The Illustrated Works of Shakespeare

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Text File | 1991-04-10 | 19KB | 540 lines

Bosworth Field. Enter KING RICHARD in arms, with NORFOLK, RATCLIFFE, and the EARL OF SURREY, with SOLDIERS. King Richard Here pitch our tent, even here in Bosworth field. [SOLDIERS pitch RICHARD's tent on one side of the stage. My lord of Surrey, why look you so sad? Surrey My heart is ten times lighter than my looks. King Richard My lord of Norfolk! Norfolk Here, most gracious liege. King Richard Norfolk, we must have knocks; ha! - must we not? Norfolk We must both give and take, my loving lord. King Richard Up with my tent! Here will I lie tonight- But where tomorrow? Well, all's one for that. Who hath descried the number of the traitors? Norfolk Six or seven thousand is their utmost power. King Richard 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 lack no discipline, make no delay; For, lords, tomorrow is a busy day. [Exeunt. Enter RICHMOND, SIR WILLIAM BRANDON, OXFORD, HERBERT, BLUNT, and SOLDIERS. The SOLDIERS pitch Richmond's tent on the other side of the stage. Richmond The weary sun hath made a golden set, And by the bright track of his fiery car Gives token of a goodly day tomorrow. 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 his regiment- Good captain Blunt, bear my goodnight 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 quartered, do you know? Blunt Unless I have mista'en his colours much, Which well I am assured I have not done, His regiment lies half a mile at least South from the mighty power of the king. Richmond If without peril it be possible, Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with him, 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 tonight. Richmond Good night, good captain Blunt. [Exit BLUNT. Come, gentlemen; Let us consult upon tomorrow's business. Into my tent; the dew is raw and cold. [They withdraw into the tent. Enter RICHARD, RATCLIFFE, NORFOLK, CATESBY and SOLDIERS. King Richard What is't o'clock? Catesby It's supper-time, my lord; It's nine o'clock. King Richard I will not sup tonight. Give me some ink and paper. What, is my beaver easier than it was? And all my armour laid into my tent? Catesby It is, my liege, and all things are in readiness. King Richard Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge; Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels. Norfolk I go, my lord. King Richard Stir with the lark tomorrow, gentle Norfolk. Norfolk I warrant you, my lord. [Exit. King Richard Catesby! Catesby My lord? King Richard 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 tomorrow. Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy. Ratcliffe! Ratcliffe My lord? King Richard Saw'st thou the melancholy Lord Northumberland? Ratcliffe Thomas the Earl of Surrey and himself, Much about cockshut time, from troop to troop Went through the army cheering up the soldiers. King Richard 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. [Wine is brought. Set it down. Is ink and paper ready? Ratcliffe It is, my lord. King Richard Bid my guard watch. Leave me. Ratcliffe, about the mid of night come to my tent, And help to arm me. Leave me, I say. [Exit RATCLIFFE. [RICHARD retires into his tent, and sleeps. Enter LORD STANLEY to RICHMOND in his tent. Stanley Fortune and victory sit on thy helm! Richmond All comfort that the dark night can afford Be to thy person, noble father-in-law. Tell me, how fares our loving mother? Stanley 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 bids us be, Prepare thy battle early in the morning, And put thy fortune to th' 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 sundered friends should dwell upon. God give us leisure for these rites of love! Once more adieu; be valiant, and speed well. Richmond Good lords, conduct him to his regiment. I'll strive with troubled thoughts to take a nap, Lest leaden slumber peise me down tomorrow, When I should mount with wings of victory. Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen. [Exeunt. Manet RICHMOND. [Kneels.] 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 Th' usurping helmets of our adversaries. Make us Thy ministers of chastisement, That we may praise Thee in the 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. Enter the GHOST OF PRINCE EDWARD, son to Henry the Sixth. Ghost of Prince Edward [To RICHARD.] Let me sit heavy on thy soul tomorrow: Think how thou stabb'st me in my prime of youth At Tewkesbury. Despair therefore, and die! [To RICHMOND.] Be cheerful, Richmond, for the wrongd souls Of butchered princes fight in thy behalf. King Henry's issue, Richmond, comforts thee. [Exit. Enter the GHOST OF HENRY THE SIXTH. Ghost of Henry [To RICHARD.] When I was mortal, my anointed body By thee was punchd 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! [Exit. Enter the GHOST OF CLARENCE. Ghost of Clarence [To RICHARD.] Let me sit heavy in thy soul tomorrow- I, that was washed to death with fulsome wine, Poor Clarence, by thy guile betrayed to death. Tomorrow in the battle think on me, And fall thy edgeless sword. Despair and die! [To RICHMOND.] Thou offspring of the House of Lancaster, The wrongd heirs of York do pray for thee. Good angels guard thy battle. Live and flourish! [Exit. Enter the GHOSTS OF RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN. Ghost of Rivers [To RICHARD.] Let me sit heavy in thy soul tomorrow, Rivers that died at Pomfret. Despair and die! Ghost of Grey [To RICHARD.] Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair. Ghost of Vaughan [To RICHARD.] Think upon Vaughan, and with guilty fear 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! [Exeunt GHOSTS. Enter the GHOST OF LORD HASTINGS. Ghost of Hastings [To RICHARD.] Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake, And in a bloody battle end thy days. Think on Lord Hastings. Despair and die! [To RICHMOND.] Quiet untroubled soul, awake, awake; Arm, fight, and conquer for fair England's sake. [Exit. Enter the GHOSTS OF THE TWO YOUNG PRINCES. Ghosts of the princes [To RICHARD.] Dream on thy cousins smothered 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! [To RICHMOND.] 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. [Exeunt GHOSTS. Enter the GHOST OF LADY ANNE, his wife. Ghost of Anne [To RICHARD.] Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife, That never slept a quiet hour with thee, Now fills thy sleep with perturbations. Tomorrow in the battle think on me, And fall thy edgeless sword. Despair and die! [To RICHMOND.] Thou quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet sleep. Dream of success and happy victory. Thy adversary's wife doth pray for thee. [Exit. Enter the GHOST OF BUCKINGHAM. Ghost of Buckingham [To RICHARD.] The first was I that helped thee to the crown; The last was I that felt thy tyranny. O, in the battle think of 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 dismayed. God and good angels fight on Richmond's side, And Richard falls in height of all his pride. [Exit. [RICHARD starts out of his dream. King Richard 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 and 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, stern 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 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 murdered Came to my tent, and every one did threat Tomorrow's vengeance on the head of Richard. Enter RATCLIFFE. Ratcliffe My lord? King Richard Zounds! - who is there? Ratcliffe Ratcliffe, my lord, 'tis I. The early village cock Hath twice done salutation to the morn. Your friends are up and buckle on their armour. King Richard O Ratcliffe, I have dreamed a fearful dream. What thinkest thou - will our friends prove all true? Ratcliffe No doubt, my lord. King Richard O Ratcliffe, I fear, I fear! Ratcliffe Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows. King Richard By the Apostle Paul, shadows tonight 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. 'Tis not yet near day. Come, go with me; Under our tents I'll play the eavesdropper, To see if any mean to shrink from me. [Exeunt RICHARD and RATCLIFFE. Enter the LORDS to RICHMOND sitting in his tent. Lords Good morrow, Richmond Richmond Cry mercy, lords and watchful gentlemen, That you have ta'en a tardy sluggard here. 1st Lord How have you slept, my lord? Richmond The sweetest sleep and fairest-boding dreams That ever entered in a drowsy head Have I since your departure had, my lords. Methought their souls whose bodies Richard murdered Came to my tent and cried on victory. I promise you my soul is very jocund In the remembrance of so fair a dream. How far into the morning is it, lords? 1st Lord Upon the stroke of four. Richmond 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 wrongd souls, Like high-reared 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 establishd; One that made means to come by what he hath, And slaughtered 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 quits in it 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. Enter KING RICHARD, RATCLIFFE, and SOLDIERS. King Richard What said Northumberland as touching Richmond? Ratcliffe That he was never traind up in arms. King Richard He said the truth. And what said Surrey then? Ratcliffe He smiled and said "The better for our purpose". King Richard He was in the right, and so indeed it is. [Clock strikes. Tell the clock there. Give me a calendar- Who saw the sun today? Ratcliffe Not I, my lord. King Richard 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. Ratcliffe! Ratcliffe My lord? King Richard The sun will not be seen today; The sky doth frown and lour upon our army. I would these dewy tears were from the ground. Not shine today? - Why, what is that to me More than to Richmond? For the selfsame heaven That frowns on me looks sadly upon him. Enter NORFOLK. Norfolk Arm, arm, my lord! The foe vaunts in the field. King Richard 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 orderd: My foreward shall be drawn out all in length, Consisting equally of horse and foot; Our archers shall be placd 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 wingd with our chiefest horse. This, and Saint George to boot! What think'st thou, Norfolk? Norfolk A good direction, warlike sovereign. [He showeth him a paper. This found I on my tent this morning. King Richard [Reads.] "Jockey of Norfolk, be not so bold, For Dickon thy master is bought and sold." A thing devisd 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, 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 inferred? Remember whom you are to cope withal: A sort of vagabonds, rascals, and runaways, A scum of Britaines and base lackey peasants, Whom their o'ercloyd country vomits forth To desperate adventures and assured destruction. You sleeping safe, they bring to you unrest; You having lands, and blessed with beauteous wives, They would restrain the one, distain the other. And who doth lead them? - but a paltry fellow Long kept in Britaine at our mother's cost, A milksop, 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 famished beggars, weary of their lives, Who but for dreaming on this fond exploit, For want of means, poor rats, had hanged themselves. If we be conquered, let men conquer us, And not these bastard Britaines whom our fathers Have in their own land beaten, bobbed, and thumped, 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 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? Messenger My lord, he doth deny to come. King Richard Off with his son George's head! Norfolk My lord, the enemy is past the marsh: After the battle let George Stanley die. King Richard 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.