ACT V. | |
SCENE I. Salisbury. An open place. | |
| [Enter the Sheriff and Guard, with BUCKINGHAM, 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, Grey, and Rivers, |
| 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, fellow, is it not? |
SHERIFF. | |
| It is, my lord. |
BUCKINGHAM. | |
| Why, then All-Souls' day is my body's doomsday. |
| This is the day which in King Edward's time |
| I wish'd might fall on me, when I was found |
| False to his children and his wife's allies; |
| This is the day wherein I wish'd to fall |
| By the false faith of him whom most I trusted; |
| This, this All-Souls' day to my fearful soul |
| Is the determin'd respite of my wrongs: |
| That high All-Seer which 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 in their masters' bosoms: |
| Thus Margaret's curse falls heavy on my neck,-- |
| When he, quoth she, "shall split thy heart with sorrow, |
| Remember Margaret was a prophetess."-- |
| Come lead me, officers, to the block of shame; |
| Wrong hath but wrong, and blame the due of blame. |
| [Exeunt.] |