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looks。
Re…enter GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM
GLOUCESTER。 I pray you all； tell me what they deserve That do
conspire my death with devilish plots Of damned witchcraft； and that have
prevail'd Upon my body with their hellish charms？ HASTINGS。 The
tender love I bear your Grace； my lord； Makes me most forward in this
princely presence To doom th' offenders； whosoe'er they be。 I say； my lord；
they have deserved death。 GLOUCESTER。 Then be your eyes the witness
of their evil。 Look how I am bewitch'd； behold； mine arm Is like a blasted
sapling wither'd up。 And this is Edward's wife； that monstrous witch；
Consorted with that harlot strumpet Shore； That by their witchcraft thus
have marked me。 HASTINGS。 If they have done this deed； my noble lord…
GLOUCESTER。 If？…thou protector of this damned strumpet； Talk'st thou
to me of ifs？ Thou art a traitor。 Off with his head！ Now by Saint Paul I
swear I will not dine until I see the same。 Lovel and Ratcliff； look that it
be done。 The rest that love me； rise and follow me。 Exeunt all but
HASTINGS； LOVEL； and RATCLIFF HASTINGS。 Woe； woe； for
England！ not a whit for me； For I； too fond； might have prevented this。
STANLEY did dream the boar did raze our helms； And I did scorn it and
disdain to fly。 Three times to…day my foot…cloth horse did stumble； And
started when he look'd upon the Tower； As loath to bear me to the
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slaughter…house。 O； now I need the priest that spake to me！ I now repent I
told the pursuivant； As too triumphing； how mine enemies To…day at
Pomfret bloodily were butcher'd； And I myself secure in grace and favour。
O Margaret； Margaret； now thy heavy curse Is lighted on poor Hastings'
wretched head！ RATCLIFF。 Come； come； dispatch； the Duke would be at
dinner。 Make a short shrift； he longs to see your head。 HASTINGS。 O
momentary grace of mortal men； Which we more hunt for than the grace
of God！ Who builds his hope in air of your good looks Lives like a
drunken sailor on a mast； Ready with every nod to tumble down Into the
fatal bowels of the deep。 LOVEL。 Come； come； dispatch； 'tis bootless to
exclaim。 HASTINGS。 O bloody Richard！ Miserable England！ I prophesy
the fearfull'st time to thee That ever wretched age hath look'd upon。 Come；
lead me to the block； bear him my head。 They smile at me who shortly
shall be dead。 Exeunt
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KING RICHARD III
SCENE 5。
London。 The Tower…walls
Enter GLOUCESTER and BUCKINGHAM in rotten armour；
marvellous ill…favoured
GLOUCESTER。 Come； cousin； canst thou quake and change thy
colour； Murder thy breath in middle of a word； And then again begin； and
stop again； As if thou were distraught and mad with terror？
BUCKINGHAM。 Tut； I can counterfeit the deep tragedian； Speak and
look back； and pry on every side； Tremble and start at wagging of a straw；
Intending deep suspicion。 Ghastly looks Are at my service； like enforced
smiles； And both are ready in their offices At any time to grace my
stratagems。 But what； is Catesby gone？ GLOUCESTER。 He is； and； see；
he brings the mayor along。
Enter the LORD MAYOR and CATESBY
BUCKINGHAM。 Lord Mayor… GLOUCESTER。 Look to the
drawbridge there！ BUCKINGHAM。 Hark！ a drum。 GLOUCESTER。
Catesby； o'erlook the walls。 BUCKINGHAM。 Lord Mayor； the reason we
have sent… GLOUCESTER。 Look back； defend thee； here are enemies。
BUCKINGHAM。 God and our innocence defend and guard us！
Enter LOVEL and RATCLIFF； with HASTINGS' head
GLOUCESTER。 Be patient； they are friends…Ratcliff and Lovel。
LOVEL。 Here is the head of that ignoble traitor； The dangerous and
unsuspected Hastings。 GLOUCESTER。 So dear I lov'd the man that I must
weep。 I took him for the plainest harmless creature That breath'd upon the
earth a Christian； Made him my book； wherein my soul recorded The
history of all her secret thoughts。 So smooth he daub'd his vice with show
of virtue That； his apparent open guilt omitted； I mean his conversation
with Shore's wife… He liv'd from all attainder of suspects。 BUCKINGHAM。
Well； well； he was the covert'st shelt'red traitor That ever liv'd。 Would you
imagine； or almost believe… Were't not that by great preservation We live
to tell it…that the subtle traitor This day had plotted； in the council…house；
To murder me and my good Lord of Gloucester。 MAYOR。 Had he done so？
GLOUCESTER。 What！ think you we are Turks or Infidels？ Or that we
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would； against the form of law； Proceed thus rashly in the villain's death
But that the extreme peril of the case； The peace of England and our
persons' safety； Enforc'd us to this execution？ MAYOR。 Now； fair befall
you！ He deserv'd his death； And your good Graces both have well
proceeded To warn false traitors from the like attempts。 I never look'd for
better at his hands After he once fell in with Mistress Shore。
BUCKINGHAM。 Yet had we not determin'd he should die Until your
lordship came to see his end… Which now the loving haste of these our
friends； Something against our meanings； have prevented… Because； my
lord； I would have had you heard The traitor speak； and timorously
confess The manner and the purpose of his treasons： That you might well
have signified the same Unto the citizens； who haply may Misconster us in
him and wail his death。 MAYOR。 But； my good lord； your Grace's words
shall serve As well as I had seen and heard him speak； And do not doubt；
right noble Princes both； But I'll acquaint our duteous citizens With all
your just proceedings in this cause。 GLOUCESTER。 And to that end we
wish'd your lordship here； T' avoid the the the censures of the carping
world。 BUCKINGHAM。 Which since you come too late of our intent； Yet
witness what you hear we did intend。 And so； my good Lord Mayo