Question

richard iii
by william shakespeare (excerpt)
act v, scene 3

shakespeare based this play on the real-life king richard of england. the play centers on his quest for power as richard uses manipulation, deceit, and murder to ascend to the throne of england. in this excerpt, the duke of richmond has arrived nearby to challenge richard in battle. richmonds stepfather, lord stanley, is also present in support of richmond, though richard at first believes him to be on his own side. richard and his companions, ratcliff and norfolk, decide how to respond to both richmond and lord stanley.

(re-enter king richard, ratcliff, attendants and forces)
king richard iii: what said northumberland as touching richmond?
ratcliff: that he was never trained up in arms.
king richard iii: he said the truth; and what said surrey then?
ratcliff: he smiled and said the better for our purpose.
king richard iii: he was in the right; and so indeed it is.
(clock strikes)
tell the clock there. give me a calendar.
who saw the sun to-day?

select the correct text in the passage.

which line from the passage provides the best evidence that king richard sees force as a legitimate means of taking and holding power?

(35) king richard iii: (reads) jockey of norfolk, be not too bold,
for dickon thy master is bought and sold.
a thing devised by the enemy.
go, gentleman, every man unto his charge
let not our babbling dreams affright our souls:
(40) conscience is but a word that cowards use,
devised at first to keep the strong in awe:
our strong arms be our conscience, swords our law.
march on, join bravely, let us tot pell-mell
if not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell.

Explanation:

Analyze the prompt and target concept

The question asks for the line that provides the best evidence that King Richard sees force (physical might, weapons, strength) as a legitimate means of taking and holding power.

Evaluate the passage lines

• "Conscience is but a word that cowards use," dismisses moral hesitation.
• "Devised at first to keep the strong in awe:" explains conscience as a tool to restrict powerful people.
• "Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our law." explicitly equates physical force ("strong arms") and weapons ("swords") with moral authority ("conscience") and legal legitimacy ("law").

Select the best evidence

The line "Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our law." directly links physical force and weaponry to the concepts of legitimacy, conscience, and law.

Answer:

Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our law.