THE CHARACTER OF KING RICHARD III.

=Source.=--Harding's _Chronicle_, pp. 547, 548. (London: 1812.)

... He was but of a small stature having but a deformed body; the one

shoulder was higher than the other; he had a short face and a cruel

look which did betoken malice, guile and deceit. And while he did

muse upon anything standing, he would bite his under lip continually,

whereby a man might perceive his cruel nature, within his wretched

body, strove and chafed alway within himself; also the dagger which he

bore about him, he would always be chopping of it in and out. He had

a sharp and pregnant wit, subtle, and to dissimulate and feign very

fit. He had also a proud and cruel mind, which never went from him to

the hour of his death, which he had rather suffer by the cruel sword,

though all his company did forsake him, than by shameful flight he

would favour his life, which after might fortune by sickness or other

condign punishment shortly to perish.

York and Lancaster, 1399-1485 · 第 126 / 133 题