Part 22 (1/2)

For what is he they follow? Truly, gentlemen, A b.l.o.o.d.y tyrant and a homicide; One rais'd in blood, and one in blood establish'd; 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 G.o.d's enemy.

Then if you fight against G.o.d's enemy, G.o.d 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 foes 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 G.o.d 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; G.o.d 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 smil'd, and said 'The better for our purpose.'

KING 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 s.h.i.+ne; for by the book He should have brav'd 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 lour upon our army.

I would these dewy tears were from the ground.

Not s.h.i.+ne 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 sheweth him a paper]

KING RICHARD. [Reads]

'Jockey of Norfolk, be not so bold, For d.i.c.kon thy master is bought and sold.'

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, Devis'd 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 h.e.l.l.