Speeches (Lines) for Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement in "History of Richard III"

Queen Elizabeth. Stay, yet look back with me unto the Tower.
Pity, you ancient stones, those tender babes
Whom envy hath immured within your walls!
Rough cradle for such little pretty ones!
Rude ragged nurse, old sullen playfellow
For tender princes, use my babies well!
So foolish sorrow bids your stones farewell.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Stand all apart Cousin of Buckingham!

Duke of Buckingham. My gracious sovereign?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Give me thy hand.
[Here he ascendeth his throne]
Thus high, by thy advice
And thy assistance, is King Richard seated;
But shall we wear these honours for a day?
Or shall they last, and we rejoice in them?

Duke of Buckingham. Still live they and for ever may they last!

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. O Buckingham, now do I play the touch,
To try if thou be current gold indeed
Young Edward lives: think now what I would say.

Duke of Buckingham. Say on, my loving lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Why, Buckingham, I say, I would be king,

Duke of Buckingham. Why, so you are, my thrice renowned liege.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Ha! am I king? 'tis so: but Edward lives.

Duke of Buckingham. True, noble prince.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. O bitter consequence,
That Edward still should live! 'True, noble prince!'
Cousin, thou wert not wont to be so dull:
Shall I be plain? I wish the bastards dead;
And I would have it suddenly perform'd.
What sayest thou? speak suddenly; be brief.

Duke of Buckingham. Your grace may do your pleasure.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Tut, tut, thou art all ice, thy kindness freezeth:
Say, have I thy consent that they shall die?

Sir William Catesby. [Aside to a stander by]
The king is angry: see, he bites the lip.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. I will converse with iron-witted fools
And unrespective boys: none are for me
That look into me with considerate eyes:
High-reaching Buckingham grows circumspect.
Boy!

Page. My lord?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Know'st thou not any whom corrupting gold
Would tempt unto a close exploit of death?

Page. My lord, I know a discontented gentleman,
Whose humble means match not his haughty mind:
Gold were as good as twenty orators,
And will, no doubt, tempt him to any thing.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. What is his name?

Page. His name, my lord, is Tyrrel.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. I partly know the man: go, call him hither.
[Exit Page]
The deep-revolving witty Buckingham
No more shall be the neighbour to my counsel:
Hath he so long held out with me untired,
And stops he now for breath?
[Enter STANLEY]
How now! what news with you?

Sir William Stanley. My lord, I hear the Marquis Dorset's fled
To Richmond, in those parts beyond the sea
Where he abides.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Catesby!

Sir William Catesby. My lord?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Rumour it abroad
That Anne, my wife, is sick and like to die:
I will take order for her keeping close.
Inquire me out some mean-born gentleman,
Whom I will marry straight to Clarence' daughter:
The boy is foolish, and I fear not him.
Look, how thou dream'st! I say again, give out
That Anne my wife is sick and like to die:
About it; for it stands me much upon,
To stop all hopes whose growth may damage me.
[Exit CATESBY]
I must be married to my brother's daughter,
Or else my kingdom stands on brittle glass.
Murder her brothers, and then marry her!
Uncertain way of gain! But I am in
So far in blood that sin will pluck on sin:
Tear-falling pity dwells not in this eye.
[Re-enter Page, with TYRREL]
Is thy name Tyrrel?

Sir James Tyrrel. James Tyrrel, and your most obedient subject.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Art thou, indeed?

Sir James Tyrrel. Prove me, my gracious sovereign.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Darest thou resolve to kill a friend of mine?

Sir James Tyrrel. Ay, my lord;
But I had rather kill two enemies.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Why, there thou hast it: two deep enemies,
Foes to my rest and my sweet sleep's disturbers
Are they that I would have thee deal upon:
Tyrrel, I mean those bastards in the Tower.

Sir James Tyrrel. Let me have open means to come to them,
And soon I'll rid you from the fear of them.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Thou sing'st sweet music. Hark, come hither, Tyrrel
Go, by this token: rise, and lend thine ear:
[Whispers]
There is no more but so: say it is done,
And I will love thee, and prefer thee too.

Sir James Tyrrel. 'Tis done, my gracious lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Shall we hear from thee, Tyrrel, ere we sleep?

Duke of Buckingham. My Lord, I have consider'd in my mind. The late demand that you did sound me in.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Well, let that pass. Dorset is fled to Richmond.

Duke of Buckingham. I hear that news, my lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Stanley, he is your wife's son well, look to it.

Duke of Buckingham. My lord, I claim your gift, my due by promise,
For which your honour and your faith is pawn'd;
The earldom of Hereford and the moveables
The which you promised I should possess.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Stanley, look to your wife; if she convey
Letters to Richmond, you shall answer it.

Duke of Buckingham. What says your highness to my just demand?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. As I remember, Henry the Sixth
Did prophesy that Richmond should be king,
When Richmond was a little peevish boy.
A king, perhaps, perhaps,--

Duke of Buckingham. My lord!

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. How chance the prophet could not at that time
Have told me, I being by, that I should kill him?

Duke of Buckingham. My lord, your promise for the earldom,--

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Richmond! When last I was at Exeter,
The mayor in courtesy show'd me the castle,
And call'd it Rougemont: at which name I started,
Because a bard of Ireland told me once
I should not live long after I saw Richmond.

Duke of Buckingham. My Lord!

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Ay, what's o'clock?

Duke of Buckingham. I am thus bold to put your grace in mind
Of what you promised me.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Well, but what's o'clock?

Duke of Buckingham. Upon the stroke of ten.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Well, let it strike.

Duke of Buckingham. Why let it strike?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Because that, like a Jack, thou keep'st the stroke
Betwixt thy begging and my meditation.
I am not in the giving vein to-day.

Duke of Buckingham. Why, then resolve me whether you will or no.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Tut, tut,
Thou troublest me; am not in the vein.

Sir James Tyrrel. The tyrannous and bloody deed is done.
The most arch of piteous massacre
That ever yet this land was guilty of.
Dighton and Forrest, whom I did suborn
To do this ruthless piece of butchery,
Although they were flesh'd villains, bloody dogs,
Melting with tenderness and kind compassion
Wept like two children in their deaths' sad stories.
'Lo, thus' quoth Dighton, 'lay those tender babes:'
'Thus, thus,' quoth Forrest, 'girdling one another
Within their innocent alabaster arms:
Their lips were four red roses on a stalk,
Which in their summer beauty kiss'd each other.
A book of prayers on their pillow lay;
Which once,' quoth Forrest, 'almost changed my mind;
But O! the devil'--there the villain stopp'd
Whilst Dighton thus told on: 'We smothered
The most replenished sweet work of nature,
That from the prime creation e'er she framed.'
Thus both are gone with conscience and remorse;
They could not speak; and so I left them both,
To bring this tidings to the bloody king.
And here he comes.
[Enter KING RICHARD III]
All hail, my sovereign liege!

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Kind Tyrrel, am I happy in thy news?

Sir James Tyrrel. If to have done the thing you gave in charge
Beget your happiness, be happy then,
For it is done, my lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. But didst thou see them dead?

Sir James Tyrrel. I did, my lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. And buried, gentle Tyrrel?

Sir James Tyrrel. The chaplain of the Tower hath buried them;
But how or in what place I do not know.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Come to me, Tyrrel, soon at after supper,
And thou shalt tell the process of their death.
Meantime, but think how I may do thee good,
And be inheritor of thy desire.
Farewell till soon.
[Exit TYRREL]
The son of Clarence have I pent up close;
His daughter meanly have I match'd in marriage;
The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham's bosom,
And Anne my wife hath bid the world good night.
Now, for I know the Breton Richmond aims
At young Elizabeth, my brother's daughter,
And, by that knot, looks proudly o'er the crown,
To her I go, a jolly thriving wooer.

Sir William Catesby. My lord!

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Good news or bad, that thou comest in so bluntly?

Sir William Catesby. Bad news, my lord: Ely is fled to Richmond;
And Buckingham, back'd with the hardy Welshmen,
Is in the field, and still his power increaseth.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Ely with Richmond troubles me more near
Than Buckingham and his rash-levied army.
Come, I have heard that fearful commenting
Is leaden servitor to dull delay;
Delay leads impotent and snail-paced beggary
Then fiery expedition be my wing,
Jove's Mercury, and herald for a king!
Come, muster men: my counsel is my shield;
We must be brief when traitors brave the field.

Duchess of York. If so, then be not tongue-tied: go with me.
And in the breath of bitter words let's smother
My damned son, which thy two sweet sons smother'd.
I hear his drum: be copious in exclaims.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Who intercepts my expedition?

Queen Elizabeth. Where is kind Hastings, Rivers, Vaughan, Grey?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. A flourish, trumpets! strike alarum, drums!
Let not the heavens hear these tell-tale women
Rail on the Lord's enointed: strike, I say!
[Flourish. Alarums]
Either be patient, and entreat me fair,
Or with the clamorous report of war
Thus will I drown your exclamations.

Duchess of York. Art thou my son?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Ay, I thank God, my father, and yourself.

Duchess of York. Then patiently hear my impatience.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Madam, I have a touch of your condition,
Which cannot brook the accent of reproof.

Duchess of York. O, let me speak!

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Do then: but I'll not hear.

Duchess of York. I will be mild and gentle in my speech.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. And brief, good mother; for I am in haste.

Duchess of York. Art thou so hasty? I have stay'd for thee,
God knows, in anguish, pain and agony.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. And came I not at last to comfort you?

Duchess of York. No, by the holy rood, thou know'st it well,
Thou camest on earth to make the earth my hell.
A grievous burthen was thy birth to me;
Tetchy and wayward was thy infancy;
Thy school-days frightful, desperate, wild, and furious,
Thy prime of manhood daring, bold, and venturous,
Thy age confirm'd, proud, subdued, bloody,
treacherous,
More mild, but yet more harmful, kind in hatred:
What comfortable hour canst thou name,
That ever graced me in thy company?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Faith, none, but Humphrey Hour, that call'd
your grace
To breakfast once forth of my company.
If I be so disgracious in your sight,
Let me march on, and not offend your grace.
Strike the drum.

Duchess of York. I prithee, hear me speak.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. You speak too bitterly.

Duchess of York. Hear me a word;
For I shall never speak to thee again.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. So.

Queen Elizabeth. Though far more cause, yet much less spirit to curse
Abides in me; I say amen to all.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Stay, madam; I must speak a word with you.

Queen Elizabeth. I have no more sons of the royal blood
For thee to murder: for my daughters, Richard,
They shall be praying nuns, not weeping queens;
And therefore level not to hit their lives.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. You have a daughter call'd Elizabeth,
Virtuous and fair, royal and gracious.

Queen Elizabeth. And must she die for this? O, let her live,
And I'll corrupt her manners, stain her beauty;
Slander myself as false to Edward's bed;
Throw over her the veil of infamy:
So she may live unscarr'd of bleeding slaughter,
I will confess she was not Edward's daughter.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Wrong not her birth, she is of royal blood.

Queen Elizabeth. To save her life, I'll say she is not so.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Her life is only safest in her birth.

Queen Elizabeth. And only in that safety died her brothers.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Lo, at their births good stars were opposite.

Queen Elizabeth. No, to their lives bad friends were contrary.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. All unavoided is the doom of destiny.

Queen Elizabeth. True, when avoided grace makes destiny:
My babes were destined to a fairer death,
If grace had bless'd thee with a fairer life.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. You speak as if that I had slain my cousins.

Queen Elizabeth. Cousins, indeed; and by their uncle cozen'd
Of comfort, kingdom, kindred, freedom, life.
Whose hand soever lanced their tender hearts,
Thy head, all indirectly, gave direction:
No doubt the murderous knife was dull and blunt
Till it was whetted on thy stone-hard heart,
To revel in the entrails of my lambs.
But that still use of grief makes wild grief tame,
My tongue should to thy ears not name my boys
Till that my nails were anchor'd in thine eyes;
And I, in such a desperate bay of death,
Like a poor bark, of sails and tackling reft,
Rush all to pieces on thy rocky bosom.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Madam, so thrive I in my enterprise
And dangerous success of bloody wars,
As I intend more good to you and yours,
Than ever you or yours were by me wrong'd!

Queen Elizabeth. What good is cover'd with the face of heaven,
To be discover'd, that can do me good?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. The advancement of your children, gentle lady.

Queen Elizabeth. Up to some scaffold, there to lose their heads?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. No, to the dignity and height of honour
The high imperial type of this earth's glory.

Queen Elizabeth. Flatter my sorrows with report of it;
Tell me what state, what dignity, what honour,
Canst thou demise to any child of mine?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Even all I have; yea, and myself and all,
Will I withal endow a child of thine;
So in the Lethe of thy angry soul
Thou drown the sad remembrance of those wrongs
Which thou supposest I have done to thee.

Queen Elizabeth. Be brief, lest that be process of thy kindness
Last longer telling than thy kindness' date.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Then know, that from my soul I love thy daughter.

Queen Elizabeth. My daughter's mother thinks it with her soul.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. What do you think?

Queen Elizabeth. That thou dost love my daughter from thy soul:
So from thy soul's love didst thou love her brothers;
And from my heart's love I do thank thee for it.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Be not so hasty to confound my meaning:
I mean, that with my soul I love thy daughter,
And mean to make her queen of England.

Queen Elizabeth. Say then, who dost thou mean shall be her king?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Even he that makes her queen who should be else?

Queen Elizabeth. What, thou?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. I, even I: what think you of it, madam?

Queen Elizabeth. How canst thou woo her?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. That would I learn of you,
As one that are best acquainted with her humour.

Queen Elizabeth. And wilt thou learn of me?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Madam, with all my heart.

Queen Elizabeth. Send to her, by the man that slew her brothers,
A pair of bleeding-hearts; thereon engrave
Edward and York; then haply she will weep:
Therefore present to her--as sometime Margaret
Did to thy father, steep'd in Rutland's blood,--
A handkerchief; which, say to her, did drain
The purple sap from her sweet brother's body
And bid her dry her weeping eyes therewith.
If this inducement force her not to love,
Send her a story of thy noble acts;
Tell her thou madest away her uncle Clarence,
Her uncle Rivers; yea, and, for her sake,
Madest quick conveyance with her good aunt Anne.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Come, come, you mock me; this is not the way
To win our daughter.

Queen Elizabeth. There is no other way
Unless thou couldst put on some other shape,
And not be Richard that hath done all this.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Say that I did all this for love of her.

Queen Elizabeth. Nay, then indeed she cannot choose but hate thee,
Having bought love with such a bloody spoil.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Look, what is done cannot be now amended:
Men shall deal unadvisedly sometimes,
Which after hours give leisure to repent.
If I did take the kingdom from your sons,
To make amends, Ill give it to your daughter.
If I have kill'd the issue of your womb,
To quicken your increase, I will beget
Mine issue of your blood upon your daughter
A grandam's name is little less in love
Than is the doting title of a mother;
They are as children but one step below,
Even of your mettle, of your very blood;
Of an one pain, save for a night of groans
Endured of her, for whom you bid like sorrow.
Your children were vexation to your youth,
But mine shall be a comfort to your age.
The loss you have is but a son being king,
And by that loss your daughter is made queen.
I cannot make you what amends I would,
Therefore accept such kindness as I can.
Dorset your son, that with a fearful soul
Leads discontented steps in foreign soil,
This fair alliance quickly shall call home
To high promotions and great dignity:
The king, that calls your beauteous daughter wife.
Familiarly shall call thy Dorset brother;
Again shall you be mother to a king,
And all the ruins of distressful times
Repair'd with double riches of content.
What! we have many goodly days to see:
The liquid drops of tears that you have shed
Shall come again, transform'd to orient pearl,
Advantaging their loan with interest
Of ten times double gain of happiness.
Go, then my mother, to thy daughter go
Make bold her bashful years with your experience;
Prepare her ears to hear a wooer's tale
Put in her tender heart the aspiring flame
Of golden sovereignty; acquaint the princess
With the sweet silent hours of marriage joys
And when this arm of mine hath chastised
The petty rebel, dull-brain'd Buckingham,
Bound with triumphant garlands will I come
And lead thy daughter to a conqueror's bed;
To whom I will retail my conquest won,
And she shall be sole victress, Caesar's Caesar.

Queen Elizabeth. What were I best to say? her father's brother
Would be her lord? or shall I say, her uncle?
Or, he that slew her brothers and her uncles?
Under what title shall I woo for thee,
That God, the law, my honour and her love,
Can make seem pleasing to her tender years?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Infer fair England's peace by this alliance.

Queen Elizabeth. Which she shall purchase with still lasting war.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Say that the king, which may command, entreats.

Queen Elizabeth. That at her hands which the king's King forbids.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Say, she shall be a high and mighty queen.

Queen Elizabeth. To wail the tide, as her mother doth.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Say, I will love her everlastingly.

Queen Elizabeth. But how long shall that title 'ever' last?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Sweetly in force unto her fair life's end.

Queen Elizabeth. But how long fairly shall her sweet lie last?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. So long as heaven and nature lengthens it.

Queen Elizabeth. So long as hell and Richard likes of it.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Say, I, her sovereign, am her subject love.

Queen Elizabeth. But she, your subject, loathes such sovereignty.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Be eloquent in my behalf to her.

Queen Elizabeth. An honest tale speeds best being plainly told.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Then in plain terms tell her my loving tale.

Queen Elizabeth. Plain and not honest is too harsh a style.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Your reasons are too shallow and too quick.

Queen Elizabeth. O no, my reasons are too deep and dead;
Too deep and dead, poor infants, in their grave.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Harp not on that string, madam; that is past.

Queen Elizabeth. Harp on it still shall I till heart-strings break.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Now, by my George, my garter, and my crown,--

Queen Elizabeth. Profaned, dishonour'd, and the third usurp'd.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. I swear--

Queen Elizabeth. By nothing; for this is no oath:
The George, profaned, hath lost his holy honour;
The garter, blemish'd, pawn'd his knightly virtue;
The crown, usurp'd, disgraced his kingly glory.
if something thou wilt swear to be believed,
Swear then by something that thou hast not wrong'd.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Now, by the world--

Queen Elizabeth. 'Tis full of thy foul wrongs.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. My father's death--

Queen Elizabeth. Thy life hath that dishonour'd.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Then, by myself--

Queen Elizabeth. Thyself thyself misusest.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Why then, by God--

Queen Elizabeth. God's wrong is most of all.
If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him,
The unity the king thy brother made
Had not been broken, nor my brother slain:
If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by Him,
The imperial metal, circling now thy brow,
Had graced the tender temples of my child,
And both the princes had been breathing here,
Which now, two tender playfellows to dust,
Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms.
What canst thou swear by now?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. The time to come.

Queen Elizabeth. That thou hast wronged in the time o'erpast;
For I myself have many tears to wash
Hereafter time, for time past wrong'd by thee.
The children live, whose parents thou hast
slaughter'd,
Ungovern'd youth, to wail it in their age;
The parents live, whose children thou hast butcher'd,
Old wither'd plants, to wail it with their age.
Swear not by time to come; for that thou hast
Misused ere used, by time misused o'erpast.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. As I intend to prosper and repent,
So thrive I in my dangerous attempt
Of hostile arms! myself myself confound!
Heaven and fortune bar me happy hours!
Day, yield me not thy light; nor, night, thy rest!
Be opposite all planets of good luck
To my proceedings, if, with pure heart's love,
Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts,
I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter!
In her consists my happiness and thine;
Without her, follows to this land and me,
To thee, herself, and many a Christian soul,
Death, desolation, ruin and decay:
It cannot be avoided but by this;
It will not be avoided but by this.
Therefore, good mother,--I must can you so--
Be the attorney of my love to her:
Plead what I will be, not what I have been;
Not my deserts, but what I will deserve:
Urge the necessity and state of times,
And be not peevish-fond in great designs.

Queen Elizabeth. Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Ay, if the devil tempt thee to do good.

Queen Elizabeth. Shall I forget myself to be myself?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Ay, if yourself's remembrance wrong yourself.

Queen Elizabeth. But thou didst kill my children.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. But in your daughter's womb I bury them:
Where in that nest of spicery they shall breed
Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.

Queen Elizabeth. Shall I go win my daughter to thy will?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. And be a happy mother by the deed.

Queen Elizabeth. I go. Write to me very shortly.
And you shall understand from me her mind.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Bear her my true love's kiss; and so, farewell.
[Exit QUEEN ELIZABETH]
Relenting fool, and shallow, changing woman!
[Enter RATCLIFF; CATESBY following]
How now! what news?

Sir Richard Ratcliff. My gracious sovereign, on the western coast
Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore
Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends,
Unarm'd, and unresolved to beat them back:
'Tis thought that Richmond is their admiral;
And there they hull, expecting but the aid
Of Buckingham to welcome them ashore.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Some light-foot friend post to the Duke of Norfolk:
Ratcliff, thyself, or Catesby; where is he?

Sir William Catesby. Here, my lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Fly to the duke:
[To RATCLIFF]
Post thou to Salisbury
When thou comest thither--
[To CATESBY]
Dull, unmindful villain,
Why stand'st thou still, and go'st not to the duke?

Sir William Catesby. First, mighty sovereign, let me know your mind,
What from your grace I shall deliver to him.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. O, true, good Catesby: bid him levy straight
The greatest strength and power he can make,
And meet me presently at Salisbury.

Sir Richard Ratcliff. What is't your highness' pleasure I shall do at
Salisbury?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Why, what wouldst thou do there before I go?

Sir Richard Ratcliff. Your highness told me I should post before.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. My mind is changed, sir, my mind is changed.
[Enter STANLEY]
How now, what news with you?

Sir William Stanley. None good, my lord, to please you with the hearing;
Nor none so bad, but it may well be told.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Hoyday, a riddle! neither good nor bad!
Why dost thou run so many mile about,
When thou mayst tell thy tale a nearer way?
Once more, what news?

Sir William Stanley. Richmond is on the seas.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. There let him sink, and be the seas on him!
White-liver'd runagate, what doth he there?

Sir William Stanley. I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Well, sir, as you guess, as you guess?

Sir William Stanley. Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Ely,
He makes for England, there to claim the crown.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Is the chair empty? is the sword unsway'd?
Is the king dead? the empire unpossess'd?
What heir of York is there alive but we?
And who is England's king but great York's heir?
Then, tell me, what doth he upon the sea?

Sir William Stanley. Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Unless for that he comes to be your liege,
You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes.
Thou wilt revolt, and fly to him, I fear.

Sir William Stanley. No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me not.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Where is thy power, then, to beat him back?
Where are thy tenants and thy followers?
Are they not now upon the western shore.
Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships!

Sir William Stanley. No, my good lord, my friends are in the north.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Cold friends to Richard: what do they in the north,
When they should serve their sovereign in the west?

Sir William Stanley. They have not been commanded, mighty sovereign:
Please it your majesty to give me leave,
I'll muster up my friends, and meet your grace
Where and what time your majesty shall please.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Ay, ay. thou wouldst be gone to join with Richmond:
I will not trust you, sir.

Sir William Stanley. Most mighty sovereign,
You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful:
I never was nor never will be false.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Well,
Go muster men; but, hear you, leave behind
Your son, George Stanley: look your faith be firm.
Or else his head's assurance is but frail.

Third Messenger. My lord, the army of the Duke of Buckingham--

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Out on you, owls! nothing but songs of death?
[He striketh him]
Take that, until thou bring me better news.

Third Messenger. The news I have to tell your majesty
Is, that by sudden floods and fall of waters,
Buckingham's army is dispersed and scatter'd;
And he himself wander'd away alone,
No man knows whither.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. I cry thee 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?

Fourth Messenger. Sir Thomas Lovel and Lord Marquis Dorset,
'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms.
Yet this good comfort bring I to your grace,
The Breton navy is dispersed by tempest:
Richmond, in Yorkshire, sent out a boat
Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks
If they were his assistants, yea or no;
Who answer'd him, they came from Buckingham.
Upon his party: he, mistrusting them,
Hoisted sail and made away for Brittany.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. 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.

Sir William Catesby. My liege, the Duke of Buckingham is taken;
That is the best news: that the Earl of Richmond
Is with a mighty power landed at Milford,
Is colder tidings, yet they must be told.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. 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.

Richmond (Henry VII). 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.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Here pitch our tents, even here in Bosworth field.
My Lord of Surrey, why look you so sad?

Earl of Surrey. My heart is ten times lighter than my looks.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. My Lord of Norfolk,--

Duke of Norfolk. Here, most gracious liege.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Norfolk, we must have knocks; ha! must we not?

Duke of Norfolk. We must both give and take, my gracious lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Up with my tent there! here will I lie tonight;
But where to-morrow? Well, all's one for that.
Who hath descried the number of the foe?

Duke of Norfolk. Six or seven thousand is their utmost power.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Why, our battalion trebles that account:
Besides, the king's name is a tower of strength,
Which they upon the adverse party want.
Up with my tent there! Valiant gentlemen,
Let us survey the vantage of the field
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 others. Some of
the Soldiers pitch RICHMOND's tent]

Richmond (Henry VII). Good night, good Captain Blunt. Come gentlemen,
Let us consult upon to-morrow's business
In to our tent; the air is raw and cold.
[They withdraw into the tent]
[Enter, to his tent, KING RICHARD III, NORFOLK,]
RATCLIFF, CATESBY, and others]

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. What is't o'clock?

Sir William Catesby. It's supper-time, my lord;
It's nine o'clock.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. 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?

Sir William Catesby. If is, my liege; and all things are in readiness.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge;
Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels.

Duke of Norfolk. I go, my lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk.

Duke of Norfolk. I warrant you, my lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Catesby!

Sir William Catesby. My lord?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Send out a pursuivant at arms
To Stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power
Before sunrising, lest his son George fall
Into the blind cave of eternal night.
[Exit CATESBY]
Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a watch.
Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow.
Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy.
Ratcliff!

Sir Richard Ratcliff. My lord?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Saw'st thou the melancholy Lord Northumberland?

Sir Richard Ratcliff. Thomas the Earl of Surrey, and himself,
Much about cock-shut time, from troop to troop
Went through the army, cheering up the soldiers.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. So, I am satisfied. Give me a bowl of wine:
I have not that alacrity of spirit,
Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have.
Set it down. Is ink and paper ready?

Sir Richard Ratcliff. It is, my lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Bid my guard watch; leave me.
Ratcliff, about the mid of night come to my tent
And help to arm me. Leave me, I say.
[Exeunt RATCLIFF and the other Attendants]
[Enter DERBY to RICHMOND in his tent, Lords and]
others attending]

Duke of Buckingham. [To KING RICHARD III]
The last 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 dismay'd:
God and good angel fight on Richmond's side;
And Richard falls in height of all his pride.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. 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 good
That I myself have done unto myself?
O, no! alas, I rather hate myself
For 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 high'st degree
Murder, stem 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 shall 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.

Sir Richard Ratcliff. My lord!

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. 'Zounds! who is there?

Sir Richard Ratcliff. Ratcliff, my lord; 'tis I. The early village-cock
Hath twice done salutation to the morn;
Your friends are up, and buckle on their armour.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. O Ratcliff, I have dream'd a fearful dream!
What thinkest thou, will our friends prove all true?

Sir Richard Ratcliff. No doubt, my lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. O Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,--

Sir Richard Ratcliff. Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. 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 see if any mean to shrink from me.

Richmond (Henry VII). 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 time
Forbids 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-rear'd bulwarks, stand before our faces;
Richard except, those whom we fight against
Had 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 establish'd;
One that made means to come by what he hath,
And slaughter'd those that were the means to help him;
Abase foul stone, made precious by the foil
Of 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 quit 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 attempt
Shall be this cold corpse on the earth's cold face;
But if I thrive, the gain of my attempt
The least of you shall share his part thereof.
Sound drums and trumpets boldly and cheerfully;
God and Saint George! Richmond and victory!
[Exeunt]
[Re-enter KING RICHARD, RATCLIFF, Attendants]
and Forces]

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. What said Northumberland as touching Richmond?

Sir Richard Ratcliff. That he was never trained up in arms.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. He said the truth: and what said Surrey then?

Sir Richard Ratcliff. He smiled and said 'The better for our purpose.'

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. He was in the right; and so indeed it is.
[Clock striketh]
Ten the clock there. Give me a calendar.
Who saw the sun to-day?

Sir Richard Ratcliff. Not I, my lord.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Then he disdains to shine; for by the book
He should have braved the east an hour ago
A black day will it be to somebody. Ratcliff!

Sir Richard Ratcliff. My lord?

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. The sun will not be seen to-day;
The sky doth frown and lour upon our army.
I would these dewy tears were from the ground.
Not shine to-day! Why, what is that to me
More than to Richmond? for the selfsame heaven
That frowns on me looks sadly upon him.

Duke of Norfolk. Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts in the field.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. 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 follow
In the main battle, whose puissance on either side
Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse.
This, and Saint George to boot! What think'st thou, Norfolk?

Duke of Norfolk. A good direction, warlike sovereign.
This found I on my tent this morning.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. [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:
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't 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 inferr'd?
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 forth
To desperate ventures and assured destruction.
You sleeping safe, they bring to you unrest;
You having lands, and blest with beauteous wives,
They would restrain the one, distain the other.
And who doth lead them but a paltry fellow,
Long kept in Bretagne at our mother's cost?
A milk-sop, one that never in his life
Felt 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 famish'd beggars, weary of their lives;
Who, but for dreaming on this fond exploit,
For want of means, poor rats, had hang'd themselves:
If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us,
And not these bastard Bretons; whom our fathers
Have in their own land beaten, bobb'd, and thump'd,
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 yoemen!
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 a Messenger]
What says Lord Stanley? will he bring his power?

Messenger. My lord, he doth deny to come.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. Off with his son George's head!

Duke of Norfolk. My lord, the enemy is past the marsh
After the battle let George Stanley die.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. 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.

Sir William 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!

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!

Sir William Catesby. Withdraw, my lord; I'll help you to a horse.

Richard - Duke of Gloucester - Richard III after enthronement. 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 to-day instead of him.
A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!