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Sher. No, my good lord: therefore be patient. Buck. Hastings, and Edward's children, Rivers, Grey,

K. Rich, Out on ye, owls! nothing but songs of death? [He strikes him. There,take thou that, till thou bring better news. 3 Mess. The news I have to tell your majesty, Is, that, by sudden floods and fall of waters, Buckingham's army is dispers'd and scatter'd; And he himself wander'd away alone, No man knows whither.

K. Rich. O, I cry you mercy: There is my purse to cure that blow of thine. Hath any well advised friend proclaim'd Reward to him that brings the traitor in? 3 Mess. Such proclamation hath been made, my liege.

Holy King Henry, and thy fair son Edward,
Vaughan, and all that have miscarried
By underhand corrupted foul injustice;
If that your moody discontented souls
Do through the clouds behold this present hour,
Even for revenge mock my destruction!
This is All-Souls' day, fellows, is it not?
Sher. It is, my lord.

[doomsday.

Buck. Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's This is the day, which, in King Edward's time, I wish'd might fall on me, when I was found [Enter another Messenger, [Dorset, False to his children, or his wife's allies: 4 Mess, Sir Thomas Lovel, and lord marquis This is the day, wherein I wish'd to fall 'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms. By the false faith of him whom most I trusted; But this good comfort bring I to your highness,―This, this, All-Souls' day to my fearful soul, The Bretagne navy is dispers'd by tempest: Is the determin'd respite of my wrongs. Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat That high All-seer which I dallied with, Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks, Hath turned my feigned prayer on my head,

If they were his assistants, yea, or no: [ham And given in earnest what I begg'd in jest.
Who answer'd him, they came from Bucking-Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men
Upon his party: he, mistrusting them, [tagne. To turn their own points on their masters'
Hois'd sail, and made his course again for Bre- bosoms;
K. Rich. March on, march on, since we are
up in arms;

If not to fight with foreign enemies,
Yet to beat down these rebels here at home.
Enter CATESBY.
[taken,
Cate. My liege, the duke of Buckingham is
That is the best news; That the earl of Richmond
Is with a mighty power landed at Mitford,
Is colder news, but yet they must be told.

K. Rich. Away towards Salisbury; while we reason here

A royal battle might be won and lost;-
Some one take order, Buckingham be brought
To Salisbury-the rest march on with me.

[Exeunt.
SCENE V. A Room in Lord Stanley's House.
Enter STANLEY and SIR CHRISTOPHER URSWICK.
Stan. Sir Christopher, tell Richmond this from
That in the sty of this most bloody boar, [me:-
My son George Stanley is frank'd up in hold;
If I revolt, off goes young George's head;
The fear of that withholds my present aid.
But, tell me, where is princely Richmond now?
Chris. At Pembroke, or at Ha'rford-west, in
Wales.

Stan. What men of name resort to him? Chris. Sir Walter Herbert,a renowned soldier; Sir Gilbert Talbot, Sir William Stanley; Oxford, redoubted Pembroke, Sir James Blunt, And Rice ap Thomas, with a valiant crew; And many other of great fame and worth: And towards London do they bend their course, If by the way they be not fought withal.

Stan. Well, hie thee to thy lord; commend me to him;

Tell him, the queen hath heartily consented He shall espouse Elizabeth her daughter, These letters will resolve him of my mind. Farewell, [Gives papers to SIR CHRISTOPHER. [Exeunt.

Act Fifth.

SCENE I. Salisbury. An open Place. Enter the Sheriff and Guard, with BUCKINGHAM, led to execution.

Buck. Will not King Richard let me speak with him?

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, sirs, convey me to the block of shame; Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame. [Exeunt BUCKINGHAM, &c.

SCENE II. Plain near Tamworth. Enter with drum and colours, RICHMOND, OXFORD, SIR JAMES BLUNT, SIR WALTER HERBERT, and Others, with Forces, marching.

Richm. Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends,

Bruis'd underneath the yoke of tyranny,
Thus far into the bowels of the land
Have we march'd on without impediment;
And here receive we from our father Stanley
Lines of fair comfort and encouragement.
The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar,
That spoil'd your summer fields, and fruitful
vines,
[his trough
Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes
In your embowell'd bosoms, this foul swine
Lies 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 peace
By this one bloody trial of sharp war. [swords,

Oxf. Every man's conscience is a thousand To fight against that bloody homicide. [us. Herb. I doubt not, but his friends will turn to Blunt. He hath no friends, but who are friends

for fear;

Which, in his dearest need, will fly from him. Richm. All for our vantage. Then, in God's name, march: [wings;

True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings. [Exeunt.

SCENE III. Bosworth Field.
Enter KING RICHARD, and Forces; the DUKE OF
NORFOLK, EARL OF SURREY, and Others.
K. Rich. Here pitch our tents, even here in
Bosworth field.-

My lord of Surrey, why look you so sad?
Sur. My heart is ten times lighter than my
K. Rich. My lord of Norfolk,- [looki
Nor.
Here, most gracious liege.

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[To CATESBY, Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow.— Look that my staves be sound, and not too Ratcliff,[heavy. [Northumberland?

Rat. My lord?

K. Rich. Saw'st thou the melancholy Lord Rat. Thomas the earl of Surrey, and himself, Much about cock-shut time, from troop to troop, Went through the army,cheering upthe soldiers.

K. Rich. Norfolk, we must have knocks: Before sun-rising, lest his son George fall Ha! must we not? [lord. Into the blind cave of eternal night.Nor. We must both give and take, my loving Fill me a bowl of wine.-Give me a watch:K. Rich. Up with my tent: Here will I lie to-night; [Soldiers begin to set up the King's Tent. But where to-morrow?-Well, all's one for thatWho hath descried the number of the traitors? Nor. Six or seven thousand is their utmost power. [count: K. Rich. Why, our battalia trebles that acBesides, the king's name is a tower of strength, Which 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 want no discipline, make no delay; For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day. [Exeunt. Enter, on the other side of the Field, RICHMOND, SIR WILLIAM BRANDON, OXFORD, and other Lords. Some of the Soldiers pitch RICHMOND'S

Tent.

Richm. The weary sun hath made a golden set,
And, by the bright track of his fiery car,
Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow.-
Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my stan-
dard.-

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 good night to him,
And by the second hour in the morning
Desire the earl to see me in my tent:
Yet one thing more, good captain, do for me;
Where is Lord Stanley quarter'd, do you know?
Blunt. Unless I have mista en his colours much
(Which, well I am assur'd, I have not done),
His regiment lies half a mile at least
South from the mighty power of the king.
Richm. 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 to-night!
Richm. Good night, good captain Blunt.
Come, gentlemen,

Let us consult upon to-morrow's business;
In to my tent, the air is raw and cold.

[They withdraw into the Tent.
Enter, to his Tent, KING RICHARD, NORFOLK,
CLIFF, and CATESBY.

K. Rich. What is't o'clock ?
Cate.

It's nine o'clock.

K. Rich.

It's supper time, my lord:

I will not sup to-night.
Give me some ink and paper.-
What, is my beaver easier than it was ?-
And all my armour laid into my tent?
Cate. It is, my liege; and all things are in
readiness.

K. Rich. So, I am satisfied. Give me a bowl I have not that alacrity of spirit, [of wine: Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have.Set it down.-Is ink and paper ready?

Rat. It is, my lord.

K. Rich. Bid my guard watch; leave me.
About the mid of night come to my tent,
And help to arm me.-Leave me, I say.

[KING RICHARD retires into his Tent.
Exeunt RATCLIFF and CATESBY.
RICHMOND'S Tent opens, and discovers him and
his Officers, &c.
Enter STANLEY.

Stan. Fortune and victory sit on thy helm ! Richm. All comfort that the dark night can Be to thy person, noble father-in-law! [afford, Tell me how fares our loving mother?

[ther,

Stan. I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mo-
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 arbitrement
Of 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 tender brother George
Be executed in his father's sight:

Farewell: The leisure and the fearful time
Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love,
And ample interchange of sweet discourse,
Which so long sunder'd friends should dwell

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I'll strive, with troubled thoughts, to take a nap;
Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow,
When I should mount with wings of victory:
RAT-Once more, good night, kind lords and gentle-
men. [Exeunt Lords, &c. with STANLEY.
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 fall
The usurping helmets of our adversaries!
Make us thy ministers of chastisement,
That we may praise thee in thy victory!
To thee I do commend my watchful soul,
Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes;
Sleeping, and waking, O, defend me still!
[Sleeps.
The Ghost of Prince Edward, Son to Henry the
Sixth, rises between the two Tents.
Ghost. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow!
[To KING RICHARD,
Think, how thou stab'dst me in my prime of
youth

K. Rich. Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge;
Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels.
Nor. I go, my lord.

[Norfolk.
K. Rich. Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle
Nor. I warrant you, my lord.
[Exit.

K. Rich. Ratcliff,

Pat. My lord?

K. Rich.

Send out a pursuivant at arms

To stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power At Tewksbury; Despair therefore, and die !—

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I died for hope, ere I could lend thee aid.
[To RICHMOND.
But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismay'd:
God, and good angels, fight on Richmond's side;
And Richard falls in height of all his pride.
[The Ghosts vanish. KING RICHARD starts
out of his dream.

K. Rich. 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 1.
Is there a murderer here? No;-Yes; I am :
Then fly,-What, from myself; Great reason:
Why?

Be cheerful, Richmond; for the wronged souls
Of butcher'd princes fight in thy behalf:
King Henry's issue, Richmond, comforts thee.
The Ghost of King Henry the Sixth rises.
Ghost. When I was mortal, my anointed body
[To KING RICHARD.
By thee was punched full of deadly holes :
Think on the Tower, and me; Despair, and die;
Harry the Sixth bids thee despair and die.-
Virtuous and holy, be thou conqueror !
[To RICHMOND.
Harry, that prophesy'd thou should'st be king,
Doth comfort thee in thy sleep; Live, and flou-
The Ghost of Clarence rises. [rish!
Ghost. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow!
[To KING RICHARD.
I, that was wash'd to death with fulsome wine,
Poor Clarence, by thy guile betray'd to death!
To-morrow in the battle think on me,
Lest I revenge. What? Myself on myself?
And fall thy edgeless sword; Despair, and die! I love myself. Wherefore? for any good,
Thou offspring of the house of Lancaster, That I myself have done unto myself?
[To RICHMOND. Q, no: alas, I rather hate myself,
The wronged heirs of York do pray for thee; For hateful deeds committed by myself.
Good angels guard thy battle! Live and flourish! I am a villain: Yet I lie, I am not.
The Ghosts of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan, rise. Fool, of thyself speak well:-Fool, do not flatter.
Riv. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow, My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
[TO KING RICHARD. And every tongue brings in a several tale,
Rivers, that died at Pomfret; Despair, and die! And every tale condemns me for a villain.
Grey. Think upon Grey, and let thy soul des- Perjury, perjury, in the high'st degree,
pair!
[To KING RICHARD. Murder, stern murder, in the dir'st degree;
Vaugh. Think upon Vaughan; and, with guilty All several sins, all us'd in each degree,
Let fall thy lance! Despair, and die !- [fear. Throng to the bar, crying all-Guilty! guilty!
[To KING RICHARD. I shall despair.-There is no creature loves me!
And, if I die, no soul will pity me :-
Nay,wherefore should they? since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself.
Methought, the souls of all that I had murder'd
Came to my tent: and every one did threat
To-morrow's vengeance on the head of Richard.
Enter RATCLIFF.

ard's bosom

All. Awake! and think, our wrongs in Rich-
[To RICHMOND.
Will conquer him;-awake, and win the day!
The Ghost of Hastings rises.
Ghost. Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake;
[To KING RICHARD.
And in a bloody battle end thy days!
Think on lord Hastings; and despair, and die!-
Quiet untroubled soul, awake, awake!
[To RICHMOND,
Arm, fight, and conquer, for fair England's sake!
The Ghosts of the two young Princes rise.
Ghosts. Dream on thy cousins smother'd 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.-
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 nuhappy sons do bid thee flourish.
The Ghost of Queen Anne rises.
Ghost. Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne
thy wife,

That never slept a quiet hour with thee,
Now fills thy sleep with perturbations:
To-morrow in the battle think on me,
And fall thy edgeless sword; Despair.and die !—
Thou, quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet sleep!
[To RICHMOND.
Dream of success and happy victory;
Thy adversary's wife doth pray for thee.

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Rat. My lord,

K. Rich. Who's there? [lage cock Rat. Ratcliff, my lord; 'tis I. The early vilHath twice done salutation to the morn: Your friends are up, and buckle on their armour. K. Rich. O, Ratcliff, I have dream'd a fearful dream! [true? What thinkest thou? will our friends prove all Rat. No doubt, my lord. K. Rich.

Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,Rat. Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of sha

dows.

K. Rich. By the apostle Paul,shadows to-night
Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard,
Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers,
Armed in proof, and led by shallow Richmond.
It is not yet near day. Come, go with me!
Under our tents I'll play the eaves-dropper,
To hear, if any mean to shrink from me.

[Exeunt KING RICHARD and RATCLIFF.
RICHMOND wakes. Enter OXFORD and Others.
Lords. Good morrow, Richmond. [tlemen,
Richm. 'Cry mercy, lords, and watchful gen-
That you have ta'en a tardy sluggard here.
Lords. How have you slept, my lord?
Richm. The sweetest sleep, and fairest-boding
That ever enter'd in a drowsy head, [dreams,
Have I since your departure had, my lords.
Methought, their souls, whose bodies Richard
murder'd,

Came to my tent, and cried-On! victory!
I promise you, my heart is very jocund
In the remembrance of so fair a dream.
How far into the morning is it, lords ?
Lords. Upon the stroke of four.

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