Shakespeare Portal

Act 4, Scene 5

A park near Middleham Castle in Yorkshire

  1. [Enter GLOSTER, HASTINGS, SIR WILLIAM STANLEY, and others.]
  2. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  3. 2153 Now, my Lord Hastings, and Sir William Stanley,
  4. 2154 Leave off to wonder why I drew you hither
  5. 2155 Into this chiefest thicket of the park.
  6. 2156 Thus stands the case: you know our King, my brother,
  7. 2157 Is prisoner to the Bishop here, at whose hands
  8. 2158 He hath good usage and great liberty,
  9. 2159 And often, but attended with weak guard,
  10. 2160 Comes hunting this way to disport himself.
  11. 2161 I have advertis'd him by secret means
  12. 2162 That if about this hour he make this way,
  13. 2163 Under the colour of his usual game,
  14. 2164 He shall here find his friends, with horse and men,
  15. 2165 To set him free from his captivity.
  16. [Enter KING EDWARD and a Huntsman.]
  17. Huntsman
  18. 2166 This way, my lord, for this way lies the game.
  19. Edward IV
  20. 2167 Nay, this way, man; see, where the huntsmen
  21. 2168 stand.—
  22. 2169 Now, brother of Gloster, Lord Hastings, and the rest,
  23. 2170 Stand you thus close to steal the bishop's deer?
  24. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  25. 2171 Brother, the time and case requireth haste;
  26. 2172 Your horse stands ready at the park corner.
  27. Edward IV
  28. 2173 But whither shall we then?
  29. Lord Hastings
  30. 2174 To Lynn, my lord, and shipt from thence to Flanders.
  31. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  32. 2175 Well guess'd, believe me, for that was my meaning.
  33. Edward IV
  34. 2176 Stanley, I will requite thy forwardness.
  35. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  36. 2177 But wherefore stay we? 't is no time to talk.
  37. Edward IV
  38. 2178 Huntsman, what say'st thou? wilt thou go along?
  39. Huntsman
  40. 2179 Better do so than tarry and be hang'd.
  41. Richard Plantagenet (Gloucester)
  42. 2180 Come then; away! let's have no more ado.
  43. Edward IV
  44. 2181 Bishop, farewell; shield thee from Warwick's frown,
  45. 2182 And pray that I may repossess the crown.
  46. [Exeunt.]