King Richard III

SCENE 2. Before LORD HASTING'S house Enter a MESSENGER to the door of HASTINGS MESSENGER. My lord, my lord! [Knocking] HASTINGS. [Within] Who knocks? MESSENGER. One from the Lord Stanley. HASTINGS. [Within] What is't o'clock? MESSENGER. Upon the stroke of four. Enter LORD HASTINGS HASTINGS. Cannot my Lord Stanley sleep these tedious nights? MESSENGER. So it appears by that I have to say. First, he commends him to your noble self. HASTINGS. What then? MESSENGER. Then certifies your lordship that this night He dreamt the boar had razed off his helm. Besides, he says there are two councils kept, And that may be determin'd at the one Which may make you and him to rue at th' other. Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure- If you will presently take horse with him And with all speed post with him toward the north To shun the danger that his soul divines. HASTINGS. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord; Bid him not fear the separated council: His honour and myself are at the one, And at the other is my good friend Catesby; Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us Whereof I shall not have intelligence. Tell him his fears are shallow, without instance; And for his dreams, I wonder he's so simple To trust the mock'ry of unquiet slumbers. To fly the boar before the boar pursues Were to incense the boar to follow us And make pursuit where he did mean no chase. Go, bid thy master rise and come to me; And we will both together to the Tower, Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly. MESSENGER. I'll go, my lord, and tell him what you say. Exit Enter CATESBY CATESBY. Many good morrows to my noble lord! HASTINGS. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring. What news, what news, in this our tott'ring state? CATESBY. It is a reeling world indeed, my lord; And I believe will never stand upright Till Richard wear the garland of the realm. HASTINGS. How, wear the garland! Dost thou mean the crown? CATESBY. Ay, my good lord. HASTINGS. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders Before I'll see the crown so foul misplac'd. But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it? CATESBY. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find you forward Upon his party for the gain thereof; And thereupon he sends you this good news, That this same very day your enemies, The kindred of the Queen, must die at Pomfret. HASTINGS. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news, Because they have been still my adversaries; But that I'll give my voice on Richard's side To bar my master's heirs in true descent, God knows I will not do it to the death. CATESBY. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind! HASTINGS. But I shall laugh at this a twelve month hence, That they which brought me in my master's hate, I live to look upon their tragedy. Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older, I'll send some packing that yet think not on't. CATESBY. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, When men are unprepar'd and look not for it. HASTINGS. O monstrous, monstrous! And so falls it out With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey; and so 'twill do With some men else that think themselves as safe As thou and I, who, as thou knowest, are dear To princely Richard and to Buckingham. CATESBY. The Princes both make high account of you- [Aside] For they account his head upon the bridge. HASTINGS. I know they do, and I have well deserv'd it. Enter LORD STANLEY Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man? Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided? STANLEY. My lord, good morrow; good morrow, Catesby. You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, I do not like these several councils, I. HASTINGS. My lord, I hold my life as dear as yours, And never in my days, I do protest, Was it so precious to me as 'tis now. Think you, but that I know our state secure, I would be so triumphant as I am? STANLEY. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London, Were jocund and suppos'd their states were sure, And they indeed had no cause to mistrust; But yet you see how soon the day o'ercast. This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt; Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward. What, shall we toward the Tower? The day is spent. HASTINGS. Come, come, have with you. Wot you what, my Lord? To-day the lords you talk'd of are beheaded. STANLEY. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads Than some that have accus'd them wear their hats. But come, my lord, let's away. Enter HASTINGS, a pursuivant HASTINGS. Go on before; I'll talk with this good fellow. Exeunt STANLEY and CATESBY How now, Hastings! How goes the world with thee? PURSUIVANT. The better that your lordship please to ask. HASTINGS. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now Than when thou met'st me last where now we meet: Then was I going prisoner to the Tower By the suggestion of the Queen's allies; But now, I tell thee-keep it to thyself- This day those enernies are put to death, And I in better state than e'er I was. PURSUIVANT. God hold it, to your honour's good content! HASTINGS. Gramercy, Hastings; there, drink that for me. [Throws him his purse] PURSUIVANT. I thank your honour. Exit Enter a PRIEST PRIEST. Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour. HASTINGS. I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart. I am in your debt for your last exercise; Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you. [He whispers in his ear] PRIEST. I'll wait upon your lordship. Enter BUCKINGHAM BUCKINGHAM. What, talking with a priest, Lord Chamberlain! Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest: Your honour hath no shriving work in hand. HASTINGS. Good faith, and when I met this holy man, The men you talk of came into my mind. What, go you toward the Tower? BUCKINGHAM. I do, my lord, but long I cannot stay there; I shall return before your lordship thence. HASTINGS. Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there. BUCKINGHAM. [Aside] And supper too, although thou knowest it not.- Come, will you go? HASTINGS. I'll wait upon your lordship. Exeunt SCENE 3. Pomfret Castle Enter SIR RICHARD RATCLIFF, with halberds, carrying the Nobles, RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN, to death RIVERS. Sir Richard Ratcliff, let me tell thee this: To-day shalt thou behold a subject die For truth, for duty, and for loyalty. GREY. God bless the Prince from all the pack of you! A knot you are of damned blood-suckers. VAUGHAN. You live that shall cry woe for this hereafter. RATCLIFF. Dispatch; the limit of your lives is out. RIVERS. O Pomfret, Pomfret! O thou bloody prison, Fatal and ominous to noble peers! Within the guilty closure of thy walls RICHARD the Second here was hack'd to death; And for more slander to thy dismal seat, We give to thee our guiltless blood to drink. GREY. Now Margaret's curse is fall'n upon our heads, When she exclaim'd on Hastings, you, and I, For standing by when Richard stabb'd her son. RIVERS. Then curs'd she Richard, then curs'd she Buckingham, Then curs'd she Hastings. O, remember, God, To hear her prayer for them, as now for us! And for my sister, and her princely sons, Be satisfied, dear God, with our true blood, Which, as thou know'st, unjustly must be spilt. RATCLIFF. Make haste; the hour of death is expiate. RIVERS. Come, Grey; come, Vaughan; let us here embrace. Farewell, until we meet again in heaven. Exeunt SCENE 4 London. The Tower Enter BUCKINGHAM, DERBY, HASTINGS, the BISHOP of ELY, RATCLIFF, LOVEL, with others and seat themselves at a table HASTINGS. Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met Is to determine of the coronation. In God's name speak-when is the royal day? BUCKINGHAM. Is all things ready for the royal time? DERBY. It is, and wants but nomination. BISHOP OF ELY. To-morrow then I judge a happy day. BUCKINGHAM. Who knows the Lord Protector's mind herein? Who is most inward with the noble Duke? BISHOP OF ELY. Your Grace, we think, should soonest know his mind. BUCKINGHAM. We know each other's faces; for our hearts, He knows no more of mine than I of yours; Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine. Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love. HASTINGS. I thank his Grace, I know he loves me well; But for his purpose in the coronation I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd His gracious pleasure any way therein. But you, my honourable lords, may name the time; And in the Duke's behalf I'll give my voice, Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part. Enter GLOUCESTER BISHOP OF ELY. In happy time, here comes the Duke himself. GLOUCESTER. My noble lords and cousins an, good morrow. I have been long a sleeper, but I trust My absence doth neglect no great design Which by my presence might have been concluded. BUCKINGHAM. Had you not come upon your cue, my lord, WILLIAM Lord Hastings had pronounc'd your part- I mean, your voice for crowning of the King. GLOUCESTER. Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder; His lordship knows me well and loves me well. My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn I saw good strawberries in your garden there. I do beseech you send for some of them. BISHOP of ELY. Marry and will, my lord, with all my heart. Exit GLOUCESTER. Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you. [Takes him aside] Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business, And finds the testy gentleman so hot That he will lose his head ere give consent His master's child, as worshipfully he terms it, Shall lose the royalty of England's throne. BUCKINGHAM. Withdraw yourself awhile; I'll go with you. Exeunt GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM DERBY. We have not yet set down this day of triumph. To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden; For I myself am not so well provided As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. Re-enter the BISHOP OF ELY BISHOP OF ELY. Where is my lord the Duke of Gloucester? I have sent for these strawberries. HASTINGS. His Grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning; There's some conceit or other likes him well When that he bids good morrow with such spirit. I think there's never a man in Christendom Can lesser hide his love or hate than he; For by his face straight shall you know his heart. DERBY. What of his heart perceive you in his face By any livelihood he show'd to-day? HASTINGS. Marry, that with no man here he is offended; For, were he, he had shown it in his looks. Re-enter GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM GLOUCESTER. I pray you all, tell me what they deserve That do conspire my death with devilish plots Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevail'd Upon my body with their hellish charms? HASTINGS. The tender love I bear your Grace, my lord, Makes me most forward in this princely presence To doom th' offenders, whosoe'er they be. I say, my lord, they have deserved death. GLOUCESTER. Then be your eyes the witness of their evil. Look how I am bewitch'd; behold, mine arm Is like a blasted sapling wither'd up. And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, Consorted with that harlot strumpet Shore, That by their witchcraft thus have marked me. HASTINGS. If they have done this deed, my noble lord- GLOUCESTER. If?-thou protector of this damned strumpet, Talk'st thou to me of ifs? Thou art a traitor. Off with his head! Now by Saint Paul I swear I will not dine until I see the same. Lovel and Ratcliff, look that it be done. The rest that love me, rise and follow me. Exeunt all but HASTINGS, LOVEL, and RATCLIFF HASTINGS. Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me; For I, too fond, might have prevented this. STANLEY did dream the boar did raze our helms, And I did scorn it and disdain to fly. Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, And started when he look'd upon the Tower, As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house. O, now I need the priest that spake to me! I now repent I told the pursuivant, As too triumphing, how mine enemies To-day at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd, And I myself secure in grace and favour. O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head! RATCLIFF. Come, come, dispatch; the Duke would be at dinner. Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head. HASTINGS. O momentary grace of mortal men, Which we more hunt for than the grace of God! Who builds his hope in air of your good looks Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast, Ready with every nod to tumble down Into the fatal bowels of the deep. LOVEL. Come, come, dispatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. HASTINGS. O bloody Richard! Miserable England! I prophesy the fearfull'st time to thee That ever wretched age hath look'd upon. Come, lead me to the block; bear him my head. They smile at me who shortly shall be dead. Exeunt SCENE 5. London. The Tower-walls Enter GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM in rotten armour, marvellous ill-favoured GLOUCESTER. Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy colour, Murder thy breath in middle of a word, And then again begin, and stop again, As if thou were distraught and mad with terror? BUCKINGHAM. Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian; Speak and look back, and pry on every side, Tremble and start at wagging of a straw, Intending deep suspicion. Ghastly looks Are at my service, like enforced smiles; And both are ready in their offices At any time to grace my stratagems. But what, is Catesby gone? GLOUCESTER. He is; and, see, he brings the mayor along. Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY BUCKINGHAM. Lord Mayor- GLOUCESTER. Look to the drawbridge there! BUCKINGHAM. Hark! a drum. GLOUCESTER. Catesby, o'erlook the walls. BUCKINGHAM. Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent- GLOUCESTER. Look back, defend thee; here are enemies. BUCKINGHAM. God and our innocence defend and guard us!