Speech
Arden 3 | 2009

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.  [180]
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?  [185]
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.  [190]
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.  [195]
Perjury, perjury, in the highest 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,  [200]
And if I die, no soul will pity me.
And 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  [205]
Tomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard.

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Words and Pronunciation +
Arden 3 | 2012

Words

Bind up my wounds

Jesu

soft

coward conscience

afflict

The lights burn blue

fearful

drops

stand

none else

fly

great reason

revenge

Alack

Wherefore

hateful

flatter

several

condemns

perjury

degree

stern

direst

throng

bar

creature

methought

tomorrow’s vengeance

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Pronunciation +

lookest: possibly “look’st” (Leung, also: Arden CWRE, 1998)

shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)

Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo

you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)

marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)

trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)

hie: (line 68) hah-ee

wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in

+prose: (lines 38-45) The nurse switches to prose for this speech.

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Translation
No Fear Shakespeare

RICHARD
Give me another horse! Bandage my wounds! Have mercy, Jesus!—Wait, I was only dreaming. Oh cowardly conscience, how you’re torturing me! The candles burn blue—that means it’s the dead of night. I’m sweating and trembling with fear. But what am I afraid of? Myself? There’s no one else here. Richard loves Richard, that is, there’s just me and myself here. Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am. Then run away. What, from myself? Yes, to avoid taking revenge on myself. Unfortunately, I love myself. Why? Did I do anything good to myself? Oh, no. Alas, I hate myself instead, because of the hateful deeds I’ve committed. I am a villain. But I’m lying; I’m not a villain. Fool, speak well of yourself. Fool, do not flatter yourself.

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Assonance
Arden 3 | 2012

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.  [180]
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?  [185]
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.  [190]
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.  [195]
Perjury, perjury, in the highest 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,  [200]
And if I die, no soul will pity me.
And 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  [205]
Tomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard.

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Pronunciation +

shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)

Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo

you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)

marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)

trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)

hie: (line 68) hah-ee

wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in

Alliteration
Arden 3 | 2012

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.  [180]
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?  [185]
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.  [190]
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.  [195]
Perjury, perjury, in the highest 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,  [200]
And if I die, no soul will pity me.
And 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  [205]
Tomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard.

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Consonance
Arden 3 | 2012

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.  [180]
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?  [185]
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.  [190]
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.  [195]
Perjury, perjury, in the highest 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,  [200]
And if I die, no soul will pity me.
And 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  [205]
Tomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard.

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Thoughts
Arden 3 | 2012

RICHARD
1. Give me another horse! 2. Bind up my wounds!
3. Have mercy, Jesu. 3. – Soft, I did but dream.
5. O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!
6. The lights burn blue. 7. It is now dead midnight.  [180]
8. Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh.
9. What do I fear? 10. Myself? 11. There’s none else by.
12. Richard loves Richard, that is, I am I.
13. Is there a murderer here? 14. No. 15. Yes, I am.
16. Then fly! 17. What, from myself? 18. Great reason why?  [185]
19. Lest I revenge. 20. What, myself upon myself?
21. Alack, I love myself. 22. Wherefore? 23. For any good
That I myself have done unto myself?
24. O, no. 25. Alas, I rather hate myself,
For hateful deeds committed by myself.  [190]
26. I am a villain. 27. Yet I lie; 27. I am not.
28. Fool, of thyself speak well. 29. Fool, do not flatter.
30. My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.  [195]
31. Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree;
31b. Murder, stern murder, in the direst degree;
31c. All several sins, all used in each degree,
Throng to the bar, crying all, ‘Guilty, guilty!’
32. I shall despair. 33. There is no creature loves me,  [200]
And if I die, no soul will pity me.
34. And wherefore should they, since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself?
35. Methought the souls of all that I had murdered
Came to my tent, and every one did threat  [205]
Tomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard.

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Thought Count
Arden 3 | 2012

RICHARD

Long: 0
Medium: 4
Short: 31 | 34
Total: 35 |38

Complex: 2 | 2,3

End stopped: 19 | 21
Midline: 16 | 17

Period: 21
Exclamation: 5
Question: 9
Dash: 0

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Rhythm
Arden 3 | 2012

RICHARD
Give me another horse! Bind up my wounds! (10)
Have mercy, Jesu. – Soft, I did but dream. (10R)
O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me! (11W)
The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight. [180] (10W)
Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh. (10)
What do I fear? Myself? There’s none else by. (10)
Richard loves Richard, that is, I am I. (10)
Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am. (10R | 10 |11w)
Then fly! What, from myself? Great reason why?  [185] (10)
Lest I revenge. What, myself upon myself? (11 | epic?)
Alack, I love myself. Wherefore? For any good (10R | 10)
That I myself have done unto myself? (10R)
O, no. Alas, I rather hate myself, (10R)
For hateful deeds committed by myself. [190] (10R)
I am a villain. Yet I lie; I am not. (10R | 10)
Fool, of thyself speak well. Fool, do not flatter. (11w)
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues, (10R | 11)
And every tongue brings in a several tale, (10R | 11)
And every tale condemns me for a villain.  [195] (11W)
Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree; (10 | 13)
Murder, stern murder, in the direst degree; (10 |11)
All several sins, all used in each degree, (10R | 10 | 11)
Throng to the bar, crying all, ‘Guilty, guilty!’ (11w)
I shall despair. There is no creature loves me,  [200] (11W | 11w)
And if I die, no soul will pity me. (10R | 10)
And wherefore should they, since that I myself (10R)
Find in myself no pity to myself? (10R | 10)
Methought the souls of all that I had murdered (11W)
Came to my tent, and every one did threat  [205] (10R | 10)
Tomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard. (11W)

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Pacing
Arden 3 | 2012

RICHARD
Give me another horse! Bind up my wounds! pause?
Have mercy, Jesu. – Soft, I did but dream. pause?
O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me! pause?
The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight. [180] pause?
Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh. pause?
What do I fear? Myself? There’s none else by. pause?
Richard loves Richard, that is, I am I. pause?
Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am. pause?
Then fly! What, from myself? Great reason why? [185] pause?
Lest I revenge. What, myself upon myself? pause?
Alack, I love myself. Wherefore? For any good
That I myself have done unto myself? pause?
O, no. Alas, I rather hate myself,
For hateful deeds committed by myself.  [190] pause?
I am a villain. Yet I lie; I am not. pause?
Fool, of thyself speak well. Fool, do not flatter. pause?
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.  [195] pause?
Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree; pause?
Murder, stern murder, in the direst degree; pause?
All several sins, all used in each degree,
Throng to the bar, crying all, ‘Guilty, guilty!’ pause?
I shall despair. There is no creature loves me,  [200]
And if I die, no soul will pity me. pause?
And wherefore should they, since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself? pause?
Methought the souls of all that I had murdered
Came to my tent, and every one did threat  [205]
Tomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard. pause?

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Beats
Arden 3 | 2012

RICHARD
Give me another horse! Bind up my wounds!
Have mercy, Jesu.

discovery

---

———————– Soft, I did but dream.

 

discovery

---

O coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!

 

discoveries

---

The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight.  [180]
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?  [185]
Lest I revenge. What, myself upon myself?
Alack, I love myself. Wherefore? For any good
That I myself have done unto myself?

 

discovery

---

O, no. Alas, I rather hate myself,
For hateful deeds committed by myself.  [190]
I am a villain. Yet I lie; I am not.
Fool, of thyself speak well. Fool, do not flatter.

 

discovery

---

My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condemns me for a villain.  [195]
Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree;
Murder, stern murder, in the direst degree;
All several sins, all used in each degree,
Throng to the bar, crying all, ‘Guilty, guilty!’

 

discovery – disclosure

---

I shall despair. There is no creature loves me,  [200]
And if I die, no soul will pity me.
And wherefore should they, since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself?

 

decision

---

Methought the souls of all that I had murdered
Came to my tent, and every one did threat  [205]
Tomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard.

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Pronunciation +

shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)

Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo

you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)

marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)

trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)

hie: (line 68) hah-ee

wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in

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Rhetoric
Arden 3 | 2009

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.  [180]
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?  [185]
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.  [190]
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.  [195]
Perjury, perjury, in the highest 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,  [200]
And if I die, no soul will pity me.
And 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  [205]
Tomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard.

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Scene
Arden 3 | 2009

[ 5.3 ]
Enter King Richard in arms, with Norfolk, Ratcliffe and the Earl Of Surrey , [with others].

KING RICHARD
Here pitch our tent , even here in Bosworth field.
– My lord of Surrey, why look you so sad ?
382
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?        5

NORFOLK
We must both give and take, my loving lord.

KING RICHARD
Up with my tent. Here will I lie tonight,
[ Soldiers begin to set up Richard’s tent.]

But where tomorrow? Well, all’s one for that.
Who hath descried the number of the traitors?
NORFOLK

10Six 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.
383
– Up with the tent! – Come, noble gentlemen,
15Let 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. [ Richard’s tent is ready.]
Exeunt.
Enter Richmond, Sir William Brandon, Oxford and Dorset [, with Blunt, Herbert and others who set up Richmond’s tent ].
RICHMOND

The weary sun hath made a golden set,
20And 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,
384
25Limit 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;
30– 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

35Unless 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,
40Sweet 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.
385
RICHMOND

Good night, good Captain Blunt.[Exit Blunt.]
Come, gentlemen,
45Let us consult upon tomorrow’s business.
Into my tent; the dew is raw and cold.
[ Richmond, Brandon, Dorset, Herbert and Oxford ] withdraw into the tent. [ The others exeunt.]
Enter [ to his tent ] Q King Q Richard, Ratcliffe, Norfolk, Catesby Q and others Q.
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.
50What, is my beaver easier than it was,
And all my armour laid into my tent?
386
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

55I go, my lord.
KING RICHARD

Stir with the lark tomorrow, gentle Norfolk.
NORFOLK

I warrant you, my lord.(FExit.F)
KING RICHARD

Catesby.
CATESBY

My lord.
King Richard
Send out a pursuivant-at-arms
60To Stanley’s regiment. Bid him bring his power
Before sun-rising, lest his son George fall
Into the blind cave of eternal night.[ Exit Catesby. ]
Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a watch.
387
Saddle white Surrey for the field tomorrow.
65Look that my staves be sound and not too heavy.
– Ratcliffe.
RATCLIFFE

My lord.
KING RICHARD

Sawst thou the melancholy Lord Northumberland?
RATCLIFFE

Thomas the Earl of Surrey and himself,
70Much about cock-shut 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.]
388

75Set 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 [ with others ].
[ Richard goes into his tent to sleep.]
Enter [ Stanley, Earl Of ] Derby to Richmond [ and Lords ] in his tent.
Stanley

Fortune and Victory sit on thy helm.
RICHMOND

80All 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.
389
85So 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 the arbitrament
90Of 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,
95Lest, being seen, thy brother, tender George,
Be executed in his father’s sight.
Farewell. The leisure and the fearful time
390
Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love
And ample interchange of sweet discourse,
100Which 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,
105Lest leaden slumber peise me down tomorrow
When I should mount with wings of victory.
Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.
Exeunt F all but Richmond F.

O Thou, whose captain I account myself,
Look on my forces with a gracious eye;
110Put in their hands Thy bruising irons of wrath,
391
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 the victory.
115To Thee I do commend my watchful soul,
Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes:
Sleeping and waking, O, defend me still! (FSleeps.F)
Enter the Ghost of young Prince Edward, son FtoF Harry the Sixth.
392
GHOST [OF PRINCE EDWARD]
(( to Richard ))
Let me sit heavy on thy soul tomorrow.
Think how thou stab’st me in my prime of youth
120At Tewkesbury. Despair therefore, and die.
(( to Richmond )) Be cheerful, Richmond, for the wronged 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 VI]
(( to Richard ))
When I was mortal, my anointed body
125By thee was punched full of deadly holes.
393
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,
130Doth 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,
135And fall thy edgeless sword. Despair and die.
(( to Richmond )) Thou offspring of the house of Lancaster,
The wronged heirs of York do pray for thee.
Good angels guard thy battle. Live and flourish.[Exit.]
Enter the Ghosts Of Rivers, Grey FandF Vaughan.
[GHOST OF RIVERS
(( to Richard )])
Let me sit heavy in thy soul tomorrow,
140Rivers that died at Pomfret. Despair and die.
[GHOST OF] GREY
[( to Richard )]
Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair.
394
[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
145Will conquer him. Awake, and win the day.[ Exeunt. ]
Enter the Ghosts [of the two young Princes.]
Ghosts [of 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.
150(( 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. ]
395
Enter the Ghost Of Hastings.
GHOST [OF HASTINGS]
((to Richard ))
Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake,
155And 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 Ghost Of Lady Anne, his wife.
FGHOST [OF ANNE]
((to Richard ) F)
Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne, thy wife,
160That 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.
165Dream of success and happy victory.
Thy adversary’s wife doth pray for thee.[ Exit. ]
Enter the Ghost Of Buckingham.
FGHOST [OF BUCKINGHAM]
((to Richard ) F)
The first was I that helped thee to the crown;
The last was I that felt thy tyranny.
O, in the battle think on Buckingham,
170And die in terror of thy guiltiness.
Dream on, dream on, of bloody deeds and death.
Fainting, despair; despairing, yield thy breath.
396
(( to Richmond )) I died for hope ere I could lend thee aid;
But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismayed.
175God and good angels fight on Richmond’s side,
And Richard fall in height of all his pride.[Exit.]
Richard starteth up out of a 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!
180The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight.
397
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.
185Then 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,
190For hateful deeds committed by myself.
I am a villain. Yet I lie; I am not.
398
Fool, of thyself speak well. Fool, do not flatter.
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
And every tongue brings in a several tale,
195And every tale condemns me for a villain.
Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree;
Murder, stern murder, in the direst degree;
All several sins, all used in each degree,
Throng to the bar , crying all, ‘Guilty, guilty!’
200I shall despair. There is no creature loves me,
And if I die, no soul will pity me.
399
And wherefore should they, since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself?
Methought the souls of all that I had murdered
205Came 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
210Hath 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 think’st thou, will our friends prove all true?
RATCLIFFE

No doubt, my lord.
KING RICHARD
O Ratcliffe, I fear, I fear.
RATCLIFFE

215Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows.
400
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.
220’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.
ExeuntF Richard and Ratcliffe F.
Enter the Lords To Richmond F sitting in his tent F.
LORD

Good morrow, Richmond.
RICHMOND

Cry mercy, lords and watchful gentlemen,
401
225That you have ta’en a tardy sluggard here.
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.
230Methought 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?
LORD

235Upon 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,
402
The leisure and enforcement of the time
Forbids to dwell upon. Yet remember this:
240God, and our good cause, fight upon our side.
The prayers of holy saints and wronged 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.
245For, what is he they follow? Truly, gentlemen,
A bloody tyrant and a homicide;
One raised in blood, and one in blood established;
One that made means to come by what he hath,
And slaughtered those that were the means to help him;
250A 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;
255If you do sweat to put a tyrant down,
403
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,
260Your wives shall welcome home the conquerors.
If you do free your children from the sword,
Your children’s children quits it in your age.
Then in the name of God and all these rights,
Advance your standards, draw your willing swords.
265For 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.
270God, and Saint George, Richmond, and victory![Exeunt.]
Enter King Richard, Ratcliffe and Soldiers.
404
KING RICHARD

What said Northumberland, as touching Richmond?
RATCLIFFE

That he was never trained 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

275He was in the right, and so indeed it is. (( The clock striketh. ))
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.
280A black day will it be to somebody.
Ratcliffe!
RATCLIFFE

My lord.
KING RICHARD
The sun will not be seen today.
405
The sky doth frown and lour upon our army.
I would these dewy tears were from the ground.
285Not 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.
290– 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,
406
Consisting equally of horse and foot;
295Our 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 will follow
In the main battle, whose puissance on either side
300Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse.
This, and Saint George to boot . What think’st thou, Norfolk?
NORFOLK

A good direction, warlike sovereign.
He sheweth him a paper.

This found I on my tent this morning:
‘Jockey of Norfolk, be not so bold,
305For Dickon thy master is bought and sold.’
407
King Richard

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,
310Devised at first to keep the strong in awe.
Our strong arms be our conscience, swords our law.
March on, join bravely, let us to it 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?
408
315Remember whom you are to cope withal,
A sort of vagabonds, rascals and runaways,
A scum of Bretons and base lackey peasants,
Whom their o’ercloyed country vomits forth
To desperate adventures and assured destruction.
320You 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 Bretagne at our mother’s cost,
409
325A 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,
330Who, 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 Bretons, whom our fathers
Have in their own land beaten, bobbed and thumped,
335And in record left them the heirs of shame.
Shall these enjoy our lands? Lie with our wives?
Ravish our daughters? (FDrum afar off.F)
Hark, I hear their drum.
Fight, gentlemen of England! – Fight, bold yeomen!
410
– Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head!
340– Spur your proud horses hard and ride in blood.
Amaze the welkin with your broken staves.
FEnter a Messenger.F

– What says Lord Stanley? Will he bring his power?
MESSENGERS

My lord, he doth deny to come.
KING RICHARD

Off with his son George’s head!
NORFOLK

345My 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,
350Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons.
Upon them! Victory sits on our helms.(Exeunt.)

(Exeunt.)

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Pronunciation +

shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)

Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo

you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)

marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)

trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)

hie: (line 68) hah-ee

wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in

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