The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 5 of 9] · William Shakespeare
SCENE III. _Bosworth Field_.
_Enter_ KING RICHARD _in arms with_ NORFOLK, _the_ EARL OF SURREY, _and others_. _K. Rich._ Here pitch our tents, even here in Bosworth field. [fec001] My Lord of Surrey, why look you so sad? [fec002] _Sur._ My heart is ten times lighter than my looks. [fec003] _K. Rich._ My Lord of Norfolk,-- _Nor._ Here, most gracious liege. [fec004] _K. Rich._ Norfolk, we must have knocks; ha! must we not? [fec005] _Nor._ We must both give and take, my gracious lord. [fec006] _K. Rich._ Up with my tent there! here will I lie to night: [fec007] But where to-morrow? Well, all’s one for that. [fec008] Who hath descried the number of the foe? [fec009] _Nor._ Six or seven thousand is their utmost power. [fec010] _K. Rich._ Why, our battalion trebles that account: [fec011] Besides, the king’s name is a tower of strength, [fec012] Which they upon the adverse party want. [fec013] Up with my tent there! Valiant gentlemen, [fec014] Let us survey the vantage of the field; [fec015] Call for some men of sound direction: Let’s want no discipline, make no delay; [fec017] For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day. [_Exeunt._ [fec018] _Enter, on the other side of the field_, RICHMOND, SIR WILLIAM BRANDON, OXFORD, _and others. Some of the_ Soldiers _pitch Richmond’s tent_.
_Rat._ Thomas the Earl of Surrey, and himself, Much about cock-shut time, from troop to troop [fec070] Went through the army, cheering up the soldiers. _K. Rich._ So, I am satisfied. Give me a bowl of wine: [fec072] I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have. [fec074] Set it down. Is ink and paper ready? _Rat._ It is, my lord. ·fec075· _K. Rich._ Bid my guard watch. Leave me. Ratcliff, [fec076] About the mid of night come to my tent [fec077] And help to arm me. Leave me, I say. [fec078] [_Exeunt Ratcliff and the other attendants._ _Enter_ DERBY _to_ RICHMOND _in his tent, Lords and others attending_. _Der._ Fortune and victory sit on thy helm! [fec079] _Richm._ All comfort that the dark night can afford ·fec080· Be to thy person, noble father-in-law! Tell me, how fares our loving mother? [fec082] _Der._ I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother, Who prays continually for Richmond’s good: So much for that. The silent hours steal on, [fec085] And flaky darkness breaks within the east. [fec086] 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. [fec090] 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, [fec095] Be executed in his father’s sight. Farewell: the leisure and the fearful time [fec097] Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love And ample interchange of sweet discourse Which so long sunder’d friends should dwell upon: [fec100] God give us leisure for these rites of love! [fec101] Once more, adieu: be valiant, and speed well!
_Enter the Ghost of_ LADY ANNE. _Ghost._ [_To Richard_] Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife, [fec159] That never slept a quiet hour with thee, ·fec160· Now fills thy sleep with perturbations: [fec161] To-morrow in the battle think on me, [fec162] And fall thy edgeless sword: despair, and die! [fec163] [_To Richmond_] Thou quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet sleep: [fec164] Dream of success and happy victory! ·fec165· Thy adversary’s wife doth pray for thee. [fec166] _Enter the Ghost of_ BUCKINGHAM. _Ghost._ [_To Richard_] The first was I that help’d thee to the crown; [fec167] The last was I that felt thy tyranny: [fec168] O, in the battle think on Buckingham, And die in terror of thy guiltiness! ·fec170· 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: [fec173] But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismay’d: God and good angels fight on Richmond’s side; ·fec175· And Richard falls in height of all his pride. [fec176] [_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! [fec179] The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight. [fec180] Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh. [fec181] What do I fear? myself? there’s none else by: [fec182] Richard loves Richard; that is, I am I. [fec183] Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am: Then fly. What, from myself? Great reason why: [fec185] Lest I revenge. What, myself upon myself? [fec186] Alack, I love myself. Wherefore? for any good [fec187] That I myself have done unto myself? [fec188] O, no! alas, I rather hate myself For hateful deeds committed by myself! ·fec190· I am a villain: yet I lie, I am not. [fec191] Fool, of thyself speak well: fool, do not flatter. [fec192] My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, And every tongue brings in a several tale, And every tale condemns me for a villain. ·fec195· Perjury, perjury, in the high’st degree; [fec196] Murder, stern murder, in the direst degree; All several sins, all used in each degree, Throng to the bar, crying all ‘Guilty! guilty!’ [fec199] I shall despair. There is no creature loves me; [fec200] And if I die, no soul shall pity me: Nay, wherefore should they, since that I myself [fec202] Find in myself no pity to myself? Methought the souls of all that I had murder’d [fec204] Came to my tent, and every one did threat [fec205] To-morrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard.
Text from Project Gutenberg, public domain in the United States.