Richard III

by: William Shakespeare

Act 3 Scene 2

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original Text	Modern Text
Enter a MESSENGER at door of HASTINGS	A MESSENGER enters and goes to Hastings’s door.
MESSENGER (knocking) My lord, my lord.	MESSENGER (knocking) My lord, my lord.
HASTINGS (within) Who knocks?	HASTINGS (offstage) Who’s knocking?
MESSENGER One from the Lord Stanley.	MESSENGER A messenger from Lord Stanley.
HASTINGS (within) What is ‘t o’clock?	HASTINGS (offstage)What time is it?
MESSENGER 5Upon the stroke of four.	MESSENGER Four o'clock in the morning.
Enter HASTINGS	HASTINGS Enter
HASTINGS Cannot my Lord Stanley sleep these tedious nights?	HASTINGS Can’t Lord Stanley sleep?
MESSENGER So it appears by that I have to say. First, he commends him to your noble self.	MESSENGER I guess not—for good reason, as you’ll soon hear. First, he sends his regards.
HASTINGS What then?	HASTINGS And then?
MESSENGER 10Then certifies your Lordship that this night He dreamt the boar had razèd his helm Besides, he says there are two councils kept, And that may be determined at the one Which may make you and him to rue at th' other. 15Therefore he sends to know your Lordship’s pleasure, If you will presently take horse with him And with all speed post with him toward the north To shun the danger that his soul divines.	MESSENGER And then he said to tell you that tonight he dreamed the duke of Gloucester cut off his helmet—that is, his head. Besides that, he says that two meetings are going to be held tomorrow, and something may be decided at one of them that may make you and him, who are at the other, sorry. He wants to know if instead of going to the meeting, you’ll get on your horse and ride north with him to get out of harm’s way.

Read the Summary of Act III, scenes ii–iv

1 2 3 4 5 6