# Result number

Work The work is either a play, poem, or sonnet. The sonnets are treated as single work with 154 parts.

Character Indicates who said the line. If it's a play or sonnet, the character name is "Poet."

Line Shows where the line falls within the work.

The numbering is not keyed to any copyrighted numbering system found in a volume of collected works (Arden, Oxford, etc.) The numbering starts at the beginning of the work, and does not restart for each scene.

Text The line's full text, with keywords highlighted within it, unless highlighting has been disabled by the user.

1

Richard III
[I, 2]

Richard III (Duke of Gloucester)

318

He that bereft thee, lady, of thy husband,
Did it to help thee to a better husband.

2

Richard III
[I, 2]

Lady Anne

320

His better doth not breathe upon the earth.

3

Richard III
[I, 2]

Richard III (Duke of Gloucester)

321

He lives that loves thee better than he could.

4

Richard III
[I, 2]

Richard III (Duke of Gloucester)

325

The selfsame name, but one of better nature.

5

Richard III
[I, 3]

Richard III (Duke of Gloucester)

516

To thee, that hast nor honesty nor grace.
When have I injured thee? when done thee wrong?
Or thee? or thee? or any of your faction?
A plague upon you all! His royal person,—
Whom God preserve better than you would wish!—
Cannot be quiet scarce a breathing-while,
But you must trouble him with lewd complaints.

6

Richard III
[I, 3]

Queen Margaret

589

Yea, and much better blood than his or thine.

7

Richard III
[I, 4]

Second Murderer

923

O sir, it is better to be brief than tedious. Show
him our commission; talk no more.

8

Richard III
[I, 4]

George Plantagenet (Duke of Clarence)

1053

Oh, if you love my brother, hate not me;
I am his brother, and I love him well.
If you be hired for meed, go back again,
And I will send you to my brother Gloucester,
Who shall reward you better for my life
Than Edward will for tidings of my death.

9

Richard III
[II, 3]

Second Citizen

1435

Bad news, by'r lady; seldom comes the better:
I fear, I fear 'twill prove a troublous world.

10

Richard III
[II, 3]

Third Citizen

1456

Better it were they all came by the father,
Or by the father there were none at all;
For emulation now, who shall be nearest,
Will touch us all too near, if God prevent not.
O, full of danger is the Duke of Gloucester!
And the queen's sons and brothers haught and proud:
And were they to be ruled, and not to rule,
This sickly land might solace as before.

11

Richard III
[III, 2]

Sir William Stanley

1877

They, for their truth, might better wear their heads
Than some that have accused them wear their hats.
But come, my lord, let us away.

12

Richard III
[III, 2]

Pursuivant

1884

The better that your lordship please to ask.

13

Richard III
[III, 2]

Lord Hastings

1885

I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now
Than when I met thee last where now we meet:
Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,
By the suggestion of the queen's allies;
But now, I tell thee—keep it to thyself—
This day those enemies are put to death,
And I in better state than e'er I was.

14

Richard III
[III, 5]

Lord Mayor of London

2117

Now, fair befall you! he deserved his death;
And you my good lords, both have well proceeded,
To warn false traitors from the like attempts.
I never look'd for better at his hands,
After he once fell in with Mistress Shore.

15

Richard III
[IV, 4]

Richard III (Duke of Gloucester)

3337

Out on you, owls! nothing but songs of death?
[He striketh him]
Take that, until thou bring me better news.

16

Richard III
[V, 3]

Sir Richard Ratcliff

3784

He smiled and said 'The better for our purpose.'