Original Text(~250 words)
Set down, set down your honourable load— If honour may be shrouded in a hearse, Whilst I a while obsequiously lament The untimely fall of virtuous Lancaster. Poor key-cold figure of a holy king! Pale ashes of the house of Lancaster! Thou bloodless remnant of that royal blood! Be it lawful that I invocate thy ghost, To hear the lamentations of poor Anne, Wife to thy Edward, to thy slaughtered son, Stabbed by the selfsame hand that made these wounds! Lo, in these windows that let forth thy life, I pour the helpless balm of my poor eyes. Cursed be the hand that made these fatal holes! Cursed be the heart that had the heart to do it! Cursed be the blood that let this blood from hence! More direful hap betide that hated wretch That makes us wretched by the death of thee Than I can wish to adders, spiders, toads, Or any creeping venomed thing that lives! If ever he have child, abortive be it, Prodigious, and untimely brought to light, Whose ugly and unnatural aspect May fright the hopeful mother at the view, And that be heir to his unhappiness! If ever he have wife, let her be made More miserable by the death of him Than I am made by my young lord and thee! Come, now towards Chertsey with your holy load, Taken from Paul's to be interred there; And still, as you are weary of the weight, Rest you, whiles I lament King Henry's corse.
Continue reading the full chapter
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Summary
Lady Anne follows the coffin of King Henry VI, whom Richard murdered, cursing his killer. Richard enters and immediately begins his most audacious manipulation: he tries to seduce Anne, the widow of the man he killed. Despite her initial revulsion and curses, Richard uses his wit, charm, and psychological manipulation to win her over. He admits his crimes but frames them as acts of love for her. By the scene's end, Anne accepts his ring, demonstrating Richard's extraordinary power of manipulation.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Obsequy
A funeral rite or ceremony; Anne is performing funeral rites for the dead king
Modern Usage:
Like a memorial service or funeral ceremony
Invocation
Calling upon a spirit or deity; Anne calls upon Henry's ghost
Modern Usage:
Like calling upon someone's memory or spirit for help or witness
Characters in This Chapter
Lady Anne
Widow of Edward, Prince of Wales (son of Henry VI), whom Richard killed
Anne represents Richard's most audacious manipulation - he seduces the widow of a man he murdered. Her eventual acceptance of his ring shows the power of psychological manipulation over logic and emotion.
Modern Equivalent:
Someone who falls for a manipulator despite knowing they're dangerous, seduced by charm and false vulnerability
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
Manipulators often use false vulnerability as a weapon. By appearing to give you power over them, they actually gain more control. This skill helps you recognize when someone is using 'honesty' and 'vulnerability' as manipulation tactics.
Practice This Today
When someone admits wrongdoing but immediately reframes it as something positive ('I did it because I care about you'), examine whether they're actually being vulnerable or just using a more sophisticated manipulation technique. Practice distinguishing between genuine vulnerability and strategic confession.
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Was ever woman in this humour wooed? Was ever woman in this humour won?"
Context: Richard's soliloquy after successfully seducing Anne
Richard's amazement at his own success reveals this was an experiment in manipulation. He didn't want Anne - he wanted to prove he could win her despite having killed her husband and father-in-law.
In Today's Words:
Has anyone ever been seduced like this? I can't believe that worked!
"Your beauty was the cause of that effect— Your beauty, that did haunt me in my sleep To undertake the death of all the world So I might live one hour in your sweet bosom."
Context: Richard's seduction speech to Anne
Richard reframes murder as an act of love. This is masterful manipulation - he admits the crime but makes it about her, not him. He's testing whether charm can overcome logic.
In Today's Words:
I killed them because I was so in love with you - your beauty made me do it
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Charm as Weapon
Using partial honesty (admitting facts) to create false narratives (about motivation), making the victim feel powerful and special while remaining under control
Thematic Threads
Manipulation
In This Chapter
Richard successfully seduces Anne despite having killed her family, using charm, false vulnerability, and reframing murder as love
Development
This scene establishes Richard's manipulation as almost supernatural - he can overcome logic, emotion, and even hatred
In Your Life:
Watch for people who admit wrongdoing but reframe it as something positive ('I did it because I care about you'). This is often more dangerous than denial
Power
In This Chapter
Richard's seduction is about proving power, not gaining a wife. He doesn't want Anne - he wants to prove he can have her
Development
Power becomes an end in itself, not a means to an end
In Your Life:
People who manipulate for the pleasure of manipulation, not for actual gain, are the most dangerous. They have no limits because they have no real goals
Modern Adaptation
The Corporate Seduction
Following Vince's story...
Sarah's husband worked at the company. Vince got him fired six months ago - 'restructuring,' he called it. Sarah's husband never recovered, lost everything. Now Sarah works in the same department, and Vince is making a move. He approaches her at the company holiday party. 'I know you hate me,' he says. 'And you should. What I did to your husband was wrong. But you need to understand - I did it because I saw something in you. I saw your potential, and I knew that as long as he was here, you'd never rise. I eliminated the obstacle so you could shine.' Sarah is horrified. But Vince continues: 'I'm giving you a choice. You can destroy me. I'll give you everything - emails, documents, proof of what I did. Or you can work with me. I'll make you VP. Your choice.' He hands her his phone, unlocked, showing all his secrets. 'I'm putting my career in your hands,' he says. 'Because I believe in you.' By the end of the night, Sarah is considering his offer. Not because she believes him, but because he's made her feel powerful. He's given her the illusion of choice.
The Road
Vince's road is paved with false vulnerability. By appearing to give Sarah power over him, he actually takes more control. The illusion of choice becomes the reality of manipulation.
The Map
The map shows Vince's strategy: admit wrongdoing, reframe it as positive, offer false power, create complicity. He doesn't want Sarah - he wants to prove he can have her despite what he did.
Amplification
Richard's seduction teaches us that the most dangerous manipulators don't hide their crimes - they reframe them. When someone admits wrongdoing but makes it about you, be very careful. You're not being given power - you're being made complicit.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Anne accept Richard's ring? What psychological mechanisms does Richard use?
analysis • deep - 2
Is Richard's seduction of Anne more or less evil than his murders? Why?
reflection • medium - 3
Have you ever been manipulated by someone who admitted wrongdoing? How did they reframe it?
application • surface
Critical Thinking Exercise
The False Power Trap
Richard gives Anne the illusion of power by offering her his sword and telling her to kill him. Think of a time when someone made you feel powerful while actually maintaining control. How did they do it?
Consider:
- •What's the difference between real power and the illusion of power?
- •Why do people fall for false vulnerability?
- •How can you tell when someone is using 'honesty' as manipulation?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone admitted wrongdoing to you. Did they use it to manipulate you? How can you distinguish between genuine accountability and strategic confession?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 3: Act I, Scene 3: The Court Intrigue Begins
What lies ahead teaches us richard manipulates multiple people simultaneously, and shows us the art of playing different roles for different audiences. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.