Robert Brakenbury. I will, my lord: God give your grace good rest!
[CLARENCE sleeps]
Sorrow breaks seasons and reposing hours,
Makes the night morning, and the noon-tide night.
Princes have but their tides for their glories,
An outward honour for an inward toil;
And, for unfelt imagination,
They often feel a world of restless cares:
So that, betwixt their tides and low names,
There's nothing differs but the outward fame.


11

I,4,920

First Murderer. Ho! who's here?

Sir Robert Brakenbury. In God's name what are you, and how came you hither?


12

I,4,922

First Murderer. I would speak with Clarence, and I came hither on my legs.

Sir Robert Brakenbury. Yea, are you so brief?


13

I,4,926

(stage directions). [BRAKENBURY reads it]

Sir Robert Brakenbury. I am, in this, commanded to deliver
The noble Duke of Clarence to your hands:
I will not reason what is meant hereby,
Because I will be guiltless of the meaning.
Here are the keys, there sits the duke asleep:
I'll to the king; and signify to him
That thus I have resign'd my charge to you.


14

IV,1,2482

Queen Elizabeth. Kind sister, thanks: we'll enter all together.
[Enter BRAKENBURY]
And, in good time, here the lieutenant comes.
Master lieutenant, pray you, by your leave,
How doth the prince, and my young son of York?

Sir Robert Brakenbury. Right well, dear madam. By your patience,
I may not suffer you to visit them;
The king hath straitly charged the contrary.


15

IV,1,2486

Queen Elizabeth. The king! why, who's that?

Sir Robert Brakenbury. I cry you mercy: I mean the lord protector.


16

IV,1,2494

Lady Anne. Their aunt I am in law, in love their mother:
Then bring me to their sights; I'll bear thy blame
And take thy office from thee, on my peril.

Sir Robert Brakenbury. No, madam, no; I may not leave it so:
I am bound by oath, and therefore pardon me.