Fainting, despair; despairing, yield thy breath!- [TO RICHMOND. But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismay'd: [The Ghosts vanish. King RICHARD starts K. Rich. Give me another horse 3, - bind up my wounds, Have mercy, Jesu! - Soft; I did but dream. — Is there a murderer here? No; -Yes; I am: I love myself. + Wherefore? for any good, I am a villain: Yet I lie, I am not. Fool, of thyself speak well:- Fool, do not flatter. And every tongue brings in a several tale, ⚫ I died for hope,] i. e. I died for wishing well to you. • Give me another horse,] There is in this, as in many of our author's speeches of passion, something very trifling, and something very striking. Richard's debate, whether he should quarrel with himself, is too long continued, but the subsequent exaggeration of his crimes is truly tragical. JOHNSON. + "Alack! I love myself."— MALONE. Throng to the bar, crying all, Guilty! guilty! Nay, wherefore should they? since that I myself Methought, the souls of all that I had murder'd Enter RATCLIFF. Rat. My lord,————— K. Rich. Who's there? Rat. Ratcliff, 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 dream'd a fearful dream!What thinkest thou? will our friends prove all true? Rat. No doubt, my lord. K. Rich. Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,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 hear, if any mean to shrink from me. [Exeunt King RICHARD and RATCLIFF. RICHMOND wakes. Enter OXFORD and Others. 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 enter'd in a drowsy head, Have I since your departure had, my lords. Methought, their souls, whose bodies Richard murder'd, I promise you, my heart is very jocund Richm. Why, then 'tis time to arm, and give di rection. [He advances to the Troops. More than I have said, loving countrymen, The leisure and enforcement of the time One rais'd in blood, and one in blood establish'd; • Of England's chair,] England's chair, means England's throne. Advance your standards, draw your willing swords: Shall be this cold corpse on the earth's cold face; The least of you shall share his part thereof. Re-enter King RICHARD, RATCLIFF, Attendants, and K. Rich. What said Northumberland, as touching Richmond? in arms. Rat. That he was never trained up then? Rat. He smil'd and said, the better for our purpose. K. Rich. He was i'the right; and so, indeed, it is. [Clock strikes. Give me a calendar. Tell the clock there. Rat. K. Rich. Then he disdains to shine; for, by the book, Not I, my lord. an hour ago: He should have brav'd the east A black day will it be to somebody. — Rat. My lord? K. Rich. The sun will not be seen to-day; The sky doth frown and lour upon our army. 6 the ransom of my bold attempt —] The fine paid by me in atonement for my rashness shall be my dead corse. 7 God, and Saint George!] Saint George was the common cry of the English soldiers when they charged the enemy. 8 brav'd the east-] i. e. made it splendid. Enter NORFOlk. Nor. Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts in the field. K. Rich. Come, bustle, bustle; - Caparison my horse; Call up lord Stanley, bid him bring his power: My forward shall be drawn out all in length, This, and Saint George to boot?! What think'st thou, Nor. A good direction, warlike sovereign. This found I on my tent this morning. [Giving a Scrowl. K. Rich. Jocky of Norfolk, be not too bold, [Reads. For Dickon' thy master is bought and sold. A thing devised by the enemy. Go, gentlemen, every man unto his charge: + Mr. Malone omits ourself. • This, and Saint George to boot! His protection over and above. Dickon thy master, &c.] Dickon is the ancient familiarization of Richard. In the words. bought and sold, there is somewhat proverbial. |