True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings, Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings. [Exeunt. SCENE III. Bosworth Field. Enter King RICHARD, and Forces; the Duke of NORFOLK, Earl of SURREY, and Others. K. Rich. Here pitch our tents, even here in Bosworth field. My lord of Surrey, why look you so sad? Sur. My heart is ten times lighter than my looks. K. Rich. My lord of Norfolk, Nor. Here, most gracious liege. K. Rich. Norfolk, we must have knocks; Ha! must we not? Nor. We must both give and take, my loving lord. K. Rich. Up with my tent: Here will I lie tonight; [Soldiers begin to set up the King's Tent. But where, to-morrow?-Well, all's one for that.Who hath descried the number of the traitors? Nor. Six or seven thousand is their utmost power. K. Rich. Why, our battalia trebles that account: Besides, the king's name is a tower of strength, Which they upon the adverse faction want. Up with the tent.-Come, noble gentlemen, Let us survey the vantage of the ground;Call for some men of sound direction: ___ Let's want no discipline, make no delay; For, lords, to-morrow is a busy day. [Exeunt. 5- sound direction;] True judgment; tried military skill. Enter, on the other side of the Field, RICHMOND, Sir WILLIAM BRANDON, OXFORD, and other Lords. Some of the Soldiers pitch RICHMOND'S Tent. Richm. The weary sun hath made a golden set, Yet one thing more, good captain, do for me; South from the mighty power of the king. Richm. If without peril it be possible, 8 Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with him, And give him from me this most needful note. Blunt. Upon my life, my lord, I'll undertake it; And so, God give you quiet rest to-night! 7 8 Richm. Good night, good captain Blunt. Come, gentlemen, Limit-] i. e. appoint. measure. keeps his regiment;] i. e. remains with it. make some good means-] i. e. adopt some convenient Let us consult upon to-morrow's business; [They withdraw into the Tent. Enter, to his Tent, King RICHARD, NORFolk, RATCLIFF, and CATESBY. K. Rich. What is't o'clock? Cate. It's nine o'clock." K. Rich. It's supper time, my lord; I will not sup to-night. Give me some ink and paper. What, is my beaver easier than it was?— And all my armour laid into my tent? Cate. It is, my liege; and all things are in readiness. K. Rich. Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge; Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels. Nor. I go, my lord. K. Rich. Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk. Nor. I warrant you, my lord. K. Rich. Ratcliff, Rat. My lord? K. Rich. [Exit. Send out a pursuivant at arms To Stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power Into the blind cave of eternal night. Fill me a bowl of wine.-Give me a watch:1 [TO CATESBY. 9 It's nine o'clock.] I think, we ought to read-sir instead of nine, as in the quarto edition. A supper at so late an hour as nine o'clock, in the year 1485, would have been a prodigy. STEEVENS. - Give me a watch:] A watch has many significations, but I should believe that it means in this place not a sentinel, which would be regularly placed at the king's tent; nor an instrument to measure time, which was not used in that age; but a watchlight, a candle to burn by him; the light that afterwards burnt blue. JOHNSON. Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow.- Rat. My lord? K. Rich. Saw'st thou the melancholy lord Northumberland ?3 Rat. Thomas the earl of Surrey, and himself, Much about cock-shut time, from troop to troop, Went through the army, cheering up the soldiers. K. Rich. I am satisfied. Give me a bowl of wine: I have not that alacrity of spirit, Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have.— Rat. It is, my lord. K. Rich. Bid my guard watch; leave me. About the mid of night, come to my tent And help to arm me.-Leave me, I say. [King RICHARD retires into his Tent. RATCLIFF and CATESBY. Exeunt RICHMOND'S Tent opens, and discovers him and his Officers, &c. Enter STANley. Stan. Fortune and victory sit on thy helm! Be to thy person, noble father-in-law! Tell me, how fares our loving mother? Stan. I, by attorney,' bless thee from thy mo ther, Who prays continually for Richmond's good: 3 2 Look that my staves-] Staves are the wood of the lances. the melancholy lord Northumberland?] Richard calls him melancholy, because he did not join heartily in his cause. 4 Cock-shut time,] i. e. twilight. 5 by attorney,] By deputation. And flaky darkness breaks within the east. Farewell: The leisure and the fearful time And ample interchange of sweet discourse, 6 mortal-staring war,] I suppose, by mortal-staring war is meant-war that looks big, or stares fatally on its victims. 7 I, as I may, STEEVENS. With best advantage will deceive the time,] I will take the best opportunity to elude the dangers of this conjuncture. peise me down to-morrow,] To peize, i. e. to weigh down, from peser, French. |