Part 22 (2/2)

His ORATION to his ARMY

What shall I say more than I have inferr'd?

Remember whom you are to cope withal- A sort of vagabonds, rascals, and runaways, A sc.u.m of Britaines, and base lackey peasants, Whom their o'er-cloyed country vomits forth To desperate adventures and a.s.sur'd destruction.

You sleeping safe, they bring to you unrest; You having lands, and bless'd with beauteous wives, They would restrain the one, distain the other.

And who doth lead them but a paltry fellow, Long kept in Britaine at our mother's cost?

A milk-sop, 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 over-weening rags of France, These famish'd beggars, weary of their lives; Who, but for dreaming on this fond exploit, For want of means, poor rats, had hang'd themselves.

If we be conquered, let men conquer us, And not these b.a.s.t.a.r.d Britaines, whom our fathers Have in their own land beaten, bobb'd, and thump'd, 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 pa.s.s'd 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; 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.

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.

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.

Retreat and flourish. Enter RICHMOND, DERBY bearing the crown, with other LORDS

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