Rat. My lord, Enter RATCLIFF. K. Rich. Who's there? Rat. Ratcliff, my lord; 'tis I. The early village cock Hath twice done salutation to the morn; Your friends are up, and buckle on their armour. K. Rich. O, Ratcliff, I have dream'd a fearful dream! What thinkest thou? will our friends prove all true? Rat. No doubt, my lord. K. Rich. Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,Rat. Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of shadows. K. Rich. By the apostle Paul, shadows to-night Have struck more terror to the soul of Richard, Than can the substance of ten thousand soldiers, Armed in proof, and led by shallow Richmond. It is not yet near day. Come, go with me; Under our tents I'll play the eaves-dropper, To hear, if any mean to shrink from me. [Exeunt King Richard and Ratcliff. RICHMOND wakes. Enter OXFORD and Others. Lords. Good morrow, Richmond. Richm. 'Cry mercy, lords, and watchful gentlemen, That you have ta'en a tardy sluggard here. Lords. How have you slept, my lord? Richm. The sweetest sleep, and fairest-boding dreams, That ever enter'd in a drowsy head, Have I since your departure had, my lords. Methought, their souls, whose bodies Richard mur der'd, Came to my tent, and cry'd-On! victory! I promise you, my heart is very jocund How far into the morning is it, lords? Lords. Upon the stroke of four Richm. Why, then 'tis time to arm, and give direc tion.- [He advances to the troops. More than I have said, loving countrymen, The leisure and enforcement of the time One rais'd in blood, and one in blood establish'd; him; A base foul stone, made precious by the foil If you do sweat to put a tyrant down, You sleep in peace, the tyrant being slain; Shall be this cold corpse on the earth's cold face; The least of you shall share his part thereof. Re-enter King RICHARD, RATCLIFF, Attendants, and Forces. K. Rich. What said Northumberland, as touching Richmond? Rat. That he was never trained up in arms. K. Rich. He said the truth: And what said Surrey then? Rat. He smil'd and said, the better for our purpose. K. Rich. He was i'the right; and so, indeed, it is. Clock strikes. Tell the clock there.-Give me a calendar.Who saw the sun to-day? Not I, my lord. Rat. K. Rich. Then he disdains to shine; for, by the book, He should have brav'd the east an hour ago; A black day will it be to somebody. Ratcliff, Rat. My lord? K. Rich. The sun will not be seen to-day; The sky doth frown and lour upon our army. I would, these dewy tears were from the ground. Enter NORFOLK. Nor. Arm, arm, my lord; the foe vaunts in the field. K. Rich. Come, bustle, bustle;-Caparison my horse ; Call up lord Stanley, bid him bring his power: And thus my battle shall be ordered. My foreward shall be drawn out all in length, Our archers shall be placed in the midst : This, and saint George to boot!-What think'st thou, Norfolk ? Nor. A good direction, warlike sovereign. This found I on my tent this morning. [Giving a scrowl. K. Rich. Jocky of Norfolk, be not too bold, [reads. For Dickon thy master is bought and sold. A thing devised by the enemy. Go, gentlemen, every man unto his charge: What shall I say more than I have infer'd? |