So much for that. The silent hours steal on, Farewell the leisure and the fearful time : Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love, 1 And ample interchange of sweet discourse, 1 Weigh. The usurping helmets of our adversaries! [sleeps. The Ghost of PRINCE EDWARD, son to Henry the Sixth, rises between the two tents. Ghost. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow! [to K. Richard. Think, how thou stab'dst me in my prime of youth At Tewkesbury; despair therefore, and die! Be cheerful, Richmond; for the wronged souls Of butcher'd princes fight in thy behalf: King Henry's issue, Richmond, comforts thee. The Ghost of KING HENRY THE SIXTH rises. Ghost. When I was mortal, my anointed body [to K. Richard. By thee was punched full of deadly holes. [to Richmond. Harry, that prophesied thou shouldst be king, Doth comfort thee in thy sleep: live, and florish! The Ghost of CLARENCE rises. Ghost. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow! [to K. Richard. I, that was wash'd to death with fulsome wine, [to Richmond. The wronged heirs of York do pray for thee: Good angels guard thy battle! live, and florish! The Ghosts of RIVERS, GREY, and VAUGHAN rise. Ri. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to morrow, [to K. Richard. Rivers, that died at Pomfret! Despair, and die! Grey. Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair! [to K. Richard. Vaughan. Think upon Vaughan, and, with guilty fear, Let fall thy lance! Despair, and die! [to K. Richard. All. Awake! and think, our wrongs in Richard's Will bosom [to Richmond. conquer him : : awake, and win the day! The Ghost of HASTINGS rises. Ghost. Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake; And in a bloody battle end thy days! [to K. Richard. Think on lord Hastings; and despair, and die !— Quiet, untroubled soul, awake, awake! [to Richmond. Arm, fight, and conquer for fair England's sake! The Ghosts of the TWO YOUNG PRINCEs rise. Ghosts. Dream on thy cousins smother'd in the Tower: Let us be lead within thy bosom, Richard, And weigh thee down to ruin, shame, and death! Thy nephews' souls bid thee despair and die. Sleep, Richmond, sleep in peace, and wake in joy! Good angels guard thee from the boar's annoy ! Edward's unhappy sons do bid thee florish. The Ghost of QUEEN ANNE rises. Ghost. Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne thy wife, That never slept a quiet hour with thee, And fall thy edgeless sword; despair, and die!- Dream of success and happy victory: [to Richmond. Thy adversary's wife doth pray for thee. The Ghost of BUCKINGHAM rises. Ghost. The first was I that help'd thee to the crown; The last was I that felt thy tyranny. [to K. Richard. O, in the battle think on Buckingham, And die in terror of thy guiltiness! Dream on, dream on, of bloody deeds and death; Fainting, despair; despairing, yield thy breath!— I died for hope, ere I could lend thee aid: [to Richmond. But cheer thy heart, and be thou not dismay'd. God and good angels fight on Richmond's side; And Richard falls in height of all his pride. [The Ghosts vanish. King Richard starts out of his dream. K. Rich. Give me another horse; bind up my wounds ; Have mercy, Jesu! Soft; I did but dream. Is there a murderer here? no;—yes; I am : I am a villain: yet I lie; I am not. Fool, of thyself speak well:-fool, do not flatter. |