Road to Richard 3

On the Road to Richard 3, as seen here:

“I’ll drown more sailors than the mermaid shall,
I’ll slay more gazers than the basilisk,
I’ll play the orator as well as Nestor,
Deceive more slyly than Ulysses could,
And like a Sinon, take another Troy.
I can add colors to the chameleon,
Change shapes with Proteus for advantages,
And set the murderous Machevil to school.
Can I do this, and cannot get a crown?
Tut, were it farther off, I’ll pluck it down.”

• Gloucester in Shakespeare’s Henry 6.3 (III.ii.187)

Road to Richard 3

If the allusion isn’t clear, it’s from the dubious attribution of Henry 6.3 to Shakespeare, and then, as I’ve noted previously, it’s the road to the ultimate bad guy, Shakespeare’s Richard III.

Nash? Kyd? Marlowe? Shakespeare? I do like the idea, chronologically, Henry 6, part 2 was probably the first one produced, so, that idea of sequels? Stretches back to Elizabethan Theatre, for sure. Early works, for sure, and of interest to me as there’s flashes of brilliance and wit, eloquence evident throughout.

Then, too, Henry 6 plays are the perfect set-up for Richard III.

“And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover
To entertain these fair well-spoken days,
I am determined to prove a villain
And hate the idle pleasures of these days.

• Gloucester in Shakespeare’s Richard 3 (I.i.28)

Road to Richard 3

There was one Richard 3 I saw, and I recall almost wanting to cheer for the evil SOB, just such a nasty piece of work, as a human. Gratefully, he’s usually just a character on stage.

astrofish.net

I realize it might be odd, but I tend to listen to Shakespeare on my commute to Austin, these days.

Where to find me?

On The Road to Richard 3

#Shakespeare