SCENE IV. The Tower of London. The Life and Death of Richard the Third  Shakespeare homepage  |  Richard III  | Act 3, Scene 4 

 Previous scene  |  Next scene  SCENE IV. The Tower of London. 

 Enter BUCKINGHAM, DERBY, HASTINGS, the BISHOP OF  ELY, RATCLIFF, LOVEL, with others, and take their seats at a table  HASTINGS  My lords, at once: the cause why we are met 

 Is, to determine of the coronation. 

 In God's name, speak: when is the royal day? 

 BUCKINGHAM  Are all things fitting for that royal time? 

 DERBY  It is, and wants but nomination. 

 BISHOP OF ELY  To-morrow, then, I judge a happy day. 

 BUCKINGHAM  Who knows the lord protector's mind herein? 

 Who is most inward with the royal duke? 

 BISHOP OF ELY  Your grace, we think, should soonest know his mind. 

 BUCKINGHAM  Who, I, my lord I we know each other's faces, 

 But for our hearts, he knows no more of mine, 

 Than I of yours; 

 Nor I no more of his, than you of mine. 

 Lord Hastings, you and he are near in love. 

 HASTINGS  I thank his grace, I know he loves me well; 

 But, for his purpose in the coronation. 

 I have not sounded him, nor he deliver'd 

 His gracious pleasure any way therein: 

 But you, my noble lords, may name the time; 

 And in the duke's behalf I'll give my voice, 

 Which, I presume, he'll take in gentle part. 



 Enter GLOUCESTER  BISHOP OF ELY  Now in good time, here comes the duke himself. 

 GLOUCESTER  My noble lords and cousins all, good morrow. 

 I have been long a sleeper; but, I hope, 

 My absence doth neglect no great designs, 

 Which by my presence might have been concluded. 

 BUCKINGHAM  Had not you come upon your cue, my lord 

 William Lord Hastings had pronounced your part,-- 

 I mean, your voice,--for crowning of the king. 

 GLOUCESTER  Than my Lord Hastings no man might be bolder; 

 His lordship knows me well, and loves me well. 

 HASTINGS  I thank your grace. 

 GLOUCESTER  My lord of Ely! 

 BISHOP OF ELY  My lord? 

 GLOUCESTER  When I was last in Holborn, 

 I saw good strawberries in your garden there 

 I do beseech you send for some of them. 

 BISHOP OF ELY  Marry, and will, my lord, with all my heart. 



 Exit  GLOUCESTER  Cousin of Buckingham, a word with you. 



 Drawing him aside  Catesby hath sounded Hastings in our business, 

 And finds the testy gentleman so hot, 

 As he will lose his head ere give consent 

 His master's son, as worshipful as he terms it, 

 Shall lose the royalty of England's throne. 

 BUCKINGHAM  Withdraw you hence, my lord, I'll follow you. 



 Exit GLOUCESTER, BUCKINGHAM following  DERBY  We have not yet set down this day of triumph. 

 To-morrow, in mine opinion, is too sudden; 

 For I myself am not so well provided 

 As else I would be, were the day prolong'd. 



 Re-enter BISHOP OF ELY  BISHOP OF ELY  Where is my lord protector? I have sent for these 

 strawberries. 

 HASTINGS  His grace looks cheerfully and smooth to-day; 

 There's some conceit or other likes him well, 

 When he doth bid good morrow with such a spirit. 

 I think there's never a man in Christendom 

 That can less hide his love or hate than he; 

 For by his face straight shall you know his heart. 

 DERBY  What of his heart perceive you in his face 

 By any likelihood he show'd to-day? 

 HASTINGS  Marry, that with no man here he is offended; 

 For, were he, he had shown it in his looks. 

 DERBY  I pray God he be not, I say. 



 Re-enter GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM  GLOUCESTER  I pray you all, tell me what they deserve 

 That do conspire my death with devilish plots 

 Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevail'd 

 Upon my body with their hellish charms? 

 HASTINGS  The tender love I bear your grace, my lord, 

 Makes me most forward in this noble presence 

 To doom the offenders, whatsoever they be 

 I say, my lord, they have deserved death. 

 GLOUCESTER  Then be your eyes the witness of this ill: 

 See how I am bewitch'd; behold mine arm 

 Is, like a blasted sapling, wither'd up: 

 And this is Edward's wife, that monstrous witch, 

 Consorted with that harlot strumpet Shore, 

 That by their witchcraft thus have marked me. 

 HASTINGS  If they have done this thing, my gracious lord-- 

 GLOUCESTER  If I thou protector of this damned strumpet-- 

 Tellest thou me of 'ifs'?  Thou art a traitor: 

 Off with his head! Now, by Saint Paul I swear, 

 I will not dine until I see the same. 

 Lovel and Ratcliff, look that it be done: 

 The rest, that love me, rise and follow me. 



 Exeunt all but HASTINGS, RATCLIFF, and LOVEL  HASTINGS  Woe, woe for England! not a whit for me; 

 For I, too fond, might have prevented this. 

 Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm; 

 But I disdain'd it, and did scorn to fly: 

 Three times to-day my foot-cloth horse did stumble, 

 And startled, when he look'd upon the Tower, 

 As loath to bear me to the slaughter-house. 

 O, now I want the priest that spake to me: 

 I now repent I told the pursuivant 

 As 'twere triumphing at mine enemies, 

 How they at Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd, 

 And I myself secure in grace and favour. 

 O Margaret, Margaret, now thy heavy curse 

 Is lighted on poor Hastings' wretched head! 

 RATCLIFF  Dispatch, my lord; the duke would be at dinner: 

 Make a short shrift; he longs to see your head. 

 HASTINGS  O momentary grace of mortal men, 

 Which we more hunt for than the grace of God! 

 Who builds his hopes in air of your good looks, 

 Lives like a drunken sailor on a mast, 

 Ready, with every nod, to tumble down 

 Into the fatal bowels of the deep. 

 LOVEL  Come, come, dispatch; 'tis bootless to exclaim. 

 HASTINGS  O bloody Richard! miserable England! 

 I prophesy the fearful'st time to thee 

 That ever wretched age hath look'd upon. 

 Come, lead me to the block; bear him my head. 

 They smile at me that shortly shall be dead. 



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