Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of
blame. [Exeunt Buckingham, &c.
SCENE II-Plain near Tamworth.
Enter, with drum and colours, RICHMOND, Ox-
FORD, Sir JAMES BLUNT, Sir WALTER HERBERT,
and others, with Forces marching.
Rickm. 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,
Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his
trough

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.

Oxf. Every man's conscience is a thousand To fight against that bloody homicide.

[swords, Herb. I doubt not, but his friends will turn to us. 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?

Sur. 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?

Nor. 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. Rich. 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 direction :-
Let's want no discipline, make no delay;
For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day.
Enter, on the other side of the field, RICHMOND,
Sir William BRANDON, OXFORD, and other
Lords. Some of the Soldiers pitch Richmond's

lent.

[Exeunt.

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 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 bis regiment ;-
Good captain Blunt, bear mv 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, inake some good means to speak with
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.

[him,

[They withdraw into the tent.

Enter, to his Tent, King RICHARD, NORFOLK, RATCLIFF, and CATESBY.

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

Rat. My lord?

[thumberland?

K. Rich. Saw'st thou the melancholy lord NorRat. Thomas, the earl of Surrey, and himself, Much about cock-shut time, from troop to troop, Went through the army, cheering up the soldiers. K. Rich. 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.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. Fortunes and victory sit on thy helm! Richm. All comfort that the dark night can afford, Be to thy person, noble father-in-law! Tell me, how fares our loving mother?

Stan. 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 bid 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 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 :
God give us leisure for these rites of love!
Once more, adieu-Be valiant, and speed well!
Richm. Good lords, conduct him to his regiment:
I'll strive, with troubled thoughts, to take
Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow,
When I should mount with wings of victory:
Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.
[Exeunt London, Sc. with Stanley.

nap;

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

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. When I was mortal, my auointed 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 flourish!

The Ghost of CLARENCE rises. 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, And fall thy edgeless sword; Despair, and die !— Thou offspring of the house of Lancaster, (To Richmond.) 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. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow, (To King Richard.) Rivers, that died at Pomfret! Despair, and die! Grey. Think upon Grey, and let thy soul des pair! (To King Richard.) Vaugh. Think upon Vaughan; and, with guilty Let fall thy lance! Despair, and die!- (fear, (To King Richard.) All. Awake! and think, our wrongs in Richard's bosom (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 rain, 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. 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.

crown:

The Ghost of BUCKINGHAM rises. Ghost. The first was I, that help'd thee to the (To King Richard.) 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!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 I.
Is there a murderer here? No;-Yes; I am:
Then fly,What, from myself? Great reason:
Why?

Lest I revenge. What? Myself on myself?
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 coudemns 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.

K. Rich. O, Ratcliff, I have dream'd a fearful dream!-

What thinkest thou? will our friends prove all true?
Rat. No doubt, my lord.
K. Rich.
Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,-

Rat. 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, 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.

Rich. Cry mercy, lords, and watchful gentle

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.
Rich. Why, then 'tis time to arm, and give
direction. (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, ond 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, 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,
und Forces.

K. Rich. What said Northumberland, as touch-
ing Richmond?

Rat. That he was never trained up in arms.
K. Rich. He said the truth: Aud what said Surrey
then?

field.

Enter NORFOLK.

Nor. Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts in the
(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 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 ourself 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?

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

(Giving a scroll.) K. Rich. (Reads.) Jocky of Norfolk, be not too

bald,

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;
If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell.-
What shall I say more than I have infer'd?
Remember whom you are to cope withal;-
A sort of vagabonds, rascals, and run-aways,
A scum of Bretagnes, and base lackey peasants,
Whom their o'er-cloy'd 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, 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 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
Have in their own land beaten, bobb'd, and thump'd,
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!

P. 195, c. 1, l. 5. this sun of York ;] Alluding to the cognizance of Edward IV. which was a sun, in memory of the three suns, which are said to have appeared at the battle which he gained over the Lancastrians at Mortimer's Cross.

Id. l. 11. delightful measures.] A measure was, strictly speaking, a court dance of a stately turn, though the word is sometimes employed to express dances in general. Id l. 13. barbed steeds.] i. e. steeds caparisoned in a warlike manner. Barbed, however, may be no more than a corruption of barded. Equus bardatus, in the Latin of the middle ages, was a horse adorned with military trappings. ld. 1. 15. - He capers-] War capers. This is poetical, though a little harsh; if it be York that capers, the antecedent is at such a distance, that it is almost forgotten. Id. 1. 22. Cheated of feature by dissembling nature.] By dissembling is not meant hypocritical nature, that pretends one thing, and does another; but nature that puts together things of a dissimilar kind, as a brave soul and a deformed body. Feature is used here, as in other pieces of the same age, for beauty in general.

Id. l. 31. And therefore, since I cannot prove a lover,] Shakspeare very diligently inculcates, that the wickedness of Richard proceeded from his deformity, from the envy that rose at the comparison of his own person with others, and which incited him to disturb the pleasures that he could not partake. JOHNSON. Id. 1. 35.-inductions dangerous,] Preparations for mischief. The induction is preparatory to the action of the play.

Id. c. 2, l. 20. - toys-] Fancies, freaks of ima

Id. l. 55.

-should be mew'd] A mew was the place of confinement where a hawk was kept till he had moulted.

Id. l. 62.

an evil diet-] i. e. a bad regimen.

pattern of thy butcheries:] Pattern is instance, or example.

Id. l. 75.

see! dead Henry's wounds Open their congeal'd mouths, and bleed afresh!] It is a tradition very generally received, that the murdered body bleeds on the touch of the murderer. This was so much believed by Sir Kenelm Digby, that he has endeavoured to explain the reason. 197, c. 1, l. 17. Vouchsafe, diffus'd infection of a man, Diffus'd infection of a man may mean, thou that art as dangerous as a pestilence, that infects the air by its diffusion. Diffus'd may, however, mean irregular. Id. 1 37. "In thy foul throat," &c.-MALONE. Id. l. 43. That laid their guilt-] The crime of

P.

my brothers. He has just charged the murder of lady Anne's husband upon Edward. Id. 1. 68. a slower method;] As quick was used for spritely, so slower was put for serious.

Id. c. 2, l. 36. "No, when." &c-MALONE. Id. 1. 63. But 'twas thy beauty-] Shakspeare countenances the observation, that no woman can ever be offended with the mention of her beauty. JOHNSON.

P. 198, c. 1, l. 1. "Then never man was true." MALONE.

Id. l. 23. -Crosby-place:] A house near Bishopsgate-street, belonging to the duke of Gloster, now Crosby-square, where part of the house is yet remaining.

Id. 1. 38. "Sirs, take up the corse."-MALONE. Id. l. 53. -"all the world to nothing, ah!"— MALONE.

Id. l. 67. - a beggarly denier,] A denier is the twelfth part of a French sous, and appears to have been the usual request of a beggar