(Aside) Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business,

And finds the testy gentleman so hot

That he will lose his head ere give consent

His ‘master’s child’—as worshipful he terms it—

Shall lose the royalty of England’s throne.

BUCKINGHAM

Withdraw yourself a while; I’ll go with you.

Exeunt Richard ⌈and Buckingham⌉

STANLEY

We have not yet set down this day of triumph.

Tomorrow, in my judgement, is too sudden,

For I myself am not so well provided

As else I would be, were the day prolonged.

Enter Bishop of Ely

BISHOP OF ELY

Where is my lord, the Duke of Gloucester?

I have sent for these strawberries.

LORD HASTINGS

His grace looks cheerfully and smooth this morning.

There’s some conceit or other likes him well,

When that he bids good morrow with such spirit.

I think there’s never a man in Christendom

Can lesser hide his love or hate than he,

For by his face straight shall you know his heart.

STANLEY

What of his heart perceive you in his face

By any likelihood he showed today?

LORD HASTINGS

Marry, that with no man here he is offended—

For were he, he had shown it in his looks.

STANLEY I pray God he be not.

Enter Richard ⌈and Buckingham⌉

RICHARD GLOUCESTER

I pray you all, tell me what they deserve

That do conspire my death with devilish plots

Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevailed

Upon my body with their hellish charms?

LORD HASTINGS

The tender love I bear your grace, my lord,

Makes me most forward in this princely presence

To doom th’offenders, whatsoe’er they be.

I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

RICHARD GLOUCESTER

Then be your eyes the witness of their evil:

See how I am bewitched. Behold, mine arm

Is like a blasted sapling withered up.

And this is Edward’s wife, that monstrous witch,

Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,

That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.

LORD HASTINGS

If they have done this deed, my noble lord—

RICHARD GLOUCESTER

‛If’? Thou protector of this damned strumpet,

Talk’st thou to me of ‛ifs’ ? Thou art a traitor.—

Off with his head. Now, by Saint Paul I swear,

I will not dine until I see the same.

Some see it done.

The rest that love me, rise and follow me.

Exeunt all but ⌈Catesby⌉ and Hastings

LORD HASTINGS

Woe, woe for England! Not a whit for me,

For I, too fond, might have prevented this.

Stanley did dream the boar did raze our helms,

But I did scorn it and disdain to fly.

Three times today my footcloth horse did stumble,

And started when he looked upon the Tower,

As loath to bear me to the slaughterhouse.

O now I need the priest that spake to me.

I now repent I told the pursuivant,

As too triumphing, how mine enemies

Today at Pomfret bloodily were butchered,

And I myself secure in grace and favour.

O Margaret, Margaret! Now thy heavy curse

Is lighted on poor Hastings’ wretched head.

⌈CATESBY⌉

Come, come, dispatch: the Duke would be at dinner.

Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head.

LORD HASTINGS

O momentary grace of mortal men,

Which we more hunt for than the grace of God.

Who builds his hope in th’air of your good looks

Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,

Ready with every nod to tumble down

Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

⌈CATESBY⌉

Come, come, dispatch. ‘Tis bootless to exclaim.

LORD HASTINGS

O bloody Richard! Miserable England!

I prophesy the fearful’st time to thee

That ever wretched age hath looked upon.—

Come lead me to the block; bear him my head.

They smile at me, who shortly shall be dead. Exeunt

3.5Enter Richard Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Buckingham in rotten armour, marvellous ill-favoured

RICHARD GLOUCESTER

Come, cousin, canst thou quake and change thy colour?

Murder thy breath in middle of a word?

And then again begin, and stop again,

As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror?

BUCKINGHAM

Tut, I can counterfeit the deep tragedian,

Tremble and start at wagging of a straw,

Speak, and look back, and pry on every side,

Intending deep suspicion; ghastly looks

Are at my service, like enforced smiles,

And both are ready in their offices

At any time to grace my stratagems.

Enter the Lord Mayor

RICHARD GLOUCESTER (aside to Buckingham)

Here comes the Mayor.

BUCKINGHAM (aside to Richard)

Let me alone to entertain him.—Lord Mayor—

RICHARD GLOUCESTER ⌈calling as to one within⌉

Look to the drawbridge there!

BUCKINGHAM Hark, a drum!

RICHARD GLOUCESTER ⌈calling as to one within⌉

Catesby, o’erlook the walls!

BUCKINGHAM Lord Mayor, the reason we have sent—

RICHARD GLOUCESTER

Look back, defend thee! Here are enemies.

BUCKINGHAM

God and our innocence defend and guard us.

Enter ⌈Sir William Catesby⌉ with Hastings’ head

RICHARD GLOUCESTER

O, O, be quiet! It is Catesby.

CATESBY

Here is the head of that ignoble traitor,

The dangerous and unsuspected Hastings.

RICHARD GLOUCESTER

So dear I loved the man that I must weep.

I took him for the plainest harmless creature