Richard III: Act 5, Scene 5

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    Another part of the field.

    Scene Summary

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    Richard is killed in single combat by Richmond. Richmond gives a speech of conciliation — the Wars of the Roses are over, the houses of Lancaster and York united in his person. He will marry Elizabeth of York and restore peace to England. He becomes Henry VII, the first Tudor king.

    Alarum. Enter KING RICHARD III and RICHMOND; they fight. KING RICHARD III is slain. Retreat and flourish. Re-enter RICHMOND, DERBY bearing the crown, with divers other Lords
    RICHMOND
    God and your arms be praised, victorious friends,
    The day is ours, the bloody dog is dead.
    DERBY
    Courageous Richmond, well hast thou acquit thee.
    Lo, here, this long-usurped royalty
    From the dead temples of this bloody wretch
    Have I pluck'd off, to grace thy brows withal:
    Wear it, enjoy it, and make much of it.
    RICHMOND
    Great God of heaven, say Amen to all!
    But, tell me, is young George Stanley living?
    DERBY
    He is, my lord, and safe in Leicester town;
    Whither, if it please you, we may now withdraw us.
    RICHMOND
    What men of name are slain on either side?
    DERBY
    John Duke of Norfolk, Walter Lord Ferrers,
    Sir Robert Brakenbury, and Sir William Brandon.
    RICHMOND
    Inter their bodies as becomes their births:
    Proclaim a pardon to the soldiers fled
    That in submission will return to us:
    And then, as we have ta'en the sacrament,
    We will unite the white rose and the red:
    Smile heaven upon this fair conjunction,
    That long have frown'd upon their enmity!
    What traitor hears me, and says not amen?
    England hath long been mad, and scarr'd herself;
    The brother blindly shed the brother's blood,
    The father rashly slaughter'd his own son,
    The son, compell'd, been butcher to the sire:
    All this divided York and Lancaster,
    Divided in their dire division,
    O, now, let Richmond and Elizabeth,
    The true succeeders of each royal house,
    By God's fair ordinance conjoin together!
    And let their heirs, God, if thy will be so.
    Enrich the time to come with smooth-faced peace,
    With smiling plenty and fair prosperous days!
    Abate the edge of traitors, gracious Lord,
    That would reduce these bloody days again,
    And make poor England weep in streams of blood!
    Let them not live to taste this land's increase
    That would with treason wound this fair land's peace!
    Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again:
    That she may long live here, God say amen!
    Exeunt