Ghost of V. [To Richard] Think upon Vaughan, and, with guilty fear, Let fall thy lance-despair, and die! All. [To Richmond] Awake, and think Will conquer him! awake, and win the day! The Ghost of HASTINGS rises. our Ghost of H. [To Richard] Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake, And in a bloody battle end thy days! Think on Lord Hastings: so-despair, and die ![To Richmond] Quiet untroubled soul, awake, awake! Arm, fight, and conquer, for fair England's sake! The Ghosts of the two young Princes rise. Ghosts of the two P. [To Richard] Dream on thy cousins smothered in the Tower: Let us be lead within thy bosom, Richard, Good angels guard thee from the boar's annoy! The Ghost of Queen ANNE rises. Ghost of Q. A. [To Richard] Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife, That never slept a quiet hour with thee, 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. The Ghost of BUCKINGHAM rises. Ghost of B. [To Richard] The first was I that helped thee to the crown; The last was I that felt thy tyranny: 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. King RICHARD starts out of his dream. K. Rich. Give me another horse,-bind up my wounds, Have mercy, Jesu !-Soft! I did but dream.- Is there a murderer here? No;—Yes, I am : why, Lest I revenge myself upon myself. Alack, I love myself. Wherefore? for any good O, no! alas, I rather hate myself Fool, of thyself speak well :-fool, do not flatter. Nay, wherefore should they, since that I myself Re-enter RATCLIFF. Rat. My lord, K. Rich. Who's there? Rat. My lord, 'tis I. The early village-cock Hath twice done salutation to the morn; Your friends are up, and buckle on their armour. K. Rich. O Ratcliff, I have dreamed a fearful dream! What thinkest thou,-will our friends prove all true? Rat. No doubt, my lord. K. Rich. O Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,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. Rat. Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows. K. Rich. By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers Armed in proof, and led by shallow Richmond. It is not yet near day. Come, go with me; Under our tents I'll play the eaves-dropper, To see if any mean to shrink from me. [Exeunt Enter the Lords to RICHMOND, sitting in his tent. Lords. Good morrow, Richmond! Richm. Cry mercy, lords and watchful gentlemen, That you have ta'en a tardy sluggard here. Lords. How have you slept, my lord? Richm. The sweetest sleep, and fairest-boding dreams 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: Richm. Why, then 'tis time to arm and give faces; Richard except, those whom we fight against Had rather have us win than him they follow. One raised in blood, and one in blood established; A base foul stone, made precious by the foil Re-enter KING RICHARD, RATCLIFF, Attendants and Forces. K. Rich. What said Northumberland as touching Richmond? |