Has.
Now, noble peers, the ^note cause why we are met
Is—to determine of the coronation:
In God's name, speak, when is the ^note royal day?

Buc.
Are all things ready for ^note that royal time?

Sta.
They are, and ^note wants but ^note nomination.

Bish.
To-morrow ^note then I judge a happy day ^note.

Buc.
Who knows the lord protector's mind herein?

Who is most inward with the noble duke?

Bish.
Your grace, we think, should ^note soonest know his mind.

Buc.
We ^note know each other's faces: for our hearts,—
He knows no more of mine, than I of yours;
Nor I of his, my lord, than ^note you of mine:—
Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.

Has.
I thank his grace, I know he loves me well;
But, for his purpose in the coronation,
I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd
His gracious ^note pleasure any way therein:
But you, my ^note noble lord, may name the time;
And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
Which, I presume, he'll ^note take in gentle part ^note. Enter Richard.

Bish.
In happy time, here ^note comes the duke himself.

Ric.
My noble lords and ^note cousins, all good morrow:
I have been long a sleeper; ^note but, I trust ^note,
My absence doth neglect no great design ^note,
Which by my presence might have been concluded.

Buc.
Had you not ^note come upon your cue, my lord,
William lord Hastings had pronounc'd ^note your part,—
I mean, your voice,—for crowning of the king.

Ric.
Than my lord Hastings, no man might be bolder;
His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.—
My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn, ^note
I saw good strawberries in your garden there;
I do beseech you, send for some of them.

Bish.
Marry, and will, my lord, ^note with all my heart. [Exit Bishop.

Ric.
Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you: [drawing him aside.
Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business;

And finds the testy gentleman so hot,
That he ^note will lose his head, ere give consent,
His master's child, as worshipfully he ^note terms it,
Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.

Buc.
Withdraw yourself awhile, ^note I'll go with you. ^note [Exeunt Ric. and Buc.

Sta.
We have not yet set down this day of triumph:
To-morrow, in my judgment, is too sudden ^note;
For I myself am not so well provided,
As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. Re-enter Bishop of Ely.

Bish.
Where is my lord Protector? ^note I have sent
For these same strawberries.

Has.
His grace looks chearfully and smooth this morning; ^note
There's some conceit or other likes him well,
When he doth bid ^note good morrow with such spirit.
I think, there's ne'er a man in christendom,
Can ^note lesser hide his love, or hate, than he;
For by his face straight shall you know his heart.

Sta.
What of his heart perceive you in his face,
By any likelihood ^note he shew'd to-day?

Has.
Marry, that with no man here he is offended;
For, were he, he had shewn it in his looks. ^note Re-enter Richard, and Buckingham, hastily; Lovel, and Ratcliff, with them; a Guard behind.

Ric.
I pray you all, tell me what they ^note deserve, [advancing sternly toward his Seat.
That do conspire my death with devilish ^note plots
Of damned witchraft; and that have prevail'd
Upon my body with their hellish charms?

Has.
The tender love I bear your grace, my lord,
Makes me most forward in this noble presence ^note

To doom the offenders, whosoe'er ^note they be:
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

Ric.
Then be your eyes the witness of their evil ^note,
Look how ^note I am betwitch'd; ^note behold, mine arm [stripping and laying it bare.
Is like a blasted sapling, wither'd up:
And this is Edward's ^note wife, that monstrous witch,
Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
That by their witchcraft ^note thus have marked me.

Has.
If they have done this deed, my noble lord, ^note—

Ric.
If! thou protector of this damned strumpet,
Talk'st thou to me ^note of ifs? Thou art a traitor,—
Off with his head;—now by saint Paul I swear, ^note
I will not dine until I see the same.—
Lovel, and Ratcliff, look that it be done;—
The rest, that love me, rise, and ^note follow me. [Council rise in Confusion; and Exeunt, with Ric. and Buc.

Has.
Woe, woe, for England! not a whit for me;
For I, too fond, might have prevented this:
Stanley did dream, the boar did raze his helm ^note;
But I disdain'd it, and did scorn ^note to fly:
Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble,
And startl'd ^note, when he look'd upon the tower,
As loth to bear me to the slaughter-house.
O, now I need the ^note priest that spake to me:
Now I repent I told the pursuivant,
As too triúmphing, how mine ^note enemies
To-day at ^note Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd,
And I myself secure in grace and favour.
O, Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
Is lighted ^note on poor Hastings' wretched head.

Rat.
Dispatch, my lord, the duke would be at dinner; ^note
Make a short shrift, he longs to see your head.

Has.
O momentary grace of mortal ^note men,
Which we more hunt for than the ^note grace of God! ^note
Who builds his hope ^note in air ^note of your fair looks ^note,
Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast;
Ready, with every nod, to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

Lov.
Come, come, dispatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. ^note

Has.
O bloody Richard!—miserable England!
I prophesy the fearful'st time to thee,
That ever wretched age hath look'd upon.—
Come, lead me to the block, bear him my head;
They smile at me, who shortly ^note shall be dead. [Exeunt.

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