RICHMOND
Why, then 'tis time to arm and give direction.
His oration to his soldiers
More than I have said, loving countrymen, The leisure and enforcement of the time Forbids to dwell upon: yet
remember this, God and our good cause fight upon our side; The prayers of holy saints and wronged
souls, Like high-rear'd bulwarks, stand before our faces; Richard except, those whom we fight against Had
rather have us win than him they follow: For what is he they follow? truly, gentlemen, A bloody tyrant and
a homicide; One raised in blood, and one in blood establish'd; One that made means to come by what
he hath, And slaughter'd those that were the means to help him; Abase foul stone, made precious by
the foil Of England's chair, where he is falsely set; One that hath ever been God's enemy: Then, if you
fight against God's enemy, God will in justice ward you as his soldiers; If you do sweat to put a tyrant
down, You sleep in peace, the tyrant being slain; If you do fight against your country's foes, Your country's
fat shall pay your pains the hire; If you do fight in safeguard of your wives, Your wives shall welcome home
the conquerors; If you do free your children from the sword, Your children's children quit it in your age. Then,
in the name of God and all these rights, Advance your standards, draw your willing swords. For me, the
ransom of my bold attempt Shall be this cold corpse on the earth's cold face; But if I thrive, the gain of
my attempt The least of you shall share his part thereof. Sound drums and trumpets boldly and cheerfully; God
and Saint George! Richmond and victory!
Exeunt
Re-enter KING RICHARD, RATCLIFF, Attendants and Forces KING RICHARD III
What said Northumberland as touching Richmond? RATCLIFF
That he was never trained up in arms. KING RICHARD III
He said the truth: and what said Surrey then? RATCLIFF
He smiled and said 'The better for our purpose.' KING RICHARD III
He was in the right; and so indeed it is.
Clock striketh
Ten the clock there. Give me a calendar. Who saw the sun to-day? RATCLIFF
Not I, my lord.
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