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William Shakespeare,
"The Tragedy of King Richard The Third"
An Annotated Hypertext Edition

Act Five

-----------------------------

Contents:


Go to Historical Notes for Act Five, based on summaries and brief extracts from Charles D. Ross's 1981 biography.

Scene 1

Salisbury. An open place.
Enter the Sheriff and guard,
with Buckingham led to execution.


Buckingham:
Will not King Richard let me speak with him?
Sheriff:
No, my good lord; therefore be patient.
Buckingham:
Hastings, and Edward's children, Grey, and Rivers,
Holy King Henry and thy fair son Edward,
Vaughan and all that have miscarried
By underhand corrupted foul injustice,
If that your moody discontented souls
Do through the clouds behold this present hour,
Even for revenge mock my destruction!
This is All-Souls' day, fellow, is it not?
Sheriff:
It is, my lord.
Buckingham:
Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday.
This is the day which in King Edward's time
I wished might fall on me when I was found
False to his children and his wife's allies;
This is the day wherein I wished to fall
By the false faith of him whom most I trusted;
This, this All-Souls' day to my fearful soul
Is the determined respite of my wrongs:
That high All-Seer which I dallied with
Hath turned my feigned prayer on my head
And given in earnest what I begged in jest.
Thus doth He force the swords of wicked men
To turn their own points in their masters' bosoms;
Thus Margaret's curse falls heavy on my neck:
'When he,' quoth she, 'shall split thy heart with sorrow,
Remember Margaret was a prophetess.' -
Come lead me, officers, to the block of shame.
Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame.

Exeunt

Scene 2

Camp near Tamworth.
Enter Richmond, Oxford, Sir James Blunt, Sir Walter Herbert,
and others, with drum and colors.{Ross, note 71]


Richmond:
Fellows in arms, and my most loving friends,
Bruised underneath the yoke of tyranny,
Thus far into the bowels of the land
Have we marched on without impediment;
And here receive we from our father Stanley
Lines of fair comfort and encouragement.{Ross, note 72]
The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar,
That spoiled your summer fields and fruitful vines,
Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his trough
In your embowelled bosoms - this foul swine
Is now even in the center of this isle,
Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn:
From Tamworth thither is but one day's march.
In God's name cheerly on, courageous friends,
To reap the harvest of perpetual peace
By this one bloody trial of sharp war.
Oxford:
Every man's conscience is a thousand men,
To fight against this guilty homicide.
Herbert:
I doubt not but his friends will turn to us.
Blunt:
He hath no friends but what are friends for fear,
Which in his dearest need will fly from him.
Richmond:
All for our vantage. Then in God's name march!
True hope is swift and flies with swallow's wings;
Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings.

Exeunt

Scene 3

Bosworth Field.
Enter King Richard in arms, with Norfolk,
Ratcliff, the Earl of Surrey and others.


King Richard:
Here pitch our tent, even here in Bosworth field.{Ross, note 73]
My Lord of Surrey, why look you so sad?
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?
Norfolk:
We must both give and take, my loving lord.
King Richard:
Up with my tent! Here will I lie to-night

[Soldiers begin to set up the king's tent]

But where to-morrow? Well, all's one for that.
Who hath descried the number of the traitors?
Norfolk:
Six 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.
Up with the tent! Come, noble gentlemen,
Let us survey the vantage of the ground.
Call for some men of sound direction:
Let's lack no discipline, make no delay,
For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day.

Exeunt.
Enter, on the other side of the field,
Richmond, Sir William Brandon, Oxford, Dorset, and others.
Some pitch Richmond's tent.

Richmond:
The weary sun hath made a golden set
And by the bright tract of his fiery car
Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow.
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,
Limit 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;
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 Captain, do for me -
Where is Lord Stanley quartered, do you know?
Blunt:
Unless I have mista'en his colors 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,
Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with him
And give him from me this most needful note.{Ross, note 74]
Blunt:
Upon my life, my lord, I'll undertake it;
And so, God give you quiet rest to-night!
Richmond:
Good night, good Captain Blunt. Come, gentlemen,
Let us consult upon to-morrow's business.
Into my tent; the dew is raw and cold.

[They withdraw into the tent]
Enter, to his tent, King Richard, Norfolk, Ratcliff, and Catesby

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 to-night.
Give me some ink and paper.
What? Is my beaver easier than it was?
And all my armor laid into my tent?
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:
I go, my lord.
King Richard:
Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk.
Norfolk:
I warrant you, my lord.

Exit

King Richard:
Catesby!
Catesby:
My lord?
King Richard:
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

Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a watch.
Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow.
Look that my staves be sound and not too heavy.
Ratcliff!
Ratcliff:
My lord?
King Richard:
Saw'st thou the melancholy Lord Northumberland?
Ratcliff:
Thomas the Earl of Surrey and himself,
Much 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 brought]

Set it down. Is ink and paper ready?
Ratcliff:
It is, my lord.
King Richard:
Bid my guard watch. Leave me Ratcliff,
About the mid of night come to my tent
And help to arm me. Leave me, I say.

Exit Ratcliff. Richard sleeps.
Enter Derby to Richmond in his tent. Lords attending.

Derby:
Fortune and victory sit on thy helm!
Richmond:
All comfort that the dark night can afford
Be to thy person, noble father-in-law!
Tell me, how fares our loving mother?
Derby:
I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother,
Who prays continually for Richmond's good:
So 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 arbitrement
Of 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,
Lest, being seen, thy brother, tender George,
Be executed in his father's sight.
Farewell. The leisure and the fearful time
Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love
And ample interchange of sweet discourse
Which so long-sund'red 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,
Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow,
When I should mount with wings of victory:
Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.

Exeunt all but Richmond

O Thou, whose captain I account myself,
Look on my forces with a gracious eye;
Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath,
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.
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]
Enter the Ghost of Young Prince Edward,
son to Henry the Sixth

Ghost:[To Richard]Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow!
Think how thou stab'st me in my prime of youth at Tewksbury:
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.

Enter the Ghost of Henry the Sixth

Ghost:
[To Richard]When I was mortal, my anointed body
By thee was punched full of deadly holes.
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,
Doth comfort thee in thy sleep: live and flourish!

Enter the Ghost of Clarence

Ghost:
[To Richard]Let me sit heavy in thy soul to-morrow -
I that was washed to death with 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 Rivers:
[To Richard]Let me sit heavy in thy soul to-morrow,
Rivers that died at Pomfret! Despair, and die!
Ghost Of Grey:
[To Richard]Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair!
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
Will conquer him! Awake, and win the day!

Enter the Ghost of Hastings

Ghost:
[To Richard]Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake
And 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!

Enter the Ghosts of the two young Princes

Ghosts:
[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.
[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.

Enter the Ghost of Lady Anne, his wife

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

Enter the Ghost of Buckingham

Ghost:
[To Richard]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,
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 ere I could lend thee aid;
But cheer thy heart and be thou not dismayed:
God and good angels fight on Richmond's side,
And Richard falls in height of all his pride!

[The Ghosts vanish. Richard starts out of his 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!
The lights burn blue. It is now dead midnight.
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 -
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.
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.
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;
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
To-morrow's vengeance on the head of Richard.

Enter Ratcliff

Ratcliff:
My lord!
King Richard:
Zounds, who is there?
Ratcliff:
Ratcliff, my lord, 'tis I. The early village cock,
Hath twice done salutation to the morn:
Your friends are up and buckle on their armor.
King Richard:
O Ratcliff, I have dreamed a fearful dream!{Ross, note 75]
What think'st thou? Will our friends prove all true?
Ratcliff:
No doubt, my lord.
King Richard:O Ratcliff, I fear, I fear!
Ratcliff:
Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows.
King Richard:
By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night
Have stuck more terror to the soul of Richard
Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers
Armed in proof and led by shallow Richmond.
'Tis not yet near day. Come, go with me.
Under our tents I'll play the easedropper,
To see if any mean to shrink from me.

Exeunt.
Enter the Lords to Richmond sitting in his tent

Lords:
Good morrow, Richmond.
Richmond:
Cry mercy, lords and watchful gentlemen,
That you have ta'en a tardy sluggard here.
Lords:
How have you slept, my lord?
Richmond:
The sweetest sleep, and fairest-boding dreams
That ever ent'red in a drowsy head
Have I since your departure had, my lords.
Methought 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?
Lords:
Upon 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,
The leisure and enforcement of the time
Forbids to dwell upon. Yet remember this:
God 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.
For 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;
A 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;
If you do sweat 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 shall pay your pains the hire;
If you do 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 quits 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
The least of you shall share his part thereof.
Sound drums and trumpets boldly and cheerfully:
God and Saint George! Richmond and victory!

Exeunt.
Re-enter King Richard, Ratcliff, attendants, and forces.

King Richard:
What said Northumberland as touching Richmond?
Ratcliff:
That he was never trained up in arms.
King Richard:
He said the truth. And what said Surrey then?
Ratcliff:
He smiled and said, 'The better for our purpose.'
King Richard:
He was in the right, and so indeed it is.

[Clock strikes]

Tell the clock there. Give me a calendar.
Who saw the sun to-day?
Ratcliff:Not I, my lord.
King Richard:
Then he disdains to shine; for by the book
He should have braved the east an hour ago.
A black day will it be to somebody.
Ratcliff!
Ratcliff:
My lord?
King Richard:
The sun will not be seen to-day;
The sky doth frown and low'r 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.

Enter Norfolk

Norfolk:
Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts in the field.
King Richard:
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 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 foot and horse.
They thus directed, we will follow
In the main battle, whose puissance on either side
Shall be well winged with our chiefest horse.
This, and Saint George to boot! What think'st thou,
Norfolk?
Norfolk:
A good direction, warlike sovereign.
This found I on my tent this morning.

[He showeth him a paper. Reads]

'Jockey of Norfolk, be not so bold,
For Dickon thy master is bought and sold.'
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,
Devised 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?
Remember whom you are to cope withal -
A sort of vagabonds, rascals, and runaways,
A scum of Britains and base lackey peasants,
Whom their o'ercloyed country vomits forth
To desperate adventures and assured destruction.
You 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 Britain at our mother's cost,
A 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,
Who (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 Britains, whom our fathers
Have in their own land beaten, bobbed, and thumped,
And, in record, left them the heirs of shame.
Shall these enjoy our lands? Lie with our wives?
Ravish our daughters?[Drum afar off]Hark! I hear their drum.
Fight, gentlemen of England! Fight, bold yeomen!
Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head!
Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood!
Amaze the welkin with your broken staves!

Enter a Messenger

What says Lord Stanley? Will he bring his power?
Messenger:
My lord, he doth deny to come.
King Richard:
Off with his son George's head!
Norfolk:
My 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.{Ross, note 76]
Our ancient word of courage, fair Saint George,
Inspire us with the spleen of fiery dragons!
Upon them! Victory sits on our helms.

Exeunt

Scene 4

Another part of the field.
Alarum; excursions.
Enter Norfolk and forces to him Catesby.


Catesby:
Rescue, my Lord of Norfolk, rescue, rescue!
The king enacts more wonders than a man,
Daring an opposite to every danger:
His horse is slain, and all on foot he fights,
Seeking for Richmond in the throat of death.
Rescue, fair lord, or else the day is lost!{Ross, note 77]

Alarums. Enter King Richard.

King Richard:
A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!
Catesby:
Withdraw, my lord; I'll help you to a horse.
King Richard:
Slave, I have set my life upon a cast,
And I will stand the hazard of the die.{Ross, note 78]
I think there be six Richmonds in the field;
Five have I slain to-day instead of him.
A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!

Exeunt

Scene 5

Another part of the field.
Alarum. Enter Richard and Richmond; they fight;
Richard is slain.{Ross, note 79]Retreat and flourish.
Enter Richmond, Derby bearing the crown, with other Lords.


Richmond:
God and your arms be praised, victorious friends!
The day is ours; the bloody dog is dead.
Derby:
Courageous Richmond, well hast thou acquit thee.
Lo, here, this long-usurped royalty
From the dead temples of this bloody wretch
Have I plucked off, to grace thy brows withal.
Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it.{Ross, note 80]
Richmond:
Great God of heaven, say amen to all!
But tell me, is young George Stanley living?
Derby:
He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town,
Whither, if it please you, we may now withdraw us.
Richmond:
What men of name are slain on either side?{Ross, note 81]
Derby:
John Duke of Norfolk, Walter Lord Ferrers,
Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William Brandon.
Richmond:
Inter their bodies as becomes their births.
Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled
That in submission will return to us;
And then, as we have ta'en the sacrament,
We will unite the white rose and the red.
Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction,
That long have frowned upon their emnity!
What traitor hears me, and says not amen?
England hath long been mad and scarred herself;
The brother blindly shed the brother's blood;
The father rashly slaughtered his own son;
The son, compelled, been butcher to the sire:
All this divided York and Lancaster,
Divided in their dire division,
O, now let Richmond and Elizabeth,
The true succeeders of each royal house,
By God's fair ordinance conjoin together!
And let their heirs (God, if thy will be so)
Enrich the time to come with smooth-faced peace,
With smiling plenty, and fair prosperous days!
Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord,
That would reduce these bloody days again
And make poor England weep in streams of blood!{Ross, note 82]
Let them not live to taste this land's increase
That would with treason wound this fair land's peace!
Now civil wounds are stopped, peace lives again:
That she may long live here, God say Amen!

Exeunt

The End. Go to:
Special thanks to Nancy Laney for suggesting the hypertext edition; for her work preparing the text and the reference notes from Charles D. Ross's 1981 biography; and for her hypertext markup of Act V. This Web page maintained by feedback@r3.org