Buck. Hastings, and Edward's children, Rivers, Grey, Holy King Henry, and thy fair son Edward, Buck. Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's This is the day, which, in King Edward's time, 3 The time to which the punishment of his injurious practices or the wrongs done by him was respited. 4 Johnson thinks this scene should be added to the fourth act, which would give it a more full and striking conclusion. In the original quarto copy, 1597, this play is not divided into acts and scenes: Malone suggests that the short scene between Stanley and Sir Christopher may have been the opening of the fifth act. SCENE II. Plain near Tamworth. Enter, with drum and colours, RICHMONd, Ox- Bruis'd underneath the yoke of tyranny, Have we march'd on without impediment; That spoil'd your summer fields, and fruitful vines, Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his trough In your embowell'd bosoms, this foul swine Lies now even in the centre of this isle, Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn: Oxf. Every man's conscience is a thousand To fight against that bloody homicide. Herb. I doubt not, but his friends will turn to us. Blunt. He hath no friends, but who are friends for fear; Which, in his dearest need, will fly from him. 1 John de Vere, earl of Oxford, a zealous Lancastrian, who, after a long confinement in Hammes Castle, in Picardy, escaped in 1484, and joined Richmond at Paris. He commanded the archers at the battle of Bosworth. 2 Sir James Blunt had been captain of the Castle of Hammes, and assisted Oxford in his escape. 3 Alluding to the proverb, Conscientiæ mille testes.' Richm. All for our vantage. name, march: Then, in God's True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings, Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Bosworth Field. Enter KING RICHARD, and Forces; the DUKE of NORFOLK, EARL of SURREY, and Others. K. Rich. Here pitch our tents, even here in Bosworth field. My lord of Surrey, why look you so sad? Sur. My heart is ten times lighter than my looks. K. Rich. My lord of Norfolk, Nor. Here, most gracious liege. K. Rich. Norfolk, we must have knocks: Ha! must we not? Nor. We must both give and take, my loving lord. K. Rich. Up with my tent: Here will I lie to-night1; [Soldiers begin to set up the King's tent. But where, to-morrow?-Well, all's one for thatWho hath descried the number of the traitors? Nor. Six or seven thousand is their utmost power. K. Rich. Why, our battalia trebles that account 2: Besides, the king's name is a tower of strength, Which they upon the adverse faction want. Up with the tent.--Come, noble gentlemen, Let us survey the vantage of the ground;Call for some men of sound direction 3: 1 Richard is reported not to have slept in his tent on the night before the battle, but in the town of Leicester. 2 Richmond's forces are said to have been only five thousand; and Richard's army consisted of about twelve thousand. But Lord Stanley lay at a small distance with three thousand men, and Richard may be supposed to have reckoned on them as his friends, though the event proved otherwise. 3 i. e. tried judgment, military skill. Let's want no discipline, make no delay; [Exeunt. Enter, on the other side of the Field, RICHMOND, SIR WILLIAM BRANDON, OXFORD, and other Lords. Some of the Soldiers pitch RICHMOND'S Tent. my standard. Richm. The weary sun hath made a golden set, Yet one thing more, good captain, do for me; Richm. If without peril it be possible, with him, to speak And give him from me this most needful note. 4 Appoint. 'I'll make so bold to call, 5 Remains with. Macbeth. 6 i. e. contrive, take some pains or earnest measures. Thus in The Two Gentlemen of Verona : "To make such means for her as thou hast done.' Blunt. Upon my life, my lord, I'll undertake it; And so, God give you quiet rest to night! Richm. Good night, good captain Blunt. Come, gentlemen, Let us consult upon to-morrow's business; In to my tent, the air is raw and cold. [They withdraw into the Tent. Enter, to his Tent, KING RICHARD, NORFolk, RATCLIFF, and CATESBY. K. Rich. What is't o'clock? Cate. It's nine o'clock. K. Rich. It's supper time, my lord: I will not sup to-night. Give me some ink and paper. 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; Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels. Nor. I go, my lord. K. Rich. Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk. Nor. I warrant you, my K. Rich. Ratcliff, Rat. My lord? K. Rich. Send out a pursuivant at arms To Stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power Fill me a bowl of wine.-Give me a watch7: [TO CATESBY. 7 By a watch is most probably meant a watch-light. The nature of which will appear from the following note of Sir Francis Kinaston upon Chaucer's Troilus and Cressida, in the very VOL. VII. |