Shakspeare and His Times [Vol. 1 of 2] / Including the Biography of the Poet; criticisms on his genius and writings; a new chronology of his plays; a disquisition on the on the object of his sonnets; and a history of the manners, customs, and amusements, superstitions, poetry, and elegant literature of his age

by Nathan Drake

Ferrers, addressing Richard, exclaims,—

"I will obtaine to-day, alive or dead,

The crownes that grace a faithfull souldiers head.

'Blest be thy tongue,' replies the king, 'in thee

The strength of all thine ancestors I see,

Extending warlike armes for England's good,

By thee their heire, in valour as in blood.'"

On the flight of Catesby, who advises Richard to embrace a similar mode of securing his personal safety, the King indignantly answers,

"Let cowards trust their horses' nimble feete,

And in their course with new destruction meete;