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History of Richard III

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Act V, Scene 5

Another part of the field.

       
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[Alarum. Enter KING RICHARD III and RICHMOND; they] fight. KING RICHARD III is slain. Retreat and flourish. Re-enter RICHMOND, DERBY bearing the crown, with divers other Lords]

  • Richmond (Henry VII). God and your arms be praised, victorious friends,
    The day is ours, the bloody dog is dead.
  • Sir William Stanley. Courageous Richmond, well hast thou acquit thee. 3895
    Lo, here, this long-usurped royalty
    From the dead temples of this bloody wretch
    Have I pluck'd off, to grace thy brows withal:
    Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it.
  • Richmond (Henry VII). Great God of heaven, say Amen to all! 3900
    But, tell me, is young George Stanley living?
  • Sir William Stanley. He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town;
    Whither, if it please you, we may now withdraw us.
  • Sir William Stanley. John Duke of Norfolk, Walter Lord Ferrers, 3905
    Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William Brandon.
  • Richmond (Henry VII). Inter their bodies as becomes their births:
    Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled
    That in submission will return to us:
    And then, as we have ta'en the sacrament, 3910
    We will unite the white rose and the red:
    Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction,
    That long have frown'd upon their enmity!
    What traitor hears me, and says not amen?
    England hath long been mad, and scarr'd herself; 3915
    The brother blindly shed the brother's blood,
    The father rashly slaughter'd his own son,
    The son, compell'd, been butcher to the sire:
    All this divided York and Lancaster,
    Divided in their dire division, 3920
    O, now, let Richmond and Elizabeth,
    The true succeeders of each royal house,
    By God's fair ordinance conjoin together!
    And let their heirs, God, if thy will be so.
    Enrich the time to come with smooth-faced peace, 3925
    With smiling plenty and fair prosperous days!
    Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord,
    That would reduce these bloody days again,
    And make poor England weep in streams of blood!
    Let them not live to taste this land's increase 3930
    That would with treason wound this fair land's peace!
    Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again:
    That she may long live here, God say amen!

[Exeunt]