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:

True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings; 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?
Su. My heart is ten times lighter than my looks.
K. Rich. My lord of Norfolk,-
Nor.

Here, most gracious liege. K. Rich. Norfolk, we must have knocks; Ha! must we not?

N. We must both give and take, my loving lord. 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 that.Who hath descried the number of the traitors? Nor. Six or seven thousand is their utmost

power.

K. Ric. Why, our battalia trebles that account: Besides, 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 directions: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 stanGive me some ink and paper in my tent; [dard.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 Sir Walter Herbert, stay with me: you, 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? Blun. 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, [him, Sweet Blunt, make some goodmeans to speakwith And give him from me this most needful note. Blun. Upon my life, my lord, I'll undertake it; And so, heaven give you quiet rest to-night! Rich. Good night,good captain Blunt. Come, gentlemen,

Rat. My lord?

K. Rich. Saw'st thou the melancholy lord Northumberland?

Rat. Thomas the earl of Surrey, and himself, Much about cock-shuts time, from troop to troop Wentthrough the army, cheering up the soldiers.

K. Rich. Iam satisfied. Give me a bowl of wine: I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have.So, 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 ! Rich. All comfort that the dark night can Be to thy person, noble father-in-law ! afford, Tell me, how fares our loving mother?

Stan. I,by attorney, bless thee from thymother, 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: 1 A watch-light marked in sections. 3 Twilight. 2 Wood of the lances.

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 time
Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love,
And ample interchange of sweet discourse,
Which so long-sunder'd friends should dwell

upon:

Heaven give us leisure for these friendly rites!
Once more, adieu:-Be valiant, and speed well.
Rich. Good lords, conduct him to his regiment;
I'll strive, with troubled thoughts, to take a nap;
Lest leaden slumber peise1 me down to-morrow,
When I should mount with wings of victory:
Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.
[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. [To King Richard.] Let me sit heavy
on thy soul to-morrow!

Think, how thou stab'dst me in my prime of youth
At Tewksbury; Despair, therefore, and die!
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. [To King Richard.]When I was mortal,
my anointed body

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.
[To Richmond.] Virtuous and holy, be thou

conqueror !

Harry, that prophesied thou shouldst be king, Doth comfort thee in thy sleep; Live, and flourish!

The Ghost of Clarence rises.

Ghost. [To King Richard.] Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow!

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,
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!
The Ghosts of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan, rise.
Riv. [To King Richard.] Let me sit heavy on
thy soul to-morrow.

Rivers, that died at Pomfret! Despair, and die! Grey. [To King Richard.] Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair!

Vau. [To K. Richard. ] Think upon Vaughan; and, with guilty fear, 1 Weigh.

Let fall thy lance! Despair, and die!-
All. [To Richmond. ] Awake! and think, our
wrongs in Richard's bosom

Will conquer him;-Awake, and win the day!
The Ghost of Hastings rises.
Ghost. [To King Richard.] Bloody and guilty,
guiltily awake;

awake!

And in a bloody battle end thy days!
Think on lord Hastings; and despair, and die !--
[To Richmond.] Quiet untroubled soul, awake,
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 unhappy sons do bid thee flourish.

The Ghost of Queen Anne rises.

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

The Ghost of Buckingham rises. Ghost. [To King Richard.] The first was I, The last was I, that felt thy tyranny; that help'd thee to the crown; 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 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 I.
Is there a murderer here? No;-Yes; I am:
Then fly,- What, from myself? Great reason:
Lest I revenge. What? Myself on myself? [Why?
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, stern murder, in the dir'st degree;
All several sins, all us'd 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:-
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 Rateliff.

Rat. My lord,

K. Rich, Who's there? [cock Rat. Ratcliff, my lord; 'tis I. The early village Hath 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 think'st thou? will our friends prove all Rat. No doubt, my lord. K. Rich. Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,R. Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows, 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, Arm'd 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. R. 'Cry mercy, lords, and watchful gentlemen, 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.

R. Why, then 'tis time to arm, and give direc

tion.- [He advances to the Troops.
More than I have said, loving countrymen,
The leisure and enforcement of the time
Forbids to dwell on: 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 rais'd 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;

A base 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 vouchsafe to ward 1 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 2 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 cheer-
fully;

God, and saint George! Richmond, and victory! [Exeunt. Re-enter King Richard, Ratcliff, Attendants, and Forces.

K. Rich. What said Northumberland, as touching Richmond?

Rat. That he was never trained up in arms. K. Rich. He said the truth: And what said Surrey, then? [purpose. Rat. He smil'd and said, the better for our K. Rich. He was i' the right; and so, indeed, it is. Tell the clock there.-Give me a calendar.[Clock strikes. Who saw the sun to-day? Rat.

Not I, my lord. K. Rich. Then he disdains to shine; for, by

the book,

He should have brav'd the east an hour ago:

A black day will it be to somebody.--

Ratcliff,

Rat. My lord?

The sky doth frown and lour upon our army. K. Rich. The sun will not be seen to-day; 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 self-same

heaven,

That frowns on me, looks sadly upon him.
Enter Norfolk.

Nor. Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts in
the field.
[horse;
K. Rich. Come, bustle, bustle;-Caparison my
Call up lord Stanley, bid him bring his power;-
I will lead forth my soldiers to the plain,
And thus my battle shall be order'd.
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 ourself will follow
In the main battle; whosepuissance on either side
Shall be well winged; with our chicfest horse,
This, and saint George to boot!-What think'st
thou, Norfolk?
2 Requite

1 Guard.

8 Atonement.

Nor. A good direction, warlike sovereign.This found I on my tent this morning.

[Giving a Scroll.
K. R. [Reads.] Jocky 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,
Devis'd 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;
What shall I say more than I have inferr'd?
Remember whom you are to cope withal;
A sort 2 of vagabonds, rascals, and run-aways,
A scum of Bretagnes, and base lackey peasants,
Whom their o'er-cloyed country vomits forth
To desperate ventures and assur'd destruction.
You sleeping safe, they bring you to unrest;
You having lands, and bless'd with beauteous
wives,

They would restrain the one, disdain 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 over-weening 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 them-
selves:

If we be conquer'd, let men conquer us,
And not these bastard Bretagnes; whom our
fathers
[thump'd,
Have in their own land beaten, bobb'd, and
And, on record, left them the heirs of shame.
Shall these enjoy our lands? lie with our wives?
Ravish our daughters?-Hark, I hear their
drum.
[Drum afar off.
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 a Messenger.

What says lord Stanley? will he bring his power?
Mess. My lord, he doth deny to come."
K. R. Off instantly with his son George's head.
Nor. My lord, the enemy is pass'd the marsh;
After the battle let George Stanley die.

K. Rich. 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 FIELD. Alarum: Excursions. Enter Norfolk, and Forces; to him Catesby.

Cate. Rescue, my lord of Norfolk, rescue,

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!

Alarum. Enter King Richard.

K. Rich. A horse! a horse! my kingdom for a horse!

C. Withdraw, my lord, I'll help you to a horse. K. Rich, 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! [Exeunt. Alarums. Enter King Richard and Richmond; and exeunt fighting. Retreat, and Flourish. Then enter Richmond, Stanley bearing the Crown, with divers other Lords, and Forces. Richm. God, and your arms, be prais'd, victorious friends;

The day is ours, the bloody dog is dead.

Stan. Courageous Richmond, well hast thou

acquit thee!

Lo, here, this long-usurp'd royalty,
From the dead temples of this bloody wretch
Have I pluck'd off, to grace thy brows withal;
Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it.

R. Great God of heaven, say, amen, to all:-
But, tell me first, is young George Stanley living?
Stan. He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester
town,
[us.
Whither, if it please you, we may now withdraw
Richm. What men of name are slain on either
side?
[Ferrers,
Stan. John duke of Norfolk, Walter lord
Sir Robert Brackenbury, and Sir William
Brandon.
[births.
Richm. Inter their bodies as becomes their
Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled,
That in submission will return to us;
And, then, as we have ta'en the sacrament,
We will unite the white rose with the red:-
Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction,
That long hath frown'd upon their enmity!-
What traitor hears me, and says not-Amen?
England hath long been mad, and scarr'd herself;
The brother blindly shed the brother's blood,
The father rashly slaughter'd his own son,
The son, compell'd, 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 heaven's fair ordinance conjoin together!
And let their heirs, (God, if thy will be so,)
Enrich the time to come with smooth-fac'd 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 Englandweep 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 stopp'd, peace lives again; That she may long live here, God say-Amen. [Exeunt.