K. Rich.
Here pitch our tents ^note, even here in Bosworth field.
My Lord of Surrey, why look you so sad ^note?

Sur. ^note
My heart is ten times lighter than my looks.

K. Rich.
My Lord of Norfolk,—

Nor.
Here, most gracious liege ^note.

K. Rich.
Norfolk, we must have knocks; ha! must we not? ^note

Nor.
We must both give and take, my gracious ^note lord.

K. Rich.
Up with my tent there ^note! here will I lie to night:
But where to-morrow? Well, all's ^note one for that.
Who hath described the number of the foe ^note?

Nor.
Six or seven thousand is their utmost power ^note.

K. Rich.
Why, our battalion ^note trebles that account:

Besides, the ^note king's name is a tower of strength,
Which they upon the adverse party ^note want.
Up with my tent there! Valiant ^note gentlemen,
Let us survey the vantage of ^note the field ^note;
Call for some men of sound direction:
Let's want ^note no discipline, make no delay; ^note
For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day. [Exeunt. Enter, on the other side ^note of the field, Richmond, Sir William Brandon, Oxford, and others ^note. ^note Some of the Soldiers pitch Richmond's tent ^note.

Richm.
The weary sun hath made a golden set ^note,
And by the bright track ^note of his fiery car
Gives signal ^note of a goodly day to-morrow.
Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard ^note.
Give me some ink and paper in my tent:
I'll ^note draw the form and model of our battle,
Limit each leader to his several charge,
And part in just proportion our small strength ^note. ^note
My Lord of Oxford, you, Sir William Brandon,
And you, Sir Walter Herbert, stay with me ^note.
The Earl of Pembroke keeps ^note his regiment:
Good Captain Blunt, bear my good-night to him,
And by the second hour in the morning
Desire the earl to see me in my tent:

Yet one thing more, good Blunt, before thou go'st ^note,
Where is Lord Stanley quarter'd, dost thou ^note know?

Blunt.
Unless I have mista'en his colours ^note much,
Which well I am assured I have not done,
His regiment lies ^note half a mile at least
South from the mighty power of the king.

Richm.
If without peril it be possible,
Good Captain Blunt, bear my good-night to him ^note,
And give him from me this most needful scroll ^note.

Blunt.
Upon my life ^note, my lord, I'll undertake it;
And so, God give you quiet rest to-night ^note!

Richm.
Good night, good Captain Blunt. Come, gentlemen ^note,
Let us consult upon to-morrow's business:
In to our ^note tent! the air ^note is raw and cold. [They withdraw ^note into the tent. Enter, to his tent ^note, King Richard, Norfolk, Ratcliff, Catesby, and others. ^note

K. Rich.
What is't o'clock?

Cate.
It's supper-time, my lord;
It's nine ^note o'clock ^note. ^note

K. Rich.
I will not sup to-night

Give me some ink and paper. ^{note note}
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 ^note;
Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels ^note.

Nor.
I go, my lord.

K. Rich.
Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk.

Nor.
I warrant you, my lord. [Exit ^note.

K. Rich.
Catesby!

Cate.
My lord? ^note

K. Rich.
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. ^{note note}
Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a watch ^note.
Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow.
Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy.
Ratcliff ^note!

Rat.
My lord?

K. Rich.
Saw'st thou ^note the melancholy Lord Northumberland?

Rat.
Thomas the Earl of Surrey, and himself,
Much about ^note cock-shut time, from troop to troop
Went through the army, cheering up the soldiers.

K. Rich.
So, I am ^note satisfied. Give me a bowl of wine:
I have not that alacrity of spirit,
Nor cheer ^note of mind, that I was wont to have.
Set ^note it down. Is ink and paper ready?

Rat.
It is, my lord.

K. Rich.
Bid my guard watch. Leave me. Ratcliff, ^note
About the mid ^note of night come to my tent
And help to arm me ^note. Leave me ^note, I say. [Exeunt ^note Ratcliff and the other attendants. Enter Derby to Richmond in his tent, Lords and others attending. ^{note note}

Der.
Fortune and victory sit ^note on thy helm!

Richm.
All comfort that the dark night can afford
Be to thy person, noble father-in-law!
Tell me, ^note how fares ^note our loving ^note mother ^note?

Der.
I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother,
Who prays continually for Richmond's good:
So much for that. The ^note silent hours steal on,
And ^note 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 arbitrement
Of bloody strokes and mortal-staring ^note 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 ^note George,
Be executed in his father's sight.

Farewell: the leisure ^{note note} and the fearful time
Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love
And ample interchange of sweet discourse
Which so long sunder'd ^note friends should dwell upon:
God give us ^note leisure for ^note these rites ^note of love!
Once more, adieu: be valiant, and speed well!

Richm.
Good lords, conduct him to his regiment:
I'll strive, with troubled thoughts ^note, to take a nap,
Lest leaden slumber peise ^note me down to-morrow,
When I should mount with wings of victory:
Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen ^note. [Exeunt ^note all but Richmond.
O Thou, whose captain I account myself,
Look on ^note my forces with a gracious eye ^note;
Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath,
That they may crush down with a ^note heavy fall
The usurping helmets ^note of our adversaries!
Make us thy ministers of chastisement,
That we may praise thee in the ^note 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. ^note Enter ^note the Ghost of Prince Edward, son to Henry the Sixth. ^note

Ghost. [To Richard]
Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow!

Think, how thou stab'dst ^note me in my prime ^note of youth
At Tewksbury: despair, therefore ^{note note}, and die! [To Richmond]
Be cheerful, Richmond; for the wronged souls ^note
Of butcher'd ^note princes fight in thy behalf:
King Henry's issue, Richmond, comforts thee. Enter the Ghost of Henry the Sixth.

Ghost. [To Richard]
When I was mortal, my anointed body
By thee was punched full of deadly ^note holes:
Think on the Tower and me: despair, and die!
Harry ^note 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 ^note, and flourish! Enter the Ghost of Clarence.

Ghost. [To Richard]
Let me sit ^note heavy on ^note thy soul tomorrow!
I, that was wash'd ^note to death with ^note fulsome wine,
Poor Clarence, by thy guile betrayed to death.
To-morrow in the battle think on me,
And 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!

Enter the Ghosts of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan.

Ghost of R. ^note [To Richard]
Let me sit heavy on ^{note note} thy soul to-morrow,
Rivers, that died at Pomfret! despair, and die!

Ghost of G. [To Richard]
Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair!

Ghost of V. [To Richard]
Think upon Vaughan, and, with guilty fear,
Let fall thy lance ^note: despair ^note, and die!

All. [To Richmond]
Awake, and think our wrongs in Richard's ^note bosom
Will ^note conquer him ^note! awake, and win the day! Enter the Ghost of Hastings. ^note

Ghost. [To Richard]
Bloody and guilty, guiltily ^note awake,
And in a bloody battle end thy days!
Think on Lord Hastings: despair ^note, and die! [To Richmond]
Quiet untroubled soul, awake, awake! ^note
Arm, fight, and conquer, for fair England's sake! Enter the Ghosts of the two young Princes.

Ghosts. [To Richard]
Dream on thy cousins smother'd in the Tower: ^note
Let us be lead ^note within thy bosom, Richard,
And weigh thee ^note down to ruin, shame, and death!
Thy nephews' souls bid ^note thee despair and die!

[To Richmond]
Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace, and wake in joy; ^note
Good angles guard thee from the boar's annoy!
Live, and beget a happy race of kings!
Edward's unhappy sons do bid thee flourish. Enter the Ghost of Lady Anne. ^note

Ghost. [To Richard]
Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife, ^note
That never slept a quiet hour with thee,
Now fills thy sleep with perturbations ^note:
To-morrow in the battle think on me,
And fall thy edgeless sword ^note: despair, and die! ^note [To Richmond]
Thou quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet sleep: ^note
Dream of success and happy victory!
Thy adversary's wife doth pray for thee. Enter the Ghost ^note of Buckingham.

Ghost. [To Richard]
The first was I that help'd thee to the crown; ^note
The last was I that felt thy ^note tyranny:
O, in the battle think on 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 ^note ere I could lend thee aid: ^note

But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismay'd:
God and good angels fight on Richmond's side;
And Richard falls ^note in height of all his pride. [The Ghosts vanish. ^note King Richard starts out of his dream. ^note

K. Rich.
Give me another horse: bind up my wounds.
Have mercy, Jesu!—Soft ! I did but dream.
O coward ^note conscience, how dost thou afflict me!
The lights burn blue. It is now ^note dead midnight.
Cold fearful drops stand ^note on my trembling flesh.
What do I fear? myself? ^note there's none else by:
Richard loves Richard; that is, I am I ^{note note}.
Is there a murderer here? No. Yes, I am:
Then fly. ^note What, from myself? Great reason why: ^note
Lest I revenge. What, ^note myself upon ^note myself?
Alack ^note, I love myself. Wherefore? for any good
That I ^note myself have ^note done unto myself?
O, no! alas, I rather hate myself
For hateful deeds committed by myself!
I am a villain: yet ^note I lie, I am not.
Fool, of thyself speak well: fool ^{note note}, 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 ^note, in the ^note high'st degree;
Murder, stern murder, in the direst degree;
All several sins, all used in each degree,
Throng ^note to the bar ^note, crying all ^note ‘Guilty! guilty!’
I shall ^note despair. There is no creature ^note loves me;
And if I die, no soul shall pity me:
Nay, ^note wherefore should they, since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself? ^{note note}
Methought the souls of all that I had ^note murder'd.
Came ^note to my tent, and every one ^note did threat
To-morrow's vengeance on the head of Richard. ^note Enter Ratcliff.

Rat.
My lord!

K. Rich.
'Zounds! who is ^note there?

Rat.
Ratcliff ^note, my lord; 'tis I ^note. The early village-cock
Hath twice ^note done salutation to the morn;
Your friends are up, and buckle on their armour.

K. Rich.
O Ratcliff, I have dream'd a fearful dream!
What thinkest ^note thou, will our friends prove all true?

Rat.
No doubt, my lord. ^note

K. Rich.
O ^note Ratcliff, I fear ^note, I fear,—

Rat.
Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows.

K. Rich.
By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night

Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard
Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers
Armed ^note in proof, and led by shallow Richmond.
It is ^note not yet near day. Come, go with me;
Under our tents ^note I'll play the eaves-dropper ^note,
To see ^note if any mean to shrink ^note from me. [Exeunt. ^note Enter ^note the Lords to Richmond, sitting in his tent. ^note

Lords.
Good morrow, Richmond!

Richm.
Cry mercy ^note, lords and watchful gentlemen,
That you have ta'en a ^note tardy sluggard here.

Lords.
How have you slept, my lord?

Richm.
The sweetest sleep, and fairest-boding ^note dreams ^note
That ever enter'd in a drowsy head,
Have I since your departure had, my lords.
Methought their souls, whose bodies ^note Richard murder'd,
Came to my tent, and cried on victory ^note:
I promise you, my soul ^note is very jocund
In the remembrance of so fair a dream.
How far into the morning ^note is it, lords?

Lords.
Upon the stroke of four.

Richm. ^note
Why, then 'tis time to arm and give direction.

His oration ^note to his soldiers.
More than I have said, loving countrymen,
The leisure and enforcement of the time
Forbids to dwell upon ^note: yet remember this,
God and our good cause fight upon our side;
The prayers of holy saints and wronged souls,
Like high-rear'd ^note bulwarks, stand before our faces.
Richard except, ^note 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 establish'd;
One that made means to come by what ^note he hath,
And slaughter'd ^note those that were the means to help him;
A base foul stone, made precious by the foil ^note
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 ^note you as his soldiers;
If you do ^note sweat ^note 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 ^note shall pay your pains the hire;
If you do ^note 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 quit ^note it in 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 ^note
The least of you shall share his part thereof.
Sound drums and trumpets ^note boldly and ^note cheerfully;
God and Saint George! Richmond and victory! [Exeunt. ^note Re-enter ^note King Richard, Ratcliff, Attendants and Forces. ^note

K. Rich.
What said Northumberland as touching Richmond?

Rat.
That he was never trained up in arms.

K. Rich.
He said the truth: and what said Surrey, then?

Rat.
He smiled and said ‘The better for our purpose.’

K. Rich.
He was in the ^note right; and so indeed it is. [The clock striketh. ^note
Tell the clock there. Give me a calendar.
Who saw the sun to-day? ^note

Rat.
Not I, my lord.

K. Rich.
Then he disdains to shine; for by the book
He should have braved ^note the east an hour ago:
A black day will it ^note be to somebody.
Ratcliff ^note! ^note

Rat.
My lord?

K. Rich.
The sun will not be seen to-day;
The sky doth frown and lour upon our army.
I would these dewy tears were from the ground.
Not shine to-day! Why, what is that to me

More than to Richmond? for the selfsame heaven
That frowns on me looks sadly upon him. Re-enter Norfolk.

Nor.
Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts ^note in the field.

K. Rich.
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 ordered:
My foreward shall be drawn out all ^{note note} in length,
Consisting equally of horse and foot;
Our archers shall be placed in the midst:
John Duke of Norfolk, Thomas Earl of Surrey,
Shall have the leading of this ^note foot and horse.
They thus directed, we ^note will follow ^note
In the main battle, whose puissance ^note on either side
Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse.
This, and Saint George to boot ^note! What think'st ^note thou, Norfolk ^{note note}?

Nor.
A good direction, warlike sovereign.
This ^note found I on my tent this morning. [He sheweth ^note him a paper.

K. Rich. [Reads] ^note
‘Jockey of Norfolk, be not too ^note bold,
For Dickon thy master is bought and sold.’ ^note
A thing ^note devised by the enemy.
Go, gentlemen, every man unto ^note his charge:

Let not our babbling dreams affright our souls:
Conscience is but ^note a word that cowards use,
Devised at first to keep the strong in awe:
Our strong arms be our conscience ^note, swords ^note our law ^note.
March on, join bravely, let us to't ^note pell-mell;
If not to heaven, then hand in hand to hell. His oration ^note to his Army.
What shall I say more than I have inferr'd?
Remember whom ^note you are to cope ^note withal;
A sort of vagabonds, rascals, and ^note runaways,
A scum of Bretons ^note, and base lackey peasants,
Whom their o'er-cloyed country vomits forth
To desperate ventures and assured ^note destruction.
You sleeping safe, they bring to you ^note unrest;
You having lands and blest with beauteous wives,
They would restrain ^note the one, distain the other.
And who doth lead them but a paltry fellow,
Long kept in Bretagne ^note at our mother's ^note cost?
A milk-sop ^note, 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 famish'd beggars, weary of their lives,
Who, but for dreaming on this fond exploit,
For want of means, poor rats, had hang'd themselves:

If we be conquer'd ^note, let men conquer us,
And not these ^note bastard Bretons ^note, whom our fathers
Have in their own land beaten, bobb'd, and thump'd,
And in record ^note left them the heirs ^note of shame.
Shall these enjoy our lands ^note? lie with our wives?
Ravish our daughters? [Drum ^note afar off.] Hark! I hear their ^note drum ^note.
Fight ^note, gentlemen of England! fight, bold ^note yeomen!
Draw, archers, draw your ^note arrows to the head!
Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood;
Amaze the welkin with your broken staves! Enter ^note a Messenger.
What says Lord Stanley? will he bring his power?

Mess.
My lord, he doth deny to come ^note.

K. Rich.
Off ^note with his son George's head!

Nor.
My lord, the enemy is past the marsh:
After the battle let George Stanley die.

K. Rich.
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 ^note our helms ^note. [Exeunt. ^note

^note

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