The Complete Works of William Shakespeare In Plain and Simple English (Translated) (95 page)

and so, may God let you sleep peacefully tonight!

RICHMOND.

Good night, good Captain Blunt. Come,

gentlemen,

Let us consult upon to-morrow's business.

In to my tent; the dew is raw and cold.

Good night, good Captain Blunt. Come, gentlemen,

let us discuss tomorrow's business.

Come into my tent; it is a chilly night.

[They withdraw into the tent]

Enter, to his-tent, KING RICHARD, NORFOLK,

RATCLIFF, and CATESBY

KING RICHARD.

What is't o'clock?

What's the time?

CATESBY.

It's supper-time, my lord;

It's nine o'clock.

It's suppertime, my lord;

it's nine o'clock.

KING RICHARD.

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?

I shall not eat tonight.

Give me some ink and paper.

Is my visor moving easier than it was?

And has all my armour been laid out in my tent?

CATESBY.

It is, my liege; and all things are in readiness.

It is, my lord: everything is ready.

KING RICHARD.

Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge;

Use careful watch, choose trusty sentinels.

Good Norfolk, go about your duties;

keep a careful watch, use trusty sentries.

NORFOLK.

I go, my lord.

I'm going, my lord.

KING RICHARD.

Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle Norfolk.

Be up at dawn tomorrow, gentle Norfolk.

NORFOLK.

I warrant you, my lord.

I promise I shall, my lord.

Exit

KING RICHARD.

Catesby!

Catesby!

CATESBY.

My lord?

My lord?

KING RICHARD.

Send out a pursuivant-at-arms

To Stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power

Before sunrising, lest his son George fall

Into the blind cave of eternal night.

Exit CATESBY

Fill me a bowl of wine. Give me a watch.

Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow.

Look that my staves be sound, and not too heavy.

Ratcliff!

Send out a Herald

to Stanley's regiment; tell him to bring his forces

before sunrise, to prevent the death

of his son George.

Fill a bowl of wine for me. Give me a candle.

Saddle my white horse Surrey for the battle tomorrow;

check that my lances are in good condition and not too heavy.

Ratcliffe!

RATCLIFF.

My lord?

My lord?

KING RICHARD.

Saw'st thou the melancholy Lord

Northumberland?

Did you see the melancholy Lord Northumberland?

RATCLIFF.

Thomas the Earl of Surrey and himself,

Much about cock-shut time, from troop to troop

Went through the army, cheering up the soldiers.

Thomas the Earl of Surrey and himself,

round about sunset, went from troop to troop

throughout the Army, cheering up soldiers.

KING RICHARD.

So, 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.

Set it down. Is ink and paper ready?

Well, that's good. Give me a bowl of wine.

I haven't got the same high spirits

or cheerful mind that I am used to having.

Put it down. Is the ink and paper ready?

RATCLIFF.

It is, my lord.

It is, my lord.

KING RICHARD.

Bid my guard watch; leave me.

Ratcliffe, about the mid of night come to my tent

And help to arm me. Leave me, I say.

Tell my sentries to keep guard; leave me.

Ratcliffe, around the middle of the night come to my tent

and help to arm. Leave me, I say.

Exit RATCLIFF. RICHARD sleeps

Enter DERBY to RICHMOND in his tent;

LORDS attending

DERBY.

Fortune and victory sit on thy helm!

May fortune and victory attend you!

RICHMOND.

All comfort that the dark night can afford

Be to thy person, noble father-in-law!

Tell me, how fares our loving mother?

May all the comfort that the dark night can spare

come to you, noble father-in-law!

Tell me, how is my loving mother?

DERBY.

I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mother,

Who prays continually for Richmond's good.

So much for that. The silent hours steal on,

And flaky darkness breaks within the east.

In brief, for so the season bids us be,

Prepare thy battle early in the morning,

And put thy fortune to the arbitrement

Of bloody strokes and mortal-staring war.

I, as I may-that which I would I cannot-

With best advantage will deceive the time

And aid thee in this doubtful shock of arms;

But on thy side I may not be too forward,

Lest, being seen, thy brother, tender George,

Be executed in his father's sight.

Farewell; the leisure and the fearful time

Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love

And ample interchange of sweet discourse

Which so-long-sund'red friends should dwell upon.

God give us leisure for these rites of love!

Once more, adieu; be valiant, and speed well!

As a stand-in for her I give you her blessing,

she prays continually for your good fortune.

Enough of that. The silent hours move on,

and in the east the darkness is starting to fade.

In brief, for that is what the time demands,

prepare for battle early in the morning,

and put your faith to the test

of bloody blows and deadly war.

I'll do what I can–which isn't as much as

I would wish–to deceive the King

and assist you in this uncertain battle.

But I can't be too obvious in my support of you;

if it was seen, your brother, young George,

will be executed in front of his father.

Farewell; our hurry and these desperate times

prevent the usual courtesies of love

and exchange of sweet conversation

which should exist between long parted friends.

May God give us time for this in the future.

Farewell once more: be brave, and good luck.

RICHMOND.

Good lords, conduct him to his regiment.

I'll strive with troubled thoughts to take a nap,

Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow

When I should mount with wings of victory.

Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.

Exeunt all but RICHMOND

O Thou, whose captain I account myself,

Look on my forces with a gracious eye;

Put in their hands Thy bruising irons of wrath,

That they may crush down with a heavy fall

The usurping helmets of our adversaries!

Make us Thy ministers of chastisement,

That we may praise Thee in the victory!

To Thee I do commend my watchful soul

Ere I let fall the windows of mine eyes.

Sleeping and waking, O, defend me still!

Good lords, escort him to his regiment.

I'll fight my troubled thoughts and take a nap,

in case tiredness should weigh me down tomorrow

when I should be climbing on wings of victory.

Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.

Oh God, for whom I am fighting,

look on my forces with a kind eye;

put your bruising weapons of anger in their hands,

so that they can crush down with great blows

the thieving helmets of our adversaries!

Make us the agents of your punishment,

so that we can praise you with victory.

I offer my watchful soul to you

before I close my eyes:

sleeping and waking, always defend me!

[Sleeps]

Enter the GHOST Of YOUNG PRINCE EDWARD,

son to HENRY THE SIXTH

GHOST.

[To RICHARD]Let me sit heavy on thy soul

to-morrow!

Think how thou stabb'dst me in my prime of youth

At Tewksbury; despair, therefore, and die!

[To RICHMOND]Be cheerful, Richmond; for the wronged

souls

Of butcher'd princes fight in thy behalf.

King Henry's issue, Richmond, comforts thee.

[To Richard] Let the guilt of me sit heavy on your soul tomorrow!

Think how you stabbed me in the prime of my youth

at Tewkesbury; therefore, despair, and die!

[To Richmond] Be happy, Richmond; for the wronged souls

of murdered princes are fighting on your side.

The son of King Henry, Richmond, comforts you.

Enter the GHOST of HENRY THE SIXTH

GHOST.

[To RICHARD]When I was mortal, my anointed

body

By thee was punched full of deadly holes.

Think on the Tower and me. Despair, and die.

Harry the Sixth bids thee despair and die.

[To RICHMOND]Virtuous and holy, be thou conqueror!

Harry, that prophesied thou shouldst be King,

Doth comfort thee in thy sleep. Live and flourish!

[To Richard] When I was alive, my sacred body

was punched full of deadly holes by you.

Think of the Tower and me. Despair, and die.

Henry the Sixth orders you to despair and die.

[To Richmond] Good and holy, may you triumph!

Harry, who prophesied that you would be King,

comforts you in your sleep. Live and prosper!

Enter the GHOST of CLARENCE

GHOST.

[To RICHARD]Let me sit heavy in thy soul

to-morrow! I that was wash'd to death with fulsome wine,

Poor Clarence, by thy guile betray'd to death!

To-morrow in the battle think on me,

And fall thy edgeless sword. Despair and die!

[To RICHMOND]Thou offspring of the house of Lancaster,

The wronged heirs of York do pray for thee.

Good angels guard thy battle! Live and flourish!

[To Richard] Let me weigh heavily on your conscience tomorrow!

I am poor Clarence, drowned in that thick wine,

sent to death by your cunning!

Think of me in battle tomorrow,

and fall on your blunted sword. Despair and die!