WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE: Richard III Read this extract, and then answer the question that follows it. Gloucester: Your love deserves my thanks, but my desert Unmeritable shuns your high request. First, if all obstacles were cut away, And that my path were even to the crown, As the ripe revenue and due of birth, 5 Yet so much is my poverty of spirit, So mighty and so many my defects, That I would rather hide me from my greatness – Being a bark to brook no mighty sea – Than in my greatness covet to be hid, 10 And in the vapour of my glory smother'd. But, God be thank'd, there is no need of me And much I need to help you, were there need. The royal tree hath left us royal fruit Which, mellow'd by the stealing hours of time, Will well become the seat of majesty 15 And make, no doubt, us happy by his reign. On him I lay that you would lay on me – The right and fortune of his happy stars, Which God defend that I should wring from him. Buckingham: My lord, this argues conscience in your Grace; But the respects thereof are nice and trivial, All circumstances well considered. You say that Edward is your brother's son. So say we too, but not by Edward's wife; For first was he contract to Lady Lucy – Your mother lives a witness to his vow – And afterward by substitute betroth'd To Bona, sister to the King of France. These both put off, a poor petitioner, A care-craz'd mother to a many sons, A beauty-waning and distressed widow, Even in the afternoon of his best days, 20 25 30 Made prize and purchase of his wanton eye, Seduc'd the pitch and height of his degree 35 To base declension and loath'd bigamy. By her, in his unlawful bed, he got This Edward, whom our manners call the Prince. More bitterly could I expostulate, Save that, for reverence to some alive, 40 I give a sparing limit to my tongue. Then, good my lord, take to your royal self This proffer'd benefit of dignity; If not to bless us and the land withal, Yet to draw forth your noble ancestry From the corruption of abusing times Unto a lineal true-derived course. 45 Mayor: Do, good my lord; your citizens entreat you. Buckingham: Refuse not, mighty lord, this proffer'd love. Catesby: O, make them joyful, grant their lawful suit! 50 Gloucester: Alas, why would you heap this care on me? I am unfit for state and majesty. I do beseech you, take it not amiss: I cannot nor I will not yield to you. Buckingham: If you refuse it – as, in love and zeal, 55 Loath to depose the child, your brother's son; As well we know your tenderness of heart And gentle, kind, effeminate remorse, Which we have noted in you to your kindred And egally indeed to all estates 60 Yet know, whe'er you accept our suit or no, Your brother's son shall never reign our king; But we will plant some other in the throne To the disgrace and downfall of your house; And in this resolution here we leave you. Come, citizens. Zounds, I'll entreat no more. 65 Gloucester: O, do not swear, my lord of Buckingham. Explore how Shakespeare's writing makes this passage so dramatically ironic.