TPTT The Tragedy of Richard the Third: ACT III
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
SCENE I. London. A street.
SCENE II. Before Lord Hastings' house.
SCENE III. Pomfret Castle.
SCENE IV. The Tower of London.
SCENE V. The Tower-walls.
SCENE VI. The same.
SCENE VII. Baynard's Castle.
ACT IV
ACT V
About the Play
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SCENE II. Before Lord Hastings' house.
Enter a Messenger
Messenger
      What, ho! my lord!
HASTINGS
      (Within) Who knocks at the door?
Messenger
      A messenger from the Lord Stanley.
Enter HASTINGS
HASTINGS
      What is't o'clock?
Messenger
5     Upon the stroke of four.
HASTINGS
      Cannot thy master sleep these tedious nights?
Messenger
      So it should seem by that I have to say.
      First, he commends him to your noble lordship.
HASTINGS
      And then?
Messenger
10    And then he sends you word
      He dreamt to-night the boar had razed his helm:
      Besides, he says there are two councils held;
      And that may be determined at the one
      which may make you and him to rue at the other.
15    Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure,
      If presently you will take horse with him,
      And with all speed post with him toward the north,
      To shun the danger that his soul divines.
HASTINGS
      Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord;
20    Bid him not fear the separated councils
      His honour and myself are at the one,
      And at the other is my servant Catesby
      Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us
      Whereof I shall not have intelligence.
25    Tell him his fears are shallow, wanting instance:
      And for his dreams, I wonder he is so fond
      To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers
      To fly the boar before the boar pursues,
      Were to incense the boar to follow us
30    And make pursuit where he did mean no chase.
      Go, bid thy master rise and come to me
      And we will both together to the Tower,
      Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.
Messenger
      My gracious lord, I'll tell him what you say.
Exit
Enter CATESBY
CATESBY
35    Many good morrows to my noble lord!
HASTINGS
      Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring
      What news, what news, in this our tottering state?
CATESBY
      It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord;
      And I believe twill never stand upright
40    Tim Richard wear the garland of the realm.
HASTINGS
      How! wear the garland! dost thou mean the crown?
CATESBY
      Ay, my good lord.
HASTINGS
      I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders
      Ere I will see the crown so foul misplaced.
45    But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?
CATESBY
      Ay, on my life; and hopes to find forward
      Upon his party for the gain thereof:
      And thereupon he sends you this good news,
      That this same very day your enemies,
50    The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.
HASTINGS
      Indeed, I am no mourner for that news,
      Because they have been still mine enemies:
      But, that I'll give my voice on Richard's side,
      To bar my master's heirs in true descent,
55    God knows I will not do it, to the death.
CATESBY
      God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!
HASTINGS
      But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence,
      That they who brought me in my master's hate
      I live to look upon their tragedy.
60    I tell thee, Catesby--
CATESBY
      What, my lord?
HASTINGS
      Ere a fortnight make me elder,
      I'll send some packing that yet think not on it.
CATESBY
      'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
65    When men are unprepared and look not for it.
HASTINGS
      O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out
      With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do
      With some men else, who think themselves as safe
      As thou and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear
70    To princely Richard and to Buckingham.
CATESBY
      The princes both make high account of you;

Aside

      For they account his head upon the bridge.
HASTINGS
      I know they do; and I have well deserved it.

Enter STANLEY

      Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man?
75    Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?
STANLEY
      My lord, good morrow; good morrow, Catesby:
      You may jest on, but, by the holy rood,
      I do not like these several councils, I.
HASTINGS
      My lord,
80    I hold my life as dear as you do yours;
      And never in my life, I do protest,
      Was it more precious to me than 'tis now:
      Think you, but that I know our state secure,
      I would be so triumphant as I am?
STANLEY
85    The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London,
      Were jocund, and supposed their state was sure,
      And they indeed had no cause to mistrust;
      But yet, you see how soon the day o'ercast.
      This sudden stag of rancour I misdoubt:
90    Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward!
      What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.
HASTINGS
      Come, come, have with you. Wot you what, my lord?
      To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded.
LORD STANLEY
      They, for their truth, might better wear their heads
95    Than some that have accused them wear their hats.
      But come, my lord, let us away.
Enter a Pursuivant
HASTINGS
      Go on before; I'll talk with this good fellow.

Exeunt STANLEY and CATESBY

      How now, sirrah! how goes the world with thee?
Pursuivant
      The better that your lordship please to ask.
HASTINGS
100   I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now
      Than when I met thee last where now we meet:
      Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,
      By the suggestion of the queen's allies;
      But now, I tell thee--keep it to thyself--
105   This day those enemies are put to death,
      And I in better state than e'er I was.
Pursuivant
      God hold it, to your honour's good content!
HASTINGS
      Gramercy, fellow: there, drink that for me.
Throws him his purse
Pursuivant
      God save your lordship!
Exit
Enter a Priest
Priest
110   Well met, my lord; I am glad to see your honour.
HASTINGS
      I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart.
      I am in your debt for your last exercise;
      Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.
He whispers in his ear
Enter BUCKINGHAM
BUCKINGHAM
      What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain?
115   Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest;
      Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.
HASTINGS
      Good faith, and when I met this holy man,
      Those men you talk of came into my mind.
      What, go you toward the Tower?
BUCKINGHAM
120   I do, my lord; but long I shall not stay
      I shall return before your lordship thence.
HASTINGS
      'Tis like enough, for I stay dinner there.
BUCKINGHAM
      (Aside) And supper too, although thou know'st it not.
      Come, will you go?
HASTINGS
125   I'll wait upon your lordship.
Exeunt
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