Original Text |
Translated Text |
| Source: Folger Shakespeare Library |
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Enter to his tent Richard, Ratcliffe, Norfolk, and
Catesby, with Soldiers. RICHARD What is ’t o’clock? 50 CATESBY
It’s suppertime, my lord. It’s nine o’clock. RICHARD
I will not sup tonight. 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. 55 RICHARD
Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge.
Use careful watch. Choose trusty sentinels. NORFOLK I go, my lord. RICHARD
Stir with the lark tomorrow, gentle Norfolk. NORFOLK I warrant you, my lord. He exits. 60 | [Note: In the Folger's edition, this is still Scene 3.] Back at Richard's camp at Bosworth Field, Richard is also making
preparations for battle. He is not focused on troop movements or even
the well-being of the army. Instead, he asks about his own personal
gear: his helmet, swords, horse, and armor (evidence, perhaps, that in
his mind the battle is all about him). Even when talking about his own
men, Richard is more ready to threaten than to encourage. |
RICHARD Catesby. CATESBY My lord. RICHARD Send out a pursuivant-at-arms
To Stanley’s regiment. Bid him bring his power
Before sunrising, lest his son George fall 65
Into the blind cave of eternal night. Catesby exits. To Soldiers. Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a
watch.
Saddle white Surrey for the field tomorrow.
Look that my staves be sound and not too heavy.— 70
Ratcliffe. RATCLIFFE My lord. RICHARD
Sawst thou the melancholy Lord Northumberland? RATCLIFFE
Thomas the Earl of Surrey and himself,
Much about cockshut time, from troop to troop 75
Went through the army cheering up the soldiers. | Richard sends Catesby to tell Stanley to bring his troops before sunrise, emphasizing that Stanley's son's life hangs in the balance. Richard then calls for wine and hears the news that some other noblemen have gone through the camps trying to cheer and motivate the troops (something Richard didn't see fit to do himself). |
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 is brought. Set it down. Is ink and paper ready? 80 RATCLIFFE
It is, my lord. RICHARD Bid my guard watch. Leave me.
Ratcliffe, about the mid of night come to my tent
And help to arm me. Leave me, I say. Ratcliffe exits. Richard sleeps in his tent,
which is guarded by Soldiers. | Richard gets his wine and calls for ink and paper. His last instructions are to Ratcliffe, who should come and arm him in the early morning. Then, instead of doing any crunch-time writing or planning for the battle, Richard goes to bed and falls asleep right away. |
Enter Stanley, Earl of Derby to Richmond in his tent. STANLEY
Fortune and victory sit on thy helm! 85 RICHMOND
All comfort that the dark night can afford
Be to thy person, noble father-in-law.
Tell me, how fares our loving mother? STANLEY
I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother,
Who prays continually for Richmond’s good. 90
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 arbitrament 95
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, 100
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, 105
Which so-long-sundered friends should dwell upon.
God give us leisure for these rites of love!
Once more, adieu. Be valiant and speed well. | Back at Richmond's camp, Richmond's stepfather Stanley has arrived for a secret meeting. The two greet each other lovingly, and Stanley gives Richmond the inside scoop that he should be prepared for battle very, very early. Stanley says he'll try to do whatever he can to help Richmond by misleading Richard's forces. He has to appear to fight on Richard's side, though, or else the king will kill Richmond's stepbrother, George Stanley. |
RICHMOND
Good lords, conduct him to his regiment.
I’ll strive with troubled thoughts to take a nap, 110
Lest leaden slumber peise me down tomorrow
When I should mount with wings of victory.
Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen. All but Richmond leave his tent and exit.
Richmond kneels. O Thou, whose captain I account myself,
Look on my forces with a gracious eye. 115
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. 120
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. | Richmond thanks Stanley warmly and has him escorted back to his regiment. Then Richmond does the opposite of what Richard did. He doesn't drink, and, having done all his homework, lies down to get as much sleep as possible so he'll be well rested for his big day tomorrow. As if he weren't already perfect enough, Richmond says his prayers
before bed. He talks to God, reiterating that he's humbly in His
service. He also asks that God bless his men so they can crush their
foes with irons of wrath. |
Enter the Ghost of young Prince Edward, son to Harry
the Sixth. GHOST OF EDWARD, (to Richard)
Let me sit heavy on thy soul tomorrow.
Think how thou stabbed’st me in my prime of 125
youth
At Tewkesbury. Despair therefore, and die!
(To Richmond.) Be cheerful, Richmond, for the
wrongèd souls
Of butchered princes fight in thy behalf. 130
King Henry’s issue, Richmond, comforts thee.
He exits. Enter the Ghost of Henry the Sixth. GHOST OF HENRY, (to Richard)
When I was mortal, my anointed body
By thee was punchèd full of deadly holes.
Think on the Tower and me. Despair and die!
Harry the Sixth bids thee despair and die. 135
(To Richmond.) Virtuous and holy, be thou conqueror.
Harry, that prophesied thou shouldst be king,
Doth comfort thee in thy sleep. Live and flourish.
He exits. Enter the Ghost of Clarence. GHOST OF CLARENCE, (to Richard)
Let me sit heavy in thy soul tomorrow,
I, that was washed to death with fulsome wine, 140
Poor Clarence, by thy guile betrayed to death.
Tomorrow in the battle think on me,
And fall thy edgeless sword. Despair and die!
(To Richmond.) Thou offspring of the house of
Lancaster, 145
The wrongèd heirs of York do pray for thee.
Good angels guard thy battle. Live and flourish.
He exits. Enter the Ghosts of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan. GHOST OF RIVERS, (to Richard)
Let me sit heavy in thy soul tomorrow,
Rivers, that died at Pomfret. Despair and die!
GHOST OF GREY, (to Richard)
Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair! 150
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.
They exit. Enter the Ghosts of the two young Princes. GHOSTS OF PRINCES, (to Richard)
Dream on thy cousins smothered in the Tower. 155
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. 160
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.
They exit. Enter the Ghost of Hastings. GHOST OF HASTINGS, (to Richard)
Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake,
And in a bloody battle end thy days. 165
Think on Lord Hastings. Despair and die!
(To Richmond.) Quiet, untroubled soul, awake, awake.
Arm, fight, and conquer for fair England’s sake.
He exits. Enter the Ghost of Lady Anne his wife. GHOST OF ANNE, (to Richard)
Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife,
That never slept a quiet hour with thee, 170
Now fills thy sleep with perturbations.
Tomorrow, in the battle, think on me,
And fall thy edgeless sword. Despair and die!
(To Richmond.) Thou quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet
sleep. 175
Dream of success and happy victory.
Thy adversary’s wife doth pray for thee. She exits. Enter the Ghost of Buckingham. GHOST OF BUCKINGHAM, (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, 180
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, 185
But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismayed.
God and good angels fight on Richmond’s side,
And Richard fall in height of all his pride.
He exits. | We then get a parade of ghosts. Richard has had a hand in the murder of each of the eleven ghosts who show up, being, in order of their murder and appearance: Prince Edward (son of Henry VI), King Henry VI, Clarence, Rivers, Gray, Vaughn, the two young princes Edward and York, Hastings, Lady Anne, and Buckingham. Each ghost speaks to Richard and then Richmond, and with some variance they establish a general pattern. They each describe who they are and the circumstances of their death to Richard. They often go on to wish or prophesy that Richard be killed in battle the next day. Most important, every one of the ghosts also tells Richard to, in so many words, "Despair and die!" After each ghost speaks with Richard, it makes its way to Richmond to deliver a counterbalancing speech of hope, love, and encouragement. Richmond is hailed as England's new king and father to a race of kings. After their speeches, the eleven ghosts vanish from the stage. |
Richard starteth up out of a dream. RICHARD
Give me another horse! Bind up my wounds!
Have mercy, Jesu!—Soft, I did but dream. 190
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. 195
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? 200
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, 205
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, 210
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? 215
Methought the souls of all that I had murdered
Came to my tent, and every one did threat
Tomorrow’s vengeance on the head of Richard. | Richard wakes up out of his sleep in a fit, crying for Jesus' mercy. As soon as Richard realizes it was only a dream, he curses that he is "afflicted" by his "coward conscience." Still, he notes a blue burning light (which was thought to symbolize the presence of ghosts). Richard can rationalize all he wants, but he feels fear and then tries to figure out why. Perhaps he fears himself? Of course not...or maybe. Perhaps, he wonders, he fears a murderer? There are no murderers there...except for himself. He briefly muses that perhaps he's seeking revenge against himself, but quickly dismisses this thought, knowing that he loves himself. Ultimately, Richard confesses that he's guilty of almost every sin in the book: deceit, murder, and beyond. He knows he's a villain, and he knows no one will pity him. He's quite comfortable with this though; no one can pity a man who does not pity himself, and King Richard does not pity himself.
Still, he knows he dreamed that the next day's battle would be his last. |
Enter Ratcliffe. RATCLIFFE My lord. RICHARD Zounds, who is there? 220 RATCLIFFE
Ratcliffe, my lord, ’tis I. The early village cock
Hath twice done salutation to the morn.
Your friends are up and buckle on their armor. RICHARD
O Ratcliffe, I have dreamed a fearful dream!
What think’st thou, will our friends prove all true? 225 RATCLIFFE
No doubt, my lord. RICHARD O Ratcliffe, I fear, I fear. RATCLIFFE
Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows. RICHARD
By the apostle Paul, shadows tonight
Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard 230
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 eavesdropper
To see if any mean to shrink from me. 235 Richard and Ratcliffe exit. | Richard is interrupted in his musings by Ratcliffe, who startles him. Richard cries "Zounds!" (a mild oath meaning "God's wounds!"). Richard is still shaken. He tries to tell Ratcliffe about his troublesome nightmare. He asks Ratcliffe if he thinks their friends will stay true on this day. (We're not sure which friends Richard means, since he's killed most of them.) Ratcliffe tells Richard to shake it off, and Richard seems to laugh a little at himself – one dream did more to unsettle him than Richmond and his whole army. |
Enter the Lords to Richmond, in his tent. LORDS Good morrow, Richmond. RICHMOND
Cry mercy, lords and watchful gentlemen,
That you have ta’en a tardy sluggard here. A LORD How have you slept, my lord? RICHMOND
The sweetest sleep and fairest-boding dreams 240
That ever entered 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. 245
I promise you, my soul is very jocund
In the remembrance of so fair a dream.
How far into the morning is it, lords? A LORD Upon the stroke of four. | We then turn to Richmond. Richmond apologizes for staying in bed so long. He says he had a great dream that featured a horde of ghosts of murdered people, all of whom were encouraging him. Richmond is stoked that all Richard's victims are on his side. (Dead men may tell no tales, but they sure can inspire confidence.) |
RICHMOND, leaving the tent
Why, then ’tis time to arm and give direction. 250 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 wrongèd souls, 255
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; 260
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 265
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, 270
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. 275
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 280
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! 285 They exit. [P.S. In the Folger's edition we're using, Scene 3 continues after this. Click to the next page to keep reading.] | Richmond gives a stirring speech to his men as they get ready to head into battle. He reminds them that they're fighting for God and a good cause. He reiterates that Richard is a bloody tyrant who doesn't belong on the throne of England, so they should do the godly thing and kill him. Finally, Richmond humbly says that if he fails in this war, his penalty will be his own death on the battlefield. But if they win, the victory will be shared by even the lowest among them. With some rousing drums and trumpets, Richmond leads his troops into battle. |