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K. Rich. My father's death,

Queen. Thy life hath that dishonour'd.
K. Rich. Then, by myself,-

Queen. Thyself is self-mis-us'd.

K. Rich. Why then, by heaven,—
Queen. Heaven's wrong is most of all.

If thou didst fear to break an oath with heaven,
The unity, the king my husband made,
Had not been broken, nor my brother slain.
If thou hadst fear'd to break an oath by him,
The imperial metal, circling now thy head,
Had grac'd the tender temples of my child,
And both the princes had been breathing here,
Which now, two tender bed-fellows for dust,
Thy broken faith hath made a prey for worms.
What canst thou swear by now?

Queen. I go.-Write to me very shortly, And you shall understand from me her mind. K. Rich. Bear her my true love's kiss, and so farewell. [Kissing her. Exit Queen. 5 Relenting fool, and shallow, changing woman! How now? what news?

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K. Rich. By time to come. [o'erpast;
Queen. That thou hast wronged in the time
For I myself have many tears to wash
Hereafter time, for time past, wrong'd by thee. 20
The children live, whose parents thou hast
slaughter'd,

Ungovern'd youth, to wail it in their age.
The parents live, whose children thou hast but-

cher'd,

Old barren plants, to wail it with their age. Swear not by time to come; for that thou hast Misus'd ere us'd, by times ill-us'd o'er-past..

K. Rich. As I intend to prosper, and repent!
So thrive I in my dangerous attempt
Of hostile arms! myself myself confound!
Heaven, and fortune, bar me happy hours!
Day, yield me not thy light; nor, night, thy rest!
Be opposite all planets of good luck
To my proceeding, if, with pure heart's love,
Immaculate devotion, holy thoughts,

I tender not thy beauteous princely daughter!
In her consists iny happiness, and thine;
Without her, follows to myself, and thee,
Herself, the land, and many a christian soul,
Death, desolation, ruin, and decay:
It cannot be avoided, but by this;
It will not be avoided, but by this;
Therefore, dear mother, (I must call you so)
Be the attorney of my love to her:
Plead what I will be, not what I have been;
Not my deserts, but what I will deserve:
Urge the necessity and state of times,
And be not peevish found in great designs.
Queen. Shall I be tempted of the devil thus?
K. Rich. Ay, if the devil tempt thee to do good.
Queen. Shall I forget myself, to be myself?
K. Rich. Ay, if yourself's remembrance wrong
yourself.

Queen. But thou didst kill my children.

K. Rich. But in your daughter's womb I bury them :

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Rideth a puissant navy; to the shore
Throng many doubtful hollow-hearted friends,
Unarm'd, and unresolv'd to beat them back:
'Tis thought, that Richmond is their admiral;
And there they hull, expecting but the aid
Of Buckinghain, to welcome them ashore,
K. Rich, Some light-foot friend post to the
duke of Norfolk ;--

Ratcliff, thyself,- -or Catesby; where is he?
Cates. Here, my good lord.
K. Rich. Catesby, fly to the duke.
Cutes, I will, my lord, with all convenient haste.
K.Rich. Ratcliff, come hither: Post to Salisbury;
Whenthoucom'st thither,--Dull unmindfulvillain,
[To Catesby,
Why stay'st thou here, and go'st not to the duke?
Cutes. First, mighty liege, tell me your highness'
pleasure,

What from your grace I shall deliver to him.
K. Rich. O, true, good Catesby;—Bid him
levy straight

The greatest strength and power he can make, And meet me suddenly at Salisbury.

Cates. I go,

[Exit. Rat. What, may it please you, shall I do at Salisbury? [before I go?

K. Rich. Why, what wouldst thou do there, Rat. Your highness told me, I should post before.

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Stanl. None good, my liege, to please you
with the bearing;

45 Nor none so bad, but well may be reported.
K.Rich. Heyday, a riddle! neither good, nor bad!
What need'st thou run so many miles about,
When thou may'st tell thy tale the nearest way?
Once more, what news?

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Where, in that nest of spicery', they shall breed
Selves of themselves, to your recomforture.
Queen. Shall I go win my daughter to thy will? 60
K. Rich, And be a happy mother by the deed.

Stanl. Richmond is on the seas.

K. Rich. There let him sink, and be the seas on him!

White-liver'd runagate, what doth he there?

Stanl.I knownot,mightysovereign, but by guess. K. Rich. Well, as you guess? [Morton, Stant. Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and He makes for England, here to claim the crown. K. Rich. Is the chair empty? is the sword unsway'd?

Is the king dead? the empire unpossess'd ?
What heir of York is there alive, but we?

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And who is England's king, but great York's heir? Then, tell me, what makes he upon the seas?

Stanl. Unless for that, my liege, I cannot guess. K.Rich. Unless for that hecomes to be your liege, You cannot guess wherefore the Welshman comes. Thou wilt revolt, and fly to him, I fear. [not. Stanl. No, mighty liege; therefore mistrust me K. Rich. Where is thy power, then, to beat him back?

Where be thy tenants, and thy followers? Are they not now upon the western shore, Safe-conducting the rebels from their ships? Stanl. No, my good lord, my friends are in the north. [the north,

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K. Rich. Oh, I cry you mercy: There is my purse, to cure that blow of thine. Hath any well-advised friend proclaim'd Reward to him that brings the traitor in? [liege. 3 Mes. Such proclamation hath been made, my Enter another Messenger.

4 Mes. SirThomas Lovel,and lord marquis Dor'Tis said, my liege, in Yorkshire are in arms. [set, But this good comfort bring I to your highness,— 10 The Bretagne navy is dispers'd by tempest: Richmond, in Dorsetshire, sent out a boat Unto the shore, to ask those on the banks, If they were his assistants, yea, or no; Who answer'd him, they came from Buckingham Upon his party: he, mistrusting them, Hois'd sail,and made his course again for Bretagne.

K. Rich. Cold friends to me; What do they in 15 When they should serve their sovereign in the west? Stanl. They have not been commanded, mighty king:

Pleaseth your majesty to give me leave,

I'll muster up my friends; and meet your grace,[20]
Where, and what time, your majesty shall please.
K. Rich. Ay, ay, thou wouldst be gone to join
with Richmond:

But I'll not trust you, sir.

Stanl. Most mighty sovereign,

You have no cause to hold my friendship doubtful; I never was, nor never will be false.

K. Rich. Well, go, muster thy men. you, leave behind

But, hear [firm,

K. Rich. March on, march on, since we are up If not to fight with foreign enemies, [in arms; Yet to beat down these rebels here at home. Enter Catesby.

Cates. My liege,the duke of Buckingham is taken, That is the best news: That the Earl of Richmond Is with a mighty power landed at Milford,

Is colder news, but yet it must be told. [here, 25 K.Rich. Away towards Salisbury; while we reason A royal battle might be won and lost:Some one take order, Buckingham be brought To Salisbury;—the rest march on with me.

Your son, George Stanley: look your heart be 30
Or else his head's assurance is but frail.

Stanl. So deal with him, as I prove true to you.
[Exit Stanley.

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. My gracious sovereign,now in Devonshire, 35
As I by friends am well advertised,
Sir Edward Courtney, and the haughty prelate,
Bishop of Exeter, his elder brother,
With many more confed'rates, are in arms.
Enter a Messenger.

2 Mes. In Kent, my liege, the Guilfords are
And every hour more competitors' [in arms;
Flock to the rebels, and their power grows strong.
Enter another Messenger.

SCENE V. Lord Stanley's House.

[Exeunt.

Enter Lord Stanley, and Sir Christopher Urswick. Stanl. Sir Christopher, tell Richmond this from That, in the stye of this most bloody boar [me;My son George Stanley is frank'd up in hold; If I revolt, off goes young George's head; The fear of that withholds my present aid. 40 But, tell me, where is princely Richmond now? Chri. At Pembroke, or at Ha'rford-west, in Stanl. What men of name resort to him? [Wales. Chri. Sir Walter Herbert, a renown'd soldier; Sir Gilbert Talbot, and Sir William Stanley; Oxford, redoubted Pembroke, Sir James Blunt, And Rice ap Thomas, with a valiant crew; And many other of great name and worth: And towards London do they bend their course, If by the way they be not fought withal. [to him; Stanl. Well, hie thee to thy lord; commend me Tell him, the queen hath heartily consented He shall espouse Elizabeth her daughter. These letters will resolve him of my mind. Farewell.

3 Mes. My lord, the army of great Bucking-45 ham

K. Rich. Out on ye, owls! nothing but songs of death? [He strikes him. There, take thou that, 'till thou bring better news. 3 Mes. The news I have to tell your majesty, 50| Is, that, by sudden floods and fall of waters, Buckingham's army is dispers'd and scatter'd; And he himself wander'd away alone, No man knows whither.

[Exeunt.

1 i. e. opponents. The person who is called Sir Christopher here, appears by the Chronicles to have been Christopher Urswick, a batchelor in divinity; and chaplain to the countess of Richmond, who had intermarried with the lord Stanley. This priest, the history tells us, frequently went backwards and forwards, unsuspected, on messages betwixt the countess of Richmond and her husband, nd the young earl of Richmond, whilst he was preparing to make his descent on England. Dr. Johnaon has observed, that Sir was anciently a title assumed by graduates,

АСТ

SCENE I.
Sal.sbury.

ACT V.

Enter the Sheriff,with Buckingham, led to execution.
Buck. WILL not king Richard let me speak

with him1?

Sher. No, my good lord; therefore be patient.
Buck. Hastings, and Edward's children, Rivers,
Holy king Henry, and thy fairson Edward, [Grey,
Vaughan, and all that have miscarried
By underhand corrupted foul injustice;
If that your moody discontented souls
Do through the clouds behold this present hour,
Even for revenge mock my destruction!-
This is All-Souls' day, fellows, is it not?
Sher. It is, my lord.
[doomsday.
Buck. Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's
This is the day, which, in king Edward's time,
I wish'd might fall on me, when I was found
False to his children, or his wife's allies:
This is the day, wherein I wish'd to fall

By the false faith of him whom most I trusted:
This, this All-Souls' day to my fearful soul,
Is the determin'd respite of my wrongs2.
That high All-seer whom I dally'd with,
Hath turn'd my feigned prayer on my head,
And given in carnest what I begg'd in jest.
Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men
To turn their own points on their masters' bosoms:
Thus Margaret's curse falls heavy on my neck,
When he, quoth she, shall split thy heart with sor-
Remember Margaret was a prophetess.- [row,
Come, sirs, convey me to the block of shame;
Wrong hath butwrong, and blame the due of blame.
[Exeunt Buckingham, &c.

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SCENE II.
Tamworth, on the borders of Leicestershire. A camp.
Enter Henry Earl of Richmond, Earl of Oxford,
Sir James Blunt, Sir Walter Herbert, and 40
others, with drum and colours.

In God's name, chearly on, courageous friends,
To reap the harvest of perpetual peace
By this one bloody trial of sharp war.

To fight against that bloody homicide. [swords,
Orf. Every man's conscience is a thousand

Herb. I doubt not, but his friends will turn to us.
Blunt. He hath no friends, but who are friends
for fear;

Which, in his dearest need, will fly from him. Richm. All for our vantage. Then, in God's name march:

True hope is swift, and flies with swallow's wings; Kings it makes gods, and meaner creatures kings. [Exeunt.

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[lord.

Nor. We must both give and take, my loving K. Rich. Up with my tent: Here will I lie to night; [that.But where, to-morrow?-Well, all's one for Who hath descry'd the number of the traitors? Nor. Six or seven thousand is their utniost 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. Enter, on the other side of the field, Richmond, Sir William Brandon, Oxford, Dorset, &c. Richm. The weary sun hath made a golden set, 45 And, by the bright track of his fiery car, Gives token of a goodly day to-morrow. Sir William Brandon, you shall bear my standard.-Give me some ink and paper in my tent; I'll draw the form and model of our battle, Limit each leader to his several charge, And part in just proportion our small power. My lord of Oxford,-you, Sir William Brandon,And you, Sir Walter Herbert, stay with me:The earl of Pembroke keeps his regiment;From Tamworth thither, is but one day's march.|55|Good captain Blunt, bear my good night to him,

Richm. Fellows in arms, and my most loving
Bruis'd underneath the yoke of tyranny, [friends,
Thus far into the bowels of the land

Have we march'd on without impediment;
And here receive we from our father Stanley
Lines of fair comfort and encouragement.
The wretched, bloody, and usurping boar,
That spoil'd your summer fields, and fruitful vines,
Swills your warm blood like wash, and makes his
trough

In your embowell'd 3 bosoms,-this foul swine
Lies now even in the centre of this isle,
Near to the town of Leicester, as we learn;

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The reason why the duke of Buckingham solicited an interview with the king, is explained in K. Henry VIII, Act I. i. e. the time to which the punishment of his wrongs was respited Wrongs here means wrongs done, or injurious practices. i. e. ripped up. i. e. true judge. ment; tried military skill,

And

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And by the second hour in the morning
Desire the earl to see me in my tent:
Yet one thing more, good captain, do for me;
Where is lord Stanley quarter'd, do you know?
Blunt. Unless I have mista'en his colours much,
(Which, well I am assur'd, I have not done)
His regiment lies half a mile at least
South from the mighty power of the king.
Richm. If without peril it be possible,
Sweet Blunt, make some good means to speak with 10
And give him from me this most needful note.

[him,

Blunt. Upon my life, my lord, I'll undertake it;
And so, God give you quiet rest to-night!
Richm, Good night, good captain Blunt. Come,
gentlemen,

Let us consult upon to-morrow's business;
In to my tent, the air is raw and cold.

[They withdraw into the tent. Enter, to his tent, King Richard, Ratclif, Norfolk, and Cutesby.

K. Rich. What is't o'clock?

Cates. It's supper-time, my lord;

It's nine o'clock.

K. Rich. 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? [diness.
Cates. It is, my liege; and all things are in rea-
K. Rich. Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge;
Use careful watch, chuse trusty centinels.
Nor. I go, my lord.

[Norfolk.

K. Rich. Stir with the lark to-morrow, gentle
Nor. I warrant you, my lord.

K. Rich. Ratcliff, —

Rat. My lord!

[Exit.

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And help to arm me, Ratcliff.-Leave me, I say.
[Exit Ratclif.

Richmond's Tent opens, and discovers him, and
his Officers, &c.
Enter Stanley.

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Stan!. Fortune and victory sit on thy helm!
Richm. All comfort that the dark night can af-
Be to thy person, noble father-in-law!
[ford,
Tell me, how fares our loving mother? [ther,
Stanl. I, by attorney, bless thee from thy mo-
Who prays continually for Richmond's good:-
So much for that.-The silent hours steal on,
And flaky darkness breaks within the cast.
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 arnis :
But on thy side I may not be too forward,
Lest, being seen, thy tender brother George
Be executed in his father's sight.

Farewell: the leisure', and the fearful time
Cuts off the ceremonious vows of love,
And ample enterchange of sweet discourse,
Which so-long-sundred friends should dwell upon;
God give us leisure for these rites of love!
Once more, adieu-Be valiant, and speed well!
Richm. Good lords, conduct him to his regiment:
I'll strive, with troubled thoughts, to take a nap;
Lest leaden slumber peize' me down to-morrow,
When I should mount with wings of victory:
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Once more, good night, kind lords and gentlemen.
[Exeunt lords, &c.
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 thy 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! [Sleeps.
Enter the Ghost of Prince Edward, Son to Henry
the Sixth.

140]

K. Rich. Send out a pursuivant at arms
To Stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power
Before sun-rising, lest his son George fall
Into the blind cave of eternal night.-
Fill me a bowl of wine:-Give me a watch:-
[To Catesby.
Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow.
Look that my staves bu sound, and not too
Ratcliff,-
[heavy.
Rat. My lord!
[thumberland: 45
K. Rich. Saw'st thou the melancholy lord Nor-
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 satisty'd. Give me a bowl of 50
I have not that alacrity of spirit,
[wine:
Nor cheer of mind, that I was wont to have,-
So, set it down.-Is ink and paper ready?
Rat. It is, my lord.

K. Rich. Bid my guard watch, and leave me.
About the mid of night, come to my tent,

Ghost. Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow! [To K. Rich. Think how thou stabb'dst me in the prime of youth At Tewksbury; despair therefore, and die!— Be cheerful, Richmond; for the wronged souls [To Richm 55 Of butcher'd princes fight in thy behalf: King Henry's issue, Richmond, comforts thee.

That particular kind of candle is here meant, anciently called a watch, because, being marked out into sections, each of which was a certain proportion of time in burning, it supplied the place of the more modern instrument by which we measure the hours. 2 States are the wood of the lances. is it was usual to carry more lances than one into the field, the lightness of them was an object of consequence. 'i. c. twilight.--Cockshut is said to be a net to catch woodcocks; and as the time of taking them in this manner is in the twilight, either after sun-set or before its rising, cockshut light nay very properly express the evening or the morning twilight. i. e. by deputation, or by virtue of jetter of attorney. By staring war is probably meant war that looks big. passage stands for want of leisure. i. c. weigh me down; from peser, French.

Leisure in this

Enter

Enter the Ghost of Henry the Sixth. Ghost. When I was mortal, my anointed body [To K. Rich.

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Thy adversary's wife doth pray for thee.
Enter the Ghost of Buckingham.

crown;

Ghost. The first was I, that help'd thee to the [To K. Rich The last was I, that felt thy tyranny: 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!10 I dy'd for hope', ere I could lend thee aid: [To Richm, 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.

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By thee was punched full of deadly holes:
Think on the Tower and me; despair and die;
Henry the sixth bids thee despair and die !---
Virtuous and holy,be thou conqueror! [To Richm.
Harry, that prophesy'd thou shouldst be king,
Doth comfort thee in thy sleep; live, and flourish.
Enter the Ghost of Clarence.
Ghost, Let me sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow!
[To K. Rich.
1, 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 ine,
And fall thy edgeless sword; despair, and die!--
Thou offspring of the house of Lancaster,
[To Richm.
The wronged heirs of York do pray for thee;
Good angels guard thy battle! Live, and flourish
Enter the Ghosts of Rivers, Grey, and Vaughan.
Ric. Let ine sit heavy on thy soul to-morrow!
[To K. Rich.
Rivers, that dy'd at Pomfret; despair, and die!
Grey. Think upon Grey, and let thy soul despair! 25
[To K. Rich.

Vaugh. Think upon Vaughan; and, with guilty
fear,

Let fall thy lance! despair, and die!

All. Awake! and think, our wrongs in Richard's bosom

[K. Richard starts out of his dream. K. Rich. Give me another horse,—bind up

my wounds,

Have mercy, Jesu!-Soft; I did but dream.-
200 coward conscience, how dost thou afflict me!-
The lights burn blue.-Is it not dead midnight?
Cold fearful drops stand on my trembling flesh,
What do I fear? myself? there's none else by;
Richard loves Richard: that is, I am I.

Is there a murd'rer here? No;-Yes; I am:
Then fly,--What, from myself? Great reason: Why?
Lest I revenge. What? Myself on myself?
I love myself. Wherefore? for any good,
That I myself have done unto myself?
[To K. Rich. 300, no; alas! I rather hate myself,
For hateful deeds committed by myself.
I am a villain: Yet I lye, I am not.
Fool, of thyself speak well :-Fool, do not flatter.
My conscience hath a thousand several tongues,
35 And every tongue brings in a several tale,
And every tale condenins me for a villain.
Perjury, perjury, in the highest degree,
Murder, stern murder, in the dir'st degree;
All several sins, all us'd in each degree,
Throng to the bar, crying all,-Guilty! guilty!
I shall despair,-There is no creature loves me;
And, if I die, no soul shall pity me:—

Will conquer him ;-awake, and win the day!
[To Richm
Enter the Ghost of Lord Hastings.
Ghost. Bloody and guilty, guiltily awake;
[To K. Rich.

And in a bloody battle end thy days!
Think on lord Hastings; and despair, and die!-
Quiet untroubled soul; awake, awake! [ToRichm. 40
Arm, fight, and conquer, for fair England's sake!
Enter the Ghosts of the two Young Princes.
Ghosts. Dream on thy cousins smother'd in the
Tower!

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Let us be lead within thy bosom, Richard,
[To K. Rich.
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;
[To Richm. 50
Good angels guard thee from the boar's annoy!
Live, and beget a happy race of kings!
Edward's unhappy sons do bid thee flourish.
Enter the Ghost of Lady Anne.

Ghost. Richard, thy wife, that wretched Anne 55
thy wife,
[To K. Rich.
That never slept a quiet hour with thee,
Now fills thy sleep with perturbations:
To-morrow in the battle think on me,
And fall thy edgeless sword; despair, and die !-60
Thou, quiet soul, sleep thou a quiet sleep;
[To Richm

Dream of success and happy victory;

Nay, wherefore should they? since that I myself
Find in myself no pity to myself.
Methought, the souls of all that I had murder'd
Came to my tent; and every one did threat
To-morrow's vengeance on the head of Richard.
Enter Ratcliff.

Rat. My lord,

K. Rich. Who's there?

Rat. 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
Rat. No doubt, my lord.
[true?
K. Rich. Ratcliff, I fear, I fear,- [dows.
Rat. Nay, good my lord, be not afraid of sha-
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.

i. e. I died for wishing well to you.

It

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