And Richmond, as we augur, is the admiral :
There do they hull, expecting but the aid

Of Buckingham, to welcome them ashore. [K. Richard.] Some light-foot friend post to the duke of Nor

Ratcliffe, thyself, --or Catesby,—where is he? [folk,[Catesby.] Here, my good lord. [K. Richard.] Catesby, fly to the duke:

Ratcliffe, come hither :-post to Salisbury;
When thou com’st thither_Dull, unmindful villain,

Why stay'st thou there, and go’st not to the duke ? Catesby.] First, mighty liege, tell me your highness' pleaWhat from your grace I shall deliver to him. (sure,

(straight [K. Richard.] Oh true, good Catesby: bid him levy

The greatest strength and power he can raise,
And meet me suddenly at Salisbury. [a pause.]

[bury? [Ratcliffe.] What, may it please you, shall I do at Salis[K. Richard.] Why, what would'st thou do there before I go? [Ratcliffe.] Your highness told me I should post before. [K. Richard.] My mind is chang'd: go, and seek out more -Now, Stanley, what with you?

[news. [Stanley.) Richmond is on the seas, my lord. [K. Richard.] There let him sink, and be the seas on him;

White-liver'd runagate! what does he there ? [Stanley.] I know not, mighty sovereign, but by guess [K. Richard.] Well, as you guess ? [Stanley.] Stirr'd up by Dorset, Buckingham, and Morton,

He makes for England, here to claim the crown. [K. Richard.] Traitor the crown !

Is the chair empty ? is the sword unsway'd ?
Is the king dead ?

Where is thy power, sir, to beat him back ?
Where are thy tenants, and thy followers ?
The foe upon our coast, and thou no friends
To meet them ?
Or hast thou march'd them to the western shore

To give the rebels conduct from their ships ? [Stanley.] My lord, my friends are ready in the north. [K. Richard.] The north! why, what do they do in the north,

When they should serve their sovereign in the west ? [Stanley.] They yet have had no orders, sir, to move :

If 'tis your royal pleasure they should march,
I'll lead them on with utmost haste to join you,
Where, and what time, your majesty shall please.

[mond !-ha ? [K. Richard.] What, thou 'd'st begone to join with Rich[Stanley.) Sir, you ’ve no cause to doubt my loyalty;

I never was, and never will be, false. [K. Richard.] Away, then, to thy friends, and lead them on

To meet me.-Hold, come back :-I will not trust thee:
I've thought a way to make thee sure:- -- your son,
George Stanley, sir, I 'll have him left behind :
And look your heart's allegiance, sir, be firm,
Or else his head's assurance is but frail.

Away! Now, Ratcliffe ? [Ratcliffe.] My liege, the army of the duke of Buckingham[K. Richard.] Out on ye, owls! nothing but songs of death? [Ratcliffe.] The news I have to tell your majesty

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.
[K. Richard.] Oh, I cry you mercy !

Has any careful officer proclaim'd
Reward to him who brings the traitor in ?

[Ratcliffe.] Such proclamation has been made, my lord:

And here is he that took that charge upon him. [Officer.] My liege, the duke of Buckingham is taken. [K. Rich.] Off with his head !-80 much for Buckingham. [Officer.] My lord, I'm sorry I must tell more news. [K. Richard.] Out with it. [Officer.] The earl of Richmond, with a mighty power,

Is landed, sir, at Milford :
And, to confirm the news, lord marquess Dorset,

And Lovel, as I think, are up in Yorkshire. [K. Rich.] Why, ay, this looks rebellion.-Ho,—my horse !

By heaven, the news alarms my stirring soul.
Come forth, my honest sword ;-which here I vow,
By my soul's hope, shall ne'er again be sheath'd,
Ne'er shall these watching eyes have needful rest,
Till death has clos’d them in a glorious grave,

Or fortune given me measure of revenge. We now imagine a change of place, from London to the country near Tamworth in Leicestershire. Henry earl of Richmond, at a temporary halt, addresses the leaders immediately around him; among whom are lord Oxford, Sir James Blunt, Sir William Brandon, and Sir Walter Herbert. [Richmond.] Thus far, into the bowels of the land

Have we march'd on without impediment.
Richard, the bloody and devouring boar,
Whose ravenous appetite has spoil'd your fields,
Laid this rich country waste, and rudely cropp'd
Its ripen’d hopes of fair posterity,
Is now even in the centre of the isle,
And one day's march will bring us to his camp.
Thrice is he arm’d that hath his quarrel just,
And he but naked, though lock'd up in steel,
Whose conscience with injustice is corrupted :
The very weight of Richard's guilt shall crush him.
Why, then, let's on, my friends, and boldly face him.

[Brandon.] His best of friends, no doubt, will soon be ours.

[fear; [Richmond.] He has no friends but what are such through

We have no foes but what are such to heaven.
Then doubt not, heaven will fight upon our side.
And here receive we, from our father Stanley,
Lines of fair comfort and encouragement,
Such as will animate and help our cause.
For me, the ransom of my bold attempt,
Shall be this body on the earth's cold face;
But if we thrive, the glory of the action,
The meanest soldier here shall share his part of.
Sound drums and trumpets boldly' and cheerfully,

The words-St. George, Richmond, and Victory! Some thirty hours' interval supposed, will bring us to the eve of the battle. Richard is encamped on Bosworth field, and you may imagine him before his tent surrounded by his adherents, to whom he speaks : [K. Richard.] Ratcliffe,[Ratcliffe.] Here, my lord. [K. Richard.] Send out a pursuivant-at-arms

To Stanley's regiment; bid him bring his power
Before sun-rising, or young George's head
Shall
pay

the forfeit of his cold delay.-
What, is my beaver easier than it was,

And all my armour laid into my tent ? [Catesby.] It is my liege: all is in readiness. [K. Richard.] Good Norfolk, hie thee to thy charge:

Use careful watch; choose trusty sentinels. [Norfolk.] Doubt not, my lord. [K. Richard.] Be stirring with the lark, good Norfolk. [Norfolk.] I shall, my lord.

[a pause.]

[K. Richard.] Saddle white Surrey for the field to-morrow :

See that the staves are sound to all the lances,

And not too heavy. Is ink and paper ready ? [Catesby.] It is, my lord.

[a pause.] [K. Richard.] About the mid of night, come to my tent, And help to arm me : [a pause.] A good night, my

[friends. Richard retires within his tent, whither we will follow him. The corporeal frame of Richard, misshapen as it was, had thus far borne up his mental daring :--thus far he had set conscience at defiance, and scorned the better thoughts and feelings of his nature, that, if listened to, would have interfered with the single purpose he had set before him. But, under the incessant toil which his spirit had imposed, his frame at length begins to sink : the crisis of his fate is come: the thoughts of the past, and the uncertainty of the future, overcloud his mind : his nerves are harassed and jaded by erertions to meet his foes; by suspicion of his friends, by days and nights of watchfulness. Thus overcome, he throws himself on his couch and sleeps. What, under such circumstances, must be the character of his slumber? Who refuses to believe the poet when he tells us that the ghosts of king Henry, and his son stabbed at Tewkesbury, of the young princes, smothered in the Tower, -of Clarence, -of Hastings,—and of others in hideous succession-rise before his view, and threaten him ?- Look,-or imagine you look,---on the sleeping ty

, rant-see his face and his whole frame convulsed with horrid agitation ;- he starts from his couch,-he rushes, not yet quite awake, into the middle of his ample tent. [K. Rich.] Give me another horse, --bind up my wounds,

Have mercy