Richard III – Act 3 Scene 2

STANLEY MESSENGER

My lord! My lord!

My lord! My lord!

LORD HASTINGS

[Within.]

Who knocks?

Who’s knocking?

STANLEY MESSENGER

One from the Lord Stanley.

A messenger from Lord Stanley.

LORD HASTINGS

[Within.]

What is’t a’ clock?

What is the time?

STANLEY MESSENGER

Upon the stroke of four.

It’s just turned four o’clock.

LORD HASTINGS

Cannot my Lord Stanley sleep these tedious nights?

Well, can’t Lord Stanley sleep throughout the night?

STANLEY MESSENGER

So it appears by that I have to say:

It seems he can’t by what I have to tell you:

First, he commends him to your noble self.

But first, he offers you his best regards.

LORD HASTINGS

What then?

What else?

STANLEY MESSENGER

Then certifies your lordship that this night

Then said to tell your lordship that last night

He dreamt the boar had rased off his helm.

He dreamt the Duke of Gloucester chopped his head off.

Besides, he says there are two Councils kept;

He also said there’ll be two meetings held;

And that may be determined at the one

And that the outcome of one of those meetings

Which may make you and him to rue at th’ other.

Will make you and my lord regret the other.

Therefore he sends to know your lordship’s pleasure,

And so he wants to know what you will do,

If you will presently take horse with him,

And ask if you will join him on a horse ride

And with all speed post with him toward the north,

To swiftly get away and head up north

To shun the danger that his soul divines.

And thus avoid the danger that he’s fearing.

LORD HASTINGS

Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord,

Go back, good fellow; go back to your lord

Bid him not fear the separated Council:

And tell him not to sweat about the meetings:

His honour and myself are at the one,

Whilst he and I attend one of the meetings,

And at the other is my good friend Catesby;

My dear friend Catesby will attend the other;

Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us

So nothing will occur that might affect us

Whereof I shall not have intelligence.

Which we won’t have intelligence about.

Tell him his fears are shallow, without instance;

Tell him his fears are baseless and unfounded;

And for his dreams, I wonder he’s so simple

And of his dreams, I find it juvenile

To trust the mock’ry of unquiet slumbers.

Believing in the threats dreamt in a dream.

To fly the boar before the boar pursues

To run away before Gloucester has chased us

Were to incense the boar to follow us,

Would anger him and make him follow us

And make pursuit where he did mean no chase.

In hot pursuit, although he didn’t plan to.

Go, bid thy master rise and come to me,

Go wake your master up and bring him here,

And we will both together to the Tower,

And we will go together to the Tower,

Where he shall see the boar will use us kindly.

Where he will see that Gloucester treats us kindly.

STANLEY MESSENGER

I’ll go, my lord, and tell him what you say.

I’ll go, my lord, and tell him what you’ve told me.

SIR WILLIAM CATESBY

Many good morrows to my noble lord!

A splendid morning to you, noble lord!

LORD HASTINGS

Good morrow, Catesby, you are early stirring.

Good morning, Catesby, you have got up early.

What news, what news, in this our tott’ring state?

What is the news in this unstable country?

SIR WILLIAM CATESBY

It is a reeling world indeed, my lord,

Our world is changing fast indeed, my lord,

And I believe will never stand upright

And I believe it won’t be strong again

Till Richard wear the garland of the realm.

Until the day that Richard wears the garland.

LORD HASTINGS

How? Wear the garland? Dost thou mean the crown?

What? Wears the garland? Do you mean the crown?

SIR WILLIAM CATESBY

Ay, my good lord.

Yes, my good lord.

LORD HASTINGS

I’ll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders

I’ll have my own head cut off from my shoulders

Before I’ll see the crown so foul misplaced.

Before I see the crown misplaced so badly.

But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?

But do you think that’s what he’s aiming for?

SIR WILLIAM CATESBY

Ay, on my life, and hopes to find you forward

Yes, on my life, and he hopes you’ll support him

Upon his party for the gain thereof;

By joining on his side to get the crown;

And thereupon he sends you this good news,

And for that reason, he has sent you good news,

That this same very day your enemies,

That on this very day, your enemies,

The kindred of the Queen, must die at Pomfret.

The family of the Queen, will die at Pomfret.

LORD HASTINGS

Indeed I am no mourner for that news,

Indeed, I’m not upset to hear that news,

Because they have been still my adversaries;

Because they’ve always been my enemies;

But that I’ll give my voice on Richard’s side

But if you are suggesting I’ll join Richard

To bar my master’s heirs in true descent,

And overthrow my master’s lineage,

God knows I will not do it, to the death!

God knows I’d rather die than see that happen!

SIR WILLIAM CATESBY

God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!

Well then may God maintain your decent mind!

LORD HASTINGS

But I shall laugh at this a twelvemonth hence,

But I will laugh at this a year from now,

That they which brought me in my master’s hate,

For those who made King Edward so detest me,

I live to look upon their tragedy.

I’ve witnessed die in tragic circumstances.

Well, Catesby, ere a fortnight make me older,

Before I am another two weeks older,

I’ll send some packing that yet think not on’t.

I’ll have some others killed who don’t expect it.

SIR WILLIAM CATESBY

’Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,

It is an awful thing, my gracious lord,

When men are unprepared and look not for it.

When men are not prepared and don’t expect it.

LORD HASTINGS

O monstrous, monstrous! And so falls it out

Oh yes, it’s monstrous! And it will occur

With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey; and so ’twill do

For Rivers, Vaughan and Grey; and also to

With some men else, that think themselves as safe

Some other men who think that they’re as safe

As thou and I, who (as thou know’st) are dear

As you and I, who, as you know, are friends to

To princely Richard and to Buckingham.

The Lord of Gloucester and to Buckingham.

SIR WILLIAM CATESBY

The princes both make high account of you –

Both of the princes think most highly of you…

[Aside.]

For they account his head upon the bridge.

Your head high on a spike on London Bridge.

LORD HASTINGS

I know they do, and I have well deserved it.

I know they do, and I have earned my standing.

[ENTER LORD STANLEY.]

Come on, come on, where is your boar-spear, man?

Come on, where is your boar-hunting spear, man?

Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?

The boar unnerves you, yet you go unarmed?

LORD STANLEY

My lord, good morrow, good morrow, Catesby.

My lord, good morning, good morning, Catesby.

You may jest on, but, by the holy rood,

You might just laugh this off, but by the cross,

I do not like these several Councils, I.

I do not like these many different meetings.

LORD HASTINGS

My lord,

My lord,

I hold my life as dear as you do yours,

Like you, I do believe my life is precious,

And never in my days, I do protest,

And I must say, I never have believed

Was it so precious to me as ’tis now.

It was as precious as it is right now.

Think you, but that I know our state secure,

Do you think, if I thought our land unsafe,

I would be so triumphant as I am?

I’d act with all the confidence I have now?

LORD STANLEY

The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London,

When riding out, the locked-up lords at Pomfret

Were jocund, and supposed their states were sure,

Were jovial, and thought their status safe,

And they indeed had no cause to mistrust;

And even had no reason to be fearful;

But yet you see how soon the day o’ercast.

But yet you see how quickly storm clouds gather.

This sudden stab of rancour I misdoubt;

I fear it’s not a one-off act of anger;

Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward!

I hope I’m proved a coward for no reason!

What, shall we toward the Tower? The day is spent.

Shall we head to the Tower? Daytime’s over.

LORD HASTINGS

Come, come, have with you. Wot you what, my lord?

Come on, let’s go. Do you know what, my lord?

Today the lords you talked of are beheaded.

Today, those lords you spoke of are beheaded.

LORD STANLEY

They, for their truth, might better wear their heads

They’re worthier of heads for stating truths

Than some that have accused them wear their hats.

Than those who have accused them merit hats.

But come, my lord, let’s away.

But come on now, my lord, let’s get away.

LORD HASTINGS

Go on before, I’ll talk with this good fellow.

Go on ahead; I want to talk to this chap.

[EXEUNT LORD STANLEY AND CATESBY.]

How now, sirrah? How goes the world with thee?

Hello there, sir! How is your world today?

PURSUIVANT

The better that your lordship please to ask.

It’s better since you asked me of it, sir.

LORD HASTINGS

I tell thee, man, ’tis better with me now

I tell you, man, it’s better now for me

Than when thou met’st me last where now we meet.

Than when you met me last time we met here.

Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,

Then I was Tower-bound, locked-up a prisoner,

By the suggestion of the Queen’s allies;

Accused by many allies of the Queen;

But now I tell thee (keep it to thyself)

But let me tell you – but do not repeat it –

This day those enemies are put to death,

Today those enemies are put to death,

And I in better state than e’er I was.

And now I am in better shape than ever.

PURSUIVANT

God hold it, to your honour’s good content!

Let’s hope your luck holds, sir, to keep you happy!

LORD HASTINGS

Gramercy, fellow. There, drink that for me.

Merci beaucoup, sir! Have a drink on me.

[Throws him his purse.]

PURSUIVANT

I thank your honour.

Well, thank you, sir.

SIR JOHN

Well met, my lord, I am glad to see your honour.

How pleased I am to meet you here, my lord.

LORD HASTINGS

I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart.

I thank you from the bottom of my heart, sir.

I am in your debt for your last exercise;

I am indebted for your sermon last week;

Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.

Next Sunday, I will give you a donation.

SIR JOHN

I’ll wait upon your lordship.

I will be at your service then, your lordship.

DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM

What, talking with a priest, Lord Chamberlain?

You’re talking with a priest, Lord Chamberlain?

Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest,

Your friends at Pomfret need to see a priest

Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.

But you have nothing to confess about.

LORD HASTINGS

Good faith, and when I met this holy man

In truth, when I first met this holy man,

The men you talk of came into my mind.

I thought about the men that you just mentioned.

What, go you toward the Tower?

What, are you heading to the Tower?

DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM

I do, my lord, but long I cannot stay there.

I am, my lord, but I can’t stay there long.

I shall return before your lordship thence.

I’ll leave before your lordship does, for sure.

LORD HASTINGS

Nay, like enough, for I stay dinner there.

I’m sure you will, for I’m staying for lunch.

DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM

[Aside.]

And supper too, although thou know’st it not. –

And supper too, though you don’t know it yet.

Come, will you go?

Well, shall we go?

LORD HASTINGS

I’ll wait upon your lordship.

I’ll follow you, my lord.