Richard III - Act 5 - Scene 1

SCENE I. Salisbury. An open place.

    Enter the Sheriff, and BUCKINGHAM, with halberds, led to execution

BUCKINGHAM

    Will not King Richard let me speak with him?

Sheriff

    No, my good lord; therefore be patient.

BUCKINGHAM

    Hastings, and Edward's children, Rivers, Grey,
    Holy King Henry, and thy fair son Edward,
    Vaughan, and all that have miscarried
    By underhand corrupted foul injustice,
    If that your moody discontented souls
    Do through the clouds behold this present hour,
    Even for revenge mock my destruction!
    This is All-Souls' day, fellows, is it not?

Sheriff

    It is, my lord.

BUCKINGHAM

    Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday.
    This is the day that, in King Edward's time,
    I wish't might fall on me, when I was found
    False to his children or his wife's allies
    This is the day wherein I wish'd to fall
    By the false faith of him I trusted most;
    This, this All-Souls' day to my fearful soul
    Is the determined respite of my wrongs:
    That high All-Seer that I dallied with
    Hath turn'd my feigned prayer on my head
    And given in earnest what I begg'd in jest.
    Thus doth he force the swords of wicked men
    To turn their own points on their masters' bosoms:
    Now Margaret's curse is fallen upon my head;
    'When he,' quoth she, 'shall split thy heart with sorrow,
    Remember Margaret was a prophetess.'
    Come, sirs, convey me to the block of shame;
    Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame.

    Exeunt

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