King Richard The Third

1 Enter Buckingham, Stanley Earl of Derby, Hastings, the Bishop of Ely,
2 Norfolk, Ratcliffe, Lovell with others, at a table.
3 HASTINGS.
4 Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met
5 Is to determine of the coronation.
6 In God’s name speak. When is the royal day?
7 BUCKINGHAM.
8 Is all things ready for that royal time?
9 STANLEY.
10 It is, and wants but nomination.
11 ELY.
12 Tomorrow, then, I judge a happy day.
13 BUCKINGHAM.
14 Who knows the Lord Protector’s mind herein?
15 Who is most inward with the noble Duke?
16 ELY.
17 Your Grace, we think, should soonest know his mind.
18 BUCKINGHAM.
19 We know each other’s faces; for our hearts,
20 He knows no more of mine than I of yours,
21 Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine.
22 Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
23 HASTINGS.
24 I thank his Grace, I know he loves me well;
25 But for his purpose in the coronation
26 I have not sounded him, nor he delivered
27 His gracious pleasure any way therein.
28 But you, my honourable lords, may name the time,
29 And in the Duke’s behalf I’ll give my voice,
30 Which I presume he’ll take in gentle part.
31 Enter Richard.
32 ELY.
33 In happy time, here comes the Duke himself.
34 RICHARD.
35 My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow.
36 I have been long a sleeper; but I trust
37 My absence doth neglect no great design
38 Which by my presence might have been concluded.
39 BUCKINGHAM.
40 Had you not come upon your cue, my lord,
41 William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part—
42 I mean your voice for crowning of the King.
43 RICHARD.
44 Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder.
45 His lordship knows me well and loves me well.
46 My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn
47 I saw good strawberries in your garden there;
48 I do beseech you, send for some of them.
49 ELY.
50 Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart.
51 [_Exit._]
52 RICHARD.
53 Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.
54 [_They move aside._]
55 Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business,
56 And finds the testy gentleman so hot
57 That he will lose his head ere give consent
58 His master’s child, as worshipfully he terms it,
59 Shall lose the royalty of England’s throne.
60 BUCKINGHAM.
61 Withdraw yourself awhile. I’ll go with you.
62 [_Exeunt Richard and Buckingham._]
63 STANLEY.
64 We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
65 Tomorrow, in my judgement, is too sudden,
66 For I myself am not so well provided
67 As else I would be, were the day prolonged.
68 Enter Bishop of Ely.
69 ELY.
70 Where is my lord the Duke of Gloucester?
71 I have sent for these strawberries.
72 HASTINGS.
73 His Grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning.
74 There’s some conceit or other likes him well
75 When that he bids good morrow with such spirit.
76 I think there’s never a man in Christendom
77 Can lesser hide his love or hate than he,
78 For by his face straight shall you know his heart.
79 STANLEY.
80 What of his heart perceive you in his face
81 By any livelihood he showed today?
82 HASTINGS.
83 Marry, that with no man here he is offended,
84 For were he, he had shown it in his looks.
85 Enter Richard and Buckingham.
86 RICHARD.
87 I pray you all, tell me what they deserve
88 That do conspire my death with devilish plots
89 Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevailed
90 Upon my body with their hellish charms?
91 HASTINGS.
92 The tender love I bear your Grace, my lord,
93 Makes me most forward in this princely presence
94 To doom th’ offenders, whosoe’er they be.
95 I say, my lord, they have deserved death.
96 RICHARD.
97 Then be your eyes the witness of their evil.
98 Look how I am bewitched! Behold, mine arm
99 Is like a blasted sapling withered up!
100 And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch,
101 Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
102 That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.
103 HASTINGS.
104 If they have done this deed, my noble lord—
105 RICHARD.
106 If? Thou protector of this damned strumpet,
107 Talk’st thou to me of “ifs”? Thou art a traitor.
108 Off with his head! Now by Saint Paul I swear
109 I will not dine until I see the same.
110 Lovell and Ratcliffe, look that it be done.
111 The rest that love me, rise and follow me.
112 [_Exeunt all but Lovell and Ratcliffe with the Lord Hastings._]
113 HASTINGS.
114 Woe, woe, for England! Not a whit for me,
115 For I, too fond, might have prevented this.
116 Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm,
117 And I did scorn it and disdain to fly.
118 Three times today my foot-cloth horse did stumble,
119 And started when he looked upon the Tower,
120 As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house.
121 O, now I need the priest that spake to me;
122 I now repent I told the pursuivant,
123 As too triumphing, how mine enemies
124 Today at Pomfret bloodily were butchered,
125 And I myself secure in grace and favour.
126 O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
127 Is lighted on poor Hastings’ wretched head.
128 RATCLIFFE.
129 Come, come, dispatch. The Duke would be at dinner:
130 Make a short shrift. He longs to see your head.
131 HASTINGS.
132 O momentary grace of mortal men,
133 Which we more hunt for than the grace of God!
134 Who builds his hope in air of your good looks
135 Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,
136 Ready with every nod to tumble down
137 Into the fatal bowels of the deep.
138 LOVELL.
139 Come, come, dispatch. ’Tis bootless to exclaim.
140 HASTINGS.
141 O bloody Richard! Miserable England,
142 I prophesy the fearfull’st time to thee
143 That ever wretched age hath looked upon.
144 Come, lead me to the block. Bear him my head.
145 They smile at me who shortly shall be dead.
146 [_Exeunt._]