Richard the Third (Quarto 1, 1597)
Peer Reviewed
The Tragedy
¶Came to my tent, and cried on victorie,
¶In the remembrance of so faire a dreame.
¶How farre into the morning is it Lordes?
¶Rich. Whie, then tis time to arme, and giue direction.
¶
His oration to his souldiers.
¶More then I haue said, louing countriemen,
¶The leasure and inforcement of the time,
3705Forbids to dwell vpon, yet remember this,
¶The praiers of holy Saints and wronged soules,
¶Like high reard bulwarkes, stand before our faces,
3710Had rather haue vs winne, then him they follow:
¶For, what is he they follow? truelie gentlemen,
¶A bloudie tirant, and a homicide.
¶One that made meanes to come by what he hath,
¶One that hath euer bene Gods enemie.
¶Then if you fight against Gods enemie,
¶If you doe sweate to put a tyrant downe,
¶If you doe fight against your countries foes,
¶Your countries fat, shall paie your paines the hire.
3725If you doe fight in safegard of your wiues,
¶Your wiues shall welcome home the conquerors.
¶If you doe free your children from the sword,
¶Your childrens children quits it in your age:
¶Then in the name of God and all these rightes,
¶For me, the raunsome of my bold attempt,
¶shall be this could corps on the earths cold face:
But
