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Richard III - Act 3, scene 4
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Richard III - Act 3, scene 4Act 3, scene 4
Scene 4
Synopsis:
A council of lords meets to plan the coronation of Edward V. Richard, learning from Buckingham of Hastings’ refusal to support them, accuses Hastings’ mistress of witchcraft and orders Hastings’ execution. Hastings, led off to his death, remembers Stanley’s warning dream and Margaret’s curse.
Enter Buckingham, ⌜Lord Stanley, Earl of⌝ Derby,Hastings, Bishop of Ely, Norfolk, Ratcliffe, Lovell, with
others, at a table.
HASTINGS
1913 Now, noble peers, the cause why we are met
1914 Is to determine of the coronation.
1915 In God’s name, speak. When is the royal day?
BUCKINGHAM
1916 Is all things ready for the royal time?
STANLEY
1917 5 It is, and wants but nomination.
ELY
1918 Tomorrow, then, I judge a happy day.
BUCKINGHAM
1919 Who knows the Lord Protector’s mind herein?
1920 Who is most inward with the noble duke?
ELY
1921 Your Grace, we think, should soonest know his
1922 10 mind.
BUCKINGHAM
1923 We know each other’s faces; for our hearts,
1924 He knows no more of mine than I of yours,
1925 Or I of his, my lord, than you of mine.—
1926 Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
HASTINGS
1927 15 I thank his Grace, I know he loves me well.
1928 But for his purpose in the coronation,
1929 I have not sounded him, nor he delivered
1930 His gracious pleasure any way therein.
1931 But you, my honorable lords, may name the time,
1932 20 And in the Duke’s behalf I’ll give my voice,
1933 Which I presume he’ll take in gentle part.
Enter ⌜Richard, Duke of⌝ Gloucester.
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161
ELY 1934 In happy time here comes the Duke himself.
RICHARD
1935 My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow.
1936 I have been long a sleeper; but I trust
1937 25 My absence doth neglect no great design
1938 Which by my presence might have been concluded.
BUCKINGHAM
1939 Had you not come upon your cue, my lord,
1940 William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part—
1941 I mean your voice for crowning of the King.
RICHARD
1942 30 Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder.
1943 His Lordship knows me well and loves me well.—
1944 My lord of Ely, when I was last in Holborn
1945 I saw good strawberries in your garden there;
1946 I do beseech you, send for some of them.
ELY
1947 35 Marry and will, my lord, with all my heart.
Exit Bishop ⌜of Ely.⌝
RICHARD
1948 Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you.
⌜They move aside.⌝
1949 Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business
1950 And finds the testy gentleman so hot
1951 That he will lose his head ere give consent
1952 40 His master’s child, as worshipfully he terms it,
1953 Shall lose the royalty of England’s throne.
BUCKINGHAM
1954 Withdraw yourself awhile. I’ll go with you.
⌜Richard and Buckingham⌝ exit.
STANLEY
1955 We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
1956 Tomorrow, in my judgment, is too sudden,
1957 45 For I myself am not so well provided
1958 As else I would be, were the day prolonged.
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163
Enter the Bishop of Ely.ELY
1959 Where is my lord the Duke of Gloucester?
1960 I have sent for these strawberries.
HASTINGS
1961 His Grace looks cheerfully and smooth this
1962 50 morning.
1963 There’s some conceit or other likes him well
1964 When that he bids good morrow with such spirit.
1965 I think there’s never a man in Christendom
1966 Can lesser hide his love or hate than he,
1967 55 For by his face straight shall you know his heart.
STANLEY
1968 What of his heart perceive you in his face
1969 By any livelihood he showed today?
HASTINGS
1970 Marry, that with no man here he is offended,
1971 For were he, he had shown it in his looks.
Enter Richard and Buckingham.
RICHARD
1972 60 I pray you all, tell me what they deserve
1973 That do conspire my death with devilish plots
1974 Of damnèd witchcraft, and that have prevailed
1975 Upon my body with their hellish charms?
HASTINGS
1976 The tender love I bear your Grace, my lord,
1977 65 Makes me most forward in this princely presence
1978 To doom th’ offenders, whosoe’er they be.
1979 I say, my lord, they have deservèd death.
RICHARD
1980 Then be your eyes the witness of their evil.
⌜He shows his arm.⌝
1981 Look how I am bewitched! Behold mine arm
1982 70 Is like a blasted sapling withered up;
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165
1983
And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch,1984 Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
1985 That by their witchcraft thus have markèd me.
HASTINGS
1986 If they have done this deed, my noble lord—
RICHARD
1987 75 If? Thou protector of this damnèd strumpet,
1988 Talk’st thou to me of “ifs”? Thou art a traitor.—
1989 Off with his head. Now by Saint Paul I swear
1990 I will not dine until I see the same.—
1991 Lovell and Ratcliffe, look that it be done.—
1992 80 The rest that love me, rise and follow me.
They exit. Lovell and Ratcliffe remain,
with the Lord Hastings.
HASTINGS
1993 Woe, woe for England! Not a whit for me,
1994 For I, too fond, might have prevented this.
1995 Stanley did dream the boar did ⟨raze his helm,⟩
1996 And I did scorn it and disdain to fly.
1997 85 Three times today my foot-cloth horse did stumble,
1998 And started when he looked upon the Tower,
1999 As loath to bear me to the slaughterhouse.
2000 O, now I need the priest that spake to me!
2001 I now repent I told the pursuivant,
2002 90 As too triumphing, how mine enemies
2003 Today at Pomfret bloodily were butchered,
2004 And I myself secure in grace and favor.
2005 O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
2006 Is lighted on poor Hastings’ wretched head.
RATCLIFFE
2007 95 Come, come, dispatch. The Duke would be at
2008 dinner.
2009 Make a short shrift. He longs to see your head.
HASTINGS
2010 O momentary grace of mortal men,
2011 Which we more hunt for than the grace of God!
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167
2012
100 Who builds his hope in air of your good looks2013 Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,
2014 Ready with every nod to tumble down
2015 Into the fatal bowels of the deep.
LOVELL
2016 Come, come, dispatch. ’Tis bootless to exclaim.
HASTINGS
2017 105 O bloody Richard! Miserable England,
2018 I prophesy the fearfull’st time to thee
2019 That ever wretched age hath looked upon.—
2020 Come, lead me to the block. Bear him my head.
2021 They smile at me who shortly shall be dead.
They exit.