my tent?
CATESBY
It is, my liege; and all things are in readiness.
KING RICHARD
Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge;
Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels.
NORFOLK
I go, my lord.
KING RICHARD
Stir with the lark tomorrow, gentle Norfolk.
NORFOLK
I warrant you, my lord.
[Exit.]
KING RICHARD
Ratcliff,—
RATCLIFF
My lord?
KING RICHARD
Send out a pursuivant-at-arms
To Stanley’s regiment; bid him bring his power
Before sunrising, lest his son George fall
Into the blind cave of eternal night.—
Fill me a bowl of wine.—Give me a watch.—
Saddle white Surrey for the field tomorrow.—
Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy.—
Ratcliff,—
RATCLIFF
My lord?
KING RICHARD
Saw’st thou the melancholy Lord Northumberland?
RATCLIFF
Thomas the Earl of Surrey and himself,
Much about cockshut time, from troop to troop
Went through the army, cheering up the soldiers.
KING RICHARD
So, I am satisfied.—Give me a bowl of wine:
I have not that alacrity of spirit
Nor cheer of mind that I was wont to have.
Set it down.—Is ink and paper ready?
RATCLIFF
It is, my lord.
KING RICHARD
Bid my guard watch; leave me.
Ratcliff, about the mid of night come to my tent
And help to arm me. Leave me, I say.
[KING RICHARD retires into his tent. Exeunt RATCLIFF and CATESBY.]
[RICHMOND’s tent opens, and discovers him and his Officers, &c.]
STANLEY
Fortune and victory sit on thy helm!
RICHMOND
All comfort that the dark night can afford
Be to thy person, noble fatherin-law!
Tell me, how fares our loving mother?
STANLEY
I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother,
Who prays continually for Richmond’s good.
So much for that.—The silent hours steal on,
And flaky darkness breaks within the east.
In brief,—for so the season bids us be,—
Prepare thy battle early in the morning,
And put thy fortune to the arbitrement
Of bloody strokes and mortal-staring war.
I, as I may,—that which I would I cannot,—
With best advantage will deceive the time,
And aid thee in this doubtful stroke of arms:
But on thy side I may not be too forward,
Lest, being seen, thy brother, tender George,
Be executed in his father’s sight.
Farewell: the leisure and the fearful time
Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love
And ample interchange of sweet discourse,
Which so-long-sunder’d friends should dwell upon:
God give us leisure for these rites of love!
Once more, adieu: be valiant, and speed well!
RICHMOND
Good lords, conduct him to his regiment:
I’ll strive with troubled thoughts to take a nap,
Lest leaden slumber peise me down tomorrow,
When I should mount with wings of victory:
Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.
[Exeunt Lords, &c, with STANLEY.]
O Thou Whose captain I account myself,
Look on my forces with a gracious eye;
Put in their hands Thy bruising irons of wrath,
That they may crush down with a heavy fall
The usurping helmets of our adversaries!
Make us Thy ministers of chastisement,
That we may praise Thee in Thy victory!
To Thee I do commend my watchful soul
Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes:
Sleeping and waking, O, defend me still!
[Sleeps.]
[The Ghost of PRINCE EDWARD, son to HENRY THE SIXTH, rises between the two tents.]
GHOST
[To KING RICHARD.] Let me sit heavy on thy soul tomorrow!
Think how thou stabb’dst me in my prime of youth
At Tewksbury: despair, therefore, and die!—
