ACT VSCENE I. Salisbury. An open placeEnterSheriffand Halberds, withBuckingham, led to execution.BUCKINGHAM.Will not King Richard let me speak with him?SHERIFF.No, my good lord; therefore be patient.BUCKINGHAM.Hastings, and Edward’s children, Grey, and Rivers,Holy King Henry, and thy fair son Edward,Vaughan, and all that have miscarriedBy underhand, corrupted foul injustice,If that your moody discontented soulsDo through the clouds behold this present hour,Even for revenge mock my destruction.This is All-Souls’ day, fellow, is it not?SHERIFF.It is.BUCKINGHAM.Why, then All-Souls’ day is my body’s doomsday.This is the day which, in King Edward’s time,I wished might fall on me when I was foundFalse to his children and his wife’s allies.This is the day wherein I wished to fallBy the false faith of him whom most I trusted.This, this All-Souls’ day to my fearful soulIs the determined respite of my wrongs.That high All-Seer which I dallied withHath turned my feigned prayer on my headAnd given in earnest what I begged in jest.Thus doth He force the swords of wicked menTo turn their own points in their masters’ bosoms.Thus Margaret’s curse falls heavy on my neck:“When he,” quoth she, “shall split thy heart with sorrow,Remember Margaret was a prophetess.”Come lead me, officers, to the block of shame;Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame.[Exit with Officers.]SCENE II. Plain near TamworthEnterRichmond, Oxford, Blunt, Herbert, and others, with drum and colours.RICHMOND.Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends,Bruised underneath the yoke of tyranny,Thus far into the bowels of the landHave we marched on without impediment;And here receive we from our father StanleyLines of fair comfort and encouragement.The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar,That spoiled your summer fields and fruitful vines,Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his troughIn your embowelled bosoms—this foul swineIs now even in the centre of this isle,Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn.From Tamworth thither is but one day’s march.In God’s name, cheerly on, courageous friends,To reap the harvest of perpetual peaceBy this one bloody trial of sharp war.OXFORD.Every man’s conscience is a thousand men,To fight against that guilty homicide.HERBERT.I doubt not but his friends will turn to us.BLUNT.He hath no friends but what are friends for fear,Which in his dearest need will fly from him.RICHMOND.All for our vantage. Then in God’s name, march.True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings;Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.[Exeunt.]SCENE III. Bosworth FieldEnterKing Richardin arms, withNorfolk, Ratcliffeand theEarl of Surreywith others.KING RICHARD.Here pitch our tent, even here in Bosworth field.My Lord of Surrey, why look you so sad?SURREY.My heart is ten times lighter than my looks.KING RICHARD.My lord of Norfolk.NORFOLK.Here, most gracious liege.KING RICHARD.Norfolk, we must have knocks, ha, must we not?NORFOLK.We must both give and take, my loving lord.KING RICHARD.Up with my tent! Here will I lie tonight.But where tomorrow? Well, all’s one for that.Who hath descried the number of the traitors?NORFOLK.Six or seven thousand is their utmost power.KING RICHARD.Why, our battalia trebles that account.Besides, the King’s name is a tower of strengthWhich they upon the adverse faction want.Up with the tent! Come, noble gentlemen,Let us survey the vantage of the ground.Call for some men of sound direction;Let’s lack no discipline, make no delay,For, lords, tomorrow is a busy day.[The tent is now ready. Exeunt.]EnterRichmond, Sir William Brandon, Oxford, Herbert, Blunt, and others who pitchRichmond’stent.RICHMOND.The weary sun hath made a golden set,And by the bright track of his fiery carGives token of a goodly day tomorrow.Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard.Give me some ink and paper in my tent;I’ll draw the form and model of our battle,Limit each leader to his several charge,And part in just proportion our small power.My Lord of Oxford, you, Sir William Brandon,And you, Sir Walter Herbert, stay with me.The Earl of Pembroke keeps his regiment.—Good Captain Blunt, bear my goodnight to him,And by the second hour in the morningDesire the Earl to see me in my tent.Yet one thing more, good captain, do for me.Where is Lord Stanley quartered, do you know?BLUNT.Unless I have mista’en his colours much,Which well I am assured I have not done,His regiment lies half a mile at leastSouth from the mighty power of the King.RICHMOND.If without peril it be possible,Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with him,And give him from me this most needful note.BLUNT.Upon my life, my lord, I’ll undertake it;And so God give you quiet rest tonight.RICHMOND.Good night, good Captain Blunt.[ExitBlunt.]Come, gentlemen,Let us consult upon tomorrow’s business;Into my tent. The dew is raw and cold.[Richmond, Brandon Herbert, andOxfordwithdraw into the tent. The others exeunt.]Enter to his tent,King Richard, Ratcliffe, NorfolkandCatesbywith Soldiers.KING RICHARD.What is’t o’clock?CATESBY.It’s supper time, my lord. It’s nine o’clock.KING RICHARD.I will not sup tonight. Give me some ink and paper.What, is my beaver easier than it was?And all my armour laid into my tent?CATESBY.It is, my liege, and all things are in readiness.KING RICHARD.Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge;Use careful watch; choose trusty sentinels.NORFOLK.I go, my lord.KING RICHARD.Stir with the lark tomorrow, gentle Norfolk.NORFOLK.I warrant you, my lord.[Exit.]KING RICHARD.Catesby!CATESBY.My lord?KING RICHARD.Send out a pursuivant-at-armsTo Stanley’s regiment. Bid him bring his powerBefore sunrising, lest his son George fallInto the blind cave of eternal night.[ExitCatesby.]Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a watch.Saddle white Surrey for the field tomorrow.Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy.Ratcliffe!RATCLIFFE.My lord?KING RICHARD.Saw’st thou the melancholy Lord Northumberland?RATCLIFFE.Thomas the Earl of Surrey and himself,Much about cockshut time, from troop to troopWent through the army, cheering up the soldiers.KING RICHARD.So, I am satisfied. Give me a bowl of wine.I have not that alacrity of spiritNor cheer of mind that I was wont to have.Set it down. Is ink and paper ready?RATCLIFFE.It is, my lord.KING RICHARD.Bid my guard watch; leave me.Ratcliffe, about the mid of night come to my tentAnd help to arm me. Leave me, I say.[ExitRatcliffe. Richardwithdraws into his tent; attendant soldiers guard it.]EnterStanleyEarl of Derby toRichmondin his tent.STANLEY.Fortune and victory sit on thy helm!RICHMOND.All comfort that the dark night can affordBe to thy person, noble father-in-law.Tell me, how fares our loving mother?STANLEY.I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother,Who prays continually for Richmond’s good.So much for that. The silent hours steal on,And flaky darkness breaks within the east.In brief, for so the season bids us be,Prepare thy battle early in the morning,And put thy fortune to the arbitrementOf bloody strokes and mortal-staring war.I, as I may—that which I would I cannot—With best advantage will deceive the time,And aid thee in this doubtful shock of arms.But on thy side I may not be too forward,Lest, being seen, thy brother, tender George,Be executed in his father’s sight.Farewell; the leisure and the fearful timeCuts off the ceremonious vows of loveAnd ample interchange of sweet discourse,Which so-long-sundered friends should dwell upon.God give us leisure for these rites of love!Once more, adieu. Be valiant, and speed well.RICHMOND.Good lords, conduct him to his regiment.I’ll strive with troubled thoughts to take a nap,Lest leaden slumber peise me down tomorrowWhen I should mount with wings of victory.Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.[All butRichmondleave his tent.][Kneels.] O Thou, whose captain I account myself,Look on my forces with a gracious eye;Put in their hands Thy bruising irons of wrath,That they may crush down with a heavy fallTh’ usurping helmets of our adversaries;Make us Thy ministers of chastisement,That we may praise Thee in the victory.To Thee I do commend my watchful soulEre I let fall the windows of mine eyes.Sleeping and waking, O, defend me still![Sleeps.]Enter the Ghost of youngPrince Edward, son toHarry the Sixth.GHOST OF EDWARD.[To King Richard.] Let me sit heavy on thy soul tomorrow.Think how thou stabbed’st me in my prime of youthAt Tewksbury; despair therefore, and die![To Richmond.] Be cheerful, Richmond, for the wronged soulsOf butchered princes fight in thy behalf.King Henry’s issue, Richmond, comforts thee.[Exit.]Enter the Ghost ofHenry the Sixth.GHOST OF HENRY.[To King Richard.] When I was mortal, my anointed bodyBy thee was punched full of deadly holes.Think on the Tower and me. Despair, and die;Harry the Sixth bids thee despair and die.[To Richmond.] Virtuous and holy, be thou conqueror.Harry, that prophesied thou shouldst be King,Doth comfort thee in thy sleep. Live, and flourish![Exit.]Enter the Ghost ofClarence.GHOST OF CLARENCE.[To King Richard.] Let me sit heavy in thy soul tomorrow,I, that was washed to death with fulsome wine,Poor Clarence, by thy guile betrayed to death.Tomorrow in the battle think on me,And fall thy edgeless sword. Despair, and die![To Richmond.] Thou offspring of the house of Lancaster,The wronged heirs of York do pray for thee.Good angels guard thy battle; live, and flourish.[Exit.]Enter the Ghosts ofRivers, GreyandVaughan.GHOST OF RIVERS.[To King Richard.] Let me sit heavy in thy soul tomorrow,Rivers that died at Pomfret. Despair and die!GHOST OF GREY.[To King Richard.] Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair!GHOST OF VAUGHAN.[To King Richard.] Think upon Vaughan, and with guilty fearLet fall thy lance. Despair and die!ALL THREE.[To Richmond.] Awake, and think our wrongs in Richard’s bosomWill conquer him. Awake, and win the day.[Exeunt.]Enter the Ghost ofHastings.GHOST OF HASTINGS.[To King Richard.] Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake,And in a bloody battle end thy days.Think on Lord Hastings. Despair and die![To Richmond.] Quiet untroubled soul, awake, awake.Arm, fight, and conquer for fair England’s sake.[Exit.]Enter the Ghosts of the two youngPrinces.GHOSTS OF PRINCES.[To King Richard.] Dream on thy cousins smothered in the Tower.Let us be lead within thy bosom, Richard,And weigh thee down to ruin, shame, and death;Thy nephews’ souls bid thee despair and die.[To Richmond.] Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace, and wake in joy;Good angels guard thee from the boar’s annoy.Live, and beget a happy race of kings;Edward’s unhappy sons do bid thee flourish.[Exeunt.]Enter the Ghost ofLady Anne, his wife.GHOST OF ANNE.[To King Richard.] Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife,That never slept a quiet hour with thee,Now fills thy sleep with perturbations.Tomorrow in the battle think on me,And fall thy edgeless sword. Despair and die![To Richmond.] Thou quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet sleep;Dream of success and happy victory.Thy adversary’s wife doth pray for thee.[Exit.]Enter the Ghost ofBuckingham.GHOST OF BUCKINGHAM.[To King Richard.] The first was I that helped thee to the crown;The last was I that felt thy tyranny.O, in the battle think on Buckingham,And die in terror of thy guiltiness.Dream on, dream on of bloody deeds and death.Fainting, despair; despairing, yield thy breath.[To Richmond.] I died for hope ere I could lend thee aid,But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismayed.God and good angels fight on Richmond’s side;And Richard fall in height of all his pride.[Exit.][King Richardstarts up out of his dream.]KING RICHARD.Give me another horse! Bind up my wounds!Have mercy, Jesu!—Soft! I did but dream.O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!The lights burn blue; it is now dead midnight.Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh.What do I fear? Myself? There’s none else by.Richard loves Richard, that is, I am I.Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am.Then fly. What, from myself? Great reason why,Lest I revenge. What, myself upon myself?Alack, I love myself. Wherefore? For any goodThat I myself have done unto myself?O, no, alas, I rather hate myselfFor hateful deeds committed by myself.I am a villain. Yet I lie, I am not.Fool, of thyself speak well. Fool, do not flatter.My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,And every tongue brings in a several tale,And every tale condemns me for a villain.Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree;Murder, stern murder, in the direst degree;All several sins, all used in each degree,Throng to the bar, crying all “Guilty, guilty!”I shall despair. There is no creature loves me,And if I die no soul will pity me.And wherefore should they, since that I myselfFind in myself no pity to myself?Methought the souls of all that I had murderedCame to my tent, and everyone did threatTomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard.EnterRatcliffe.RATCLIFFE.My lord!KING RICHARD.Zounds! Who’s there?RATCLIFFE.Ratcliffe, my lord; ’tis I. The early village cockHath twice done salutation to the morn;Your friends are up and buckle on their armour.KING RICHARD.O Ratcliffe, I have dreamed a fearful dream!What think’st thou, will our friends prove all true?RATCLIFFE.No doubt, my lord.KING RICHARD.O Ratcliffe, I fear, I fear!RATCLIFFE.Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows.KING RICHARD.By the apostle Paul, shadows tonightHave struck more terror to the soul of RichardThan can the substance of ten thousand soldiersArmed in proof and led by shallow Richmond.’Tis not yet near day. Come, go with me.Under our tents I’ll play the eavesdropper,To see if any mean to shrink from me.[ExeuntRichardandRatcliffe.]Enter theLordstoRichmondin his tent.LORDS.Good morrow, Richmond.RICHMOND.Cry mercy, lords and watchful gentlemen,That you have ta’en a tardy sluggard here.LORDS.How have you slept, my lord?RICHMOND.The sweetest sleep and fairest-boding dreamsThat ever entered in a drowsy headHave I since your departure had, my lords.Methought their souls whose bodies Richard murderedCame to my tent and cried on victory.I promise you, my heart is very jocundIn the remembrance of so fair a dream.How far into the morning is it, lords?LORDS.Upon the stroke of four.RICHMOND.Why, then ’tis time to arm and give direction.His oration to his soldiers.More than I have said, loving countrymen,The leisure and enforcement of the timeForbids to dwell upon. Yet remember this:God, and our good cause, fight upon our side;The prayers of holy saints and wronged souls,Like high-reared bulwarks, stand before our faces.Richard except, those whom we fight againstHad rather have us win than him they follow.For what is he they follow? Truly, gentlemen,A bloody tyrant and a homicide;One raised in blood, and one in blood established;One that made means to come by what he hath,And slaughtered those that were the means to help him;A base foul stone, made precious by the foilOf England’s chair, where he is falsely set;One that hath ever been God’s enemy.Then, if you fight against God’s enemy,God will, in justice, ward you as his soldiers;If you do sweat to put a tyrant down,You sleep in peace, the tyrant being slain;If you do fight against your country’s foes,Your country’s fat shall pay your pains the hire;If you do fight in safeguard of your wives,Your wives shall welcome home the conquerors;If you do free your children from the sword,Your children’s children quits it in your age.Then, in the name of God and all these rights,Advance your standards, draw your willing swords.For me, the ransom of my bold attemptShall be this cold corpse on the earth’s cold face;But if I thrive, the gain of my attemptThe least of you shall share his part thereof.Sound drums and trumpets boldly and cheerfully!God, and Saint George! Richmond and victory![Exeunt.]EnterKing Richard, Ratcliffeand Soldiers.KING RICHARD.What said Northumberland as touching Richmond?RATCLIFFE.That he was never trained up in arms.KING RICHARD.He said the truth. And what said Surrey then?RATCLIFFE.He smiled, and said, “The better for our purpose.”KING RICHARD.He was in the right, and so indeed it is.[The clock striketh.]Tell the clock there. Give me a calendar.Who saw the sun today?RATCLIFFE.Not I, my lord.KING RICHARD.Then he disdains to shine, for by the bookHe should have braved the east an hour ago.A black day will it be to somebody.Ratcliffe!RATCLIFFE.My lord?KING RICHARD.The sun will not be seen today!The sky doth frown and lour upon our army.I would these dewy tears were from the ground.Not shine today? Why, what is that to meMore than to Richmond? For the selfsame heavenThat frowns on me looks sadly upon him.EnterNorfolk.NORFOLK.Arm, arm, my lord. The foe vaunts in the field.KING RICHARD.Come, bustle, bustle! Caparison my horse.Call up Lord Stanley; bid him bring his power.I will lead forth my soldiers to the plain,And thus my battle shall be ordered:My foreward shall be drawn out all in length,Consisting equally of horse and foot;Our archers shall be placed in the midst.John Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Earl of Surrey,Shall have the leading of this foot and horse.They thus directed, we will followIn the main battle, whose puissance on either sideShall be well winged with our chiefest horse.This, and Saint George to boot! What think’st thou, Norfolk?NORFOLK.A good direction, warlike sovereign.[He sheweth him a paper.]This found I on my tent this morning.KING RICHARD.[Reads.] “Jockey of Norfolk, be not too bold.For Dickon thy master is bought and sold.”A thing devised by the enemy.Go, gentlemen, every man unto his charge.Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls;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 to it pell-mell,If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell.His oration to his army.What shall I say more than I have inferred?Remember whom you are to cope withal,A sort of vagabonds, rascals, and runaways,A scum of Bretons and base lackey peasants,Whom their o’er-cloyed country vomits forthTo desperate adventures and assured destruction.You sleeping safe, they bring to you unrest;You having lands, and blessed with beauteous wives,They would restrain the one, distain the other.And who doth lead them but a paltry fellow,Long kept in Brittany at our mother’s cost?A milksop, one that never in his lifeFelt so much cold as over-shoes in snow?Let’s whip these stragglers o’er the seas again,Lash hence these overweening rags of France,These famished beggars, weary of their lives,Who, but for dreaming on this fond exploit,For want of means, poor rats, had hanged themselves.If we be conquered, let men conquer us,And not these bastard Bretons, whom our fathersHave in their own land beaten, bobbed, and thumped,And in record left them the heirs of shame.Shall these enjoy our lands? Lie with our wives,Ravish our daughters?[Drum afar off.]Hark, I hear their drum.Fight, gentlemen of England! Fight, bold yeomen!Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head!Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood!Amaze the welkin with your broken staves!Enter aMessenger.What says Lord Stanley? Will he bring his power?MESSENGER.My lord, he doth deny to come.KING RICHARD.Off with his son George’s head!NORFOLK.My lord, the enemy is past the marsh.After the battle let George Stanley die.KING RICHARD.A thousand hearts are great within my bosom.Advance our standards! Set upon our foes!Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George,Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons!Upon them! Victory sits on our helms.[Exeunt.]SCENE IV. Another part of the FieldAlarum. Excursions. EnterNorfolkand Soldiers; to himCatesby.CATESBY.Rescue, my lord of Norfolk, rescue, rescue!The King enacts more wonders than a man,Daring an opposite to every danger.His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights,Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death.Rescue, fair lord, or else the day is lost![ExeuntNorfolkand Soldiers.]Alarum. EnterKing Richard.KING RICHARD.A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!CATESBY.Withdraw, my lord; I’ll help you to a horse.KING RICHARD.Slave, I have set my life upon a cast,And I will stand the hazard of the die.I think there be six Richmonds in the field;Five have I slain today instead of him.A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse![Exeunt.]SCENE V. Another part of the FieldAlarum. EnterKing RichardandRichmond. They fight. Richard is slain. Then retreat being sounded.Richmondexits, andRichard’sbody is carried off. Flourish. EnterRichmond, StanleyEarl of Derby, bearing the crown, with other Lords and Soldiers.RICHMOND.God and your arms be praised, victorious friends!The day is ours, the bloody dog is dead.STANLEY.Courageous Richmond, well hast thou acquit thee!Lo, here, this long-usurped royaltyFrom the dead temples of this bloody wretchHave I plucked off, to grace thy brows withal.Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it.RICHMOND.Great God of heaven, say Amen to all!But tell me, is young George Stanley living?STANLEY.He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town,Whither, if it please you, we may now withdraw us.RICHMOND.What men of name are slain on either side?STANLEY.John, Duke of Norfolk, Walter, Lord Ferrers,Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William Brandon.RICHMOND.Inter their bodies as becomes their births.Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fledThat in submission will return to us.And then, as we have ta’en the sacrament,We will unite the white rose and the red.Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction,That long have frowned upon their enmity.What traitor hears me and says not Amen?England hath long been mad, and scarred herself:The brother blindly shed the brother’s blood;The father rashly slaughtered his own son;The son, compelled, been butcher to the sire.All this divided York and Lancaster,Divided in their dire division.O, now let Richmond and Elizabeth,The true succeeders of each royal house,By God’s fair ordinance conjoin together,And let their heirs, God, if Thy will be so,Enrich the time to come with smoothed-faced peace,With smiling plenty, and fair prosperous days.Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord,That would reduce these bloody days again,And make poor England weep in streams of blood.Let them not live to taste this land’s increase,That would with treason wound this fair land’s peace.Now civil wounds are stopped, peace lives again.That she may long live here, God say Amen.[Exeunt.]
EnterSheriffand Halberds, withBuckingham, led to execution.
BUCKINGHAM.Will not King Richard let me speak with him?
SHERIFF.No, my good lord; therefore be patient.
BUCKINGHAM.Hastings, and Edward’s children, Grey, and Rivers,Holy King Henry, and thy fair son Edward,Vaughan, and all that have miscarriedBy underhand, corrupted foul injustice,If that your moody discontented soulsDo through the clouds behold this present hour,Even for revenge mock my destruction.This is All-Souls’ day, fellow, is it not?
SHERIFF.It is.
BUCKINGHAM.Why, then All-Souls’ day is my body’s doomsday.This is the day which, in King Edward’s time,I wished might fall on me when I was foundFalse to his children and his wife’s allies.This is the day wherein I wished to fallBy the false faith of him whom most I trusted.This, this All-Souls’ day to my fearful soulIs the determined respite of my wrongs.That high All-Seer which I dallied withHath turned my feigned prayer on my headAnd given in earnest what I begged in jest.Thus doth He force the swords of wicked menTo turn their own points in their masters’ bosoms.Thus Margaret’s curse falls heavy on my neck:“When he,” quoth she, “shall split thy heart with sorrow,Remember Margaret was a prophetess.”Come lead me, officers, to the block of shame;Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame.
[Exit with Officers.]
EnterRichmond, Oxford, Blunt, Herbert, and others, with drum and colours.
RICHMOND.Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends,Bruised underneath the yoke of tyranny,Thus far into the bowels of the landHave we marched on without impediment;And here receive we from our father StanleyLines of fair comfort and encouragement.The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar,That spoiled your summer fields and fruitful vines,Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his troughIn your embowelled bosoms—this foul swineIs now even in the centre of this isle,Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn.From Tamworth thither is but one day’s march.In God’s name, cheerly on, courageous friends,To reap the harvest of perpetual peaceBy this one bloody trial of sharp war.
OXFORD.Every man’s conscience is a thousand men,To fight against that guilty homicide.
HERBERT.I doubt not but his friends will turn to us.
BLUNT.He hath no friends but what are friends for fear,Which in his dearest need will fly from him.
RICHMOND.All for our vantage. Then in God’s name, march.True hope is swift, and flies with swallow’s wings;Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.
[Exeunt.]
EnterKing Richardin arms, withNorfolk, Ratcliffeand theEarl of Surreywith others.
KING RICHARD.Here pitch our tent, even here in Bosworth field.My Lord of Surrey, why look you so sad?
SURREY.My heart is ten times lighter than my looks.
KING RICHARD.My lord of Norfolk.
NORFOLK.Here, most gracious liege.
KING RICHARD.Norfolk, we must have knocks, ha, must we not?
NORFOLK.We must both give and take, my loving lord.
KING RICHARD.Up with my tent! Here will I lie tonight.But where tomorrow? Well, all’s one for that.Who hath descried the number of the traitors?
NORFOLK.Six or seven thousand is their utmost power.
KING RICHARD.Why, our battalia trebles that account.Besides, the King’s name is a tower of strengthWhich they upon the adverse faction want.Up with the tent! Come, noble gentlemen,Let us survey the vantage of the ground.Call for some men of sound direction;Let’s lack no discipline, make no delay,For, lords, tomorrow is a busy day.
[The tent is now ready. Exeunt.]
EnterRichmond, Sir William Brandon, Oxford, Herbert, Blunt, and others who pitchRichmond’stent.
RICHMOND.The weary sun hath made a golden set,And by the bright track of his fiery carGives token of a goodly day tomorrow.Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard.Give me some ink and paper in my tent;I’ll draw the form and model of our battle,Limit each leader to his several charge,And part in just proportion our small power.My Lord of Oxford, you, Sir William Brandon,And you, Sir Walter Herbert, stay with me.The Earl of Pembroke keeps his regiment.—Good Captain Blunt, bear my goodnight to him,And by the second hour in the morningDesire the Earl to see me in my tent.Yet one thing more, good captain, do for me.Where is Lord Stanley quartered, do you know?
BLUNT.Unless I have mista’en his colours much,Which well I am assured I have not done,His regiment lies half a mile at leastSouth from the mighty power of the King.
RICHMOND.If without peril it be possible,Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with him,And give him from me this most needful note.
BLUNT.Upon my life, my lord, I’ll undertake it;And so God give you quiet rest tonight.
RICHMOND.Good night, good Captain Blunt.
[ExitBlunt.]
Come, gentlemen,Let us consult upon tomorrow’s business;Into my tent. The dew is raw and cold.
[Richmond, Brandon Herbert, andOxfordwithdraw into the tent. The others exeunt.]
Enter to his tent,King Richard, Ratcliffe, NorfolkandCatesbywith Soldiers.
KING RICHARD.What is’t o’clock?
CATESBY.It’s supper time, my lord. It’s nine o’clock.
KING RICHARD.I will not sup tonight. Give me some ink and paper.What, is my beaver easier than it was?And all my armour laid into my tent?
CATESBY.It is, my liege, and all things are in readiness.
KING RICHARD.Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge;Use careful watch; choose trusty sentinels.
NORFOLK.I go, my lord.
KING RICHARD.Stir with the lark tomorrow, gentle Norfolk.
NORFOLK.I warrant you, my lord.
[Exit.]
KING RICHARD.Catesby!
CATESBY.My lord?
KING RICHARD.Send out a pursuivant-at-armsTo Stanley’s regiment. Bid him bring his powerBefore sunrising, lest his son George fallInto the blind cave of eternal night.
[ExitCatesby.]
Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a watch.Saddle white Surrey for the field tomorrow.Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy.Ratcliffe!
RATCLIFFE.My lord?
KING RICHARD.Saw’st thou the melancholy Lord Northumberland?
RATCLIFFE.Thomas the Earl of Surrey and himself,Much about cockshut time, from troop to troopWent through the army, cheering up the soldiers.
KING RICHARD.So, I am satisfied. Give me a bowl of wine.I have not that alacrity of spiritNor cheer of mind that I was wont to have.Set it down. Is ink and paper ready?
RATCLIFFE.It is, my lord.
KING RICHARD.Bid my guard watch; leave me.Ratcliffe, about the mid of night come to my tentAnd help to arm me. Leave me, I say.
[ExitRatcliffe. Richardwithdraws into his tent; attendant soldiers guard it.]
EnterStanleyEarl of Derby toRichmondin his tent.
STANLEY.Fortune and victory sit on thy helm!
RICHMOND.All comfort that the dark night can affordBe to thy person, noble father-in-law.Tell me, how fares our loving mother?
STANLEY.I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother,Who prays continually for Richmond’s good.So much for that. The silent hours steal on,And flaky darkness breaks within the east.In brief, for so the season bids us be,Prepare thy battle early in the morning,And put thy fortune to the arbitrementOf bloody strokes and mortal-staring war.I, as I may—that which I would I cannot—With best advantage will deceive the time,And aid thee in this doubtful shock of arms.But on thy side I may not be too forward,Lest, being seen, thy brother, tender George,Be executed in his father’s sight.Farewell; the leisure and the fearful timeCuts off the ceremonious vows of loveAnd ample interchange of sweet discourse,Which so-long-sundered friends should dwell upon.God give us leisure for these rites of love!Once more, adieu. Be valiant, and speed well.
RICHMOND.Good lords, conduct him to his regiment.I’ll strive with troubled thoughts to take a nap,Lest leaden slumber peise me down tomorrowWhen I should mount with wings of victory.Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.
[All butRichmondleave his tent.]
[Kneels.] O Thou, whose captain I account myself,Look on my forces with a gracious eye;Put in their hands Thy bruising irons of wrath,That they may crush down with a heavy fallTh’ usurping helmets of our adversaries;Make us Thy ministers of chastisement,That we may praise Thee in the victory.To Thee I do commend my watchful soulEre I let fall the windows of mine eyes.Sleeping and waking, O, defend me still!
[Sleeps.]
Enter the Ghost of youngPrince Edward, son toHarry the Sixth.
GHOST OF EDWARD.[To King Richard.] Let me sit heavy on thy soul tomorrow.Think how thou stabbed’st me in my prime of youthAt Tewksbury; despair therefore, and die![To Richmond.] Be cheerful, Richmond, for the wronged soulsOf butchered princes fight in thy behalf.King Henry’s issue, Richmond, comforts thee.
[Exit.]
Enter the Ghost ofHenry the Sixth.
GHOST OF HENRY.[To King Richard.] When I was mortal, my anointed bodyBy thee was punched full of deadly holes.Think on the Tower and me. Despair, and die;Harry the Sixth bids thee despair and die.[To Richmond.] Virtuous and holy, be thou conqueror.Harry, that prophesied thou shouldst be King,Doth comfort thee in thy sleep. Live, and flourish!
[Exit.]
Enter the Ghost ofClarence.
GHOST OF CLARENCE.[To King Richard.] Let me sit heavy in thy soul tomorrow,I, that was washed to death with fulsome wine,Poor Clarence, by thy guile betrayed to death.Tomorrow in the battle think on me,And fall thy edgeless sword. Despair, and die![To Richmond.] Thou offspring of the house of Lancaster,The wronged heirs of York do pray for thee.Good angels guard thy battle; live, and flourish.
[Exit.]
Enter the Ghosts ofRivers, GreyandVaughan.
GHOST OF RIVERS.[To King Richard.] Let me sit heavy in thy soul tomorrow,Rivers that died at Pomfret. Despair and die!
GHOST OF GREY.[To King Richard.] Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair!
GHOST OF VAUGHAN.[To King Richard.] Think upon Vaughan, and with guilty fearLet fall thy lance. Despair and die!
ALL THREE.[To Richmond.] Awake, and think our wrongs in Richard’s bosomWill conquer him. Awake, and win the day.
[Exeunt.]
Enter the Ghost ofHastings.
GHOST OF HASTINGS.[To King Richard.] Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake,And in a bloody battle end thy days.Think on Lord Hastings. Despair and die![To Richmond.] Quiet untroubled soul, awake, awake.Arm, fight, and conquer for fair England’s sake.
[Exit.]
Enter the Ghosts of the two youngPrinces.
GHOSTS OF PRINCES.[To King Richard.] Dream on thy cousins smothered in the Tower.Let us be lead within thy bosom, Richard,And weigh thee down to ruin, shame, and death;Thy nephews’ souls bid thee despair and die.[To Richmond.] Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace, and wake in joy;Good angels guard thee from the boar’s annoy.Live, and beget a happy race of kings;Edward’s unhappy sons do bid thee flourish.
[Exeunt.]
Enter the Ghost ofLady Anne, his wife.
GHOST OF ANNE.[To King Richard.] Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife,That never slept a quiet hour with thee,Now fills thy sleep with perturbations.Tomorrow in the battle think on me,And fall thy edgeless sword. Despair and die![To Richmond.] Thou quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet sleep;Dream of success and happy victory.Thy adversary’s wife doth pray for thee.
[Exit.]
Enter the Ghost ofBuckingham.
GHOST OF BUCKINGHAM.[To King Richard.] The first was I that helped thee to the crown;The last was I that felt thy tyranny.O, in the battle think on Buckingham,And die in terror of thy guiltiness.Dream on, dream on of bloody deeds and death.Fainting, despair; despairing, yield thy breath.[To Richmond.] I died for hope ere I could lend thee aid,But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismayed.God and good angels fight on Richmond’s side;And Richard fall in height of all his pride.
[Exit.]
[King Richardstarts up out of his dream.]
KING RICHARD.Give me another horse! Bind up my wounds!Have mercy, Jesu!—Soft! I did but dream.O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!The lights burn blue; it is now dead midnight.Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh.What do I fear? Myself? There’s none else by.Richard loves Richard, that is, I am I.Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am.Then fly. What, from myself? Great reason why,Lest I revenge. What, myself upon myself?Alack, I love myself. Wherefore? For any goodThat I myself have done unto myself?O, no, alas, I rather hate myselfFor hateful deeds committed by myself.I am a villain. Yet I lie, I am not.Fool, of thyself speak well. Fool, do not flatter.My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,And every tongue brings in a several tale,And every tale condemns me for a villain.Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree;Murder, stern murder, in the direst degree;All several sins, all used in each degree,Throng to the bar, crying all “Guilty, guilty!”I shall despair. There is no creature loves me,And if I die no soul will pity me.And wherefore should they, since that I myselfFind in myself no pity to myself?Methought the souls of all that I had murderedCame to my tent, and everyone did threatTomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard.
EnterRatcliffe.
RATCLIFFE.My lord!
KING RICHARD.Zounds! Who’s there?
RATCLIFFE.Ratcliffe, my lord; ’tis I. The early village cockHath twice done salutation to the morn;Your friends are up and buckle on their armour.
KING RICHARD.O Ratcliffe, I have dreamed a fearful dream!What think’st thou, will our friends prove all true?
RATCLIFFE.No doubt, my lord.
KING RICHARD.O Ratcliffe, I fear, I fear!
RATCLIFFE.Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows.
KING RICHARD.By the apostle Paul, shadows tonightHave struck more terror to the soul of RichardThan can the substance of ten thousand soldiersArmed in proof and led by shallow Richmond.’Tis not yet near day. Come, go with me.Under our tents I’ll play the eavesdropper,To see if any mean to shrink from me.
[ExeuntRichardandRatcliffe.]
Enter theLordstoRichmondin his tent.
LORDS.Good morrow, Richmond.
RICHMOND.Cry mercy, lords and watchful gentlemen,That you have ta’en a tardy sluggard here.
LORDS.How have you slept, my lord?
RICHMOND.The sweetest sleep and fairest-boding dreamsThat ever entered in a drowsy headHave I since your departure had, my lords.Methought their souls whose bodies Richard murderedCame to my tent and cried on victory.I promise you, my heart is very jocundIn the remembrance of so fair a dream.How far into the morning is it, lords?
LORDS.Upon the stroke of four.
RICHMOND.Why, then ’tis time to arm and give direction.
His oration to his soldiers.
More than I have said, loving countrymen,The leisure and enforcement of the timeForbids to dwell upon. Yet remember this:God, and our good cause, fight upon our side;The prayers of holy saints and wronged souls,Like high-reared bulwarks, stand before our faces.Richard except, those whom we fight againstHad rather have us win than him they follow.For what is he they follow? Truly, gentlemen,A bloody tyrant and a homicide;One raised in blood, and one in blood established;One that made means to come by what he hath,And slaughtered those that were the means to help him;A base foul stone, made precious by the foilOf England’s chair, where he is falsely set;One that hath ever been God’s enemy.Then, if you fight against God’s enemy,God will, in justice, ward you as his soldiers;If you do sweat to put a tyrant down,You sleep in peace, the tyrant being slain;If you do fight against your country’s foes,Your country’s fat shall pay your pains the hire;If you do fight in safeguard of your wives,Your wives shall welcome home the conquerors;If you do free your children from the sword,Your children’s children quits it in your age.Then, in the name of God and all these rights,Advance your standards, draw your willing swords.For me, the ransom of my bold attemptShall be this cold corpse on the earth’s cold face;But if I thrive, the gain of my attemptThe least of you shall share his part thereof.Sound drums and trumpets boldly and cheerfully!God, and Saint George! Richmond and victory!
[Exeunt.]
EnterKing Richard, Ratcliffeand Soldiers.
KING RICHARD.What said Northumberland as touching Richmond?
RATCLIFFE.That he was never trained up in arms.
KING RICHARD.He said the truth. And what said Surrey then?
RATCLIFFE.He smiled, and said, “The better for our purpose.”
KING RICHARD.He was in the right, and so indeed it is.
[The clock striketh.]
Tell the clock there. Give me a calendar.Who saw the sun today?
RATCLIFFE.Not I, my lord.
KING RICHARD.Then he disdains to shine, for by the bookHe should have braved the east an hour ago.A black day will it be to somebody.Ratcliffe!
RATCLIFFE.My lord?
KING RICHARD.The sun will not be seen today!The sky doth frown and lour upon our army.I would these dewy tears were from the ground.Not shine today? Why, what is that to meMore than to Richmond? For the selfsame heavenThat frowns on me looks sadly upon him.
EnterNorfolk.
NORFOLK.Arm, arm, my lord. The foe vaunts in the field.
KING RICHARD.Come, bustle, bustle! Caparison my horse.Call up Lord Stanley; bid him bring his power.I will lead forth my soldiers to the plain,And thus my battle shall be ordered:My foreward shall be drawn out all in length,Consisting equally of horse and foot;Our archers shall be placed in the midst.John Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Earl of Surrey,Shall have the leading of this foot and horse.They thus directed, we will followIn the main battle, whose puissance on either sideShall be well winged with our chiefest horse.This, and Saint George to boot! What think’st thou, Norfolk?
NORFOLK.A good direction, warlike sovereign.
[He sheweth him a paper.]
This found I on my tent this morning.
KING RICHARD.[Reads.] “Jockey of Norfolk, be not too bold.For Dickon thy master is bought and sold.”A thing devised by the enemy.Go, gentlemen, every man unto his charge.Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls;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 to it pell-mell,If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell.
His oration to his army.
What shall I say more than I have inferred?Remember whom you are to cope withal,A sort of vagabonds, rascals, and runaways,A scum of Bretons and base lackey peasants,Whom their o’er-cloyed country vomits forthTo desperate adventures and assured destruction.You sleeping safe, they bring to you unrest;You having lands, and blessed with beauteous wives,They would restrain the one, distain the other.And who doth lead them but a paltry fellow,Long kept in Brittany at our mother’s cost?A milksop, one that never in his lifeFelt so much cold as over-shoes in snow?Let’s whip these stragglers o’er the seas again,Lash hence these overweening rags of France,These famished beggars, weary of their lives,Who, but for dreaming on this fond exploit,For want of means, poor rats, had hanged themselves.If we be conquered, let men conquer us,And not these bastard Bretons, whom our fathersHave in their own land beaten, bobbed, and thumped,And in record left them the heirs of shame.Shall these enjoy our lands? Lie with our wives,Ravish our daughters?
[Drum afar off.]
Hark, I hear their drum.Fight, gentlemen of England! Fight, bold yeomen!Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head!Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood!Amaze the welkin with your broken staves!
Enter aMessenger.
What says Lord Stanley? Will he bring his power?
MESSENGER.My lord, he doth deny to come.
KING RICHARD.Off with his son George’s head!
NORFOLK.My lord, the enemy is past the marsh.After the battle let George Stanley die.
KING RICHARD.A thousand hearts are great within my bosom.Advance our standards! Set upon our foes!Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George,Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons!Upon them! Victory sits on our helms.
[Exeunt.]
Alarum. Excursions. EnterNorfolkand Soldiers; to himCatesby.
CATESBY.Rescue, my lord of Norfolk, rescue, rescue!The King enacts more wonders than a man,Daring an opposite to every danger.His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights,Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death.Rescue, fair lord, or else the day is lost!
[ExeuntNorfolkand Soldiers.]
Alarum. EnterKing Richard.
KING RICHARD.A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!
CATESBY.Withdraw, my lord; I’ll help you to a horse.
KING RICHARD.Slave, I have set my life upon a cast,And I will stand the hazard of the die.I think there be six Richmonds in the field;Five have I slain today instead of him.A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!
[Exeunt.]
Alarum. EnterKing RichardandRichmond. They fight. Richard is slain. Then retreat being sounded.Richmondexits, andRichard’sbody is carried off. Flourish. EnterRichmond, StanleyEarl of Derby, bearing the crown, with other Lords and Soldiers.
RICHMOND.God and your arms be praised, victorious friends!The day is ours, the bloody dog is dead.
STANLEY.Courageous Richmond, well hast thou acquit thee!Lo, here, this long-usurped royaltyFrom the dead temples of this bloody wretchHave I plucked off, to grace thy brows withal.Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it.
RICHMOND.Great God of heaven, say Amen to all!But tell me, is young George Stanley living?
STANLEY.He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town,Whither, if it please you, we may now withdraw us.
RICHMOND.What men of name are slain on either side?
STANLEY.John, Duke of Norfolk, Walter, Lord Ferrers,Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William Brandon.
RICHMOND.Inter their bodies as becomes their births.Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fledThat in submission will return to us.And then, as we have ta’en the sacrament,We will unite the white rose and the red.Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction,That long have frowned upon their enmity.What traitor hears me and says not Amen?England hath long been mad, and scarred herself:The brother blindly shed the brother’s blood;The father rashly slaughtered his own son;The son, compelled, been butcher to the sire.All this divided York and Lancaster,Divided in their dire division.O, now let Richmond and Elizabeth,The true succeeders of each royal house,By God’s fair ordinance conjoin together,And let their heirs, God, if Thy will be so,Enrich the time to come with smoothed-faced peace,With smiling plenty, and fair prosperous days.Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord,That would reduce these bloody days again,And make poor England weep in streams of blood.Let them not live to taste this land’s increase,That would with treason wound this fair land’s peace.Now civil wounds are stopped, peace lives again.That she may long live here, God say Amen.
[Exeunt.]