Page 1187 - Shakespeare - Vol. 1

Of damned witchcraft, and that have prevail’d
Upon my body with their hellish charms?

HAST INGS

The tender love I bear your Grace, my lord,
Makes me most forward in this princely presence,
To doom th’offenders, whatso’er they be: [65]
I say, my lord, they have deserved death.

RICHARD

Then be your eyes the witness of their evil.
See 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, [70]
Consorted with that harlot, strumpet Shore,
That by their witchcraft thus have marked me.

HAST INGS

If they have done this deed, my noble lord -

RICHARD

If? Thou protector of this damned strumpet,
Talk’st thou to me of ifs! Thou art a traitor: [75]
Off with his head! Now by Saint Paul I swear
I will not dine until I see the same.
Lovell and Ratcliffe, look that it be done;
The rest that love me, rise and follow me.

Exeunt all but Lovell and Ratcliffe and the Lord Hastings.

HAST INGS

Woe, woe for England; not a whit for me - [80]
For I, too fond, might have prevented this.
Stanley did dream the boar did raze his helm,
And I did scorn it and disdain to fly;
Three times today my foot-cloth horse did stumble,
And started when he look’d upon the Tower, [85]
As loath to bear me to the 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