Act VScene I
Salisbury. An open place
Enter Sheriff and Halberds, 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 miscarriedBy underhand, corrupted foul injustice,If that your moody discontented soulsDo 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.
Buckingham
Why, then All-Souls’ day is my body’s doomsday.This is the day which, in King Edward’s time,I wished might fall on me when I was foundFalse to his children and his wife’s allies.This is the day wherein I wished to fallBy the false faith of him whom most I trusted.This, this All-Souls’ day to my fearful soulIs the determined respite of my wrongs.That high All-Seer which I dallied withHath turned my feigned prayer on my headAnd given in earnest what I begged in jest.Thus doth He force the swords of wicked menTo 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.
Exit with Officers.