That high All-seer which I dallied with, To turn their own points on their master's bosoms ; Thus Margaret's curse falls heavy on my neck,When he, quoth she, shall split thy heart with sorrow, Remember Margaret was a prophetess. Come, sirs, convey me to the block of shame ; Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame. [Exe. BUCK. &c. SCENE II. Plain near Tamworth. Enter, with drum and colours, RICHMOND, OXFORD, Sir JAMES BLUNT, Sir WALTER HERBERT, and others, with Forces, marching. Richm. Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends, Have we march'd on without impediment; 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 : Oxf. Every man's conscience is a thousand swords, To fight against that bloody homicide. 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. Rich. 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. [Exe. SCENE III. Bosworth Field. Enter King RICHARD, and Forces; the Duke of NORFOLK, Earl of SURREY, and others. K. Ric 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. 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 descry'd the number of the traitors? Nor. Six or seven thousand is their utmost power. [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 standard.- South from the mighty power of the king. Richm. 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 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. [They withdraw into the Tent. Enter, to his Tent, King RICHARD, NORFOLK, RATCLIFF, and CATESBY. K.Rich. What is't o'clock ? Cate. It's supper time, my lord ; It's nine o'clock. K.Rich. 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? Cate. It is, my liege; and all things are in readiness. K.Rich. Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge; Use careful watch, choose trusty centinels. Nor. I go, my lord. K.Rich. Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk. Nor. I warrant you, my lord. K.Rich. Ratcliff, Rat. My lord? K.Rich. Send out a pursuivant at arms To Stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power Into the blind cave of eternal night. [Exit. Fill me a bowl of wine.-Give me a watch :3 [To CAT. -Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow. Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy.4 Rat. My lord? K.Rich. Saw'st thou the melancholy lord Northumber land? Rat. Thomas the earl of Surrey, and himself, Much about cock-shut time, from troop to troop, [3] A watch has many significations, but I should believe that it means in this place not a centinel, which would be regularly placed at the king's tent; nor an instrument to measure time, which was not used in that age, but a watch-light,a candle to burn by him; the light that afterwards burnt blue.JOH. -I believe, that particular kind of candle is here meant, which was anciently called a watch, because, being marked out into sections, each of which was a certain portion of time in burning, it supplied the place of the more modern instruments by which we measure the hours. STEEV. [4] Staves are the wood of the lances. JOHNS. Went through the army, cheering up the soldiers. Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have.- K.Rich. Bid my guard watch; leave me. [King RICHARD retires into his tent. Exe.RAT. and CAT. RICHMOND'S Tent opens, and discovers him and his Officers. Enter STANLEY. Stan. Fortune and victory set on thy helm ! Rich. 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, Farewell: The leisure and the fearful time Rich. Good lords, conduct him to his regiment : [6] By deputation. [Exeunt Lords, &c. with STANLEY. JOHNS. [7] I will take the best opportunity to elude the dangers of this conjuncture.JOHNS. [8] To peize, i.e. to weigh down, from peser, Fr. STEEV. 33* VOL. V. O Thou! whose captain I account myself, [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 K. RICH 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 anointed body [To K. RICH By thee was punched full of deadly holes : [TO RICHM Harry, that prophecy'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! I, that was wash'd to death with fulsome wine, And fall thy edgeless sword; Despair, and die !— The Ghosts of RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN, rise. Riv. Let me set heavy on thy soul to morrow, [To K. RICH. 19] The allusion is to the ancient mace, HENLEY. |