Original: A blessed labour, my most sovereign liege:
Modern: This is holy work, my king:

Original: Amongst this princely heap, if any here,
Modern: Among this noble group gathered here, if anyone

Original: By false intelligence, or wrong surmise,
Modern: Because of false information or wrong assumptions

Original: Hold me a foe;
Modern: Considers me an enemy;

Original: If I unwittingly, or in my rage,
Modern: If I unknowingly, or in my anger,

Original: Have aught committed that is hardly borne
Modern: Have done anything that is difficult to bear

Original: By any in this presence, I desire
Modern: By anyone here present, I want

Original: To reconcile me to his friendly peace:
Modern: To make peace and restore friendship with him:

Original: ‘Tis death to me to be at enmity;
Modern: Being someone’s enemy feels like death to me;

Original: I hate it, and desire all good men’s love.
Modern: I hate conflict, and I want the love of all good men.

Original: First, madam, I entreat true peace of you,
Modern: First, madam, I beg for true peace from you,

Original: Which I will purchase with my duteous service;
Modern: Which I will earn through my loyal service;

Original: Of you, my noble cousin Buckingham,
Modern: From you, my noble cousin Buckingham,

Original: If ever any grudge were lodged between us;
Modern: If any bad feelings have existed between us;

Original: Of you, Lord Rivers, and, Lord Grey, of you;
Modern: From you, Lord Rivers, and from you, Lord Grey;

Original: That without desert have frown’d on me;
Modern: Who have looked upon me with displeasure without me deserving it;

Original: Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen; indeed, of all.
Modern: Dukes, earls, lords, gentlemen; truly, from all of you.

Original: I do not know that Englishman alive
Modern: I don’t know of any living Englishman

Original: With whom my soul is any jot at odds
Modern: With whom my soul has even the slightest conflict

Original: More than the infant that is born to-night
Modern: Any more than with a baby born tonight

Original: I thank my God for my humility.
Modern: I thank God for making me humble.

In Act II, Scene 1 of Richard III, King Edward IV attempts to restore peace and unity to his fractured court by orchestrating reconciliations between various feuding parties. The scene opens with Edward expressing his desire for harmony among his nobles and family members. He successfully mediates peace between Queen Elizabeth and Lord Hastings, between Buckingham and Queen Elizabeth, and between Dorset and Hastings. Rivers also participates in these reconciliations, and there is a general atmosphere of forgiveness and renewed loyalty as the various parties embrace and pledge their friendship to one another.

The mood of reconciliation is abruptly shattered when Richard, Duke of Gloucester, enters with news of Clarence’s death. Richard feigns grief and surprise, claiming that his brother George, Duke of Clarence, has died in the Tower before the king’s pardon could reach him. King Edward is devastated by this news, expressing profound guilt and remorse for having ordered Clarence’s imprisonment in the first place. The king laments that while he has been pardoning others for minor offenses, his own brother has died due to his harsh decree. The scene ends with Edward overwhelmed by grief and the court stunned by the tragic news, completely unaware that Richard himself orchestrated Clarence’s murder.

Richard III opens with Richard, Duke of Gloucester, revealing his villainous intentions to claim the throne of England. Despite his physical deformities, he is determined to remove all obstacles to his coronation. He begins by manipulating his brother Clarence into imprisonment and death, convincing King Edward IV that Clarence poses a threat. Richard also courts Lady Anne, widow of Prince Edward (whom Richard killed), successfully wooing her despite having murdered both her husband and father-in-law. When King Edward IV dies, Richard is named Lord Protector for the young Prince Edward, heir to the throne.

Richard systematically eliminates his rivals and supporters of the rightful heirs. He has Lord Hastings executed for opposing his claim to the throne, and convinces the Duke of Buckingham to help him secure power. Richard and Buckingham spread rumors about the legitimacy of Edward IV’s children, claiming they are bastards. They stage a public scene where Richard reluctantly accepts the crown after appearing to refuse it. Once crowned King Richard III, he orders the murder of the two young princes (Edward V and his brother Richard, Duke of York) in the Tower of London, though their deaths occur offstage.

Richard’s reign becomes increasingly tyrannical and unstable. The Duke of Buckingham eventually rebels against him and is captured and executed. Richard attempts to consolidate power by proposing to marry Elizabeth of York, his niece, but faces growing opposition. Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, lands in England with an army to claim the throne. The play culminates in the Battle of Bosworth Field, where Richard is haunted by the ghosts of all those he has murdered. Richmond defeats and kills Richard in battle, then marries Elizabeth of York to unite the warring houses of Lancaster and York, establishing the Tudor dynasty and bringing peace to England.