Act III, Scene 2

Before Lord Hastings’ house.

[Enter a Messenger]

• Messenger. What, ho! my lord!

• Lord Hastings. [Within] Who knocks at the door? 1780

• Messenger. A messenger from the Lord Stanley.

[Enter HASTINGS]

• Lord Hastings. What is't o'clock?

• Messenger. Upon the stroke of four.

• Lord Hastings. Cannot thy master sleep these tedious nights? 1785

• Messenger. So it should seem by that I have to say.
  First, he commends him to your noble lordship.

• Lord Hastings. And then?

• Messenger. And then he sends you word
  He dreamt to-night the boar had razed his helm: 1790
  Besides, he says there are two councils held;
  And that may be determined at the one
  which may make you and him to rue at the other.
  Therefore he sends to know your lordship's pleasure,
  If presently you will take horse with him, 1795
  And with all speed post with him toward the north,
  To shun the danger that his soul divines.

• Lord Hastings. Go, fellow, go, return unto thy lord;
  Bid him not fear the separated councils
  His honour and myself are at the one, 1800
  And at the other is my servant Catesby
  Where nothing can proceed that toucheth us
  Whereof I shall not have intelligence.
  Tell him his fears are shallow, wanting instance:
  And for his dreams, I wonder he is so fond 1805
  To trust the mockery of unquiet slumbers
  To fly the boar before the boar pursues,
  Were to incense the boar to follow us
  And make pursuit where he did mean no chase.
  Go, bid thy master rise and come to me 1810
  And we will both together to the Tower,
  Where, he shall see, the boar will use us kindly.

• Messenger. My gracious lord, I'll tell him what you say.

[Exit]

[Enter CATESBY]

• Sir William Catesby. Many good morrows to my noble lord!

• Lord Hastings. Good morrow, Catesby; you are early stirring
  What news, what news, in this our tottering state?

• Sir William Catesby. It is a reeling world, indeed, my lord;
  And I believe twill never stand upright 1820
  Tim Richard wear the garland of the realm.

• Lord Hastings. How! wear the garland! dost thou mean the crown?

• Sir William Catesby. Ay, my good lord.

• Lord Hastings. I'll have this crown of mine cut from my shoulders
  Ere I will see the crown so foul misplaced. 1825
  But canst thou guess that he doth aim at it?

• Sir William Catesby. Ay, on my life; and hopes to find forward
  Upon his party for the gain thereof:
  And thereupon he sends you this good news,
  That this same very day your enemies, 1830
  The kindred of the queen, must die at Pomfret.

• Lord Hastings. Indeed, I am no mourner for that news,
  Because they have been still mine enemies:
  But, that I'll give my voice on Richard's side,
  To bar my master's heirs in true descent, 1835
  God knows I will not do it, to the death.

• Sir William Catesby. God keep your lordship in that gracious mind!

• Lord Hastings. But I shall laugh at this a twelve-month hence,
  That they who brought me in my master's hate
  I live to look upon their tragedy. 1840
  I tell thee, Catesby—

• Sir William Catesby. What, my lord?

• Lord Hastings. Ere a fortnight make me elder,
  I'll send some packing that yet think not on it.

• Sir William Catesby. 'Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord, 1845
  When men are unprepared and look not for it.

• Lord Hastings. O monstrous, monstrous! and so falls it out
  With Rivers, Vaughan, Grey: and so 'twill do
  With some men else, who think themselves as safe
  As thou and I; who, as thou know'st, are dear 1850
  To princely Richard and to Buckingham.

• Sir William Catesby. The princes both make high account of you;
  [Aside]
  For they account his head upon the bridge.

• Lord Hastings. I know they do; and I have well deserved it. 1855
  [Enter STANLEY]
  Come on, come on; where is your boar-spear, man?
  Fear you the boar, and go so unprovided?

• Sir William Stanley. My lord, good morrow; good morrow, Catesby:
  You may jest on, but, by the holy rood, 1860
  I do not like these several councils, I.

• Lord Hastings. My lord,
  I hold my life as dear as you do yours;
  And never in my life, I do protest,
  Was it more precious to me than 'tis now: 1865
  Think you, but that I know our state secure,
  I would be so triumphant as I am?

• Sir William Stanley. The lords at Pomfret, when they rode from London,
  Were jocund, and supposed their state was sure,
  And they indeed had no cause to mistrust; 1870
  But yet, you see how soon the day o'ercast.
  This sudden stag of rancour I misdoubt:
  Pray God, I say, I prove a needless coward!
  What, shall we toward the Tower? the day is spent.

• Lord Hastings. Come, come, have with you. Wot you what, my lord? 1875
  To-day the lords you talk of are beheaded.

• Sir William Stanley. They, for their truth, might better wear their heads
  Than some that have accused them wear their hats.
  But come, my lord, let us away.

[Enter a Pursuivant]

• Lord Hastings. Go on before; I'll talk with this good fellow.
  [Exeunt STANLEY and CATESBY]
  How now, sirrah! how goes the world with thee?

• Pursuivant. The better that your lordship please to ask.

• Lord Hastings. I tell thee, man, 'tis better with me now 1885
  Than when I met thee last where now we meet:
  Then was I going prisoner to the Tower,
  By the suggestion of the queen's allies;
  But now, I tell thee—keep it to thyself—
  This day those enemies are put to death, 1890
  And I in better state than e'er I was.

• Pursuivant. God hold it, to your honour's good content!

• Lord Hastings. Gramercy, fellow: there, drink that for me.

[Throws him his purse]

• Pursuivant. God save your lordship! 1895

[Exit]

[Enter a Priest]

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

• Lord Hastings. I thank thee, good Sir John, with all my heart.
  I am in your debt for your last exercise; 1900
  Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you.

[He whispers in his ear]

[Enter BUCKINGHAM]

• Duke of Buckingham. What, talking with a priest, lord chamberlain?
  Your friends at Pomfret, they do need the priest; 1905
  Your honour hath no shriving work in hand.

• Lord Hastings. Good faith, and when I met this holy man,
  Those men you talk of came into my mind.
  What, go you toward the Tower?

• Duke of Buckingham. I do, my lord; but long I shall not stay 1910
  I shall return before your lordship thence.

• Lord Hastings. 'Tis like enough, for I stay dinner there.

• Duke of Buckingham. [Aside] And supper too, although thou know'st it not.
  Come, will you go?

• Lord Hastings. I'll wait upon your lordship. 1915

[Exeunt]