<P> The Folio is longer than the Quarto and contains some fifty additional passages amounting to more than two hundred lines . However, the Quarto contains some twenty - seven passages amounting to about thirty - seven lines that are absent from the Folio . The two texts also contain hundreds of other differences, including the transposition of words within speeches, the movement of words from one speech to another, the replacement of words with near - synonyms, and many changes in grammar and spelling . </P> <P> At one time, it was thought that the Quarto represented a separate revision of the play by Shakespeare . However, since the Quarto contains many changes that can only be regarded as mistakes, it is now widely believed that the Quarto was produced by memorial reconstruction . It is thought likely that the Quarto was collectively produced by a company of actors remembering their lines . It is unknown why the actors did this, but it may have been to replace a missing prompt book . The Folio is regarded as having much higher authority than the Quarto, but because the Folio edition was collated by the printers against a Quarto (probably Q3), some errors from the Quarto found their way into the Folio . Some parts of the Folio (the beginning of Act III and much of Act V) are clearly copied, with little change, direct from the Quarto . The Folio also has its own corruptions and omissions, and corrections have to be supplied, where possible, from the Quarto . </P> <P> The play resolutely avoids demonstrations of physical violence; only Richard dies on - stage, while the rest (Clarence, the two princes, Hastings, Brackenbury, Grey, Vaughan, Rivers, Anne, Buckingham, and King Edward) all meet their ends off - stage . Despite the villainous nature of the title character and the grim storyline, Shakespeare infuses the action with comic material, as he does with most of his tragedies . Much of the humour rises from the dichotomy between how Richard's character is known and how Richard tries to appear . </P> <P> Richard himself also provides some dry remarks in evaluating the situation, as when he plans to marry Queen Elizabeth's daughter: "Murder her brothers, then marry her; Uncertain way of gain ..." Other examples of humour in this play include Clarence's reluctant murderers, and the Duke of Buckingham's report on his attempt to persuade the Londoners to accept Richard ("...I bid them that did love their country's good cry, God save Richard, England's royal king!" Richard: "And did they so?" Buckingham: "No, so God help me, they spake not a word ...") Puns, a Shakespearean staple, are especially well represented in the scene where Richard tries to persuade Queen Elizabeth to woo her daughter on his behalf . </P>

A horse a horse my kingdom for a horse speech