Original: Have a tongue to doom my brother’s death,
Modern: I had the power to condemn my brother to death,

Original: And shall the same give pardon to a slave?
Modern: And now should I use that same power to pardon a lowly murderer?

Original: My brother slew no man; his fault was thought,
Modern: My brother killed no one; his crime was only what he thought,

Original: And yet his punishment was cruel death.
Modern: And yet I punished him with a cruel death.

Original: Who sued to me for him? who, in my rage,
Modern: Who begged me to spare him? Who, when I was angry,

Original: Kneel’d at my feet, and bade me be advised
Modern: Knelt at my feet and urged me to think carefully?

Original: Who spake of brotherhood? who spake of love?
Modern: Who spoke to me about brotherly bonds? Who spoke of love?

Original: Who told me how the poor soul did forsake
Modern: Who reminded me how that poor man abandoned

Original: The mighty Warwick, and did fight for me?
Modern: The powerful Warwick and chose to fight for me instead?

Original: Who told me, in the field by Tewksbury
Modern: Who told me that on the battlefield at Tewksbury,

Original: When Oxford had me down, he rescued me,
Modern: When Oxford had knocked me down, he saved me,

Original: And said, ‘Dear brother, live, and be a king’?
Modern: And said, “Dear brother, survive and become king”?

Original: Who told me, when we both lay in the field
Modern: Who reminded me that when we both lay on the battlefield,

Original: Frozen almost to death, how he did lap me
Modern: Nearly frozen to death, how he wrapped me

Original: Even in his own garments, and gave himself,
Modern: In his own clothes, and exposed himself,

Original: All thin and naked, to the numb cold night?
Modern: Thin and unprotected, to the freezing cold night?

Original: All this from my remembrance brutish wrath
Modern: All these memories were erased from my mind by animal-like rage

Original: Sinfully pluck’d, and not a man of you
Modern: Sinfully torn away, and not one of you

Original: Had so much grace to put it in my mind.
Modern: Had enough decency to remind me of them.

Original: But when your carters or your waiting-vassals
Modern: But when your wagon drivers or your servants

Original: Have done a drunken slaughter, and defaced
Modern: Commit a drunken murder and destroy

Original: The precious image of our dear Redeemer,
Modern: The sacred image of God in a human being,

Original: You straight are on your knees for pardon, pardon;
Modern: You immediately drop to your knees begging for forgiveness;

Original: And I unjustly too, must grant it you
Modern: And I, being unfair, must grant you that pardon.

Original: But for my brother not a man would speak,
Modern: But for my brother, not one person would speak up,

Original: Nor I, ungracious, speak unto myself
Modern: Nor did I, merciless as I was, even speak to myself

Original: For him, poor soul. The proudest of you all
Modern: On his behalf, poor soul. Even the most arrogant among you

Original: Have been beholding to him in his life;
Modern: Owed him debts of gratitude during his lifetime;

Original: Yet none of you would once plead for his life.
Modern: Yet not one of you would plead even once for his life.

Original: O God, I fear thy justice will take hold
Modern: Oh God, I’m afraid your justice will punish

Original: On me, and you, and mine, and yours for this!
Modern: Me, and all of you, and my family, and your families for this!

Original: Come, Hastings, help me to my closet.
Modern: Come, Hastings, help me to my private room.

Original: Oh, poor Clarence!
Modern: Oh, my poor brother Clarence!

In Act II, Scene 1 of Richard III, King Edward IV attempts to reconcile the various feuding factions within his court. The ailing king calls together the prominent nobles, including Queen Elizabeth, her brother Rivers, her sons Dorset and Grey, Hastings, and Buckingham. Edward expresses his desire to see peace among them before his death and orchestrates a series of public reconciliations. The nobles exchange oaths of friendship and forgiveness, with Hastings and Rivers, Hastings and Dorset, and other combinations of formerly hostile parties pledging to put aside their differences for the good of the realm.

The atmosphere of newfound harmony is suddenly shattered when Richard, Duke of Gloucester arrives and announces that he brings grave news. He informs the assembled company that Clarence has been executed, claiming that the king’s pardon arrived too late to save his brother. King Edward is devastated by this news, as he had indeed sent a countermand to stop the execution. The king blames himself for Clarence’s death, recalling how he had previously pardoned others for much greater offenses, yet failed to save his own brother. The scene ends with Edward’s anguish and self-recrimination, while Richard maintains his facade of grief, having orchestrated Clarence’s death while appearing to mourn it.

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.