Richard the Third (Modern)

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 1963[3.4]
4.119641773Enter the lords to Council, [including Hastings, Buckingham, Stanley and the Bishop of Ely, at a table].
4.219671774Hastings
 My lords, at once the cause why we are met
4.319681775Is to determine of the coronation.
4.419691776In God's name say, when is this royal day?
4.519701777Buckingham
 Are all things fitting for that royal time?
4.619711778Stanley
 It is, and wants but nomination.
4.719721779Ely
 Tomorrow then I guess a happy time.
4.819731780Buckingham
 Who knows the Lord Protector's mind herein?
4.919741781Who is most inward with the noble Duke?
4.1019751782Ely
 Why you, my lord; methinks you should soonest know his 1976mind.
4.1119771783Buckingham
 Who I, my lord? We know each other's faces,
4.1219781784But for our hearts, he knows no more of mine
4.1319791785Than I of yours; nor I no more of his than you of mine.
4.1419801786Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love.
4.1519811787Hastings
 I thank his grace, I know he loves me well,
4.1619821788But for his purpose in the coronation,
4.1719831789I have not sounded him nor he delivered
4.1819841790His grace's pleasure any way therein:
4.1919851791But you my noble lords may name the time
4.2019861792And in the Duke's behalf I'll give my voice,
4.2119871793Which I presume he will take in gentle part.
4.2219891794Ely
 Now in good time, here comes the Duke himself.
4.231988Ent[er Richard].
4.2419901795Richard
 My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow,
4.2519911796I have been long a sleeper, but I hope
4.2619921797My absence doth neglect no great designs
4.2719931798Which by my presence might have been concluded.
4.2819941799Buckingham
 Had not you come upon your cue, my lord,
4.2919951800William Lord Hastings had now pronounced your part --
4.3019961801I mean, your voice for crowning of the King.
4.3119971802Richard
 Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder:
4.3219981803His lordship knows me well, and loves me well.
4.331998.11804Hastings
 I thank your grace.
4.3419991805Richard
 My Lord of Ely.
4.35Ely
 My lord?
4.361806Richard
 When I was last in Holborn
4.3720001807I saw good strawberries in your garden there.
4.3820011808I do beseech you, send for some of them.
4.3920021809Ely
 I go, my lord. 
4.402003[Exit.]
4.4120041810Richard
 Cousin Buckingham, a word with you.
4.42[They move aside.]
4.4320051811Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business
4.4420061812And finds the testy gentleman so hot,
4.4520071813As he will lose his head ere give consent
4.4620081814His master's son as, worshipful, he terms it,
4.4720091815Shall lose the royalty of England's throne.
4.4820101816Buckingham
 Withdraw you hence, my lord, I'll follow you.
4.492011Ex[eunt Richard and Buckingham].
4.5020121817Stanley
 We have not yet set down this day of triumph.
4.5120131818Tomorrow in mine opinion is too sudden
4.5220141819For I myself am not so well provided
4.532016Enter B[ishop] of Ely.
4.5420151820As else I would be were the day prolonged.
4.5520171821Bishop
 Where is my Lord Protector? 2018I have sent for these strawberries.
4.5620191822Hastings
 His grace looks cheerfully and smooth today;
4.5720201823There's some conceit or other likes him well
4.5820211824When he doth bid good morrow with such a spirit.
4.5920221825I think there is never a man in Christendom
4.6020231826That can lesser hide his love or hate than he,
4.6120241827For by his face straight shall you know his heart.
4.6220251828Stanley
 What of his heart perceive you in his face
4.6320261829By any likelihood he showed today?
4.6420271830Hastings
 Marry, that with no man here he is offended,
4.6520281831For if he were, he would have shown it in his looks.
4.662028.11832Stanley
 I pray God he be not, I say.
4.672029Enter [Richard with Buckingham and Catesby].
4.6820301833Richard
 I pray you all, what do they deserve
4.6920311834That do conspire my death with devilish plots
4.7020321835Of damnèd witchcraft, and that have prevailed,
4.7120331836Upon my body with their hellish charms?
4.7220341837Hastings
 The tender love I bear your grace, my lord,
4.7320351838Makes me most forward in this noble presence
4.7420361839To doom the offenders, whatsoever they be.
4.7520371840I say my lord, they have deservèd death.
4.7620381841Richard
 Then be your eyes the witness of this ill:
4.7720391842See how I am bewitched: behold mine arm
4.7820401843Is like a blasted sapling withered up.
4.7920411844This is that Edward's wife, that monstrous witch,
4.8020421845Consorted with that harlot strumpet Shore,
4.8120431846That by their witchcraft thus have markèd me.
4.8220441847Hastings
 If they have done this thing, my gracious lord -- 
4.8320451848Richard
 If! Thou protector of this damnèd strumpet,
4.8420461849Tell'st thou me of ifs? Thou art a traitor.
4.8520471850Off with his head! Now by Saint Paul
4.8620481851I will not dine today, I swear,
4.8720491852Until I see the same. Some see it done,
4.8820501853The rest that love me, come and follow me.
4.892051Exeunt.Cat[esby remains] with 2052Ha[stings].
4.9020531854Hastings
 Woe, woe for England, not a whit for me,
4.9120541855For I, too fond, might have prevented this.
4.9220551856Stanley did dream the boar did race his helm
4.9320561857But I disdained it and did scorn to fly.
4.9420571858Three times today my footcloth horse did stumble
4.9520581859And startled when he looked upon the Tower
4.9620591860As loath to bear me to the slaughterhouse.
4.9720601861Oh, now I want the priest that spake to me,
4.9820611862I now repent I told the pursuivant,
4.9920621863As 'twere triumphing at mine enemies,
4.10020631864How they at Pomfret bloodily were butchered,
4.10120641865And I myself secure in grace and favor.
4.10220651866O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse
4.10320661867Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head.
4.10420671868Catesby
 Dispatch, my lord, the Duke would be at dinner:
4.10520681869Make a short shrift, he longs to see your head.
4.10620691870Hastings
 O momentary state of worldly men
4.10720701871Which we more hunt for than the grace of heaven,
4.10820711872Who builds his hopes in air of your fair looks
4.10920721873Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast,
4.11020731874Ready with every nod to tumble down
4.11120741875Into the fatal bowels of the deep.
4.11220791876Come, lead me to the block, bear him my head,
4.11320801877They smile at me that shortly shall be dead.
4.1142081Exeunt.
 The table is removed.
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Richard the Third (Modern)
